HG | Chapter 40

The entity resembling Choi Seonyeon floated in the air, tilting its head.

[Mother?]

Perhaps calling it “Mother” at that moment was a mistake.

Its cloudy eyes rolled around before it grinned slyly.

[Me, Mother?]

The boss monster ‘Haegak’ could communicate with humans, as expected. It wasn’t vocalizing through its vocal cords but rather projecting its voice telepathically into their minds.

What was astonishing was that the voice sounded exactly like Choi Seonyeon, the guide.

Even Hakyung, who had only seen her in videos, was shocked, so one could only imagine how devastated Cheonghyeon, who had lived with her as family and interacted with her, must have felt.

Haegak licked its lips and vanished smoothly.

“……!”

Then, in an instant, it appeared right in front of Hakyung, reaching out. Cheonghyeon blocked it just in time, but that was all.

Tsk. He clicked his tongue in displeasure. Hakyung’s eyes widened in shock, as if they were about to pop out.

“D-Dad, the skill…!”

Cheonghyeon’s skill wasn’t working.

It was an unprecedented situation. Haegak’s arm, which should have turned to dust, remained intact.

Haegak grinned.

[Hyun-ah, are you rebelling against your mom?]

The tone was both like looking at a cute child and mocking. Normally, Cheonghyeon would have immediately retaliated against the monster’s provocation, but he spoke coldly.

“…<Resistance> skill?”

Not only did it take on Seonyeon’s appearance, but it also absorbed her skill?

‘This is troublesome.’

Choi Seonyeon’s <Resistance> was a skill that either reflected or nullified the opponent’s skill. Both were problematic for Cheonghyeon. It was annoying that his skill didn’t work on it, but if he tried to turn its arm to dust and ended up turning his own arm to dust, that would be even worse.

The Haegak Cheonghyeon knew was originally a giant deer. Its hide was tough enough to ignore most skills, and it could concentrate and release power through the tips of its branched antlers. Each sphere of energy it released had the power reminiscent of a dragon’s breath, leaving nothing but ruins in its wake.

In other words, it was Cheonghyeon’s first time encountering Haegak wearing someone else’s appearance and using their abilities.

He didn’t know how it had acquired Seonyeon’s skill. What was clear was that the creature before him was not the monster he knew, and the circumstances were very different from before.

For the first time in a while, he felt heat rising to the top of his head.

Thud!

[Wow! Hyun is running away!]

Haegak openly mocked Cheonghyeon. Ignoring it, Cheonghyeon picked up Hakyung and retreated to a distance. He needed to gather as much information as possible while it underestimated him.

‘Yes, it used to be like this.’

Suddenly, forgotten sensations flooded back.

A ragged orphan kid dismissed by humans for rising in status by luck, and looked down upon by monsters for being a young human.

“D-Dad, w-what do we do?”

Then, the child in his arms whimpered softly. Cheonghyeon pushed aside the unpleasant old memories. Even amidst this, his mind was working furiously. It felt like restarting a machine that had been turned off for a while due to disuse.

“Child, listen carefully.”

Cheonghyeon spoke with his lips pressed to his son’s forehead.

“As long as you’re here, Dad won’t lose.”

There was no immediate way to defeat it. The only option was to clash with it as efficiently as possible while figuring out a way to counter it in real-time.

The difference from before was Hakyung’s presence. For perhaps the first time, Cheonghyeon was fighting while protecting someone. He hadn’t not protected people, comrades, Seonyeon, and Juhyeong before, but his mindset was different.

If I lose this child, I lose myself.

“Climb on my back.”

He took the first step to protect Hakyung.

“Y-Yes?”

“But you’ll ride backward. Back to back with Dad. Dad will protect you, so you protect Dad’s back.”

Gulp.

Hakyung’s Adam’s apple bobbed noticeably. He was clearly scared. But he soon set his jaw with a determined expression.

