Editors: Ytho, LaidBackGuy
“Huu!”
He downed five bottles of potion in one go. Chwigeol definitely looked better than before, and he seemed to be in good spirits again. He turned his shoulders awkwardly and looked at the place where his arm was cut off, but he understood that his arm would not simply grow back.
“Thank you.”
Chwigeol bowed his head toward Lee Sungmin. As the wound healed, he felt no pain. He laughed heartily. Lee Sungmin shook his head while looking at Chwigeol’s laugh.
“It’s nothing.”
“Not for me. It would have been very difficult without you.”
Of course, it would. Jang Deuksu didn’t have any potions, and Chwigeol had lost his pocket. Even if he stopped the bleeding, it was only a temporary measure. Without proper treatment, his body would eventually break down, and it would not be possible to live with such a weakened body in an unpredictable dungeon.
Chwigeol died in his previous life. So did Jang Deuksu.
Baek Sogo too. Lee Sungmin thought while biting on his lower lip. While Lee Sungmin was lost in his thoughts, Jang Deuksu explained the characteristics of this dungeon to Chwigeol. After hearing what he said, Chwigeol’s face was stiff.
“Then you must hurry. Even if Wijihoyeon doesn’t act, if her Doppelganger starts to move, it can do a lot of damage. Perhaps her Doppelganger is more dangerous than her. Simply talking here won’t work.”
Maybe there was already someone who had fallen prey to it. Thinking about it, Lee Sungmin felt extremely impatient. He had come to this dungeon to prevent Baek Sogo’s death. If he could stop her death, it wouldn’t matter if someone else died. Although he helped Chwigeol in order to make a connection with the Wandering Sects, if it could save Baek Sogo, Lee Sungmin would be willing to kill Chwigeol right now.
“Let’s go.”
Lee Sungmin moved first. Jang Deuksu and Chwigeol followed after him. Also, he didn’t know what would come out next, so he couldn’t run away, but Lee Sungmin opened his senses wide and tried to sense the movements around him.
“Are you worried about Baek Sogo?”
Chwigeol, who came close to Lee Sungmin asked. Lee Sungmin looked back at him with surprise on his face.
“Ah. I heard that you were close to Baek Sogo from the priestess herself. A year ago… So, around the time you killed Ghost Blade.”
“… How are you acquainted with Baek Sogo?”
“We are colleagues.”
At Lee Sungmin’s question, Chwigeol tilted his head, looking confused. Chwigeol did not understand the emotions revealed by Lee Sungmin. In fact, it was the same for Lee Sungmin. He felt a strange sense of hostility toward Chwigeol for a moment. Although it was his own feeling, Lee Sungmin could not understand the reason.
“Ah… Sorry. I was just surprised because it was an unexpected question.”
“Oh, that’s all right. It can be considered a sensitive issue.”
Chwigeol replied with a nonchalant expression. There was nothing uncommon about having a connection with a priest from Munpa, Lee Sungmin and Baek Sogo’s connection was through sharing martial arts and not the Munpa.
“If you’re worried about Baek Sogo, you don’t have to. She is the strongest of us.”
“But she is still weaker than Wijihoyeon.”
Chwigeol could not say anything to that. Lee Sungmin looked ahead without saying any more. Meanwhile, Rubia’s voice rang out in Lee Sungmin’s head.
[The analysis has been completed.]
It took quite a while. Ruby added. Even so, her voice was filled with pride for what she had done. Lee Sungmin stopped walking.
“What happened?”
Jang Deuksu asked him when he suddenly stopped walking. Lee Sungmin did not answer him and instead asked Rubia.
‘How is it?’
[It’s better for you to see for yourself than have me explain.]
As she finished speaking, a translucent window appeared before Lee Sungmin’s eyes. It was the same as the status window that he checked occasionally. But the contents were completely different.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen this.”
How long has it been? If Denir hadn’t backed-up his memory, he might not have even felt nostalgic. But thanks to the backed-up memory, Lee Sungmin was able to recall that he had seen something like this a long time ago. Before being summoned to Eria. When he lived in Seoul, Korea, yes, When Lee Sungmin was still an elementary school student. Like other children, he also used to play computer games.
