Chapter 42:
Baek Joo-won stared at her with wide eyes.
“Don’t worry. I won’t let you get hurt.”
Seo Jae-yi’s face, unlike usual, was devoid of any warmth, hardened into a grim expression. Her gaze, as she looked back at the monster, was chillingly cold.
She hadn’t planned on intervening, knowing that even Seo Won-yeong alone could handle the strengthened boss monster.
But an intense rage had surged within her the moment she realized it was targeting her Guide.
‘I have to kill it. That’s the only way to keep my Guide safe.’
Her Esper instincts screamed in her head, demanding she kill it.
Seo Jae-yi readily obeyed, throwing a punch with her other hand. The boss monster, struck hard, shrieked and stumbled back.
As the distance widened, Seo Jae-yi, instead of using her ability, opened the remaining spatial pouch.
An intense heat emanated from it, and a thick, heavy plant, far larger than the Thorn-Saw Leaves, started pouring out endlessly.
It was “Ogre Vine,” a dungeon plant she had cultivated with her own flames.
“Gasp, what is that?”
The Guild members, who had been hurriedly dealing with the remaining Greenrolls, gasped in horror at the sight of the writhing Ogre Vine.
The monstrously thick and massive vine, as imposing as the boss monster itself, exuded an overwhelming pressure.
“H-how is she planning to use that?”
Seo Jae-yi seemed insignificant compared to the vine and the boss monster.
She could easily be devoured by either of them, yet she emanated a presence even more formidable.
“How dare you?”
To target my Guide, right in front of me. How dare you?
The moment Seo Jae-yi’s voice, laced with fury, echoed through the chamber, the writhing vines abruptly stopped moving. As if obeying her command.
“My babies, I’m sorry for neglecting you. Here’s your meal. Eat.”
She pointed at the boss monster, and the vines, as if waiting for this moment, lunged at it.
Countless vines constricted the boss monster’s legs, body, and neck. Some, as if one monster wasn’t enough, attacked the surviving Greenrolls, ignoring the humans and targeting only the monsters.
A sizzling sound, as if something was burning, pierced through the monsters’ screams.
“How is she…?”
The monsters’ struggles weakened as the areas entangled by the vines blackened and charred.
Shin Ji-woo, who had narrowly escaped danger, touched a vine and quickly withdrew his hand in surprise.
“What the…? Why is it hot?”
“Don’t go near it. You’ll get hurt.”
Moon Soo-hyun pulled Shin Ji-woo back.
“I don’t know why, but I can sense Leader’s energy from that plant.”
“W-what? Really?”
“What has she done…? But this is incredible.”
Moon Soo-hyun looked around with a dazed expression.
The appearance of a single massive Ogre Vine had already killed most of the monsters. Only the boss monster remained. It was still alive, despite being entangled by countless vines, perhaps because of its size.
Kyargh, kyarrrgh.
It clawed at the ground, desperately trying to crawl away, even though it could no longer scream properly, its neck constricted.
“I don’t understand. The smaller ones, and now this one. What’s wrong with them?”
Seo Won-yeong approached the boss monster and nudged its head with her foot. It should have been baring its teeth at her, but it ignored her completely.
It was clearly desperate for something. Desperate enough to ignore even death.
Krrrgh.
But the Ogre Vine wouldn’t release its grip until the monster was completely dead. It finally collapsed with a thud, blood and foam spewing from its throat.
No monsters remained.
“Enjoy your meal.”
Seo Jae-yi patted the Ogre Vine.
It was a carnivorous plant that melted its prey with its heat and absorbed their nutrients. It would be feasting for at least a few days.
“How did you even cultivate it to have your energy infused in it?”
Moon Soo-hyun asked, shaking her head. The others also looked at Seo Jae-yi, curious.
“Ah, this dungeon plant feeds on fire. I cultivated it with my flames.”
“Fire? Not water, but fire? And you fed it your flames?”
“It seemed to like them.”
“Oh my, no wonder. It’s incredibly tough and strong, even for a dungeon plant.”
Of course. It had been fed with an S-rank Esper’s power. It was as if they had been fed ginseng.
“Gasp, is that why they ignored us and only targeted the monsters? Because they were fed with your flames?”
“Oh, you’re quick-witted! That’s right. The plants I cultivate are more familiar with humans, especially Espers, than with monsters.”
“I was wondering how you were planning to use them… To think they’re more familiar with humans than with monsters. I have to acknowledge it after seeing it with my own eyes.”
The Guild members were amazed, as they had never imagined such a thing was possible.
“So you cultivate all the plants in your greenhouse with your flames?”
“No, some of them drink water normally.”
“They must be less sturdy.”
No, they drink dragon water. They’re probably not that different from the ones fed with my flames.
She thought of Airok, who would be watering the plants in the greenhouse at this hour, but Seo Jae-yi just smiled, keeping the truth to herself.
“Now, then.”
While the Espers, their overload levels significantly increased from the intense battle, were receiving Guiding from Joo Seon-min, Seo Jae-yi approached the dead boss monster.
