Bang-bang!

However, our witty stand-up comedy routine ended there. 1 A heavy sound echoed from afar; it felt like a huge stone statue was rushing towards us.

My assumption must have been correctWoo Ragi held me, like I was some luggage, and ran wordlessly at a tremendous speed. I had no idea where on earth our destination was, but, at our speed, it almost felt like we were driving in a car.

I buried my face into the swordsmans back and hugged him tightly around the shoulder. While running, he flinched, as if he found me annoying, but he seemed to let my actions slide.

Spring!

Then, he jumped so highI had no idea how many meters above ground we were. Whenever Woo Ragi stepped (on the ground?), he made a creaking sound as if he were running across a shabby wooden floor. The planks could barely supporting the weight of two people.

After leaping a few times like that, the swordsman leaned over, as if he grabbed onto some handhold and were peering off a ledge. His body was completely tilted, and I was worried hed fall. I hurried to cling to his body again; instead of making more abusive remarks, Woo Ragi quietly observed something below.

He waited for a long while, jumped, and escaped from the monster through this vertical route. Afterwards, the swordsman took me inside one of the rooms within this mansionI could only assume this was a room thanks to the barely noticeable sound of a door closing, his soft footsteps on the carpet, and the touch of the soft bed on which Woo Ragi set me down.

I hesitated before placing my legs completely atop the bed; he sat down next to me and created a depression in the mattress. I saw it while jumping around.

Huh? Yeah

The monster had a key in its mouth.

What? I blinked meaninglessly at his words and then stared ataroundthe swordsman with a questioning look. Then

Its probably an escape hint.

After contemplating, I asked, Its probably impossible to carry me and fight that monster, right?

Yeah, Woo Ragi replied succinctly. I also had no desire to latch onto him like some bulletproof vest while he fought.

However, if I separated from Woo Ragis side, I wouldnt be able to defend myself at all. Woo Ragi also seemed to be concerned about my eyes condition as well. In this brief, quiet lull, the swordsman tried to tinker with something around my eyes; judging from the sweeping wind across my eyes, he must be fanning with his hands.

[Light]. Still tranquil, Woo Ragi took out an illuminating item from his inventory. He seemed to check something several times before quietly saying, Its like your nerves are completely blocked. Your pupils arent reacting to light at all.

Just as he said, my vision was completely dark though the [Light] skill was used. I nodded meekly, Yeah

I dont see any external trauma.

Really?

That was fortunateI was worried about what kind of injury my eyes had suffered.

Wait, he said.

Huh? Hmmm

Woo Ragi slowly groped the region around my eye sockets. He was probably looking for fracture lines or other seemingly invisible injuries.

With an anxious heart, I waited until the swordsman pulled his hands away.

Soon afterwards, he quickly took his hands back. As I thought, youre probably under a curse?

What?

Theres no signs of trauma or other external factors, and yet youve suddenly become blind. This cant be caused by anything else but a curse. The way he apathetically commented as if he were passively observing someone elses dilemma made his tone sound so mean.

As I thought over his words, I suddenly asked, Dont you usually get cursedwhen you touch something weird? I havent done anything, though

Youll get cursed if you foolishly crawl around in a strange house. Though I asked quite sincerely, his reply was dry and absentminded.

Thats! Then why didnt you get cursed!? We got sucked here together

Your curse is clearly disadvantaging me as well?

Thats not what I mean! Im just saying its weird Why am I the only one affected? You seem perfectly fine.

If were really dividing us into different categories Havent you cursed me in some sense?

I had briefly forgotten that Woo Ragi was dead, so my shoulders inadvertently trembled. I made an unintentional gaffe.

However, Woo Ragi didnt seem to care much about that and didnt say anything in particular. Then, all of a sudden, the mattress rocked once more; I realized the swordsman had laid down on the bed.

Are you perhapsgoing to fall asleep? I asked.

No? This pig was hanging on my neck all dayIm stretching.

Did he really have to show off his ability to anger others every single time he opened his mouth?

I glared towards the origin of his voice, but the thought of staring blindly wasnt exactly desirable. So, I simply closed my eyes and laid on the bed as well. To be honest, it was exhausting to cling to Woo Ragi. I thought about lying down and organizing my thoughts rather than awkwardly half-sitting, half-squatting

Of course, I expected Woo Ragi to throw another tantrum if I were to follow his actions and lie down But, my stamina was at its limits now. Still, I placed my head at the edge of the mattress, careful not to brush against the swordsman as much as possible. As soon as I changed my posture, sure enough, I heard a sarcastic voice.

Haah, hes following me and laying down now. As expected, Woo Ragi bullied me.

I ignored his comments and fumbled with my hands to find a dusty pillow. Then, laying my head down, I shot back, If you dont shut up, Im going to cling to you.

Perhaps he really loathed that consequence, Woo Ragi went silent afterwards.

While a quiet, forlorn atmosphere settled around us, I pondered how wed escape from this place. The swordsman told me a giant statue monster held a key in his mouth

And, considering how Woo Ragi ran away from it by continuously jumping up I guess that statue isnt a flying monsterunlike the gargoyles

Then, was it just extraordinarily big? After contemplating about this and that, I called out to the swordsman, asking for his input, Hey

Youre listening, right?

In lieu of answering, Woo Ragi shifted on the mattress. For some reason, it sounded like he turned his back towards me. However, his ears should still work fine, so I continued to talk to myself. That monster cant fly, right? Its just huge, right?

Thats right. The swordsmans voice echoed, as if he were talking to the wall.

I continued, Just how large is it?

Its about 10 meters tall and has a key gripped in its mouth. It looks a little like a twin-headed Ogre well, rather than two-headed, it looks like it has two faces.

What?

One face is weeping; the other face, on the back of its head, has a gigantic grin. The smiling mouth is the one holding the key Because of that, this monster doesnt have a blind spot.

I got goosebumps when I imagined the monster from Woo Ragis descriptions. Just what kind of monster would look like that?

Appalled, I said, It has only one body?

It looks like two chests were plastered onto its torsofour arms and two legs. But, thats what the one who has the key looks like The statue across the room has the head of a cat.

Theres two stone statues?

Didnt I say that from the beginning? The swordsmans voice was laden with contempt.

I did remember him saying that there was a stone statue holding an iron mace. Ah, then the one holding the mace

Yeah, the cat.

Thenthe statue with the four arms and the key in its mouth

It did have a sheathed sword around its waist; it didnt unsheathe it when I took you and jumped away. But, I cant say that itll react the same when we go after the key

.

Normally, monsters with weapons will use them.

I sighed gloomily. Even if I were fine and capable, I wondered if Woo Ragi could deal with those two monsters after leaving me somewhere. First, his opponents were just too large10 meters tall

Then, did you see any monsters besides those two? I asked.

None for now at least. With that said, Woo Ragi added, There were a few broken stone fragments around those two.

Its like a fiery tournament had broken out.

Of course, his remarks werent helpful for my state of mind.

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TL: Its too hot in my house >.< Think I skimped a bit on the after-PR editing, so tell me if there are any mistakes.

Also, RIP Lee-kyung. It must suck to be blinded in a dungeon. Its also somewhat refreshing to see that Woo Ragi doesnt have all the answers and isnt afraid to state it. We know from Seo Dawons POV that hes not omniscient either, but the Mage really does try to cultivate that image.