Chapter 146
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 146
Chapter Title: Isolation (2)
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"Is that you... Kim Seok-ho?"
"That's right, but hold on—are you blind?"
He must have figured out my condition right away.
"Yes. It happened right after I fell into this place..."
"Heh... talk about bad luck. Right after falling here, of all places, and losing your sight, too."
"Haha... yeah, tell me about it. More importantly, how did you end up here, Kim Seok-ho?"
"Hm... I got unlucky. The ground where I was standing collapsed, and here I am. There might be a few others down here besides us."
From what Kim Seok-ho was saying, it didn't seem like just the spot where I was standing had given way.
"By the way, did you and that Sword Sovereign over there fall together?"
"No, it was just me falling when Lady Ho-yeon jumped in to save me."
"Is that so? Impressive. The Sword Sovereign has a real sense of loyalty."
"Not at all. Protecting the one I'm assigned to guard is just my duty."
"Heh heh... I like that. Better than most men out there by a long shot."
Looked like Seok-ho hyung had taken a liking to Wi Ho-yeon.
Not in a romantic way, of course—just as a person.
"Still, figuring out how to get out of here is giving me a headache. Waiting for rescue doesn't seem likely in this situation..."
"Let's move around and wait for rescue in the meantime. Finding an exit on our own is probably impossible. It's not to the side—it's up and down."
Escaping on our own was pretty much out of the question.
They'd have to take out that white blob up there, tie a bunch of ropes together, and lower them down for rescue.
What we needed to do now was find a spot suitable for that.
We had to get to a place where we could at least see the ceiling above. It was blocked here.
Of course, since we'd fallen through here, there should have been an opening above the cave originally, but rocks had tumbled down and sealed it off.
"Oh, right. How are your senses holding up, Kim Seok-ho? All five?"
"Fine as can be. That's what makes it scarier. What if I end up losing my sight like you?"
"...Let's hope that doesn't happen."
We had three people, but only two who could fight.
If Kim Seok-ho lost his vision here, things would get ugly.
It wasn't just that we'd be down to one fighter with Wi Ho-yeon. The real issue was having two dead weights.
Someone blind couldn't pull their weight in a situation like this.
...If Kim Seok-ho goes blind and the worst happens, I might have to be ready to cut him loose.
It was a shitty thought, but unavoidable.
I'd keep smiling and chatting with him as much as possible, but if he became useless and things went south, I'd have to steel myself for the tough call ahead of time.
The only people who mattered to me were myself and those close to me. What happened to everyone else wasn't my problem.
Kim Seok-ho was friendly toward me, so escaping together was ideal, but you never knew with people.
"Got it for now. Let's move slowly. Ho-yeon, could you support me, please?"
"Of course. Don't hesitate to let me know."
"Thank you."
"Hey, if you need my help too, just say the word. A man has to help when he sees someone in need right in front of him."
"...Your thoughtfulness alone means a lot."
Seok-ho hyung, why are you so damn nice?
I nearly hated myself for even considering ditching such a good guy, but I shoved it aside.
Hyung, you're gonna get stabbed in the back like that. Thinking about helping others first is dangerous. How do you plan to survive in this harsh world...?
Anyway, with a solid meat shield—no, a reliable fighter—added to the group, I felt a bit more at ease.
"Damn, these things just keep coming."
Kwajik!
"Tell me about it."
"That Sword Sovereign over there really lives up to the name. One swing, and the monsters' heads go flying clean off."
"You're too kind."
Wi Ho-yeon and Seok-ho hyung seemed to have hit it off.
Well, nothing bonds people like a dire situation.
"Sounds like the fighting up top is dying down."
"Yeah, seems that way."
And no wonder—the sounds of spells exploding and monsters roaring were fading away.
Meaning the battle was wrapping up.
Once the fight ends... will the people who lost their memories get them back?
If so, then Seo Yu-ju would remember me too.
"Hold up—someone's ahead."
We stopped at Seok-ho hyung's words.
Another person?
"...You're the master of Plum Blossom Clan."
"...Kim Seok-ho? And those two..."
I couldn't get a read on the situation without my sight, but Wi Ho-yeon suddenly pulled me back and spoke up sharply.
"...What do you think you're doing, Seo Mi-kyung?"
"Ha! You think I can stay calm with that guy here?"
"Consider this a warning. Drop the killing intent."
"That guy and Ha Yu-ri took everything from me!"
Fuck, why is it my fault?
"Seo Mi-kyung, Lee Yun-seong did nothing to you or your clan members."
"Shut up! Are you fawning over him like Ha Yu-ri? That bastard voted in my clan!"
"Hold on, Plum Blossom Clan master. I don't know the full story, but you should calm down first."
"Ha!"
"This isn't the time for us to be fighting among ourselves. This could be a monster den, and raising your voice isn't wise."
"...Damn it! Aaaargh!"
She's completely lost it.
