Chapter 60 - The Price of Arrogance

The next day, the Corinth Team gathered in front of the dungeon entrance. Ruben rested his greatsword over his shoulder and let out a spirited shout. "Alright, is everyone ready? Today, we're heading to the second floor!"

This new mission for the Corinth Team was their first official high-difficulty quest since Hayeon's promotion to the Silver Plate rank.

Having accepted the quest, the party made their way down to the second floor of the dungeon. As they stepped into the Labyrinth of the Black Forest, Jane silently slipped up beside Hayeon. "How is... Gold Sun doing?"

The sudden question caught Hayeon off guard, making her breath hitch. Memories of the passionate night she had spent in Gold Sun's arms—his tender whispers contrasting with his rough, commanding touch—flashed through her mind, sending a sudden flush to her cheeks. "Oh... yes, he seems to be doing well."

Hayeon tried her best to sound nonchalant, but Jane's sharp eyes didn't miss the subtle shift in her expression. Jane stared at her with a trace of suspicion before averting her gaze, speaking in a low, quiet voice as she began to share her past.

"When I was young... I was captured by an assassin guild. I grew up learning nothing but how to kill. I had no emotions, no future—I was destined to be used as a tool and die. The one who saved me from that life was Gold Sun. He wiped out the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠entire organization and gave me my very first taste of freedom."

Jane's voice was flat, but the underlying emotion burned hot. "That's why I became an adventurer. I wanted to grow strong, just like him. So that one day... I could stand proudly by his side."

She turned back to Hayeon, making a desperate plea for the very first time. "So... could you help me? Help me get closer to him... so things can work out between us."

Hayeon forced a smile and nodded, but her chest tightened with a tangled mess of emotions. Realizing that Gold Sun was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a savior not just to her, but to others as well, sparked a petty, childish pang of jealousy deep within her heart.

On the second floor of the dungeon, the Corinth Team easily broke through the occasional packs of Orcs as they pressed onward. Finally, they arrived at the Contaminated Tree ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Zone, a place shrouded in a thick, suffocating fog of raw mana.

Before launching their assault, the party decided to set up camp and rest. The crackling campfire cast flickering orange shadows across their weary faces. Staring blankly into the dancing flames, Hayeon suddenly voiced a fundamental question that had been weighing on her mind.

"Just how deep... does this dungeon go? And where do these horrible monsters keep coming from?" Her voice carried a mix of genuine curiosity and an underlying, unshakable dread.

At her question, Ruben flipped a piece of roasting meat and laughed heartily. "Haha! Rookies like us only know what's written in the textbooks. Though they say high-rank adventurers have reached the 'truth of the world'."

Kard was the one who picked up the explanation. He spoke in a calm, logical tone, sounding almost like a scholar.

"Every monster in this Akron Underground Labyrinth is born from the fragmented psyches of the 'Constellations'—divine entities sealed deep beneath this land in ancient times."

"The Constellations...?" Hayeon repeated the word, remembering where she had heard it before—from Luo.

"Yes. Some call them gods, others call them ancient demons. What is certain is that they are transcendent beings possessing power far beyond our wildest imaginations. Even while sealed, the residual mana they exude, along with their twisted emotions, symbols, and myths, manifest physically in our reality. Those are what we call 'Magic Beasts'."

Kard tossed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠another branch into the fire as he continued. "So, while these Magic Beasts lack true souls, they inherit the traits of their respective Constellations, granting them unique intelligence and instincts. Creatures like Harpies that lure prey with their songs, or Banshees that scream curses, are classic examples of the 'Magic Beast Class'."

"Then... what about things like Goblins or Orcs? They don't seem to have anything to do with myths," Hayeon asked, tilting her head. This time, Jane spoke up, her voice as cold and sharp as a blade.

"Those are just beasts. Purely physical monsters that adapted, survived, and evolved within the unique ecosystem of the dungeon. We call them the 'Biological Class'. They're stupid, but their sheer numbers and brute strength make them a pain to deal with."

"And finally, there are the horrific ones that mix the two," Ruben said, handing a well-roasted piece of meat to Hayeon. "Powerful mutants born from a blend of Magic Beast and Biological traits—the 'Hybrid Class'. The 'Corrupted Tree Spirit' we're hunting today is one of them. It's not just a simple wooden monster; it's been consumed by contaminated mana, granting it intelligence and bizarre abilities. The deeper you go, the more of these terrifying hybrids you'll run into."

Hayeon took the meat, catching her breath before asking, "Then... just how many floors does this dungeon have?"

"Nobody knows," Kard shook his head. "The deepest record of any adventurer reaching is the tenth floor, but no one knows what lies beneath that. What we do know is that the deeper you go, the more powerful the monsters become, but the potential for unimaginable wealth and ancient relics grows with it. That's why everyone risks their lives to descend into this abyss."

