515

 [Chapter 141]

[Dungeon Manchu (2)]

Usually, parties that reached the 3rd underground floor hot spring area rested there for at least a day to recover from fatigue.

Jeong Ha-yang's party was the same.

Day 2 of the Academy Dungeon.

They arrived late at night, took a quick bath, and decided to enjoy a day of rest starting tomorrow.

There were parties that just washed up quickly in the hot springs and immediately went to conquer the dungeon.

Of course, starting with Kim Geon-ung's party.

Parties aiming for good grades in the final evaluation left to conquer the dungeon taking advantage of other parties resting.

Meanwhile, Eunha enjoyed relaxing comfortably.

Unlike the previous night.

Now that several parties had reached the hot spring area, there was a constant lively atmosphere.

Moreover, since each party cooperated to take turns standing guard, the time one person could sleep increased quite a bit.

"So you know, Pa-rang oppa kept saying to go that way? I told him we had to go around there, but he wouldn't listen to me."

"When did I not listen to you? Look at Jeong Ha-yang tattling to No Eunha..."

"Stupid hyung was wrong."

"Right? You should scold Pa-rang oppa for me later."

Surrounding a campfire with close friends.

The students chatted noisily.

Since most parties decided to rest thoroughly for the day tomorrow.

They played excitedly with the mindset of staying up all night.

But even they had limits.

Time passed.

Some students yawned and quietly got up from their seats.

"Yawn... I'm going to sleep now. Everyone have fun."

"Then I should go to sleep too. It's not good for the skin to sleep too late. Kaede, are you staying longer?"

"...I'll go too."

Min-ji got up yawning.

Seo-na and Kaede also got up saying they were going to sleep.

The remaining students also looked sleepy now.

Seeing their condition, Eunha decided to end the gathering.

"Then let's stop here for today and clean up a bit."

It was past midnight.

Eunha decided to clean up with his friends and go into his tent.

He wasn't sure if he'd be able to sleep since he rested well all day.

Still, he was about to enter the tent when—

"—Eunha?"

"Huh?"

"Isn't that Seo-na's tent?"

"...Ah, you're right."

"Hmm...?"

Of all people, he was caught by Jeong Ha-yang.

She questioned suspiciously just as Eunha was about to enter the tent.

Eunha realized his mistake.

He tried to play it off by pretending he mistook the tent, but.

"Something's suspicious..."

"What's suspicious? The tents look the same so I made a mistake, that's all."

"Hmm..."

Jeong Ha-yang wouldn't let go of her suspicious gaze.

Her eyes kept following him.

Eunha walked as naturally as possible and entered Yoo Do-jun's tent.

"Did he just decide to get caught? How can someone like that be two-timing?"

"That's No Eunha for you."

Meanwhile, Seo-na and Kaede who saw this scene from inside the tent looked at him with pathetic eyes, they say.

☆

As expected.

He couldn't sleep.

Eunha kept tossing and turning.

In contrast, Yoo Do-jun beside him was snoring loudly.

"...Please stop snoring."

"Khrrrr!"

"Are you trying to fight me now?"

He should have just slept in Jin Pa-rang's tent.

Eunha who unnecessarily considered Jeong Ha-yang's gaze regretted deciding to sleep in Yoo Do-jun's tent while making excuses to her.

"Sigh..."

It seemed he wouldn't be able to sleep.

In the end, Eunha who got up from his sleeping bag sighed.

He glared at Yoo Do-jun resentfully once and turned away.

"At times like this, I should do something else."

Eunha rummaged through his bag.

The bag he secretly moved to Yoo Do-jun's tent earlier to avoid Jeong Ha-yang's gaze.

Soon Eunha took out the Phoenix egg from his bag.

I can't leave it in the dormitory since someone might steal it. This is no ordinary item.

I should feed it little by little whenever I think of it.

Compared to when he first bought it.

The egg's surface had turned quite red.

Eunha sat cross-legged and placed the egg between his legs.

When he manifested his internal mana, the egg absorbed his mana while emitting a faint light.

It seems about time for it to hatch...

He didn't know exactly when return beast eggs hatch.

Nevertheless, Eunha had a feeling the egg would hatch soon.

He strangely felt that way.

As if affirming his intuition.

"Oh? Did it just react?"

It was only for an instant.

Suddenly the egg spat out the mana it had been absorbing.

The egg tilted from the recoil.

Eunha opened his eyes wide seeing that reaction.

Just as he was about to manifest his internal mana again to check for a reaction—

"—Eunha, are you awake?"

"Huh?"

As if knocking.

Jeong Ha-yang tapped on the tent door.

Eunha heard her voice and immediately opened the tent flap.

Jeong Ha-yang was standing there in her pajamas.

She looked quite cute even without makeup.

"Ah... good. You're not asleep yet? I was actually going to try sending a message... but it doesn't connect inside the dungeon. So I came to check."

"Why? Did something happen?"

It was well past midnight.

The surroundings were quiet.

Eunha looked puzzled seeing Jeong Ha-yang who suddenly came to meet him in this situation.

"Hmm."

But she didn't seem to like his response.

She complained in a sulky voice.

