Chapter 36 : The March of Red Eye

Red Eye had declared war.

It came at a moment the Seven Stars never expected.

Guchilseong also knew that Seong Jeokpyo was scheming something.

He had information that Seong Jeokpyo was negotiating with the prosecutors and was going in and out of the Explorer Association shamelessly.

It was probably to gather information on the Parama Camellia Colony, which had been exposed because of Gwak Cheongrae.

So Guchilseong thought Red Eye would move stealthily.

Charging head-on would only mean dying together; unless they were incredibly foolish, they wouldn’t engage in a frontal clash.

With that in mind, he was carefully setting traps.

To turn those who would someday find the colony back into stones instead.

“The bastards are heading straight here. The guys on guard aren’t responding. They must have gotten some intel from somewhere, hyung.”

“So, damn it, where the hell did they hear about it? There’s no way the Explorer Association sold the location of the colony to that bastard Seong Jeokpyo.”

“W-well, I don’t know either…”

Guchilseong clenched his subordinate’s cheek.

The one who got slapped tumbled noisily.

How could the subordinate know? But Guchilseong couldn’t help but vent his frustration.

“Baek Yuseong, where the hell is that bastard?”

The start of the war was truly absurd.

At the Sun Sanctuary on the 8th floor, one of the Seven Stars’ vanguard squads reportedly picked a fight with Baek Yuseong.

Yet, Red Eye who was there joined forces with Baek Yuseong and beat the Seven Stars’ vanguard squad to a pulp.

Red Eye didn’t even apologize; instead, they officially challenged a fight.

“They say they advanced to the 9th floor, but that was a lie.”

“Damn! Those bastards have been teaming up with Baek Yuseong from the start. No idea what their plan is, but they’re definitely hiding something.”

Looking back now, it might have been Red Eye’s strategy from the start to pick a fight on the 8th floor.

Baek Yuseong.

Guchilseong had been keeping an eye on him from the beginning.

He was a rookie who had already built quite a reputation.

There had to be some reason Red Eye had brought Baek Yuseong into their fold.

“So, you had the Medusa Rats prepared in advance?”

“That’s ongoing. Those bastards will come this way anyway.”

“Unless we stop them in the middle, it looks like they’ll reach us.”

“We’ll just crush them into stones here. Just overwhelm them with numbers and drain their strength. By the time they arrive here, they’ll be exhausted.”

Because of the unexpected variable named Baek Yuseong, the plan began to veer off course.

But the crucial parts remained intact.

Guchilseong muttered to himself as if reassuring himself.

“Yeah, as long as they come here, it’ll be fine. Those bastards will all be exhausted by the time they arrive.”

Red Eye was fighting while keeping their defensive positions tight.

None of the Seven Stars’ guild members left as casualties after being ambushed.

On the other hand, the Seven Stars were putting all their strength into holding the line.

If those bastards dared to come here, they would regret having been so reckless.

Guchilseong twisted a smile.

***

All of Red Eye’s elite had gathered on the 9th floor.

Seong Jeokpyo, having heard Yuseong’s proposal from Cheon Younghun, accepted it enthusiastically.

Though Yuseong’s suggestion wasn’t flawless, it was certainly worthwhile.

If the operation succeeded, Red Eye would finally escape their past disgrace and rise as a dignified guild.

The twenty elites, clad in battle armor, were all there for that purpose.

“Chuu, huh. Are the guys okay?”

“No casualties, but five are injured, and more have minor wounds.”

The Seven Stars had also noticed that Red Eye was heading toward the colony.

From a little while ago, some strong opponents had attacked in groups.

Fortunately, they were repelled, but five had been wounded.

“Guchilseong must be getting stabbed too.”

“Definitely, hyung.”

Seong Jeokpyo disliked being called “hyung,” but Cheon Younghun was an exception.

They had grown up together, closer than brothers.

“It’s thanks to you, Younghun.”

“No, hyung’s foresight in spotting Baek Yuseong early on is what made it possible.”

“Damn, you’ve been sweet-talking me lately.”

Despite the significant number of guild members injured before even reaching the colony, Seong Jeokpyo showed no signs of worry.

He already had countermeasures prepared.

“Guys, take out the lunchboxes.”

“Yes, sir!”

The Red Eye guild members clad in battle armor eagerly pulled something from their backpacks.

Seong Jeokpyo and Cheon Younghun had the same.

Unwrapping the paper package revealed sandwiches.

They were provided by Yuseong.

“We have 60 sandwiches for 20 people’s three meals. This is the last batch, right?”

“Yes, hyung. It’s unfortunate.”

“They were delicious, but so expensive.”

“A sandwich costs about three million won? Hahaha.”

“Before the Great Change, it was just three thousand won each, but the price skyrocketed a thousandfold.”

Yuseong shared information about the Parama Camellia Colony with them.

