Chapter 57: Conflict with Yoo Hee-yeon

It was strange. It couldn’t be true.

Han Seong-gil was horrified to realize that his longsword was impaled in the body of Pung Geon-ho. Trembling with

his hands, he asked in disbelief.

“Wh-why… hyung… why…”

Han Seong-gil’s eyes were filled with a look that seemed to ask why his sword was stuck in Pung Geon-ho. He

roughly grasped the situation. The Berserker trait had activated, and because of it, Han Seong-gil, unable to discern

properly, had stabbed Pung Geon-ho with his own hands. Han Seong-gil knew enough about the Berserker trait to

deduce this. However, it was simply unbelievable.

The fact that he had stabbed the person he had just fought alongside, Pung Geon-ho, with his own hands, was

something he couldn’t accept, more painful than death itself.

-Drip.

Tears streamed down Han Seong-gil’s face. He had always prided himself on not caring about others, but now he

realized that wasn’t entirely true. He had relied on Pung Geon-ho more than he had thought.

Pung Geon-ho smiled at him and spoke.

“Even if it’s you… I’m already done for.”

“F*ck! Don’t talk nonsense! You can still be saved! I’ll take you there, so wait…”

Pung Geon-ho, still lying down, pressed Han Seong-gil’s head down with his hand.

“I can’t move much now. Before we reach the city, I’ll bleed out. If there’s any chance of survival, it’s to go to those

bastards hiding in the Labyrinth.”

“Those bastards…?”

When Han Seong-gil looked at him with anxious eyes, Pung Geon-ho answered.

“Hilleon.”

A criminal organization controlling the black market and hiding in the Labyrinth, growing their power. They would

do anything for money, and it was a gathering place for those in need of it. There were many magicians, swordsmen,

thieves, and capable individuals in the group. Money had the power to lead many people.

Pung Geon-ho was losing too much blood. If he moved too much, he would surely die. Before his condition got

worse, they would need to find an Epic-level magician to heal him.

However, even if they went to the city, they wouldn’t be able to find an Epic-level magician immediately, and it

would take at least an hour to travel to the city and back. It was impossible to wait for him to return with a magician.

Before then, he could die or be eaten by other monsters. But there was one remaining option.

To ask for help from Hilleon, hiding in the Labyrinth. They wouldn’t kill Pung Geon-ho. They needed capable

individuals to make money. At least, he would be able to save his life.

“Stop talking nonsense… No, I’ll stay here with you…”

Han Seong-gil knew there was no other way. But he also knew what it meant for Pung Geon-ho to ask for help from

Hilleon. They could die, go missing, or worse, suffer some terrible fate. Hilleon was unpredictable.

That’s why Han Seong-gil insisted. Pung Geon-ho soon corrected his thoughts.

‘You’re too soft.’

If they stayed here, both of them would be eaten by monsters. If the Giant Skeleton had appeared, other monsters

could show up too.

Pung Geon-ho was incapacitated, and Han Seong-gil was too. They wouldn’t stand a chance, even against low-level

monsters.

Realizing this, Pung Geon-ho changed his mind and shouted at Han Seong-gil.

“I’ve changed my mind. I want to live.”

When Han Seong-gil stared at him in a daze, Pung Geon-ho shouted again.

“Han Seong-gil. It’s because of you. You’ve hurt me, so take responsibility and get a magician.”

“Wh-what if a monster shows up while I’m gone…”

“You idiot! Go right now and bring a magician! Do you want to watch me die? If you’re thinking of running away

alone, forget it. If you run away, I’ll curse you even after I die. Go bring a healing magician, no matter what. Risk

your life to get them!”

Pung Geon-ho shouted, veins popping from his neck. Han Seong-gil, though confused, realized the situation and,

despite the absurdity, began to move. His eyes were filled with anger.

“I’ll… I’ll bring one… I’ll definitely be back.”

Han Seong-gil began running madly, heading for the city in search of a magician.

Watching his back, Pung Geon-ho smiled and thought to himself.

