After Kim Suhyun declared, “I won’t contact you,” the room fell into a heavy silence. Honestly, there wasn’t much to do anyway. All they could do was simply wait.
Though his words were firm, neither of them was in a position to defy Kim Suhyun. Kim Hanbyul had tried to change his mind, but it was all for nothing. When she asked, “How long do we have to wait?” and “What about food and water while we wait?” there was a slight reaction, but it was ultimately futile. One of the two Chaos Mimics they’d brought on the expedition was found inside Lee Yujeong’s sleeping bag. The two of them wondered why it was there, but Yujeong just stared off into the distance and muttered that she didn’t know.
With the food issue settled, the three of them wandered around the room. They found various convenience features and took a moment to chat about the trophies stacked in the two rooms. But without knowing their effects, it was all just a distant dream. There was no “Gooze Appraisal” on the Chaos Mimics. When someone warned, “Better be careful—they might be cursed,” the two women quickly backed off, clearly put off.
Time passed, and truly, there was nothing to do.
“Hey, I’ve been thinking. So, until the expedition team comes to find us, does that mean I can go on dates with you, oppa?”
Lee Yujeong giggled, nibbling her lip, while Kim Hanbyul shot her a look of disbelief.
“You don’t even know oppa.”
Hanbyul picked up some dried jerky from the Chaos Mimic stash and turned her gaze away. Kim Suhyun lay on the bed, having finished eating earlier. He’d taken off his armor and was lying on his back, rolling a communication crystal between his hands. Occasionally, he closed his eyes and let out a sigh that sounded almost like a groan. His expression was calm, but his actions betrayed his feelings. At least, Hanbyul could sense it.
“He could’ve just sent one message…”
She thought that, but on the other hand, she understood why Kim Suhyun felt that way. In fact, her heart ached as she listened. The words “I won’t accept it” weren’t just aimed at the expedition team—they were directed at her, Lee Yujeong, and the entire Mercenary Clan. Maybe Ansol, the clan’s only EX-rank member, was an exception, but…
When she thought about it, the expedition team was nothing to regret. Each member was a top-tier user, capable of leading a group wherever they went. On the surface, it was clear. But when you looked back at the actual expedition details one by one…
The thought struck Hanbyul so sharply that she jumped up from her seat. Without a word, she strode away, leaving a wide-eyed Yujeong behind.
“Oppa.”
With a bang, the door shut, and Kim Suhyun looked at her with wide eyes.
“Again? What now…”
“Don’t worry so much. They’ll definitely come to save us.”
“…Huh?”
“Not a single one lost. All of us.”
His eyes, which had been staring blankly, went dazed. It wasn’t disbelief but surprise. Hanbyul steadied her racing heart and waited silently. After a moment, Kim Suhyun slowly slipped the crystal into his pocket. He clasped his hands behind his head and cracked a faint smile. One thing was clear—he smiled, even if just a little.
“Yeah… thanks.”
The words “thank you” came out, layered with many meanings. That was enough. Hanbyul decided she wouldn’t pester him any further while they were here. Well, except for this one thing.
A little later, Hanbyul smiled and quietly lay down next to Kim Suhyun. Having taken off his armor, the strong scent of a man hit her nose. Since they had to wait anyway, there was something she wanted to take care of. As Yujeong had said, once they returned to Atlanta, chances like this might never come again. She felt sorry for the expedition team struggling out there, but this was the answer she had waited so long for. She couldn’t let it slip away.
“But…”
Heart pounding wildly, Hanbyul finally found the courage to speak.
“Don’t you have something to say to me?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
She’d almost forgotten. Hanbyul bit her tongue but held back with superhuman patience.
“I love you.”
“Oppa, I love you.”
This time, this once, she had to hear it. Only then would her position be clear—whether he accepted her or if she should give up and find someone new.
“When we were pulled into that dimension… you said you’d tell me when you came back to this world.”
“…?”
“How much time has passed since then?”
“…!”
His eyes blinked rapidly, then suddenly widened like lanterns. Hanbyul crossed her arms, her usual cold gaze fixed on him. Caught in her sharp stare, Kim Suhyun scrambled to sit up, clearly flustered. He’d completely forgotten. Even the mighty Kim Suhyun had no words for this moment. Then—
“Ha, Hanbyul. About that…”
With a loud bang, the door swung open, and someone appeared. Hanbyul instinctively bit her lip. She wasn’t alone here after all.
“…Huh?”
Lee Yujeong burst in like a wild outlaw, her voice sharp as she saw the two sitting close together. Without hesitation, she jumped up and claimed the empty spot beside Kim Suhyun.
“What’s this about? Can I listen too?”
She plopped down next to Kim Suhyun and started chattering as if it was nothing. Hanbyul let out a long sigh.
“Unni, do you know the phrase ‘Nunsseon’?”
“Of course. You know the saying, ‘A quiet cat climbs onto the stove first,’ right?”
“Then…!”
“Stop it, please, just stop.”
As an invisible current of tension sparked between the two, Kim Suhyun quickly stepped in to mediate. He glanced at both of them, then calmly shook his head.
“First, you both should get some sleep. You look exhausted.”
No kidding—the two women’s faces were shadowed with fatigue after their recent illusions.
With Jung Hayeon’s opening move, the battle between the expedition team and the bugs officially began. The melee fighters formed a defensive circle around the mages. Jin Suhyun slammed his sword into the ground, wiping off the sticky fluid, while Jung Hayeon raised her staff and began chanting a spell.
