Chapter 49

“……”

“……”

Uh, what to do.

'I went ahead and did it for now…'

Cha Ara's legs were trembling like those of a newborn deer.

'Damn it.'

In front of the powerful being, Cha Ara's knees were already prepared to kneel, not knowing her limits and becoming servile. But in most life-or-death situations, human knees rarely held enough value to guarantee their owner's survival.

'Especially when the opponent is not human, it's even more so.'

At least, it was clear that the opponent was not human. No, it was impossible not to know.

Even though the face was merely obscured by darkness and not visible, the overwhelming sense of unease was so palpable that it felt as if its face didn't exist at all, so how could one not recognize this profound sense of discord?

'…Damn, damn, what should I do. Still, the fact that we're having a conversation means it's willing to talk to me, right? Of course, if it doesn't like me, it could kill me in an instant… but for now…'

Cha Ara was not what you would call an 'educated hunter.' She had only received the basic education provided by the association and did not know the exact ecology or methods to deal with monsters.

However, even Cha Ara knew how dangerous humanoid monsters were.

'When encountering a humanoid monster, those below C-rank just wished for a painless death…'

At home, her pig-like older brother and rabbit-like youngest sibling were waiting for her. Cha Ara, who couldn't afford to die easily, decided to plead for her life for now.

'At least the language is working and it seems willing to talk …. it seems so, right? Right?

Trembling, Cha Ara opened her mouth.

“l, I am… I'm a porter. By any chance, do you need a slave…”

“…A porter?”

“Ah.”

Not all humanoid monsters were well-versed in human culture. Cha Ara realized this belatedly, but the fact that the other party showed interest in her words was good news.

Cha Ara responded with a hint of excitement. She could faintly see a way to survive.

“A person who carries things. Besides that, I can do many tasks. I'm good at cleaning, cooking, and I can run errands exceptionally well, so if you just spare me this once, I will do my utmost…”

“I'm good at it too.”

“…Pardon?”

“I'm good at cooking and cleaning.”

“……”

What kind of mindset was it to tell a human who is trying to prove their usefulness to survive, Tm useful too'? Cha Ara felt like coughing out blood.

'What kind of response is this, exactly? Is it saying it won't spare me? Is it saying I'm useless? Or, or…'

Cha Ara, who thought she had a knack for catering to others' whims during her long life as a porter, found that such high-level social skills were useless in front of a monster.

'…N, no, it's still too early to give up. As long as we're using the same language and the other party shows a willingness to communicate, surely I can interpret what that monster wants and means. I can do it…Humanswill prevaiI…'

Soon, Cha Ara recalled something.

'…“Isit trying to find common ground with me?

The introduction from earlier and the current conversation both clearly seemed to be guiding Cha Ara to feel friendliness or closeness.

“……”

It was just that the awkwardness was so overwhelming that it only heightened the sense of discomfort.

“Uh, well…”

Cha Ara instinctively suppressed the urge to retort that popped into her mind, as she obediently surrendered to the stronger party in front of her.

“…I see! That's amazing!”

“Thank you.”

“Cooking and cleaning aren't things just anyone can do! Your skills must be truly incredible! That's amazing!”

“The same goes for you, Ms. Cha Ara.”

“…….”

She was speechless.

'I ended up praising myself in front of a humanoid monster known for its strong pride.'

She desperately needed a return stone.

'Oppa, youngest, I'm going first.'

As Cha Ara hesitated, bracing for a painful death, a rustling sound came from the opposite side. Judging by the black cloak it was wearing, it seemed to tilt its head.

'So, it does have a head.'

As a strange mix of relief and fear washed over her, the monster spoke.

“I'm sorry, but I don't need a slave.”

“…….”

Youngest, I'm sorry. Pig oppa, I love you. Cha Ara once again braced herself for a terribly gruesome death.

'Ara, you're going to die here.'

May those bastards who abandoned me appear on the 9 o'clock news and get beaten by the whole nation, never to show their faces in this industry again.

