Chapter 18

Chapter 18

"Oh? One's dead already? He was an Alchemist who was kicked out of Virtuoso workshop for an accident and crawled under your protection, right?"

"....."

"There's a rumor in our industry that Virtuoso had lobbied at least 10 lawsuits on this matter, but you guys wouldn't budge...Is that why? Virtuoso supplied 20 assassins-all premium-for this ambush."

"......"

<I> ignored Lim Jisoo's fluttering chatter and turned towards Ragi, who was struggling 10 v 1.

It was hard to recognize his face as Ragi was already covered in blood. He was surrounded by assassins wielding daggers or chain rogue knives.

Swordsmen usually have a difficult time countering assassins. Furthermore, all 10 assassins gave no regard to their own body and slashed at Ragi; even if Ragi were to block one attack, two more would be stabbing at his flank. The assassins could afford to be careless with their health as they had the support of high-ranking priests standing behind them.

That group of blue-robed Priests, backing up the assassins, belonged to one of the top three guilds in Korea, [Opera]. At the center of the group of healers stood Ryu Hyerin, a highly regarded Priest Ranker. She wore a blue sapphire circlet which signalled her status as one of the deputy guild masters of Opera.

"Ah, Ragi, you bastard. I wanted to tear your pretty face apart myself...Between you and him, I had su~ch a hard time deciding on my opponent," Lim Jisoo sighed.

Right after Lim Jisoo's sarcastic remarks, Ragi finally was brought to his knees. Even though he fought with fierce and shining eyes, an assassin with a dagger that shone like red fireworks finally succeeded in slitting his throat.

When <I> saw the ownerless chain sword spinning on the blood-soaked ground, I closed my eyes for a brief while. <I> choked with the onslaught memories of our 10 years of history.

But <I> didn't have the time to be shaken. Swallowing the bloody vomit rising from <my> esophagus, <I> asked Lim Jisoo, "How did you...cooperate with Opera?"

Lim Jisoo laughed uproariously at <my> question. Her face was one of the most joyful and excited faces <I've> ever seen, yet it was also a face that <I> couldn't help but despise. Still, <I> couldn't take my eyes off this hateful woman.

"What if I told you that if we're successful, after scenario 2-1 we'll sign exclusive contracts with the government?"

"....."

"You're not curious to know where the information leak came from? We should solve this mystery before you die~."

<I> was ready to play 20 questions, but a name crossed my mind, unbidden, while staring at her relaxed expression. <I> recalled the acute sense of disharmony before we were ambushed by Lim Jisoo. The fog in <my> brain gave way to lucidity.

"Was it Bae Jaemin?" The moment <I> spoke his name, <I> no longer needed Lim Jisoo's confirmation. <I> somehow knew this was the truth.

This situation could not have happened if Bae Jaemin was not the traitor. The sense of wrongness extended to the events after <our> conversation in which he requested emergency evacuation. 'Why was Bae Jaemin, not Jung Garam who was injured, the first to exit the dungeon after approval?' <I> was too focused on Garam's injury and didn't think to double check Jaemin's intent.

Lim Jisoo laughed shadily and began strangling <my> neck. "Kya~ Your intuition is too fast. But how do you feel? How do you feel about being dealt such a big blow?"

<I> closed <my> eyes without responding to her provocations.

There was still one mystery left unsolved: Bae Jaemin's motive to betray the Red Lotus Guild.

Of course, Bae Jaemin was known to play politics within the guild. Though he looked obedient, <I> knew he didn't have such a docile and temperate personality....However, what ranker had no ambition? His politics were acceptable and somewhat encouraged in the ranking community. It was all the more incomprehensible when <I> recalled his previous behavior within the guild. Why would he work so hard to carve his own place in a guild that he would destroy later on?

Furthermore, with his full cooperation, <our> guild would be the first to enter scenario 2-1 after clearing the <Tower of Command> Dungeon. Red Lotus would also have won those elusive "exclusive rights." From Bae Jaemin's perspective, wouldn't it have been more beneficial to continue to work hard within Red Lotus rather than to cooperate with other guilds to set such a laborious trap?

