– It’s the first save point!
Rabbit Beastman Arang discovered a tall, cylindrical pillar of light and let out a joyful shout.
– First, we should go in and discuss things. This condition looks pretty…
– Are you okay, Ho-yeol?
– ·········.
– Oh dear, what do we do? Just look at him, he can’t even speak properly because of the paralysis.
The second large-scale battle had come to an end, and our party suffered minor losses. The Snake Beastman had fallen into Mana Exhaust and lost consciousness. The Tiger Beastman Nam Ho-yeol made the mistake of straying from the formation during the heat of battle and suffered severe injuries when both his arms were severed by an Abyss Hunter.
Now, under full-body paralysis due to the neurotoxin, Nam Ho-yeol had turned into a heavy mass weighing over 100 kg.
Uh-uh-uh──
The Beastmen quickly moved Nam Ho-yeol into the save point and started emergency treatment.
“Ugh, how many times did I tell you to stay close? How could a Tiger Beastman have such weak grip strength?!”
“Could you please stop criticizing? It wasn’t on purpose.”
“······.”
Nam Ho-yeol seemed to have a faint consciousness left, letting out groans that were barely audible. It looked like he wanted to say sorry.
“By the way, why is the dungeon like this today? Every time a monster appears, there are more than three hundred of them. Normally it wouldn’t even hit a hundred.”
“It does seem strange. It’s a miracle we survived. Ugh…”
Everyone stared at me as if we had made a pact. Since I had showcased the ability to create a massive igloo, their curiosity about me must have peaked.
“The hemorrhage control is done, but can we attach the arms right away?”
“I haven’t dealt with amputations that often, so I don’t remember the order well…”
Joining the severed limbs back together was surprisingly unfamiliar work for Hunters. Usually, when one’s injuries were that severe, there’s no time to worry about collecting the severed limbs. Moreover, the healer, who was the most needed personnel right now, was still unconscious, so it’s only natural they were flustered.
“Let’s give him the antidote first.”
“Y-yeah, let’s do that.”
‘No, we can give him the antidote later.’
[Transformation]
I ultimately had to remove the constraint out of frustration.
“Wait a minute. It’s not like he’s dying from the poison, so just leave it. Being in a state of paralysis could actually make it a smoother process to attach the limbs without any vibrations.”
“───?!!”
The Beastmen were startled when I, who had kept silent until now, suddenly spoke up.
“Y-you’re talking…?”
“Your voice sounds surprisingly young…”
“Wahhh… Your voice is nice…”
‘Wow, you guys sure are easily surprised.’
I took out Nam Ho-yeol’s severed arms from the space.
In the second battle, when Ho-yeol was surrounded and brutally attacked by dozens of monsters, I activated [Sanctuary of Alertness] to protect him and swiftly retrieved his severed arms, which is why I was holding them now.
“Hold on tight. I don’t want to see a Tiger eating with a spoon upside-down for the rest of his life.”
“Y-yes, yes!!”
“Alright, Yang, pour the potion.”
“Y-yes, understood!”
Carefully, I attached his severed arms to Ho-yeol’s stumps, while the Beastmen calmly assisted me.
In treating this kind of injury, it’s crucial for the one attempting to attach the severed limbs to remain calm. I had no feelings toward this guy named Ho-yeol, so I could work without a hint of tremor.
Swish──
The attached arms began to reconnect smoothly since they hadn’t been severed for long.
“Give him just one bottle of the antidote. There’s no point in giving him too much.”
“Eh…”
The Beastman who had pulled out tons of antidotes from the space was flustered and quickly put them back.
“Phew… Thank you, Alpha. You’ve saved our comrade once again.”
“Isn’t it more appropriate to try not to let that be necessary?”
“Ugh… I’m sorry… We should have been more careful.”
“Among A-rank High-Rank Hunters, is there really a need to look out for one another? Stop thinking about teamwork, just focus on yourselves. That’ll be enough.”
“”······.””
I said that as a wake-up call, yet the Beastmen seemed to be smiling a bit.
‘This is all your fault. Why are your teammates acting like that because of you?’
