33. Must escape
33. Must escape
Severe internal injuries making dantian recovery sluggish, Woo Ho-beop's voice resounding in her head, a hazy mind from being unable to sleep.
The sleep she fell into after meeting Ryu-o lasted a mere two days.
But that brief taste of sweetness had driven Cheon Hwa-ryeong even madder.
Forgetting even the inner demon she'd brought back from the Labyrinth, she trudged in one direction.
Even as she walked, that bastard's brightly smiling face kept flickering before her eyes, drawing out a hollow laugh.
"Kukukukuk... Puahahahaha!"
-Hiiik! Ch-Cheonma!
-L-Laugh... laughing? Hurry inside! Before things go south.
-Please just pass by quick... please...
No matter how the vermin chattered, the Heavenly Demon had no time to care.
Her head was now filled to the brim with a new master.
"Jang Ryu-o..."
The cheeky bastard who called her noona kept popping into her mind, tormenting her.
Though calling it torment felt off—now she couldn't sleep without him...
If she found him, what should she do...?
Chop off both his legs, turn him into a cripple?
Gouge out both his eyes so he lived hearing only her voice.
Or maybe hack off his limbs and keep him hugged in her arms forever?
"Haha..."
Her brain, being eroded by demonic energy, produced a sticky, heavy aura.
Resembling a grim reaper, Cheon Hwa-ryeong headed to the Labyrinth while reveling in delightful fantasies.
That's when a bitch committed the grave sin of blocking her path...
-Kung!
"I came after a report... You should be in the east, but you look like hell, Cheon Hwa-ryeong?"
A red-haired knight with green eyes, hair tied high, stood blocking her way.
A face Cheon Hwa-ryeong recognized—she answered.
"Is Jang Ryu-o in there?"
At the out-of-left-field question, the red-haired knight furrowed her brows and called over the knights behind her.
"Duchy knights, I need your cooperation. Who the hell is Jang Ryu-o anyway?"
Then a knight bearing the Duchy crest bowed and whispered in her ear.
"Hm? Really?"
She nodded, then the knight with steely resolve curled the corner of her mouth.
"No need for you to know!"
The next step was obvious.
-Kwaaaang!!
No need to trigger a Dungeon Break right from the start—they did it on the 6th floor.
Now the monsters had gone berserk once already.
And no one here had much experience.
Every situation pointed to the worst of the worst.
To survive, they had to pull out every trick.
No way everyone here would close their eyes as a favor.
No point hiding abilities to screw someone over later, so he slammed his head into the ground fast.
-Puuk!
"Kyaaak! Jang Ryu-o! Wh-what are you doing?!"
"Su-suicide? He's nuts! We're done for!"
"...Weak male."
-Suwuk!
When he pulled his head out, his comrades screamed like they'd seen a ghost.
"Hiiiik!"
"Eh??"
"...Huh?"
Even the apprentice knights were freaking out.
Wasn't trying to cause confusion, but it just got more chaotic.
Explanations later—run first.
"Explanations later, everyone! We're heading to the 10th floor! Just follow me!"
"Y-Yeah!"
"Wh-what? You all trust him? This is..."
"Shut up and run, male!"
Abandoning them was an option, but only as a last resort.
Goal was full survival.
Pacing himself moderately, his comrades and apprentice knights stumbled after him.
"""Kerururuk!"""
Hobgoblins with reddened eyes popping up here and there, and...
-Clatter! Clatter!
Skeleton Soldiers in thin armor too.
Even red slimes, giant spiders...
Spotting us non-kin, the monsters swarmed.
"Break through!"
Magna, Gongnyeo, and the knights following behind fanned out beside him and clashed with the monsters.
Weapons clanging amid the mix, spider legs occasionally aiming for his neck.
-Changchang! Clatter!
That's when Jenin yelled from behind.
"Kwaak! S-Slime! Someone hit this thing!"
Glancing back, slimes were sticking tenaciously to Jenin's legs.
Scared to shoot magic at her own legs, apparently.
Mages were key comrades, so he approached to save Jenin...
-Seureuk...
"?"
"S-Saved! How did you..."
The slimes spotted him and fled far away.
'Slime Body? Am I some slime king or what?'
Seeing the slimes, he immediately slammed his head into the ground again.
-Puuk!
Recalculated the path. The one with the most slimes.
-Suwuk!
"Everyone turn around! Opposite direction!"
Gongnyeo, who'd been bashing monsters with her shield, yelled.
"Hey!!! Everyone follow himmmm!"
Thanks, Gongnyeo-nim.
At the sudden direction change, Magna let out a massive roar.
"Uoooooo!"
-Flash!
A magic circle formed under her feet with a flash.
Magna stuck her finger in the magic circle and...
"Huaaaaa!!!!"
Flipped it like an overturned table toward the monster horde.
-Kwaduduk! Pajik!
"Krerueuk!!!"
...What the...? No, perfect.
Leaving the crushed and shoved-back monsters behind, they bolted the other way.
-Udadadada!
While running, apprentice knights peppered the monsters with checks.
-Shik! Kwajik! Wooduk!
They'd reached the slime-heavy path before long...
