久久大陆

Killing the man resulted in him inheriting the experience he had from his current level progress, healing all of his wounds instantaneously, though even the exhaustion he held couldn't be subsided that easily.

Just as the dark-complexioned man's body began to fall over, he moved out of the way, walking past him without looking back–not wanting to see the results of his actions as he set his sights on the potion in the chest.

Not a word went through his mind as he picked up the potion, nearly tumbling over just from kneeling down.

…What is this? I'm so…tired, he thought.

As he attempted to stand, he couldn't find the strength to do even that as his vision flickered.

Get up. Get up. Don't waste this. Don't waste this…! He thought.

Just before his consciousness subsided, his eyes widened as a hand grabbed onto his wrist, bringing him to his feet.

It was a sight that felt more like a fever dream than reality: illustrious, long, dark hair with a white-and-black suit of armor, paired with an exuberant cape who stared at him with familiar, icy eyes.

"...Ma-Ri…?" He asked weakly.

"What's happened here?" Ma-Ri asked him, clearly seeing the corpse behind him.

"--"

"Jeong-Hui?" Ma-Ri called his name worriedly, helping him stand.

He immediately started crying, showing her the potion, "...It's Yeong-Un! I-I have to get to him! He's…!"

Ma-Ri seemed to immediately understand what he meant as her eyes widened with haste as well, grabbing onto his arm and putting it around her shoulder.

"Show me the way–I'll help you get there," Ma-Ri told him, not wasting any time.

He was still taken aback by her sudden presence there, but he didn't question it, only nodding, "...This way…!"

Rushing down the corridor he came from as fast as he possibly could with the aid of the woman's shoulder, he arrived in the daunting chamber–rushing over with the little strength he had over to Yeong-Un's side.

"Yeong-Un…! Sol, is he…?!" He wasted no time, falling over onto his knees by his side.

Sol looked up at him, having his hands firmly placed against Yeong-Un's gored abdomen to stifle the bleeding to the best of his ability, "...He just dipped below fifty-health…! Hurry, Jeong-Hui…!"

Sol didn't even seem to question how Ma-Ri was there, only focused on the wellbeing of their comrade.

He popped the lid off of the Greater Health Potion he acquired, having Sol keep Yeong-Un's lips parted as he poured the mystical liquid down his throat.

"Come on…! Come on…!" He repeated anxiously.

The two sat there on their knees in desperation, watching Yeong-Un closely as Ma-Ri watched worriedly from a few meters away.

Please…Please, Yeong-Un! He prayed.

"Pyuck–!"

Yeong-Un spit out blood, beginning to cough out as his eyelids fluttered before opening fully.

He could see it in the party status:

[Yeong-Un | Level 24 | 4000/4000]

His health is restored! That means…! He realized.

Even more evident, the massive hole in his stomach that had pierced through his mesh top had closed off–it was a success.

"Man, my gut is sore as hell…!" Yeong-Un winced, sitting up as if nothing happened.

Before the blue-haired, eccentric man could even register what was going on, he was suddenly embraced by his two friends tightly.

"He's alive! Thank the Heavens…Wait, it's the Heavens that did this! Screw the Heavens…!" Sol sobbed out.

"...Too close…! Too close!" He muttered quietly.

"What the hell?! What's this all about…?!" Yeong-Un was left utterly perplexed, but holding a blushy tinge to his cheeks from the sudden affection.

Even his tough exterior cracked from the obvious, clear-cut relief from his two, closest friends.

After smothering their friend with hugs, tears, and a bit of snot, they gathered themselves twenty minutes later, in which Korain and Eunji finally caught up with Ma-Ri.

Ma-Ri apparently rushed over because she "recognized the cries of a certain reckless assassin"...I guess I should just be thankful for that, he thought.

–

As they pushed through the dungeon in search of an exit, they inevitably passed by the fallen body of Maverick–an unsavory sight that he opted to avoid.

Yeong-Un seemed to understand what went down while he was in critical condition as he kept uncharacteristically quiet, but simply placed a put on his back.