"...Do I need a reason to come see you?"

"...No. Since we're dating, we can just see each other when we want to."

"Right?"

No Eunha who instantly grasped her mood turning sour.

He affirmed her words in the most nonchalant tone possible.

Jeong Ha-yang's expression finally relaxed hearing him say they're dating.

"But I did come to see you for something."

"Then were you just teasing me? This won't do. You, come here."

"Hey, why..."

Then Jeong Ha-yang laughing ehehe.

Eunha burst out laughing.

He stretched out both hands towards her while sitting.

Jeong Ha-yang who entered the tent on her knees entrusted her face to his hands.

Eunha kneaded her face.

She just let her body relax under his touch.

Eventually she opened her eyes and looked down.

"You brought the egg too?"

"I was anxious to leave it behind. Plus I need to periodically infuse mana, so I brought it."

"Can I give mana too?"

"Try once. But be careful. Since you have more mana than me Ha-yang, if you're not careful you could become the owner. Though that probably won't happen from giving just a little..."

"Huh? Then if I become the owner, you won't be able to do anything against me?"

"...What's with that look in your eyes? You're joking right?"

"Yeah, I'm joking."

"This won't do. Stop giving mana."

"Why? I'll give just a little more."

"Hey now. Look at you?"

"Tee-hee."

Wondering if Jeong Ha-yang was really serious about the egg.

Eunha was startled for a moment.

He barely managed to retrieve the egg from her and shoved it into his bag.

Then he decided to ask why she came to see him at this late hour.

"So what did you come to see me for?"

"It's not anything important..."

"Huh?"

"Hehe."

Jeong Ha-yang acting shy.

Eunha tilted his head seeing her suddenly squirming.

Then he noticed the object she had been subtly hiding since earlier.

Sensing his gaze.

Jeong Ha-yang smiled shyly.

Soon she lifted up the object she had placed on the ground.

"Ta-da."

"Why a swimsuit?"

"...Do I have to say it?"

An off-shoulder bikini with frills.

It was a swimsuit.

He didn't understand the situation.

She pouted her lips.

"No... Everyone's sleeping now so there's no one in the hot springs. So I wanted to go in and play with you..."

"..."

Jeong Ha-yang fidgeting.

Eunha was at a loss for words hearing her surprise proposal.

There was a mixed bath that men and women could use together in the hot spring area.

It wasn't something strange.

But it was inevitable to be flustered hearing such a thing suddenly in the middle of the night.

"...You don't want to?"

"No, I want to. I do want to, but..."

Jeong Ha-yang asked anxiously.

What if he refused?

Or what if he thought lightly of her?

Eunha who saw through her heart suddenly came to his senses.

Only then did she look relieved.

The problem was—

"—I didn't bring a swimsuit though?"

"Huh? You're worried about that?"

Should I go in wearing underwear?

When he asked her that, falling into serious contemplation.

Jeong Ha-yang burst out laughing.

"It's okay. I thought this might happen so I brought yours too. This size is right, isn't it?"

"...How do you know my size?"

"Secret. Then let's hurry and go before others wake up."

"Okay, let's go."

Jeong Ha-yang was thoroughly prepared.

Eunha clicked his tongue and followed her out of the tent.

That night, while others were sleeping.

The two spent an enjoyable time in the hot springs, they say.

"Damn... I shouldn't have shared a tent with him."

Meanwhile, Yoo Do-jun who woke up in the middle due to their conversation was annoyed, they say.

☆

He wanted to.

Grab someone right away and pour out his grievances.

That was his state of mind.

But as the party leader, he couldn't show such an unsightly appearance.

"I chose the wrong party members... If I could turn back time, I would never choose those two..."

Yoon I-byeol and Ariel had a falling out.

That day, the two had a battle of nerves and treated each other like they didn't exist.

In a party of five people.

Naturally, when the relationship between two people soured, the party atmosphere became awkward.

The remaining three people tried to ease the atmosphere while being careful, but it was useless.

"Riel! Won't you take this to I-byeol?"

"Ah! I want to go scouting with Si-hyung too! I'm a telepath right? If I discover anything strange I'll send a telepathy right away. Si-hyung, let's go together!"

"...Eun-woo. It's okay. I'll take it."

Ariel chattered even more noisily than the previous day as if nothing had happened.

Rather, she seemed to be talking non-stop to avoid being conscious of Yoon I-byeol.

Then when Cha Eun-woo tried to mediate between her and Yoon I-byeol, she would quickly run away.

"Yoon I-byeol. You and Ariel will stand guard..."

"Ah, I was going to stand guard with Si-hyung today. Is that not okay?"

"...That's right. I was going to stand guard with Eun-woo too?"

Yoon I-byeol was the same.

When Mok Min-ho tried to reconcile Yoon I-byeol and Ariel under the pretext of official business, Yoon I-byeol backed out.

When Eun-woo and Min-ho's efforts ended in failure like that.

The relationship between Yoon I-byeol and Ariel only soured further.

Since neither would try to yield...

While appearing not to be.

They both had quite strong pride.

However, Mok Min-ho described their pride as stubbornness.

