“Well, if you do anything foolish in this situation, you’ll get pelted to death.”
“I just got my heart racing a bit......”
To be recognized by soone so many admire and revere. To even receive their thanks. They relied on to protect them. I couldn’t help but grin. My chest swelled and my shoulders straightened with pride.
Seong Hyun-jae leaned close to Song Taewon and whispered.
“Right now, this is what we must do for these people.”
Accept their protection and express our gratitude. Seong Hyun-jae reached out his hand. Song Taewon looked at it with an utterly unfamiliar expression. Taewon didn’t want to be protected. But these people had stepped forward to defend him.
It wasn’t only for Taewon. Seong Hyun-jae was making it clear: everyone here had taken up arms for themselves. To safeguard the proud image of rescuing soone and standing against the enemy.
So there was no refusing it. Song Taewon bowed his head as well. The Hunters from the residence quarters, bashful yet joyful, showed beaming faces. Everyone was smiling, utterly fulfilled and proud.
[That’s strange. Usually they’d turn on each other at a ti like this.]
Park Ha-yul cocked her head. Even if they didn’t all betray one another, they’d normally split into two factions and bicker. Instead, they seed tighter than before. Han Yujin finally snapped a vine and spat it out.
[I know that feeling well. It’s exhilarating. You’d almost risk your life for it.]
And they weren’t even hard at this point. At Han Yujin’s words, Park Ha-yul puffed out her cheek in displeasure.
[You trust people way too easily. No wonder you got friendly with Guildmaster Se-seong!]
[Hey, even if that self-important clown tried to protect , I’d have kicked him away! If I’d trusted him, ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) I’d already be stuck in so corner of Seong Hyun-jae’s mansion, forgotten and dumped, drowning myself in alcohol!]
[The world’s dangerous, you know!]
Han Yujin cursed. His swears sounded like a songbird to Park Ha-yul, who chuckled and cocked her head again.
[Then just push them away. Send a bunch of monsters at them~]
[Park Ha-yul.]
Han Yujin caught his breath and continued.
[You still haven’t learned to use your power properly. Or maybe there’s so restriction—]
[Ah, oppa!]
The feed cut off. A dragon atop the castle let out a thunderous roar, and monsters began to appear around the battlents.
“Co at us all at once!”
“I’m a dragon slayer!”
“ too, dragon slayer! Many dragon kills!”
“In-ga?”
“Monhan!”
“I pretty much get it all.”
“Shields up, to the front! Uh, front!”
“Spear! Lance, shield gap!”
Those who conjured makeshift shields awkwardly stepped forward. Soldiers and Hunters wedged themselves in to reinforce. Thud—earth trembled as monster packs charged. A colossal buffalo at the front swung its horned head savagely. These beasts were larger and stronger than those summoned by moonlight.
-Moooooo!
Thunk! Its horn slamd into a shield, hurling the wielder high into the air. Boom, thud—more monsters lunged with their shields. The front lines collapsed. In a real battle, such a sight would break morale, but these people didn’t retreat. If a gap opened, they seized the opportunity and surged forward.
“Let’s catch at least one and break it!”
“The concert’s over! Off! They’re all funneling in here!”
“My monster!”
The monsters that had charged in with fervor barely advanced before halting. Then—
-Kururuk
Claws scraped the ground. Hooves carved long lines in the stone. The monster horde slowly began to yield ground.
It was my mistake. I underestimated Park Ha-yul. I’d thought communication felt stilted both in Korea and China, but I never expected soone who’d understand less than a foreigner. We were speaking the sa Korean, yet she comprehended even less.
“That’s a secret!”
“You talk like an omnipotent god, but what you do isn’t much.”
Park Ha-yul’s ability was formidable enough. But at best she could conjure castles, thorned briars, and summon monsters. Their stats seed only mid to low rank. Even the dragon appeared only upper-mid.
“Is it because the mana in this world is still unstable?”
“It’s because I haven’t fully awakened yet! This is my first ti doing any of this. But I’ll soon be like a god.”
“What wish would you grant?”
I forced myself not to show my dry mouth.
“How great could it be? If you truly awaken.”
“Um, I don’t know exactly, but it’ll be amazing! Why, do you have a wish, oppa? Want to go take down Guildmaster Se-seong for you?”
Park Ha-yul grinned. Could this nutcase send back to the snow-covered tree and bring back with Yuhyun? I shifted my gaze to the moonlight filtering through the window. It felt too uncertain, talking about my twenty-five-year-old brother.
‘...Does this lunatic even dislike Yuhyun?’
“Wow, so many people.”
Though I’d cut the public feed, the crowd outside still shimred before my eyes. Park Ha-yul frowned.
“They’ll reach the castle eventually.”
“They’ll only grow in number. Seeing the dragon not move, maybe its first breath was all it had?”
“It’s hard to maintain the illusion far from the castle! We need to reinforce the walls more. Still, they won’t save you, oppa.”
Park Ha-yul said confidently and switched the feed back on. Yuhyun appeared on the screen.
“...I told them not to touch my brother.”
