Chapter 115. 13th Month’s Maze (4)
Esther wasn’t particularly surprised, having experienced the same phenomenon before.
However, for Jeong Ha-seong, this was incredibly shocking.
It wasn’t just a slight trickle of magic power next to him.
Esther had just fully deployed her abilities to fend off the monstrous assault that was coming at them from all directions.
‘This feels like I’m coming into direct contact with flames in terms of my skills…!’
No matter how much the caster tried to control the power, is it really possible not to flinch when hit straight on by a curse?
‘How did he do it?’
If this rank #1 had some magical knowledge, he would have easily concluded one thing.
Kim Gi-ryeo is a being with a monstrous willpower that ignores even the pain of cutting off his own arm—he would naturally bounce back from a mental attack like a curse.
But sadly, Earth had yet to decipher curses.
Curses couldn’t just be classified as simple mental attacks since they were accompanied by special physical injuries like festering wounds and coughing up blood.
In the end, curse magic was grouped with conditions like poisoning.
‘No way.’
Due to this flawed understanding, Jeong Ha-seong made a wrong interpretation.
‘Could it be that Kim Gi-ryeo is a high-ranking awakened who has defense abilities sufficient to withstand an S-Class skill…?’
He started to suspect that the blond man was unexpectedly a defensive type of sorcerer.
‘Hmm.’
Defense.
In fact, Kim Gi-ryeo’s defense had been strange for a while.
It was clear he wasn’t F-Class, yet his body was overly weak as he could get burned by a mere spark.
‘Thinking back to what happened at the hospital…’
But later, it turned out that this was something any awakened being could do if they put their mind to it.
For example, like the [Cursed Sword], one could maintain a state of depleted magic power by using equipment that consumed magic power as easily as drinking water.
One could also intentionally break down their own defense systems by effectively using special status effects that lowered stats. Weakening.
Rumor had it that hiding one’s rank during the awakening test was equally connected to such methods.
Could it be that what he had seen previously was not the opponent willingly giving up their defense?
For a brief moment, Jeong Ha-seong entertained this thought.
Of course, he had no concrete evidence at that time.
“Whoa?”
But, how could a piece of evidence form so easily?
“Ha-seong! This, this!”
A few seconds later.
Amongst the fallen insect swarm, a black cloud suddenly gathered.
And from within that black cloud emerged nothing less than a gigantic chunk of scrap metal.
Squeeak, squeeeak.
At last, the final enemy of this gate had manifested.
“Let’s crush it with the [Sword of Sunset]!”
Ha-seong nodded at the curse mage’s words and drew his red sword.
This S-Class had once been an ordinary person who had never learned swordsmanship, but now that past was irrelevant.
With a single leap, the ground cracked like it was struck by lightning.
Blades slicing through the darkness at high speed, disappearing in a swift motion.
On top of that, there was an enormous magic power undulating like living flames.
Swish!
As an S-Class hunter standing at the forefront of evolution, his physical abilities were beyond human limits.
This dumb hunk of scrap could be split in half within a matter of seconds.
Crash!
The iron foe fell.
But at that moment, some of the pieces from the boss’s disassembled fragments scattered chaotically across the ground.
“Yikes!”
Seonwoo-yeon, having little experience in dungeon raids, could not maintain her composure and shut her eyes tight.
Yet no matter how long she waited, she felt no sensation of being hit by the fragments.
Well, of course, there was a hero-like hunter present.
“Are you alright?”
Clang!
Jeong Ha-seong swiftly deflected all the fragments rushing toward the association employee.
Seonwoo-yeon briefly expressed her gratitude.
“Th-thank you…”
Thud!
But then, what was that sound?
“Hmm?”
“Whoa?”
Ha-seong and Seonwoo-yeon turned their heads at the same time.
What they saw was a huge piece of iron spinning next to some guy.
“…….”
Kim Gi-ryeo pressed his head dryly.
He had just taken a direct hit from the falling metal chunk.
“Ouch.”
But…….
He was still okay?
‘Thank you, Gu Seo-hyeong. Thank you, Gu Seo-hyeong. Thank you, Gu Seo-hyeong. Thank you, Gu Seo-hyeong.’
He barely blocked the damage with an enhanced ring.
The F-Class hunter trembled in fear at the near skull-splitting incident, but that anxiousness did not reveal itself on the outside.
This scene merely added grease to Jeong Ha-seong’s delusions.
‘No way, was he actually lowering his defense all this time……?!’
Typically, when someone’s defense suddenly increases, people suspect they’ve bought new equipment.
But this time was special.
That man with the three-hundred eyes had just been declared the fourth S-Class hunter.
‘Right. Originally, that level of defense is considered standard for an S-Class.’
In short, he was a top-tier awakened being certified by the association.
‘A-are you kidding me? No matter how much he had to pretend to be F-Class, how could an awakened being compromise their magic barrier, their lifeline…!’
Even Jeong Ha-seong wouldn’t dare consider that Kim Gi-ryeo might be a fraud who manipulated his awakening level.
Common sense dictates that where in the world could you find such a lunatic?
They had to believe that the other was indeed S-Class.
‘Anyway, was Kim Hunter actually sturdy enough to withstand S-Class abilities?’
Having mistaken the hunter in front of him for an outstanding defensive type, Jeong Ha-seong began to feel everything falling into this narrative.
‘Huh?’
For a moment, Jeong Ha-seong felt a chill run down his spine.
Come to think of it, that man in a suit had deliberately avoided Seonwoo-yeon at the beginning when they split into groups.
Reflecting on it now, that seemed odd.
‘While being friendly enough to call each other by name, why would he turn a blind eye when an association employee was struggling against magic pressure?’
The reasoning trains running through Jeong Ha-seong’s mind quickly veered off the tracks of truth.
