By Zephyria Clang! Cracking! Groooooan…. The sound of something huge and hard breaking, the Golem’s roar, all mixed together inside the Dungeon, ringing out as if to tear one’s ears. The vicinity shook from the sound alone. At the epicenter of the sound, blinding light and white ash and dust raged like a storm.
Most Hunters confront Monsters using all the abilities they possess. Not only the weapons they own, but also skills and traits that are as flashy and eye-catching as special effects in movies or dramas. The attack methods of Hunters in the era of established Hunter dominance were so dazzling and powerful, but….
The one confronting the Golem now was a little different.
Kwaaaang!
A flash of bright blue light burst from within the storm. Amidst the rough winds, massive fragments that had been shattered rained down like meteors.
“Argh!”
Hong Ye-seong screamed and properly readjusted the Shield he had lowered slightly. What had been shattered and fallen was another one of the Golem’s hands.
The skills of the one confronting the massive Golem with only a spear and his body could not be called flashy, even as a euphemism. Rather, it was a calmness close to silence. But it was so strong and solid that one couldn’t take their eyes off it.
Sa-young stood firmly, unwavering, watching that storm.
How long had it been?
Oooooo….
The sound of the Golem’s roar gradually subsided, and the surroundings grew quiet. In the moment when everything paused, what appeared in the place where the dust had cleared was….
“…Wow.”
Ga-eul, who had been blankly watching, involuntarily let out an exclamation. In the place where the storm had cleared, there was only the Golem, clutching its heart area with its shattered hand.
The Golem was lying diagonally with its back bent backward, and next to its mangled, shattered wrist, a massive spear was embedded more than halfway. It was a perfect penetration.
And, Cha Eui-jae, holding the spear, stood on top of it.
Kuuuuuung…. The sound of the Golem’s heart, which had been pulsating beneath his feet and shaking his entire body, quietly stopped. Confirming that the sign of life had completely disappeared, Cha Eui-jae pulled out the great spear without hesitation. The heart area crumbled, centered on the place where the spear had been impaled, and soon, only a massive hole remained.
He slung the spear over his shoulder and lightly jumped down from the Golem. The Golem, with a large hole pierced through it, collapsed with a thud. With that sound as the last, there was silence.
Until Cha Eui-jae approached them, no one dared to open their mouths. Eui-jae carelessly dragged his sneakers, slowly standing before them.
His hands were still trembling. The guilt of having survived alone and the regret of not even being able to bring out a part of the corpse, these combined feelings of unease had long since become one with Cha Eui-jae. Perhaps they would continue to be with him for a very long time, dragging Cha Eui-jae to the bottom and breaking his heart.
Cha Eui-jae had been sinking like that. From the moment he was ejected from the West Sea Rift, he had been submerged in silent water, trying to close his eyes and block his ears. Because here, where J was not, there was the peace that everyone so desired. He couldn’t cause a disruption to that peace.
However….
Eui-jae carefully opened his mouth, looking at their faces, which seemed to have lost their Souls somewhere.
“…Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”
“No, that’s what we should be saying. Don’t steal my line!”
“Huh?”
Hong Ye-seong spat out blood and strode forward. Cluck followed beside him with tiny steps. He put his fist to his chin and scrutinized Eui-jae from head to toe with his golden eyes.
“Looks like there’s no injury… no broken bones either, and no scratches or tears. Wow, you’re incredibly sturdy. Any internal injuries, perhaps? Is Secretary-nim okay?”
“Um, yes. I’m fine.”
Eui-jae nodded, bewildered. Hong Ye-seong clicked his tongue and then suddenly thrust his sparkling face forward. Eui-jae instinctively leaned back. Hong Ye-seong whispered in a heated voice.
“…Then, the spear.”
“Huh? Spear?”
Cha Eui-jae unknowingly raised the spear he was holding in his hand. Hong Ye-seong nodded busily.
“Yeah. That. How was it using the spear?”
“Um…. It was good.”
Eui-jae nodded, answering honestly. From the moment he snatched it, the great spear felt perfectly fitted to his hand. As if it had been made for him. Hong Ye-seong, who had been listening intently, smiled brightly.
“Right? It’s my masterpiece, after all. Honestly, when Lee Sa-young won the bid, I wondered what to do….”
Hong Ye-seong puffed out his chest like a rooster trying to seduce a hen and began to boast about himself. Ga-eul ran her fingers through her disheveled hair like a comb, offering soulless agreement.
Is it okay to be this peaceful in a Dungeon? Eui-jae blankly watched Ye-seong and Ga-eul, who were alive and moving perfectly fine. Like being submerged in water, people’s voices began to echo. It felt like his senses were fading.
