The EX-Class Extra o Chapter 84 : Chapter 84

Chapter 84: Growth (3)

“Shall we try heading left from here?”

“Yeah. Let us do as you say, Yu-seong.”

After their heavy conversation ended, Kim Su-hyeok and Choi Yu-seong imdiately set off. Staying still was not going to improve their situation. On the surface, it seed as though the serious talk had been forgotten, but that was rely an appearance.

‘Composure... judgnt...’

Kim Su-hyeok’s mind was still filled with the conversation they had just shared. He kept thinking about the advice Choi Yu-seong had given him.

‘Those words really do suit Yu-seong well.’

Even as he walked, Kim Su-hyeok continued to reflect. He felt that the words Choi Yu-seong used perfectly described the man himself. The composure and coolness he showed even when an unexpected situation occurred, and the judgnt he displayed while steadily navigating a maze inside a cave that could lead anywhere—every word fit him perfectly.

‘Yu-seong is truly amazing.’

That was what Kim Su-hyeok thought. Choi Yu-seong was a truly remarkable friend. He did not an it in a simple sense of martial power.

‘To believe in himself so firmly and act on it.’

That appearance of believing in himself without being swayed by others—to Kim Su-hyeok, that felt more impressive than anything else.

‘Co to think of it, he has been like that since we first t.’

Although it had not been long since they t, the mory felt like the distant past. In those mories, Choi Yu-seong was always the sa. He was a friend who always had faith in himself regarding whatever he did. He was a friend who stood his ground and carried out his will without being shaken by what others said. That was Choi Yu-seong.

‘...A very different look from mine.’

He was not like that. No, even now, he could not be like that. Look at how he was so shaken by just a few words. Choi Yu-seong had told him not to be swayed, but that was an incredibly difficult task.

‘What should I do?’

In truth, there was a reason Kim Su-hyeok acted this way. It was the difference in their goals. Unlike Choi Yu-seong’s goal to "save the heroes," the goal that moved Kim Su-hyeok—"justice"—was sothing very difficult. Justice is sothing so lofty that it is often vague and uncertain. In a way, it might be an answer that never cos, even if one ponders it for a lifeti.

It was then, as Kim Su-hyeok continued to worry with a grave expression.

“Are you still thinking about what I said?”

Choi Yu-seong’s voice drifted over as he diligently looked for the path. Kim Su-hyeok replied with a weak laugh.

“Haha... I suppose I cannot help but have a lot on my mind.”

“I told you to take it lightly. You do not need to be so serious.”

“Yeah. But it is still not easy.”

He told him to take it lightly, but that was easier said than done. Although Kim Su-hyeok laughed a lot and often seed lighthearted, he did not live his life with a light heart. Choi Yu-seong, knowing this, remained silent for a mont before continuing.

“...In truth, a person cannot have only strengths, can they?”

“Huh?”

“What might be a strength to one person could be a weakness to another.”

Since they were walking forward, Kim Su-hyeok could not see Choi Yu-seong’s face. However, his voice seed to be reminiscing about the past. Even without seeing his expression, the voice had a captivating quality that drew the listener in.

“That is true for everyone. It is not just about one person.”

“...”

“Even a god is not revered by everyone, so how can a human expect to have only strengths and be loved by everyone? That would be the height of arrogance.”

Kim Su-hyeok did not respond, but Choi Yu-seong continued the conversation as if it were fine for him to just listen.

“But humans are different from gods. Do you understand what I an?”

“...No. I am not quite sure.”

“I told you not to be so discouraged. Being full of confidence is what makes you, you.”

Kim Su-hyeok found himself chuckling at the words that seed to scold him while also looking out for him. Since he was going that far to encourage him, it would be rude to keep acting dejected. Kim Su-hyeok tried to speak with a brighter voice than before.

“Thank you for worrying about . So, what did you an?”

“Yeah. That is the spirit. Well, to be honest, it is not an especially deep story.”

Choi Yu-seong seed sowhat relieved to see Kim Su-hyeok cheer up. At the sa ti, he answered the question.

“A god must be noble and always be omnipotent alone. But that is not the case for humans, is it?”

“...”

“In short, it ans we can complent each other’s weaknesses.”

“Complent each other’s?”

“Yeah. And that is also your greatest strength, Su-hyeok.”

Kim Su-hyeok was puzzled. His greatest strength? Where in those words was his strength ntioned? However, that doubt was soon resolved by Choi Yu-seong’s explanation.

“A person who is kind to everyone and warm to anyone. That is you.”

“Uh...”

“Because of that, you are a precious person to others as well.”

Choi Yu-seong spoke as he listed Kim Su-hyeok’s precious friends one by one.

“Ju Ha-yeon, Ryu Jin-oh, and Ha Eun-ha, whom you have known for a long ti. Also, Oh Jin-on and Do Gang-ho, whom you recently beca friends with.”

“...”

“There might be others I do not know, and there will be others you will get to know in the future.”

Choi Yu-seong’s voice sounded sowhat proud, even though it was not about himself. However, Kim Su-hyeok did not notice that part and simply focused on his words.

