Everyone looked at me with confusion. Even I thought it was kind of shocking, but we had to increase our stat even just a little bit by acquiring items.

‘There could be a mythic-ranked item.’

I had to do something, and increasing the party’s overall stat was a necessity, not a choice.

“Also, I think it’ll be good to find those that have been trapped,” I added.

“Is there a way to fix that?”

“It’s the museum manager that needs to fix it, not us. Since the backup program has been activated, I’m sure the functions the Rift Guardians had installed will activate as well. What’s important right now is our safety and nothing else. Let’s move quickly. Mr. Hyun-Sung, I’m having a hard time moving right now…” I said.

“Ah… right,” Kim Hyun-Sung commented.

When I looked up while being carried by him, he nodded as if he understood.

‘It’s worse than I thought…’

Honestly, his body wasn’t normal either, and it was understandable since he took all that damage from the explosion while swinging his sword at the chains. Even Park Deok-Gu’s condition was bad since he took damage for me. Sun Hee-Young and Ahn Ki-Mo were still using their holy power, but it looked like it was going to take some time to heal the wounds.

- Gedric… Gedric!

During all of this, Juliena was still calling out Gedric’s name. She did get quiet when I sheathed her, but the way she kept buzzing made it seem like she was really anxious.

‘I have to think about our escape as well.’

“We’ll escape through the exhibition hall next to us. It may awaken the other monsters, so I think it’ll be best if we let the monster move to the opposite direction of the monster exhibition hall,” I suggested.

“Ah… got it.”

“Let’s move quickly so we can recover a bit. Let’s go,” I added.

Everyone nodded. I was sure they all wanted to rest. I wasn’t the only one whose mana had reached its limit. To break the seal the Rift Guardians had cast, we had to use mana beyond our limits. Everyone’s stamina stat had to be really high because they were walking fine, but I could exaggerate my pain a bit.

‘Because I really can’t move my body.’

Obviously, it wasn’t my intention to become close to our warm and strong Kim Hyun-Sung, but the situation wasn’t so bad. I was bothered by how the Black Swan Guild members were looking at us strangely despite the fact that we were all tired, but I didn’t care.

‘They probably won’t think that I’m exaggerating my pain.’

I was sure everyone knew that I had a weak body.

Anyway, after I finished talking, everyone started rushing toward the large hole while in Dialugia’s arms. We left the Fragment of the Ancient God running rampant and entered the exhibition hall. We heard its roar behind us, but the monster wasn’t focused on us.

‘Obviously…’

The figure that had sealed it for an immeasurable amount of time was close to it. I was sure the monster’s rage wouldn’t die down until it demolished everything in this museum, and obviously, the museum was in very poor condition. The majority of the exhibition halls had crumbled, and the items inside them had been completely destroyed as well. Even after using Mind’s Eye, there were so many useless items whose ranks I still couldn’t see.

‘There’s nothing here.’

“Let’s go to the next room. If we stay here, we may get affected by the aftermath. Our goal for now is the management room,” I informed them.

“The management room?” Park Yeon-Joo asked.

“Yes, I’m sure Max’s actual body is in that room. He’s probably busy seeing that he’s not here with us… It’s probably difficult for him to keep an eye on us now. Miss Yeon-Joo, please take off the ring you received before entering the dungeon since we no longer need the dungeon manager’s guidance,” I explained.

“I was thinking about taking it off anyway,” she commented.

“And… Ha-Yan,” I called out.

“Yes, Oppa?”

“I think it’ll be good if you create a map with the ranged members of the Black Swan Guild. I’m fine, so you don’t have to worry about me. I just can’t move because I have exhausted all my mana,” I assured her.

“Okay, Oppa…” she muttered.

“Does Miss Ha-Yan know how to draw maps?”

“No, but she’s always checking my location, so I’m sure she’ll be helpful. It should be pretty detailed and precise,” I replied.

“You two are… an interesting couple.”

I didn’t bother answering when Park Yeon-Joo looked at us as if we were unique. I guess it was interesting to see the girlfriend tracking her boyfriend and her boyfriend tolerating it. If we were on Earth, her actions would definitely make me feel uncomfortable, but since we were at a place like this where something could happen to me, or I could get kidnapped at any time, it was completely reasonable to allow it.

‘Of course, it’s based on my standards…’

“I think Miss Hee-Young, Mr. Ki-Mo and the other priests should rest for a bit. If all of you become worn out, it’ll be impossible to continue the expedition,” I suggested.

“Got it.”

“I know it’ll be difficult to relax, but please take a break,” I added.

“Hyung-nim is right. It’s not good to move so hastily, and not only is it difficult for us to fight right now, but we can’t even walk properly,” Park Deok-Gu chimed in.

“You’re right, Deok-Gu.”

“In that sense—”

“I was thinking about setting up camp once we have gotten far enough from that place, anyway,” I interrupted him.

“Are we going to eat?” asked Park Deok-Gu.

“Of course, we’re going to eat, but we’re going to have to eat sparingly since we lost a few supplies,” I answered.

Taking a break was that important, and if the situation allowed it, I wanted to suggest that we take a nap, but I knew better than anyone that it was impossible. Considering the fact that we could still hear the monster’s roar, I honestly didn’t want to recommend setting up camp.

