The Cave of Screams (2)
When did it all begin? Perhaps it was when I graduated at the top of my class from the User Academy and received offers from various clans. I always acted as if I knew better, teaching others and taking the lead, but beneath it all, there was an unrecognized arrogance lurking in my heart.
After all, I had been active in Hall Plain for over a decade. I was the only one who had seen it through to the end.
With successes in places like the Alchemist Vivian’s Dungeon and the Ruins Laboratory, my arrogance only grew. It finally erupted when I reached the Cave of Screams, a place I thought I knew well.
I had gained power far beyond what I had in my first run, and I wielded it recklessly. But in truth, it was the power that wielded me. I accepted the fire spirit, thinking I could control it, and used its power excessively, despite knowing the burden it brought. I ignored the Seraph’s advice when she pointed this out.
I justified my actions with the convenient excuse of wanting to save Yoo Hyun and Han So-young.
The cigarette in my hand had long stopped emitting smoke. I cleared my mind, realizing that perhaps it was a blessing to have been caught in the Unconscious Reveal spell.
I needed to return to my original mindset.
“Hmm.”
As I dropped the cigarette from my lips, a faint groan reached my ears. Among the neatly laid-out users, a short-haired figure began to stir. Her clear eyes and neat features scanned the surroundings in a daze before she suddenly shook her head in surprise. Watching Ha-yeon, I spoke in a calm voice.
“It’s alright. The magic circle has been broken, and there are no undead monsters around. You can rest a bit longer.”
“Su-hyun. Ah, you startled me.”
Ha-yeon, clutching her chest in surprise at my sudden voice, wobbled slightly as she closed the distance between us. As she approached, her eyes fell on our fallen companions, and she seemed at a loss for words.
Finally, she sat down lightly in front of me, gently tapping her forehead, perhaps still feeling the aftereffects of the forced manifestation of her unconscious.
“I’m sorry. I remember following you in here, but after a flash of white light, I can’t recall anything. I just feel incredibly sad and exhausted. The others seem to feel the same… Could you tell me what happened?”
Though I sensed her glance at Go Yeon-ju, who was resting her head on my knee, I decided to let it pass. I nodded a couple of times and slowly recounted the events.
Listening to my story, Ha-yeon showed a keen interest in the ancient magic, typical of a mage user. She was disappointed to hear that the magic circle had been shattered and was beyond her reach. Ancient magics are often powerful, and mastering them would undoubtedly enhance her skills, increasing her survival chances in Hall Plain. It was a practical ambition.
After I finished, Ha-yeon spoke again, her face slightly flushed.
“Could you tell me what my unconscious revealed?”
“I don’t think it’s something you should hear.”
“No, I really want to know. Please, tell me.”
Despite my warning, she insisted. With a sigh, I shared some of what she had said, deliberately omitting the part where she begged not to be abandoned. Even with just that, she seemed to grasp the situation, as her face darkened. It seemed she hadn’t completely severed ties with her past experiences in the Golden Lion Clan.
An awkward silence settled between us. Realizing I was watching her, she quickly erased her expression and offered a sad smile. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, and I replied with a quiet “I’m sorry, too.” My response seemed to surprise her, and she studied my face intently.
Just as I was about to reach for another cigarette, Ha-yeon, now composed, spoke in a clear voice.
“Su-hyun, you’re feeling guilty, aren’t you?”
”…”
“You don’t need to feel guilty. When exploring dungeons, it’s impossible to avoid every trap. In the end, you saved us all, didn’t you? I’m grateful to you.”
I didn’t respond to her words. While I did feel guilty, it seemed slightly misplaced. Sensing my silence, she continued.
“It couldn’t be helped. Before we descended, you clearly signaled us to stop. I saw it. Everyone halted, but An Sol lost her footing and fell before she could regain her balance. If anyone bears moral responsibility, it’s her, not you.”
I pondered her words for a moment, then slowly shook my head.
