"A treasure chest?" I murmured under my breath. "I hadn't encountered one in this world before, nor did I expect to. Ever since I killed my first monster, I'd been able to harvest them, but only received a few common items. But this…"
"Big sister?" Kim Seong-Hoon's voice broke through my thoughts, snapping out of my stupor.
"Ah! Sorry..." I extended my hand to him, helping him to his feet. "How are you feeling?" I felt I should at least ask, even if it felt a bit awkward.
Kim Seong-Hoon accepted my hand, and I pulled him up. His body swayed slightly, so I quickly grabbed him to support his exhausted fra, still holding Malrang tightly with my other arm. "You look better than I expected… at least better than those three." I glanced over at Kang Eun-Woo who was still sitting on the ground inspecting his body, and Jieun, who was hiccupping softly.
"My big sister actually cares about ? I must be dead. If this is heaven, then I don't want to co back to life." He could barely stand, but he was already teasing ? So people never change, I suppose.
"You fool!" I punched his shoulder lightly, causing him to sway. "Aaah, damn it... hold yourself up!" I panicked, reaching out to steady him. But what happened next made my whole world shift—a soft, warm embrace from Kim Seong-Hoon enveloped .
"What are you doing!?" I gasped, still struggling to register what was happening.
"Thank you..." An unexpected cry escaped his lips. "Without you, all of us would be dead. So thank you, and I swear, I will never be so useless again. Next ti, I will be the one protecting you. I'll grow strong, strong enough to kill anyone who stands in your way. Do you hear , Lee Gaon? I will fight on the front as you watch slay your enemies!" His entire body trembled uncontrollably, not from fear, but from determination, a testant to a powerful man who vowed never to fall again.
"I... I..." I froze, unable to speak. A hug from a friend was a completely unfamiliar feeling to . I wasn't sure if I should stroke his hair and say it's okay not to be tough, that I could stand in front and protect them all, or if I should push him away and tell him to grow up and stop crying. But that's not ; I'm not good with human emotions.
"It's okay, big sis." He pushed himself off and smiled warmly. "Forget that ever happened. I never cried, okay?" He patted the back of his head awkwardly. "No, seriously, never tell anyone. Please!"
"I still have so unfinished business with you, if I rember correctly. When I was in the air, where exactly were you looking?" I said in an angry tone, waiting for his response.
"I was... I was admiring a beauty! Not my fault!" He jumped back in an instant, just before my scythe slashed through the air where he had been standing.
"You got lucky!" I shouted, chasing after him, but he started darting behind the other two like a kid playing tag. "Co here, Kim Seong-Hoon, and et your death!" I was furious, rembering the ti he sneaked a glance under my dress.
"Big sister, I swear it wasn't my fault! It just happened because I was concerned for you. Bla the one who made you wear that, not !" he cried out, squealing like a mouse.
"You shaless fool!" I shouted, careful not to hit Kang Eun-Woo or Jieun. "Malrang, help catch him!"
"Woo!" Malrang relaxed slightly in my embrace, and with a poof, she teleported through the air, appearing on Kim Seong-Hoon's shoulder, looking at teasingly.
"Even you? You're taking his side? Aaah! You are both…" I dismissed my scythe, and it disappeared back into . "Fine, you're going to live, but only because of Malrang..." I felt betrayed—even the one I trusted most had decided to side with that idiot.
"Ha... ha... Hahaha... That was fun! Big bro and big sister, you're both so funny." Jieun finally snapped out of her hysterical state, laughing heartily, just like before.
"I see... so that's how it is! I admire you, Kim Seong-Hoon—you have a good eye." Kang Eun-Woo had also recovered and now looked better, nodding at Kim Seong-Hoon with approval. He gave a thumbs-up, as if to say, 'good job'. But for what?
I looked around . People were laughing and having fun—the complete opposite of my last few years of solitude. I smiled, but why? I wasn't sure... My heart was a ss. Part of wanted to run away, to leave everyone behind and be alone, yet sothing inside craved company. Is that why I stayed? Is that why I chose to save them?
"Thank you, big sis Gaon!" Jieun rushed to , hugging my legs tightly and sinking into my black and gold dress. "You know... ever since I was summoned to this world, I've felt lonely, and I miss my parents and siblings a lot. But… with you around, I feel happy. I want to be as strong as you, so I can train myself and not be in your way next ti!"
The words escaping this little girl's lips didn't match her age at all. She had matured fast—perhaps too fast... I wondered if that was related to the world system and Soul Power. I couldn't help but entertain the thought.
Suddenly, Kang Eun-Woo wrapped his hands around Jieun's waist and lifted her, seating her on his shoulders. "Your big sister needs to rest; she fought hard for us. How about I give you a piggyback ride, hmm?" Jieun was ecstatic, gladly accepting the offer.
Kang Eun-Woo turned to , eyes sparkling, and declared with a smile, "I, Kang Eun-Woo, will serve you as your knight from now on, Lee Gaon. I will stand at your front, shielding you till the day I die! I owe you my life!" His expression was serious, as if he were reporting to a commanding officer.
I sighed, unable to accept his words. "First of all, it's just Gaon—we're friends, right?" I said warmly. "And secondly, you were the first to save , so you don't owe anything. Let's travel together as a team. How about that?" I extended my hand to him.
His face bead like the sun, and he quickly grabbed my hand, squeezing it tightly. "Of course! I'm so happy to have you as a friend. Please, call Eun-Woo from now on, if you don't mind."
"Of course!" We shook hands, sealing our bond.
