Chapter 177
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 177: How to Deal with Betrayal (13)
At the same time, something was shot towards us.
“Haeun-sunbae! Skill!”
“…I can't manipulate the water flow!”
“What?”
Shin Haeun, who was supposed to respond to enemies primarily, for some reason couldn't do anything after the initial Water Flow Manipulation. First, we urgently dodged the things shot towards us, but they seemed to chase the targets persistently. Eventually, the moment the thing that approached us again opened its mouth wide, a blinding light shone on us as if reacting to it. Flash. The moment I closed and opened my eyes instantly, Tornito's lightning cut through the darkness and tore that something apart. The cave where the light went out was still dark, but it was enough to recognize the shape of that something. It was a net. It seemed they wove the rope used to bind Park Yulhan before into a net shape.
“Operation failed. Switching to all-out war.”
“That's a shame~”
Familiar voices were heard. They were Na Yuhan and Choi Sujeong's voices. As a spear of lightning was created in Tornito's hand, light flashed and spread in the darkness. Feeling regret at that, I directed my gaze towards the group. Familiar figures were visible. People who always cleared dungeons with me, but are no longer by my side. Seeing that Na Yuri, whom I really wanted to see, wasn't there, it seemed she sat out because fire attribute is disadvantaged underwater. …And,
“Noona.”
A familiar face was visible. It was Kang Yu. Perhaps because of his growth period, his appearance, which seemed to have grown significantly in a few months, felt quite unfamiliar. I didn't answer Kang Yu's words, which were clearly spoken towards me. Instead, I spoke to Shin Haeun.
“Is Water Flow Manipulation still impossible?”
“…Yeah. The initiative was completely snatched by that kid.”
Shin Haeun was frowning, seemingly quite frustrated and feeling a sense of crisis at that fact. It seemed the same for Park Yulhan, as he let out a troubled smile.
“What is that? That kid. There wasn't a guy like that in the last turn!”
“……”
Of course. I retorted inwardly and silently directed my gaze forward. Kang Yu's water-colored eyes were still looking at me.
“…You're not going to answer.”
Kang Yu was fine. Because the Black Scales' protection was bestowed upon him, and he himself was quite strong. Rather, we were the ones disadvantaged because Kang Yu was there. Because it had been a long time since I made a wish to the Black Scales that the Wild Hunt, the underworld organization, would not harm Kang Yu! I silently looked for a retreat path.
“…He's my brother.”
“…Is he one of those siblings the Black Scales protects?”
“Yeah.”
Hearing that, Tornito clicked his tongue lightly. Park Yulhan was even more appalled.
“Uwaaa… It's become totally troublesome….”
“Should we retreat for now?”
“Yeeeaaah, that would be better.”
“What are they chattering about among themselves?”
Na Yuhan irritably interrupted Park Yulhan and Shin Haeun's conversation. Somewhat haggard, resembling his appearance in the 2nd turn I saw in the memory dungeon before, he glanced at me once and glared at Park Yulhan.
“You guys end here. You'll have to return Nahyun and go.”
“…Na Yuhan, I,”
I inadvertently opened my mouth at Na Yuhan's words, which seemed to misunderstand something. But those words were cut off by Na Yuhan's firm answer.
“I know. That you did it by your own will. I heard from the Oracle. That you betrayed us by your own will, without any brainwashing or curse.”
Oracle. At that word that came out instantly, I flinched suddenly as if scratched by an animal's claw. Regardless of my reaction, Na Yuhan continued.
“But it doesn't matter. Whatever the circumstances, whatever the reason, I'm catching you. That's the goal I set.”
“……”
When his burning red eyes looked straight at me, I avoided his gaze. I couldn't guess at all with what emotion he was looking at me, with what emotion he was trying to catch me. …There was a means to know, but I didn't want to know through that.I didn't want to deceive him anymore. That was all.
“Such slick words.”
What cut off the strange atmosphere hovering between us was the spear of lightningTornito threw.
Crack-boom—!!!
Lightning spewed out explosively and grew threateningly large as if to devour the group. As if to counter it, Park Siwoo clashed a blue twilight wrapped in holy property mana against the lightning. My vision flashed. With that as the start, the battle began. I gathered mana as resolved without hesitation and shot towards the water membrane surrounding Na Yuhan's group.
