00597 Those who fight to the death survive, and those who run to the death…
Kim Suhyun soared high into the sky. Some users, staring into the empty air, hesitated with murmurs of “Uh, uh.” The ground was still collapsing beneath them, sinking deeper and deeper, and the sheer scale of the crumbling earth made them worry—what if he just plummeted straight down?
But their worries were unfounded. At the very peak of his leap, Kim Suhyun lightly kicked off the air and propelled himself upward again, spinning a somersault midair.
One, two, three times…
The users who had been anxious now stared blankly at the sky. This wasn’t an attack on the ground, nor was it a simple jump—they had never seen or even heard of someone doing somersaults while suspended in midair.
After spinning repeatedly, Kim Suhyun finally cleared the collapsing zone on his eighth flip and reached the Shadow Hill area where the other users had gathered.
Thud!
“Phew.”
Landing lightly on the hill, Kim Suhyun gently set down Shin Jaeryong, who had been slung over his back, and let out a deep sigh. All eyes turned to him.
Han Soyoung had been waiting for Kim Suhyun from the start, watching him closely. She noticed his dust-covered, sweat-soaked appearance—but he didn’t look the least bit pathetic. At least Han Soyoung understood why he looked like that. Because of that, despite his disheveled state, he almost seemed to shine brightly.
“…You’re here.”
Breaking the quiet, Han Soyoung spoke softly.
“A bit late,” Kim Suhyun replied casually, as if it were nothing.
Then—
Rumble rumble rumble!
The pit, as if it had been waiting for Kim Suhyun to emerge, suddenly gave way. The parts that had barely held together collapsed rapidly, sinking further.
But it didn’t matter anymore. Whether it collapsed or not, it was of little consequence.
Most users had already escaped safely, and Kim Suhyun had managed to get out on his own.
It was over.
…Or rather, not quite completely over.
Suddenly, Han Soyoung felt a rising heat around her. Some users—specifically those who had participated in the pit assault—were casting strange glances her way.
Their eyes held a yearning. Even Kim Suhyun, freshly escaped, was quietly waiting for Han Soyoung, calming his clan members who seemed ready to rush out at any moment.
Right. There was still one thing left.
Only then did Han Soyoung realize what the users wanted, and she parted her lips.
“We have completed Operation Sinkhole.”
She slowly raised her clenched fist—firmly, yet high into the sky.
“From this moment on, I hereby declare the conclusion of the Southern Expeditionary Force’s second campaign: the Steel Mountain Range.”
The moment the official declaration was made, a massive cheer erupted as if on cue.
“Waaaaaah!”
“Hooray! It’s over! It’s finally over!”
With the commander’s official announcement, the Southern Expeditionary Force had finally sealed the conquest of the Steel Mountain Range’s second zone.
“Damn, that’s great! Really great!”
“Clan Lord! Clan Lord! Why isn’t our Clan Lord here?”
“Waaah… sobbing…”
“Oppa!”
The cheers quickly shifted according to each user’s feelings. Some embraced in joy, others searched for someone missing, some collapsed in tears, and others dashed off as if flying toward someone.
This wasn’t just because they had cleared the pit.
From the initial terror when the monster appeared to the anxiety as the pit collapsed, all those feelings had transformed into a triumphant sense of achievement and relief at being alive—bringing an exhilarating joy to the users.
“Congratulations, Commander.”
“Thank you for your hard work, Istantel Lord.”
Han Soyoung nodded at the outpouring of congratulations but kept her gaze fixed on Kim Suhyun.
She wanted to share in the joy, to celebrate properly. She even wanted to apologize for not waiting until the very end.
But the person she truly wanted to congratulate was already surrounded by his clan members in layers.
Lee Yujeong was shouting something unintelligible in a hoarse voice, showering Kim Suhyun’s face with kisses. The other mercenary clan members swarmed around him, making a fuss and reveling in the joy of the completed conquest. Yet Kim Suhyun, looking thoroughly annoyed, shook his head and pointed toward Shin Jaeryong.
After watching for a while, Han Soyoung finally tore her eyes away and turned her body. She nodded absently to the voices around her and quietly thought:
The Southern Expeditionary Force’s Steel Mountain Range campaign was over, but there was still work to be done.
Still…
Maybe it was better to savor this joy just a little longer today.
The day after the pit assault ended.
At dawn, Han Soyoung ordered an extra day of rest under the pretext of maintenance. Of course, this rest was only for the users who had participated in the pit assault.
Those who hadn’t taken part were assigned to guard duty, tending to the wounded, or scouting suitable locations nearby. The residents were also instructed to begin preparations for fortress construction.
The non-participating users had no complaints about Han Soyoung’s orders. After all, there were fewer users present than expected, which had raised some mild suspicions. They had been quite surprised hearing the story of the assault overnight. Who would have guessed such a massive monster was hiding in the pit?
