Chapter 05

Suho looked at Beru with a dumbfounded expression.

"You said goodbye so dramatically, and now you can't go back?"

[Ahem. Actually, the way to Earth was very long and dangerous. Countless enemies blocked my path, but I tore them all apart, and now I don't have the strength to return…] Beru made excuses with an embarrassed expression.

[If my Liege were here, my strength would be replenished in an instant, but I didn't expect that being this far away would make recharging impossible.]

"…"

Suho stared at Beru for a moment without saying anything. He said he was out of strength, but why was he ridiculously small compared to when he appeared so majestically at the art museum.

'He looks like a stuffed animal.' 

Suho picked him up with one hand.

[Kieek?]

Mini Beru, dangling from his fingers, was so light that he felt like a prize from a claw machine. But he continued to chatter even while in the air.

[You may not remember, but you are the sole heir to the great and almighty Shadow Monarch.]

"Shadow Monarch? Who's that?"

[Sung Jinwoo. Your father, my liege.]

"My… father?" Suho doubted his ears for a moment.

[Yes!]

"My father…? Are you talking about my father who went missing?"

[He didn't go missing, he went to space.]

"…?"

'Space all of a sudden?' As Suho didn't know how to react, Beru suddenly spread his arms with a solemn expression.

[To explain briefly.]

[A great war is currently taking place in space.]

Shadows made of black energy flickered from Beru's hands, creating an illusion. That black mist turned into numerous soldiers the size of fingernails, and even more monsters were attacking them. At the heart of it all stood a man with a particularly strong aura. Also the size of a fingernail, of course.

[Your great father, Lord Sung Jinwoo, is commanding this war.] Beru's hand pointed towards the enemies that 'Sung Jinwoo' was blocking.

[And these guys are the minions of 'Itarim' who came to devour our world whole.]

"Itarim?"

[Itarim are the gods of outer space, far away from Earth.] Beru continued to speak with a solemn expression. About how vicious and tenacious those Itarim bastards were. Although most of it was just cursing, it was certain that they were enemies who came to invade Earth.

"So you're saying that the magical beasts that poured out of the Gates two years ago were because of Itarim?" Suho felt strange as he listened to the explanation.

Both of his parents were missing. Although he reported their disappearance a long time ago, the police couldn't find any clues. There was no trace of them, as if they had evaporated from the world, so he had half given up. But to suddenly hear they were in space? It was hard to believe, but the fact that a talking stuffed animal, no, a talking ant, existed before his eyes was already an unrealistic situation. Well, with dungeons and magical beasts present in this world, a space war didn't seem so far-fetched. Suho suddenly asked,

"Then what about Mother? Did she also go to space?"

[Kieek? No…?] Beru had a bewildered expression.

"What? You're saying she didn't?"

[No, she didn't. But then… Where did Lady Hae-In go?] Suho's expression hardened at Beru's reaction.

"Mother also disappeared on the same day as Father, so I naturally thought they were together…?"

[KIEEEEEEEEK?! You're saying Lady Hae-In is missing? When? Where?] Beru belatedly jumped up in surprise.

"How would I know…" Suho sighed softly.

Beru flew to Earth from outer space where the war with Itarim was taking place. That process was truly difficult, not an exaggerated story from the ant king. The assailants weren't pushovers who would just watch as an enemy marshal left the battlefield. He barely made it to Earth after breaking through that tremendous force,, but Sung Jinwoo's wife, Cha Hae-In, was missing? Beru was greatly shocked.

[Kieeeeek! We have to find Lady Hae-In right away!]

"Where would we even start looking?"

[It's obvious who did this…! Itarim! The apostles of Itarim on Earth must have set a trap for Lady Hae-In!]

Suho's mother, Cha Hae-In, was under the protection of the Shadow Monarch, so she couldn't be endangered by just anyone. But if something did happen…? It must have involved a force equal to that of the Shadow Monarch's. Although Beru was making a fuss, Suho, for some reason, wasn't that concerned about his mother. Of course, he was very worried when she first disappeared, but the shock of learning his father's true identity was so great that he no longer saw his mother as an ordinary human.

"Come to think of it, I've never seen her unsettled." First of all, if she knew his father's identity from the beginning and still married him, why would she be concerned about anything?

[No, that's because…] Suho didn't hear Beru's muttering beside him.

In any case, the Cha Hae-In that Suho remembered was always calm and unshakeable. Perhaps that was why, although it might be just a groundless belief, he couldn't imagine his mother ever being in danger. But regardless of that, it was a relief that he found a clue to the mystery of his parents' disappearance.

"What should I do to find Mother?" At Suho's question, Beru, still hanging from his hand, shouted strongly,

[It's obvious… You have to become stronger as soon as possible!]

"Become stronger?"

[Yes! Master won't be able to come to Earth for a while because of the war. In the end, the only one who can save Lady Hae-In is you, Young Master, but right now you're weaker than an ant larva!]

"A-ant larva…?" Suho was a little hurt.

Regardless, Beru dispelled all the shadow illusions he had created in the air, escaped from Suho's hand, and flew up.

He pointed at Suho's feet and said,

[So let's level up.]

Ding!

[A quest has arrived.]

At that moment, a message window appeared before Suho's eyes.

