SSS-Grade Cafe in Front of The Dungeon

“Oh, are you looking for me?”

“Yeah, you’re nowhere to be seen.”

“I was just talking to Cedric for a minute.”

“….Ah.”

Choi Yichan glanced toward the bonfire.

Choi Cedric had already returned.
All that’s left is traces of a bonfire that’s completely extinguished.

A sharp light hovered in Choi Yichan’s eyes, barely visible, then it melted in his smile and disappeared.

“Choi Cedric from C&L, he is that person.
Are you close to him?”

I know his contact number, but our relationship is not to the extent of exchanging personal contact.
We got caught up in the Monster Hell together, but it was a coincidence.
I helped him in saving the Blue Celaeno flower, but that’s all.

It’s a bit strange to say that we’re close, but it’s not like we don’t know each other.
I gave an ambiguous answer.

“It’s just, well … we know each other.
Today, we met here by chance.”

“….I see.”

We walked along the dark beach for a while.
This quiet man is unfamiliar.

While looking at the crashing white waves for a while, Choi Yichan suddenly opened his mouth.

“Hey, Kwon Ri, maybe this is excessive solicitude.”

“Huh?”

“You’d better be careful.
Uh, that, C&L.”

I stopped walking and looked up at Choi Yichan.
He said that with cautious tone, but his expression was serious.

“…Is it because of their involvement with The White Silver?”

The Dungeon Management Office was investigating C&L due to allegations that C&L Corporation tried to merge The White Silver Guild in a hostile manner, as well as the last Long-tailed Phoenix case.
I didn’t hear about the situation from Kwon Jiwoon in detail, but I think it will be concluded soon with the confession of the arrogant old man and Park Heeyoung, whom I met in The White Silver Guild.

“Well, there’s that, too.”

In other words, that’s not all.

However, Choi Yichan didn’t say anything more and just smiled.

Although Choi Cedric may not have been directly involved in the circumstances involving C&L and The White Silver Guild, I don’t believe that he is completely unrelated.
I wasn’t that optimistic.

The reason why Choi Cedric was being stuck in a corner instead of participating in the improvised camping trip must be because he was uncomfortable with Kwon Jiwoon.
Considering that he did something useless like that, he has a better personality compared to his image.

Still, I didn’t have the heart to pretend I didn’t see Choi Cedric, who gave the ‘I’m depressed’ look.

I guess I’m a bit of an mediocre person.

We walked slowly toward the campsite.

“Yichan-ah, I heard you saved my uncle? ….
Thank you.”

“Huh? Oh, no! I just happened to … Kwon Ri, I’m glad I was helpful to you.”

Choi Yichan waved his hand in embarrassment.
His earlobes are slightly red.

The way he didn’t know what to do even when he heard obvious things was really like the Choi Yichan I know.
Seeing that, I felt relieved without even realizing it.

“Well, are you done with your training? You said, ‘I will come back stronger.’”

“Umh….”

Choi Yichan thought for a moment, then he replied in a determined tone.

“Yes, it’s over.
Now I have to move on to the next level.”

“Next level?”

“Uh, that’s….”

“Waeooolg!”

At the moment Choi Yichan tried to say something again, Mieum and Lime popped out in front of us.
Mieum was holding her toy, the sugarcane leaf, in her mouth.

As a result, the conversation was naturally cut off.

“Waeuung, waeoooong (Big man, I’ll give you the right to play with me)!”

“Kkyuuuuuu!”

“Ahahaha, yes, all right.
Wait a minute.”

Following Choi Yichan’s gesture, Mieum and Lime jumped up and down.
They looked excited because someone who played well came.

“Don’t bother Yichan too much.”

“Kyayakyakyak!”

“Kkyuuuu!”

They’re not listening at all.

“Where … are you going.
Leave me alone….”

As I turned my head to the lackluster voice, I saw Ash taking a commemorative photo between Ju Noeul and my uncle.
Ash’s face was full of fatigue.

It seems that the environment was too Inssa-like for our delicate part-timer to endure.

***

The next night.

A twinkling star appeared in the dark night sky.
A gate appeared on the white sandy beach sprinkled with starlight.

This is the path of the stars that Cthugha said.

It was time to go back home.
Although this beach was very beautiful, a dungeon is a dungeon.
Now I desperately missed the outside world.

“I need Wi-Fi….”

Yeah, no phones either.

I looked at the party for the last time.
Since Cthugha said he would install a movement magic in the store building, I thought we could just move together inside the building, but….

“I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”

“Why?”

“I’m not confident in moving humans.
There’s a possibility that I can clone people into two, or that you’ll go in a half.”

“….I will walk.”

I quickly gave up when I heard Cthugha’s words.

