Solo Leveling

Part 4. The Three Commandments

Jinwoo shouted towards the other Hunters.

"Everyone!"

They turned their heads toward his voice.
"You have to bow before the Statue of God!"

The Hunters tilted their heads in confusion.

"Bow...?"

"Bow to that thing?"

The Hunters who were looking at each other started cursing at Jinwoo,

"Fuck... What the hell are you saying?!"

"Is this a situation where you could say something like that?!"

"Have you gone crazy, Sung Jinwoo?!"

Mr. Kim flared his nostrils.

"Looks like I judged you wrong! If I could get up from this spot, I'd sock you right in the nose!"

Jinwoo bit his lips. After all, 6 of their comrades had fallen to the Statue of God. To think that he'd ask the others to bow before it understandably invited their ire.

'More importantly...'

There was no solid proof to his guesses. Only a gut feeling. One could not easily explain or put to words what they felt through instinct.

While he was lost for words, someone spoke up: "I'll do it."

The voice came from behind Jinwoo. The Hunters' eyes turned toward the Raid leader who had spoken.

"Mr. Song...?"

"You're going to bow before that goddamn statue?"

As the Hunters spoke out in confusion, Mr. Song turned and met Jinwoo's eyes.

"What have you discovered?"

Jinwoo shook his head.

"Just a gut feeling?"

"...Yes, for now."

"I see."

Jinwoo's instincts resulted in 11 of them being still alive, well, 10 after Mr. Joo's death. As such, was it not worth it to try and put some faith in him? This was what Mr. Song believed. As the Raid leader bowed before the Statue of God, the mood in the air became somber.

"You're really going to do it?"

Taking advantage of the opportunity Mr. Song had provided, Jinwoo spoke up,

"Please! Bow before the Statue of God. This might be our only way to leave here alive!"

Alive.

To leave here alive.

That phrase reached the others' ears with a great weight.

'Leave here alive?'

'We can get out of here?'

'Just by bowing before that thing?'

One by one, the hesitant Hunters started bowing before the Statue, imitating a scene of worship. Eventually, even the angry Mr. Kim also took his place bowing before the Statue. However, there was no response from the Statue of God. Its two eyes still glowed with the terrifying crimson light. Jinwoo felt his heart sinking to his stomach.

'Was I wrong?'

And his gaze turned to Juhee at his side. Lying completely prone on the ground with her hands covering her head, it was hard to say that she was in a position of bowing before the Statue.

'Ah...'

Jinwoo gently grabbed Juhee's wrists. Startled, Juhee looked up at him like a terrified prey. He wordlessly nodded at her, then released his hand. Slowly, Jinwoo helped Juhee assumed the position of worship before the Statue of God.