Chapter 891

EP.891 [Light Novel Side Story] The Death Dinass of the Sky 2 Vol. 008

<2:32 PM. Guro Base Camp.>

“Yes. Please let us know if you find anything.”

Xian made an urgent call to another guild that had come together to Guro. Hoping they might have spotted her, she activated the emergency contact network but, unfortunately, no one had seen Chunbom.

“Xian.”

Raon emerged from the tent, his expression hardened. Xian had a hunch but asked anyway.

“…Raon. What’s the situation?”

Raon pointed to very subtle traces inside the tent.

“There are signs of someone breaking in. She was likely dragged away while under sleep paralysis. That seems to be the most plausible theory.”

“……? Sleep paralysis? Chunbom is a Special Ability user!”

Xian turned to Yuna beside her and questioned. Yuna, deep in thought for a moment, finally responded.

“Magic Power isn’t omnipotent. They might’ve used something equivalent to regular drugs.”

“Xian, analysis complete. There’s evidence of Special Ability-targeted substances being used.”

Hayujun detected magical traces around the tent and clicked his tongue.

The mysterious footprints loitering around the tent, the slightly rumpled sleeping bag despite attempts to tidy it up, and especially the tent flap slightly open to avoid detection by the night watch—these were significant clues.

“It’s my fault.”

Raon clenched his teeth in self-reproach. If Nuri hadn’t woken up and noticed, he wouldn’t have realized Chunbom was missing until the next watch shift.

“Don’t blame yourself. It’s on me.”

Xian defended Raon while taking responsibility herself. Knowing what Raon had gone through in Guro yet still choosing to come here—it was ultimately her decision. No matter how much Raon insisted he was fine, psychological trauma wasn’t easily overcome.

He probably didn’t keep proper vigil during his watch. Xian tried to rationalize this as she asked Raon,

“Anyway, Raon, when was Chunbom’s shift change?”

“1:00 AM. We agreed to switch every two hours.”

“……So in the worst case, she could’ve disappeared an hour ago?”

Yuna hypothesized as Nuri pulled her hair in distress.

“You dumbasses, how could someone just vanish without anyone noticing…!”

“Drugs were used, there’s nothing we could’ve done. At least someone woke up and noticed.”

Xian knelt down to meet the slumped-over Nuri, who was hiccupping and crying.

“Uncle, what do we do? Hic! This is all because of me…”

“Not your fault at all. First, we need to make an emergency report to HQ.”

“But won’t our reputation take a hit?”

Hayujun grabbed Xian’s Magical Gear, stopping her from reporting. Xian shook off his hand and tapped her gear.

“Brother, someone’s missing. This isn’t the time to worry about reputation.”

“……Shouldn’t we look ourselves first before making contact?”

“We’ve already wasted too much time. Damn, if only—”

“Xian!”

Raon shouted with renewed vigor. Searching for clues amidst guilt, Raon pointed to muddy tracks far from the tent.

“What is it…?”

“Looks like they stumbled in the dark. Judging by the direction of the footprints…”

They lead away from the base camp. Xian’s eyes followed the direction Raon indicated.

“Reverse.”

The kidnapper’s footprints led toward Dalin Station, possibly the entrance to a dungeon.

* * *

<THE GREAT CATASTROPHE>.

In 2022, monsters appearing on Earth were sucked into “dungeons,” otherworldly spaces, drastically changing the world.

Wild beasts were trapped in dungeons formed underground, leaving only D-Rank or lower stragglers on the surface.

Though many questioned the phenomenon, they were relieved that the immediate threat of monsters had vanished.

However, dungeons merely contained the monsters; they became stronger as “bosses.” Once created, dungeons couldn’t be destroyed by any means.

Governments and associations identified dungeon locations to manage them and maintain peace.

The largest dungeon in Korea is <Seoul's Magic Realm>.

Descending through subway stations, once you reach the platform, ascending leads not to the original Seoul but to an entirely different otherworld—a dungeon.

Dalin Station was one of many entrances to this realm and also where the suspected kidnapper of Chunbom disappeared.

Xian’s group found themselves arguing in front of Exit 1 of Dalin Station.

* * *

“Absolutely not!”

Raon raised his voice in opposition. Nuri, equally heated, joined in.

“Sis, are you crazy?! Chunbom sis disappeared here! We must go in immediately!”

“It’s the Magic Realm! Do you know how dangerous it is?!”

Raon pointed to the entrance leading underground, visibly trembling.

“Random B-Rank monsters roam the streets! A-Rank ones can appear at any moment! The dungeon boss? SS-Rank!”

“So now sis is just gonna abandon Chunbom sis?!”

Nuri lunged forward aggressively.

Do you lack any sense of responsibility?! You were supposed to keep watch when someone disappeared!”

“…I admit that! But this is beyond our capabilities!”

“Why? Scared your Core will break again? Coward!”

As Nuri mocked him, Raon was left speechless. Despite their bickering, Raon felt his heart slowly freezing over.

“Hey, sis. Nuri, stop fighting.”

Yuna stepped in to mediate, but the damage was done. Xian stepped between Nuri and Raon.

“Nuri, you’re letting emotions cloud your judgment. Circulate your Magic Power to calm down. Otherwise, you’ll lose control.”

