Chapter 55 (1/2)

Chapter 55 –  Day 13 Princess and Dog (2)

After finis.h.i.+ng the conversation, I handed the phone to Director Oh.

“It isn't a big deal. The deputy manager will come back safely.”

”…”

“Well, it looks like something did happen. I think it's the result of something he did.” I explained.

I thought about it again. I looked at Jin Soo-young.

”…” As if she was suddenly burdened by my gaze, Jin Soo-young blushed and turned her head away.

I wasn't looking at her in that sense. This woman.

I had two unique talents: Atlas and Underdog.

I realized that unique talents were different from ordinary talents and techniques that could be gained in the dungeon. Very different.

The first time I had some questions was on the fifth floor. At the time of the mini-game, I chose a brutal way to reduce the number of challengers. Even those who were watching were bothered by my cruel torture. Of course, it was a reasonable method, but somewhere in my mind, I felt a sense of discomfort. Thinking about a rational method and putting it into practice were entirely separate matters.

On the sixth floor, it turned into a certain conviction. Even if the situation was unavoidable, I solved the problem with violence. I killed everyone except for Yang Su-jin and Yoon Ji-hee.

Atlas: 'Your body will become stronger, leading to a desire to oppress others through violence.' It had a huge impact on my actions.

Underdog was the same as well. Unlike Atlas that I gained from others, this unique talent was something I already had. I was convinced as soon as I saw the description. The driving force in my life so far had been based on this unique talent. After fully awakening Underdog, my values changed one more time. Unlike with Atlas, this time I was conscious and it was easy to notice the change.

I was different from yesterday. If it was the me from yesterday, I likely would have been overwhelmed by the scale of the situation involving the president and retreated. The point of a unique talent wasn't just a few paragraphs to improve my stats. It affected the formation of human values.

“Soo-young, do you have a city?”

”Huh?”

“If you have a city then you can accompany me in the dungeon.”

”…!”

“Was there such a thing?” It was Director Oh who asked. I immediately explained the Merger Rights.

“Soo-young will lose a city, but I will be next to her and can give her constant protection.” It was essentially the same offer I made to Yoon Ji-hee.

”Then… Look, isn't it obvious? It isn't something I can talk about with my status. I need to report the problem. Her father…” Director Oh raised a fuss instead of Soo-young.

“Then report it, but please also consider Soo-young.”

I looked at Soo-young. “It isn't bad for everyone.” I walked away from the mother and daughter and headed outside to wait for Kim Tae-hyun. Not long after, his vehicle arrived.

“Oppa!”

”Hee-chul.”

Yang Su-jin and Yoon Ji-hee came running as they saw me. Their reaction was more than I expected, so I was pleased. I never imagined that they would be able to capture a city.

“What happened?”

“It wasn’t a big deal. Whether we were lucky or not, the only one we encountered on that floor was the pushover.”

Yang Su-jin nodded towards the car. Kim Tae-hyun was on the pa.s.senger side.

“As soon as he saw us, he started firing his machine gun.”

”So?”

“I charged him.”

Indeed. Kim Tae-hyun's main weapon, that Yang Su-jin experienced yesterday, was a gun. He had the ability to fire a shotgun with the same accuracy as a pistol. Unfortunately for him, Yang Su-jin wouldn't die unless her head was completely destroyed. ”I used the boots from the eighth floor to avoid any tricky shots.”

“Still, wouldn't it be hard to deal with him alone?”

”What? Aren't you neglecting Ji-hee unni?”

”…Ji-hee?”

“Ji-hee unni used the wind to deflect the bullets. Thanks to Unni, he was more likely to hit himself with the bullets.”  Yang Su-jin boasted proudly and Yoon Ji-hee just laughed shyly.

“I see.” I thought about Chang Ga-ram. Chang Ga-ram was able to use his icicles to incapacitate me. If someone learned magic and acc.u.mulated the skill, would the power gradually rise?

After hearing their story, I explained about the Merger Rights.  Then I told them that it would be used by Jin Soo-young.

”What? Are you going to leave us?”

“Eh?”

Yang Su-jin's eyes narrowed. ”You know. I heard that the president had a daughter… You don't need us anymore after getting such a great girl ~ it is like this.”

“What is that…?”

”… A joke.” Yang Su-jin poked out her tongue.

”Jeez, this woman…”

Yang Su-jin's expression suddenly froze. It was the same for me.

”…”

”…”

We both gazed towards Yoon Ji-hee. Yoon Ji-hee's face was pale enough to be painted white. Her eyes were huge and were shaking like there was an earthquake with a magnitude of 7 or higher. They looked like the eyes of a dead fish.

”…Kuk…no…”

“Ji-hee unni?”

”Ji-hee?”

“…Don't…” Suddenly, in the bomb shelter, a strong wind blew. “Please don’t throw me away…”

There were hiccups at the end as Yoon Ji-hee burst into tears.  The wind became stronger.

”What the!?” The people still remaining in the bomb shelter were confused. The parked car shook slightly.

”Unni! It isn't like that!” Yang Su-jin grasped the situation and hugged Yoon Ji-hee.

“It is a joke! I… No, we won't get rid of Unni!”

Then she glanced at me. No, why did she joke like this in the first place?

”It is true. The both of you… You have value and aren't worthless.”

The wind stopped, but Yoon Ji-hee's eyes were still wide open. The tears stopped flowing but she looked like she could burst out crying again at any moment.

“Think about it. What would happen to Ji-hee if I integrate with Su-jin's city? Will Ji-hee be able to come along with Su-jin?”

It wouldn't change even if she could come along. Frankly speaking, there was no sense that Yoon Ji-hee would be profitable in reality. But I had experienced it on the ninth floor; Having sure companions in this dungeon would be a tremendous advantage.

“If so, I would rather you continue to be by Su-jin's side.”

Yang Su-jin was strong enough to clear the ninth floor. In addition, her brain wasn't too bad either. Like I just saw… Yoon Ji-hee's abilities had reached this level so the two of them would be able to survive by working as a team.

“Of course, it's dangerous. But after listening to your story about the ninth floor… I believe that both of you will grow and I can join you at a later time.”

”…”

“I trust in Ji-hee's abilities… This is something that is possible.”

The wind stopped blowing completely. Behind Yoon Ji-hee, Yang Su-jin was making an 'O' shape with her fingers.

“I called both of you to check your safety in reality and to help with support before entering the dungeon. Absolutely never… I'm not talking about breaking apart this group.”

”… Yes.”

Yoon Ji-hee wiped away her tears. She seemed convinced.

I glared at Yang Su-jin.