Chapter 168

Chapter 168: Rescue (4)

After I poured out a strike of my entire soul, drawing upon every last bit of my spirit, the clanging noise of battle vanished into a sudden, heavy silence.

Perhaps because it was so quiet, the voice of Kim Su-hyeok, who was clearly whispering, reached my ears.

“Is it over……?”

The idea of a revival spell, something I had seen often in manga or novels, weighed on my mind for a moment.

However, that was only a story within manga or novels.

No, in a way, this place was also a novel... but now that it had become reality, such a thing did not happen.

If he stood back up even after a hole had been punched through his chest, this would no longer be a world where gates existed, but an apocalypse world occupied by zombies.

Therefore, as soon as I confirmed that the man had stopped breathing, I slumped down onto the floor.

“Haa…….”

“Yu-seong! Are you all right?”

“I am not injured, but it is due to the backlash of the talent.”

“Really? That is a relief, then…….”

Since he was still wearing a mask, I could not see his face, but I could guess what kind of expression Kim Su-hyeok was wearing.

I almost let out a small laugh because of it, but...

‘There is a problem I need to address before that.’

Laughter would not be very appropriate if I wanted to bring up that issue.

Thus, I swallowed the laughter that was about to escape and spoke toward Kim Su-hyeok.

“So, I think it is time for us to have a detailed talk.”

“Ah…….”

“How did you know about this place?”

At my question, Kim Su-hyeok hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth as if he had made up his mind.

“Actually, I followed you.”

“You followed me?”

“Yes. I kept getting an uneasy feeling, ever since you left Glory on the last day of the festival, Yu-seong…….”

As soon as I heard Kim Su-hyeok’s words, I could roughly figure out what had happened.

‘It must be because of the World's Protection.’

If it was something Kim Su-hyeok described as a feeling, that could be the only explanation.

In fact, if Kim Su-hyeok had not been here, there was a high probability that I would have been hit by the man's first attack.

‘Wait a minute. But…….’

Did he not say he had been following me since I left Glory?

That meant...

“Did you also see who I was with?”

“…Yes.”

Damn it, I had a suspicion, but to think he really saw us.

Normally, he would have been caught long ago by Yu-hyeon or Baek Ha-seong, but since Kim Su-hyeok had a talent specialized in this area among his abilities, I had no choice but to believe it.

‘That is not what is important right now…….’

Yu-hyeon had a different face when he met Kim Su-hyeok, and since the appearance of the Puppeteer varied so much, it did not matter. However, Baek Ha-seong was different.

Since they must have encountered each other during the midterm exams, he surely would have recognized him.

It was extremely awkward to figure out how to explain this.

As I sat there in silence, lost in thought, Kim Su-hyeok added more words as if he knew what I was thinking.

“It is okay.”

“…Huh?”

“I do not know why you were with that person, Yu-seong, but you have your reasons, right?”

I listened quietly to Kim Su-hyeok’s words without interrupting.

“I have thought that you are reckless, Yu-seong, but I have never once thought you were a bad person. If you were a bad person to begin with, you would not have stepped forward for me or the other kids.”

“…….”

“So, I believe there is a reason. Just as you once told me that lukewarm justice is poison, I believe you have your own firm convictions.”

As Kim Su-hyeok said, there was certainly a reason.

But even so, understanding it was a different matter.

This was Kim Su-hyeok—a person whose goal was ‘justice’—saying he understood me joining hands with a villain.

Therefore, I expressed my gratitude for Kim Su-hyeok’s kind words.

“Thank you for saying that.”

“It is nothing. Then, by any chance……”

“By any chance, what?”

“Can you tell me the reason why you had to do that, Yu-seong? If you cannot, I will understand, but……”

Kim Su-hyeok made the request very cautiously.

I pondered over those words for a moment, but the deliberation did not last long.

‘It should be fine.’

It was not as if I were trying to do something that should not be known by society; was I not moving to rescue Han Seora?

