Decision

Even when they first descended to the deep layer, Han Sohee and the five men following her had nothing to fear.

Every one of them possessed a decent [Unique Ability], and they had been carefully selected from the Strategic Planning Division for their physical prowess, so their skills were outstanding.

Especially—

Bang!

「Graaah.」

Manager Go Cheolwoo, whom every employee revered, was the best among them.

"Amazing. You took it down with a single punch."

"At this rate, aren't you the strongest human alive, Manager?"

[Holy Strike: Adds 100% holy-attribute damage to all attacks.]

His ability, optimized for hunting undead, was shining brilliantly in this [Lair of Evil Spirits]. Even a light tap was enough to make the dead collapse without being able to rise again.

"Looks like there are no more mobs, Miss."

"Good work, Manager Go. Then let's look for the remains."

Thus, after mowing down every last deep-layer mob, they soon discovered [Bardo's Remains]. However, they ended up coming face-to-face with something they should never have seen.

"What a gloomy-looking door. It's decorated with over two hundred skulls."

"Isn't this one of those? You know, the boss room in games."

Upon recalling the existence of a boss, their eyes naturally filled with greed. It was only natural that defeating a boss would yield good rewards.

Above all, they had never once experienced a difficult or dangerous moment, so they had no reason to skip the boss.

"What shall we do?"

"Let's go in."

…And so the tragedy began.

"Aah! My, my leg!"

"S-save me… Guh."

"I'll clear a path, so everyone get the young lady and run!"

The six who had entered so boldly emerged with only three of them left.

Gasp. Gasp. Gasp. They had barely made it out of the door alive, but their minds had stopped working.

They could not accept the reality that they had been defeated, sacrificed their comrades, and fled with their tails between their legs just to preserve their own lives.

Clench.

Instead, they were crushed beneath an overwhelming sense of guilt and defeat until they chose the easy way out.

Revenge!

They would find someone to vent this frustration on and shift the blame onto them. They would rationalize that they themselves had done nothing wrong.

"Let's gather people. We'll gather people, challenge it again, take our revenge, and recover the bodies."

That was the best choice the young leader, who was only twenty years old, could make. And then….

"Fuck off."

"What?"

"You think we're still going to follow you with the world in this state?"

"Huh…?"

"You seem to be mistaken, but we followed you because of Manager Go, not because of you. With the Manager's excellent judgment, insight, and experience, we could survive even the most fucked-up trial."

Han Sohee stared blankly at the only two employees she had left. Their usual bright smiles whenever she spoke to them were gone. They did not even show her the slightest courtesy.

"But that fucking motherless crazy bitch suggested killing a boss."

"That's what I'm saying."

She felt wronged.

"W-what do you mean? You said it was a good idea too. You said we absolutely had to kill a boss before moving on. That's how it works in games…"

She froze.

Mid-sentence, Han Sohee closed her mouth again.

The gazes of the men looking at her were strange.

A chill ran up her spine. Instinctively sensing danger, she immediately turned around and ran for her life.

"Miss, where are you going?!"

Gasp. Gasp. Gasp.

She ran and ran through the darkness. She climbed the ladder without stopping, while the sound of someone following rose from below.

"Miss, how do you expect to live in this harsh world without us to look after you? Heh heh heh."

The eerie laughter pursued her relentlessly, and the ladder shook with a hollow clang, clang, clang. With those unmistakable footsteps following her, all Han Sohee could do was cry and continue climbing the ladder swallowed by darkness.

After reaching the middle layer, she hid herself in the fog. Since it was crowded, there were no Specters, and the many other presences made it impossible for them to find her.

"Ah, fuck, where did this bitch go?"

"Ha, with Manager Go gone too, I was hoping to climb onto that pretty ass and hear her moan. Fucking bitch was quick to notice."

…….

"You search over there. I'll search here. Let's meet at the chapel entrance."

"Just let me catch that bitch. I'll pound both holes until they won't close."

Only after the footsteps had faded did she search the nearby corpses and put on a clean hoodie and pair of pants.

She survived by rationing the food she had kept in her pockets.

Holding her breath in the fog, she moved between the theater seats, enduring and enduring.

"Fuck, looks like she ran all the way to the top floor. What now?"

"Tch. Let's just give up. There are plenty of women to eat anyway, right?"

"Ah, it's a damn shame I never got to put my dick in those pretty lips."

Only after they disappeared back into the deep layer did she emerge from the fog.

She blankly looked around in the darkness, where silence lingered.

"……."

There was no one left to protect her or follow her.

There were no parents, family, or company here.

She was completely alone, to the point that the expression "thrown into the world alone" described her perfectly.

"……."

A deep loneliness washed over her. It was the first time she had felt such loneliness since she was five, but she did not collapse.

She moved her feet and sought refuge with a party that had just arrived at the middle layer.

"Hmm? You want to join us? We'd be happy to have you. I'm Kim Yoorim. And you?"

Returning to the present from her memories, Han Sohee put strength into her eyes and insisted firmly.

