Chapter 23. Demon Cave
The hero team finally arrived near the Catacomb after just two days. Ji-hyuk said they were almost there, but his comrades had no idea what the leader was talking about. …The spot they were standing in was a barren plain dotted with only a few scattered rocks.
“Almost there? …I don’t see a damn thing.”
The burly Bruce swept his gaze around as he asked. Ji-hyuk grinned.
“You’ll see when we go a little further.”
The hero team trailed obediently after Ji-hyuk. They all wondered what the hell could be in this place.
“From here on out, stay sharp. This is demon territory. One slip-up and you could really die.”
Everyone nodded with tense expressions. After issuing the warning, Ji-hyuk pressed on. He headed toward a larger rock than the others. From there, he set his direction northwest and kept walking straight. After about a hundred paces, a massive entrance leading underground appeared on the ground.
“Fuck…”
Even the gutsy Bruce couldn’t help recoiling at the sight. The underground passage mouth looked like it led straight to hell, eerie as a monster’s gaping maw. Red streaks slashed wildly around the entrance, and there were even drawings depicting demons. The demonic energy permeating the demon lands poured out from this very spot.
Huuuuh—
Ludvine felt a light orgasm just from it.
“Fuck, we’re screwed.”
The kobold Jepopo gulped and shook his head. In nearly twenty years as a mercenary, he’d never seen a place he wanted to avoid entering more.
At that moment, Ji-hyuk addressed his comrades again in a stern voice.
“Don’t lose your nerve. Keep your heads straight, and we’ll all get out of this mission alive.”
Grendal chimed in.
“He’s taken down plenty of demons before. So trust him and don’t worry.”
His words eased the team’s anxiety a bit. Jepopo slammed his flanged mace into the ground and shouted.
“Yeah, fuck it. Die once, die twice—what’s the difference? Let’s go, boss!”
“Fuck, this asshole’s acting all cool by himself… Let’s crush those demon bastards, boss.”
Bruce psyched himself up too. Grace and Grendal already trusted the boss without question, and Ludvine, having inhaled plenty of demonic energy, actually looked pleased. Ji-hyuk encouraged everyone once more, then set the formation. He’d take point, followed by Ludvine, Grendal, Grace, Jepopo, and Bruce at the rear.
“Ghosts like to go for the guy at the back, right?”
“You dog-headed fuck, don’t jinx it. I’ll smash your skull.”
“No, fuck, it’s just superstition. You scared, pup?”
“Scared my ass—!”
Ji-hyuk clapped to get their attention.
“We’re going in. Stay alert.”
Ji-hyuk slowly passed through the passage entrance and descended the stone stairs. The tunnel was spacious enough for two Grendals to walk side by side comfortably. Pitch-black darkness stretched out below. Ludvine conjured a sphere of light and floated it in the air. But the long passage seemed endless, plunging straight down.
Clack, clack, clack, clack.
The entrance soon vanished from sight. The six sets of footsteps and breaths echoed down the passage.
“Fuck, how deep is this thing?”
No end in sight, and Bruce was shitting bricks. Jepopo’s earlier words had him paranoid something would lunge from behind any second. The scarred brute barely restrained himself from smashing the annoying dog-head’s skull right in front of him.
Just as Bruce was about to ask how much farther, they finally reached the underground chamber. An eerie chill hit their bodies.
“Ah…”
Greeting them was an immense pile of skulls. Skulls lined the top shelves of the walls, with all sorts of bones stacked below, stretching endlessly in both directions.
“Fuck, what the hell is this…”
It was a place that made their bodies tremble involuntarily.
“I told you it was an underground graveyard. This is it.”
Ah—
“Fuck, this is scary as shit.”
The kobold Jepopo clicked his tongue and shook his head. Ji-hyuk pulled a folded map from his pack and spread it out wide on the ground.
“Ludvine.”
The light orb illuminated the map. The team gathered around. Ji-hyuk tapped the entrance with his finger.
“We’re here now.”
His finger traced the maze-like paths without hesitation. The team’s faces grew stiffer by the second. Finally, his finger reached the end of the map and stopped.
“We head there first.”
Jepopo clicked his tongue, looking troubled.
“This shit’s crazy complicated.”
Ji-hyuk folded the map, stood, and patted the kobold’s arm with a grin.
“That’s why you gotta stay sharp so we don’t get lost.”
Everyone gulped. The thought of getting lost here was dizzying. And this wasn’t just any maze—it was piled high with bones everywhere. With demons thrown in, who wouldn’t be scared?
Ludvine seemed fine with the demonic energy but spooked by the skulls.
“Let’s go.”
All Ji-hyuk hoped for was one thing: not running into any unlucky demons unrelated to the mission. He didn’t want to waste energy on pointless fights. They already had enough headaches ahead.
