Chapter 41 - Temple (1)
It was a relief that no one was around.
That was the thought that came to Seo Hye-in as she was in her tent at the base camp set up near the Wolf's Village.
If someone had been around, they would have seen her sprawled on the table like an octopus that had been out of the water for a long time.
“…I hate everything. I wish the world would end.”
Such a mumble flowed from her mouth like a lament.
It was a typical escapist remark from a person who had been facing an unsolvable problem for a long time.
The real problem was that what she had just mumbled might not end as a lament but could actually come true.
“…”
Brushing back her matted hair, which she hadn't even had the time to properly wash due to being overwhelmed with work, Seo Hye-in stared at the holographic map in her hand.
The situation unfolding nearby was quite simple and clear.
Hyenas obsessed with making a killing, unfitting of a village named ‘Wolf’s Village’, were flocking in from all over.
‘I told them not to do that…’
She gritted her teeth and looked at the groups of Climbers gathering in one place.
Under the command of Han Seong-wook, who had received the title of Guardian Warrior or something, they all looked ready to officially participate in this ‘expedition’.
This was because the woman who identified herself as the Head Priestess, Yelena, had promised a great reward to the one who first brought her the head of the 'follower of the evil god'.
“…”
And as she thought of that woman, Yelena, Seo Ah-in’s brow quickly furrowed.
From the beginning, she didn't like that woman Yelena at all.
‘If you’re going to make a request, do it properly…’
It was common sense to accurately provide information about the target to be dealt with, the reason why, and the reward that would come from it.
It was only natural to be suspicious first when a request was thrown out like an errand with so little information.
In that respect, to Seo Hye-in, Han Seong-wook and the Climbers, who were blinded by the reward and rushing in without considering the context, looked like moths flying into a fire.
After all, among the Climbers currently on the 11th floor, those who had fallen for the sweet talk of the Head Priestess Yelena were only the particularly ill-natured ones.
People who would do anything for money without considering the circumstances.
The one at the forefront, Han Seong-wook, was the leader of the notorious Leopard Guild, so what more needed to be said?
‘Most of all…’
Mr. Kim Gyu-sik had said it.
That she should be wary of the woman named Yelena.
“…”
Even as she was sprawled on the table like an invertebrate, a faint smile appeared on her face as she thought of that man.
Yes, if he said so, she had to believe him.
Although he carried an F-class Climber license on the outside, if Seo Hye-in were asked to pick the most reliable person on this floor, she would choose him without hesitation.
“…I miss you.”
When Mr. Kim Gyu-sik was around, everything went smoothly, but after he went down, saying he had something to do, it felt like everything was going wrong.
So, it wasn't something to be ashamed of if such a mumble slipped out.
“Who do you miss?”
However, it was another matter entirely if the person in question was nearby to hear it.
As soon as Seo Hye-in heard the voice of the man she had just been thinking of, she leaped up from her seat.
“Pardon? Ah, uh, M-Mr. Kim Gyu-sik?”
“Why are you so surprised?”
As Kim Gyu-sik said that with a chuckle, a sense of strangeness finally surged through her mind.
This man, how did he get so close without her noticing?
“…”
Analyzing the current situation slowly, it was actually chilling.
She hadn't gotten her A-class Climber qualification by playing rock-paper-scissors.
Furthermore, given her ability to block others' Mana, detecting things was a field Seo Hye-in was particularly confident in.
However, this man just now showed no sign of having used Mana.
She knew he was no ordinary F-class and was hiding something.
But she had never thought he had something so special as to disrupt her own specialty.
‘Was I that tired…?’
Of course, it was absurd to be caught off guard like this even if she wasn't in top condition, but it was so incomprehensible that she had to come up with such an excuse.
After all, the only person she had ever felt such a ‘gap’ with to be caught like this was her father, Seo Jin-seong.
“People don't seem to be listening to you at all, do they?”
While she was gathering those thoughts in her head, Kim Gyu-sik, who was looking down at the holographic map near her, said so.
“…Pardon?”
“I thought you'd be having a headache around this time.”
It sounded as if he had figured out her situation at a glance just by looking at the map, but she didn't even think of retorting.
In fact, she felt a sense of familiarity and even relief at his attitude.
“…If they were Climbers with their heads screwed on right, this wouldn't have happened. They're all just a bunch of bad apples.”
“Why not just let them go in?”
“…Pardon?”
“There’s a solution.”
Therefore.
When she heard the details of the ‘solution’ this man presented next, she had no choice but to say this.
“Mr. Kim Gyu-sik, are you really crazy?”
Of course, the other person simply grinned, not caring at all.
It was an expression that was steeped in the intention of not accepting any rebuttal.
***
“…So, anyway, it's you and me again this time.”
“…”
No answer came back.
Seo Ah-in was still just staring at me with a thoroughly sour expression.
“Let me get this straight.”
“Go ahead.”
As I readily answered, she looked around with the same sour expression.
An old and eerie-looking stone temple.
Due to the heavily foggy surroundings, the already desolate building looked even more chilling.
“We’re going in there and moving around, just the two of us.”
“That's right.”
Her gaze quickly shifted to the vicinity again.
Climbers from all sorts of guilds were gathered in groups of twos and threes, wandering around nearby.
Seo Hye-in was probably among them.
“…Leaving all those people behind.”
“Yep.”
“Just… you… why always…”
She clutched her head and muttered like someone having a mental breakdown.
I chuckled as I saw her continue to mutter, crazy bastard, crazy bastard, crazy bastard, and so on.