“Thanks for everything so far. At least, you survive.”

After a brief moment of silence, Pung Geon-ho quietly spoke.

“I know you’re watching.”

-Swish.

Then, a man who had been hiding behind walked toward him, admiring the scene.

“Oh… When did you realize?”

“Since the Giant Skeleton appeared.”

“Not bad.”

The man, wearing a red robe that covered his face, was clearly part of Hilleon. Those rare individuals who still wore

the red robes inside the Labyrinth were only from Hilleon.

Pung Geon-ho asked.

“Why didn’t you ambush us?”

Hilleon was infamous for preying on weaker people in the Labyrinth and stealing their spoils. It was strange that

they had left Pung Geon-ho and Han Seong-gil alone while they were unguarded.

The man laughed and replied.

“That artifact in your hand. The self-destruct artifact. Do you think I’m a fool?”

The necklace-shaped artifact that Pung Gun-ho held was a relic left by his father.

• “If you ever find someone you must protect, even at the cost of everything, use this.”

It was an S-grade artifact called Oath of Death.

[S] Oath of Death

• When activated, all of the user’s life force is consumed, temporarily granting immense power.
• Once the effect duration ends, the user dies.

The man spoke.

“If I had tried to attack that bastard, I would have used it, right? Although I’m in a near-death state, using the artifact

would temporarily turn me into a mad monster. But right now, we’re only a scouting team. We don’t want to end up

dying for nothing. If we make too much noise, another Giant Skeleton might come.”

Pung Gun-ho lowered his head and spoke.

“What will happen to me?”

The man hesitated for a moment before replying.

“I’ll spare you. But you’ll have to work for us.”

“That’s impossible. If you want me to do such filthy work, just kill me.”

In response, the man spoke again.

“The one who fled… the monsters are chasing after him. If he tries to escape from the labyrinth alone, he’ll die before

reaching the exit.”

• Swoosh

He approached Pung Gun-ho and whispered quietly.

“If you promise to work for us, I’ll spare him. That means you’ll block the monsters coming towards him.”

Pung Gun-ho’s eyes reddened, and in a cold voice that could kill, he asked, “How can I trust you?”

The man then pulled out a contract-type artifact.

“Write the contract on this artifact. If you agree voluntarily, not by coercion, the contract will be fulfilled.”

• Rustle

The scroll of the contract artifact unfurled.

“The contract is simple: Pung Gun-ho, you’ll work for us. In return, we’ll protect Han Seong-gil until he exits the

labyrinth.”

Pung Gun-ho narrowed his eyes and muttered.

“Not until he exits the labyrinth, but protect him for today. Afterward, we’ll enter the labyrinth again. You must also

promise that you will ensure his safe escape when that time comes, and that you won’t kill him for the next ten

years.”

The man sighed and said, “Ha… If you weren’t an Epic-grade inspector, I’d just kill you right now.”

He nodded and said, “Alright. I agree. But remember, if you break the contract, your life force will be sucked into the

artifact, and you’ll die. Do you understand?”

Pung Gun-ho, indifferent to such threats, silently reached out and poured his mana into the artifact.

Some time later, Han Seong-gil brought an Epic-grade mage and re-entered the labyrinth.

“G-Gun-ho-hyung is here!”

But the place where Pung Gun-ho had been was now empty, with only the sword he had gifted left behind.

Pung Gun-ho’s disappearance marked a turning point. From then on, Han Seong-gil became obsessed with strength.

He searched for Pung Gun-ho, unsure whether he was dead or kidnapped.

However, the group Hillion was far too powerful to take on alone. Han Seong-gil had attacked them numerous times,

but each time he was mercilessly crushed.

He had been beaten so badly that he almost became a half-invalid, yet strangely, they never killed him.

‘I can’t reach them… there’s nothing I can do…’

With no connections, power, or money, he felt powerless. His only remaining hope was the Berserker trait.