"So give up on the raid. Without a single grain of exaggeration, we swept through the area and slaughtered mobs until we reached the boss room. Everyone was begging us to let them join our party."

Kang Minjun nodded.

It made sense. The [Holy Strike] possessed by Manager Go Cheolwoo was one of the strongest abilities against undead. If Kang Minjun had possessed that ability…

He would have already gone to fight the raid boss with the Saintess, just the two of them.

'Holy-attribute attacks always land as critical hits against dark-attribute mobs.'

If he wielded it with all his points invested in strength, even a boss would be killed instantly.

'Though even so, it was only an Epic ability.'

The reason it could be so powerful despite being merely Epic was that it could only exert its power against undead and demons.

'Anyway, it's a shame. Many others besides Han Sohee's party died in exactly the same way, and many more will in the future.'

Could they have imagined that they, who had been advancing so triumphantly, would plunge into ruin in an instant?

The early trials had traps like this. Traps designed to weed out those who possessed abilities but became arrogant.

[Lair of Evil Spirits] was one of them, and the raid boss was its core mechanism.

Countless users of Transcendent abilities would hunt the mobs, grow arrogant, and swagger around, only to vanish into the forgotten pages of history.

'Unless someone has a holy-related ability, they don't stand a chance. Even five Transcendent ability users couldn't defeat it. That's how strong the boss here is.'

Conversely, that meant it could be defeated easily enough if one properly matched the holy attribute.

That was why Kang Minjun had summoned the Rock Ghost and extracted its gastric juice pouch.

'If there's a chance to defeat it, giving up would be foolish.'

More importantly, even if it was a little dangerous at the beginning, risking one's life to grow would make things easier later.

After all, it was better to face one danger early on than dozens of crises later.

"Don't worry. I'm confident about this raid."

"What?"

"I'm confident we can kill the boss, and even if things don't go well, I have a way for everyone to come back alive without sacrificing a single person."

"I want to hear what that is."

Wanting to confirm the safety measure with her own eyes, Han Sohee watched as Kang Minjun took an envelope from his pocket and waved it.

"Ah."

Her expression showed that she understood the moment she saw it.

Kang Minjun planned to hand it to Lee Sera and have her wait at the entrance to the boss room.

They could simply hunt the boss, and if the situation turned bad, escape with Lee Sera's help.

"You really are…."

"Huh?"

Han Sohee reached out and took hold of Kang Minjun's cheek.

At first, she had thought it was baseless confidence, like the men who boasted about having played games around her and Manager Go.

But to think even that confidence stemmed from perfect preparation.

He was different. She had never met a man like him before. Han Sohee pressed her nose against Kang Minjun's and spoke with her face flushed pink.

"Among men my age, I've never seen anyone as capable and impressive as you."

…You would be more than adequate as my husband.

However, she swallowed those final words. If he had felt even the slightest emotion for her, then her dignity and aloofness must naturally have played a part as well.

In that case, she would maintain the aloofness she had shown until now.

Although her heart had already been stolen long ago, and she wanted to embrace him, kiss him over and over, climb on top of him, and rock her hips wildly… she would endure it and show restraint.

Until he asked first.

"Then you agree to the raid too, right?"

"Yes."

After finishing their conversation, the two returned to the group.

One of them was as usual, while the other's feelings had changed drastically.

***

"How did it go?"

"Did you have a good talk?"

The two women gathered around curiously. Han Sohee stepped forward and nodded.

"I'm in favor of going on the raid."

"Huh?"

Shin Seoyeon, who was opposed to the idea, asked incredulously.

"No, you went to persuade her and got persuaded instead? The previous one was already close to killing us, and we have no idea how dangerous this one will be."

"Honestly, I still think it's dangerous."

"Then why?"

Abruptly linking one arm with mine, Han Sohee answered calmly.

"If my lord has made a decision concerning matters outside the household, then supporting and encouraging him so that he can carry it out well is a virtue a lady of the house should possess."

"Ah, what the fuck are you talking about? Are you his wife or something? And what's with this 'lady of the house' bullshit? Were you born in the Joseon era or something?"

No answer came. No matter what Shin Seoyeon said, Han Sohee merely straightened my clothes and fixed my hair.

Shin Seoyeon turned away with a face that looked ready to burst.

"Unni, don't just stand there. Say something."

However, the other woman did not seem likely to be of much help either. The Saintess's eyes were sparkling as if she had been deeply moved.

"I-I see! Supporting the things a man does is also a virtue a wife should possess…!"

"…Unni?"

"I should do that too. Mr. Minjun, I agree with your opinion as well!"

"……"

Shin Seoyeon put a hand to her forehead with an exasperated expression.

Now there was only one person left. I looked at Shin Seoyeon. Looking extremely displeased with the situation, she grumbled with her eyes half-open.

"What. Do you have something to say? If the three of you have decided, you don't really need my opinion."

"I made the plan, but this is ultimately a matter of life and death. If even one person objects, I won't do it."

