Coming Back

Bang! Crash! Groooan… The sound of something enormous and solid breaking, the golem's roar, all mixed together in the dungeon, tearing at the ears. The noise alone shook the surroundings. From the source of the sound, dazzling light and a storm of white ash and dust surged forth.

Most hunters use all their abilities to fight monsters. Not just their weapons, but also skills and traits that are as flashy and attention-grabbing as special effects in movies or dramas. The attacks of hunters in the stabilized Great Hunter Era were dazzling and powerful…

However, the one facing the golem now was a bit different.

BOOM—!

A blue light flashed within the storm. Huge fragments, shattered, poured down like meteors through the fierce wind.

"Ah!"

Hong Ye-seong screamed, raising his slightly lowered shield properly. What had shattered and fallen was another hand of the golem.

The skill of the one fighting the giant golem with just a spear and his body could not be called flashy, even as a compliment. It was rather calm, close to tranquility. Yet, it was strong and solid enough to hold one's gaze.

Lee Sa-young watched the storm unflinchingly.

How much time had passed?

Groan…

The golem's roar gradually subsided, and the surroundings quieted. As the dust settled, what appeared was…

"Wow."

Yoon Ga-eul, watching blankly, let out a sigh of admiration involuntarily. In the spot where the storm had cleared, there was only the golem, clutching its chest with its broken hand.

The golem lay leaning back, its waist bent, with a huge spear more than half-embedded beside its shattered wrist. It was a perfect penetration.

And standing atop it was Cha Eui-jae, holding the spear.

Thud… The sound of the golem's heart, pulsing beneath his feet and shaking his entire body, quietly stopped. Confirming that the sign of life had completely disappeared, Cha Eui-jae pulled the spear out without hesitation. The heart cavity crumbled around the spot where the spear had been embedded, leaving a giant hole.

He slung the spear over his shoulder and lightly jumped down from the golem. The golem, with a large hole in it, collapsed with a thud. That was the last sound before silence.

Until Cha Eui-jae approached them, no one dared to open their mouths. Cha Eui-jae, dragging his sneakers and walking slowly, stood before them.

His hands still trembled. The uneasy feelings, a mixture of guilt for being the only survivor and regret for not bringing out even a part of the corpses, had long become one with Cha Eui-jae. Probably for a long time to come, they would stay with him, dragging him down and breaking his spirit.

Cha Eui-jae had been sinking like that. From the moment he was ejected from the West Sea Rift, he closed his eyes and ears, submerged in quiet water. Because in this place without J, there was the peace everyone had longed for. He couldn't disturb that peace.

However…

Cha Eui-jae cautiously opened his mouth, scanning the faces that seemed somewhat soulless.

"…Are you okay? Is anyone hurt?"

"No, that's what we should be asking you! Don't steal my line!"

"Huh?"

Hong Ye-seong, spitting out blood, approached briskly. Following closely behind him, Kkokko trotted. He pressed his fist to his chin, inspecting Cha Eui-jae from head to toe with his golden eyes.

"You don't seem hurt, nothing looks broken, no cuts or tears. Wow, you're really sturdy. Any internal injuries? Are you okay?"

"Uh, yeah. I'm fine."

Cha Eui-jae nodded, still bewildered. Hong Ye-seong clicked his tongue, then suddenly thrust his radiant face forward. Cha Eui-jae instinctively leaned back. Hong Ye-seong whispered with a voice filled with heat.

"…So, the spear."

"Huh? The spear?"

Cha Eui-jae unconsciously raised the spear in his hand. Hong Ye-seong nodded eagerly.

"Yeah, that. How was it using the spear?"

"Um… It was good."

Cha Eui-jae nodded honestly, replying. The spear had fit his hand perfectly from the moment he grabbed it. As if it was made just for him. Listening intently, Hong Ye-seong beamed.

"Right? It's my masterpiece. Honestly, I was worried when Lee Sa-young said he got it at the auction…"

Hong Ye-seong puffed out his chest like a rooster courting a hen, boasting about himself. Yoon Ga-eul, with disheveled hair, absent-mindedly chimed in.

Is it okay to be so peaceful in the dungeon? Cha Eui-jae watched the lively Hong Ye-seong and Yoon Ga-eul blankly. People's voices began to hum and echo as if submerged in water. It felt like his senses were becoming distant.

