Kwaaaang!
A sound that rang through my head.
A deafening roar that shook my entire body.
A shock that crushed my soul.
".......!"
I don't know.
Why am I here doing this?
What on earth was I thinking, doing something like this?
So, do I regret it?
Of course I do.
I could've survived on my own. If I wanted to, I could've gotten out of here anytime. I could've made it out without a scratch.
Easily.
Somehow.
"...."
So, do I regret it?
I don't know.
Maybe it's just because I'm an idiot. Or maybe because I'm hopeless. Or if not that—
Ding dong.
A sound ringing from somewhere?
Yeah. A sound.
A sound that stirred my ears.
A sound demanding a response from me.
Ding dong!
It rang even louder.
My face twisted in annoyance.
Honestly, it's kind of annoying.
I want to sleep more. Just a little longer like this. It's not even time to head to the lab yet. Today's Sunday. No, it's a holiday. It's a festive day.
A holiday? Yeah, a holiday. But I don't have anywhere to go, even on holidays. No family, no relatives. My grandmother who passed away back in high school was my last family.
My grandmother and father's graves?
Or maybe, a columbarium?
That takes money too, doesn't it?
And I didn't have that kind of money. So I just scattered their ashes in the mountains.
So then—
Ding dong! Ding dong-dong!
" ..."
It's noisy.
At this rate, I have no choice but to open my eyes.
"....Aaaaah!"
"!!"
In a half-dazed state, Kim Jangcheol suddenly snapped his eyes open. A scream pierced his ears. Someone's shout. A voice. Even coughing.
"Cough! Cough! Hrk!"
"Hey! Is anyone there?"
"Sweetie! Where are you, sweetie?!"
"......"
Countless voices rang out from every direction. Sounds of people gasping in fear. People desperately crying out the names of their loved ones.
And yet, he couldn't see anything.
Perfect darkness.
Thick clouds of dirt and dust.
And the crushing pressure weighing down on his arms, shoulders, back, waist, legs, and feet—his entire body.
At last, Kim Jangcheol began to realize his situation bit by bit.
"I…"
Did I succeed?
In holding up the collapsing ceiling?
It seemed that way.
He tried lifting his head.
Through the suffocating dust, he could faintly make out the magical light orb embedded in the ceiling. Between his raised arms, between his spread palms.
"......"
Just earlier, that light had been about forty meters above. But now, it was barely a few dozen centimeters from his head.
"Ghh, urgh...!"
Now that the situation sank in, the weight hit him all at once. It wasn't even the entire ceiling of the storage room. Just a portion near the central pillar.
Even so, it felt unimaginably heavy. Like holding up a mountain. He couldn't believe he was actually doing this.
He steadied himself and looked around.
'What about Zephyros and Baal? Aged Kimchi? The servant? And... the people?'
Were they all safe?
He desperately hoped no one had died or gotten seriously hurt.
He quickly scanned the area. Thanks to the few orbs that still emitted a faint glow, his visibility gradually improved.
'…That's a relief.'
No one appeared dead or seriously injured. The number of people—102—was exactly the count he'd tallied during the earlier chaos.
That's when—
"...I don't know what you're thinking, but you haven't even glanced my way."
From a distance came a grumbling voice, pretending to be emotionless. Compared to the shouting all around, it was quiet. But for some reason, it came through clearly.
A bitter smile formed on Kim Jangcheol's dust-covered lips.
"I figured, even if everyone else here got hurt, you'd still be fine."
"Me? Hmph."
Maybe the answer sounded ridiculous. Aged Kimchi let out a dry chuckle, followed by a complaint.
"Anyway, what were you thinking, coming up with a stunt like this?"
He glanced up at the part of the ceiling he was holding up and muttered.
"Look at this mess. Now we're completely stuck."
"Well, I couldn't think of a better way to save everyone here."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. That's right."
"You must have a hopeful plan going forward?"
"Yes, a rough one."
He nodded at Aged Kimchi. But the truth was… it's unbearably heavy. If he could, he'd fall to his knees this instant.
This is almost like—holding up a massive double-door refrigerator with both arms as punishment.
'Can I keep holding out?'
I don't know.
So I'll just give it my best.
Ding dong! Ding dong!
The notification sound kept ringing loudly in his ears. But there was no time to stop and check it carefully.
"....My Lord!"
Maybe he'd finally been found. Zephyros rushed over in a panic.
"Are you alright?"
"...No, I'm not alright."