I got why—she'd lost everything she'd built. But it still felt unfair to me.
Blaming me once or twice was one thing, but every time she saw me? What was I supposed to do?
I can't bring the dead back to life.
"Let's move for now. Plum Blossom Clan master, you come with us. Safer in a group."
"Don't order me around. It pisses me off."
"Heh... well..."
She's going full savage now.
Even our good-hearted Seok-ho hyung seemed speechless at her attitude.
I spoke to Seo Mi-kyung as we moved. I had a question.
"More importantly, how did you end up down here, Seo Mi-kyung? Do you know any spots where the ceiling's visible...?"
"Why the hell should I answer you? One look at your face makes me want to rip you apart. Shut up."
Is she insane?
Her words made my lips twitch involuntarily.
Eras ran on raw power, so even as a joke, people avoided saying they'd kill each other or wanted to.
Here, anyone could gut you with a knife if they felt like it, so talk of killing was basically a threat.
And right now, I had someone reliable who'd get mad on my behalf.
"Seo Mi-kyung, what did you just say? That you want to rip Lee Yun-seong apart?"
"Yeah, so?"
"Apologize right now. Don't you know that's taboo on this continent?"
"...You. Just because people hype you up as the Sword Sovereign doesn't mean you can act like this. I'm a clan master. You're just a regular clan member. Do I look easy to you?"
You're the one going off, bitch.
"Or do you think I'm easy pickings now that I've lost all my clan members?"
"No, come on! Why is everyone like this? We should be teaming up, not fighting!"
Seok-ho hyung was probably in the top 1% of normal people.
"And look, I get that losing your clan has you emotional and all, but your tone is way too sharp, Plum Blossom Clan master."
"Ha, Kim Seok-ho, you'd better choose wisely."
"Choose what?"
"That guy's blind right now... Do you really think he's useful in this situation?"
Right to the heart. Yeah, that's all you've got to stand on.
"To me, he's just dead weight. He was weak to begin with, and now? Forget it."
I couldn't see, but I waited calmly for Kim Seok-ho's response.
Something told me he wouldn't disappoint.
"...You're right, Plum Blossom Clan master."
"Ha, see? Smart choice..."
"He's weak, sure. Honestly, he might be dead weight right now."
Wi Ho-yeon bristled at Kim Seok-ho's words.
"Kim Seok-ho! What..."
No, Ho-yeon. Let him finish.
"But I don't abandon my comrades just because they're weak. Dead weight? Isn't a real man supposed to heft that weight and carry it himself? Know why my clan is called the Brotherhood Clan?"
Kya...
Kim Seok-ho, the quote machine.
Not a single wrong word.
"Because I treat my clan members like blood brothers. And the same goes for this guy on the pioneer team."
"W-what?"
Seo Mi-kyung sounded incredulous.
She must have thought he was siding with her at first.
But Seok-ho hyung isn't the calculating type.
"I'm Kim Seok-ho, and I don't ditch my brothers for being weak. Got it now?"
I didn't know when Seok-ho hyung and I became brothers, but the loyalty in his voice was real.
Seriously, once pioneering ends, I need to pull Seok-ho hyung to my side.
"Ha... what an idiot...!"
"So cool it, Plum Blossom Clan master, and just say you're sorry. Eternity folks will understand given your situation."
He even smoothly pushed for reconciliation.
No one was more magnanimous than this guy.
But reconciliation takes two to tango.
"Why should I? Why apologize to him? He's the one at fault! What did I do wrong?"
"I'm done listening. Stop it. Why are you doing this to Lee Yun-seong?"
"Shut up!"
Sreung—
"...What are you doing? Drawing your sword?"
"Hey! Stop this! What the hell!"
Seo Mi-kyung had snapped completely.
Crazy bitch, pulling a sword in this situation?
I knew she wasn't right in the head, but I hadn't expected her to actually draw.
In a place crawling with potential monsters, now we were about to have infighting.
I couldn't see Wi Ho-yeon or Kim Seok-ho's faces, but they had to be as stunned as I was.
"I've got nothing left to lose anyway! Keep scratching at me, will you? You dare?"
Chaeng!
"Stop right now! Seo Mi-kyung, you're swinging at a fellow comrade!"
"Fellow comrade? That ugly fuck? He's my comrade? Bullshit!"
Ugly fuck...
Honestly, no one had ever called me ugly like that. It hit hard.
Seo Mi-kyung was a clan master herself.
Maybe that's why Wi Ho-yeon, fending her off, called out to me and Kim Seok-ho midway.
"Ugh...! Kim Seok-ho! Take Lee Yun-seong and go somewhere else! Please!"
"M-me?"
"Yes, please! Seo Mi-kyung isn't in her right mind! Plea—"
Wi Ho-yeon was blocking an attack and pleading when it happened.
Kurung—
Suddenly, the blocked ceiling of the cave rumbled and started collapsing.
A voice came through the dust and debris.
"No need for that."