Chapter 171. Scenario Gate (5)

Anyway, you can never predict what's going to happen in someone's life. Before my reincarnation, not only was I an F-rank hunter, but I never even thought about living as a scammer.

'Should I start lying less from now on?'

As the archmage was immersed in late repentance, the next prey had already drawn near.

Thump, thump.

This forest was the territory of that giant creature.

.

.

.

How many minutes had passed?

"Uh, um."

"Hmm."

To put it simply, we finished the entire search efficiently. The giants in this forest were weak enough that Seonwoo Yeo on could easily wipe them all out on her own, so there was no crisis.

"The treasure hunters who entered first were a team that only targeted EX-rank ones, so their awakening levels were low, so they were defeated."

Then, since we've killed all the enemies, shouldn't we just leave now?

"That's ridiculous."

I lifted my head and examined the gate in front of me again. I never imagined that the escape route the fairy mentioned would turn out to be something like this. The magical passage was so narrow that I had to bend down to enter, and the surroundings were completely overrun by thick thorny vines.

If it had been an ordinary thorny vine, I wouldn't have been so angry. But this one, I don't know what it's been feeding on to grow here, was so heavy and sturdy that it wouldn't budge even with B-rank strength.

'With this level of toughness, even Hydra's blade wouldn't cut through.'

I pretended to touch the thorny vines but quickly jerked my head back. When I glanced over in disbelief, only then did the fairy speak up.

"Well, this is a plant that shrinks every dawn. There's about 20,000 seconds left."

"Why are you telling me that now!"

"Are you angry? Why? I kept my promise."

The fairy had only said that it would show us the path, not that the passage was in a usable condition. But our anger couldn't be resolved with such an explanation. It felt like the moment right before clocking out, when suddenly an additional task gets assigned.

"Damn it."

We were suddenly forced to wait for the dawn of the fairy kingdom. At that moment, the wingless fairy adjusted its attitude and appeared within the sight of the Earthlings.

"Everyone, this place is damp and uncomfortable for camping. Would you like to go back to my house and rest until dawn?"

"What?"

"The giants are all dead, so it's fine now. They won't appear again! And don't worry about the fairy dust. It will last as long as you don't wash it off."

Of course, sleeping outside is a bit much.

"Wait, when you say your house, you mean that tiny structure the size of a palm, right? How are we supposed to rest in a place like that...?"

I thought of Apa's dwelling for a moment and had a brief doubt, but soon, another member of the party explained this part.

"Ah, Hunter-nim. We've received the same offer from another fairy during the festival, so we know. That doesn't mean they'll let you in, but they'll give you a place to sleep."

"A place to sleep?"

"Well... She'll probably give us big, furry leaves as bedding. They're surprisingly warm. Thanks to that, we were able to sleep on the first night."

"Ah."

Well, that's what it is.

"I wonder what kind of plant it is."

I became curious about the fairy's way of hosting and raised my gaze. However, before the next words could come from this side, a hunter's harsh shout came out faster.

"I, I'm good! I'd rather stay awake here and wait. I can't trust what the fairy says!"

The C-rank hunter who had passed the role of the tagger to me. Perhaps because he had been tormented by the dungeon's inhabitants, he became hostile toward the fairy. As the C-rank hunter took a firm stance, one by one, others in the group began to agree with his opinion.

"You're not going to come to my house?"

"I, I'm not going! You monster!"

"Even though I invited you?"

In the midst of all this, we were able to easily come to a consensus because of one action the fairy displayed.

"What should I do? Guests who refuse the invitation must be punished. It's the kingdom's rule..."

Sobbing.

Apa, with a cute voice, pretended to be sad but soon flipped her face, revealing her three-layered teeth. Seeing the fairy's red insides, we quickly came to an agreement.

"Let's go."

"It's best not to complain."

"Ah, suddenly I'm so sleepy."

If discussions in the outside world were this easy, it would be wonderful.

***

"Everyone, you are my ■■."

A few minutes later. We headed toward the kingdom's hill, following the fairy's suggestion. However, during the journey, the fairy kept talking non-stop.

"What?"

"■■. You caught the blue giant I mentioned!"

Like a broken speaker, her words were filled with static, making them hard to understand. But given the context, it was probably something like 'benefactor' or 'hero' that she was saying.

"Yeah. Why did it feel too natural up until now?"

I let the creature's mistake slide. The fairy in the air continued talking, as if trying to take over my silence.

"Did you know? Actually, the blue giant you killed ate my family."

"What?"

"Our kingdom decided to offer one fairy to the giant every year. That's how my family was eaten by him. But you killed my enemy. And all of them!"

It lingered in the air, leaving a sparkling afterimage.

"Now, no one has to tremble in fear anymore. It's all thanks to you! Wow, if you stay in the kingdom, we'll be grateful for generations to come..."

"Hmm."

"It must be tough, right? You all probably want to go home quickly, right? Then I'll keep the secret. I'll make sure the citizens of the kingdom won't hold you back with the festival."

The wingless fairy, with her cheeks flushed red, couldn't stop praising us. As she continued, others seemed to warm up to her attitude and gradually relaxed their expressions.

"Maybe she's a little cute?"

"She sure is cute."

Just thinking about those three rows of teeth still gives me the chills...

"~?"

