Chapter 5.1

'...What?!...' thought the girl, surprised, when she was pulled by Hye.

The only second, in which the blue hand was still coming towards them, was enough for that girl's heart to suddenly accelerate. And with her head resting against Hye's chest, she found herself wondering if those heartbeats were hers or the person in front of her.

She even tried to pull away from him, but Hye only increased the amount of strength he was using to hold her back, and stopped her from doing so. Then, when the girl heard the sound of what sounded like the impact of two guns colliding, she turned her head a little and understood why that man had done that.

Right behind her was a strange being, half human and half snake, who was obviously planning to attack her.

'A lamia? ...' thought the girl, at the same moment she saw that monster.

Hye tried to force his dagger forward, to try to inflict some wound on that monster. However, thanks to the thick and resistant scales that covered much of her body, including her hands, it was impossible for him to be able to do something like that.

Then, with nothing to do, much less time to think, as the other hand of the blade was also coming towards him, Hye held tight to the girl's waist, and quickly jumped back.

But that didn't do much good, because at the same moment he did that, the blade didn't give him much room and quickly headed toward her.

"What an annoying monster..." muttered Hye.

However, when Hye's feet hit the ground again, he immediately picked up momentum and went towards the blade, which without a chance for any kind of reaction, in moments, had its head cut off.

[You received 55 points!]

[Total points earned: 8177]

After killing that monster, Hye quickly released the girl, as he was already doubting if he could control her feelings, which she aroused. And when he released her, he was quite surprised with the calmness that that girl approached the body of the blade.

“…Really, it's a lamia… But how?” murmured the girl, standing, looking intently at the body in front of her.

-What's it? Why do you keep looking at this corpse so much? – asked Hye, as he approached the body.

-As I said before, it seems that there really is something wrong with this dungeon.-

-Something wrong?-

-This is a lamia, a monster that would normally only appear in C-rank dungeons. But the guild information said this is a D-rank one. So how could there be such a monster here?

-So what? Do you think this dungeon is a fusion between dungeons? -

-...Not. Dungeon merges only happen in B-rank and up dungeons, so I don't think that's it.

–So it was just a mistake by the association?–

-Perhaps? I don't know, but… How are you so calm, even knowing that this could be a C rank dungeon, or even a double? – Asked the girl, while looking at Hye.

-Like?...-

Hye didn't answer her, not least because even he didn't know. It was obvious that this would be a horrible situation in anyone else's eyes, but for him it wasn't quite like that. Because the first time he saw that girl and awoke that sudden feeling, for some reason, the fear that he hadn't felt for a while resurfaced for a few moments with him. However, strangely now that did not happen.

Unlike before, when Hye was scared to be in front of those ants. Now, when face to face with a lamia, which just because of the difference in rank of its dungeons would be clearly more powerful, he felt nothing. Not a simple hesitation, much less fear.

But something strange happened. For even if the feelings he lost long ago have not returned, at least not completely. For some reason, Hye felt apprehensive when he realized that this girl's life was in danger. And as he looked at her face, which kept a calm expression, he wondered why that was.

However, he didn't have much time to think about it. For, suddenly, looking around, Hye and the girl found themselves surrounded by other lamias. And seeing them, he had to have almost an instant reaction. Because for some reason, again, all five of those monsters headed towards the girl.

With a simple swing of his dagger, Hye easily killed the lamia that was coming up behind them, slicing it in half. He pulled the girl into her arms, and started to run as he said, "Damn it." Why do these damn snakes keep coming after you?

[You received 55 points!]

[You have leveled up!]

[Current level: 128]

[status

Name: Jeong Hye

Level: 128

Stamina: 130

Strength: 142

Speed: 138

Agility: 140

Mana: 23k

Total points earned: 8232]

– They say the lamias are quite intelligent, so it's obvious that they would attack the easiest target first.

-And because it seems to me that you are not even a little worried about it? It's your life that's at risk here.–

-...Weird is not it? ...But I don't know...For some reason I don't feel scared or frightened...I guess I'm now feeling...safe?

Hye looked at the girl for a moment, and after sighing, he said -... But what a great sense of security you have... -

-Isn't it? - Said the girl, while she showed a small smile.

Hye looked around, but there was nowhere he could hide that girl, as the whole place was open, not even a rock or hole in sight. And besides he didn't even know where he was, looking back he saw that the number of lamias that were running after them had doubled.

And as he looked back, the girl screamed -Watch out!-

Hye looked forward quickly, and as he did and saw the fangs of a monster coming towards him, he immediately jumped up with the girl in his arms. And that jump was so sudden, that for not having thought too much before doing it, Hye almost dropped the girl, as they were both upside down, in midair.

Then, while holding the girl's waist, which for a moment had escaped from his arms, and began to fall towards the lamia, which stopped where it was, just as Hye jumped.

And when he brought the girl closer to his chest again, with the dagger he had in hand, Hye made a cut on the lamia's forehead, where he only caught the tip of the dagger, thanks to the distance between them.

[A lamia has been contaminated with the poison on its blade!]

So when Hye touched the tips of his toes to the ground...

[The lamia succumbed to the poison!]

[You received 55 points!]

[Total points acquired: 8287]