"Yes, you certainly don't look it. This is..."
Only now did Zephyros realize what exactly was happening here, and his usually composed expression turned to utter disbelief.
But there was no time for sentiment.
Suppressing his labored breathing, Kim Jangcheol spoke quickly.
"Zephyros. We don't have time. Listen carefully. Neither I nor Sir Aged Kimchi can hold out for long. Everyone needs to get out before then. See the central pillar over there?"
"Yes, I see it."
"Go check inside. See if the secret passage is intact."
That was the most important thing now.
The secret passage inside the pillar.
It had to be intact.
He had risked everything on that hope.
Thankfully, Zephyros brought back good news.
"My Lord, the passage is intact."
"That's great. Then start guiding people through it. Follow the spiral staircase up, and they should be able to escape. It's a narrow passage, so have them go one at a time."
"Understood. But…"
"What now?"
"What about you, my Lord…?"
"I've got my own plan, so just hurry."
"Understood."
"Oh, and—make sure to write about all the cool things I did today in the annals."
"...Yes, I'll be sure to do that."
"Then I'm counting on you."
"Yes, my Lord."
Maybe he sensed something.
Zephyros nodded with a faintly choked-up expression, then began leading the people.
And for some reason, that made Kim Jangcheol feel strange too.
'Tch. What's with that look. It's not like I'm planning to die today.'
Die here?
Me?
Ridiculous.
I don't want to, and I don't plan to.
Ding dong! Ding dong!
"......."
Seriously, from earlier...
It's so damn noisy.
Eventually, Kim Jangcheol, irritated, tried to check the message window.
But just then—
"Truly… truly… thank you."
Before he could even read the message, someone suddenly approached from beyond the message window.
A familiar face.
The young woman he had saved earlier from the golem.
She held her child tightly, her face smeared with dirt and dust, her eyes glistening as she pleaded softly.
"I'll never forget your kindness today. So please… you must survive."
"Ah, yes…"
What should I say?
Caught completely off guard, and feeling a bit embarrassed, he just nodded dumbly.
But that was only the beginning.
"Thank you… You saved my child…"
"Please, I truly hope you make it out safely."
"Truly, I'm truly grateful… Though this old body doesn't have many days left to live, if only I could take on your burden instead—would you permit me to do so?"
Someone shed tears. Someone else stepped forward, saying they'd hold up the ceiling in his place. Not a single person passed him by without a word.
Countless thanks and blessings.
Unmatched encouragement and support.
All 102 people, without exception, said something as they bared their hearts and began stepping onto the path leading to the surface.
"....."
How should I describe this feeling?
They were the ones who trusted me and came down here. They went through all this because of me. And yet, not one of them blamed me.
Is that something to be grateful for?
I don't know.
It's just… I was a bit embarrassed.
And in a way, not exactly in a bad mood. Each and every one of their expressions etched themselves into my heart. Maybe that's why my face had turned a little red as I watched them leave.
"Baal doesn't wanna go!"
"…Tsk, you again."
"I'm going out with you!"
"Tch. No. Go back."
"Then I'll help hold up the ceiling too!"
"Tsk? You're not going out? Huh?"
"Then I'll at least cheer from the side with the potato…!"
"…Why are you dragging me into this?!"
Once everyone had left, the last ones remaining were Baal, Zephyros, and the servant Dyoll.
Among them, Baal stubbornly refused to leave like a tantrum-throwing child. Thanks to that, Zephyros and Potato—no, servant Dyoll—had a rough time dealing with him.
"Phew, somehow, we managed to get everyone out."
"…Yeah."
Finally, after Baal cowered under Zephyros's scolding and disappeared beyond the passage, Kim Jangcheol was left alone with Aged Kimchi. Only then did he release the deep breath he'd been holding.
In the meantime, Aged Kimchi was giving him a strangely meaningful look.
"…Why are you staring at me like that?"
Was he doubting me?
Worried I didn't have a plan?
"I do have a plan."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Please listen carefully. Ahem, hem!"
His throat was scratchy from inhaling so much dust. He held back the urge to drink something and continued.
"From now on, we'll take turns. One of us will momentarily let go of the ceiling, just for a split second, take a step forward quickly, then immediately support the ceiling again."
"…What?"
"I'll quickly release my hands, take one step, then catch the ceiling again. Then you'll do the same. Back and forth, taking turns. Understand?"
"Don't tell me… your idea is to approach the central pillar with a passage like that?"
