“Let’s stop both of you, and first, let’s reorganize our priorities. We can discuss and clarify our positions once we step outside. What’s urgent right now is clearing the dungeon.”
The heated atmosphere reached its peak and slowly came down, enduring the uncomfortable silence, which drained their energy. It was a softer voice than usual that mediated the argument. The final dungeon, the ultimate battle with the children of Gula, the most dangerous dungeon they had faced so far, the unknown depths of the dungeon boss; these situations intertwined and caused an emotional overflow, awakening Kang Sihyun and Lee Hamin from their irrational states.
Kang Sihyun and Lee Hamin looked back at him and then at each other. Lee Hamin’s hidden anxiety and Kang Sihyun’s new experience of divine power sealing erupted as they talked. Both were well aware of this fact, and after momentarily moving their lips, they sighed.
“Let’s talk once we go outside.”
Lee Hamin was the first to back down.
Considering it, he seemed to always yield to Kang Sihyun as if to apologize, prompting Kang Sihyun to muse and then softly apologize.
“Sorry.”
“Let’s talk later, outside.”
Lee Hamin murmured to himself, almost like he was repeating it, and then stood up. He extended his hand to Jonathan, who had managed to stop his own bleeding amidst the chaotic atmosphere.
“Can you stand?”
“Yes? Yes, yes! I’m fine!”
Jonathan hastily nodded and grabbed Lee Hamin’s hand to stand up. Their gazes then shifted to Seowoo, who was lying on the ground. Ah, Lee Hamin sighed almost with regret when Seowoo burst out laughing first.
“I can’t get up.”
“…”
“I really squeezed every last drop of mana. If I push it any more, I might end up in a coma, just like those two.”
It was rare for Seowoo to sound so weak, hinting that his mana was truly depleted. Kang Sihyun and Lee Hamin knew exactly whom he referred to and grimaced. The two he mentioned were Ruth and Haehyuk, who had overused their powers to the point of risking their lives after enduring the onslaught of four Catastrophe-class creatures for more than ten minutes, even managing to behead one and drive another to near death. It was an understandable outcome, hence Kang Sihyun and Lee Hamin clicked their tongues in unison.
“Then, just rest here for now. I’ll come get you after it’s over….”
Lee Hamin muttered with a faint expression.
After it’s over, I’ll come to get you.
There were two insecurities in that statement. One was the possibility that they might not win the fight against Primus, and the other was whether they could return to this place to care for the injured duo before the dungeon collapsed. Kang Sihyun perceived this anxiety and responded.
“It’s okay, go.”
“…”
“I’ll call Pia.”
Pia could potentially rescue them and Seowoo from the dungeon if they couldn’t make it back in time. This reassured Lee Hamin, who looked noticeably relieved.
“I’ll be back.”
The boy hesitated, realizing it was time to go, and moved on. Kang Sihyun suddenly felt anxious.
What if this is the last time?
What if they fail in their fight against Primus?
Is it really right to send them off like this, after a quarrel?
If either Lee Hamin or I die in this dungeon, one of us will undoubtedly end up in regrettable misery. Considering the worst-case scenario, Kang Sihyun called out to him.
“Lee Hamin.”
Lee Hamin’s footsteps halted.
“It’s not that I didn’t consider you. I just… thought you could do it. So it wasn’t that I was taking you lightly; I trusted you.”
Because I thought you could save the other two and get out of here when your body was fully recovered.
Kang Sihyun bit and then released his lip repeatedly, confessing the truth. Just a moment ago, he had been too preoccupied with his own situation and emotions to mention this.
“You know I don’t trust people easily.”
But if this could really be the last time, it seemed better to be remembered with a smile, so he said with a barely noticeable lift of his lips, causing Lee Hamin to turn his head. His expression was still impassive, but his ears had turned slightly red.
“…As if I don’t know you.”
Resigned, the boy exhaled deeply, sheathed his sword, and turned completely around.
“Don’t worry about the nonsense. Just think about how you can recover and safely get out.”
“…”
“I’m sorry for yelling, too.”
The boy muttered in a voice lower and softer than usual. Yet, his apology was clearly conveyed, and Kang Sihyun smiled.
“Funny.”
