I Reincarnated as an NPC ◇ Solo Leveling

✠ Chapter 2 ✠

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HOPE will guide you
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Among the screams of pain, loss and despair. A hopeless question was asked and a whisper was given.

"Worship him"

He looks at the crying eyes. Did it just answer him?

"EVERYONE DONT MOVE! STAY WHERE YOU ARE"

He heard Mr. Song's order, and a pained shuffling noise of the man came as he crawled towards them.

"Are you good Jinwoo?" He can hear Mr. Song ask.

He took a shaky breath and nodded affirmatively. "Mr Song.. Joohee is-"

"I know. She gets consumed in her panic often. It's why she can only do low-level gates despite being B-rank" Chiyul sighs, flinching noticeably "Ah right.. my arm. Can you help me stop the bleeding, Jinwoo?"

"Your arm- Mr. Song?!" The young hunter gasped at the injury his calm elder sustained. Blood gushes a continuous trickle out of the stump that was Leader Song's arm.

Hurriedly, he grabbed a med-pack and did his best to bandage it as neat and tight as possible.

"Yeahh. The bastard got me good." Song Chiyul chuckled mirthlessly, there goes his career as a swordsman. But, it's not over yet, he has people depending on him to get out of here alive.

"Good call earlier." He complimented, startling the boy a bit. "You felt it right? Trust that feeling it will save you from this and after"

"I- I just thought it was dangerous" Jinwoo said unsure, "This- It pulled me down. I wouldn't be alive if it didn't"

He looked at the cowering girl in the cage. In the end, when faced with a powerful threat, he and this creature are just the same after all. He extends his only hand past the bars to settle on its head, offering what little comfort he could give.

"Thank you for protecting Jinwoo." He said softly, petting their caged monster.

Its shaking calmed a bit at the touch. It shifted closer to what the bars allowed, looking just as bedraggled by the situation as any of them. Even the cage wasn't spared as some of the bars near the top are missing a good chunk. The seared end glowed red hot and dripping melted iron, thankfully away from their creature. At least they know it isn't entirely invincible. The least they could do is help it and get out of this situation.

"What do you reckon is the rank of that thing, Mr. Sung?" Chiyul asked the boy.

"I'm not sure I got a good reference, sir. I've never been in any gates above D-rank"

"Hmm.. I've only been able to participate in B-rank Dungeons but even then there weren't any magic-wielding beasts that can instantly kill."

Song Chiyul is a man not without fears and doubts. He is almost 60 years older and a hunter, tempting death at every gate he enters. He has faced many monsters.. but this thing is on a level he can't comprehend. Commandments. Stone guards that kill when the door is approached. A statue that shoots them if they move.