909

 [Chapter 225]

[The Last Fate (3)]

Avenir, called <Diamond Fist> before regression.

In his previous life, he greatly contributed to conquering the <Dungeon of the Deep Sea> located in Southern Europe when he was just in his early 20s.

His talent was that excellent, and in this life he was clearly proving it after joining Pandora Clan.

Avenir is 20 years old now. Honestly, I'd like Avenir to stay and protect the clan.

Whether to have him participate in conquering the <Dungeon of the Abyss> like this or not.

It was quite a dilemma for Eun-ha.

No matter how excellent his talent, Avenir was a rookie who hadn't even graduated from the academy 1 year ago.

He severely lacked practical experience.

On the other hand, he was a talent with the potential to grow into a pillar of this country 10 years later.

When Baek-yeon becomes the Fairy someday and the time comes to select the 5th generation Twelve Seats, there's no talent like Avenir.

Of course he's young.

His talent goes without saying, and he's a player who would swear loyalty to following Pandora Clan and Im Baek-yeon.

There couldn't be any other talent with such qualifications besides Avenir.

Eun-ha believed without doubt.

So he couldn't help but worry whether to have Avenir participate in the black dungeon conquest like this.

Si-hyeong and the other kids aren't enough. We need a more solid shield.

The <Dungeon of the Abyss> boss is strong.

Eun-ha thought even the <Dungeon of the Deep Sea> boss wouldn't match up to the <Dungeon of the Abyss> boss.

The <Dungeon of the Abyss> boss was still an incomprehensible existence to that extent.

So Eun-ha wanted to fill Guardian manpower to prepare for the boss battle, so conquest team members could withstand attacks.

"Should I put in Hermit noona instead?"

Then Eun-ha thought of Hermit.

Looking at her combat style, it was closer to Dealer or Guardian.

However, she only had the style, not magic or skills suitable for the Guardian role.

Even if I have Bruno teach her attributes, it would be difficult to put her into actual combat right away.

...There's no one but Avenir.

In the end, Eun-ha decided to have Avenir participate in the conquest team.

Before that, there was something he had to do.

'Shouldn't family be protected? Why did I decide to become a player? I'm Eun-ah noona's family too! So Eun-ha hyung, put me in the conquest team too!'

Actually, there was no need to get Avenir's permission from the start.

Because he came to find Eun-ha right away when he heard the news about recruiting for the conquest team.

But Eun-ha thought it was right to get permission from not just Avenir, but his parents too.

Eun-ha and Bruno and Julieta.

The relationship between the three people was special.

'On this night, under the moonlight and starlight in the silence of night, I make a holy alliance with humble words.'

It was exactly 20 years ago.

Eun-ha recalled the memory of receiving an oath from the two people under the night sky 20 years ago.

At that time, the two dedicated their given lives to him.

Although the oath from that time doesn't have binding force... The two haven't hesitated to help me since then.

They even educated their child Avenir to live as a dedicated person for Eun-ha.

Bruno and Julieta said.

Their lives and Avenir's life all belonged to him.

So he shouldn't hesitate to sacrifice them.

That's nonsense. How can I accept that?

Eun-ha gave a bitter smile.

He couldn't know how sincere they were when they said that back then.

It could be sincere, or not.

Either way, Eun-ha thought he shouldn't take their dedication for granted.

Moreover, they were family.

He couldn't just send Avenir to his death and make them worry.

So Eun-ha decided to get Bruno and Julieta's permission.

"We'll need Avenir's power. So I'm asking like this."

Conveniently, Julieta had come to grant gifts to artifacts planned to be used for the black dungeon conquest.

Eun-ha set a time to meet with Bruno and Julieta.

Then he bowed his head deeply in front of them.

""...."""

Julieta and Bruno didn't say anything after hearing the explanation.

Eun-ha kept his head bowed until the two opened their mouths.

Soon the two softened their expressions.

"Eun-ha boss. This makes me feel a bit sad? Aren't we Eun-ha boss's family? We want to save Eun-ah just as much as Eun-ha boss." "We can't be called family if we turn our backs on family in trouble. We also want to save Eun-ah just as much."

