---

But there’s no way everyone else would let the boss monster go.

“Where are you going?”

Chun Hui Lim dangerously growled before using his skill. A large boulder shot up and attacked the monster’s solar plexus. Though that doesn’t seem to be a vital spot like it is in humans, the force behind the hit was still strong enough to stop the monster. 

“Guildmaster-nim, stand back!”

Lim Seung Joo shouted. Knowing that he’d just be a distraction in this situation, Jiho inched away. He doesn’t have to run far, however, because it’s nearly impossible for the boss monster to reach Jiho. 

Attacks rained down like a shower. The monster’s big size, which usually would’ve stirred intimidation, now makes it a larger target.

Even as it let out a miserable scream and fought back, the boss monster held on and continued glaring at Jiho. As the boss monster of an S-rank dungeon, its recovery rate is very high. 

[As long as I kill you, we. We…!]

Why is that monster trying to kill him?

Jiho looked at the monster’s system window, which he opened a bit ago.

Status

Name	Mezotis’s King
Rank	S
HP	3583
MP	5010
STR	2631
AGI	2809
Skill	Configure ( EX ) Rest ( EX ) Mezotis’s Past Ruler ( SS ) Corrupted Prayer ( SS ) Beauty of Alanta ( SS ) Swamp’s Cradle ( S ) The Sage’s Spell ( S ) Wails of the Sinner ( S ) Fragment of Perishment ( S ) Icaria’s Protection ( S )

Looking at the neither particularly special nor ordinary system window, an inexplicable chill ran through Jiho’s body.

He can’t open the description windows for [Configure] and [Rest], and the other skills are pixelated, making them hard to read.

Jiho’s body trembled. This isn’t simply fear from the unknown. 

[Configure] and [Rest]. 

Two words that feel abnormally ominous. 

‘[Configure]… is to configure this dungeon, and [Rest] is to give up on this dungeon–on everything–and disappear.’

Jiho naturally came to this thought. Although this isn’t knowledge he knew before, he recalled the descriptions of these skills as if they had been deeply embedded into his memory. 

“What is this….”

Jiho felt like his head was being split apart. Unable to bear the pain in his head, Jiho staggered. 

His vision went black as if the lights had turned off.

Jiho opened his eyes in a space so dark that it looks like a pitch-black night had descended upon it.

Jiho vaguely realized that this is a world inside his subconscious. However, even though he’s inside his subconscious, not only can he not move, but he can’t even see himself.

A figure was appearing, clear in form, as if that one person was the only one with color in this space.

That figure was Shin Jiho. Not the current Shin Jiho, but a young Shin Jiho wearing his high school uniform.

Pale, Shin Jiho was sprawled on the floor as if he had just collapsed. His pallid complexion appears much worse than what Jiho was used to seeing through the mirror back then. Enough to look like he could die at any moment, no, enough to suspect whether he’s even alive right now.

Darkness slowly receded from the area around Jiho’s head. 

Joo Yiwon appeared. Like Shin Jiho, a smaller Joo Yiwon from high school. But unlike Jiho, whose figure was clear, half of Yiwon was buried in the dark as he sobbed mournfully.

“Heuk, euk….”

Unable to cry any louder, Joo Yiwon swallowed his cries as he lifted a trembling hand to caress Jiho’s cheek. After checking the warmth emanating from Jiho’s cheek, Yiwon’s hand moved to his nose.

With a trembling hand, Yiwon focused. Feeling Jiho’s weak breathing, Yiwon sighed in relief. But that relief didn’t last long. Yiwon held Jiho, who still looks pale and like he won’t wake up. 

“Ji-Jiho-ya….”

Joo Yiwon’s face hidden in the shadows appears particularly young. His voice, weak and filled with fear, is also unfamiliar. 

This would’ve only been a few years ago, but strangely, this Yiwon seems much younger than the current Yiwon. Maybe it’s because his will is weaker than how strong and tough it currently is.

