Uijae frowned. However, Sayoung didn’t seem inclined to stop talking or moving.

“Let’s finish this conversation before we go any further. We’ve got a little time, don’t we?”

Without answering, Uijae scanned the area. Thanks to the fact that they had already destroyed all the golems in sight, there was no longer any sign of movement nearby. Resting his spear on his shoulder, Uijae gave a slight nod.

“Go ahead.”

“...”

In this gray world covered in white ash, only Lee Sayoung remained black.

“What’s your current job?”

“What?”

The question came out of nowhere. Uijae looked at Sayoung, wondering if he was about to spout nonsense again. But Sayoung’s delicate face showed no emotion, as he quietly observed Uijae. He pressed further.

“Answer me. What’s your job?”

“Well… I’m a part-time worker at a hangover soup restaurant.”

Uijae answered reluctantly. As if he had been waiting for this response, Sayoung twisted the corner of his mouth into a smirk.

“What do you think my job is?”

“A Hunter?”

“Bingo. So, between a Hunter and a part-timer at a hangover soup restaurant, who do you think should handle the boss?”

“Are you messing with me?”

“As if.”

A strange heat flickered in Sayoung’s low-saturation violet eyes.

“I didn’t want to say something this childish... but someone here keeps acting like they’re all alone. I can’t help it.”

“...”

“No matter how weak Jung Bin is against monsters, he can hold out. And I can fight well enough...”

Sayoung let out a short laugh, pulled on his gloves, and took a step closer. His black-gloved hand suddenly reached out and covered Uijae’s hand, the one gripping his spear. Lowering his head slightly, Sayoung whispered.

“There’s no need for a part-timer with trembling hands to try to save everyone and take down the boss on his own.”

It seemed Sayoung had seen Uijae’s trembling hands when they first met in the dungeon. In truth, the anxiety that had gnawed at him had long since vanished, thanks to the man standing before him. But Uijae didn’t respond. The thumb of Sayoung’s leather glove brushed against the back of Uijae’s hand before withdrawing. Sayoung took a step back, tilting his head as if he hadn’t moved closer at all.

“You told me once, didn’t you? That you wanted to live quietly.”

“I want to live quietly.”

“I didn’t ask why back then. Maybe I should have… because from what I’ve seen, it doesn’t look like it.”

Sayoung muttered softly, blinking slowly.

“Do you really want to live quietly, hyung?”

Uijae was sure he had promised someone that he would live quietly. Who that person was… that memory was foggy, like a mist, but one thing was clear. Uijae answered briefly.

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

“I think you’ve got something confused here. Living quietly and saving people are two different things.”

Sayoung frowned. Uijae didn’t shy away from his confused and swirling gaze.

Living quietly was someone else’s wish for him, but saving people was something Uijae could do. Once, it had even been something he had to do. However…

“Saving people doesn’t require a reason.”

Why should I save people? Why should I sacrifice myself? Uijae had long since stopped asking himself those questions. His desire to live quietly, the trembling hands, and the churning nausea he felt every time he entered a dungeon or rift—they didn’t matter when life was at stake. The most important thing was saving lives. Hesitating and losing someone he could have saved was the stupidest thing imaginable. And…

‘This dungeon *is* my responsibility.’

Uijae swallowed his words and took a step toward Sayoung.

“And I told you, I made a rational decision. Like you said, Jung Bin is useless against monsters. And you—aren’t you a poison user? Judging by the state of this dungeon, the boss is probably a golem. Do you think you can melt that thing? Okay, let’s say you can.”

“...”

“But since it’s an S+ grade boss, it’s going to take you a long time to melt it down. It’d be faster for the two of us to just beat it up, like we did before.”

“...”

“And as for joining up with Jung Bin… there are others inside, not just us. I’m trying to save them too.”

“…Hah.”

Sayoung raised his eyebrows as he listened silently. By now, Uijae could interpret all of Sayoung’s expressions perfectly. The one on his face now was something like, ‘Ah, I see you’re finally saying it.’ Letting out a short sigh, Sayoung asked.

“Who’s in here besides you?”

“Hong Yeseong. And one other person.”

“...”

Sayoung’s long lashes fluttered as he mulled over the words. Finally, his eyes narrowed slightly.

“What’s that bastard doing here? And who’s the other one?”

“He came looking for a mana stone.”

“F**k, just give him the damn thing and cut ties with him.”

“I tried, but… circumstances prevented it. Anyway.”

