Chapter 271: Changeling (1)

"Ugh... Uck...."

Despite the familiar chirping, my condition was at its worst. It felt like my entire body was burning up, melting away. My vision blurred, and my ears felt stuffed. Nausea surged, threatening to overwhelm me. It felt like someone was holding me up to prevent me from collapsing, yet I couldn't even feel their touch.

The appearance of Chirpie meant my stats had dropped back to F-class. Along with the decrease in stats, the surrounding mana felt even sharper than when it was at C-class. Almost violent.

It wasn't just external mana. Even my equipment, along with skills, stimulated every nerve in my body. My mind was overwhelmed by the influx of information, leaving me dizzy. Unable to endure any longer, consciousness faded away.

- Beep! Beep!

The blue bird chirped frantically, fluttering around. Sung Hyunjae held up Han Yoojin's limp body. He could easily tell that his fever had risen without even touching his bare skin. His F-class stats couldn't handle the enforced activation of mana marks.

"Is there a record of someone with a special mark receiving mana marks other than for the purpose of increasing mana levels?"

Sigma answered Sung Hyunjae's question, recalling his memories.

"Not only for F-class but also for E and D-class, there's no record of receiving anything other than basic mana marks. At least not in Sollemnis. Even if they had special skills, it would be difficult for lower-class guards to participate in combat. It might be different for Meds, who use various non-combat skills, but still, they wouldn't waste resources on lower-class guards for special marks."

"I said there wouldn't be any significant side effects."

When Han Yoojin received mana marks, Sung Hyunjae was also observing. He heard detailed explanations as well. However, it was all based on predictions from C-class physical records, and no one had survived receiving mana marks to this extent. Han Yoojin had to sacrifice his life to receive this mark.

Sung Hyunjae skillfully manipulated the white-tailed barrier skill to completely block the movement of external mana from Han Yoojin. He kept the barrier as simple as possible.

"...Cough, cough."

Han Yoojin's blocked breath burst out, and he barely opened his eyes, still blurry. Sung Hyunjae looked back at Sigma.

"If you have any painkillers that resist poison or items that can dull senses, please give them to me."

"Well, there might be..."

Sigma, with a blurry voice, took out a bottle from the inventory. It was a bottle of wine, forcibly handed over as only one bottle could be taken, considering the possibility of Moon Hyuna taking the inventory item as it is. Sigma handed over a Med-grade wine to Sung Hyunjae. It was a very strong wine, as per Moon Hyuna's taste.

After drinking more than a glass of wine, Han Yoojin coughed heavily again.

"Mana, too..."

Sigma barely managed to retrieve a mana potion from the inventory and handed it over. Despite the strong wine dulling his senses, Han Yoojin's complexion remained pale, and his mind was still dizzy.

"Why... how... can a C-class handle... this kind of thing?"

"Just adapt, they say. Han Yoojin seems to be a special case."

"Really? Why?"

"Really? Why?"

"Usually, those with weaker abilities are more sensitive to external sensations. However, Awakened individuals have their mana perception adjusted to match their stats."

Therefore, simply put, S-class individuals can be much more sensitive and delicate in manipulating mana than F-class ones.

"The environment itself would feel different, so you could compare it to a butterfly flying through a gentle breeze and a dragon navigating through a storm. What do you think would happen if you suddenly threw a butterfly into a storm?"

"...It would be shattered into pieces."

"It might be something similar. Fortunately, Han Yoojin wasn't shattered into pieces, but he might feel each breeze, even those that a dragon wouldn't perceive."

Han Yoojin blinked, then furrowed his brows. It was an unexpected side effect. Despite having low stats, he became even more sensitive to mana than S-class individuals. Sung Hyunjae lightly pressed the back of Han Yoojin's neck.

"I'll temporarily paralyze the mana mark, so go out and ask Hunter Myeongwoo for mana suppression items."

"Were you planning to do that from the beginning? This wine... is too strong, ugh."

"It could be dangerous to touch him while his senses are still intact."

Sung Hyunjae, who had been advising to drink more, suddenly looked up at the sky. The rain was easing.

Though this dungeon, this world, hadn't completely collapsed yet, interference from the outside world had already begun. Han Yoojin's stats had returned to their original state. Even the power of the White-Tailed's influence was weakening.

"My apologies for the misunderstanding. Let me correct that for you:

"Farewell then."

"Farewell... Sigma."

Han Yoojin looked at Sigma. With a flushed face, he furrowed his brows slightly before rummaging through his inventory.

"It might be difficult to replenish mana in the new place, so... Is your inventory well-stocked?"

All mana potions from Han Yoojin's inventory were taken out. Various small items were added as well, along with weapons and equipment that would disappear once they left.

"For Hyuna... Tell her I'll be a bit late."

Picking up mana potions, Sigma spoke.

"See you later, C-class"

It was a light and casual attitude, as if they were just going on a short trip nearby. It wasn't a deliberate attempt to be nonchalant. Han Yoojin smiled. That wasn't Sigma's nature.

"Alright. I'll make sure to give her the message. Bring back a gift."

Creak, with a reverberation, a gap opened. Sigma turned around, and soon disappeared through the gap. Han Yoojin blinked slowly, watching the closing gap.

"...Do you truly not know where he went?"

"Not just his location, we can't even know the timeframe, since he's originally a being from the past."

"The. It's really impossible, but..."

Han Yoojin spoke with a slightly dazed voice.

"I don't want to say goodbyes anymore. I've already said too many... Too many."

"There are many who won't leave Han Yoojin's side. Especially your younger brother, he'll stay by your side no matter what."

"...Yes. Yes."

With a tight grip, Han Yoojin clenched his hand. He looked around with clearer eyes and made an awkward expression.

