Chapter 132. The Sulking One (1)
“Wh-what the hell is going on?”
The netuber’s occupational disease kicked in. Park Hwigang muttered to himself, and the chat window jumped in eagerly.
Just a moment of hype.
“No. It’s not that His Majesty Hoyeol has appeared……”
The camera angle switched with a touch.
Finally, the viewers’ screens filled with the [Tepperun Black Contractors].
A veritable army. The viewers were stunned by the sheer numbers for a moment, but they quickly noticed something off.
The [Tepperun Black Contractors] were monsters explicitly mentioned in the update notes.
“Why aren’t they attacking like before?”
“You asking me? How should I know?”
“Hyungs, we wasted precious potions for nothing. Sponsor some potion money.”
Whatever was happening……
Sighs of relief echoed from all around.
But Park Hwigang hadn’t let go of his tension yet. An explorer had instincts, after all.
“This isn’t just tripping a trap.”
Rumble—!
Even now, the labyrinth shook as if it might collapse.
Even if someone had deliberately trolled, there wouldn’t be a mechanism that could shake the entire labyrinth.
“Something bigger than that has definitely happened……”
Normally, he’d rack his brain over it. But the pondering didn’t last long.
There was only one possibility that came to mind.
The [Tepperun Labyrinth] rift had Lee Hoyeol in it.
……Right, His Majesty Hoyeol is in the middle of a quest!
The incident in the [Tepperun Barrier] rift.
The conversation between Hoyeol and the spirit of darkness.
That scene had gone viral, sparking endless analysis of their exchange.
The bottomless darkness proved his class, or whatever……
But there was only one solid conclusion.
"Only thou canst unravel this Tepperun labyrinth."
Lee Hoyeol had received a quest related to the Tepperun labyrinth.
One deduction led to another.
Finally, Park Hwigang spoke up.
“Looks like this is His Majesty Hoyeol’s doing.”
“No. This isn’t trolling!”
Just look at the [Tepperun Black Contractors]’ behavior.
Like they’d triggered a trap. The mobs had awakened, but they weren’t attacking.
They were simply heading somewhere.
Precisely, toward the labyrinth’s depths.
‘Could this be part of His Majesty Hoyeol’s ongoing quest?’
The conclusion was reached, but Park Hwigang kept quiet.
It might be over-speculation. It could even inconvenience His Majesty Hoyeol.
But others figured it out without explanation.
The [Tepperun Black Contractors] who’d repeated the same line since their debut.
Their dialogue had changed.
“……At long last, the chance to correct our grave error has arrived.”
“!!!”
It wasn’t just one.
All the black contractors were saying it.
Park Hwigang included, the players exchanged glances.
They spoke up in unison.
“This is part of the quest too!”
“What kind of quest has this scale……?”
“Some people can’t even get a single fetch quest!”
What quest could shake the entire labyrinth and wield this much influence?
Beyond envy, their hearts raced as fellow players.
Right on cue, someone spoke.
“Should we follow them and see?”
With the [Tepperun Black Contractors] awakened and moving, no need to worry about traps anymore.
If they just trailed behind……
“We might reach the depths safely.”
The labyrinth depths.
They could reunite with the players they’d passed entering the rift.
Lee Hoyeol would surely be among them.
Forget loot—this moment sparked pure curiosity.
“I, I want to see it with my own eyes. What he’s doing!”
They wanted to witness Lee Hoyeol’s exploits.
Not just Park Hwigang’s party.
Every player who’d entered the labyrinth.
At their scattered starting points.
“Follow them to the depths, right?”
“Hoyeol will be there.”
“And we can see what the hell he’s up to?”
Decision made.
No hesitation.
Rumble—!
From each starting point, players joined the procession of [Tepperun Black Contractors].
Sure enough, as speculated.
No more traps triggered.
“Man, this labyrinth is insanely deep.”
“This rift didn’t pop up to be cleared.”
“At normal pace, we wouldn’t have reached the depths before collapse.”
Tongues wagging, they hurried deeper underground.
Finally, they arrived.
At the Tepperun labyrinth depths.
And witnessed.
“……Wh-what the hell is that?”
The labyrinth walls.
A massive ‘something’ covering the surface.
“……A gem? But it’s moving?”
“Hyungs, didn’t that just twitch?”
“Wait. Is that……an eyeball?”
“Bullshit. What eyeball’s that big?!”
So enormous they hadn’t recognized it at first.
A pupil at least ten meters across.
Someone stammered.
“……If that’s the pupil, how big’s the body?”
Chill—!
Realization hit, goosebumps erupted.
Arcana boss mobs flashed in their minds.
Any monster that huge?
Nothing came to mind.
Chatter—Players from other starts arrived.
“See? Told you I was late.”
“Yeah. Same situation everywhere?”
“Holy crap, so many?”
“……Hey, hold up.”
They too faced the massive pupil.
No status ailment yet.
But players knew instantly.
“Knew something was off from the entrance!!”
“Recommended level 500? What bullshit!”
“I knew when Hoyeol entered. Me!”
Not an enemy for their level.
Instinct screamed it.
Gazes turned to Lee Hoyeol.
“……Not doubting him, but. Can he do it?”
Lee Hoyeol.
Estimated level, at least 900.
But even for him.
Could he handle that thing?
Overwhelmed by its size upon sight.
Players and watchers felt unease.
“Boss mobs are another league. Even if level advantage, stats are worlds apart from regulars. And nothing says it’s below Hoyeol……”
Plus, Hoyeol’s forces weren’t at full.
Hoyeol himself unchanged.
But his allies.
