Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Flag King
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"You."
"Yes."
Looking at the blue-haired girl answering so brightly, I felt a headache coming on. Why the hell was she even here?
I decided not to ask. She'd probably just say something like, "I've got a way!"
Come to think of it, Shin Chae-yeon had pulled that kind of stunt before. When she was a kid and exhausted from harsh training, she'd secretly switch places with Shin Ga-yeon.
Shin Chae-yeon was the talented one, while Shin Ga-yeon had it easy. That was part of why the little sister looked out for her big sis.
"Aren't you gonna ask?"
"What's the point when I already know what you'd say? I do have one question, though. How'd you do your hair?"
You're supposed to have long hair. As if answering my question, Shin Ga-yeon's blue locks floated up into the air, freed from their bonds. Suddenly, there was this long hair.
I could tell how she'd done it without even asking.
"Magic?"
"Yes!!"
What a pointless spell. It didn't seem complicated, so it probably wouldn't go haywire.
More importantly, thank goodness she hadn't actually cut it. I'd nearly freaked out thinking she'd chopped it off just to tag along.
"Hmm..."
"What's up?"
Seeing her still grinning like an idiot stirred up some curiosity from the back of my mind.
The settings I'd given her were just a few tweaks from when she was little.
Was our fully grown Ice Princess, with her personality all set, seriously running around pretending to be Shin Ga-yeon right now? Was that even possible?
Their personalities were polar opposites. One was an endless chatterbox, the other an endless cool-headed patient.
No matter how I thought about it, I couldn't figure it out, so I just asked directly.
"Is Shin Chae-yeon pretending to be you in class right now?"
Shin Ga-yeon nodded vigorously at my question.
"Just once."
Nod.
That single immediate nod was kinda creepy.
"What if you get caught?"
"It's fine. We won't. We've never been caught!!"
"You just got caught by me right away?!"
"Pfft. You already knew who I was. 'Caught' is a bit of a stretch."
No, really. I'd felt something off the moment I saw her. As if responding to that, Shin Ga-yeon grinned at me again.
Looking down at me, her face right up against my knee, beaming.
The picture it painted was kinda weird.
"It's fine. I don't have any friends."
That didn't answer my question. I don't have friends either. What does that have to do with anything? You can just tell by looking.
"No one even talks to me, so it's all good!!"
That was kinda sad. Still, wouldn't they call attendance in class?
"Chae-yeon's been good at acting since forever. Don't worry."
"You don't seem like you are."
"Pfft. I'm way better. Anyway, we won't get caught. Do you know how much I begged her to switch? I didn't eat a single meal all weekend?"
She's gotta be, what, our age, and she's pulling a hunger strike? I couldn't exactly drag her back now.
I pressed my temples and just went along with it for now. Better than getting too tangled up with Shin Chae-yeon.
No arguing over leadership either. Yeah. Think positive. People should live positively.
"Hehe. This'll be fun. Next time something happens in Chae-yeon's class, I'll ask to switch!!"
I wasn't trying to live that positively.
"That's her, right? Shin Ga-yeon."
That was the first thing Raphael said when Shin Ga-yeon and I got back, eyeing her closely.
Yeah, see? Caught right away. She had the blank expression, short hair, same face—but she was different.
The vibe was off. Blank but bright. Shin Chae-yeon was emotionless, hard to approach.
But you? Just a blank idiot.
"Whoa, how'd you know?! It was perfect! Did the headband slip?"
"It's on straight."
"Then why?!"
She seriously didn't know? That was a problem in itself.
"No issue, right? We're heading into the dungeon anyway. If anyone's gonna catch us, it's the one back at Justitia."
"Oh. That's fine. I don't have friends!!"
Isia sighed at the beaming Shin Ga-yeon. No idea what for.
"You don't have friends either."
"I-I do! I'm friends with Lucy, okay??"
"No. Any friends you've made since coming to Justitia? As far as I know, none. Raphael and I? We already told you—nope. Not friends. Wanna be? Pay a million won a month in friendship fees."
Raphael nodded at my words. I ignored her whispering, "Bump it to two?" as she sidled up.
This girl definitely had personality issues.
"...Fine. I'm declining anyway."
She huffed the same way, but she was the one rejected.
We were the winners. I balled my fist and held it out to Raphael; she bumped it with hers.
"What're you doing...?"
"Victory ceremony."
"Right."
She looked confused, but we won, loser.
"......"
Isia glared like she wanted to kill us, but it didn't faze me? I'd gotten used to those looks.
"Seong-hoon."
"What."
"Why're you hiding behind me."
"Not hiding. Something fell."
Tsk. Same huff. But seriously, mess up and you're dead. Isia learned 「Mana Chant Disruption」. Nearly died to it recently.
