CH. 31: SNOW WHITE VII

While Marianne and Mad face the Queen's guards, Jung-woo is cutting a piece of steak. He, along with the other two men, Vincent Lambardi and the mean Hyung, were all seated, more like chained to their seats, at the dining room with the Queen, Snow White.

Let's go back to this morning...

After Jung-woo was separated from Marianne, he found himself stuck in the forest wearing a dirty tunic, brown shorts, and gaping old boots. He has been traveling for a day now to the nearest place town with the help of birds guiding him. During his journey, he found it extremely difficult to hunt for food on his own. Since he couldn't take anything out of this storage ring, he decided to use his skills.

Jung-woo has been surviving the forest by ordering a bear to get him food and protecting him while he sleeps and rests.

SNAP!

Jung-woo, who was taking a break, followed the direction of the sudden noise. He peers into the darkness. At first, there was nothing, but a figure began to move towards

Jung-woo. The shadow then splits into two. Jung-woo instantly stands in defense while the black bear rushes between Jung-woo and the two visitors.

"Woah, woah, woah. Take it easy there, kid." A blonde man with green eyes and a friendly smile puts his hands up, "No be scared. We're friendlies."

Jung-woo was glad he could understand the man. It has only been Noona, whom he could have a conversation with without the language barrier. He looks over the blonde's should and sees a familiar face stepping out of the shadows.

"It's you!" Jung-woo mentally commands the black bear to attack the mean hyung who had thrown him into the portal during the end of [SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST] scenario.

The black bear lunges at Ho Hyun-cho with its claws. Hyun-cho easily dodges the attack and comes up behind the bear with a hand chop to the head. The bear cries out in pain, running behind Jung-woo. It sniffles and cradles its head.

"You're a bear. What are you hiding behind me for?" Jung-woo massages his temples annoyed.

"What was that?!" Vincent exasperates, "I almost died."

"The bear didn't even attack you." Hyun-cho mutters, looking at the future beast tamer kid in front of him, "Why are you here?"

"Noona and I came here first. What you are doing here." The boy glares at him.

Hyun-cho stares blankly at him. In his past 5 lives, he and Vincent were the first ones to enter the hidden dungeon. No one except the two was strong enough to take down the Rabid Wolves outside.

Is this Dal Jung-woo stronger than the past five ones? It could be possible. Or this Noona of his, Marianne Primrose, is actually strong? Hyun-cho's [GOD'S EYES] didn't work on her. She must have a powerful sponsor. Is she a regressor like him? How come he hasn't heard of her until now? However, he

It would make sense if she knew about the hidden dungeon, which was why he didn't get the [First One To Discover The Dungeon] notification.

"How did you guys get in the library?" Vincent wonders. Hyun-cho was glad to have this talkative guy on his side.

"We have our ways." Jung-woo crosses his arms, distrust in his eyes.

All three stood there, not sure what to do next. Hyun-cho, of course, knows what needs to be done and what his goal is.

"Seeing as how you're controlling a bear to protect you must mean your Noona isn't around," He assess, "You two were separated since entering."

Jung-woo's eyes widen at the accuracy the hyung had said, "I--."

"If you join us, we can go look for her. I have an idea where she could be." Hyun-cho leans on the tree and crosses his arm.

" . . . " Jung-woo thinks about the offer. It's not like this oppa will harm him. He always seems to know more, and he did help him... just not very nicely.

Vincent walks up to Hyun-cho, "Is it okay to have a kid tag along?"

Hyun-cho ignores his questions and turns back around, "You can either follow us or stay. The choice is up to you."

Jung-woo looks at the black bear. He didn't have enough mana to control the bear for another day. He had a nose bleed earlier before he decided to take a break from all that walking.

"I-I'll follow, only till I find Noona." He throws dirt on the fire to put it out. Jung-woo then turns to the black bear.

"Thanks for keeping me company. Take the rest of the fish and eat it. You did catch them for me." The boy points at the grilled fish, "I will break my contract with you now."

Jung-woo holds his palm up to the bear, and a green magic circle shows up. It then breaks, releasing a soft gust from the animal.

The bear blinks a couple of times and trudges to the grilled fish and begins to eat it. Jung-woo turns to see the blonde oppa waiting for him.

The three traveled together into the main road that will take them to the town where the castle is.

"So you can communicate and control with just animals?" Vincent asks the kid.

"I don't just communicate and control animals. I can do it with creatures, too. Last time, I controlled a sea serpent during a mini-game a couple of days ago!" He lifts his chin up and hands on his hips.

Hyun-cho perks up a bit at the mention of a sea serpent. Adult sea serpents are usually level 100, and baby sea serpents are half that. So, how did he control it? He shouldn't be able to at his current strength.

"I have you know I'm pretty strong." The boy brags.

Vicent laughs at Jung-woo. He was about to ruffle the boy's hair when Jung-woo steps away from him.

"Don't touch me." He hisses.

"Hahaha. Okay, okay. Calm down. I won't, now that you told me." Vicent put his hands up in defense, "Anyway kid, what's this Noona of yours like? Is she pretty?"

Jung-woo glares at the blonde. He knows there are a lot of foreigners with blonde hair and green eyes, but Noona did say to watch out for the one with a light blue sword, and he... had one.

"Hmph. You don't deserve my Noona." Jung-woo looks away from the Frenchman and walks ahead.

Just then, a white carriage rolls up from behind. Dozens of guards surround it, but one particular knight breaks out of the circle and marches up to the three.

"Hello Gentleman. I am Sir Kalheim, royal guard of the Queen." He starts. Jung-woo hides behind Hyun-cho and Vincent while the two greet the guard.

"I'm Hyun-cho. This is Vincent." Hyun-cho's greeting was short with a rude tone. The guard coughs and glares at the man underneath his helmet.

"The Queen was wondering where you are headed. She wanted to ask if you needed a ride to town." The guard says.

"Is she crazy?!" Jung-woo whispers behind the two, "I don't believe in hand outs. Why would the Queen offer rides to total strangers? Is she scheming something?"

Hyun-cho doesn't react. However, he inwardly smiles to himself seeing how smart and sharp Dal Jung-woo is. Yes, the Queen is Snow White. Just not the kindest and Fairest person the stories tells us. It's all a front.

"Sir. Kalheim. We are of humble beginnings, so I don't think it is appropriate for us to ride with the Queen. However, we if she allows it, we can walk next to the carriage." Hyun-cho bows his head in a gentleman manor. Vincent sees this and follows along. Jung-woo looks at the two like their weird but follows suit as well.

"Then I shall let her Highness know." The knight rides back to the Queen's carriage.

Hyun-cho takes this time to explain to Vincent and Jung-woo of the plan.

"Whatever happens, don't fight back." He says, "Just pretend you're fighting, but put no effort in escaping." He informs.

Before Jung-woo can protest, the knight comes back along with half the guards.

"We'll, Sir. Hyun-cho, Sir. Vincent and the... little boy. The Queen has told me to allow you to ride with her. She has... taken quite a fancy to all three of you."

Hyun-cho did not need to see Sir. Kalheim's face to know that he's grinning underneath the helmet. All of a sudden, the guards that have surrounded them pull out their swords and spears to point at the three.