* * *
“We’re gaining experience points just by standing still.”
“But we need to fight actively for a better evaluation. Let’s not just watch!”
The mercenaries who had been observing the fight gripped their weapons.
[Seon Jangshin’ uses the skill ‘Teacher’s Heart’.]
It’s highly effective. The monster lets out a pained wail!
[In Gwonjeong’ uses the skill ‘Will of the Devout’.]
A surge of energy and power envelops ‘In Gwonjeong’s entire body!
Watching those who fought fearlessly against the monsters, Seohwa had a realization.
The current hunters were undoubtedly the strongest across all timelines.
He had known this, but after three years in hiding, it seemed even lower-ranked hunters had improved significantly.
The C-rank hunters of this cycle were nearly at the level of B-rank from the first cycle.
With this level of skill, even if a sixth-tier dungeon reappeared, it wouldn’t be a threat.
There would be no need to gather an elite force of fifty hunters like before.
Just five S-rank, ten A-rank, and the rest B-rank hunters would be more than enough to clear it.
‘Will there come a day when people treat sixth-tier dungeons like simple party raids?’
As he lost himself in thought, he felt a sharp gaze on the back of his head.
It was the kind of look that said, ‘Why isn’t that mercenary using any skills? Suspicious….’
Seohwa raised his crudely made C-rank wand like a child holding a toy.
Wands were difficult to craft, but at the C-rank level and below, they were readily available as long as one had money.
He infused the wand with magic and pointed it at the monster.
Boom!
A hole appeared in the monster’s leg.
The attack was intentionally weak, the size of a 500ml water bottle.
Graaah!
The enraged monster charged.
Seohwa was willing to take the hit, but before it could reach him, Kim Biyul struck it down.
“What was that skill just now? I didn’t receive a system message.”
“It wasn’t a skill. It was a piercing spell. I’m a mage, after all.”
It was common for mages to use spells instead of skills, so Kim Biyul nodded without suspicion.
∗ ∗ ∗
[Dungeon successfully cleared.
Congratulations.
- Time limit: 110 hours, 39 seconds
- Time taken: 40 minutes, 40 seconds
- Dungeon rank: Tier 2
- Participants: 8 ←View details
The gate is opening. ]
“Oh my god. Clearing a dungeon in just 40 minutes… I never imagined such a thing.”
“As expected of Epsilon. At this point, we might not even be the same species.”
The mercenaries whispered in awe.
Thanks to his exceptional hearing, Cho Wookwon caught their murmurs and pouted.
“This much, and you’re calling me inhuman? I was barely trying. If I knew you’d be this impressed, I would’ve fought more seriously.”
“You were holding back?”
“Yeah. If I really tried, I could’ve cleared it in 20 minutes.”
“Incredible… If it were just us, it would’ve taken at least three hours.”
“You guys should be grateful. Thanks to me, you get to leave work early.”
Cho Wookwon puffed out his chest with pride.
Seohwa laughed internally.
He’s twenty-two now, yet still the same as ever.
“Enough chatting. If you want to leave early, let’s collect the loot. We meet in an hour.”
“Yes, Leader.”
The F-rank guild members, who had only come to fulfill their assignments, exited the dungeon.
The rest of the party scattered to gather materials.
For expedition dungeons, there were dedicated collection teams, but in small-scale herb dungeons like this, party members usually handled it themselves.
Seohwa checked his assigned collection list.
As he looked at a mushroom photo on his tablet, an idea struck him.
‘Wait… I could eat the poisonous mushroom, couldn’t I? Accidents involving people mistaking poisonous mushrooms for edible ones happen all the time….’
It was an accident a C-rank hunter could easily fake.
Still unwilling to let go of his hope, Seohwa had just started moving when—
“……”
His eyes met Cho Wookwon’s directly.
The deep blue irises shimmered with interest.
With a curious expression, Cho Wookwon quickly approached and leaned in close.
“You know… Mercenary hyung, your features are really plain.”
Thump, thump, thump.
Seohwa’s heart pounded.
He wanted to summon [The Magician’s Door] and escape immediately.
But instead, he sighed playfully.
“Yes, you’re right. That’s why I have a complex about my looks.”
“Black hair, black eyes. It’s rare for a C-rank Awakened to have such a plain face.”
“You’re being so mean! There are Awakened ones who look this average, you know.”
