Chapter 61: Mage and Alchemist (Rare)
Chapter 61: Mage and Alchemist (Rare)
Thirty minutes had passed since we calmed the bickering group and resumed our advance. The excitement of the battle with the Rengas still lingered, and they fidgeted with their weapons as they walked. The gloom that had settled over them after seeing the dead Users had lifted considerably. Pleased, I increased our pace with a faint smile.
There was another passage in the clearing where we had dealt with the Renga, located on the opposite side of the one we had entered through. After emerging from it, we were able to venture deeper into the dungeon without any interference. I couldn't guarantee this simple structure would continue, but so far, the dungeon's layout was fairly straightforward.
Honestly, if this was all Ancient Alchemist Vivian’s Dungeon had to offer, its difficulty was relatively low. I remembered exploring a labyrinth as a new User during my first run. I’d arrogantly entered a place even experienced Users avoided, gotten lost, and suffered for nearly three months. With that experience behind me, it was natural for the current dungeon to seem easy by comparison.
Comparing the desperation of my memories with my current situation, I let out a small laugh. The old me could never have imagined this. Back then, I was so cautious I’d tap even a stone bridge before crossing, meticulously analyzing every trap and monster patrol route before taking a single step. Now, however, I felt my caution gradually slipping away.
I’m the type who prefers to approach things calmly and methodically. Haste makes waste, after all. I think it’s better to be a little slow as long as the route is safe and certain. But with my current abilities and accumulated experience, doing things the old way felt stifling. Time was also limited, so when speed was necessary, I needed the boldness to move quickly.
Perhaps because it was a dungeon in a small city, I could feel that it was definitely less difficult than expeditions in general or large cities. Still, I had been a little tense since we were close to an unexplored region, but this place was nothing like those areas where traps were everywhere and monsters jumped out at every turn. It felt very comfortable.
Come to think of it, even when we cleared the Cave of Screams, it wasn't particularly difficult—if it weren't for That Bastard at the very end. Recalling how That Bastard had popped out at the last second and killed half the caravan sent a shiver down my spine. In any case, I couldn't let my guard down completely, so I maintained a basic level of alertness as we advanced.
The previous caravan’s trail continued this far, meaning it had crossed the clearing. Since sneaking through would have been impossible, the Rengas must have been replenished afterward. That implied a Dungeon Master with at least some intelligence.
As I sorted through my thoughts and continued deeper, I saw another clearing connected by a passage. This one, however, was incredibly small, less than a quarter of the size of the one where the Renga had been.
It was a small space, barely big enough for fifty people, and before us was a sheer cliff. Four gaping holes led down into the earth. There was no way forward without passing through one of them. In other words, we had no choice but to pick a hole and enter.
When I entered the clearing and stopped, the others halted behind me. There was no need to debate which route to take: I immediately activated Third Eye and Sensing together. After examining all four holes carefully, I nodded and was about to move toward the second.
Just then, my eyes fell on Sol, who was staring at the cliff with a blank expression. Sensing my gaze, she turned to me and tilted her head quizzically. She looked so adorable that I felt an impulse to go over and bite her cheek, but with Ahn Hyun standing right there, I barely managed to restrain myself.
As I stood there with a contemplative look, the ever-whimsical Yoojung bounced over to my side. To avoid getting dragged into something troublesome, I immediately turned away, but she quickly followed, matching my movement. She must have been terribly bored, because she was twirling her dagger as she spoke.
“Oppa. You’re trying to decide which one to enter, right?”
“…”
Taking my silence as a yes, Yoojung smiled brightly and continued.
“I have a great idea.”
“What kind of nonsense are you thinking of now…”
“Hey! You’re always picking on me. Just leave it to me this time. Huh? Oppa, you just stand back and watch. I have a really good idea.”
She tried to look serious, but the slight curl of her lips revealed that she was planning mischief. Still, I couldn’t ignore her when she gripped my shoulder and pleaded with her eyes. I swept the area again with Third Eye and Sensing but found nothing.
I decided to let her do as she pleased for now. Sometimes, Yoojung showed a sharp side that even I couldn't predict. It was also a good chance for her to gain some experience. When I shut my mouth and took a step back, a triumphant expression appeared on her face. She then turned to Ahn Hyun, who was similarly twirling his spear.
“Hyun-ah~?”
“Crazy.”
“Th-… Hohoho. It’s not like that. There’s just something I wanted to check.”
Ahn Hyun immediately answered Yoojung’s singsong call with a curse. A thick vein briefly rose on Yoojung’s smooth forehead. In the past I would have expected her sharp tongue to emerge at once, but she continued gently, though faint killing intent threaded her voice.
“…What is it.”
“Remember back during the Rite of Passage? What you said?”
“I said a lot of things.”
“You know, back in that city. Didn't you say our Sol has re~ally good intuition?”
I saw Sol’s ears, which had been busy taking in the surroundings, perk up. It seemed her interest was piqued now that she was the topic of conversation. How can she be so damn cute? I want to pinch her cheek, or maybe her ear… No. What the hell am I thinking about a child?
While I sank into those questionable thoughts, Hyun was already speaking passionately—the very picture of a doting older brother.
