Chapter 281: #The Child Leaves the Cradle, And (3)

A thick cloud of fine dust hung over the sky of Seoul.

“Let’s finish our business and meet up later. Don’t cause any trouble, okay?”

“

Hmph.

Speak for yourself.”

“This is my first time on Earth. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Swoosh swoosh!

Yi-Shin and Sa-Shin scattered into different directions. Yi-Shin went to meet Lin Xiaoming, who’d joined forces with Kang Woo, Jeanne Lehman, and the elves.

Meanwhile, Sa-Shin said there was someone he had to meet on Earth, and went to a familiar hospital. Now that I was left alone, I stared blankly at the ground.

Hmm, where should I go now?

During the thousands of years I spent trapped in the Tower of Gods, what kept me going were the memories from Earth, and my Gayami children. I missed them dearly. Sadly, some of them wouldn’t even remember me. The timeline where I got my hands on God-Maker and acted as both a god and a Hunter had vanished. The cursed, endless loop where I was reincarnated as an ant and was killed by my alternate self had been broken.

Now, I was just an ordinary third-rate writer named Yu Il-Shin. A sense of gloom washed over me.

Oh right, I made a promise before.

Suddenly, an old memory, buried for thousands of years, came to mind.

Mi-Na noona, Mi-Ri.

Although I hadn’t actually met them in person, I’d reached out to them through their dreams in order to gain their Faith—especially Mi-Ri, whom I had trained for a short period of time.

“Don't worry. I'll definitely be back. And next time, we won’t be seeing each other through your dreams, but in person. So you must get along well with your older sister, you hear?”

Those were the words I’d left for her just before I left to challenge the Tower of Gods.

“Yeah. Even if it’s a promise made in a dream, I still have to keep it.”

In fact, I wanted to see them as well. My precious disciple, Sung Mi-Ri, and her cute older sister, Sung Mi-Na, who would probably get angry if she heard my opinion of her. Even though that past was erased, my past self wouldn’t have survived without them.

I looked down at the ground, searching for them. Although the city was covered in fine dust, it didn’t affect my vision.

[The Clear Eyes of God sees Earth.]

Although I’d been separated from my alter egos, and my eyes weren’t black-white-red-green now, I could still locate them. Amid the tangled web of everyone’s thoughts, I gathered information about the Sung sisters, who were connected to me through Faith.

Hmm?

Just then, I came across a worrying piece of information. It was an emergency news report.

「It has been 36 hours since the promotion examiner, S-rank Hunter Sung Mi-Na, as well as the examinee, the famous Thunder Emperor, went M.I.A at the A-rank dungeon, Dungeon of Sin. The Hunter Associated immediately dispatched an S-rank rescue team, but they were currently facing difficulties. The unknown barrier generated by the dungeon prevents them from going through. The Hunter Association has since upgraded the rank of the dungeon to SSS-rank or higher, requesting the dispatch of SSS-rank Hunter Royce from America’s Hunter Association...」

The Sung sisters went missing in the SSS-rank Dungeon of Sin?

Quickly shifting my focus, the image of the dungeon appeared before my eyes.

Kwaaaa!

The first thing I saw was a massive flame erupting like an active volcano. Amidst it all stood a young man I knew very well, S-rank Fire-type Hunter, Baek Yu-Hyun.

He was unleashing his abilities beyond his limits, his eyes bloodshot as he spewed curses, “Darn it!”

Having surpassed that of any Hunter’s limits, his flames now resembled a natural disaster-level threat. Even so, the dungeon’s barrier didn’t so much as flicker. The dome-shaped barrier, made of black scales, emitted an eerie sound as if mocking him.

I had never seen anything like this before in my previous life. Was this a variable caused by a change in fate? Or was this a trick from Despair?

Whichever the case, if Despair lay a hand on them...

I clenched my fists so tightly that they could break.

***

Inside the Dungeon of Sin...

Swish swish!

The clinkings of scales and a chilling cry echoed eerily in all directions. It hunted for the two women who had just escaped—its prey.

Damn it! Those persistent bastards!

Sung Mi-Na bit her lip as she hid in a crevice along the dungeon’s passageway. In her arms lay a bloodied girl in a torn suit and a shattered helmet—her beloved younger sister, Sung Mi-Ri.

“

Haa— Haa—

U-Unni...” Sung Mi-Ri gasped for breath, struggling with her words. “D-don’t worry about me... Just run...”

“Fuck, shu—! No, stay quiet.” Sung Mi-Na stopped herself from cussing, and gently stroked Sung Mi-Ri’s head. “Just trust me. Did you think I’d never gone through something like this before? Besides, the rescue team will be here soon, so don’t worry.”

Despite her efforts to reassure her younger sister, Sung Mi-Na was in internal turmoil.

Darn it! Why did this happen!

Her younger sister had made rapid progress in a short time, and was now challenging the Dungeon of Sin. After all, to be promoted to an S-rank, she had to clear an A-rank or higher dungeon alone.

