The next day, after receiving a text saying that I would go in alone if they didn’t give me permission, their attitude finally changed.
My phone started ringing non-stop, perhaps because they thought I would truly enter by myself.
And after long negotiations, the D-day for entering the SS-rank Dungeon finally arrived.
As a result of various conversations over three days, three conditions were attached to taking me with them.
First, I was absolutely forbidden from using the skill that raises critical damage probability by 100%.
The main reason was the danger of losing my sight.
Second, I had to stay close to someone and never wander off alone.
Third, I must not step forward under any dangerous circumstances.
Honestly, I wasn’t confident I could keep all three, but I nodded for now.
The Final Boss was not someone that could be dealt with casually.
Why else would they have been beaten to a pulp and run out of potions in the original story?
Since they didn’t know that fact yet, it was understandable that they set those conditions.
Rumble—
When I put on the bright red helmet and started the motorcycle, a loud exhaust sound echoed.
I looked towards the store through my darkened visor, and a piece of paper was taped to the transparent glass door.
It was the notice I had just written.
[Will reopen after I return.]
“…”
Hmm… Will they be able to read it?
I put some effort into writing it, but my handwriting was messy and all over the place.
I considered rewriting it right then, but soon shook my head.
I was short on time since I had just stopped by on my way, and honestly, even if I rewrote it, it probably wouldn’t be much different.
“How long is it going to take, anyway?”
Chirp!
At my muttering, Chirpy, who was hiding in my pocket, poked his head out.
His black eyes sparkled, and he wore a smug expression, as if he could return and open the shop right away.
I let out a small laugh at his cocky appearance, still with the leaf hairpin pinned on his head.
Come to think of it, I haven’t even contacted the owner of the ‘Life-long Four-Cuts’ photo booth.
“You don’t even help with the work.”
When I playfully tapped his small chin, he puffed up his cheeks and looked dissatisfied.
Though he couldn’t speak, it seemed he secretly enjoyed watching the customers at the shop.
“I know. I want to start again quickly, too.”
With a faint smile, I turned my gaze away from the store.
It was time to really leave.
Although I didn’t show it, I sincerely hoped I could return as soon as possible.
I rode without stopping and arrived at Hoehyeon Station, which wasn’t far from the shop.
The surrounding roads were so packed with people that I had to park the motorcycle almost a station away.
‘Wow… This is unprecedented.’
I cautiously slipped out of the alley and looked around, seeing people holding hand-held signs walking through the streets.
The signs mostly contained messages wishing for S3’s safe return or cheering them on.
The unprecedented SS-rank Dungeon naturally drew enormous attention.
The intensity of the coverage was hotter than ever, and a strange tension hung in the air.
As the entire road was blocked off, the scene was literally packed with people.
“Dammit, this is so annoying. I have to see Woo Jaehyun go in.”
“How could you? The reporters are explicitly blocking the way.”
“Didn’t the news say Seo Inho was going in too? Since there are no news photos, he must not have arrived yet.”
“Just because he got a little friendly with the S3 guys these days, he thinks he’s on the same level, I guess. Honestly, it’s hilarious.”
“Hey, didn’t you once call him petty for staying out alone?”
“Did I? Anyway, let’s go further up.”
Because of the noise coming from all directions, I couldn’t dare to take off my helmet.
It was fortunate that I was wearing the S-rank leather jacket that was suitable for a rider.
Occasionally, people stared at me strangely while I was moving, but there was no sign they recognized me.
They just considered me a crazy guy who walked around with a doll clipped to his waist.
“It must be here.”
When I arrived at Hoehyeon Station, hunching my shoulders, the first thing I saw was the crowd surrounding the gate.
Hunters from the three major guilds and staff from the Hunter Association had been deployed to prevent people from approaching.
Inside the controlled line, only authorized reporters were allowed to continue close-up filming.
The three people were briefing the public, maintaining an appropriate distance from each other.
With the three major guilds, the Hunter Association, and reporters gathered, the inner area was quite chaotic.
‘It’ll be hard to get in quietly.’
As I got closer, I felt their gazes, as expected.
