Darkness.
A place where nothing could be seen.
Where nothing could be perceived.
An all-encompassing fear that had no bottom because of its vastness.
But why?
The sun was shining so brightly.
The sky was piercingly blue.
Then why did it feel like darkness was clouding my vision?
"...."
Kim Jangcheol didn't say anything.
No, he couldn't say anything.
It had been that way ever since he locked eyes with Aged Kimchi, who was crouched beside him at a distance close enough to reach out and touch—expressionless, silent, sitting side by side.
'Since when…'
…had he been tailing me?
Then that means he was right behind or beside me this whole time?
And yet, I didn't notice a thing?
'I didn't let anything slip that would reveal I'm the Demon King, right?'
With his heart pounding louder and louder, his mind began spinning faster. He started retracing his steps from when he left the mansion until now.
'Well… I passed through the city center of Daparachia… jumped over about five magic barrier walls… and that was it, so… I should be fine… right?'
Yeah, that should be fine.
It didn't seem like his identity had been fully exposed.
Even now, as Aged Kimchi tossed him a question, he didn't sense any real suspicion.
"You're assuming there's a merchant's storage deeper inside that mine?"
"…Yes. Probably."
He quickly answered in a low voice.
To avoid raising suspicion.
"That mine's the only large-scale underground facility in the area, after all."
"…That's true. If it's a storage belonging to a merchant dealing in that much cargo, it would have to be huge. And if such a facility existed above ground, it would definitely stand out."
"Yes. Exactly."
"So, you were planning to head in and check it out now?"
"Yes. To find the chuno, I need to know where it was taken."
"That's a relief."
A faint smile formed at the corner of Aged Kimchi's mouth.
Relief? What's so relieving?
"I was worried you might've secretly colluded with that merchant to betray Young Master Reivaj."
"......."
"That's why I followed you."
"…I would never do something like that."
He hurriedly made an excuse.
"I will retrieve the chuno no matter what. And I'll make sure that merchant gets punished. That's why I'm trying to locate the path to the vault."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
…And as a bonus, this plan ends with me conveniently fleeing from you, Aged Kimchi.
Of course, that last part stayed in his thoughts.
Just then, Aged Kimchi nodded.
"Very well. Then I'll go with you."
"....."
"You don't want me to?"
"Yes."
The response slipped out instinctively. A chill ran down his spine, and he quickly tacked on a follow-up.
"I just prefer being alone."
"I usually do too."
"Then why now?"
"Because I'm worried."
"About me?"
"Mmhmm."
"Why?"
"You seem more careless than you look."
"....."
Aged Kimchi replied calmly. His eyes scanned Kim Jangcheol up and down.
The meaning was obvious.
You've been letting your guard down around me this whole time, haven't you?
"......"
For a moment, he was at a loss for words.
But he couldn't back down easily.
Was he seriously going to keep moving around with Aged Kimchi stuck to his side?
He'd rather hold hands with a starving, six-year-old male Siberian tiger and march into a karaoke booth to sing a song at the top of his lungs. And honestly, that'd be safer. No joke.
Maybe it was that strong will to survive (?) kicking in. Before he realized it, the words just came out.
"Gaps aren't something to fill. They're something to use."
"...What?"
"Uh, I mean…"
Why did I say that? That's something Grandma used to say all the time…
…Screw it. Whatever.
"Everyone has gaps. And trying to fill them all is endless. It's better to use them instead."
"How so?"
"Like how I pretended not to notice when Sir Aged Kimchi was tailing me earlier?"
"…That wasn't pretending. You really didn't know."
"I was just acting the part so thoroughly, that's all."
"Hmm, I don't think so."
"You say that with certainty. Why are you so sure?"
"Because back there, you let out a fart in one of the alleys of Daparachia city. A real loud one. Like something exploded. I heard it clearly."
"......."
"Normally, people wouldn't do that if they sensed someone nearby, right? You were totally relaxed, certain you were alone."
"That was on purpose."
"What?"
"On purpose. You didn't catch that?"