"Thanks," Yeong-Un said quietly.

"Yeah," he nodded.

It wasn't something he was proud of, and wasn't a memory he wished to cling to–nothing about it was good: the sight of his friend bleeding out, his other friend in panic, and the taking of not one, but two lives as a result of his selfish desire.

While the six members of Gangcheori moved with a certain quietness to their march, in one of the chambers which was cleared out, exhibiting a sleek, modern design, it was occupied by a group of three people.

They were in grief.

A brown-haired man was held in the arms of a sobbing woman, who was being consoled by another person. He wasn't stupid–he could put two-and-two together.

This was the result of his choice to save his friend.

Though his heart ached and his head throbbed–he fervently clung onto the resolve that he believed in his choice.

…This likely won't be the last time I have to do something like this, but…I wish it was. It's so easy when you can just label something as "evil", but when your enemy is no different than you–no, when they're a better person…how do I sleep at night after something like this? He wondered.

–

After the group continued to move out with their sights set on an exit, Sol pulled him aside for a moment. By the trembling look present in the short, youngest of the group's eyes, it was clear that the situation was still eating away at Sol.

"What's up?" He asked.

Sol gulped, looking straight at him with his amber eyes which were still pink and puffy from the earlier tears, "...I'm sorry."

"For what?" He looked at him, putting on a smile, "Whatever you think you did–don't worry about it."

"Really?..." Sol looked at him.

He knew what it was that Sol was likely trying to apologize for, but it was something that was misplaced.

This wasn't anybody's fault. In the end, this is a result of each side pursuing what they want, he thought.

He nodded, "Really. I…I just did what I had to do–It was needed to save Yeong-Un."

"Yeah…It was necessary, wasn't it? Still…I just wish it didn't have to come to that," Sol said.

…You and me both, he thought.

Even though things were fine now, he still couldn't shake the quivering from his body–feeling his fingers tremble though nothing was happening.

It's different. When I killed those cultists back then…I was able to justify it. But…this? There's nothing like that. I did what I wanted–and two people died because of it…He thought.

It seemed the pathway they headed through had already been cleared by the previous group; the hedges were swamped in the blue blood of aquatic beasts that had surfaced.

"Hey, Jeong-Hui."

It was Korain that called his name, shifting through the small group to walk beside him as he kept his muscular arms crossed against his bulky chest.

"...Yes?" He replied.

He was taken out of his thoughts by the call of the executive member of Gangcheori, who looked down at him with watchful, intentful eyes.

"There is something on your mind, isn't there?" Korain asked.

"--"

"You can be honest with me, lad. We've all had to undergo similar situations in this world–trust me," Korain assured him.

"...Really? I don't know…this is different. It hurt me, and it still sticks with me, but…killing those cultists was something I still felt right in doing," he explained, placing his hand on his chest as he looked down, "...It doesn't feel right, no matter what way I try to spin it in my head."

As he voiced the knots that intertwined in his heart, the mixed-haired man watched him before looking forward towards their companions that walked ahead.

"I see," Korain said calmly, "Then you're doing fine."

"Huh?"

Korain clarified with a smile, ruffling his hair, "If you're feeling that sort of burning guilt in your heart, then that means you're a fine person. I'm not going to tell you that it'll get easier–frankly, it shouldn't."

"What do you mean…?"

"I mean that if it stays foreign to you–the sight of blood on your hands–you won't have anything to worry about. Difficult choices like this have to be made. That's the world we live in," Korain told him, "And for that matter…I don't think this God of ours is going to judge you too harshly by playing by the rules of his game."

It was something he needed to hear in the moment; words from somebody he idolized, and respected greatly.

…I'm fine…I'm not lost–not yet, he thought.

Tears lined the edges of his eyes, leaving in compact streams down his cheeks as he did his best to smile.

"...Jeong-Hui? Are you alright, lad?" Korain asked worriedly.

He nodded his head with a faint smile, wiping the tears, "Yeah, I guess I am."