Chapter 67
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: The Maze and the Tangerine Tree
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"Finally moving! At the first fork that comes up, turn left."
The moment Cha Do-yun Hunter and I stepped into the depths of the maze, Ha Mi-jun Hunter's voice echoed out.
'The One Who Lights the Path' is pointing right, but that's probably the final gate's location, so we have to move as Ha Mi-jun Hunter instructed.
"This dungeon is really tricky."
"Yeah."
'Doesn't talk much.'
Today's Cha Do-yun Hunter was even more subdued than usual, making proper conversation impossible.
Thud.
It happened the moment we turned left. A massive boulder dropped from above. I instinctively summoned a shield.
Crash!
"Ngh."
I managed to deflect its attack, but the shield shattered under the weight. The boulder rolled into the maze depths before suddenly standing upright.
I thought it was just a rock at first, but up close, it was a stone dol hareubang statue. I glanced at Cha Do-yun Hunter before raising Ego.
One of those skills looks weird.
Not sure exactly what it is, but seems like an evasion skill.
Whoooosh―
Then its right arm lifted. Cha Do-yun Hunter dangled my arm like a toy while drawing back Morning Glory's string and loosing an arrow at the dol hareubang.
Rumble...
The dol hareubang suddenly left an afterimage as it dodged sideways, then burrowed into the ground amid a deafening roar.
I heightened all my senses against the vibrating earth. Cha Do-yun Hunter and I held our breaths, tensing our legs to evade at any moment.
Kaboom!!
The dol hareubang erupted right between Cha Do-yun Hunter and me. We dodged backward in perfect sync, and I pulled Ego's trigger first.
Bang!
Firing with my left hand made aiming tricky, but luckily it hit right in the forehead.
Crackle.
Before I could even call for support, Cha Do-yun Hunter's Heaven's Disaster poured into the hole in its forehead.
Krunch!!
Lightning blew its face apart, sending its arms flailing. I took the opening to pump three more rounds into it.
"Phew..."
Fighting in tight spaces is exhausting.
I let out a long breath, staring at the crumbled remains of the dol hareubang.
"Your breathing's steady?"
Silence again. But unable to deny it, he stared silently at the fragments.
"Looks like you fought. Not hurt?"
Ha Mi-jun Hunter's voice rang out again, and I nodded unconsciously.
"Ha... let's go."
Cha Do-yun Hunter muttered quietly and strode forward. I hurried to match his pace through the maze.
'Do-yun's in a bad mood, right?'
'Yeah. Wonder why.'
Ego whispered discreetly. True, he doesn't like me much in this timeline, but he's not one to sulk without reason.
Something must've happened.
"Cha Do-yun Hunter, you feeling okay?"
"...No. I'm fine."
"You seem more down than usual."
[Eloquence increased]
[Awakener 'Shin Ji-ui's' words unsettle Awakener 'Cha Do-yun.']
[Speech result: Confusion]
Something really did happen.
'Did this happen in the previous timeline?'
Even if this dungeon is new, whatever upset Cha Do-yun Hunter might be something I already know about.
"Mind your own business."
"Just worried you'll get hurt not focusing on the fight."
"...Nosy."
"How'd you know I'm nosy?"
He stopped dead and glared at me. Those upturned eyes made him look like a mean cat.
"Alright, three-way fork coming up soon? Take the far right path."
Ha Mi-jun Hunter's voice shattered the odd silence. We sped through the maze per his guidance, handling the occasional dol hareubang with Ego and Morning Glory.
"Why's my arm so heavy..."
"That's why I'm holding the bow for you."
"Don't need to."
There was some bickering...
After a while, a large clearing appeared.
"That's the mid-boss point."
At Ha Mi-jun Hunter's words, Cha Do-yun Hunter and I halted. A circular arena walled by shrubbery—like a medieval colosseum. Reminded me of that Italian dungeon.
"Let's finish quick."
"Don't interfere."
"Hah."
I couldn't help but chuckle in disbelief.
He used to have a sweet side. How'd he end up like this?
Ignoring my exasperation, he nocked an arrow on Morning Glory, and I placed my finger on Ego's trigger as we entered the arena.
Step, step.
We crossed slowly to the center. Tension maxed out, right at the dead middle...
Krunch.
A massive tangerine tree burst from the ground.
Bang!!