"Of course Avenir would have said the same to Eun-ha boss. Right?"

"...That's right."

The two speak as if admonishing.

Eun-ha nodded at those words and conveyed that he had already gotten Avenir's permission.

Then Julieta said─

"─We raised our son well. As expected of my son. Right, Bruno?"

"Yes, I agree."

She suddenly spread her shoulders wide.

Bruno also nodded slightly with his arms folded.

"Avenir is now an adult who can decide his own matters by himself. Don't try to be considerate of us unnecessarily for such things, Eun-ha boss."

"..."

"But... But Eun-ha boss." "Yes, Julieta noona."

"As that child's mother, I'm asking, I hope that child doesn't die. I'm begging like this."

"I'm asking too. That child is our hope."

Julieta reaches out her hand over the table and grasps Eun-ha's hand.

Then she bowed her head and pleaded.

Unlike when she spoke proudly just earlier, her hand was trembling.

Bruno must be very anxious too.

Nevertheless, they suppressed their anxiety and expressed permission, trusting Eun-ha.

"I hope you definitely save Eun-ah and return safely with Avenir. Let's have a party together then." "Return safely, you three. I'll help with anything for that."

To this, there was only one thing Eun-ha could say.

"─I'll leave the party preparations to you."

That's how the organization chart was made.

☆

The black dungeon conquest day drew near.

People in the world were curious every day whether Pandora Clan would succeed this time too, as they had until now.

Meanwhile, the faces of clan members organized for the conquest team became increasingly solemn as the day approached.

""""...."""

To be ready for battle anytime.

Their senses were sharply honed.

Clan members not participating in the conquest were careful not to go against their nerves as much as possible.

"Baek-yeon, what's the matter?"

Eun-ha was similar to them.

He, with 3 days left until the conquest, was giving off an atmosphere like he would draw his sword at any moment.

Noh Yu-ran and Noh Yu-rin were so scared of him they burst into tears.

Noh Yu-seong was an exception.

On that day, Im Baek-yeon visited his office in the middle of the night.

"Do you... really have to go in?"

Im Baek-yeon, who became a high school student this year.

Constitutionally, she was treated the same as a student entering the academy.

She was a quasi-adult.

She carefully approached him and asked, watching his reaction.

Then as soon as one word dropped, she blurted out the next words.

"It's a dungeon that's never been conquered before, right?" "..."

"The International Mana Management Organization said humanity can't conquer it yet, can you really conquer it?"

In fact, the question Im Baek-yeon couldn't hold back anymore was also a doubt clan members were implicitly thinking.

They were afraid deep down too.

In a way, that was also the reason they were on edge.

Eun-ha also couldn't completely guarantee he would conquer the black dungeon.

"But we have to do it." "I want to save Eun-ah unnie too. But there might be other ways besides what oppa is thinking."

"That might be true." "Then why..."

"But we don't have time. You feel it too, right Baek-yeon?"

"..."

Eun-ha persuaded Im Baek-yeon.

Im Baek-yeon tightly closed her mouth.

She knew too.

If she didn't forcibly recall Noh Eun-ah, her memories of her were becoming faint as time passed.

If this state continued, they might forget her existence again.

In the end, it was a race against time.

Actually, Im Baek-yeon knew there was no other way besides conquering the black dungeon.

"But I don't like it."

Nevertheless, Im Baek-yeon hoped Eun-ha wouldn't enter the black dungeon like this.

"I don't want oppa to die. You can't guarantee 100% that you'll come back alive, right?"

She had been enduring hard until now.

Im Baek-yeon couldn't help but tell Eun-ha her true feelings and shed tears.

Eun-ha was startled to see her crying because of him.

'You must come back alive.'

And at that moment.

Eun-ha overlapped her wiping away falling tears with before regression.

So he couldn't just stay still.

He stood up from his seat.

"O-Oppa?"

Eun-ha approached her and reached out his hand but stopped.

Puzzlement settled on Im Baek-yeon's face.

Eun-ha hesitated whether it was okay for him to touch her.

But the hesitation was brief.

Carefully, so as not to break her.

As if asking for Im Baek-yeon's consent.