[Quest: Trial of Shadow] 

[Sung Suho, you are the son of the great Shadow Monarch.] 

[But now, all your innate talents are sealed. To handle that great power, you must prove your worth.] 

[Enter the Shadow Dungeon and prove your worth.]

"Shadow Dungeon?" Suho saw the quest window and immediately remembered the 'Shadow Dungeon Key' that Beru gave him in his dream.

[The Shadow Dungeon is the 'Sanctuary of Rest' given to you, Young Master. It's a land of the dead where no living being can enter without the Master's permission. Open your 'inventory.']

As Suho focused his mind, a translucent window unfolded before his eyes.

[Inventory] 

[Shadow Dungeon Key (Unidentified)]

'There's even an inventory? This really is like a game.' It was truly amazing. The dream during puberty was a tutorial, and now all the game-like functions were added. Suho reached out and took out the key. An information window appeared above the item.

[Item: Shadow Dungeon Key]

[Acquisition Difficulty: ??]

[Type: Key]

[A key that allows you to enter the Shadow Dungeon.]

[Can be used on Sung Suho's shadow.]

'Can be used on my shadow?' After reading the description, Suho's gaze fell to his feet. He knelt on one knee and lightly brought the tip of the key to his shadow.

Whoosh!

The key was sucked into the shadow.

[Now! Hurry up and enter to claim all the power that should have been yours!] Beru's eyes gleamed. 

"Wait."

Suho pulled the key back out and hurriedly changed his clothes. He took off the loose patient garments and slippers, found and put on his own outfit, and tied his shoelaces securely. A determined light appeared in his eyes as he looked down at his shadow again.

"Alright. Shall we go then?"

[Kieek! Let's go! I'll assist you from the side! Although I'm out of strength!] He wasn't expecting much. Suho inserted the key into his shadow again.

Click.

[Enter Shadow Dungeon?] 

(Y/N)

"…Enter."

Whoosh—!

Suho's shadow spread out in all directions at his answer and it began to indiscriminately devour everything in sight. The walls, the ceiling, and even the entire hospital building.

[Entered the Shadow Dungeon.]

'Where is this?' Suho suddenly found himself in a silent, black-and-white world of shadows, where all signs of life were absent. He stood before a lush, yet desolate, forest of black and white, which was, in reality, a ruined city with tall buildings whose walls were now overgrown with moss and vines. He suddenly recalled a book he read when he was young.

'The title was… Earth After Humans, I think?' That book was a documentary about Earth's self-purification. To roughly summarize the content, a city left unattended for a long time would be overgrown with grass and trees, eventually demolishing the buildings and turning into a forest. Just like this place.

'It kinda feels like a field-type dungeon.'

[Welcome to the Shadow Dungeon!] In that quietness, Beru, who followed Suho, flew up and saluted.

"This is the Shadow Dungeon?" Suho felt a strange sensation as he looked around. As if he had entered an old horror movie set.

'…why does it feel so familiar?'

It was impossible for anyone to clearly remember their infancy. But the emotions and atmosphere of that time remained deep within their hearts even as they grew up. This black and white world, which would feel ominous to some, felt as comfortable as his mother's embrace to Suho. It was then…

Tingle—!

'Killing intent?!' Suho's Sense stat sent a warning.

Whoosh—!

An axe flew from behind.

[Hiik! The trial has begun! Dodge it!] 

Hearing Beru's urgent shout, Suho immediately twisted his body. And with that momentum, he threw a roundhouse kick!

Thud—!

"Kek!"

A monster was thrown to the ground pathetically, hit by Suho's kick. A name tag like Beru's appeared above its head.

[Goblin Scout]

"Kikit!"

It was a hideous creature with green skin and a height of about one meter.

'Scout?' Suho became alert as soon as he saw its name.

'If it's a scout, there might be others nearby!' He had already experienced countless battles in the dreams he had during puberty. The survival instinct engraved in his body moved him.

'I have to kill it before it calls its comrades!'

Snap—!

Suho lunged before it could even get up.

[Kieek! It's dangerous to fight barehanded! Goblins are weak magical beasts, but you're even weaker now, my liege!]

"I know!"

Thud—!

Ignoring Beru's words, Suho struck the Goblin Scout's hand and made it drop the axe it was holding.

[Kyaa! Well done! Very well done!] Beru flew above and clapped enthusiastically.

'Ah… You're so noisy.'

Grab—!

[Obtained Item: 'Imp's Stone Axe'.]

The moment Suho grabbed the axe handle, he swung it.

Crack—!

"Kek!"

[Goblin Scout has been defeated.]

Suho cut off the goblin's head in an instant, but there was no time to rest.

Whoosh—!

An ominous gust of air swept in from behind.

'As expected, there were more!' At the sound of an arrow cutting through the wind Suho instinctively reached out his hand.

'Ruler's Authority!'

Grab—!

At that moment, a transparent hand sprouted from him and grabbed the flying arrow.

[KIEEEEEEEEK! That power, don't tell me…!] Beru was overjoyed at the sight of the arrow that stopped in mid-air.

[As expected of our Young Master! You've finally awakened the power from your infancy!] He vividly remembered the scene of Suho walking in the air as a baby…