Chapter 61 – Depths of the Dungeon (5)

Bound by handcuffs, I fixate on the mold-infested ceiling within the dark chamber.

I’ve been kidnapped.
After much contemplation, I reach a single conclusion: it seems the World Tree harbors a grudge against me.
These deranged bastards force death upon me without reason or end.

Even in this dire situation, my keen senses persistently search for an escape.

‘Lottery.’

I entrust everything to fate.

Luck manifests differently in each situation, but ultimately it leads to a better circumstance than the present. I wrench my head around, and somehow manage to bring the status window before my hands.

First up, mineral water.

I have ample accumulated points. After several attempts, a burst of light suddenly spills forth, and a white bead rolls out.

▶Teleportation Bead (C)
[Category: Consumable]
– Allows you to summon one item in your possession.

(A new item arrives at the store.)

Just one for now.

I move my hand to try my luck a few more times.

-Clink.

Suddenly, the handcuffs loosen.

“?”

I can feel a slight return of my magical power. It’s a faulty product. I had intended to escape by drawing, but I found myself unexpectedly dumbfounded by this stroke of luck.

‘Could I possibly undo this if I do well?’

I extend my magical energy to grasp the intricate magic circle etched on the handcuffs. The pattern drawn there is so complex that even a skilled decipherer would struggle to unravel it.

‘I must understand the principle and tear it apart.’

Analytical magic possesses the characteristic of penetrating and eradicating an opponent’s magic, hence demanding an appropriate level of learning difficulty. A mage armed with keen senses, a contemplative thinker accumulating mountains of theories – analytical magic requires mastery in both fields.

So much so, that many wizards have despaired and abandoned their dreams because of it.

But now, in this land, it was possible.

*Kwad-deuk!*

A light flared, and the handcuffs began to crack. A few weeks ago, when I had interfered with Sumpy’s barrier to prevent the explosion of Cistus, my magical abilities had already grown considerably.

The now weakened handcuffs seemed as though they could be shattered with just a bit of force.

Should I flee like this?

No, I couldn’t. I didn’t even know where the entrance and exit were. If I were to leave recklessly and get caught, I’d be in a truly irreversible situation.

‘Let’s wait.’

Until the time comes. I held the teleportation orb behind my back and summoned the most helpful item I could bring at the moment.

*Woong-woong!*

I hid the pink bead that appeared by my bedside and exhaled a weary breath. Since I had been kidnapped, the academy would likely start making moves. I couldn’t tell how much time had passed, but it felt like it had been several days. The potion had invigorated my body.

‘I don’t know what they’re thinking…’

Honestly.

This is the limit.

I detested a life that was aimlessly tossed around. I felt that I needed to see with my own eyes just what kind of scoundrel they were and that I had to snap off their branch myself. In other words, the situation had relapsed. Heat surged to the very tips of my hair.

There was no need to be selective about the means or methods. After all, the opponent was trash. I simply had to retaliate in kind.

– Thud.

The door opened. A wooden figure clad only in underwear approached me, its face flushed red. With each step, sap dripped from the knot hole.

[Human.]

A voice that could be perceived as horrifying, depending on the listener. I rose, shackled, and stared into the eyes of the wooden creature.

[Sex…]

“Shut your mouth.”

I commanded. The tree-being, brimming with desire for carnal pleasure, came to an abrupt halt.

[Tha- Ah… Ugh…]

A rosy dawn.

An artifact of mind control obtained after defeating Lee Seong-han.
It was possible that this power bore a resemblance to that of the women.

“Come here, kid.”

[Yes.]

So, make sure to engrave it deeply.

If I have no allies here,
I simply need to create them myself.

I had no intention of selling myself to these wretches.
With my hand on the tree’s shoulder, I stared intently into its eyes.

[…Ah♡]

The tree let out a faint moan.
A dim imprint appeared in the eyes of the bewildered tree.
It might be possible.
I might be able to exact ample retribution upon those children.

The despair that had once seeped deep into my veins was devoured by rage, rendering it insignificant.

I clenched my teeth as I gazed upon the scars etched into both of my arms.

* * * * *

I had always thought that he possessed a somewhat foolish side, but

This time, too, he hadn’t expected to cast himself aside so recklessly.

Unapproachable and pitiful.
Yet, he had been sincere in expressing his emotions.

But Azalea didn’t merely let him go.
She anticipated that Lee Si-heon, burdened as he was, would act the same way this time.

“Are you certain about this location?”
“Yes.”

Azalea responded without hesitation to Lee Se-Young’s sharp gaze.
An island somewhere in the Pacific Ocean.
A place not even documented on the dungeon map.
Moments before falling away from Lee Si-heon, Azalea, who was halfway into a frenzy, managed to exercise her wit, thanks to her frenetic state.