Eun-ha slowly embraced Im Baek-yeon.

"This time, I won't die." "...What?"

"Don't worry. This time I won't leave you alone. I'll win and come back, definitely." "..."

In his previous life too.

Im Baek-yeon had strongly opposed him entering the <Dungeon of the Abyss> pushed by public opinion.

Eun-ha recalled that time and promised her again.

He couldn't keep it before regression.

But this time he intended to definitely keep it.

"Without any basis." "..."

"Are you really promising?"

Im Baek-yeon tightly grasped his collar.

Eun-ha stroked her head.

He spoke against her head.

"I promise."

"No lying."

"Okay, no lying."

"I'll pray earnestly. You must come back alive."

Im Baek-yeon crying and sniffling.

Unlike his previous life, she was now 17 years old.

She couldn't hide her emotions well.

On one hand she was a bit more impulsive, and clumsy at expressing herself.

"─I like you."

So Im Baek-yeon conveyed her impulsive yet honest feelings clumsily.

Eun-ha smiled involuntarily at words he was hearing from her for the first time.

"I like you too."

"Really?"

"Of course." "You're really... trash." "...Is this something to be cursed at?"

He didn't know at this time.

That Im Baek-yeon's clumsily spoken words might have a different meaning.

Eun-ha just hugged her tightly to soothe her.

She burrowed into his arms.

☆

And so time passed and passed.

The black dungeon conquest day arrived.

The conquest team quickly headed north to Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, receiving people's support.

"─From here on is unexplored territory. We will provide guides, but you must absolutely not let your guard down from here."

The road to Uijeongbu was smooth.

Afterwards, the conquest team could go to Yeoncheon-ri guided by guides provided by the Mana Management Organization.

The Yeoncheon area was in the middle of development.

Mountains could be seen here and there.

Cheorwon, Gangwon Province was even further up from there.

The Mana Management Organization employee said full-fledged unexplored territory would unfold from now on.

"Kaede, Twenty-five." "Yeah." "Yes sir."

"Be prepared for any case. We'll probably encounter monsters on the way."

The conquest team was cautious from this point on.

Eun-ha stepped into unexplored territory guided by the guide.

2 days passed.

For 2 days, the conquest team had to cross rough paths that weren't developed, and repeatedly face high-rank monsters.

Nevertheless, they didn't stop, and finally reached Cheorwon, Gangwon Province.

"That visible over there is the black dungeon." """"...."""

The guide pointed with his finger.

Players who came forward could see a black domain densely filling the area in the distance.

It was the black dungeon.

People were at a loss for words seeing with their eyes the dungeon they had only seen in photos.

"I knew beforehand, but seeing it with my eyes is no joke. That's a dungeon?"

Bae Su-bin clicked her tongue.

Yellow and red dungeons had existing terrain dyed in specific colors.

But with the black dungeon, it was impossible to specify what terrain was there.

Just pitch black darkness lurking enough to fill the Cheorwon area.

It was to the extent they couldn't confirm whether that was fog or ground.

"Stop looking and let's go see directly."

Eun-ha ordered the conquest team.

The conquest team members had grim faces.

They soon reached a position where the black dungeon was visible up close.

"From here is the black dungeon. Everyone, get your minds straight now."

In front of another world.

Eun-ha conveyed to people.

The conquest team members nodded.

Having come this far, they couldn't go back either.

They resolved to face the conquest.

"Chang-jin hyung."

"Oh, Eun-ha."

Eun-ha called Han Chang-jin.

Han Chang-jin stepped forward.

Then Eun-ha pointed at vehicles at the rear of the conquest team.

"Send the vehicles inside first. We'll enter after all those cars have gone in."

"...Alright."

The vehicles were loaded with supplies in preparation for long-term conquest.

But the role of the vehicles he pointed at was a bit different.

There were criminals riding in the cars.

They were brought secretly in vehicles to avoid the media's eyes.

Players could only hear about that fact after leaving Uijeongbu.

Vroom

Han Chang-jin gave instructions to the people who had driven the vehicles here.

They were people belonging to darkness.

People who would gain a certain position if this conquest is successfully completed.

They drove the cars.

