This accessory was more bothersome than expected. I wasn’t sure exactly how it worked, but every time I scanned the surroundings, the white rabbit ears twitched. Surprisingly, the hearing boost from the rabbit ears turned out to be useful. Several times, it helped us avoid ambushes from elite monsters. Were these minotaurs intentionally made to have such quiet footsteps?

• Nianbah killed the prince and fled.
• He intended to escape far away with his wife and daughter.
• But the poison had already begun eating away at his heart, and the pursuing forces were closing in.
• Nianbah retreated to a cave and hid under a magical cloak.
• The pursuers couldn’t find him.

Since clearing the mid-boss, the difficulty had escalated sharply. We needed both of our melee fighters to handle just one elite monster. Their numbers made direct combat nearly impossible. Fortunately, we didn’t need to defeat them all. Infinity Black never designed dungeons to be unbeatable, especially when it came to stats. As long as a weapon could penetrate, the dungeon could be cleared. The powerful monsters were likely there to test our strength.

The solution lay in the story item—the Magical Cloak.

“Can’t we squeeze in just a bit more?”
“This is as far as I can go. Ow, stop pushing!”
“Shh, keep quiet. They might hear us.”
“Oof…”

This cloak blended us seamlessly with our surroundings, hiding us from monster sight. However, we were five people, and both Sulbbang and Turkel were massive, making space extremely tight. Eldrin’s chest pressed softly against my cheek. It felt like a warm cushion, but in such a cramped position, there was no way to pull away. I was forced to clamp my mouth shut, as speaking would only bring us face-to-face.

The proximity of everyone was overwhelming. Turkel’s thigh was pressed against my side, and Sulbbang was somewhere behind me, though I wasn’t sure which parts of us were touching. Beneath me, the halfling Sanse was squeezed close, forcing me to stoop over.

“Da-eun, are you uncomfortable?”
“No, I’m fine… really.”

I had to bear it. Moving away from Eldrin meant I’d be rubbing against Sulbbang. The heightened sensory sync didn’t help either. Every breath, every bit of warmth was palpable, especially when it was so close to my ears. The slightest breeze would send shivers down my spine.

After what felt like ages, the elite monsters finally retreated. I cautiously scanned the area and announced, “We’re clear. Let’s move.”

Pushing the others away, I quickly surveyed our surroundings, trying to cool my thoughts. It was time to focus on my role as the party’s scout.

The dungeon grew more complex beyond the initial linear path, with branching routes that could take hours to explore. Fortunately, the dungeon’s story provided clues on how to proceed.

I needed to think like Nianbah. Where would he hide his family?

‘If I were protecting my wife and daughter, I’d choose the deepest, most hidden spot.’

The cave would have initially been a straightforward path, but over time, it would have expanded, with illusions to mislead the pursuers. The most well-adorned paths felt like traps, likely to attract unwary intruders.

“Let’s go this way.”

I picked the most unassuming, weathered path, trusting it would lead us to our destination. Soon enough, we faced the dungeon’s final boss—a creature resembling a giant octopus that had crawled up from the depths of hell.

“Gawol, tentacle incoming!”
“Got it. What is this thing?!”

Thick, purple tentacles whipped toward me, spraying sticky liquid that marked its path. Sulbbang’s term "tentacle" was apt. The creature’s sheer strength was evident as the tentacles smashed against the walls, sending shockwaves through the cave.

The real problem wasn’t just the power but the visceral disgust I felt toward the tentacles. Their slimy, sticky texture made me recoil.

“Ugh!” I shrieked when one brushed against me. Stabbing it with a dagger sent chills down my spine. Focus. I had to focus.

The boss had 13 thick tentacles and a central eye, clearly its weak spot. Unfortunately, smaller tendrils clustered around it, making it hard to reach.

[You are under the effect of 'Whisper of the Black Moon.']
[All attack and movement speeds are boosted, along with advantageous counter-attacks.]
[Certain skills are enhanced…]

As I clung to the wall, dodging a tentacle that splintered the rock behind me, I used it as a makeshift slide, although its slimy surface sent an unpleasant shiver down my spine. I despised the feeling of the goo that soaked my clothes. Though I could handle bugs in my apartment, this was on a whole different level.

“Eugh…”

My teammates weren’t idle. Eldrin’s flames cleared a path, and Sanse’s vines ensnared a tentacle. Just as I moved to strike the eye, I noticed something twitching within the tentacle cluster—a hidden spike, reminiscent of a scorpion’s tail. I barely managed to deflect it with a dagger, but the acid burned through my stocking.

I couldn’t destroy the eye this time, but I retreated, calling for support.

“Turkel! Shield me!”
“R-Right!”

Despite his hesitation, Turkel swung his battle axe, launching me into the air. As I neared the eye, the creature recognized me as the main threat.

But I wasn’t the party’s biggest powerhouse.

[‘Prometheus’ Flame’ is being cast by a party member.]
[Warning: You are within the target area. Move immediately to avoid lethal damage.]
[Caster: Eldrin]

The arena erupted as a fireball coalesced and exploded, shaking the ground. Sulbbang advanced, cutting through several tentacles, but more remained. Overwhelmed, he was thrown against the wall. Though still alive, it was my chance.

Without hesitation, I leapt from the shadows and drove both daggers into the creature’s eye.

“Let’s never meet again, you filthy beast.”

The small tentacles wrapped around my arms but fell limp, leaving only a sticky residue behind.

[You have defeated Dalnerion, the Master of the Ancient Minotaur Habitat.]
[Dungeon Clear. Please check your rewards.]

[You have unlocked access to the Special Area ‘Cradle of Delusion’.]
[Beware: The powerful guardian ‘Father’ awaits within.]