Chapter 14. Silver Demon Mountain (1)
The moment the hologram's sub-quest adjusted, Yoo Hae-bin and I were already plummeting through a crack in the bedrock.
"Professor!"
Yoo Hae-bin cried out in a shrill voice, blasting mana behind her. Boom! The recoil propelled her toward me, and she threw her arms around me in a tight embrace. There wasn't even a moment to register how soft her body felt against mine—I hugged her back just as fiercely. Far off in the edge of my vision, I caught sight of the others: Jeil High School students and their escorts staring down at us in frantic horror.
"Oppa!!"
"Kyaaah! Professor, uwaaaah!"
Sea calling my name in a voice thick with tears. Jin Yu-ri's terrified scream mixed with desperate shouts. They were falling too, but more than ten meters above us.
"Hup!"
I tried to summon my mana. The sub-quest's clear condition was to rescue every fallen student from danger here in Silver Demon Mountain. It wouldn't be that simple, but this was undeniably a crisis. If we could just climb back up...
"...!"
But the situation was worse than I'd guessed. My mana... it wouldn't manifest at all.
"Huh!?"
Yoo Hae-bin looked equally shocked, clearly trying the same thing. I quickly realized why our mana wasn't working. Near Silver Demon Mountain, a barrier-like mana field repels non-awakeners with its pressure. Something similar was happening to us. It was so potent that even we—top-tier awakeners—felt its effects. Some power at its core lurked inside the mountain we were hurtling toward, disrupting our mana flow as we drew closer.
And... that was the limit of rational deduction.
"Wha... what!? What's happening!?"
Yoo Hae-bin, practically in my arms, yelped in alarm. An unidentifiable mass of mana enveloped us both. It felt like we'd entered the range of a warp spell, hurtling somewhere.
I focused my gaze on one spot.
Status Tracking (Rank B)
1) Target: Lee Sea
2) Condition: Physical threat exceeding minor injuries
3) Current Status: Condition not met
Sea was being pulled somewhere like us, but she wasn't in danger. Probably the same for Jin Yu-ri. So that's what it meant. No escaping before the quest progressed. Go and do well.
Around then, the scenery in my vision shifted rapidly.
Shoooo...
Shwaaaaah!
We passed through a dark cavern untouched by light, and suddenly my feet hit solid stone flooring.
"Whoa, whoa... no, what the heck is this? Some ancient rollercoaster?"
I released Yoo Hae-bin from my arms, and she stuck out her tongue, muttering in awe. I gave a curt order.
"Check if you can use your mana first. Describe everything you see around us."
"Got it. Mana feels... okay. There's a bit of pressure, but not bad. That cutoff earlier was probably from the warp spell that brought us here."
"What do you see? Describe the structure and shapes in front of us."
"Hmm... There's a cave entrance blocked by a metal door. About three meters tall. Metal material, and there are life-sized soldier statues too. Total... thirty-five. Five cavalry, thirty infantry. Visibility's good—not too dark. Walls have mana-powered torches. Nothing else special."
Matching her description point by point, it lined up perfectly with what I saw. No illusions varying by observer. This seemed like the first entrance connected to the core. But there was one massive problem...
"You lost track of Sea and Jin Yu-ri midway too?"
"Yeah... Mana cut out suddenly, and with you gone too, I figured we'd be in deep shit. Thought at least we should stick in pairs—two of them, two of us."
A rational, correct call. Reaching for Sea and Jin Yu-ri wasn't feasible then. Not just the physical distance, but they were headed somewhere else entirely. My heart burned with worry, but my Status Tracking skill confirmed Sea was safe for now. Yoo Hae-bin lacked such a convenient skill but made the cool-headed choice: better pairs than one straggler or everyone scattered. Amid my concern for Sea, I didn't want to blame her unjustly—yet she apologized in a heavy tone anyway.
"...Sorry, Professor. Maybe I could've done better..."
"How much better from there? Focus on doing well from now on."
A scolding, or comfort. Yoo Hae-bin's expression softened a bit as she asked me,
"But why'd we get separated from them? Just the distance?"
"Who knows..."
