Since learning that word, Yoon Seo had always wished for something like that to happen. How amazing would it be if there was really some deus ex machina—a godlike entity that could solve all their problems? How great it would be if, after fainting, he woke up to find that some invincible hero had completely demolished the maze-like terrain for him.
But such things never happened. Ten years ago, Yoon Seo had painfully learned that such wishes were nothing but pointless fantasies.
Now, he had to open his eyes. He had to get up and tackle the third zone, the one where Domin died. He had to wander through hundreds of winding mazes, searching for the boss and defeating it…
"…"
Once again, he felt that faint tickling sensation on his cheek.
[The God of Life is certain that you've woken up.]
[The God of Death wonders why you haven't opened your eyes yet.]
[The God of Life snarks that a mortal's delicate and complex emotions are beyond your comprehension.]
[The God of Death challenges the God of Life to a duel.]
System messages usually appeared visually, but sometimes they flowed directly into his consciousness like this.
Before the Gods of Life and Death could start fighting, Yoon Seo forced his heavy eyelids open. His vision was blurry, and he couldn't make out much.
"Hyung, you're awake?"
Amid the haziness, Kwon Jihan's familiar voice came through, clear and comforting. Yoon Seo blinked slowly, feeling a wave of relief.
"You're up. After collapsing from mana depletion, you usually wake up around this time."
Kwon Jihan muttered in a low voice, as if talking to himself.
"Dead…"
"No one's dead. First, drink some water."
Kwon Jihan gently lifted Yoon Seo's upper body, propping him up against something soft, and held a cup of lukewarm water to his lips. After a few sips, Yoon Seo instinctively reached up to rub his eyes, but Kwon Jihan caught his wrist with a gentle grip.
"Why don't you just wait for your vision to clear up? You're always so impatient, Hyung."
Jihan tucked Yoon Seo's hand back under the blanket, making sure it was snug. Still groggy, Yoon Seo pushed on with his unfinished questions.
"Was anyone dead?"
"No one's dead, so don't worry. You were the only one who almost died."
"Is anyone injured?"
"Everyone's healing with potions and recovery skills. You're the only one who's been knocked out with no sign of waking up."
"And Hunter Kwon Jihan? Are you injured?"
"I'm perfectly fine. You're the only one hurt, Hyung."
Even in his dazed state, Yoon Seo could feel the iciness in Jihan's voice. Sensing something was off, he didn't hold back his next question.
"Are you mad at me?"
"Why would I be? It's not like you collapsed from mana depletion on purpose, or fainted on purpose. I'm furious with myself for letting you get hurt."
"…"
"Any more questions?"
The coldness in Kwon Jihan's tone was unmistakable, so Yoon Seo pressed his lips together and closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, his vision had finally cleared.
Now that Yoon Seo looked closely, Kwon Jihan's eyes were bloodshot, as if the blood vessels in the whites had burst, like someone who hadn't rested in a long time.
"How many days have passed?"
"Two."
"Then, we should be in the Maze Zone by now."
"No."
"What?"
"We're not in the Maze Zone."
"Don't tell me we haven't defeated the boss of the Swamp Zone yet?"
"We already took care of that."
"Then the Maze Zone should have opened. Why…?"
"Aren't you curious about your condition?"
In response to Kwon Jihan's sharp, almost provoking tone, Yoon Seo moved his neck and shoulder muscles, then shook his arms and legs. Ten fingers, ten toes—all intact.
"I'm fine."
"…."
Kwon Jihan did not respond.
'Why is he angry the moment I wake up?'
Though Kwon Jihan didn't seem willing to give a proper answer or explain anything, Yoon Seo asked anyway.
"Why are you upset?"
"I've told you—I'm mad because you got hurt."
"Isn't it better for the strong to get injured while protecting the weak than for the weak to get hurt?"
Feeling wronged, Yoon Seo asked, and Kwon Jihan, as if holding back his anger, heaved a long sigh before answering in a lower voice.
"It's been like that for quite a while now."
"…."
For some reason, Yoon Seo's heart sank. It wasn't a bad feeling, just a bit unsettling.
"Hyung, you're stronger than them, but you're also weaker. Those guys, even if they break an arm, they can heal instantly with skills and potions. But when you get hurt, you're just hurt. In some ways, you're the one here who needs protection the most. So why does someone like that have such ridiculously strong skills? Ah, damn. I'm getting annoyed again. I think I'm developing a stress disorder. Is this rabies? I'm so pissed I could die."
"Are you calling Seo Chaeyoon weak right now?"
"A Seo Chaeyoon who's resistant to healing is weak."
Kwon Jihan finished speaking and puffed up his chest, as if he had more to say, like he was about to explode with words. But in the end, he didn't say anything else and just closed his mouth.
Yoon Seo felt strange, as though there was a breeze blowing through his heart.
Had Kwon Jihan, the once so righteous person, undergone a shift in his values?
It felt good, yet also bittersweet. It was a feeling that could only be described as strange.