That information was something Red Eye desperately wanted.

In return, Yuseong received a simple payment.

Two hundred million won in cash.

The amount Seong Jeokpyo was about to pay the Explorer Association for the colony’s information.

But the money Red Eye had spent wasn’t limited to that.

They handed Yuseong an additional 50 million won in cash.

That was also due to Yuseong’s suggestion—to make lunchboxes.

Yuseong used the extra 50 million won to purchase various ingredients from President Lee Udo.

Flour, spices.

Neither Yuseong nor President Lee Udo would eat the food, so paying was only natural.

Actually, it was difficult to source these ingredients even with money, but Lee Udo readily accepted Yuseong’s request.

Thanks to that, Red Eye received these sandwiches.

“Let’s eat.”

“Yes!”

At Seong Jeokpyo’s signal, Red Eye guild members devoured the sandwiches.

This time, their behavior was completely different from when they first ate sandwiches.

Many were reluctant to eat something other than energy bars, but as they ate two sandwiches each, everyone fell in love with Yuseong’s food.

It was simply too delicious.

Seong Jeokpyo and Cheon Younghun also hurriedly finished their sandwiches.

And, unsurprisingly.

The effect of Tammijuui began to shine here as well.

A gentle light began to emanate from the wounds of those who had eaten the sandwiches.

The open wounds slowly started to close.

“Whoa. So much energy!”

“I think we could fight again right now. Hey, feed the wounded next to you some too.”

Just eating the sandwiches healed minor wounds remarkably.

Yuseong had once tested whether the effects of Tammijuui still worked at a distance.

As long as they were on the same floor, the healing effect activated.

This inspired the creation of these sandwich lunchboxes.

“When you find mana, heal the guys.”

“Who’s the worst injured? Jeongho. Start healing the guy by the side.”

The sandwiches Yuseong made were especially effective for mana recovery.

Among Red Eye’s guild members, those with healing skills began treating their comrades.

Seong Jeokpyo and Cheon Younghun marveled at the sandwiches’ effects once again.

“Still, it’s definitely worth the money.”

“Not just worth the money. I’ve never heard of anyone else doing this among top explorers.”

Yuseong excelled on many fronts at once.

Even the sandwich strategy had initially sounded dubious.

When Yuseong was previously offered a recruitment proposal, he had flatly refused, and now it was finally understood why.

“We’re not ready to hold someone like him yet. That’s what it means.”

“Hyung.”

“We’ll accept the prosecutors’ demands this time. When we finally become a proper guild, then we’ll recruit Baek Yuseong.”

“Definitely possible.”

Seong Jeokpyo reaffirmed his resolve.

Cheon Younghun clenched his fist as if his heart swelled.

“If we’re done preparing, let’s move out again.”

Revitalized by the sandwiches, the guild members reignited their fighting spirit.

The Parama Camellia Colony was not far.

Guchilseong would likely be flustered by Red Eye’s surprisingly calm approach, unlike what he expected.

Seong Jeokpyo was eager to see that shocked face.

***

The notorious darkness of the 9th floor came from the absence of day.

Even in the Abyss, time flowed similarly to the surface.

During the day, the roots of the World Tree that grew through the ceiling shone brilliantly.

However, curiously, on the 9th floor, the roots of the World Tree did not glow.

Even when looking up at the sky, there were only faint pinpricks of light resembling stars, but it was pitch black.

Without the Blessing of the Sun Sanctuary, exploration itself would be difficult.

Thus, the Seven Stars’ guild members had also received large quantities of the Sun’s Blessing.

It was quite costly to receive a blessing, but the Seven Stars bore the expenses for the war with Red Eye.

Especially high-ranking members were on guard at the Parama Camellia Colony.

They stared alertly, prepared for any possible threat.

Yet, they failed to notice Yuseong and Jang Dojin approaching.

Thud.

Jang Dojin and Yuseong knocked out two guards with blows to the head.

They collapsed without even letting out a cry.

Just then, a message rang out.

[The duration of the Blessing of the Black Priest has ended.]

The blessing obtained from capturing the Black Shrine on the 4th floor.

The one that erased presence was especially effective for stealth.

Thanks to that, Yuseong and Jang Dojin succeeded in reaching the Parama Camellia Colony.

“Not many people are on guard here, huh, hyung.”

“They’ve focused their attention elsewhere.”

Yuseong and Jang Dojin finished regrouping and advanced to the 9th floor.

As Red Eye advanced on the colony, most of the Seven Stars’ guards had been drawn to that direction.

Thanks to that, Yuseong managed to reach here without much interference.

The colony was hidden in a remote location, almost impossible to find without intel from the Explorer Association.

A valley the size of a soccer field was concealed in a dark ravine.

Parama Camellia bloomed profusely there.

Purple flowers faintly glowed in the dim light, swaying like a sky.

