Chapter 156
Chapter 156
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 156
Chapter Title: Nayeo-ju Saves the World
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The typical food chain between birds and snakes meant nothing to familiars.
A crow that would normally dive like an arrow to snatch up a snake slithering on the ground.
"Shaa—."
But at Baek Young's metallic cry, the shadow crows couldn't budge an inch.
Instead, they only flapped their wings a couple of times from their perches, as if frightened.
Yet Baek Young seemed even angrier at the monsters' reaction, narrowing its eyes and baring teeth as long as an adult's finger.
'Fight fair and square!' or something like that.
Meanwhile, White Tiger was prowling around the group from Magma Guild and the others.
Its eyes stayed fixed on the flock of crows without wavering, almost as if it were guarding the people.
'Baek Young for offense, White Tiger for defense, I guess.'
It was intriguing how their positions were the opposite of their usual personalities, and how they naturally divided roles without a word.
I wanted to observe a bit longer, but it was definitely time.
I'd set things up assuming their abilities would awaken upon encountering monsters.
My guess was off.
In that case, there was no need to leave them in a situation where they could get hurt.
I called the familiars back.
"Kang Baek Young, Na Baek-ho. Come here now."
"Krrrng."
Na Baek-ho glanced back at the shadow crows with obvious regret before trudging over.
But not Baek Young.
"Shaat—!"
It cried out even more fiercely, as if provoking the crows.
But that didn't last long.
Kang Han approached from behind Baek Young, who was still trembling its tail and taunting the flock.
"Keeit!"
"Baek Young."
"......Keeing."
In the end, Baek Young drooped its head sullenly and returned to Kang Han.
But it wasn't completely cowed.
It wouldn't even meet Kang Han's eyes after being dragged back, then shrank small again.
And just like that, it slipped into his sleeve and up inside his clothes.
Baek Young's way of showing displeasure, apparently.
"Hweung."
Finally settling in the warmest spot at Kang Han's nape, it let out a small, still-grumpy whine.
I spoke to Na Baek-ho too.
"Can you shrink back down too?"
"Krrrng."
White Tiger nodded, stretched its body like it was shaking out a cramp.
And in the blink of an eye, it was puppy-sized again.
"Cough!"
"Aigoo."
"Whew."
As White Tiger shrank back, relieved sighs erupted around us.
"S-Surprised me."
"It grew so suddenly, scared me."
The familiars had been so cute until they suddenly ballooned in size, so everyone was patting their chests in shock.
"Familiars must get aggressive around monsters."
Kang Han said, stroking the spot on his nape where his shirt bulged.
"Yeah. But they're still young, so real attacks are beyond them. See, it's already dozing off."
I pointed at Na Baek-ho, who had plopped down on the ground and was nodding off.
"Baek Young's asleep too."
Kang Han peeked inside his t-shirt and agreed.
"Na Baek-ho, want to rest in the sub-space?"
"Kyaaung."
White Tiger, head bobbing as if it might topple over any second, yawned hugely.
With both familiars tucked away in the sub-space for a nap, only humans remained.
I watched the hunters wrapping up their observations of the crows and shifting into attack formation, lost in thought.
Unfortunately, [Sejong Wall] didn't cover the familiars' evolution conditions.
'They evolved in that instant they met the monsters, so we're getting close to the answer.'
Should I have them attack?
But seeing how they shrank back to normal size soon after and succumbed to sleep, maybe it was still too early for evolution.
'There's still a little time left anyway.'
Thinking of the gate we'd face in a few months, I turned my eyes to the battlefield where the shadow crows had just begun.
After five battles, we pitched tents right there and decided to rest.
Magma Guild members clapped like seals at the camping gear pouring out of Han Ji-seong and Kang Han's ample S-rank sub-spaces.
"First time seriously camping inside a dungeon!"
"Grilling meat feels less like work and more like a vacation!"
"Gonna get sleepy like this."
I answered Jeong I-do, who muttered while rubbing his slightly wrinkled eyes.
"If you're sleepy, just sleep. That's why we set up all the tents."
"Is that so......?"
"As expected of a guild with two S-ranks and an A-rank healer. So much leeway."
"Right? Jealous. We can barely lie down for a few hours straight in gates."
I just nodded along to Shin Dan-ju and Shin Dan-bi.
Justice Guild's clears definitely had a relaxed vibe.
Even with everyone's various handicaps, their baseline stats made it possible.
Plus, me as an A-rank healer like a massive power bank, and we couldn't forget Im Cheong-su's cheat-level tonics.
I grabbed another pack of meat from the cooler and tossed it on the fire grill, asking Yang Hwa-yeon,
"So how do you usually rest?"
"Hmm. We light one fire in the middle and camp. Night watch rotates one person per hour."
"That sounds exhausting."
"Ugh, don't remind me. But we stick to B-rank and below, so it's manageable. I've heard A-rank and up guilds barely catch winks sitting up because monsters could attack anytime."
"Yeah. We learned that in school. From A-rank gates on, monsters aren't fixed in one spot."
Lee Yu-chan shuddered just thinking about it.
"Ooh, glasses kid. Studying hard in school, huh?"
"I'm a top student, you know?"
As chatter dragged on and the fire died down, people trickled into tents one by one.
A few hours later, only me and Kang Han remained by the fire.
No conversation passed between us.
We just passed the time stroking Baek Young and White Tiger.
'Why isn't this guy sleeping.'
He should crash already.
Unable to stand it, I finally asked,
"Guild Master, you not heading in?"
"Someone has to keep watch. Go rest if you're tired, Nayeo-ju-ssi."
Ah, so pointlessly diligent.
"I'm not sleepy right now. White Tiger and I can take first watch, so go first, Guild Master."
"Why?"
"What?"
"Why do you keep trying to put me to sleep, Nayeo-ju-ssi?"
Sharp as ever.
I shrugged and put on my most innocent face.
"If you're not tired, fine."
Kang Han chuckled lowly.
"If I'm this tired, I should lose my S-rank badge."
Fine, enjoy being S-rank.
I swallowed a sigh.
This was a problem.
It messed up my plan.
A fatal miscalculation not accounting for Kang Han's iron stamina.
Should've gotten some hunter-grade sleeping pills prescribed.
In the end, my stamina gave out first.
I considered sneaking Im Cheong-su's potion, but couldn't with Kang Han staring across the fire.
'Why's he staring like that.'
As I endured, desperate to flop down and sleep,
"Sitting by the fire like this reminds me of the day we first met, Nayeo-ju-ssi."
"The first time we met?"
"That labor market before entering Mansu Mountain Dungeon. Don't you remember?"
"Ah, yeah. I do."
I'd thought he'd caught me at the underground fight club and panicked for nothing.
"You were staring into a fire then too, Guild Master. Like watching flames?"
"No, not especially."
Kang Han hesitated, then spoke carefully.
"Actually, what I was looking at back then was......"
That's when it happened.
"Shh—!"
"Kyao!"
And in that instant, pitch-black darkness enveloped us.
'It's here!'
Relief mixed with daze at the arrival I'd been waiting for, then a system message popped up before my eyes.