Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Overwhelming Loneliness and Emptiness
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Vampires that emerge from dungeons come in various types, but among them exists a high-ranking monster. Its name is Dertod.
The terrifying thing about Dertod is that, as a vampire-type monster, it possesses intelligence on par with a human's. It knows how to suck human blood, harness that energy, and fight with cunning strategy.
That's why, whenever a Dertod appears, you have to concentrate all your firepower right from the start and strive to take it down as quickly as possible.
The longer the subjugation drags on, the more people it kills—not to mention absorbing their energy to grow stronger—making it incredibly disadvantageous in a drawn-out battle.
Of course, Dertod is a rare monster that only appears in Black Gates, so there's no way the students would know about it.
-Squish
-Shiver shiver shiver
"Puhah-!"
Dertod plunged its tentacles into yet another person and began absorbing.
"The taste of fresh blood... It's been so long since I feasted."
Dertod shuddered with delight, savoring the absorbed blood over and over.
"R... Run! Quick!"
"Get out of the way, everyone! Move!"
The many Helmont Academy students began fleeing in panic every which way. Dertod laughed and shouted.
"Foolish humans. Do you think you can escape my sight and survive? This dungeon won't open until I'm dealt with. No matter how long it takes, you're all doomed to die here in the end."
At that moment, Dertod sensed a gaze fixed on it.
'What is this?'
A chilling sensation that clawed at its heart. An unpleasant, sticky stare. Looking in that direction, it saw a petite girl standing there.
"What a repulsive human. Do you want to die first?"
The one Dertod was staring at was Park Hyeyeon.
She answered.
"You're disgusting. Do you enjoy tormenting others?"
Park Hyeyeon's words pierced like ice. Dertod sneered in response.
"Of course. Crushing the weak is always thrilling. Humans aren't even the same species as us vampires, are they? Superior species dominate and prey on inferior ones. It's the natural order every creature on Earth has followed since the beginning of time."
He stabbed his tentacles into another victim and trudged toward Park Hyeyeon.
"What's so different about you humans? You devour and exploit the weaker ones among you, yet you reek of filthy hypocrisy."
Park Hyeyeon said nothing more, preparing for battle.
"Hoh... Aren't you scared, human? Can't you feel it? The gap in power between you and me? Even though I just revived, I've absorbed several people and boosted my stats."
"I wouldn't call it peak condition, but tearing apart a single human mage is nothing."
Dertod licked his lips, and Park Hyeyeon began chanting her spell.
As she activated the Absorption skill, the [SS] Mana Resonance Orb that Choi Juwon had given her began to glow from her pocket.
Thanks to this Mana Resonance Orb, even Park Hyeyeon—who hadn't fully mastered external mana—could now skillfully absorb, rotate, and release it to wield outside mana.
"Hoh... While I slumbered, have humans changed how they handle mana?"
Dertod instantly recognized the ominous shift in Park Hyeyeon's aura and began preparing for combat himself.
'There's a human by the cave wall.'
Dertod quickly scanned the terrain and noted where people were hiding. This was to ensure quick bloodsucking if he took damage.
To Dertod, humans were nothing more than walking potions or packed lunches.
In an instant, Park Hyeyeon's mana coalesced and shot forward.
Dertod smirked and extended his hand.
"Pfft. You thought this puny attack could kill me? How naive, foolish human."
The moment Dertod tried to block Park Hyeyeon's mana...
-Whoosh
The mana twisted like a serpent and slammed into his face.
-Boom!
A dull thud echoed, followed by rising smoke.
"Did... did she get it?"
The Masked Instructor's disciples—Seo Chanwoo, Im Se-ah, Min Dayun, and Kang Eunbyeol—who had been waiting in the rear to provide support in case of emergency—held their breaths and watched the scene.
-Hiss
But as expected, a high-ranking vampire wouldn't die from a single attack like that.
"Ah... It's been ages since I felt this irritated."
"I was going to toy with you slowly... but now I'll just kill you all."
-Fwhoosh
In a flash, tentacles erupted from his back, spreading out in all directions.
Outside the dungeon, Choi Juwon stared blankly at the sky.
'They just entered the dungeon, so clearing it will take some time. It's a double dungeon this time, so the space is probably bigger too...'
As he thought that, Yang Hangil, who was nearby, spoke up.
"You planning to stick around here? If you hate seeing my face that much, why not go somewhere else?"
I looked at Yang Hangil and replied.