The Seven Stars’ guild members were marching through wearing gas masks.

Jang Dojin muttered upon catching the scent.

“Strange smell.”

“It’s narcotic. Be careful.”

Abyss plants were truly cruel.

Unlike surface plants, they always carried some kind of poison or thorn.

Parama Camellia even produced a sturdy potato-like root.

But the narcotic scent was poison that could kill if inhaled excessively.

Yet, Yuseong’s eyes sparkled as if looking at something cute.

“When this is all over, we should make Red Eye harvest all of it.”

If they harvested potatoes from such a large colony, it would fill an entire warehouse.

Yuseong and Jang Dojin hid themselves in the bushes.

Now they just had to wait for Red Eye’s arrival.

“Uh.”

“Shh. Be quiet.”

“It’s important.”

“Okay.”

“Won’t you eat the lunchbox?”

“Of course, we will.”

Yuseong almost forgot.

He scolded himself for nearly forgetting the carefully made sandwiches and took one out of his pocket.

It was the same as what had been supplied to Red Eye.

Jang Dojin excitedly pulled out a sandwich as well.

“As expected, sandwiches need meat.”

“Ours has especially plenty of it.”

Roast beef sandwich.

They made it by packing in all the leftover meat from the Steel Buffalo.

Roast beef was thinly sliced beef that had been slowly and gently cooked.

The pinkish meat was piled in, lightly sprinkled with whole pepper and soy sauce.

On top, thinly sliced onions soaked in cold water to remove spiciness were laid.

What came next was important.

The bread, very well baked.

Yuseong made the bread himself with flour supplied by Lee Udo.

It was shaped like a baguette, sliced into appropriate sizes, buttered, and baked.

The butter was, of course, made from Jeom Bagi’s milk.

Those were the only ingredients.

A simple dish, but the taste was impeccable.

Jang Dojin, filled with anticipation, took a bite.

Crunch.

The buttered, well-baked bread maintained a crispy texture.

A rich butter aroma filled the air.

Then came the moist roast beef and green onion.

Even without fresh vegetables like tomato or lettuce, the flavor was abundant.

Yuseong and Jang Dojin felt mana welling up in their bodies.

Red Eye applied Tammijuui and the sandwiches for mana recovery and healing.

In contrast, Yuseong and Jang Dojin were continuously accumulating Tammijuui’s effect.

So that it could explode at once in the upcoming battle.

Since the sandwich was mostly meat, eating it continuously felt a bit greasy.

Here, the role of the beverage was to cleanse the palate.

“Hyung, the drinks too…”

“Shh.”

At that moment, Yuseong signaled to be quiet.

“Guchilseong…”

Right below Yuseong and Jang Dojin, Guchilseong appeared.

He strode forward with his subordinates’ escort.

His face was twisted, clearly uncomfortable.

“Those bastards have already arrived?”

“Yes, they should reach here in about 30 minutes.”

“The guys we sent there are all down, and they’re already here? Don’t joke! Who doesn’t know their level?”

According to Yuseong’s plan, Red Eye was approaching.

Their combat power was higher than Guchilseong expected.

His plan to wear down their strength with the lunchboxes was in vain.

The variable that brought all this about.

Yuseong quietly watched Guchilseong leave, without even a hint of pride.

“Pfft, are the Medusa Rats ready?”

“Yes. We blocked and beat their entrances, but if they open them again, a proper beatdown will follow.”

“Tell that bastard Bak Duyeop to get ready. Once they come in here, those bastards’ throats are as good as dead.”

The Medusa Rats were the real trap prepared by Guchilseong and the Seven Stars.

Even Seong Jeokpyo and Yuseong hadn’t predicted this trap.

“Baek Yuseong? Haven’t found him yet, right?”

“No.”

“Good. Looks like the plan’s failed. No matter what those bastards do, they won’t be able to remove the Medusa Rats.”

Medusa Rats were fierce creatures that lived in thousands.

They were the 9th floor’s graveyard that must never be touched.

Even outstanding explorers who disturbed their nests would be turned to stone in an instant.

“If Seong Jeokpyo turns into a rock, I’ll have to decorate my living room with him.”

Guchilseong laughed bitterly.

Yuseong silently watched them depart.

He took another bite of his sandwich, then pulled two bottles of drink from his backpack to refresh his palate.

He handed one to Jang Dojin and gulped down the other himself.

A fresh scent filled his mouth.

It was juice made from Pilapple.

[Appetite increased!]

[Stone Resistance slightly increased.]

[Stone Resistance has reached the threshold.]

[Stone-based attacks below a certain level no longer affect you.]

The sourness was so strong it made his whole body tremble.

And perhaps because he’d eaten so much Pilapple, his stone resistance had finally crossed the threshold.

“Sure enough, fruit is good for the body.”

Not a mythic Medusa, but a small demon named after her could no longer stop Yuseong.