Chapter 47
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 47
“Fuck.”
F-Rank Porter Cha Ah-ra couldn’t hold back the curse. Not for a single second.
“How did my life end up like this? It’s so fucking shitty… In my next life, I’m definitely going to be born the youngest child of a harmonious, filthy-rich family…”
Inside the vast, complex, anthill-like dungeon, Cha Ah-ra was utterly alone, dragging her feet in misery.
“Those absolute bastards, leaving me behind. I’m going to curse them to hell and back.”
The place she’d been abandoned in was a dark cave filled with luminescent jewels. One might wonder how a place filled with glowing jewels could be dark, but it was inhabited by dust-like creatures that consumed light. Although the area immediately surrounding the brightly shining jewels was faintly visible, nothing could be seen beyond that.
“……”
Cha Ah-ra had been abandoned in a dungeon this dark.
“Fuck.”
It was complete and utter bullshit.
“…I hope you stub your toe on a doorframe, rip your fingernail, and bleed trying to peel it off. I hope you trip and fall in the middle of a crowded street and die of embarrassment. I hope you get drunk, post some sentimental cringe online, and wake up to a morning of soul-crushing regret…”
The reason she was abandoned was obvious.
They had entered the dungeon with what little courage they had, but they couldn’t find a way through. With no results, their food running low, and morale at rock bottom, they had ultimately used a Return Stone to escape.
She could understand that much.
Sure, wasting time and money is infuriating, but it’s better to get out alive than to die.
As the saying goes, it’s better to be rolling in dog shit in this world than to be dead in the next. Even if it was only a C-Rank Dungeon, a dungeon was still a dungeon. You never knew when someone might die, and in a dark place like this, one’s mental fortitude became noticeably fragile. They had already seen enough blood, so if there was a way out, escaping was the smart choice.
“……”
But they were one Return Stone short.
“Fuck…!”
Return Stones were expensive to begin with, so even if they’d had enough, she doubted they would have given one to an F-Rank Porter like her. For all she knew, the claim that they were short on stones was a lie.
“Ah, seriously, what is this bullshit! I hope you bastards get dumped the day before your weddings, cry your eyes out, and live as jobless losers for the rest of your lives!”
Cha Ah-ra sniffled, clinging tightly to a jewel as large as her body.
This wasn’t a common occurrence. No matter how cold-hearted the world had become, people didn’t usually abandon porters so blatantly. They were supposed to be teammates, after all.
“……”
However, it was a well-kept secret among Hunters; in reality, it happened quite often behind closed doors.
…The fact that it’s not unheard of makes it even worse.
This wasn’t the first time Cha Ah-ra had been through this, either.
The biggest problem is that this dungeon gets very few visitors.
In the past, even if she was left behind, she could escape by groveling to the next party of Hunters who entered.
Hunters have to manage their public image, after all.
Since Hunters were essentially celebrities, they had to be careful about their reputations. Unless they were exceptionally cruel, most would take in a pitiful, abandoned porter.
But.
“Sigh, seriously… No, really, what am I supposed to do this time…?”
This place was the Vein of Jewels.
It was a C-Rank Dungeon with exceptionally few monsters and terrible rewards, which meant Hunters rarely visited.
“They said it’s a lot if even one team enters a week.”
The paths were an intricate tangle, and because of the microscopic creatures that absorbed all light—whether from lanterns or anything else—one could easily get trapped and die in the dark maze. Finding the exit was no easy task.
Despite this, the reason Hunters occasionally visited was because of a single monster that inhabited this dungeon.
“……”
A tiny monster with a jewel-like body that glowed softly, like a mood light.
It was known as the Anti-Cat.
“…Idiots. I had a bad feeling the moment they said they were targeting that thing…”
The Anti-Cat was a feline monster about the size of a grown man’s palm, maybe slightly larger. Despite its cute appearance, which charmed people of all ages and genders, it absolutely hated human contact and would flee on sight. Adding to its rarity, it also absorbed light like the other creatures in the cave, plunging its surroundings into darkness.
Even if they managed to catch it, they shouldn’t be keeping an Anti-Cat as a pet.
Raising monsters was heavily regulated by the government, and more importantly, the Anti-Cat was a terrifying creature that would burn everything around it with blue flames when angered.
Well, because it’s that kind of monster, there are plenty of bastards on the black market dying to buy one.
In any case, she never should have joined this team. She should have run the moment they said they were going to the Vein of Jewels.
If only she hadn’t been so desperate for money.
“…What am I going to do…”
It hadn’t even been twenty-four hours since she was trapped alone, but perhaps due to the darkness and the sound-absorbing silence, her mind felt severely shaken. Even though she was clearly in a vast cave, she felt as if she were trapped in a claustrophobic space.
She had heard that some prisons deliberately locked inmates in small, dark rooms as a form of torture, and this felt exactly like that. While her body wasn’t as physically constrained as it would be in a cramped cell, she was mentally exhausted.
“Ugh…”
She was starting to get hungry, too.
It’s not like I’m strong enough to clear this dungeon on my own. How did they say the exit appears here again? I think it required multiple people…
But just waiting to be rescued was equally hopeless.