In any case, since it was all over, the only thing the users could do was listen and offer comfort.
Time passed quickly, and before long, the sun set, bathing the land in the golden hues of dusk.
Anhyun came to his senses as dinner time approached. Upon opening his eyes, he felt an intense hunger. His exhausted body, having demanded sleep immediately after the expedition’s conclusion, had been asleep for over a full day. Naturally, he felt the pangs of emptiness—he hadn’t eaten anything during that time.
“…”
The tent was empty. Reflexively, Anhyun reached around and realized his black spear was missing. Had someone moved it? He felt a slight emptiness.
Just then, the savory aroma of dinner being prepared outside drifted in, accompanied by the clatter of activity. Anhyun slowly got up, licking his lips, and was about to step out of the tent when he caught sight of a woman passing by.
Her long, straight hair was neatly arranged, and her slender figure was unmistakable—it was none other than the Swordmaster, Nam Daeun.
Nam Daeun also stopped when she saw Anhyun emerge. Her perfectly straight armor shifted slightly, and her tightly pressed lips parted just a little.
“You’re awake now.”
Hearing that, Anhyun momentarily doubted his ears. It was rare for Nam Daeun to speak first, except to a select few. Especially to a man. (Well, except for one.)
They weren’t exactly strangers, but her demeanor made it difficult to approach her casually. There was a certain distance.
Her cold, steady gaze fixed on him, and Anhyun quickly nodded, realizing he should respond.
“Y-Yes. That’s right. Sorry for waking up late. I was just so tired…”
“…Hmm? You don’t really need to apologize. After all, you were ordered to rest today, too.”
“R-Really?”
“Yes. You probably didn’t hear because you were asleep all day.”
Was she teasing him? Or just stating facts?
Growl!
Just as Anhyun tilted his head at her ambiguous tone, his stomach suddenly rumbled loudly. He blinked in slight embarrassment, but Nam Daeun only rolled her eyes briefly, showing no other expression.
“You should eat. Dinner’s almost ready.”
“Y-Yeah. I guess I should.”
“Well then, take care of yourself.”
“Oh, what about you, Swordmaster?”
Nam Daeun stopped walking, stared at Anhyun for a moment, then spoke quietly.
“Thanks for asking, but I’ll take care of my own meal.”
With that, she turned on her heel, leaving a cold breeze behind as she disappeared down the path.
Wondering if he’d said something wrong, Anhyun shrugged and moved on. First, he needed to satisfy the hunger that was starting to burn inside him.
Eventually, he reached a large campfire where mercenary clan members were eating. In the center, Im Hanna was skillfully preparing ingredients and skewering meat, her hands moving deftly.
“Oh, Hyun’s here?”
As Anhyun hesitated and approached, Im Hanna glanced over and greeted him warmly. Anhyun nodded cautiously.
“Yes, nuna. I just woke up. But the time…”
“Yeah, yeah. You looked tired, so I didn’t wake you on purpose.”
“Oh, I heard. They gave an extra day of rest today…”
“Ah, good. As long as you know. Anyway, come on over. You must be starving, right?”
Im Hanna took care of An Hyun with the tenderness of an older sister. When he was gently guided by her soft touch and slowly sat down, the clan members who had been waiting for him to take a seat all turned their gazes at once.
“Hey, An Hyun. Sorry to bother you right after you got here, but…”
“He just woke up a moment ago. And he’s eating right now.”
Just as Woo Jung-min was about to speak, Im Hanna cut him off with a polite yet firm tone.
“No, just tell him to come on over.”
Woo Jung-min glanced at Im Hanna, then reluctantly offered the customary greeting, “Welcome,” before quietly returning to his meal.
An Hyun felt something strange. He had expected a barrage of questions the moment he sat down, but no one spoke. He appreciated the consideration, but still… there was an odd feeling he couldn’t shake. If he had to describe it, it was a sense that something was missing, something incomplete.
Thud!
“Here.”
Im Hanna placed a plate in front of An Hyun—a juicy piece of meat soaked in its own broth, some stew, and a fragrant glass of liquor. Though he was very hungry, An Hyun didn’t reach for it immediately.
“Um, Hanna noona, could I ask…”
“Don’t worry. Both Mr. Jaeryong and Helena are safe.”
As if she had anticipated the question, Im Hanna answered right away.
“Oh, really?”
“Yes. Neither of them has fully come to yet, but Soli stayed up all night by their side, so there’s no need to worry. I’ve heard their lives aren’t in danger.”
Im Hanna gently patted An Hyun’s shoulder, as if to reassure him.
“That’s a relief.”
An Hyun nodded quietly and then hurriedly began to eat.
Some time passed.
