Surviving on the Northern Front with Gukbap

Chapter 54 : Minor Demon Realm (4)

Minor Demon Realm (4)

Anyone who's ever played an RPG will understand this.

'If you see something suspicious while you're playing a game, you just have to poke it.'

If it looks breakable, you hit it just in case,

If it looks accessible, you definitely try to go,

And you always press whatever catches your eye.

Isn't that the way of RPG gamers?

Of course, the odds of actually getting or triggering something are low,

But you can't resist the occasional joy of finding a hidden piece.

One such item I found that way was the "Goblet of Blood Iron".

The issue is: where on this ugly demonkin statue is it hidden?

Unlike a game, where you can claim it with a single click, this is reality.

"Boss. I'll take a look over there."

Plerine, seemingly uninterested in the grotesque statue, headed toward the three-branched corridor.

In contrast, Ralph couldn't bring himself to leave, perhaps feeling a kinship with the statue's ugliness.

He stared at the inscription on the statue's pedestal and muttered.

"Revere the seventh generation of the 'Mor-ozen', descendants of the Demon God. Hm."

That's right.

The name of this ugly demonkin statue was Mor-ozen.

Until you knew how to approach it, this bastard used to mess you up bad.

'I caught on quickly to things like "descendant of the Demon God" and "seventh generation".'

It's been a while since I said this, but

I'm clueless about in-game lore aside from character stats.

"But by the way, Ian, what's that? Doesn't it look suspicious?"

Ralph pointed at the neck of the Mor-ozen statue.

'A necklace?'

A stone necklace, contrasting with the yellowish statue, was hanging there.

It had a creepy pattern that really suited the demonkin.

"Could that perhaps... be an artifact?"

Just as Ralph said, occasionally you could get artifacts in the minor Demon Realm—

"Sorry, but I'm pretty sure that's a regular ornament."

A living Belkhazium wiki (minus the lore), that's me.

There's definitely no artifact or item like that in my database.

In other words, it's just junk.

'But did that necklace always hang on this statue?'

Ralph was right; that stone necklace did seem out of place.

"Still! What if it's a precious gem or something? Why not just take it?"

"I don't know. What if we get cursed for messing with it?"

"Ugh. True, that."

Ralph pursed his lips in disappointment and walked toward the three-way corridor.

'Great! Now's my chance!'

I hated the idea of splitting expensive loot with Ralph.

I quickly started feeling and knocking all over the statue.

Click.

I heard something activate, and a drawer popped out of the statue's pedestal.

I couldn't help but smile.

Inside was exactly the item I'd expected.

Yeah. Just as I thought, but—

'It's a lot bigger than I imagined.'

The Goblet of Blood Iron wasn't just some digital model—it was as big as an actual beer pitcher.

'Well. Actually, that just makes it even better.'

I stuffed the goblet into my backpack while keeping an eye on Ralph.

He was too busy watching the corridor.

Creak.

I pushed the drawer back in.

Dreaming of the perfect crime, I casually walked over to Ralph and Plerine and asked,

"Find anything interesting, guys?"

"Mm. Looks like this is the way."

Plerine pointed to the far right of the corridor,

and I couldn't help but be surprised inside.

'How did she know?'

To meet Imprel, the boss here, the rightmost path is the quickest.

You can reach the boss room via the left or center branches too,

But they're trapped and way out of the way.

"What makes you think that?"

Ralph asked Plerine before I could.

"The scent and sounds are strongest from this tunnel."

At her words, Ralph sniffed the air.

"Is it a blind mage's intuition? But putting that aside, why are you talking down to me?"

"... Sir. So, are you not going to take this path, sir?"

A flustered Ralph couldn't say a word.

I jumped in to change the subject.

"Ralph, you agree with Plerine, right? We've picked a route—let's go."

"......"

"......"

Fortunately, the two silently followed after me.

The atmosphere couldn't have been more awkward.

Step, step.

We walked down the corridor that stretched on and on.

It grew narrower and darker the deeper we went.

Instead of Plerine's magic, Ralph lit a torch he'd brought.

But surprisingly, there were no monsters to be seen.

'Instead, there are bloodstains here and there.'

Traces of a major scuffle dotted the path.

Step, step.

With nothing but our footsteps echoing—

"Hey there..."

Someone else's voice came to us.

Ralph was the first to react, flinching.

"Who's the—Cough! Cough cough!"

Ralph immediately sprang forward, pounding down the corridor. Ta-da-da-dat!

We sprinted after him,

And ended up witnessing exactly what I'd expected.

'Damn.'

A blood-soaked soldier was slumped against the wall.

Ralph shouted loudly at the sight.

"Hey! Snap out of it!"

The wounded man had one hand on his abdomen,

But it was nowhere near enough to stem the flow of blood.

There was a pool of blood under his hips.

'He's done for.'

The soldier's pupils had already lost focus.

He probably couldn't see us anymore.

"You bastard!"

But Ralph didn't give up.

He slapped the man's cheeks and shook his face with a serious expression.

Slap, slap!

"Wake up, damn it!!"

Maybe Ralph's roar got through.

A bit of focus returned to the empty pupils.

"S...quad leader? Are you the squad leader? Hack!"

"Yes, Alec! It's me! Jaw Ralph!"

That moment, a chill ran down my spine.

Alec—someone I knew.

'The day I first upgraded and sold pumpkin soup.'

The three people Jeros had dragged in by force:

Squad leader Ralph and team member 1, Ruth,

And the team member 2 who stood beside them was Alec.

But what was Alec, a guard, doing here?

Well, it made no difference.

Alec was doomed either way.

"Ian!!"

Ralph's shout snapped me back to my senses.

The look in his eyes as he stared at me was desperate.

