That Face Is the Problem - Chapter 37.1
“We never know when or in which mirror we’ll become monsters,” Da-sol said. Yi-hyeon’s eyes widened.
“So that means they could attack us from the floor or ceiling, not just the walls?”
“Exactly. Turn on your protective items first.”
“Ah, yes, yes!”
Yi-hyeon quickly activated his S-rank protective ring. This ring, which lasted an hour, was a valuable treasure that had been packed tightly into the item box before entering the dungeon. All team members knew how dangerous this dungeon would be.
“Let’s observe the patterns for one hour,” Da-sol said. Yi-hyeon started walking again.
Since the defensive items were concentrated on Yi-hyeon and Da-sol, the other team members had to protect themselves in their own ways.
Hyeon Hee-ro, who could manipulate water, could easily create protective barriers. Jeong Jeong-eon could control his mirror reflection with his incantations. Ye-jin, being a mage, and Jae-gyeong, who also had shield skills, had no major problems.
However, Ri-na, the archer, was slightly disadvantaged defensively. In return, she could move so swiftly that her mirror self could not predict her actions.
Each team member advanced, fighting their mirror selves and defending themselves in their own way. The lines drawn on the mirrors grew longer, and the characteristics of the monsters in the mirrors became clearer.
The monsters resembling the team members always behaved slightly differently from the originals before attacking. Yi-hyeon’s mirror had faced forward alone, and Ri-na’s mirror had even flipped her off, making her angrier.
Just as they began to get used to the mirror monsters, an unexpected variable appeared. A team member other than themselves appeared in a mirror.
Jae-gyeong, drawing a line, turned a corner and met Jeong Jeong-eon.
“Uh…!”
[Ah, Jeong Jae-gyeong Hunter!]
“J-Jeong Jeong-eon Hunter…? Are you really Jeong Jeong-eon Hunter?”
Jae-gyeong lightly pressed his tongue against his upper teeth. Jeong Jeong-eon did the same, mimicking the signal Jae-gyeong had prepared in the team meeting.
[Yes. It’s really me. You haven’t been hurt, have you?]
Jeong Jeong-eon asked worriedly. Jae-gyeong’s expression changed. Tears welled up in his eyes, and his lips trembled.
[Why, Jeong Jae-gyeong Hunter?]
“Why… can you speak while in the mirror…?”
[Huh? That’s because I’m not a mirror monster. I’m the real Jeong Jeong-eon.]
Jae-gyeong’s eyebrows sank. He tightly closed his eyes and fired his dark armor gun toward Jeong Jeong-eon with his right arm. Bang, crash! One side of the mirror shattered, and Jeong Jeong-eon collapsed.
“That’s not right…”
Jae-gyeong murmured sadly. His whole body was covered in goosebumps. He had not expected the mirror monster to speak. Had the other team members noticed?
If it hadn’t been for the prearranged team signal, he might have been completely fooled.
They had all agreed on signals in the team meeting, but each of the seven members had a different signal to prevent their mirror selves from copying the exact sign.
Jae-gyeong’s signal was lightly pressing the tip of his tongue against the back of his upper teeth, and Jeong Jeong-eon’s signal was subtly wrinkling the bridge of his nose. So when Jae-gyeong did his signal, Jeong Jeong-eon had to wrinkle his nose to prove he was the original.
This time it went well, but a sense of foreboding remained.
‘The signal was wrong, but at least we know there is a way to recognize each other…’
Moreover, the mirror monsters could speak. When it reflected oneself, it didn’t speak, but it seemed to have remained silent to trick others.
‘Too scary…!!’
Jae-gyeong had never been in a dungeon this terrifying. Even the first dungeon he had entered was scary, and special dungeons were harder than normal dungeons because the strategies differed slightly, but none were this frightening.
‘There’s a monster scarier than an uncommunicative cake…!’
Jae-gyeong hoped that fewer monsters would appear in front of him, and that someone else would quickly find the exit of the maze if not him.
Meanwhile, other team members also encountered someone else in a mirror. Specifically, Da-sol and Yi-hyeon.
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