Do you know the book Alice in Wonderland?
It felt exactly like watching Alice drink a strange potion and grow enormous before my very eyes. But the giant wolf that now filled the entire room wasn’t blonde, nor was it wearing a blue apron dress. Instead, it flashed its vicious blood-red eyes, flicked its tongue between sharp, gleaming fangs, and stared directly at us.
We locked eyes with the beast, then instinctively bolted without a word. A massive forepaw slammed down with a thunderous crash, crushing the spot we’d just occupied, leaving a deep dent in the ground.
[You have used a skill. Skill: Thorn of Sin]
[Activating Thorn of Sin.]
It was nowhere near enough to restrain the werewolf. It casually clawed at the thorns gripping its arm, as if they were just an itch, tearing them away with its bare hands. Blood gushed out in the process, but the creature didn’t seem to care. In that brief opening, Lee Myung-won released an arrow.
But its hide was too tough. The arrows couldn’t even penetrate beneath the surface. With a single shake, the wolf easily shattered them to pieces.
“What do we do now?”
“The hide’s too thick. It won’t pierce.”
“Let me try.”
Baek Tae-beom adjusted his grip on his sword and dashed forward before anyone could stop him. He ducked under the sweeping forepaw with swift, practiced movement and dove inward, slashing deep into the monster’s leg. The werewolf let out a deafening roar and stomped its foot in agony.
Bears rip people apart. Baek Tae-beom was ripping the wolf apart.
Each resounding slam rattled the room, and it was nearly impossible to stay standing. My body reeled uncontrollably with every impact.
“Grab the wall—no, damn it…!”
Lee Myung-won lost his balance and tumbled to the floor. Baek Tae-beom clung to the wolf’s leg, his sword still embedded, bracing through the massive tremors. As for me, I was just a ping-pong ball getting knocked around—slamming into walls, head spinning and pain flaring with every impact.
[CH. Private/One More Dazzling Than the Sun: You idiot! Your skull’s going to crack before anything else!]
This Constellation never shuts up. He’s not even my Constellation. I jammed my staff into a groove on the floor, finally pushing myself up amidst the shaking ground. Lee Myung-won was still collapsed, a pitiful sight. Baek Tae-beom…
“Tae-beom!”
His yellow eyes, drenched in blood, snapped toward me.
“Watch out—get down!”
He dropped his sword and ducked instantly. A massive forepaw swept over where he had just been. A few strands of his hair fluttered through the air. The werewolf snarled in frustration, clearly irritated by the three puny humans pestering it.
This isn’t going to work.
“How dare such insignificant creatures—!”
“Maybe the real problem is how ridiculously oversized you are?”
I shouted deliberately loud, and the werewolf turned its gaze toward me. I raised my staff again.
[You have used a skill. Skill: Thorn of Sin]
[Activating Thorn of Sin.]
The beast, clearly annoyed, merely brushed the thorns off with its paw and kept moving, unfazed. Then its giant paw shot forward, casting a looming shadow over me. I didn’t resist. The claw caught on my clothes and lifted me off the ground.
“Hyung!”
I heard Baek Tae-beom’s shout. My body floated up, and the massive wolf’s face came into view. Strangely, I wasn’t afraid at all.
The monster grimaced.
“What is a thing like you doing here…?”
“Let him go!”
“Baek Tae-beom, no! Don’t—!”
The werewolf shook off the two men trying to cling to it as if swatting away flies, then slowly opened its jaws wide. Unintentionally, I got a good look at its mouth structure—and honestly, I couldn’t help but be impressed.
Because the smell coming from its mouth was something else.
Without so much as a chew, the monster gulped me down whole.
“Wow. That’s insane.”
The sensation of sliding down its esophagus was far from pleasant. Splash. I landed in what felt like stomach acid that stung my skin. I groaned, bracing myself with my staff, trying to stand. A voice echoed.
[CH. Private/One More Dazzling Than the Sun: How can you be saying something so stupid right now?!]
“Well, maybe it’s because I’m a Constellation Contractor or whatever, but I just don’t feel that sense of danger.”
[CH. Private/One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Everything’s chaos out here! My Contractor won’t stop pestering me!]
“Aw, you two must be close. But really—when else am I going to be inside something like this?”
[CH. Private/One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Don’t tell me you planned this from the start?!]
Of course I did.
Wading through what I assumed was stomach acid, I pressed forward. The air reeked of decay. Occasionally, skulls and bones blocked my path, but I swatted them aside with my staff and drew closer to the stomach wall.
“I mean, how else are we supposed to kill a monster this massive?”
