The Nightmare Returns (1)
A single text message arrived out of nowhere. After sending Han Yuri back to the dorm, I headed straight for the professor's office.
[Somewhat Decent Professor: Something urgent came up. Sorry, but I won't be able to make it to the recovery party.]
As acting principal, she'd been away for a week, so it made sense. Still, I had something to give her, so I knocked on the office door.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Come in."
When I opened the door, I found her typing away at her keyboard more frantically than usual.
"You actually knocked this time?"
"Of course. How could I barge into the office of someone as lofty as you without knocking?"
"……If your mouth is working that well, you must be feeling better."
As I took a seat, she brought out the usual ether tea, as if it were second nature. By now, sharing a cup of ether tea before talking had become our unspoken ritual.
"So, what brings you here?"
"You said you couldn't come to the party, so I came to you instead. I was planning to give you this there."
I held out a small box.
"This is……"
"Open it."
She carefully lifted the lid, revealing a ring case. Inside sat a crystal ring, gleaming softly.
"……"
Her expression looked as if she'd been struck. Her eyes trembled violently.
"Th-that…… Th-this is……"
It was the most flustered I'd ever seen Irena. Her hands shook as she fumbled, then she cleared her throat and pushed the box back toward me.
"We are in a master-disciple relationship. Marriage is still too soon. Once you stand on equal footing with me, we can take things slowly from the beginning……"
"I think you're misunderstanding something."
"What?"
"This isn't a proposal."
"……What?"
She stared blankly. So this woman could make that kind of face too. I returned the ring case to her.
"It's a thank-you gift for helping me this time. Thank you for everything over the past week."
I bowed my head sincerely. A week ago, I'd gone to her half out of my mind.
'Could you help me just this once?'
That single sentence, with no explanation, had been enough. She nodded and followed me without question. During the day she assisted with my dungeon activities, and at night she worked with the Association to plan the capture of the Baekho bastards. Her contributions had been so significant that I could confidently call her the MVP of the entire operation.
"Thank you. Truly."
"Lift your head. You must have suffered far more than I did."
She offered a faint smile and tucked the ring against her chest.
"If that was your intention, I'll accept it gratefully. By the way, what is this called? I've never seen one before……"
"It's called Fairy's Courage. Would you like to try it on?"
Irena slipped the ring onto the middle finger of her left hand. The transparent crystal gradually took on a brighter glow. Her mouth fell open at the beautiful sight.
"It's beautiful……"
"It is, but it also amplifies its power according to the depth of the wearer's emotions. Depending on the feeling, the color changes—black for anger, bright light for joy."
"Is that so……?"
After thinking for a moment, Irena took my hand.
"Professor?"
"I think it would suit you better than me."
"No, I……"
Despite my refusal, she slid the ring onto my finger. The once-bright crystal gradually faded back to its original state. Irena's face fell. I gave a bitter smile and handed the ring back.
"I can't use artifacts of this type. So please wear it, Professor."
"……Understood."
Her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she swallowed the words.
"Then I'll be going. If I stay any longer, the kids will scold me."
"Yes. Go on ahead."
Irena saw me off with the ring pressed to her chest. Just as I was about to close the door behind me—
"If it ever becomes too much to bear, come talk to me."
"Sorry?"
"Killing someone wears a person down, no matter the reason."
So she knew. The Association had promised to keep it confidential, but it seemed Irena had found out anyway. Even so, she didn't blame me for what I'd done. She simply offered her support.
I smiled faintly.
"Thank you."
I really should change her nickname from "Somewhat Decent Professor" to "Very Decent Professor."
On the way back, I hurried into the dorm.
"Oh no."
Complete chaos. Bottles rolled across the floor and the stench of alcohol filled the air.
"Hey! Lee Seonghyuuun!"
Han Yuri pointed an accusing finger at me.
"How could you do this to me! Why didn't you say a single word to our guild?!"
She was screaming at the top of her lungs while Choi Ahyeon, clearly drunk, climbed onto my back and drooled on my head.
"Hehe. Seonghyun's here!"
And then there was Shin Suyeon, slumped asleep in her wheelchair. At least one person still had her wits about her.
"Hyun-ah, you're back?"
Lee Seol was there too.
"It's only been thirty minutes and they're already all passed out."
"Yeah…… They suddenly started drinking like crazy."
"But are you okay? You're a lightweight. You passed out pretty fast last time we drank together."
"Hmm…… Maybe the alcohol's treating me well today…… Hehe. Here, have a drink."
"Sure."
'We have to clear another outbreak dungeon tomorrow. This is bad.'
I hadn't expected them to drink this much.
'Well, it'll work out somehow.'
***
Hunter Association transport vehicle.