Listening to their explanations, Hayeon realized anew just how vast and perilous the world she had stepped into truly was. Yet, alongside the fear, something hot and fierce welled up inside her. It was the primal urge of an adventurer—the burning desire to challenge this immense world.

...I want to see the end of this massive world with my own eyes.

Once their rest was over, the Corinth Team stepped into the Contaminated Tree Zone. It was a forest of death, devoid of any normal living things, where a foul, toxic miasma rose from the ground like fog.

Before long, they discovered a grotesque tree standing at the heart of the forest. Its trunk was twisted as if writhing in eternal agony, and at its center, the 'Spirit Seed' pulsed like a beating heart, radiating an ominous purple glow.

"I'll draw its attention from the front! Jane, circle around to find its weak point. Kard, prepare your support magic. Hayeon, stay by my side and clear out any stray roots that sprout up!"

Ruben's plan was safe and sound. However, Hayeon's gaze was already locked onto a different target. The image of Jane's eyes shining as she spoke Gold Sun's name flashed in her mind, leaving a bitter ache in her chest. He was a savior to me... and to Jane, too.

At that moment, Hayeon's heart began to beat with frantic intensity. I have to get stronger. I want to show Gold Sun and Ksenia how much I've changed, and I want to do it fast. I want their recognition more than anyone else's.

A volatile cocktail of jealousy, longing, and an impatient urge to prove herself took complete hold of her. Activating her Golden Eyes, she scanned the creature. Right beneath the Spirit Seed, she spotted a section where the protective barrier was exceptionally thin.

There...! If I strike there, I can end this in a single blow! Ruben's safe method will take too long. But if I pierce that weak point, I can eliminate the danger for everyone and prove my worth!

Swelling with reckless confidence, she ignored Ruben's orders and lunged forward. "Hayeon, wait! It's dangerous!" Kard screamed, but it was already too late.

Hayeon dashed right up to the Corrupted Tree Spirit, pouring all her strength into a downward slash aimed directly at the thinnest part of the barrier. But the moment her blade made contact, she realized with horror that it was a trap.

Swish—! Dozens of thick, heavy roots erupted from the earth like an explosion. Writhing like wooden serpents, the vines instantly coiled around her arms, legs, and waist, binding her tight.

"Ahhh!" Hayeon gasped, the air squeezed from her lungs. A bone-crushing pressure seized her body, forcing a painful shriek from her lips.

"Dammit! Hayeon!" Ruben roared, trying to charge forward, but a massive branch swung by the main body of the spirit blocked his path, keeping him at bay.

Right then, Kard leaped forward without a moment's hesitation.

Sharp gusts of wind materialized at his fingertips, slicing cleanly through the wooden vines binding Hayeon.

But in the split second he focused on casting his spell, another thorny vine whipped out from the spirit, striking him squarely in the flank. "Gah!" Kard let out a choked groan and collapsed sideways. His robe tore open, and a crimson spray of blood erupted from the deep gash in his side.

"Kard!" The moment her body hit the ground, freed from the vines, Hayeon scrambled over to his bleeding form. "I'm so sorry... because of me... you got hurt because of me...! I'm so, so sorry!" Heavy tears spilled from her eyes. The crushing weight of guilt—knowing her foolish arrogance and desperate desire to show off had put her companion in mortal danger—choked the very breath from her throat.

"I'm fine... Hayeon... As long as you... are safe..." Kard grimaced in agony, yet he still managed to offer her a faint, reassuring smile.

Meanwhile, Ruben and Jane fought desperately to hold off the spirit. "Jane! Aim for the core!" Ruben roared, raising his shield to block a devastating sweep from a massive branch.

Moving like a shadow, Jane slipped behind the spirit and hurled her dagger straight at the pulsating Spirit Seed. Dragging his injured body, Kard squeezed out the last drops of his remaining mana to cast a haste spell, accelerating Jane's dagger mid-air.

Crack! Jane's dagger pierced the exact center of the seed. The Corrupted Tree Spirit let out a horrific, screeching wail before crumbling away into a cloud of black ash.

Once the dust settled, the four of them stood in silence, catching their breath. Hayeon, completely forgetting to wipe away her streaming tears, clumsily tried to apply pressure to Kard's wound to stop the bleeding.

"...That's enough," Jane said, walking over and tapping her on the shoulder. Her tone was blunt, but there was a faint trace of warmth hidden beneath her words.

"Everyone makes mistakes at first. But I won't tolerate a second one. Your life doesn't belong to just you anymore. Never forget that your life is tied to the lives of everyone on this team."

Having retrieved the Spirit Seed, the four of them made their way out of the dungeon in heavy silence. Hayeon couldn't bring herself to lift her head. The price of her foolishness had been far too high. Because of her, a companion's blood had been spilled. It was a costly lesson—one that carved the heavy weight of being an adventurer and the irreplaceable value of comrades deep into her soul.