“Huh?! Uncle, are you going to save Chunbom sis too?!”

“Not exactly. I’m going, but you entering in this state would be dangerous. Calm down.”

Xian cupped Nuri’s face and massaged her temples with his thumbs.

“Take a deep breath. Slowly circulate your power. Getting angry won’t bring Chunbom back. Let’s save that anger for the bastards who took her. Okay?”

With his cold touch masquerading as a massage, Nuri barely managed to suppress her rage.

“Hmph.”

Nuri refused to apologize to Raon. Her defiant lips showed she firmly believed she was right.

“Well, now the question is how we enter Dalin Station.”

Xian planned to rescue Chunbom while keeping the group safe and calming Nuri.

“C-Rank Chunbom was incapacitated without resistance. Even Raon’s watch was useless. So maybe the kidnapper is a B-Rank or higher Special Ability user.”

“Villains? Aren’t they all gone from Seoul after THE GREAT CATASTROPHE?”

“One or two might remain.”

Xian manipulated his Magical Gear, producing a holographic 3D map of Seoul. It revealed some details of the underground layout.

“The subway station became a dungeon entrance, but the underground passages aren’t completely gone, right?”

Xian comforted Nuri while asking Raon. Still shaken from Nuri’s outburst, Raon nodded palely.

“T-That’s correct. The old tunnels are presumed to still exist.”

“Then let’s assume… Nuri, hear me out…”

“The villain who kidnapped Chunbom sis is hiding in the underground tunnels, not the dungeon, right?”

“Correct, Brother.”

Hayujun cut straight to the chase. Xian flicked his finger and pointed downward.

“The old underground passages that haven’t transformed into dungeons. Unless villains are insane, they wouldn’t enter dungeons. There must be a route avoiding the dungeon. Namely…”

Xian inspected the area then headed toward the elevator descending underground.

“As expected.”

Sure enough, near the elevator, mud similar to the tracks Raon found earlier appeared. Nuri, glowing blue with magic power, smirked.

“They changed shoes here? Uncle, this is huge.”

“Thanks to having a top-notch dowsing machine. Hehe.”

Xian glanced at Yuna then pointed inside the elevator.

“This should be enough evidence. Let’s inform HQ and move in.”

“With these numbers?”

At Raon’s question, Xian nodded confidently.

“Our teammate was kidnapped, so our team must rescue her. I understand your concerns, which is why we won’t rush in blindly. One of us will stay behind.”

Xian looked between Yuna, Raon, Nuri, and Hayujun before pointing at Hayujun.

“Brother Hayujun, please stay here.”

“What? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“For backup requests and to guide us through the entry route. To avoid accidentally heading into the dungeon.”

KABAM! Xian forced his hand into the tightly shut elevator doors.

CRUNCH! The metal bent, and the doors slid open. Inside, only the elevator cables swayed.

“Basement Level 3? That’ll do.”

After checking below, Xian gestured to Nuri and Raon.

“You two can probably descend using magic reinforcement on your legs. Don’t forget fall techniques though.”

“Got it! Uncle, trust me! I’ll catch you below.”

“We’ll rappel down. Go first.”

“Just a sec!”

Raon blocked Xian, who was about to jump.

“This kind of reckless entry is dangerous!”

“Don’t worry. I know my limits. How about you and Nuri go down first? Oh wait.”

Xian reconsidered, pointing alternately at Raon and Hayujun.

“Raon stays outside. Brother Hayujun, sorry, but could you follow?”

“…If I’d known you were this reckless, I wouldn’t have come. Sigh.”

Hayujun sighed deeply and rolled up his sleeves.

“I can’t leave the girls alone, so I’m coming along.”

“Thank you. But Brother, I’m male and I said I’d go.”

“Next powerless person.”

Xian hesitated to put his hand inside his coat but stopped. Yuna chuckled and patted his back.

“Mr. Xian. I don’t rappel well…”

“Huh? Oh yeah… What should we do?”

Xian looked worriedly between Raon and Yuna. Meanwhile, Nuri and Hayujun had already descended using magic-infused hands.

“Let’s do this.”

SWOOSH! Xian swept Yuna into his left arm and stood in front of the elevator. Realizing his intention, Yuna wrapped her arms around his waist.

“A little uncomfortable, but it’s fine, right?”

“Of course.”

“……I’m coming too!”

Raon trembled but showed determination.

“No way I can just stay here alone!”

Whether from anxiety about being left behind or guilt over Chunbom’s kidnapping, Xian couldn’t tell, but Raon wanted to move with the group.

“……I clearly said to wait here until we call you.”

Xian gripped the rope with his right hand and turned.

“……If I don’t contact you within ten minutes, come in.”

“Ten minutes?!?”

“I intended thirty but shortened it. If we endanger others because of us, that’d be worse. We need insurance, right?”

With that, Xian embraced Yuna and descended. Until his vision disappeared into the underground, Raon couldn’t move his trembling feet.

* * *

“Mr. Xian.”

“Yeah. You sensed it too, huh?”

“….One of them feels certain.”

“If you felt it, that’s probably true. Let’s keep it between the two of us and proceed carefully.”