The campfire flared up, sending smoke spiraling into the night sky. Beyond the drifting smoke, the deepening night revealed a beautiful canopy of twinkling stars.
“Phew… this is driving me crazy.”
After finishing his meal, An Hyun got up and walked alone to a quiet spot, lying down under the open sky. Despite the vastness above, a deep sigh escaped him. That strange feeling he’d sensed since waking—or even since the meal—still lingered throughout his body.
Everything had ended well.
The pit had been conquered, and his comrades had survived.
So why did this inexplicable feeling keep gnawing at him?
Why did it feel like he was still dreaming?
It was as if his whole body was shackled by invisible chains.
Suddenly, his chest tightened unbearably. An Hyun closed his eyes calmly and tried to trace his memories.
From the moment he entered the pit, riding the mining train out, passing through tunnels, fighting monsters, encountering the giant beast, chasing other creatures, battling again, barely winning…
That was when it hit him.
“…Ah.”
Recalling the fight with Joo Hyun-ho, An Hyun clenched his fists tightly without realizing it. The emptiness inside only grew stronger.
“What are you doing here all alone?”
At that moment, a familiar deep voice sounded nearby. An Hyun snapped his eyes open and was startled to see Kim Soo-hyun looking down at him. He hadn’t noticed when Soo-hyun had appeared.
“Hyung?!”
An Hyun scrambled to sit up but stopped himself immediately.
“It’s okay. Stay lying down.”
Kim Soo-hyun waved him off and plopped down beside him.
“Ha… I’m dead tired. Want a smoke? Oh, wait, you don’t smoke.”
Before An Hyun could respond, he heard the faint hiss of a lighter. Soo-hyun was lighting a cigarette. An Hyun cautiously spoke up.
“Hyung, where have you been? I didn’t see you during dinner.”
“Didn’t eat. Been busy. Had to check on the injured and find a good spot to build the outpost.”
“Wait, why are you doing that? We were told to rest.”
“…Because there’s no time to rest.”
Kim Soo-hyun muttered quietly, then suddenly raised his eyes and gave An Hyun a sharp look. An Hyun instinctively swallowed hard.
“An Hyun.”
“Yes?”
“Nothing’s changed. We’re still right in the middle of the Steel Mountains, and we’ll be here for a while longer. This isn’t a time to celebrate just because we finished one expedition.”
“…?”
“I’m talking to you. Just because you cleared one pit doesn’t mean it’s over. That’s the difference between an official expedition and a simple exploration.”
“Of course, I know that much.”
An Hyun replied matter-of-factly. Soo-hyun exhaled smoke and let out a dry chuckle.
“Hmph. Then why are you acting all pathetic? Like you’re dreaming or something.”
“Me?”
An Hyun denied it, but his heart skipped a beat. He thought it over. Was that really the case?
His physical condition was exactly as Soo-hyun said, but he hadn’t forgotten the basic purpose of this expedition. The strange feeling he had was because of something else.
Shaking his head, An Hyun said, “…No, I know what you mean, hyung. It just feels like a dream. Everything that happened in the pit…”
“Hmm? Why? Did something shocking happen?”
“Maybe? I don’t know. It’s like something’s just out of reach… like something’s missing… I feel empty. Why is this happening?”
“…”
Maybe because An Hyun’s voice sounded unusual.
Come to think of it, his behavior had seemed odd for a while—his mouth slack, his hands fidgeting without purpose, his body loose and relaxed.
But his eyes, though somewhat glazed, flickered with a strange light, as if yearning for something.
Though he didn’t realize it himself.
As if struck by a sudden thought, Soo-hyun fixed An Hyun with a deep, serious gaze.
A moment of silence passed.
Then Soo-hyun let out a dry laugh and reached beside him.
“Well, well. Could it be?”
“Could be what?”
“…Hey, are you…?”
“Yeah?”
Suddenly, something flew at An Hyun and landed on his abdomen. A faint impact. Confused, An Hyun touched his stomach and felt something long and rod-like. His grip closed tightly around it.
He swallowed hard and opened his eyes slightly. The emptiness inside him eased a little.
“Are you saying you want to fight now?”
“!”
As Soo-hyun’s words hung in the air, An Hyun exhaled deeply.
He wanted to fight.
To fight again, pouring everything he had into it.
Without realizing it, An Hyun sat up. It was like a splash of cold water had jolted him awake.
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
Ah, I’m an hour late today. I actually finished writing just after 1 a.m., but the editing took way longer than expected. -_-a Still, I feel like my pace is gradually recovering. For now, I’m focusing on not missing updates, but I might be able to return to midnight releases soon. :)
This part is made up of four chapters: two lighter, more relaxed ones, and two that focus on wrapping up the current situation. If you paid close attention to the fight with Joo Hyun-ho earlier, you might already have a sense of what the upcoming chapter titles mean. :D