‘But we have no choice…’

The expedition party was in really bad condition, so I had no choice but to suggest that we take a break. While resting, I heard something breaking, and one of the Fragment of the Ancient God’s tentacles pierced the left wall.

“Ah! That scared me!”

“That’s…”

“I-I almost got knocked over.”

If that surprised Jung Ha-Yan to the point that she was holding her chest in pain due to shock, I couldn’t imagine how surprised the others were. It was up to people like me to calm the expedition party down. It surprised me as well, but I spoke as if it didn’t affect me.

“I’m sure it wasn’t targeted toward us. I think it was just wiggling, but I think it would be best to move somewhere where we can’t see that tentacle,” I recommended.

“B-But why is it staying still?” Park Deok-Gu asked.

“I’m not sure since I don’t really know what the Fragment of the Ancient God is. It does look like it’s trying to take root. It could be trying to stop the functions of this museum or absorb the mana flowing within the museum itself. Right now, it’s better to think about one thing rather than many things,” I explained.

“O-Okay.”

I managed to keep Park Deok-Gu quiet, but I couldn’t help but be curious as well. The main body did seem like it was rampaging…

‘Is it really trying to consume it?’

It would probably be best to ask Dialugia about it later since she said she had heard about the Fragment of the Ancient God. After returning to her human form, she looked as if something was on her mind, so I was certain she knew something. Thankfully, she didn’t look too serious; rather, she looked ashamed. She chose to set aside and forget her duty as a dragon, but it was still the duty of the dragon race to protect the balance of this continent. Since she had contributed a lot when we were trying to break the chains, I assumed she was thinking about her late grandmother or something.

Anyway, the expedition continued. Using the map Jung Ha-Yan had created and the ranged players as the base, we started to figure out the museum’s layout. We did see the Ancient God’s tentacles from time to time, but those tentacles weren’t moving.

‘I’m sure they’re taking root.’

The Rift Museum had turned into a museum that had been consumed by the Fragment of the Ancient God, and although I didn’t know what kind of result this was going to bring, one thing I was certain of was that it made the exploration a lot easier. The walls previously blocked by the museum’s system had shattered from the impact the players made, and that was enough proof that…

‘I’m certain of it. The monster is consuming it.’

I could tell from the situation around us that the museum’s functions were failing. I was curious about how the backup program that the museum had activated was going to fix this issue but leaving just to check that was a stupid thing to do. Considering the fact that I could still hear the monster’s roar from far away, the museum still had to be fighting the tentacles’ eyeball. I was sure the monster’s side was a mess right now.

‘Of course, they can’t stop the monster.’

If the museum’s function really was failing, then it was possible that the sealed monsters were going to wake up, and they may even fight with each other. It was a simple assumption of mine, but my guess regarding the monsters’ awakening could actually become reality. Of course, Max seemed to be working hard in trying to fix this issue because the museum looked like it wasn’t going to fall anytime soon…

‘Can he stop it?’

I didn’t know which side to root for, but there was a happy scenario being drawn in my head. After rescuing the trapped members, we would gather the items, and after escaping the museum, the museum would seal the Fragment of the Ancient God once again. That would be the perfect scenario with no loose ends. Of course, it was in my nature to think about the worst-case scenario, so it was difficult to think about the happy scenario, but since there wasn’t anything I could do about the situation, it wouldn’t be so bad to think positively.

That was when I thought we had traveled far enough from the location where the battle began.

“Uh… I think this place is safe…” Park Deok-Gu commented quietly.

“It’s definitely… fine.”

Jo Hye-Jin nodded. The Fragment of the Ancient God was nowhere to be seen, and the place was big enough to accommodate 30 people. The most important part was…

“Hyung-nim! There are items all over the place! I think the function here has failed as well… Not even the exhibition hall is working. Oh! I think there are a few legendary items over there… Can I really take this?” Park Deok-Gu asked.

“Oppa, there’s a staff here! I-I think this is a legendary item as well!” Jung Ha-Yan exclaimed.

“I think there are a few epic-ranked items here… Since they have fallen from the rift, they seem to be in better condition compared to their original rank[1]. I can also see items that increases one’s holy power, Mr. Ki-Young,” Sun Hee-Young pointed out.

“Is there something you want, Hee-Young noonim?” Park Deok-Gu asked.

“It’s more like I’m curious about the scripture from the other world… than being greedy…” she replied.

There was a completely intact item. They knew they could obtain it, but they couldn’t stop their jaw from dropping, and I thought about how cute they looked when I saw their reaction. Everyone was in a great mood, and some people were even rubbing their eyes. However, when I slowly turned my head, I couldn’t stop my jaw from dropping as well.

‘Uh…’

There was a sword shining faintly in pure white.

‘A-Amazing…’

It did look kind of tacky, but I knew it was a great sword just by looking at it. The light emitting from the sword was pointing directly at Kim Hyun-Sung.

‘A m-mythic rank.’

He had hit the jackpot.

‘Hyun-Sung! We’re safe now, right?!’

It had been a while since a bright smile appeared on my face.

Author's Comment:Kim Hyun-Sung: Ki-Ki-Young hyung! This one is mine, right?

1. The items that fell from the rift has a better condition than the items originally created on this continent ☜