The thick sll of blood faded, and the rock wall disappeared. Instead of the great dragon’s corpse, a ssy pile of gifts and fallen Rudolph decorations appeared. On the softly spread white carpet, drops of blood trickled down following the path of the thunderbird’s coffin. The blood gradually stained red spots.
“Don’t push it. If you don’t go, then what?”
It was all over. Rauchtas was dead, and my brother was alive. Both were safe. So all that was left was to get out of the dungeon. But now—
“You already have a guess.”
I smiled, holding my brother in my arms.
“That it won’t be easy to get out safely. We can even share skills — that close. Since this is still a dungeon, it’s possible for other entities to remain here. But what if I leave? If Han Yujin becos himself, no longer a monster.”
If the barrier of being a dungeon monster vanished.
“Maybe I’d be fine. Sotis monsters get taken outside the dungeon. Maybe if we don’t interfere and keep our distance, it’d be okay. But Yuhyun...”
Our eyes turned simultaneously toward Yuhyun. His eyes blinked slowly.
“Wasn’t even a boss monster. Right?”
That’s right. I thought Han Yuhyun might be the final boss, but my brother... my brother was just a simple device. Perhaps because he was dead and severed from this world. He wasn’t even a monster.
“Do you think he’d be fine outside the dungeon?”
“...”
“No, even leaving here now isn’t safe. He’s right outside.”
I was talking about the real Yuhyun waiting outside. The imperfect fake facing the real one. It was obvious which one would have problems.
Unlike the two Han Yujins, he might collapse without maintaining his self or be absorbed by the real one.
“...Hyung.”
Yuhyun, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke.
“You can go.”
His hand weakly pushed against my chest. His fingertips trembled, and his face showed undeniable fear. I clicked my tongue as if scolding him, then took his hand.
“What are you saying? I’m not going.”
“But...”
“We won’t be separated anymore. Yuhyun. Never, ever again.”
He said confidently, as if boasting to . The thought struck —he was saying he would never let go of his brother. He wouldn’t let him out of his hands.
That they’d always be together.
“...Hey, still. You never know.”
Even knowing it was useless, I spoke. It was a formal phrase.
“Better to try than just give up.”
“Give up? What are you talking about?”
He frowned as if hearing nonsense.
“Who’s going to die? Hey, this world is here.”
I comforted Yuhyun, and he smiled, not a bit discouraged. His eyes were full of strength.
“This place is real to us. It’s where my brother and I lived and exist together. This is real, and we’re real. You guys are the fake ones who suddenly jumped in.”
“You...”
“So I’m going to live.”
He said with confidence, as if it were obvious.
“I have no intention of dying. I’ll live with my brother until the end.”
“...That...”
“They said the dungeon won’t reset.”
“...They said it’s closing. Too many errors. It wasn’t supposed to exist in the first place.”
“Yeah. Closing, not disappearing. They said it’d stay closed.”
It was just a wishful thought. But whether saying we might be safe outside or that the dungeon world would be maintained, there wasn’t much difference.
Which hope to cling to was Han Yujin’s choice.
“Here, take this.”
Han Yujin took off the coffin and threw it to .
“All the weapons are broken, nothing left.”
“Damn it.”
My heart tightened. I approached the one holding my brother. I wanted to throw one last punch.
“How can you just hand it back so easily when sothing might happen?”
“You said it was a gift. If it were a coat, maybe I’d wipe my mouth with it.”
“But you still have to take care of Yuhyun! There’s no one else here. Haeyeon’s obviously empty, and we wiped out everyone outside.”
Sesung, the Awakened Managent Office, the Hunter Association, and even where Yerim went. Even Riet, whom Noah t, disappeared. Maybe just a few wandering souls remained. Or maybe only two existed here after cleaning up all hunters who were brought in.
Only these two in front of .
“Damn, are you really saying you have no weapons left? Hey, I have an A-rank if I pull out my gun... wait, the gun.”
Since it took long to charge, we hadn’t used the gun last. Of course it should be fine. The other glanced at , then reluctantly pulled out the wildcat gun.
“Take it.”
“No, this—”
Right, that bastard was too. I wanted to hand over the gun, shoes, and jacket, but I had a long road ahead. I took the gun back and pulled out the remaining weapons in the inventory. Other items as well.
“This is a cookie that shrinks your body. I didn’t bring many, just ten. Very useful. I’ll give you a master key too. Three uses. There are plenty of places to loot here. You’ll handle it well. And two single-use teleportation items. Expensive ones. Use them only in real ergencies.”
Since I was leaving now, I poured out almost all potions leaving just a little.
“Organizing the warehouse? This place has a lot of those things.”
“Don’t know if we’ll stay intact. We have to prepare. This is dried fruit. After we leave, get water and food as soon as possible. You know there’s a convenience store right next door? The departnt store’s food section is still there. Canned goods last long.”
“Stop nagging. I ca in because I was worried. Go quickly.”
I waved my hand to hurry him off.
“Take good care of your brother.”
“You don’t have to say it—”
“Don’t die.”
“...”
“Live sohow. No matter what. We’ve lived that way.”
He confidently showed his palm.
“We survive, don’t we? Even now.”
This mont, this ending.
I stepped back. My gaze, which had been on for a mont, shifted to Yuhyun. A gentle look. I turned away. The lobby filled with Christmas decorations ca into view. At the end, toward the door where the noon sunlight stread in, I walked.
