Side Story 5. A Midsummer Night's Letter (2) Main Text: The Island of Runaway Lovers  (12)

Eventually, after another arduous process, Soram settled on Tae-un's back. Tae-un grasped Soram's thighs under his palms with great emotion.

"Now let's try going right again...?"

As he was about to mention the direction they hadn't been able to leave, Soram suddenly paused.

"Wait a moment. I think there's a good method if we do it like this."

Soram untied the tie he was wearing. Then he tied it around his head, covering his eyes.

No matter how much the directions were scrambled, it couldn't dull a 1st-grade hunter's 'sense' of detecting rifts. In fact, the direction where the rift was felt had been clear all along. Moreover, Soram's sense was more developed than other hunters'.

Soram placed both hands on Tae-un's shoulders, firmly gripping the right shoulder at an angle.

"This direction! Here, this way! We need to go this way."

"...! Got it."

"If there's no path, keep going in the most similar direction. I'll guide you like this."

Tae-un, who had stepped on the ground a few times, kicked off. Guessing the direction by keeping one toe on the ground or wall was simple once you got the hang of it. If you were walking alone, that is.

Tae-un gradually increased his speed. The damp air in the cave ruffled Soram's hair. While his back and shoulders were cool, his chest was warm from Tae-un's body heat. Soram, who had been kneading Tae-un's shoulders, opened his mouth.

"No. We're getting farther away."

"Okay."

Tae-un immediately turned his body in the opposite direction.

"Ah, that's right. We're getting closer. Keep going in this direction."

It seemed like a messy strategy, but in the current situation, it was the most efficient method. Soram closed his eyes and relaxed his body, instead focusing all his nerves on his senses.

At some point, the sound of flowing water was added to the noises they could hear. It seemed to be still a bit distant from the two of them, so he judged it wouldn't be too late to mention it a little later.

"Soram-ah, mutant. I'll let go of your hands for 10 seconds."

Instead of answering, Soram hugged his neck and tightly squeezed his waist with his thighs. Tae-un's back momentarily trembled at Soram's tight grip. Soram hugged him even tighter, satisfied.

Tae-un, who had released his hands supporting Soram's thighs, rose up. As he began his attack, the back muscles touching Soram's chest and stomach moved.

Crack!

After the sound of the attack, Tae-un again supported Soram's thighs, carrying him.

"Did you take care of it?"

"Yeah. But didn't you dislike that resurrection spell?"

"It's fine for easy ones."

Tae-un let out a short breath.

"Going down."

"Okay."

After the sensation of falling passed, there was a loud splashing sound when they landed on the ground. The sound of flowing water had become dramatically louder than before.

"Looks like the ground has gotten muddier."

"Yeah. But it's still walkable."

"Well, you must have been in potato fields a lot."

"This level of muddiness is not a field, but a paddy."

Tae-un, who had given up on the nickname 'potato' that had stuck to him, pointed out something else.

Soram tilted his head slightly and rested his cheek on Tae-un's shoulder.

"A ditch, a lake. It feels like something like that is getting closer."

"Okay. I'll go carefully while looking."

The voice was as clear as if he was wearing an in-ear monitor. But an in-ear wouldn't transmit this ticklish feeling.

It was clearly a tricky and troublesome dungeon compared to the difficulty level they had been commissioned for. The problem was, it wasn't unpleasant.

That sentiment was cautiously expressed by Tae-un first.

"I know we shouldn't think like this in a dungeon, but."

"Yeah."

They seemed to be thinking the same thing.

"It's fun."

As expected.

Soram smiled with satisfaction.

As they continued on like that for a while, Tae-un's steps suddenly stopped.

"Why?"

"Soram-ah, the terrain here is a bit erratic, so I'll move forward slowly."

"Ah, okay."

As long as he kept sensing the direction, that was all that mattered.

As Tae-un had said, their bodies repeatedly rose up and sank down. But because Tae-un was holding on so tightly, the ride wasn't that bumpy.

Although he was focusing on his senses, as time passed, even the remaining tension completely dissipated and his body relaxed. It felt just like Tae-un's embrace that had turned the unfamiliar bed into the familiar dormitory bed the night before. Actually, since they were pressed together, it wasn't any different.

Soram's legs, suspended in the air, swung back and forth. Tae-un, who had been moving forward at a constant speed, tilted his head back, rubbing his rough hair against Soram's ear.

"Bored?"

"A little?"

"Looks like we'll have to go like this for a while, ah."

"What was that just now?"

"I hit a protruding rock. You really can't see anything at all, huh."

