Dungeon Hunter (던전사냥꾼)

Chapter 40: The Underground World

My body was heavy. My heart was so hot it felt like it was going to burst. Sweat flowed down my body and I could barely maintain consciousness.

"Alive."

"Oh...he is still alive? Is his heart really beating?"

"Listen. Can't you hear the sound?"

Something was moving around me. Cool skin made contact with me.

"Really! He is really alive! He is still living! Crazy!"

"What do we do? Shouldn't we notify the village?"

"No. Don't you know Elder-nim's personality? He has a safety first policy. Only we should know for now."

"But his condition might get worse. He is severely burning up."

"Wait a minute. What good will that do? Remember what happened last time...Torium, do you remember?"

"It will be okay if a cloth with cold water is put on his forehead."

"Ah, that's right. Indeed. It was so long ago that I had forgotten. Wait a moment. I will go and get it."

"Jeff, there is no time. He might be alive but he is weak."

"I know!"

Torium and Jeff.

Among them, the one called Jeff departed.

'It is frustrating.'

However, I didn't have time to worry about such things. My chest felt tight. It felt like something was strongly pressing down on it. Perhaps...the origin of this pain was my heart. My heart was beating like crazy. It felt so horrible that I wanted it to stop.

"Ha, a living person. He showed up in the Underground World of the Dead..."

Kung! Kung! Kung!

The sound of my heart beating echoed loudly in my ears.

How much time had passed?

My mind drifted to far away places.

I was trying to move my body when sounds were heard.

"Torium. Should we take turns? We need to create a story."

"We can come up with a story here as well. It's not like the lord will listen to my story anyway. He will probably only listen to pass the time."

"Perhaps. Torium, your stories are very interesting! I am envious that you have such a talent. Doesn't the lord in the castle find you interesting?"

"That would be nice but...he doesn't like looking at ugly things. He won't want to listen. In addition, a war is happening in the central area."

"Phew, aren't you also tired of it? This war should be finished. How many have already died?"

"The commander won't let this end easily. I heard rumours that he suddenly showed up with a sword after disappearing for a while. Maybe he might be able to conquer Central this time.

"No. There is an eternal curse on that area. The legitimacy doesn't matter. Everything will remain the same. They are only concerned about their self-interests...those with a lowly status like us are always suffering."

"But even so...the momentum is with the commander. There might end up being a conscription in our village."

"Eh~. Aren't we to the very south of Central?"

"Actually, there are rumours that the south will soon become a battlefield."

"Why?"

"They are rallying forces. They think the south is easy prey and are intending to grab it. There is already talk that an active army is heading here."