They entered the black dungeon passing through the path players made.

"Let's go in now too." """"...."""

The cars carrying criminals went in.

Eun-ha looked back at the conquest team members.

They moved forward with solemn faces.

Eun-ha took a step too.

Soon he set foot in the black domain.

We have to win by any means necessary.

This time, definitely.

Beyond that darkness.

That thing is waiting.

The monster that he couldn't defeat before regression and drove him to death.

It would be a lie to say he wasn't afraid.

But he had become stronger than back then, and had many comrades around him.

Eventually Eun-ha entered the dungeon.

☆

The moment they set foot in the dungeon.

The conquest team felt a strange sensation.

It felt like their existence was separated from the world and dropped into a completely different world.

Breathing felt strange.

What they felt on their skin felt strange.

After walking in darkness for a while and losing consciousness, they were standing in an open space with all sides clear.

It's as I remember.

No matter where you enter the <Dungeon of the Abyss>, the starting place doesn't change.

Eun-ha checked the situation.

Then he looked around. The conquest team was

 The conquest team was hesitating at the sensation they felt for the first time in their lives.

Eun-ha snapped his fingers.

Whoosh!

A flame bloomed.

The flame illuminated the darkness.

However, beyond the brightened darkness, there was only new darkness spread.

There was nothing.

As if a world recreated by <Miracle > was inverted to black.

Eun-ha turned his eyes from such a world and looked at the conquest team members.

Their gazes were also directed at him.

"As I said before, no monsters appear on this 1st floor. So everyone relax your tension."

""""...."""

Eun-ha reassured the conquest team members.

Thinking about it coldly, it was strange.

He was speaking as if he knew the structure of the black dungeon.

He had already surpassed the realm that could be known through <Future Sight>.

But since Pandora Clan members didn't express any particular doubt, the conquest team members couldn't say anything because of that.

They set aside their doubts for now and followed Eun-ha's words.

"Chang-jin hyung, open the truck's back door." "You mean take them out?" "Yeah. And line them up on one side."

Eun-ha instructed Han Chang-jin.

Han Chang-jin carried out the instructions.

The truck's back door opened.

People of darkness pulled out the criminals who were riding in the back compartment.

"Kuk... Where is this!?"

"Where are you taking us...kuhek!!"

""""...."""

The criminals resist.

To this, Han Chang-jin manifested mana.

The surroundings were enveloped in darkness.

He who could now control not just shadows but darkness itself blocked their mouths with darkness.

The conquest team members watched the scene of the criminals being made to stand on one side.

They didn't know for what reason those criminals were brought.

They could only guess whether they would be used as an advance party to explore the unknown realm.

In the past, criminals were used as an advance party to explore red dungeons, but it's almost impossible in black dungeons.

But Eun-ha didn't bring them with such intentions as people thought.

The criminals whose mana circuits were destroyed and couldn't draw out mana externally were just sacrifices.

It was right then.

[Welcome to the <Dungeon of the Abyss>!! We apologize for the delay in applying the dungeon based on your knowledge! We sincerely welcome you who have entered the <Dungeon of the Abyss> for the first time!! I am the dungeon guide who will be your guide from now on.]

""""...."""

Suddenly something appeared in midair.

The silhouette that looked like a fairy was enveloped in bright light, making its identity indiscernible.

The players flinched seeing the fairy that appeared abruptly without any sign.

And they were shocked that the fairy conveyed its intentions in human language so fluently.

"Du-Dungeon guide!?"

Some blurted out loud.

The dungeon guide chuckled.

[I understand your surprise. The black dungeon you named, the <Dungeon of the Abyss>, can be said to be a completely different world beyond imagination.]

The dungeon guide chattered.

The conquest team members were dumbfounded that the first being they encountered after entering the black dungeon was a chatty fairy.

"Could it be that unlike what we knew, monsters living in black dungeons can communicate?"

It wasn't strange for conquest team members to express such doubts suddenly.

The dungeon guide was treating them so favorably to that extent.

But Eun-ha─

─Damn bastard.

He knew that fairy wasn't a good being.

He wanted to kill it if he could.

