BCGWR Chapter 50 Part 2

Even if I go… what would I know, I’m not a dungeon expert…

Since I can’t even properly distinguish between an artificial explosion and one caused by a dungeon break, nothing would change if I went. The experts would investigate it, of course… ‘What would I know?’ I thought, yet a constant pressure to do something myself kept building.

Still, what if… what if it’s really the same dungeon…

Jung Ha-jin continued to gently stroke Ji-su’s hand, lost in thought, staying by his side. Toto, too, plopped down near Ji-su’s wrist and quietly stayed put.

After pondering intensely alone for a while, Ji-su seemed to finish his thoughts, raising his head slightly and speaking to Jung Ha-jin.

“Jung Ha-jin Esper.”

“Yes.”

“I… know this sounds a bit strange. Before Jae-yoon hyung… went into the dungeon… I bought him a lot of Guiding Potions and food kits.”

Jung Ha-jin’s eyes seemed to twitch slightly upon hearing that, then quickly returned to normal as he nodded and replied.

“It was already mentioned on broadcast that Kang Jae-yoon Esper had many food kits and Guiding Potions in his Inventory.”

“Ah… is that so…”

“Yes.”

“…Um… but… Jung Ha-jin Esper… what do you think?”

“…”

“What I’m… saying might sound foolish… but… just… what if… Really, what if… as I said earlier… couldn’t there be even a 1%… chance?”

Jung Ha-jin couldn’t answer easily this time.

It wasn’t because of his choked, heavy voice, laden with moisture.

It was because he, who was asking such questions in desperation, clinging to any straw… was habitually trying to act calm, even though he wanted to cry immediately, simply because he was facing another person. Seeing him like that, his gaze involuntarily fell.

At this point, there was nothing Jung Ha-jin could say to Han Ji-su. Only unhelpful comfort. In this situation, he didn’t want Ji-su to forcibly manage his expression out of old habit. And he shouldn’t.

So Jung Ha-jin, with his gaze lowered, looked at Han Ji-su’s hand rather than his face, and subtly shook his head.

“Han Ji-su Guide. It might be hard to believe, but the Taesan Dungeon is not the same dungeon that was annihilated in Taejongdae, Busan.”

“…”

“And from now on, …hngh!”

“…”

Jung Ha-jin, who had paused speaking, gave a small cough, as if something was caught in his throat. For a moment, a noticeably surprised Toto opened his eyes wide and looked up at Jung Ha-jin. He clearly looked to be in great pain.

Jung Ha-jin’s Adam’s apple moved significantly as if he had swallowed a small lump. Even afterward, his expression as he cleared his throat seemed very distressed, but because he had slightly lowered his head, Ji-su couldn’t see it well.

Toto, who had seen Jung Ha-jin’s face clearly from below, simply parted his mouth slightly, watched him, looking uncomfortable, and sniffed his nose in puzzlement.

※ The rights to this work belong to the copyright holder. Copying, reproducing, modifying, or distributing this work may result in criminal penalties and civil liability.

(49)