No, he had to come to his senses. Eui-jae deliberately shifted his gaze here and there to regain his balance. At the end of his wildly crossing gaze, he caught Lee Sa-young. Their eyes met.
“……”
“……”
Lee Sa-young, whom he had expected to interrogate him at any moment, was surprisingly quiet. Cha Eui-jae, who had been waiting for him to speak, also quietly stared at the other party. The murmuring voices of Hong Ye-seong and Yoon Ga-eul gradually faded away.
As if only the two of them had fallen into a gap in another space, in a moment where time seemed to have stopped. Eui-jae’s senses were being slowly reorganized around Lee Sa-young. His mouth was dry. Eui-jae gripped the spear tightly in his hand. Veins popped out on the back of his hand.
Killing the Golem? He didn’t regret it. It was something he should have done, and if he hadn’t stepped in, everyone might have died.
‘But… what should I say to Lee Sa-young?’
The fingers hidden behind his back curled up slightly.
Lee Sa-young knew that Cha Eui-jae had been hiding his strength. But it wasn’t common for an ordinary Awakened to deal with an S+ class Monster relatively easily, without injury. Even Lee Sa-young, who had been the former number one, couldn’t recklessly touch it because of compatibility issues, let alone Jung-bin, who was weak against Monsters.
Did he have to lie again? What was Lee Sa-young thinking right now? Complex thoughts swirled around. Eui-jae hesitated for a moment, then stared intently at the purple eyes he had met so many times. Even when he looked into Lee Sa-young’s eyes, the purple eyes didn’t offer any particular answer.
A face that didn’t seem puzzled, nor did it seem to have any intention of questioning him. An expression of course, as if looking at a self-evident fact.
‘Why?’
…Could it be.
Eui-jae blankly looked at Sa-young. Sa-young, who had been gazing at Eui-jae’s disheveled hair, opened his mouth with an expressionless face.
“It’s okay.”
“What?”
“I said it’s okay.”
Was that an answer to the question of whether he was okay from earlier? Cha Eui-jae spoke to Lee Sa-young for no reason.
“You made it well.”
“How was it?”
“You made it well.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah.”
Eui-jae answered and reached out his hand while holding the spear. He was thinking of handing it over. However, Sa-young stared at Eui-jae for a moment, then instead of taking the spear, he grabbed Eui-jae’s hand and pushed it away. Eui-jae’s eyes widened at the action that was not easily understood. As if responding to that question, Lee Sa-young said.
“It’s Hyung’s.”
“What do you….”
“It was Hyung’s from the beginning.”
At the Artisan Exhibition, Lee Sa-young had clearly caused all sorts of problems even while tied to Jung-bin’s chains and dying, and he had collapsed after finally winning the bid for the spear.
If all of that wasn’t simply to obtain an S+ class weapon….
Numerous words floated up and sank. Eui-jae rubbed the words caught on the tip of his tongue against his front teeth.
‘What are you, really?’
Lee Sa-young’s eyes were still shining clearly, reaching Cha Eui-jae. As if not caring about the existence of others. It felt like his lips were parched. In the moment he licked his dry lips without realizing it,
“Ugh…, are you sure you killed it properly? I’m really gonna die.”
Hong Ye-seong collapsed to the floor. He looked like a college student who had gone out for drinks until 4 AM the night before and was heading to his 8 AM class. His hair ends, covered in white ash and dust, were streaked with white, and he rolled on the floor, making zombie-like noises.
Eui-jae once again checked the condition of Hong Ye-seong and Yoon Ga-eul, who had become shabby. Hong Ye-seong’s mountaineering jacket was soaked in blood, but he seemed to be quite alright, judging by the fact that he kept saying things like, “I’m gonna die.” At least he had the energy to make noise.
Yoon Ga-eul also seemed fine, except for her disheveled hair. Eui-jae let out a small sigh of relief. Behind the two, Jung-bin was lying straight. Eui-jae, who had been hesitating, asked Yoon Ga-eul.
“How is Jung-bin….?”
“Ah, Jung-bin Ajusshi? He was a bit dangerous earlier….”
Ga-eul turned her gaze with an uneasy face. She looked at Jung-bin once, and then at Lee Sa-young, who was standing with his hands in his pockets and a languid face, before continuing.
“The Wave Guild Leader gave him some first aid, so he’s a bit better now. He hasn’t regained consciousness yet, though.”
Naturally, Eui-jae’s gaze also followed Yoon Ga-eul, looking at Jung-bin once and then at Lee Sa-young. Lee Sa-young, who caught that gaze, said leisurely.
“Wasn’t that why you threw me in?”