"Don't attack, just run!"
"Haa! Haa! You're insane! We'll all melt!!!"
"Shut up and follow him! Jang Ryu-o! I trust youuu!"
Pushing harder, the slimes stuck to the walls like the miracle of Moses.
Monsters tripping over moving slimes got their ankles tangled and swept aside.
"...Saint? Demon King?"
Magna crossed herself at him while running.
Explanations aplenty later—survive first.
"W-We can do this!"
"As expected of Jang Ryu-o! You're my comrade from now on! Battle buddy! Hehihit!!"
With the path cleared up, everyone's eyes lit with hope.
"Almost there—I'll splash oil barrels, then cast Fire Ball!"
Jenin nodded without minding the casual speech.
"Y-Yeah! Got it!"
Apprentice knights in sturdy boots stomped the skulls of fallen monsters.
-Peok!
Mid-smooth run, monsters poured from around the corner.
"Kraaaak!"
He dropped low, slammed his hand into the floor, and flipped it up.
-Shiriririk!
"Kereuk!?"
The lead goblin's shortsword got sucked in, crushed, exploded, and shattered.
Monsters pelted by the shrapnel had holes punched through them.
-Chahaak!
Blood splashed into his mouth with a gruesome taste and smell, but he ignored it.
"Ptoo!"
'Stamina...'
HP: 770/790
Plenty of leeway. Taking only 20 HP from this? Profitable.
He would definitely survive.
Had to see Master.
They'd arrived at the 8th floor before long.
Right after hopping through the portal, an ear-splitting scream rang out.
-Cheolk! Ujijik!
"Kwaaaaaaaaak!"
"Wh-what?! Jeral?"
Looking toward the sound, Jeral was collapsed, bawling his eyes out.
A hunting trap dug into his ankle, spewing blood.
"Huaaaak! Huaaak!"
-Psssh! Psssh!
Apprentice knights rushed over, pried off the trap, and sprayed potion.
-Chiiik!
"Kueueuk!"
Screaming like this...
-Dududududu!
Sure enough, monsters came swarming at the noise.
Unlucky accident. Of all places, stepping on a trap.
Well, Jenin's fault too for that getup in a dungeon...
The 7th floor slimes had swept all traps away, breeding complacency.
He yelled at Jenin.
"Healed? Then stand up! Breaking through again!"
Hearing him, Jenin pitifully sobbed on the ground.
"Hueeeeng! C-Can't... go... hueeeeng!"
'...Abandon him?' The thought crossed his mind when Magna hoisted Jenin up.
"Hup!"
"Huaak! Uh... uuu!"
Jenin flailing in terror.
Couldn't watch this.
He slapped the dangling Jenin's cheek.
-Jjeok!
"Kkeok!"
Jenin clutched her cheek, staring at him dumbly.
But the flailing stopped, focus returning to her eyes.
"Don't wanna die? Then hang on and shoot some magic."
"Mmm! Rational male!"
"Huee... Y-Yes! Got it!"
Apprentice knights blocked the monster horde...
Magna grabbed Jenin's jaw and waist like a bazooka and charged forward.
"Huaaaak!"
"Magic!!"
"Hiiik! W-Wind Cutter!"
...Nice? Boosting Jenin's shitty mobility...
"Hey! Jang Ryu-o! Kids are holding 'em off! Find a path quick!"
"Yes!"
Gongnyeo-nim, thanks again.
And so, 8th floor cleared.
[Level Up!]
The 9th floor escaped the musty cave into the forest entrance.
Random spawn on the round forest outskirts.
No need to search—just follow the blue dot.
But no slacking.
Hobgoblins and orcs started showing up from here.
Now with Dungeon Break and berserk monsters.
Which meant...
"KuoOOOOOO!!!"
-Kungkungkung!
Hadn't even entered the forest proper, but orc hordes charged from afar.
Double digits easy at a glance.
Looking around, comrades were beat.
Despair etched on faces, jaws slack.
Nonstop forced march—fair enough.
But monsters don't care.
"Just run!!! Punch through the middle to the portal!"
Unilateral if he'd kill all orcs, but they'd keep spawning somewhere.
Fighting while advancing? No end. Cave was narrow, no choice.
Now they trusted his word like gospel, responding energetically.
"""Yes!"""
'Forest football, huh...'
He charged ahead.
Footsteps of those following echoed behind.
Just one thought hit him.
'Wanna save 'em all.'
Too much of a pushover? Could've escaped faster solo.
But... didn't wanna.
Body felt lighter.
Orc spotting him floating midair panicked.
Shoved his sword into the neck of the orc that lost its axe target.
-Puguk!
"Kreruruk!! Kreuk!"
Neck muscles so tough, sword wouldn't pull free easy.
Orc seeing pierced comrade swung an axe at him.
Twisted wrist to yank sword...
-Shiriririk! Puhwaak!
The orc's massive body, neck minced, toppled forward.
-Kung!
"Jang Ryu-ooooo!"
To the late arrivals, he said.
"We will definitely get out alive!"
Eyes changed—no more panic, just firm resolve as they nodded.
And so they advanced.