Chapter 62
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: The Star Trying to Gain Light Once More (3)
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Choi Eun-ha uncorked the advanced stamina recovery potion with a satisfying pop, then downed it in one gulp.
The sweet yet slightly bitter aroma unique to potions spread through the surrounding air.
"...Hoo."
Her small shoulders heaved once, and her breathing began to steady bit by bit.
"Haa— Delicious!! Orange-flavored potion!! Energy surging!!!"
She spread her arms wide and jumped to her feet, shouting.
"The effect is insane!!"
"Th... That kind of over-the-top reaction? Is it really that good?"
"It really is! You should feel lucky. Reactions like this? I only give them for donations over a million won, you know?"
Choi Eun-ha grinned and poked my back—where I lay on my side—with her fingertip.
"You were kinda cool earlier when you put that unique mana barrier on me, but wow! Giving me an advanced potion too? I might just fall for you a little?"
"...Shut up and rest more."
"No, but seriously, you're cool—? Guys look even cooler when they take care of a girl who looks drained—"
"I didn't ask, so just rest quietly!"
"...Yes, sir~."
About ten minutes passed like that. We both rested in silence, without a word.
Our breathing gradually steadied.
Mana recovered to about 54%, just over half.
We couldn't delay any longer.
The pulsation had echoed once more just moments ago.
I slowly rose, and Choi Eun-ha used her hammer as a prop to stand.
"Shall we go?"
"Yeah. This is where the real thing starts."
Even so, the path ahead was surprisingly smooth.
No more mantis swarms, lizards, butchers—or any monsters at all.
"It's quiet... too quiet~?"
"Means we're close to the core. High-ranking demons like generals usually don't keep trash mobs inside their lairs."
"Oh, right. Because of their control over the territory?"
"Yeah. No reason to cause unnecessary commotion in front of the boss."
"...So we're almost there."
The rock walls around us vibrated faintly.
Crimson rivers intertwined and writhed like living veins.
Then, as our view opened up, a massive black citadel loomed directly ahead.
Tall spires rose high, adorned with unique magic circles etched into windows and walls.
The entire castle was one massive magic circle—a unique domain in itself.
At the entrance stood two gargoyles, heads bowed in identical poses.
Their surfaces were black and hard like basalt, with red cores embedded in their chests pulsing with light.
"Guards on duty. Gargoyles are A-rank monsters... Think we can take them?"
"Of course~ Check out my weapon! Hammer's the hammer! I can smash those rock lumps easy!!"
Choi Eun-ha slung her hammer over her shoulder and strolled forward casually.
I kept mana use minimal, extending my Empathic Constitution to survey the battlefield.
Whether sensing my presence or reacting to my trait, the gargoyles' eyes flashed open.
-Grrrrr...!!
Wings unfurled on both sides simultaneously, and the ground trembled lightly.
"You stay back and focus on recovering! If I look in danger, just give me some support."
"Got it."
Without a hint of hesitation, Choi Eun-ha charged straight at the gargoyles.
Boom—!!!
A gargoyle's talons slammed down.
But Choi Eun-ha neither ducked nor dodged.
She just met it head-on with her hammer head.
Kwangang—!
A deafening clash like steel rending.
First hit. The gargoyle's arm bent backward, cracks forming.
I provided minimal support.
Only firing a Mana Bullet at its core when the demonic energy surging from it threatened her.
"Nice~ Here we go!"
Two.
Three.
Four.
With each accumulating hammer strike, the shockwaves grew, the attack range widened, and the ferocity intensified.
-Krraaaaaahhh!!!!
The gargoyle's scream. Stone skin shattered and scattered everywhere.
Five.
Six.
The red core in the gargoyle's chest began to shake.
"Last one."
Seven.
The hammer swung horizontally in a massive arc, spinning the gargoyle's body half a turn before smashing it into the side wall.
Bang—!!!!
"Whoa— I noticed earlier, but how does such a tiny body produce that power? Kinda scary now?"
"I'm pretty strong, right? Better watch out~ Mess with me and bam!"
Her confidence was so brazen I couldn't even argue.
The remaining one lasted a bit longer in a similar fashion but met the same end.
With both gargoyles defeated, the castle's grand gates stood fully open before us.
Choi Eun-ha planted her hammer handle on the ground with a thud.
"Alright, shall we head in?"
I nodded slightly.
From inside the entrance, I could hear a heart slowly beating.
Thump... thump... thump... The sound of a general-rank demon on the verge of lordship preparing to descend.
"Alright, Hyun-sol! Let's survive this!"
"...Yeah. We've endured too much to die pointlessly like this."
"Hm? What do you mean?"
"Just... something like that. Anyway, let's hurry."
We exchanged a bit of small talk to ease the tension, then slowly stepped into the castle.
The castle interior resembled a typical medieval docu... or something out of a history book. Modern castle vibes, basically.
If anything, it was a bit cleaner than what you'd see on TV or in webtoons?
