"We should be arriving at Chungmuro soon."
"We're almost there. Were there fewer Ground Rats than expected?"
As Jung Heewon said, the number of Ground Rats was blatantly small.
It wasn't just my imagination. Probably because we were almost at Chungmuro, hunting must have taken place... and most importantly, that exists here.
"It's too early to relax."
[A new sub scenario has arrived.]
"Everyone... step back."
For this once, I also followed Kim Dokja's words and stepped back.
< Sub Scenario - Phantom Prison >
Category: Sub
Difficulty: D~F
Clear Condition: Escape from the Phantom Prison within the time limit.
Time Limit: 1 hour
Reward: 300 Coins
Penalty for Failure: ???
[Sub Scenario - 'Phantom Prison' has started!]
"Here it comes. Everyone, keep your wits about you."
"Ugh, feels disgusting!"
Something like fog rushed in.
Among the few weaknesses of Gojo Satoru, phantoms (illusions) were one of them.
Of course, he seemed to break through even those illusions instantly...
I will also likely see a phantom for a moment.
Whatever it is, I just have to endure it briefly.
[Why...]
The scenery unfolding before my eyes was an apartment complex.
A woman sprawled out, covered in blood.
A man being taken away to the police station.
I thought I just had to endure for a moment. It really touches on the worst trauma.
"...Hah."
Right. This is the unpleasant feeling.
[I'm sorry.]
Grind.
I clenched my teeth tight and started looking around.
Of course, I don't know how to break the illusion.
Being a layman in this field, I didn't acquire a skill like Kim Dokja either.
But it's not like I have nothing to rely on. I have eyes. The Six Eyes, beautiful as if containing the universe.
[I sincerely apologize...]
Soon, the Six Eyes peeled away the illusion for me, allowing me to face the truth, and I followed that path to escape the illusion.
The red fog still enveloped our surroundings. Since the fog was so thick, even people nearby weren't visible.
Amidst that, I found a figure. Looking quite exhausted and seemingly annoyed, the figure appeared rather pitiful.
It meant he hadn't easily escaped this illusion either.
"Haa..."
"Are you okay?"
I put my hand on the shoulder of Kim Dokja, who was taking deep breaths, and he turned to look at me in surprise.
"As expected, you escaped the illusion. In an instant."
"That's why I didn't give you the item, trusting you. I know."
Kim Dokja nodded, then immediately activated the skill he obtained.
As the fog lifted and the gloomy atmosphere passed, we could finally feel that the Phantom Prison was over.
"Hyunsung-ssi! Gilyoung-ah!"
The sight of everyone revealed as the fog cleared was quite pitiful.
Lee Hyunsung banging his head.
Gilyoung shrinking back while looking for his mom.
And... Jung Heewon recalling yesterday's events.
"Calm down."
I immediately struck the back of Jung Heewon's neck to lightly knock her out, then supported her as I sat on the ground.
Illusions are really not something to watch.
Just let me see one again.
I won't let it slide, doing my absolute best.
"Ha... could you handle the rest?"
"I'd be happy to."
[The sub scenario clear conditions have been met!]
[You have acquired 300 Coins!]
As soon as the clear message appeared, monsters appeared before us.
Monsters reminiscent of ghosts no matter how you look at them.
Kim Dokja swept them all up without much effort.
"Hah..."
This is the first time since inhabiting this body that I genuinely felt tired.
As I clear scenarios, there might be more days like today where the past gets dug up.
So, the only way is for me to get stronger and endure it.
"Private! Lee! Hyun! Sung! I can't hear you...!!"
While the group was resting as they slept off the aftereffects.
Hearing a sudden booming voice, I glanced at him.
"Hyunsung-ssi. Are you okay?"
"Ah... I can't say I'm okay..."
I handed him a bottle of water.
"It touched your worst trauma. Don't push yourself."
"Thank you..."
Starting with Lee Hyunsung, after Lee Gilyoung and Jung Heewon regained consciousness, we finished our maintenance and prepared to depart again.
I glanced at Gilyoung.
"Want a piggyback ride?"
"...I'm fine."
Thud, thud.
We really didn't walk much before walking towards the gradually brightening lights.
Kim Dokja, perhaps sensing we had almost arrived, looked around the group and made eye contact with me.
"Worried?"
"Of course. Just ahead is really..."
"Who are you guys?"
Kim Dokja turned his gaze forward again at the voice.
In front of us, a high school girl was holding a sword and looking at us.