…Thinking about it now, this is the Yiwon Jiho’s more familiar with. 

Though Yiwon’s mentality was stronger than most, that’s compared to his peers. He’d grow depressed and lock himself in his room or cry when his parents’ death anniversary drew near, and he’d fight with his friends over something childish or put his life on the line for a trivial bet.

Once again, Jiho realized. The current Joo Yiwon is like a different person from the one Shin Jiho used to know. 

What happened over these last three years for him to change so much? The past Joo Yiwon, who has yet to go through that unimaginable time, bit his lips, his expression revealing all of his thoughts. 

“I’m sorry.”

“…”

“I’m sorry, Jiho.”

What is he apologizing for?

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry….”

Even Jiho, who doesn’t understand, can feel the guilt and regret mixed in Yiwon’s voice as he apologized. Mumbling the same words over and over like a broken record, Yiwon’s body slowly collapsed. Despite the tears dripping from his eyes, Yiwon squeezed Jiho and stared at him with bright eyes. 

“I’m, really sorry….”

As Yiwon’s shaky voice faded away, the vision in front of his eyes also faded. The vision that left a strong impression on Jiho melted into the darkness and disappeared. 

And in that empty space, a white light lit up. 

That guy’s a liar! ૮( ᵒ̌▱๋ᵒ̌ )ა

A familiar system window appeared.

No conscience. Bastard. Thief. I hate him. (;´Д`)

XXXXX XXXXX.

Ah! I hate this, I’m so annoyed. Display it properly! That thief is XX XXX XXXXX!

That thief stole your power! (ʘ言ʘ╬)

Even though it’s just text, the messages clearly displayed its changes in mood. Although some of those messages were hard to ignore, Jiho didn’t let himself be swayed by those unfounded words and instead spoke calmly. 

“You, you’re that cat, right?”

That’s right! Do you recognize me now? (ง ᵕᴗᵕ)ว (ง ᵕᴗᵕ)ว (ง ᵕᴗᵕ)ว

The system flashed emoticons like it was excited, but Jiho wasn’t in the mood to entertain it. Jiho snapped.

“What are you? Why did you show me that weird vision?”

It’s not a weird vision. You have to watch out for that thief!

“What do you mean watch out….”

The reason you’ve had a hard time until now is because that guy stole your power! ｡ﾟ( ﾟஇ‸இﾟ)ﾟ｡

Jiho pulled a face. Seeing that Jiho didn’t believe a word it said, the system rapidly flashed multiple windows in a row as if expressing its hurt feelings.

You were a very precious soul that we’ve been waiting on for a very long time.

That’s why we wanted to give you the very best things.

Because you have that right.

We gave you a family that would raise you right.

We grew Chungram so that you’d grow up well-off.

To grow up loved so that you can take care of others.

To grow up well-off so that you can give to others.

That’s what we tried to do, but that thief wrecked you…. ( ᴗ_ᴗ̩̩ )

“Wh-What are you saying right now?”

Dumbfounded, Jiho glared at the system window.

So according to its words, this guy is the reason he was born between his mother and father and why Chungram grew from a small company to a mid-sized corporation? And Joo Yiwon wrecked Shin Jiho?

“Stop that nonsense. What are you, you bastard?”

Hearing Jiho’s harsh tone, the system window blinked before dissolving. After a brief silence, a dim window slowly appeared. 

Don’t be mad. You shouldn’t be like this to me….

Even though it’s just a four-sided window with a string of text, Jiho could somehow understand how it was feeling. The stinging pain of being denied by someone treasured pierced Jiho’s heart. 

“…Sorry.”

Jiho unconsciously apologized. The window disappeared. Then, as if to comfort Jiho’s sadness, a message was quickly typed out.

No. It’s because I didn’t protect you. Because I’m only a half-piece….

“Half-piece?”

The number of questions he has keeps increasing. 

