Chapter 405: The Shrine Where the Dead Sleep (3)

*Green Spider Guild.*

A newly formed guild, just over three months old.

Its raid leader, *Cho Namcheol*, a 32-year-old who had spent years unemployed, created the guild with like-minded friends. With job opportunities scarce and life becoming increasingly bleak, they decided to throw caution to the wind and enter the *Tower of Trials.*

‘It’s a common enough story. The world is full of people hoping to hit the lottery.’

By sheer luck, they had obtained decent professions, which allowed the Green Spider Guild to scrape by.
However, that streak of luck was unlikely to continue in a place like this.

“…So, you’re absolutely certain you won’t turn back?”

“Yes! If it means following Player Kang Jinhyuk, I’d go to the ends of hell itself!”

“You do realize you’d have a much higher chance of surviving by waiting at the ruins’ entrance until I defeat the boss?”

“What’s the point? Even if we survive like that, it’s no different from being dead. We’ve come this far—we might as well see it through.”

The determination in Cho Namcheol’s tone was unshakable.

“Fine. If you’re that insistent, do as you wish.”

Jinhyuk didn’t see the point in trying to stop them.
Crossing dangerous bridges was their choice to make.

Besides—

*‘Mandrake Juice, huh…?’*

Jinhyuk’s gaze lingered on Cho Namcheol’s neck, where faint turquoise veins pulsed visibly.
The telltale sign of mandrake juice consumption.

This substance, akin to a narcotic, was popular among players seeking to suppress the fear of raids.
The problem was that the amount consumed by Cho Namcheol and the other players far exceeded normal levels.

*‘There’s no way individuals like them could acquire this much.’*

The cost and logistics of obtaining such a quantity were far beyond the reach of novice players.

—

At that moment, subtle movements between the rocks lining the swamp caught Jinhyuk’s attention.

*Swish. Swish.*

Elves.
Not just any elves—*High Elves*, renowned for their agility and precision.

“Enemies.”

“E-enemies? Don’t tell me it’s those pointy-eared bastards again?”

“Why do you sound so scared already? Weren’t you talking big just a moment ago?”

“No, that’s not it… I just think we shouldn’t fight unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

“Or maybe there’s a reason you don’t *want* to fight them.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“Nothing. Just thinking out loud.”

Jinhyuk’s lips curled into a smile.

It seemed this raid would prove to be quite interesting.

—

*Swish! Thunk! Thunk!*

*Thud!*

Arrows shot from the flanks, while an elf armed with a dagger charged head-on.

*Clang! Clang! Clang!*

The attacks were unnervingly precise and swift.
Jinhyuk and the High Elf rotated clockwise, their blades clashing mid-air with incredible force.

*Boom!*

The High Elf was flung over five meters back.
Despite dispersing the impact, their weapon couldn’t withstand the sheer power of *Crimson Lotus*.

Still, the High Elves didn’t falter despite losing the initial exchange.
Instead, they became even more determined to exploit any opening.

One of the High Elf’s eyes glowed red as arrows began flying from multiple directions.
Unlike before, the arrows seemed alive, their trajectories shifting mid-flight.

As soon as Jinhyuk deflected one arrow, two more targeted his vital points from the opposite side.

“Annoying.”

Jinhyuk deflected every attack from his blind spots, maintaining a delicate balance of offense and defense.

—

“…Impressive, human.”

The leader of the High Elves finally spoke.

“I was hoping to avoid damaging such a promising body, but this fight has dragged on long enough. I’ll eliminate you, even if it means taking risks.”

*Shiiing!*

The elf leader replaced their bow with a curved blade coated in a deadly toxin unique to High Elves—designed to worsen wounds over time.

With seven melee fighters and two archers remaining, the battle would only grow more chaotic.

“Player Kang Jinhyuk, we’ll handle the enemies coming from the rear,” Cho Namcheol offered.

“Exactly. If we take care of a few archers, it should make your fight much easier.”

“Don’t worry about the back—we’ll hold the line. We’ll manage, somehow.”

The remaining players positioned themselves behind Jinhyuk, each ready to fight.

“Are you sure? It’s dangerous.”

“We’ll make it work. If you go down, we’re all dead anyway.”

“Understood. I’m counting on you.”

Jinhyuk shifted his mana forward.

As the *Grave of Swords* activated, two blades materialized, radiating a crimson energy.

The High Elves’ curved blades began glowing with a pale light in response.

“Attack.”

At the elf leader’s command, both sides prepared to clash.

But just as their feet left the ground—

—

“Now’s the time!”

“You’re wide open, fool!”

“What an idiot!”

The players behind Jinhyuk abruptly turned and swung their weapons—not at the High Elves, but at Jinhyuk’s exposed back.

With his weight centered forward and his mana concentrated on the frontlines, the timing was perfect for an ambush.

Or so they thought.

—

*Whoosh!*

The weapons struck only empty air.

“What… what the hell?”

Cho Namcheol’s pupils quivered in disbelief.

They had executed a flawless sneak attack, but Jinhyuk dodged effortlessly, as if he had known all along.

“You’re quicker to betray than I expected. Well, I suppose I did make it look like I was struggling. The timing must’ve seemed perfect to you.”

“You… knew we were going to attack?”

Cho Namcheol stammered.

“I have eyes in the sky.”

