"If you're worried about me, you're wasting your time with the most useless worry in the world. Just go and deal with the boss monster already."
"It's a shame I can't show you my amazing skills in person."
"Aren't you going to leave?"
"Alright, alright."
Kwon Jihan gently cradled Riceball, who was dozing on his head, and carefully placed it in Yoon Seo's hands.
Just as it seemed like he was finally going to leave, he glanced over at Do Deungsoo and Soo Jaehee.
"Take care of Chaeyoon hyung. If he seems unstable, give him his medicine right away. If not, just knock him out."
"Don't worry, hyung. I'll make sure to knock him out properly."
No, he told you to give me the medicine first.
"If anything happens, contact the guild chat immediately."
"Yes."
Feeling competitive, Yoon Seo spoke to Park Soobin, who was joining the eastern team.
"If Hunter Kwon Jihan seems unstable, hit him on the back of the neck and knock him out."
"Uh…"
A-rank healer Park Soobin blinked with an expression that said, 'Me?'
"And make sure to contact the guild chat right away if anything happens."
"Yes…"
"If you're worried about me, why don't you tell me directly instead of asking others to watch over me?"
Kwon Jihan grumbled after having told everyone else what to do. Yoon Seo, worried that the eastern boss monster might move while they wasted time, finally said what Kwon Jihan wanted to hear. Things like, "Be careful," and "I'll be waiting for you." With a satisfied expression, Kwon Jihan finally boarded the armored vehicle, while the others around him looked exhausted.
[The God of Death wants to observe Kwon Jihan's battle.]
Then why don't you just become Kwon Jihan's patron god?
Yoon Seo also wanted to observe, but he held back with difficulty. He couldn't help but think that it would be nice if the God of Death became Kwon Jihan's patron and gave him an extra skill.
***
The boss monsters in the swamp weren't beast-like. They were enormous purple liquid creatures, massive like skyscrapers but also able to thin out like a piece of paper. They had a fluid shape, able to spew purple slime that melted everything like acid. The shield was essential.
'Yeah… The shield is a must.'
When it comes to shields, Seo Chaeyoon is the expert, yet it was frustrating not to be able to go after the boss monster.
In the Great Dungeon, with just 15% of his mana, he would have easily joined the battle…
[Current number of people: 301 people]
As Yoon Seo anxiously stared at the number, a loud boom! Bang! was heard from outside.
"Ah, they must have fired shells. Don't worry, just rest."
A Perfect team member, who was keeping an eye on—no, protecting Yoon Seo, said this.
It wasn't entirely safe in the central region. It was safer than the place where the boss monster was, but enemies still swarmed in from all directions, and the shield trap couldn't block the poison generated inside. Healers had to continuously purify it. Even now, Soo Jaehee, Yelena, Do Deungsoo, and many hunters were fighting. Soo Jaehee summoned demons from
[Mana 1610/9999]
Using
Yoon Seo mentally sorted through the skills he could use.
"I've placed magic potions behind here. If anyone needs them, take some!"
"Magic recovery skill will be used in one minute! Gather around!"
It was noisy outside the camper.
Most people didn't know that Seo Chaeyoon had resistance to healing. In case of any real danger, they were counting on Seo Chaeyoon to save them.
'Let's recover quickly…'
Yoon Seo closed his eyes, ignoring the noise around him.
***
[Park Soobin/Boss Found]
[Alec Switch/Boss Found]
Both teams discovered the boss almost simultaneously. Yoon Seo checked the time. They aimed to finish within the first phase, so it would take around 2–3 hours.
It would be nice if the last boss were discovered in that time.
Yoon Seo confirmed that things outside had calmed down and stood up.
"Uh, where are you going?"
"I'm going to check on the situation outside."
The healer followed Seo Chaeyoon out, sticking close to him.
The stench of blood filled the air. Most of the shield traps were damaged, and dozens of new ones were being set up. The hunters passing by were all drenched in blood and exhaustion. While vigorous monsters continued to pour in, the hunters were understandably fatigued.
Yoon Seo noticed Do Deungsoo giving some orders and made his way toward him.
"Ah, Hunter Seo Chaeyoon. How much mana have you recovered?"
"Over 20%."
"The recovery speed is incredibly fast. That's a relief. However, you're still low on mana, so take a little more time to rest."
"What about the injured?"
Do Deungsoo's expression darkened.
"Two are in critical condition, and about twenty have injuries severe enough to hinder their movements."
Yoon Seo's heart sank at the mention of critical conditions.
When he glanced at the makeshift tents where the injured were resting, Do Deungsoo asked if he wanted to check on them. Yoon Seo shook his head in panic.
"Why would I go there?"
What if he went and ended up leaving a will for Seo Chaeyoon before dying?
He let Do Deungsoo go about his busy tasks and sat on a rock. The hunter who was watching over him had been borrowed by Do Deungsoo for a moment.
Due to the stench of blood, Yoon Seo hadn't taken out the Riceball, but he desperately wanted to. From a distance, he could hear the monsters howling. They were relentlessly closing in without giving any respite.
