The Grudge Dungeon
Grudge dungeons would occasionally appear like that. Dungeons born from a tangle of human resentment. These Grudge Dungeons rarely exceeded Level 2. After all, they weren't meant to kill those who entered.
What the grudge-bearers wanted was to let the world know of their injustices. That was why the dungeons tended to take a rather welcoming form toward adventurers.
"Hmm..."
Han Yeoreum, who had entered the dungeon's interior, turned to look behind her. Even without clearing the conditions, a portal shimmered, allowing exit to the outside. It was a unique trait of Grudge Dungeons, promising to send visitors out anytime.
The dungeon didn't want to kill those who came—it just wanted to share its injustices.
"Miss Yeoreum, this is..."
En Sia gulped as she scanned her surroundings. It looked nothing like the adventure-stirring dungeons that piqued one's curiosity. The sunset sky felt melancholic, and the rotten dead trees exuded an eerie gloom.
Those who entered could spot a single building in the distance.
"Looks like a Grudge Dungeon..."
A Level 6 Grudge Dungeon, something not even mentioned in adventurers' manuals. Given its nature, emotional turmoil was inevitable. Han Yeoreum, a physical fighter, figured bleeding and brawling would be preferable.
"...Shall we head over?"
"Yes..."
"Let's go!"
Argo strode toward the building with spirited determination. But he barely took a few steps before freezing in place.
On the blood-soaked, muddy ground, someone reduced to skin and bones reached toward the sunset. As if desperate to broadcast their resentment to the world.
Such figures numbered dozens, hundreds. Han Yeoreum clamped a hand over her mouth.
"Ugh...!"
This wasn't some staged scare tactic. She knew each one had once been a real, living person.
What grudge could have spawned a dungeon like this?
The group just stared at one another for a long while.
Winter, you...
What horrors was that little girl carrying? Han Yeoreum bit her lip until it bled. She wondered if they might not clear the dungeon today after all.
After descending the mountain, I sat on a nearby bench to rest. I poked the cheek of Levi Nas, who was sleeping in Jeong Yu-na's arms, then looked up at her again.
"Sorry... because of me, you couldn't go into the dungeon..."
"It's fine. I get to rest with Winter like this—way better."
"Still..."
Because of me, their dungeon clear had hit a snag. I couldn't help feeling guilty.
"A Level 6 dungeon's easy enough to clear even missing one person, so don't worry too much."
"Okaaay..."
I heard it was okay, but the guilt lingered. I just stared endlessly at the ground.
"Winter must've been really scared, huh?"
"Yeah..."
Honestly, I wasn't that scared. It was more like my body was afraid, not me. As if the original owner had endured something horrific before being buried, leaving my body rigid, unable to act.
What on earth had happened to the original owner?
Frustrated, I swung my dangling feet back and forth. Jeong Yu-na placed a hand on my head.
"Hehe, enough dungeon talk. Wanna do something else fun?"
"Something else?"
Playing was fine, but playing like adults? That was new. What do adults even do for fun?
As I pondered, Levi Nas perked up her ears from within Jeong Yu-na's arms.
"Play?"
"Oh, you're awake?"
"Yeah! Levi Nas wants to play too!"
Waking up to the word "play." Her cuteness brought an instant smile. The fear from moments ago vanished in a flash.
...Right, this isn't my problem anyway.
Sorry to the original owner, but this was my body now. I didn't want to drown in trauma from someone else's past. It had nothing to do with me.
Sorry.
If a way to return the body appeared, I'd give it back in a heartbeat. It wasn't mine, after all. But until then, I'd live as I pleased—free from any trauma's sway.
So for now, I'd just play with everyone.
"What should we play?"
I hopped off the bench and asked Jeong Yu-na. She pondered briefly, then raised her index finger.
"How about tag?"
"Tag?"
"Yeah. The tagger chases and catches the runners."
Tag. The simplest game kids loved.
"But magic users have a huge advantage."
"Obviously no magic. I'm not that shameless."
"Ah."
No magic? Then I'd have the edge. My agility outstripped most hunters if I tried. I'd have to hold back and play nice.
We headed to the nearby playground.
"Going outside the playground is cheating, got it?"
"Yeah!"
"Okaaay..."
How do we pick the tagger? Rock-paper-scissors? As I glanced uncertainly at Jeong Yu-na, she threw both hands up high.
"I'm gonna catch you all!"
"Eek!"
Startled, Levi Nas scrambled up the slide. It was a big playset with all sorts of equipment combined.
"Huh?"
No rock-paper-scissors—Jeong Yu-na just claimed tagger. Sacrificing herself to play with Levi Nas.
Whoa.
I should do that when playing with Levi Nas. Gaining wisdom from Jeong Yu-na, I suddenly felt her scoop me up tight.
"Gotcha!"
"Ah..."
Too deep in thought, I'd forgotten to run. No resistance—I ended up in her arms.
"Winter, it's a game where you dodge being caught. Don't know the rules yet?"
"N-No, I know..."
"Really?"
Doubt flickered in Jeong Yu-na's eyes. Like, you know tag but got caught? I felt like an idiot. My face burned with embarrassment. I blurted an excuse.
"I know to run, but... I like being caught more, so I didn't wanna run..."
Lame excuse, spur-of-the-moment. What if she thought it weird? As I looked up worriedly, she hugged me so tight I could barely breathe.
"How does Winter say the cutest things?"
"What...?"
"Hehe, forgot you like being caught."
Pat-pat. She rubbed my back. My tail swished along with it. Being held felt nice, for sure. An embrace I hadn't known in eight years—it was pure bliss.
"Ah! Levi Nas too! Levi Nas wants to be caught!"
Levi Nas, watching from the slide, charged toward us. Standing behind me, she stomped excitedly, then hugged us both tight.
"Whoa! For real! Being caught is better!"
"U-Uh, yeah..."
My tail wriggled desperately from under Levi Nas's body. The group hug was awkward and embarrassing, but honestly? Happy.
"Levi Nas didn't know tag right! Tag's not running—it's a getting-caught game!"
"Hmm..."
Something was off, but if Levi Nas liked it, fine. No need to correct her.
"Can't Levi Nas be tagger now? Levi Nas wants to hug too."
"Sure, why not?"
Rules mangled, tagger picked randomly—didn't matter. Playing together was fun.
In the building's basement. A girl sat hugging her knees inside a massive glass tube. Her face was hidden against them, but Yeoreum instinctively knew—this was Winter.
"Ah."
Her heart pounded. Blood dripped from her clenched fist.
What had Winter gone through? Something worse than abuse from adults?
Han Yeoreum smashed her fist into the glass tube. Full force—but at the last second, she pulled back. Worried shards might hurt Winter.
"Winter."
Yeoreum called, but Winter didn't lift her head. Like a statue, she just sat hugging her knees.
"Miss Yeoreum."
"...Yes."
"There's a file here."
307. The name the lab had given Winter? Implying over three hundred experiments before her.
Everyone fell silent at the horrific human experimentation site.
"This... we can take it outside, right?"
"Yes. Probably the other files too."
"...Then let's head out?"
"Yes. That seems best."
What a Grudge Dungeon sought was resolving the grudge-bearer's lament. Killing the boss wouldn't clear it.
Better to exit and review the files together.
Yeoreum tapped the glass tube holding Winter.
"Winter, sis'll come back, okay?"
"......"
"I'll come back and definitely save you..."
"......"
No response from Winter. Yeoreum knew this wasn't the real one, yet her heart ached all the same.
I miss Winter so much...
She needed a break. Yeoreum wanted out of this nightmare as soon as possible.