She left traces of the spirit within him.
Though the spirit vanished as it was struck by magic, its power remained intact, allowing for the location to be pinpointed.
The only flaw was the great distance, which took time to traverse.

“…Yes, this is it.”

Lee Se-Young exhaled a sigh mixed with relief and brushed her hand across her face.

“Thank you.”

Azalea was touched by Lee Se-Young’s consideration for her fellow cadet, but her expression hardened with concern for Lee Si-heon.

“Take me with you when you go.”

If you’ve received a favor, it’s only right to repay it.

“Alright.”

Lee Se-Young nodded at Azalea’s resolute gaze. They were indeed short of help, and Azalea, with skills on par with those on active duty, would be a great asset. More importantly, she was the key to knowing the coordinates.

“Then.”

– Squeak.

Bowing to her homeroom professor’s words, Azalea left the building next to the artificial dungeon. Se-Young furrowed her brow, and soon after, the door opened again.

“Instructor.”

Cornus.

She appeared somewhat uncomfortable, her face resembling someone who had lost a pet. Lee Se-Young couldn’t help but smile in spite of her unease at the sight of a child from a prestigious family.

“Insane.”

Yesterday, I received a message from the Heavenly Demon offering assistance.

That alone was shocking, but moments ago, the successor of the Jinmok Group pledged their support, and now the eldest daughter of the Cornus family has appeared.

It seemed like things were about to escalate significantly.

* * * * *

Azalea walked absent-mindedly towards her dormitory.
In a situation like this, how could she possibly focus on her classes? Watching the sun slowly setting, she soothed her heavy emotions.

All she wanted now was to be still.

– Thud.

There was nothing to welcome her back to the dormitory. It wasn’t the end of the school day, and today happened to be the day off for the dormitory staff. However, the current atmosphere wasn’t all that bad.

The quietude enveloping the place, imbuing it with a certain charm, seemed to reflect her own emotions.

– Tap, tap.

She ascended the stairs.

Azalea’s footsteps halted as she took a roundabout route back to her room, stopping outside a particular door.

Lee Si-heon’s room.
The face of the child she had seen before surfaced in her mind.
Oddly enough, the child who had despised her.
Perhaps he was still waiting for his father.
She reached out for the doorknob.

*Click-* The doorknob turned with ease.

‘It’s open.’

Taking a short breath, Azalea slowly opened the door.
Beep-beep. The sound of the unlocked door lock echoed.

The room was dark, devoid of any light.
Soil from a flowerpot lay scattered haphazardly across the floor.

“Beep, beep.”

The resounding voice seemed fragile and sorrowful.

Seeing Shiba’s body, now smaller than before, Azalea forgot to remove her shoes and embraced the tiny frame.

“Beep! Beep!”

Startled, Shiba scratched Azalea’s face and body with her claws.
Azalea didn’t care about the marks left on her face.

How long had they been like this?

“…Beep.”

Shiba’s strong resistance gradually diminished.
Shiba silently embraced Azalea in her arms.
The delicate gesture of searching for her father could be clearly felt even through her clothes.

“…”

Azalea, with her eyes fiercely open, reaffirmed her resolve.

And precisely the next day, an unofficial move began to rescue a cadet from the academy.

* * * * *

Move quietly, but not too silently.

There’s no need for excessive stillness. It’s enough to thoroughly shatter the obstacle before your eyes.

It’s the only mindset learned from that despicable father.

Over the past few days, dozens of trees that entered my chamber have been completely brainwashed by me. It has already been confirmed that the brainwashed trees prioritize my words over women.

I resolved to disseminate mind control throughout the entire village erected in this forest.

There existed one insurmountable barrier between them and me.

“Update me on those bastards.”

“[… I didn’t do anything in my room today. Just weapon maintenance, and it seems they were contacting someone elsewhere.]”

The barrier was that they couldn’t communicate with trees.
Is it my wavelength or something else? They say it’s the first time they’ve communicated so effectively.

“Tell me about the phone conversation.”
[The voice was quiet, so I couldn’t hear well, but it seems tonight is the night of the decisive battle.]
“I figured as much.”

While casually responding to the tree, I exerted force on my handcuffed hands atop the bed.

-Clang!

The broken handcuffs fell powerlessly to the floor.
Who knows how much nonsense I’ve endured up until now?
I drank the water from the nightstand.

-Gulp. Gulp.

The eyes of the trees surrounding me quivered in harmony with the motion of my vocal cords.
These imbeciles persist in their ways till the very end.

“Heh.”

