Chapter 29 - Yoron Village (2)

“It’s impossible.”

The furry guy’s answer was firm.

“That ‘impossible’, are you sure about it?”

“I told you. The mana eye is a unique trait of our Penozeri race. Not a single human among the outsiders who have visited Yoron Village has succeeded in learning this skill.”

“Then I will be the first.”

“How many times do I have to say it! It’s impossible!”

“Even if it is impossible, you will have to make that impossible possible. You must.”

“Why?”

“Because if you can’t, you will die by my hand.”

“You son of a bitch! That means you’re going to kill me! After using me as a guide all this time, you’re going to kill me now?”

“I didn’t say I would definitely kill you. If I awaken the mana eye, you will live.”

“What’s the difference? That’s the same as saying you’ll kill me!”

The furry guy looked at me with the most wronged expression in the world.

To be honest, I wasn't confident that I could definitely learn the Penozeri race’s ability.

However, I was confident that if there was even one human who could do it, it would be me.

Also, just because all other humans couldn't do it, the proposition that I couldn't do it could never be established.

Anyway, it was a coveted skill.

Being able to accurately sense an opponent’s mana through the mana eye would allow me to formulate much more precise combat strategies.

It would be very useful until I fully recovered Johan Raven’s power.

“I don’t have much time, so you’ll have to hurry up. Start by explaining. What kind of mana circulation is needed to open the mana eye.”

“Son of a bitch!”

Since being reincarnated, I have been experiencing many interesting things by encountering a different world.

The special ability of the Penozeri race was one, and the unique setting of the Haewon Sword Style was also a concept that did not exist on the Kalia Continent.

And on top of that, the mana control that Han Byeong-cheol showed with the coin.

They say there is no end to learning, and it felt strange yet not bad to learn that there was something to learn even from beings weaker than me.

“You won’t understand anyway, but I’ll explain it for now.”

Although he grumbled, he explained in detail.

I don't know if he was desperate because he didn't want to die, or if he was the type to explain things well, but it wasn't too difficult to understand.

The method of mana circulation that the Penozeri race did as naturally as breathing.

It was different from the human method, so it would take time to get used to, but I felt it wasn't impossible.

In fact, it was much easier than learning a new sword style.

Once I understood it perfectly, it was as if 80% of it was already complete.

“The explanation is all done! You must have felt it if you have ears, right? How much effort I put into explaining.”

“I acknowledge that.”

“But I can’t help it if you don’t understand. The difference between races is unavoidable. If you ignore that and try to kill me, that’s you really admitting that you’re a son of a bitch!”

“I’d appreciate it if you stopped with the ‘son of a bitch’ talk.”

“A guy who threatened to kill me is getting worked up over being called a son of a bitch? I’m at my wit’s end anyway, so I can even curse your parents!”

“I don’t think there’s a reason to dig your own grave. I understood your explanation completely.”

“You understood? Kekekekek!”

The guy started laughing.

“You find it funny?”

Not only did I understand, but I also felt I could faintly attempt it.

The furry guy’s laughter was annoying, but I circulated the mana in my body in the way he had taught me.

“Kekekek! You said you understood, so no taking it back. Then you’re really a son of a bitch!”

If I tried and saw no answer, then it would truly be a difference between races.

Then I planned to give up cleanly.

“Hoo.”

I took another deep breath to steady myself.

Of course, it wasn't natural because I had a pre-existing, ingrained method.

The currents of mana got stuck here and there, unable to pick up speed.

The key was to break through this stagnant flow.

“What are you doing just standing there? Don’t tell me you’re contemplating how to kill me?”

The furry guy was cautiously backing away, watching my expression.

“Why are you suddenly silent! Are you perhaps angry because I laughed? Alright! I won’t laugh, okay?”

In that moment.

Flash!

The mana circuit flashed, and the blocked section was broken through in an instant.

The hole in the once-cleared passage began to expand its width, and the flow of mana also began to speed up along with it.

Now I was certain.

‘Success.’

And a faint, unfamiliar sensation.

It was a completely different feeling from the existing five senses.

The dormant sixth sense was slowly raising its head.

Heh.

I smiled in delight.

“Hey, human! Why are you smiling with such a scary expression! It’s okay for me to go now, right?”

This was the mana eye.

That sense immediately detected the amount of mana being emitted by the furry guy who was backpedaling in front of me.

A pathetic level of mana, just as I already knew.

I ended up learning something amazing today from a guy of just that level.

Parreureu.

And the mana eye closed on its own.

It was only natural since I wasn't used to it.

“Human! I’m leaving! Well then, goodbye!”

The furry guy gradually picked up speed in his backpedaling, and eventually, he turned around and started running like mad.

Yes. Go.

I had planned to explore the labyrinth on my own anyway.

Now it was time to go rescue Min Ha-rin.

***

The Alcantha Labyrinth.

It was said to be a mysterious place that was created at the same time Yoron Village was connected to the Abyss.

A place that endlessly created numerous monsters, like a magic room.