In the silence, Yoon Seo slowly looked around. As expected, he was inside the camper van, wearing comfortable clothes. His body ached all over. It was the kind of muscle pain he hadn't felt in a long time. Considering his last memory was of being crushed under falling boulders… it was a relief that this was the extent of it.
Sensing someone's gaze, Yoon Seo looked up at Kwon Jihan. His ashen eyes were cold, and the corners of his mouth were twisted in a clear sneer, not a smile.
Yeah. Well, I get it.
If Kwon Jihan, who's resistant to healing, got hurt while trying to protect weaker people and then passed out, I'd probably be mad as hell too.
Sigh.
Letting out a small sigh, Yoon Seo first checked the message floating in the corner.
[You have entered the dungeon: Current terrain 4/4: Current number of people 301: Time until explosion: 1639 hours]
…Huh?
[Current terrain 4/4]
He looked again, but the words remained the same.
This was the final terrain.
***
Upon hearing that Yoon Seo had woken up, Do Deungsoo immediately came to see him. The others couldn't come because they were clearing out mobs near the campsite.
When Yoon Seo asked for an explanation of the situation, one he hadn't heard from Kwon Jihan, Do Deungsoo briefly explained.
"Shortly after you passed out, the eastern team also defeated their boss and joined up with the central area. At that time, you were unconscious and had injuries all over your body, which made Hunter Kwon Jihan quite angry… Anyway, while that was happening, the western team defeated their boss too, and the third zone was opened. As for the third zone…"
Here, Do Deungsoo glanced at Kwon Jihan.
"…It was cleared in 50 hours. Right now, we're preparing to enter the last zone, the temple. When we were debating whether we should forcefully wake you up, you woke up at just the right moment."
"Did you say they cleared the maze… in 50 hours?"
Yoon Seo had expected that the maze zone would be the hardest after the temple. To find the boss, they'd have to wander through the maze, and to do that, the teams would need to split up into smaller groups.
But they cleared it in just two days, without Seo Chaeyoon's power?
Had some overpowered character suddenly appeared?
It was so hard to believe that Yoon Seo started to wonder if he was still unconscious. Just as he was about to pinch his cheek to make sure, Kwon Jihan intervened.
"What the hell are you doing? Your cheek is already sensitive from the injury, and now you want to pinch it? Do you really want to see me snap?"
Kwon Jihan quickly put his palm between Yoon Seo's cheek and his fingers, and as a result, Yoon Seo ended up pinching Kwon Jihan's hand instead.
It felt like he had accidentally pinched a baby chick, so Yoon Seo hurriedly let go. He must've pinched hard enough to hurt, and when he looked at Kwon Jihan, he saw that Kwon Jihan was indeed frowning.
"You were really about to pinch yourself that hard? When we get out of here, the first thing we're doing is booking you a session at a psychological counseling center for masochistic tendencies."
Kwon Jihan clicked his tongue as he withdrew his hand. As his hand brushed against Yoon Seo's cheek, Yoon Seo felt an odd sensation and began to touch his face, puzzled.
A bandage was stuck to his face. How bad could the injury have been for this? Yoon Seo was about to take it off when Kwon Jihan spoke ominously from the side.
"Don't even think about removing it. If you're confused about whether this is a dream or reality, you can pinch my face instead."
Yoon Seo replied in the same dark tone.
"How could I pinch such a handsome face? I've been holding back because I know you're angry, but I can't let that comment slide. If I pinch you, it could leave a permanent scar. So, take good care of that pretty face."
[The God of Life says family love is always heartwarming.]
[The God of Death says it makes them want to throw up.]
Why are the gods reacting like this?
"..."
Meanwhile, Kwon Jihan seemed to have calmed down a bit. Yoon Seo didn't know why, but he was relieved.
He turned to Do Deungsoo, who was standing there with a conflicted expression, and asked.
"How did you manage to get out of the labyrinth zone in such a short time?"
"Ah, that…"
Do Deungsoo glanced at Kwon Jihan.
His expression was full of admiration, awe, and fear. He looked… almost overwhelmed. It seemed that Kwon Jihan, now slightly less angry, was willing to explain.
"Hyung, are you able to walk?"
"Yes."
"Then let's go. You'll believe it when you see it yourself."
"What do you mean? I don't need to see it to believe what you say."
[The God of Life is moved by this display of family love.]
[The God of Death vomits.]
"Ah, right. I know you trust me, Hyung. But I just want to show off a bit. Come on, let's get up."
Kwon Jihan extended his arm for Yoon Seo to grab. Although Yoon Seo still had questions, he got up from the bed. He didn't really need the support, but he didn't refuse Kwon Jihan's strong arm either.
***
[Using the item 'Telescope.']
Yoon Seo was held in Kwon Jihan's embrace as he unfolded the
"Hah…"
All that came out was a sigh of awe.
Ahead of them was the terrifying temple he had seen 10 years ago, and behind them… a barren, desolate plain stretched out endlessly.
This was the third zone. There should have been mountains covered densely with trees as far as the eye could see, but now, all that was visible was the horizon.
It was as if the land had been scorched by hellfire… or like the earth had been overturned by a massive tectonic shift.