Chapter 44: Companionship
Whooosh.
Cheoldu fell while scanning his surroundings. He could have slowed his descent by stabbing his spear into the wall, but he had something in mind and decided to continue free-falling.
‘Is this it?’
Judging by the sound of the rock he had dropped earlier, the bottom was definitely water. And now, he must be close to it.
Glancing down, he saw the rippling surface come into view. The dark water, barely touched by sunlight, made its composition impossible to discern.
Splash!
Entering the water feet-first, Cheoldu plunged smoothly into the depths without significant impact. The water’s depth allowed him to dive in unscathed.
Whoosh!
Surfacing, Cheoldu lifted his head above the water.
“Phew!”
He slowly moved his limbs, watching droplets fall from above. The vertical cave, fed by multiple streams from Obongsan Mountain, gave the illusion of a heavy rainstorm.
Whoooosh!
Leaving behind the refreshing sound of the waterfall-like cascade, Cheoldu scanned his surroundings. Spotting a ledge to climb onto, he swam toward it.
Whoosh!
Upon climbing onto the rock, Cheoldu felt a pang of worry for Jintae, who had stayed behind. Had he known the water was this deep, he would’ve urged Jintae to jump with him.
Cupping his hands, Cheoldu shouted toward the cave’s ceiling:
“Jintae! I’m fine! I’ll look around and come back up!”
His voice echoed in all directions, but he doubted it would pierce through the cascading water to reach Jintae’s ears.
Tap, tap, tap!
Cheoldu turned toward the source of an echoing sound.
“Hmm. There’s an opening here.”
Despite heightened sensory stats, the absence of even faint light made it impossible to discern details. Cheoldu emptied his inventory, retrieving his sword, six throwing axes, six daggers, a staff, and a steel mace.
“A bit lacking as a primary weapon.”
After deliberation, he chose the staff. Though light, its material granted strength surpassing ordinary wood. It would suffice as a blunt weapon for now.
He stored the steel mace in inventory slot 1, lit a torch, and bundled looted items into another slot.
“Three slots remaining.”
With his long spear stored separately, Cheoldu had ample space. After organizing, he struck flint to light the torch.
Flicker.
The echo’s direction revealed a horizontal passage.
“If this is another dead end…”
Cheoldu’s gaze shifted to where lake water drained into a swift underground current. The torrent roared into a drainage-like cave.
He glanced upward.
Options: follow the current or climb the cliff. Ideally, the cave had another exit.
“I’ll deal with later… later.”
Had he overthought, he wouldn’t have jumped. He moved forward simply because the path existed.
The torch’s flame writhed like a sinister lizard.
“……”
Cheoldu scowled.
“Leave.”
Flicker.
The lizard, which should’ve hidden, stared unblinkingly from the torch. Cheoldu halted and glared back.
“You know why.”
A barbarian blessed by fairies? A laughable hybrid.
“I don’t blame you.”
Blaming these small creatures wasn’t his intent. Blaming others was for weaklings.
“But I’ve no desire to associate with you again.”
When he’d confessed their existence to his parents—and when the tribe discovered it—his parents met their end. They’d sacrificed themselves to save him.
He knew it wasn’t the creatures’ fault. The responsibility was his alone.
<Fairy’s Blessing>
Though unclear why it clung to him, rejecting it had protected him.
“Leave.”
“……”
The fire lizard persisted, undeterred by his willpower.
“You little brat?”
Swish!
His hand swiped through the flames, but the lizard remained. Only his fingers burned.
“Huff! Huff!”
“Why so stubborn?”
Extinguishing the torch would plunge him into darkness. Enhanced senses couldn’t compensate for absolute blackness. Sight was essential unless he relied solely on his staff.
Thud.
Planting the torch, Cheoldu sat cross-legged before it.
“Disappear unless you want death.”
“……”
Veins bulged on his forehead.
He couldn’t kill it. Both knew this. Infuriating. A foe immune to physical force.
“This changes nothing. I won’t acknowledge you.”
“……”
“Even if I abandon this exploration, I won’t mingle with your kind again.”
The lizard sulked at his declaration.
A fairy’s blessing was a curse to a barbarian—a cruel irony. Receiving grace from enemy fairies? It was akin to collaborating with invaders. He’d be branded a traitor.
Yet he endured silently.
Grief, resentment, vengeance—all redirected inward as self-loathing, fueling relentless training.
Closing his eyes, Cheoldu’s resolve hardened.
His stubbornness surpassed theirs. The creatures peeking from water, wind, and rocks—he wanted no reunion.
One by one, their presences faded until only the torch’s warmth remained.
Flicker.
The blazing flame mirrored his inner fury—a self-hatred consuming him.
“No issues here.”
Cheoldu stood, dusted himself off, and reclaimed the torch.
“Huff!”
His sharp eyes blazed with renewed resolve. Whatever lay ahead, he’d face it.
“Alright!”
He advanced through the passage. The cave, wide enough for four abreast, held nothing remarkable until its end.
“What’s this?”
A suspicious wooden door blocked the path.
Creak—
“……Huh?”
It opened too easily. Light seeped through as Cheoldu blinked to adjust.
“Grrrroul!”
“Ratuna Kurak!”
A sprawling cavern village teemed with orcs. Though not densely populated, their raucous chatter filled the air. At the center, orc warriors dueled in an arena.
“An underground orc village?”
Cheoldu stepped inside, curiosity piqued.
Cha-ching.
He paid without hesitation.
<Abandoned Dragon’s Nest>
Long abandoned by a dragon, this lair was claimed by wandering orcs. An unconquered dungeon with first-clear rewards.
Cheoldu grinned.
Obongsan’s “five bosses” had felt underwhelming. This made sense.
Traverse the cave to find the orc village. Defeat the orc chieftain. Reward: Chieftain’s Emblem
Cheoldu tilted his head.
“But the village is already here. ‘Traverse the cave’?”
Glancing back, he noted five tunnel entrances guarded by patrolling orcs.
“Well, any path leads forward.”
The chieftain was easily identified—a hulking orc on a dais in the arena, exuding authority unmatched by common warriors.
‘Strong.’
Ordinary orc warriors no longer challenged Cheoldu. This one might push his limits.
He checked his weapons. Ideally, a 1v1 duel, but he prepared for a swarm. Over 20 warriors and seven shamans surrounded the arena—far denser than outside.
If this dungeon went public, it’d become a hotspot—for those strong enough.
Cheoldu’s heart pounded. Roaring, he charged.
“Uwooooh!”
The battlefield cry drew every orc’s attention—fighters, spectators, and the chieftain alike.
“Heh.”
Cheoldu hurled a throwing axe infused with magic.
Whooosh—Crrack!
The axe embedded itself in a shaman’s skull.
Crrack! Thud!
Four shamans fell swiftly, clearing his path.
“Turutah!”
The chieftain bellowed, mobilizing warriors. Distant shamans began chanting.
“Heh.”
Cheoldu drew his steel mace and staff.
“Turak! Tutu!”
The first warrior leaped, axe overhead. Cheoldu sidestepped and smashed its skull.
“Next!”
The battle had just begun.
