Chapter 53

< Squeak (2) >

Creak

Quietly opening the door, I stepped out into the hallway. The surveillance camera on this floor of the dormitory is still only at the entrance, and since my room is inside, the curved hallway allows me to move without being seen by anyone.

I looked around, pulled my cap down, and used the Wall Lizard skill to the maximum.

Originally, it was a D-rank skill with little effect, but now it's different. The special skill for hiding one's appearance has four times the effect. Even an A-rank would find it hard to notice if they weren't paying attention.

Still, just in case, I experimented last night.

While using the Wall Lizard skill, I stood quietly in a corner of the hallway, and none of the A-rank hunters passing by the dormitory recognized me.

'Yerim is at the Association, so I just need to be careful of Yuhwan.'

If I get caught, what can I do? According to Seonghyun, I can be a bit more reckless. I'm not doing anything bad, and if I get caught sneaking out, what can Yuhwan do? He won't try to lock me up again, right?

It might be different if it were before the negotiations with Giseungsuh, but now, even Hae-yeon, the guild leader, can't control me as she pleases. She might just nag a bit. She might grumble that she doesn't trust me, be disappointed that I'm hiding something, and so on...

Still, it's best not to get caught; it's too much trouble.

As I headed towards the elevator, I saw an A-rank hunter from Hae-yeon's team reading a book in a chair. I stood quietly in a corner, watching her.

The emergency stairs are locked, and if the elevator moves randomly, it might seem suspicious. So, I had to wait for the lunch delivery person.

Since I came out just in time for lunch, the elevator soon arrived. A restaurant staff member handed a lunch box to the hunter. I took the opportunity to slip into the elevator.

"Thank you for your hard work. Enjoy your meal."

The staff member got back into the elevator. The surveillance camera inside the elevator was visible, so while the buttons were hidden as the staff member pressed the floor for the restaurant, I extended a tentacle to press the button for the first floor. Fortunately, the structure is such that when a button is pressed on a floor, the corresponding button inside the elevator lights up, so the staff member didn't seem to notice. From the surveillance camera, it would look like the staff member pressed the wrong button.

After passing the restaurant floor, I got off at the first floor. A glass door separating the lobby and the hallway was closed. This was the most problematic part. I had to wait for someone to come in or out.

'Just don't let Yuhwan come out.'

Don't come, don't come, go do your work. Moreover, if I wait too long, Yerim might come back. I just needed someone to come in or out quickly.

Fortunately, a B-rank hunter from Hae-yeon's team approached soon. As soon as the security room opened the glass door, I quickly slipped out. There was an A-rank hunter stationed in the security room, but perhaps because there were many people coming and going in the lobby, they didn't notice anything suspicious.

'Without a special skill, it would be hard for even an A-rank or S-rank to sneak in.'

Special skills for hiding one's appearance are very rare. The only known perfect stealth skill owner is the Goblin. Usually, monsters have such skills, and since the Goblin isn't human, it seems to be a matter of suitability. Even if someone had it, they probably wouldn't reveal it easily.

I successfully left the building and walked down the street for about ten minutes. Then, I released the skill in a gap between buildings, bought a pair of sunglasses from a nearby store to completely cover my face, and hailed a taxi.

The F-rank dungeon I arrived at shortly after was a small building hidden between buildings, which originally seemed to be a small parking lot. It's fortunate for the building owner that the F-rank dungeon, which doesn't offer much reward, is inside the building.

I went to the front of the building with special walls, entered the number I had received on the keypad next to the door, and had my hunter license chip recognized. The door opened, and I passed through a short hallway to find a gate in an empty space. Although they stepped aside to ensure privacy, the surveillance camera was still active. They would also check the number of people.

The entry records are stored for a month in case of emergencies, even if no one else can access them.

'Shall I go in?'

Even though it's an F-rank, it feels strange to enter a dungeon alone. Without hesitating, I stepped into the blue gate.

Creak! Creak!

The air changed. Amidst the dense greenery, the sound of an unknown beast could be heard.

