Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: 20. Underground Labyrinth (4)
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Becoming a 'Ranker' required some plausibility.
As if to prove it, most Rankers had their own backing organizations. Prestigious families, massive guilds, or support from multinational corporations.
For example, take Myeong Yong-ha, the Ranker at ninth place, the 'Druid of Regeneration.' He belonged to Korea's prestigious magical family, the Myeong Clan. From a young age, he'd grown up with the clan's ample support, following an elite path.
Exceptional talent. The money to back it up. And personal effort on top of that. That's how Myeong Yong-ha became a world Ranker in his late twenties.
But BM was different.
He had appeared out of nowhere. Unlike other Rankers, he had no backing organization. He always operated alone and never collaborated with anyone on jobs. He lacked the plausibility to become a 'Ranker.' His growth background, childhood—none of it was known.
At least, that's how it seemed to the public. That's why people were always curious. Where the hell had BM come from?
The regressor knew.
"Mm..."
BM sniffed the aroma of the 'white liquor' once more.
It was the scent of a fruit unavailable on Earth.
His face was entranced. He clearly liked it.
About 40 years ago. The incident that swept the world: the 'Babylon Mass Disappearance.'
Thousands of talented young superhumans vanished in groups. Governments worldwide pooled their military resources to search for the missing, but found nothing.
BM was one of the victims of the Babylon Mass Disappearance.
Back then, Jeong Bong-man had vanished from a superhuman elementary school classroom in Gangwon Province. Fifteen years later, he finally returned to Earth.
He was a Returner.
The first Returner from the nearby otherworld, Arandot.
That was the secret behind him becoming the world's second-strongest without any infrastructure.
"...Where the hell did you get this?"
Yoo Ji-tae had stopped by Arandot on his way to the Demon Realm during the end of his 6th cycle, and picked up that one bottle there. It hadn't suited his taste, so he'd stored it in Shallowest Abyss (S). Now it had finally come in handy.
"Just picked it up somewhere."
"Do you know what this means to me? Now I get how you know so much about me. You... from Ara—"
"No. Whatever you're thinking, it's not that. And don't dig too much into me."
It was a pointed request not to reveal just the liquor's origin, but his own background as well.
BM understood. But right now, that didn't matter.
"Ha... you're insane. Really..."
Arandot's fermented liquor.
Twenty-five years since his return to Earth. The first time. He'd searched everywhere, but couldn't find anything from Arandot on Earth.
This more than covered the rent.
BM clutched the priceless liquor with both hands, sniffing it repeatedly without daring to drink.
Anyway, business was done.
As Yoo Ji-tae turned to leave, a sudden thought made him ask BM,
"Mind if I ask one favor later?"
Summer was in a foul mood.
There weren't many things in the world that could sour her mood. At most, Yoo Gaeul. Or maybe her own overly enthusiastic fans, a few screws loose.
She hadn't expected this kid to annoy her too.
The blue-haired child glared at her.
Summer glared back. They'd been at it for nearly ten minutes.
"Come on out."
Shake shake.
"I said come out."
Shake shake.
"Argh, why? It's not like anyone's going in. Just crack the door open and peek."
Winter shook her head again.
This was before Yoo Ji-tae entered BM's workshop. Standing in front of the workshop's main door, he'd instructed Summer and Winter.
"Stay here until I open the door. Don't go in."
For Yoo Ji-tae, it was to spare Winter the gruesome sight inside the workshop. Winter didn't know that, but since he'd said not to enter, she was blocking Summer.
"You really gonna keep being a pain?"
"......"
"Unbelievable. A tiny thing like you. Huh? Big sis wants to go in, and you're blocking the way."
"......"
Dragons typically treated other clans' members like the guy next door, but Red Dragons and Blue Dragons especially didn't get along.
It had to do with their natures.
Red Dragons loved fighting, while Blue Dragons preferred peace. And due to elemental matchups, Red Dragons rarely beat Blue Dragons in combat.
So when inter-clan conflicts arose and Green Dragons couldn't mediate, Blue Dragons would step in to subdue Red Dragons.
This ancient rivalry, spanning tens of thousands of years, played out even among hatchlings.
"You have no idea how exciting things must be going on in there, do you?"
"......"
"Insanely strong guys fighting. You think you get a chance to peep on this often? Thunder crashing. Explosions. Blood spraying. Huh?"
Winter grimaced, uninterested.
"Keep stonewalling, and you'll get your butt spanked by big sis. Didn't you see what happened to Autumn?"
"......"
"I'm not asking for much. Just crack the door and peek through the gap. That too much?"
"...No."
Damn. The kid who barely spoke once a week opens her mouth at a time like this. She's digging in for the long haul.
Summer, who'd been hyped up, deflated.
'Ugh. What to do with this little rat? No place to spank. Nowhere to tie her up.'
Look at the tiny blue pest standing tall in front of the massive door, arms crossed defiantly.
'But I'm dying to know what's inside. What now...'
Pondering, Summer leaned down and whispered slyly.
"My lovely little sister."
"??"
Winter looked flustered.
"You've been in a good mood lately?"
"...?"
"Nah, probably not. Our ajusshi hasn't been playing with you much since the trip, right? Feeling a bit neglected?"
"......"
Hit the nail on the head. Tension flickered across Winter's face.
As Summer said, since returning from the trip, Yoo Ji-tae hadn't played with her much. He seemed busy, spending far less time at home.