[CH. Private/One More Dazzling Than the Sun: Hah.]
[The Constellation ‘One More Dazzling Than the Sun’ has sponsored you 1,000 Coins.]
[Current remaining Coins: 4,511]
I couldn’t help but laugh. This was the same method Kang Si-hoo used, and to think it would come in so handy like this.
[The Constellation ‘One Who Knows of Destruction’ bows gracefully in greeting.]
[The Constellation ‘One More Dazzling Than the Sun’ grumbles and throws Coins in frustration.]
[The Constellation ‘One More Dazzling Than the Sun’ has sponsored you 1 Coin.]
[Current remaining Coins: 4,512]
I sneered at Apollo and gripped my staff tighter, then struck mercilessly at the stomach wall.
Thud. A dull, heavy sound echoed as the stomach convulsed violently. I stared at the grotesquely rippling flesh with a disgusted face and muttered,
“Yeah, this isn’t going to cut it. Mind if I borrow it?”
[CH. Private/One More Dazzling Than the Sun: You really have no manners, do you…]
Slowly, I inhaled deeply and pulled my arm back. The back of my hand and wrist burned like fire, as golden threads spiraled into shape. At the same time, a radiant arrow formed midair, with no bow in sight.
[Skill: Hand of Sunlight]
[You have used a skill. Skill: Hand of Sunlight]
[Hand of Sunlight activated. The Constellation’s blessing is bestowed.]
“Doesn’t matter how tough the hide is—its insides are soft as mush.”
With a piercing crack, the werewolf’s flesh tore open, light streaming through the wound. The writhing liquid spilled out, and in an instant, everything nearby turned to dust. The beast’s massive body flailed briefly—then vanished without a trace.
All that remained in its place were its fur hide and a single ring that fell with a soft clink.
“Hyung!”
“Choi Ga-hyeon!”
[Congratulations! Dungeon cleared. Rewards have been granted.]
Before I could even open my eyes properly, something massive wrapped around me in a sudden hug. My nose hurt from the impact, and since I’d just been inside a werewolf’s stomach, my whole body was soaked—but the one hugging me didn’t seem to care in the slightest.
“Wait—Beom…”
“Hyung, seriously, are you okay?!”
Lifting my head with some effort, I saw Baek Tae-beom’s face filled with worry. He grabbed my cheeks, twisting my head this way and that, inspecting me closely for any signs of bleeding. His concern was so overbearing that even Lee Myung-won, who had rushed over with him, stood awkwardly off to the side.
Apollo clicked his tongue.
[CH. Private/One More Dazzling Than the Sun: I’m against this relationship.]
[CH. Private/One Who Knows of Destruction: What kind of nonsense are you spouting now?]
“I’m sorry, hyung. I—I acted too rashly…”
Baek Tae-beom looked frustrated, like he was angry with himself for being less helpful than Lee Myung-won. Or maybe he was feeling inferior. It was written all over his face. Or perhaps I could read it so clearly because I was his Constellation.
“It’s fine. I didn’t even get hurt.”
“Your clothes are all soaked, so at least wear this.”
“More importantly, I think this is the reward item.”
I glanced toward Lee Myung-won while draping the jacket Tae-beom placed on my shoulder. He was holding the werewolf’s pelt in one hand and a single ring in the other.
“…I get the pelt, but what’s the ring?”
“Looks like it was inside the werewolf’s stomach.”
Ugh. That’s… not exactly pleasant.
[Ring of the Werewolf C]
[A ring that was inside the body of a werewolf. Increases the wearer’s defense.]
A C-rank ring that boosts defense. This would sell for quite a bit, especially in chaotic times like these.
If we split the profits three ways, it should be plenty for everyone—so I thought, until Lee Myung-won shook his head.
“This should go to you, Choi Ga-hyeon.”
“Huh? Why?”
“You were the one who defeated it. If you hadn’t been there, we would’ve been nothing but dried jerky.”
Baek Tae-beom nodded vigorously in agreement, his golden eyes sparkling with clarity. It felt a little like I was scamming these two pure-hearted guys, so I instinctively tried to refuse—but just then, Baek Tae-beom, who had accepted the ring from Lee Myung-won, grabbed my hand.
“Wait, what are you…?”
Baek Tae-beom gently slid the ring onto the fourth finger of my right hand. It was slightly loose at first, but as soon as it touched my skin, it miraculously shrank to fit perfectly.
A brilliant red ruby flashed, as if a wolf’s eye had been embedded into it.
“It suits you, hyung.”
Baek Tae-beom whispered softly, eyes still fixed on the ring wrapped around my finger.
