Episode 14: Reward (1)
I opened my eyes.
The ceiling above me stretched high into the distance.
At the far edge of this vast cavern, a faint ray of light trickled in, barely illuminating the dark space.
Instinctively, I took a step toward the light.
Then, I saw it—a staircase leading to the exit, where the faint ray of light seeped through.
Someone was sitting there, at the top of the stairs.
He sat hunched over, his head lowered.
In one hand, he held a spear, tapping it lightly against something.
But what sent chills down my spine was the fact that I hadn’t noticed his presence until my eyes landed on him.
He didn’t speak or move, but the ominous aura emanating from him was sharp and chilling.
‘If I fight him, I’ll lose… no.’
The oppressive atmosphere suffocated me. Winning or losing wasn’t the issue.
‘I’ll die.’
In the darkness, his silhouette was similar in build to mine. But his presence utterly overwhelmed me.
I stopped in my tracks. My heart pounded, echoing in my ears.
“Hello?”
He spoke.
“Hmm… I’m glad to meet you, but it seems you’ve come here a bit too early.”
Even now, I couldn’t make out his face.
“Is it because of the elixir? Still… you really absorbed it well.”
He stood up quietly. His movements were smooth, without the slightest hesitation.
I instinctively gripped the spear hanging at my waist tightly. I didn’t know why—it was a reflex.
Fwoosh—
The figure that had been far away disappeared in an instant.
I instinctively drew my spear and raised it to block, but it was already too late. A cold sensation brushed against my neck. I felt the icy edge of a blade pressed against the nape of my neck.
He was already In front of me.
Even though he was so close—
It was as if his face was obscured by static; I still couldn’t see it.
“Sorry. This is the only way to wake you up.”
As I felt the blade digging into my neck—
“See you next time.”
My vision went black.
“You probably won’t remember this.”
***
I opened my eyes naturally. I felt as though I had just woken from a deep, unknown dream.
Strangely, my body felt refreshed, as if I had slept soundly on a soft bed all day.
The sensation of a comfortable, plush bed beneath me reached my back, and as my mind gradually cleared, I began to take in my surroundings.
It was an unfamiliar ceiling.
Thunk!
“Where am I?”
I looked around to see a spacious, pristine hospital room. Beyond the window, the view of towering skyscrapers unfolded.
Looking down at myself, I saw that I was wearing hospital clothes.
Then, the last memory before I lost consciousness came flooding back.
“Good… good… drink it all.”
Ah. Damn it.
I quickly closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and gathered my mana.
Focusing on the pulse resonating from deep within my chest, I confirmed the flow of mana coursing through me.
-Thump, thump.
As the sound of my heartbeat intensified, I could sense the pathways of mana more clearly.
‘Three times… four times.’
I quickly continued the calculations in my head.
‘No… five times.’
Speed, efficiency, and the sheer amount—everything was incomparable to before.
I stopped drawing in mana, rested my hand on my forehead, and let out a light sigh.
“What kind of trickery is this…?”
This elixir wouldn’t yield such results just by drinking it.
Sure, even drinking it alone could have some effects—it was, after all, a heavenly elixir containing the condensed essence of nature accumulated over centuries.
However, the natural energy condensed over such a long period is wild and difficult to control.
Those who consume it can’t handle its force, often fainting, or in severe cases, risking their lives.
That’s why it’s essential to have someone skilled in protection techniques (護法).
Someone to delicately guide the mana through the body, evenly dispersing the elixir’s energy, and managing any excess to prevent harm.
But the mana raging within my body felt perfectly tamed and efficiently organized.
… To be honest, it was impressive how meticulously it had been handled.
As if not a single drop of the elixir was wasted, every bit of it had been thoroughly utilized.
It seemed Cheon Yeoul had performed the process flawlessly.
“Oh… you’re awake?”
At the sound of a soft, slightly drowsy voice, I turned my head.
Looking to my lower right, I saw a patient bed come into view.
On it, Sion was stretching, her body hunched over.
It seemed she had woken up from the sound of my movements.
She rubbed her eyes and slowly lifted her head.
“Did I wake you? Sorry.”
“No, it’s fine. I was about to wake up anyway…”
Yawn.