"Hey! I was the first one to et you, yet I'm the only one you call by my full na..." Kim Seong-Hoon pouted from a distance, either observing the chest or just too afraid to get close to . "That's so unfair! Call Seong-Hoon too!"
"I'd rather die..." I spat, not caring about him in the slightest.
"Aaargh... my heart! You broke my heart!" He started acting like a fool again, clearly feeling better. Should I slice him up, or feed him to a beast soday? Suddenly, he shivered, as if he could sense what I was thinking.
"Enough playing around. I believe each of you gained nine levels, right?" I asked, curious if the party experience had truly been divided equally. Everyone nodded in agreent after checking their profiles.
"Wow! I gained so many stats and skills!" Eun-Woo exclaid, his voice filled with excitent.
" too!" Jieun joined in his celebration. "Look, look! This skill sounds so pretty and mysterious—Celestial Guardian!" Suddenly, the entire hall shook as a ten-ter-long flood dragon, made of celestial light, swam through the space, dancing around us before disappearing into thin air. "So cool!" Jieun was practically screaming in excitent.
"I'm glad you're excited, but what if you make the ceiling crumble on us? Don't let your excitent take over—skills like that should be used outside, not indoors!" Eun-Woo scolded her, which only triggered a cute 'I didn't do it on purpose!' reaction from Jieun.
"You all need to co and check this out!" Kim Seong-Hoon lifted the lid of the golden chest, releasing a powerful aura that filled the entire space with a bright blaze of golden fire. However, the fire didn't burn us; instead, it felt warm, almost nourishing. In that mont, I felt sothing shift deep within— a small golden fire, unknown to , took root in my soul, which one day would change our lives greatly.
"These flas... I can feel my soul growing stronger..." Kim Seong-Hoon spoke in amazent. After all, his soul power was second only to mine.
"What's inside the chest?" I was dying to know what secrets this treasure chest held.
"Woo!" Malrang barked from Kim Seong-Hoon's shoulder, indicating she had spotted sothing amazing.
"So much loot!" Eun-Woo added.
"I want that violet dress!" Jieun was already rushing forward, as if it were Christmas morning.
"Look at this armor! It looks just like the one that monster wore, but it's a perfect fit for !" Eun-Woo grabbed an exact replica of the Fallen King's armor, which would make him look even more striking when wielding his shield and hamr.
"What is this pill?" Jieun asked, picking up a small round object. It was completely purple, with tiny violet flas engraved on its surface.
"Woo!!!" Malrang leapt from Kim Seong-Hoon's shoulder, snatching the core in an instant and eating it imdiately. In the next mont, Malrang grew a few inches taller and sprouted a second tail.
"Malrang! So cute! Let touch your tail!" Jieun quickly gave chase as the fox fled, disappearing into the hall.
"Is it just , or is this chest filled with items that suit each of us perfectly?" Kim Seong-Hoon's words hit like thunder as he pulled out a pure black warrior's hanbok, which looked incredibly sturdy and mysterious, as if not even fire could damage it.
"Then is there anything else inside?" I moved closer to the chest, peeking in, only to find a small black necklace adorned with pure gold. I reached for it, and as soon as my fingers made contact, I felt my soul power surge, as if it were being amplified. "What is this thing...?" Inspect!
[Necklace of the Demon Lord]
[A rare artifact that enhances the user's soul power by 10%]
Again with the demon lord... it sounds cool, but... It deeply concerned , why would I keep running into darkness and why am I drawn so close to it?
"What is that necklace, Gaon? I can't see past it with my Inspect skill." Eun-Woo's face was filled with concern; the item gave off an eerie aura, as if it were an artifact of evil.
"It's just an old necklace that boosts my soul power—nothing special." I had to hide my affinity for darkness and the powers I didn't yet understand myself.
He did not push the topic anymore, I believe he understood that everybody had their own secrets no matter how close we were.
For the next ten minutes, everyone but took turns changing into their new outfits. Jieun now wore a cute violet dress that shimred in deep hues, like a piece of the night sky, adorned with constellations woven in silver and gold. Celestial flas flickered along the flowing sleeves and hem, casting a soft, starlit glow around her as if she wore the heavens themselves.
Kim Seong-Hoon's pure black warrior Hanbok exuded strength and dignity, the silver embroidery and dark steel accents reflecting his pride. Light armor plates on his shoulders and chest added a formidable edge, as if he embodied the essence of a warrior's unyielding spirit. But he still looks like a fool.
Eun-Woo's armor shone with the brilliance of polished gold, encrusted with diamonds that sparkled like stars. The regal breastplate and shoulder guards frad him in light, while a crimson cape flowed from his shoulders, marking him as a warrior-king reborn.
"Are you all done?" I asked impatiently, absentmindedly playing with Malrang's new tail. "We need to move to the second trial area. I'm not sure if any of you heard, but this ti, I won't be able to participate. However, if you succeed, you'll all beco rulers alongside !" I tried to lift their spirits, just as I used to in MMORPG gas when leading a party.
"Hell yeah! Let's go! I can't wait to beco a ruler!" Eun-Woo roared in excitent, while Kim Seong-Hoon and Jieun held hands, swinging them happily. I felt a soft paw tap my cheek as Malrang gave an enthusiastic poke of agreent.
"Let's go!" I shouted, keeping the mood high. "We're ready to proceed to the next trial!" Suddenly, the left side of the wall crumbled, flooding the hall with daylight and making us squint. A new path had opened before us, leading to a brand-new challenge.
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