The Inventory's Secret
One situation. Crossed judgments. I had stubbornly concluded that it couldn't possibly be the case, but upon reflection, I realized I knew absolutely nothing about this space—nothing beyond the fact that it was a fairly spacious area where I had been trapped until Yeonhee summoned me.
I immediately heightened my senses and focused on my sense of smell. The scent of blood belonged to goblins. Could this place be inside a dungeon after all? Tense and alert, I followed the source of the smell and soon found it.
Haha… what is this?
A small hill had formed from hundreds of goblins piled haphazardly together. I recognized them at once—they were the same goblin corpses I had stuffed into my inventory to make Skeleton Bombs.
I scraped the skin of one goblin with a bone. A faint, cloudy toxin from a Spore Snail clung to it.
Just as I thought—these are the goblins I put in. Then this really is inside an inventory?
Caught off guard, I rubbed my throbbing skull and fell into thought. Was this the same kind of inventory hunters used?
……No. If every hunter’s inventory in existence were connected to this space, there should be other items here. But so far I’ve only found the things I put in. Based on the facts I have…… this must be my personal inventory. That would also explain why items keep appearing here endlessly.
Then…… even if Yeonhee didn’t cancel the summon…… if I found a way, I could enter this place on my own?
Not that I particularly want to come here, and I’m not sure how useful it would be……
A sudden thought struck me.
What if I could escape here when things get dangerous? That would be an absolute jackpot.
I had never once heard of a user entering their own inventory, but if there was even a sliver of possibility, it was worth testing.
Alright. I’ll keep this in mind for now.
Another headache threatened to rise. I cleared my mind and turned toward the door. A moment later, I stood before the massive door, and a familiar message appeared.
[Summoner’s Assistant] Achievement has been activated.
You have greatly contributed to the Summoner’s achievement. Choose one of the three rewards.
So that’s what felt missing. At least it still gives rewards, even if late!
I couldn’t guess what achievement Yeonhee had unlocked, but since the same choice window had appeared as when I first received an artifact, it must have been a difficult one to obtain. Regardless, the reward options were the same as last time: raise either a trait or a skill.
Hmm……
I briefly considered Skeleton Bomb, but in the end I chose the Thievery trait.
Thievery Lv.4
— Steal a random skill upon first kill of a monster species.
— 13% chance to steal a random trait upon repeated kills of the same monster.
The probability had only risen by 1%, yet compared to the original 10%, 13% felt like a number worth anticipating.
After selecting the reward, a sudden worry surfaced.
She didn’t get hurt, did she?
Unexpected events had occurred here, but the moment I reached the door, my thoughts were consumed by Yeonhee. She had wanted us all to fight together, but my experience and senses told me the outcome of that battle would leave at least three people seriously injured or dead. Even with my Protection trait and the summons tanking, I couldn’t rule out the possibility that Yeonhee would be among those three.
That was why I had calculated so desperately—finding the path where she could survive safely. Close-range enemies consumed headfirst. Thick mana coating the outer shell. Monsters driven ever deeper into frenzy. Summons capable of binding enemies even for a moment, unafraid of death. Five high-level hunters who could reliably deal damage.
Combining all that information, I had launched the self-destructive attack. Therefore, Yeonhee absolutely could not be hurt.
Creaaak—
As my thoughts ended, perfect timing brought Yeonhee’s summons. I was sucked through the open door.
* * *
Twelve hours earlier.
Only after Ilwol sent Yeonhee the signal to flee did she sense the strange currents around her. She couldn’t immediately identify the monster, but she felt the mana lights of the hunters beyond the cloudy poison rapidly fading.
Lee Yeonhee felt her body freeze for an instant at the enemy’s unprecedented strength. At the same time, the thought of leaving such a monster behind filled her with dread—how much suffering would the hunters here and the citizens evacuating outside endure?
So she refused. Even if Ilwol’s choice was objectively correct, she judged that this was something she had to do. Several C-grade hunters remained, and if her summons joined them…… together with the vastly strengthened Ilwol, she believed it was possible.
First, I have to evacuate everyone!
She sent the fourth signal, scattering the gathered hunters in all directions. Then she sent Lizardman No. 2—carrying the ironclad beetle that emitted sonic attacks—toward the monster wielding what looked like a giant trap.
Churlurp!!
The Lizardman dashed to the designated spot, and an unpleasant vibrating sound rang out from within its arms.