I took off my cap, hung it around my neck, and removed my sunglasses. I should be fine against the monsters here with just my bare hands. I considered taking out my equipment but decided to just add a strength-increasing bracelet to the earring I was already wearing. Since it only increases my stats, it's not very useful, and it's a hassle to put on.

'Maybe I should get a few more ratio-increasing equipment items.'

Just in case something similar happens again. There aren't many targets for applying keywords yet, but as I steadily raise more monsters and increase their numbers, some might encounter unfortunate accidents. I hope it doesn't happen, but it's not impossible.

I need to be prepared.

Rustle

I sensed movement in the dense trees above. A green-faced creature appeared between the leaves.

Squeak! Squeak!

It's a Moss Monkey. I used a Thorn Trap on the monster that was examining me.

Squeak!

As an F-rank dungeon monster, it couldn't resist and fell over, but it was still alive. Moreover, it didn't fall from the tree branch.

Indeed, in this place, tentacles are better than Thorn Traps. The trees are over 10 meters tall but get thinner as they go up, so a large, heavy monkey can only move around the lower, thicker branches. The length is sufficient.

If not, I could just throw a rock. I picked up a pebble, coated it slightly with poison, and threw it as a test.

Thud!

With a dull sound, the monkey hanging from the branch fell to the ground. It's good to have high stats. Normally, I couldn't have knocked it down like that.

Whether it was because the rock hit its head or the poison seeped in, the Moss Monkey soon died.

'Should I look for a mana stone?'

I don't want to search the corpse. Before the regression, it would have been a luxury, but now it's just a hassle. My clothes might get dirty.

'Why hasn't anyone contacted me yet?'

I opened and closed the status window a few times, but there was no change. Meanwhile, another Moss Monkey approached, so I broke its neck with a tentacle.

'...Surely, it's not the end after just checking, right?'

On one hand, it would be a relief if they have no more business with me, but on the other, it would be frustrating.

Just then, a message window appeared.

[└¶ π┣Z □┻Λ ○┣ ┗┃□]

...What? Is it bad? Are you talking to me? It's not my fault? What nonsense is this?

Another message window appeared. This time, it was proper text.

[Mana Stone ? Mythical

Grants one wish to the user.]

It was the item description for the Mana Stone. Why did this appear out of nowhere...

Wait a minute. There are only two lines. Originally, there were three.

...Shit?

"Didn't you say it's impossible to revive the dead?!"

Wasn't that the case?! Could the system creator have lied? Was it possible all along? Huh?

"Damn, I thought it was strange that you could only turn back time but couldn't revive a single person..."

I was deceived, I was deceived.

I was angry for a moment, but I soon calmed down.

Honestly, it's better to have turned back time now rather than reviving Yuhwan. Not just for me, but for everyone.

Just the fair distribution of Seok-hyang's research results alone will make the world much safer than it was five years later. With Giseungsuh as well, the future will be much better and less chaotic than the original.

So, being deceived isn't that bad.

'...It's not my fault.'

Returning to the past was because the system creator deceived me, not my fault.

Then, this means...

'...Could there be a problem because of the regression?'

Is there a problem that I should be responsible for, which is why they're telling me this? How considerate of them.

So, what's the problem?

I waited for a while, but no more message windows appeared. Let's summarize.

I was deceived by the system creator and returned to the past. The system creator knows the events before the regression, just like me. There will be some problem due to the regression.

These are the three main points.

Additionally, when the system creator sends a message unrelated to the system, they can't use normal text. I noticed this when they used vertical writing.

In the dungeon, the restrictions are less, but they can only send indirect messages. If they send a direct message, it causes an error like last time.

Anyway.

"So, what problem will there be? Just tell me properly!"

I'm so frustrated. Then, another message window appeared.

[☞'≠'☜ ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ(._. )]

Why don't you just draw a picture? Are you saying you can't speak?

"Like last time, if a problem arises, I can handle it now, so just tell me!"

