Demanding Evidence

The vast hall predictably held a statue.

This time, it wasn't a woman but a man.

Mu-hyuk gazed at the figure with its sullen expression.

"Feels like the same pattern, right?"

"Yeah. Especially with the statue here."

Touching the statue would awaken it.

Everyone reached out.

The moment the cold texture climbed their fingers, cracks began spiderwebbing across the statue's surface.

A soft glow started from within, spreading slowly along the cracks. The warm, enveloping sensation calmed their minds effortlessly.

It was just like clearing the Albetar Temple.

This'll be easy, he thought.

But then the statue stirred to life.

"Oh, ooh! The seal's finally broken...!"

Followed by a burst of mad laughter.

"Kuhahaha!"

His appearance snapped Mu-hyuk back to reality.

Right, not a saintess.

The process was similar, but the outcome couldn't be.

He'd clearly helped the one before them, but this guy was distinctly different from the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠saintess. He didn't seem the type to sacrifice himself like her. Tension was necessary.

"Hm? Who might ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you be?"

"Uh...?"

"Why are you here?"

His question blanked their minds for a moment.

What the hell?

Mu-hyuk stepped forward, frowning.

"Ahem. You really don't know?"

"Hah, kidding. How could I not? You're the ones who lifted the Flame Curse, obviously."

"..."

"Good, time for rewards. Bring me proof."

"Pardon?"

"I can guess you broke the curse, but no proof? Bring evidence before my eyes. Then I can judge and reward you properly."

"And if we don't have any?"

"Hey now, the world runs on evidence!"

"We killed them all—how do we bring proof?"

"Then bring proof you killed them."

"Crazy..."

"Eh? What'd you say?"

"Never mind."

"Heh, first humans I see in ages, and this is what I get. Anyway, no ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠proof, no dice."

Sung Min-woo, Yerin, and Kim Ji-yeon approached.

"Oppa, what now?"

"Whoa, that statue's got no chill."

"For real...?"

"Oh, even Ji-yeon agrees?"

"Yeah...!"

Mu-hyuk kept thinking amid it all.

Proof, proof.

What could possibly count as evidence of eliminating them?

Nothing left to retrieve since they'd all been slain—truly vexing.

"Wait."

A sudden idea hit him.

He pulled an item from his inventory.

"This proof enough?"

"Oh yeah!"

A grin spread across his face.

"Hey, you—former statue."

"Hm? I am Uphir, leader of the underworld!"

"Ah, yes. Our Uphir-nim."

"It's Uphir, I said!"

"Ah, right."

"Ahem, anyway, what is it?"

"Here's your proof."

What Mu-hyuk held up was a rune.

"Oh ho, a rune."

"Yes."

"Why the fuss if you had this? Humans, I tell you. Evidence is key—everything's about proof. Got it?"

"..."

No point responding.

"Anyway, hand it over."

"Here."

"Quite the quantity."

Uphir counted the runes.

As the hologram appeared, Uphir continued.

"Thanks to your aid, the underworld regains its strength. My own power returns faintly, and with perfect proof like this, I can't withhold rewards. I'll share my power specially—use it well."

"Thank you, Our Uphir-nim."

"Uphir, I said...!"

"Ah, yes. Uphir-nim."

"Ahem. Come closer."

They approached.

A warm energy flowed from his extended hand, embracing the four gently.

Uphir smiled faintly.

"There, done. Off you go!"

"Uh, wait..."

"What now? I even gave rewards!"

"Do you know of other areas damaged in the Demon-Horse War?"

"Sure do."

"Could you tell us where?"

Uphir stared at Mu-hyuk.

"Hmm, fair enough after your help. Head south. Keep descending, and you'll find a peculiar island."

"Thank you."

"No need. Begone."

"Yes."

The four exited through the dimensional gate at the rear.

A cool breeze welcomed them.

*

First, he checked the skill.

Mu-hyuk's eyes trembled.

Attribute bonus damage.

A passive, no less.

No MP cost.

The coefficient was insane.

6% for 100 summons.

He could summon over 200, so at least 12% extra damage.

Ignoring defense, and applied per summon individually.

Breath-stealing.

That good.

"Hoo."

Regaining his breath, Mu-hyuk turned.

"What'd you get as rewards?"

"Huh? Oh, well..."

"Uh, Attribute Strike for me?"

"Hm?"

"Wait, me too."

"M-me too."

All four had gotten Attribute Strike.

Details varied. Sung Min-woo got 1.5% per summon, Yerin 0.4%.

Significant differences, but calculations showed just over 15% for them.

Mu-hyuk's was lowest now, but he'd surpass them later.

"Pretty similar."

"Yeah."

Kim Ji-yeon's was different despite the name: 15% earth attribute boost to heals/buffs.

100 heal became 115 with earth add-on.

Perfect for a priest.

"Krr, hidden power indeed!"

"Worth the grind...!"

"Right, unnie?"

"Yeah!"

So they pressed on.

"Let's go."

"Okay!"

This journey for hidden strength.

*

They reached the southern edge on the map.

"Further?"

"Obviously."

Descending more revealed the sea.

"Said an island..."

"Should be visible soon."

While circling for it.

"Hey, that it?"

"Where?"

Sung Min-woo pointed; they turned.

A small island floated mid-sea. Several ships headed there.

Even from afar, guild marks on their armor confirmed players.

"Damn..."

"We late?"

Joining meant turf war.

PK likely inside.

But quitting felt wasteful.

"Here's the plan."

Mu-hyuk spoke after thought.

"How?"

All eyed him curiously.

"Just don't get caught?"

"Hmm?"

"If methods match, who killed how many doesn't matter. Right?"

"True."

"Hide, snag final reward. If worried, send sneaky ones like squirrels or skull snakes to help hunt."

"Solid, but easy?"

"Probably not."

"I think it's fine, oppa."

"Yeah?"

"If caught, play dumb and bail."

"Right, worst is death."

"Exactly. 24-hour penalty's worth it."

Yerin pushed; hesitant Sung Min-woo and Kim Ji-yeon nodded.

"Sure, me too."

"Yeah, okay."

"They're entering now, so rest nearby. Plan hiding, helping inside."

"Good."

They rode warhorses to a village three hours away.

They rested, detailed plans. When bored, leveled skills or hunted nearby monsters.

"Time to go?"

"Yeah."

About ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a week later.

"Please."

"Lots of gold...?"

"Of course."

They hired an NPC boatman for the drifting island. Upon arrival, skull snakes scouted the entrance.

"There."

Entering triggered it.

Relief at the hologram.

"Limit exists."

"Whoa, three spots...!"

"Won't alert ahead ones, right?"

"Says notifies on limit activation, so safe now."

"Phew, lucky."

Pure luck.

Shock brief.

"Anyway, let's start."

Operation "eat others' rice cakes" began.

*

On Craftsman's Island, users hunted final-stage monsters.

"Squad 1, left!"

"Squad 1, pull back!"

"Pull back!"

"Squad 4, deeper!"

"Squad 4, inside!"

"Inside!"

Surprisingly orderly, they pressured monsters. Time-consuming but stable clears.

"10-minute break."

"Break!"

Phoenix Guild, rank 3.

They had real depth.

"Break over. Move out!"

"Move out!"

Ahead, a horde of hundreds-plus appeared.

Phoenix stayed calm, handling them steadily.

Ssssk.

Then, bugs and tiny creatures skittered ceilings and walls.

Mu-hyuk's skull snakes and Yerin's enhanced squirrels.

They sneaked damage, then vanished cleanly.

"Push!"

"Wooo!"

Phoenix noticed nothing.