Chapter 26

[I'm in the process of replacing the Editor with a better one.]

Accompanying The Enemy (1)

As soon as I applied for reinstatement to the guild for dungeon exploration, the personnel team processed the notice of dismissal and approval simultaneously as if they were waiting for it.

"Congratulations on being released as the Team Leader."

Secretary Kim approached with a cheerful voice.

With this announcement, I came down from the support 6 Team Leader position, which was rather superficial, and became a trainee in the headquarters.

Seo Gyu-cheol planned to let me build experiences for a few months this way and assign me to an appropriate exploration team. This was because an exploration team that ventured into the unexplored dungeons was genuinely the flower of the guild.

"Thank you. By the way, please don't call me 'young master.'"

The [Successor's Eyes] continued to assemble and collect Seo Jin-wook's memories, and now I remembered many different scenes. Before taking the position of Team Leader with the connections, I remembered that Secretary Kim called me so, and I mentioned it before anything else.

"Then I will just call you the Team Leader, then."

"When you just said congratulations on being relieved as the Team Leader?"

"Everything will pass in a blink of an eye, and you will be Team Leader or Part-Leader soon, anyways."

It would have been the case with Seo Gyu-cheol in power.

Since he was in a hurry to put me, a newly Awakened, into an E-class dungeon, he would be willing to skip all the unnecessary formalities. He was the type of man who would defecate in his pants if he was in a hurry.

"By the way..."

Secretary Kim quietly approached and whispered.

"I dropped by the guild yesterday and heard something."

It seemed that as we secretly went out together yesterday, he must have passed by the office before leaving work.

"It's about the position of the Okcheon Dungeon Expedition Leader, and Park Chang-hee applied first. If the exploration Team Leader level had to go anyway, he wanted to be the one."

Would you look at this?

"Well, knowing in advance that I am going?"

"In chronological order, the application by Park Chang-hee happened before the Team Leader was notified to go to the E-class dungeon."

"It's ambiguous."

"And it's suspicious."

Did Seo Gyu-cheol first speak about me to the Team Leaders?

"And another one..."

Secretary Kim's eyes sharpened. "So, the dungeon is limited to five people, right?"

"Yeah."

"As soon as the Guild Master's approval on letting the Team Leader participate as a trainee fell, the sub-Guild Master suddenly decided to go as well, saying that it's too dangerous for a hunter who's just Awakened."

My expression stiffened without me noticing.

Han-seol was going with us?

*

"The members of Celestial Dragon Guild who will enter this time, please gather here."

A few days later, in front of Okcheon's gate...

Five guild members gathered to the call of a public official dispatched to manage the dungeon. I looked around as I prepared to enter.

The number of exploration personnel for this time was one from A-class, Park Chang-Hee, and one B-class, only Secretary Kim.

Besides, there were two D-class and me. Fortunately, it was concluded that Han-Seol wouldn't join, contrary to the rumor previously heard.

'Han-Seol isn't here, but it's more than enough just with Park Chang-hee and Secretary Kim. For the composition of an E-class dungeon expedition.'

The reason for this arrangement was to protect me. I looked at the two D-class hunters accompanying us.

All guild members' details were already stored in my head.

'Even for D-class, they're numbnuts.'

Coincidentally, both of them had been newly promoted, and the time they were in the guild was short.

'More coincidentally, neither of them belong to the Exploration Team 2.'

Park Chang-hee was the Team Leader of Exploration Team 2.

Even if Secretary Kim and I said it was force majeure, why did he not include his people for the rest of the slots?

"For sure, they're not the line of Han-seol.'

Was he worried about making witnesses?

After understanding, his intentions were revealed clearly.

"Now, I'll check your belongings."

Government officials checked whether we had anything other than previously declared items. It was logical to check because humanity did not yet have a concept of subspace.

Park Chang-hee, who assumed the position of the expedition leader, checked with the official. He then asked while looking at the snake-shaped bracelet on my wrist.

"Mr. Seo Jin-wook... that..."

He suggested leaving the past behind at the preliminary briefing, but he still threatened to obey his orders as he was now in the expedition leader's position, and I, the crew.

And, of course, how he addressed me also changed.

"Wouldn't it be better to go without that Auto-Heal bracelet? I heard there were side effects."

It was natural for the exploration leader to note the artifacts the crew possessed in advance, so I reported to the guild in advance about the [Five-Snake Bracelet].

Of course, the content of real abilities and side effects was shortened.

I couldn't report it as a fine Auto-Heal artifact without any side effects because it was something that couldn't be bought with the budget that Seo Gyu-cheol gave me.

"Wouldn't it be difficult if you were suddenly bitten during battle? Even if there is no such thing, I can provide enough protection. It is only an E-class dungeon."

I spoke, looking straight into Park Chang-hee's eyes.