After finishing surgery at the hospital, Kim Seongho—wearing an ability-suppressing anklet—was being taken to detention. Even though he'd received healing skills, the area burned by Thunder God had left him with only one eye.
"……"
His unfocused gaze held no hope, no will. He looked like someone on the verge of suicide. He stared blankly out the window.
'So even that guy abandoned me……'
His father and every guild member had been arrested. The sycophants who used to fawn over him cut contact the moment he became useless. The only person left was his secretary. She'd severed all ties to avoid investigation, but it seemed even that had been pointless.
BOOM!
The vehicle was engulfed in a massive explosion.
"Wh-what?!"
"We're under attack! Contact headquarters!"
Two Association staff members called for backup while exiting the vehicle. Both were C-rank. With the Association short on manpower and Kim Seongho already restrained, they'd assigned lower-ranked personnel to transport duty. That decision had come back to bite them.
"Graaah!"
"Kugh!"
His secretary was B-rank. She stood no chance. Once the sounds of combat died down, the rear door opened.
"Young master. Please come out."
"……Yeah."
The secretary offered a crossbow, arrows, and a post-it note—the kind used in the Hall of Challenge, except this one was blank.
[Short-Range Dungeon Teleport]
An artifact that sent the user to the nearest dungeon. Because the Association had banned it, it was traded only on the black market.
"Are you really going to do this? Wouldn't it be better to wait until you can get out of prison……"
Kim Seongho weakly shook his head.
"That would only bring new suffering. It's all over…… Everything……"
The secretary sighed as she watched him stagger away.
'With this, my debt is paid. I hope you find peace wherever you go.'
***
"Lee Seonghyun! I'm using Meteor Shower!"
"Got it!"
At Han Yuri's shout, I threw myself sideways. Attacks rained down at the same time.
BOOM!
"Hup!"
Before the smoke cleared, Choi Ahyeon charged in. She cut through the haze with her daggers, dropping ogres one after another. Perfect. Their teamwork was solid, and their damage output was steadily increasing.
'We're finally getting our coordination down.'
With the student council team disbanded, another team had stepped in as substitutes. Normally no one would have volunteered, but the promise of double assignment points had drawn them like moths to a flame. Neither team caused trouble, and everyone pulled their weight, so the hunt proceeded smoothly.
"Seven incoming from the front! I'll keep us safe!"
"Confirmed."
"Okay!"
The moment I activated Thunder God and rushed the monsters—
"Lee Seonghyun!"
"Seonghyun-ah!"
Both voices rang in my ears. I rolled sideways on instinct.
'Shit! What the—?!'
A sharp pain flared in my side. I looked down. An arrow. An arrow was lodged in my flank. Tracing its trajectory, I spotted Kim Seongho in the distance, crossbow in hand.
"Let's go together. To hell."
"Kim Seongho?"
Why was this bastard here when he should be locked up by the Association?! But the question didn't last long. White light enveloped my body.
'Short-Range Dungeon Teleport!'
The post-it tied to the arrow was glowing.
"Lee Seonghyun! Are you okay?!"
"Don't come!"
If they approached now, they'd be teleported with me.
"To hell……! We're all going to hell together!"
He spread his arms wide like a madman, cheering. I squeezed every last drop of mana from my body and activated True Step.
BOOM!
Thunder God
"To hell……huh?"
"Yeah, you bastard. Let's see how far we can go."
Grinning, I grabbed him by the collar. White light swallowed us both, and we were teleported into the dungeon.
***
Irena's office.
She answered the call with a hardened expression.
—Lee Seonghyun is currently trapped inside Ogre's Forest! The dungeon will open in two days. We're coordinating with the Association to deal with the monsters…… Professor?
"Yes……"
—You should come here immediately. The students who were in the same group as Lee Seonghyun are going berserk…… Professor? Are you listening?! Professor?!
Thud.
Irena collapsed to the floor.
"Haa…… haa……"
She clutched her chest as if breathing had become painful. Her pupils dilated, and her hands and feet trembled uncontrollably. It was happening again. The nightmare's return. As if the heavens were testing her once more, another trial had descended.
"No……"
This couldn't be real. Praying it was a dream, she slammed her forehead against the floor.
Thud.
"No……"
Even as blood streamed down her face, she denied reality and kept striking the ground.
Thud! Thud!
"No……!"
This isn't real!
The floor grew slick with blood. The ring on her finger—Fairy's Courage—had turned pitch black. The once-bright crystal now radiated an ominous hue. Strength gradually returned to her eyes as she stared at it.
The first gift that child had ever given her. Proof that he had thanked her for the first time. She couldn't lose it so meaninglessly. She couldn't let it slip away like this.
Crunch.
'Never again……'
"I won't repeat the same mistake……!"
Madness filled Irena's blood-soaked eyes.