Horn Rabbit Expert (1)
"Gahhh!"
Han Yeoreum screamed as she sprinted across the vast meadow. Dozens of horn rabbits chased after her. She glanced around while running, but her guildmates were nowhere in sight. The adventurers from the other guilds they'd come with had vanished too.
Did everyone but me get lost? No, this has to be me who got separated on my own.
Han Yeoreum panted heavily—it had been ages since she'd felt this winded—and hauled herself up onto a nearby tree.
"Damn it."
Without mana, her body felt leaden, but her well-trained muscles made climbing no great feat.
This is insane.
She'd wondered why the horn rabbit dungeon was rated Level 5. The moment they entered, it blocked all mana—a nasty trick. How the hell were they supposed to take down horn rabbits without mana?
As she grumbled inwardly, her thoughts drifted to Gyeowol back at the guild.
...Is this divine punishment?
No, probably not.
Han Yeoreum shook her head at the dozens of horn rabbits encircling the tree. At least no one here was mocking her for failing to catch even these things. It was almost tragic that even this mess felt better than what Gyeowol had endured.
"Nngh."
If I get out of here alive, I'll treat Gyeowol a hundred times better.
Just as Han Yeoreum made that vow, a woman's sobbing echoed from somewhere nearby.
"Huh...?"
Was it the mana block dulling her senses? She'd detected it way too late. Clutching a branch tightly, Han Yeoreum scanned for the source of the sound.
"Y-Yu-na...?"
Jeong Yu-na was clinging to a tree trunk like a cicada. Even that was failing; she was sliding down bit by bit.
"Y-Yeoreum, help me up...!"
Jeong Yu-na sniffled, gazing up at Han Yeoreum with a pitiful expression—one that eerily mirrored Gyeowol's terrified face from some time back.
"Just climb up yourself."
"My body's too heavy. I can't."
Screeech—Jeong Yu-na's body scraped downward. A horn rabbit right below seized the chance and leaped straight at her.
Poke!
Its horn jabbed into her left thigh. Short as it was, it didn't pierce through.
"Q-Quick...!"
Jeong Yu-na trembled violently. Han Yeoreum thrust out her hand in a panic.
"Yu-na, grab on!"
Han Yeoreum hauled Jeong Yu-na up. It was a heavy pull, but neither let it show—for each other's sake.
"...Thanks."
Perched on the branch, Jeong Yu-na rubbed her forearm. Her delicate skin was scraped raw and bumpy from the bark.
"Never knew the dungeon blocked mana."
"Yeah. Who'd have thought."
Their eyes met in midair. Instinctively, they knew what the other was thinking.
The kid who'd hunted horn rabbits without mana as if it were nothing. She kept popping into their minds.
Jeong Yu-na bit her lip hard with guilt.
"Yu-na, let's focus on clearing the dungeon first. That's the only way we can atone to Gyeowol."
"Yeah..."
She was right. Jeong Yu-na nodded weakly. As Han Yeoreum said, finding a way to clear the dungeon was top priority. Not that she could be much help without her magic.
"Yu-na, seen Jinhyeok around?"
"No. I barely escaped myself."
"What about the other adventurers?"
"Hmm... I saw some from Eunha Guild by the lake earlier, but not sure if they're still there."
The lake. North for sure. Han Yeoreum checked that the encircling horn rabbits had scattered, then carefully jumped down.
"Yu-na, it's safe now. Come on down."
"......"
Jeong Yu-na couldn't bring herself to descend at Han Yeoreum's call. She had no idea how to climb down without magic.
"Yu-na?"
"...Yeoreum, can you catch me?"
"Oh, sure."
Han Yeoreum caught Jeong Yu-na as she dangled from the branch. Her face burned with embarrassment, so she stared out at the distant fields instead.
I'm so damn useless.
Without mana, her body was frailer than a regular person's. She couldn't even handle a simple tree.
She was dead weight, plain and simple. In her bitterness, Jeong Yu-na thought of Gyeowol in the container house. That kid had probably spent most of her life drowning in these feelings—lamenting her own incompetence and worthlessness.
It was sickening how she only truly realized it now. She wanted to slap her own cheek hard, but held back in case the sound drew horn rabbits.
From now on, no more strutting around on my talent. Be kind to everyone.
Han Yeoreum sidled up and whispered, "Let's move along the treeline for now. Keep an eye out for horn rabbits."
"Got it..."
Gyeowol had done her utmost even in powerless situations. Jeong Yu-na resolved to follow her example and find what she could do.
* * *
Three days had passed since Han Yeoreum entered the dungeon. Guild insiders, myself included, were starting to get antsy.
"Still no word?"
"Yeah. What if something happened?"
"Hard to say. First time a Level 5 has dragged on like this..."
Send a rescue team, or trust the group and wait a bit longer—opinions flew as I stood there, restlessly scanning the surroundings. Just in case she came back.
"She's really late..."
A few days ago, I'd half-wished they'd stay gone forever. Now worry consumed me. What if something happened inside?
I paced near the guild building, too frustrated to work, when Sophia approached.
"Yeoreum still not back?"
"No..."
"That's troubling."
Sophia patted my shoulder to buck me up, but her comfort did little to lighten the load.
"She didn't... die, right?"
"...I get how you feel, but keep a level head for now. You can grieve once everything's settled."
"I want to, but it's not easy..."
My thoughts kept spiraling to the worst. I sighed, my gaze dropping with my breath.
"Child, buck up even if you have to force it. Ears up, back straight."
Evidently displeased with my limp posture, Sophia grabbed my drooping ears and tugged them upright. They flopped right back down once she let go. Worry over the missing guildmates had drained all strength from my body.
"Yeomyeong Guild has top adventurers who shine even without mana. Why can't they get out of a horn rabbit dungeon?"
I could've handled one with just a slingshot. It made no sense that they'd struggle after all they'd been through.
Sophia stroked her chin, pondering my question.
"Hm... Maybe they're struggling precisely because it's horn rabbits."
"Because it's horn rabbits?"
"Aye. They're so easy anyone can kill them—no one's bothered devising strategies."
"Ah..."
True enough. Han Yeoreum could slaughter hundreds with a single swing. Even civilians managed without issue. No one but someone like me would know horn rabbit tactics. After all, I was the only one in this world without mana.
Maybe that's why they were late—searching for a way to fight them without mana.
My thoughts reached that point, and my eyes widened.
I'd just realized I was the ultimate expert at hunting horn rabbits mana-free.
Huh?
Wouldn't I be a huge help if I went in?
Excitement bubbling, I turned to Sophia.
"Sophia, know where the horn rabbit dungeon is?"
"The one Yeoreum entered?"
"Yes."
"Sangam-dong area, I think?"
Sangam-dong. Sangam-dong. Muttering it, I bolted for the container house.
"Where to?"
"Gonna check Sangam-dong real quick."
"...You planning to enter the dungeon?"
I froze at Sophia's question. Part of me wanted to lie to spare her worry, but I opted for honesty. I couldn't deceive someone who'd helped me so much.
"Hunting horn rabbits without mana is my specialty."
"I know, but do you really have to go...?"
"Don't worry. I've caught hundreds like this."
It wasn't a lie. Sensing my resolve, Sophia tapped her cane thoughtfully on the ground.
"Can you swear it's not reckless bravado?"
"Yes. I swear."
No one surpassed me at mana-less horn rabbit hunting. If not me, who would help them?
"...Then go."
"Yup!"
I rushed back to the container, grabbing my bow and arrows. Just in case, I packed the slingshot and pellets too. These clothes would do—they were the dirtiest ones I owned anyway.
It had been ages since my last horn rabbit hunt.