Feeling the desire to sleep more after entering the Hall Plain was a sensation I hadn't experienced in a long time. After being with Yeon-Joo, I succumbed to the overwhelming drowsiness and fell asleep. The last thing I remembered was her face, smiling happily as she held me in her arms.
The gentle touch of her hand stroking my head made me want to keep my eyes closed, but the soft sound of her laughter eventually prompted me to peek through half-opened eyes. In front of me was Yeon-Joo's face, adorned with an endearing smile. Wait, what had I just… thought?
"Aww, is my baby awake?"
"…?"
"Look at those blinking eyes! Are you hungry now that you're up? Does my baby want some milk?"
"Ahem."
I let out a loud, fake cough and quickly sat up. The memory of being unable to tear myself away from her breasts last night suddenly flooded back, and a flush of embarrassment heated my face. Seeing my reaction, Yeon-Joo's eyes widened, and she clapped her hands, bursting into giggles.
"Pfft! Oh, come on. I can't get used to this. Is this really Su-Ha-Yeong? Why are you so adorable in bed? I just want to nibble on you!"
With that, Yeon-Joo threw herself into my arms. For a moment, I worried she'd cling to me relentlessly like Ha-Yeong did, but thankfully, she buried her face in my chest, allowing me to hold her instead. However, she pressed herself even closer, and unable to resist her momentum, I ended up lying back down despite having just gotten up.
Thud. The bedding sank under her weight, and as she pressed her body against mine, I caught the distinct feminine scent of her. It was only when I noticed she was dressed that I realized I was still naked. I nearly squirmed in embarrassment, but knowing she'd laugh again, I barely managed to keep a calm expression. Why was I acting like this?
"Hehe. Did you sleep well? How do you feel? You look kind of out of it."
"It's just because I just woke up. Anyway, it's been a while since I slept so soundly. Did you have a good night, Yeon-Joo?"
"I'm always a bit drowsy, but today I feel full of energy. If I'd known it'd be like this, I would've jumped into your arms sooner."
She licked her lips lightly after speaking, and I gave a wry smile. Staring at me intently, Yeon-Joo's cheeks flushed slightly as she spoke again.
"And…"
"Yes?"
"When I woke up this morning, it was the most fulfilling morning I've ever had. Thank you. Last night was amazing."
Her candid words left me scratching my head. I wanted to say something, but the words only swirled around in my throat, refusing to come out. Instead, I simply stroked her hair as she nestled against me. That gesture alone seemed to be enough, as I saw her close her eyes contentedly.
We exchanged a bit of light conversation before getting up again. Despite my efforts to be discreet, asking her to step out so I could get dressed only made her laugh again. Instead of leaving, Yeon-Joo helped me put on my clothes. As she carefully fastened my belt, I couldn't help but think she seemed like a wife.
"Hehe. Go outside and have a cigarette or something. I'll tidy up here and start making some food. You worked hard last night, so I owe you, right?"
"Alright."
Leaving her to tidy the bed, I finally opened the door. Unlike when I'd entered this place last night, so much had changed. The most certain change was that the ambiguous boundary between us had crumbled, deepening our connection.
With a slightly awkward feeling, I stepped out of the room and left the inn. Being a fan of cigarettes, I had a habit of lighting one up in the morning whenever I had the chance.
Sizzle. Sizzle.
"Hoo."
The morning air was quite chilly. The cold breeze brushing past my face made me quickly puff on my cigarette.
After some time, I flicked the cigarette away and was about to re-enter the inn when I opened the door. As I stepped inside, I caught sight of a figure lingering near the kitchen, who turned around in surprise. With her delicate features and innocent expression, it was none other than An-Sol.
"Sol?"
"Phew! It's you, Oppa! Good morning!"
As always, Sol bowed politely in greeting. Though I'd slept well by my standards, it was still early in the morning, and seeing her up at this hour sparked a bit of curiosity since it was a first. I raised my hand lightly to return her greeting and spoke in a calm tone.
"You must be really hungry, wandering around the kitchen this early. Just wait a bit. I think Yeon-Joo will be out soon."
