The Resolve to Conquer
I'd been a little worried about whether the lizardmen and the wolves would get along.
Back in the Forest Zone, the lizardmen had suffered quite a bit at the wolves' hands.
While I had gotten my revenge directly and held no particular grudges against the wolves, the lizardmen might feel differently.
Since I'd brought them here myself, I just hoped there wouldn't be any trouble between the lizardmen and the wolves.
[Good work! You really suffered!]
They were wary at first, but it didn't last long before they started mingling. Looked like my worries were unfounded.
Though the topic of their chatter was a bit annoying.
Since it had been a while, maybe some sparring with the lizardmen to celebrate would be good.
Wise Scale and the triplets first.
All four of you, come at me together.
Wise Scale had grown to A-rank while we were away, so I trusted he'd put up a good fight.
Let's see how much you've all grown.
Don't worry—I'll heal you before you die.
“Tsuuaaaah—!!!”
Daily life after returning safely didn't seem much different from before we left.
After safely returning home, Snow and I took a lap around the area.
As the ruler of the layer, Snow needed to manage her territory, and I was her support.
According to Wise Scale and the other lizardmen, there hadn't been any major issues, but we still needed to check.
I watched quietly as Snow unleashed her aura without mercy to announce our return.
Before long, some monsters emerged.
They must've been strutting around with some swagger in Snow's absence.
[Hoh. While this lady was away, the trash has really multiplied.]
By Snow's standards: B-rank riffraff, A-rank rabble, even S-rank scum.
A ton of monsters showed up.
The layer was huge, so they poured out in droves.
[Even after that cleaning, this many? Impressive.]
[Heh. This land is that harsh. Take your eyes off it for a second, and it sprouts up annoyingly like this.]
Snow methodically cleared them out, looking every bit the ruler of the land.
After seeing her so listless outside, it was refreshing to see her proper form again.
[That's my Snow! Awesome! The best! Epic!]
[Kyaa! Snow! Over here! Look this way!]
I quietly ignored the cheers from some of my partners watching her in action.
And watched Snow's cleanup obediently.
She didn't kill the other monsters outright.
She subdued them first, then questioned them one by one.
[You're decent. I rather like you. Care to serve this lady?]
She asked each subdued one.
Those who submitted meekly were spared; the rest were filtered out first.
[Would've been nice if you'd submitted quietly. Pity.]
She used mental domination on the rejects.
[That previous sight stuck with me. Rather than killing them all, I want subordinates.]
She was probably referring to Arde's monsters she'd seen before.
Watching them must've inspired her.
Snow, who'd ruled solitarily and proudly, was now taking subordinates.
Her mental domination didn't work on all of them.
Even if lower-ranked than Snow, they were high-rank monsters forged in harsh wilds.
Some resisted.
Instead of anger, Snow seemed delighted.
Like Suli finding a fun toy.
Seemed she'd developed a peculiar hobby since taking Song Jae-ha as her first subordinate.
I watched Snow subdue them one by one, then quietly turned away.
Even for a couple, privacy matters.
Just hope she doesn't get too absorbed.
Shaking off the worry, I headed to see Suli and the kids.
While Snow enjoyed her new hobby, my routine flowed unchanged.
Training with the lizardmen and the new wolves.
Cozy playtime with Suli and the kids.
Occasional spars with Snow.
Peaceful late-night chats with everyone gathered.
Life after returning was blissfully happy and precious.
I wanted this time to last forever, but I knew it couldn't.
It's about time to leave.Arde's death and the battles with Leysia, Kwon Je-na, and the hunters had driven it home.
I still needed to grow stronger.
I could grow stronger.
To protect this precious time, I needed power.
About a month after returning to this comfortable home, I quietly resolved.
Let's conquer the Great Labyrinth.
A feat no hunter—not even Seong Jae-myeong—had achieved.
As a monster, not a hunter, I decided to do it.
For my own growth.
No—for my family's precious time.
“Kyung! Kyaaang—!”
As expected, Suli wailed in fierce opposition when I finally broached leaving.
Forgetting our familiar mental link, she clung desperately, tearing at my heart.
That's why I'd hesitated all this time.The thought of leaving had been there before returning home, but voicing it now, a month later, stemmed mostly from worry for Suli.
Or rather, my own selfishness.
Beyond growing stronger, time with Suli, Snow, and the family was precious.
Just one more day. One day.
That turned into a month.
I knew delaying forever led nowhere.
As sad as it was, if I was leaving, better sooner.