Satisfied, I exhaled and assessed my physical condition.
My magical power was at its peak. I could easily engage in battle.
Or perhaps, there was no need for a fight at all?

-Aaaaah!

A scream echoed from somewhere, followed by the incessant buzzing of a chainsaw.

The time had come.
I lifted myself from the bed.

My tattered trousers dragged across the floor.

“Come on, kids.”

[Those sharp eyes… So impressive.]

“Tree No. 1, quiet down.”

[Yes…]

I once thought there was nothing good about being born with this particular trait. But since it saved my life, I’m forever grateful.
I ambled out the door.

“Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?”

The flustered voice of the girl known as Beta was a delightful sound.

“You!”

Alpha stared at me in shock, seeing that I was unharmed.
I was busy fending off the attack of the trees.
Only a few days ago, I had been in their position, and it made me proud to have endured so much since then.

“What on earth did you do?!”
“I did the same thing you guys did.”

Domination or brainwashing.
If I had the same power, I was sure that my affinity with the trees, who loved me, would give me the upper hand.

If that’s the case, you guys should have that temperament too.
I sneered at them.

“Ishihahahaa!!”

Alpha, scratching his neck roughly, charged through the trees and flew towards me.
Why did he hate me so much?
At first, I was curious, but now it didn’t bother me anymore.

-Weeeeiiiiing!

A chainsaw reached out toward my neck.

Had I transcended death and reached a higher plane? Or was it because I was in peak condition?
Even that seemed slow now.

-A flash.

There was a bright light.
I thought I was mistaken.

Black Spade.

Black petals. Resembling a peach blossom, they fully extended and struck the face of the chainsaw.

-Pachijijik!

A cracked chainsaw. Alpha’s astonished face is exposed.

Seamlessly bending my arm, I struck the guy’s face with my elbow.

“Huff-”

-Perok!

Alpha, slammed to the ground, loses consciousness. Blood seeped from his pretty face.

“Sister…”

Beta, covered in scars among the trees, cried out in a sorrowful voice. Her resistance was short-lived, and soon she fell to her knees as the trees joined forces against her.

“These bastards…”

I scoffed at the hateful voice.

“Bastards? Then what are you who captured an innocent student and turned them into a plaything?”
“Shut up.”

I stood up and looked around. Among the wooden structures, there were no trees left untouched by my hands.

These insane sisters had truly intended to turn me into a plaything for the entire village.

‘Absolutely mad.’

Even as I thought back on it, my body trembled. What would have happened if the transfer orb hadn’t appeared in that draw? At that time, I had believed there must have been some way to deal with it.

“So, which bastard made you do this?”

I lowered my voice. Beta’s eyes trembled with fear. I had no intention of showing any mercy.

“Who is the World Tree you serve?”
“…”

As I mentioned the World Tree, Beta began to sway defiantly, her resolve set. Left with no choice, I was about to use the pink dawn when—

*Boom!*

A crack formed in the sky.

Familiar magic. It was finally happening.

“Ugh, damn it.”

While cursing under my breath, I commanded the trees to bind Alpha and Beta.

Afterward, I draped my tattered cadet uniform over myself and looked back over my shoulder.

I see a familiar face.

“Isn’t it too late?”

The hunter and instructor, each clutching a weapon, wear bewildered expressions.

Dozens of trees bend to their knees.
An extraordinary scene with all the enemies vanquished, standing triumphantly atop them.
I cannot fathom what they saw in me.

If I had to… express it in words, then yes.

King Mokryeong.

Se-Young, her face a mixture of half joy and half astonishment, stood there.
Azalea, with a relieved expression, was there too. Cornus, who somehow appeared sullen, was also present.
Why have so many come? I wondered as I pondered the question.

“What’s this? Haven’t you taken care of everything?”
“…Master?”

Heaven, who gracefully descended from the sky, rolled her eyes and took in my appearance.
Dressed in a dragon robe, slightly different from her usual attire.
The garments she wore beneath were not the same latex as before.

“You’ve grown stronger than before.”

Heaven’s words, filled with pride.
I laughed along.

“So, they’re the ones who targeted my disciple, right?”
“Yes, they’re truly despicable individuals.”

Cheondo stealthily glanced at Alpha and Beta before turning back to me.

“Si-heon.”
“Yes.”
“Regarding the situation you’re in, there’s something I need to say.”

I grinned.
We’ll discuss that later. For now…

“Firstly-“
“You mean dealing with the aftermath?”
“Yes.”

I turned my head again to look at the unconscious Alpha and Beta.
These scoundrels would be relocated to the torture chamber.
A place so horrifying, one could hardly bear to think of it again.