"Huh? No, it's not that!"
"Hmm. I thought I heard your stomach growling."
"Eek! No, it didn't!"
Sol waved her hands frantically, denying my teasing. Even her vigorous denial—shaking her head and hands—was just adorable.
"Haha. Did the sun rise in the west today? What got into you to wake up so early?"
"Ugh, you're right. I should still be sleeping! But for some reason, today…"
I'd thrown the comment out lightly, wanting to see more of her reaction, but unexpectedly, Sol responded with a serious expression. Seeing her furrow her brow and sink into thought, I tilted my head slightly. Could something be wrong?
Her next words hit me like a shockwave.
"For some reason, I felt… uneasy today. Like something really unsettling was urging me to get up quickly and head to the kitchen…"
"…!"
"Eek. I don't know! But strangely, seeing you, Oppa, made all that anxiety disappear. Hehe."
As Sol beamed with a bright smile, I felt cold sweat trickle down my back. Was this a woman's intuition, or perhaps a phenomenon tied to her luck stat? Watching her toddle toward me, I felt a sudden need to be more cautious of her unpredictable abilities in the future.
I quickly decided to change the subject. Seeing her reminded me of something I'd planned during the exploration of the Cave Of Wailing. I'd forgotten about it amid everything else, but it was about her luck stat. Of course, I intended to appeal to her as best I could, but first, I wanted to hear her thoughts and respect her opinion.
"Sol, want to have a quick chat with Oppa?"
"Yes! I'd love to!"
"Great. Then come sit over—"
Vrrrm!
Just as Sol, delighted, started to approach, and I was about to lead her to a nearby table, something happened. I didn't know where it had been hiding, but a white orb suddenly popped out from her clothes, blocking my path. It vibrated with a humming sound, glowing brightly, as if ready to deploy a protective shield at any moment.
I froze with a wry expression, and Sol, noticing the orb, scrunched up her face. Moments ago, she'd been speaking in a sleepy voice, but now, seemingly wide awake, she swiftly snatched the orb with nimble hands. Puffing out her cheeks, she raised her other hand and smacked the top of the orb.
"You! What do you think you're doing?!"
Vrrrm.
"Who told you to act so rudely to Daddy?! Huh?! Did Mommy teach you that?!"
Vrrrm… Vrrrm~.
"Be quiet! Why are you whining when you're the one in the wrong?!"
"…"
I stared at Sol and the orb, speechless. What was truly bizarre was that this mere orb let out faint vibrations every time Sol scolded it. Each vibration gave me the odd feeling that it was sulking. Wait a second. What?
"Daddy…?"
I blurted out, catching something strange in her words. Sol, who had been mid-lecture with "Good job? Bad job!" froze, then let out an incomprehensible squeal of "Gotta be scolded! Don't gotta be scolded… Bbi-ah!"
"…"
"Uh-buh-buh-buh."
I gazed intently at Sol. Unable to withstand my steady stare, she fidgeted for a while. Suddenly, I recalled the words she had said to me in the clearing during the Cave Of Wailing expedition.
"Why won't you touch me? Hurry up and pat my head, or touch my cheeks! Or… it's okay if you touch somewhere else…"
Was it Unconscious Reveal? Thinking back, those were quite bold words for her. Realizing I hadn't paid her much attention lately, I took a step forward to at least stroke her hair. But Sol let out a series of incomprehensible noises—"Hah? Hit! Hung? Het!"—and bolted away. Watching her scamper up the stairs with unprecedented agility, I couldn't help but let out a chuckle.
If I sat calmly and waited for breakfast, she'd surely come back down. I was curious to see her reaction then.
Breakfast was delightful. Yeon-Joo, brimming with energy today, showcased her culinary skills to the fullest. The group reveled in the rare treat, and Yeon-Joo responded with a subtle smile. The only downside was Sol avoiding eye contact with me, but otherwise, it was a thoroughly pleasant meal.
After breakfast, I settled into a corner to pore over the records I'd brought from Yeon-Joo's room.
"Here, drink this. If anything's unclear while you're reading, mark it down. I'll gather more information," Yeon-Joo said, handing me a cup of tea.