Therefore, adding the humans who enjoyed great camping yesterday and our animals, the group became a considerable number of people.

“Lime-ah, is it okay if you come with me?”

According to Cthugha, Lime is a ‘piece of flame’ that ran away from home.
Then this dungeon must be Lime’s original home.
It came back at best, but is it okay to leave the house again?

That’s why I asked…….

“Kkyu, kkyuu, kkyuuuuuuu!”

Lime bounced its body and drew a circle.

“Take it.
I think that kid like it there.”

Since Cthugha said so, it will be okay.

“Mmmoooo!”

And the golden triangular rhinoceros of my family, which follows Lime closely, was also with us.
I had a hard time keeping Lime away from the barrel he was trying to lick.

The back of the cow was loaded with seafood given as a gift by the fire spirits.

I should name this one too.
What should I name it? Umh, cow … the name of a cow, um…..

I’ll think about it later.

“Pepe, farewell, sad.”

“Take care, Pepe.”

After saying goodbye to everyone, it’s time to finally leave.

Cthugha added the last words.

“If you follow the path that the stars point to, you will find the way to your original home.
You should never look back.”

“Excuse me … could you please not say such an ominous thing…..?”

It sounds like there will be a curse that turns you into stone if you look back.

Together, we set foot on the path of stars.

Light continued long in the dark space reminiscent of the night sky.
The name ‘The Path of Stars’ seemed to suit it.

It was around the time I had walked along the path of stars for some time.

“Huh….?”

Suddenly, like being blowed by sandstorm, my vision blurred.
I rubbed my eyes and looked again, but the blur does not disappear.

And this message.

[An unauthorized user has just attempted to access the service.]
[You are not connected ██ ████ ██….]

I was bewildered for a moment.

Soon the blur cleared and the notification window disappeared.
I guess I’m fine now.

As I tried to walk again with confidence, I suddenly noticed that I couldn’t see anyone else.

Obviously, we walked closely together until just now, but it’s just darkness on either side.
I reached out my hand, but nothing was caught.

“….Oppa? Uncle? Yichan-ah! Kim Ash, where are you?!”

Only my voice echoes in the distant darkness.
Lime, who I was holding in my arms, also disappeared.

I looked at my feet and was stunned.
There was no path of light that showed the direction to go.
The light had gone out and it was dark under my feet, so I couldn’t even know where to go now.

“Everybody, where are you?!”

I was the only one who fell.
Anxiety flared up.

Don’t tell me I have to keep wandering in this black space.
The mere imagination already gives me goosebumps.

“Whoa, ha….”

Let’s stay calm.
I’ve already been through something similar once.
Yes, like when the Saintess summoned me to a strange space.

Perhaps the Saintess called me again this time.
Otherwise, why would the others disappear?

I shouted in a trembling voice into the air in front of me.

“……If you call me, come out quickly!”

There is no answer.
I waited for a while, but the surroundings remained dark, and the blonde woman in fantasy-style clothes did not appear.

If it’s not a call from the Saintess….

‘Status Window.’

I tried to load the system status window.
I thought there would be some hints about this situation.

However…..

[Interruption███ █████ ██……]
[Warning: Unable to Connect.]

[System Error: Blocking Access]
[System Error: Blocking Access]

Then, silence.

“Huh…..?”

At the end of the bright red error window, the system stopped responding.
The same goes for the Ether-Wiki.

There have been several error windows so far, but this is the first time that such content has appeared.

I could feel a cold sweat running down my forehead.

It’s scary.
When the system window stopped, I really felt like I was left alone in this unfamiliar space.

I feel like the deep darkness is going to devour me right away.

“Ugh….”

This is different from the darkness of the time when the Saintess called me.
This one is more bleak and endless … it’s a darkness that’s trying to do me harm.
I feel scared and nauseous.

‘You need to get a hold of yourself.
There must be a way out.
You’re not alone.’

…really?

Where they had gone, the others were already invisible.
I’m just left alone in this darkness.

While I was on the verge of being eroded by fear and despair,

“……!”

A young human figure appeared from the other side of the void.

That black hair, straight limbs, and black eyes that twinkled even in the dark … no way….

“Yoohyun-ssi?”

No, it’s not him.

I soon realized the difference.

The person, who looked like Ki Yoohyun at first glance, became smaller as he got closer to me.
When he reached my front, his height barely came a little below my chest.

“Yo-you … who are you?”

Smile.
Only a soft smile, there was no answer.

He looked like a young boy on the surface, but he resembles Ki Yoohyun a lot.
If it was about 10 years ago, I thought Ki Yoohyun would look like this.

“Are you trying to help me?”

“…….”

Instead of answering, the boy held out his hand.