The hero team turned from the entrance and took the left passage. This time, they went in two rows. Ji-hyuk and Bruce up front, Ludvine and Grace in the middle, Grendal and Jepopo at the rear. The path was wide enough that the two rows left plenty of space on either side.
“Fuck, how many died here?”
Bruce clicked his tongue at the endless bone displays and shook his head. Just counting the skulls in a row put them well over four or five hundred.
Ji-hyuk satisfied his curiosity.
“This maze is packed with them.”
“What?!”
“Probably tens of thousands. Lots from demon cult heretics too. They used this as a hideout.”
A chill ran down their spines. The team trudged on, breathing ragged with tension. The ominous location slowed their pace. They couldn’t shake the fear of something bursting from the shadows. Ji-hyuk couldn’t keep the light orb lit forever, so he lit a torch. Visibility narrowed, but draining Ludvine’s mana constantly wasn’t smart. Who knew when her magic would be needed?
After walking some more, they hit another fork. Ji-hyuk pointed the way and called for a break.
“Ugh, fuck.”
Everyone groaned and plopped down. Cold seeped up from the ground. Already deep underground, the air felt like ice against their skin.
Huff, huff.
Exhaustion from the razor-sharp tension weighed on them. Ji-hyuk kept vigilant watch in all directions, ready to move at the first bad vibe. Ludvine was a bit intoxicated by the demonic energy. She realized her witch blood was dangerously alluring—this thrill in such a creepy place wasn’t normal.
After some rest, Ji-hyuk called to move out. They hauled their heavy bodies up. The demonic energy tightened around their throats like a noose. The cold air, eerie energy, horrifying place—it all gnawed at their minds bit by bit. Ji-hyuk checked on Grace now and then. With her anxiety, she could snap anytime. He’d told her to speak up if it hit, so it shouldn’t blow up big.
Soon, a side path appeared. Ji-hyuk decided to camp here for the night. Everyone finally unpacked to sleep, but their faces were grim. They were already deep in the demon’s maw. A peaceful snooze? Fat chance.
“We’ll do watch in pairs tonight. One covers each passage.”
Ji-hyuk paired with Grace first. Keeping her close here seemed best. The team scarfed down food and lay on their mats. Even chatty Jepopo went quiet before bed. …No one uttered a word. The horrific tension left no room for banter.
Ji-hyuk and Grace pressed close, each watching a passage. He reached out and gripped her hand tight. She squeezed back hard.
“You holding up?”
“Yeah, I’m okay. Not as bad as I thought.”
“If it gets tough, don’t hold back—tell me. Got it? Don’t tough it out for my sake and explode later. …It gets better little by little. Never all at once. We all get it.”
“…Yeah.”
Grace suddenly wondered why the boss helped her so devotedly. She debated asking, then spoke up.
“…Boss.”
“Yeah.”
“Why are you… so good to me?”
The words hung. She regretted it instantly—what a loaded question for him!
“I’m the boss. You’re my precious teammate.”
Grace’s chest warmed.
“Looking out for you is just natural. Even if it was Grendal with anxiety, I’d do the same. …Bad analogy?”
Heh heh.
They chuckled softly. The tension eased a bit. Silence stretched, but their clasped hands stayed linked. Grace thought of her dead lover.
Ah—
She craved a smoke bad.
“C-can I have a cigarette?”
“Go ahead.”
She quickly lit up and inhaled deeply, the harsh smoke buzzing her head and briefly erasing her ex’s face.
Fuuuuh.
She reached for his hand again while packing her pipe. Her fumbling fingers found it and gripped tight. Her anxiety ebbed. The chain-smoking healer felt a strange urge. Like she had to say it. She’d regretted it long ago—not telling her dying lover she loved him one last time. The thought stabbed relentlessly. She wanted to tell the boss: thank you. …And, I like you. The impulse overwhelmed her. After that accident, she’d learned death lurked always. When it came, it was over. Regrets too late.
“Boss.”
“Yeah.”
She fell silent long. He waited patiently.
“Thank you.”
“No need. It’s what I should do.”
No one had for two years. He’d pulled her from that hell.
“Sorry to Raig…”
“Couldn’t be helped.”
“Yeah, it couldn’t.”
“Then forget him.”
“That’s why I’m sorry… to him… for forgetting…”
He stayed quiet.
“I’m… a bad woman, aren’t I?”
“No.”
“No, I am. A real bitch.”
She turned to look at Ji-hyuk. He met her eyes. With a face neither crying nor smiling, she said,
“I… I think I like you, boss.”
Ji-hyuk was speechless. Grace squeezed his hand harder.
“…I like you, Ji-hyuk.”