The fairy, feeling the gaze of the humans on her, fluttered to the side and landed softly on Seonwoo Yeon's shoulder, where she spoke.

"Everyone, I have a small wish now. Could you grant it?"

Just a few hours ago, the one who caused all that chaos with a single wish is now making this kind of statement?

"I want to know your names."

But this time, the situation was a bit different. She had revealed the nature of her wish first.

"I will never forget this meeting. I will remember the heroic story of how you bravely defeated the giants."

"Ah."

"And... and... if I become the first friend to hear your names, I can brag to the village fairies!"

"Bragging."

"Can I?"

What's the big deal about that? Most of the adventurers agreed to the fairy's earnest request.

"Name? I..."

"Ah, so the guest is called 'Name.'"

"No, that's not it!"

"Yes, I'm listening, Name."

During this process, Seonwoo Yeon failed to register due to a small issue.

"Guest, what is your name?"

"You do whatever you want."

"So you're you do whatever you want."

I didn't say anything.

Anyway, with the introductions out of the way, we lightly ascended the hill. Afterward, we received a warm reception from the fairy, Apa.

"The fruit here is delicious."

So, we'd be full and cozy, and all we had to do now was relax and wait for dawn.

"Giryeo-ssi."

Soon, the dark darkness arrived.

"Giryeo-ssi, Giryeo-ssi?"

I open my eyelids at the sound of my name being called. Since I was only pretending to sleep, I wasn't annoyed by being suddenly woken up.

"Is it my turn to be on night watch already?"

I rolled my eyes while lying down and stared at the other person's face.

"No. That's not it...... The situation is strange. The fairy suddenly disappeared."

"Disappeared?"

"Yes! No one saw her leave from here. The appraiser, who was awake with me, told me there was no magic feeling coming from the hut. The fairy is gone."

Perhaps it's because we're inside the dungeon. Seonwoo Yeon shows great anxiety even at the smallest changes.

"What should I do? Should I use the Searcher skill?"

I struggled to rise at her urging, and in that moment, an unknown light burst forth from beyond the dark void. It was light spreading from the direction of the plaza.

"Blue...?"

Looking at the shadows illuminated by the light, it almost seemed like a number of fairies had gathered there at that spot. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"No, wait a minute."

But at that moment, my senses, which had been sharply tuned from searching the cabin, I felt a familiar magic presence. It was the magic of the wingless fairy. And the current location was...

"Seonwoo Yeon-ssi, stay here."

"Yes?"

"It should be fine, but just in case. I'll quickly check and be right back."

As I quickly got up from my spot and made my way toward the square, the warmth of the flames began to touch my skin. The blazing central fire, surrounded by many fairies sitting in pairs with their hands held together. It looked almost no different from the daytime festival.

Tak, tak.

The campfire in the center of the square was far from the warm, friendly atmosphere of a festival. What was burning there was none other than the wingless fairy herself.

"Huh? A guest. Are you still in the kingdom?"

Soon after, one of the fairies, who had noticed my presence, came closer.

"We're in the middle of an execution."

"Why?"

"This kid did something bad."

It flapped its wings and expressed its discontent with a gentle breeze.

"No, you know that fairy went into the forest this afternoon, right? You know it too. It was you guys who were guided by that fairy!"

"~?"

"You're guests, so it doesn't matter. But that fairy shouldn't be like that. She was the sacrifice of the year."

Tak, tak.

While we were talking, the creature in the pile of firewood had its cute face completely covered in burns.

"How dare that wingless ■■ forget its role and go into the forest? What are we supposed to do if it gets eaten by the giants?"

"That's right."

"That's right!"

"We should kill it today to prevent any unnecessary trouble. Let's burn the sacrifice and store it for next winter!"

I see.

"Foolish fairy. Now that it's time for punishment, you're spouting ridiculous lies about how all the giants are dead"

"Is that true? Then it would be good."

At this moment, I began to understand part of the dungeon's mechanism. It seemed that Apa was programmed to lead explorers into the forest, only for them to be burned at the stake afterward. That's probably why the Apa we met didn't remember the advance team.

"The previous entity must have died."

Then why does this dungeon repeat this burning ceremony by supplying new wingless fairies? The answer to that can be found in their expressions.

"Hunter Kim Giryeo! What on earth is going on here... Ugh."

As Seonwoo Yeon's group grew worried after the S-rank didn't return for a while, they eventually entered the square. They immediately saw their breaths upon discovering the wingless fairy burning in the center.

"Huh? A guest. Are you still in the kingdom?"

After that, the fairies in the square began explaining the ritual again. The same sentences as before flowed through their ear, but this time, the reactions of the people were different.

"Oh my god."

"Ugh..."

Although it was a crude method, some of the raiders eventually changed their emotions because of this situation.

"Sadness, or anger."

There is a reason for everything.

The fairy's unusually warm demeanor. The fact that the only escape route would open at dawn.

Seonwoo Yeon wore a troubled expression, unaware that she had been subtly manipulated, while I coldly scanned the fairies with a face completely opposite to theirs.

"Right! Now that I think about it, before the sacrifice died, they mentioned they had something to reward you with."

Fortunately, it seemed like I wouldn't have to bow down and receive it.

"I've kept the gift for you. It's for you. Do you want to check it out?"

After waiting quietly, the fairy in the square mentioned the topic I had been waiting for first.