“No. I’m the one leading this caravan. I can’t equate myself with An Sol. If I had been more cautious, more prudent, it could have been prevented.”
“You’re not an archer, Su-hyun. You’ve done well so far, but seeing you like this pains me.”
“Then it’s my fault for not bringing an archer user.”
“Really. So was coming to the Cave of Screams a mistake from the start?”
Ha-yeon gave me a sidelong glance and slowly stood up. I responded with a faint smile but didn’t argue further. I didn’t think I was wrong. Whether it’s a caravan or a clan, leading a group means being responsible for any issues that arise. While it’s true An Sol slipped, blaming her for the trap wasn’t my style.
Ha-yeon walked over to my side, opposite where Go Yeon-ju lay, and glanced around at our companions, likely checking if they were asleep. Having already confirmed with my third eye that they were, I watched her with a calm expression.
Then, she turned back to me, gently cradled my head in her arms, and I let myself be drawn into her embrace. Women are fascinating, I thought. Despite having explored and fought alongside me, her embrace carried a comforting scent.
Ha-yeon softly stroked my hair and spoke in a low voice.
“Su-hyun, you tend to take everything on yourself. You don’t have to bear all the burden. We can help you.”
”…”
“And you’re still a zero-year user. Though you’re incredibly seasoned for one, no user is perfect all the time. Consider this a valuable experience and be more careful next time. So cheer up.”
She stopped stroking my hair and hugged my head tightly to her chest. The soft sensation against my face made me close my eyes. After a while, I felt a bit more at ease. She gently released me and knelt down, bringing her face level with mine. Without a word, she pressed her lips to mine.
A warm, soft sensation touched my lips and then withdrew. As I looked at her, Ha-yeon gave a shy smile.
“I did it to encourage you. I hope it didn’t upset you.”
“No, it’s fine. It didn’t upset me.”
I touched my lips briefly. In the past, I might have dismissed it with a “What does it matter to you?” but not now. I genuinely felt comforted and even grateful. It struck me that perhaps the former was the mindset of a troubled person, and the latter was normal.
Watching Ha-yeon, who seemed to be gauging my reaction, I felt a smile tug at my lips. Carefully laying Go Yeon-ju’s head down, I stood up. There was no need to be disheartened, as she had said. Our companions would likely wake soon, and I should prepare for that.
Now, she looked up at me, and I looked down at her.
“Ha-yeon, when the others wake, please explain the situation to them. Try to keep them calm. We’ll rest here a bit longer before resuming our exploration. But first, I’ll check if the surroundings have changed due to the tremors.”
“Alright. Take care. Don’t go too far and come back soon.”
Her words, reminiscent of a wife seeing her husband off, accompanied me as I headed down the corridor ahead.
“I think he feels a heavy sense of responsibility. His usually calm face…”
“Given his personality, it’s possible. He does come across as a bit of a perfectionist. In a place like Whole Plain, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Anyway, as the leader of the caravan, I can understand how he feels. The more you have, the more responsibility you carry. Although, in his case, he seems to give more than he takes, so maybe that doesn’t apply.”
“Ugh, now I feel guilty towards him.”
“Yeah, I think we’ve been unknowingly offloading a lot onto our leader. We should really reflect on that.”
Hearing the murmured conversations around her, Ansol felt herself coming back to her senses. She opened her eyes slowly, seeing the ceiling of the clearing where they had first descended. A large hole in the center of the ceiling startled her, and she quickly sat up.
“Oh, Ansol, you’re awake.”
“Sola, how’s your head?”
Surrounded by concerned voices, Ansol shook her head. Her mind was foggy, and a wave of embarrassment and shame washed over her. She remembered entering the clearing, the flash of white light, and the messages floating in the air. But after the second flash, everything went blank, like a film abruptly cut and spliced together.
“W-what on earth happened…?”
As Ansol stammered, Hayun quietly approached and sat beside her. Following Suhyun’s request, she explained the situation to those who woke up confused. Hayun’s explanation was clear and logical, and everyone nodded in understanding. Of course, she did embellish Suhyun’s role a bit, painting him as a noble leader who saved everyone yet still blamed himself for not preventing the situation.