'May you become so infamous that you get hit by flying eggs if you don't cover your faces even when you go to the convenience store to buy snacks, you bastards.'

While pouring out love and curses in her heart and sweating cold sweat like tears, the other party continued speaking.

“ls your profession a slave?”

“…No…?”

It was just a way of saying, 'Oh, you can work me to the bone like a rat, just please spare my life, hehe', what kind of slave exists in today's rule of law?

“Ah, of course, there's that … I've heard rumours that some wealthy people secretly, you know… illegally buy and sell slaves…”

“That's horrifying.”

“R-right, it's horrifying. Oh, such bad people.”

“lt's scary.”

“……”

Cha Ara was truly at a loss for words at the polite and refined 'scary1 that didn't convey even a grain of fear or emotion.

However, she got a sense of something.

'…“Isthis an attempt to mimic human behaviour? Is it pretending to be scared?

She realized it late because it was something she hadn't even imagined, but thinking about it now, that seemed to be the case.

'The greeting from earlier, the introduction, the attempt to empathize with me…'

It was so formulaic that she couldn't even tell what it wanted to do, and it just felt strange.

'Could it be that it was trying to act like a human in their own way?

No, n-no.

'Then isn't this unfair??

Damn, even if it's an imitation, it should at least be somewhat human-like so she could at least 'Oh, damn, I see' and pretend to be fooled…!

This is well, it's not even a variation of a past exam question. Damn, at least make the imitation clear enough so I could understand the intent of the creator. Who would fall for something like this?

Even that leader bastard who abandoned her made jokes that were easier to understand than this.

'If after doing that it feels proud thinking, 'Oh, I'm doing an amazing job imitating a human', it would be truly absurd.'

In a peculiar sense of injustice that is hard to experience even once in a lifetime, Cha Ara hesitantly opened her mouth.

“Yes, th-that's right. It is scary, isn't it.”

Now that she realized the other party was imitating humans, she could somewhat grasp the situation.

'Wasn't it a similar feeling when it didn't respond or kept repeating until I acknowledged its greeting? Like learning how to use a machine….'

Humans usually return the same greeting when greeted, but Cha Ara hadn't responded that way.

'Is it like hitting a broken TV to make it work properly…? Or like repeating the same question to an unresponsive AI…?

When she considered it this way, she felt a bit sorry, thinking that it had earnestly studied and imitated humans, but she honestly didn't understand it at all.

Whether they knew or didn't know how flustered Cha Ara was, unsure of how to respond. The monster, holding the Anticat against its chest and stroking it, spoke again.

“l will not kill Ms. Cha Ara.”

“……”

“l won't hurt you, nor will I make you sad.”

“Uh…”

“l didn't want to scare you either.”

The monster in the black cloak continued speaking.

“I wanted to make a friend.”

“…A friend?”

What?

'Does it mean it's searching for a sacrificial lamb to drag to the afterlife?

The words themselves were very mild, but the atmosphere of the other party was not mild at all, automatically leading to suspicion.

Even though its appearance wasn't clearly visible, with its heavy status's presence that seemed to suffocate and stop one's heart, if it wanted a 'friend,' it didn't seem to mean an ordinary friendship.

'It even looks similar to a funeral mourner or a grim reaper, could it be…? Really searching for a companion to the afterlife…? Something like that…?'

Before Cha Ara's suspicion could even conclude, the monster continued speaking.

“To make you my friend, Ms. Cha Ara is too young.”

“……”

Saying it's not possible because she's too young, could it really be searching for a companion to the afterlife?

'…NO, more than that.'

Cha Ara faintly furrowed her brows at the monster's attitude, which seemed to use the words 'young' and 'weak' synonymously.

Tm not exactly young, but perhaps it doesn't understand since it's not human.'

At 18 years old, Cha Ara was already at an age where marriage would be acceptable. She was considered fully an adult, yet being seen as merely young by the monster made her feel a sense of alienation once again.

'…Still, it said it wouldn't harm me…'

Trusting the words of a monster might be foolish, but she couldn't help but feel a bit relieved.

