The Ruined Laboratory
After a grueling battle, I decided it was time for a break. It might have been a bit early, but the fight had drained the team’s energy. Yu-jeong, relieved by my decision, plopped down on the ground, only to leap up with a shriek.
“Ew… this is disgusting.”
Corpses of the undead littered the area around us. While I was unfazed, Yu-jeong and Sol, who were still squeamish, were eager to move elsewhere. To accommodate them, I led the way into the room from which the undead had emerged. Though it was likely just as unsettling, it was preferable to the corpse-strewn battlefield.
I had expected something resembling a laboratory, but the room was a disappointment. It was cramped, making me wonder how so many undead had fit inside.
The room contained broken beds and bookshelves, each item potentially holding valuable information. While the others rested, I began to search the room for anything useful.
Seeing me explore alone, Ha-yeon sighed and joined in. Soon, Sang-yong also got up, prompting the others to follow suit. But by then, I had already scanned most of the room with my third eye.
“Leader, did you find anything?” Sang-yong asked, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. His usual stammer disappeared when something piqued his interest. I shook my head.
“No, nothing noteworthy. I did find about 30 gold coins and this ancient manuscript.”
“Only 30 gold? That’s disappointing,” An-hyeon grumbled. He was comparing it to a previous encounter with goblins that had been more lucrative. Yu-jeong and Sol seemed equally let down, but Sang-yong was different.
“Not bad. Thirty gold from one room is decent. May I see the manuscript? I can read ancient languages.”
“Of course.”
I handed over the manuscript, and he adjusted his dusty glasses to begin deciphering it. His skill in ancient languages was only ranked D-, but that was still respectable for a regular user.
After what felt like the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Sang-yong returned the manuscript, having finished his translation. I swallowed the jerky I was chewing and asked, “Did you find anything important?”
“Hmm, not really. It’s more of a diary. It seems this room belonged to a resident. There’s nothing significant, but it mentions spears a lot—training with spears, disposing of failures with them. I can’t see how it connects to the laboratory.”
“A spear, you say?”
An-hyeon raised his spear, echoing the word. Sang-yong nodded, and a thought sparked in my mind. It might just be about spears, but it could also be a clue related to a Qi Spearmaster. Though nothing was certain, it was worth thoroughly exploring the dungeon.
Sang-yong and I discussed the laboratory, while the others listened. Ha-yeon, though more skilled in combat, seemed to defer to Sang-yong’s expertise in dungeon exploration.
“My guess is the building has at least three floors. The first floor’s layout is unclear, but assuming the hall we entered is central, there are likely paths in all four directions. Excluding the way we came, there should be stairs to the second floor somewhere.”
“Yes. It might be better to clear the first floor completely before moving up.”
We didn’t know where the Qi Spearmaster might be. Sang-yong, unaware of my thoughts, agreed with my cautious approach.
“That’s wise. Clearing the first floor could take a day. It’s larger than expected, and the second floor might have tougher enemies. It’s safer to secure a safe zone before advancing.”
Sang-yong often used the word “minimum,” indicating he planned for worst-case scenarios. It might seem overly cautious, but it was a survival strategy.
The idea of spending the night here made the team uneasy, especially Sol, who shivered at the thought. Noticing this, Sang-yong suggested, “We could clear the first floor and return to the city for supplies before tackling the second floor. It’s safer, though it takes more time.”
I shook my head firmly. With just Vivian and me, I was confident we could conquer this place in half a day, maybe even six hours. Retreating was not an option. Sang-yong seemed to agree, showing no signs of dissent.
Clearing each floor thoroughly before moving up, and then returning to the city after completing the dungeon, was the plan. No one voiced any objections. As I accepted a water bottle from Ha-yeon, I finalized our initial exploration goals.
Our break, usually limited to 5-10 minutes, was extended this time. The initial battle had been intense, and we needed full recovery before continuing. As we silently consumed our rations, I noticed Ha-yeon, who had been resting with her eyes closed, slowly open them and look at me. We exchanged glances, and she spoke.
“Soo-hyun.”
“Yes?”
“I have a question.”
“Go ahead.”
“Are you really a first-year user?”
“Yes.”
My simple answers seemed to unsettle Ha-yeon, but she quickly composed herself, her expression turning slightly amused. Normally, such a look would irritate me, but from Ha-yeon, it seemed dignified.
“Sorry, but I have to say this. I can’t believe it, even seeing it with my own eyes. The monsters we faced weren’t something a first-year user could handle alone.”
Her tone was more astonished than skeptical. She seemed to acknowledge my solo defense against the undead. This time, I didn’t feel the need to hide or act. My skills would eventually be revealed, and stammering now would only raise more suspicion.
“Really? It wasn’t that difficult.”
“How did you fight them?”
“Simple. Their only advantage was numbers. They didn’t coordinate or use tactics, just charged blindly. So, I focused on defense—parrying, deflecting, and using their attacks against them.”
“Is that as easy as it sounds? Did you learn swordsmanship before?”
I nodded. “I did, but it doesn’t matter much. It’s about understanding the situation and thinking of the best solution, then acting on it.”