"To make me let my guard down?"
"Yes. Exactly that."
"You sacrificed your dignity as a living being just for that?"
"…It's just a fart. Isn't dignity a bit much?"
"You did it twice."
"Anyway."
"Are you getting angry now?"
"No. Of course not."
"You sure? Sounds like you are."
"Definitely not."
"You totally are."
"Why do you say that?"
"Your pronunciation just now…"
"My pronunciation?"
"Mmhmm."
"How was it?"
"Krrrr."
"......."
"You were grinding your teeth so hard while answering, it was obvious you were mad."
"......"
"Anyway, I agree with your intention to find the hidden storage of that merchant. It's necessary. That's why I want to help."
"........"
"Do you really hate the idea of me helping you that much?"
"Yes."
"That's a pretty blunt answer."
"Let's just say I'm being honest."
Kim Jangcheol let out a deep sigh and lowered his head.
At this point, he had no choice but to admit it.
There was no way he could shake off Aged Kimchi and head into the mine alone.
At the same time, his heart began to pound with quiet unease.
'Tsk, why the hell did I do that? Why did I mouth off to that monster just now?'
Thinking about it, it was insane.
Who was Aged Kimchi, after all?
A living weapon and slaughter machine, engineered solely to cut, crush, and rip apart the demon race and the Demon King.
A walking arsenal of ultimate techniques.
The ultimate combat machine.
And yet, to that monster, he'd talked back.
Not only that, but he'd argued. Boldly, repeatedly.
'Sigh… let's not do that again, ever.'
Kim Jangcheol chewed on his belated(?) regret and reflected while cautiously watching Aged Kimchi's expression.
Meanwhile, Aged Kimchi found himself feeling a strange emotion.
'Hmm, why did I act like that? Why did I end up casually chatting with that being as if we were equals?'
Thinking about it, that was strange too.
Just who—or what—was that guy?
A being presumed to be the Summon of Duty, one who had done nothing but lead him down the path of slaughter.
From his perspective, it was both a blessing and a guiding force—and at the same time, a curse of bondage he could never shake off.
And yet with such a being, just now, he had shared a joke.
And more than that, he even felt… enjoyment.
'Sigh… I'll have to be more careful from now on.'
Why had he done that?
Why did that brief moment feel enjoyable?
'Tsk, I've lost it.'
'Sigh, I'm out of my mind.'
Both Kim Jangcheol and Aged Kimchi silently blamed themselves.
They both reflected and resolved.
Not to loosen up so carelessly.
That the other wasn't a friend.
That they were someone who could do who-knows-what at any time.
"…Sigh, alright. Let's go together then."
"You really refuse to say thank you until the end, huh."
"Riiight. Thank youuu."
"Doesn't sound sincere at all."
"That's because it wasn't."
"Now you're shameless too."
"So, are you not moving now? Sun's gonna set at this rate."
"......."
Wait, did I just get scolded?
Aged Kimchi chuckled faintly.
Seeing that smile, Kim Jangcheol flinched and thought,
'I really have gone mad. Hey, get a grip, man.'
He kept unconsciously getting chummy(?) with Aged Kimchi.
This was bad.
What if that monster suddenly snapped and smashed him with a single blow? He'd instantly become ground beef, boiled pork slices, and a dancing flying eel, all rolled into one, bidding farewell to life in the blink of an eye.
That couldn't happen.
So he had to hold it in.
Had to restrain himself.
'But why… why does actually being around him make me feel all these weird things?'
It really was strange.
Up until now, he'd thought of Aged Kimchi as just a game character. Someone he'd raised over the course of 19 playthroughs. Someone who'd become invincible thanks to that.
Maybe that's why.
This moment of actually talking to a character that had only ever followed his commands—it felt so strange, bizarre, and unfamiliar. But also, somehow fascinating.
That feeling lingered even as they slipped quietly into the mine entrance.
'This way.'
They spotted a mine cart left by the side of the tunnel. The moment he saw it, he ducked behind it. Right after that, a heavy presence started surging from one side of the tunnel.
