Chapter 77
I looked at the Summoner’s stone hearing a familiar voice.
The Summoner’s stone resonated in my hand.
Yerin told me not to Summon, but I couldn't help it in this situation.
I poured out my energy into the stone and called out the Summon.
Whoo!
A strong light poured out from the Summoner’s stone.
Soon after, a group of two small souls formed in front of my eyes.
Pow wo wooo!
"Hi, Popi"
Akum and Gyuri hugged me as soon as they were summoned.
Just seeing the children in the mentally difficult situation felt like a slight recovery.
"Si….. Sihyeon? Are you a Summoner? And not one but two?
"Wow! Is this your Summon? They are so cute!"
Nam Jinhyuk and Jung Taeho were surprised by the unexpected appearance of the Summons, while Yun Sehe looked blank as she was completely attracted to the cute Summons.
– Pow wo? woooo?
"Sihyeon, who are they, Popi?"
"They're on my teammates."
"Where is Yerin…"
When Gyuri suddenly mentioned Yerin, I was embarrassed and covered her mouth with my finger.
I glanced at both Jung Taeho and Yun Sehe, who did not seem to have noticed at all.
However, Nam Jinhyuk's eyes were mysterious as if he had noticed something.
"Oh, my God! What are you doing Popi.?"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Would you like to say hello to my teammates first?"
I apologized to the angry Gyuri, while turning the conversation to the other side.
"This fairy here is Gyuri. And this cute friend is Akum.”
"Thank you for taking care of Sihyeon, Popi.!”
Gyuri and Akum greeted the party in a cute way."
"Uh… I mean… I'm Nam Jinhyuk."
"Jung Taeho, please take care of me!"
"My name is Yun Sehe."
The three also greeted Gyuri and Akum in their own ways.
"Excuse me, Sihyeon."
"Yes?"
"Are Gyuri and Akum really your Summons?"
"I think so. Aren't the ones’ who come out while using the Summoner’s stone called Summons?"
"Yes, but… …I asked because it was so different from the Summoner I have seen so far."
Yerin said something similar.
She said most of the Summons used by the summoners looked like soulless shells.
They never showed any emotional expressions like Gyuri and Akum, while there are few cases where communication was possible.
"And there are two Summons. I guess this is Sihyeon's unique ability."
"What? Uh… Was it supposed to be able to summon only one? It's also my first time summoning both of them at the same time."
"Huh?!"
"Sorry. It hasn't been long since I learned how to summon. There are a lot of things I don't know."
"No… When did you learn to summon?"
“Hmm…. about two weeks ago?"
"Huh."
Nam Jinhyuk looked incredulous, and at the end, he made a distorted expression.
"Excuse me, Supervisor Jin? We don't have much time. Shouldn't we move fast?"
"Oh! I'm sorry. I've heard such a surprising story, so all of a sudden… …let's talk about the details later."
While I was talking to Nam Jinhyuk, Akum and Gyuri were playing with Jung Taeho and Yun Sehe
Thanks to this, the atmosphere that was a little awkward became much softer.
"Hey! Stop joking around and come here. Now I'm going to tell you something important."
I called the children, Jung Taeho and Yun Sehe.
Everyone gathered here in accordance with me.
"I don't have time, so I'll start with the conclusion. After talking to Supervisor Jin here, it was concluded that the only way we could survive was to go head on."
"… "
The faces of the two teens, which had been softened just a moment ago, hardened.
"Of course, there is an option to wait here safely. But, you know, we're running out of time until the rescue team comes. It's going to be hard if we don't have a lot of luck."
“In the midst of tight time and uncertainty, there are only two options left in front of us. Do you want to wait for the help to come, or do you want to break through on your own?”
"Please tell me your opinions honestly. We don't have much time left to worry about."
“Mister.”
“…??”
“Mister, aren't you afraid?"
"I'm scared, too. But there are people waiting for me outside. I'm just more scared that I won't see them again."
Jung Taeho, who listened to me, showed his complex feelings on his face.
While he hesitated, Yun Sehe opened her mouth first.
"I'm… I'm going to follow you Uncle.”
