Hour of Judgment (3)
"Well then, we've gotten everything we can. Let's head back. There are plenty of mole crickets outside too, so everyone stay careful."
"Hand over the Magic Hearth, the bracelet, and the shield we got earlier. I'll store them in My Room."
At Kim Dokja's words, we all nodded. Yoo Sangah and Lee Gilyoung passed me the bracelet and shield they'd picked up from the treasure vault earlier. I transferred the items into My Room and turned around to find Yoo Sangah questioning Kim Dokja.
"But how do we get back, Dokja-ssi?"
"We came here with Gilyoung's ability, so getting out shouldn't be a problem either. With Gilyoung's Interspecies Communication…"
Kim Dokja answered Yoo Sangah's question by saying Lee Gilyoung's ability would be more than enough to escape. But Lee Gilyoung's expression after hearing that was not good.
"Noona, I…"
"Hm?"
"There aren't any insects nearby at all."
Kim Dokja looked slightly flustered at Lee Gilyoung's words.
"Not even one?"
"Well, actually… there is one I can call, but…"
Finishing his sentence, Lee Gilyoung closed both eyes and began muttering something under his breath.
"Dokja-ssi, Gilyoung's condition looks a little strange."
At Yoo Sangah's words we examined Lee Gilyoung. His eyes were slowly rolling back. And a thin trail of blood was dripping from his nose.
"Gilyoung?"
"This kid was eating meat just fine—why is he suddenly like this?!"
We approached the strangely behaving Lee Gilyoung.
Kuuung!
Suddenly a heavy kuuung rang out, and vibrations rolled down from above. The shaking was so violent that small stones and dust sifted down from every corner of the tunnel.
"Dokja-ssi… do you remember that strangely shaped rhinoceros and the giant mantis we saw on the way to Geumho Station? The insect Gilyoung is calling right now… it couldn't be that giant mantis, could it?"
"……?!"
Kim Dokja's eyes went wide at my words. She rushed over to Lee Gilyoung, planted both hands on his shoulders, and shook him hard.
"Gilyoung, snap out of it! Gilyoung! Lee Gilyoung!"
"Uh… Noona?"
As Kim Dokja kept shaking him and calling his name, Lee Gilyoung's rolled-back eyes returned and he came to his senses.
"Gilyoung! Stop the skill! Now!"
Startled by Kim Dokja's urgent shout, Lee Gilyoung cut the skill. The moment he did, the vibrations immediately died down.
"I-I stopped it."
"Whoa, I thought the cave was going to collapse and we'd end up as dried rat jerky."
"Hey, you! Don't say such unlucky things!"
"Huu…"
We all let out a sigh of relief.
"You really…"
Kim Dokja looked at Lee Gilyoung, her lips moving as if she wanted to say more, then simply rested a hand on his head.
"This skill is sealed for a while. Don't use it until I say so. Got it?"
"Yeees…"
Lee Gilyoung answered dejectedly. Seeing his drooping face, Kim Dokja gently stroked his head for a moment to comfort him, then turned toward the rest of the party standing behind her.
"If we just walk straight into the Veil of Darkness we'll get lost. It would be better to wait a little longer until small insects appear nearby before we move."
"Um…"
After Kim Dokja finished speaking, Yoo Sangah suddenly raised her hand.
"If it's simply a matter of going back, I think I can take Gilyoung's place."
"…How?"
"I have a skill similar to Gilyoung's."
"What kind of skill?"
"A skill that finds the path with a thread. Actually, I tied a 'thread' when we were kidnapped earlier, just in case something like this happened."
"Just how strong is your mental fortitude, Sangah-ssi? Normally when people get kidnapped they panic…"
"I-Is that so? Ahaha…"
Yoo Sangah laughed with an awkward expression at my words. Kim Dokja looked at her with a slightly stiff face.
"…If you don't mind my asking, what is Yoo Sangah-ssi's attribute?"
"Th-That's…"
Yoo Sangah looked extremely troubled. Kim Dokja observed her reaction, then gave a small nod toward her and said,
"…I asked something unnecessary."
"It's not that I don't trust you, Dokja-ssi…"
"No, it's a wise decision. From now on, don't casually tell others about your attribute information."
"Um, about that."
Watching Yoo Sangah try to offer an explanation that wasn't really an explanation with a tearful face, and Kim Dokja forcing herself to say it was fine while looking a little disappointed, I cleared away the popcorn I'd been eating and cut into their conversation.
