Yoon Seo thought of Lee Kangjin and then recalled Grace's prophecy.
In a short time, his emotions surged violently, only to calm down all at once.
'Ah…'
The trembling in his hands stopped. His pounding heart returned to a normal rhythm.
Come to think of it… maybe this wasn't wrong after all.
In fact, this was…
Through his now-clear vision, he saw Kwon Jihan striding toward him. Kwon Jihan smiled widely when he saw Riceball.
"Hyung, you brought out Riceball. Our little Riceball did such a great job. If you were a person, you'd be the biggest contributor."
Peep.
Kwon Jihan sat right next to Yoon Seo, making Riceball puff up its chest even more.
Yoon Seo smiled.
Yeah, this isn't wrong.
With that conclusion, he could smile. The two of them sat on the rocks, resting and watching the others collect byproducts.
"Hunter Kwon Jihan, you should finish getting healed. And Yoon Seo, you too."
Park Soobin approached them with a healer who was a former doctor. Kwon Jihan was the first to sit next to Yoon Seo and shrug off his shirt. His side, which had been torn open, was still half-healed. A white light emanated from Park Soobin's hands.
"Even kids listen well, so shouldn't adults do the same?"
At Kwon Jihan's words, Yoon Seo sighed briefly and rolled up his sleeve.
As he received treatment for his burn wounds again, more people approached.
Soo Jaehee and Hong Euiyoon.
When Soo Jaehee came closer, Riceball beeped excitedly and flew over to him. Soo Jaehee cradled Riceball, showering it with praise, and then asked the two of them.
"Are just the two of you going into that black dungeon?"
"Don't worry. We came fully prepared."
"Besides, only those with Gaia's skill can enter, right? There's no point in worrying. We just have to anxiously wait for you to come out. But is Hwashim hyung going in too?"
"No."
That was never part of the plan to begin with.
Kwon Jihan and Yoon Seo stared at Hwashim, who was busy swinging his pickaxe. Sensing their gaze, Hwashim spoke to them telepathically.
"Seo Chaeyoon, that black portal is the final key to unlocking the story."
'I expected that. We'll unlock it after everyone leaves.'
"Understood."
'Do you want to enter the black portal with me?'
Yoon Seo joked, and Hwashim flinched, slowly turning his head to the other side. It seemed like cold sweat was running down the back of his head. In any case, Yoon Seo had no intention of bringing Hwashim along. In fact, taking him inside would only be a hindrance.
"Hey, are you okay with revealing your identity like this?"
Hong Euiyoon seemed worried about Yoon Seo exposing his true identity.
"I'm already starting to regret it a little."
"I figured. Why are you so impulsive? Are you hot-tempered?"
"You're one to talk, Hong hyung."
"What was that?"
When Soo Jaehee muttered, Hong Euiyoon glared at him, and Soo Jaehee chuckled.
"Hyung, don't worry too much. No one's going to run their mouth as soon as they leave. The people here know how much you've suffered with your healing resistance. They wouldn't cause you trouble, right?"
"Yes. I trust the 299 comrades who fought through this crisis with me. I just want to live quietly, so I trust them."
Yoon Seo said this loudly enough for everyone to hear.
A nervous sweat dripped down the backs of the Revengers, who were busily collecting byproducts.
After some light conversation, Soo Jaehee and Hong Euiyoon left to continue gathering materials, while Park Soobin and the healer went off to treat other injured people. In the midst of it all, fearless Hong Euiyoon touched the black portal, only to get zapped and thrown back, earning a scolding from Soo Jaehee.
Then Alec, the couple, and Yelena approached.
Alec had been one of the key figures in this operation. As a leader, he worked tirelessly, both in battle and in their daily lives. Somehow, though, he looked much older than he had before the operation.
"How Rita managed to endure in such harsh conditions… She's truly incredible. I could never compare to her, not even close."
"You could at least be at her toes."
"Hah…."
"If you do squats and running every day, you might make it to her ankles."
"Seems like you're more of a sibling to Rita than I am."
"Rita is my sister, after all."
Yoon Seo smiled.
"For the record, Rita left me a will asking me to do 3 million squats and 5,000 runs. Do you know how much I suffered trying to fulfill her will? I'd collapse into bed, curse, and then get up to do 200 squats before sleeping again. It felt so good that I want to recommend it to her real family too. Honestly, I think it's only right that we split this family responsibility. What do you think?"
"..."
Alec's eyes reddened slightly.
"Yeah. Alright. I'll take my share when we get out…."
Even though the situation was absurd, with Rita leaving such a will while dying in the midst of a desperate battle, Alec looked like he might cry rather than laugh.
Without asking about the black portal, Alec simply said he'd wait outside and left.
The couple thanked Yoon Seo, and Yelena cheerfully suggested to both Kwon Jihan and Yoon Seo that they should spar once they were out.
"Hyung."
