In the Name of God - Chapter 56.1
Outside, with the help of the rescue team, I found the area in a complete state of chaos.
The entire area within a radius of dozens of meters from the dungeon’s emergence point had been cordoned off. Inside a large temporary barracks set up near the entrance, members of the Association’s disaster response team, inspectors tasked with measuring the dungeon’s rank, and clan staff were all intertwined in a flurry of busy movement.
The first to reach us were the clan’s medical staff.
Transport stretchers and portable medical equipment were unfolded one after another, and we underwent sequential brief scans and injury checks.
My ankle injury was classified as not severe but requiring immediate first aid, and a splint was secured. Since Lee Sunho had no injuries other than minor scratches, no special measures were taken for him.
While receiving first aid, I handed over the core we had secured to the head of the clan’s dungeon investigation team and briefed him on the interior of the dungeon.
“The depth is approximately 114m. It is a straight passage at first, but then three forks appear. We entered through the middle path, and among the new forks, we moved to the right and…”
“The monsters are estimated to have an average height of about 90cm to 1m 20cm; they are humanoid mummies, judged to be the monsterized corpses of children. Subjectively, they are at an E-rank level, and currently, with the Boss dead, they have lost control and…”
“The Boss room is a dome shape of about 80 pyeong that incorporates a pre-existing ruined cathedral, and the Boss monster is a phantom entity that uses illusion magic. Physical force does not work, but once the core is attacked accurately, it vanishes immediately and…”
As I continued speaking, the expressions of the investigation team leader and the people around us became subtle. Was it because the briefing had exceeded the scope of a simple report while I was talking?
The expression of Park Junggeon , who was standing behind me like a guard, was not much different from theirs.
“Are you… really a newbie who became an Awakened only two months ago? Aren’t you actually a hidden secret agent from some reconnaissance team… or something like that?”
The expressions of those who agreed with his words were mixed with a bit of admiration.
Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed absurd to them that a Rank 3 rookie, who had been caught in an unexpected accident, had calmly scouted the interior of the dungeon.
From one side, murmurs emerged that I was far too fearless, while from another, exclamations of admiration leaked out, calling me a “tree with promising buds.” The expressions on the faces of Park Junggeon and Estelle Roland were an appropriate mix of those two reactions.
Realizing that my past habits had slipped out, I brought the briefing to a moderate conclusion. Regarding the circumstances of how we reached the Boss room after falling into the dungeon, I coordinated my story with Lee Sunho to say that it happened while being chased by monsters.
Afterward, there was nothing more for us to do.
I was moved to a hospital to have my ankle injury treated quickly and then returned to the dormitory.
“You’re excluded from morning training until your ankle is fully healed.”
Park Junggeon, who had followed me all the way to the front of the dormitory room, pointed specifically at me and said.
“Anyway, the instructor said that other than your fitness being trash, there’s nothing to find fault with, so let’s resume after you’ve completely recovered. Basic education is… well, it’s just a formality, so just rest while watching video materials on your tablet.”
“Is that okay?”
“What’s the point of having a ‘back’ if you don’t use it?”
Park Junggeon grinned while proudly pointing to himself.
“Don’t worry, Estelle and I will handle everything that follows.”
Having spoken while puffing out his chest, he suddenly took on a serious expression.
“And… if anything happens, make sure to tell me.”
I could guess why Park Junggeon was speaking this way.
Normally, even veteran Awakened had to be careful of mental shock in dungeons where humanoid undead appeared. This is because the lingering distaste of feeling like you are killing fellow humans—even if they are monsters—can bring about a significant aftermath if it piles up.
Furthermore, according to my briefing, it meant I had even been exposed to the Boss monster’s illusion magic, so he looked uneasy about just letting it go based on a seemingly fine outward appearance.
I shot a look at Park Junggeon.
“Do I look that weak to you?”
“Looking at you right now, wouldn’t anyone think so?”
“…”
Standing in the entryway, being held quietly in Lee Sunho’s two arms, I shut my mouth because I had no words to immediately refute that.
“Still, I know there’s no guy as mentally solid as you, kid.”
Park Junggeon chuckled to himself and patted my shoulder. Then, after sending a silent gaze to Lee Sunho as if to say ‘take good care of him,’ he swung his body around.
“I’m off.”
“Thank you.”
“Yeah. Good work.”
I watched Park Junggeon’s back as he left, answering like an old man, and then closed the door. Before the door fully shut, I heard the sound of Park Junggeon talking to someone on the phone.
“Yeah, where’s that team leader bastard? …I need to go stomp on him for a bit, so tell the guys in the interrogation room to go grab some food for a while. …Ah, I’m not going to kill him!”
Once again, I felt that Park Junggeon was a good person.
That evening.
After being semi-forced to feast on a meal prepared by Lee Sunho.
I shut myself quietly in my room.
“Echo.”
When I called its name, a blank system window popped out as if it had been waiting. Echo , poking its head out, flapped its thick front paws before its body had even fully emerged.
-Master! Are you okay?!
“What would be wrong?”
I answered nonchalantly and caught Echo in the air with both hands. Echo, hanging dangling while caught in my hands, moved its snout busily.
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