I held back. Separated by distance and sent elsewhere. Not an unlikely hypothesis... but I had another hunch. The difference in our natures determined the destinations. Sea and Jin Yu-ri were fully human. Yoo Hae-bin was a dragon from beyond the rifts. And me? I reincarnated as human, lived years unaware, stayed human even after awakening to it. Fact.
But... after my parents died? Through the side story Birth of the Demon God, into Kill the Evil now... maybe I'd changed drastically.
Was I still fully human?
Not something even I could easily gauge. My ever-active trait Black Heart reacted just before the ground split. The final boss correction from Kill the Evil embedded in me, and Birth of the Demon God referred to me as the 'Demon God.' Putting it all together...
One hypothesis emerged. Pure humans like Sea and Jin Yu-ri were seen as visitors, sent safely. Non-humans like me and Yoo Hae-bin as intruders, thrust into prepared trials. I couldn't be certain, but one thing felt spot-on.
Vwoooong.
Thud!Thoom!
Mana waves surged across the vast space. Yoo Hae-bin sighed deeply, grumbling at the sight.
"Felt strong from the start... Movies too—why do ancient folks all have the same ideas? Some manual they all read?"
"...Yeah."
The life-sized soldier statues guarding the massive door stirred to life, sensing intruders. Dull eyes blazed with intense light. Weapons shimmered with mana, cavalry horses pawing the ground like the living.
My Peeping Eye trait pegged them at A-rank or below. Infantry sub-B, cavalry stronger.
Yoo Hae-bin asked,
"We gotta take these out quick, right?"
"Yeah. You two, me three. Signal and we rush the cavalry first."
"Nah, faster way."
Yoo Hae-bin stepped forward confidently, extending both hands. The golem cavalry led the slow advance.
Shwaaaa!
Immense power swirled around her hands.
"Wipe 'em all in one go, then grab the kids."
I knew her plan. The trump card she'd used against me when I grabbed her on her way home—dragon signature: breath.
Grrrrr!Neighhh!
Army roars, horse whinnies. They charged fast.
And—
Kwaaaaaah!
Mana erupted from Yoo Hae-bin's hands, obliterating them instantly.
"Haa, haa..."
She panted, having burned massive power. I stared at her back, stunned and guilty that my hunch was right—too stunned to speak.
"Whew, tough. Feels like slight dispel pressure—yep, intruder suppression."
Regaining her breath, she grinned brightly and walked toward me. Her white tee wasn't baggy. With each step, something... jiggled naturally.
Key fact: Yoo Hae-bin... hadn't noticed yet. Huge mana drain must've clouded her body awareness.
"Professor, why the face? Touched by my dedication? Psh, between us? Whatever comes next—here or out there—I'll keep giving my all!"
She thought my stiff expression was Sea-worry, forcing cheer with banter. Now just meters away.
"...Professor?"
I met her puzzled tilt with calm eyes. Height same. Shoulders narrower, frame slimmer. Hair longer, swaying past shoulders. Voice finer, higher—unnoticed by her. Pretty features more feminine. And as she walked... jiggling continued. I stopped thinking there.
No need for descriptions. How does she not see it? Yoo Hae-bin... she's just a girl.
"Pro... fessor?"
She stood right in front of me. My piercing stare finally clued her— she looked down at hands, feet, body. Hands smaller now too.
And—perfect or worst timing?—white bandages spilled from her tee's hem.
"Wha... huh?"
Her gaze followed the burst bandages to her chest. The tee... strained hard. Not just torchlight. Her face flushed crimson.
She muttered disbelievingly,
"Wha, what... why...? I didn't feel..."
"Dispel, heavy mana use—could happen."
"No, this... no way..."
She backed away in shock. Jiggling persisted. Apparently just bandages under the tee... I quit thinking, asked her,
"Hate asking this—total scumbag move but..."
"Wha... what?"
"You, uh... super classic method."
I knew the trope: cross-dressing girl binding chest... but in this era? Sports bras exist.
Her face burned redder—I didn't think it could. Then, tiny voice,
"Nooo... sharing room with you... didn't want you seeing girl undies... usually pack separately... wait, hold up. Now I'm pissed? Even now, you ask that!? Crazy!?"
"Sorry..."
"Hoo, fine if sorry. Ugh... what kinda timing. Shouldn't be like this..."
