Chapter 60
Easy and Difficult Things (2)
“‘From now on, beasts and humans will no longer fight. They will walk together with you.’”
I spoke the words and withdrew my hand.
As the white threads extending from my fingers snapped, the shared vision I had with Oerisa’s clone returned to normal.
I nearly burned up from the intense gaze of Seo Jaehyuk, who was staring right through me.
I was incredibly lucky that Oerisa’s doll had the “Radiant Glow” bonus effect.
Without it, the veteran hunters—who had survived every battle in Babel—might have torn the doll apart immediately.
“Unni, that’s really amazing! Did you talk to your friends?”
“Uh, yeah, that’s right.”
I patted pure little Echo’s cheek and answered vaguely.
Not really friends, though.
‘They probably hate me…’
I was the unwelcome guest who had bounced one member of the raid team and barged into the 51st floor, wielded a mysterious building called the Friendly Market, and helped clear the suspicious scenario on the 49th floor of Chaegundam.
Well, young sprouts like Echo didn’t need to know the complexities of adult matters.
“The story went well. Well, I made a small slip in the middle, but… everyone will move to Provi soon.”
“That’s fortunate. Truly an amazing ability.”
“Right?”
I wiggled my fingers, stiff from holding them out like scissors, and shrugged.
Echo, who had been playing with my hair, asked in a curious voice,
“Will the doll not come back?”
“That’s not a doll—it’s my clone, child.”
Oerisa gently corrected Echo, slightly annoyed that someone questioned her power.
‘This deity… seems so human.’
Visually, she looked no different from a radiant mannequin, but no mannequin possessed the Radiant Glow skill.
Anyway, I was incredibly lucky to have found a skill stone that allowed me to control it.
The Dimensional Market sold every possible item imaginable. I had thought, “Maybe there’s a puppet mastery skill stone here?”—and luck was on my side.
Oh, by the way, even if I buy skill stones, I can only buy the ones listed in the market, and I can’t use skill stones that require mana or magical power.
‘At least I can use puppet mastery as long as I have the skill stone. What a relief.’
I exhaled in relief and looked up at Oerisa.
After all, I had moved the fake Oerisa to convey the words of the deity to beasts, humans, and even the raid team. Mission accomplished.
“What about the darkness blocking the path to Provi?”
Her question caught me off guard.
“They’ll probably handle it themselves…”
Oerisa leaned back, looking incredulous.
“Really?”
“Yes, really.”
“Do you truly believe that?”
“Uh, yeah, I guess so.”
I avoided her gaze.
I hadn’t really thought about it. It wasn’t like our lives would end the moment we reached the corruption, nor was there any way to stop the corruption.
My scenario plan was a time attack.
As long as Agemore was defeated, the corruption would vanish.
Seo Jaehyuk was Korea’s number-one hunter, and Han Romi had her divine power—surely it would work out.
‘I’ve set the stage this far. The raid team can handle themselves.’
If I took care of every little thing, they’d only get spoiled.
This wasn’t shirking responsibility. It was absolute trust.
“So, no one will fight anymore?”
“That’s right.”
Echo beamed at Oerisa’s answer.
Was that why I went through all that trouble? To see this smile?
‘No, I’ve suffered too much to be satisfied with just this.’
I remembered the 490,000-gold mask sleeping quietly in my inventory and felt a pang of sadness.
In the midst of this, Oerisa asked gently,
“What do you plan to do now?”
“Outside is dangerous, so Echo, wait here.”
“Can’t I come with you, Unni?”
Echo’s big pleading eyes looked up at me, but I shook my head.
“No. You staying here makes me feel at ease.”
I’m not a woman weak enough to be swayed by a child’s cuteness, Echo.
Pouting, Echo let go of my hair.
“Then what will you do, Unni?”
“Hmm…”
I stretched the end of my words and rolled my eyes.
I had already carefully finished all the tasks I had decided to take on.
“I’m going to watch.”
“…Watch what?”
Oerisa asked, puzzled.
‘Ah, this deity will probably freak out again if she hears this.’
Still, I had planned from the start.
“The most fun thing is watching a fight.”
I smiled.
In my hand, the perfect Paroxia shimmered with a soft golden light.
While Oerisa acted as babysitter, I would go enjoy the raid team’s performance.
‘Ah, but…’
I stopped mid-step and asked,
“Does Paroxia have any special effects?”
“…Not really.”
Oerisa answered sheepishly.
It would be a shame to make it important and then leave it as a symbol of peace.
“Then add just one safety feature, please.”
I asked confidently, as if retrieving something I had entrusted.
Even without seeing, I could feel Oerisa staring at me, incredulous.
The journey to Provi was arduous.
From Reikam to Provi, it took a full week.
The holiest and the most corrupt places were at opposite ends of the continent.
