S Chapter 53

Shin Jukyeong clutched his throbbing head and glared sharply at his younger brother.

“Are you in your right mind? Aren’t you looking ahead? Have you forgotten where this is?”

It was so cold that anyone hearing it would flinch. The atmosphere was deep winter. It was a superior version of Yang U-dam’s serious expression. Shin Jukyeong stared at Yang U-dam with an icy face and added one more word.

“You’re not mute, are you? Answer me.”

But Yang U-dam did not answer, as if in protest.

“Yang U-dam. Your older brother is speaking.”

“……”

Rebellion? No. Rather, his gaze was fixed on Shin Jukyeong’s shoulder. Yang U-dam’s characteristic pale face was stiff and ashen. If one looked closely, they would notice Yang U-dam was focused on the injury.

Unfortunately, Shin Jukyeong was not at ease. For a brief moment, his brother’s death overlapped, fiercely shaking Shin Jukyeong’s rationality. Just talking without getting agitated was already a superhuman feat.

Curses uncharacteristically spilled out of him. The fact that his brother was almost injured and could have lost his life was gently prodding his trauma. “That’s enough,” he scoffed to himself, sighing.

‘Ha… I’m going crazy.’

If he had a cigarette, he would have calmed down by smoking one. He felt a needless pang of regret. He kept clenching and unclenching his innocent hands. Anyone watching would think he was experiencing withdrawal symptoms. …No, was he?

‘As soon as I get out, I’m definitely smoking one.’

He’d smoke one even if he had to rummage through a trash can. He’d even pick up a stub someone else had discarded. His mouth was watering. Damn it.

‘Calm down.’

He called his brother again. His voice was much softer than before.

“Haa… U-dam.”

He was angry, but he didn’t want to make a mistake with his brother because of it, so he was trying his best to suppress it. So please, be careful, you punk. Your older brother’s heart is falling out.

“I’m not joking. You really almost got badly hurt.”

Shin Jukyeong gathered all his non-existent patience and spoke.

“……”

“Here, I’m your guardian.”

If this hadn’t been a Special Dungeon but a regular dungeon, he would have already turned it into a wasteland and then some. With his temper, there’s no way he wouldn’t have. Hmm. It was truly regrettable that he couldn’t rampage. Shin Jukyeong continued in a slightly hoarse voice.

“Be careful. If something happens to you, your older brother will…”

…Huh? He blinked mid-sentence. Huh? That’s strange. He saw two of his younger brother.

‘What is this? A blessing?’

That couldn’t be.

‘It’s the poison.’

A slight regret lingered. Shin Jukyeong turned his head and opened his eyes again. This time, there were three. His vision was also getting blurry.

「Jukyeong, your body is at its limit.」

With Eve’s dejected voice, his body collapsed.

‘Oh, really…’

He didn’t like his body constantly screaming to clock out early. Shin Jukyeong’s brow furrowed deeply, forming a “천” (cheon, meaning sky/heaven, but also referring to the shape of a furrowed brow). To be defeated by the poison of a mere C-grade poison toad, and a baby one at that. This would be a lifelong source of ridicule. It would be better to accidentally post an adult site in the company group chat.

‘Of course, that would also annihilate any courage to live on…’

If he really had to experience it, he’d choose, ‘I choose death!’ Hmm. That’s how terrible it was, he meant.

‘I can’t lose to a poison toad.’

He could see his pride as a professional hunter of N years cracking.

As Shin Jukyeong (30, Male), a man who lived by his principles and appearance, he could never accept it. The moment he lost, he would never forgive himself. Therefore, he would endure with sheer grit and stubbornness.

‘Endure even if you die!’

As he fiercely ignited his will, his body sharply retorted, ‘No, seriously, I feel like I’m going to die!’ Oh, I don’t care about that, just endure! As he persistently argued, his body promptly declared a strike, saying it couldn’t work under such a cruel boss.

“Ugh…!”

Shin Jukyeong suddenly gagged. The poison had spread throughout his body, causing sensory abnormalities. His damned body had boldly declared a strike and completely given up. How could you drop out of the ‘Mind-Body Duo’? Are you messing around, pro? Come back right now!

Body: (Contempt)

Damn it… Now, all he could trust was his ‘mind’. Let’s go, it’s purely a battle of willpower.

Mind (a.k.a. Spirit): What nonsense.

He could see it gathering its things. Where are you going, no! Shin Jukyeong desperately clung to his consciousness.

‘If I faint here, there’s no answer.’

Then he’d really die. Mind and body, you’d lose the nest to return to, you know?

“Ugh, cough…!”

Damn it, I’m going crazy. Cold sweat started dripping. Now he didn’t even have the energy to joke.

‘This is serious. The Ocean Sunfish isn’t a concept anymore.’

