00059 Mage and Alchemist (Rare) ------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Trap… escape…”
“We fell into a trap. We escaped.”
Despite speaking in broken phrases, the male priest struggled to continue, his face etched with exhaustion. But as I repeated his words, understanding their meaning, a flicker of relief crossed his features. Perhaps he mistook us for more experienced adventurers.
The priest nodded weakly, stammering out his next words.
“Companion… betrayal… kidnapping…”
”…”
“Help…!”
His eyes fluttered, fighting to stay open. Death loomed near, yet he clung to life with sheer will. Finally, as if his strength had been utterly spent, he uttered his last word, “Help,” before his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed. The faint life force he had clung to while speaking to us was now completely gone. The others gasped as they watched the priest slump lifelessly onto my lap.
Gently, I laid him on the ground and closed his eyes with my palm. A somber, heavy silence settled over us. Sol, in particular, looked pale, a testament to her inability to remain indifferent in the face of death. But there was no time for sentimentality. We needed to piece together the keywords the priest had left us and deduce what had happened. I slowly repeated his words to myself.
“Trap. Escape. Companion. Betrayal. Kidnapping.”
“Hyung, do you think it might be related to the vagrants?”
Ahn Hyun offered his own theory, having heard the priest’s words, but I shook my head. While it was a possibility, knowing the future, I knew it wasn’t the case. After a moment of thought, I formed my own hypothesis.
The others looked anxious, their lips nervously moistening. Seeing their anticipation, I felt the need to explain. I spoke in a calm voice, addressing their unspoken questions.
“Remember when I told you about the users who entered the Forest of Darkness before us?”
“Yes, I remember… Oh, so that’s it?”
Hyun’s eyes lit up with realization as he looked at me. Despite his usual obliviousness to everyday matters, he showed a different side in critical moments. It was reassuring to see his mind working in emergencies. I nodded and continued.
“Yes. It seems that caravan discovered this dungeon before us. However, due to some circumstances, they were wiped out or suffered a similar fate.”
“Then, what do the words the user said mean? The…?”
“Hmm…”
Trap. Escape. Companion. Betrayal. Kidnapping. As Yoo Jung asked, I began to flesh out the vague images in my mind. I had initially assumed the caravan was wiped out due to the absence of a guide, but now it seemed my prediction was completely off.
Recalling the bodies we saw when we first entered the underground, the answer became clear. They couldn’t have died immediately upon entering. There were no visible threats around. The archer must have entered the dungeon alive, likely serving as a guide for the caravan.
After organizing my thoughts, I spoke in a low voice.
“The caravan was likely heading in the same direction as us. But judging by the direction the priest’s body fell, he was facing the way we came from. His lower body was torn, and there was a large hole in his back, suggesting he was fleeing in our direction when he was struck from behind. In other words, the words ‘trap’ and ‘escape’ mean they encountered a trap in the dungeon and were trying to flee back the way they came.”
“Then… what about ‘companion,’ ‘betrayal,’ and ‘kidnapping’?”
“The user we saw when we first entered the dungeon was an archer. He was likely a companion of the caravan. But for some reason, he betrayed them. The word ‘betrayal’ can have many meanings, but in the context of a dungeon, it likely means he tried to save himself by fleeing.”
As I explained the keyword ‘betrayal,’ the others’ faces darkened with negative emotions. But I had already warned them to brace themselves, so I didn’t offer further caution. Now, it was time to explain the last keyword, ‘kidnapping.’
“And the last word… it seems some of the caravan users were kidnapped by the dungeon master.”
“Is that even possible?”
Hyun asked, eyes wide with disbelief. I replied with a matter-of-fact expression.
“Of course. The Hall Plane isn’t a game. It’s a real world. Some alchemists conduct experiments on humans. Have you forgotten where we are?”
As I finished speaking, the color drained from everyone’s faces.
We walked in silence for a while. If our alignment leaned towards chaos, we might have turned back to the city without a second thought. But Sol and Yoo Jung, inclined towards order, agreed to rescue the kidnapped users. The priest’s final plea for help had resonated. I was content as long as we continued our exploration.
The underground passage widened as we progressed. As we walked through the seemingly endless tunnel, I raised my hand to halt. I had been maintaining a heightened sense of awareness, and now I could detect more details. In the dungeon, where battles were unpredictable, it was better to provide a thorough explanation before engaging.
“About 100 meters ahead, there’s a clearing. Several groups of monsters are gathered there. There are over twenty of them, and they seem to be Rengas.”
“Rengas? I think I’ve heard of them.”
“They’re monsters similar to dogs, about 80 cm to 1 meter tall. They’re quick and have sharp, hook-like claws.”
“Correct. And their tails can be formidable weapons too. They’re not as flexible as scorpions, but their destructive power rivals their claws.”
I chuckled inwardly at Sol’s description of Rengas as dogs. If Rengas had intelligence and could understand emotions, they might have been offended. Watching Sol’s cautious response, I nodded. But there was one more thing to address.
“The problem is, the Rengas I’m detecting aren’t quite normal. They match the description you gave, but some of them are walking on two legs.”
“What? That can’t be! Rengas are supposed to be quadrupeds. Are you sure you’re not mistaking them for another monster? Oh! No, I’m sure you’re right, Suhyun oppa. I must be wrong.”
If it weren’t for her last words, I might have been impressed with Sol. Watching her talk to herself, I sighed.
“The hooks, the tails, the body shape—they all match. Anyway, let’s see for ourselves. We have to pass through there to move forward.”
