Kuwung…
With a tremendous sound, the ground trembled. Yoon Seo's blue magic, which had been swirling like a storm, converged at one point, and a white light appeared there. The white light gradually grew in size, becoming so dazzling that it was impossible to look at. A distorted being let out a grotesque scream and fled, while Kwon Jihan quickly hugged Yoon Seo's waist and moved a safe distance away.
Moments later, when the white light disappeared… what appeared in its place was a house.
A very familiar shape…
"This… is our house."
Kwon Jihan gasped in surprise.
"Did we just move to Earth… to Earth?"
"No."
"Then what?"
"This house is… a safe house."
['The Safe House of the Little Savior'
A cozy sanctuary for heroes.
Only kind and righteous people may enter.
Nothing can harm a hero in this place.]
Only then did Kwon Jihan confirm the identity of the house with the
Yoon Seo had only been to his house once to sleep… how incredibly comfortable must it have felt for it to have been transformed into a safe house like this?
"Let's go inside for now."
Yoon Seo, surprisingly unfazed, led the still creaking Kwon Jihan into the house. The front door was open, and there were no walls leading outside, allowing the interior of the dungeon to be seen. The shadows that had fled earlier were now wandering around again.
Yoon Seo sat Kwon Jihan down on the sofa.
"So to summarize… it seems like being here makes us invincible."
"Ah… really, Hyung."
Kwon Jihan's voice was filled with admiration and emotion. It almost sounded like he was about to cry.
"Truly, it's such a Hyung-like skill."
"..."
"It's not a skill for attacking monsters or protecting the weak. It's a salvation solely for heroes."
"Someone has to protect the heroes."
"Haha…"
[The God of Life says this is what Seo Chaeyoon is like.]
As usual, Yoon Seo tried to glance over the gods' message, but he realized it was the first time the God of Life had mentioned his name directly.
Yoon Seo smiled.
"Shall we begin now?"
"Yeah, let's go."
Kwon Jihan stood up and faced the shadows.
He took humanity's last weapon from his inventory. Inside a cylindrical object the length of his forearm was an antimatter bomb the size of a fist. Though small, it had such a massive mass that he had to invest 10 billion experience points to expand his inventory.
Zing.
Kwon Jihan pressed the button on the surface to activate it and threw it far away.
The ultimate weapon, a combination of human technology and the byproducts of the Gaia System. It was capable of releasing energy equivalent to a 100-teraton asteroid collision, theoretically capable of annihilating not only this dungeon but also Proxima b. The power would be reduced by the defenses of the Gaia System, but it would certainly destroy the dungeon's boundaries.
One minute until the bomb detonated.
Kwon Jihan returned to Yoon Seo, his smile appearing calm, almost leisurely.
Yoon Seo took deep breaths, repeatedly inhaling and exhaling, overwhelmed with emotion.
Lee Domin.
Lee Kangjin.
Kim Hyungtae, Kim Seohae. Rita Switch, Hughes Sairo. Lee Kanghoon, Shim Sihwan, Linda Daisy, Shinda Lily, Na Jaemin, Kim Miji, Hyomi, Garis Romeo, Mark Farshim…
Countless names flickered through his mind.
"Hyung."
"..."
Kwon Jihan tightly gripped Yoon Seo's hand. Each time Yoon Seo held hands with Kwon Jihan, he thought about how much training it must have taken for even an S-rank hunter to have calluses on his palms. Every time he thought of this, he found Kwon Jihan to be a little more endearing.
In the distance, with a dazzling light, the bomb exploded…
It was then that the two awaited what would happen next.
[! Gaia System Notification!]
With a frantic message, everything within the dungeon came to a halt.
As if the pause button had been pressed, the shockwave of the bomb, the swaying of the forest, and the cries of the misaligned entities all came to a stop before another message appeared.
[The Gaia System is intervening to protect the planet.
As 'humanity's weapon' threatens the existence of this solar system,
the Gaia System has the authority to suspend the dungeon raid.
The dungeon has been cleared.
The final gate of Earth has been passed.]
It was a declaration of surrender from the Gaia System.
***
25. The Way Back
[The dungeon has been cleared: Current number of people: 2; Time taken: 1 hour 4 minutes]
[Experience gained: 100,000,000]
[Unused experience: 13,973,745,000]
The experience points from the black dungeon were lower than from the Great Dungeon, likely due to the raid being suspended.
Of course, "lower" in comparison to the Great Dungeon still meant it was an enormous figure.
[Dungeon Clearing Most Valuable Contributor: Yoon Seo]
[Dungeon Contribution: Yoon Seo 9 / Others 1]
"Wow. They even give me 1. Why did they give me that? Just because I took it out of my inventory?"