"No, thanks. If it seems like that would happen, I will take it out in advance."

His intentions that he couldn't even hide were visible in his eyes.

He would pretend to protect me thoroughly in front of others, so there would be no Auto-Healing.

However, at the crucial moment when he tried to send me, he was afraid that, if I was wearing something like this, it might be in the way.

"Well, do whatever you want. Instead, you should report any signs of side effects immediately."

"Okay."

I kept the bracelet whilst sighing in relief.

"Then, we will proceed."

As the guild support team and officials watched, we followed Park Chang-hee's lead and stepped into the oscillating gate.

*

"Squeal!"

An arrow flew into the goblin's eye. In a faintly lit cave, we were confronting a group of goblins.

"Kim Byeong-ho! On the side!"

Secretary Kim jumped out in the direction of Park Chang-hee, who omitted the honorific title and position.

Swoosh!

As he swung his sword as if dancing, the goblins rushing from the right were swept away. Blood splattered along with the sparkling Mana, limbs fell, and the intestines scattered.

"Keeeeek!"

The goblins in this dungeon had no weapons, let alone clothes. They ran wildly with their naked body and with a bunch of things hanging from everywhere—a horde of creatures, literally close to beasts.

[Fireball!]

The runestone on the neck flashed, and the magic circle rose with the activation of the skill. A flame erupted from the hand of a D-class guild member.

Boom!

"Swoosh!"

A flame storm swept over the goblin. Instant death was relatively lucky. The surviving ones were lit on fire on the whole body and struggled with all their limbs. Secretary Kim swung his sword and cut off their breath one by one.

The goblins had no organization and no strategy. They followed their violent instincts and rushed in.

Their difference from wild beasts was that, unlike normal creatures that would have run away at this point, they were engulfed in unknown anger and continuously repeated to attack.

Shook! Swish!

"Gnar!"

Park Chang-hee, who blocked my front with his back towards me, struck the goblin's head with a sword, looking around.

After confirming that the amount of monsters in the area had decreased, he looked at me.

"Are you okay?"

I was about to yawn inside, but I replied, pretending to be nervous.

"Yeah."

"Then, try to take this guy out."

He kicked a goblin running, which staggered with its whole body wounded.

"Khagh!"

If he were determined, the stomach would have burst, and its intestines would have been crushed at once, but the goblin stood up even as it staggered. It was as if Park Chang-hee controlled his force.

'What is this, hunting practice for wolves? To bite it once and then toss it to the baby?'

As I complained inside, I faced the approaching goblins.

Park Chang-hee seemed to confront it and then quickly pulled out his body. Then, now, the goblin and I faced each other in a straight line.

"Kyauk... Kyaahak!"

The goblin hesitated for a moment and then ran to me.

Instead of Lorto's dagger, an unreported item, I grabbed a long sword lent from the guild and aimed at it.

'Moderately, very moderately. Mixing in unnecessary movements.'

I moved into a state of full consciousness.

Shh!

The guy ran.

I blocked the goblin's movement, pouring in my sight like slow motion. The body creaked by itself under the control of the brain.

A moderately flimsy sword path was made.

Slice!

A blue line was drawn—the slight resistance of the bones and muscles breaking tickled my hands. Soon, as if to go against gravity, the head of the goblin soared vigorously to the ceiling of the cave.

Chack!

"···Haap!"

The guild member who was reloading the bow from behind opened his mouth.

I was conscious for a moment.

'Was it too neat?'

The movement was clumsy, but the power was too strong.

Thump!

A headless goblin corpse fell to the cold cave floor. The cut above the neck was neat.

Park Chang-hee once again made an unexpected look. He stared closely and then raised his sword again.

He said, spurring the ground toward the next one.

"...That was great."

It was the least happy compliment in the world.

*

After the battle was over, Park Chang-hee came up to me and asked me as if pretending to take care of me.

Was I feeling nauseous? Was my body okay? Were there any injuries or wounds I hadn't seen? And the likes.

I got up from the seat because it was uncomfortable to talk any more than this.

"While taking a break, I'll have to go dump a big one."

"Let's go together."

I looked at him with a tired look.

"...Even if I'm going to poop?"

"It's because one of my tasks this time is to protect Mr. Seo Jin-wook."

When even Secretary Kim got up and joined him, I had no choice but to go along with two men.

Meanwhile, I began to think while watching Park Chang-hee's actions.

'At this point, everyone will take it as a given that Park Chang-hee follows me everywhere.'

And someday, an environment where only Park Chang-Hee and I were left without Secretary Kim would be created naturally.

'He will be aiming at me then.'

*

The break was quickly over.

"Let's resume."

After that, until the middle of the dungeon, there were no injuries, and the exploration went smoothly.