I approached the slowly stabilizing Tiger Beastman with a slightly calmer voice.
“If you feel your abilities are lacking, it’s also a form of courage to step back. That’s what makes up teamwork.”
“······.”
It was clear that this guy had relatively low stats. For some reason, his companions were trying their best to look after him, but from my perspective, it seemed like he lacked the mental toughness.
Upon hearing my words, the other Beastmen exchanged glances, unsure of what to do.
I wondered just how impressive he really was for them to react that way.
Well, anyway, the treatment was finished, and we began a meeting to discuss what to do next.
There were many opinions shared, yet none were what I expected.
“Are you seriously going to shout for a choice even after this? Surprisingly strong-willed. I could understand wanting to receive ‘baptism’ at the third hunting spot, but you can’t be thinking of actually taking down a boss, can you?”
“Oh, also feed him this.”
I lightly tossed Arang a brown bottle filled with Irmana’s water.
“What is this?”
“No need to know.”
“Ugh…”
After sniffing the contents of the brown bottle, Arang immediately poured it into Nam Ho-yeol’s mouth.
Though emergency treatment was complete, it would take significant time for the neurotoxin from the Abyss Hunter to be fully detoxified.
Could we really reach the third hunting ground with a Tiger Beastman whose condition had dropped to about 70% and a Snake Beastman suffering from fatigue?
‘Considering the recovery ability of Beastmen, it might be impossible. We can manage the early parts, but from the middle onward, I can’t keep protecting these people.’
Given that there were unusually high numbers of monsters swarming around today, I could only carry them as far as the second hunting ground.
They probably weren’t unaware of that.
“Are you planning to go to the third hunting spot?”
“That’s right. But from there on, I won’t be able to help. Each monster is not to be underestimated.”
“We also don’t plan to continue depending on your help. As long as you guide us like before, we won’t ask for more.”
“You sure know how to speak. If I weren’t here, you’d all be sunk in the swamp.”
“Ah… It’s my first time in underwater combat, so I really have nothing to say…”
Arang seemed apologetic for constantly relying on me.
‘There’s really no need for that.’
I was trying to establish a somewhat cold hunter persona, and it only made me feel guilty when she reacted that way.
‘I’m really not that tough, am I…’
Shaking my head, I gathered the Beastmen in one spot.
Bubbling bubbling bubbling-
“Whoa…”
“Still amazing to see. What’s the name of that skill?”
‘What was it again… Ah.’
“It’s Water Weapon.”
“Ah-ha-”
I extended my arm outside the save point and started crafting new weapons.
“I’ll create shields for you all. Even if it’s awkward, hold onto one each. When another large-scale battle starts, enter in defensive formation as much as possible. I’ll handle the rest of the setup. Just focus on the one in front of you.”
“Yes!!”
“Understood!”
“But just know, this assistance only goes until the second hunting spot. The third hunting ground is above ground, so from there, it’ll depend on your abilities.”
It was unlikely to expect much from Beastmen in underwater combat.
On the contrary, this was just my own assumption, but I wondered if the reason monsters were gathering in large numbers was because of me.
‘When I had been with Yeon-hee, I brushed it off, but now that I’m alone, it’s starting to click.’
I didn’t know if my body had some kind of honey on it, but it seemed like I must have a power that draws monsters to me.
‘I had my suspicions about this for a while… Wait a minute, did the influx of small gates in the dungeon occur because I was here?’
Now all sorts of thoughts ran through my mind.
What on earth made monsters rush as if they wanted to kill me?
“Uugh-”
The Tiger Beastman staggered as he slowly got back on his feet, seemingly freed from the paralysis. Thanks to his good physique, he recovered very quickly. Or maybe the effect of Irmana’s water kicked in.
“Ho-yeol~ You’ve experienced taste for a while.”
“Uugh…”
Even after the paralysis lifted, regaining his sense of taste wouldn’t be easy.
Ho-yeol approached me with a face that looked like he had lost a country, slowly and sadly.
Then, he bent down deeply and, with mouth movements that didn’t quite cooperate, mumbled at me.
