The Hidden Dungeon (1)
Before us was a cliff.
Behind us was a gargoyle.
Anyone would agree that fighting that dangerous gargoyle was impossible.
Fighting the one that swallows harpies in one bite?
Insane.
So we had to find the answer on this cliff.
But the same was true here.
The cliff was so deep the bottom was invisible.
We couldn't jump.
A situation of no way forward or back.
At that moment!
“Ssaem. There seems to be a path going down there?”
“What? Where?”
Jin-ri pointed in the direction she indicated, and a path leading down the cliff appeared.
'What's weird about this?'
A path leading down the cliff.
It didn't look right at all.
But there was no other choice.
We couldn't fight the gargoyle behind, could we?
[Alligator Summoned] X10
To buy time to descend, we summoned Alligators to tank.
Kiaaak!
The gargoyle rapidly rushed toward the Alligators on the ground.
Its sharp claws dug softly into the Alligator's skin, as if poking pudding.
'Insane.'
The Alligator's skin was tough.
But clearly, due to the level difference, it was useless against the gargoyle.
“Let's go down quickly.”
It was unlikely that 10 Alligators would buy much time.
Already over 5 had died.
After summoning another 10, we quickly headed toward the path down the cliff.
Thud. Thud.
A path narrow enough for just one person to pass.
We had no idea where it would lead down the cliff.
Since it was the only escape route, it was an unavoidable choice.
Kiaaak!
Had they all been eliminated?
The roaring gargoyle.
The creature, which had been scanning around, discovered us and began descending the cliff.
'We have to fight.'
No other option seemed available.
Quickly pulling out a knife to face the creature, a cave appeared at the end of the path.
“Ssaem. What do we do?”
A pitch-black cave.
No other way than entering that cave where nothing was visible ahead.
“Let's go in.”
Nod.
Jin-hwan and Ji-ah moved into the cave first.
The moment their feet entered the cave.
Shh! Shh!
“What?!”
Jin-hwan and Ji-ah suddenly disappeared.
An instant occurrence.
“Oppe! Where did you go?!”
“Ji-ah! Are you there?”
Ara and Jin-ri shouted while scanning the surroundings right in front of the cave, wondering what had happened to Jin-hwan and Ji-ah.
No answer came.
It seemed that the cave was not a normal one.
“Ssaem. What do we do?”
“Let's go in. There's no other way.”
We didn't know where Jin-hwan and Ji-ah had gone, but we couldn't fight the gargoyle.
“Go in first.”
With that said, we summoned a Slime and implanted self-destruct, throwing it at the gargoyle.
Kwaaang!
Kwaaang!
A loud explosion.
But it did no damage to the gargoyle.
Still, it seemed decent for time-wasting.
Shh! Shh!
Ara and Jin-ri quickly entered the cave in that moment.
Again, the two disappeared.
Where did this cave lead?
“Eat this!”
[Slime Summoned] X10
Ten Slimes summoned at once.
Filled with self-destruct, they all leaped at me.
At the same time, we quickly moved into the cave.
Entering the Dungeon (Black Dragon's Nest)
The message immediately appeared.
This place must be a dungeon.
A hidden dungeon.
It seemed there was another way besides going to the scroll.
'Are the other students okay?'
Dungeon.
Honestly, I hadn't experienced it.
It was definitely not something easy to wake up from.
How much time had passed?
Kwa ga ga gang!
Kwa ga gang!
The sound of Slime bombs exploding outside.
And at that moment.
Shh!
My body was also engulfed in light and disappeared instantly.
***
“Ji-ah. Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Are you okay too, oppa?”
“Yeah. I'm fine too. By the way, where are we?”
Jin-hwan guessed roughly after seeing the dungeon message.
He hadn't gone himself, but he had heard about the dungeon Min-seong ssaem experienced.
'Must be careful or die.' Whether this dungeon was easy or boasted crazy difficulty, unknown.
Unlike the scroll, no star mark on this dungeon.
“Probably something like Black Dragon's Nest...”
Looking around, the scene that spread was an endless grassland.
We entered the cave on the cliff, but had no idea how we had moved to this space.
'Did the others go somewhere else?'
Surely Ara, Jin-ri, and Min-seong ssaem had also entered this cave.
But whether moved to another dungeon or different place, only Ji-ah and himself were here now.
“Hic! Oppa. Where are the others?”
Ji-ah seemed scared as she didn't see others.
Ji-ah with a face that looked like she was about to cry.
“Don't worry, Ji-ah. We'll find them soon.”
“Really?”
“Of course. Trust your oppa?”
Nod.
Ji-ah nodded at Jin-hwan's words.