Thud! Boom! Thunk! Boom!
And not just from that side.
From the path behind them, the side, even from the lower tunnels—from all directions connected like an ant nest—heavy footsteps approached.
Labor golems were swarming in.
Had they already detected their presence?
"…Should I just smash them all?"
"The golems?"
"Mmhmm."
"You mustn't."
"Why not?"
"Because today is only for scouting."
That was truly how it had to be.
Beating the crap out of wholesaler Richmond wasn't the only goal. While doing that, he also had to completely fool Aged Kimchi and escape.
For that, he needed a far more meticulous plan.
"If we cause a disturbance without being properly prepared, it could jeopardize the rest of the plan."
"...Is that so."
"Yes."
"Alright. If that's what you think."
"Yes. So—"
He smoothly extended his hand.
Picked up a piece of iron ore lying on the ground.
Then stood up.
Thwack!
He threw it.
At the six golems that had gathered nearby. Just over their heads.
Clang! Clatter-crack!
The iron ore clanged loudly as it landed and rolled in the distance. The golems all turned their heads toward the noise at once.
He muttered quickly to Aged Kimchi,
"Let's move."
Slip!
He slid into motion.
Using the brief moment when the golems' attention was diverted.
That's when it started.
Zap!
They ran.
Side by side with Aged Kimchi. Crossing the mine tunnel.
A golem appeared as they rounded the corner.
Right before the golem could notice them, they split off to either side, flowing through its blind spot.
He leapt.
Flipped in midair.
Executed a handstand in the air.
Kicked off the ceiling of the mine.
Thunk!
A loud thud.
The golem, reacting to the noise, quickly raised its head.
But by then, he had already used the rebound from the ceiling to land low to the ground, slipping once again into its blind spot.
And then Aged Kimchi made his move.
Boom!
Aged Kimchi swept past the golem's side and swung his arm.
He struck the tunnel wall with his elbow. An explosive burst of dust erupted. The golem's vision was completely obscured.
Leaving the flustered golem behind, they ran.
Two paths appeared ahead.
Two mine carts were waiting.
While running side by side, he glanced at Aged Kimchi.
What decision would he make?
The moment their eyes met, he instinctively understood.
'Left.'
That's right.
In the game Paladin of Blood, which he had played countless times, controlling this very character—he had one consistent habit.
When exploring a complex dungeon, always check the far-left path first.
Tah!
The moment certainty hit, he threw himself toward the left cart. And sure enough, Aged Kimchi jumped toward the left cart at almost the exact same time.
"…!"
Aged Kimchi looked at Kim Jangcheol with intense wonder. What was that sensation just now? Should he call it unity? Or was it a familiar, nostalgic feeling?
The moment passed quickly, and the impact of boarding the cart arrived just as fast.
Clang! Clatter-rumble-rumble!
The mine cart carrying both of them began sliding down the incline.
With no time to brace themselves,
Fast.
And faster still.
Kim Jangcheol shouted,
"Left again!"
Another branching path suddenly appeared. Seated on the right, Kim Jangcheol leaned his body left, throwing his weight over. Aged Kimchi, pushed by his shoulder, ended up leaning left as well.
Clank!
The mine cart, tilting dangerously as if it might derail, swerved onto the left rail.
It charged forward—right toward a golem that happened to be crossing the tracks at the worst possible moment(?).
"…!"
The golem, just about to sound the alarm, was instead slammed head-on by the speeding mine cart and the two of them aboard.
...!
The golem shattered into dozens of pieces.
Alarm?
Of course it never got the chance.
Kim Jangcheol and Aged Kimchi landed almost simultaneously in a practiced roll. Kim Jangcheol clenched his fist tightly. Nice. That was a close one.
Watching this, Aged Kimchi thought,
"......"
You literally said it earlier, didn't you? That we shouldn't mess with the golems. That we needed to move quietly and carefully, you lunatic.
[T/L: I am not getting any support from webnovel platform, so please support me and read ahead chapters on my ko-fi page "RevengerScans" : https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]