Mage Tower.
Lion Heart Knights.
Shadow Mercenaries.
Goddess Church Holy Knights.
Not here this time.
“Just three explorers with Hoyeol.”
Including legendary explorer Fabien, none ordinary.
But explorers were non-combat classes.
No big battle help.
Quick thinkers spoke.
“Then we join him, right? With Hoyeol.”
“Yeah, obviously. We’re in the same boat.”
“True. Gotta take it down anyway. But……”
……Would we even help?
Maybe blind?
No focus in the giant pupil.
Just open.
Still, doubt lingered.
Glimpsed skin under rocks.
“At my level, can’t even scratch it.”
Players imagined worst.
If focus returns.
And turns on them……
“Damn, already scared shitless.”
Body and mind at odds?
Sweat—Hands gripped gear tighter.
But they overlooked one thing.
Here, in the depths.
The [Tepperun Black Contractors] gathered.
The shadowy forms stirred.
“!”
Narrow passages hid numbers before.
Now vast depths revealed them.
Impossible to count at a glance.
“Thousands? No, ten thousand?!”
Anxiety amplifying it?
Someone whispered.
“……What if they turn on us suddenly?”
“Then we’re all dead.”
“Too late to run. Snap out of it.”
Gulp—Dry swallows.
But fears unfounded.
“?”
From scattered paths, mixed chaos.
The black contractors moved.
Forming ranks in perfect order.
“……What the?”
Actions full of ‘formality’ and ‘procedure’.
First to notice: sharp-eyed, unwavering Park Hwigang.
‘His Majesty Hoyeol. Where is His Majesty Hoyeol?’
Definitely Hoyeol commanding them!
Park Hwigang scanned depths.
Crowded with contractors and players.
Finding Hoyeol like needle in haystack.
Yet.
“……Found him.”
Park Hwigang spotted him instantly.
Power of faith? No.
Dim depths.
A radiant halo figure.
[Dawn’s Jacket].
Wings infused with a hundred elemental magics fluttered, radiating presence.
Silver hair reflecting the light.
“His Majesty Hoyeol!”
Even in despairing depths, his presence shone.
Like a single ray piercing endless dark.
Park Hwigang activated skill, [Explorer’s Gaze], to see clearly—and flinched.
Must be wrong, blinked.
But in Hoyeol’s hand……
“……A teacup?”
Steam—Hot steam rising.
*
Clink—Steady neck and arm angle.
Tilting the cup with restraint.
……Tea time out of nowhere.
How do others see it?
Screw it, don’t wanna think.
Thinking just tortures me.
Poor Hoyeol……
Slightly increases for 6 hours.
Cry while chugging elixir.
I eyed the giant pupil.
That was the ‘being that must not be awakened’.
Legendary explorer’s rep holds true.
Fabien identified it at a glance.
“Leather suggests snake or lizard. But this size……”
Gulp—Fabien wiped sweat, continued.
“Likely dragon-related, I suspect.”
Fabien’s vast knowledge sometimes wounds me.
……A dragon!
Finally beat demon king after struggles, now dragon.
Now I’m sure.
All because no points in [Luck]. For real……!
‘Dragons are endgame content.’
Dragon.
One word for strength: simple.
『The Dragon-Demon War’s uncontrollable devastation taught clearly. Even the Mage Tower cannot stand against immortals, dragons……』
Mage Tower book said it.
No exaggeration.
So Fabien sweating makes sense.
“N-now I understand. Why ancient city Tepperun, boasting such scale, sacrificed all to seal it.”
Obviously, dragons aren’t demons.
No [natural enemy] trigger.
Even if, unwinnable.
Mage Tower full force loses?
They recorded defeat as lesson.
……We’re utterly screwed.
Past me might’ve spat that.
But now.
I’ve adapted beyond gaps.
Got instincts.
‘That’s not a dragon.’
Why certain?
I know quests have tiers.
[Top 10 Arcana Mysteries Quest: Tepperun Labyrinth]
📍 Unraveled Mysteries: 0 / 10
─ Witness the Tepperun Labyrinth. (Success)
─ Reach the labyrinth depths. (Pending)
─ Slay the ‘being that must not be awakened’ in the depths. (In Progress)
Arcana’s top 10 mysteries: Tepperun.
Unravel Tepperun labyrinth.
Reveal Tepperun’s truth.
If truly dragon-related.
Won’t be top 10 mystery.
Would be world quest.
Like [World Quest: World Tree Seed].
So I thought doable.
Hence full prep.
Items, gear, elixirs.
Wanted to share with Fabien’s group too.
“No tea to offer thee. Regrettable.”
Fabien grinned sheepishly.
“No need. Don’t worry. Even if offered, no mind to partake.”
“Same here.”
“Agreed.”
Less guilty now.
Plus, not just us and Fabien’s crew.
Players who entered with me.
And Arcana peace sacrificers.
Proud Tepperun folk.
I knew.
The ‘being that must not awaken’.
Dragon or whatever, not at full strength.
Maintained by Tepperun sacrifices’ Black Gaze.
‘Senses stolen.’
[Blind], [Silence], [Paralysis] etc.
All status ailments.
Proof: unfocused blinking pupil.
And I brim with mana amplifying Black Gaze.
So, as always, boldly.
“O being that should not awaken.”
Channeling fitting mana.
Won’t hear, deafened.
Still, continued.
“If thou wouldst sulk, I shall indulge thee. Rage freely.”
……Mouth runs.
But dragon-related?
Can’t let rampage freely……!
My desperate resolve manifested.
Fear occurs on the ‘being that should not be awakened’.