Chapter 282: Before the Dungeon
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 282: Before the Dungeon
“U-Unni, what do we do?”
“The decision’s already been made. We have no choice but to enter the dungeon with them tomorrow.”
“B-But they’re monsters, Nuna.”
“I just hope nothing happens…”
Park Ajeong clutched her head in her hands. She still couldn’t believe her current situation—entering a dungeon with monsters. She had been so happy when she and her clan members first discovered the clue to the dungeon. She thought they could sell the various goods they found inside to the North or the East and finally live a stable life.
The clan had indeed moved with great urgency, and they had achieved results. Today was the day they had confirmed those results with their own eyes. She had planned to have a party with her comrades, but she had never imagined it would be a party with the monsters who called themselves Green Skins.
The alcohol wasn't bad, but she was so on edge she couldn't tell if it was going down her throat or up her nose. She found herself flinching at the slightest noise.
“Ugh… What about running away?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Forget the monsters for a second, didn’t you see the eyes of that woman, Choi Seulgi? She’s the woman who killed every last executive in the Southwest Alliance. If she finds out my sister also participated in the war…”
“But she was forced into it! And she left the city right after the former commander of the Saint Knights Order died… She was part of the anti-Ha Yuri faction…”
“You think that’ll work as an excuse? Listen… according to the rumors, that Choi Seulgi woman is completely pitiless. They say if she catches you, she never kills you easily… never… She tortures you and tortures you, pushes you to the brink until you’re begging for death, and then makes you kill yourself. There was even a rumor that she throws the corpses to the monsters afterward.”
Her siblings were right. The problem wasn't just the Green Skins. It was the presence of Choi Seulgi. She had confirmed with her own eyes that the Northeast Alliance had joined hands with the Green Skins, but she never thought Choi Seulgi herself would be among them.
“They said she’s lovers with that demon. H-He’s actually kind of handsome, but I guess the rumors about her having a thing with a monster were true.”
“Younghee-nuna? Are you serious?”
“Aside from the horns and tail, isn’t he quite charming? It’s like a love story between different species… He seemed to have good manners, too… And he’s a demon. It’s not for nothing that stories like ‘love with a vampire’ were popular novels back on Earth. There has to be a reason.”
“They’re the kind of creatures that eat people alive… That demon might be the same.”
At her siblings’ chatter, Park Ajeong brought a finger to her lips.
“Let’s be a little quieter. It’s nighttime, but they might hear us. For now, Younghee is right.”
“What? Ajeong-nunim, you think that demon is handsome too?”
“That’s not what I mean. I mean that running away won’t change anything. If you think about it for a moment, it’s logical to assume they’ll guarantee our safety.”
“…”
“If that Troll they call the Great Tribe Leader got serious, our entire clan would be wiped out in less than ten seconds. And it’s not just the Troll. There’s that giant Ogre, and that demon… I didn’t get a good look, but I’m sure I remember him. I think I definitely saw him during the Northeast War.”
“I knew it…”
“The one who sent the Sword Saint Ha Yuri to her grave was that demon, and the one who ate the King of the South alive was that Ogre. I’m sure of it.”
She hadn’t seen it clearly because of the distance, but Park Ajeong had witnessed the scene with her own eyes. It was an incredibly shocking sight. There was no way she could forget it.
“If he’s strong enough to beat the Sword Saint… and the King of the South… then is it true that demon is also lovers with the Witch of the East? Is this demon that demon?”
“Isn’t that just a baseless rumor? How can a human get pregnant with a demon’s child?”
“If you actually look up the data, it’s not entirely without precedent. And… considering his relationship with Choi Seulgi, it might be true. Also, don’t use the term ‘Witch of the East’…”
“Y-Yes.”
“And his relationship with the female magician who was behind him didn’t seem ordinary either…”
“I’d heard there were some monsters who liked humans, but I guess it was true.”
“He did say he has peculiar tastes. It’s probably safe to say he definitely likes human women.”
Everyone swallowed hard. They likely had no idea how to act. Park Ajeong looked at her siblings and nodded again.
“First, we need to assess the situation. For some reason, the race that calls themselves Green Skins wants to maintain a close relationship with humans. You probably heard news of this during the continental war, but the situation is different now.”
“How so?”
“Back then, it was an alliance centered on the demon, the Ogre, and the Troll with the black hands right in front of us. This time, you can think of it as the Great Tribe Leader of their entire race personally extending a hand. You could say the scale has gotten much bigger.”
“Hmm…”
“For example, it would be more accurate to call the demon the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Great Tribe Leader the President. The continental war might have just been a test… Maybe they got surprisingly good results and want to build more friendships with humans… Or they could be planning to devour the entire continent… though it didn’t seem that way…”
“This is giving me a headache.”
