Party Play-yang! Yumina
My oversight.
The moment we emerged from the Goblin Den, we were forcibly pulled into a sub-space by the gate right under our feet.
A predatory-type gate, not widely known to the public.
It drags in nearby lifeforms against their will.
That must have been what was at our feet.
When I came to, a massive wolf-like monster loomed before me. About 5 meters tall. And it had already spotted me and the Mijeong child.
The Mijeong child hadn't woken yet.
I bolted in the opposite direction, drawing its attention.
Thud!
Krunch!
I dodged its massive jaws and slashing forepaws, assessing the situation.
A vast cave-like sub-space with almost no obstacles.
I scanned for exits or passages, but nothing came into view.
...This isn't normal.
Predatory-type or not, it's still just a gate.
According to records, forced entry drops you at a random spot inside, but you can escape immediately if you find an exit.
But here, no passages or exits in sight, no matter how I look.
So the only way out is to take down the boss.
Whoosh!
Thud!
...This won't be easy.
If we'd met on better terms, I could have ended it in one shot.
But not now.
The enemy overwhelms with its sheer size and speed at close range.
I'm the type who has to expose myself briefly for a solid hit—bad matchup.
The terrain's no better.
No space to create distance from the enemy.
No decent cover to hide behind.
And even if there was...
Grrrrr...
If I vanish, this wolf pup will surely target the Mijeong child.
Buy time first.
I've already signaled the Chief via an artifact that transmits on destruction, alerting him to the crisis.
Not sure if the gate that swallowed us is still there on the outside.
But I told the Chief we were heading to an E-rank gate beforehand.
Nothing to do but wait for rescue from outside, somehow piecing together clues.
...
..
.
While I kept up the fight—or rather, just barely evading—the Mijeong child opened her eyes.
Seizing the moment its gaze shifted to her, I unleashed a high-output magic eye, but it was shallow.
Still, one foreleg took major damage, buying a little breathing room.
...As long as my mana holds out.
Argos (S)
[You can only acquire skills and traits related to the eyes. However, you can stack multiple magic eyes in a single eye.]
Thanks to this trait, my skills are almost all magic eye abilities.
And magic eyes continuously drain my mana while active.
I've already burned through plenty alternating debuff magic eyes.
Few potions left.
Stacking magic eyes while dodging attacks is tough.
Alone, I'd risk it, but failure wouldn't just kill me.
It's been about 30 minutes since we entered, by my sense.
The Chief wouldn't ignore an emergency signal, and he was at the Hunter Administration today.
He should've reached the E-rank gate site ages ago.
No rescue yet means some other variable.
...Time to choose. A choice already decided for me.
The shock distracted it from the Mijeong child.
"Mijeong child! Here!"
I tossed her my last emergency escape device, no hesitation.
Items recognized as artifacts by the status window have their effects guaranteed by it.
This irrational gate hides its exits, but it can't block an emergency escape device.
...Thank goodness one was left.
The child got dragged in because of my mistake.
If she escapes safe, I can...
Accept the consequences of my error.
...
..
.
The Mijeong child doesn't use the escape device.
Why?
I want to call out again, but the situation's too dire now.
Grazing hits have piled up, weighing me down.
Repeated magic eye use blurs my vision bit by bit.
Meanwhile, it's still rampaging without tiring.
How can it not fatigue like this?
No magic circles or enhancements boosting it.
No options right now.
So please, Mijeong child...
As I prayed inwardly—
"Look this way-yang!!!"
The child shouted loud.
What are you doing, Mijeong child!
I glanced in shock, but luckily it froze just enough—no hit.
...Didn't fully look away like before.
The chase dragged on.
The Mijeong child kept yelling.
Hurling stones with tiny hands that barely reached.
Then, for a split second.
A sidelong glimpse of her eyes...
Full of resolve.
So I pocketed the potion I'd raised to drink.
Cut back magic eye activations even more.
She hadn't given up yet.
If that child pulls something off.
Save remaining mana for then.
Even a brief distraction like before could turn the tide.
Believe her.
Not as a child, but as my comrade with a hunter's gaze.
...
..
.
"Look this way-yang—!!!"
The beast finally turned at her persistent cries.
Not just turning—it lunged straight for her.
Of course. Mana laced her voice.
Probably the Taunt (A) skill.
No idea how the Mijeong child has it.
Doesn't matter now.
What matters is...
It's ignoring me.
De-particleizing Panoptica.
Not my mana—the status window's intangible power gathers before me, taking form.
It charges my comrade.
Stay calm, Yumina.
I downed a hoarded mana potion, eyes on the child.
She looks a bit fatigued, but her gaze stays firm on the wolf.
The massive wolf barreling toward her.
Yes, same as before. Hasn't given up.
With that resolve and angle.
