VHN 22

Coming with Im Hae-kyung was a good idea after all. Seeing the giants approaching from the distance, I quickly explained the plan to Im Hae-kyung.

It would be tough, but Im Hae-kyung would restrain the Cave Giant while simultaneously pushing this fire ability user to the limit to melt the Cave Giant and clear the dungeon. Even if it took quite some time, we just needed to clear it.

Even after hearing my brilliant idea, Im Hae-kyung spoke reluctantly in this urgent situation.

“Je-hyun-ssi. You know there’s something called human rights in this world… right?”

“I know.”

After I went through all that explanation, what’s he talking about now?

In the end, I slung Park Do-yoon over my shoulder and quickly walked with Im Hae-kyung to the mid slope where the cave was located. It was fortunate he was shorter than me, if he’d been a large hunter, it would have been quite difficult to carry him.

‘I need to eat something as soon as we clear this.’

“Is he heavy?”

“Yes.”

Actually, it wasn’t that heavy. What’s so hard about carrying someone who weighs at most 70 kilograms? However, the pressure created when Im Hae-kyung used his skills was hard to endure. By the way, Im Hae-kyung wasn’t crazy, he was using his skills over a wide range while simultaneously climbing this mountain.

‘How about having the giants in the front row attack the other giants with mental control first? Then wouldn’t the giants not under mental control get pissed and fight among themselves?’

‘…’

For reference, this method worked about halfway. When the front row attacked, they didn’t exactly fight but they did get confused among themselves.

After walking for a while, the sight we saw upon finally reaching the cave was shocking.

“We’re here.”

“Yes. Finally…”

How many times have I felt overwhelmed in this gate?

I felt like my existence was instantly diminished before this massive natural formation. Up close, the enormously huge cave was filled with ice from the entrance, scattering light. It was awe inspiring.

‘Looks like something you’d see in a movie.’

Transparent ice filled the cave, reflecting and re-reflecting countless rays of light coming in from outside, sparkling brilliantly.

But I couldn’t get distracted by the beautiful scenery.

Because the dungeon’s boss, the Cave Giant, lived here.

The Cave Giant’s rank was A-rank, the same as the Giant in the Snow. However, even among the same A-ranks, there was a difference in mana quantity.

‘Meaning it’s more troublesome than before.’

Im Hae-kyung and I walked along the cave path for quite a while longer.

“This cave is unusually wide.”

I nodded at Im Hae-kyung’s muttering. The entirely massive and empty cave echoed not only voices but footsteps as well.

Then, Im Hae-kyung stopped abruptly.

“Wait.”

We seemed to have walked in for at least several dozen minutes.

Im Hae-kyung turned his gaze deep into the cave.

Following that gaze, there was an ice mass that seemed twice as large as the Giant in the Snow, crouched and quietly staring at us.

‘That’s the Cave Giant.’

The status window flickered before my eyes, confirming it was correct.

Cave Giant (A) A creature residing in the cave of the snowy mountain.

Its body is made of ice.

I slowly put Park Do-yoon down on the ground and reconsidered.

‘Can a B-rank melt that thing?’

I was certain the answer was probably no.

In the original work, Im Hae-kyung also defeats the Cave Giant. Briefly enough to be introduced in one line, and probably easily. But actually facing the Cave Giant, it didn’t seem possible at all.

‘Then how?’

Make it smash its own body to pieces like cocktail ice? While also keeping the Giants in the Snow outside in check?

‘If that’s possible, you should be the mastermind.’

Right, if that seemed doable, it would be right to just make Im Hae-kyung the mastermind or protagonist. Im Hae-kyung slowly extended his hand to adjust the flow of mana.

The Cave Giant, which had been preparing to get up and charge at us, became docile again following Im Hae-kyung’s gesture.

‘Maybe it’ll be better than expected?’

To think he could restrain such a large giant. I was newly amazed at Im Hae-kyung’s abilities when a sudden voice was heard.

“…I don’t think it’ll work.”

“What?”

“I said I don’t think it’ll work.”

What was he talking about when he had completely subdued the Cave Giant? I quickly looked at Im Hae-kyung. But I could see a stream of cold sweat running down Im Hae-kyung’s forehead.

‘Is this right?’

Even though he was simultaneously keeping the giants outside and the dungeon boss in check, to think an S-rank mental-type hunter was struggling right now.

Moreover, Im Hae-kyung getting seriously injured or dying in a place like this wasn’t even in the original work. Maybe something was wrong from the beginning? Like Kwon Tae-han’s 5th cycle being messed up, or something going wrong due to the butterfly effect from my entry.

‘Then, fuck. Am I supposed to die here?’

Then, the Cave Giant whose feet had been bound by Im Hae-kyung began slowly getting up and approaching us.

“Tsk.”

Im Hae-kyung, gritting his teeth, quickly stopped the Cave Giant, but I could tell. Judging by how the snow outside that had been stopped until just now was gradually pouring down heavily, he had somewhat given up on keeping the giants outside in check and focused on the Cave Giant before us.