Jin-hwan held her hand tightly and slowly started scanning the surroundings.
'According to Min-seong ssaem...'
When entering the dungeon, he said to wait as something would start.
So, without moving rashly, we waited.
After waiting a short time.
As if proving Jin-hwan's choice was correct, a window appeared.
Welcome to Dungeon (Black Dragon's Nest)
Starting soon, please wait a moment
Something was about to happen.
First, we took out the Bible and guarded the surroundings, preparing for monsters to appear.
'Only Ji-ah and me. Damn.'
Myself with almost no offensive ability.
If something happened, I had to protect Ji-ah, but I couldn't. It was too frustrating.
'Still have to protect her.'
Escaping with Ji-ah from this hellish place.
That was Jin-hwan's goal.
And now, the dungeon's something was starting, a new message window appeared.
Black Dragon's Egg is Granted
With that, a jet-black egg, blacker than anything, appeared before our eyes.
An egg the size of an ostrich egg that matched the jet-black darkness.
Holding the egg in hand, another message appeared.
You are at a crossroads of choice.
Choose whether to return this Black Dragon's Egg to the Black Dragon or give it to the raiders.
Return to Black Dragon. Y
Give to raiders. Y
Two choices floating for Jin-hwan and Ji-ah.
It seemed we had to choose one of these two.
'If I don't choose, what happens?'
Did it read Jin-hwan's mind?
The next message appeared.
If not chosen, the egg will break and both the Black Dragon and the raiders will chase you.
In the end, it was telling us to choose one of the two.
But I couldn't tell which choice was right.
'Is the Black Dragon stronger? Or the raiders?'
We had to choose the stronger one.
Anyway, choosing one would make the other our enemy.
“Ji-ah, which would you choose?”
“Ugh. I want to return it!”
“Want to return?”
“Yeah! Mom would worry about it!”
A truly childlike answer.
Actually, thinking about it, returning to the owner was obviously the correct choice.
The fact that the opponent was an unknown Black Dragon was a minor issue.
“Alright. Let's return the egg as Ji-ah said.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
Jin-hwan clicked “Return to Black Dragon” among the windows.
You have selected to return to Black Dragon.
Black Dragon's location is marked.
Location exposed to raiders trying to steal the egg.
Return the egg to Black Dragon within the time limit.
[Time Limit: 10:00:00]
The time limit began to decrease.
With it, a map appeared in front of us.
'Is the Black Dragon there?'
The Black Dragon's location was not far from here.
The only towering mountain in this vast grassland.
A mark appeared somewhere on that mountain indicating the Black Dragon's presence.
“Let's go, Ji-ah.”
“Yeah!”
No time to hesitate.
Raiders would definitely come for us.
We had to reach the mountain faster than that.
“Huff. Huff. Huff.”
Jin-hwan running at full speed while carrying Ji-ah.
Thanks to running until our breaths were short, we arrived at the mountain without any injury.
'Now we have to climb.'
Probably the Black Dragon was at the summit.
I never imagined climbing a mountain at this time.
“Huff. Huff.”
“Oppe. Are you okay?”
“Of course! Huff. Huff. I'm fine!”
Jin-hwan looked completely not okay.
But we couldn't delay.
If I met the raiders without combat ability, wouldn't it be dangerous?
Climbing the mountain with all my effort, a sound was heard from the surroundings.
Rustle.
Jin-hwan thought at first it was just animals.
He had seen some animals while climbing the mountain.
But that was just his wish.
Rustle. Rustle.
Steadily following footsteps chasing Jin-hwan and Ji-ah.
From the size of the sound and the stride, it was definitely humans.
'Definitely raiders.'
First, we carefully placed Ji-ah on the ground.
Then took out a sword from the inventory that monsters had dropped.
'Can I win?'
First, put all buffs, ate the food given by Ssaem to increase combat power.
But since I wasn't a combat job.
Plus with Ji-ah.
It was questionable if I could fight while protecting.
'Still have to fight.'
I could no longer rely on others.
Even as a healer, in this situation, I had to fight.
Shh!
Clang!
A dagger flying from the bushes.
Quickly deflecting the dagger, Jin-hwan quickly scanned the surroundings.
'One, two, three... damn. At least 6?'
Even sensing the nearby presence, 6.
It was not a number enough to face alone.
Rustle. Rustle.
The earlier dagger was just a probe.
The enemies starting to move.
The enemies' figures starting to appear one by one.
But there, the familiar two people.
“Eh? Jin-ri! Ara!”
Jin-ri and Ara with the raider group.
Probably Ara and Jin-ri had chosen the raider side.