Before my resolve crumbled.
I had reason—and need—to grow stronger.
[Sorry, Suli. I can't keep my promise to always stay together.]
“Kyung! Kyaang!”
[Sorry for being a dad who lies every time.]
“Kyaaaang—”
[Forgive this dad who can't even promise to be back soon.]
“Myaaang....”
Suli drooped her head powerlessly at my calm words.
She's smart; she knew what I meant.
That tantrums wouldn't change it.
As my heart ached again at her sight, Snow, who'd watched quietly, approached softly.
[Come here, Suli.]
“Myaaang....”
Snow licked Suli once, then looked at me.
[Come back safely.]
[...Not going to stop me?]
[Do you wish this lady to cling like Suli?]
I shut my mouth at Snow's quiet gaze.
I didn't wish that, but...
[Truth be told, this lady wants to cling too. I even thought of bawling like Suli to make you stay. But I won't.]
[...Why?]
[Because I know you'll return.]
Snow turned slowly.
[No long words. Return in one piece—your body is no longer just yours.]
[...I'll remember.]
Snow gathered Suli and the kids and turned.
True to her word, no more talk—just a seemingly cold back.
I watched her for a moment.
Her voice echoed in my mind.
[But don't be too late. Or this lady might come fetch you first.]
Snow and the kids vanished.
I gazed at the empty snowfield, then turned.
We'll talk properly when I return safely.
No hesitation.
Time to move forward.
Thus, I passed the 70th floor to the 71st.
Snow had told me about floors below the 70th.
She'd gone down often to fight her rival, the 72nd floor lord.
Back then, I wondered if she was the Snow Mountain Zone lord.
After killing her rival layer lord, wasn't she the strongest there?
But seeing it myself, it didn't seem so.
71st floor.
When Snow and I first met, she'd taken out the layer lord here.
No new one since; when I first visited, none either.
Just occasional S-rank monsters.
They sensed my presence but didn't attack first, so I didn't either.
72nd floor.
Once ruled by Snow's rival.
Without its master, it was chaos.
Monsters claimed territories, fought endlessly.
Weak eaten, strong survived and grew stronger.
Social Darwinism.
Reminded me of old Forest Zone days, now distant memories.
I had no intent to attack first unless hungry, but many monsters came at me.
From S-rank to SA-rank locals holding their turf.
Especially common: Ice Ogres, ogre subspecies.
Come to think of it, Snow's rival was an ogre too?
Twin-Head Ogre, definitely.
Ate its magic stone, gained Multiple Personalities skill—unforgettable.
[Suli too...]
[Rue too...]
[Take Tosuni...]
Starting from some unknown partner, the mental realm grew noisy.
Not long since parting, but longing hit hard.
Normally I'd cut the noisy link, but this time I let it be.
I missed them too.
Still, with the rowdy bunch, it wasn't lonely.
I spent more time on the 72nd than the 71st.
No real threats, but some memorable monsters.
Passed 72nd, through 73rd and 74th, to 75th.
Crossing the warp gate, familiar blizzards greeted me.
SS-rank now, storms like this were nothing—but this felt different.
No need, but I wanted shelter in some quiet spot.
The kids' constant whining had worn me a bit.
Pushed through the gale, sought a cave.
No luck finding one.
Plenty of caves, but none big enough for me.
My size was the issue.
Resorted to Inhwa's Art for a suitable cave.
“Kuerung—!”
Negotiated with the occupant, as usual.
Some resistance, but my persistence won; it yielded the cave.
A-rank, white bear monster like a polar bear—thick fur, tough in this cold.
In the cozy new cave, I lit a fire and waited out the storm.
First leisure since leaving family.
Miss Suli and Snow.
Rue and Tosuni too.
Everyone.
Next day, storm cleared, left the cave—and found something odd.
Not traces: a corpse.
A hunter frozen in a transparent ice pillar.
Dead long ago, preserved a decade or so—I admired unwittingly.
Seong Jae-myeong came this far.No traces above, I'd given up—but finding this here was surprising.
And exciting.
The strongest hunter then—how far did he go?
If this body was so preserved, maybe Seong's was too?
Unlikely—he wouldn't freeze in battle.
Still, couldn't quell the rising anticipation.
Got to hurry.Couldn't face Seong Jae-myeong anymore, long dead—but tracing his path thrilled me.
Felt like competing with him.
If I went farther than he did...
Seong Jae-myeong, once distantly mythical, felt close.
Pick up the pace.