Listening to Hayun, Ansol hung her head low. She felt most at fault. If she hadn’t slipped, they wouldn’t have fallen into the trap. The thought of Suhyun being upset pricked at her conscience.
Seeing Ansol’s distress, Hayun spoke in a soothing voice.
“Lift your head. No one here is blaming you, Ansol. If anyone would, it might be Suhyun, but if you show you’re more careful next time, he’ll be satisfied.”
“Yeah, Sola. It’s okay, lift your head. Just apologize to him later, and be more careful next time. Everyone makes mistakes.”
With Anhyun chiming in, Ansol finally managed to raise her head. Watching them support each other, Goyeonju crossed her arms and chuckled, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.
“Anyway, it’s scary to think we were unconscious. Except for the leader, we all revealed our subconscious thoughts. What if we said something we shouldn’t have? It’s really bothering me.”
Shinsangyong’s worried comment made everyone tense up. Only Hayun and Goyeonju remained unfazed. An awkward silence settled over the group, unease evident on their faces. Though they couldn’t remember their actions, a nagging feeling lingered.
Then, Goyeonju, who had been enjoying the atmosphere, raised her hand lightly and spoke.
“Oh, I heard it too.”
“““What?”””
Anhyun, Yujeong, and Ansol asked in unison, and Goyeonju nodded with a soft smile. Anhyun blinked, then asked hesitantly.
“Did you hear everything?”
“Not everything. I wasn’t under the spell, but I almost lost consciousness a few times. I didn’t catch it all, but I remember some voices. At least, I know about you three… Want me to tell you?”
Goyeonju’s smile was playful yet dangerous, and the three of them gulped nervously.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Royujin.
Hehe, I tricked you all. I wrote in yesterday’s midnight note, “I’ll be stepping back now. Have a great Saturday, and see you at midnight on Sunday!” and then surprised you with another chapter today. Hehe. I’m sure some of you were caught off guard. Why do I enjoy surprising my readers so much? Haha. :D
Actually, I thought some might find it boring if I only posted at midnight, so I decided to add another chapter. If the pace is slow, I need to increase the volume. Ahem. But since I posted consecutively, please praise me. Feel free to pat my head. Ahem ahem.
PS. It’s about time to make Sola cry, isn’t it? Yes, indeed.
『 Reader Comments 』
Ryuyeon: Haha, congratulations on being first. You were one of the readers who gave Suhyun a hard time in episode 151 yesterday! :D Hehe.
AwkwardHoonie: S-Strongfoyo? Is that what I think it is? ;ㅇ;
Goksd: Hmm. No, no. I really like Suhyun. That enviable protagonist! Just you wait… Oh, that slipped out. Hmm.
gkgngh: Sorry, I couldn’t help but laugh at the comment about high luck and tripping. I kept chuckling even as I went to bed last night. Haha.
LikeTheWind: Thank you for the coupon. (__) Haha. Right? -_- I shouldn’t let Sola get too popular. ㅜ.ㅠ Sorry, Hanbyeol…
ghdhddl: Haha. Your comments are always so witty. That’s why I can’t stop reading the comments. There are so many funny ones. Haha. It was the best comment I’ve seen recently. :) Thinking about Suhyun getting excited and pouncing is really funny. Haha.
juan: Eh. Five Island… Do you have plans to destroy Suhyun’s place? Five Island, really. I got chills for a moment. Anyway, don’t cry! You’ll escape someday. Oh, you’ve already escaped. ;ㅇ;
GameMaster: Of course. I can write with flair. Ahem ahem.
DevilShrine: Oops. No, no. How could I dare to make my readers laugh? Haha. (Hehe.)
LazyBum: Yes~. There are magic books~. But they’re a bit different from the usual way of learning magic. They incorporate some modern theories. Just think of it as adding
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