Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Rescue the Expedition
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# 49
The infirmary tucked away in a corner of the Adventurers' Guild was simple but well-maintained.
Two clean beds, hot water, basic medicines, and plenty of bandages.
It would have been perfect with a skilled doctor, but this was an Adventurers' Guild, not a hospital.
Only after laying Park Han-yeong on the infirmary bed could Kang-seok finally breathe a sigh of relief. He had become just as bloodstained from carrying the gore-covered Park Han-yeong, but this was no time to complain.
Likewise, a guild employee who had just managed to catch his breath bowed to the group from the hallway.
“My apologies for the late introduction. I am Cliant of the Aachen branch.”
“I am Georg, a servant of the Yellow God.”
The one who introduced himself next was a man in priestly robes. He had a small, gaunt frame, but his clear, large eyes made him seem incredibly kind.
The Yellow God was one of the Four Great Gods worshipped by the people of this world. Come to think of it, a yellow light had emanated from his hands during the healing earlier.
Kang-seok started to extend his hand for a handshake but stopped. His hand was covered in blood. Since Georg was also drenched in blood, the two exchanged an awkward laugh and a greeting.
“I’m Choi Kang-seok. These are my companions, Seong Yu-jin and Choi Yu-ra.”
Seong Yu-jin, who had been glancing worriedly toward the infirmary, gave a silent nod, and Choi Yu-ra also bowed her head.
“So you are Players, as I thought.”
Cliant said with a small nod. It was unclear what had led him to identify them as Players, but now that they had given their names, there was no point in denying it. Kang-seok added.
“Yes, Han-yeong and I cleared the tutorial together.”
Nearly three months had passed since Players began appearing in this world. A certain amount of ‘common knowledge’ had been conveyed to the people of this world, and the ‘tutorial’ was one of those things.
The first trial Players face in this world.
Players who cleared the tutorial together often formed deep bonds. After all, they were comrades who had fought together, risking their lives in a strange new world.
Thus, having done the tutorial together had become synonymous with being ‘close friends.’
Understanding Kang-seok’s words immediately, Cliant looked at Seong Yu-jin with even greater pity.
Choi Yu-ra, who had been quietly observing Cliant’s reaction, cautiously interjected.
“Excuse me, but what happened? I heard people around here talking about an expedition.”
While Choi Yu-ra prided herself on being as close to Kang-seok and Seong Yu-jin as those who had gone through the tutorial with them, the same wasn't true for her and Park Han-yeong.
She was just someone whose name she had heard often through Seong Yu-jin.
Nothing more, nothing less. This allowed her to assess the situation far more calmly than Kang-seok or Seong Yu-jin.
The stories were just random chatter from the surrounding adventurers who had recognized Park Han-yeong.
Cliant let out a long sigh.
“It happened a fortnight ago.”
More than half of the requests entrusted to the Adventurers' Guild inevitably involved monsters.
Monster subjugation and extermination.
Escorting merchant caravans, slaying specific monsters.
A month ago, a request from the official leader of Aachen, Mayor George II, to the Adventurers' Guild was no different.
To ‘clean out’ the goblins infesting the Sauerland Mountains, south of Aachen.
Goblins, with their prolific breeding, were a nuisance whose numbers could multiply severalfold if left unchecked for even a short time.
Therefore, around this time every year, the city of Aachen mobilized adventurers to carry out the task of culling the goblin population.
“So, to put it simply, you formed a raid party, is that it?”
Inside the Aachen branch’s reception room, right next to the infirmary.
After being served warm honey water, Choi Yu-ra spoke bluntly, and Cliant nodded.
“Players do seem fond of the term ‘raid.’ In any case, as always, a notice was posted in the guild hall to recruit adventurers for the expedition. It was an expedition with many participants, not just existing adventurers but also a number of Players. The total number exceeded twenty. Although most were two-star adventurers, they were by no means a force to be underestimated.”
Kang-seok's party had defeated well over a hundred monsters in the Temple of Gawain. Though they had help from Gawain's priests, including Jade, it was a feat accomplished by just ten Players.
“The five-star adventurer, Abigail, agreed to serve as the expedition's leader. As he is the most skilled adventurer in the Aachen branch, everyone was at ease.”
“Hmm, it’s definitely better to be led by a capable leader.”
Choi Yu-ra said quietly, scratching her cheek, and Cliant nodded in agreement.
The five-star adventurer, Abigail.
The same rank as the adventurer Leif Erikson, he was undoubtedly stronger than the average Player.
Choi Yu-ra briefly glanced at Kang-seok and Seong Yu-jin beside her. With the two of them looking more serious than usual because of Park Han-yeong, she took the lead in the conversation.