“……”
Squeezing her eyes shut, Cha Ah-ra soon pushed herself to her feet.
“…Let’s just get moving.”
It was easy to say it hadn’t even been a day, but to a sober mind, it was an incredibly long time. She was sick of staying still just to prolong her life. At this rate, she would go insane before rescue arrived, so she figured it was better to keep moving just to preserve her sanity.
“Still, the Vein of Jewels has relatively few monsters. With no food, stamina, or abilities, clearing it is out of the question for me alone, but… as long as I watch out for those ghost-like monsters that pop out of nowhere, I should be fine.”
Fighting monsters wasn’t the main focus in the Vein of Jewels. The only clear condition was ‘Find the Exit,’ which spoke volumes about how complex and dark this anthill of a place was. Since it was a dungeon that tested mental fortitude rather than offensive power, Cha Ah-ra could make it out alive as long as she kept her wits about her.
“……”
But even that started to drive her crazy after about three hours.
“Ah, I’m going nuts.”
She was hungry, thirsty, sleepy, and her limbs ached. The leg she had injured during the last raid hadn’t even fully healed, leaving her with a limp. At this rate, she definitely wouldn’t be able to run if a dangerous situation arose.
But sleeping peacefully in a place crawling with life-draining monsters would be incredibly stupid.
She didn’t know much, having only picked things up from overheard conversations or firsthand experience without any formal training, but she at least knew that all the monsters in the Vein of Jewels looked like ghosts. They attacked by draining a Hunter’s life force. While their physical attack power wasn’t high, letting one’s guard down could cut one’s lifespan in half.
At least when I’m awake, I can stay alert and drive them away…
It was as she was trudging along like that.
“……”
In the distance, she saw something faintly glowing. An extremely weak light.
“…It doesn’t look like…”
…a jewel pillar.
Cha Ah-ra narrowed her eyes. Her eyesight wasn’t bad, but the object was so small she couldn’t quite make it out.
What is that?
She knew the moment she saw it. That was not one of the luminescent jewels scattered across the cave. It was much smaller, with a round shape that immediately caught the eye, and above all, four paws that moved with light, dainty steps, like a young lady from a prestigious family.
“Oh.”
Pointy ears and a fluffy tail.
“Oh, oh…”
Despite being as small as a kitten, its coat was as luxurious as any long-haired cat’s. It was an Anti-Cat, a charming, jewel-furred cat that could fit in the palm of one’s hand.
“…Crazy. I can’t believe I’m actually seeing this.”
If the Hunters who’d left her behind found out, they would be beating their chests in regret.
Just the thought of that completely rejuvenates my exhausted mind and body. Eat shit, you bastards.
Gaining a bit of energy, Cha Ah-ra observed the Anti-Cat.
…There’s no way I can catch an Anti-Cat, and I don’t even want to.
Even if it was a world where people often turned a blind eye, it was still illegal. If she were caught, an F-Rank Porter like her with no backing would face severe punishment.
Thus, what Cha Ah-ra wanted wasn’t to capture the Anti-Cat.
There was a rumor that these creatures move in the direction of the exit. It’s not confirmed, but still…
Perhaps noticing her presence, the Anti-Cat suddenly whipped its head around to look at her.
“Ah.”
“……”
“……”
It was said that if an Anti-Cat detected a human, it would extinguish its own light, absorb all surrounding light, and leisurely escape. Fortunately, the creature before her did no such thing.
Cha Ah-ra quietly let out a sigh of relief.
…I-I’m saved.
She had never seen an Anti-Cat emit such a soft glow before. No, she had never even heard of it. She’d been told that Anti-Cats usually avoided humans by hiding in the dark after devouring all surrounding light.
Flicking its tail, the Anti-Cat soon began to trot away. Its movements were light and elegant, like a soft balloon bouncing or a flower petal fluttering.
“……”
Is it telling me to follow?
…Since it’s a monster, it probably isn’t keeping its light on to help a human, but it doesn’t seem to want to attack me either. They say this monster’s habits are similar to a cat’s, so as long as I keep a reasonable distance, I shouldn’t be suddenly attacked…
As she cautiously followed behind the Anti-Cat, Cha Ah-ra noticed something strange.
“……”
“……”
“……?”
The Anti-Cat seemed to be checking if she was following.
…What is this?
One might call it a miraculous display of goodwill from a monster, but no matter how low her rank, Cha Ah-ra was still a Hunter. She knew all too well that a monster would never show genuine goodwill to a human out of affection. The Anti-Cat, in particular, was a monster notorious for its hatred of humans.
But that behavior… it definitely looks like it’s luring me in…
Wait.
“……”
Luring?
Just as Cha Ah-ra hesitated, ready to flee…
“Hello.”
“Ah-Aaaaaaaargh—!”
Thud!
Cha Ah-ra’s legs gave out, and she collapsed to the ground.
“W-What… What, what, what…”
“……”
“…W-Who are you…?”