“Are you here alone?”

“…Ah, ah, yes. I'm alone.”

Surely it wouldn't kill her just because she was alone, right? Cha Ara suddenly felt anxious.

It was basic knowledge known to all hunters that monsters had their own set of rules. From a human perspective, many of these rules seemed absurd and cruel.

'Especially humanoid monsters are said to have stronger patterns like that….'

A monster that only kills hunters who are alone?

“ls that so.”

Fortunately, it seemed that wasn't the case.

“From what I understand, people in dungeons tend to act in groups. Am I mistaken?”

“Uh….”

Describing people like a pack of dogs.

It truly felt like a monster-like way of speaking, but Cha Ara, with her keen sense, noticed the faint goodwill in the otherwise strangely polite voice.

It seemed to be a broad and fair goodwill directed not at Cha Ara personally, but at the entire human race as a whole….

'So it wasn't like there were no emotions at all.'

She felt a bit more at ease. It was much less frightening to deal with a monster that had emotions than one that didn't.

“…NO, you're right. It's just that, I wasn't alone originally… but somehow my party abandoned me and left. I didn't have the strength to leave the dungeon alone, so I lingered….”

“…….”

“…Then I saw the Anticat….”

Ah, damn, so that was it.

'That… that black cloak wanted either a friend or a sacrifice, so the Anticat brought a human like me to it.'

In that case, could this humanoid monster be an undiscovered boss monster of this dungeon?

'It's not uncommon to see monsters cooperating with each other….'

However, it wasn't that common to see them following one-sided orders.

'I haven't learned anything, so damn, I can't define it. I never thought I'd see a humanoid monster in my life, damn it. I really want to go home.'

It was around the time she was about to feel depressed.

Growl-!

“…….”

It was an annoyingly loud stomach alarm.

“…I'm sorry.”

“lt seems you're hungry.”

“I'm sorry…!!”

Cha Ara learned for the first time today that embarrassment and fear could come simultaneously. It was terrifying since the other party was trying so hard to accommodate human standards, but it seemed she had the luxury to even feel embarrassed.

“l haven't been able to eat for the past three days….”

“Three days?”

“Yes, it's been a little over 13 hours since I was abandoned, but I haven't eaten since then…"

“Three days?”

“……”

What, what is this.

'Did I touch on something wrong?'

A humanoid monster wasn't a common monster that would appear in the association's textbooks.

Humanoid monsters had different rules for each of them, so no one knew what strange rules the invisible monster in front of her might have.

But fortunately, the monster didn't seem to be angry with Cha Ara.

“They are bad people.”

“Corrr.”

Cha Ara was startled by the new voice.

“Gasp, what, what…”

“lt's my son.”

“Pardon?”

“……”

The monster was silent for a moment, then lifted the Anticat with one hand and moved the other hand behind its head. Although it wasn't clearly visible due to the darkness…

Cha Ara soon realized it was where the crying sound from earlier had come from.

“Honey.”

Pardon? What?

“You should say hello.”

“Coong.”

“Agood student.”

“……”

Before the nonsensical words 'good' and 'student,' something caught Cha Ara's eye.

On the monster's pale hand, there was a small bird of sweet honey colour, filled with all sorts of gems.

“……”

…C-cute.

“…“Isits name… Honey?”

“Yes, it is.”

It didn't look like it would bite at all, did it?

“But since I don't want it to, it won't bite.”

“Uh…1 see…”

“Honey, let's go home now.”

It was at that moment.

Shinggg-!

“……!”

The small bird's body shone brightly, illuminating everything in the cave.

“…Wo-wow…”

The gem cave was revealed in all its glory.

'Amazing.'

It was fantastic.

In the face of a breathtaking sight that was hard to witness even once in a lifetime, Cha Ara marvelled and forgot she was in a state of fear.

'So this is what Gem's Water Vein looks like.'

Various large and small gems were clustered together as if they were one body, and the cave's path was tunnelled like an ant's nest. It was a space filled with beautiful yet chaotic, dreamlike, and ethereal confusion.