If it was this kind of story, there should be no problem telling Kim Su-hyeok everything without omission.

So, I briefly explained to him the reason why I had joined hands with Baek Ha-seong to come here...

“Is that true?! Those bastards……”

As soon as he heard my words, Kim Su-hyeok began to get truly angry as if it were his own business.

But Su-hyeok... I appreciate that you believe me, but you are going to be in big trouble if you trust people that easily, you know?

“Then, is that person named Han Seora the one who went missing ten years ago……?”

“That is right.”

“So that was why.”

“What was why?”

“Huh? You do not know, Yu-seong? Shin Yu-hwan and Cha Yu-na were there, and many others have come as well.”

What? This is the first I have heard of this.

When I pressed him for more information, Kim Su-hyeok told me that he had seen them while he was following me.

“…This is not good.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Kim Su-hyeok said something to me, but I could not find the luxury to pay attention to it.

After all, this was something not in the plans at all, and no matter how much I thought about it, nothing good could possibly come of it.

‘I must go to where Baek Ha-seong is as quickly as possible.’

Of course, there is no guarantee that my anxiety has become a reality.

However, judging by my past track record, the probability of it becoming reality was not just high, but extremely high.

Therefore, I spoke to Kim Su-hyeok in an urgent voice.

“Su-hyeok, can you break that iron door for me? You will have to use your talent, but I am finding it a bit difficult right now.”

“It is a request from a friend, so of course I can.”

Kim Su-hyeok swung his sword powerfully toward the iron door as if telling me to just trust him.

And Kim Su-hyeok proved that confidence immediately.

With a RUMBLE of vibration, the iron door was neatly split into two pieces.

“Let us go quickly.”

I did not know if there would be more enemies ahead, but now was the time to pick up the pace.

***

“Fortunately, it seems there is no one inside.”

We had passed beyond the iron door and walked for a while.

As Kim Su-hyeok said, there did not seem to be any particular enemies ahead.

However, that did not mean I felt at ease.

‘I must finish this quickly before the penalty arrives.’

The Final Price has already arrived, but the Price of Yearning has not yet taken effect.

Since about thirty minutes have passed since I used the talent, there are thirty minutes remaining.

I could not help but feel anxious because it meant my stats would be fixed at F-rank in thirty minutes.

‘Wait, come to think of it, did Su-hyeok cut through that iron door even with his altered stats?’

I had not thought about it earlier, but looking at it now, he really was an incredible guy.

It meant that even after excluding physical abilities, his mastery of his talent was outstanding.

As I walked for a few minutes toward the place where Han Seora would be while thinking such thoughts, we finally succeeded in finding a likely location.

“It is a door.”

“Indeed. It is a door.”

“It does not seem like there is a lock... what do you want to do, Yu-seong?”

There was no time to consider what to do.

When I nodded toward Kim Su-hyeok, he opened the door slowly, as if he understood.

Then...

“Ugh!”

“What the……”

An unidentified scent immediately rushed toward us.

Even with a player's body, it was a scent so pungent that words burst out reflexively; my mind felt hazy, and it was certainly a forbidden drug.

‘That means…….’

This was definitely the place.

Han Seora had to be somewhere in this room.

I immediately began to search every corner of the large room to find Han Seora, even amidst the intoxicating scent, and soon.

“I found her.”

I was able to find Han Seora.

A woman with deep blue hair, her entire body bound, with traces of torture clearly remaining.

There had never been a description of her appearance, but Han Seora was the only woman who would be in such a state in a place like this.

‘But…….’

Is she really going to be all right?

Her condition was critical.

Not only was she unconscious, but the traces of torture were not in a state that could be easily overlooked.

I cannot give a detailed explanation, but it was a state that an ordinary person would find unbearable to look at.

Even Kim Su-hyeok, who approached me after I said I found her, released a faint killing intent, so no more words were needed.