Chirr-rr-rr!!
Drawn by the aggro of the ironclad beetle the Lizardman had thrown to the ground, the monster later nicknamed “Speaker” swung its trap sharply downward. The sonic attack concentrated in the wrong direction, granting the hunters a brief moment of freedom.
But it was only a temporary measure. Dozens of the remaining monsters had gathered beside Speaker—whether by intent or not.
Thwack! Thwack-thwack!!
The surrounding goblins and kobolds frantically smashed the loudly chirping ironclad beetle with clubs until its shell broke and the summon was released. Strangely, the monsters that killed the beetle did not advance; they held their positions, as though they had judged that protecting Speaker without stepping forward themselves was more advantageous.
As fast as possible!!
Yeonhee’s summoning chant grew urgent at the monsters’ unusual movements. At that moment, Ilwol swept her up and moved swiftly somewhere. Until then, she had assumed he was taking her to prepare for a final stand with the C-grade hunters.
Whirrr— Thud!!
“W-wah……!”
While chanting, the Slime wrapped around her arm was struck by a card and burst in midair. She unconsciously bit her lip.
(Ohohoho!! Ran has arrived!! As before, I smell a thick scent of death!)
She resummoned the spirit Ran, the five remaining Lizardmen excluding No. 1 and No. 2, the kobolds, and the Slime that had just died. A shadow fell across her vision.
Thud-thud!
The Lizardmen struck their chests with fists and took defensive stances.
Lizard No. 1…… Ilwol?!
Ilwol lowered his upper body close to the ground and charged forward on all fours. Though he usually seemed dull, in combat his judgment far exceeded the average. Seeing dozens of bombs fly from his arms, Yeonhee immediately understood his intent.
Why? Without even trying to fight properly? Is the enemy that strong?
There was a considerable gap between the monster’s stats measured by Ilwol’s senses and what Yeonhee estimated.
“Ilwol!! Don’t—!”
It was already too late to shout. Swallowing the words, she pointed toward where Ilwol had run and cried out to the C-grade hunters.
“Over there!! Where that thing is!!”
The hunters’ heads turned as one, following her finger. A chain of flame explosions reminiscent of a Fire Wall erupted.
“?! The monster is at the center of the explosion!!”
Perhaps its stealth had weakened after being hit by the flames. One of the nearby C-grade hunters shouted and dashed out. The others spread wide and followed the woman sliding forward with a rapier, preparing their skills.
“I-I’ll send my summons in first!!”
Ilwol had shown her by example how to utilize summons. And the summons themselves wanted it.
Grrraaah!! Thud-thud! Thud-thud!!
The eyes of the summons following behind her said as much.
“Very well! If you can just hold it down somehow, I’ll land a proper blow!”
The man who had stopped the card user answered while raising a massive hammer.
When they closed the distance, the flame explosions had ceased, leaving only thick smoke drifting across the area. Within it, the silhouette of a massive monster and a far smaller one wavered.
It’s still alive!!
“Ilwol!! Just hold on a little—!”
Chomp!!
The monster’s enormous mouth swallowed Ilwol’s head whole.
“Aah! No!! Everyone, help Ilwol!!”
Led by No. 1, the Lizardman unit was already charging, but they were a moment too late.
Crack-crack-crack—!
The monster tore off the head it had swallowed, lifting it high before stuffing it into its mouth. Then—
BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM—!!
Multiple flashes of fire burst inside the monster’s mouth, followed by several explosions. The headless skeleton collapsed limply to the ground.
Thud—
“Aah……”
She was furious.
“……Kill it…… Don’t let it escape!!”
Kraaaah—!!
Its jaw and face blown apart by the internal explosion, the monster dropped to its knees in agony. Seizing the opening, the Lizardman unit swung machetes, attacking without hesitation. Following Yeonhee’s command, they clung to the monster’s arms and legs, gripping tightly.
Churlurp—!! Churlp!!
(Even if we die…… we won’t…… let go……)
Obeying Lizard No. 1’s order, the Lizardman unit stubbornly resisted the convulsing monster’s struggles. They looked ready to be thrown off at any moment, yet their tenacity was extraordinary—they held on somehow.
Remarkably, the monster slammed two Lizardmen hanging from its arm into the ground with enough force to kill them. But their objective had already been achieved. Thanks to the Lizardmen, five C-grade hunters’ skills struck the monster squarely.