MTLNOVEL Chapter 4
“…!”
Sooho was greatly shocked. The black magic beast that suddenly appeared was wrapped in jet-black exoskeleton-like armor, emitting black steam from its entire body. Its form was that of a giant ant with wings. The incessantly flickering black smoke all over its body seemed like shadows wavering in the light.
As soon as Sooho saw its appearance, some memories flashed through his mind.
‘Could it be the one I saw in my dream…?’
He was sure that he knew this beast. The leader of those countless, fearsome ant monsters that appeared in his dreams long ago looked exactly like this…!
But why was this happening?
The ant monster suddenly approached Sooho and knelt down on one knee.
[My little king! I, Beru, have come! Please rest assured now!]
“… What?” Sooho’s eyes widened in surprise.
No, what kind of situation is this?
Even though it was kneeling down, its size was still big enough that he had to look up.
But then…
Thud.
Before Sooho could respond, the demeanor of the black magic beast suddenly changed. It noticed Sooho’s battered, pitiful state after being attacked by the giant wolf.
At that moment, the black magic beast erupted with a storm-like aura, lifting its head high.
[How dare this dog-like vermin dare to bite into your noble body?! I shall tear its jaws apart!]
And then, a horrifying roar erupted from its mouth, shaking the entire building.
[Kieeeeek-!]
Then…
The world turned into hell.
Kukukukuku!
[Grrr…!]
A dreadful aura enveloped its entire body as the giant wolf that the black magic beast had pinned down suddenly gathered strength and lifted its head. And then, it bit into the leg of the black magic beast with a snap.
Thud.
But the black magic beast looked down at the struggling figure below with disdain.
[How dare this vermin crawl up here!]
In an instant, black steam boiled up.
The black magic beast swiftly kicked away the giant wolf with blinding speed, then charged forward and slammed into its body.
Bang!
[Ack!]
The giant wolf was sent flying backward with a scream, unable to resist. But the black magic beast was even faster, overtaking it once again and slamming the massive beast onto the ground with even greater force.
Crunch!
The black magic beast grabbed the wolf’s two legs with both hands and,
snap!
The body was torn apart in opposite directions.
[Grrr…!]
Terrifying screams echoed as black blood splattered in all directions.
This was no longer a battle. It was a one-sided massacre. The brutality of a predator.
[Kieeek-!]
The overwhelmingly dominant predator trampled on the wolf’s corpse, letting out another insane roar.
The brutal aura froze the bodies of the Hunters who had entered the first floor of the art museum.
“Wh-what is this aura!?”
“I thought this was a D-rank dungeon, but what is this…!?”
Shock and terror!
The building shook as if it could collapse at any moment.
… But for some reason, Sooho wasn’t afraid of that brutal beast at all. On the contrary, it felt so nostalgic… It stimulated the scent of memories preserved in his long-held memories.
‘What is this memory? It feels like something I should remember…’
– Ant…! Ant…!
What is this memory?
He suddenly heard the voice of a toddler who liked drawing ants in a sketchbook.
‘Who…?’
Throb!
“Ugh!” Suddenly, a severe headache struck him. Though he was baffled, there was one thing he could be sure of.
‘At least I… seem to be alive…’
[HP: 1/140]
Thud.
In the end, all the tension was released, and Sooho collapsed to the ground, barely conscious.
[Kieek! L-Little King? Little King! Wake up…!]
At that moment, Sooho thought.
That magic beast’s embrace, who had rushed to him and hugged him desperately, was so, so warm…
Even while losing consciousness, a smile spread across Sooho’s lips.
Ding.
[You have completed ‘Quest: Rescue the Survivors’.]
[Number of people rescued: 33]
[Level up!]
***
Sooho had a dream. It was the dream of a toddler being piggybacked on the back of an ant.
The baby in the dream was giggling and laughing with happiness. Whenever the baby laughed, the ant laughed along with it.
There were always ants wherever the baby went.
An ant that tied an apron and fed the baby a bottle.
An ant that helped with counting and studying numbers.
An ant that covered the baby with a small blanket and napped together…
If an ant was nowhere to be seen, the baby cried. Then, the ants would appear, shaking toys and soothing the baby, and the baby would stop crying and smile again as if he had never cried.
Then the ant with the apron approached the baby with wide eyes as if it would shed tears at any moment.
[My little king, when did you grow up so wonderfully? I, Beru, am deeply moved.]
…!
In the blink of an eye, the baby suddenly grew up and stood before the ant as a 22-year-old Sooho.
Beru.
Sooho muttered that name in his mind.
Beru, the ant, looked at him proudly, tears welling in his eyes.
[Originally, the purpose of my coming was to release your seal, but it seems you have already unsealed yourself. Indeed, you are our little king.]
Sniff, sniff.
Beru was so moved that tears flowed from his eyes like a faucet.
[
Sniff, sniff.
However, the seal is not completely lifted. The most important things are kept here.]
Beru took out something from his bosom.
Ding.
[You have obtained ‘Item: Key to Shadow Dungeon’.]
‘Shadow Dungeon? What is this?’
Suddenly, a message popped up in Sooho’s mind, and he felt puzzled.
