"What are you doing out here so late?" The voice cut through the chilly night air like a blade, sharp and teasing, stopping Jae dead in his tracks.
His stomach twisted, a mix of annoyance and dread churning in his gut. He didn’t need to turn around to know who it was, only one person in this castle had that smug, playful tone that made Jae want to punch sothing and laugh at the sa ti.
Byun. Of course it was Byun, the golden-haired noble who’d saved his ass from Sun earlier and now seed hell-bent on sticking his nose where it didn’t belong.
Jae turned slowly, his boots scuffing against the cobblestone path outside the castle’s side exit. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and pine, the kind of sll that clung to your clothes and reminded you the world was alive, even at this ungodly hour.
"I could ask you the sa thing," Jae shot back, keeping his voice steady but sharp, his eyes narrowing at Byun’s silhouette in the shadows.
The boy leaned against a stone pillar, his muscular fra relaxed but his smirk practically glowing in the dark, like he was enjoying this way too much.
He shrugged, his shoulders rolling with that easy, carefree vibe that made Jae’s jaw clench. "My dad’s got so late-night business with the king. I tagged along to keep things interesting."
He tilted his head, his ruffled hair catching the faint glow of a nearby torch, making him look like so kind of cocky prince from a storybook. "But you, sneaking out like a thief? That’s a story I gotta hear. Where you headed, scrawny?"
Jae’s mind raced, his heart thumping so loud he was sure Byun could hear it. The Lust System’s glowing red dot still burned in his mory, pointing to that spider-infested cave miles away. He couldn’t tell Byun the truth, not about the system, the cave, or the fact that he’d be screwed if he didn’t go.
But lying outright felt risky; Byun was sharp, the kind of guy who’d sniff out a bad lie faster than a hound. Jae settled on a half-truth, the words coming out before he could overthink it.
"I’m going to check on my mom," he said, his voice low but firm. "The news about the palace ca last night, and this morning they dragged here. I barely got to say goodbye. I have to make sure she’s okay."
Byun’s smirk softened, just a fraction, and for a second, Jae thought he saw sothing real in those sharp eyes, sympathy, maybe, or at least understanding.
"Damn, that’s rough," Byun said, crossing his arms. "But you’re not getting past the palace gates without a pass, man. You know that, right?"
Jae shifted uncomfortably, his hand instinctively brushing the pocket where he’d stuffed his tattered shirt. "Yeah, well, I was planning to just... sneak out," he admitted, his voice dropping to a sheepish mutter.
He braced for Byun to laugh, to call him an idiot, but instead, the noble let out a loud, barking laugh that echoed off the stone walls, making Jae flinch.
"Sneak out? Of the palace?" Byun said, his voice dripping with amusent as he clutched his stomach like Jae had just told the best joke ever. "Buddy, nobody sneaks out of this place. It’s a fortress, not a barn. You’d have better luck sneaking into a dragon’s den."
He shook his head, still chuckling, then paused, his eyes glinting with that mischievous spark Jae was starting to recognize. "Hold up. I got you."
Byun reached into his pocket, fishing out a small, silver coin that caught the torchlight with a dull gleam. He tossed it to Jae, who caught it on reflex, the tal cold against his palm.
"Show that to the guards at the gate," Byun said, his tone light but with a hint of seriousness. "Tell ’em you need passage. They’ll let you through."
Jae stared at the coin, its intricate engravings barely visible in the dim light. "Why are you helping ?" he asked, his voice tinged with suspicion. Byun was a noble, the kind of guy who could’ve let Sun puml him earlier and not batted an eye. Yet here he was, handing out favors like they were candy.
Byun grinned, all teeth and charm. "’Cause you’re interesting, scrawny. Plus, I like pissing off the system." He winked, like he knew more than he was letting on, and Jae’s gut twisted with unease. Did Byun suspect sothing about the system?
No, that was impossible. Still, Jae muttered a quick, "Thanks," and turned toward the gate, the coin heavy in his hand.
At the gate, two guards lood like statues, their armor clanking softly as they shifted. Jae’s heart pounded as he held up the coin, his voice steady despite the sweat prickling his neck.
"I need to pass," he said. The guards squinted at the coin, then at him, their eyes narrowing like they were sizing up a stray dog. "Who gave you that?" one demanded, his voice gruff.
Jae jerked a thumb over his shoulder, where Byun leaned casually against the pillar, waving like he was at a parade. The guards exchanged a look, then nodded, stepping aside. "Go," the gruff one grunted, and Jae didn’t waste a second, slipping through the gate and into the night.
The trek to the cave was brutal. The air was cold, sharp with the scent of pine and wet dirt, and every step sent a jolt through Jae’s tired legs. His boots crunched on the gravel path, the sound loud in the eerie quiet of the countryside.
At one point, a prickle ran down his spine, like eyes were boring into him from the shadows. He froze, scanning the dark fields and twisted trees, his hand twitching toward where his Mana Blade would form if he needed it.
Nothing. Just the wind rustling the grass. He shook it off, telling himself he was paranoid, but his pulse didn’t slow until he was moving again.
Finally, the cave lood ahead, a black maw in the hillside, its entrance jagged like broken teeth. Jae’s lips curled into a tired smile. "I’m back, old friend," he muttered, his voice thick with exhaustion but laced with determination.
He stepped inside, the air turning damp and heavy, slling of mold and sothing sour, like death. The familiar darkness swallowed him, and his heart kicked up a notch.
Spiders. Always freaking spiders. He was getting quite good at killing them, slicing legs, dodging webs, but part of him wished the system would throw sothing new at him. A wolf, maybe, or a troll. Anything to break the monotony of eight-legged nightmares.
He gripped his fists, ready for whatever the cave had in store, and plunged deeper into the dark.
Reviews
All reviews (0)