“Will that be alright Sehe?"
“It won't be easy. I'm not confident if I think I'm doing it alone, but I think I can do it if I'm next to Uncle. That's how I feel."
There was a smile on Yun Sehe's expressionless face.
Her eyes were filled with faith in me.
Embarrassed, I scratched my head.
It felt great to be trusted absolutely by someone, but one side of the heart was heavy with responsibility.
"Thank you, Sehe. Then let's do it together."
I reached out and gently patted Yun Sehe's head.
A deeper smile permeated her face.
"Me too! I'm going too! I didn't say it later because I was scared. I'm just thinking about it a little bit!"
Maybe Jung Taeho was motivated by Yun Sehe's words.
The sight automatically drew laughter.
"Haha, that’s the Taeho I know. Always full of confidence."
"Of course! Trust me mister. I'll burn all those Ants. Hahaha!"
Jung Taeho, who regained his full momentum, burst into a confident laugh.
Yun Sehe looked at him with pathetic eyes, but her eyes were much softer than when they first met.
"Then it's decided. We don't have much time, so let's move right away."
“Wait a minute.”
“What's the matter Mister?”
I talked to Gyuri and Akum.
"Guys, can you help us?"
"Of course, Popi! Trust me, Popi!"
– Pow wo woooo
Gyuri flew around over the head of the party and sprayed shiny fairy powder.
And Akum started to dance in front of us.
[Fairy's Sparkling Powder takes effect]
[Increases magic attack power]
[Increases magic attack resistance]
[Increases movement speed]
[Increases abnormal resistance.]
[Baby Yakum's cheering takes effect.]
[Increases physical ability]
[Physical attack resistance goes up]
[Magic attack resistance goes up]
[Magical attack resistance goes up]
When the fairy's glittering powder was sprayed, the body of the party members began to shine.
The ability has risen tremendously due to the effect of the two Summons' support skills.
My body felt light and energized as if I had taken a powerful stimulant.
Others also felt a similar effect, and their faces brightened.
“I… I’m full of energy.”
“That's great, mister!”
“Additional resistance to abnormal conditions, plus resistance! Sihyeon, with this buff, we'll be able to hold out for quite a long time."
The despair gradually disappeared around everyone and began to be filled with hope.
I shouted cheerfully looking at the two.
"Let's go, Team 3."
"Yay!"
"Let’s do it."
"Good luck, popi"
Pow wo woo
Two teens and the children responded vigorously.
Nam Jinhyuk, who was assisted by me due to his uncomfortable legs, asked playfully.
“Am I allowed to join Team 3?”
“Hahahah, of course. We moved together from the start of the test, so of course we're on the same team."
"Thank you. I almost felt a little lonely. If we escape this, let’s all go out for dinner."
"Whoa, then you have to pay for it."
"Hahahah! Of course."
Nam Jinhyuk and I exchanged light jokes and moved towards the dark cave.
⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩
The party broke through the cave more smoothly than expected.
The battle took place in the form of a combination of Jung Taeho and Yun Sehe, while I assisted Nam Jinhyuk, who had difficulty walking.
With Sehe's spirit, it was not easy to do much damage to Soldier Poison Ants, but when she worked together with Taeho they created a synergy effect.
Jung Taeho and Yun Sehe’s combination became powerful with Nam Jinhyuk's advice.
At first, there was a slight creak, but it felt like the combination was getting in sync little by little.
Jung Taeho increased the power of the flame on his sword with the support of the spirit.
Nevertheless, Nam Jinhyuk was the one who unleashed the most powerful skill.
Even though he was injured, the power of the multi-element wizard was enough to shake my flesh every time I saw it.
Thanks to this, I and the Summons had no time to step up.
However, the successful breakthrough of the cave gradually faced difficulties.
“Once again the path divides into two.”
“Where the hell are we going?”
The passageway began to get more and more complicated as we went inside the ant cave.
At first, we simply chose a path leading straight, but our head gradually became conflicted with the continuous dividing of paths and maze-like passage.
Nam Jinhyuk muttered with a troubled face.