"Thanks."
Sipping the tea, I read through the records. It was a peaceful moment.
My thoughts drifted to the Golden Lion Clan's expedition. How far had they progressed by now? If my predictions were correct, they were likely getting crushed right about now. The enemies that appeared from the outset were formidable, with specific methods to counter them. Without thorough preparation, they were bound to suffer heavily. No, they were probably already suffering.
Slurp.
"Oppa! Someone's here looking for you!" Yun-Jung's voice suddenly rang out.
I turned my head as I sipped my tea. She was pointing toward the inn's entrance with a blank expression.
"Who is it?"
"Dunno. Said it's a messenger about clan establishment. I told them to come in, but they won't."
"What?"
I stood up immediately.
*
Utter chaos. The interior of the Iron Mountains was a ghastly scene, reminiscent of a living hell. The player group, numbering around two hundred, had been decimated. Few remained unscathed; most bore wounds, some severe, others minor. Considering that expeditions prioritized potion supplies and priest formations, their current state spoke volumes about the gravity of the situation.
"Ugh… Ahhh…"
"Save me… Priest, get a priest quick…"
They were scattered in disarray. The orderly formation they'd started with was nowhere to be found. Some might not have even made it this far, likely straggling behind. Park Hyun-Woo bit his lip hard as he surveyed the scene. It had been a full day since they'd lost contact with the main force. He'd tried tracking them as best he could, but it was futile. He felt his own limits, and more importantly, he could no longer drag the players along.
The only options left were to set up camp here and wait for rescue or to recover and resume the search. But Hyun-Woo knew better than anyone that both choices were tantamount to suicide. His heart sank. He had never felt so powerless since joining the Golden Lion Clan.
Boom!
A massive tremor shook the camp, so strong that the supplies they'd set up jolted violently. As items clattered to the ground, the players' throats bobbed with fear. Hyun-Woo steadied himself and stepped out, his face tense. Deep down, he desperately prayed it wasn't them.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
But reality cruelly ignored his pleas. As the sound grew closer, ripples spread across the ground beneath their feet.
"Are… are they back?" Someone muttered in a terrified voice.
"Ahhh!"
Even the players crying out in pain fell silent, feeling the vibrations rising from the earth. They glanced around, hoping someone would tell them their fears were unfounded. But every player's face mirrored the same dread, trembling in terror.
Then it happened.
"Graaah!"
"Everyone, up! Prepare for battle!"
"Ugh, aaah!"
A bloodcurdling scream echoed through the mountains from the right. Hyun-Woo instinctively knew it was too late. The creatures that had driven them to near annihilation had caught up. He shouted for battle preparations, but another scream drowned him out. From that moment, anguished cries erupted from all directions.
"Kyaaa!"
"Argh! Get away! Argh…!"
Crunch! Crunch!
Thud! Thud!
Explosions, screams, chewing sounds, more screams. The horrific sounds of slaughter closed in on the camp. Soon, the creatures came into view. They were massive—several dinosaur-like beasts wielding razor-sharp claws. As they swung, blood and flesh sprayed into the air.
"Argh! Save… Urk! Gurk!"
One player, snapping to their senses and fleeing into the bushes, was suddenly hoisted into the air, their waist pierced by a jagged, dark claw that tore through their abdomen. Dangling limply, they let out a final scream before going still, dead in an instant.
"What is this place…? What… what are we supposed to do…?"
A female player, witnessing the scene up close, collapsed to the ground. Staring at the claws that shredded flesh like paper, her youthful face could only mutter in a daze.
"Hee-Young ! Run! Get out of here! Hee-Young !"
Someone's voice rang in her ears. But Hee-Young had no strength to turn her head. All she could see were two glinting eyes locking onto her, and the chilling claws slowly closing the distance. Overwhelmed by fear, she squeezed her eyes shut.
.
.
.
.
You can read advance chapters and view R-18 images of the characters on pat reon page.
pat reon.com/GreenBlue17
100 Power Stones for 1 extra chapter.
5 New reviews for 1 extra chapter.
Goal refresh every week.