“And as you’ve seen with your own eyes and heard from the stories, these are the powerful figures who represent each region. You can think of it as the demon, the Ogre, and the Troll governing the East, the Werewolf the North, the Orc the South, and the Minotaur the West and the plains. And at their apex is the Great Tribe Leader… For now, their desire to build friendships with humans is genuine, and that’s why we’re still alive.”
“This story feels like it’s getting bigger and bigger, Unni… What do you think their goal is?”
“I don’t know either. But… I think the fate of the continent might be at stake. And it’s possible that the demon who likes humans has a strong influence in all of this.”
“The fact that Choi Seulgi, the real power in the North, is that demon’s partner, and if it’s true that the Queen of the East is also carrying his child…”
“It means his official rank was only second or third. He might be painting a much bigger picture; it was clear to anyone that he held a high position. There’s a high probability that the demon is the real power among them. They showed a lot of reliance on him during our conversation.”
Recalling the memory, it was certainly true. When her group had misspoken or trembled in fear, many of the Green Skins had looked toward the demon. The demon had acted like a spokesperson, explaining this and that, whispering to the others, or speaking on their behalf.
“Does this mean what the Sword Saint said might not have been complete bullshit after all…?”
“I told you, everything that woman says is bullshit. Even if the Northeast Alliance was wrong, the Southwest Alliance was by no means right. They were just a bunch of fanatics. And what I just said is merely speculation; the reality could be different.”
Though she spoke dismissively, Park Ajeong was truly considering the possibility of the demon’s immense influence.
Their opponents were not human, but monsters. Moreover, on this continent, you couldn’t even trust other humans. The Green Skins would be no different. Their mood could suddenly change during the dungeon exploration, or their plans could be altered. A slight shift in their emotions could mean death for her and her people.
‘I have to save my siblings.’
She had to save them. She tried to think of what she, a person with nothing, could offer, but nothing came to mind. She was too insignificant, too empty-handed, to prepare for every variable.
‘What if…’
The idea that the demon was the true power was just a guess. But one thing was certain: that demon definitely liked human women. Park Ajeong gulped.
It seemed like a way to escape Choi Seulgi’s clutches as well. Seulgi hadn’t shown any jealousy toward the magician she called ‘Unni’ and followed around. It was probably because her rival wasn’t human, so she didn’t care. Besides, the humans of the continent were used to polygamy and polyandry. If she approached him without being too obvious, a not-so-bad result might be waiting for her.
“In any case, we’re set to leave tomorrow morning, so let’s get some sleep. It’ll be tough just keeping up with them.”
“Yes, Nunim.”
“Okay, Unni…”
Everyone’s minds were probably racing.
Even with the Green Skins around, they needed someone to stand watch just in case. Figuring she could go one day without sleep, Park Ajeong quietly slipped out of the camp. Leaning against the warmth of the bonfire, she began to examine her hand mirror.
‘Not bad, right?’
No one had ever called her ugly. She looked a bit like a rough farmhand, but she thought it could work.
‘If it’s to save my siblings…’
She didn’t know what might happen, but making a good impression was the right move. It was shabby compared to what she had on Earth, but she took out the cosmetics she hadn’t touched in a long time and began to fiddle with them, applying a red lip color made from berries.
“Hmm… I-Is this sexy? Will he fall for it? No, this should be enough… More importantly, are human beauty standards the same as his? I wonder…”
She started muttering to herself.
No, what was she even doing, thinking about whether he would ‘fall for it’? She felt a wave of self-loathing. But she wasn’t in a position to be a picky eater.
They had no information about this dungeon. They might have to survive in there for dozens of days. The food they brought was plentiful, and the chunks of meat the Green Skins had didn’t look scarce, but if the food ran out, they could become the food.
She needed at least one person on her side.
‘I-If he asks for too much…’
Her vision went dark for a moment, but she nodded. These were her siblings, who had trusted and stayed with her. She felt she could endure it.
They say you can survive even in a tiger’s den if you just keep your wits about you. This was nothing.
Park Ajeong held the hand mirror straight and began to practice her poses again. She pushed her lips out slightly and whispered quietly.
“S-S-Sometimes? S-Something… new…”
“I-I’m a little free today…”
“H-How do I look today? Your horns… are so charming… With that tail, you could…”
‘Dammit…’
This was hopeless. She’d be lucky if she didn’t end up as a meal. She had to be more confident, more sexy. She was clutching her head when it happened.
“What business do you have with my horns and tail?”
Thinking it couldn’t be, she slowly raised her head. What she saw was the demon from that afternoon. Next to him sat the Ogre and the Troll who were always with him. The conversation between the two Green Skins stabbed into her ears.
“Looks like that human lady is interested in you.”
“Does she want to mate?”
It felt like her mind had stopped working. In the end, Park Ajeong once again spat out the same incomprehensible words she had that morning.
“Heut! Hat! Eh?”
Many things had happened since she’d come to the continent, and she had narrowly escaped death several times, but this was the first time she had ever truly wanted to die.