Misunderstanding (1)
Misunderstanding (1)
'...What was that just now?'
The Dungeon moved. A movement completely different from the periodic shifts every six hours. Did it spot us moving and respond immediately?
Even assuming that, we reached the wall without any issues. Just as I expected, there was a slight gap between the wall and the ceiling.
We landed up there and looked down. The darkness curtain still blocked the view below, but the fact that one of the plans in my head had succeeded meant the others had a chance too.
"...So, what do we do from here?"
"If there wasn't this darkness curtain, we could just look around and find it... but since we can't, we'll have to use another method."
Mazes and labyrinths have one thing in common. The entrance and exit exist somewhere on the walls.
The Dungeon was the same. There weren't stairs to the upper or lower floors smack in the middle of the Dungeon.
There had to be an escape route somewhere on the wall—meaning if you ran along the wall to the end, you'd eventually find the exit.
"Left or right—which way? We'll end up circling the whole thing anyway, so it's all the same in the end...."
"Left."
"I-I want right."
"Me too, right."
"Then by majority vote...."
As I started heading right, I noticed my backpack squirming. Like something inside was moving....
I opened the backpack, and the talisman inside popped out. The one Aram made for me.
'Why's this moving?'
The talisman shot off somewhere as soon as it escaped the backpack. I reached to grab it but hesitated.
'No way.'
There's no effect without a cause. If the talisman suddenly moved, something had to be affecting it.
And inside the talisman was the Origin Paper Aram had made herself. She had the other half.
'Aram...?'
Aram's ability rewinds time. If she rewound time on a cut piece of paper, it wouldn't duplicate. The papers would try to stick back together.
─Vivre Cardne.
That's what Deokgu had said. The talisman moving now meant Aram's ability had activated.
Which meant the talisman was heading toward Aram, outside the Dungeon.
"This way."
No time to explain. I chased after the talisman. The party followed in confusion....
We pursued the talisman flying along the wall like whir whir before descending. And there was Aram, hands clasped in prayer.
"...Aram?"
"─Dojin!"
Aram spotted me and ran over, overjoyed. I hugged her tightly, then nodded at Deokgu and Seoyun behind her.
"Why are you guys here...."
"Why do you think?"
Deokgu grinned. Seeing him, I nearly teared up with emotion.
Trapped in the Dungeon, no one could save us—we had to escape on our own. That's what I'd firmly believed....
"You came to rescue us."
"Nah, we got trapped too."
"...What?"
"Kidding."
Thankfully, Deokgu's words were just a joke. A super famous line, apparently, though I'd never heard it before.
Relieved it was a joke, I let out a huge sigh. If they'd really gotten trapped following us, I'd have thought he was an idiot.
"Seoyun, you came to rescue me too?"
"...There'd be no one to pick up magic stones without you, so that's the only reason I came."
"Wow, classic tsundere heroine...."
"What?"
"Nothing, ma'am."
As Seoyun glared at Deokgu, I gave him the same look. Him coming into the Dungeon meant he had a way to save us.
"How'd you get in?"
"What do you mean? With this brain of mine, I can figure out what's happening miles away without even moving."
He shrugged like it was because he was a genius. Normally unbearable, but right now, that confidence suited him perfectly—he was adorable.
"So, there's a way out for us too?"
"Of course. Who do you think I brought?"
Deokgu said that and pointed at Seoyun and Aram. Seoyun made sense, but why Aram?
As I wondered, Deokgu beckoned.
"Take a look. This is the Dungeon entrance."
He pointed at the wall. A solid wall. No one would think it was a doorway.
Knowing Dungeon walls could move, I inwardly cursed the Ruler and gave the answer he wanted.
"...But that's a wall?"
"Heh heh, hold on! Aram!"
"Yeah...."
Aram placed her hand on the wall. And used her ability. The massive wall began moving on its own. The sight was bizarre, like time rewinding.
Moments later, stairs hidden by the wall appeared. Seeing them, I sighed inwardly.
'We never would've found this in a lifetime.'
Hiding the exit in a wall—how were we supposed to find it? Contrary to my thoughts, this maze was designed to be inescapable from the start.
As soon as we found the stairs to descend, the Dungeon began rumbling—uuuung-.
At the same time, a massive roar echoed from somewhere.
─La tadla tadla tadhhab lla tadhhab la tadhhab!
My whole body's muscles stiffened. That intense high-frequency sound paralyzed my muscles—I quickly circulated magic power to loosen them and stayed alert.
Far off, a massive golem thud thud approached. It looked crudely made, like it was formed from the Dungeon walls.
I glanced at the party. They were still shaking from the roar's aftershock, struggling to move.
I was the only one not frozen.
Meaning I was the only one who could stop that golem.
'Better this way.'
Combat's my specialty anyway. Fighting's easier than using my head. Human, monster, or golem—didn't matter.
Give me a sword, and I'd take them all down.
"Huu─."
Don't think about what's behind. Aram and Seoyun are here. Even if I beat the golem and collapse, no worries about dying.
Put everything into one strike. Kuuuuk—muscles pulled to the limit. A faint smile at the aching, snapping tension.
