The Smiling Death-Chapter 301: A Firm Resolve

Amon didn’t know how much time had passed.

Minutes... hours... maybe even longer. He lay there on the cold floor, without any movement. Only his chest rose and fell as he breathed.

After some time, slowly, very slowly. His consciousness returned.

His eyelids trembled before opening just a little. A sharp pain shot through his body the moment he tried to move. Every muscle screamed in protest, as if reminding him of what he had been through.

"Hah..." A weak voice left his mouth.

He let out a weak breath. Amon was awake now. Fully conscious.

He was still inside the cave.

Cold stone pressed against his back. The air was damp and heavy, carrying a faint earthy smell. His body felt battered and broken. Wounds covered him from head to toe. Dried blood clung to his skin and torn clothes.

He tried to move his fingers. Fortunately, they moved. His legs followed, though weakly.

"I’m... alive," he muttered hoarsely.

That fact alone felt unreal. He had run into a monster that might have been rank five or even stronger. If that was not enough, he had also entered the territory of another monster as strong as the one chasing him.

He was really unlucky and lucky at the same time.

He had barely survived yesterday. ’I don’t have any healing potions... shit.’

He checked himself as best as he could. He had no potions. Nor did he have any medicine. He had nothing at all. He didn’t even have the strength to properly bind his wounds. His left arm still ached terribly, and his ribs hurt every time he breathed.

Amon slowly leaned his back against the cold cave wall and sat there. He didn’t rush. For now, he decided to rest more, trying to make his thoughts clearer. He was still feeling slightly dazed.

He breathed calmly.

Each breath hurt, but it was bearable. His heart slowly steadied. The panic faded little by little.

’I survived... again. What an amusing night it was,’ he thought in amusement.

His right cheek burned slightly. It wasn’t unbearable, just a dull stinging sensation, probably from a wound or dried blood pulling at his skin. He raised his hand and touched it gently, hissing at the pain.

"Tch..."

After resting for a while, his breathing became more stable. His vision cleared. Strength returned to his body bit by bit, though it was far from enough.

Staying here forever wasn’t an option.

Amon slowly stood up, using the cave wall for support. His legs shook, but they held him.

"I need to leave this place..." he murmured. He couldn’t stay here much longer. His body was badly wounded, but for now, all he could do was wait and let time heal it naturally.

He looked around.

Darkness stretched ahead of him. Behind him was also darkness. For a moment, he hesitated.

Going back the way he came felt dangerous. Those monsters were still out there somewhere. Even if they were gone, he didn’t want to risk it.

So he made a choice. He turned toward the deeper part of the cave.

"Let’s check what might be inside this cave," he muttered in a low voice.

Step.

Step.

Each step echoed softly in the tunnel. The cave path narrowed and widened in places, the ground uneven beneath his feet. Water dripped somewhere in the distance.

Drip...

Drip...

Time passed without him realizing it.

It felt like an hour. Maybe more. He had been walking for a while now.

’What the heck? Does this cave even have an end? Is there anything inside it?’

His body protested with every step, but he kept moving. Stopping now might mean he wouldn’t be able to stand again.

Then he stopped at one point. He frowned.

"What now?" he couldn’t help but frown.

Because he saw light. Yes. It was light.

Amon froze in his place.

"...Light?" he whispered.

His tired eyes widened. The glow was real. It wasn’t his imagination.

He felt weird. Since it was a cave, he thought there might be a dead end or some kind of maze. Maybe monsters at the end. But to think... out of all possibilities... he had found an exit.

’Was this... not a cave, but just a tunnel on the other side of the hill?’

Hope stirred in his chest. He quickened his pace, ignoring the pain. His steps became faster, uneven, but desperate.

The light grew brighter. The air changed. He felt freer. The light was coming from a parted area of dark vines.

Finally, he reached the end of the tunnel. He pushed the vines aside. Amon stepped forward and emerged outside.

Light washed over him. Fresh air filled his lungs.

He stood there silently, blinking against the brightness, his battered body trembling.

But he was out of the cave. He was battered but alive.

The cold breeze hit his face. The sky was grey as always. The trees were black as usual. Nothing had changed, yet it looked peaceful.

"This same sight... hah! Damn... I thought maybe...just maybe I might find some hidden treasure in the cave... but I guess this outcome isn’t bad."

It was weird for Amon to think he might find some treasure in a mysterious cave, like some son of heaven.

Well, this wasn’t bad.

Amon walked out, moved toward a nearby tree, and sat there.

He summoned a bottle from his storage ring.

Gulp!

Gulp!

He started drinking the cool water from the bottle. Warmth spread throughout his body.

"Hah... I need to check my position again. I might have run in the wrong direction. How far have I come? Tch! At this rate, I might never reach the coastline." 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Amon started cursing his situation.

"At least if there was someone with me... it’s been more than a month since I talked to anyone."

He rubbed his temples. His handsome face was also burned slightly.

"Those bastard monsters... because of them, my handsome face is ruined. I don’t even have a girlfriend yet. Once I go back to the academy... I will treat my face."

He clenched his fist, eyes burning with resolve.

Amon made a resolution to get out of this place, treat his handsome face, and have a very beautiful girlfriend– no, not girlfriend, but girlfriends!