"What is it, Jinwoo-ssi?"
"So. Yoo Sangah-ssi's ability is a skill that finds the path with a thread?"
"Y-Yes. That's right."
Yoo Sangah nodded at my words.
"What, so she just contracted with a constellation from Greek mythology like normal. You two suddenly started putting on a melodrama in this dark burrow, so I thought it was something serious."
Yoo Sangah and Kim Dokja simply blinked at me in silence.
"Ugh. If we can get out with Sangah-ssi's ability, let's leave already. I don't want to stay here any longer."
"Uh, uh… um…. Th-Then I'll use the skill."
Yoo Sangah kept glancing at Kim Dokja, gauging her reaction. When Kim Dokja gave her a small nod, Yoo Sangah let out a sigh of relief and activated her skill.
Soon a faintly glowing thread-like strand grew from Yoo Sangah's fingertips and stretched out toward the Veil of Darkness.
"Then let's move. Let's get out of here fast."
"Understood. Ah, but we might run into mole crickets on the way out, so let's proceed carefully."
The party members each nodded at our words, took hold of the glowing thread Yoo Sangah had created, and began walking toward the Veil of Darkness.
#BI-7623 Channel has reopened.
While we were walking, relying on the faintly glowing thread in the Veil of Darkness, a message appeared saying the channel had reopened.
A few Constellations have filed claims against the channel transmission system!
Constellation, Abyssal Black Flame Dragon, is curious about what came out of the random box.
"He says that, Dokja-ssi."
"I'm not telling him."
"He says no, Flame Dragon-nim."
Constellation, Abyssal Black Flame Dragon, slams the desk!
Constellation, Abyssal Black Flame Dragon, throws a tantrum demanding to be told!
Ignoring the Constellation Abyssal Black Flame Dragon who was curious about the random box results, we continued walking diligently toward the outside.
"Damn it! This bastard took over my channel… Hahahat! Everyone! Did you all stay well while I was gone?"
Then a voice and the sound of sparks crackling came from midair. Before long, bright light burst from the Veil of Darkness, and Bihyung appeared from within that light—winking, no less.
"Please stop with the forced aegyo that doesn't even suit you."
"…Does it really not suit me?"
"Yeah."
"Damn…"
Bihyung made a dejected face at my words. Then he pulled a small hand mirror from midair and started practicing various cute expressions while looking into it. I glanced at him, muttered a quiet curse, and looked away.
Demon King, Demon of Wrath and Lust, bursts out laughing at you for even talking trash to a Dokkaebi.
Constellation, Demon-like Judge of Fire, tells Demon King, Demon of Wrath and Lust, not to crack up when he's just a Demon King.
Demon King, Demon of Wrath and Lust, blatantly ignores Constellation, Demon-like Judge of Fire.
Constellation, Demon-like Judge of Fire, hurls curses at Demon King, Demon of Wrath and Lust, calling him that ■■■■!
Demon King, Demon of Wrath and Lust, sneers that an Archangel is speaking so vulgarly while looking at Constellation, Demon-like Judge of Fire.
"They're at it again."
I gave a hollow laugh at the messages of the Archangel and Demon King who had started fighting once more, gave up on thinking about it, and kept walking through the Veil of Darkness.
Guided by Yoo Sangah, we safely escaped the Veil of Darkness. Outside the burrow we found Jung Heewon and Lee Hyunsung standing watch. Fortunately, nothing seemed to have happened while we were gone.
"Dokja-ssi! Sangah-ssi! Jinwoo-ssi! Gilyoung! I'm so glad you all came back safely!"
"Heewon-ssi is right. It's truly a relief that everyone is unharmed."
Jung Heewon and Lee Hyunsung let out sighs of relief when we emerged outside without any major injuries.
"You two must have had a hard time standing watch outside the burrow. You must be hungry, right? Eat some of this for now."
"What kind of meat is this, Jinwoo-ssi?"
"Where did you get such large cuts of meat, Jinwoo-ssi?"
"It's leg meat from the mole crickets we caught earlier. The taste is incredible, so try some."
I handed Jung Heewon and Lee Hyunsung, who had worked hard standing watch outside, some mole cricket leg meat roasted on the Magic Hearth. Their eyes went round as they looked at the leg meat I gave them. They glanced at each other, nodded, and took a bite.