I trace the optimal sword path in my head. Then scrap it all. Those paths were perfect for killing humans.
Golems don't die from a neck slice. Gotta smash 'em completely.
So, I draw the most inefficient, overly huge motion.
Raise the sword high. Hooo! With a kiai, slam it down.
Kwagagak-! The blade chips, sparks flying wildly. But the golem split in half.
"Huuu......."
My arms tingled. But no breaks or tears. Aram, freed from the stiffness, ran over and healed my injuries.
"...Thanks."
"Don't push yourself so hard! Why would you even......."
"I'm fine. Let's head down now."
I sent the party down the stairs first, then picked up the broken straight sword. Deokgu, seeing it, asked.
"...Whatcha doing?"
"Payback."
I swung the sword and carved words into the wall. Deokgu burst out laughing at them.
─I'll be back
My letter to the Ruler of the 30th Floor.
─No.
The Ruler felt oncoming sleep and checked Dojin's position. He was leaving the 30th Floor—his domain—heading to the 28th, 27th, steadily exiting the Dungeon.
─Just a bit more, just a little more....
It pleaded. But the Dungeon wasn't merciful even to the Ruler. The moment Dojin's foot hit the stairs, deeming no invasion intent, it put the Ruler of the 30th Floor to sleep.
Until the next challenger woke it, or Dojin set foot on the 30th Floor again.
Forever.
"Dojinaa...!"
The moment they exited the Dungeon, Aram threw herself into Dojin's arms. He flinched a bit at the ancient dust and blood caking him, but she didn't care.
If anything, that filth proved how much he'd suffered.
"You must've been exhausted... so scary...."
"Nah, not really...."
"Sniff, I was so worried you'd died......."
By then, Dojin didn't say anything to ruin the mood. He just held her and gently stroked her.
Right in the middle of the path in front of the Dungeon. With the party and adventurers watching, Dojin awkwardly scratched his cheek to hide his embarrassment.
But first, there was a problem to solve.
"Aram? We gotta report to the Guild first... mind letting go?"
"Sniff, where? You're not going, right?"
"Yeah, straight home after. So...."
"...You'll come right back?"
He pried Aram off and headed to his party. They looked at him like they'd expected it—eyes you'd give a playboy chasing women.
Ahem. Dojin cleared the awkward air with a cough and spoke.
"First off, congrats on surviving and getting back. You can all head home now...."
"What if we don't wanna?"
Orion smiled brightly at Dojin. But her eyes weren't smiling. Raize's gaze was icy cold too.
"Wanna come to my place then?"
"...Pardon?"
"I mean, after something that huge, skipping the welcome-back party would suck, right? Let's do it at my house. Plenty of empty rooms, so crash if you want."
"Uh, well...."
She'd said it to tease him, never expecting Dojin to invite her over. Didn't his girlfriend back there stare at him with longing eyes?
Hoping to bed an elf? But his eyes were too calm. Not a hint of lust.
'......Let's trust him.'
"Sure."
In the end, Orion decided to stay at Dojin's house. Raize, not wanting to be left out alone, joined too.
Dojin told Deokgu to prep the party, then led the group to the Guild.
Pion, who'd been handling work on the first floor with a weary, exhausted face, lit up at Dojin and headed up to the second floor.
Everything wrapped up nicely. The grim mood from moments ago felt like a lie.
Back at the mansion, I sent Eunha and Orion to the bath first. I wanted to wash off the blood crust and dirt in the warm water too, but growing up in Confucian Korea left its mark—I couldn't.
"Where you going?"
"Hm?"
I grabbed Raize, who was trying to follow the two, thinking he was a kid. He tilted his head like "Why me?"
But no way was I letting a "kid" into the women's bath.
"Why tilt your head? Come here. We're going to the pond together."
"What? What're you—!"
"Hey now. Let's go!"
I tucked him under my arm and bolted to the pond. He kicked and squirmed, but no use.
I wasn't weak enough to lose to a shut-in mage who never exercised.
Beat me with strength? Not for another ten years, kid.
Arriving at the backyard pond with Raize in tow, he'd given up struggling and gone limp.
"What's with the sulk? Mad you can't see boobs?"
"......I never said it before, but I'm actually a girl."
"Must've been really looking forward to it... to say something like that."
Raize kept insisting it was true, but I didn't buy it.
As I shook her like I was gonna toss her in the pond, she glared in panic.
"......Don't. Seriously, I won't forgive you if you do."
Half in tears, I stripped off her robe and clothes, revealing a tank top and triangular panties.
She huddled, covering her chest and undies.
"What's a guy gotta hide? And what's with the flab on your chest? Work out."
"Huuu... I won't forgive you...... Seriously, I'll kill you......."
Her skin was too pale and soft for a guy—I tilted my head but tossed her into the pond anyway.
Plop,
Confirming Raize was in, I stripped down to my underwear and jumped in too.
"......Huh?"
"Hic, die, just die...."
Then I noticed something off about Raize's clinging underwear.
Looking down at hers, the bulge that should've been there was gone—instead, only the indented part bulged out.
Seeing her teary eyes, it finally hit me.
Fuck.
Big time.