Cha Ara saw the true form of Gem's Water Vein for the first time.

“……”

Thanks to that, she realized just how much of a monster 'Honey* was.

'…lt drove out all the dark beetles living in Gem's Water Vein.'

The 'dark beetles' do not physically attack but are impossible to exterminate without at least an A-rank priest. That small bird illuminated them in an instant, absorbing all light except for the glow of some shining gems.

It felt as if a giant ray of sunlight had descended.

“……”

“Ms. Cha Ara.”

“…Uh.”

Only then did the monster's face become visible.

“We've met before, haven't we?”

“…Uh, uh…!”

As he said, Cha Ara had seen him before.

“Back then, the gem…! The portrait…!”

“I'm glad you remember.”

“…You were a monster?!”

“I'm human.”

“Th-that's, well, no, it might be true, but…!”

Not wanting to upset the monster, Cha Ara quickly agreed. It seemed like it wanted to appear human somehow, and she didn't want to insist, 'Don't be ridiculous, what kind of human are you? and end up dead.

“……”

Cha Ara, hesitating, asked.

“…Am I, now… going to die…?”

“You will not die.”@@novelbin@@

“……”

“Good person deserve to be rewarded.”

“That…”

Cha Ara suddenly realized.

That monster… is trying to treat good humans well.'

The mention of'good student' earlier, and calling the group that abandoned Cha Ara 'bad people'-even though Cha Ara wasn't particularly educated, she could grasp that the other party was sensitive to good and evil.

“l apologize for startling you last time.”

“Uh…”

“lt's been a very long time since I've seen a kind student like Ms. Cha Ara, so I ended up following you without realizing it. You must have been uncomfortable, so I would like to take this opportunity to apologize.”

“Oh, no, there's no need for that…”

“l did not intend to startle you this time either. However, people tend to be unusually afraid of me, and in fact, I've never encountered anyone as frightened of me as Ms. Cha Ara, so I didn't know how to respond. I apologize for any discomfort my confusion may have caused you.”

“……”

What an annoyingly polite monster.

'Doesn't he realize that being this courteous makes me feel guilty instead?

It was a strange feeling.

The monster who introduced himself as 'Seo Gio' looked like an ordinary human.

'No.'

He looked like a very handsome human.

However, the overwhelming presence and vastness enveloping the black cloak were so great that such things were hard to notice.

How could a mouse standing before a giant possibly complement the giant's appearance? No matter how fragrant the scent, from the perspective of a mere creature, it wouldn't even have the mental capacity to evaluate that.

“……”

He was extremely gentlemanly.

At the same time, he was a distant and alien existence.

'…lt's like the universe is pretending to be human…'

She had no idea howto respond.

At that moment, 'Seo Gio' adjusted the small monsters in his arms and spoke to Cha Ara.

“I'm planning to return home.”

“…Ah, yes, th-that's right. Home…”

Huh?

'He has a separate home?

Wasn't this his home?

The gift given last time was also a gem… Moreover, with the Anticat following him like that, I thought that monster might actually be the true owner of this dungeon.'

Or did it mean there was another habitat deep within this ant nest?

“……”

“lf it's alright with you, Ms. Cha Ara.”

“Yes?”

“Would you allow me to invite you?”

Invite?

“lnvite, what do you mean…?”

“Ms. Cha Ara, you are young. This place is dark, and there is nothing to eat. You look tired and hungry, and I don't want to just pass by. I would appreciate it if you would allow me to offer you a meal.”

“…I, I'm ….”

“I swear not to harm you, and I promise to send you back to Seoul after one meal. I say this on my child, Honey, so please do not doubt me.”

“Ah.”

“Does that make you feel a bit more at ease?”

It wasn't that she trusted the monster.

“……”

However, to outright reject the kindness being shown, it seemed Cha Ara was still young and weak as 'Seo Gio' mentioned.

“… I'll accept your offer.”

It meant she was also tired of being left alone.