Chapter 21

The party fought well . It was actually a little bit surprising . In particular, Lee Hyunsung and Jung Heewon who stepped forward with me were very influential . The battle composition naturally became the three of us in front with the other three in the rear . Less than a minute after the battle began, a few ground rats were struck to the ground with their necks pierced .

Lee Hyunsung overpowered another ground rat, wiped the sweat on his forehead and said, “…I think I can live . ”

Once they raised their overall stats, the human race wasn’t that weak . Even so, Lee Hyunsung’s mentality was very special in this world . A normal human couldn’t be so nonchalant when encountering monsters . There was a reason why he got the name of Steel Sword in the future . However, the more amazing person was Jung Heewon . She said, “The pattern is simpler than I thought?”

Maybe it was due to the Kendo skill but every time her sword stretched out, the target ground rat was cut somewhere on their legs or tail .

“Hap!”

It was a case where Jung Heewon invested most of her coins into strength . Her endurance declined due to it but the power of one blow was better than I thought . Her sword moved in a terrifying manner through the air .

“Damn, I lost one! Please!”

Her voice trembled as she spoke . Her only weakness was that her physique was low so her endurance fell short . The ground rats who moved between the party members were moderately smart . After succeeding in scattering the ranks, they ran towards the opponent who seemed the weakest using a hunter’s instincts .

“Leave it to me . ”

However, the ground rats didn’t know that they had picked the wrong opponent . A blunt instrument thrown by Lee Gilyoung’s hands struck the head of a ground rat . The impact was lacking because he was a child but it was enough . The others could help him finish it .

Yoo Sangah’s spear pierced the body of the ground rat . The ground rat twisted several times . Yoo Sangah made a confused expression but she didn’t remove her hand from the spear . The ground rat lost its energy and fell down . I honestly thought it would be difficult for Yoo Sangah to adapt but I was really surprised . Usually, it was normal to panic like Han Myungoh standing over here .

“U-Uhhhh…” As the people were struggling, one person was hiding in the rear . He couldn’t even hide properly and was bleeding near the shins .

I pierced the last ground rat with the thorn and the surroundings became quiet . I shook the blood off the thorn and looked at everyone . Everyone suffered from minor abrasions except for Han Myungoh, but there were no major injuries . It was a great first victory .

Yoo Sangah and Lee Gilyoung relaxed and sat down, while Lee Hyunsung stabbed his spear into the ground and wiped at the sweat on his forehead . Jung Heewon lamented as she counted the number of ground rats in the vicinity . “…Dokja-ssi, how many did you take care of?”

“Four of them . ”

“Che, I killed two . ”

“I got three . ” My pride was somehow hurt when I heard Lee Hyunsung’s proud declaration . There was only one difference despite my stats . I used a skill and looked at Lee Hyunsung’s attributes window .

+

[Character Information]

Name: Lee Hyunsung

Age: 28 years old .

Constellation Sponsor: Master of Steel .

Private Attribute: Soldier who Turned a Blind Eye to Injustice (General)

Exclusive Skills: Bayonet Skills Lv . 2, Camouflage Lv . 1, Patience Lv . 1, Sense of Justice Lv . 1, Weapons Training Lv . 2 . [1]

Stigma: Great Mountain Push Lv . 1

Overall Stats: Stamina Lv . 12, Strength Lv . 9, Agility Lv . 9, Magic Power Lv . 6 .

Overall Evaluation: The moment of the attribute evolution is gradually approaching . The person’s trust in you is considerable . The sponsor behind him is wary towards you .

* ‘Starter Pack’ is currently applied .

+

Hah, the starter pack . This was why he was strong . The Master of Steel seemed to quite like Lee Hyunsung . The Starter Pack was a coin package that could be used when the average overall stats of the incarnation was less than level 10 . It was a good item that allowed you to learn Weapons Training, a useful skill in the beginning, while raising the level of the overall stats by one . Considering the fact that most incarnations were being exploited for nothing, Lee Hyunsung was lucky to receive the Starter Pack .