Honestly, I felt myself shrinking under his gaze.

"We have to go back to the village."

What?

"We have to save him. Please. I'm begging you."

In that moment,

Two versions of myself began to clash inside.

The medieval Ian and the modern Han Chul Lee.

*

My mind felt like it was breaking.

Everything was tangled up.

I had to resolve this quickly.

'What was I even thinking?'

Alec had lost a huge amount of blood.

His injuries were critical.

He was as good as dead.

That's why I'd initially decided to leave him and move on.

After all, I came to the Demon Realm to become stronger.

But—

'Is this really right?'

Even if a person's life is flickering out,

If they're not dead yet, shouldn't you at least try to save them?

'God, I feel disgusting.'

I was starting to feel sick at the thought of who I almost was a moment ago.

Had I really become a full medieval man?

Or was I just mistaking this place for a video game?

The old me

Would have immediately tried to save a dying person.

That's why I saved Naba, and Plerine too.

That's who I was.

And yet—

'For a second, I almost thought less of a person's life than Ralph, a literal medieval guy.'

I can't let that happen.

Get a grip, Han Chul Lee.

'I can't become a monster.'

I made my decision.

Even if Alec ended up dying, I was going to do my best to save him for now.

The moment I made up my mind—

"Hack! Cough, hack, gag, uaargh!"

Alec coughed up a fistful of black blood.

Probably from staying so long in the minor Demon Realm with no anti-demonic power resistance.

"Cough! Ah, haah... Feels kind of good, actually."

Soon Alec's eyes regained full focus.

No one here failed to recognize this as the light before death.

"Ralph, squad leader."

"Y-yeah, Alec! Are you a bit more clear-headed now?"

"Leader, please, cough! Stop talking nonsense. Ha... Go back to the village my ass, all this way..."

There were no other soldiers or company commanders around us.

He seemed to understand exactly why Ralph was there.

"J-just stop! Stop talking! Save your strength. I'll get you out, so hang in there, all right?"

"Still talking crap right to the end, leader. Hack! Hack!"

A faint smile appeared on Alec's lips.

"Thanks for everything, leader. Heh... Live long..."

Slip.

The hand that had been resting on Alec's stomach slid down.

*

A short but painfully long moment of silence passed.

Ralph was the first to move.

He drew a knife and cut off Alec's left ear. Slice.

"What's with the ear?"

Plerine asked,

And Ralph showed her the back of Alec's ear, replying,

"Is that answer enough?"

The name 'Alec' was tattooed there.

"Not like I can really show this to a blind woman, huh."

Ralph muttered with self-mockery,

But Plerine seemed to understand.

"So that's how you keep track of dead comrades. I didn't know. Hm. Sorry."

Honestly, I hadn't known that either.

It seemed the ear served the same purpose as a dog tag.

'Do I have to do that, too?'

I found myself feeling my own earlobe for no reason.

"... Let's go."

Ralph tore his eyes from Alec with a face determined to suppress his grief.

"I'll take the lead. Ralph, you're in the back."

Plerine, still using her weird half-respectful tone, went ahead.

Step. Step.

Plerine skillfully navigated the maze-like passage in the right direction,

But the atmosphere between us was even more strained than before.

Eventually, I broke the silence and asked Ralph,

"Did you know Alec was in the Demon Realm?"

"... No. I didn't. Never thought the unlucky guy who fell into the Demon Realm on watch duty would be a former subordinate of mine."

After the spirit stone quarry attack, some guards were reassigned due to a shortage of security forces.

Alec had been one of them.

"If I'd only known sooner... I could've moved faster and saved him."

Ralph ground his teeth.

"It wasn't your fault, Ralph."

"Save the halfhearted comfort."

There was deep regret and frustration on his face for not being able to save his subordinate.

'He's a good guy.'

Looking back,

I was glad I'd recruited Ralph as a [Regular Customer].

"Honestly, I think someone like you should be a company commander someday, Ralph."

"... Pfft. It only means something if we all get out alive. Save the speeches for when we're back home."

Yeah. Just like Alec's last words.

None of it matters unless you survive.

And right on cue,

Monsters appeared to crank up the tension that had been fading.

Clack clack. Dadadadak clack.

Little skeleton monsters, waist-high to an adult, were headed our way.

The clacking of bones grew louder.

Ralph took his stance as he saw the "Skels".

"All those bones we saw earlier were their remains, huh."

He was right.

And now, it was finally my and Ralph's time to shine—not Plerine's.

'Because Skels, for low-ranking monsters, have crazy-high magic resistance but almost no physical resistance.'

Sure, a mage like Plerine could handle them with enough effort, but that'd be a waste.

She needed to save her strength for the boss room.

"Plerine, you take a break."

Plerine folded her arms in silent agreement to my request,

And instead lit up the area with a fire spell.

"Let's get some payback, Ralph."

"Heh. My pleasure."

With a single swipe of Ralph's blade, shards of bone flew everywhere.

Crack! Crunch!

* * *

Outside the minor Demon Realm, swept through by Ian's party.

The moonlit snowfield was bright red,

And the ground, mixed with snow, blood, and monster flesh, squelched unpleasantly.

At least that's how it felt to the person currently walking there.

Squish. Squish.

Their footsteps approached the minor Demon Realm and stopped.

"Hm. Did they come this way?"

Standing at the border of the minor Demon Realm in front of Outpost 13, as heard from messenger pigeons.

There were clear traces that three people had entered already.

Three sets of footprints.

'What should I do?'

They hesitated.

Should they follow orders,

Or make a decision on their own?

The woman fidgeted with the rabbit ears on her head,

And, as if making up her mind, reached out toward the minor Demon Realm.

Srrrk.

As always,

She chose to trust her instincts over commands or judgment.

Ziiing.