Chapter 354: An Easy Elf, An Easy Elena
'Why haven't I thought of this until now?'
I knew I had to keep a look a bit serious, but I still kept smiling. The problem hadn't been solved yet, but it seemed like I had found a good solution.
Even after Kim Hyunah, Kim Ye-ri, and Kim Chang-ryul got clues about the dungeon together, the laughter continued to pop out of me, and though a loud voice resonated from the front, I did not pay much attention.
Anyway, it must have been news that the dungeon that Hyunsung was hiding was found.
Whether this prediction was correct, the guild members and elves were preparing to enter the dungeon. It was no wonder that Elena also showed an excited expression; it was pretty fun to see her looking at me whilst moving her ears up and down.
Looking at her, who looked so innocent, I couldn't understand why I hadn't been able to think of this until now.
In a sense, I wanted to thank both Jung Hayan and Kim Hyuna.
'There is no need to really cleanse my soul.'
Literally, it didn't really have to be cured. She was the only one who could see my condition anyway.
As long as that emerald pointy ear elf didn't feel uncomfortable with me... Even if Kim Hyunsung's plan were to fail, there was a possibility that this would be solved if I made her believe that the treatment was over.
'If the characteristic change...'
I was curious about what she would think of me. Belial certainly called me a disgusting soul, but he did not vomit or frown.
Perhaps it was the effect inherent in my characteristic. It may be a disgusting soul to Elena and others, but it might not look like that to Jung Hayan.
Of course, Jung Hayan didn't have Elena's attribute, but she wouldn't get nauseous if she did.
If Elena's characteristic or disposition would get reversed, there was a possibility that her perspective on me would also change.
It may be a little difficult, but since I had a lot of time to be with Elena, it was worth trying at least once.
'This is not my specialty...'
Of course, I did not feel comfortable. Bringing a pure elf to the abyss was a very difficult spell for Light Kiyoung, who had been reborn. This was not even my specialty.
However, I thought it couldn't be helped for the cause. I had even considered an unfortunate accident of this innocent elf in the worst case, but more than that, this showed how cheap I was.
Of course, there were many difficulties in implementing the plan right away, but...
"Oppa, are you not feeling well?"
"N-No. Hayan. I was thinking about something else for a second."
"That's f-fortunate."
At last, that difficulty began to talk, but it was the right timing.
I saw the party members who were just about ready to enter the dungeon waiting for me. As I walked while preparing plausible storytelling, I couldn't even think that things had gone this far.
'I need a little more time to think...'
Of course, there was no time to enjoy such leisure. As I thought the time was urgent, I had decided to enter immediately.
It would have been nice to have realized this before leaving, but after the train had already left, I have no choice but to do my job well within my current situation.
For example, this was a quest with a time limit given only to me. From the moment I entered the dungeon until the dungeon was attacked, at any cost, I must make Elena realize what the true light was.
As soon as I nodded and walked, a familiar voice came immediately.
[You have entered the Twisted Pond in a legendary-grade dungeon. Number of people [23/34] checked.]
'It's still the same.'
It gave an atmosphere of choking and pressure. It was about time I got used to it, but I couldn't get used to this strange atmosphere.
The overall atmosphere of the Twisted Pond was like the Garden of Horror.
Though, in fact, they didn't have much in common except that they had plants. This was because the whole place, which we had come through the underground, was damp and moist, and all the roots and plants tangled around were rotten.
It was different from the garden that kept it green. Elios slowly opened his mouth as if something was bothering him before we really entered.
"I had doubts, but... it was true."
Of course, who answered was Kim Hyunsung. It was time to explain how he could find clues so easily that even Eberian rangers couldn't. I was lucky, anyway. He would speak, but what about it? As long as they accepted it, that was it.
"I was just lucky because I had received guidance from the fairies. I didn't think I would be able to find it this early either."
"This area has already been investigated..."
"You will not be familiar with dungeons, so it will only be natural."
"But... it's really amazing."
"Oh, it's that our Guild Master has found dungeons amazingly since long before. There's nothing to be weird about. Since we've been summoned, there will be more than ten dungeons that have been found or attacked. It's not something to be blamed for... and he is exceptional among foreigners who are eager to find dungeons."
"..."
'You covered it well.'
"Uncle Deokgu is right. Since before. Hyunsung... No, the Guild Master is a pro in finding places like this."
"I see. I think I know why you, who have just arrived here, have grown so much."