“…Yes.”

“Good. That’s my son.”

Cheonghyeon kept moving, finally landing completely. He had to think on his feet, not knowing when Haegak would catch up.

Hakyung threaded his legs through the straps Cheonghyeon set up. Like a ragdoll hanging on a child’s back, his limbs dangled awkwardly in midair.

This method was chosen because there was nowhere suitable to hide him. Hakyung couldn’t protect himself yet, and against a boss monster, he’d only become prey.

But the thought of protecting his father’s back, a back he could never catch up to, filled him with elation.

‘As long as Haegak takes on Mother’s appearance, Dad might not be able to kill it.’

We might die here.

‘But… it’s okay.’

Dad is here.

I’m not alone.

More than that, Hakyung wanted to prevent himself from becoming a burden that led to his father’s death. That’s why he silently accepted this position.

[Where are my sons-. Shall we play hide and seek with Mom-?]

Sons. The word made Hakyung’s face flush, forgetting the situation.

‘I see….’

If his parents had been alive… he would have been brothers with Cheonghyeon.

‘Brother….’

The age difference was significant, so he would have taken care of him like his own child, but the sentiment of the title was different.

“Our mother is eager to kill her sons.”

Cheonghyeon chuckled briefly and double-checked the straps. The rings and straps made from dungeon byproducts wouldn’t break easily.

He squeezed Hakyung’s hand once before letting go.

“If you get motion sickness, just throw up on Mom.”

“Th-That’s… okay….”

Whether it was the monster calling him son or the human calling him mom.

Hakyung couldn’t relate to the psychological battle between Cheonghyeon and Haegak and felt awkward.

“When it attacks, either guide or use your skill.”

“Yes…!”

That, he was confident in.

[Sons- are you all hidden-. Can Mom start-?]

Cheonghyeon extended one leg back, lowering his stance slightly. He intended to leap a great distance in one go.

“Son, do you trust Dad?”

Just before taking off, he whispered so only Hakyung could hear. He smiled reassuringly, his eyes gleaming.

Whether it’s tag or hide and seek, whatever it is,

“Don’t worry. Dad will win it all.”

***

Boom!

“Blegh!”

[Oh dear… Tsk tsk tsk. The second one is so weak. Throwing up again.]

Haegak pursued Cheonghyeon relentlessly. It had just been kicked dozens of meters away, crashing between buildings.

But it returned in an instant, reaching out to grab Cheonghyeon’s back. Hakyung, swept along at a speed that felt like his skin was peeling, was involuntarily retching repeatedly.

Whoosh!

Cheonghyeon, who had been timing it, suddenly turned and kicked Haegak.

[It hurts! It hurts, you bastard!]

The blow seemed quite strong. A deep male voice suddenly emerged from Haegak.

Cheonghyeon hesitated for a moment.

Swish—.

“Eek!”

M-Magic…!

From her hand, a force condensed from the air shot out like a blade. If Cheonghyeon hadn’t twisted his body with animal-like instincts, Hakyung’s nose and cheek would have been sliced.

“Huff, huff!”

“Child, breathe. Good. It’s okay.”

[Hey, hey. Beating up Dad and ignoring him, what country’s law is that? That’s complete disrespect.]

“Did you just realize that? If you’re going to live with that kind of awareness, why not just die? You’re blabbering without knowing your place.”

Soon, Haegak’s form changed to a man. Hakyung was too exhausted to be surprised anymore.

Im Juhyeong. This time, it was Hakyung’s biological father.

Haegak laughed loudly.

[Wow, scary, scary. Are all kids these days as rotten-tongued as you?]

“Not as much as you, who’s older.”

If Haegak concentrated power to tear through space, Cheonghyeon’s tongue was a blade. Even Hakyung, listening from behind, wondered if this was okay.

Clang, clang, clang!

[Repaying the favor of raising you like this!]

“I grew up alone?”

