CHAPTER 5: Choi Yu-na (2)
But she couldn't keep running forever. Yu-na wasn't some stamina-packed warrior; she was a frail priestess who needed protection from such fighters. Her endurance had clear limits, and aware of them, she turned to fight the goblins chasing her, just as she had against the zombies.
"Ugh…!"
Unlike mindless zombies, though, goblins could think and judge. They played as a team, and when Yu-na struck back fiercely, they calmly began wearing her down, like hunters patiently stalking wild prey.
I'm the one being hunted!
"Karak! Kirik…!"
Yu-na realized she was being treated like prey by these goblin hunters, but the moment she did, she was already trapped in their web. Desperate to escape, she bolted along the mountain path, but the goblins had no intention of letting go of this female prey. Tongues lolling, eyes glazed with lust as they ogled her ass while she ran for her life, they pursued with eager grins. In the end, Yu-na…
Is this it?
…reached a dead end. Not quite a dead end, actually—a sheer cliff. Jumping would shake the goblins, but the drop was immense. Easily over 100 meters. A normal person would die on impact; even a tougher Awakened might not survive.
But behind her lurked green monsters with lecherous gazes fixed on her body.
"Ugh… ughh…"
Ahead: the abyss. Behind: green fiends eager to violate her. Physical death or spiritual ruin—the choice forced itself on Choi Yu-na.
…But maybe I'll get lucky and live!
Anything but losing her chastity to those things. Eyes squeezed shut, she hurled herself off the cliff.
The rush of weightlessness and whipping wind confirmed her plunge.
"Kyarak! Kyarak!"
"Eat shit…!"
She hurled the curse at the dumbfounded goblins glaring from above. But terror soon swallowed her—the horror of the impending crash, the dread of shattering pain. Please, just let it be quick. Or if she miraculously survived, could her skills heal her? Endless falling, awaiting agony or explosive death.
But then…
"Huh?"
No pain. Just endless float. She should have hit ground by now, yet she kept dropping. Opening her eyes, she realized she'd somehow reached the bottom without knowing.
"No wounds at all… What the hell happened?"
A miracle landing, unscathed. Yu-na wanted to pray to whatever god watched from above, but first, something suspicious caught her eye.
"That? A cave?"
It was a cave. Not man-made, but a natural one carved by clashing rock formations. Puzzled by its sudden appearance, she deemed it perfect for hiding from mountain monsters and decided to scout inside. It might house beasts, but no tracks or signs marred the entrance—no animal prints or scat like those common on trails. Undiscovered until now, she was sure.
"…Wow."
At first, just a temporary shelter. But her thoughts shifted. The entrance was natural, yet inside gleamed intricate carvings, symbols, unknown glyphs—clear signs of human hands. Some ancient ruin.
"A ruin, huh."
Never dreamed Namsan in Gyeongju hid such a place. Phone light on, she ventured deeper.
"A statue?"
Soon, a finely sculpted figure. Nearby, murals praised its deeds; the same symbols from the entrance adorned the walls. Depictions of a massive dragon and a woman communing with it.
And then…
"Wh-what the hell!? What's going on!?"
As she approached for a closer look, flames bloomed—welcoming the visitor. From the statue she eyed, torches ignited one by one, lighting a path deeper into the cave. No, the ruins. Bewildered and fearful yet awed by the mystical sight, Yu-na felt…
What lies at the end?
This place reeked of the extraordinary. A temple's end might hold fantasy treasures, artifacts—or a fateful opportunity to escape this nightmare. Normally idle fantasy, but in a zombie apocalypse, the burning adventure in her chest made her tremble.
"Let's go in. Nowhere else to go anyway."
Conquering fear, she stepped into the temple's depths, drawn by the enchanting flames.
"It's deep."
Statues and murals multiplied. Patterns in the glyphs suggested a history chronicled in stone. Figures varied in gender and form, but always: humans bonding with a dragon.
A dragon-worshipping temple?
At the end, endless upward stairs.
"Whoa… feels like a temple visit."