“Ga-uh-ah-”
Since I could guess what he was trying to do, I waved my hand firmly.
“Though we formed this temporary party, I’m not the type to watch people die. That’s all I’ll say, no need to say more.”
Ho-yeol’s eyes glistened with tears as he thanked me again.
It was hard to believe that there was an emotional side to the often aggressive Tiger Beastman.
“Was it Arang? Come here for a moment.”
“Kyah- M-me?”
“Yeah, you.”
“Y-yes!!”
I took her to a slightly more distant spot, and noticing her blushing face, I asked directly.
“What’s your goal?”
“Huh…?”
“I asked because it seems like there’s a mission you have to complete within a certain timeframe. Why the rush? I’m not underestimating you, but your team seems thrown together rather hastily.”
“Ah… Yes… It’s because of that.”
Having shown a visibly disappointed expression, Arang opened her lips after pondering for a moment.
“Actually, we’re─”
Arang told a story that wasn’t particularly short but was interesting enough to listen to.
“So you all are under the command of ‘Sang-gun’?”
“Yes.”
“And that guy Ho-yeol is the youngest son of ‘Sang-gun’?”
“Yes…”
What the heck… The youngest son of ‘Sang-gun,’ known as the peak of Beastman traits in our country, is ‘that guy’?
“Well, whatever. What’s this first Beastman’s Nest? What goes on there?”
“I’m not sure either. We discovered ancient imperial records in a newly found dungeon recently. From that record, we obtained some meaningful information, and ‘Sang-gun’ is showing great interest in it.”
‘The transcendent ‘Sang-gun’ is one of the members who took down the Great Beasts alongside Jungil. It’s intriguing that he found valuable information.’
“I see… I must definitely complete the mission as a Tiger Beastman.”
“Yes, we want to repay our debt to ‘Sang-gun.’”
The rest of the seven Beastmen, excluding Ho-yeol, seem to be former orphans from the orphanage run by ‘Sang-gun.’ Since they received support from a young age, it’s only natural they’d want to assist him.
‘So that’s why they care for that somewhat lacking guy. Because of his father.’
“Thanks to you, I’ve cleared up some questions.”
“Is that so?”
“I have one more question. Do you know a Rabbit Beastman named Ah-rin?”
“Ah-rin…? I’m not sure?”
“I see. Got it.”
For now, it seemed unrelated to Ah-rin.
“By the way, um, Ho-yeol, could I ask you something?”
“What is it?”
Arang fidgeted as if hesitant but managed to ask with effort.
“Could you give me your number…?”
“?”
“I just want to treat you to a meal since we owe you so much.”
“I’ll pass. We should focus on getting out alive first.”
“Ugh… but…”
‘Wait, that’s not a bad idea to create a connection with these people.’
“I’ll give you my number, so just shoot me a message when we get out.”
“Wow- Yes, I’ll definitely contact you.”
After answering a call from Yeon-hee, I gave her my contact information.
“No personal contacts allowed. Get in touch only if something meaningful happens.”
“Hehe… Got it.”
Upon receiving the number, Arang broke into a broad smile.
Her smile had a fresher vibe that felt quite different from Ah-rin, confirming their lack of relation.
“But can I ask one more question?”
“What is it?”
“Why could you speak if you could have kept quiet?”
It was within an arm’s reach.
She must feel the significant difference between me now and when I was a skeleton.
“Consider it a training session, except when I rest.”
“Ah-ha-!”
I merely threw out a vague answer, but she nodded happily as if it was a realization.
‘A person with a peculiar charm.’
We waited for another 30 minutes, and by then, Ho-yeol’s body finally began to function properly.
Thanks to that, I had to activate [Transformation] once more.
It’s funny to suddenly not be able to talk.
“I’m so sorry-”
“It’s fine. Can you move your body?”
“Absolutely!”
“Well, we’ll find out when we get out.”
We headed back into the dungeon, and despite Ho-yeol’s bravado, it took us a full five hours of sluggish combat before we finally reached the path to the third hunting ground.
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