But unlike its appearance, that fairy possessed considerable power and wouldn't die even if killed.

However, the dungeon guide was needed to understand the dungeon.

So Eun-ha took action to cut off the fairy's words rather than killing the chatty fairy.

"Stop babbling on and on."

[...]

"Get to the point quickly."

The dungeon guide tightly closed its mouth.

Then it turned its gaze from the conquest team members to Eun-ha.

[You're an impatient person. I was happy to have the chance to converse with another sentient being for the first time, but you've thrown cold water on that.]

"Even so, to you, we're just inferior beings. To you, we're no different from ants, right?"

[Interesting, how amusing. You understand me well? But I'd like to correct that this dungeon sees you not as ants, but as maggots.]

""""...."""

[Well, fine. Shall we move on to the main point after introductions? This dungeon consists of 30 floors, and each floor is connected to different worlds. So you can't move to the next world on your own. You can only move to the next floor by completing the mission I give you on each floor. When you reach the deepest part like that─]

The dungeon guide explained about the black dungeon.

The conquest team members were just dumbfounded at the sight of the dungeon guide suddenly changing its attitude and explaining.

Meanwhile, Eun-ha didn't stop the dungeon guide's explanation out of consideration for the conquest team members.

[─You will meet the being ruling this dungeon. If by any chance you defeat us, we will give the authority to grant any wish to the person who contributed the most among you.]

""""...!!""""

[Ah, of course without any price. We will try our best to respond to your wish using the mana possessed by the black dungeon as payment. Assuming you defeat us.]

The story Eun-ha had mentioned before came out of the dungeon guide's mouth again.

The Pandora Clan members' gazes moved to Eun-ha for a moment.

They seemed to have almost certainly grasped Eun-ha's identity now.

Meanwhile, the dungeon guide continued speaking.

[Then I'll convey the 1st floor mission! What should we do for the 1st floor? Hmm... Quite a lot of people have entered? I guess it's better to reduce the number a bit for smooth progress? Hmm, the total number is 1064, so....]

The dungeon guide giggled brightly.

But the words the dungeon guide spoke next were completely opposite to its bright tone.

The conquest team members doubted their ears at the words spoken with a smile.

[That's right! Then shall we start with exactly half, 532 people? There's also the notion that clichés are orthodox in your minds. Now, kill each other until half remain from now on.]

""""...!!""""

"Wh-What...!? Th-This crazy fairy bastard, what did you just say..."

[Ah, is this a cliché too? But I'm generous so I'll let it slide. I'm grate...]

It was when a conquest team member was about to argue with the dungeon guide in disbelief.

Eun-ha immediately drew his sword.

Then he swung his sword at the criminals standing on one side.

Platinum Cross

""""...!!""""

The criminals couldn't block the attack.

They couldn't use magic, and their hands and feet were bound with restraints.

So they lost their lives hit by Eun-ha's magic just like that.

Because they were gathered in one place, they vanished without a trace.

Meanwhile, the conquest team members and dungeon guide couldn't show any reaction to the sudden situation.

Their gazes remained fixed on Eun-ha, unable to move away.

"532 people. This is enough, right?"

[...]

Amidst this.

Ignoring people's gazes, Eun-ha replied too nonchalantly.

The dungeon guide had no answer.

The fairy just floated in the air as if time had stopped.

How long passed like that?

The dungeon guide flew over to him.

[You knew about us, it seems? Ah, just what kind of person are you? We can browse your knowledge, but we can't completely peek at memories, so I'm not sure.]

Giggle giggle.

The guide examining Eun-ha this way and that like a child looking at an interesting toy.

The laughter became more frivolous, and soon changed to a snickering sound.

[Anyway, good! We've been waiting for maggots to enter to relieve our boredom all this time! Seeing this appearance makes me really look forward to it. I hope you can reach the deepest part and face us. With this, I'll end the 1st floor mission. It's early, but I'll summon you to the 2nd floor right away.]

The dungeon guide cackles.

The world shakes to that sound.

The conquest team members finally realized anew that the black dungeon wasn't a world they could take lightly.

The pitch black darkness enveloped them, and when they opened their eyes, another world was greeting them.