“Je-hyun-ssi. Could you… bring that hunter over?”

“Yes.”

I picked up Park Do-yoon, whom I’d put down on the ground, and presented him before Im Hae-kyung. Im Hae-kyung restrained the Cave Giant with one hand and easily raised Park Do-yoon with the other.

Park Do-yoon had been lying unconscious but got up and sat in place following Im Hae-kyung’s gesture. Eventually, he even stood up straight on both feet. It was a bizarre sight like watching a zombie awaken.

Park Do-yoon, who had risen like a zombie, slowly began operating mana. Sparks flew from his fingertips, and soon flames blazed nearby. It didn’t matter that he was unconscious. Im Hae-kyung made it so.

‘Fuck, this actually works…’

Watching the flickering flames, an inexplicable elation surged.

‘Why?’

Whoosh!

Fire blazed from Park Do-yoon’s hands without any flammable material. In the ice cave that wasn’t cold, fire that generated itself. Nothing made sense.

But that fire appeared as if it were natural and began slowly melting the Cave Giant’s feet. At a speed not even visible to the naked eye.

Im Hae-kyung handled Park Do-yoon freely using just one hand. Park Do-yoon got up from his spot like a conscious person, created flames in his hands, and shot them toward the Cave Giant several times.

Blazing Flames (B) is activated.

I approached Park Do-yoon, who was standing as if entranced. This couldn’t be called a battle.

Since Im Hae-kyung’s skill was still active in this space, I felt a fear that seemed to squeeze my lungs and crush my body, but at the same time, I also felt the sensation of being alive.

Right, the sensation of being alive!

How many situations are there where a living being can truly feel that they’re alive?

I could feel the corners of my mouth rising uncontrollably. The fear of death was doubly layered, burning the adrenaline in my body.

If even a B-rank could produce this much flame, I was curious what it would be like to actually meet Kwon Tae-han, who was S-rank. It was different from the boring inertia I’d felt until now or thinking obligatorily about what I had to do in the future.

In this moment, I understood why I had entered this dungeon, even if it was somewhat forced.

Did I want to actually confirm it? I had talked with the status window and met characters from the original work, but that hadn’t brought a sense of reality. But after entering the dungeon and facing reality more vividly than ever before, everything became clear.

If Im Hae-kyung lost focus even slightly, that massive Cave Giant would simply crush everyone here. Of course, Im Hae-kyung might be able to escape on his own, but I would almost certainly die.

But I didn’t feel the fear of having death before my eyes.

What did it feel like to operate mana?

I had looked up several papers and articles wanting to understand that, but what I actually felt was a sensation completely different from such text. Just… a thought that this seemed possible.

Meanwhile, Park Do-yoon, drooling from his mouth and with empty eyes due to the rank difference with Im Hae-kyung, waved his hand in the air several times before pulling one hand straight back.

As if shooting an invisible bow.

And shortly after, a massive arrow made of fire extended from Park Do-yoon’s hand at high speed.

Whoosh!

Fire Arrow (B) is activated.

Fire with no mass struck the ice that wasn’t cold, making a thunderous sound.

Boom!

The Cave Giant’s body had melted slightly more than before. The Cave Giant, still unable to move from the same spot, twitched its large head as if wanting to avoid the flames, but couldn’t.

Because Im Hae-kyung was restraining it.

“Ah, damn.”

Then a curse burst out from Im Hae-kyung’s direction.

“Haha… If we hold out until this thing completely melts, all the SH people will die.”

Im Hae-kyung, who said this, seemed genuinely struggling as several drops of sweat flowed down his smooth profile.

I hesitated for a moment. Since I’d die either way, should I try once?

‘Right, it might work.’

Fear disappeared and only curiosity remained.

Actually, no other excuse was needed. I just felt an impulse to try.

When I was a child, I had heard such words. I was told that I was much more impulsive than the average person, so I had to suppress it and live a planned life.

But was it right to stick to a set plan even in a situation where I might die at any moment? No, I’d never even made a plan to deal with such a situation in the first place.

From the moment Im Hae-kyung started struggling, the entire plan had been distorted.

I could feel excitement rising sharply up my spine. It was just an impulse that couldn’t be adorned with any flowery words.

Then, as Im Hae-kyung stepped back about half a step, the Cave Giant moved its arm slightly.

The moment I caught the movement, I immediately approached Park Do-yoon and placed my palm on his back.

‘So this is how it feels.’

Through my palm, I could feel the mana flowing through Park Do-yoon’s body. I had the illusion that I could clearly picture how it came out and where it went.

And I also thought… that I could imitate it.

I slowly extended my hand and concentrated the faint mana flowing through my body into my hand, just like Park Do-yoon had done. As if mimicking Park Do-yoon.

Copycat (S) is activated.

And.

Blazing Flames (B) is activated.

Flames began blazing from my hand.