"Screams pierced the air—'Kyaaaaaaak!!'
Surprise painted across her features, a completely understandable reaction. The monstrous creature's gaping maw surged forward, poised to consume her whole. If it weren't for her sudden sprint, spear clutched tightly, she wouldn't have become the focal point of its interest. These creatures lacked intelligence, and any bystander could easily recognize Park Deokgu's prowess in fending off the assaulting behemoth. Yet, in contrast to maintaining her composure, Park Hyaeyoung, cursed with fear's grip, opted to give her trepidation an open stage."
"Curse it!" Park Hyaeyoung had completely upended the situation.
Those creatures were extremely attuned to sound.
Ordinary conversation wouldn't carry far; however, such a piercing scream would inevitably alert them to our presence here.
Monsters lurking nearby would undoubtedly be drawn to the commotion.
Perhaps Kim Hyunsung shared the same realization, as he swiftly caved in the skull of the creature he was engaged with, then drove his weapon into the chest of another that Park Deokgu had managed to seize.
His velocity appeared to surpass the limits of human capability, but in a situation rapidly spiraling downward, Kim Hyunsung likely couldn't afford to take notice of such boundaries.
I observed the monstrous entity still convulsing, yet the immediate concern lay elsewhere.
"We must leave this place immediately."
"Curse it..."
"I-I apologize..."
"Kee Miyoung, Hyaeyoung-ssi, Hayan-ssi… In case of any eventuality, we can have Deokgu-ssi create a path."
"And what about you Hyung-ssi?"
"I'll attempt to lure the monsters away. Leave a mark and I'll track you. Kiyoung-ssi, it's wiser to take an indirect route instead of heading straight for the shelter."
I nodded sharply.
If we directed all the monsters toward the shelter, it would be akin to presenting them with an unlimited feast.
Kim Hyunsung seemed to be tackling this predicament alone, yet his demeanor didn't radiate optimism.
Despite Kim Hyunsung's status as a time traveller, he remained a novice at this juncture.
While he might possess the ability to handle them to some extent, a numerical onslaught could render it exceedingly challenging to manage them within such confined quarters.
"Hyung-nim, which direction..."
"We're going to make a slight turn before heading back."
"O-okay."
It seemed like Park Hyaeyoung realized the gravity of her error; her face turned pale as she gazed at me.
She must have understood that any more slip-ups could soon lead to frantic screams echoing through the air.
"Get up."
"Y-yes..."
"Stay close and run as swiftly as you can."
"I-I comprehend."
Jung Hayan remained quiet.
She scanned her surroundings with a vacant look, as if she were engrossed in deep contemplation.
"Hayan-ah."
"Ah... Yes, Man!."
Her demeanor didn't display a pronounced sense of fear.
Observing her in this state reminded me that Jung Hayan would eventually evolve into a formidable Magician.
Considering she was a Magician as well, in the event that the circumstances became overwhelming, her assistance might prove invaluable.
"Our odds of survival are promising."
We had the potential to endure this trial.
"Then, I'll wish you success[1]."
"Well, take care, Hyung-ssi."
"I'll manage."
Without delay, Park Deokgu readied his shield and initiated a sprint.
Park Hyaeyoung also trailed behind us, her expression etched with terror.
Even though irritation still lingered within me, now wasn't the time for disputes.
I channeled my focus into crafting spells.
Gathering mana to form a protective barrier. Though my reserves were meager, it could act as our last resort if circumstances spiraled out of control.
"Can you move quickly and cast spells, Hyung-nim?"
"Don't speak to me. My head is throbbing."
This illustrated the immense difficulty of concentrating on magic.
Attempting to perform one action with your limbs while mentally occupied with something entirely different was a challenge for anyone.
'It's arduous...'
"My desire..."
The mana tower I persistently endeavored to erect crumbled once again. My focus wavered. It was as though my skull might burst open from the strain; my mind was swamped.
'Just construct one slowly.'
If I pretended that my surroundings didn't exist while weaving the spell, it was technically manageable.
Gradually, I reconstructed the tower.
We hadn't encountered those cursed creatures yet.
There was ample time to assemble it.
"O Lord, answer my fervent wish. Bestow upon me the strength to incinerate my foes."
I involuntarily lengthened the incantation. It was exasperating, but the spell, etched firmly in my mind, materialized in my palm.
A fireball. The fireball, akin to a human skull in size, manifested in my hand.
"Oh, that's impressive! When did you learn that?"
"Silence, Deokgu. Concentration is demanding."
Creating spells and sustaining them demanded strenuous effort
.
The precarious mana tower required constant repair and equilibrium to prevent its collapse.
'It's incredibly intricate.'