“If you really like your brother, you’ll pass this trial~ Don’t worry, oppa. Once you make it here safely, I’ll send everyone back in one piece—just like you asked~”
I wasn’t part of “everyone.” But I had a plan.
‘If this idiot falls for it, it’s possible.’
He was so loose a few screws were missing—he’d go for it. I exhaled and looked at Park Ha-yul with a softer expression.
“It’s a promise. And let go. I won’t run.”
“You keep trying to hit my head.”
“I was curious what’s inside. I won’t hit you.”
Even if I broke it open, it’d be empty and gleaming—like a bathroom cleaned with bleach. Park Ha-yul humd, pretending to ponder, then released . A table and chairs appeared. The vase on the table brimd with flowers.
“Oppa, aren’t you hungry? Want so coffee?”
“I’m not hungry.”
Who could eat in this situation? I ignored Park Ha-yul’s coffee and cake and watched the feed. Seong Hyun-jae’s side was fine. Neither he nor Manager Song were visible—they were safely protected—and people were slowly pushing back the monsters. Our side suffered more damage, but reinforcents arrived in greater numbers than those lost.
‘Even if they wake from being attacked, they’ll just fall asleep again.’
It’s hard to fall back asleep startled awake, but not impossible. Where was Hwangrim? He’d been absent the whole ti. I was uneasy that there was still no word from Noah or Riette, but given the circumstances, being on the offense was safer.
‘The real problem is Yuhyun’s side.’
I saw my brother walking down a dim corridor. Moon Hyun-ah led, followed by Yuhyun, then Peace, and finally Ye-rim in front of Peace. They hadn’t been hurt yet, but Park Ha-yul wouldn’t have left them undefended.
“Let help too, oppa.”
“Then risk your life and fight.”
“Chii.”
The castle was classic Western-fantasy style. There’d be traps everywhere. Watching helplessly made my mouth go dry. I’d faced monsters in dungeons plenty, but traps were unfamiliar. Then Hyun-ah raised her hand, signaling to stop.
[The wall’s texture is a bit different.]
She began shooting at the wall. Bang—bullets ricocheted everywhere. Then—
Crack!
Spears shot from the wall, embedding in the opposite side. After a few checks, Moon Hyun-ah stepped forward alone. Yuhyun and Ye-rim watched closely where she stepped. Just as they nearly passed through—
Click.
The floor beneath Hyun-ah gave way with a quiet sound. She leapt clear, but faster still—
Whoosh! Arrows rained down.
[Ugh, even if it’s a dream...]
An arrow pierced Hyun-ah’s arm. She closed her eyes, murmured sothing small, and drew it out. No blood spattered. The wound vanished almost imdiately.
‘Because it’s a dream.’
With proper mind control, such tricks were possible. Yuhyun and Ye-rim marked safe spots on the floor and crossed, Peace leapt over by following their marks.
“That was too easy.”
Park Ha-yul grumbled. One more tap on the head might do. I sighed.
“But it’ll get harder as we go.”
I wanted to shake her like a rag doll and dust off the dirt. She said,
“Coffee. Very hot.”
“Yes~ oppa~ Here—ack!”
As soon as I handed her the coffee, she flung it at Park Ha-yul. The scalding drink splashed, and she hopped around screaming. Do never try this, kids.
“Oppa!”
“It was a mistake.”
“I won’t give you hot drinks anymore!”
“Then bring soda with ice cubes.”
Of course, she aid the soda at Park Ha-yul’s face too. I spoke gently to the protesting girl.
“You know how close friends play around. Haven’t you heard? I once dumped wine on Seong Hyun-jae’s head. Most of my friends are S-Ranks, so we show affection by tossing cups and smashing bottles. Actually, I wrecked Seong Hyun-jae’s house myself.”
“...Really?”
“Yeah.”
Idiot.
Moon Hyun-ah, climbing the stairs, stared at the wall. Yuhyun, Ye-rim, and Peace all looked at the sa spot. ...It was my portrait.
[Kind of creepy, right?]
[This is outright insane.]
Ye-rim and Hyun-ah’s comnts rolled off Yuhyun. He didn’t see why they were so disgusted.
[There was a statue on the first floor too.]
[Over ten in a row.]
Damn, I got chills too. As they climbed the remaining stairs—
Rumble!
The steps collapsed. Yuhyun snagged Hyun-ah’s sleeve, leaning back to bear the weight. Ye-rim grabbed her too, pulling her up.
[Wow, nearly woke up. You can’t just jump over without thinking.]
[Peace could. Tear down that curtain below to make a rope.]
Ye-rim and Peace went down, tore a curtain, and ca back up. They fashioned a long rope, gave it to Peace. The three stepped back, and Peace took a running leap to clear the gap. Then they all crossed by sliding along the rope.
“I thought at least one would fall! But next ti you can’t dodge it!”
Park Ha-yul boasted, and my fist clenched on its own. A wide chamber appeared at the stair’s end. Hyun-ah signaled to wait, then entered first. Halfway across—
Boom!
[Unni!]
