Chapter 114
Chapter 114
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: 38. Deep Within, the Writhing Thing (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Preparation time was a mere three days.
But it wasn't short. They only slept two hours a day. Except for Yeoreum—even the highly skilled Sophia was retching.
It got so bad that Sojiro was whining through tears, "Will there ever come a day in my life when I have to work this hard again?"
The time they'd spent preparing, vomiting and shedding tears... it was now drawing to a close.
The long-awaited day of the B+ Grade Underground Rift Raid had dawned.
5:00 AM.
After a quick raid doping session, the group hurriedly checked into the 'Healing Room' at Colosseo Lair. It was Mikhailov's idea for a short but intense rest.
7:00 AM.
Yoo Ji-tae woke them. He then took them to the sub-space virtual dungeon and launched realistic training.
Meanwhile, Mikhailov scurried around the supply office, gathering essential safety gear and protective artifacts.
8:00 AM.
They donned the issued equipment and spent time adjusting the new gear to fit their bodies. It usually took an hour or two.
And at 9:00 AM.
With just three hours until the raid began, the group ate breakfast more quietly than usual. Tension was plain on the faces of the three excluding Yeoreum.
"I don't like it."
"What."
"Why's the team name 'Yeoreum and the Idiots'?"
"Now?"
"I was too busy yesterday to complain."
Sophia grumbled.
"My naming sense."
Yeoreum giggled. But the two didn't toss any more jokes.
"Kids. Once you're done eating, gear up with the artifacts and grab a nap. Procedures start in an hour."
At Mikhailov's words, they rummaged through their jewel boxes and pulled out the protective artifacts. Thick necklaces forged from black metal, with dark green gems dangling at the front.
「Protective Necklace」
A Level 1 artifact necklace. Unlike ordinary ones, it hid thorns in various spots. To wear it properly, those thorns had to lightly pierce the skin.
It was designed to protect not just the body's exterior, but the interior as well.
"Whoa. This is gonna hurt."
"Just a sting. I'll show you how—follow slowly. Screw it up, and you'll punch multiple holes in your neck."
Mikhailov slipped his necklace on, pressing the mechanisms to secure it around his neck.
As the others moved to do the same,
Yoo Ji-tae—who'd been silently observing—stood from his seat.
He was always composed, his movements leisurely.
So when he moved even a little urgently, all the cadets turned to him.
"Wh-why?"
The regressor approached Sojiro. He grabbed the necklace around the boy's neck.
Staring at it piercingly, as if peering into something. The next moment, he pivoted toward Yeoreum.
"Why?"
Before she could stop him, he yanked off her necklace. Bewilderment clouded her red eyes.
"What's wrong."
"Why? Something there?"
Puzzled voices rose.
"...It's defective."
"Defective?"
"Yeah."
Mikhailov's brows furrowed.
"Strange. It's genuine from the supply office—passed safety checks. We even tested activation. Shine light on it; you'll see."
The regressor, clutching the protective necklace, held it up to the sunlight. Sure enough, the light scattered evenly. Mana flow was uniform too. On the surface, it was flawless.
"No, it's definitely defective."
The protective necklace served three functions.
First: external protection for the body. A thin film coated the flesh, shielding it from outside impacts. Think of it as a degraded version of the 「Goddess of Competition Statue」.
Second: internal protection. It safeguarded organs and blocked violent mana surges.
And third: if the wearer took an unbearable shock, the auxiliary mana stone would shatter, triggering 'area protection'.
In simple terms, it burned through all backup power to erect a protective barrier around a set zone.
Guardians would detect the barrier's wavelength and rush in to rescue the cadet.
"The auxiliary mana stone's defective."
"Damn... those bastards."
Mikhailov couldn't hide his disgust.
"Even Lair supply's safety inspection missed it."
His brows twisted into a savage scowl. The knife-scar on his forehead sharpened his glare.
This wasn't a weapon or gear—it was a protective accessory. The single most critical item tied to cadet safety.
It must never be defective.
Never.
"Those fucking sons of bitches I'll rip apart..."
Harsh curses poured from the mouth of the retired Russian hunter airborne special forces soldier.
Meantime, the timid Sojiro imagined the worst.
Deep in the dungeon. Himself—the sharp shooter—separated from the front-line fighters somehow.
Without Yeoreum and Sophia, he'd be vulnerable to monster attacks. If three or four ambush types surrounded him, he'd be helpless up close.
Each hit would shatter his gear. Some monsters would swing weapons at his head. Then the protective field had to activate to save him.
...What if it didn't?
"Shit..."
A chill raced up his spine.
"Ji-tae. I know you're no guardian-level superhuman. But without tools, how'd you spot a defective mana stone?"
Mikhailov demanded confirmation.
Yoo Ji-tae hadn't noticed at first glance. The defect was that refined. Even now, he needed to pinpoint exactly what was wrong.
So he voluntarily dismantled every blessing and authority shielding his body. Then squeezed the necklace's gem between thumb and forefinger.
Crack—!
A fissure spiderwebbed across the gem.
The next instant—beep beep beep beep! An alarm blared.
Boom—!
An explosion rocked the entire waiting room.
Sharp mana lanced outward in all directions. Yoo Ji-tae cupped it in his hands, containing the blast entirely within his palms.
"Kyaaah!"
"Wh-what is it!?"
Just in case.
Really just in case.
If Yeoreum's necklace ever had to deploy its protective barrier from her neck...
Drip...