'Ah, damn it.'
He couldn't stop thinking about the two who were in critical condition.
No one had died to get this far. Was it a foolish dream to hope no one would die until the end? Should he think of this as a miracle and accept any upcoming deaths with humility?
Yoon Seo couldn't entertain such thoughts.
'If even one person dies, I will consider it a failure of revenge.'
'Not a single person must die. If they do, I'll never be able to take revenge. And we will be forever defeated. Even if we succeed in our raid, that will still be a failure.'
Yoon Seo had said this to Kwon Jihan before entering the Great Dungeon.
His resolve remained the same even now.
If even one person dies… I wouldn't feel any joy in clearing the Great Dungeon and the Black Dungeon. No one should die. Not even one, absolutely not.
Sitting quietly on a rock, Seo Chaeyoon was lost in thought as the Revengers glanced at him while passing by. Yoon Seo also stole a glance at the passing Revengers from behind his mask. He noticed that Hwashim was also here.
Hwashim appeared to be uninjured and was well-groomed. Beside Hwashim was Lee Jungin, who had used the impressive skill
'Is he hurt somewhere?'
Yoon Seo felt his heart race and put his hand in his pocket. He took out a vial and swallowed three pills, but there was no hand offering him water.
'Ah.'
While taking the pills without water and trying to calm his heart, his eyes met Lee Jungin's. Lee Jungin didn't seem to know that Seo Chaeyoon was actually Yoon Seo, but Yoon Seo felt a pang of guilt. Lee Jungin suddenly stood up and bowed at a ninety-degree angle. When Yoon Seo slightly nodded in return, Lee Jungin smiled brightly.
'I also like a Hunter.'
'Of course, it's Seo Chaeyoon.'
Remembering a conversation from the past, Yoon Seo felt a twinge of conscience.
After Hwashim and Lee Jungin returned to their camping car, Yoon Seo continued to sit on the rock.
What happened to Kim Seohae's two younger siblings? What about Park Kang?
…Since the number of people hasn't decreased, it should be fine.
The monsters that were gradually gathering let out monstrous cries, but it was still at a safe level, so the Revengers took a break for the time being.
"Hyung, don't sit on something hard; sit here instead. You'll get killed by Jihan Hyung."
Soo Jaehee came over, lifting two chairs. As Yoon Seo sat in one, Soo Jaehee lit a campfire.
[Current number of people: 301]
Yoon Seo habitually checked the number of people. He was checking almost every ten seconds.
The two teams were likely in fierce combat with the boss.
Yoon Seo hoped that the number of participants would remain unchanged. Nearby, he could hear the Revengers chatting.
"Hey, I heard your wife is about to give birth?"
"Tomorrow's the due date. When our little bean is born, I'll have to tell them how brave their dad is. By the way, you said you're getting married next year, right?"
"Oh, look at that, I'm the groom-to-be, and you're the soon-to-be dad. Want to see my fiancée's wedding dress photos? I always carry them in my late grandmother's brooch."
"Sure, show me. And I'll show you the ultrasound photo of our little bean that I always carry in my late father's pocket watch."
...
"Ugh, even after washing, the smell of blood doesn't go away. I want to get out of here quickly. What will you do when you get out?"
"I'll treat my mother to something nice with the reward money. You don't know how hard it was for her to raise us three siblings alone after my father passed away when we were young. I'm just glad I can finally repay her kindness. What about you?"
"I want to reconcile with my friend when I get out. We had a misunderstanding and I came in with some resentment. Now, I think I can apologize with a clear conscience."
...
"Hey, are you okay? Your injury looks serious."
"I'm fine. Ugh… Our daughter's birthday is coming up soon, so I can't die in a place like this. You, on the other hand, look like you're not in good shape."
"This is nothing. Once this raid is over, I'm going back to Earth to confess to them, so I have to hold on until then."
...
No… are you really dropping death flags one after another like this?
"Hyung, what's wrong? Are you feeling anxious? Didn't you just take your medication?"
Soo Jaehee asked worriedly as Yoon Seo suddenly started to shake his legs.
"It's nothing. I just hope both teams finish off the boss monster and come back soon."
"Right. Oh, by the way, Hyung. There's something I really want to say."
"What do you want to say?"
"It was an honor to fight alongside you."
"..."
"When we get out of here, I'll treat you all. Let's make sure we all survive!"
Soo Jaehee said cheerfully. Yoon Seo, remembering all the death flags he had heard from Hyo Mi, a Hunter from the Revengers who read tons of web novels ten years ago, could only curse silently to himself.
"Everyone who can move, please take a cooldown potion and gather. We need to start dealing with the monsters that are gathering now."
Do Deungsoo summoned the Hunters from the shield trap. In the meantime, quite a few monsters had amassed. Soo Jaehee stood up with a determined "Uhtsah!" and just then, as Yoon Seo also tried to get up to help, he suddenly froze.
"...!"
All the hair on his body stood on end.
Yoon Seo, paralyzed by a foreboding presence, stared beyond the shield.