Chapter 61

00061 Mage and Alchemist (Rare)

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After barely calming the bickering kids, we had been on the move for about 30 minutes. Despite the passage of time, the kids still seemed to be affected by the aftereffects of the battle with the Renga, fidgeting with their weapons. The atmosphere had become increasingly tense as we saw the bodies of the first users. Satisfied, I quickened my pace with a faint smile.

The clearing where we had defeated the Renga had another passage. It was a route opposite to the one we had entered. Through this passage, we moved deeper into the dungeon without any interference. While I couldn't guarantee that this structure would continue, the dungeon had so far shown a relatively simple layout.

Honestly, if the dungeon of the ancient alchemist Vivian was this easy, it was on the simpler side in terms of difficulty. I suddenly recalled the time when I explored the labyrinth as a new user in the first cycle. I had laughed at the idea of entering a place that even experienced users hesitated to enter, only to get lost and suffer for nearly three months. Given that experience, it was natural that the current dungeon seemed easier by comparison.

Comparing those bitter memories with the present, I couldn't help but chuckle. It was something I couldn't have imagined back then. Back then, I would carefully analyze every step, thoroughly checking for traps and the paths where monsters might appear, even if it meant taking one step at a time. But now, I felt a bit more careless.

I generally prefer to approach things calmly. I believe that rushing through a meal can lead to indigestion, and it's better to proceed slowly but safely and surely. However, with my current abilities and experience, I felt a bit stifled by the cautious approach. Given the limited time, it was also necessary to be bold and move quickly when needed.

Perhaps because it was a dungeon in a small town, I felt the difficulty was lower compared to expeditions in regular or large cities. I was a bit tense since it was close to unexplored territory, but it felt much more comfortable than places where traps were set up everywhere and monsters would suddenly appear with the slightest advance.

Reflecting on it, the only real difficulty in the Cave of Screams was the final boss. The memory of the caravan being decimated by the sudden appearance of that monster still sent shivers down my spine. Nonetheless, I couldn't afford to be complacent, so I maintained basic vigilance as I moved forward.

The traces of the caravan extended to this point. If they had passed through the clearing, it would be difficult to leave secretly, so they must have replenished the Renga. This suggested that the dungeon master had some level of intelligence.

As I continued to think, I entered another clearing connected by another passage. However, this clearing was much smaller than the one with the Renga, barely able to fit fifty people. In front of us was a sheer cliff, and four holes were visible in the ground. Without going through one of these holes, further progress was impossible. This meant we had to choose one of the holes and enter it.

As I stepped into the clearing and stopped, the kids followed suit. There was no need to deliberate; I immediately activated my Third Eye and magic detection. After thoroughly scanning the four holes, I nodded and was about to move towards the second hole when I noticed Sol staring blankly at the cliff.

Sol seemed to sense my gaze and turned to me, tilting her head in confusion. Her adorable expression made me want to pinch her cheeks, but I restrained myself because Ahn Hyun was nearby.

Seeing my troubled expression, Yujeong, the queen of mood swings, approached me playfully. I turned away, thinking she might try to meddle in something annoying, but she followed me. She seemed bored and twirled her dagger as she spoke.

"Brother, are you deciding which hole to enter?"

"..."

Taking my silence as a yes, Yujeong smiled and continued.

"I have a good idea."

"Another crazy idea..."

"Oh come on! You always criticize me. Trust me this time, okay? You just watch. I have a great idea."

Though she tried to look serious, the slight upward curve of her lips betrayed her mischievous intentions. But I couldn't ignore her pleading gaze as she clung to my shoulder. I spread my senses but detected nothing amiss.

I decided to let Yujeong do as she pleased. She often showed a sharp side that even I couldn't predict, and I also wanted her to gain some experience. As I stepped back, Yujeong looked triumphant. She then turned to Ahn Hyun, who was twirling his spear.

"Hyun~?"

"Damn."

"Haha. No, it's not that. I just have something I want to confirm."

Ahn Hyun responded with a curse to Yujeong's playful call. I could see a prominent vein on her forehead. In the past, she would have unleashed a torrent of words, but Yujeong continued in a gentle tone, though I could sense a subtle threat in her voice.

"What is it?"

"Remember the initiation ceremony? You said something about Sol's instincts, right?"

"I've said a lot of things."

"About the city. You said Sol's instincts were really good, didn't you?"

Sol's ears perked up as she listened to the conversation. She seemed interested in the mention of herself. How can she be so cute? I wanted to pinch her cheek or tug her ear, but I resisted. What am I thinking?

While I was lost in these thoughts, Ahn Hyun was already enthusiastically recounting the story. He was like a reincarnated overprotective older brother.

"Ah, that. Yeah, that's right. This kid's instincts are amazing..."

"Ah, I know. We can talk about it later. Is it really reliable?"

"Of course! It's infallible."

Good timing. I gave Yujeong a mental thumbs up for cutting in at the right moment. I sighed in relief but couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Ahn Hyun, who had been nodding, also seemed to sense something amiss and tilted his head. But it was too late. Yujeong's eyes widened as she turned with a mischievous smile.

"Why are you suddenly... Wait! Yoojeong! Hey!"

