15. Death Sorcerer's Dungeon - Conclusion
A short while after the Death Sorcerer's soul was absorbed into Ian and vanished completely, a dull gray gemstone, stripped of its luster, rolled out from the ashes of his scattered body.
"What the hell is this? A magic stone?"
"Hmm. It appears to be a magic stone that's lost all its power. Judging by its size, it must have held strength several times greater than a top-grade one... but now it seems utterly depleted."
"Really? So it's basically useless? Can't we recycle it or something?"
"Indeed. It's no more than a common rock now—just toss it aside."
"Damn, what a waste. A stone this big could've fetched a few hundred gold coins easy."
It was around then that it began.
The dungeon, now masterless, started crumbling inward.
Cheong-ah, who had lived nearly her entire life blind and thus honed her senses to razor sharpness, was the first to detect it. Though her recent partial sight had dulled that edge somewhat, years of refinement didn't vanish in an instant.
"Hm? What's that? Bella, Dina—do you feel any vibrations?"
"No idea. What vibrations...?"
"Yeah, what're you on about outta nowhere... Huh?"
Rumble rumble rumble—
No sooner had Bella replied than the ground shook like an earthquake. Even the cave ceiling vibrated as if it could collapse any second.
Stalactites began dropping one by one from above.
Bella barely dodged a massive one plummeting right toward her head and bellowed,
"Gahhh! What the fuck is happening all of a sudden?!"
"Th-this...! With the dungeon's master gone, the dungeon itself is collapsing! I overlooked it in my haste!"
"What? But the last dungeon didn't do this, right? A portal just naturally appeared, and we got out through it..."
"That's for naturally occurring dungeons. This was an artificial one crafted by the Death Sorcerer—once its creator vanishes, it crumbles!"
Bella urgently pressed Dina,
"Okay, so what the hell do we do?!"
"Run like hell, what else?!"
"Goddammit, lead with that! This brat's all grown up and still dumb as rocks?!"
"Y-you beast! Calling this body a dumb little kid?!"
Even in the chaos, the two started bickering.
Cheong-ah stepped between them, glaring daggers.
"Both of you, cut it out right now! You wanna fight in this situation?!"
They instantly backed down, tails tucked like scolded pups.
"S-sorry..."
"...My bad."
Meanwhile, the cave continued its collapse.
Cheong-ah yelled,
"Enough! No time for that—let's get outta here!"
"R-right!"
"I'll carry Ian!"
"I'll take point then—Bella, piggyback Ian, and Dina, cover Bella as we go!"
"Got it!"
They scooped up the unconscious Ian and his bag, bolting from the cave.
Even while sprinting, stalactites and debris rained down. Cheong-ah sliced those ahead with her sword; Dina leaped to kick or punch away any threatening Bella and Ian from above.
Dust and pebbles pelted Ian's forehead, leaving faint scratches.
Bella snarled in frustration,
"Hey, shit! Shorty! All this dust keeps hitting Ian!"
"Can't be helped! Beast, you deal with it!"
"Ugh, fine! Got it!"
They ran for what felt like ages... but the cave—originally a long natural tunnel repurposed as a dungeon—was no short jaunt.
No matter how fast they dashed, distance had limits.
The collapse accelerated, but they still had at least half to go.
We haven't even reached the campsite yet...
They hadn't made it back to last night's camp spot, roughly halfway through.
At this rate, burial under the cave was certain.
...We might not make it out.
As desperation clawed at her, an idea flashed in Cheong-ah's mind.
The warp magic in Ian's bag—the faulty portal scroll.
"Bella, grab the portal scroll from Ian's bag quick!"
"Portal scroll? Wait—it's a dud, isn't it?!"
"Nothing to lose—hurry!"
"Fine! Somewhere around here..."
Clutching Ian tight with one arm, Bella rummaged and found the scroll and coordinate slate—thanks to Ian's habit of tidying his enchanted bag.
She tossed them to Cheong-ah.
"Hey, Ju Cheong-ah! Catch!"
"Huh? Oh—yes!"
Mid-swing at a falling stalactite, Cheong-ah caught the flying items in the air and sliced through them.
Scrolls activated on tearing, so a sword cut should work fine.
Vmmm...!
Mana from the scroll gathered in the slate, forming a portal.
Why now when it failed before? A fleeting question, but irrelevant.
"Oh, shit! It worked!"
"Get in—now!"
"On it...!"
Bella first, then the others plunged through.
Thus, they escaped the crumbling cave.
Emerging filthy with dirt, Cheong-ah, Bella, and Dina collapsed in a heap—no one vying to stand first.
Not from physical exhaustion; their bodies were exceptional.
A post-battle sprint like that was nothing.
But the brush with death had worn their minds ragged, dragging their bodies down with it.
Of course, Bella's choice to fall back-first, cradling Ian protectively against her chest, was noteworthy.
"Hah... haa, that was rough."
"......"
"What? Why're you staring?"
"Who knows."
Bella panted, Ian draped across her belly. Cheong-ah gazed blankly at him, utterly calm.
Cute.
His usual face was... average. Handsome? Not quite.
But shrunken like this, he looked adorably lovable.
Cheong-ah poked his cheek with a finger—then noticed her grimy hand and pouted, drooping her head.
Spotting Bella's dusty state too, she scowled.
"Bella, you're filthy."
"...Huh? What the fuck? Why pick a fight outta nowhere? You nuts?"
Bella snapped back curtly, but Cheong-ah ignored her, grabbing Ian's bag and heading to a corner. She returned pristine moments later, snatching Ian from Bella's arms.
"Hey, what gives?"
"I told you—you're too dirty right now."
"...Hah, whatever."
Bella snorted but glanced down at herself. This clean enough—what's her deal? Should I wash up?
Tempted, but laziness won.
"Fine, do what you want."
Hold him all you like.
She pursed her lips and turned away.
Soon, a childish whimper from behind.
"Mm... uun. Cheong-ah..."
"Oh my... Darling. Yes, Cheong-ah's right here."
Naturally, attention turned. He was her beloved too—impossible not to care, even feigning indifference.
Bella peeked back, instinctively reaching to stroke his hair—
Cheong-ah hugged him tight and twisted away.
"No."
"Why? I can at least pet his head."
"No. Don't. With those filthy hands... how dare you."
"Fine, I'm washing up. Just wait."
Fierce glares locked. Neither yielding an inch.
Bella fetched the bag, cleaned up in a corner, and returned spotless.
Approaching,
"There—happy? Can I touch now?"
That's when Cheong-ah bolted upright and dashed off.
"Hey, fuck! You—stop right there!"
"Eek! Don't chase me!"
"Goddammit! I wanna touch shrunken Ian too!"
"Pervert! Traitor! Lusting after a little boy?! Is that what you are, Bella?!"
"Shut up, you psycho!"
To an outsider, it looked like two women squabbling over groping a child.
Watching their vulgar spat, Dina shrugged from where she lay.
"Such ugly beasts..."
How much time passed?
"Kyaaah...?!"
"Uwaaah...!"
Screams and tumbling sounds erupted.
Dina examined her shrunken palm.
"...Ah, back to normal."
This all happened right after clearing the Death Sorcerer's dungeon—before Ian regained consciousness.