Meanwhile, Kang Si-hyung who ended up caught between the two was the only one who suffered.

Above all—

"—Yoon I-byeol, what are you doing!? If you knew there was a trap ahead you should have said something!"

"Ariel, what are you doing too! Is telepathy a joke?"

As the relationship between the two soured, the party's coordination collapsed.

The two were in a symbiotic relationship.

Yoon I-byeol was the navigator who grasped the situation and directed the correct route.

Ariel was the telepath who relayed the navigator's directions to party members.

But with the two ignoring each other, the party's communication system stopped functioning properly.

"Okay, you two fought. But you should fight among yourselves, not cause harm to others."

""..."" 

"Please... I'm begging you like this... Let's not confuse public and private matters. If you act like this again next time, know that I won't let it slide."

In the end, disaster struck.

Yoon I-byeol detected a trap but didn't relay it to Ariel.

Kang Si-hyung almost got hurt.

Min-ho who had been enduring and enduring finally yelled at the two while flushing red in front of his friends.

Cha Eun-woo didn't stop him this time.

The two finally burst into tears and the party had to stop conquering that day.

"Finally... we've arrived."

There were no more accidents after that.

But the party atmosphere became even more depressed.

With even the talkative Ariel keeping her mouth shut, there was no one speaking.

The party's coordination was stiff.

In a state that could hardly be called a party.

Day 3 of the Academy Dungeon.

Mok Min-ho was finally able to reach the 3rd underground floor only by lunchtime.

"...We're ruined."

After the hot spring area came into view.

Min-ho sighed worriedly.

Most parties would have arrived on the 2nd day and be resting thoroughly today.

But they arrived on the 3rd day, falling a day behind the others.

To make up for that, unfortunately they would have to leave to conquer as soon as they woke up tomorrow.

Sure enough.

He became certain of his reasoning as tents gradually came into view.

"—You're unexpectedly late. Did something happen?"

"Hah... Something like that happened."

"Huh?"

Physically and mentally.

 They had been through the wringer.

Mok Min-ho entered the hot spring area leading his party members with a tired mind and body.

Just then, he was able to meet No Eunha who said he came out for a brief walk.

"...I didn't know I'd miss your face this much."

"Did this guy eat something bad? Why is he like this?"

"Eunha. No Eunha."

"What. ...You're not crying right now, are you?"

"You're so admirable."

"Why is this guy like this..."

No Eunha's face was fresh and glowing.

It must be proof that he rested well.

Compared to him, how was he himself?

Party leader, he just couldn't do it.

He didn't have the qualities of a leader.

Mok Min-ho gained one realization facing Eunha.

A useless realization.

Anyway, Mok Min-ho poured out the frustrations he had been holding in to Eunha.

Eunha made a bewildered expression with a flustered look.

"Well... Looks like you had a hard time. There's no one in the hot springs now so hurry and go wash up. What's with your appearance?"

"Sigh... okay."

His appearance was indeed a mess.

Min-ho looked down at his appearance and decided to go into the hot springs with his party members to relieve fatigue.

And then go down to the lower floor the very next day.

Just as he was about to step towards the hot spring area—

"—Eunha Eunha! Didn't you miss me?"

"Cough...! Why are you like this again? Ah... you were always like this. No, get off a bit. You smell... ugh...!"

"How can you say I smell when we're meeting after so long? You're really too much. Was I nothing more than that to you!? Huh? Huuuh??"

"Hah..."

Ariel who suddenly rushed at No Eunha.

Ariel clung tightly to Eunha like a tick.

Even wrapping her legs around his body.

Eunha who was captured unable to use his arms made a tired face.

His fresh glowing face was gone.

"...Okay. Hurry and go wash up."

"What will you give me if I wash?"

"What would I give you?"

"I brought alcohol, will you drink with me?"

"Don't act cute..."

"Hiing, scary... Do you dislike me? Dislike? Disliiiike?"

"...Min-ho. You're admirable."

"...I find you more admirable."

"I find myself most admirable!"

No Eunha grimacing saying she stinks.

Eunha soon made a resigned expression surrendering to Ariel.

Here, Mok Min-ho realized one thing.

That No Eunha was no different from himself.

It was an unexpectedly important realization.

On the other hand—

—At least Ariel won't bother me for today.

Mok Min-ho felt relieved.

He decided to hand Ariel over to Eunha.

He now resolved to refresh himself and enjoy a short rest in the hot springs.

Looking around roughly, he saw a few students he was close with.

Since Ariel brought alcohol too.

Mok Min-ho decided to drink with them later at night to relieve fatigue.

He looked forward to that night like that, but—

"—Eun-hyuk's group went down already, right? There's no way they'd be late..."

"No. They say they're leaving tomorrow?"

"...!"

"...They're over there. Min-ho, you take good care of I-byeol."

"Hah..."

No Eunha whispering to Mok Min-ho while approaching dragging Ariel along.

Mok Min-ho flinched.

Eun-hyuk's group, Choi Eun-hyuk's party.

In other words, Jeong Ha-yang's party.

And her relationship with Yoon I-byeol was—

"—We're ruined."

Mok Min-ho who instantly finished calculating muttered in a miserable tone.