The Okcheon Dungeon was enclosed, and the interior was similar to an ant cave. It was a structure that connected small rooms with numerous passages arranged like spider webs.

Each room was almost big enough to accommodate a few people, but there was a large cave, comparable to that of an auditorium, where dozens of passages sometimes met at once.

We mainly fought in such a large cave.

If we fought in a narrow passage or a small room, we were likely to get caught up with each other and injure ourselves.

"I think we're halfway there now. Let's take a rest here."

When his signal fell, everyone threw one's air sofas all over the place and laid back.

Park Chang-hee looked around them once and then came to my side again. As expected, after a formal confirmation followed, I stood up.

"I'll have to excuse myself."

Park Chang-hee's face was distorted. "Again?"

It was a process that had been repeated many times while coming here.

As soon as he said that we would rest, I replied that I had to take a dump, so his reaction was valid.

Between his distorted eyebrows, the words 'How many liters of shit do you make every day?' were omitted. I calmly spoke while watching Park Chang-hee.

"It's because I have irritable bowel syndrome."

As I turned around, he tried to follow me.

"Then I, too..."

Even Secretary Kim, who heard our conversation, tried to get up from his seat like a familiar protocol, but I shook my hands.

"It's fine. We can't do this every time, and this time I'll go alone. Honestly, it's unpleasant to see two guys standing nearby whenever I dump a big one. I will be right there."

I deliberately pointed to a corner with no openings.

I imprinted on Park Chang-Hee that I couldn't wander or run away anywhere else.

"···Sure. Go ahead."

Indeed, Park Chang-Hee did not follow me this time. As he didn't move, Secretary Kim also sat quietly.

Thus, I was alone for the first time after entering the dungeon. I felt Park Chang-hee's gaze poking to my head as I walked.

'Good.'

I turned around the corner and settled.

[Silence (Rank: E)!]

First, I blocked out the surrounding noise. I looked down at my wrist from a place that was not captured by anyone's eyes.

Wriggle! Wriggle!

Upon receiving my signal, the snakes on the bracelet moved.

"Hey, get up!"

Hearing my voice, the black snakes relaxed and stretched.

"No, not all of you, just you, 'Snake 1'!"

Despite being told only one to stand up, the two snakes inflated to their huge original form.

"Hiss!"

"Hiss! Hiss!"

I was swamped before coming to this dungeon. It was because I had to absorb as many cores as possible through the Mana drain. In any case, I had to fight with an A-class hunter, so it was a needed preparation.

While going to and out of the dungeon like that, there were many opportunities for the bracelet to trigger Auto-Heal, while feeding the snakes several times.

In the meantime, it seemed that the snakes had some degree of trust in me. 'Oh, unlike the bastards before that, this owner at least does not starve us...' type of faith?

And, the belief that they didn't starve seemed to be a pretty important factor for them.

Thanks to this, from some point, the black snakes understood my words to some extent without being forced to use Mana. Only after that did I learn some of the hidden abilities of unknown guys that the system message didn't point out.

"Hiss! Hiss!"

I rebuked the smaller of the two swollen snakeheads.

"Hey, I said you're 'Snake 4', not 'Snake 1.' you still can't remember your name. Go back!"

"Hiss...!"

Snake 4, who got scolded, returned to its original bracelet shape with low spirit, and now only the largest snake 1 remained.

I spoke to the guy.

"Vomit that back."

Mana began to move in a strange pattern in Snake 1's body.

The guy opened his mouth wide, and...

Roll!

report in advance came out.

*

Watching the bracelet shape and the body of a giant snake convert freely, I guessed in advance that this bracelet had spatial properties.

However, it was only recently that I discovered where it could be used while traveling through the dungeon, saving time to eat.

I took a break after a battle and muttered, "Oh, I'm hungry."

At that moment, the snakes weren't even ordered to, but they tried to return to their original form.

I panicked a little, but I thought if anything could go wrong, I allowed them to change. Then, among the guys who had raised their bodies, 'Snake 2' swelled his throat and vomited something.

'What is this?!'

Seeing it, I couldn't help but freeze.

'That's just great.'

It was because what he vomited was a human forearm whose shape was almost intact.

Looking closely at it, I looked at the tattoo on my wrist and realized it.

'Isn't that the Optimus Guild guy?'

Snake 2, who had vomited, looked at me with bright eyes like a pet waiting for praise.

As if to say, 'What are you doing? Go ahead and eat it!' as it stuck its tongue out.

'If they are full while eating, do they store it in their body instead of leaving it?'

The next thing I noticed was the condition of the arms.

It's been a while since I've fed the Optimus guys, but it was completely fine, and I couldn't find any signs of decomposition.

Items that performed the same function as this phenomenon in the future were called...

'Inventory item!'

It was a concept not yet known to humanity in this era.