"Mmm—! Wow, this is really delicious!"
"Ha, to think this meat came from that mole-like monster we caught earlier. I can hardly believe it. It's truly delicious."
Jung Heewon and Lee Hyunsung exclaimed in admiration as they ate the mole cricket leg meat.
"Eating that should restore some of your energy."
"Hmm, my body really does feel better."
At Kim Dokja's words, Jung Heewon experimentally rolled her shoulders. Compared to when we first saw her near the convenience store by Geumho Station, her complexion had visibly improved a great deal, and Kim Dokja and I felt inwardly relieved.
"But it looks like you got a lot of items in there? Besides the Magic Hearth…"
"Yeah, well… we got a few things."
At Jung Heewon's words, Kim Dokja looked at Lee Hyunsung and spoke.
Lee Hyunsung had been looking happily at the Old Steel Shield Kim Dokja had given him earlier; he was blowing on the surface and polishing it with a squeaking sound.
"…Is there anything I can use?"
"Nope."
"What about that sword?"
"That's mine."
"…You're going to share the meat with people, right?"
"I'm going to take coins for it."
"…That's petty."
"Let's just call it strong survival instinct. Well, we're here."
We made sure not to forget the mole crickets we had caught, stored them in my My Room, and walked along the tunnel path while bantering back and forth. Before we knew it, we had arrived at Geumho Station.
When we reached Geumho Station, the surroundings suddenly brightened and people came into view. But the atmosphere was a little strange.
People were murmuring among themselves while moving about in a hurried, frantic manner.
20 minutes remaining until paid settlement.
Please prepare your survival fee.
Every night at midnight, 100 coins of 'survival fee' will be automatically collected. If you cannot pay the 'survival fee', you will die.
The 'survival fee' penalty will remain in effect until the second scenario is cleared.
"Kyaaaak!"
"Heuaaaak!"
Screams erupted from all around as people confirmed the messages. Then, dripping cold sweat and wearing desperate expressions, they grabbed the person right next to them and shouted for just 100 coins.
"S-Someone please give me some coins! My kid doesn't have any coins!!"
"Please, just some coins…!"
"I-I'll definitely pay you back next time! Please, just 100 coins!!"
"I'll give you a million won—no, ten million won! Someone sell me 100 coins!"
Demon King, Demon of Wrath and Lust, smiles at the despairing expressions of the Incarnations.
While watching those people, I looked around. Far off, members of the Mainstream Group were watching the crowd and snickering.
A few women rushed toward the Mainstream Group and shouted something.
"Where's my sister who volunteered for the scouting party?! She was supposed to give me coins!"
"Hmm, where could she be? Go look carefully."
"What…?!"
"Are you sure she volunteered for the scouting party? Are you sure~?"
"Why don't you volunteer and go look yourself."
"Puhup! Kwahahahaha!!"
"Hahahaha!! Look at that face—it's fucking hilarious!"
The women burst into tears of despair at the Mainstream Group's words, while the Mainstream Group members looked at them and snickered.
"Those sons of bitches finally…!!"
Jung Heewon glared fiercely at the Mainstream Group members who were mocking the women and drew her sword.
Survival fee settlement will begin shortly.
"P-Please s-save me! Please save me!"
"Does anyone have 100 coins?! Please share just 100 coins!!"
"You bastards! Please just save me!!"
When the system message appeared once more, people let out screams mixed with despair and anguish, moving about frantically with desperate faces. The scene was nothing short of pandemonium.
Hearing the voices of the people at Geumho Station, our party members either hung their heads with bitter expressions or bit their lips tightly as they watched.
Several Constellations who received scenario recommendations have additionally entered the channel.
Constellation, Secretive Plotter, watches your choice.
Constellation, Prisoner of the Golden Headband, watches your choice.
Constellation, Demon-like Judge of Fire, watches your choice.
Constellation, Abyssal Black Flame Dragon, watches your choice.
Constellation, Poet Who Died from Spouting Nonsense, watches your choice.
Constellation, Lord of the Lowly, watches your choice.
Constellation, God of Wine and Ecstasy, watches your choice.
Demon King, Demon of Wrath and Lust, watches your choice.
"What the fuck. Why are all these bastards suddenly staring at me? Can't you look somewhere else?"
And suddenly these crazy Constellations started sending messages saying they were watching my choice while staring at me.