"Dunno what, but... sorry for that too."
"Not your fault... wait, kinda is... no, not really?"
Rambling incoherently, she froze. Inspected herself closer, murmuring with faint awe,
"But... decade since I saw this. Wow... this my potential? Thought polymorph off wouldn't change much—wasted worry... ah, don't look! Right now... kinda..."
"Not looking... anyway, sorry..."
"Sorry, Professor—turn around a sec? Gotta fix these bandages."
I turned precisely 180 degrees. Stared blankly at flickering torches, remembered what I had to say.
"Hae-bin."
"Yeah? What?"
"Serious here... really sorry."
"Ears worn out. What for? Us? Might revert outside—keep secret. Sea and Yu-ri... eh, later."
"No, not just sorry—really sorry."
"...For what?"
Her tone turned suspicious. She guessed.
Better straight than excuses. I said clearly,
"That time—grabbing you on way home, making you say stuff... no excuses like unaware. Just... really sorry for it."
"..."
Silence. Only faint cloth rustles in the quiet space.
Ten seconds passed. Low voice,
"Professor then..."
"Yeah, say it."
"I couldn't speak then 'cause situation... you apologized, so... now okay?"
"...Say it."
I half-expected it. The nuance.
And Yoo Hae-bin laced resentment thickly,
"Fucking... pervert asshole..."
"...Sorry."
I said what I could.
Around then, Lee Sea hurried down the passage at near-sprint pace.
Jin Yu-ri caught up from behind.
"Slow down a bit."
"..."
Not silence—ignore. Jin Yu-ri strode faster, grabbed her shoulder, snapped,
"Think traps anywhere? Slow down—you deaf?"
"...You slow. I'm holding back plenty."
Sea wasn't lying. This pace took all her restraint. She wanted to bolt down the narrow path. Not fear of injury—fear she'd fail to save Dojin unscathed if hurt. So slowed. Her glare warned Jin Yu-ri: Don't interfere. Push and regret.
Normally, Jin Yu-ri might flinch at Sea's rare fury. But not now—she glared back.
"Not just you hurrying. I'm worried too, wanna go fast. But reckless injury? Professor'd worry."
"..."
Harsh tone hid concern—for Sea, for Dojin. Sea faltered unwittingly. Jin Yu-ri pressed,
"Together. Speed up en route, handle traps as team— that hard? Think I can't help?"
"...Not that."
"Phew... then slower. Rash makes worse. Calm, no panic—max skill even in tough spots. Charlotte said, remember?"
"..."
Jin Yu-ri overtook, leading. Slower, but cautious—minding both paces.
Sea glanced sidelong, thought: She's... changed a bit.
Since when? Post-classroom fight, maybe. Growth.
And her? Growing? Hard to self-assess. She scanned the passage, sorted thoughts.
No danger.
Peak crack drop heart-dropped her. Unknown mana pulled her and Jin Yu-ri here. No Dojin or Hae-bin, so followed ornate passage. Long walk, no end or defenses.
Just... like a ruin visit.
Peaceful relic vibe. Then Jin Yu-ri shouted,
"Huh? Hey, there!"
Sea followed her point. Torchlit passage ended. Dimmer light leaked ahead. They quickened, exited.
The sight:
"What... is all this...?"
Jin Yu-ri muttered in awe. Vast cavern ahead. Floor-to-ceiling over ten meters. Width dozens.
Sea stepped cautiously, scanning. Jin Yu-ri beside muttered,
"Murals... right?"
"Yeah."
Sea nodded. Walls covered in murals. Tons of people. Grand houses, thatch huts, blue mountains, rivers, sky, earth.
Eye-catcher:
"Awakeners...?"
Jin Yu-ri guessed; Sea agreed. Amid crowds, some glowed, flying skies, leaping peaks.
"Then these folks...?"
"...Dunno."
Sea couldn't answer. Beyond brave glowing awakeners: more non-glowers. Not blue/red—but black light. Evil depictions: biting necks, ripping limbs, guzzling red blood.
Next instant:
"Huh...?"
Sea tilted at a scene. Neither brave awakeners nor black attackers. A figure apart: mysterious woman with flowing silver hair.