Chapter 176
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 176: How to Deal with Betrayal (12)
“No.”
However, the Black Scales' answer was cold and firm.
“Lord Cheonho separated me to prevent me from touching the Tower's settings any further. So, while I might be able to handle parts, I cannot adjust such huge criteria.”
“…No way….”
Even the Black Scales finds it impossible to stop? I felt hope fading away. The Fox carefully patted me. The Black Scales continued speaking nonchalantly.
“All I can manipulate is a slight bit of reality.”
“…Isn't that ‘slight bit’ actually huge?”
“Is it?”
The Black Scales chuckled. It was a quite annoying laugh.
“However, since I can only change something if there is a price, how can this be called a huge power?”
“……”
Price, huh.
“Can you do nothing without a price?”
“That is so.”
The Black Scales readily agreed to my question.
“I am an existence born that way. An existence that cannot grow. Causing miracles would rather be…”
The Black Scales, trailing off, let out a small laugh.
“—Among those twins, it would be closer to Hope.”
“Hope?”
“Yes. Originally, miracles could not be caused due to Despair… but thanks to your help, separation became possible.”
The Black Scales spoke as if amused.
“Also, it seems they made some kind of bet. Thanks to that, Despair has to leave Hope alone for once.”
“…?”
“I don't know if that will be helpful or not… but since Hope has taken a liking to you, for that one time, it will become Hope for you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Who knows? Anyway, since I and these Scales are still usable, use us if you want.”
“…Alright.”
“Then, since the deal is finished, I will be going.”
With those words, the Black Scales disappeared lightly into the darkness without a sound of footsteps. I silently watched that figure, then let out a small sigh.
“…Let's go back.”
“Yeah. I'll leave the byproduct collection to the subordinates.”
“Let's go and rest for now~”
It was a time that had gains if you say so, and didn't if you say not. I took out the 3 Gold Coins of Truth I received from the Fox, held them in my hand while looking up at the golden Scales, and then moved my steps towards the outside again.
“How is the development of the Wedge going?”
“Aren't you saying only that every time we meet these days?”
“What else is there to say to you?”
“That's too much~”
At my cold words, Park Yulhan pretended to be sad and wiped away fake tears. Of course, it didn't work on me in the slightest. At my cold gaze, he soon shrugged slyly.
“Well, we roughly caught a clue.”
“Slow.”
“This is why Hunters are… They don't know the hard work of researchers!”
Park Yulhan grumbled. Heaving a deep sigh, he brought up the business he came to see me for.
“More than that, you haven't forgotten either, right?”
“What?”
“The Key Dungeon capture.”
“…I haven't forgotten.”
“That's a relief.”
Grinning, he said.
“Soon, we have to clear the Mermaid's Key Dungeon, the Mermaid's Lake.”
“When is that?”
“February 14th.”
February 14th… I muttered the date softly.
“Strange date, isn't it? A battle on a day that should be harmonious.”
“Yeah.”
…Normally, I would have worried about what to give to everyone.But even that is just a luxurious thought now. I shook my head.
“Prepare well.”
“Understood.”
Whatever happens, I and you guys meet as enemies now. That fact pricked a corner of my heart painfully like a thorn.
Finally, February 14th arrived. I fiddled with the rabbit doll I received from Choi Sujeong and got up from the bed. Escaping reality uselessly won't change anything. Even so, thinking that I would face the group on the other side made my heart ache, so for some reason, I kept wanting to close my eyes. At that moment, someone knocked on the room door.
“Are you there?”
It was Tornito. I answered that I was there and immediately stepped out of the room. Waiting quietly for me in front of the door, as soon as he saw me coming out, he held something out to me. Looking closely, it was an accessory shaped like a fish.
“Ear cuff?”
“It's an item needed in the Mermaid's Lake. Because that place is literally underwater.”
“Does it let you breathe underwater?”
“Correct.”