Ahn Hyun called out urgently, but Yujeong ignored him and walked towards Sol. Sol, who had been listening intently, looked at Yujeong with a blank expression. But Sol wasn't passive. Perhaps from experience or a premonition from her 100 points of luck, she immediately ran behind me. Ahn Hyun sighed in relief, and Yujeong frowned. But she quickly put on a gentle face and spoke sweetly.

"Brother Suhyun, could you please carry Sol and place her at the entrance on the far left?"

I heard Ahn Hyun and Sol arguing from both sides. I felt uneasy, but since I had decided to let Yujeong handle it, I reluctantly picked up Sol. She clung to my collar, looking confused. Her innocent face, with a question mark floating above her head, made me feel a bit guilty.

If I had suddenly picked her up before, she would have been startled or burst into tears, but she no longer did. She trusted me, looking at me with a face that said, "Brother, you wouldn't do anything to harm me, right?" Feeling proud of being recognized by a future Radiant Priestess, I placed Sol at the far left entrance. This entrance was one of the ones we should never enter, but I wanted to see what Yujeong would do next.

"Hey, brother?"

Ahn Hyun's panicked voice came from behind, but I ignored it and patted Sol's head before stepping back. Sol looked at me with her bright, trusting eyes. Yujeong, seeing this, smiled bitterly. I also felt a strange urge to tease and make her cry.

Ahn Hyun, who had been standing there in a daze, finally reacted. Yujeong licked her lips and approached Sol, whispering in her ear. I strained to hear their conversation.

"Come on, Sol. Go inside. Hurry."

"Huh? Inside?"

"Yep. By yourself."

"Really? By myself? I go in alone? What about you and the others?"

"That's right. Brother and I will wait outside. Just go in and check for any dangers. Brother Suhyun said it's a good idea."

Yujeong whispered persuasively. Sol, overwhelmed, mumbled softly. Ahn Hyun's expression was strange as he listened to the faint voices but remained in place.

Sol, being so innocent, tilted her head and fell into deep thought. She closed her eyes and tapped her cheek with her finger, seemingly pondering Yujeong's words. After a moment, she opened her eyes and spoke with a trembling voice.

"But... there are many dangers inside... I can't go alone... Brother Suhyun wouldn't do that..."

"No, you have a very important role. You're the bait. The bait. You know, like in movies. Your sacrifice will help us avoid dangerous places and collect treasures safely. What do you think?"

As Yujeong emphasized the word "bait," Sol's face became teary, and she looked at me for confirmation. She seemed to firmly believe I wouldn't do such a thing. Her bright, trusting gaze made me shrug in response. Sol blinked a few times and spoke.

"Brother."

"..."

"Did you really say that?"

"What, what?"

I hadn't actually given any permission. But Sol, misinterpreting my stammering, widened her eyes. Her lips trembled, and she clenched her fists. Sol, looking like she was issuing an ultimatum, spoke again.

"I'm going to cry."

I averted my gaze. I had also felt a bit of a desire to see her cry. Scratching my cheek, I saw Sol's face change dramatically. She seemed shocked that I would avoid her gaze and opened her mouth wide. The result I had hoped for was immediate.

"Uaaaaah!"

Sol sat down and burst into tears. Yujeong, not expecting her to really cry, stepped back in shock, and Ahn Hyun glared at her. Yujeong, stammering, pointed at me. What did I do?

"Uaaaaah! Uaaaaah! Uaaaaah!"

As Sol continued to wail, Ahn Hyun and I rushed to her side.

============================ Author's Note ============================

Phew. I wanted to write a bit more leisurely today, but things happened, and I lost about three to four hours. As they say, "Bad days come in bunches." If I hadn't written a bit earlier, it would have been dangerous. Hahaha.

From the next chapter, the story will likely progress more quickly. Even if it feels a bit slow, please bear with it for a little longer. :)

And I recommend the song "Joke of Legends" from the LoL remix. I listened to it yesterday, and it was really enjoyable. Hahaha. Especially the part with Taric's lines is really charming.

『 Reader Comments 』

1. Hyunoh: Congratulations on the top spot! Hahaha. The pacing might feel a bit slow, and this chapter might also feel that way. This chapter is meant to give the party a break after their intense journey and to balance the pacing.

2. Zami: Hahaha. What a mistake. OTL I should blame my fingers. ㅜ.ㅠ

3. Lamude: No, no. Please be lenient.

4. ChaosSoo: Yes? Yes?? Yes???

5. Einthe: Thank you. I hope you enjoy this chapter as well.

6. Sarangin: No, no. No (Ro) Yujin is the protagonist's name from the March 12th Memorize serialization.

7. Blami: Black. Please understand. ㅜ.ㅠ!

8. Kedoros: It might become my dark history. I didn't expect to do a reader comment like this...

9. Crying Soul: Hey, wait. Are you the author who writes Greek and Roman mythology? Wow. I'm so excited I won't be able to sleep tonight. Wow.

10. Refill: I'm sorry. I'm very, very sorry. Sob.

I always read all the comments repeatedly. Please don't be too disappointed if you're not mentioned in the reader comments. If you have any specific questions, feel free to send me a message, and I'll respond! (Please leave more comments! And recommendations...☞☜)

That's all for today. I hope you always read my work with a relaxed mind.

I always welcome pre-reading, recommendations, comments, reviews, and questions.