“You’re a genius, Soo-hyun.”
“I wouldn’t say that. I just worked hard.”
“Haha, the leader is impressive, and Ha-yeon, you should stop. It’s good that the leader is strong. Besides, you can verify his first-year status at the user academy, and we have witnesses here.”
Sang-yong’s intervention made Ha-yeon blush and lower her head.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound accusatory. I was just amazed by your skills, Soo-hyun.”
“Being called a genius is a bit annoying, but I’ll let it slide. Just don’t judge my efforts by your standards.”
Ha-yeon understood the weight of my words and nodded, embarrassed.
“Hmm.”
The others didn’t grasp the depth of our conversation. If Han-byeol were here, she might have joined in. But hearing my praise, Yu-jeong and the others straightened up, as if they were the ones being complimented. Why were they so proud when I was the one praised?
Ignoring my thoughts, Yujeong puffed out her chest and began to speak. Her actions made her chest more pronounced, causing Shinsangyong to awkwardly avert his gaze. His occasional coughs were a dead giveaway—he was definitely inexperienced with women.
“Hehe. Sis, you have no idea how amazing my brother is. Did you know? You went through the User Academy too, right?”
“Of course, I did.”
“My brother was the top of his class. Overall first place. Do you know how hard the clan instructors tried to recruit him? They even switched his dorm supervisor to a female user to try and win him over. It was hilarious watching her fawn over him.”
“Wow, really? He was that impressive?”
As Yujeong boasted excitedly, Jeonghayeon widened her eyes in surprise. Being the top of the User Academy was indeed a noteworthy achievement. Ansol, who had been listening, chimed in as well.
“Yes, that’s right. Even the famous Golden Lion Clan made him offers twice. Ahem.”
“The Golden Lion? Wow. They don’t usually make offers to new users.”
“Hehe. That’s because my brother is the best.”
Enough already. This is embarrassing.
“So why did you turn down the Golden Lion Clan? I’m really curious, no other reason.”
Before Shinsangyong could finish his admiration, Jeonghayeon asked, nodding as if she understood but still puzzled. This time, it was not me who answered, but Anhyeon. Seriously, can I get a chance to speak?
“It was because of us. My brother and we have been together since the initiation. We didn’t get offers from that clan, only he did. In a way, we held him back, and we always feel sorry for that.”
“No, you don’t have to feel sorry. You did the right thing.”
”?”
Everyone turned to Jeonghayeon, who had suddenly blurted out something unexpected. She looked a bit flustered, as if she had spoken reflexively. Anhyeon tilted his head slightly before continuing.
“Anyway, he must have felt uneasy about leaving us behind. Just like Sol said, he turned down the Golden Lion Clan’s offer right in front of us on graduation day.”
“I almost cried then. Thinking back, my brother has always been a bit different since the initiation.”
“True. If it weren’t for Suhyeon, we might not have made it through that place.”
Only then did Jeonghayeon look at me with renewed eyes. Anhyeon and Yujeong were painting me in a golden light, but even compliments can become overwhelming. As their praise showed no signs of stopping, a growing sense of embarrassment washed over me.
I cleared my throat and announced the end of our break. We had rested enough, and the tense atmosphere had eased, so it was time to resume our exploration. Given the size of the research facility, we needed to keep moving.
As we left the room, the group fell silent once more. We stepped over the scattered remains of the fallen as we ventured deeper inside.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Royujin.
Another day, another update. It feels like daily updates have become a part of my routine now. It’s all thanks to the energy you, my readers, provide. Haha. Today, we had a bit of foreshadowing about Jeonghayeon. If any of you caught it, you have the eyes of a hawk. :)
『 Reader Comments 』
Saraminseong: Ah, your comment made me want to watch The Walking Dead. Not sure why, but congratulations on being first! :)
Ireojereonhanpaein: Sniff, sniff. I’m hurt. Please don’t hurt me. Boohoo.
Kriasen: Bingo. I borrowed a lot from there. Of course, I created some things myself too.
Dalbitiseul: Hahaha, tired of the main character, huh? Honestly, I’m also curious to see who will take first place these days.
Hwieul: Yes, you can summon the entire 66th Legion. You can summon just the Legion’s ruler or the entire specific legion, as long as your magic allows it. And if a spirit summoner has a contract with Ignis, no one else can contract with Ignis. Ignis wouldn’t respond to another summoning. Haha.
Pakasari: Yum.
GradeRown: Actually… after finishing the Ruined Research Facility, I have a special scene planned for Sol. Just wait a little longer. Hehehe. ( —)
hohokoya1: Thank you for the coupon. Haha. If you think about the clan’s name and its nature, you’ll find the answer. Hehe.
Seulpiuneunyeonghon: Ah, you were talking about the growth item when you mentioned the plant. I was surprised when it reached level 12. It’s been fun watching it grow lately. :)
Qhthal: We had a big naming contest for the clan names before. Many great names were suggested. I tried naming them myself, but I could only come up with things like “Heaven and Earth Clan.” So cheesy… ㅜ.ㅠ
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