If he could push the Berserker trait to its extreme, he might be able to stand against Hillion on his own. Perhaps, just

perhaps, he could rescue Pung Gun-ho, who had been captured. But every time his Berserker trait activated, he lost

consciousness, and the speed at which he gained power slowed.

Gradually, he started to go astray.

• Bring it on, you bastard.

He began venting his stress on the weak, using his meager strength to comfort himself. Every time he thought of

Pung Gun-ho, the guilt of being so weak overwhelmed him, and he would torment others, pushing himself harder. It

was the only way he could cope.

But then, hope came.

Lee Hyun-seung said he knew how to control the Berserker trait.

“I know a way to stabilize the Berserker trait.”

The truth appeared on the lie detection orb when Lee Hyun-seung spoke. Han Seong-gil, staring at him, muttered in

disbelief.

“What exactly is the method?”

If he could become stronger, he could confront Hillion with overwhelming power. He could even find Pung Gun-ho,

who had been kidnapped. He would give anything, even his life, to get his hands on that key.

Looking into Han Seong-gil’s desperate eyes, Lee Hyun-seung replied.

“If you follow my instructions, I’ll tell you. You won’t lose anything, anyway.”

“If this is a lie, I’ll tear you apart no matter what.”

Han Seong-gil muttered, glaring ferociously. Strangely enough, he was neither afraid nor trembling. Lee Hyun-seung

nodded as he watched him.

“Do as you like. It’s not a lie, after all.”

Lee Hyun-seung then pointed his hand toward the outside.

“Let’s go outside. It’s not a good look to do this where everyone can see.”

Lee Hyun-seung and Han Seong-gil opened the door and headed outside.

• Thud
• Thud
• Thud

As they walked down the corridor, people around them gave curious looks at Han Seong-gil and Lee Hyun-seung.

The two had fought fiercely just a short time ago, almost to the point of death.

What was even more strange, however, was that Han Seong-gil was following Lee Hyun-seung obediently, as if he

were Lee Hyun-seung’s pet. Han Seong-gil had a notoriously foul temper, even towards Yoo Hee-yeon, and wouldn’t

bow to anyone. That was why the scene was baffling to those who saw it.

At that moment, Yoo Hee-yeon’s figure appeared in the distance. The moment she saw Lee Hyun-seung and Han

Seong-gil, she walked briskly toward them, as though she had been waiting for them.

Yoo Hee-yeon spoke.

“Do you realize how pathetic you are right now? I don’t know what tricks you used, but it seems you got lucky. Before

the class elimination battle even started, one B-class was demoted to F-class? You looked so confident, I thought you

might have a brilliant strategy, but this is how you play your cards?”

When Lee Hyun-seung didn’t answer and remained silent, Yoo Hee-yeon became even more forceful and pressed on.

“To be honest, I could have stopped that useless fool from joining F-class. Using my authority, I could have demoted

him to D-class instead. But you… you were so pathetic, I just let it slide. You’re desperately trying to beat A-class

somehow, but adding just one B-class swordsman, what difference does it make?”

At that moment, Han Seong-gil, who was standing beside her, snickered and muttered.

“The one who’s pathetic is you, scurrying around doing Artemis’ dirty work.”

Yoo Hee-yeon’s expression twisted in an instant.

“You… are you crazy? What do you mean by that…?”

Han Seong-gil turned his head from side to side, looking at Yoo Hee-yeon, and spoke.

“Did I say something wrong? Without your pathetic little guild, you’re nothing but a puppet who can’t do anything on

your own, right?”

• Creeeak

Yoo Hee-yeon began channeling her mana and muttered.

“Aren’t you afraid of the consequences?”

However, Han Seong-gil didn’t seem to care. He placed his hand on the sword at his waist and spoke nonchalantly.

“Ugh… using threats like this, so cliché. I was already in a bad mood, but this is perfect. If you’re upset, don’t use

your connections, and let’s settle it one-on-one.”

Han Seong-gil grinned weirdly and looked at Yoo Hee-yeon.

“Or are you scared?”