“Dokja-ssi, your complexion doesn’t look good…”

“Ah, no . I was just thinking for a moment . ”

Now I was a little bit envious… well, I had the money to buy it, but I didn’t buy it . My average stats exceeded level 10 so buying it would only damage me . Damn, I opened the Dokkaebi Bag a bit early .

“Let’s gather up the ground rats . We need to prepare today’s food . ”

“Ummm…by the way, how will we cook it? We can’t eat it like this . ”

“We can’t eat it now but there will be a way . ” I guessed I answered too calmly . There was silence among my party members . Lee Hyunsung was the first one to open his mouth, “Excuse me, I would like to ask you one thing . ”

“Yes?”

“Dokja-ssi, perhaps…do you know something about this situation?”

Whoops, I made a mistake .

“That…”

Suddenly, I remembered the regressors in the novel I read, followed by Yoo Jonghyuk’s words . It was like this . The feeling of a regressor . Usually, these types of things happened to a regressor . Some replies came to mind . I could shamelessly say that it was a hunch or I could lie like Yoo Jonghyuk .

[The constellation Secretive Plotter is anticipating your choice . ]

[A few constellations are anticipating your answer . ]

But from a reader’s point of view, the best answer was…

“A-Aaaack!”

It was to create a situation where I didn’t need to say anything .

[The constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’ nods at your choice . ]

“There is still one left!” Jung Heewon shouted and Lee Hyunsung ran . However, the action of the hidden ground rat was faster than anyone else . It was much bigger than the other creatures .

“S-Save me…!”

It dragged Han Myungoh into a tunnel by one of his legs . The nearest, Yoo Sangah, swung her spear but the situation got worse because Han Myungoh held onto her .

“Grab this!” Lee Hyunsung stretched out the handle of his spear but it only hit the ground . The ground rat and the two people had already disappeared into the ground .

[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ resents this frustrating person . ]

Jung Heewon burst out, “Ah…I knew I was going to get cancer because of that uncle . ”

“…I’m sorry . I was too late . ” Lee Hyunsung spoke in a sad voice . I tapped his shoulder to show it was okay .

“No one could’ve done anything . ”

“Should we chase after them?”

I looked at the hole where they had disappeared . It wasn’t an ordinary hole . There was a touch of energy around it . The darkness gave off a gloomy feeling . I retreated to the back and turned on my smartphone . There was only 5% battery remaining . At dawn, I exchanged one battery charger for food with a person from the marginalized group .

[Your reading speed has increased due to the effect of the exclusive attribute . ]

Shortly afterwards, I was able to find the desired passage .

「…The ‘Edge of Darkness’ is the habitat of the ground rats and is a type of subspace emitted from the ‘Dark Root . ‘ The ground rats that breath in black ether instead of oxygen don’t grow naturally unless they are near the ‘Edge of Darkness’…」

It was a fact that I knew roughly but it was meaningful to review it . That’s right, this was the entrance to the Edge of Darkness . I read about it and put the smartphone in my pocket .

“Dokja-ssi?” Lee Hyunsung was looking at me with a frustrated expression . I nodded .

“We will enter . ”

“Ah, then…”

“Still, it’s very dangerous to enter with a lot of people . Lee Hyunsung-ssi and Jung Heewon-ssi will wait here at the boundary . If something happens, I will give you a signal . ”

The startled Jung Heewon asked, “Surely…you don’t intend to go with only Gilyoung?”

“Gilyoung’s ability will be helpful in pursuing them . ”

The moment she tried to strongly resist, I raised a hand and called to Lee Hyunsung, “Lee Hyunsung-ssi . Jung Heewon-ssi isn’t in a good condition so please take care of her . ”

Lee Hyunsung seemed to realize something . “I understand . ”

“Wait a minute . I am fine!”

“Jung Heewon, confidence is good but don’t be reckless . ”

“…”

Jung Heewon’s breathing was uneven . She wasn’t completely healed from the poisonous fog . I left the two people and entered the hole with Lee Gilyoung . It was obviously a hole that was dug down in a vertical slope . However, as soon as we entered, we could stand as if gravity was in effect perpendicular to the ground .