Kwon Jihan nudged Yoon Seo.
Jo Mani stood in the distance, staring intently at Yoon Seo. The man, who had once ignored Yoon Seo, now seemed confused after realizing the person he disrespected was someone he admired. When their eyes met, Jo Mani awkwardly jerked his head, neither nodding nor looking away, just fumbling….
"..."
Eventually, he bent deeply at the waist in a bow towards Yoon Seo.
Straightening his back, Jo Mani gave some orders to his guild members and walked away.
The temporary team members gathered nearby. Namgung Simhae was affectionately ruffling Kim Jinhae's hair with his large hand, while Lee Jungin chatted with Park Kang. They all looked ragged, but Park Kang's hanbok was unusually clean. As expected, hanbok is a great outfit. Feeling Yoon Seo's gaze, they gave him polite nods in return.
Yoon Seo once imagined the two younger siblings of Kim Seohae going on a dawn fishing trip for red sea bream. It would be nice if Kwon Jihan were there too. Fishing is quite an enjoyable hobby, after all.
Chris Kyle was zealously gathering byproducts, while Furka was tending to the injured beside the healers.
Among the healers were members of the Galaxaia cult.
It was a ridiculous sight—how the healers had already blended in with the cultists, as if they'd forgotten that these people had come to bring about the end of the world.
Peep.
Riceball, who had been thoroughly pampered by Soo Jaehee, returned. Kwon Jihan quickly reached out his hand to Riceball.
"Yeah, Riceball. Don't go to other men. Only let me pamper you."
Peep.
"You've worked hard. You'll be recorded in history as the brave Riceball who defeated the final boss of the Great Dungeon."
Peep!
Yoon Seo worried that at this rate, Riceball's beak might just reach the sky.
***
About two hours later, Do Deungsoo began sending off the Revengers. One by one, the Revengers bowed to Kwon Jihan and Seo Chaeyoon as they left.
As they departed, a sweaty Park Soobin approached. Riceball squeaked and tried to fly over to Park Soobin, but Kwon Jihan playfully covered the creature with his hand, pretending not to notice. Park Soobin smiled at Yoon Seo, indifferent to Kwon Jihan's actions.
"I'll make sure to protect your identity, Yoon Seo. Even when we're out, I'll keep things quiet."
"Is Soobin's influence really that great?"
"Of course. I'm ranked as one of the top healers in the world, you know."
Yoon Seo had noticed from the start how brazen Park Soobin could be.
"Is there no skill like 'Gaia's Touch' or 'Gaia's Light'? I'd love to be a Gaia skill holder and join you in the black portal."
"That's a truly terrifying thought."
"Terrifying? I'm serious. If the Gaia system is listening, I hope it considers it. I think it's only right to have at least one healer…."
Soobin even addressed the Gaia system directly.
[The God of Life takes an interest in 'Park Soobin.']
[The God of Death takes an interest in 'Park Soobin.']
Unfortunately, only the gods he didn't want were taking an interest in him.
"Yoon Seo, are you really prepared for the black portal?"
"Don't worry. I'll make sure my hyung gets safely back to Earth."
"Can I talk to Yoon Seo for a bit?"
"You've been talking to him plenty without my permission. You've already exceeded your limit."
"Why would I need Kwon Jihan's permission to talk to Yoon Seo?"
"Because I'm exactly Yoon Seo hyung's ideal type."
Park Soobin didn't seem to have a response to that. Instead, he sighed and muttered to himself.
"Gaia's Light… I'll get it, somehow…."
More likely than Gaia, the god of greed might take an interest in Park Soobin.
"Soobin."
As Park Soobin stood up, Yoon Seo called out to him.
"Don't tell the Guild of Leaves members. I don't want them to know yet."
"I figured as much. With your personality, you'd probably reveal it in some unexpected situation, just to mess with them for a while. Tease them endlessly before you spill the truth."
"..."
"Stay safe. The doctors and I will be waiting."
With a kind smile, Park Soobin said goodbye and left through the exit portal. Yoon Seo couldn't help but feel like he'd been thoroughly teased.
Do Deungsoo was the last to leave. Being familiar with the black dungeon strategy, he wasn't particularly worried or anxious. He just said, "I'll be waiting outside," and left. Since everything had gone according to plan so far, he had no doubt that things would continue to go smoothly.
With 30 minutes left before the exit portal closed, only Kwon Jihan, Yoon Seo, and Hwashim remained in the Great Dungeon.
Hwashim wasn't staying to enter the black portal but to reverse the memory manipulation. The story of 'Seo Chaeyoon in front of the final gate' was about to unfold.
"Are you ready?"
Yoon Seo nodded. Just like before, Kwon Jihan took hold of Yoon Seo's hand.
['Hwashim' has lifted the memory manipulation placed on you.]
[Your erased memories are returning.]
A dazzling light engulfed Yoon Seo.