Her eyes sparkled as she looked at the thick patch of parasitic grass covering its massive back, as large as a small hill.
“Time to harvest!”
Ehehe. Her creepy laughter echoed through the chamber, filled with monster corpses, as she started frantically plucking the parasitic grass with blinding speed.
Some of it had been burned by the Ogre Vine’s heat, but most of it was still intact, thanks to the monster’s wide back.
“Hahaha! Hahahaha!”
Seo Jae-yi’s laughter, fueled by her capitalist greed, rang happily through the dungeon chamber as she ripped out the grass.
***
The dungeon subjugation finally ended after they had thoroughly looted the monsters and the dungeon, distributing the spoils equally.
It was already dark outside when they emerged from the gate.
Kang Ji-heon, the Center’s dispatch team leader, who had been waiting for them, greeted them.
“Current time, 8:49 p.m. Total subjugation time, six hours and forty-six minutes. Good work, everyone.”
Kang Ji-heon and the Center staff, after briefly bowing to the Haeil Guild members, immediately approached the two Guides, concerned about their well-being.
They were anxious, fearing the precious S-rank Guides might have been injured.
“Team Leader Kang.”
Moon Soo-hyun approached Kang Ji-heon after confirming that both Joo Seon-min and Baek Joo-won were fine. She handed him some of the moss they had collected in the dungeon and briefly explained the situation.
“The Greenrolls were agitated?”
“They were definitely not Rank 4. They were as tough as some Rank 3 monsters. Please investigate the moss; there might be something wrong with it. We’ll also look into it on Haeil’s side.”
“Understood. I’ll report it to the Center Head.”
The blue gate, flickering ominously in the air, finally disappeared.
The dungeon subjugation was officially concluded after Kang Ji-heon declared the gate closed.
“Good work! Ms. Joo Seon-min, it was fun raiding with you after so long!”
“Don’t just stay in dungeons. Come visit Haeil sometime.”
The Guild members who knew Joo Seon-min exchanged brief farewells with her and then bowed to Baek Joo-won.
“It was a tough first practice run, wasn’t it? We apologize. If you give us another chance, we’ll show you a better performance.”
“Don’t go on any raids with Bean Mountain. If you do, please choose us.”
“Yeah, we’re better than them.”
The Guild members diligently tried to dissuade Baek Joo-won from showing any interest in Taesan Guild.
He simply nodded in response.
“Mr. Baek Joo-won.”
Seo Jae-yi was the last to greet him.
“How was your first dungeon subjugation experience?”
Instead of asking the usual questions, like if he was okay or if he had been scared, she asked that.
Baek Joo-won, momentarily surprised by the unexpected question, answered calmly.
“It was… a very raw experience.”
“Raw?”
“It made me realize that anything could happen during a dungeon raid.”
“I see.”
“But it also gave me confidence that we can overcome chaotic situations if everyone fulfills their roles.”
Seo Jae-yi smiled brightly at his words. It was a good answer.
“That’s good. The first practice run is important for both Espers and Guides.”
Realizing that dungeon raids didn’t always go according to plan was a valuable lesson for Baek Joo-won.
“You must be tired. Go home and get some rest. A hot bath would be good.”
“That’s practical advice. I appreciate it.”
“You’ll appreciate it. See you later.”
Seo Jae-yi waved at him and left with Seo Won-yeong and the Guild members, who had been waiting.
Seo Won-yeong glanced at Baek Joo-won, who was leaving with the Center staff.
“He seems surprisingly fine. Many people panic after their first practice run.”
How often would ordinary people experience life-or-death battles with monsters?
And they even had to kill them. Many Espers and Guides developed trauma after their first battle.
However, while she didn’t know how he felt inside, Baek Joo-won seemed to be in good condition.
“I hope it’s because he’s mentally strong. Even if he doesn’t enter dungeons, he’ll see a lot of gruesome things as an S-rank Esper’s Pair.”
The primary duty of Espers was to kill monsters, eliminate dungeons, and save people.
They inevitably sustained injuries, so Guides, who had to treat them, were exposed to all sorts of gruesome sights.
Both Espers and Guides needed strong mental fortitude to endure this line of work.
“Are you assuming he’ll be your Pair?”
“Of course. I’m already certain that we’ll be paired.”
“I hope your wish comes true. Mine too.”
Instead of shattering her sister’s unwavering belief, Seo Jae-yi looked back at Baek Joo-won. To her surprise, he was also looking at her, their eyes meeting as if he had been waiting for it.
“…”
“…”
They didn’t avoid each other’s gaze. They simply stared at each other silently, without asking why.
Strangely, it didn’t feel awkward or uncomfortable.
She didn’t know what he was thinking; it had only been a month since they met. But Seo Jae-yi was certain of one thing.
‘…Whether he becomes my Pair or not, I don’t think he’ll run away.’
She didn’t know why she felt so certain.
‘…I have questions I want to ask, but I don’t need to ask them today.’
Seo Jae-yi bowed to Baek Joo-won, who was still looking at her, and left.