The quest I had to perform here was to obtain the ‘Lycanthrope’s Fang’.

I had heard the necessary information from the furry guy on the way.

The Lycanthrope was a wolf that was considered sacred in this Yoron Village.

And it was also said that the moment the Alcantha Labyrinth became most dangerous was when this wolf awoke from its sleep.

The reason for that was that the Lycanthrope ate everything in the labyrinth.

‘At least it hasn’t woken up from its sleep yet.’

Since I was freely roaming the labyrinth like this and hadn’t detected any such signs yet.

This labyrinth was a pitch-dark cave maze with no visible end.

The only light sources were the glowing stones embedded throughout the cave.

The numerous forked paths that appeared from time to time, and the similar scenery where one path looked like another, was the perfect environment to make an explorer lose their way.

Kereuk!

And from time to time, monsters popped out from the darkness.

The one that appeared this time was a Goblin, which I was already sick of seeing.

Kereuk!

The pitch-dark environment didn't make it difficult at all.

Relying solely on sight to grasp an opponent’s movements in battle was an extremely elementary level.

I could clearly feel the Goblin’s movements.

Seogeok!

The Reapersword flashed, and the Goblin’s head fell to the ground.

And in that moment, an annoyed voice was heard from the opposite side of the forked path.

“Ah! Damn it! I was chasing that Goblin.”

It was clearly a Hunter from Earth.

It seemed hunting Goblins was the quest condition for that Hunter.

Then he should have caught it faster.

“Let me ask you just one thing.”

“What?”

The man’s tone was indifferent, as if his feelings were hurt.

“I’m looking for a Lycanthrope in this labyrinth. Do you happen to know anything?”

“A Lycanthrope?”

“Yes. I heard it’s a large, greyish-brown wolf.”

“But why are you asking that? D-don’t tell me?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“Wow! Awesome! Are you really doing that quest?”

When I nodded, he immediately softened his annoyance.

“I apologize for getting annoyed about losing one Goblin. A Lycanthrope from the first Abyss village! What are you going to do?”

“Why. Is there a problem with this quest?”

“Are you really asking because you don’t know? That wolf is a monster you can only see in a B-rank dungeon. It’s crazy that it’s appearing in a place like this.”

“I heard it’s sleeping somewhere in the labyrinth.”

“Wow! Shit! Is that really true? I’m going crazy! I need to clear my quest quickly and get out of here.”

The man had a genuinely scared expression.

It also meant he didn't know where the Lycanthrope was.

I continued to break through the cave paths of the labyrinth.

The Hunters I encountered in the process also had a similar reaction to the previous man.

Everyone recoiled at the mention of the Lycanthrope.

It was clearly a difficult quest for a first village.

“I don’t know where the Lycanthrope is, but I did meet another Hunter who was on that quest! She was a woman, and it seemed like she was looking for an assistant.”

“An assistant?”

“Yes. Of course, I refused. It’s not my quest, so why would I risk my life for it?”

Circumstantially, it was highly likely to be Min Ha-rin.

And I also heard that she was not far from my current location.

I hurried on foot.

Because I had to clear the quest quickly and return to the family estate.

After some more time had passed like that, I was able to detect another person’s presence ahead.

Judging by the aura I felt, it was a Hunter from Earth.

The amount of mana detected by my mana eye was a bit different from the other people I had encountered so far.

‘It’s large!’

Yoron Village was the first quest area in the Abyss, a place that new Hunters passed through.

Being new, in most cases, their mana amount was weak. (Though I wasn't really in a position to say that.)

But the aura I was feeling now made me guess who its owner was.

“Excuse me.”

Also, the voice calling me now was that of a young woman.

“Yes.”

“Are you from Earth?”

I nodded my head.

“Excuse me, but did you just nod your head?”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry! My night vision is a bit poor.”

As she said that, she scratched her head.

“Is your quest going well?”

“Well, actually…”

“What is it?”

“I think I’m screwed.”

Then she laughed hollowly.

“Screwed?”

“The quest I got is kind of trash. You know the Lycanthrope? It wants me to catch that wolf and take out its fang.”

“So?”

“‘So?’ you ask. I can’t possibly do it alone. So I’ve been shamelessly asking for an assistant, but of course, everyone refused.”

“So what’s your plan?”

“I’m thinking of getting out of the labyrinth and waiting for reinforcements. The rumors about me must have reached my sword family by now.”

Reinforcements would come, but it would be difficult in the near future.

Established Hunters who had already cleared the Yoron Village quest wouldn’t be able to enter, and finding a suitable candidate among new Hunters would also not be an easy task.

In the end, the only answer would be a human wave tactic, but waiting for all those people to be recruited would take forever.

“I’ll help you.”

“...What?”

“I said I’ll help you. Or do you not want me to?”

“Th-that’s not it, but why are you showing me such unsolicited kindness?”

“If you don’t dislike it, let’s go together without further ado. To catch the wolf.”

Thinking of Choi Ho-joong’s tearful face due to my delayed return, I just wanted to finish this quickly and go back.