An explosion shook the room. Flas shot up to the high ceiling, then subsided. I reflexively grabbed Park Ha-yul by the collar.
“You crazy bastard!”
“Heh, only one person... huh?”
[Shit. That really startled .]
It was Moon Hyun-ah. Soot-blackened, she dusted off her clothes and trembled all over.
[That almost woke up this ti.]
“What the hell! Why do you keep holding on!”
Park Ha-yul cried injustice, and Ye-rim started to rush to Hyun-ah, but Hyun-ah motioned her to stop.
[Let check the rest.]
[Unni, are you okay?]
[I’m fine. I can still handle it. It’s just a dream anyway. If I don’t wake up, it doesn’t matter.]
...Normally she would wake. Hyun-ah was really amazing.
“That’s cheating! You’re a bug character!”
Park Ha-yul sat down again, letting go of Hyun-ah’s collar. I had to cheer for Hyun-ah now. She continued blocking and dismantling traps with her body. Yuhyun and Ye-rim aligned their movents in support. When strength or speed was needed, Peace took action.
[Open the castle gates!]
On the other feed, the crowd drew ever closer to the walls. The gates and walls didn’t budge, so ladders were brought up. Monsters tried to stop them, but the numbers were overwhelming. One by one, they scaled the walls and reached the castle proper.
[Break the windows!]
[There’s a balcony up there!]
[Grrrrr!]
[Dragon! Dragon!]
The dragon that had perched atop the roof began to move. Cracks spread, the roof collapsed, and the massive beast rocketed toward the ground with a roar. Its breath incinerated dozens of people at once. Yet even more scaled the walls.
[The dragon’s descended!]
[Helicopters!]
No sooner did the dragon clear the battlents than helicopters and fighter jets arrived. Under fighter escort, troops leapt from the large chopper. Trained soldiers clung precisely to the battlents, lowering sturdy rope ladders. They even descended onto balconies and windows, stringing more ladders in succession.
“This is annoying!”
“What? Isn’t this exactly the scene you wanted? Countless people rushing in to rescue the princess trapped in the castle.”
“Oppa! Only the real prince should enter!”
“Among them might be a prince willing to kiss you.”
“Oh, is that why?”
Park Ha-yul turned to . A foreboding stirred.
“Maybe you didn’t fully wake because you didn’t get the proper kiss, oppa!”
“Hey! Right now I’m the princess, okay? Find your kiss sowhere else!”
“Breaker Guildmaster?”
It suited him. Hyun-ah really looked like a prince charming. anwhile, Moon Hyun-ah burst through an arrow-riddled corridor, ripping a statue’s shield to block the critical strikes and charging on. Definitely cool.
[The switch is up there, young master!]
Yuhyun took a running jump. Hyun-ah threw the shield at his feet. Bounding off it precisely, Yuhyun soared nearly to the ceiling. His outstretched hand hit a lever-style switch. He pulled it, and a closed door swung wide. Peace and Ye-rim spread a curtain to catch the falling Yuhyun safely.
“We’re almost there! People are pouring into the castle too!”
“Keep your promise.”
“What promise?”
“You agreed to send everyone back safely!”
Park Ha-yul grinned brazenly.
“Oppa, he’s the evil lord destroying the world. Villains don’t keep promises~”
I wasn’t surprised, but that damn brat! Sleeping Beauty my ass—more like the Demon King pretending to be a princess! Vines sprouted from my arms and legs, coiling around the charging Park Ha-yul. Rumble, the entire castle shook violently.
“But you know, I feel much stronger now. My power.”
“Park Ha-yul!”
Bang! Soone pounded on the closed door. Thud! Thud! The door splintered.
“Oppa!”
“Brother!”
“Mister!”
The three who burst in froze at the sight of bound there. Peace growled but didn’t attack. Park Ha-yul sighed heavily.
“This is a wreck.”
Rumble! The castle shook again, parts collapsing. The roof and surrounding walls disappeared, revealing the gathering crowd. So spotted us and shouted. Walls crumbled above them. Thud, rumble, dust billowed, and the dragon grew even larger. The towering turret crumbled floor by floor with thuds. The ground beneath us only sank without shaking. At a height of barely two floors, Park Ha-yul glared at Yuhyun’s group.
“I thought you’d stay with , oppa!”
Damn. It was dangerous. Chills ran down my spine as I shouted.
“Ha-yul! I can leave anyti!”
Park Ha-yul, about to attack Yuhyun, hesitated and looked at .
“If the system applies, I can depart imdiately!”
“Uh... then I have to take a hostage? Why do you keep trying to run away?”
All eyes turned to us. The dust cloud began to settle. I saw Seong Hyun-jae and Director Song making their way toward us.
“Then let’s make a contract.”
“Wait, oppa!”
Moon Hyun-ah shouted as if to stop . Ye-rim looked startled too.
“I can forge a contract that even I can’t break?”
“I think it’ll work.”
“I’m going to sign a contract saying I belong to you. Then I can’t run away.”
Never. Park Ha-yul blinked, then smiled.
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