“We could just tag along with them and move easily, so why do we have to go off on our own and put ourselves in danger…”
“Because it’s necessary.”
“…”
When I explained it just like that, Seo Ah-in rolled her eyes in dissatisfaction but didn't add any particular rebuttal.
One way or another, this one knew best that I had never done anything useless so far.
“…What about my sister and the others?”
“They have to move with that group.”
In the first place, the situation becomes easier if they move around separately.
With that thought, I brought up the quest window in front of me.
[ Wolf and Sheep / Main Quest: 2nd Floor ]
[ Quest details are currently unavailable. ]
[ Clear Condition (2nd): Reach the core of the ‘Old Temple’.
※ (Condition will be updated based on clear speed) ]
Everything else was fine, but the sentence attached at the end was the problem.
Depending on the outcome of the quest here, the progression after this would completely change.
“Hmm.”
I fiddled with my necklace.
The thing inside it.
If I cleared this quest well, I could probably raise it to a… higher stage.
“…”
Mainly in relation to the ‘sacrifice’ I had hidden.
That one, he didn't look like much on the outside, but. This entire ‘temple’ was a facility related to him.
As I silently looked up at the temple, I heard murmuring from the surroundings.
“Everyone, thank you all for gathering!”
I turned to see who it was, and it was Han Seong-wook. The guild leader of Leopard.
He looked a bit bigger than before, and various things seemed different.
But the most noticeable thing was the tattoo visible around his neck.
Looking at the pattern, it was clear that it probably extended over his entire body.
From what I heard, he was probably telling everyone around him that it was the 'mark of a guardian warrior'.
“...”
And, in my memory.
The NPC who received that established some sort of 'contractual relationship' with the Head Priestess, Yelena.
If I let him come into contact with the boss of this temple during this conquest... something bad would happen.
The ‘clear speed’ mentioned in the quest was also a condition related to that.
“…That, doesn't it resemble what we saw on that kid back then?”
“That kid?”
“The boy we met when we first entered this floor. The tattoo on that person’s body looks very similar in shape, doesn’t it?”
Seo Ah-in seemed to have noticed it too as she opened her mouth.
It seemed she had a better eye for detail than I thought.
“More or less.”
“If it’s a match, it’s a match. What do you mean, more or less?”
“The most important part is different.”
To show her that, I would have to strip Han Seong-wook, but I had no such hobby.
One thing was certain.
That tattoo must have been received from Yelena.
Which meant that side and the ‘sacrifice’ definitely had some kind of relationship.
“I trust you all know why we have gathered here! We are here to annihilate the followers of the evil god who oppress the good people of this floor!”
After that, a long speech perfect for dozing off flowed from Han Seong-wook's mouth.
Well, I understood the purpose he laid out.
But it was nothing more than him relaying the claims made without a shred of evidence by the side that said they would give him gold and silver treasures.
“…All talk. Aren't all the Climbers around here people who wouldn't hesitate to backstab someone if you just give them money? How does he plan to proceed with the conquest with people like that…”
Hearing Seo Ah-in whisper that with a dumbfounded expression, I gave a smirk.
“I’m glad you’re not naive.”
“…That sounds like you’re saying I have a ton of other flaws.”
“I’m glad you’re not stupid either.”
“…”
“Let’s go. People are going in.”
As people started entering the temple entrance, I sent a signal to Seo Hye-in's side as well.
I had already relayed my entire ‘plan’ to her.
And it would start as soon as we got in there.
“What did you just exchange with my sister?”
“Nothing much.”
“…I bet it’s another one of your sinister plans.”
Hmm.
This one, her intuition seemed to be getting sharper lately.
With that thought, I stepped into the temple.
The inside exuded an atmosphere just as eerie and desolate as the outside.
“Didn't you say this was a temple?”
Seo Ah-in said, shivering slightly.
“Just by the looks of it, it seems more like some grand underground tomb…”
“That’s how all temples that serve abandoned gods are.”
“…I feel like you just said something incredibly important very lightly.”
Seo Ah-in poked at me like that, but instead of explaining, I replied with a smirk.
“More importantly, get ready.”
“Pardon? For wha-”
The one who was about to say something immediately shut her mouth.
Instead, she immediately activated her Mana and began to look around with a pale face.
An excellent reaction.
It was proof that she had learned that something always happened when I said something like this.
Indeed, a short while later, at the chilly Mana rising inside the temple, every Climber walking nearby stopped in their tracks.
“Wh-what is this?”
“Hey! Everyone stop!”
As bewilderment spread, people began to stop one by one.
The dark fog and Mana rising from this gloomy building looked strange to anyone.
On top of that.
The energy felt from that Mana was clearly not a friendly one.
And that feeling was by no means wrong.
The sound of something clicking into place along with hostile Mana was a noise that would make even the nonexistent wary if heard inside the Tower.
Then.
Pandemonium unfolded.
-!
-!!
“D-damn it! Something’s falling from the ceiling!”
“Everyone, be ready!”
Seeing the Climbers shout and raise their weapons, I grabbed the scruff of Seo Ah-in’s neck and pulled her back.
“Come to think of it, you said something like that earlier.”
“Pardon?”
“That the people here are the types who would backstab each other anytime for their own gain.”
“In this situation, why suddenly-”
“That, actually doesn't really matter.”
I said that and looked around.
In any case, the fact that they lacked cooperation was not much of a demerit in breaking through this temple.
Why?
“Because here, if you don't cooperate, you all die together.”
“…”