Twang―
A white bullet and green arrow shot toward the tree in unison.
Rumble.
"Tch."
The tangerine tree didn't take the hits easily. It sank back underground and started scurrying around like a mole.
'Why do all the monsters here burrow?'
Groooowl.
"Watch out!"
The moment strong vibrations hit from below, I grabbed Cha Do-yun Hunter's hand and yanked him behind me.
Bang!!
"Ngh...!"
The tangerine tree shot up where Cha Do-yun Hunter had stood. We dodged by a hair.
"Secure distance first!"
We backed off, widening the gap as much as possible.
Krunch.
The tangerine tree kept sprouting trunks to follow us. We were distanced from the main body, but the trunks made attacking tricky.
"You can make a shield."
"Pardon? Oh, yeah."
Cha Do-yun Hunter blasted the trunks with a storm as he spoke.
"I'll hold the shield. Attack through the gap."
"You sure?"
"If you don't trust me, you hold it."
'Prickly.'
He's probably counting on my firepower. With a two-rank gap, sheer power usually wins.
Krrunch.
Another trunk erupted. We dodged back in sync, sharp winds shredding it.
Its attacks are simple, so one solid hit should do it.
Thung!
I formed a thick sonic shield with Ego and handed it to Cha Do-yun Hunter. He braced it with both hands and nodded at me.
Bang!!
I pulled the trigger. A massive white bullet vibrated everything as it flew toward the tangerine tree.
It summoned dozens of trunks to counter.
Screeech.
"Ngh!"
Cha Do-yun Hunter held the shield against the trunks, and I fired again in the opening.
Kaboom!!
"Got it!"
Thanks to his timing, my bullets pierced the tangerine tree, which exploded spectacularly. Tangerine dust scattered, stinging my nose with sour scent.
"Cha Do-yun Hunter, thanks... Huh?!"
Thud.
Cha Do-yun Hunter suddenly collapsed. I tumbled down with him. I propped myself up and looked down at him.
"Cha Do-yun Hunter?!"
He was sweating coldly, breathing raggedly, lips clamped to stifle groans.
"Ha, ugh...!"
'No external wounds. What the hell?!'
I quickly checked him over, spotting the stiff right leg.
'A cramp.'
His leg muscles must've seized from holding off those trunks.
"Hang on a sec!"
I stretched his leg and removed his sneaker.
'Around here, I think...'
Relying on memory, I pressed the acupoint my track coach taught me. Pouring all my strength into his calf, a sharp groan escaped through his clenched teeth.
After pressing hard enough to numb my arms, the rock-hard leg softened.
"Haa, ha..."
"Better now?"
"...Yeah."
He slowly sat up, wiped the beaded sweat on his forehead with his sleeve, and abruptly turned away.
'He's embarrassed.'
Face flushed, he slipped his sneaker back on and shot to his feet, leaving my arm dangling.
"Not going?"
"After helping, that's how you react."
[Eloquence increased]
[Awakener 'Shin Ji-ui's' words unsettle Awakener 'Cha Do-yun.']
[Speech result: Shame]
Hit a nerve, huh? As I narrowed my eyes and stared, he pursed his lips and averted his gaze.
"...Did you figure out cramp relief on your own?"
He changed the subject while brushing off his pants as he stood.
"Coach taught me. Cramps are common in track."
"You did sports."
Come to think of it, didn't Cha Do-yun Hunter do archery? I vaguely recall hearing something similar when we were close enough to share a meal.
"You did sports too, Cha Do-yun Hunter?"
"Yeah... a bit of archery."
He trailed off sheepishly.
"Must've had a good coach."
"Yeah, decent guy. Met him through my homeroom teacher..."
"Monsters all down? Okay, head right now."
Ha Mi-jun Hunter cut me off.
'Bad timing.'
I was building rapport with Cha Do-yun Hunter. Sighing inwardly, we took the right path into a narrow maze barely wide enough for one.
"I'll take point. Cha Do-yun Hunter, cover the rear."
Maybe feeling bad for snapping, he nodded silently.
This is the Cha Do-yun Hunter I remember.
Rustle.
The dirt path turned to grass. We tread softly on the plush turf through the quiet maze.
"...Shin Ji-ui Hunter."
"Yes?"
"Do you... get along with your parents?"
"...Pardon?"