Episode 297: Waiting Position

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Several hurried footsteps trampled over white ash and vines. Flashlight beams swung chaotically, illuminating the floor and ceiling in frantic bursts. The vines fiercely lunged at their feet and legs, but with a single snap of the fingers— crack —they all burned away. Jung Bin bowed slightly toward the approaching Matthew and then raised his voice.

“This is Jung Bin! Are you there?”

As if in response, a shout erupted from the end of the corridor.  

“No, breaking things won’t solve the problem— ugh…!”

Boom!

A loud crash echoed through the passage. Jung Bin and Matthew exchanged glances. The voice belonged to Gyu-Gyu. Normally laid-back and cheeky, he now sounded flustered. Something was definitely wrong. Jung Bin hastily shone his flashlight toward the corridor’s end.

And beneath the light…

“Are you listening? The thing’s reinforced, it won’t even break— ugh, why are these things only attacking me? Hey! Listen to me, dammit— wow, they’re seriously strong…!”

Bang!

“Ah, I get it. You wanna collapse the place and bury us alive? That’s what this is? If you wanna die, just say so…!”

Gyu-Gyu was clinging onto someone’s arms. His shaggy light-blue hair swayed as he dangled from them, his fur-lined field jacket flapping with every movement. Jung Bin hesitated, his voice uncertain.

“…Gyu-Gyu-nim?”

Gyu-Gyu whipped his head around and yelled.  

“Somebody stop this guy! He won’t listen!”

“What exactly is going on?”

“The dungeon entrance closed, and he’s acting like this! Smashing the walls won’t open a sealed dungeon— he’s just gonna get us all buried alive!”

Bang!

The person Gyu-Gyu was holding onto kicked the blocked-off wall, making the entire passage tremble. White ash and dust trickled down. Jung Bin handed his flashlight to Matthew, then pulled out a black chain, wrapping it around his hand.

“…J-nim, is that you?”

“…”

“It’s me, Jung Bin. I came to escort you back.”

The foot that had been poised to strike the wall again stopped in midair. The young man in a black mask turned his head. His ash-gray hair, catching the flashlight’s glow, almost looked silver. Jung Bin softened his voice, speaking as warmly as he could.

“There’s a lot I want to ask you. And a lot I want to tell you, too.”

“…”  

“J-nim.”

“…I’m listening.”

J pried Gyu-Gyu’s hands off his arms. Gyu-Gyu shrugged and backed off without protest. Jung Bin suddenly thought— the circular beam of the flashlight felt like a spotlight, casting its glow onto a criminal.

“The way you’re talking…”

The spotlight illuminated only J.  

“I must be the only one who made it out.”

Once again.

People trapped in this space. J, escaping alone. It was exactly like the West Sea rift. Jung Bin’s throat tightened. After the West Sea rift, J had disappeared without a trace. And only after a long time did he finally resurface. Would he disappear again this time? Jung Bin hesitated. If J tried to run, should he let him go?

But—  

“Yeah. Seems like there’s a lot I need to hear, too.”

J didn’t run. Contrary to Jung Bin’s worries, J stood firm. Relief settled in Jung Bin’s chest. As he stomped his heel over the vines still clutching at his ankles, he gestured behind him.

“For now… this place is dangerous. Let’s talk outside.”

J gave a silent nod, but he didn’t move right away. He stood there, running his hands over the blank wall— his back looked strangely lonely. Meanwhile, Gyu-Gyu approached Jung Bin, clutching his arm and groaning, ow, ow, ow, as the bitter scent of cigarette smoke wafted from him. He scoffed.

“Damn… that guy’s strong. Like a bull.”

“You held on well.”

“Nah~ …If this had gone on a little longer, he would’ve smashed everything, preservation be damned. And then some.”

Gyu-Gyu ruffled his already messy hair.

“He’s not in his right mind. He’s totally lost it.”

The three of them turned their gaze back to J, still running his hands along the wall. And Jung Bin noticed something strange. The white vines that covered the passage and relentlessly attacked their legs…  

“…”

Did not approach J. He stood tall among the white ash and vines. As if—

He was a part of them.

A grim feeling crept up Jung Bin’s spine, but he shook it off. There was no need to let uncertainty cloud his judgment. Anxiety only got in the way of rational thinking.

Eventually, J pulled his hand away from the wall and approached them.

Step, step… A long shadow stretched behind him. The overwhelming pressure in the air pressed down on everything around them. The vines wrapped around their feet and legs sagged, suddenly lifeless.

J tossed a crumpled cigarette pack into the air, caught it, and said—  

“Let’s go.”