“This is the first time I’ve seen such a plain-looking C-rank. Even F-ranks usually have at least one unique trait—hair color, eye color, something.”
“Plain, plain… How many times are you going to say it? Well, if Aphrodite had noticed me, I would’ve been kidnapped instantly. With your fluffy sky-blue curls like a cherub, you’re practically Cupid himself. And with a body like Ares, how could you possibly understand the struggles of someone unattractive? You wouldn’t even know what it feels like to consider plastic surgery every time you look in the mirror.”
“Oh….”
“So? Are you going to pay for my surgery? If not, stop bringing up my complex. It’s not like I chose to be plain-looking.”
“Sorry, my bad. I don’t really know what it’s like for ugly people. Stay strong.”
Cho Wookwon gave him a half-hearted fighting pose before cheerfully trotting away.
‘Thank god.’
Before Cho Wookwon could redirect his attention, Seohwa swiftly disappeared.
The canyon had plenty of trees, bushes, and rocks to hide behind.
He slipped behind a boulder and masked his presence completely—so well that even an S-rank like Cho Wookwon wouldn’t sense him.
“Wookwon, was that really the first time you’ve seen a plain-looking face? Why were you picking a fight?”
“When did I pick a fight? I was just wondering if he was using a disguise item.”
“The fact that an S-rank hunter even notices a C-rank mercenary can feel like a provocation. Be more careful next time.”
“Ugh, Biyul, you always nag at me.”
Cho Wookwon pouted and draped an arm over Kim Biyul’s shoulder, who was slightly shorter than him.
“You’re the perfect height for an armrest. Don’t grow any taller. Stay at B-rank, okay?”
“Now you’re picking a fight with me?”
“See? No matter what I say, you think I’m provoking you.”
Their back-and-forth sounded entirely natural.
At first, they had spoken to each other formally despite being the same age, but in the past three years, they had grown much closer.
“Enough joking. Tell me why you’re really here. Why did you suddenly join this dungeon run?”
“Hmm.”
“There has to be a reason you came to a tier-2 dungeon.”
Straightening up, Cho Wookwon spread his senses, making sure no one else was around.
He failed to detect Seohwa’s presence and relaxed.
“A precognition-type hunter said this dungeon has a hidden mission. The reward is Yutenka. I need to get it.”
“Yutenka? An herb?”
“Yeah.”
“…This is about the vice Guild Leader, isn’t it?”
Seohwa’s heart dropped like a stone off a cliff.
“Yeah. It’s been nearly two months since hyung fell into a coma. Neither medical treatments, potions, nor psychic skills have worked. We’ve tried every status ailment cure, but nothing below A-rank has had any effect. An S-rank alchemist said we must have Yutenka to make the strongest status ailment neutralizer.”
“S-rank alchemist… You mean Hunter Anis?”
“Oh. Noona is still waiting desperately at the hospital right now. We need to bring him back quickly. ‘D-Day’ isn’t far off either.”
D-Day. This is the second time I’ve heard that.
“Honestly, since I’m a healer, I can feel it instinctively—Yutenka potions won’t work. The vice Guild Leader is bedridden because of psychological issues. Hundreds of S-rank status ailment nullification potions wouldn’t be as effective as Hunter Seohwa’s voice. Just whisper his name three times in his ear, and he’ll wake up immediately.”
“That’s his goal, too.”
“Yeah.”
“Overdosing on potions to put himself in a coma just to lure Hunter Seohwa out… That was an extreme gamble.”
…Kang Yigeon, you stupid, dumb, reckless bastard!
Seohwa had suspected Kang Yigeon of faking illness to draw him out, but having it confirmed in words only made his anger flare up even more.
And yet, this wasn’t even a bluff—it was real.
An actual illness caused by potion overdose.
Has he lost his mind?
He’d done something so reckless that it could leave him with lifelong aftereffects. It was beyond comprehension.
‘If even one person proves they genuinely care about me, I might come out of hiding.’
Sure, I might have said something like that before.
But if he has to go this far, maybe it’s time to give up.
Risking his life just to find a single person…
What even is love?
This isn’t love—it’s practically an obsession.
‘Ah.’
A terrifying possibility crossed Seohwa’s mind.
‘…Is there another reason?’
* * *
Thank you for the updates~