"The portal made by the newbies must have disappeared, of course. I need to log out from your place so I can leave."

Only barely maintaining his presence in the vicinity, everything around him was blurry. Han Yoojin recalled everything that had disappeared before lowering his head.

"I should get ready to leave."

"It could be dangerous, so finish up and come back. Let's start with the mana mark; it might hurt a bit."

As powerful mana surged through the mana mark, the pain subsided, but Han Yoojin's body lost strength and he slumped to the ground.

"This... My senses... I can't see well ahead."

"They're 'll be back soon."

"...I can't hear well either."

- Beep!

Chirpie perched on Han Yoojin's shoulder, chirped anxiously, then abruptly flew towards the fading mana hole. The small blue bird dove into the azure light. Sung Hyunjae watched it for a moment before turning away.

With determined steps, he headed towards the sixth fragment of the Crescent Moon, which lay fallen. The sound of his footsteps caught the attention of the centaur, who couldn't lift his head due to the spear piercing his throat, only rolling his eyes.

"You..."

The centaur spoke through gritted teeth.

"It's strange. The Gelouz you entered... was originally just an ordinary cat. By chance, it devoured a dragon cub and became a half-dragon, gaining immense power by devouring all the dragons in its world, but its essence is still that of a beast."

Despite being transcendent beings, their relative inferiority compared to races with high intelligence and abilities couldn't be ignored.

"It may have been superior in combat prowess, but how could it temporarily seize system authority with the power of that beast! Moreover... it wouldn't know anything about the Crescent Moon. To know so much detail... about it..."

"It's not the White Tail."

The golden thread twisted faintly. Sung Hyunjae's foot rested on the centaur's head.

"Your speculation is correct."

Whether it was helping with the system usurpation or speaking about the Crescent Moon.

A white lie. But there was no reason to tell, and it was impossible to reveal it. That was the contract.

Slowly, pressure was applied to the tip of his toe. Not just physical force, but also mana gathered heavily.

"Wait!"

"Are you still clinging to a false life?"

"Which number are you now?"

"The first."

"What?"

"Always the first."

"What?"

"I've always been the first."

The mouth stained with blood trembled as if incredulous, and the sprawled body of the fallen fragment jerked. The sixth fragment, with teeth clenched, snarled.

"How long do you think a human can endure?as a human! You'll wear down and eventually shatter into pieces!"

As the caretaker of the small moon as a scout, the sixth fragment spoke with a mix of regret.

"Unlike other possessed beings, you were impossible to be recognize even a bit! You handle that body perfectly heh, as if there's no difference in level with the Moon. However that's how much you've decayed in the end!"

How many times had he resisted and endured? He had even claimed that the Crescent Moon had fallen asleep. What had happened?

"...This could be the last. This time!"

"It might be."

Glancing at Han Yoojin, Sunng Hyunjae exerted more force on his foot. With a crunching, breaking sound, the head of the centaur, followed by its body, dispersed like an illusion. The previously hazy surroundings now began to shake violently. Sung Hyunjae quickly returned to Han Yoojin.

- Beep!

"Chirpie what did you do?"

Yoojin, who had suddenly risen to his feet, looked down at the blue bird sitting on his palm and asked. Mana gently flowed from the chirping bird, soothing Yoojin's exhausted senses. His vision, hearing, and other senses had returned to normal.

"Yoojin-ssi."

"Yes."

Without much explanation, Yoojin drew a white gun. Somehow, it remained in the form of a gun rather than transforming into the dagger he had received from the newbie the barrel aimed at Hyunjae's head.

"This felt weird, but let's get out of here."

"Let's go"

Clamping down on his molars, Yoojin pulled the trigger. Light emanated from the barrel and enveloped Hyunjae's head. Fortunately, there was no gruesome scene to witness. Just like the centaur, Hyunjae's body, the Moon, quietly dispersed.

Once again, the world shook violently, and what lurked outside reached out its hand.

As if waiting, it descended upon the dungeon, swallowing up any trace of the message that should have reached Yoojin's hands.

"...There won't be a second time, really."

- Beep!

I couldn't believe I just blew off that human's head with my own hands. Although there wasn't a trace of blood or a single wound left, it still felt dirty. After storing the gun in my inventory, I absentmindedly rubbed my hands on my clothes. Now I just had to leave. Time couldn't have passed that quickly, right? There was no need to worry about the kids for nothing. I quickly opened the quest window.

[Please log out the party.

Send all party members out of the dungeon through the portal or direct logout.

Reward: Yoojin's Dungeon Escape]

"...Huh?"

The quest remained unchanged. There was no way to claim the reward. What the heck was going on? Perplexed, I tried tapping various parts of the quest window, but as expected, there was no response.

"Everyone's out, right? Hey! Newbie!"

There was no answer coming back. Just silence. Even though I had returned to L-grade fear resistance, my spine still felt chilled.

"Newbie! Volleyball!"

My futile shout scattered into the air. ...Why do this at the very end, seriously? As my throat dried up, mist spread out from my feet. The mist, thickening gradually, enveloped my body.

Zap!

Something bounced off the mist. It was none other than the power bestowed by the oldest spirit. That meant, could it be...

"...The King of Harmlessness."

...Damn it, crazy, newbie. I'm alone now. No, even if there were other people, it would have been difficult to deal with the jellyfish creature. It's almost fortunate to be left alone... No, it's not! Seriously!

For now, I used Grace. I rolled my eyes in the thickening mist, but there was no clear answer. What could I do, really? All I could do was bide my time, spinning my wheels until the newbie or his cronies came to help.

...The situation of having to wait for the newbie's or the cronies' help was also disheartening. Let's stop grinding to a halt here.

"Hello."

A joyful voice and...

[Dad.]

Another, unfamiliar voice echoed.