Once—just once—it'll graze at worst. She'll be fine.
Not twice, though.
Once it closes in, no dodging.
...But no need to worry, Mijeong child.
I told you.
"Even if something happens, I'll handle it. Don't worry."
No second chance.
I'll kill that wolf pup first.
My stored weapon materialized from the status window.
Not a low tripod for prone or seated use—this one's tall enough standing.
Uncanny shape, like a tower with hundreds of windows laid 90 degrees flat.
Lenses at both ends.
It's a telescope, after all.
Taken as reward for downing the boss in a massive prison-form A-rank gate.
Panoptica.
This scope gathers and amplifies magic eye power.
I pressed my right eye to it.
First, boost base specs.
Clairvoyance (A) activated.
Transfer Sight (A) activated.
Some magic eyes scale with vision strength.
Clairvoyance boosts it.
Transfer Sight shifts one eye's vision to the other.
Next, slowdown.
Freeze Eye (C) activated.
Petrify Eye (B) activated.
Bind Eye (B) activated.
All three hinder enemy movement.
Its motions slow gradually.
Can't stop its massive momentum mid-charge toward the child.
Fine. Enough for now.
At that speed, the Mijeong child dodges unscathed.
Next, pinpoint weakness for one-shot kill.
Golden Eye (S) activated.
Some monsters have shifting or nonexistent weak points.
Luckily, headshot kills here.
Now, direct attack magic eye.
Panoptica amps range and power too much for most.
Normally fine, but now it risks the child.
Need precision to pierce just the weak point.
Laser Eye (A) activated.
Ziiing—
Vision dyes red.
Stacking has limits, even if possible.
But don't fire yet.
Ziiiiing—
Still good. Gather more mana in the eye.
One-shot kill, certain.
Max out mana in the eye.
Ziiiiing—!!!
Seven magic eyes hum strangely in unison.
The Mijeong child dodges it. No graze—perfect.
The beast that fixated on her moments ago.
Now looks at me.
Too late.
Already.
——!!!
I unleashed the gathered mana in one blast.
A flash pierces its head.
A hole anyone could see.
No sound in between.
Of course. Light outpaces sound.
The hulking form, hole in head, still on four legs.
Thud!
Finally collapses.
...And beyond it.
The Mijeong child stood, unscathed.
That little lamb beams at me.
"Yumina-unnie!! We took it dow—"
Ah.
Before "down-yang" left her lips, I fired Golden Eye again.
Name: Big Bad Wolf
Status: Dead
Golden Eye's intel. It's dead.
...Phew, close call, Mijeong child.
You nearly revived it.
Thud-thud-thud-!!!
"Yumina-unnie!!! You okay-yang!?"
The little lamb races to me, faster than usual.
...My Mijeong.
"...I'm fine, Mijeong child."
No no no no no.
Yumina, snap out of it!
We've known each other two days—what.
"But, Yumina-unnie, blood from your eyes..."
"Already stopped. Don't worry. Are you hurt anywhere, Mijeong child?"
"Me-yang? I'm super tough as heck... Whine?"
Swirl swirl~
She staggers.
"Mijeong child!"
"I-it's fine-yang. Just a lil dizzy, nothing else hurt-yang. Stamina's D-rank-yang!"
"You're really okay? Right?!"
"Re-really fine-yang!!"
I panicked. Worried something was wrong.
Fired Golden Eye again with scant mana.
...No major issues.
Palm scraped from throwing stones, vocal cords slightly swollen.
Awakened regen heals both quick, no aftereffects.
...Don't scare me like that, please.
"...Heehee."
As I gazed worriedly.
She grinned again.
Knew what she'd say. A bit annoyed.
"Yumina-unnie! I did great-yang?"
"...To be honest, I want to scold you severely right now, Mijeong child."
"...Whaa?! Why-yang!? I tried so hard-yang!!! Yelled and threw stones su—"
But!! From the start!! Why!!! Didn't you use the emergency escape I gave you!?
...I want to say.
But first.
"And truly, thank you, Mijeong Hunter."
"...!"
"Without your help, this place would have been my... grave today."
Damn, no other word came.
Grave's... probably not bad.
Wasn't wrong.
Without the Mijeong child, today really would've been my end.
Her eyes widen at my words.
Tears well up...?
Eh? Was "grave" bad too?
Quick, another word—
"Di-did I really help-yang...? Did I do it-yang?"
"...."
"Th-this time... I, really... saved you-yang?"
"...Yes. You saved me. Risking your life, luring that wolf."
"Sniff!... Guh... I-I wasn't gonna... cry anymore-yang... I really..."
...Still don't get this child's circumstances fully.
Why saving me brings tears of joy.
But I know what to do now.
Squeeze.
I hugged her.
A little tight.
So no one sees this sobbing child's tears.