“Cliant, you said it’s been a fortnight since the expedition departed? Should they have returned by now, according to the original plan?”
“Yes, that’s correct. The destination, the Sauerland Mountains, is only about a day’s journey from here. The expedition was planned to take a week at most, to be generous. But when a day or two passed, it was one thing. After the scheduled return date was overdue by more than five days, strange rumors began to circulate.”
There was no need to specify what those rumors were.
Choi Yu-ra’s shoulders slumped.
“And in the midst of all that, an expedition member, Park Han-yeong, returned in that state.”
It was too early to jump to conclusions, but it was safe to assume the expedition had failed.
So what had happened to the expedition? And why had only Park Han-yeong returned?
As the conversation began to take a definite direction, Georg, who had been silent until now, spoke up hastily.
“Forgive my concern, but I cannot permit you to forcefully wake the patient. She has only just recovered from a very critical condition, so I must ask you to wait until she awakens naturally.”
“I know, but…”
Choi Yu-ra wrinkled her nose slightly, and Cliant, though he didn’t say it outright, wore a frustrated expression.
An expedition whose whereabouts were unknown.
Park Han-yeong, the only one who might know their current situation.
But there was nothing to be done. It wasn't as if they could torture her; they couldn't force someone who had collapsed from exhaustion to wake up.
Choi Yu-ra looked back at Kang-seok and Seong Yu-jin. Kang-seok, as usual, seemed to be lost in deep thought, while Seong Yu-jin had her eyes closed and was taking deep breaths.
With the situation still unclear, all the party could do was wait. The two of them were not unaware of this.
‘Which is a relief, I suppose.’
Turning her gaze back to the honey water, Choi Yu-ra let her shoulders droop slightly. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but ever since arriving in Aachen, she had felt a strange sense of alienation.
“We will let you know when Ms. Park Han-yeong wakes up. We can arrange for lodging, so please get some rest for now.”
Cliant said amiably, and Choi Yu-ra nodded on behalf of Kang-seok and Seong Yu-jin. But just as she was about to get up.
Kang-seok shot to his feet a beat ahead of her. It was a movement akin to a reflex.
A loud thud had sounded from somewhere.
From the direction of the infirmary.
Everyone who had been sitting rushed to the infirmary. Kang-seok, who had stood up first, threw the door open, revealing Park Han-yeong writhing on the floor below the bed.
“Han-yeong!”
Seong Yu-jin hurried to Park Han-yeong’s side. Georg, with a startled expression, also checked on Park Han-yeong’s condition.
But Park Han-yeong pushed them both away. Drenched in a cold sweat, she squeezed out her voice.
“Kang-san… oppa. Danger… And… ras. Crisis. Monster. Everyone’s trapped.”
It was gibberish, but her voice was utterly desperate.
Kang-seok quickly reached into his coat and pulled out a white potion and a purple potion. Both were potions with an awakening effect.
Georg’s eyes widened as he recognized the potions Kang-seok took out, but he only clenched his jaw and did not stop him. For Park Han-yeong right now, it was more important to say what she needed to say, even if it strained her stamina.
Seong Yu-jin immediately held Park Han-yeong, and Kang-seok poured the purple and white potions into her mouth in succession.
Park Han-yeong’s body trembled for a moment before her shoulders went limp. With hazy eyes, she looked back and forth between Kang-seok and Seong Yu-jin, then produced a much clearer voice than before.
“It’s not just goblins. A bigger monster. Andras’s nest. We were isolated while trying to escape. You have to save them. Monsters are everywhere. I was the only one who managed to get out using stealth. To ask for help. Help me.”
That was all. As if there was a limit to the potions’ power, Park Han-yeong’s lips moved a few more times before she lost consciousness and collapsed again.
[Quest: Rescue the Expedition.]
[The expedition led by the five-star adventurer Abigail has provoked the nest of ‘Andras,’ one of the 72 Demonic Beasts. Rescue the expedition, which is surrounded by Andras’s minions.]
[This is a high-difficulty quest that requires the combined strength of ten or more Players.]
[You should prepare thoroughly. And… you are not obligated to undertake this quest. It is recommended that you wait until sufficient forces can be gathered.]
[Due to information restrictions, I am unable to access data on the Demonic Beast Andras. However, it is certainly one of the 72 Demonic Beasts, so please be extremely cautious.]
[* There is a possibility of obtaining a clue for a World Quest.]
Iris repeated herself several times.
Seong Yu-jin, who received the same information as Kang-seok, her face hardened, and Choi Yu-ra clenched her jaw.
Kang-seok stood up. He spoke to Cliant, who had gone pale at the words ‘Andras’s nest.’
