CHAPTER 80…………………………………….
“It seems we can enter if we go under that yellow light.”
A golden glow descended from the center of the island, spreading across the entire park. Many hunters lingered around the light, hesitant to step inside—perhaps hoping to interrogate those entering and exiting the castle for information.
“Since we might scatter if we go in one by one, should we hold hands and go together?”
In the game, a confirmation window popped up asking whether to enter the castle, but it was always better to be cautious and test things first.
“Are we really that desperate? We’re not kids at a campfire retreat,” Ryu Jisoo shuddered, visibly creeped out.
Kim Jun, however, grabbed my hand as if he had been waiting for it.
“What if we all scatter like you said? Come on, grab my hand too,” he said, proudly waving the hand he held to coax Ryu Jisoo.
“Fine, safety comes first,” Ryu Jisoo reluctantly extended her hand.
“Then hold it tight,”
Kang Kwonhoo grabbed my other hand, leaving Ryu Jisoo flailing in midair.
“This is so childish,” I muttered.
“Me?”
He tilted his head, wearing a look that suggested he had no idea why I thought it was childish.
“I don’t understand why Woojin acts so possessively toward Kang Kwonhoo. Isn’t it a bit obsessive, like Jina said?”
“I only didn’t want to hold the hands of children or Jisoo even if it was required. Jisoo probably didn’t want to hold my hand either, so hold Jun’s. I’m short on time,” Kang Kwonhoo replied, his words polite but assertive.
Even if he had said it more softly, he wouldn’t have lost any points. Though he probably didn’t care about points at all.
“I really don’t understand Kang Kwonhoo’s thoughts. He seems on our side, then he acts annoying,” Ryu Jisoo murmured as she finally grabbed Kim Jun’s hand.
“I feel the same way, Jisoo.”
I wondered if the day would ever come when Kang Kwonhoo would get along with the rest of the guild like he did with me. It would be nice if he formed that same sense of camaraderie with them.
[Entering the 1st floor of the Planaurient Castle (Other Species). If you do not agree, please step back outside the area within 20 seconds.]
Unlike I had feared, it didn’t teleport immediately; it seemed to give a few seconds before activation. As we waited quietly, a low hum sounded, and the ground began to move.
“So it’s not teleporting, it’s going up,” Ryu Jisoo remarked.
As he said, the park bathed in light began to float upward like an elevator. Looking closely, there was a hole in the castle precisely the size of the park.
“Wow.”
Fascinated, I looked up, when Kang Kwonhoo began rubbing my palm with his index finger. The unexpected sensation made me gasp, drawing attention.
“If we’re moving like this, shouldn’t we let go of hands?”
“Ah, true,” Ryu Jisoo said.
Had she not spoken, we might have drawn the stares of other hunters upon arrival. I instinctively tried to let go, but Kang Kwonhoo firmly held my hand, grinning.
‘Why is Kang Kwonhoo so fixated on my hand?’
He fiddled with my hand a few times, only releasing it just before arrival. I quickly shoved my hand into my pocket, feeling it burn from being cramped.
“Wow, so this connects to the hole in the center,” I said.
As the park we were on approached the center, the transparent barrier disappeared, and the park fit perfectly into the castle like a puzzle piece.
[Arrived at the 1st floor of the Planaurient Castle (Other Species). This terrain will descend after 30 seconds. Proceed with the quest if you wish to descend.]
“Let’s get… down—”
I couldn’t finish my sentence at the chaotic sight before me. The area was a vast pentagonal hall with doors lining the walls—typical in-game layout.
“I can’t see because it’s dizzying! Get out of my way!”
“You’re the ones who shouldn’t be interfering!”
The hunters were tangled together with no clear formation. Normally, the game would show which faction you were in, but in this mess, that was meaningless.
And above all…
“Can we even kill these things?”
“They’re so weak but they won’t die!”
The thin, wiry hunter closest to us shouted.
‘They’re not immortal,’ I thought.
[Habitat of the Other Species: Planaurient]
[Species: Planaurient
Rank: B~S
Attribute: Special
Reward on defeat: 3,500 Diamonds, items drop based on rank]
Planaurients resembled dwarves but varied individually like humans. The name came from their species-specific traits.
“Die! I said die!”
The thin hunter wildly shot fire from his staff. The Planaurient hit fell, but a new one appeared from the same spot—identical to the one struck down.
‘Planaurients split when threatened.’
If not defeated in one blow, a split version appears, and the new one comes with more complex attributes.
“Uh, it’s absorbing my fire skill!”
It absorbed the last skill used on it just before splitting.
The hunter was struck by the Planaurient’s fire skill and collapsed. Lee Jiah, standing silently nearby, gaped.
“Goodness, what a mess! Hunters and the Planaurients are both in chaos.”
Kang Kwonhoo smiled faintly, unfazed.
“It’s a brawl. Let’s get in there ourselves.”
Finally, our guild snapped out of it. Hesitating longer could have caused us to be sent back down.
“The Planaurient is charging!”
As soon as we descended from the park, the Planaurient rushed toward us.
“Form up,” I ordered, taking the front like yesterday.
“Woojin, wait,”
But Kang Kwonhoo’s large hand gently grabbed my forearm to stop me.
“Huh?”
“Let’s assess their status first.”
He swung his greatsword at a Planaurient casually. It was obliterated in a single strike, leaving no chance to react.
All eyes on the same floor were on him.
“One strong strike at once prevents splitting,” he said.
That was the method: deal a sufficiently strong blow so the Planaurient can’t split. The problem was gauging how strong that blow needed to be, or it could just strengthen the enemy.
‘He’s analyzing it all in one go.’
Most people likely hadn’t even noticed the splitting mechanic.
“Seeing this, defeating them all won’t be enough; there must be a way to clear the floor.”
“Those doors on the wall bother me,” Kang Kwonhoo said, giving a hint. Indeed, entering all five rooms and defeating certain Planaurients grants a key to the second floor.
“Do you think we can make it through the crowd to the doors?”
“Honestly, I doubt any guild will clear these rooms today,” Lee Jiah muttered.
The Planaurients defending the doors were tough, and rival guilds were subtly interfering.
“That’s why you don’t enter on the first day of a major quest,” Lee Jiah sighed.
“Systematic guilds don’t aim for first-day clears. At most, they send a small elite group to scout,” she added.
I scratched my head, feeling a bit embarrassed.
“Our guild’s too small for that level of planning.”
Even big guilds can act haphazardly. That was the kind of players populating this floor.
“Don’t worry. We’ll get to the doors,” Kang Kwonhoo said, teasing like a boy showing off strength. It wasn’t just bravado—he meant it.
“You…! Kang Kwonhoo, you left the guild to join another guild!”
A bulky man suddenly approached threateningly. He seemed to bear a grudge against Kang Kwonhoo.
“You’re slow with info. You need a better source,” Kang Kwonhoo said, unmoved by incoming punches.
The angry man’s gaze shifted to me.
‘Why is he looking at me like that?’
A chill ran down my spine.
