DNSG CH 05

“Haa……. I really thought we were going to die.”

Jang collapsed onto the sofa after gulping down the drink pouch he had been given.

📍 World Tree’s Roots – B2, Lounge

After the first team-matching mission ended, the survivors were given a short break.

Those who had failed the test had been…… swallowed up by the cracks in the ground. The earth devouring people greedily—it was a bizarre and horrifying sight. The lounge was still in a state of chaos, with everyone struggling to recover from the shock.

Myojin was just as troubled. Although she had safely survived the team-selection mission, she still couldn’t get in touch with Seoseok-ho.

“I brought yours too.”

Jang handed Myojin the drink pouch he had picked up for her. Taking a quick look, she saw that it was a drink with a health-recovery effect. The orange package had the words, “Please help yourself.”

Most people were sitting around blankly, looking completely dazed, but Jang had diligently gathered several drink pouches.

“I’m fine.”

“Have some. This isn’t just a drink—it’s a recovery potion. People like us, who look so weak, need to take care of our health whenever we get the chance.”

“You can keep mine too, Uncle.”

“Heh, I knew you’d say that, so I already grabbed a few extra for myself.”

Jang grinned and slightly opened his backpack. Contrary to his claim that he had merely “grabbed a few,” the inside of the backpack was filled with entire boxes of drink pouches.

Myojin let out a hollow laugh.

“Are you planning to evacuate somewhere?”

“You never know.”

Seeing Myojin finally smile, Jang gave her a playful wink.

‘Well, I suppose they might come in handy.’

Thinking about Jang’s efforts to lighten the mood, Myojin put two drink pouches into her pocket.

“By the way……”

Jang lowered his voice.

“How are you planning to deal with him?”

He turned his head and glanced toward the window.

Hikari was sitting by the sunlit window. He was sprawled out as if he were butter melting over a leather sofa. At first glance, he looked asleep, but his white ears kept twitching irregularly.

‘He can probably hear us even if we whisper. Beastfolk have excellent hearing.’

Without taking her eyes off Hikari, Myojin spoke.

“Why are you so wary of him?”

“There are all kinds of rumors going around about the people from Area C. Apparently, he’s completely uncontrollable and impossible to communicate with. They say group activities, like party quests, will be difficult with him.”

Jang shook his head and clicked his tongue.

‘Expecting cooperation from a cat beastfolk? What an innocent idea.’

A faint smile crossed Myojin’s lips.

“I’ll figure something out.”

“You’re strangely confident.”

Instead of answering, Myojin simply shrugged.

‘His instincts should be similar, after all.’

The reason Myojin remained so calm was largely because of the overwhelming combat experience she had accumulated and the knowledge she had gained from obsessively studying the unofficial setting book for more than ten years.

“Forget about communication problems. Is it really safe to team up with that guy? Those rumors make me uneasy.”

“What rumors?”

Myojin asked, recalling Hikari’s settings.

“I heard that guy brings death wherever he goes…… Ah!”

Jang suddenly screamed and jumped to his feet.

At some point, Hikari had approached and was now standing behind Myojin.

“D-Did you hear that?”

There was no answer.

Jang broke into a cold sweat under Hikari’s sharp golden gaze.

ミ★ [NPC] Hikari

Wandering Cat Beastfolk

Status Abnormality – Shadow of Death (Inactive)

Myojin glanced at the text listed beneath his nameplate.

‘As I thought.’

The information she had expected was there.

The status abnormality was inactive.

For the time being, Hikari wasn’t dangerous even if he stayed by her side.

‘The problem is when the status abnormality becomes active.’

In the world of Dungeon of Legends, magic power was synonymous with power. That was why Hikari, who possessed an extraordinary potential for magic power, had once been an existence everyone envied.

The reason it was described in the past tense was simple.

He couldn’t control his own magic power.

When excessive magic power could not be controlled, it eventually led to a rampage. Hikari would occasionally lose control, and because of that, he had acquired new nicknames: “Monster” and “Massacre.”

In simple terms, the current Hikari was a ticking time bomb that could go off at any moment.

“W-Wait! That won’t do!”

Jang hurriedly grabbed an accessory and widened his eyes.

Myojin noticed Hikari staring intently at Jang’s waist. An ivory-colored mother-of-pearl ornament tied with a silk cord glittered endlessly in the sunlight. Hikari’s pupils widened into round circles.

It was exactly the kind of object that could attract the attention of a feline beastfolk.

“Why don’t you give that to Hikari and get on his good side?”

“No way. Do you know how much this costs?”

“Really?”

Myojin had been about to explain Hikari’s status abnormality to Jang, but stopped herself.

There was no point. He would obviously think she was crazy.

‘No matter how expensive it is, isn’t it still worth less than your life?’

Of course, becoming friendly with Hikari didn’t mean his status abnormality would never activate. Someday, his unstable magic power would inevitably run wild.

All Myojin could hope for was that if he did lose control, it would happen under circumstances she could handle.

‘If it happens during an emergency like earlier, we’re all screwed.’

For now, Myojin intended to build a reasonable friendship and bond with Hikari. She had formed a hypothesis that feeling psychologically secure might delay the activation of his status abnormality.

It wasn’t an entirely baseless theory. After all, panic tends to become much worse when someone feels completely isolated and alone.

“Isn’t there some way to do something about him?”

Unable to endure Hikari’s intense stare any longer, Jang whispered to Myojin.

“Can you give me an empty box?”

“This one? Why do you need it……?”

Jang hurriedly rummaged through his backpack and tossed an empty box that had contained the drinks to Myojin.

‘I should first check whether the information I know can actually be used on Hikari.’

The moment she touched the box, her unique skill activated automatically. Information about the item appeared before Myojin’s eyes.

[Fairly Sturdy Cardboard Box]

Its durability makes it suitable for storing large and heavy items.

Myojin examined the box from various angles before nodding.

“Good. This should work.”

She gave a light whistle to draw Hikari’s attention.

“Hey, Hikari!”

Hikari flinched slightly before slowly turning his head toward her. His eyes were partially visible between his dusty, disheveled silver hair.

He looked dirty and miserable, but his golden eyes, filled with sunlight, still shimmered with vivid colors.

Myojin steadied her breathing and met his gaze directly. She had encountered countless players, monsters, and NPCs on her journey to becoming the number-one ranked player, but Hikari was undoubtedly the most beautiful being she had ever seen.

Even though he looked a complete mess, his striking features and broad frame could not be concealed.

‘And someone like this has been falsely accused of being a heinous criminal.’

She remembered a passage from the unofficial setting book and unconsciously furrowed her brow.

“It’s a present.”

Her quiet words carried a gentle warmth.

Hikari’s golden eyes trembled.

“A present? ……For me? ……Why?”

He hesitated before tilting his head slightly.

And he had every reason to.

Hikari had never experienced kindness from anyone. He had been falsely accused of being a heinous criminal from the moment he was born, so everyone had persecuted and despised him.

Myojin remained where she was and calmly nodded.

“Because we’re teammates now.”

“……”

Silence fell between them.

Slowly, wariness began to creep into Hikari’s otherwise tranquil golden eyes.

Myojin noticed the bruises on Hikari’s legs as he cautiously backed away and let out a quiet sigh.

“Teammates?”

“Calling you my teammate out of nowhere probably doesn’t make you trust me, right? Well, I understand. I don’t trust you either.”

Hikari’s white ears flattened backward.

It was a clear warning that he could attack at any moment.

Sensing the strange tension between them, Jang carefully began backing away.

“Let me correct that. Forget being teammates. Let’s be allies. A temporary alliance for the sake of survival.”