No escalator, just stark stone steps. Daunting, but as an Awakened, her stamina outpaced normals. Panting, she climbed…
And reached the top.
"……"
Silence. Seven colossal dragon statues loomed, humanoid yet draconic-faced, glaring down. Overwhelmed, she shrank back, awe gripping her despite their stillness.
"Ahahaha… just statues. No problem… yeah, no issue."
Just stone. Impressed by their grandeur and craftsmanship—inhuman perfection—but mere statues. They couldn't possibly come alive.
Right as she thought that…
"…To think a visitor would grace this place."
"Huh? A voice? Where? Who's there!?"
A dignified voice boomed through the chamber, shattering her naive thoughts. Low, resonant, authoritative—Yu-na spun wildly. Only dragon statues. No life. Dark premonition: Are these alive?
"Below."
Guided, she looked down. Finally noticing: beyond her feet, a transparent barrier. Distracted by statues, she'd missed the titanic presence.
"A… dragon?"
A massive dragon. Behind what seemed glass, it sat regally on a stone throne, blue eyes gazing warmly at Choi Yu-na. That's the voice.
"Welcome, rare visitor."
"Visitor… you mean me?"
"Indeed. Or perhaps 'guest to my temple' suits best?"
Yu-na stared in terror. It sat still now, but one whim and she'd be prey. Overpowered by its bulk, despair nearly buckled her knees.
"Cast aside your fear. I am… Bahamut. A benevolent dragon who guards humanity. I protect the weak and uphold justice. Fear not—you are one I must shield."
Bahamut named itself kindly, declaring no enmity. No intent to harm; rather, to protect the weak like her and do good. His solemnity made Yu-na gaze with trembling eyes.
"Wow…"
Fear gone, awe bloomed. Sculpted physique wrapped in navy scales, accented gold and crimson. Dozens of times her size, clawed wings like scales on its back, chin resting thoughtfully on a hand—What now with this intruder? But his immense, grave form through the barrier left no room for other thoughts.
"Visitor, why have you come?"
"Uh, well… I was fleeing monsters and stumbled here by chance."
Awe-struck reverence in her voice, she confessed honestly.
"Monsters?"
"Green ones… uh, know goblins?"
"Ah, I see. Understood."
Bahamut nodded gravely, empathizing. For the first time in ages, relief washed over her. Collapsing as tension fled—comfort absent from survivor camps.
But drowsiness fled at his next words.
"This is a sacred temple of contracts, forged by my power. Those who pact with me here gain my strength."
"Your… power?"
Strength here? Stunned, she blurted back.
"Yes. But not without cost. Through your contract and strength, I manifest in this world. In exchange, I lend you my power—a symbiotic bond."
Not free. A contract. Yu-na pondered.
If I borrow that power… it's no real cost. Basically free.
But doubt: Can someone ordinary like me even qualify?
And guilt: I'm the wretch who let Mom and Dad die. Fleeing alone, surviving alone—fair?
"Your arrival here means you hold potential to wield vast influence over the world one day."
Bahamut soothed, as if reading her heart.
"Me? That great?"
"Whether for good or ruin, I know not."
Unbelievable. Yet his gravity affirmed her destiny.
"Prove your convictions and ideals, and I swear on my name to lend you my power."
He'd guide her path. Yu-na grasped nothing—but one truth.
"I want to live! Fix this damned world, live again!"
This was her last chance. No hesitation, she screamed her desire to survive, restore the zombie-ravaged world.
"So be it. If that's your wish, I swear to lend you my power. In the name of Bahamut."
You have undergone job advancement.
Job: Dragon Priestess has been unlocked.
Seeing the status confirm the pact, Yu-na sighed in relief… and fainted.
"……Huh?"
Exhausted from the ordeal, her body demanded rest. Like a puppet with cut strings, she crumpled. Bahamut, watching from beyond the wall, stared in utter bewilderment.
"It's fine. No problem. At least it didn't fail."
What do you mean 'no problem,' you idiot dragon?
