8 Chapter 7 (1/2)

Front, back, left, and right.

In order to secure all four directions, four people were the bare minimum required.

Jin-Woo himself, Ju-Hui, Mister Song and finally, Mister Kim. A single person leaving now would result in a gap within the field of vision.

Kim wiped the sweat off his forehead and asked urgently.

”Mister Seong, just what is going on here? Explain it to me properly.”

”We'll make it as long as we wait here! Only until all the blue flames are extinguished!”

Jin-Woo spat out everything he had deduced so far. Kim nodded his head as his ears perked up.

Jin-Woo quickly ended his explanation and added one more thing at the end.

”Remember, everyone here can get out of here alive.”

The laws of this chamber always left open a path for one's survival. The final law would not deviate from that. Jin-Woo was certain of no one else needing to die as long as the remaining people trusted each other.

”.....”

Too bad, Kim's thoughts were quite different from the youth's. The older Hunter asked hesitantly.

”Look here, Mister Seong... you could be right on this one, but... could the door close shut instead when the timer runs out?”

”...”

Jin-Woo couldn't answer that one.

He came to his conclusion after considering several variables, but until the result was in, he couldn't be 100% certain of anything.

However, what Kim wanted was a definite assurance. Rather than an uncertain promise of everyone's survival, the definite survival of his own self had proved to be far more alluring in the end.

”I'm sorry about this, but... I don't think I can stay here anymore.”

”Ahjussi!”

”Sorry.”

With that parting word, Kim stepped down from the altar. He then ignored Jin-Woo's urgent calling and ran towards the door. He stopped and looked for a brief moment just outside the door, but Kim did not step back inside the chamber again.

Grit.

Jin-Woo gritted his teeth.

”God d*mn it!!”

He had saved the lives of others, but what he got in return was definitely not something like gratefulness or friendship.

His entire body shuddered from the pain of betrayal.

Just as he suspected, as soon as Kim had abandoned them, a gap within the surveillance had been created. It was impossible for three people to guard all four directions.

And so, the statues positioned in the blindspots began creeping closer to the altar.

Creeeaaakkkk...

Creeaakkk...

The encirclement of the stone statue was gradually tightening. Song took a look around and then, spoke to Jin-Woo and Ju-Hui.

”Both of you, you should leave now.”

His voice was full of resignation. Jin-Woo looked at the old man.

”But, ahjussi....?”

”Just as Kim had said, I was the one who dragged us all in here. If someone has to remain behind, then it'd be only right that I'm the one.”

”But, still!!”

”You two with a better future ahead of you should be the ones to survive today.”

Song began smiling, then. He was thinking of these two young people's hearts as they would have to abandon him here.

”...”

Jin-Woo helplessly nodded his head. He was uncomfortable about this whole thing, but there was no time left to argue back and forth who should remain in here.

Song then tried to ask Ju-Hui to take care of Jin-Woo.

”Miss Ju-Hui, can you help out Mister Seong here for a bit?”

”Y-yes.”

However, just as she was about to prop him up, Ju-Hui plopped down to the floor.

”Ah.....”

Ju-Hui tried to get up, but then, tears began forming around the edges of her eyes.

”My legs... I, I can't move my legs....”

Both the expressions of Jin-Woo and Mister Song hardened in an instant.

Ju-Hui's current physical condition did look terrible even from a casual glance. Her lips were in the shade of pale blue, while her entire body continued to tremble ever so imperceptibly.

She was suffering from the side-effects of overusing her magic energy when she was already at her physical limit.

'Because she tried to heal my leg....'

Jin-Woo felt his chest tighten and couldn't say anything. However, they really didn't have any time left now.

Creeeeaaaakkkk.....

The stone statues were relentlessly approaching them without a moment of rest even now.

Jin-Woo shoved Song's hand away and plopped down to the ground himself. Seeing this, Song's eyes grew wider.

”Y-young man.....?”

Jin-Woo spoke up with a determined expression on his face.

”Ahjussi, please take Ju-Hui and get out of this place.”

”I told you, I'll be the one staying behind.”

”In that case, who's going to help Ju-Hui?”

It was pretty much impossible for him to take Ju-Hui, who couldn't even stand properly, and leave through the door within the time limit.

'Of course....'

There was the other choice of abandoning Ju-Hui behind, as well. However, Ju-Hui had saved his life several times already, and the only reason why she was in this state was because she tried to help him with all her might.

He definitely did not want to suffer the guilty conscience of abandoning such a person behind in this godforsaken place.

”There is no time left. Please leave now.”

”...”

Song's expression remained hardened as he helped Ju-Hui up. She shook her head desperately while tears streamed down on her face.

”No, you can't... Mister Jin-Woo can still survive, you know? Let me....”

”I promised to buy you a dinner, didn't I?”

Jin-Woo pulled out the rank E magic crystal from his pocket and placed it in her hand.

”Please, use this and enjoy one on me. When I get out of here, I'll be coming around to collect the change, you see.”

A smile formed on Jin-Woo's face, prompting Ju-Hui to cry out in anger.

”How can you crack a joke in this situation, Mister Jin-Woo?!”

It was at this moment that Jin-Woo signalled to Mister Song with a nod. The older man then lightly chopped on the back of Ju-Hui's neck.

”Ah....”

With that, Ju-Hui lost her consciousness. Song picked up the unconscious girl and placed her over his shoulder.

”....I'm really sorry about this.”

”This is my choice, so it's fine.”

Mister Song bowed his head to Jin-Woo.

With that goodbye, Song quickly left the altar.

Creeaakkk....

Creeeeeaaaaakkkk.....

During the time the three of them were chatting, the statues had arrived at the proverbial stone's throw away.

Jin-Woo got on his knees and took several deep breaths.

”Fuu-woo. Fuu-woo....”

He spotted the sword Kim had left behind next to him. So, he reached out and picked it up.

'Now that it had come down to this, I'll take at least one down with me.'

When he looked behind him, Jin-Woo saw Mister Song safely leaving through the doorway with unconscious Ju-Hui still perched upon his shoulder.

What a relief that was.

'Only I'll die here now....'