However, Jiho knows that this isn’t the time to be having a slow discussion. He lost consciousness in the middle of a dungeon. He has to wake up and leave this subconscious world as soon as possible. 

“If you want to protect me, why don’t we meet in the real world? Instead of here.”

While it seems easier to talk inside of dungeons, it doesn’t allow for longer conversations.

I can’t yet. There’s something I need to find.

“Something you need to find?”

Eung. And when I come to you after finding it…. Give me a name.

“You don’t have a name? Who is your own….”

Jiho started before closing his mouth. 

The person this follows is none other than Shin Jiho himself.

Though he didn’t know last time, he instinctively knows now. That he’s faintly connected to this.

Even though I’m only a half-piece, I’ll be a little better once I have a name.

“I’ll give you a name. I’ll think of one now, so….”

No, you have to think carefully.

With its strict reply, the system started to rapidly fade away again. Jiho could tell that its presence was growing faint. 

“Wait, wait.”

When I come find you someday, you must give me a name.

Half-transparent and blending into the darkness, the system left those last few words before the darkness in his vision completely faded away. 

Jiho blinked slowly. He couldn’t adjust to the sudden flood of lights.

“Are you alright, Guildmaster-nim?”

Turning his head to the familiar voice, Jiho saw Sung Moon Young worriedly looking at him. 

“Hunter Sung Moon Young. I’m….”

“Because Guildmaster-nim did not look good, I was guarding you. The boss is almost dead anyways.”

Moon Young warmly explained to Jiho, who appeared confused. Gripping his spinning head, Jiho cast his gaze forward and saw that like Moon Young said, [Mezotis’s King] was almost dead. 

Its eyes obsessively stared at Jiho. Although Jiho’s body shook from the monster’s persistence, there’s nothing the monster, which is about to die, can do.

The flame of life is slowly dissipating. Yet when this dungeon closes and reopens, that monster will be revived. 

[We…]

[Mezotis’s King] died before it could finish. Seeing that the monster could no longer move, everyone cheered. 

“WAAAAAAA!”

Voice filled with excitement. Though a few were injured this time, the damages are unbelievably few for a barely-explored S-rank dungeon. 

Jiho wanted to join the excitement but….

For some reason, he can’t take his eyes off of [Mezotis’s King], which died with its eyes open in bitter resentment.

Slightly unnerved, Jiho’s second S-rank dungeon raid ended smoothly.

---

As soon as his work was done, Jiho went home and dunked his body in warm water. 

While he took a quick shower as soon as he got out of the dungeon, the stickiness and fatigue from rolling around in a swamp for four days didn’t go away with a simple shower. 

Jiho even used a gentle, fragrant bubble bar to enjoy a leisurely bath within the bubbles when he heard the door open from afar. There’s only one person who can come in so silently.

Joo Yiwon.

Yiwon’s steps are drawing closer and closer. Jiho was about to greet him from behind the door when all of a sudden, the bathroom door swung open.

“Hey, I’m washing here.”

Yiwon stared at Jiho coldly and didn’t respond. When Jiho turned to him, Yiwon looked enraged. 

“Why….”

Before Jiho could finish his sentence, Yiwon marched up to him. Now that Jiho looks at him, this bastard must be out of his mind, he came in with his shoes on. Is he crazy?

“Hey, what’s wrong? Take off your shoes. Did you walk in like this?”

“…”

“Hey, hello?”

Yiwon ignored Jiho’s words and drew himself even closer. Right when Jiho thought they were a little too close, Yiwon bent his body. Not caring about the bubbles on his clothes, Yiwon suddenly bit into Jiho’s neck.

“ACK!”

Enough to really hurt.

---

LaZ Bird Corner

The nyastem back!

Chapter 88 is the last chapter of this section, but it’s split in two parts: 88.1 is the final chapter of Level Up! and 88.2 is the start of the next section which is Delta. 

88.1 is fairly long so it’ll be posted next Thursday (in theory), but 88.2 will be up that following Tuesday. 

---