"It would be hard to escape if we simply chose the path that goes straight…"
"Ugh, I hate using my brain!"
"Is there any way?"
Yun Sehe asked, looking at me.
I don't want to betray her faith, but I didn't have any.
At that moment.
– Kiii.
A poisonous ant still alive moved it’s body.
It was a worker poison ant who was wounded in the battle and could not move.
Jung Taeho stepped up, raising his hand.
“I'll take care of it.”
He stood in front of the worker poison ant.
He muttered as he watched the Ant burn his will to survive until the end.
"I feel a little sorry for you. I have heard that ants and honeybees die while dedicating all their lives to the organization. I hope you'll be born more free in your next life…”
"Wait!"
"Eh? What's wrong with you all of a sudden, mister?"
Something flashed across my mind and I stopped Jung Taeho's movements.
Honey Bees, ants….
When I observed Bumble and other honeybees at the Demon Farm, I realized that there were some rules and regularities.
Even when they come to the garden, they don't always memorize the location.
They find their way with the signal and smell that someone has already left first.
All the poison ants could not have memorized the structure of such a complex ant cave perfectly.
It was clear that they also followed the signals left behind to match the given task like honeybees.
I approached the poison ant, which was still alive.
This guy might not know the way out, but he might know the signal.
After organizing my thoughts, I asked Jung Taeho.
"Taeho, can you fix this poison ant so it can't move its head?"
"What? Why all of a sudden…"
"I'll explain it later. Just do it for me."
Jung Taeho followed my request with a strange look on his face.
The sharp jaw of the poison ant was fixed with his sword so that it could not attack me.
After making sure it was safe, I took my hand to the face of the poison ant.
As soon as my hand touched the face of the poison ant, the ability to communicate got activated.
[Trying to communicate with the target]
[Target is ‘hostile' towards you]
[Target is suffering from injury]
"Ugh!"
"Are you okay, Mister?"
I groaned as I felt the pain of the Poison Ant with my ‘communication’ skill.
I signalled that I was okay to Jung Taeho, who asked anxiously, and continued to focus.
I'm sure he knows the signal.
Signals… Signals… Signals… Outgoing Signals…
In the memory of the Poison ant, a forest scenery momentarily appeared.
I tried to read the signal in the memory without missing the chance.
Kiii
Kiii kiiiiiii
The worker poison ant kept rebelling till the end.
I withdrew my hand and stepped back.
In that short time, my back and forehead were damp with cold sweat.
Jung Taeho Came up to me.
I raised my hand and signaled once again that I was fine.
It wasn't as easy as I thought, but I succeeded in reading the signal of the poison Ant to reach outside.
I somehow figured out the signal…
But how am I supposed to use this?
I got the signal but I don’t know how to use the signal.
It’s like I got a movie DVD, but I don't have a player to play it.
When I was in a bind, baby Yakum approached me.
Pow wo woo
"What? You can do it?"
Pow wooooo
Akum nodded his head with confidence.
It was hard to believe that he could read the signal of a poison ant, but I decided to give it a try.
I delivered the signal that I got through my ‘communication’ skill to Akum.
Upon receiving the signal, the baby Yakum began sniffing around.
The party members looked at the behavior of the baby Yakum in wonder.
After a while,
Pow wo wooo
"Did you really find it?"
Pow wooo
Akum cried, pointing in one direction of the forked road.
"Sihyeon, what's wrong with you all of a sudden?"
"I think Akum found the way out."
"What? How the hell ….."
Nam Jinhyuk seemed to have a lot of questions, but he swallowed them inside.
Because that wasn't the point now.
“Can you believe it?”
“I'm not sure. I'm just trusting Akum."
Nam Jinhyuk frowned and fell into thought. His troubles were not long.
"I trust you, Sihyeon. Let's follow that cute friend."
Jung Taeho and Yun Sehe also nodded their head with trustful eyes.
My heart felt heavy looking at their eyes full of trust at a stranger, whom they met only a few hours ago.
"All right, let's follow Akum. Akum, please show us the way."
Pow wo wooo!
The baby Yakum lead us with a confident cry.