Uijae cleared his throat and glanced sideways at Sayoung. The moment he mentioned Hong Yeseong’s name, Sayoung’s face had twisted into an outright scowl. Damn it. As expected, Hong Yeseong was only making things worse. It was time to lighten the mood. Uijae jabbed Sayoung’s arm playfully and cracked a joke.

“If you’re worried, just say you’re worried. Don’t act like a jerk about it.”

“...”

So much for lightening the mood—it had only gotten worse. An ominous silence descended.

‘Sh*t, what went wrong?’

Uijae froze as he took in the sight of Sayoung’s darkened, delicate face. This was not the reaction he had expected. In his mind, Sayoung should have…

‘Worried? Who, me? For you?’

‘Are you crazy?’

‘No way.’

‘Did you go blind or something…?’

All of these were the sharp retorts he had expected to hear. But judging by Sayoung’s pale face and tightly pressed lips, that didn’t seem to be happening anytime soon. Uijae awkwardly withdrew the finger he had jabbed Sayoung’s arm with and asked hesitantly.

“...Were you really worried?”

“Why?”

Sayoung’s lips parted.

“Is that not allowed?”

It was a question Uijae hadn’t anticipated at all. Sayoung smirked.

“Why are you so surprised?”

“...”

“What if I told you I’ve been waiting this whole time?”

A flood of words came to Uijae’s mind, but they kept sinking back down before he could voice them. As he opened his mouth to finally respond with the last words left, both of them suddenly froze and turned to look in the same direction. The air was sharply torn apart.

*Boom—!*

A fierce gust of ash-laden wind swept through the area. Uijae pulled Sayoung toward him, shielding the back of his head with one hand as he held his breath. At the same time, a firm arm wrapped around Uijae’s back and waist. When the wind finally subsided, Uijae surveyed their surroundings. Something enormous was moving slowly from the source of the sound. With each step it took, the entire dungeon trembled. That had to be the dungeon boss. Uijae closed his eyes for a brief moment before opening them again.

<Tracker’s Eye!>

Why did his ominous premonitions always have to be right?

Biting his lip, Uijae tapped Sayoung on the shoulder.

“It’s over there, where Jung Bin is.”

“…Hah.”

Sayoung let out a breathy laugh and unwrapped his arm from around Uijae. Their eyes met briefly. Without another word, they both started running.

As they ran, the sight before them grew clearer through the ash. It was a colossal golem, crouching on all fours like a beast. It was so massive that its head was barely visible from their vantage point.

*Gwooooh...*

The golem let out a long, resonating cry. A chilling sensation ran down their spines. They were already standing in the shadow cast by the golem’s immense body.

“…Tsk.”

Sayoung clicked his tongue in irritation. Uijae’s judgment had been correct. If Sayoung tried to melt something of that size, everyone except Sayoung would be dead from poison before the golem even began to dissolve.

It would be a pointless waste of energy. Sayoung cracked his fingers, eyes fixed on the golem. There was no other choice. They’d just have to keep hitting it until it shattered. Of course, his hands would likely break first, but there were potions for that. Just then, Uijae, running alongside him, muttered.

“There they are.”

At the end of Uijae’s blue gaze, a rectangular, transparent barrier with a golden border glowed in the distance. Inside, they could see Hong Yeseong, drenched in cold sweat, holding up a shield. Next to him lay the collapsed figure of Jung Bin, and a young girl was supporting him. It seemed like they had noticed Uijae and Sayoung too, as Hong Yeseong let out a groan.

“Ugh, damn it, we’re saved...”

“Watch out!”

The girl screamed. Both Uijae and Sayoung looked up. A massive hand was descending toward them. Sayoung instinctively reached out to grab Uijae, but instead, Uijae shoved him away. Sayoung’s eyes widened. Uijae was...

Smiling.

Sayoung’s mouth fell open as if he wanted to say something, but no words came out. He found himself pushed toward the edge of the shield Hong Yeseong had created. Hong Yeseong gritted his teeth and shouted.

“Kid! Pull Lee Sayoung inside!”

“Yes!”

The girl grabbed Sayoung’s arm and pulled him into the golden barrier. Just as Sayoung tried to get back on his feet, something wrapped around him—a black snare. He growled ferociously.

“Damn it, let me go right now!”

“What are you gonna do if you go out there? Can’t you see Jung Bin?”

Hong Yeseong shouted, out of breath. Only then did Sayoung look down. Jung Bin was lying there, battered and barely moving. The faint rise and fall of his chest was the only sign that he was still alive.

________________

TL NOTE: Please don't skimp on the stars and likes of the translation - it inspires me and gives me the strength to write more. Thank you~!