She covered her mouth with her hand and let out a long yawn.
“What are you doing here?”
“I was told to keep watch in case something went wrong overnight, so I just stayed.”
“Thank you.”
At my short response, Sion nodded. Then, she slowly got up and began stretching.
Clunk—
At that moment, the heavy sound of the door opening echoed through the hospital room.
The figure who entered bowed his head slightly as he stepped in.
He was nearly 2 meters tall, with neatly combed white hair and a deep scar running from his cheek to his chin.
It was the old man.
When our eyes met, he closed his eyes for a moment before reopening them.
“I heard you collapsed, but seeing you fine makes it seem like I came for nothing.”
His deep voice resonated through the room.
“Oh, Grandpa, there you go again. You came by yesterday evening, too.”
The old man cleared his throat and averted his gaze, but his eyes quickly returned to me.
His gaze, fixed on me, flickered with a pale blue light.
He closed his eyes again and asked:
“…What exactly did you consume, and where did you find it?”
His voice was calm but carried a weighty sense of doubt and wariness.
I turned my head and let out a small sigh.
“That’s a good question.”
The old man slowly walked closer to me and continued speaking.
“Stand up.”
I rose from the bed.
“Your heartbeat is stable. As for your mana…”
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“It’s solid.”
The old man muttered quietly.
“Still, you’ll need a proper examination.”
I nodded, agreeing with his words.
“Of course.”
He picked up the intercom next to the bed and had a brief conversation. After hanging up, he rotated his wrist and walked slowly toward the door.
“Move.”
A single word that sounded more like a command.
“Yes, sir.”
I nodded and followed him.
***
We were on our way out after receiving the test results.
“There’s nothing wrong with your health… In fact, you’re so healthy it’s almost concerning, haha.”
Those were the words of a doctor at Glory Hospital, renowned as one of the best medical facilities in South Korea. He wasn’t likely wrong.
“I thought so.”
“That’s a relief~.”
The old man and Sion left the explanation without much reaction. Sion had to head to school, and the old man was always busy.
I, too, completed the discharge process and exited the hospital.
“Huh? Someone already paid?”
The bill had already been settled. I asked who had done it, but they wouldn’t tell me.
“Who could it be…?”
I wasn’t entirely sure, but it was probably the old man.
As I stepped out of the hospital, a black luxury sedan parked at the entrance caught my eye.
The car door opened, and a man in a sharp suit stepped out.
His collar was perfectly pressed, and his tie was adjusted to the ideal angle.
‘The Association.’
It was obvious at a glance that he was from the Association.
“I’m glad to see you’ve been discharged without any issues, Mr. ‘Silent Ghost.’ I’m Kim Gil-gyu, a hero from the Association.”
“If you have a moment, could we discuss the matter of Iano’s Tomb?”
“Hmm, I have to head to school.”
He gave a slight smile and bowed his head.
“We’ve already coordinated with Gaon. How about taking today to relax and clear your mind?”
The Association seemed to have prepared in advance.
Honestly, I had planned to go with him anyway. I just wanted to play hard to get for a moment.
“Alright, let’s go.”
The interior of the sedan was spacious. The seats were plush, and the design was luxurious.
“We’re departing now.”
As the car began to move, I leaned my shoulder against the seat and clutched my bag.
Inside the bag, the cross was still safely tucked away.
“I’ve heard from the Saintess candidate.”
After a few minutes of driving, the man behind the wheel spoke up.
“She mentioned that you discovered Iano’s Tomb and that all rights belong to you.”
“Well, yes.”
He wasn’t wrong.
“Since last night, representatives from the Japanese Hero Association have been waiting to meet you.”
It seemed the news had already spread that far.
To Japan, Iano was a symbolic figure, so it made sense that they would rush here immediately.
“… The elixir, and now the Cross of Iano. May I ask how you plan to use them?”
Realizing his boldness, he quickly added,
“Of course, we fully respect the dungeon rights of heroes. However, if we have some insight, it’ll help us better negotiate and respond to the Japanese representatives. If there’s any way you could cooperate…”
“I consumed it.”
“Pardon…?”
I hadn’t meant to reveal it so bluntly, but it had already happened.
“I consumed it. The elixir.”
It was the truth.
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