It took some time for her to grasp the situation. Panting as she caught her breath, Cha Ah-ra realized that someone else was in the darkness with her. Since nothing was visible in this dungeon unless it was right next to a luminescent jewel, she had never imagined someone would be waiting where the Anti-Cat was heading.
It’s… not a monster, right?
Where in the world would you find a talking monster?
“Who… Who is it…?”
Even as she stammered her question, Cha Ah-ra summoned her courage and awkwardly picked herself up. For porters, even if the other party was human, being killed in a dungeon just for fun was something that happened from time to time. It was best to be cautious.
Stay calm, you idiot.
Meanwhile, the Anti-Cat approached the ‘someone.’ It was now emitting a slightly brighter light than before, its affection evident in its gentle blue glow and even softer movements. As the tiny creature drew close, only pitch-black suit trousers and pale, bare feet came into view. The Anti-Cat rubbed its body against those ankles, acting cute.
“……”
It was an absurd scene.
“…An Anti-Cat…”
Wasn’t the Anti-Cat famous for hating humans?
“Ah, excuse me, are you… a T-Tamer? Um…”
“……”
“Which guild are you with…?” she asked, confident that someone of a Tamer’s caliber wouldn’t be a freelancer, but the other party still did not answer.
A bizarre silence ensued.
…Why is he so quiet?
No, wait. Why didn’t I sense any human presence?
No matter how incompetent a Hunter I am, I should at least be able to sense a person at this distance…
Cold sweat trickled down Cha Ah-ra’s cheek. Instinctively, she sensed that something was wrong. By now, even the pitch-black suit trousers and the pale, bare feet beneath them felt eerie.
Yes, of course.
“……”
There’s no way some lunatic would come into a rugged cave like this barefoot.
“……”
…Let’s think.
The Anti-Cat hates humans.
They said that’s true even for Tamers.
If it were a problem a Tamer could solve, Anti-Cats would be sold much more openly. But the Anti-Cat detested contact with humans to an extreme degree, and this applied even to Tamers who could form contracts with monsters. There was a reason ‘Anti’ was in its name.
And yet, that very Anti-Cat is acting so affectionate…
At that moment, the stranger bent down and scooped up the Anti-Cat. Cha Ah-ra could see its tiny body fitting perfectly into the large hand. It didn’t resist at all, completely surrendering itself.
“……”
“Hello.”
“…Y-Yes.”
Oh, wait. She had been too distracted to notice, but Cha Ah-ra realized she hadn’t properly responded to the stranger’s greeting.
Did I just scream and nothing else?
Feeling awkward, Cha Ah-ra gave a clumsy nod.
“U-Um, hello…”
Repeating the same greeting so abruptly. Perhaps he was asking again because she hadn’t answered his first one. It was by no means a normal reaction.
Is he obsessed with manners or something?
Even as she thought this, Cha Ah-ra took a hesitant step back. Her cautious movement, born of a desire not to provoke him, showed that she had already classified the man before her as a dangerous entity.
…Something is off.
The human-hating Anti-Cat was cradled in the man’s pale hand, rubbing its cheek against him. No matter how well the man might have trained it, this was bizarre. Just because a monster was contracted didn’t mean it would naturally harbor affection for its master. Most of their relationships were incredibly dry, or even bound by hatred.
Besides, I’ve never heard of an Anti-Cat emitting such a soft glow in a human’s arms. It’s a sight so rare that a photo of it has never even been taken.
That light was like an anglerfish luring its prey in the deep sea.
“……”
While there were no known cases of an Anti-Cat liking humans, it was not uncommon for a monster to offer tribute to a monster stronger than itself.
“…Ah…”
Come to think of it, talking monsters did exist. It was such a rare occurrence that she hadn’t dared to consider it, but they definitely existed.
Humanoid monsters.
“My name is Seo Gio.”
“……”
“What is your name?”
A face submerged in darkness, completely invisible. The hand holding the Anti-Cat and his chest were faintly visible. A pitch-black dress shirt, a pitch-black suit, and a black cloak that was even darker. Even his large, thick fingers were as pale as a corpse’s…
“……”
Cha Ah-ra quietly took it all in. Even though it was merely hidden by the darkness, it felt like a faceless person.
“……”
And, of course.
There are no faceless humans in this world.
“…I, I am…”
“You seem nervous.”
“……”
“Are you afraid of me?”
“……”
“I promise I will not harm you.”
The voice was excessively polite.
…What is this?
It was a chillingly beautiful voice. It was neat and clear, like a news anchor announcing the weather, and gentle yet firm, like a teacher instructing a student. Cha Ah-ra suddenly felt that the voice was so perfect it was uncanny.
Perhaps because she took too long to process her confusion, as if unsatisfied with the lingering silence, ‘it’ spoke to her once more.
“Do not be afraid.”
Cha Ah-ra realized.
“……”
Ah.
That thing.
“I am curious about your name.”
It’s not human.
“……”
“……”
“Ch-Cha Ah-ra… I’m Cha Ah-ra.”
“Nice to meet you, Ms. Cha Ah-ra.”
In the darkness, she saw eyes darker than the dark itself.
“Would you like to converse with me?”