‘It’s a mini map.’
A Blue dot flickered on the flat map. As Lee Sungmin’s gaze turned to it, Rubia explained.
[That blue dot is you. This dungeon has four paths, all of which lead to one place. There is likely a boss level monster in this dungeon.]
Boss level monsters existed in all dungeons. Conquering the dungeon meant not only surviving it but also defeating the boss level monster.
[Look.]
Two yellow dots showed up next to the blue one that was still.
[Currently, they are moving inside the dungeon.]
The flickering dots increased. There were a total of eight dots, including Lee Sungmin’s.
[And these are not people. It’s probably a Doppelganger.]
There weren’t many Doppelgangers. There were only three red dots. Lee Sungmin stared at the yellow and red dots. The fact that the number of Doppelgangers was not so many reassured him. And also there were many yellow dots.
‘Didn’t anyone else come into the dungeon later?’
[I don’t think so.]
At the time when Lee Sungmin entered the dungeon, there were ten people in the dungeon. Wijihoyeon and her three followers. Five people from Murim factions, including Baek Sogo. And Lee Sungmin.
But now there were eight survivors. Two of them were dead. There was no way of knowing who died. He earnestly prayed Baek Sogo was not among the dead.
‘There are three doppelgangers on the move.’
Baek Sogo’s Doppelganger was dead, and Solitary Blade’s Doppelganger was dead. In addition, five other Doppelgangers died.
‘Who else’s Doppelganger was dead?’
He didn’t think it could be Wijihoyeon’s Doppelganger. Except for Wijihoyeon, there was no one who could defeat her Doppelganger. Although he didn’t know what the outcome would be if multiple experts joined forces.
‘No. I don’t have to think about the doppelgangers that are moving right now.’
If he continued to survive, he would eventually meet the other survivors at the square that was at the end. But if they didn’t survive, it would be pointless to go to the square and wait.
In fact, that wasn’t what he should be thinking right now.
“There is someone in front.”
Although there was a little distance, the yellow dot was still moving.
‘Are there any magic traps in this dungeon?’
[I do not know… I haven’t confirmed it yet.]
“There seem to be no more magic traps. Let’s speed it up.”
Rubia replied that she didn’t know, but Lee Sungmin paid no heed to it. On the other side, Rubia clucked her tongue inside Lee Sungmin’s head. Disregarding that, Lee Sungmin jumped forward without waiting for Chwigeol and Jang Deuksu. As he started running, Chwigeol and Jang Deuksu also chased after him.
The yellow dot was getting closer. However, there was no need to check closely. Lee Sungmin could watch his movements through the mini-map that was hovering in front of him, but the yellow dot was no longer advancing forward as if it had heard the sound of running from behind.
‘no.’
Although it was a little far away, it was close enough to confirm its appearance. It was not Baek Sogo who was standing there. It wasn’t Wijihoyeon either. It was an old woman with a short stature who was wearing messy rag-like clothes. Lee Sungmin was seeing the old woman for the first time but noticed that she was Crimson Death, who had entered the dungeon following Wijihoyeon.
He had to choose.
Would he fight Elder Crimson Death with Jang Deuksu and Chwigeol? Or would he entrust her to them and go get Baek Sogo. In fact, he didn’t need to think too much. He had already chosen the answer in his mind.
[Sorry.]
Still, He sent out a message to Chwigeol. Chwigeol looked at Lee Sungmin, surprised at the sudden sound that appeared in his mind.
[Crimson Death is in front. It will take too long to fight her. … I need to find Baek Sogo.]
“There is nothing to be sorry about.”
Although he was taken aback, Chwigeol quickly understood the situation. He smiled bitterly and looked at Lee Sungmin.
“I also want to save Baek Sogo. It would be better for you to go, rather than me, with my arm cut off.”
“What are you talking about?”
Jang Deuksu asked about their conversation. Then, he also noticed Crimson Death Elder’s presence. He circulated his inner force with eyes wide open.
“Crimson Death!”
