Chapter 14: A Light at Despair's End
A few more days passed, and the party led by Kadel was searching the remote, deserted outskirts of the dungeon's first floor.
Kadel still treated Hayeon like his personal property, Jules constantly eyed her with lecherous intent, while Spine and Burg treated her as if she didn't even exist.
Feeling a suffocating tension among them, Hayeon endured each day solely to survive and grow stronger.
While walking along a cave that Brek had discovered, Hayeon suddenly noticed that a section of the wall looked somewhat different from its surroundings.
While other areas were stained with moss and moisture, that specific spot was completely dry and clean.
A bizarre pattern was carved onto its surface, and a faint trace of mana was leaking out.
Sensing an uncanny distortion, as if space itself was subtly warped in that single spot, Hayeon instinctively stopped in her tracks.
Spine quietly approached, gathering a soft light at the tips of her fingers beneath her robe.
She gently stroked the wall and muttered in a low voice.
“It's the entrance to a Temporary Dungeon. A mutated space formed when the dungeon's unstable mana condenses. It rarely lasts for more than a day, but that also means there's a high chance of untouched treasure inside.”
A strange hint of excitement was mixed in Spine's usually dry tone.
“Alright! A jackpot after all this time!”
Kadel shouted, his eyes flashing with greed.
“To find something like this on the first floor... My instincts never fail me! The greater the danger, the bigger the reward. This isn't just any dungeon—it's an opportunity, a golden opportunity!”
He patted Hayeon on the shoulder and laughed.
“Hayeon, watch closely. This is what real adventuring is all about. If we get lucky, I might even throw a little share your way. Of course, that's assuming you diligently serve as my woman every night. Heheh.”
Hayeon swallowed a curse.
On the outside, she blinked innocently, putting on a naive face.
Treasure? It's far more likely to be extremely dangerous. Will we really be okay?
A moment later, the party pushed open the stone door without a shred of hesitation and stepped inside.
The air was cold and dry, and strange, incomprehensible whispers seemed to echo from the deep darkness.
The corridor was narrow and winding, barely wide enough for two grown men to pass side-by-side, and the floor was densely engraved with worn-out ancient glyphs.
Jules took the lead, skillfully disarming traps like hidden pressure plates on the floor and poison darts shooting from the walls, while Burg silently kept watch with his massive shield raised.
Goblin zombies and formless, wraith-like monsters appeared occasionally, but they fell like autumn leaves before the might of the Gold Plate party.
Watching Kadel's greatsword cleave a monster's head and Jules's magic arrows pierce a wraith's core, Hayeon realized once again just how strong they were.
And at the same time, how utterly powerless she was among such powerhouses.
After advancing for a long time along the maze-like, winding path, a massive double door appeared at the end of the corridor.
It was an imposing structure that practically screamed a boss was waiting behind it.
“Now, it's time to open the real treasure chest! Everyone, get ready to make a fortune!”
Just as Kadel triumphantly reached out to open the door, the ceiling rumbled violently, and a trap suddenly triggered.
Rumbleeee!
The floor cracked like a spiderweb and collapsed in an instant.
Before the party members could even scream, they plummeted into the darkness.
Simultaneously, the passage they had just traversed caved in, completely blocking their retreat.
A bizarre, monstrous shriek echoed from deep underground, and thick dust blanketed their vision.
“Graaaaaah!”
Slowly emerging from the darkness was...
...a colossal ogre, clad in black iron armor from head to toe, wielding a mace as large as a house.
The mere presence of the ogre exuded an overwhelming pressure that seemed to crush the very space around them.
A system window popped up in front of Hayeon's eyes.
First discovery of a Raid Boss Monster! A small amount of EXP has been acquired.
I can check monster information through the Status Window too? A Raid Boss? Level 55?
“T-That's... an Ironclad Ogre!”
“Why is a high-tier monster that you only see on the fourth floor or below in a first-floor Temporary Dungeon...?! This makes no sense! It's a trap!”
Spine, usually so calm and collected, shrieked in sheer terror.
“Damn it! Don't wimp out! It's just a single ogre! Surround it and take it down!”
Kadel was the first to draw his greatsword and charge forward.
But it was a reckless move.
Kadel's greatsword bounced off the ogre's armor, sending sparks flying.
Spine's magic shattered and dispersed harmlessly against the iron plating.
“You monstrous bastard...!”
Brek summoned his courage and lunged toward the monster's leg joint.
But the ogre's massive mace came crashing down like a falling meteor.
Splat!
A dull, wet bursting sound echoed, like a watermelon being smashed to pieces.
Brek's upper body was crushed beyond recognition, spraying red blood and viscera everywhere like rain.
A warm, metallic liquid splattered onto Hayeon's cheek.
The moment she realized that this was a part of a person who had been breathing right next to her just seconds ago, her stomach violently churned.
“T-This is insane! We have to run...!”
Jules screamed and scrambled backward, but a sharp shard of rock kicked up by the ogre pierced straight through his leg.
Crunch!
“Aaaargh...!”
As he tried to crawl away along the floor, a boulder thrown by the ogre struck him dead-on.
Thud.
Jules's head burst open, and with a brief groan, his body went completely limp.