They seemed to have sensed my presence, but fortunately, they didn’t stop their briefing midway like last time.
They just kept explaining, with their eyes fixed on me.
It seemed they were showing consideration, knowing that I avoided the media.
“How embarrassing…”
However, the moment I tried to quietly squeeze through, I had to stop.
A Hunter Association employee, who hadn’t recognized me because of my helmet, blocked my path.
“Hey! You can’t go in.”
His utterly dumbfounded expression seemed to ask, ‘Who is this crazy guy?’
Since I had a noticeable physique, the employee was slightly wary and kept an eye on my movements.
I thought, ‘Ah, right’, and reached to take off my helmet, but before I could, someone quickly approached.
His face looked familiar; it was the easy-going-looking president of the Hunter Association.
“Oh my, Hunter Seo Inho, you’ve arrived.”
Seeing the Association President bow slightly and extend his hand, the Hunter Association employee instantly turned pale.
He whispered, ‘Seo Inho?’ and anyone could tell he was flustered.
“You were here first.”
Feeling embarrassed for no reason, I quietly walked past him.
As I took the Association President’s extended hand and walked into the restricted area, I could feel people around me whispering.
My name could be heard here and there, as the rumor had already spread.
‘Well… I guess I can’t help it.’
In a situation where all eyes were on me, hiding my identity was no longer meaningful.
Since I was exposed anyway, I took off my helmet and smoothed back my messy hair.
“It bothered me that I couldn’t personally escort you. So I came early to greet you.”
“But I was the one who refused.”
This time, too, I declined the Association President’s goodwill and chose to come on my own.
I felt burdened by the attention, and it was simply more comfortable to move alone.
However, the Hunter Association President looked apologetic, perhaps because of the public’s attention or because he genuinely felt concerned.
“Hunter-nim, are you mentally prepared? An SS-rank Dungeon in Korea… I couldn’t sleep a wink from worry.”
“Don’t worry too much.”
I replied calmly to the Association President, whose complexion had rapidly darkened.
In fact, from my perspective, the problem wasn’t whether or not they could clear the SS-rank Dungeon.
I already knew the result, after all.
The core issue now was how quickly they could clear it and come out with minimal damage.
I was most worried because unexpected things often happened the moment I intervened, as happened in the ‘First Dungeon.’
“Please take good care of my father while I’m gone.”
When I whispered, putting up a small barrier, the Association President nodded with a serious face.
“You can put your worries aside concerning that. I will take responsibility and pay close attention.”
Although I had repeatedly asked the hospital staff, I couldn’t help but feel heavy-hearted at the thought of leaving my father behind.
I wouldn’t mind a day or two, but being apart for several weeks like this was something I really didn’t want to do.
‘Stomp.’
After finishing my last greetings with the Hunter Association President, I stopped in front of the gate in question.
On the surface, it looked like an ordinary gate, shimmering quietly with a purple light.
Looking at it this way, it was no different from an F-rank Gate, and I felt no sense of incongruity. Knowing what was coming, that fact felt even more eerie.
The SS-rank Dungeon takes a long time to raid once you enter, so this was practically the first and last opportunity.
If, by some chance, the raid failed and a Dungeon Break occurred, Seoul would be instantly devastated.
“Hyung, you’re here?”
At that moment, Woo Jaehyun, who had finished his briefing first, approached with a bright smile.
Judging by the reporters’ restless state, he probably cut off the interview unilaterally and rushed over.
Despite that, he circled me, busy examining me from head to toe.
His gaze suggested he was checking if I had all the necessary equipment.
“Don’t worry, I prepared well.”
“Still.”
Soon after, Cha Rui and Do Soohyuk appeared in turn, and finally, all three people gathered in front of the gate.
Having sufficiently checked the equipment, all that was left was to go inside, but the atmosphere was heavy.
Judging by the displeased expressions of the two, it seemed they still had lingering regrets.
“It’s not too late to go back now.”
“The negotiation is already over.”
“…”
When I immediately retorted, showing no room for negotiation, Do Soohyuk and Cha Rui also had nothing to say and fell silent.
They realized that further persuasion was useless, as they had already argued about this several times.