Jang Deoksu yelled. Lee Sungmin wondered whether it was really necessary to cry out like that. He looked back. The gap between them and Crimson Death Elder had closed up considerably. The Old Woman’s shoulders shook as she laughed.
“Kekeke! That kid from Wandering Sect had his arm cut off… It is ignorant that are too brave. That pig is making too much noise.”
She muttered those words and turned to look at Lee Sungmin. She looked at his face and shook her head.
“Who are you again?”
It was a low voice, but it was full of power, so it entered right into his ears. Lee Sungmin ignored her question. Instead, he raised his power and increased the speed of his attack.
“It’s dangerous alone!”
Jang Deuksu yelled out from behind. Lee Sungmin ignored the warning. Though he felt sorry for Chwigeol, he did not have any such feelings toward Jang Deuksu. The Crimson Death Elder was a little taken aback when she saw Lee Sungmin coming quickly, but she raised her wrinkled hand without hesitation. Her right hand, full of power, exerted an awful energy.
“You are a brave young man, aren’t you?”
Crimson Death Elder roared out. Her spell shot towards Lee Sungmin. If it hit him head-on, he would be harmed even if he was using Defense Aura. Of course, he had no intention of waiting around for that to happen. Lee Sungmin leaped upward and escaped her attack.
“You little rat bastard!”
Crimson Death Elder must not have thought that Lee Sungmin would respond like that. She reached out for Lee Sungmin, who was already in the air. At that moment, Lee Sungmin twisted his back. His body moved in the air without a foothold. When his feet hit the air, Crimson Death’s spell force smashed into Lee Sungmin’s body.
‘Damn you!’
His afterimage collapsed. Crimson Death Elder jumped and pulled her feet back. Lee Sungmin’s body was approaching her. Crimson Death Elder realized that unlike his appearance, Lee Sungmin was an outstanding expert. She covered herself with a thick Defense Aura. Lee Sungmin stabbed the spear he was holding toward her.
Crimson Death Elder reached out to respond to the stab. It was a waste of time. When her hand tried to deflect the spear, the trajectory of the spear twisted slightly. He was about to stab her through an opening, but her left hand was already running to respond. Crimson Death Elder tried to grab Lee Sungmin’s body with her left hand. Lee Sungmin released the spear in his right hand and extended his hand toward her.
‘Crimson Death Elder is a master of handwork. You can’t deal with her with bare hands.’
He extended his hand even though he knew that. Lee Sungmin’s right palm was emitting a purple aura. jjooong! Crimson Death Elder and Lee Sungmin’s palms collided with an explosion. Crimson Death Elder opened her eyes wide to the sense of resistance felt by her hands.
‘The power of this young man… ! ’
He was surprised by the unexpected heaviness. Crimson Elder was not overwhelmed. His only intention was to catch her off-guard. When she went for a full-fledged attack, Lee Sungmin, without hesitation, flew to the ground avoiding her attack.
“Come back! You bastard! You damn daoist!”
Crimson Elder roared in anger as she saw Lee Sungmin leaping off onto the ground. Lee Sungmin paid no mind to it. He rolled on the floor, immediately straightening his posture to jump forward. Only then did Crimson Elder realize that Lee Sungmin was simply aiming to move ahead rather than fight her.
“brat!”
Crimson Elder hurled a spell at his back. Before she could succeed, Chwigeol flew toward Crimson Death. She hurriedly changed direction to suppress Chwigeol.
“wait, What? Where are you going?”
Jang Deuksu shouted, looking panicked. Lee Sungmin continued to head forward despite the cry. He looked at the mini-map. The path ahead was clear. If he kept moving forward, he would reach the square.
But that was not right. When he arrived at the end, a boss level monster would appear.
‘This wall. Can I get through it?’
Lee Sungmin stopped walking after he passed a certain distance from Crimson Death Elder. He looked at the wall and asked Rubia.
[I don’t know… We could find out if you try it?]
Rubia could not know everything. In response, Lee Sungmin grabbed the spear with both hands. His spear was wrapped in a purple aura.
‘I have to go another way.’
He had to meet Baek Sogo before she crossed paths with Wijihoyeon or her Doppelganger.