Chapter 6
Chapter 6
There Was Something… and Then There Wasn’t
The space beyond the wall turned out to be a cave.
It was dark and eerie, with only a single torch mounted on the wall casting light. The deeper parts of the cave were swallowed by darkness, impossible to see.
‘I’m fine, but…’
I had something like night vision, so I didn’t really need a torch. In fact, carrying one would just make me an easy target.
But—
Behind me, clinging tightly, was Rene.
At this point, I wasn’t sure if she was a dragon or a rabbit.
If I didn’t take the torch, she’d probably start trembling, so I grabbed it anyway.
“Let’s go.”
“Are you sure? The inside is filled with something… evil…”
“Doesn’t matter. Monster or ghost—I’m getting my stuff back.”
“You’re not scared?”
“Of course I am. I’m scared there’ll be nothing inside and I’ll end up broke.”
That wasn’t a joke.
As a college student living alone, money meant survival.
Tuition, rent, food, phone bills—expenses never stopped.
Once, the owner of the place I worked at ran away overnight without paying wages.
I nearly got kicked out of my apartment.
Borrowed money, starved for three days, worked short-term jobs just to survive.
Since then—
I couldn’t stand being broke.
So I had to get my belongings back.
“If you’re scared, wait outside.”
“N-no! I’ll come with you!”
“You might regret it.”
“I’m okay! I learned dragon speech from my mother!”
“…You’ve never used it in real combat, have you?”
“…No….”
That didn’t sound reassuring.
Still, her eyes were determined.
“Fine. But follow my orders and don’t get in my way.”
“Yes!”
At least she answered well.
“By the way, you said you can sense evil energy?”
“I can see the energy of all living beings.”
“Even animals and plants?”
“Yes. And whether they’re closer to good or evil.”
“Good and evil…”
That felt subjective.
Even Bern himself—
To some, a hero.
To others, a killer.
Where’s the line?
“…Is something wrong?”
“No. Just thinking.”
I snapped out of it and looked ahead.
Something familiar appeared.
“…That’s—”
A body.
Closer—
The coachman.
Dead.
“Is that the man you were looking for?”
“Yes.”
His body was shriveled.
Drained of life.
“Looks like a banshee got him.”
Banshees lure victims and consume their life force.
The fact we sensed nothing earlier made sense—they can move between worlds.
“And he was drunk too…”
Perfect target.
“Smile on his face too.”
Definitely charmed.
“Drinking is dangerous, huh…”
From now on—no alcohol while camping.
“Can we even fight a banshee?”
“Don’t need to.”
“They leave after feeding.”
Rene tilted her head.
“Ghosts eat?”
“Something like that. A high-protein liquid that only men produce.”
“I’ve never heard of that! I want to try it someday!”
“….”
No.
Absolutely not.
I kept my mouth shut.
Teaching her that would probably get me killed by her mother.
“Let’s move.”
“Yes!”
The path narrowed.
The deeper we went, the more tense she became.
“That’s it…! The evil energy is all gathered there!”
Ahead was a door.
Covered in demonic symbols.
A grotesque demon face carved into it.
“Stay here. I’ll check inside.”
I opened it slightly and used my sword as a mirror.
Crunch—crack—chew—
Dozens of monsters feasting.
Wolves tearing apart a horse.
Food from the carriage scattered.
“…Yeah.”
My stuff was definitely inside.
I closed the door quietly.
“Well?”
“Over fifty. Big and small.”
Even high-level ones.
I saw something like an A-rank Giant Ogre.
“…We should leave.”
“No.”
“I’ll kill them all.”
“W-what?! That’s reckless!”
“I won’t fight them directly.”
“I have a weapon.”
“What kind?”
I smiled.
“Something every adult man in Korea knows.”
Gas.
If I recreated a gas attack in a sealed cave—
Even monsters would choke.
“Let’s begin.”
Inside the cave—
A man in a black robe entered.
His name was Alberto.
A former academy professor.
Once successful.
Then—
Ruined.
A scandal.
Expelled.
Abandoned by family.
Reduced to a drug-addicted beggar.
Until—
A demon approached him.
Offered power.
Revenge.
He accepted.
Using a dark artifact, he gathered monsters.
Fed them with travelers.
Over a hundred now.
“Tonight… I destroy the academy…!”
He opened the door—
“Let’s go! Time for—”
“…Huh?”
Silence.
All the monsters—
Dead.
Foaming at the mouth.
Collapsed.
“…What the hell?”
Then—
Tears streamed from his eyes.
His nose started running.
The gas hit him too.