Fortunately, with my only Hayan's power of healing it made me back to a normal state.
"Thank God"
"I just won't spare those fucking bastard"
"Deokgu, Do you have any idea where they are right now ?"
"No I don't have any idea as of now"
"Okay"
Having said that, I went back to the previous incident;
As I considered it, the situation became even more surreal.
"I came dangerously close to death," I mused. In hindsight, I believed that Park Deok-gu should have intervened before Kim Jae-Joon's second attack, and Jung Hayan ought to have enchanted the healing power on me. It seemed that luck had been on my side; the copious loss of blood had blurred my thoughts.
This incident was a glaring reminder that even the tiniest variables in my calculations could derail the entire outcome. It dawned on me that reckless gambling was ill-advised.
"I should only take risks when absolutely necessary," I resolved. Before rolling the dice, meticulous preparation was paramount, an unfortunate yet undeniable truth. Panic was a natural response in unforeseen circumstances, a normal veneer for innocent souls like Park Deok-gu and Hayan.
Perhaps, there was merit in embracing the conclusion. This was merely a tutorial – in the grand game of life, we were still novices. With time, the issues involving Hayan and Park Deok-gu might naturally find their resolutions.
"Kee Miyoung, I..." Hayan's voice quivered.
"I believe I can handle Yoo Seok-woo," I responded.
"But... are you sure?" Her concern was palpable.
I offered a simple nod, finding solace in the protection afforded by the rare treasure, the magic shield ring. This ring erected an impenetrable magical barrier, safeguarding me from those I could perceive with my Eye's Check.
Monsters relentlessly pounded against the translucent shield, yet fear eluded me. Amidst this, I focused on reading additional spells. "O divine Lord, heed my plea, respond, scorch my foes, grant me strength..." I intoned.
Silence lingered.
"Fireball."
A mild dizziness swept over me. My limited magical reserves and the substantial blood loss were likely contributors. The wound had closed, but its toll remained. As the incantation escaped my lips, a colossal fireball materialized before me, dismantling the magical shield and surging outward.
A resounding impact echoed, yet Park Deok-gu had positioned himself as a human bulwark, investigating for survivors amidst the chaos. In essence, I had conjured destruction.
"What in the..." his perplexity was evident.
"Hyung-ssi, are you alright?" Hayan's anxious query followed.
"I'm fine."
Though a bit lightheaded, I was unperturbed. Strangely invigorated, the experience felt akin to a rebirth, and matters were progressing smoothly.
Kim Hyun-sung's pursuit of Jung Jin-ho and Kim Jae-Joon's capture by Hayan played out as I'd envisioned. Yet, Yoo Seok-woo remained the nucleus of concern.
This wasn't to suggest that our companions were free from their own trials. However, addressing the core predicament was imperative.
Park Deok-gu had managed to subdue Yoo Seok-woo, a makeshift restraint but effective enough given his current capabilities.
"Release me! What do you want?" Yoo Seok-woo's resistance surged upon awakening, but it was a futile endeavor. Pinned to the floor, he struggled, his defiance dwarfed by Park Deok-gu's sheer strength.
"Bastard!"
"You, Lee Ki-young, you insignificant rat! Can't you release me this instant!?"
"Bastard."
"Others will arrive. Once Kim Hyun-sung is done with that wretch, he'll come for you, and a blade will greet your throat. Hoping for salvation? Dream on."
His words flowed, yet he was overwhelmed, incapable of saying more. His fantasies and delusions ran deeper than anticipated.
"Ha-ha."
"Are you amused? Finding mirth in this situation? Think you can continue to laugh?" I mused, my amusement evident.
"Bitch!"
"The same to you. Kee Miyoung, this pitiful trash! And don't think I'll ever forgive Hayan either. Never! You both will rue this day…"
"What?"
His rage was expected. With a feigned hand to my ear, I gestured for him to speak up. This amplified the sight of his furious contortions.
"Kee Miyoung ... this filth!"
Observing his excitement was undeniably satisfying.
"You appear rather confident."
"What…"
"It seems your beloved elder siblings abandoned you, fleeing from the scene."
"What?"
"Did you even hear from Jung Jin-ho? The scheme unraveled following Lee Ki-cheol's demise… In fact, it seems they grew quite chummy."
"What?"