I'm right in front of the gate, and I've already used the Wall Lizard skill to the maximum. I can escape without any issues unless something like a Rauchitas appears.

After shouting, I waited for a moment.

[Oh, my dear, don't be angry. We understand your frustration. Yes, we want to tell you everything, but we can't. For direct communication, a sacrifice is needed. Preparation is also necessary. Last time, only your side was turned back in time. The dungeon is separate. They are trying to slow down the progress. The more they interfere, the faster they get caught. The related information. If it spreads. It's dangerous. Proper. Preparation. One week. Dungeon.]

The messages poured in. Hold on, slowly. What?

Only our side was turned back in time, and the dungeon is separate. So, the original difficulty and number of monsters should be from five years later, but they are trying to slow down the progress.

...Could the dungeon difficulty increase faster than before the regression? What does "getting caught" mean? Is there something else?

It takes a week to prepare, and they want me to come back to the dungeon. In a week, the effect of the reward will end. I've already told Yuhwan I want to go to the dungeon, so I can ask him.

Then, the message window started to shake and distort. They must be straining to send the message.

Even the surroundings began to waver like a summer heat haze. It feels like something huge is about to appear.

Fortunately, the gate activation hasn't finished yet, so I can leave without using a gate stone.

Thud

A white, round object fell from the sky. It rolled like a sticky rice cake and then flipped over, opening its beak.

Squeak!

...What is it? It's cute.

Squeak!

It's crying again. Its legs dangle in the air. It has fluffy down like a dandelion seed, black, round eyes, and a yellow beak and feet... a baby bird? It's about the size of two fists, and it looks completely harmless from any angle.

Squeak! Squeak!

Flap, flap

...Shit, look at those wings. They're tiny. Is this really what came out? It doesn't seem right. Did it just fall from a nest in the tree?

Perplexed, I used the Leaf Skill.

[□□□□□ ? □□□ (Fluid)

Current Stat Rank: F

Potential Stat Rank: □

Optimized Initial Skills:

□□□□□□ Acquired upon growth

□□□□□□ Acquired upon growth

□□□□□□ Acquired upon growth

□□□□□□ Acquired upon growth

□□□□□□ Acquired upon growth

※□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□]

...It must be an error. The only information available is that it's currently F-rank and a baby. However, the number of optimized initial skills suggests it's not an ordinary monster. Five skills?

Even Pi and Yerim, who can awaken A to S-rank stats, only have three or four. The single square suggests it's not SS or higher, but is it S-rank? There's no guarantee that the number of squares and letters match.

'...What should I do?'

Can I just leave an error monster? But killing it... I feel a bit reluctant.

Meanwhile, the baby bird, having managed to stand up, wobbled through the grass. It didn't seem to notice my presence, thanks to the Wall Lizard skill. Instead, it approached the dead Moss Monkey.

Squeak, squeak

It chirped and tried to peck at the monkey's corpse. Huh! It's poisoned! An F-rank stat would die instantly just from touching it!

"No!"

Squeak

I immediately ran over and picked it up. It stiffened in surprise for a moment, then flapped its tiny wings.

Squeak! Squeak! Squeak! Squeak!

"It's okay, I won't hurt you."

I quickly deactivated the Wall Lizard skill and reassured it. Fortunately, it didn't get poisoned. Its black, round eyes blinked and looked up at me.

Squeak!

"Good, good. You're a good one. Squeak."

It's incredibly soft and warm. So cute. What should I do? Should I just take it with me? At this size, I can hide it in my arms and take it with me.

If someone asks where it came from...

...Can I just say I found it? I don't know, I'll insist.

"Should I give you a mana stone? Do you want to eat? A C-rank mana stone might be too much for an F-rank stat."

It could be harmful. But I don't have an F-rank mana stone. Or do I? I looked up and saw a Moss Monkey peeking from the tree.

I'll have to catch it without using poison. Just wait a bit, Squeak. I'll prepare your meal.

< Squeak (2) > End

ⓒ Geunseo