But this place was a dream. His voice couldn’t reach Beru at all.
The ant firmly held the key in his hand and spoke.
[Whenever you are ready, please feel free to use this key. Inside are all the things that were initially meant to belong to you.]
Saying that, Beru knelt down on one knee and grabbed Sooho’s shoulders with both hands.
[However, please remember one thing.]
With a solemn tone and gentle touch, contrasting emotions were clearly felt in his eyes as he looked directly at Sooho.
[In great power, one must have a suitable vessel. When someone who is not prepared receives an unbearable amount of power, the weight of that power may break the vessel.]
Great power, great vessel.
Sooho mulled over these words in his mind.
[In short, you must raise the level of the vessel.]
Beru’s eyes narrowed, and he smiled mischievously.
Shrug.
After speaking, Beru stood up again and respectfully bowed his head.
[Then, my little king, my mission ends here. Although I would like to stay by your side a little longer, my comrades are waiting for me desperately, even at this moment.]
Then he winked with one eye.
[Because I’m a good healer despite my looks.]
‘A healer? Did he say a healer?’
It was the most absurd thing Sooho had heard recently.
[Then, I shall take my leave now. Until the day we meet again, please take care…]
Please be healthy…
Beru’s faint voice gradually echoed.
“Wait! I still have questions to ask…!” Sooho urgently called out to him, but no voice came out of his mouth.
At that moment, Sooho woke up.
***
“Uwah! Ant!?” Sooho, who woke up abruptly, quickly looked around.
The walls were pure white and smelled of disinfectant.
The calm air surrounded him.
“Oh, you’re awake.” The nurse who was grinding IVs looked at Sooho.
“This is…”
“You’re at the hospital. Don’t you remember? There was a dungeon at school.”
‘…Was it all a dream?’
Although he woke up from sleep, Sooho had a blank expression for a while.
‘Where does the dream start and end? The ant? The dungeon? Or the levelling up?’
Everything was confusing.
The news was playing on the TV in the hospital room just then.
– The gate that occurred at Korea University two days ago is almost completely under control…
– Despite the occurrence of a dungeon break in the middle of the city, the number of casualties is miraculously low, according to experts…
‘It’s been two days?’
The incident at the art museum seemed not just a dream.
‘Then, were the dreams I had when I was young also real?’
Sooho finally realized.
Memories of playing with giant ants in his childhood. How could he have forgotten those joyful moments until now?
As Sooho recalled the ant named ‘Beru’ from his dream, he felt a sense of regret.
‘He left without even having a proper conversation.’
Sooho raised his head. Texts had been floating before him since earlier, waiting for him.
[You have completed ‘Quest: Rescue the Survivors’.]
[The quest completion reward has arrived.]
[Do you want to check the reward?] (Y/N)
‘Check.’
Without hesitation, Sooho selected to check the reward. He had almost died several times, so it was only right to at least check the reward, no matter how unfair it felt.
[The following rewards are prepared.]
Reward 1: Ability Points +5
Reward 2: Strength Stat Points +3
‘Giving 8 stats?’
Sooho’s eyes widened at the more generous rewards than he had expected.
It seemed that with each level up, all stats increased by 1 point each. So, the additional stats of 8 points were much more than leveling up once.
‘It’s worth risking my life for doing good deeds.
Sooho immediately checked his status window.
[Status Window]
Name: Sung Sooho
Level: 3
Job: None
Title: None
HP: 140/140
MP: 14/14
[Stats]
Strength: 15 Stamina: 12
Dexterity: 12 Intelligence: 12
Sense: 12
(Available Ability Points: 5)
[Skills]
Passive Skills: None
Active Skills: Ruler’s Authority Lv.1
Compared to his dream in high school, many more functions were added. Back then, only the level was displayed, and there was no detailed status window or anything like that.
‘Hmm, which stat should I increase?’
The 3 stat points for strength were automatically applied, and Sooho hesitated on where to invest the remaining stat points. He carefully examined other stats without hastily investing the remaining stat points.
Then, an information window popped up in front of him.
[Information]
Strength: Increases strength and speed. Increases attack power.
Agility: Increases visual acuity and physical reaction speed. Increases reflexes and evasion rate.
Stamina: Increases maximum HP and HP recovery speed.
Intelligence: Increases maximum MP and MP recovery speed.
Sense: Increases sensory perception. Increases crisis detection ability.
As Sooho looked at the stats, they all seemed important.
‘I should think about it more and decide later.’
After turning off the status window, Sooho realized his throat was dry. Come to think of it, he had been unconscious for two days without even taking a sip of water.
He opened the door of a small refrigerator next to the bed in search of water.
Clunk.
And inside it…
“… Huh?” Sooho’s eyes widened in surprise.
Surprisingly, inside was a tiny, adorable version of Beru, peeling an apple with his mere fist-sized body.
“Y-you…!”
[Kehehe.]
[Beru] Lv.1
Pawn Grade
For some reason, Beru, who used to have a majestic body, had become incredibly small and cute. He offered the rabbit-shaped apple with a shy expression.
[I couldn’t go because I ran out of mana.]
“…”
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