This is why adults tell you not to speak carelessly. Words become seeds.

“H-huff… Haaah!”

He learned the lesson that he should listen to adults, and tried not to lose consciousness.

Shin Jukyeong lay flat on the floor, gasping for breath, and mercilessly bit his cheeks and tongue to clear his blurry mind. The stinging pain brought him back to his senses, somewhat. If it didn’t work, he’d have to stab his thigh and endure. Shin Jukyeong mumbled, collecting the blood in his mouth.

“Ptui!”

“……!”

He thickly spat out blood. It was the mark of a wound he had bitten himself. The problem was that the other person wouldn’t know that fact. It would just look like he was coughing up blood due to poison.

Sure enough, Yang U-dam rushed over. Even in his daze, Shin Jukyeong noticed his brother’s unusual complexion. He seemed to have completely misunderstood. Shin Jukyeong wanted to tell him he was okay, but all that came out were groans and blood.

“Haa… Ugh! Cough!”

“Shin Jukyeong!”

He wondered if this was the same kid who had been as silent as a clam; his voice was so powerful.

‘If you were going to be like this, you could have answered me earlier.’

The trivial thought told him he was far from dying. Shin Jukyeong gasped, “Haa, huff!” catching his breath, and slowly raised his upper body. Creak, creak. It was forced, but he moved. It was proof that he was gradually getting used to the pain. This was a blessing in disguise, if anything.

“Hoo…”

‘I’m just like a baby poison toad.’

He found himself quite amusing. But just as the creature risked its life to hunt its prey, Shin Jukyeong had to risk his life to press forward. Call it arrogance if you will. But it was an undeniable fact. Currently, there was no other survival route besides Shin Jukyeong. Therefore, the moment ‘Shin Jukyeong’ lost his mind, the lives of the others would also plummet. As always, the responsibility was immense.

‘Don’t worry. Your older brother will definitely protect you.’

Shin Jukyeong gritted his teeth. If his consciousness blurred, he would somehow wake himself up. If his tongue wasn’t enough, he would cut off his arm and endure. It was clearly, unequivocally, his true intention.

“Haa, huff…”

“Blood…”

However, for Yang U-dam, who had no way of knowing Shin Jukyeong’s inner thoughts, the current situation was simply very urgent. Naturally. It wasn’t something an eighteen-year-old boy should have to experience. Even children wearing provisional Hunter badges were subject to minor protection laws and restricted from entering dungeons. Why? Because the casualty rate was high.

Everyone in this era has one misconception: the misconception that ‘dungeons’ are ‘less dangerous than they seem’. It’s literally true. Because Hunters protect them. Because information about dungeons is so widespread.

When there’s a lot of information, people become complacent. It’s a common occurrence. Furthermore, they naturally accept it as part of their surroundings. And gradually, as time passes, people come to feel that dungeons are nothing special. A prime example is the ‘~-grade’ ranking system.

Of course, for true Hunters, it was an essential system because their survival depended on it, but for ordinary citizens, it was different. Nonsense like, ‘Is a C-grade dungeon even a dungeon? haha’ was standard, and it wasn’t uncommon for them to mock lower-ranked Hunters as trash. Well, that’s how it is. Familiarity makes one forget safety.

In reality, C-grade? It’s not even funny. A single D-grade dungeon can destroy an entire city. That’s what a dungeon is. So, Yang U-dam’s confusion and fear were perfectly normal reactions.

“……”

A pale hand hovered around him. It trembled, unable to reach, as if afraid to touch him carelessly. Yang U-dam was usually so fearless, so for him to be like this… Shin Jukyeong thought his own condition must be truly bad. He also decided he needed to get the children out as quickly as possible. He hoped they wouldn’t develop any trauma.

‘Since I’m already profusely bleeding, that might be difficult.’

As soon as they get out, he’d have to look for a youth psychological counseling center.

“Shin Jukyeong…”

Meanwhile, Yang U-dam seemed quite shocked. A faint voice escaped his lips. His distorted mouth, trembling eyes. It was a complex expression, very difficult to describe in words.

“You again… me… why do you…”

Just then, Shin Jukyeong coughed up blood once more, and Yang U-dam startled, crying out.

“Shin Jukyeong! Snap out of it! Shin Jukyeong!”

‘My head is ringing.’

Instead of answering, Shin Jukyeong nodded to signal he was okay. But Yang U-dam didn’t understand.

“Shin Jukyeong…”

His voice was so faint, as if he was about to lose his breath. Yang U-dam bit his lip as if bracing himself for something, then grabbed Shin Jukyeong’s shirt. He then forcefully tore the fabric around the neckline. Beneath the tattered clothing, Shin Jukyeong’s injured shoulder was exposed. It was already bruised purple.