We moved through untouched areas as much as possible. Han Romi had to use all her divine power to create a safe field.
To reach Provi’s coastal cliffs, the source of the black mist, we had no choice but to break through the corruption.
“Judging by our speed, we only have about three hours left.”
“For me?”
“Including Guild Master and Han Romi, and Jung Mingu, about seven hours should be enough.”
An Yeonse quickly calculated and coughed.
Seo Jaehyuk nodded, feeling the weight in his chest.
The A- and B-rank hunters of the raid team, including An Yeonse, were already blackened to their shoulders and thighs.
He shifted his gaze from An Yeonse, who seemed barely able to breathe. His own fingertips were blackened too.
“There’s… a stranger ahead.”
Lee Minjeong, exhausted from constant scouting, reported in a broken voice.
Seo Jaehyuk could see it too.
Within the thick mist, darkness swirled, ready to engulf the world.
And in its midst, a man stood calmly.
“Finally, we’ve arrived.”
Seo Jaehyuk whispered as he summoned Legato.
Golden threads slowly cut through the air.
Legato shimmered and danced from Seo Jaehyuk’s blackened fingertips, and though the mist dulled its light, its sheer presence made onlookers hold their breath.
“-Agemore.”
At Seo Jaehyuk’s low voice, the swirl gradually quieted.
Unlike Oerisa, glowing golden from head to toe, Agemore looked as if born from darkness itself.
The shadowy figure, entirely black as if representing evil, slowly turned toward the raid team.
“Fools.”
His voice scraped the air, and most of the raid team frowned—it was unpleasant to hear.
Without hesitation, Han Romi stepped forward.
“…I’ll set up the field.”
Han Romi closed her eyes and slowly summoned the Book of Life.
Turning the pages, she read the Song of Protection.
Under Han Romi’s low voice, the Book of Life glowed blue and began turning its pages on its own.
What Han Romi sought now was the land that would protect and sustain them.
As she opened her eyes, passages from the Book of Life shot out as white light, illuminating the darkness and settling on the ground.
A sacred field of light, clearing the path toward Agemore.
This would be enough.
“Now… let’s go.”
The moment Han Romi’s weak voice fell, Jung Mingu slammed his fists together and chuckled.
“My body’s itching—let me go first! First fights are always punches!”
Before Seo Jaehyuk could respond, Jung Mingu charged at Agemore at full speed.
His red aura flared violently, and the Atlas Gauntlets radiated a lethal energy.
In an instant, he reached Agemore and struck, shouting,
“‘One-Hit Kill’!”
The concentrated power distorted space itself.
And a deafening roar split the air.
The shockwave threw A-rank hunters like Lee Minjeong off balance.
Jung Mingu’s fist struck true.
Yet Agemore stood firmly, unharmed.
“…Insufficient.”
Han Romi muttered blankly.
The black mist protecting Agemore absorbed the blow entirely—an unexpected shield.
“This is why you start with ranged attacks first.”
Even gasping for air, An Yeonse shook his head at the logic.
Meanwhile, Jung Mingu shouting skill names while charging looked almost comical.
“Don’t mind him—he’s always like that. Based on analysis, he seems to be protecting a core, like other monsters. Since we don’t know Jung Mingu’s attack power, he subtly protected his torso on the first strike.”
An Yeonse quickly briefed via the Chronicle screen.
“And that shield seems like corruption in nature, so Guild Master Han Romi must exert more power.”
Han Romi drew another passage from the Book of Life.
From previous exchanges, An Yeonse had determined that Agemore could only be countered with divine power and overwhelming force.
Seo Jaehyuk and Han Romi’s coordination was crucial.
“So… the torso is the weak point?”
“Not sure. Only Jung Mingu, that idiot, has tested it—”
Before An Yeonse could finish, a loud crash came from Agemore’s direction, and Jung Mingu flew at high speed, landing rolling across Han Romi’s field.
Lee Minjeong turned her gaze away, embarrassed at the sight of a guild leader looking so ridiculous.
Jung Mingu wiped his split lip and muttered,
“That bastard is insanely strong.”
“Didn’t you know?”
Seo Jaehyuk answered calmly.
Agemore chuckled low, murmuring,
“I hate fools. Those who laugh without knowing their place are disgusting.”
A whisper in a low voice, as if speaking to the ear.
No one replied, but Agemore shrugged as if it didn’t matter.
“I look forward to seeing the deaths you will meet.”
Slowly, Agemore raised his hand.
In one gesture, dozens of tendril-like vines erupted from the mist.
The black vines stretched out from every direction toward the raid team.
But Seo Jaehyuk’s eyes remained fixed on Agemore.
Others were tasked with dealing with the blocking vines.
“Help the heroes—!”
“We will aid them!”
The two races, long at war, pushed forward through the darkness.
No longer able to hate each other, they shouted as one, unleashing their fury against the darkness.