“We will form a rescue party. Please help us.”
The formation of a new raid party to save the expedition.
Cliant nodded hastily.
* * *
It was deep, dark, and suffocating.
The only comfort was a thin sliver of light seeping through a small crack in the excessively high ceiling.
Kim Kang-san forced himself to swallow. His body was so exhausted that even the simple act of sending saliva down his parched, cracking throat was an ordeal. He didn't even think of touching his tongue to his dry, chapped lips.
An underground city located within the Sauerland Mountains.
It was a ruin, first built nearly a thousand years ago, and last inhabited close to five hundred years ago. Most sections had collapsed, and the parts that remained were in shambles.
Several days had already passed since the expedition led by Abigail took refuge here, in the remains of the underground city. Everyone was so exhausted and disoriented that no one knew even roughly how much time had passed.
Taking a deep breath, Kim Kang-san steeled himself for the pain and licked his lips. The lips, so chapped they had split open, sent a sharp sting of pain, which, thankfully, helped him clear his head.
Adventurers were huddled in the fairly spacious room.
Nine of them, including Kim Kang-san himself. Among them, five were Players and four were adventurers of this world.
From beyond the tightly shut stone door, the horrible sound of scraping metal could be heard intermittently. It must be the sound of the goblins and unidentified monsters that had the area around the stone door surrounded.
How many more days could they last in here?
Had Park Han-yeong made it safely out of the Sauerland Mountains?
‘That kid, at least, has to survive…’
It was Park Han-yeong’s stealth, which had deceived the attention of countless monsters in the Labyrinthos Dungeon. She must have successfully avoided the monsters’ gazes this time, too. She had to.
“Thinking about your girlfriend again?”
Kim Kang-san was startled by the voice from right beside him but soon let his shoulders slump. It was Abigail’s voice, one he had grown accustomed to.
The five-star adventurer, Abigail.
He was a veteran adventurer, still active despite being over fifty, an age when most would have retired.
An M-shaped receding hairline, salt-and-pepper hair, and numerous scars that testified to a long life of hardship as an adventurer. But despite all that, Abigail had the friendly air of a next-door neighbor.
‘No, maybe a next-door bear.’
Glancing up at Abigail, who was much larger than himself, Kim Kang-san shook his head.
“She’s not my girlfriend… Well, I guess it doesn’t matter.”
Park Han-yeong was twenty this year. He himself was thirty-four, a fourteen-year age gap.
In truth, the way she treated him like an older brother felt quite burdensome.
“So you finally admit it. Took you long enough, long enough indeed.”
Even while everyone else wore faces that looked like they could die at any moment, Abigail never lost his smile.
He nudged Kim Kang-san’s shoulder and continued.
“Even when it’s tough, you have to talk. Conserving your energy is important, but not losing your mind is far more important.”
Helplessness had a way of eating away at a person’s spirit.
A sealed space. Monsters that wouldn't lift their siege. A rescue party that might never come.
It was a desperate situation. But if they gave in to despair, then everything would truly be over.
There was still hope.
Like that thin sliver of light seeping from the ceiling.
“Don’t worry too much. If she’s your girlfriend, she’ll be safe. Our survival depends on it, after all.”
Only Park Han-yeong knew where the expedition was trapped.
When Kim Kang-san gave a small nod, Abigail let out a long breath. He muttered in a very low voice.
“Though I wonder if there are any adventurers left in Aachen capable of rescuing us.”
It was an uncharacteristic remark, one that seemed to have slipped out by mistake.
Kim Kang-san pretended he hadn’t heard Abigail.
He didn’t want to admit that even Abigail, a seasoned veteran, was despairing on the inside.
Aachen was certainly a large city. But that didn't mean it was overflowing with adventurers.
Moreover, quality was more important than quantity.
The monster that had driven the expedition into a corner.
Someone who could stand against that monster.
Abigail deliberately spoke up. He asked Kim Kang-san, who had pretended not to notice his slip-up.
“Anyone come to mind? Someone very strong. Or you know, the kind of person who seems like they could win any fight, no matter the opponent.”
Words meant to change the subject. In truth, he had said it with little expectation.
But in that moment, an image of someone’s face flashed through Kim Kang-san’s mind.
The Labyrinthos Dungeon.
Aden, the king of the gnolls, who could have been called despair itself.
The one who defeated that Aden. The one who ultimately overcame the crisis.
Kim Kang-san gave a bitter smile. There was no way he would be in Aachen.
He might still be waiting for him and Park Han-yeong in the Labyrinthos Dungeon even now.
But, but if he were in Aachen.
Kim Kang-san lifted his head and gazed at the ceiling.
Through the darkness, a thin sliver of light shone.