At those words, I momentarily recalled the memory of picking up items during summer vacation with Na Yuhan and the group. …It was fun, back then.
“…Thanks.”
I suppressed the memory that surfaced with effort and accepted the ear cuff. Since it was a single ear cuff, I wore it on only one ear. Seeing that, Tornito nodded and said.
“Come out on time.”
“I know. I have no intention of running away.”
This is the path I chose, my path.I had no intention of turning back and running away uglily now. At those words, he turned and disappeared silently as if that was enough. I sighed and returned to the room. The rabbit doll, whose fur had become slightly frizzy from being petted too often, was sitting alone on the bed waiting for me. After tidying the rabbit doll's fur, I put it in my Inventory. And I took out my weapons and started maintaining them. Maintenance took longer than I thought. After checking that all equipment was problem-free, the time was close to the appointment time before I knew it. I lifted my heavy body and moved outside. It was time to go now.
“Welcome!”
I saw the Wild Hunt group waiting for me. Park Yulhan waved his hand acting friendly and greeted me. I frowned slightly because it was an eyesore, but he just grinned.
“Then, let's go!”
“Alright.”
Like that, I used teleportation with Tornito, Park Yulhan, and Shin Haeun towards where the entrance of the Mermaid's Lake would be. The place we arrived at was a quiet lakeside at night. A lakeside featuring clear water likely to be found in a corner of the countryside, with the moon shining brightly. However, if there was something different from a normal lakeside, it would be that there was a blue Gate where the moon should be reflecting. Looking at the scenery where the Gate was horizontal with the lake water instead of the moon, and seeing that Na Yuhan's group was not visible nearby, I felt relieved unconsciously.
“Oh, looks like they went in first.”
“Seems so.”
…We'll clash anyway, though.
“Let's go quickly too.”
I activated the presence-suppressing function added to the bracelet. Then, sound of footsteps was not heard every time I took a step, and the sound of clothes rustling was not heard either. Judging by what Park Yulhan said, there was also a function that made it hard to perceive the appearance except among people who turned on that function.
“Good, let's go!”
Grinning, Park Yulhan led us who had turned on the presence masking function. We jumped into the Gate like that. As soon as we crossed the Gate, the sensation of entering water wrapped around our bodies. As if jumping into a lake, inside the Gate was underwater. Fortunately, there was no problem breathing.
“No problems?”
“I'm okay.”
There was no problem speaking either. It was thanks to the ear cuff item. We moved our bodies, somewhat sluggish due to being underwater, downwards and downwards. There was strangely nothing underwater. Neither fish nor monsters existed, only light existed. By the time we went deep, deep enough to unconsciously look back at the bright top where the Gate was, a silhouette of something was visible below. It was an underwater cave in the middle of a pitch-black rock floor. The cave, gaping wide, harbored endless darkness inside. Park Yulhan quietly conveyed the meaning to enter with a gesture. It seemed he finally shut his mouth since Na Yuhan's group might be nearby. I was glad. We headed carefully into the cave, examining the surroundings as much as possible. Inside the cave was extremely dark.
—Let's proceed carefully since we can roughly recognize the surroundings.
I flinched at Park Yulhan's voice heard in my head for a moment, then realized it felt similar to when I talked with Tornito. It seemed he spoke through the bracelet.
—Understood.
—Understood.
Tornito and Shin Haeun's voices rang in my head in turn. I followed behind them after conveying that I understood through the bracelet. Silence continued. We pushed through the darkness in a state where we could only fumble and see the shapes of rocks. And just when that state continued and tension relaxed a little, the darkness squirmed. What is it? A shadow? The moment I paused seeing that, darkness shot sharply towards Park Yulhan.
“Uwoah?!”
“How dare you!”
What blocked the darkness was a fierce whirlpool created by Shin Haeun manipulating the water current. However, the darkness spread wide as if attacking us wasn't its purpose and blocked our vision.
“Over there—!”
“Got them!”
“I knew it would be like this!”
Familiar voices were heard.