In mediums like comics, anime, or novels, performing such magic often seemed effortlessly achievable.
Yet in reality, using it felt as if my head might rupture.
It made me wonder if intelligence was a more vital prerequisite than mana for becoming a Magician.
"Where to next?"
"To the left."
"Haaaaawwwwwwwwwkkkkkkkkkkkkkk"
Monstrous cries echoed from the distance. They were still quite a distance away, making it hard to discern their exact number.
"How many?"
"Roughly two."
"Handle it on your own."
" I'll attempt, Hyung-nim."
"Even if you can't exterminate them, it's alright; just forge a path."
"I've got it covered."
Kwajik! Puuk! Such sounds reverberated.
Naturally, Park Deokgu's back felt dependable as he continued advancing.
He somewhat resembled a tank.
"Next!"
"To the right."
"Hawwwwkkkkkkkkk!"
"How many?"
"It appears their numbers are limitless..."
I promptly extended my arm.
"Fireball."
The fireball I had been harboring in my hand paused, then shot forth in a linear trajectory.
I hadn't anticipated it would recoil before following a straight path.
Perhaps due to the wind's pressure, my hand jolted toward the sky momentarily.
However, even as the enchantment surged ahead, my mind didn't cease the incantation.
I didn't wish for the spell I had painstakingly crafted to veer off unpredictably.
Boong!
The sphere struck one wretched monster's body and exploded outward.
Kwajik!
The creatures were propelled into the air by the flames' impact, ablaze.
The explosion's aftermath swept toward us, but Park Deokgu deflected it with his shield.
Observing most of the monsters either ablaze against the walls or incapacitated, he gazed at me with astonishment.
The space was confined, and fortunately, they had clustered together.
Nevertheless, I was taken aback by the magical assault's magnitude.
"Wow... Hyung-nim."
"Hooo... Hooo..."
Momentarily drained of mana, my legs quivered.
Yet we managed to clear the path.
"Once more."
That's when I felt a sense of unease.
"Ah!"
Park Deokgu instinctively looked back, his expression one of shock.
'Jung Hayan, Park Hyaeyoung.'
The two were no longer with us.
"When did... When did you last see them?"
"Only a moment ago, I thought they were trailing us..."
"You."
I suppressed my burgeoning annoyance and reined in the curses poised to escape my lips.
This was my failing.
I was oblivious to their separation since I was engrossed in constructing the spell.
The fact that Park Deokgu hadn't noticed was unexpected, yet I was confident they hadn't strayed far.
The crucial question was whether they knew the way.
Jung Hayan might remember, but I harbored doubts about Park Hyaeyoung; it seemed unlikely she had committed the route to memory.
Simply keeping pace with us must have been demanding for her.
"H-how could I... I-I apologize..."
"It's not your fault, Deokgu. I should have been more attentive."
"What do we do now?"
That was a query I wished to pose to myself.
If only Park Hyaeyoung was separated from us, I would have readily abandoned her.
The predicament lay in Jung Hayan's absence.
She was a lottery ticket destined to yield significant gains. Losing her here was so absurd that laughter wouldn't even come to mind.
I abhorred gambling.
Nonetheless, in times of necessity, action was imperative.
"I'm confident they're alive."
"T-then..."
"If they were thinking clearly, they'd leave a marker for us to find. Let's retrace our steps for now."
"Sensible, Hyung-nim."
Kim Hyunsung likely managed the pursuers behind us.
Our focus should center on the ravenous hordes encroaching from all directions.
Reciting spells proved challenging.
My mana was depleted, yet I believed I might eke out another effort if I squeezed the last drop.
"Can you recall the last time you saw them?"
"T-the last memory I have is them keeping pace with us. I-I saw... I didn't hear any screams..."
My recollection was vague too.
I recalled their presence while I was casting the spell.
Assuming they vanished during my spell's maintenance was reasonable.
"For now, let's proceed."
"Alright."
Initially apprehensive, a growing sense of oddness took root.
Despite Park Deokgu's dimwittedness, he couldn't have missed two individuals trailing us suddenly disappearing.
Neither could I.
Moreover, Park Deokgu's agility stats weren't impressive. While I couldn't gauge Jang Hayan's capabilities, they certainly weren't insufficient for Park Hyaeyoung to keep up.
This wasn't a scenario where monsters would snatch them away.
Perhaps they fell prey to a dungeon trap, but the likelihood was low.
We were retracing our initial route.
Had a trap existed, Kim Hyunsung would have issued a warning.
Suddenly, Jung Hayan's gaze toward Park Hyaeyoung flashed through my mind.
'I don't think that's the case.'
It was too early for conclusions, yet the faint mana hint supported my hypothesis.