"Demonic bugs' castle, but it's surprisingly clean?"
Choi Eun-ha, walking beside me and glancing around, seemed to share my thoughts, her face a mix of bewilderment as she quickened her pace.
"The demonic energy is definitely on another level. Breathing's getting uncomfortable again."
"Yeah. My mana recovered a lot—can you reinforce the barrier?"
"...Please."
She hesitated briefly, probably worried my mana might run low for the fights ahead.
But judging that blocking demonic poisoning took priority right now, she nodded without protest.
I said nothing more, quickly infusing more star mana into the protective barrier around her.
'About 6% used...'
Ripples formed faintly on the barrier, and a thin luminous membrane layered over her shoulders.
Remaining mana: roughly 51%.
"Thanks. Breathing's easier now. You not reinforcing yours?"
"My constitution lets me endure it without much trouble, so I'm saving as much as possible."
"Then let's wrap this up quick and get out. Chat's probably exploding in the broadcast waiting room right now?"
"It works here too?"
"Kinda~ It's an S Corp camera that works inside dungeons, so I could turn it on, but it'd cut out right away? As you know, descent gates have such thick demonic energy it interferes badly."
Explaining that, Choi Eun-ha suddenly stuck out her tongue.
"Oh, more importantly—where'd you get that potion? It was so good. If I get flavor requests for orange potions later, want me to hook you up?"
"...No thanks."
"Eek~ Just connecting you to the maker could make you a ton of money?"
"I'm good. Eyes front when you walk."
"Yes, yes~."
We slowly passed a crossroads.
Of the three paths, the center felt heavy and damp.
The left had a faint breeze.
The right transmitted a rhythmic pulse like a heartbeat instead of silence.
I pointed to the right corridor.
"Right one. Strongest demonic energy there. The sounds alone make it feel like a living castle."
"Living castle... I kinda like that concept."
Choi Eun-ha chuckled and slightly raised her hammer.
"But hey."
"Yeah."
"Earlier, you said we've endured this far, it'd be a waste to die pointlessly... What did that mean?"
"...Don't ask. It's one of those sad guy things only men get."
"Then tell me! I'll be a guy too!"
"Watch the front."
The right corridor led to black stained-glass-like windows.
Beyond them, only pitch-black sky—but staring blankly made it feel like a dark sea churning.
Gazing out the window for a moment, I asked Choi Eun-ha, who was humming ahead.
"By the way, why a hammer of all weapons? It suits your unique trait perfectly, sure,
but you could've pulled off the same performance with others."
"No big reason..."
Choi Eun-ha turned, staring straight into my eyes as she continued.
"Just... something I lost a while back that I still regret. Smashing down hard with the hammer... pushes those thoughts away for a bit."
"......"
Caught off-guard by the sudden serious mood, I scratched the back of my head and apologized.
"Uh, sorry. Shouldn't have pried."
"Nah~ It wasn't that deep. Holding the hammer just calms me down, that's all."
"...Like, heavy stuff makes the memories lighter?"
"Ooh, nice line. Can I use it?"
"Copyright fee only."
"Eek, stingy."
Chatting as we walked, we'd reached the end of the corridor—a semicircular antechamber.
Dozens of iron chains hung from the ceiling, swaying slowly like pendulums at varying lengths.
On the floor below, circular grooves protruded, and chain shadows grazed them with faint clicks like locks.
"Shadow sync puzzle."
I grabbed one swaying chain in the middle and flicked it lightly with my fingertip.
Ting— Waves rippled, resonating to the next chain.
The shadow followed half a beat later.
"This is fun."
Eun-ha struck two in succession with different force.
Ting, tang—
Third: I tapped the opposite side, delaying the whole phase by half a turn.
Click, click, click—!
Most locked grooves unlocked simultaneously.
But the frontal archway door started opening, then halted.
"One left."
Choi Eun-ha pointed at a tiny groove on the doorframe.
"That one needs some heavy pressure?"
"Can you?"
"You call that a question?"
Eun-ha grinned and precisely pressed the hammer head into the groove's center.
Not brute force, but refined pressure.
Creak— The door fully opened.
"Cool. Girl crush?"
"Louder praise."
"You're awesome! Choi Eun-ha, star of the Milky Way Channel!!"
"Correct!"
With the puzzle solved, passing the antechamber revealed another new corridor.
Floor tiles darkened to deep crimson, red threads weaving between them like spreading veins.
Suddenly, a wall painting caught our eyes.
A being with long fingers clutching a falling star.
Choi Eun-ha stopped, tilting her head at it.
"What's that? A painting?"
Unaware of its meaning, she dismissed it as ordinary art. But the moment I confirmed it, I froze solid.
"That...?"
'Why the hell is that painting here?'
Until now, I'd thought it was just a jump-scare event...
But it seems I've gotten tangled in one of the biggest incidents from the main story's mid-arc.