First Floor Boss
First Floor Boss
It was right after I'd set the girl down behind me.
The boar charged again, kicking up clouds of dirt.
What should I do?
Same as before?
But it was already right in front of me.
No time to think!
I planted my feet and stretched both arms toward it.
BOOM!!
A deafening explosion-like sound erupted from my palms.
The impact that felt like it would shatter my bones traveled up my arms and spread through my entire body,
but my hands had firmly grasped the beast's massive tusks.
"Ghk...!"
But.
I'd caught it, but I was being pushed back.
It wasn't that my strength was lacking.
The ground couldn't withstand the overwhelming weight of the beast.
Can't be pushed back any further.
I shouted at the girl collapsed behind me.
"Hey! Move already!"
"S-sorry! But I... I can't move my legs!"
"Damn it!"
If this continued, both she and I would be trampled to death.
"Ghk, ugh...!"
Clenching my teeth, I forcibly twisted the hands gripping its tusks and threw them sideways.
The beast's head was violently wrenched aside, veering past me.
In that instant, its tusk tore through my ragged armor and sliced my skin.
"Tch."
Blood sprayed through the air.
The heat in my head cooled instantly.
Should I run?
No.
Even if I got away, that girl would die.
...Can't win head-on.
Think of a way.
But the beast had already turned and was coming back.
Its bloodshot eyes glared at me.
***
Even if it was a boss, a boar was still a boar.
I'd seen them endlessly over the past three years.
It charged at me again.
Instead of meeting it head-on, I twisted my body at the last moment and dodged sideways.
The massive body brushed past me.
It didn't stop until it had overshot me by over ten meters.
As expected, it was slow.
Its turning speed after charging was just as sluggish as a normal boar's.
As it began turning its heavy body—
"Where do you think you're going!"
I kicked off the ground and ran.
Leapt onto its broad back.
"Got you."
Then I wrapped both arms around its thick neck and put all my weight into choking it.
But.
Squeeeeee!
The boar's neck was thicker than a log.
Too thick to properly cut off its air.
It was just breathing slightly harder, showing no signs of dying.
"Tch!"
The boar began thrashing wildly to shake me off.
It shook its body, leapt around, and finally slammed its back against nearby trees.
The brutal impact traveled straight through to my spine.
My back creaked.
It was a miracle it didn't break.
But I gritted my teeth and held on.
Didn't loosen my grip one bit.
I'll hold on until death.
And so began a muddy battle of endurance.
It rampaged, tearing up the ground and breaking trees,
but I clung on with all my strength like a leech.
One minute.
Two minutes.
The struggle between us dragged on.
During that time, even as I was tossed around by its thrashing,
I could feel its pulse through my arms around its neck.
The pulse that had been racing like mad was gradually slowing.
This thing was tiring faster than me.
The boar's breathing grew ragged and its movements noticeably dulled.
Meanwhile, my heart pounded wildly, sending continuous strength to my limbs.
The old me would've collapsed long ago.
Only then did I realize—this body shaped by my grown Trait hadn't yet shown its limits.
Finally, the boar's hind legs gave out and its knees buckled.
Now.
I jumped off its back.
Grabbed one of the logs it had uprooted during its rampage with both hands.
Slammed it straight down on the boss's skull.
"Now!"
The log shattered.
But it still didn't go down.
Grabbed a second log.
"Take this!"
Third strike.
"Die already!"
As the final log smashed its head,
it couldn't even scream as its face planted into the ground.
"...Dead?"
I watched warily for a long time without relaxing, but it didn't move again.
"Phew..."
Did it.
Looked down at my bloodied fists.
Not long ago, I would've been running for my life facing such a monster.
Now I'd beaten the First Layer's ruler bare-handed.
This body was far more monstrous than I'd imagined.
***
Cut open its belly and pulled out a Core the size of two clenched fists.
A brilliant red glow.
Looked worlds apart from the Cores I usually saw.
This... will fetch a good price.
No idea how much, but it should help pay off my debts.
Shoved the Core roughly into my pocket and approached the girl.
She was staring up at me with dazed eyes.
"You okay?"
"...Y-yes. Thank you. Your name is...?"
Ignoring her question, I glanced toward the Boss Room.
Didn't seem like anyone else was coming out besides her.
"...Where's the rest of your party?
The frontliners."
At that moment, her shoulders jerked violently.