‘Could it be that he intentionally faced off against someone of the same rank, knowing he’d be fine even when caught in an S-Class skill?’
Moreover, comparing this, the conversations they had at the start of the dungeon could also be misinterpreted.
– “Should we have this employee go against the rank #1?”
– “Huh?”
– “The one with the most experience in gate raids here is Jeong Ha-seong. He should be adept at dealing with sudden situations.”
As Jeong Ha-seong recalled the claim the other had made, he was aghast.
‘This was not a suggestion for the staff.’
Before the difficulty of the dungeon was revealed.
S-Class hunters had no choice but to hold back from using their abilities freely; even so, Kim Gi-ryeo tried to actively accompany Esther.
In a way, thanks to that choice, the probability of him getting hit by a curse had decreased.
In other words, Gi-ryeo’s group formation was a high-level judgment to keep the two S-Class hunters separated from him.
If so, the one who truly received consideration was.
‘An S-Class…….’
There were already too many interconnected events for him to deny that thought.
F-Class act.
Press conference by the association president.
3rd awakening test results.
And the actions he had taken during the August terror incident, where he shamelessly offered high-priced healing potions…
“Look over there. A door has appeared.”
“It’s been a hassle, so the gate should let us out if it has any conscience, right?”
“Seonwoo-yeon, do you think you can stand up?”
From Ha-seong’s perspective, Kim Gi-ryeo was someone who could indeed make altruistic choices.
Even at this moment, visions of the horror he experienced in that trap prison kept floating through his mind.
– “After all, it’s someone else’s arm. Hurry up.”
That cruel strategy could also be looked at as his way of consideration.
– “Don’t hate it too much. It’s all to get you out.”
Though it was a twisted expression.
After all, he had always done things for the youthful hero.
*
A few hours later.
‘I’m alive.’
Is this why there’s a saying on this planet, “no gain without pain”?
Thanks to the dazzling performances of the S-Class, I had safely exited the gate.
I had finally returned to my second home planet, which I’ve grown fond of.
‘If it weren’t for the enchantment, I would have died from that metal chunk earlier, so I need to properly thank Seo-hyeong later…’
To put it simply, the conclusion was that this gate raid had yielded a sweet harvest.
Smashing down a boss made of iron opened a room filled with rewards.
What lay there was a heavy greatsword that even the lowest tiers would dare not touch.
‘The curse mage seemed to dislike close combat, Jeong Ha-seong already had a legendary-grade sword, and Seonwoo-yeon… well, she’s practically carried around so she has no say.’
After a brief discussion, we decided to sell that unique item and split the money.
Plus, I received a pretty generous cut because I was S-Class.
kekek. Silly mammalian kids.
They actually believed I was S-Class after going through this gate together.
‘Oh dear… Money-making has become too easy lately.’
I briefly marveled at my good fortune.
But I couldn’t express this joy carelessly. There were too many eyes around now.
‘Hmm.’
Turning my head, I saw a luxurious-feeling reception room.
“How are you feeling?”
“Ah, representative. Thank you for your concern. I’m feeling much better.”
“Don’t thank me for something I should naturally do. Since you’re here, rest well. Seonwoo-yeon.”
In reality, this was inside the building of the Korean Magic Tower Guild.
Of course, the one lying on the recliner sofa was none other than Seonwoo-yeon.
As soon as the gate closed, the guild master rushed to take care of this employee.
“Then I’ll slowly get back to work. Please rest for today! Understood?”
“Yes, representative.”
And the reason I was here……
“Hey, Kim Gi-ryeo Hunter, please don’t worry and go now. I’m really okay.”
Naturally, it wasn’t for that reason.
I had actually come to see the healing magic from Earth.
Previously, I went out to buy barley tea and missed my chance.
But if I openly revealed this intention, it would be a huge problem. So I made up something nice to say to Seonwoo-yeon.
Worried about your injuries, I’d stay nearby until your healing is complete. Something along those lines.
“I’ll just check out what you have for your dinner. I’m not sure how it will taste.”
“Gi-ryeo…”
But when the patient gazed at me with such touched eyes, guilt welled up in me for lying.
“Earlier, Esther Hunter said I could order food from headquarters, right? Let me see. Seonwoo-yeon, do you want a hamburger?”
I brought up the topic of food to lighten the mood.
Though it seemed Seonwoo-yeon wasn’t interested in that topic.
[*News at 9 o’clock.]
She soon focused on the sound coming from the TV.
13th Month’s Maze.
The EX-Class gate caused by the black obelisk had indeed resulted in many casualties, as expected.
First, the weaker challengers selected—those like D-Class appraisers and regular folks could hardly endure the quantity of strikes in the boss room.
Furthermore, this gate had a particularly malicious nature, as the report coming from the TV revealed.
[…The 13th Month’s Maze that appeared in Copenhagen, Denmark, was confirmed to fail the assault today at 8 PM. However, during this process, the citizens of Copenhagen fell into shock. The hunters dragged into the dungeon have returned in a state hard to describe.]
There were two failure conditions for the 13th Month’s Maze.
First, failing to open the exit within the time limit.
Second, the complete annihilation of all challengers during that time.
Yet, the gate imposed harsh penalties on the failed challengers.
As if to broadcast the fate of the losers, the corpses of the deceased hunters were displayed on the towers of the world.
Seonwoo-yeon quietly gazed at the monitor in front of her and softly murmured.
“Why do gates even exist?”
Well, perhaps someone made them for that reason.
“Why do they bring us such pain?”
And the answer to that question could be provided more easily.
There was no need to complicate matters. The creators of the gates wanted humanity’s suffering itself.
‘Actions are but…. The aim.’
Yeah.
It seems it’s about time to explain the phenomenon of that gate.