"Of course. Han Tae-un could completely kidnap innocent Soram like this and I wouldn't know anything."

"..."

Soram swung his legs again.

"Anyway, if we have to go for a while, talk to me a bit."

"Isn't it scary, having your eyes covered?"

It was an unexpected question. And an unnecessary one.

"You're carrying me, so what's there to be scared of."

"..."

After walking a few more steps, Tae-un opened his mouth.

"Soram-ah, do you remember what I told you about the nickname of the area where our resort was, just as you were falling asleep yesterday?"

"Ah. Was it the Island of Runaway Lovers? Is that why you ran away there?"

"...The Island of Runaway Lovers."

"Hmm, sounds similar."

"The memory of feeling a bit overwhelmed when I heard that nickname is becoming frustrating... Anyway, it's called that because of a legend associated with the island."

"Oh, weren't you about to tell some story starting with 'once upon a time' yesterday too?"

"Yeah. That's it. Long ago, there were two people in love, but they couldn't be together because of their families' opposition."

"So they ran away together holding hands?"

"Yeah. While escaping across the sea, they encountered a storm and drifted to where we were, but they mistook it for an uninhabited island and lived there alone for their whole lives. It's said that when their remains were discovered later, the two were found embracing each other."

"Hmm."

"It was interesting when the guide explained it, but when I tell it, it sounds so bland."

Tae-un lifted Soram's body. Even though he was supporting him firmly and Soram hadn't slipped at all, this seemed to be to hide his embarrassment.

"No, you sounded like a guide in your own way."

"Thanks. I only have my lover to practice on."

Tae-un's speed slowed down a bit more. The terrain must have become completely rough, as the body he was carrying bounced up and down even more. While Tae-un concentrated and paused his speech for a moment, Soram recalled the story he had told.

Two people who ran away for love, reached a place without any constraints, and met their end together.

'Ah.'

Now he understood why he had been moved by this trite story that seemed like it could have variations in any country. As always, while outwardly appearing more stoic than anyone in the world, in some aspects, he was infinitely sentimental.

"Definitely."

Still, just for today, he hugged Tae-un's neck and whispered.

"It feels like we're alone on a remote island."

Soram, who had been quietly listening to the other's breathing, lifted his head and added.

"Ah, come to think of it, you really like taking me to places where it's just the two of us."

"...Is that so."

"Yeah. Totally."

Tae-un was silent again. As only the sound of footsteps moving forward could be heard, Soram also just gripped his shoulders to guide the direction. Since they were pressed close together anyway, there was no need to confirm each other's presence with voices.

As they moved a bit further, Tae-un said.

"This is a dead end."

"Ah, but the direction is right. Then we'll have to turn back."

"There was another fork in the road earlier, I'll go back there."

"Okay."

"..."

Tae-un turned his body and started moving again. In Soram's senses, the rift grew distant, but when he turned his body again, it started getting closer once more. It seemed the other fork was also connected to the rift.

"Oh, we're going the right way. We'll be there soon."

At that, Tae-un gripped his thighs firmly and increased his speed. The rift gradually got closer.

"Here, right in front."

"...I can't see anything?"

"It's this way."

Soram pressed down hard on Tae-un's shoulders.

Tae-un didn't ask again. He immediately lifted his body and forcefully brought his heel down in the direction Soram had indicated. There was no hesitation in his movement, trusting Soram's judgment more than what he saw with his own eyes. However, as he descended forcefully, he tightened his grip on the hands carrying Soram.

Crash!!!!!

As the water-filled floor collapsed, a huge drain-like hole appeared.

"Found it."

The rift had been hiding its body in the black floor. Even Tae-un's eyes could now see the small gap rippling under the lantern light on the half-collapsed floor. Tae-un, who had flown up, now attacked that exact spot. With his special ability added to the gravity, the destructive power when he brought his foot down was doubled.

Crack!!!!!

A cold wind blew in with the steep fall.

Even with his eyes covered, Soram knew the rift was close to its end. However, a situation that would normally have felt relieving now felt a bit regretful. Because once the rift was eliminated, he would have to get off Tae-un's back.

In fact, now that they had found the rift, it would be more efficient to separate for the attack. But judging by the strength of Tae-un's hands firmly gripping his thighs, it seemed the other had no intention of letting go either.

Crack, crackle–...

Crunch...!

Along with the destruction of the rift, the surrounding rocks split as well. Tae-un used his flight ability to rise and fall, dealing several more blows to the rift.

Crack, crack, crunch..., crack...

Boom!!!