Haegak, now in Im Juhyeong’s form, swung a magic staff, clashing with Cheonghyeon. Hakyung, hanging behind, couldn’t witness the scene directly, but the way he retreated a great distance and charged again made him realize he was engaging in a relentless physical battle, never showing his back.

‘I need to find a way.’

At this rate, his stamina would only deplete. Even if Cheonghyeon was known for his endurance, how could his stamina be infinite?

While Hakyung searched for his own solution, Cheonghyeon spoke first.

“Come to think of it, I’m curious. Did you tear off Choi Seonyeon and Im Juhyeong’s limbs?”

[Hmm? Our son is saying strange things? Why would I tear off my own and my wife’s limbs?]

“So you did swallow something.”

Cheonghyeon concluded simply.

It was a question he had harbored. Who had mutilated their bodies?

In the past, Hakyung had described ‘a man.’ Cheonghyeon remembered every word of his stammering explanation when he described seeing a vision upon discovering his parents’ bodies. The investigation had continued, but the perpetrator remained a mystery.

But now the boss monster was exhibiting a completely different pattern? Didn’t it reek of something fishy?

“I’ve thought about it.”

Swish!

Just then, the staff that touched his palm crumbled into powder. A glint appeared in Cheonghyeon’s golden eyes.

‘Can it only use the skills of the one whose appearance it takes on?’

Thud!

Haegak, struck by Cheonghyeon’s kick, was sent flying again.

[Argh! You ungrateful bastard!]

“You can replicate the skills and appearance of those whose body parts you absorb, right? And you approached them in the form of the one you devoured first and killed them… how’s my hypothesis?”

It was the most plausible theory at the moment.

[You, you brat! I spoiled you, and now your manners are a mess! I need to fix you. Honey!]

[……Ha! Hyun-ah, beating up Dad makes Mom feel so relieved!]

[H-Honey…?]

[But I agree that your manners have deteriorated. Let’s just get scolded today, okay?]

“Hmm. You’re having a self-dialogue and throwing a fit. I can’t stand this messy sight, so should I take it as agreement with my hypothesis?”

It was bizarre to hear two voices alternating from one human. Cheonghyeon shook his head as if looking at a madman and smirked.

“And lower your voice. Are you deaf? Oh, wait. You couldn’t eat ears, so the performance is a bit off?”

[The mouth you have to your parents…!]

Cheonghyeon, who had thoroughly angered both the fake Im Juhyeong and Choi Seonyeon, now hummed a tune. Haegak, seething, clenched its fist in Seonyeon’s form.

[Son, show your calves!]

Wooong….

Ignoring the fact that the real Choi Seonyeon had never said or done such a thing, a fierce energy spread from her.

‘What is this?’

The air felt strangely still.

A wind blowing in one direction passed in an instant, causing the sprouts on the purified ground to all lean outward. It was a wonder they weren’t uprooted.

“T-That’s…!”

The anomaly began at the far end of his vision. As a result, Hakyung noticed the anomaly first.

“Hmm?”

Haegak laughed unpleasantly, and Cheonghyeon raised his eyebrows, half-turning his gaze. Of course, he kept his attention on Haegak, ready to react to any attack.

Before he could fully turn, Hakyung turned pale and trembled.

“M-Monsters…!”

“Oh dear.”

Cheonghyeon didn’t turn all the way but kept his gaze on Haegak. She smiled sweetly.

So, how is it? It must hurt a bit, right?

The meaning of the smile was easy to discern. The psychological warfare was surprisingly human.

“Dad, the monsters are coming!”

Hakyung felt like he was suffocating from the fear rushing in like a tsunami.

The vast land he had purified. What had once felt small now turned over in an instant. The sensation of the ground rumbling, ‘Wooong,’ was the same phenomenon that occurred when he used his skill to overturn the land.

Haegak had spread guiding over the ‘purified area’!

“H-How could this…?”