“Aha. You mean that. Yup. That’s right. Her intuition is so good that…”
“Ah, ah. I know. I’ll hear all about it later. But is it really reliable?”
“Of course! It’s a bullseye every time.”
Perfect timing. I gave Yoojung a mental thumbs-up for cutting him off so skillfully. I also let out a sigh of relief, but I couldn't shake the feeling that things were taking a strange turn. Ahn Hyun, too, nodded before tilting his head, as if sensing something was off. But by then, it was too late. Seeing Yoojung turn away with a mischievous smile, Ahn Hyun’s eyes widened like saucers.
“But why are you suddenly asking… Hey. Wait a minute. Lee Yoojung. Hey!”
Hyun called urgently, but Yoojung ignored him and approached Sol. Sol, who had listened intently to their exchange, watched Yoojung close the distance. She didn’t remain still, however. Whether she’d learned to read the room or her 100 Luck warned her of danger, she immediately fled behind my back. Hyun sighed in relief. Yoojung frowned, then quickly adopted a gentle expression and spoke sweetly.
“Soohyun-orabeoni. Would you please pick Sol up and place her at the entrance all the way over there on the far left?”
I could hear Ahn Hyun and Ahn Sol protesting from in front and behind me. I felt my own stomach churn. But since I’d decided to leave it to Yoojung, I forced myself to endure it and lifted Sol. Sol, who was clutching my collar tightly, tilted her head with a confused look on her face. Seeing her innocent face looking up at me in trust, a question mark practically floating above her head, I already felt a strange sense of guilt.
If I had suddenly lifted her like this before, she would have been startled into a fit or burst into tears, but she didn't do that anymore. She simply relied on me with a face full of trust, as if to say, “There’s no way Oppa would do anything to harm me.” The thought that I was a man acknowledged by the future Priestess of Radiance filled me with pride, and I arrogantly placed Sol in front of the leftmost entrance. For the record, this was one of the entrances we should absolutely not enter, but I intended to watch what Yoojung would do next.
“Hy-Hyung?”
I heard Hyun’s flustered voice behind me, but ignored it, patted Sol’s head, and stepped back. Sol continued to look only at me, her bright eyes entirely free of suspicion. Yoojung watched with a strained smile, apparently twisting with jealousy. For some reason, Sol’s trusting face stirred a wicked urge in me to tease her until she cried.
Since I had allowed it, Ahn Hyun seemed to find it difficult to object, and just watched with a dumbfounded expression. Yoojung lightly wet her lips with her tongue, then approached the blankly standing Sol again and slowly whispered in her ear. I quickly sharpened my hearing to eavesdrop on their conversation.
“Now. Sol-ah. Go on inside. Hurry.”
“Huh? Inside?”
“Yes. By yourself.”
“Whaat? Alone? I have to go in by myself? What about Unni and the Oppas?”
“That’s right. Oppa, Hyun, and I will wait outside, so go in alone and scout for danger. Soohyun-oppa approved it. He said it was a wonderful idea.”
Yoojung was whispering in a truly insidious way. Overwhelmed by her tone, Sol mumbled in a small voice. Ahn Hyun’s expression turned strange at the barely audible voices, but he held his position for the time being.
Sol was so pure that she nodded once and fell deep in thought. She even closed her eyes and tapped her cheek with her finger, as if carefully mulling over Yoojung’s words. After she finished thinking and opened her eyes, Ahn Sol spoke, her eyes trembling.
“But… there are dangerous things inside… going in alone… Soohyun-orabeoni would never say that…”
“No, no. You’ve been given a very important role. You’re the bait. The bait. You know, right? It’s common in movies and stuff. Based on your sacrifice, we can avoid the dangerous places and happily return to the city with all the treasure. How about it?!”
As Yoojung kept emphasizing the word ‘bait,’ Sol’s face grew tearful, and she threw a glance my way. She seemed to firmly believe that there was no way I would have said such a thing. In response to her dazzlingly earnest gaze, I simply shrugged. Sol blinked a couple of times, then looked at me and spoke.
“Oppa.”
“…Yeah?”
“Did you really say that?”
“S-Say what?”
In truth, I hadn't given any such permission. But Sol seemed to take my stuttering the wrong way, and her eyes went wide. Her lips began to tremble, and she clenched her small fists. Ahn Sol looked as if she were delivering an ultimatum as she spoke again.
“I’m going to cry, you know.”
I just averted my gaze. Partly because she had avoided my gaze earlier, and partly because, well, I kind of wanted to see her cry. As I casually looked away and scratched my cheek, the expression on Sol’s face changed into what could only be described as a spectacle. She looked utterly shocked, as if she never imagined I would avoid her eyes, and her mouth fell open. And then. I got the result I was hoping for.
“Waaaaaah!”
Sol collapsed right where she stood and burst into tears. Yoojung, who apparently hadn’t expected her to actually cry, took a step back with a stunned expression, while Ahn Hyun shot a sharp glare at her. Yoojung stammered for a moment before pointing a finger at me. What did I do?
“Waaah! Waaaaah! Waaaaaah!”
Seeing Sol sobbing her heart out, Ahn Hyun and I rushed toward her.