"They probably thought you looked cute smiling next to me."
"I'm glad I'm cute."
Kwon Jihan stood up with a pretty smile. Yoon Seo got up as well, and as the two of them left the house, the safe house gradually disappeared. It seemed that things made with vanished after their effectiveness was spent.
The black dungeon remained still, as if time had frozen, and a portal appeared again in the place where the original entrance had been.
This time, it was a color he had never seen before… a dazzling white that was so brilliant it would be recognized as something special by anyone who laid eyes on it.
[The Gaia System presents a special gift to the most valuable contributor, Yoon Seo.]
[The Gaia System gifts you the item 'Ticket for Meeting the Watcher.']
['Ticket for Meeting the Watcher'
Rank: L-class
A ticket that allows you to converse with the Watcher, who protects the universe from the cosmic boundary today.
The chosen one who has passed the final gate will receive answers to their questions.]
When Yoon Seo furrowed his brow, Kwon Jihan asked.
"What did you get?"
"It's called the 'Ticket for Meeting the Watcher'…"
As Yoon Seo explained the item, Kwon Jihan frowned.
"What the hell? Are you kidding me? After all that trouble to clear the black dungeon, you mean they're not even going to let us have a meeting and are just sending us back to Earth without any explanation? And it's only given to the most valuable contributor? What about me? Ugh, this is so annoying. Hey, Gaia! Give me one too. I worked hard as well. Just because my Hyung is a munchkin doesn't mean I didn't struggle hard! Give me mine too! I want to hear the explanation!"
Kwon Jihan pouted into the air.
Yoon Seo nodded beside him.
[The God of Life states that Kwon Jihan is correct.]
[The God of Death fiercely criticizes Gaia.]
[The Watcher approaches Gaia.]
The supportive gods chimed in one by one. Soon, Gaia raised the white flag.
[The Gaia System presents a gift to the Earth's humanity, which has passed the final gate using a method that has never been attempted in billions of years.
Please check your inventory.]
"Oh, I got a ticket too."
Kwon Jihan pulled the ticket from his inventory. The two were satisfied and prepared to enter the white portal. However, the supportive gods stopped them.
[The God of Life argues that the most valuable contributor should receive a separate gift.]
[The God of Death says that the Gaia System is being stingy.]
[The Watcher clicks their tongue at Gaia.]
[The God of Death calls Gaia a miser.]
[The God of Life shouts if they are just going to watch the miser.]
[A certain God, who had been watching over 'Kwon Jihan' and 'Yoon Seo,' expresses disappointment in the miser.]
Kwon Jihan blinked and looked at Yoon Seo, as if he had received the last message too. Yoon Seo felt the same way.
A certain god who had been watching over them…?
[A certain God, who found 'Kwon Jihan' and 'Yoon Seo' interesting, demands a gift for the most valuable contributor.]
[A certain God, who was crying while watching 'Kwon Jihan' and 'Yoon Seo,' criticizes Gaia.]
[A certain God, who had been cheering for 'Kwon Jihan' and 'Yoon Seo,' suggests they should seize the gift from the miser.]
[The Gods watching the two shout that a gift for the most valuable contributor must be given.]
[… Gaia says to wait a moment.]
Yoon Seo felt dazed. So many gods were watching over them… It was overwhelming and a bit embarrassing. Was it remarkable that the inhabitants of a remote planet had entered the final gate?
On the other hand, thinking that these gods must have witnessed the demise of countless beings, including Lee Kangjin, made his heart feel complicated.
[The Gaia System has prepared a separate gift for the most valuable contributor.
This is truly a great gift.
There won't be anything better than this.
Please check your inventory.]
Receiving a message full of confidence, Yoon Seo opened his inventory, and there it was… a single round, white jewel. Inside the jewel were sparkling small particles. Yoon Seo took out the jewel.
['Soul Powder'
Grade: B
Contains the soul of a certain human who chose to perish in the Black Dungeon ten years ago. If this is scattered, the soul will be reborn as new stars. This is a gift personally prepared by Gaia for the heroes of Earth.]
Yoon Seo looked back at the white jewel in his hand. Then, he suddenly collapsed. Kwon Jihan, who had checked the jewel with
So many people had unjustly died because of this final gate.
While it was true that humanity had triumphed, when they returned to Earth, they would celebrate with festivities, cheering and rejoicing every day. They would eagerly prepare for the future as they welcomed a new era after hearing the Observer's words.
But their comrades would forever remember those deaths.
They would mourn for a while, and even when they forgot, they would suddenly be overwhelmed with grief. Long after, those memories would continue to torment them.
The death of a comrade was just like that.