Even Burg, who was barely holding his ground with his giant shield, saw his shield bend like taffy under the ogre's relentless strikes. A moment later, the mace crushed his head, reducing him to a fine red mist.
Crack!
Spine tried to deploy a magic circle in a final, desperate struggle, but the shockwave slammed directly into her torso, sending her flying into the wall.
Her head collided violently with the stone, and her dark robe was instantly dyed crimson with blood.
Soon after, even Kadel collapsed, his flank deeply gouged by the ogre's mace.
Blood gushed from his mouth as he desperately forced his head up.
“Cough... Hayeon... run... away...”
Those words were his last.
In a matter of minutes, the arrogant Gold Plate party was utterly annihilated.
Hayeon screamed, backing away until her spine hit the cold stone wall.
There was nowhere left to run.
The colossal Ironclad Ogre strode toward her with massive steps.
Grabbing her effortlessly in its giant hand, the ogre let out a disgusting groan, as if recognizing that she was a female.
"Grrr... woman... female..."
Its mouth, reeking of rotting flesh, closed in on her face.
No... am I going to die like this? To a monster like this... so horribly...?
Despair washed over her entire body. Just as the monster flicked its tongue, about to lick her face—
Swoooosh!
A flash of light, like a silver meteor, sliced through the darkness.
It was a massive blade, cleanly severing the ogre's neck in a single, fluid motion.
Hayeon opened her eyes in shock. Standing before her were a beautiful female warrior clad in form-fitting leather armor and a mage with a sleepy, languid expression.
Flicking the blood off her blade, the female warrior spoke firmly.
“A Temporary Dungeon on the first floor... I knew something was off. The flow of mana has been completely corrupted. Hey, you. Are you alright?”
Hayeon remained slumped on the floor, still unable to catch her breath.
The stench of the monster's blood, the gruesome remains of her companions, and the screams still ringing in her ears overwhelmed her.
The female warrior, sheathing her sword on her back, knelt down to match her eye level and asked again.
“You must have been terrified. Are you hurt anywhere?”
Her voice was strong, yet incredibly warm.
At those few words, Hayeon found herself catching her breath, a wave of relief washing over her.
Beyond her broad, strong shoulders and toned muscles, Hayeon could feel the aura of a true 'powerhouse'—one entirely different from Kadel.
Hayeon gasped in spite of herself.
She's beautiful... and... so strong...
It was the first time she had felt such admiration since arriving in this world.
Somewhere deep in her heart, a tiny thread snapped.
“…Eonni…”
The warrior blinked.
“Hmm?”
“…Thank you... for saving me... Thank you... so much…”
She blushed, offering a small, fragile smile.
Her eyes still held lingering terror, but they were also filled with deep awe and admiration.
If it's this person... maybe I can trust her. No, I want to trust her. I want to stay by her side...
Having fallen in love at first sight, she found herself thinking such thoughts unconsciously.
The mage watching from the side let out a heavy sigh.
“Again? Ksenia, can you seriously not cure that habit of yours? Every time you see a frail, cute girl, you go crazy trying to take her in. I told you, that type is the biggest headache.”
The female warrior, Ksenia, grinned and shrugged her shoulders.
“I can't help it, Lilia. I can't just walk past someone in trouble. Besides, look how cute she is. Look at those innocent eyes. She's like a frightened little kitten—it totally triggers my protective instincts.”
Hayeon's face flushed even redder at those words. Twiddling her fingers, she whispered softly.
“Really... are you really going to take me with you? All the way to the city?”
“Of course. I can't just leave you alone in a place like this.”
Ksenia gently stroked Hayeon's hair. Her hand was large, warm, and deeply reassuring.
“Let's go together for now. I'll make sure to protect you.”
Lilia shook her head in disbelief and began focusing her mana toward the destroyed entrance of the dungeon.
“Honestly... if you get us dragged into some annoying trouble again, I'm not taking responsibility. Don't you dare complain to me later.”
Outside the dungeon, the Plains of Twilight awaited them under a dark sky blanketed in a hazy, reddish mist. Hayeon pushed her still-trembling body up and grasped Ksenia's hand.
This person... is different. She's not Chris, she's not Luo, and she's not Kadel. She is fundamentally different from those men. She is... truly strong, and so kind.
For the first time since falling into this hellish world, she felt a sense of security—the feeling of having someone to lean on.
Sensing a spatial distortion near the collapsed passage, Lilia called out cautiously.
“Over here! If we blast through this bedrock, we might be able to get out!”
However, the presence of other monsters could still be felt nearby. Without hesitation, Ksenia drew her sword, shielding Hayeon behind her back.
“Lilia, just open the path. I'll handle the rest.”
Her broad back felt more secure than any fortress wall.
As Lilia whispered a brief incantation, the air above the collapsed bedrock tore open like a rift, revealing a portal of light.
“Now! Jump!”
The three of them threw themselves into the portal of light without a second thought.
Under the misty, crimson sky of the Plains of Twilight, the three emerged safely.
Catching her breath, Hayeon looked up at Ksenia, who was still tightly holding her hand.
At the warmth radiating from that hand, tears threatened to spill from her eyes.
She decided right then and there that she never wanted to let go of this hand.