Blood trickled from his torn palm, splattering the waiting room floor.
Everyone stared in horror.
Yeoreum rushed over in shock.
"What? Why're you bleeding? You okay?"
"..."
The regressor silently gripped the shattered necklace. Then collected the others'. The problem? It wasn't just one. All four were identically, meticulously defective.
What did that mean?
He checked the time.
51 minutes to procedures.
2 hours and 51 minutes to raid start.
"You lot stay here."
"Where you going?"
"Back before procedures. Stay put. And Mikhailov."
"Speak."
"Which supply office issued the protective gear?"
The moment Yeoreum's eyes met his, her breath caught.
She'd seen him irritated or annoyed at others plenty of times. The air around him would grow eerily still. An ominous chill would rise from her heart. His face would sour first.
But now, despite the ominous vibe, something was off. Yoo Ji-tae seemed utterly normal.
For some reason, that felt even more ominous to Yeoreum.
"Supply Section 3. Those utterly incompetent fuckers..."
Yoo Ji-tae checked his watch. 48 minutes to procedures.
Time wasn't lacking.
But it wasn't generous either.
"I'll handle the confrontation. You assist with the kids' procedures once the necklaces are swapped."
"...Understood."
Mikhailov tamped down his boiling rage. Priority one: ensure the cadets' mission went smoothly. Right now, the two guardians needed to do their jobs.
They reached the supply office in quick strides—46 minutes remaining. Yoo Ji-tae flung open the door to the office fronting the massive warehouse.
Inside, Korean clerks were chowing down on jjajangmyeon.
No knock. No prior call. The sudden intruder irked some.
Others spotted the orange guardian badge and Mikhailov, widening their eyes in surprise.
"Uh, excuse me—it's mealtime... What brings you?"
Yoo Ji-tae swept his gaze over them.
Under 「Scales Eye (SS)」, none registered as outright wicked.
"That one's it."
But the instant Mikhailov singled someone out, Yoo Ji-tae closed in.
Slap—!
He backhanded the guy's cheek without a glance.
The man tumbled off the sofa, rolling across the floor. Stunned clerks froze stiff. Supply security personnel jolted into motion.
"Wh-what the hell! Guardian!"
Mikhailov stepped up first.
"Mikhailov of RIL. Confirmed defect in supply necklaces for B+ dungeon raid. Less than an hour to procedures. Swap for new artifacts now."
"Ah..."
The supply clerk grasped the situation and fetched protective necklaces from the warehouse.
"Then we'll collect the suspected defectives for—"
"Like hell!"
Mikhailov bellowed.
He snatched the new necklace, popped open the jewel box, and thrust it at Yoo Ji-tae.
Yoo Ji-tae nodded. These were genuine.
"You go first."
Procedures took time too. Mikhailov had to leave now.
As Mikhailov exited, security boxed in Yoo Ji-tae. The fallen man staggered to his feet.
He hadn't died from Yoo Ji-tae's hit. Because Yoo Ji-tae hadn't killed him.
"Hey! You can't just smack people out of nowhere!"
"Where's the supply chief."
Yoo Ji-tae demanded the chief outright, sending the clerks into an uproar.
"Listen! Even guardians can't—!"
"R-right! You gotta file a proper objection!"
"Security! What're you waiting for—stop him!"
The flustered security hesitated before advancing.
Yoo Ji-tae hoisted their table with one hand. The 3-meter solid wood slab lifted whole. Eh? Amid the shock, he hurled it at the window. Glass and frame shattered in a crash, silencing the racket.
"Uwaaaah—!"
Still, one security charged bravely, stun baton crackling with lightning.
Yoo Ji-tae seized his collar mid-charge and flung him back the way he'd come. The body sailed into a cabinet, smashing it—and the office wall.
The neighboring office lay exposed. Shocked faces gaped.
One security reached for his radio in panic. Yoo Ji-tae locked eyes. He thought about killing him. The man's hand shook violently, dropping the radio. His muscles locked rigid; he couldn't move.
In the hushed room, Yoo Ji-tae spoke.
"Bring the supply chief. Before I slaughter you all."
His toneless voice clawed into ears, searing into brains.
Trembling hands fumbled; someone dialed frantically.
Minutes later.
An elderly clerk entered, face etched with bewilderment.
"Supply Section 3 Chief Kang Mun-gu. What in the world...?"
Chief, huh. Yoo Ji-tae's eye twitched.
They really didn't listen for shit.
No need to look further. He grabbed the middle-aged man's nape and hoisted him airborne. "Gurk!" A strangled groan burst out.
"Bring the chief. The chief."
"...!"
"How many times I gotta say it. Huh?"
Yoo Ji-tae addressed the room. No reply. Just the middle-aged man's agonized groans.
"3 minutes. Drag the supply chief in front of me. Or stand there and watch me pick who dies first."
No one could intervene. None dared flee.
Then, a woman who'd been hanging back stepped forward.
"Ch-Chief's in a meeting!"
"Where."
"Adm-administration's main conference room. There's an important report right now; it'll take at least another hour..."
"Bring him."
"...Pardon?"
The clerk thought she'd misheard.
But one look in the guardian's eyes told her otherwise.
As dawdling resumed, he shoved the middle-aged man's head out the broken window. Upper body dangling over, legs kicking inside. Seventh floor. The chief peered down into the dizzying drop and screamed.
Face shadowed against the window light, his mouth snarled like a beast's.
"Not bringing him?"