No, he needed to stay alert. Cha Eui-jae deliberately shifted his gaze around to regain focus. At the end of his erratic gaze was Lee Sa-young. Their eyes met.

"…"

"…"

Contrary to Cha Eui-jae's expectation of immediate questioning, Lee Sa-young was surprisingly silent. Cha Eui-jae, who was waiting for him to speak, also quietly watched. Hong Ye-seong and Yoon Ga-eul's voices grew fainter.

As if only the two of them were caught in a gap in a different space, in a moment where time seemed to have stopped. Cha Eui-jae's senses were gradually being reoriented around Lee Sa-young. His mouth felt dry. Cha Eui-jae gripped the spear tightly, veins bulging on the back of his hand.

Killing the golem? He didn't regret it. It was something he had to do, and if he hadn't stepped up, everyone might have died.

'But… What should I say to Lee Sa-young?'

His fingers, hidden behind his back, curled slightly.

Lee Sa-young knew Cha Eui-jae had hidden his strength. However, it wasn't common for an average awakened person to handle an S+-grade monster relatively easily and without injuries. Even Jung Bin, who was weak against monsters, couldn't do it, and Lee Sa-young, the former number one, couldn't either due to their attributes.

Should he lie again? What was Lee Sa-young thinking now? His mind swirled with complicated thoughts. Cha Eui-jae hesitated, then stared into the purple eyes he'd met many times before. Even staring into Lee Sa-young's eyes, they revealed no answers.

There was no sign of curiosity, nor did he seem intent on questioning. It was as if he was looking at an obvious fact, an expected look.

'Why?'

…No way.

Cha Eui-jae stared blankly at Lee Sa-young. Lee Sa-young, who had been staring at Cha Eui-jae's disheveled hair, opened his mouth with an expressionless face.

"It's okay."

"What?"

"I said it's okay."

Was this an answer to the question he asked earlier about whether he was okay? Cha Eui-jae spoke to Lee Sa-young without thinking.

"Well used."

"How was it?"

"Well made."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

Cha Eui-jae responded, stretching out his hand with the spear. He intended to hand it over. However, Lee Sa-young, instead of accepting the spear, grasped Cha Eui-jae's hand and pushed it forward. Startled by the incomprehensible action, Cha Eui-jae's eyes widened. Lee Sa-young spoke as if answering his unspoken question.

"It's yours."

"What do you mean…"

"It was yours from the start."

In the auction, Lee Sa-young had caused all sorts of problems despite being tied up by Jung Bin's chains and being near death, and had even collapsed after securing the spear.

If all that was not just to obtain an S+-grade weapon…

Countless words surfaced and sank. Cha Eui-jae pressed the words stuck on his tongue against his front teeth.

'What the hell are you?'

Lee Sa-young's eyes still shone brightly as they gazed at Cha Eui-jae. As if he didn't care about the existence of others. His lips felt parched. Unconsciously, he licked his dry lips, and at that moment,

"Ugh… Is it really dead? I'm exhausted."

Hong Ye-seong collapsed onto the floor. He looked like a college student who had partied until 4 AM the day before and then attended the 1st period class. With the ends of his hair white with ash and dust, he made zombie-like sounds as he rolled on the floor.

Cha Eui-jae once again examined the disheveled Hong Ye-seong and Yoon Ga-eul. Although the front of Hong Ye-seong's hiking clothes was soaked in blood, he seemed quite alright, judging by his constant groaning about "I'm going to die". At least he had the energy to make noise.

Yoon Ga-eul also seemed fine except for her messy hair. Cha Eui-jae sighed a small sigh of relief. Behind the two of them, Jung Bin lay flat. Cha Eui-jae hesitated and asked Yoon Ga-eul.

"How is Jung Bin…?"

"Ah, Jung Bin? He was in a bit of danger earlier…"

Yoon Ga-eul looked anxious as she shifted her gaze. She looked at Jung Bin once, then at Lee Sa-young, who stood with his hands in his pockets and a lazy expression, before continuing.

"Guild Leader Pado treated him, so he's better now. Though he hasn't regained consciousness yet."

Naturally, Cha Eui-jae's gaze followed Yoon Ga-eul's, looking at Jung Bin once, then Lee Sa-young once. Lee Sa-young, who caught Cha Eui-jae's gaze, spoke leisurely.

"Isn't that why you threw me?"