Where the Hell Have You Been!!

"Where the hell have you been!!"

Rerto Karen shouted at me, his face a mess that spoke volumes of the struggles he'd endured. I nodded toward him.

"Say hi. This is the Hidden Eater."

"......What?"

At my words, Rerto turned around with a baffled expression. There stood Isabel Silver, her face half-hidden behind a mask, calm as ever.

"The real deal...... Hidden Eater?"

"Had some business. But to take down Parahum, we need his heart—the Death Flame. This was all for that, so cut me some slack."

"You could've at least said something......"

"If we were the type to take each other's word at face value, sure. Right?"

I raised an eyebrow at Rerto, who let out a frustrated tch...... but couldn't muster a rebuttal.

'Damn bastard. Using me like this. Just wait till we get out of this tomb...... I won't let it slide.'

He glared at me like he wanted to devour me whole.

'But why the hell is the Hidden Eater here? And who's that dwarf lurking behind her?'

The sudden arrival of the two threw Rerto Karen completely off balance.

"Let's wrap this up quick."

Isabel Silver drew a curved shamshir from her waist, crescent-shaped and etched with mysterious runes on the side—clearly another relic of the Veil.

"It was spectral until ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠moments ago, so physical attacks bounced off. But now that the heart's in place, we can hit it. Problem is, it's corporeal now, so its physical strikes pack more punch too."

I eyed Parahum as it slowly rose with a low [Grrrrr......] and fixed its baleful gaze on us, rapidly devising a strategy.

"Parahum's simple: destroy the heart. Shatter that pulsing gem, and we're done."

"Then why not just smash it when you had it earlier?" Phlia shot back.

"That would've killed our shot at the specter entirely. Not that breaking the gem solo is easy anyway...... We need to wreck both soul and heart to clear the tomb. Only way is embedding the Death Flame in its spectral form to force corporeality, then strike."

"So the real fight starts now."

Phlia nodded in understanding. She'd clearly struggled holding off the specter—smudges of soot everywhere, sweat-slicked cheeks flushed red.

"Good work."

I murmured softly at her side.

"Keep your promise."

She rubbed her nose sheepishly at the praise.

"Of course. That's why I brought him."

I pointed at Norpa Jeran.

"The key to opening the duchy gates."

She chuckled helplessly and shook her head.

"First things first—the dead bastard in front of us."

Phlia nodded.

"Death paves the way...... Bet his head fetches a fortune at the auction house."

Shwick—!Whoosh!Whoosh!!

Phlia flung back her arms and hurled every dagger she had. They bloomed in the air like petals, raining down on Parahum like a storm.

Boom—!Boom!!BOOMMM—!Boom!

Black smoke erupted where they landed, and her body zigzagged through, piercing straight toward Parahum.

Slash—!!

Teleporting from lower daggers to upper ones, she slashed—and unlike before, chunks of blackened, rotting flesh rained from Parahum's body.

"Urk!"

The stench made her retch, but she raised her blade again.

"NPCs on a dungeon clear...... What kind of freak are you?"

Isabel Silver eyed Phlia and Red Sickle.

"Here."

I extended my hand to her. She offered hers reluctantly, and I took it.

With the Hidden Eater in the party, a tense undercurrent rippled among the three players—NPCs aside.

"No Hidden Eater, no Death Flame. In exchange, she's hunting Parahum with us. Deal with it."

I preempted any gripes by laying it out for Rerto Karen.

Rerto's mind reeled at her inclusion.

'The king's scepter's a quest item—guaranteed drop. But unlike Kim Do-hyun, the Hidden Eater's a total stranger here. If she claims it...... headache city.'

Grind— He clenched his teeth unwittingly.

"What're you waiting for?"

I shoved his back lightly.

Clank—!BOOM......!!!

His heavy plate shook the floor as he raised his sword at the monster, venting his frustration.

Silver aura swirled like a vortex around his blade, flashing toward Parahum's heart.

KABOOOMMM—!!!

Parahum crossed its arms, blocking the strike.

Crunchhh......!!

Its undead hands trembled gripping the blade, but Rerto shoved harder.

"Nngh......!"

Painless, Parahum twisted the sword and advanced on him.

That was when—

A massive chakram blazing fiercely hurtled at Parahum.

WHOOSH—!!

Its flames shifted from red to dark crimson, sparks erupting as it spun.

[Kyaaak......!!!]

Parahum tried shoving Rerto aside to block the chakram.

"Not a chance......!!"

Rerto struck first, discarding the silver shard and slamming his fist into the ground.

Parahum's head snapped back to Rerto, as if yanked by force.

[Insolent......!!!]

But its black eyes flashed, shrugging off the taunt.

Swoooosh—!!

Parahum swung its king's scepter wide. The floor blackened like Swiss cheese, skeletal arms bursting forth by the dozens.