Embarrassment colored his expression. Evidently, he was oblivious.
This was the spectacle I yearned for, one only discernible with my 'Eyes' Check' or by gauging Kim Hyun-sung's reaction.
In any case, my interest in being right or wrong was minimal. His expression indicated a certain level of correctness, but that was immaterial now.
Of course, there was no rationale behind divulging this information to him.
"What... are you babbling about?"
"Bastard."
My laughter persisted. The spectacle was exhilarating, reminiscent of a puppet or a shogi piece in motion.
Jung Jin-ho had merely considered him a contingency plan, a fact he would now be forced to confront.
"What do you think?" I inquired.
"What are you talking about?" he replied, perplexed.
I refrained from explaining, allowing a knowing smile to communicate the message. 'If you're not entirely dimwitted, you'll grasp it.'
Yet Yoo Seok-woo continued to gape at me, his stupidity palpable.
Since I initially proposed the dungeon raid, the first wave of monster-blocking magic, and Lee Ki-Cheol's death, it was evident that this was a well-orchestrated performance. Even his deliberate provocations had played into my hands. The poor fellow was now piecing together why I was openly taunting Hayan.
He likely hadn't realized he was ensnared in my trap, despite having already taken the bait.
It didn't matter if humans struggled with their minds; he was a unique anomaly.
Though Park Deok-gu looked bewildered, he refrained from seeking additional clarification. The sight of the man who wished for nothing but my demise remained ample explanation.
"Kee Miyoung... this trash! You're... worthless!"
Amusingly, he awaited his siblings' salvation.
Jung Jin-ho's recruitment of Yoo Seok-woo reflected his lack of power, an attempt to introduce an element of unpredictability to the dungeon.
In the end, he was no more than that.
This realization was painfully obvious, even with a modicum of thought. Yoo Seok-woo must have grasped his mistake too.
"This... this!"
"Thank you, Seokwoo. I'm indebted to you."
His pleas were fruitless.
The trembling spear in my hand ceased its quiver.
"If you'd rather not witness, Deok-gu, close your eyes," I suggested. I didn't look at him, assuming he would comply.
"Ah... save me!"
In that moment, the spear found its mark, piercing through his throat. A shiver coursed through me, the sensation unsettling.
"Keke… Kek…" Yoo Seok-woo's strained words echoed in the air, drawing my attention to his faltering form. Despite my instinct to turn away, I couldn't ignore what I had done. The trigger had been pulled, and the bullet had found its mark.
Tremors coursed through my limbs, an echo of the tumult within. While death wasn't a stranger to my eyes, this was the first time I had been the harbinger of it.
"It's akin to Park Hye-young," I reasoned within myself, an effort to find some semblance of understanding. The truth was, I had been the agent of his demise too. No, it was more than that; I had brought about his end. The woman I glimpsed at the outset, she too might have fallen victim to my negligence. In her hour of need, I chose to avert my gaze.
No reason existed to succumb to panic now. I must approach this with the same composure I had mustered then. There was no other recourse, as the circumstances demanded acceptance, no matter how reluctant.
Witnessing life ebb away silently wasn't a task easily undertaken, but…
"Lord…"
"Keke… flesh… Ryeo… ."
"I'm sorry."
Agony etched his features, each attempt to speak distorting his face further. The wretched soul persisted in his efforts, the sight of blood-spattered expulsion far from aesthetically pleasing.
With the passage of time, a certain serenity blanketed his countenance.
"Flesh… Ryeo… Um… hemp…"
Gradually, his gaze towards me lost its intensity, replaced by an encompassing stillness.
"If I managed it… So can you." These were the very words that greeted me during my initial hunt alongside Park Deok-gu, a venture that culminated in the slaying of a monstrous adversary.
Yet, unlike that maiden occasion, the current circumstance remained shrouded in silence. Instead, an uneven voice arose, its intent to divert my focus evident to the discerning observer, Park Deok-gu.
"Hyung…."
"Was he a follower of Christ?"
A query as awkward as it was ill-timed; I chuckled, letting forth my unvarnished sentiment.
"No gods reside in this realm."
[A new path beckons. Select the vocation that resonates with your needs.]
"What…? This cannot be."
An abrupt intrusion, like a bolt from the blue…
Improbable.
This couldn't be real.