In fact, Sung Mi-Na played a huge role in making Sung Mi-Ri choose this dungeon. Despite being publicly known as an S-rank Hunter, Sung Mi-Na was actually an SS-rank Hunter—considered the true best in South Korea. She’d also deliberately insisted that the Hunter Association pick an easy A-rank dungeon, even arranging herself as an examiner in preparation of any unforeseen circumstances.

It was a stark contrast from her previous life, where she’d deliberately treated her younger sister harshly to prevent her from becoming a sacrifice to Despair. A while ago, Sung Mi-Na’s partner, Baek Yu-Hyun, asked why she suddenly had a change of heart.

“I had promised him to become the person that Mi-Ri wanted.”

“Promise? Who could make someone as stubborn as you change your mind?”

“Hmph! You don’t have to know!”

Sung Mi-Na couldn’t admit that it was because of a small, cute god whom she’d met in her dreams. That ant-like god had lifted the seal of Despair, which had tormented her for so long.

“There’s only so much I can do right now, but please wait for me, Mi-Na noona. I’ll definitely put an end to the nightmares that have been tormenting you on my return.”

To her, who’d been living like a prisoner on death row, the mysterious god’s appearance was akin to a light at the end of a tunnel. Despite clearly being a stranger, he felt awfully familiar, as if they’d known each other for ages. He even offered her unwavering support. Her younger sister had experienced tremendous improvement in her abilities after seeing him in her dreams.

“So Unni! He is our teacher!”

As they shared their stories about the mysterious god to each other, their fragile bond slowly mended. It was a miracle—one that gave Sung Mi-Na hope for salvation. And that was how Sung Mi-Na approved of Sung Mi-Ri becoming an S-rank Hunter.

Maybe I shouldn’t have...

Sung Mi-Na belatedly regretted her decision.

Since Sung Mi-Ri could now use her lightning freely, earning her the nickname Thunder Emperor, the first test went smoothly—just as Sung Mi-Na had hoped. Sung Mi-Ri’s strength was now on par with other S-rank veteran Hunters.

Riiiip!

However, just as Sung Mi-Ri was about to deal with the boss monster in the Dungeon of Sin, a crack appeared.Then, a monster lurking in the shadows seized the chance to strike. Sensing the danger, Sung Mi-Na rushed into the dungeon to save her younger sister. She believed she could take on an SS-rank monster, but this enemy was far beyond that. It was at least SSS-rank—a classification reserved only for the most fearsome monsters.

Swish swish!

At that moment, the snake monster spotted their hiding place. Sung Mi-Na activated her ability in a hurry, shattering the snake’s mentality.

-

Kyaaak!

The snake vomited black blood and collapsed, but it was too late. The horrific clatter of its scales echoed through the dungeon like a crashing wave. Towing her sister along, Sung Mi-Na tried to escape. However, millions of snakes had blocked the dungeon passageway, cutting off their escape route.

Sss—

Then, several of the snakes fused together, slowly rising to their feet in the shape of a human.

-My sacrifices, were you hiding here this whole time?

As goosebumps spread all over her, Sung Mi-Na glared at the monster. The snake-like woman, with living snakes as hair, resembled Medusa from Greek mythology.

“Who are you? Why are you targeting us?”

-I am Ruler of the Abyssal Swamp, one of the great malevolent gods. Rejoice, insignificant creatures of the lower realm, for I have chosen you as my sacrifices! Offer me your flesh and souls, and become parts of me. Isn’t that better than being devoured by God of Destroyer’s apostle, Despair?

“Shut it, you bitch!”

Despair. The name brought upon her memories of the dragon, which had once branded the sisters as sacrifices. Sung Mi-Na was determined to save her younger sister at all cost, even if it meant losing her own life!

“Ultimate skill, Mental Space!”

Veins popped on her forehead, and blood flowed out from her nose and ears. The dungeon’s scenery warped as she unleashed her ability with all her might, attempting to draw and seal her opponent into her subspace.

-

Kuku,

such pathetic resistance!

Unfortunately, that monster couldn’t be contained. It felt like she was trying to fit an ocean within a well.

The snake woman sneered, then lightly waved her hand. A single flick of her wrist shattered Sung Mi-Na’s Mental Space before it could be fully executed.

Clang!

“

Cough!

”

Sung Mi-Na clutched her chest, coughing up congealed black blood. The snake woman, Ruler of the Abyssal Swamp, stared pitifully at her while clicking her tongue.

-How pitiful. Did you really think a creature of the lower realm could imprison the mind of a god? Such foolishness!

Then, Ruler of the Abyssal Swamp gave her familiars an order.

-Bring me my sacrifices.

Hissss!

Like a tidal wave, a swarm of black snakes slithered toward the Sung sisters from all directions, ready to engulf them. In the next moment, Sung Mi-Na saw a man blocking them with just one finger.

It was strange—though she was certain she’d never seen him before, something about him felt familiar and strangely comforting. Just like the small, cute god she’d met in her dreams...

“I was just wondering who it was. So it’s you, snake?”

The man—Yu Il-Shin—glared coldly at Ruler of the Abyssal Swamp.