"…Really? If I object, you won't do it?"

Nod.

Everyone, including Shin Seoyeon, stared at me in surprise.

"No matter how perfect a plan is, it will be difficult to succeed if the party members do not actively cooperate."

"Indeed… how wise."

"That's so like you, Mr. Minjun!"

The women admired me. In contrast, Shin Seoyeon wore a mischievous expression.

"Hmm."

Apparently, she intended to agree to the raid….

She merely seemed to be using this opportunity to extort something from me, but unfortunately for her, after more than twenty years together, I had Shin Seoyeon figured out.

"I heard at the shelter that the rewards for killing a boss are exceptional."

"What? Is that really true?!"

"Yeah. But do rewards really matter? Safety is what matters. I think you were right, Seoyeon. Let's not do it. I'll burn the remains right now."

As I took the remains and a lighter from my pocket and moved to set them on fire, Shin Seoyeon hurried over and stopped me.

"?"

"Hey! Who said I didn't want to do the raid?!"

"Then you agree too?"

"……"

The Crimson Flame Witch looked dismayed at the prospect of losing a perfectly legal opportunity to extort me.

When she hesitated, I brought the lighter toward the remains again. Shin Seoyeon frantically blocked my hand and shouted,

"Fine! Let's do the raid! Let's do it!"

"Good. Then it's decided, so let's head down quickly."

After leaving the shelter, I led the group forward at a brisk pace.

「You too shall… be unable to escape this place…! Guh.」

There was no longer any reason to farm items, and we knew the way to our destination.

Above all, everyone quickened their steps at the thought that we could return to the shelter today, wash with warm water, see sunlight, and rest comfortably.

"Unni, what are you going to eat at the shelter?"

"Hmm. You said you never got to visit that restaurant, Seoyeon, so if it's still there, shall we start there?"

"Oh, sounds good."

We passed through the waiting room, reached the stairs, arrived at the middle layer, and made our way to the chapel.

Patter-patter-patter.

The surroundings were silent, and only the footsteps of the sole survivors here broke the stillness.

「Gueooo.」

"The ghost types aren't much either. If anything, they feel easier?"

Han Sohee's face had been somewhat tense when we left the safe zone, but it gradually relaxed as we continued our effortless advance.

'She must have realized we were on a whole different level.'

The trials others faced while risking their lives,

the trials that even her party had taken seriously whenever they fought,

we were breaking through them far too easily and comfortably.

"Oh, this is the deep layer? The atmosphere is pretty fierce."

Even setting aside my ten years of experience, Shin Seoyeon was enjoying herself as if she had come out for an outing.

Even though the Saintess's [Healing Authority] helped stabilize the mind and body, Shin Seoyeon had nearly died only an hour ago. The fact that she was acting like this already showed that she was not ordinary either.

'As expected of the Crimson Flame Witch. The talent in humanity best suited to the Selection Process.'

With Shin Seoyeon and me moving around at our leisure, even the Saintess, who had an exceptional talent for being swept up in things, was influenced by the mood.

As a result, the party atmosphere naturally grew more confident.

"Come on, bring it!"

「Give me blood! Your hot blood!」

「Why has the light abandoned us…!」

That confidence was not reckless, either. I could say with certainty that there was no party stronger than ours anywhere in the Selection.

"Ah, Mr. Minjun. It looks like they're coming from both corridors."

"This side is handled, so Unni and the rich girl just support Black Dick."

Fwoosh!

The flames pouring from both palms prevented the dead from even approaching, and they burned as they fell.

On the opposite side, the dead were cut in half before they could even mount a proper attack against me.

"…They're strong. We have plenty of firepower, and healing that can fully restore us as well…. Nothing is lacking. With this group, we might really be able to defeat the boss."

While expressing her admiration, Han Sohee also moved beside me and supported me with sharp attacks that did not interfere with my movements.

Her movements, which did not hinder me in the slightest, were truly worthy of [Sword Master].

"All right, so it's beyond this door?"

After we cleared out every deep-layer mob, a grotesque door densely decorated with skulls stood before us.

"Check your weapons, and put your backpacks down here."

"Won't someone take them?"

"Who would? We're the only ones here."

"Are you sure? Maybe it's just me, but I feel like some of my gems are disappearing."

Although perceptive and practical, Shin Seoyeon could not imagine that someone using stealth might be picking her gems away one by one.

While the group set down their backpacks, I passed the [Summoner's Envelope] behind my back and held it out. Soon, the object in my hand smoothly vanished into thin air without a trace.

"Then I'm counting on you."

Nod.

That completed the preparations.

When I looked up at the group, everyone was taking deep breaths with tense expressions. It was only natural, since this was their first boss battle.

Whoosh!

However, after the Saintess gave each of us a single heal, their faces returned to calm as though they had never been tense at all.

In short, they were now in an optimal state for combat.

"All right, then let's go see what the boss looks like."

I placed my hand against the skull-covered door and shoved it roughly open.

Soon, a gloomy aura of death flowed out and greeted us.