Winter had been quietly disappointed.
"Move aside, and I'll convince ajusshi for you."
"......!"
"You know how he surprisingly listens to us."
...Does he?
Winter thought about it. Seemed like it, maybe.
"So scoot. I'll peek inside. You go play with ajusshi. Win-win, right?"
Summer smirked inwardly.
Winter was wavering.
But not quite. Time for a little sugar.
"It's snowing a lot lately. You and ajusshi go sledding."
"......?"
"What, you don't know what sledding is?"
"......"
"Kid stuff... Listen up. You sit on a long board with ajusshi. Slide down the snowy mountain. You stick right to him in the front seat. Cool wind rushes by, snow sprays up."
Winter's mouth slowly opened as she imagined it.
In the world... such a fantastic game existed...?
"Sounds fun, right?"
Nod.
"But you'll get cold after."
Nod nod.
"Know what you need then?"
Shake shake shake.
"Ajusshi makes hot soup just for you."
Summer sealed the deal.
Winter imagined again. Cool breeze. Snowy mountain. Sled with Yoo Ji-tae. Hot soup from him. As he hands over the finished dish, he'd probably say...
'Eat up.'
A spark raced through Winter's mind. A goofy grin spread across her face.
Summer didn't miss it.
Gotcha. Cooking one kid is a piece of cake.
"So, let me peek just a sec?"
"......"
Snapped from her daydream, Winter's expression returned to normal. She hesitated, then shook her head.
Failure again.
Summer nearly exploded in frustration. Really, just smash her. But she held back with her last shred of patience.
Then she spotted something and turned.
"Huh?"
"......?"
"You, coming from over there? Done already?"
At Summer's words, Winter eagerly turned toward Yoo Ji-tae.
But nothing was there in the labyrinth depths.
Turning back, Summer was gone. She'd slipped behind Winter, now grinning leisurely at her.
"......Ah."
One second felt like ten minutes.
Summer reached for the door.
As Winter screamed no—
The door burst open from inside.
Caught face-to-face with Yoo Ji-tae, Summer gave an awkward smile.
"Oh. Hey? All done already?"
"Yeah."
"Ugh, friggin'..."
Nothing went right.
Summer raked back her hair in annoyance.
Up to then, Morning Star and the Guardian were still tangled in the 'hands,' floating midair. As Yoo Ji-tae tried leading them to the labyrinth's 'inner chamber,'
"Oh, wait. Can I come too?"
Yoo Ji-tae nodded.
Deep in the labyrinth, not far from the workshop, stood a large door.
Yoo Ji-tae opened it and entered.
Summer peeked over his shoulder, then gaped.
"Whoa..."
The massive cylindrical room brimmed with multicolored lights. In its center floated a crystal the size of an apartment building, source of all the radiance.
"Holy crap, big as my tits..."
"......"
"Ah. But coming in here... feels kinda relaxing."
Summer looked basked in fresh sunlight. Winter, cradled in Yoo Ji-tae's arms, wore a pleasantly awakened morning face.
It was the mana emanating from the giant crystal.
The 'hands' followed Yoo Ji-tae's will, setting Morning Star and the Guardian down there.
The floor matched the labyrinth's stone, but sitting there, their tense faces softened as they looked around.
"You two stay here. I'll pick you up when you're better."
"Ah... yes..."
"Understood..."
They answered dreamily, compliant.
Dragons weren't this quick to react—probably because they were human and magical armor, stronger effect.
As Yoo Ji-tae returned, Summer asked,
"Whoa... this place is wild. What's the principle here? What's that huge thing?"
The perfect way to stabilize, subdue, and contain a ferocious monster: give it 'satisfaction.'
That giant crystal was called Fragment of Paradise.
It looked like a oversized gem, but its internal structure was complex. The pinnacle of magitech from a dimension where magic peaked.
Fragment of Paradise made those bathed in its light feel happy and content. Recipients stayed euphoric, finding gentle joy in everything.
Far too elaborate just to restrain monsters. Perhaps the otherworld's great mage knew human life was endless suffering and designed it to fix that at the root.
But Yoo Ji-tae didn't like Fragment of Paradise much.
It was extremely dangerous.
From experience, it seemed to have an expiration date on dragons. Silently studying Summer's face, recalling old memories, Yoo Ji-tae turned away.
"...Feels so damn good. Like I'm about to shit myself happy."
"Let's go."
"Aw, why? Can't we stay a bit longer?"
"Out."
Winter tugged Yoo Ji-tae's hem regretfully, eyes pleading for more time.
But Yoo Ji-tae grabbed Summer's arm and dragged her out.
"Ah, hey...! Why? I wanna stay longer!"
"...Hng."
Grumbling Summer and whining Winter.
The dazed pair blinked awake as the 'inner chamber' door shut, snapping from the illusion.
"Huh? What...? Fuck, what's this?"
Summer scowled.
She'd probably feel weird now.
When forced happiness shattered, what remained was uncontrollable emptiness.
The regressor didn't like the dragons here. This was a place of his failure, one that inflicted irreplaceable pain on them. He felt like smashing it all.
So he turned away.
"Snap out of it."
On the way, Yoo Ji-tae pinched Winter's cheek. The child's soft face stretched like rice cake. Woozy Winter slowly nodded.
...Still, their brief exposure hadn't affected them much.
She was smiling up at him, after all.