You might be dying, and here you
are on your way to possibly die, yet what’s there to laugh about? grumbled the boy, but Kang Sihyun told him they would survive.
“We’re going to live. You’ll make it happen, and we’ll all make it happen.”
With a serious tone, the boy stopped talking and looked at Kang Sihyun.
“Believe that.”
Kang Sihyun spoke with conviction.
Faith was a rare commodity. Precious because even a godlike entity draws strength from belief. It wasn’t for no reason that people relied on religion and entrusted their hearts to it.
Believe, and it will happen, he said again, and the boy chuckled and turned away.
“Sure.”
Let’s survive to see it.
No further encouragement was necessary, he quietly communicated, walking away with Jonathan down the corridor. The sound of their footsteps slowly faded.
Such is the nature of a flag.
Kang Sihyun inwardly scolded him for needing to say let's survive to see it, then smiled faintly as he watched Lee Hamin disappear from view. True to Lee Hamin’s character until the end.
With that thought, he turned his head and heard a deflated laugh from below.
“Despite everything, you two get along well.”
The platinum-haired boy turned his head toward Kang Sihyun, though he was still keeping his eyes closed. Why turn your head if you’re not going to open your eyes? Kang Sihyun checked the path Lee Hamin had taken and called out mentally to Pia. Pia was so attuned to him that even a mental call seemed to connect them spiritually. If the chance arose, she could come to him. He then responded to Seowoo’s remark.
“That’s what happens in these situations. Even sworn enemies join hands.”
“Are you saying you and Lee Hamin are sworn enemies?”
“No, you and I are… um.”
It was perhaps fate. He started to say this but felt embarrassed and swallowed his words, to which Seowoo seemed to have heard even the unspoken, smiling contentedly. Eyes still closed, he laughed in a way that made him seem all the more distant. Kang Sihyun told him to open his eyes.
“Why are you keeping them closed? It’s unsettling.”
“Opening them is too much effort.”
“Hmm.”
That must mean he’s really not in good shape.
The situation was truly precarious. Kang Sihyun tried to use his power to undo the seal but soon found himself exhausted and swallowing blood.
This is really persistent.
Frankly, he had thought a few attempts would exhaust his power and break the chain, but the chain Primus had created was still robust. The more he exerted himself, the stronger it seemed to become.
Because of this, Kang Sihyun had to swallow another mouthful of blood and grimaced bitterly.
“Sorry. I can’t heal you right now. I’ll get you sorted out as soon as we get out, so hang in there.”
“I’ll try.”
“Good.”
“Yeah.”
“…”
The situation was dire. He was bound with his divine power sealed, and Yoo Seowoo was barely breathing, his power completely depleted. Their companions were split into three groups, and what had befallen each was still unknown. Whether they could gather and confront Primus through the labyrinth was a matter of grave doubt.
Yet, the atmosphere here was paradoxically peaceful.
No one showed signs of anxiety, and no one seemed agitated.
It felt as if this space was a mysterious realm detached from death. Or rather, to correct himself, both Yoo Seowoo and he were simply doing their best to ignore their anxiety.
Positive thinking was all that was left to them.
Living a negative life, soaking oneself in unbidden misery, was the dumbest option available, so both he and Yoo Seowoo had chosen peaceful escape.
Kang Sihyun periodically called out Seowoo’s name as his breathing seemed to grow fainter. Seowoo responded with a yeah when called by name and also answered affirmatively when asked if he was alive.
Kang Sihyun muttered the words he had said to Lee Hamin.
We’re going to live.
You’ll make it happen, and we’ll all make it happen.
Even though it was almost a whisper, Yoo Seowoo responded affirmatively.
How did it come to this?
No matter how extreme the situation, it would have been okay if he had the power to protect them. But to be trapped in such a damned predicament.
If they all died here in this dungeon because of him, what then?
Kang Sihyun shook his head as Seowoo spoke.
“Once we get out, there’s only the final battle left. How about we all go out and have fun together before that?”
It was an optimistic suggestion.
His voice was so kind it made him want to cry again. Maybe his emotions were broken since he’d cried his heart out
in front of them before.
‘Kang Sihyun is a demigod, so maybe that’s why he’s clumsy with human emotions.’
Considering what Haehyuk had once said, maybe he was becoming more human….
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