The dungeon air felt heavier the deeper they went, the silence around them unnatural.
When the path finally opened into a clearing, the trio found themselves standing before a small village tucked between jagged cliffs.
The houses were crude but functional, made of stone and weathered wood. Smoke drifted faintly from a few chimneys, but the moment the villagers noticed them, the atmosphere shifted.
Doors slammed shut.
Curtains were yanked closed.
Footsteps scurried behind walls.
Hwan blinked in disbelief.
"Wait, what? They're hiding from us? That's not fair. We didn't even do anything."
He took a step forward and raised his hands, trying to look less threatening.
"Hey! We're not enemies!"
No response.
Kevin rubbed the back of his neck and looked around warily.
"No one's even watching us from the windows… They're genuinely scared. That's not normal. There must be a reason for this."
Hwan frowned.