"Yes. Thankfully, the pillar is between the two of us. If we do this, we can minimize a full collapse while approaching the pillar relatively safely."
"Then, at the end?"
"We time it right and jump into the passage."
"This place will collapse entirely, you know?"
"We just have to be faster than the collapse. All the way to the surface."
"…That's your plan?"
"Do you have a better one?"
"I do."
"What is it?"
"Let go right now and let this place collapse. After all, I'm confident I'll survive."
"......"
He was momentarily speechless.
Aged Kimchi was right.
His level was 9990.
Being buried alive here wouldn't even faze him. He'd probably just break through the dirt and rocks pressing down on him like it was nothing.
But I can't do that.
Back when I was crushed by the Demon King's castle after being attacked by the 2nd Star Master? I only survived thanks to an air pocket in the underground structure.
There's no guarantee I'll be that lucky again. Besides, in this zone, even glitch tricks are nearly impossible.
"Uh, well…"
What should I say?
Should I beg him to help me live?
Ask him to take me along as he breaks through the debris?
'Would that even be possible?'
…No.
As confirmed during the fight with the golem, Aged Kimchi is overwhelmingly powerful. Even if he gently dug through the earth, the moment I got caught in that force, I'd be torn apart instantly.
Then what should I do?
If he abandons me—what then?
While I was deeply troubled—
A rare chuckle escaped from Aged Kimchi.
"Just kidding."
"..."
You bastard.
I barely stopped myself from mentally checking out. Trying to calm myself, I spoke.
"Do you think it's funny to mess with people like that?"
"Not particularly."
"Then how can you joke in a situation like this?"
"Maybe because it's you I'm with."
"…What?"
"Your reactions are interesting."
"...."
"In any case, Baal, Zephyros, and servant Dyoll have just arrived at the surface."
"…You can hear that?"
"Roughly."
"Well, that's good. Even if we fail, at least no one else will get caught in it."
"Then, let's follow your plan. Who'll go first?"
"I will."
Kim Jangcheol steadied his breath.
Then, he slightly loosened the strength in his hands that were holding up the ceiling.
Ruuumble!
"....!"
He panicked and quickly reinforced his hold.
He hadn't even taken his hands off. He just slightly relaxed his grip. Yet the ceiling shook violently, as if it were about to collapse. Dust fell.
And then…
"A new crack just formed."
"...."
"I don't think we can take our hands off."
"..."
This was bad.
No, it was worse than that.
His vision went dark.
This wasn't a joke or a bluff.
'What do I do?'
Should I just go for it and let go?
But what if it really collapses?
"Got any other plans?"
"...I'm thinking about it."
His mind raced. But nothing promising came up. He gnawed on his lip. He was getting more and more desperate.
'Seriously, what do I do?'
Should I try taking off my clothes and putting them back on to trigger a glitch? But glitches don't work just anywhere. And this place? I already confirmed yesterday that it's a no-go.
Nothing else came to mind.
His thoughts went completely blank.
If only his disguise were undone now. Then the Happy Point system would be back online. Maybe he could spend points to bloom one or two of Demon King Credos's battle skills. Maybe use those somehow.
'But that's not possible right now. So what do I… damn it. Damn it.'
He grew more anxious.
Fear was setting in.
His body trembled involuntarily.
He felt utterly trapped.
The ceiling felt even heavier than before.
How long could I keep this up? Can I come up with something before I collapse? I don't want it to end like this. I'm scared. This isn't how it was supposed to go.
'Think, Kim Jangcheol. Stay calm. Focus. Just think. You can do it. Come on, think!'
He pushed himself.
Tried desperately to maintain clarity.
Then—
Ding dong! Ding dong-dong! Ding-dong!
"…Damn it!"
That sound again, grating on his nerves.
He snapped in frustration.
And looked at the message window.
Thanks to that, he saw it.
[You suffered a temporary blackout while holding up the collapsing ceiling due to extreme physical stress.]
[According to the blackout condition, the effect of the Elixir of Transformation that altered your appearance has been deactivated.]
[Your disguise has been lifted.]
[You cannot disguise yourself again for the next 24 hours.]
[With the disguise lifted, previously deactivated functions are now reactivating.]
[Happy Point accumulation alert has been re-enabled.]
[Current Happy Points: 15,761 HP]
"…Huh?"
A point total beyond anything he'd expected appeared before his eyes.
[T/L: I am not getting any support from webnovel platform, so please support me and read ahead chapters on my ko-fi page "RevengerScans" : https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]