The Devil's Whisper
'She didn't steal it.'
A day had passed. I hadn't slept a wink standing watch, but my condition was decent enough. Truth be told, I'd spent the whole night monitoring Jang Hana rather than just keeping watch. In the end, she hadn't stolen Virete's holy water.
It was astonishing. In all my plans to bed women, my predictions rarely missed the mark. I'd deliberately set the stage for her, giving her every opportunity to act selfishly on it. But she hadn't.
One of two possibilities. Either Jang Hana's conscience was far sturdier than I'd thought, or she didn't trust the holy water's effects.
Either way, I had a way to conquer her. This might be reality, but I was a master strategist. Even without a guide, I had zero fear.
"Instead of holing up in this cave, why don't we go look for the others? Wouldn't that be better?"
Jang Hana suggested searching for the rest of the party while we moved. She was probably getting cabin fever stuck in here. With her boyfriend dying right beside her and nothing to do about it, she must have been drowning in helplessness.
"But we have no water or food. Burning stamina could be fatal."
Mention of water made her face twitch with anxiety. She was no doubt recalling what she'd done yesterday—or rather, what I'd done.
"B-but staying put like this, we'll die anyway. Better to at least fight it… don't you think?"
She pressed her point in a hesitant voice.
"You make a valid argument. Hmm… alright. Let's go look ourselves."
I agreed readily. If she hadn't suggested it, I would've pushed for scouting anyway.
"We shouldn't go too far. One wrong monster, and we're done."
"Then let's just circle the area. The others might be searching nearby for us."
Jang Hana sounded optimistic. Contrary to her hopes, the rest of the party was farther off. Circling wouldn't find them.
The morning desert sun scorched us. We set out without breakfast. Taking Sun-uk would've drained too much stamina, so we'd left him deep in the cave and gone alone.
Trekking through the loose, sinking sand was grueling in itself. But monsters weren't considerate enough to let us suffer in peace. Sand Knights ambushed us now and then. My holy missiles one-shotted them in seconds, though.
Jang Hana's ability was Acceleration, a common enhancer-type speed boost among abilities. After smashing a Sand Knight's skull, she turned to me.
"Jaesung-ssi."
"Yeah?"
"How's… Sun-uk-ssi doing?"
Her eyes quivered with worry, like a pet separated from its owner—pitiful and utterly cute. I kept a calm face and replied gravely.
"Not good."
"How much longer can he hold out, specifically?"
"…Very optimistically, two days max. Tonight will be the turning point. Or rather, starting tonight."
Her expression hardened like plaster.
"Is there no way to heal Sun-uk-ssi?"
She pleaded desperately. I could guess her strategy: appealing to my sympathy.
It was hilarious. She had no idea how futile begging for pity from a bastard like Baek Jaesung was.
I had no obligation to waste a key item healing some guy named Kim Sun-uk. Sure, someone might morally condemn me, but I could justify it.
In a dungeon, recovery items were like spare lives—with a bit of exaggeration. Hunters managed them conservatively before raids.
Demanding one was like asking a mid-flight plane to siphon fuel to another. I wasn't a tanker. You want my fuel? Pay up.
No pussy, no deal.
My resolve was ironclad.
"Yeah. Nothing right now."
"Really? No way at all?"
I feigned deep thought for her repeated question. No actual pondering involved.
"Yeah… unfortunately."
"I… see."
Jang Hana fell silent. We decided to wrap up scouting.
On the way back, we ran into a Desert Orc. I deliberately struggled, barely taking it down. I could hunt these blindfolded, but I needed her to see me weakened.
"You okay?"
She looked concerned. I forced a pained smile. My acting was Oscar-worthy—probably thanks to my Acting skill.
She bought it hook, line, and sinker.
"A bit rough. Water would help…"
"Ah… sorry."
"No, my bad for mentioning it."
Intentional, of course. We returned to the cave.
I called Sujin.