It was due to the magic power emitted by the Edge of Darkness .

“This way . ”

The darkness was so deep that I couldn’t see anything, so I could only move forward with Lee Gilyoung . Black ether had the property of absorbing light, making a flashlight meaningless . If Lee Gilyoung’s ability Diverse Communication wasn’t available, I might have to use coins again .

“Excuse me Hyung . ” Lee Gilyoung called out to me . “Did you do it on purpose?”

“…What?”

“When that uncle grabbed Noona [2] and Ahjussi [3], you let it go . ”

I had a moment of hesitation . In the darkness, Lee Gilyoung’s fingertips were strange . Before I could ask how he knew, Lee Gilyoung spoke, “At that time, I was looking at Hyung’s face . ”

He was watching me even in those short moments . A very scary kid . It was no good hiding from a person who was so quick .

“Yes, that’s right . ”

The answer was terrible and a message bomb was set off in my head . Indeed, this was a spectacle for the constellations .

[The constellations of absolute good frown at your cruelty . ]

[The constellation Secretive Plotter is pressing you with shining eyes . ]

“Why did you do that?”

“It is because of the habit of the ground rats . ” I decided to answer honestly . “The ground rats have a habit of keeping their catches in the same place as their treasure . It isn’t just food . Many things that seem rare are gathered . For example, an item . However, the paths are so complicated that it can’t be found unless I follow them directly . ”

Lee Gilyoung was silent for a moment . I continued speaking, “I expected him to take Han Myungoh . I didn’t expect him to grab onto Yoo Sangah . ”

“Then your purpose isn’t to save Noona or Ahjussi, it is the items?”

“Yes . Are you disappointed?”

“Nope . ” Lee Gilyoung’s small hand gripped my finger tightly . “Hyung shouldn’t lie . ”

“…”

“If Hyung was such a person, you wouldn’t have saved me on the subway . I believe in you . ”

Lee Gilyoung didn’t act like a child but he was still a child . Lee Gilyoung didn’t know . To be mature and to be an adult were completely different things .

[Some constellations are touched to tears . ]

[200 coins have been sponsored . ]

In this world, there were mean adults who would take advantage of such maturity . The hole was longer than I thought and we had to go downwards for quite a long time .

“Hyung . ”

“Yes . ”

“Hyung, are you a god?”

“…What?”

“Or the main character?”

Children sometimes asked sharp questions . It was because they lived in a world where stories and reality weren’t clearly distinguished . Lee Gilyoung didn’t know exactly what his question meant .

“I’m not a main character . Rather, I always envy the main character . ”

“But you still know something about this world?”

I thought for a moment before replying, “That’s right . ”

“Then I’ll ask you one thing . ”

“I will answer it if I can . ”

“Once we clear all these scenarios…can we make a wish?”

“Wish?” I was a bit confused .

“Usually there is a reward at the end of these stories . At the end of this story, is there something like that?”

In the darkness, Lee Gilyoung’s breath was trembling . Lee Gilyoung’s expression when he saw his dead mother suddenly came to mind . Those who adapted to this world suffered from it in different ways . Some were crazy, some were fanatics and some had irrational optimism .

“Yes, there is . ”

I was grateful that this place was dark . It was because Lee Gilyoung couldn’t see my face right now .

“We are almost there Hyung . ”

The surrounding black ether was shrinking rapidly . It was evidence that Dark Root was nearby . I tensed up and gripped the thorn .

[A few constellations are holding their breaths . ]

I heard the sound of the ground rats somewhere in the ground . As the sound got closer, the sense of space expanded rapidly . I saw a light in the darkness, as if someone had lit a fire . Then I saw a tattered box beyond that light . The moment I was convinced that I had come to the right place, messages rang in my ears .

[The sub scenario has been updated . ]

[You have entered the ‘Ground Rat’s Treasure Trove . ‘]

[1] Some of Lee Hyunsung’s skill levels are less than the first time his attribute window was checked . Probably an author mistake .

[2] Noona= term used by a male to refer to an older female

[3] Ahjussi= Middle-aged man, Mister, Uncle, etc .