"Quit messing around and get ready to—"
"We'll start the experience now!! Times vary per team, so wait your turn!! First team!!"
The instructor's call made eye contact with Raphael. I immediately gave her a thumbs-down.
"You're the Flag King. Everything you say flags something."
"A compliment?"
Is it?
We entered the dungeon.
I felt it the moment we did.
"I wanna go home."
"It's been less than five minutes."
"That's why I wanna go. What do you know. Look at these ominous walls! These twisty paths!! Scary as hell!!"
"Wow."
Raphael let out an impressed groan, but no helping it. Instinct was screaming to get out.
You could tell just from the walls nearby. Walls with glowing luminous stones stuck to them. Made everything visible.
Traces of battle everywhere. Smeared blood and flesh. And the smell? No blood stench. No rotting flesh either.
Just the smell of death. Hard to put into words. Anyway, that unique mix they make.
Cave chill made it even creepier.
Felt totally different from that instant dungeon before. That one nailed the eerie vibe, but this was real.
Death traces lined the path. Mostly monsters', sure, but still scary.
Who wouldn't wanna bail here? Only a combat drone.
"I'm only here to help if you're in danger, so treat me like I'm not here. Dungeons are risky. Terrain shifts constantly, monsters can respawn—"
Shut up. I half-ignored the instructor—who'd tagged along for safety—as I walked.
Thanks to Raphael's blessing right at entry, my steps felt light.
First time it helped since coming here. Damn angel.
"Body feels light—I'm pumped!"
"Oh, first time? Feels great, right, blondie?"
"Why're you bragging like it's your achievement, Seong-hoon? Ridiculous."
Shin Ga-yeon, freshly blessed by Raphael, was bouncing around excitedly. You could feel the thrill in her gait. Gonna trip like that.
"Anyway, this a dungeon? Even a picnic's more tense."
Raphael muttered boredly. Isia, next to her, pretended to adjust her unused glasses and pointed.
"Boss monster's dead, that's why. Dungeon core's boss is gone, so fewer respawns. Low-rank dungeons like this get bosses killed but cores left for training. Perfect for candidates lacking real combat—"
Blah blah, annoying.
She'd never make a teacher. Raphael, same page, walked with pinky in her ear.
Shin Ga-yeon was too far ahead to hear. Only the instructor, trailing a bit, nodded.
What are you even?
"So—hey. You listening??"
Hey—!!
Ignoring that and walking, Shin Ga-yeon had stopped ahead, waiting. What if a monster popped while she's speed-walking like that?
"Fork."
She pointed, and yeah, a three-way split.
No clue which led down. Nothing visible.
This dungeon's five floors, I think. Low D-rank, so not many.
"How long?"
"That short?"
I stroked the nodding cat. A purr and voice followed.
"Middle."
Everyone followed without protest. Except one.
"Ooh, why middle? Curious."
Treat her like air, she said, but she's been annoying. I gave a lazy answer.
"Gut."
"Gut? Important in dungeons. But for pathfinding, it burdens teammates. Everyone else okay?"
All nodded. Except one.
"No. Legs hurt. If Seong-hoon carries me, we could go wherever—ow!!"
Smacked her to shut her up.
Pathfinding's key in dungeons, yeah. Determines if you reach boss without losses.
Guilds favor pathfinder skills.
But whatever. I had the cat, superior to those guys.
Ignoring the instructor's skeptical eyes, we went.
"Left."
"Right."
"Enter middle, then immediate right."
"Hm. Charging like this'll take forever."
So noisy. More forks kept coming as we walked.
Good news: no traps. Already cleared once, so traps removed.
Proof: 「Mana Eye」 not triggering.
"Huh? End."
"See? Should scout carefully, feel air currents, or—huh?"
Shin Ga-yeon stopped because it wasn't a dead end—it was stairs down.
I ignored the wide-eyed idiot blinking and headed for the stairs.
Oh, right, hadn't done that. Grinned at the disbelieving instructor. Not just any grin.
Who do you think I am?
"Seong-hoon. You're gonna get scolded."
"Nah."
Losers stay quiet. Gave her a pissed-off grin, then descended slowly.
Her dumb face made my mood soar.
"No traps here either. That instant one had tons."
"Ask Isia."
Isia flinched and looked over, face screaming 'Not explaining.'
Don't.
"Cleared already? Man, boring. No monsters."
She talks big without fighting.
Ignored and kept going; next floor soon. Late instructor joined.
"Hurry to the last floor."
"Boring. Legs hurt. Monster'd make it fun."
Crack—!!
A crisp sound hit with it. Ground split ahead. Out popped one.
「Kyaaaaaaa!!」
Small body, all wearing red conical hats.
Monsters.
"Raphael."
"Not my fault!!"
"Your mouth's the problem."
Please, just stay quiet. Flag King.