He had never heard of a monster being able to guide.

What was truly disheartening was what happened right after the guiding swept over the land.

The sprouts Hakyung had nurtured. They grew abnormally fast. Faster than the blink of an eye.

The fully grown sprouts twisted their green stems like braids, forming plant-type monsters.

Screech!

In the middle of the fully opened petals was a hole similar to the one the giant monster had. Every time black saliva dripped from it, the ground turned black and died. The dark brown soil reverted to the hard, barren land it had been before.

“A-Ah….”

Was the range he had purified this vast? Hakyung realized the extent of it in the worst possible way.

The monster army that had sprung up in an instant surrounded the two of them and the one monster. Even the precise spacing, as if a circle had been drawn, was chilling.

Naturally, the monster army was visible to Cheonghyeon, who hadn’t turned his head. He simply kept his sharp eyes on Haegak, not letting his gaze wander elsewhere.

[Want to see something interesting?]

For once, Haegak spoke obediently. It elegantly raised one hand to shoulder height. Then, a nearby monster shuffled over.

Cheonghyeon watched the scene with bated breath.

The next moment, Haegak cut off its pinky and fed it to the monster’s mouth.

Chomp!

As the grotesque mouth closed, petals covered the mouth, returning it to a bud state. Soon, the green stem bulged and writhed.

Gurgle, gurgle.

Screech-!

Hakyung’s trembling intensified. The resolve he had made earlier to guide in front of Cheonghyeon seemed pointless, as he had been unable to do anything properly. The extreme pressure and tension had turned Hakyung into a mere doll clinging to his back.

The moment he reflexively covered his ears in fear, the monster completed its transformation.

Whoosh!

Six petals unfurled, releasing a strong fragrance. It was as rich and fragrant as a fully bloomed lily.

“Child, cover your nose.”

Cheonghyeon instructed lowly. Hakyung took out a new mask from his vest and layered it on. Even that wasn’t enough, so he covered his nose and mouth with both hands. It was a dungeon mask, thick even with one layer, but layering several made breathing somewhat heavy.

[Greetings to the master.]

What emerged from the fully opened bud was a humanoid monster with hair made of petals. It had evolved and transformed after consuming a part of Haegak’s body.

‘It gained intelligence.’

The system window reacted.

《 SYSTEM 》

A commander is born. The boss monster grants command authority to the commander.

《 SYSTEM 》

The command authority of the monsters is dispersed. Prepare for the commander’s wrath.

It was a scene revealing how Han Hee-gyeom had become a ‘commander.’

Through the series of events, Cheonghyeon was convinced.

‘The act of consuming and digesting.’

That was the core of gaining power. Didn’t the ‘giant monster’ also swallow human skulls to create new monsters?

Eating and being eaten, becoming part of a higher entity, and being reborn as a higher entity.

It was extreme, but it resembled the principles of nature. It was similar to the food chain in human society.

Originally, Han Hee-gyeom should have become a giant monster. But perhaps he caught Haegak’s eye and gained power, or Haegak targeted him from the start, granting him monster power and making him a ‘commander.’

The exact process would only be known to Haegak or the now-dead Han Hee-gyeom. Cheonghyeon raised the corners of his lips like Seonyeon. Though they didn’t share blood, the smile bore a striking resemblance.

“Then I should show something interesting in return.”

Cheonghyeon unleashed the energy he had been holding back.

Haa…. His fingertips tingled. The energy suddenly exploded, spreading to his peripheral nerves, making his senses jump. It was the power he hadn’t fully revealed even while dealing with monsters alongside Hakyung.

A deep sense of liberation coursed through his body. He sent the surging energy far and wide. Haegak watched with interest as Cheonghyeon did so.

How long had it been?

Screech!

The petals of the monsters turned blood-red, directing hostility toward Haegak.

Cheonghyeon let out a languid sigh.

“So, who should be the one to get scolded now?”