But then—

[Kaaak......!!!]

Splat!!!

Just before the dark arms could grab Rerto and Red Sickle, the Hidden Eater—now behind—slammed her shamshir into Parahum's shoulder.

Sizzzleee......!!

No ordinary blade; black smoke billowed from the wound.

Crunch—!!GRINDGRINDGRIND—!!

Red Sickle's flaming chakram embedded in Parahum's neck.

[Gurk......! Ngh!!]

Black ichor oozed like rot from the wound, choking its words.

Clang......!

Parahum staggered, dropping the scepter.

"Don't give it breathing room!!"

Rerto snatched the mangled silver shard and charged.

Clack—GROOOOWL......!!

A thick stone wall erupted underfoot, halting him.

"Wh-what?!"

"Stabbing it like that? Its heart-flames'll just melt your blade. Any more damage, and it's unrepairable. Back off. Leave this to me."

"Kim Do-hyun......!!!"

His shout burned with rage.

[Foolish humans......!!!]

Then—Crackkk......! Parahum's ribs unfurled like wings.

Whooshh......!!

Flames from its heart surged, birthing massive flame-spirit beasts on contact.

"Tch?!"

Rerto gripped his sword in alarm.

"Relax. Scepter's yours. Didn't peg the Los Clan's head for such a pea-heart."

I teased his tension and activated Torong.

'To kill the Death Flame, first douse the heart's blaze. Musori would've been ideal......'

Stuck with only the defensive Nute, one option remained to halt the heart.

'Grab the Death Flame inside and cast Nute to infuse frost directly.'

Shrrrk......!!

The bracelet on my left wrist shattered into pieces, encasing my arm like skin.

"Silver!!"

I called her name; she sprang from Parahum's shoulder, backflipping away.

"Where—!!"

But daggers laced its arms and shoulders; she yanked the wires hard, yanking its arms back with a shudder......!

Thud-thud! Red Sickle and Phlia flanked her, aiding the pull.

[Kyaak......! Kak!!]

Flame vessels charged me—but I ignored them, sprinting straight at Parahum.

[You......!! This fool......!!!]

Bound-armed, it bellowed in shock at my move—but each cry spilled more black blood from its chakram-wound neck.

'No snuffing the heart-flame? Flame vessels keep coming. Speed blitz it is.'

Splurt......!!

Torong gauntlet-fist plunged into its left chest where the heart sat.

Instantly, white steam burst from its heart, piercing skin.

Hiiiisssshhhh......!!

Steam filled the chamber in seconds, blinding thick fog.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Black Eye."

Vision blocked for Rerto, I called out. The hidden Black Eye emerged, blue flames wreathing his massive sword as he raised it.

Splat—!!

His greatsword scattered surrounding flame vessels.

[Kraaaaaak—!!]

Amid Parahum's ear-shredding scream, I wrenched out the heart with all my strength.

The excised Death Flame was frost-encased; its red blaze snuffed in an instant.

Shlick—!!!!

Black Eye's greatsword cleaved its limbs.

[Kraaaaaaaaak......!!!]

Alerts blared as Parahum's body crumbled to ash.

[Foul humans...... So it is you...... How far......]

It seemed to curse me in final words—but its body powdered first.

"Bring it."

I stared at the dust, then irritably kicked it apart.

"We did it......!!"

"Woooaaahhh!!"

Unlike my sour mood, cheers erupted as Parahum vanished. A gleaming golden king's scepter lay beside the chest.

"Here."

I handed it to Rerto Karen.

"Like when I took the Tomb Heaven Demon Dance, you get the quest item. We split the rest. Cool?"

Rerto eyed me ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠suspiciously but nodded slowly upon receiving it.

"Third place, huh......"

Rerto muttered lowly at the rankings. He seemed stunned—and baffled—that I'd snagged first despite dipping out mid-fight.

"Without me, you'd just be specter-fodder."

I released ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the Torong gauntlet and tossed the frozen Death Flame to the floor.

"......True enough."

His face screamed reluctance, but he nodded.

"Kim Do-hyun."

Isabel Silver called my name. Unlike Rerto's scowl, her cool gaze likely approved of me handing over the scepter.

"Figures...... Everyone's looking for you."

I scratched my head annoyedly.

"Pick your loot first?"

"......"

She shot me a glance, then opened the reward chest left after the corpse vanished.

'Scepter goes to him, fine.'

I watched her scan the chest.

'Don't sweat it, Hidden Eater. My plan kicked off when I added you to the party.'

More party members meant more competition for loot—at first glance. But more heads also scaled drop quantities.

'High-grades like Heroic or Rare stay fixed, but that's not what I want.'

Click—

The lid opened.

I eyed the list, one corner of my mouth curling up.

'There it is.'