Chapter 66 (2/2)

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To think that the information would be entering his head oh-so thoughtfully like this. Not only that, despite their era or dimensions not being the same, the environment they were in wasn’t all that different from the one Su-hyeun was used to living in, too.

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What a relief that there didn’t seem to be any particular issues to worry about, at least on the surface.

The skill levels of each and everyone here weren’t too shabby, either. All three were awakeners ranked B, while the magical energy concentration almost reaching the A rank could be felt from Aile herself. This group had been attacking dungeons without any problems until now, so it should be the same story this time as well.

Even then, why the trial was about attacking the dungeon?

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The trials didn’t hand out missions that anyone could clear. Even if the mission seemed ordinary and not all that difficult on the surface, there was one thing he must remember at all times.

He was in a tenth-level trial.

* * *

Su-hyeun traveled to the dungeon with the three members of the group. As they walked while chatting about this and that, they soon spotted the dungeon’s entrance at the bottom of the distant valley.

“Over there!” Keshunirn shouted out with a bright face.

That prompted Hawal to grumble in a small voice. “What’s so great about discovering a dungeon anyway….”

It was a mystery how the bright and outgoing Keshunirn decided to team up with the negative and gloomy Howal.

“It’s great that we found our source of income, that’s what. Don’t you agree?”

Su-hyeun had no choice but to nod when Keshunirn asked him. “Yes, I agree.”

As he said that, Su-hyeun sneaked a glance at Aile. She hadn’t said a word while on their way here. He didn’t even know what her voice sounded like.

“What’s the matter? Did you fall for her?” Keshunirn spotted the glance and stuck close to Su-hyeun to whisper that question.

The latter frowned ever so slightly and stared at the former. Keshunirn chuckled softly under his breath and waved his hand about. “I’m just kidding. No need for the glare, you know. Besides, it’s true that she’s a beauty, right? We haven’t been working together for long, but there’s no doubt that her abilities are the real deal, too.”

Aile had joined the group comparatively later than everyone else. They only attacked one dungeon together with her. During that conquest, she displayed the greatest set of abilities among the group.

“And besides, isn’t it better to have a quiet but pretty older sister type around you than a gloomy bastard?”

“Well, you’re right about that…” Su-hyeun’s unenthusiastic response brought out a puzzled expression on Keshunirn’s face.

Su-hyeun looked back at Keshunirn and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“No, well, something feels a bit strange, you see.”

“About?”

“I mean, I was convinced that you had the hots for Aile until now, but… No, even if it’s not that, you used to go absolutely mental over any girls you spotted, so….”

“Be careful with what you say. Who’s supposed to go mental over women here?”

Although something did pop up and lightly prodded him in his mind, Su-hyeun decided not to sweat over it.

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He had experienced this type of trial plenty of times before, the one where he had to inhabit the body of someone else and pretend to be that person. Every time he did that, though, Su-hyeun grew more and more aware of the burden of acting like that person, and eventually, he came to realize one thing: even if he didn’t play the part, as long as that didn’t pose any issues regarding the clearing of the trial, then there was no problem in how others perceived him.

The only issue with that was the resulting uncomfortable stares, but that also didn’t matter depending on his mindset.

“Hmm….”

Sure enough, Keshunirn pondered Su-hyeun’s reply for a moment or two before nodding his head. “Well, sure. A person’s mind does change on a whim, so….”

He was jumping to conclusions all on his own.

Su-hyeun could only sigh inwardly but endured it. All he wanted to do right now was to get through this trial as soon as possible.

“By the way, this is supposed to be a yellow-color dungeon, so will it be alright?”

It was then that Aile spoke for the very first time.

Indeed, the yellow-colored dungeon did pose a tough challenge for a group of four awakeners around the rank B level. If another rank A Awakener was added to the group, then it’d been a different story. So, it wasn’t all roses and smiles even if they did discover the dungeon.

“We have Miss Aile with us, so what could be the problem? If it’s proving to be too difficult, then we can just walk away content after checking out the entrance.” That opinion was from the ever-positive Keshunirn.

“Don’t be stupid. Did you forget how many idiots without enough abilities die because their greed got the better of them? Seriously, man. Why do I even call someone like you our leader….”

“Mister Howal.”

Aile shot him a glare, prompting Howal to shut his mouth. He then averted his head away and began grumbling something to himself.

It seemed that Aile was carefully weighing her options, while Keshunirn was in favor of challenging the dungeon. As for Howal’s opinion, he didn’t want to.

But then again, his personality dictated that he’d always lean towards a no anyway, not just in this matter. He was the type to first oppose whatever other people were suggesting and then see what happened next.

“What do you think, Mister Warrick?”

Su-hyeun didn’t hesitate to reply to Aile’s question. “Let’s challenge it.”

“Yes!” Keshunirn cried out.

Two voted for, one neutral, and one against.

The result had been decided.

The group stepped inside the dungeon. The most motivated of the group was, as expected, the duo of Su-hyeun and Keshunirn.

Once they stepped into the dungeon’s interior, a lengthy, arrow-straight cavern appeared before their eyes. The cavern was so large and long that they couldn’t even see the end.

The chilly air cutting into their skin felt rather ominous. Perhaps Keshunirn himself had felt it, too, because he began muttering in a worried voice next. “What kind of atmosphere is….”

Clack—

He then tripped over something and wobbled unsteadily for a bit.

Su-hyeun reached out and grabbed the tottering Keshunirn’s arm. The latter’s complexion paled instantly. “This, this….”

The rest of the group entering behind them also carried similar expressions.

“Bones.” Su-hyeun looked at the countless number of bones strewn about everywhere on the floor and continued on. “They are all human remains.”

Keshunirn, still pale-faced, sneaked a glance in Su-hyeun’s direction.

Unlike the others, his expression hadn’t changed a bit.