Her face paled like she'd done something wrong.
Her large round eyes shook uncontrollably like there'd been an earthquake.
She seemed to be trying to say something but couldn't get it out.
"...I was scared, everything went white..."
That was all.
She couldn't continue, just kept trembling.
"Uh... calm down first."
Not knowing what else to say, I patted her shaking back.
As my hand touched her, the trembling gradually subsided.
"Let's get out first. Can you walk?"
She tried to stand but her legs gave out.
Frowning, she closed her eyes and emitted a faint glow from her fingertips.
But the light quickly faded.
"...Sorry.
Can't use my Trait anymore, and my legs..."
I scratched the back of my head.
No helping it.
After hesitating briefly, I turned my back to her and crouched.
"Get on."
"...Huh?"
"Piggyback. You wanna stay here all night?"
A brief silence.
Then her face turned tomato-red as she carefully wrapped her arms around my neck.
Light as a feather, just as before.
***
Walked toward the exit.
Could feel the heartbeat of the girl plastered to my back.
At first it was racing wildly, but now it had calmed to a steady rhythm.
Her hair tickled my neck whenever the wind blew.
Could feel her initially cold body temperature gradually warming against my back.
As we walked, a small voice came from behind me.
"...Could you tell me your name?"
"Kang Yunha."
"...I'm Lee Yul.
Yunha-ssi, you saved my life."
"...Just got lucky."
At my indifferent reply, Lee Yul hesitated before speaking again.
"Do you... have a party? You seem like a frontliner."
"Not looking to join one yet."
My knife-like refusal made her shrink slightly.
Could feel her heartbeat quicken against my back.
The Gate came into view.
Approached the guard stationed at the entrance.
"First Layer Boss raid failed.
There might be bodies in the Boss Room."
"Understood. Thanks for reporting."
The guard radioed somewhere as he walked away from us.
***
After sending off the guard, I let Lee Yul down.
For some reason looking reluctant, she pulled out a note from her pocket and scribbled something.
"I really want to repay you.
Please contact me here later. Please...!"
The white paper had her name "Lee Yul" and phone number.
She kept bowing as she exited the Gate.
Shoved the note roughly into my pocket and headed to the Settlement Office.
Pulled up my Status Window as I walked.
[Trait: Yin-Yang Person]
"...Huh?"
...But was it just me, or had the Sun gotten slightly smaller since morning?
Shaking my head, I hurried toward the Settlement Office.
***
Opened the door and headed to the counter.
Then immediately emptied my pockets in front of the clerk.
Dumped out the normal monster Cores and the First Layer Boss's Core.
"Congratulations on hunting the First Layer Boss.
How would you like your—"
Just as the clerk pulled out a calculator—
BANG-!
Someone slammed the door open violently.
Three men with half-destroyed gear and vicious expressions entered.
One of them with bloodshot eyes shouted:
"Where's that bitch Lee Yul!!
The rear guard ran off to save herself?!
We almost died because of her!!"
The office fell silent.
Other Hunters began murmuring in shock.
"Damn, the rear guard ran?"
"That's crossing a line."
One of the men slammed the counter and snarled at the clerk.
"Pink-haired girl! She come here?!"
The clerk shook his head awkwardly with raised hands.
Lee Yul...
Fiddling with the note in my pocket, I watched the scene.
What had she said?
Scared, everything went white?
Were these guys telling the truth?
...
But whatever the truth was, it didn't concern me.
The men left the office cursing.
But the murmuring inside didn't die down.
The clerk awkwardly coughed and picked up the calculator again.
"...Shall we continue with the settlement?"
"Yes."
---
[Dungeon Gallery]
Title: Healer ran during First Layer Boss fight
Still got people like that these days lololol
Anon: Rear guard ran mid-boss fight? For real?
Anon: If the healer runs, the frontliners are screwed. Crazy bitch
Anon: Heard it was a pink-haired girl. Be careful when partying
Anon: Apparently she gathered the party herself then ran
Anon: Lol seriously? She organized the party then ran?
Anon: Heard the 3 frontliners barely made it out alive
Anon: Shouldn't she be blacklisted?
Anon: Obviously. Anyone know her name?
Anon: Lee Yul apparently
Anon: Running from a boss fight means instant industry ban
Anon: But how'd they survive without a healer?
Anon: Dunno?
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