“How could they do such a thing……”

“Let us talk about that later. What to do with her right now is more important.”

“R-right. Sorry.”

There was nothing to be sorry about.

It was a natural emotion for any human being to have.

Digressing aside, as I just mentioned, the important thing now was what to do with her.

Of course, regardless of what we did, it was only natural to move Han Seora to safety.

However, there was one problem.

“No matter how I look at it, it does not seem like her body can hold out. What do you think?”

It was that Han Seora's physical condition was in a terrible state.

Kim Su-hyeok agreed, his expression hardening at my words.

“Just as you said, Yu-seong, she might stop breathing while we are moving her in this state.”

“Damn it... what should I do?”

If my talent had not been sealed as the Final Price, I would have used Ha Eun-ha’s talent immediately, no matter how many points it cost.

Although Kim Su-hyeok was beside me, Han Seora’s life was more important than my secret.

But that was only possible if I could use the talent.

Right now, it was impossible.

‘And I cannot just wait here forever.’

It was a dilemma.

I could not think of a single way.

It was at that moment while I was agonizing over Han Seora.

“I think there is a way.”

A single sentence came from the mouth of Kim Su-hyeok, who had been quietly contemplating along with me.

Before I could even ask what the method was, Kim Su-hyeok had already begun to deploy his talent.

“Equivalent Exchange.”

As much as I knew Kim Su-hyeok better than anyone, I also knew the talent he was using.

“You, wait a minute……!”

There was a reason why I was so flustered.

It was because the Equivalent Exchange Kim Su-hyeok used was not a talent that would end simply.

The fact that he used this talent, which allowed him to obtain what he wanted by paying a corresponding price, at this timing meant...

“Cough! Kh-argh…….”

It meant he was offering his own body as the price to restore Han Seora's physical condition.

Kim Su-hyeok staggered, coughing up blood before I could even finish my sentence.

I immediately grabbed him so he would not fall and raised my voice.

“Are you crazy? What are you doing!”

“Because this is the only way right now……. and it is okay. It would be a nuisance if I became completely unable to move, so I only exchanged a certain amount for now.”

How could he even say that?

Even if he said such things while coughing up blood, it was not comforting at all.

But Kim Su-hyeok gave a weak laugh, oblivious to my inner turmoil.

“Haha... this is a first.”

“What do you mean, a first?”

“Every time before, the situation between you and me was the opposite, Yu-seong. I am saying this is a first.”

“…….”

“I think I understand a little bit now, how you must have felt.”

I could not give any answer to those words.

Why? Was it not for a very simple reason?

Just as Kim Su-hyeok said he understood how I felt to some extent, I also felt like I knew a bit about how Kim Su-hyeok must have felt before.

‘This is a truly foul feeling.’

He had decided on a strategy of self-sacrifice on his own without a single word of consultation.

But the problem was that there was no other viable option besides that.

It was a feeling that was unspeakably shitty.

“Let us talk about this later.”

While a sense of self-reflection arose—that the things I had done until now had, in a way, placed a burden on others' hearts—now was not the time to be caught up in heavy emotions.

The situation was still urgent, and the top priority was to escape from this place where no one knew when an unexpected situation might occur.

Therefore, I held Han Seora, whose expression had become much better even though she was still unconscious, in my arms and carried Kim Su-hyeok on my back.

Although Kim Su-hyeok mentioned along the way that he was in a state where he could walk...

“Be quiet. Just stay on my back quietly.”

I immediately dismissed that opinion.

Not only was his physical condition poor, but his physical abilities were also in an altered state.

What did he mean by saying he was fine because he could walk in that condition?

If he used his talent, he might be able to keep up, but I had no intention of making things harder for someone in such bad shape.

“I am going to run at full speed, so hold on tight.”

With that, I was finally ready to depart.

There was no more room for hesitation.

After a final check to see if Kim Su-hyeok was holding on properly, I began to run at full speed, just as I had said.

Hoping desperately that I was not too late.