“Impossible.”
But as Kang Yu said coldly, the bullet scattered as soon as it tried to enter the inside of the membrane. Starting with the scattered bullet, a full-scale battle began.
“Lee Hana!”
“Okay.”
Following Na Yuhan's order, Lee Hana created sharp ice spears. Nearly hundreds of ice spears were shining powerfully.
“Kang Yu, Choi Sujeong!”
“Got it~”
“I know!”
As soon as Na Yuhan's instruction fell, the ice spears shot down towards us at tremendous speed borrowing the power of wind and water flow.
“How dare you—!”
Shin Haeun struggled to create a water membrane. Every time the ice spears slammed fiercely into the membrane, the membrane shook. However, just when I thought we luckily held on.
Pang—!
Shin Baran's arrow of light burst the water membrane whose durability ran out and grazed past Shin Haeun's cheek.
“…Oh no.”
I heard Park Yulhan clicking his tongue. Shin Haeun gritted her teeth and caught her breath. Looks like it's tough for her.
“Can you hold on, Senior?”
“I have to.”
Right. We can't run away from here either. I silently gripped the gun tightly. The battle after that was one-sided. Shin Haeun tried to counter Kang Yu using her own water ability, but she was busy just extricating us against Kang Yu's overwhelming ability, who had already made even the water flow his ally. Kang Yu used the water flow to send the group forward appropriately according to Na Yuhan's orders and then retrieved them repeatedly. Sometimes he attacked directly too.
“…Damn it.”
Park Yulhan muttered. There were no fatal wounds, but his appearance full of small cuts seemed to speak of the current battle situation. It was so. Defense was barely possible thanks to Shin Haeun's efforts. Attacks were somewhat possible with Tornito's skill. But because we couldn't pierce that water membrane, we were virtually being beaten one-sidedly.
“…Are you done yet?!”
At Park Yulhan's words, I silently gathered mana in the gun barrel. The countermeasure I thought of was my Mana Bullet. I looked at Kang Yu, who was looking straight at me.
“Almost done.”
“I will block it.”
Right. It has to be that much for me to shoot with peace of mind. The power of my full-power Mana Bullet was something the group knew well. When the mana injection interference failed, Choi Sujeong and Lee Hana quickly activated their abilities and wrapped layers of defensive barriers. And outside, Kang Yu's full power was waiting for me.
Rumble—
A noise caused by a giant flow was heard. I faintly felt like I heard the sound of rocks rolling down too. The cave was now shaking due to the fierce water flow. But I was still looking at the group. Momentarily, I suddenly felt that this scene was serene. And,
Bang—!
Finally, the bullet was shot.
“Block it!”
I heard Na Yuhan shouting. And a giant power, this lake itself, and my Mana Bullet collided.
K-Boom—!
Space fluctuated. At the same time, the shaking cave collapsed with a roar.
“Dodge!”
Tornito shouted so, but before we could dodge, we were swept up in the cave's collapse. Along the flow of strong and chaotic power created by the collision of water power and the Mana Bullet, giant rock fragments mixed in chaotically. Dust flew messily. The vision became dark enough that not an inch ahead could be seen due to the hazy dust. I instinctively put the gun in my Inventory and curled up my body. My body was wrapped in the rough flow and shook wildly up, down, and in unknown directions. Like riding a rough amusement ride, I was shaking messily.
“Torni— Ugh…!”
I was too frantic to even shout the names of the Wild Hunt side people.
Thud, thud!
I felt rocks striking my body.
Smack—!
A particularly hard rock hit my ear area and passed by. At the same time it broke, I felt my breath getting blocked. Damn, the ear cuff is…! I felt my breath leaving as bubbles burble. I held my breath to resist this situation as much as possible, but every time rocks struck my body, I couldn't hold my breath and spat it out. I was suffocating. My vision was getting blurry. Am I dying? The moment such a thought faintly hovered in my mind, someone's touch reached me. Through the muddy water, I faintly saw beautiful blue cornflower-colored eyes. And,
“Endure a little.”
I felt something soft touching my mouth. Someone supporting my powerlessly shaking body pushed something like a round bead into my mouth. Feeling my breathing gradually becoming comfortable, and feeling relief that he had come, I leaned on him. Beyond my fading consciousness, I felt him biting his lip tight.