"I'll handle myself, so shut your trap. You've been picking fights since earlier. Keep it up, and I won't hold back. Want me to smash that mouth first?"
Yang Hangil flinched, then responded nonchalantly.
"Hey, I wasn't picking a fight. Sorry if it came off that way."
I stared at him, thinking.
'What a pathetic bastard.'
Pathetic. He tucked tail at the slightest show of strength, yet still tried to salvage his pride. I couldn't fathom why I'd been ousted while this dimwit took my place.
'What if I hadn't been kicked out?'
The thought suddenly crossed my mind. If I hadn't been framed and expelled. Or even if I had, if there had been someone who believed in me. What would it have been like?
'All pointless now.'
Years of instructor life, bonds with countless students—all severed in a single day. Now I wandered like a clown in a mask.
'I'm lonely.'
The realization hit me. Unable to reveal my true self, abandoned by all, a thick wave of loneliness and isolation washed over me.
-Ding
Then my phone chimed with a notification.
- Juwon, where are you?
'It's Seol Euna.'
The leader of the high-ranking Luster Guild. The woman I'd once saved, who supported everything I needed in my activities without asking for anything in return.
'Right. At least there's still someone by my side.'
Not like the old days with crowds, but someone who believed in me unconditionally and helped. At least one such person existed for me.
'Whether it's guilt from me saving her life, or something else, I don't know.'
Either way, someone who acted for me without me lifting a finger. Just knowing that brought a sudden comfort.
- Juwon, where are you? I have something to ask.
I stared at Seol Euna's message for a while before replying.
- What's up?
At Seol Euna's residence, she sat on the sofa, agonizing over her reply for a long time.
- What's up?
'Ugh... How should I even respond?'
She'd messaged Choi Juwon not for any specific reason, but simply because she wanted to see him.
'He seemed really worn out lately...'
She suddenly recalled his worried expression from their last meeting, filling her with concern.
'He's probably overworking himself training those new disciples again...'
Since he'd started taking on new disciples as the Masked Instructor, he spent every day without fail with them. Naturally, that meant no time to meet her.
'He should have a little time, right?'
She just wanted to see his face, even briefly. Share a short conversation face-to-face. That's what Seol Euna thought.
- I have a bit of free time right now. Want to meet if you're free? You looked really tired lately... You've been so busy with the new disciples, haven't seen you much. And... I miss you...
Seol Euna typed it out, then deleted it all.
'Saying I miss you is too forward? Might make him uncomfortable...'
Instead, she sent a short message.
- Want to meet briefly if you can? If you're busy, I'll come to you. It's not something for text.
There was no real "something to discuss." But she figured if she said it was just to see him with no reason, he might turn her down.
'Once we meet, I can say it's about NA TUBE stuff.'
'Ugh... Am I coming on too strong? Shouldn't have offered to come myself?'
She lay down, kicking the blanket in frustration as she anxiously awaited his reply.
Soon, another message arrived. The sight of the high-ranking guild leader bashfully kicking her blanket evoked a teenage girl in the throes of puberty.
-Ding
-Thud crash!
She bolted up to check, tripping in her haste.
"Ow..."
But even from the floor, she grabbed her phone.
- My disciples are in the dungeon right now, so I have a little time. But Yang Hangil's here too. That okay?
'Huh? Why's Yang Hangil there?'
An old memory surfaced. Yang Hangil badmouthing Choi Juwon, treating him like dirt.
The day Choi Juwon was expelled from the academy. Yang Hangil had called him out for drinks.
Thanks to Yang Hangil, she'd been able to see Choi Juwon again. But separately, his ugly behavior that day made her cut ties completely—no more pretending to know him. They'd only crossed paths a few times on business anyway, so it was easy.
'Ugh... I don't want to see that lowlife again...'
'But... Juwon's there.'
She imagined seeing Choi Juwon after so long.
'I hope I look pretty to Juwon...'
Seol Euna smiled, touching her face this way and that.
In front of the gate where Choi Juwon and Yang Hangil waited.
-Hiiiiiss
A massive sound began, and the gate shifted to a dark hue.
"Shit... What the hell is this?"
Yang Hangil stared at the gate in a daze.
I looked at it too. Demonic energy gathered, sealing the entrance completely in an instant.
'We're screwed.'
My head spun. A familiar situation. The place where Seol Euna had nearly died in the past.
Black Gate.
Of all times, with my disciples all inside. A Black Gate outbreak.