“You just need to complent those others. Humans are not beings ant to live alone.”

“...Is that so?”

“Of course. So you do not need to take what I said too seriously. The reason I said those things was not because I wanted you to change, but because I wanted you to rember them occasionally.”

With that, Choi Yu-seong stopped speaking. It ant the conversation was over. But this was enough. Kim Su-hyeok’s wavering heart had beco much firr than before.

‘That is right. Yu-seong is correct.’

He knew it anyway. He knew that no matter how much he worried, he would not change. In the end, if the sa situation occurred, he would act the sa way again.

‘In that case, I just need a friend to navigate those situations with.’

He just needed a friend who could complent his reckless side. And he could complent that friend’s weaknesses. Of course, that process would not be easy. A relationship where one can open their heart and risk their life is never easily ford. But it was fine.

‘I already knew the path I wanted to take would not be easy.’

Justice. Was it any more difficult than the path of pursuing that? If he thought of it that way, it was easier to accept. No matter how hard it might be, it would only be a part of the path he intended to walk. And if he thought about it a bit more flexibly, wouldn't it be enjoyable? They might fight sotis because they do not see eye to eye, but their friendship would grow deeper through that process.

‘It is not bad.’

For Kim Su-hyeok, if not for others, that was a form of joy. A mindset that thinks positively about most things, if not everything—that was also one of Kim Su-hyeok’s strengths. Having found peace of mind, Kim Su-hyeok suddenly recalled a question that had not occurred to him earlier.

‘Co to think of it...’

When listing the nas of his friends, why did Yu-seong leave out his own na? It might have been a minor detail, but strangely, Kim Su-hyeok had a good intuition for these things. Unfortunately, he did not know how to follow that intuition.

‘Well, he probably just left it out because it was embarrassing. Yu-seong is also a precious friend to .’

Indeed, in a way, it was a natural reaction. From Kim Su-hyeok’s perspective, how could he know? He did not know that in Choi Yu-seong’s heart, he did not hold a place as a friend, but was thought of solely as a hero to be admired.

To Choi Yu-seong, Kim Su-hyeok was not a comrade-in-arms to walk beside, but an object of admiration to be protected even at the cost of his own life.

It was then, as Kim Su-hyeok continued his slightly mistaken misunderstanding.

“Su-hyeok.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“It looks like this is our destination. What do you think?”

Choi Yu-seong asked as he stopped walking. Drawn by those words, Kim Su-hyeok looked ahead...

“Uh... I think so too.”

He had no choice but to agree. What appeared before his eyes was not the continuous maze they had been traveling through. Instead, there was a magnificent building and nurous giant statues situated within a vast space.

***

‘Hmm, it is exactly as described.’

I quietly admired the scenery unfolding before my eyes. At the end of that dense cave maze was a massive space I had not expected. And filling that space were a trendous number of giant statues. It was exactly as described in the novel.

‘It was called... a temple, right?’

I looked at the place before

and recalled the text I had read in the past. In that text, it clearly said...

After wandering through an unknown location, Kim Su-hyeok finally reached the end. And he was thrilled.

The statues boasting grandeur and the massive, spectacular sight. It was enough to steal the heart of any observer.

Perhaps because of that, Kim Su-hyeok did not seem to notice. The appearance of the statues standing as if they were guarding sothing.

Yes. This place was surely a great temple ant to commorate sothing.

...That was what was written.

‘Well, there was no explanation as to what the temple was for.’

Anyway, that was not the important part. This was what mattered: this mysterious temple would cough up a very good reward if only it were cleared.

‘To be honest, it was a part I did not quite understand while reading the novel...’

If the reward here had not changed, it would definitely be a sword. An extrely powerful S-Rank sword. This was the part I did not understand.

‘It is true that the difficulty here is high, but it was not at a level that should grant an S-Rank reward. An S-Rank is not sothing you just find lying around, is it?’

But now, it made so sense. It was likely a chanism similar to Waryong’s Dungeon. It could be explained to so extent if the process of finding the hidden piece was included.

‘Originally, Kim Su-hyeok found this place by luck.’

In the original work, it was explained that the cave maze was unimaginably vast. It ant that without the protagonist’s luck, it would have been impossible to find.

‘I would not even have thought of coming here if there had been no explanation in the novel.’

At the ti, I was angry, wondering why the author wasted thirteen chapters on maze exploration... The author must have known everything. He knew there would be so fellow who would watch it until the end and eventually end up inside the novel.

‘Damn it, how did you know...’

Even I, the person involved, did not know. How on earth did he know? If he was going to send

here anyway, it would have been nice if he had provided a detailed explanation. Hmm, was it because he thought I wouldn't co if he did? I would have co anyway, though.

...It was then, as I was having those useless thoughts.

[Visitor. Prove your worth.]

A voice was heard, but rather than being spoken aloud, it felt as though it struck directly into my mind. It was a very neutral voice, neither male nor female.

It seed the main event of this gate was finally beginning.