Chapter 75:

Chapter 75:

Chapter 75

【Huh? Who's that?】

【Hasn't it been a while since Gangrim took care of him?】

【I saw him from the previous room.】

【That's Ju Hyereong, a trainee of Zone Four. She had a fight with Seo Gangrim.】

Ju Hyereong, the leader of Zone Four where the murderer Nam Yoojun was associated. Back then, Nam Yoojun had falsely accused Seo Gangrim of being a murderer, and Ju Hyereong believed him. Seo Gangrim didn't know if she still thought of him that way, but for now, he needed to proceed here.

"Hello. We meet again."

Seo Gangrim jumped down and looked around. This place was probably the Sura Hall, which meant it was part of the palace's kitchen. This stage was composed of numerous rooms, each serving a specific function. Consequently, spaces for dining and relaxation were popular among the trainees. It seemed that people had gathered here to eat now.

Ju Hyereong looked at Seo Gangrim with a guarded expression. "I didn't expect to run into you again."

"I don't think I'm welcome here, so I'll leave now. Just one thing I'd like to ask."

"What is it?"

"Do you remember the people from our zone? Have you ever encountered them?"

Seo Gangrim wasn't sure if the X marks meant he shouldn't come this way or that they hadn't come here.

Ju Hyereong stared at him and said, "Why should I tell someone who might be a murderer?"

"I'm not a murderer. Nam Yoojun was the murderer."

"I don't believe that either. Then why did Yoojun disappear?"

"Maybe he ran away because he was a murderer."

Of course, he didn't run away, but it was fortunate that only a few gods witnessed the incident at the time.

While Ju Hyereong and Seo Gangrim were engaged in a silent standoff, someone awkwardly interjected. "Come on, stop it. There's no clear evidence that this person is a murderer."

"...Fine."

"Since we've met after a long time, let's hear your story. You haven't eaten either, right? Let's wait a bit and have a meal together."

Seo Gangrim had no intention of eating, but he sat down anyway. Steam was rising from a cauldron, indicating that cooking was in progress. T/his chapter is updated by nov(ê(l)biin.co/m

As he sat down, Ju Hyereong also sat across from him, giving him a defiant look. "You have something on your neck."

She was looking at the Geohae's Shackle around his neck. Ju Hyereong had a similar shackle on her right wrist. Seo Gangrim covered his neck with his collar and said, "Are you left-handed?"

"No, I'm right-handed."

"It would be a big problem if your right hand got cut off."

In response to Seo Gangrim's words, Ju Hyereong chuckled as if she found it absurd.

"Worse than getting your neck cut? Lucky people sometimes have it on their fingers or ears. Neither you nor I have luck, it seems."

As she said, the Geohae's Shackle was attached to different parts of each person. Some had it on their wrists like Ju Hyereong, while others had it on their ankles, calves, fingers, or ears. By comparison, there were many people with shackles on their ears or fingers, followed by hands and feet. However, there was no one like Seo Gangrim with the shackle around their neck.

"So, you asked if I saw people from Zone Two?"

"Yes. Did you see them?"

"No, I haven't. But if I run into them, I'll let you know. In return..."

Ju Hyereong looked at him with the eyes of a shrewd merchant.

Meanwhile, the demons continued their relentless assault without hesitation, even though their comrades were falling. Another demon rushed at Seo Gangrim.

"Seogeok!"

The Seven Branches Sword (Chiljido) sliced through the demon's body, cutting it in half. Seo Gangrim thrust the sword back into the collapsing shadow, causing it to completely crumble. While he dealt with the ones in the front, Yorn was also darting around, tearing apart the demons. Although it felt like cutting living creatures, their blood didn't splatter. In no time, the demons were cleared out.

"It seems like it's over."

There was no need to run away. The fallen demons dissolved into nothingness like melting ice, leaving no corpses behind. Ju Hyereong looked at Seo Gangrim with surprise.

"You... were you this strong?"

He didn't respond. Yorn, meanwhile, was kicking at the disappearing demons. Linie, with an expression of disgust, remained hidden in a corner. The other people seemed bewildered.

Ju Hyereong surveyed the people and asked, "Is anyone injured?"

"No, everyone seems fine."

"We've never gotten rid of them this quickly before."

With the immediate task completed, he needed to move on. While Seo Gangrim pondered which way to go, Ju Hyereong approached him hesitantly.

"Um... thank you. Thanks to you, I'm still alive."

Her expression had softened compared to just moments ago. She then continued with a somewhat odd expression, "I've received a lot of help from you. I feel like I should do something in return..."

"It's fine. I was just trying to protect myself anyway."

"That's true, but you still helped me. Let me give you some information about this place."

Seo Gangrim already had information about this stage, but there could have been some changes, so he nodded his head and took a seat.

Ju Hyereong spoke up. "It seems like this stage is a gathering of all the zones. I haven't seen the people you mentioned, but I frequently encounter people from other zones."

If all the zones were gathered, it meant there was a significant number of participants. The fact that he hadn't encountered them yet meant they had gone deeper into this place, had been eliminated, or had passed through.

"Just like you saw earlier, when the drum sounds, demons appear. We call them 'Shadows' for convenience."

Shadows. It sounded quite fitting.

While Seo Gangrim remained silent, she continued explaining, "The timing of when the drum sounds is random. Fortunately, they don't chase us into other rooms, so you can escape safely by running to the adjacent room."

"And then?"

"Well... that's about it."

It was useful information for a newcomer, but Seo Gangrim already knew it. What concerned him more was the unease he sensed behind Ju Hyereong's troubled expression. It seemed like she was hiding something.

"For now, please have a meal. Luckily, the pot is still intact..."

One of the members of Zone Four quietly handed Seo Gangrim something. It was a bowl filled with a porridge-like substance that looked like rice and vegetables had been boiled together. Linie approached, sniffing at it, but Seo Gangrim quickly took the bowl before she could try to eat it.

"Please enjoy your meal."

He took a spoonful and put it in his mouth. It wasn't particularly delicious, but there was something appealing about warm food. Seo Gangrim was about to take another spoonful when he looked at Ju Hyereong watching him with a nervous expression.

"Why aren't you eating?"

"Huh? Me? I'll eat later. First, we should treat our benefactor."

The term 'benefactor' sounded somewhat ironic. Seo Gangrim put down the bowl he was holding and said quietly, "Are you giving poisoned food to your benefactor?"

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