“...Sorry, hyung.”
“What for now?”
“Maybe you’ll be fine, but...”
“I’m not going.”
I walked.
“Yeah. But I’m happy. That you stayed. I like that... I shouldn’t say this.”
“Why not? I’m happy too.”
“...Really happy, so happy.”
“Then why cry? Don’t cry. Should I light the candles on the cake? It’s a bit ruined though.”
“But I still like it.”
“Make a wish. I only brought a cake, so what do you want?”
“As long as you’re here, my wish is fulfilled.”
“Then, my dear brother—”
I pushed open the glass door. I cut off the last remaining teacher skill. The sunlight was dazzling. I instinctively squinted, and the waiting people were reflected.
“Hyung!”
I heard my brother’s voice. He ran down the stairs. The wall blocking the way vanished, and Yuhyun ran to .
“What happened, mister?”
“Is that not Yujin’s blood? Are you hurt anywhere?”
Yerim and Noah shouted worriedly. I answered no, that I was fine. I felt the gazes of Seong Hyunjae and Manager Song. Yunyun fled in ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) fright.
“Hyung, hyung is—”
“Let’s go.”
I grabbed Yuhyun’s arm. My brother looked around at Haeyeon Guild, confused. Searching for the invisible .
“But...”
“I left him behind, Yuhyun.”
I looked down at my brother. His black eyes shook faintly and t mine.
“I left him behind.”
“...Hyung.”
“Let’s go.”
We walked. My brother followed quietly. His dry lips opened.
“Your birthday hasn’t co yet. And I’ll buy you a cake myself.”
I handed the coffin back to Yuhyun.
“I already pre-ordered it with your na. The numbered candles are cute. I’ll prepare presents too.”
Like before we parted, preparing everything personally. I’d sing the birthday song myself.
“On the day before your birthday, let’s decorate a big tree. All together.”
“Together?”
“Of course together. A really big one, maybe in the rooftop garden? It’s been a long ti since we made a Christmas tree.”
“I only saw one at my uncle’s house.”
We reached the road. Stopped and turned back. The Haeyeon Guild building was quiet. The glass windows glittered with sunlight. It looked like a Christmas decoration itself, for a blessed day.
“So, let’s go ho.”
I missed ho deeply. I wanted to sleep soundly with no thoughts, wake up with no troubles, eat breakfast, and sit side by side on the sofa chatting about nothing.
“...Yeah, hyung. Let’s go ho.”
Yuhyun nodded. No one asked what happened to . Yerim made a big water drop. I took off my coat and put it in the inventory, then washed my face. The dirty water was quickly replaced with clean water. I dunked my head fully in.
The warm water was refreshing.
“Thanks, Yerim. I appreciate it.”
I returned the ring and shawl to Yerim. I handed the handcuffs to Manager Song.
“Used them well.”
“Not by .”
“They’re borrowed, so naturally from the owner.”
Manager Song declined, but I pushed with the excuse that sothing might still happen. Then I thanked Noah and looked at Seong Hyunjae.
“Ahem, Silekia is mine now.”
“Sorry I couldn’t help.”
“No, saying that makes feel guilty. The coat was great. The electricity too. It was very helpful.”
Seong Hyunjae smiled. Sothing was suspicious. Since last night’s overnight work, he seed distracted. Though usually hard to read.
“They say the gate opened at Sesung Guild. The dungeon is unstable, so hurry out.”
Young Chaos received the ssage as a newbie. Yerim found Yunyun and brought her, and Noah teleported. Noah rode on Young Chaos’s back and headed for Sesung Guild. The day city was visible below the long cloud road in the sky. The Han River flowed far away.
My heart fluttered slightly at the startled flock of pigeons taking flight.
“Even if there are no people, there seem to be animals.”
“That’s usually how dungeons are.”
True, we had eaten live lobster. Maybe fish swam in the river. The world was quiet but not completely still.
Soon we arrived in front of the ruined Sesung Guild building. I half-expected it, but there was no sign of life. From Noah’s view on the rooftop, it was empty. Ownerless tables and chairs scattered.
The dungeon gate glowed near the broken stairs.
“Is the elder passing away?”
“Yes.”
“We’ll see him again soon. He has to teach the kids.”
“Kids?”
“Our third, Yerim, too.”
Young Chaos looked puzzled as if to ask when.
“Oh, age is age—”
“The oldest?”
“Please take care of him, our great, kind, strongest, and coolest elder of chaos in the universe.”
“Just hurry out of here.”
He clicked his tongue briefly, and Young Chaos disappeared. Now we really had to leave.
“I don’t know how long we’ve been outside. Should ask, newbie?”
I called, but no answer. If a day passed outside too, maybe the military was waiting. So Seong Hyunjae and Song Taewon decided to go out first.
About ten minutes after they left, we stepped into the gate. Everything flashed white and then... huh?
“What’s this?”
We stopped in a bright white space. Normally the ruined island should appear imdiately. Maybe the location changed? But no one else was here but .
“Yuhyun? Yerim?”
I called for the others, even Peace, but no response or sign. Could this be another error? Newbie?
“I had fun!”
Then, a lively voice was heard. Recognizing it made suddenly alert, but the scenery changed. Familiar figures floated in a lush forest.
“You...!”
“It was really fun!”
Ruga, the King of Innocence, clapped his hands with both hands instead of tentacles and laughed broadly.
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