"Well, actually, discovering is important, too, but attacking is even more important than that. Without Hyung-ssi... no, without the Guild Master and Hyung-nim, our guild could not have grown this far."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Absolutely, if I were to tell stories of our guild's attacks on dungeons, a day wouldn't be enough. Ah, but I'm a little nervous because it's still a legendary-grade... Are you, elves, familiar with dungeons?"
"Actually... We're not."
"Really?"
"Yeah. If it's not for a special reason... of course, it's not that we won't go at all, but it will be difficult to compare with you guys. There are not many dungeons in the Kingdom of Eberia."
"That's not known. It might be hidden here and there, just like this place."
Even if I were to think about it, the last remark was bullshit. Anyone could see that he didn't know a thing about dungeons. Although I was expecting him to be a little trustworthy, the elves were rather an awkward bunch.
'Tsk, tsk.'
They really didn't look experienced. I didn't know why a group with this kind of power looked somewhat so awkward.
'Can I think that they are similar to the Knights?'
I didn't really know if this could be expressed like this, but it seemed to me that it was similar to the fact that the Knights possessed by the State were unfamiliar with attacking dungeons.
Unlike mercenaries and professional treasure hunters, these people were ignorant of the dungeon itself. It was a completely different story between going through war or an interpersonal battle and attacking a dungeon.
These were the former specialists, not the latter.
'Of course, they know the basics, but...'
It meant that there was a high possibility that they wouldn't know what to do in sudden situations. Since it was not the forest, their movement would indeed be limited, and the dungeon itself, called Twisted Pond, didn't seem to suit the elves. They had come together to watch us, but perhaps I should think about the possibility that they might be a nuisance.
"Since you said you're not familiar with... it would be better to reorganize the overall formation. Is that okay?"
"I think we'll listen to it first."
"There is no change in creating a line around Kiyoung and Elena... Others except Elios would be better off standing in the rear. Rangers, summoners, and the rest of the warriors will be in charge of the middle, and we will be in charge of the front line."
"Hmm..."
'He doesn't look very pleased.'
If it were me, I would have welcomed it with open arms. However, on the elves' side, it seemed that they did not like us to be completely in charge of the front line. They might think so.
In fact, this expedition had been created to heal the World Tree rather than me. Considering that it was an elven job and a task given to the elves, it might feel uncomfortable to see the Blue getting the advantage.
If it were an individual group, some would think it would be fortunate to receive the benefits, but they belonged to a huge kingdom. It meant that we had to consider several things.
'They aren't stupid than I thought either.'
In fact, it didn't matter what happened with the camp.
'Hyunsung will take care of the dungeon strategy...'
I just had to do what I had to do.
I didn't have enough time and ability to pay attention to strategy. It was only correct to try to solve the immediate problem.
'How can I do this?'
I must also be careful with Kim Hyunsung and guild members' eyes. Above all, I needed to figure out exactly how Elena thought and felt about me.
I planned to start as soon as sufficient preparations have been made.
'She is the real problem.'
Of course, the most problematic one was none other than Jung Hayan. She wouldn't dare put magic on Elena, who had been serving as my nurse, but I didn't know what she might do if she were to lose it.
If I were to think about the possibility of having a boat ride with just the two of us on Twisted Pond, it was not enough to be careful a hundred times.
The ideal thing was to somehow create a situation where we could be alone. Above all else, this was my top priority. There was no beginning without talking to her first. There was no way to have an accident if nothing happened.
No matter what happened, I had to talk to her.
'How long does it take to attack the dungeon?'
If I were to think about the food we brought, the expedition would take at least ten days. Even assuming that camps would be made more than ten times, it was undeniable that time was insufficient. No matter how I was to think about it, there was no other way than to grab my chest.
It was even hard to walk, as there were no wagons in sight.
There was no law against going in a rickshaw because there was enough manpower left.
"Cough... Elena, I can't breathe..."
"What?"
"Cough. Cough..."
When I started with the plan, I felt all of the gazes focused on me.
I looked like a child screaming for a toy. I promised myself to refrain from doing these bullshit shows as much as possible, but human commitment was originally easy to break.
When I started with the same symptoms they had seen the last time, I saw them moving in a hurry.
'This is not my fault.'
The warped air in the warped place had no choice but to devour some pure soul.
This was the moment when I desperately needed to cut off the outside world. Of course, everyone knew that the beautiful elf caregiver should stay with me.
'I don't want to walk. Bastards! "