Meanwhile, the bugs writhed and flowed forward like a tide. As they opened their jaws wide, the signal for the real fight was given.
“Ugh!”
Jin Suhyun swung his sword relentlessly at the bugs flowing toward his position.
‘Why… why is this so hard?’
The thought of exhaustion flashed through his mind—not just physical fatigue, but a strange, unwelcome sensation he hadn’t felt in a long time.
These were nothing special. One-on-one, Jin Suhyun’s skills far surpassed the bugs’. But as the saying goes, numbers win. That applied to the entire expedition team. No matter how skilled the users were, they were gradually pushed back by sheer volume.
“Everyone! Close your eyes, hold your breath, and cover your ears!”
At that moment, Jegal Haesol shouted loudly. For the melee fighters facing the bugs, it sounded like a death sentence, but Jin Suhyun quickly retreated and obeyed. In such a desperate battle, following the mage’s orders was the safest bet.
“────! ────!”
Jegal Haesol shouted something else, but most had their ears covered and couldn’t hear clearly. It sounded sharp, like a ringing in the ears. When Jin Suhyun opened his eyes, he saw the bugs in front of him stumbling in confusion. It was a spell he’d never seen before. What on earth was happening?
“No time! Hurry!”
At that call, Jin Suhyun dashed forward without hesitation. For some reason, the bugs seemed unable to recognize friend from foe. Thanks to that, he could swing his sword freely. Cutting through their hard shells was tough, but he still managed to take down ten in no time. Then—
“Gyaaaaaaah!”
Just as he was catching his breath, a mournful scream pierced the air. The Satyr summoned by Vivian, who had been holding one side, was staggering and collapsing. Surrounded by bugs that had just regained their senses, it was being torn apart, smoke faintly rising from its body. It looked like it wouldn’t last much longer.
“Ahhh! Hey! What kind of magic did you use?!”
Vivian was jumping up and down. Jin Suhyun instinctively grasped the situation. The Satyr, which hadn’t followed Jegal Haesol’s command, had been caught in the spell’s effect. Summoned beasts only obey their summoner’s orders, so it wasn’t anyone’s fault.
Jin Suhyun quickly assessed the battlefield. The left side he was responsible for had the fewest bugs. Ko Yeonju was holding the front, and Nam Daeun was covering the rear. Over twenty corpses lay scattered nearby, but the bugs kept pushing forward.
Moments later, black smoke flared like fire as the Satyr was re-summoned. Without hesitation, Jin Suhyun stomped the ground.
“Shut up and summon it quickly!”
After shoving Vivian’s grinding teeth aside, he faced the onslaught of insects surging forward like a tidal wave. Just before they collided, several fireballs arced through the air and slammed precisely into the swarm. It was the timely support fire from Jin Suhyun’s backup.
Boom! The deafening explosion shook his eardrums as thick pillars of flame shot skyward. Yet, some of the bugs still burst through the inferno. A few, their bodies charred golden brown, lunged relentlessly. Gritting his teeth, Jin Suhyun swung his blade down, but it only pierced halfway through their shells. The relentless fighting had dulled his sword’s edge.
Clang! Without a moment’s pause, a sudden impact rang out. About fifty centimeters away, a bug frantically gnawed at something with its jaws. Had someone not cast a protective shield just in time, it might have landed a hit.
“Damn it…!”
But instead of panicking, Jin Suhyun chose to clear the enemies while the shield held. He unleashed all the mana he had been saving up in one explosive burst.
“Arrghhh!”
With a primal scream, Jin Suhyun swung his sword wildly. Blades of light flashed in every direction, and bodily fluids sprayed like fountains. His charge resembled a cavalry assault, splitting the swarm in two like the parting of the Red Sea. Lost in the frenzy, he scattered and struck with his sword in all directions, forgetting even to breathe.
After rampaging like a madman, the attacks seemed to slow down a bit. Jin Suhyun exhaled the breath that had built up to his chin and looked around. The ground was littered with the cracked and ruptured corpses of bugs. A hollow laugh escaped him.
“If only my brother were here…”
It would be a lie to say he hadn’t thought of Kim Suhyun at least once during the battle. If his brother were here, these pests would have been wiped out without a second thought. Thinking that way made the current situation feel strangely unfamiliar. Besides, the enemies Kim Suhyun had faced were no mere bugs like these.
The 14 Demon Lords, Kushan Thor, the Astral Dimension, the Ancient Evil God… Against far stronger foes, he had led the clan without losing an inch and emerged victorious.
“What was I doing back then?”
He asked himself, but no answer came. The truth was clear.
He had done nothing.
To be blunt, he had just watched. Using the flimsy excuse that it wasn’t a battle worth joining, he had stood by and watched his brother risk his life.
“Hmph.”
…And so, it was laughable.
His brother was so strong, yet here he was, panting and struggling against nothing more than these bugs.
“Did my brother… feel like this too?”
His mouth hung open, revealing pale teeth. Maybe from the heavy breathing, saliva dripped down. Jin Suhyun closed his mouth and tried to steady his trembling breath.
But it was only for a moment.
Soon, a new swarm of bugs announced their arrival ahead, making that grating, unpleasant sound.
“Goddammit!”
The curse slipped out involuntarily. But the bugs paid no mind and kept multiplying.
“Vivian! Seriously…!”
Jin Suhyun spun around, growling, but had to stop mid-sentence. The beasts had already been summoned. Not just the legion commander, but the entire legion had been called forth. Yet the beast legion was already locked in fierce combat on the left side—the side Jin Suhyun had left open.
“…!”
That was the moment he sensed something was wrong.