Night fell. Jaesung gazed out from the cave. His eyes fixed on the barren dunes. Was he seeing the sand-filled wasteland or the enveloping darkness? Hard to tell. His vacant expression suggested the latter.
"Staying put, we'll die first."
Jang Hana nodded at his words. She'd abandoned her slim hope of reuniting with the others. Now they faced compounded crises.
Kim Sun-uk's condition had worsened, and they had no food.
Jang Hana hadn't eaten or drunk all day. A normal person would've collapsed.
Jaesung-ssi must be suffering more.
She endured, watching him. In truth, he'd eaten well while she slept, but she had no clue.
"We need to escape this desert somehow. Or find an oasis. Hana-ssi, did you spot any coming here?"
"No. Nothing."
"Right."
Jaesung feigned deep worry. Then he spoke again.
"We should scout more. Morning was for the party; now it's water."
"Now?"
"Yeah. Sun's setting. The ground's heat will fade fast. Cold will come, but unavoidable."
"Isn't it dangerous?"
"Just recon. Might find an oasis. Or the others—that'd be ideal. You guard Sun-uk-ssi here. Monsters might come. I'll be back in two hours max."
"Got it."
She nodded. Jaesung left unencumbered, no backpack.
"Wait! Jaesung-ssi… no bag?"
"Just recon—no need for weight."
He vanished. Jang Hana was left alone. With Sun-uk unconscious, it felt like utter solitude. The realization brought an unfamiliar terror.
Alone in a dungeon. Every hunter knew what that meant.
Her heart pounded. What to do? Thoughts fragmented, blood rushing from her head. Amid it, Sun-uk's ragged breaths boomed.
"Sun-uk-ssi…"
Recalling his state shifted her gaze to Jaesung's backpack. She swallowed hard.
Don't think bad thoughts!
She chanted to resist temptation. But it wasn't easily shaken. A little devil whispered in her mind.
-Now's your chance.
'No.'
-What's no? What's more precious than life?
'Stealing is wrong. Especially a hunter's antidote… it's as vile as taking a soldier's bullets.'
-So you'll let your lover die?
'He won't die. We can all live.'
-Stubborn nonsense.
The devil mocked her. She bit her lip, plugging her ears to its eloquent lies—but futile. It was born from her own heart.
-You know the way out. Stop ignoring it. Is your flimsy morality that precious? You'll regret this.
'Regret what?'
-Don't play dumb. When your love dies, you'll hate yourself. I see it clear as day.
'…'
-Admit it. You're no saint clinging to cheap morals. Why didn't you beg Jaesung-ssi outright?
'…I did.'
-Not that vague pleading. A direct ask. Why not say, "I know you have the antidote—please give it"?
'I couldn't be that shameless. I'd already messed up big.'
-Not even honest with yourself. Truth? You knew he'd refuse. That's why no direct beg. You already know a better way than begging.
'…'
-Why hesitate? Move. Now's the chance. He doesn't suspect you know. Perfect crime.
'Steal it and then what?'
-Duh. Treat Sun-uk-ssi. Then grab Jaesung'ssi's bag and run.
'…You're serious?'
-Why lie? I don't bet my life on your morals. Be real—you know gearless Jaesung-ssi won't survive this desert. Perfect crime.
'Betray my savior? You really are a devil.'
-Don't forget: I'm you. Time's short. He said two hours. Treatment takes at least one, right?
The devil's voice faded. Jang Hana bit her lip and punched the cave wall. No blood, no tear. She vented more on the rock.
"Hic! What am I supposed to do?!"
Her eyes bloodshot. As the devil said, she wasn't a saint. But no trash either. Not exceptional, but not scum.
She sensed the moment of choice. Had she ever trembled like this? Even the hunter exam hadn't shaken her this much. Eyes squeezed shut, Jaesung's words echoed.
-Tonight will be the turning point. Or rather, starting tonight.
The devil overlaid it.
-Don't forget: I'm you.