She didn't seem intent on harming us. But her attitude showed she intended to threaten.
"Ah, that girl is...!"
For those who were on the subway, she was a familiar face, though one-sidedly.
She was the sole survivor of Taepung Girls' High School.
Lee Jihye.
Yoo Sangah with her sharp observation, Kim Dokja who knew from the start.
And even I recognized her existence.
Gilyoung and Hyunsung... well, doesn't matter.
"What."
Lee Jihye looked at what was held in Kim Dokja's hand and made a quite surprised expression.
"You took down the Specter? Only my Master should be able to catch that?"
"As you can see, we caught it and came here?"
"...Ha, follow me. I'll take you to the station."
Turning her back as if telling us to follow, she started walking towards the station.
[Main Scenario #2 - Encounter has ended.]
[Settling rewards.]
Dismissing the popped-up messages, we followed Lee Jihye straight into Chungmuro.
Places were smashed everywhere, indicating that something ominous had passed through.
[You have entered Chungmuro.]
[Currently, the third scenario is in progress.]
[Channel #GIR-8761 is active.]
[Channel #BIR-3642 is active.]
Certainly, the scale is different now.
I could see that there wasn't just one or two Dokkaebi channels.
"Oh, Little Samurai. Brought some newbies?"
While we were organizing message windows one by one. A few middle-aged men approached us.
Reeking of alcohol, it seemed they were soothing themselves with booze in this world.
"Drinking again?"
"Haha, with the world in this state, is there anything to do but drink?"
Middle-aged men who looked amicable at a glance.
They seemed quite relaxed, perhaps accustomed to the disaster situation.
Seeing them wearing weapons one by one as if it were natural...
It kept reminding me of the fact that this was completely different from Geumho Station.
"Wow... Did you friends come through the Dongdae Tunnel? Amazing~ Must have earned some Coins?"
"Haha, indeed! What's the young lady's name there? I have a cheap room available, want to rent one?"
"Excuse me? A room?"
"Ah right, Miss doesn't know the system here well? Here..."
Just as the explanation was about to start. The middle-aged man's words were cut off by someone.
"Ajussis. Stop playing tricks on the newbies and just go upstairs."
"Hey now~ These people need to know too anyway. Everyone's doing this to live..."
Shing.
At her action of drawing a blue longsword and bringing it right to their faces, they couldn't continue speaking and their faces turned pale.
Sobered up instantly, didn't they?
"Ugh, a young thing learning only bad habits already."
"Hey, Mr. Kang. Let's stop and go."
The middle-aged men turned back looking disappointed and walked away.
Only after they disappeared into the distance did Lee Jihye sheath her sword.
"From now on, figure it out yourselves. No babysitting."
"Yeah. Tha~nks."
"Yoo Joonghyuk is here too, right?"
Kim Dokja stared intently at Lee Jihye, then spat out words she would care about, successfully tying Lee Jihye, who was about to leave, to this spot without taking any physical action.
"You, what are you."
"I am Yoo Joonghyuk's companion who returned alive."
"...Companion? That can't be?"
She looked at us as if extremely suspicious.
Good grief, getting so much suspicion because of Kim Dokja.
"If you tell him, he'll understand. Make sure to tell him there are two of us. That way he'll care more."
Saying that, Kim Dokja looked at me.
What is this... Am I just insurance?
"Where is Yoo Joonghyuk?"
"...Master isn't here right now."
"That's troublesome. I have something I really need to tell him."
Lee Jihye, with a distorted expression, glared at Kim Dokja for a long while, then made a face full of betrayal, scratched her head, and sighed.
"Hey! You there!"
"Uh?! Y-yes!"
Immediately after, Lee Jihye called a boy who was sleeping curled up in a corner.
Ordering people around like subordinates, she's really been influenced by Yoo Joonghyuk.
"Watch these people closely! I'm going to go see Master for a bit!"
"Huh...? Who are these people?"
"I don't know, they say they're Master's friends!"
At Lee Jihye's words, the people sprawled around the platform opened their eyes one by one and looked at us.
Half looked curious, the other half looked purely awestruck.
And the boy who seemed to be Lee Jihye's peer, who ran up to us in an instant. This one seemed to have both looks in his eyes.
"Are you really Yoo Joonghyuk-ssi's friends?!"
"Well..."
I looked at Kim Dokja.
"Yes. We are close friends."
As expected.
Lying without changing a single facial expression, you liar.
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