*Buzz!*

Hovering about 100 meters above the battlefield was a small drone.
Using the [Mechanical Overlord] ability copied from Lee Taemin, Jinhyuk had maintained full surveillance the entire time.

The range of the ability was still somewhat limited due to the incomplete mastery of its functions, but it was more than sufficient for gathering the necessary information.

“That… I didn’t account for,” Cho Namcheol muttered.

“It wasn’t just that. You were suspicious from the start.”

“What gave us away?”

“High Elves don’t get infected by parasites. Not normally, anyway.”

This meant that if they were infected, it was because of a new method the parasites didn’t previously possess—indicating the involvement of a third party.

“And those familiar with this place who had the time to prepare? It could only be the Demons who used this as their base.”

Cho Namcheol’s expression shifted drastically at Jinhyuk’s words.

“…Looks like I built the story wrong. I thought the setup was pretty convincing. Choosing High Elves turned out to be a mistake.”

“And let’s not forget overusing mandrake juice—that was another blunder. Pretending to be a fledgling guild to catch my attention didn’t help much either.”

Using their comrades as sacrifices to stage a fight against High Elves had been a clever ploy, but under normal circumstances, the raid party would’ve been wiped out entirely—especially a newly formed guild.

“So… you knew everything and still pretended not to?”

“Nothing’s easier to exploit than a foolish enemy. I planned to keep quiet until the end, but the situation changed.”

Jinhyuk’s gaze shifted to the elves.
Among the High Elves, a familiar face stood out.

*Teslon.*

He was someone Jinhyuk had encountered in the *Elven Forest on the 6th floor.* Teslon’s distinctive cosplay had made him memorable, but for some reason, he had now appeared here.

Behind him stood *Sylvia,* an Elven Ranger also from the 6th floor.

Their presence here was a clear sign that something significant was happening among the elves.

“Well, you’re sharp, I’ll give you that. But what’s your plan now? You’re barely handling the High Elves—think you can deal with us too?”

Now, enemies surrounded Jinhyuk on all sides.

Even for a veteran player like him, the situation seemed precarious.

“You’re mistaken about one thing. It only looked like I was struggling because I wanted you to confess. I was holding back.”

—

*Fwoosh!*

Jinhyuk vanished.

*Boom!*

The leading High Elf was slammed into the ground.

Moments later, another High Elf was flung sideways.
They didn’t even understand what had happened.

Two down.

In the blink of an eye, a third collapsed, unconscious.

“Wha…?”

“What just…?”

Before they could react, the elves began dropping like marionettes with severed strings.

At last, Cho Namcheol realized something was very wrong.

—

*Crunch! Snap!*

“AAAAARGH!”

A piercing scream echoed as Cho Namcheol’s body convulsed, his bones shattered beyond repair.

“Don’t overreact. I still have more questions for you.”

“Wha… wh-what… do you… w-want? I don’t… even kn—AAAAH! M-my fingers!”

“I told you, I ask the questions. Keep your mouth shut and rest while you can. I’ll come back to you later.”

“Y-yes… understood.”

With his teeth knocked out, every word from Cho Namcheol’s mouth came with a wheezing sound.
The terror of death outweighed his pain, silencing him further.

He had watched his comrades die right before his eyes.

With Cho Namcheol subdued, Jinhyuk turned to the elves.
Though most were unconscious, Teslon and Sylvia were still awake thanks to the antidote Jinhyuk had administered.

“How are you feeling?”

“Urgh… I think I’m coming to,” Teslon muttered, clutching his head.

“Good. But this is just the beginning. The parasites in your body have slowed down, but expelling them completely will take some additional measures.”

“Damn it. Nothing good ever comes of meeting you. Judging by that smug face, you’ve been making good use of the weapons you stole from us.”

Teslon’s resentment over losing the *Fangs of Pentagris* was evident.
Still, he owed his life to Jinhyuk. Acting hostile toward his savior was hardly the right attitude.

Jinhyuk moved like lightning.

*Slap!*

“ARGH! What the hell are you doing?!”

“The antidote works faster with some stimulation. A good beating is the most effective, though I don’t want to risk brain damage.”

“And so you slap me?!”

*Slap! Slap!*

“OW! MY GUMS! YOU DAMN—”

“Oh, does it hurt? That’s unfortunate, considering this is just the start.”

Jinhyuk unleashed a rapid series of slaps on Teslon’s face, each strike landing rhythmically like a drumbeat.

“Wow. Teslon, you’ve gotten surprisingly resilient. You’re like a mochi.”

“Stop… please! STOP!”

“And what happens if I stop? If the parasites regain control, are you planning to let them dictate your actions again?”

“I… no!”

“Of course not. Your tribe has suffered enough. Surely you can endure this for their sake.”

As the leader of the Elven Rangers, Teslon couldn’t back down.
With a clenched jaw, he steeled himself.

“I’ll say it again—this isn’t personal.”

Jinhyuk resumed his “treatment,” energetically slapping Teslon’s face.

—

After some time, Sylvia began to stir, flexing her hands and feet.
Having braced herself for a similar ordeal, she was startled to find her body moving freely and her senses fully restored.

“Wait… what? Why am I fine? Sylvia asked, perplexed. “The strange feeling is completely gone.”

Teslon, his face swollen and puffy, stammered, “H-how? Why is… she okay?”

“Oh, right. Now that I think about it, the antidote I gave you is a new formula. Turns out the parasites die off naturally after a bit of time. My bad—I completely forgot.”