Ahn Hyun and Yoo Jung watched our exchange in silence. Then they exchanged glances and shrugged. Well, you have to know something to join the conversation. I told them to study more.
The lighthearted mood ended there. As we neared the clearing, tension rose among us. I quickened my pace, almost breaking into a run towards the clearing.
Rengas were monsters I had faced in my first playthrough. They were quick-witted but hot-tempered and couldn’t execute tactical maneuvers. A swift charge to take out as many as possible before luring the enraged ones into a defensive position seemed the best strategy.
The others followed, drawing their weapons as they ran. If we had an archer or a mage, we could have dealt a significant blow before launching a follow-up attack. It was a bit disappointing, but I could cover for that.
“Hyung! Are you sure you’re okay?”
Hyun shouted, his voice strong despite his heavy breathing. Clutching his spear tightly, his combat instincts seemed to kick in. I signaled that I was fine and explained the strategy in more detail.
“As long as I don’t use magic beyond my limits, I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me, just stick to the formation. Once we enter the clearing, charge at the first group you see, take them out quickly, then retreat to the walls. Rengas are fiercely protective of their kind, so if we kill even one, they’ll come at us with everything they’ve got. They’re not very durable, but they’re fast and their hooks are sharp, so be careful. And…”
“Yes.”
“Keep in mind that these Rengas might be different from the usual ones. We’re going in soon. Don’t hesitate, just take out the ones in front of you.”
Normally, I would have verified the strategy thoroughly before proceeding, but this time speed was crucial. With their keen sense of smell, if we delayed, we risked being ambushed ourselves.
As I sprinted with all my might, just as I had anticipated, a square passageway came into view. Beyond it lay an open space, its ground a dark, earthy hue. Without a moment’s hesitation, I crossed the passage and entered the clearing. There, I saw more than twenty Rengas scurrying about.
As expected, they were sharp creatures. The moment I stepped into the clearing, every single Renga turned their heads towards me in unison, like a balloon deflating with a mournful sound. In a split second, I chose my target and launched myself forward.
“Skrit! Skrit!”
Just as I was about to swing my sword at the ones in front of me, a spear shot past with lightning speed. It sliced through the air with force, shattering the faces of the Rengas that had just turned their heads. Watching their faces crumble instead of being pierced, I felt a strange sense of unease. But as their bodies collapsed, it seemed death was the same regardless.
“One down!”
The spear belonged to Ahn Hyun. Seeing me charge in first, he had followed closely behind, using his weapon’s long reach to strike first. The shimmering aura at the tip of his spear suggested it was imbued with magic.
Thanks to Ahn Hyun’s initial attack, I had a moment to adjust my direction towards the Rengas around him and slashed fiercely. Even though it was a surprise attack, my years of experience ensured they couldn’t evade my blade.
As I decapitated two with a single swing, I realized the source of my earlier unease. There was no blood. Instead of the soft sensation of cutting through flesh, I felt the hard shell of something else through my sword. These were… Chimeras.
“Kreeee!”
The ambushed Rengas seemed to be in utter chaos. Though they recognized us, they were still floundering, and I felt a temptation to take down a few more. In those few seconds of hesitation, I saw Yoo Jung sprinting swiftly beside me.
“Wait…”
Yoo Jung was charging towards a Renga slightly distanced from the first three we had dealt with, her body leaning forward as much as possible. I had no time to stop her. She boldly let her dagger hang low.
Yoo Jung’s charge was impressive, but she was a beat too slow. Unlike before, the Rengas were gradually regaining their senses, and I felt a pang of frustration. The Renga she was targeting was already flicking its tail.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
“Put in a cool scene for me too.”
“Yeah, it’ll be in the next chapter.”
“Awesome. Haha.”
『 Reader Comments 』
Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivrusk: Congratulations on being first. Haha. It’s always hard to type out your username… ㅜ.ㅠ
Life of a Human: Thank you for your kind words, as always. I’m holding back for now. I’ll try talking a few times and let them experience it firsthand. If the problem persists, then I’ll address it. Since they’re still beginners, I’m inclined to give them more time. (The issue might be that my expectations are too high. Haha.)
hohokoya1: I almost couldn’t post today. I barely managed to finish after a burst of inspiration at the end. It’s 11:46 PM as I write this note. ㄷㄷ
Hwang Geol: Thank you. I hope you enjoy this chapter as well.
『Love Is.』: In the grand scheme, the kids are still rookies. By the time they leave the mule, you’ll see how much they’ve grown compared to now. :)
GradeRown: Hmm. Since the upper and lower body are separated, even if you save the life, you can’t reattach the lower body. It would require a much higher-level spell to reattach and restore full function.
Ashen Wings: Kekekeke.(?) Another dismemberment this time!
Ruthless Lawyer: Thank you. Yes, it’s the start of the new year. I’ll approach everything with a positive and passionate attitude. Thank you!
noc647: You’ll gradually understand as the story unfolds. I can’t comment on parts that might spoil the story. Please understand. :)
Gold Circle: It might seem awkward if you only look at the situation. However, if I explain it in relation to the setting, it’s due to
I always read all the comments repeatedly. Please don’t feel too disappointed if you’re not mentioned in the reader comments. If you’re really curious, send me a message, and I’ll reply! (Please leave lots of comments! And recommendations… ☞☜)
With that, I’ll take my leave for today.
I hope you always read my work with a relaxed mind.
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