Chapter 45: The Monster's Instinctual Fear
The space in front of the boss room door was suffocatingly quiet.
The monster howls that had filled the passageway moments ago, the clawing against the walls—all of it cut off sharply as it reached this point. Over the damp stone scent floated a thin metallic tang of blood, and a chill wind seeped through the door crack.
I swallowed dryly right there in front of it.
A chill prickled down my back. I glanced over my shoulder, and there they were: every single party member lined up in a row, staring holes into the back of my head like they'd planned it. It was enough to drive anyone mad, hopping up and down in frustration.
"Why is everyone behind me again?"
I asked softly, and the shield-bearing hunter replied with dead seriousness.
"Mr. Kang Minsu, the safest spot is behind you."
"It's not safe at all."
"That's just your perspective."
I'm losing my mind.
I rubbed my sweaty palms against my pants. Ever since the last dungeon, monsters had hesitated the moment they spotted me—but this felt even heavier.
And now these people were clinging to my back with utterly casual faces, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
The chat window was on the verge of overheating.
Viewers: 498,214
'That's exactly what I've been saying.'
The iron door groaned open, and a frigid blast slapped across my face.
The boss room was vast. Dark crimson stains, like congealed old blood, spread in a circle across the floor, and at the center stood a knight clad in black armor.
The Black Armored Knight.
It towered far larger than any human.
Its full-body armor was etched with countless fine scratches, and iron filings trickled from the tip of the massive greatsword dragging along the ground. The moment the red glow peeking from its helmet slits fixed on me, my throat went bone-dry.
'That's seriously dangerous.'
I reflexively wanted to back away.
But.
There were too many people behind me.
No room to retreat at all.
The black armored knight slowly raised its sword. The metallic scrape licked across the boss room walls like a rasp. That sound alone threatened to buckle my knees.
And right then.
The chat window flashed bright.
A deep hum buzzed in my ears—not just tinnitus. An invisible weight crashed down from above, shoulders slumping, chest tightening like a vise.
"Urk."
I clutched my throat on instinct.
Five hundred thousand.
This was on another level entirely.
Breathing grew labored, vision narrowing in an instant. Just standing there felt impossible; I nearly collapsed.
My nostrils burned hot.
Wiping them with the back of my hand left a thin red streak.
Seeing it made my breath catch even worse.
This wasn't the sensation of getting stronger.
It was my body screaming it couldn't take it anymore.
Yet the black armored knight in front of me wavered first.
Its helmet trembled faintly.
The red glow in its eyes flared wide upward.
Someone from behind whispered, voice hushed in awe.
"...The boss is suppressed."
"What?"
"By Mr. Kang Minsu's presence."
"No, it's not."
Even as I denied it, the knight didn't drop to its knees.
It wasn't over that easily.
Gripping the greatsword with both hands, it took a single step forward. Its armor joints creaked in protest. As if its will to attack still burned, it hoisted the blade higher.
The black armored knight roared.
A guttural bellow like a human throat shredded with metal.
And as it swung the sword down—
Its arm froze mid-air.
No, it snapped.
The armored elbow twisted with a sickening crunch, blade slamming into the floor. A long, keening metallic whine echoed through the room.
Still, it endured one more step.
As if clinging to its attack stance to the bitter end.
But that was it.
Its grip failed first.
Clang.
The greatsword hit the ground.
The boss room fell utterly silent.
The black armored knight stood empty-handed for a moment. The red light in its helmet flickered wildly once, unstable.
As if calculating.
As if deciding it couldn't hold out longer.
As if knowing crossing that line here meant the end.
It didn't buckle at the knees.
Instead, it braced its empty hand against the floor.
Screeeeech.
The armor joints twisted with a long, scraping grind that clawed the room.
It didn't bow its head either.
The red glow trembled but didn't extinguish.
Not full submission—just halted on the brink of shattering if it moved another inch.
A dumb sound slipped from my lips.
"...Why?"
I meant it sincerely.
Why the hell is it doing that?
But my party members interpreted it completely differently.
"The boss disarmed itself."
"Mr. Kang Minsu broke its hostility."
"With overwhelming presence..."
"No, it's not!"
I nearly screamed it, but their faces only grew more convinced. Some gasped in admiration; others stared blankly, eyes flicking between me and the boss.
I could barely breathe.
The 500k gaze pressure still crushed my body, and the black armored knight endured empty-handed right in front of me. The silence stretched so long it grew even more terrifying.
Caution: Pressure exceeding limits
I squeezed my eyes shut midway through reading those lines.
The boss had dropped its weapon and frozen; people were convinced on their own terms; and I was trapped in the middle, teetering on hyperventilation.
The real problem came next.
As the black armored knight held its empty-handed stance without twitching, the party grew more cautious. Some sheathed their swords; others held their breath entirely.
The vibe was like they thought I still had unfinished business.
"Um."
I finally pried my mouth open.
"Isn't it... done now?"
The shield hunter glanced at me and murmured low.
"We'll handle it once you give the word, Mr. Kang Minsu."
"Why would I give permission?"
"Since you subdued the boss."
"I didn't."
I denied it almost tearfully, but he nodded with even graver conviction. Clearly taking it as deliberate humility, drawing a line.
I was about to lose it completely.
The healer in the back alternated glances between the knight and me, hands over her mouth.
"At this point... it's not surrender. It's submission, right?"
"Please don't say that."
"Sorry."
I had no idea why I was the one getting apologies.
Instead of replying, I hunched over slightly to catch my breath. My heart hammered so fiercely my ears clogged again.
The boss still hadn't lowered its head, and that only made it more ominous.
'Please, someone just take it out.'
'It's scarier holding like that.'
But I couldn't voice it.
Any stray gesture now might spark talk of me "deliberating" on sparing the boss.
Then one party member's device pinged sharply.
Ding.
Ours followed in quick succession.
Screen glows flickered through my ragged breaths. Everyone checked notifications simultaneously, faces hardening further upon seeing them.
"Already hitting the news."
"What?"
"Hunter Gallery real-time #1."
"Why that..."
"KBCN breaking news on standby too."
Hearing that made my head spin for real.
We were still inside the dungeon.
Hadn't cleared out yet.
But outside, this scene was already circulating.
A groan—not quite a sigh—leaked from my mouth.
"No, I was just..."
I couldn't finish.
Just what?
Just unlucky?
Just happened to be standing in front?
Those words rang hollow now.
The boss still braced empty-handed; the party watched my cue; the chat had already moved on to the next phase.
Someone from the back muttered very softly.
"After today, no one'll believe he's F-rank."
That hit my gut like a drop.
I shook my head on reflex.
"No. There is."
"Huh?"
"Me."
Silence.
A brief hush, then their faces twisted into even more complicated masks.
I dropped my gaze midway, unable to keep watching.
Part of me thought a monster charge might be less exhausting.
Then a breaking headline scrolled slowly to the top of the chat.