What's the point of killing all the people he's gotten close to-those he faithfully called "hyung"-and turning traitor? Just what did Lim Jisoo promise him?

However, the one who could best answer these questions, Bae Jaemin, was absent. <I> probably won't find answers in this lifetime.

Therefore, instead of agonizing over Bae Jaemin, <I> decided to sear the images of <my> dying guild members, one by one, into <my> brain.

Lim Jisoo tried to insult <me> further, but saw that there was no use-<I> was no longer paying attention to her verbal abuse. She gathered strength in the hands that held my neck and murmured melancholically, "It's a shame to kill you so peacefully, but....Tch. I'm running out of time."

Those were the last words <I> heard while alive.

Playback of the deceased 'Seo Dawon's' memories finished.

"Hurk!"

When 'I' returned to reality, I held my chest and took long, drawn-out breaths, as if I had dived deeply and just returned to the surface. I couldn't speak for a long time and felt as if I was going to vomit. My hands clutched at my galloping heart.

What I just saw....What the hell was that?

Logically, I knew that these memories were not my own...but my body trembled as if I were the one who had been murdered. My will was not strong enough to quell the tremors. It felt a bit like I had woken up from a deep hypnosis-like waking up from a several-months long hibernation.

My brain ached, as if the neurons inside were shattering.

The headache reminded me of Seo Dawon's last moments; he died feeling the pressure between his ears rise until almost bursting as he tried in vain to breathe while Lim Jisoo strangled him. Eventually, I fell prone, vomiting on an empty stomach.

"Urk....."

I hadn't eaten since breakfast, so all that came out of my mouth was spit and gastric juices. However, I still felt uncomfortable, as if I had chugged a bottle of vinegar nonstop. I couldn't recall how many times I retched until my insides stopped twisting in pain and calmed down.

But relief was short lived. No longer worried about my stomach, I became incredibly depressed.

What I experienced was real.

These were Seo Dawon's true memories.

I had briefly experienced a vast kaleidoscope of Dawon's emotions before death. Before our consciousness separated, I saw a vision of the high ideals he wanted to achieve and the great efforts he made to fulfill his dreams. I felt his bitter tears of regret as he saw these hopes fade before his eyes. After he and I were completely separated, my heart and mind felt vaguely empty and dizzy.

To see someone live their life to the fullest at every moment, and to see him lose everything in vain.....Life, what the hell? Does God even exist...?

Moreover, he was falsely accused even after his death. Adding up the articles, the special interviews, and the numerous comments that popped up while searching for information on this Dungeon, Seo Dawon had also been socially murdered.

"Is this why...the skill is called a 'vengeful ghost contract'?"

I contemplated the golden [Vengeful ghost contract] button that had just recently activated.

If I press that button...Wouldn't I meet 'Seo Dawon's' vengeful spirit? I have no idea what type of contract will be established, but I imagine it would be similar to Lackey, my summoned skeleton...

However, apart from the general compassion I have for his death, I felt a surge of fear. I would be forcing someone who used to be another User, like me, to be my summon...That's a bit repulsive. And, all the people who betrayed Seo Dawon are living quite well now.

Bae Jaemin, who betrayed the Red Lotus guild from within, had become one of the most well-known Rankers in the nation. I had no idea about Lim Jisoo, but I assume that she lived without any problems after the disaster was misrepresented to the public. And the two guilds, [Red Dragon] and [Opera] were still quite famous.

In comparison, I'm a low level Necromancer with no guild nor stats...Seeing Dawon's outstanding ability before his untimely death, I think he'd be quite the powerful servant...But, to be honest, I wasn't sure I would be able to alleviate his grudge quickly even if I were to revive him. First of all, I'm not even at the level to support him in his revenge.

Unfortunately, I was the best at pinpointing the worst aspects of any situation.

TL: Somehow I feel like it's super sweet that Dawon chose to focus on the images of his dying guildmembers instead of focusing on those betrayed him.

Also: I'm currently going into my finals prep stage so I've been a bit slow in TLing (I've got chapters stocked up though). The hope is that I'll be able to update faster when I'm finally doing my summer dissertation work and I'm not on a schedule~