* * *

Doyoung immediately latched onto the unusual detail.

“There was a call from ATE Pharmaceuticals about discussing the medication they provided.”

Doyoung paused mid-bite. ATE Pharmaceuticals reached out to Beom Sinje directly instead of him?

“Technically, the call came to your desk, but since you weren’t there, the Guild Master took it.”

“I see… He could’ve just told me about it, though.”

Well, it was official business, so it made sense they’d contact the office.

Beom Sinje must have answered by chance.

Still, shouldn’t he have mentioned it if something like that had happened?

“Perhaps it’s because you’re resting.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

Sure, it would’ve been inappropriate to discuss work matters with someone who was supposedly recovering.

“In that case, doesn’t it make more sense for Hunter Park Chanoh to stay with him? That way, you can keep an eye on how ATE Pharmaceuticals plans to proceed.”

Of course, that wasn’t really Park Chano’s responsibility.

While he sometimes assisted with external affairs, his primary role was as a combat hunter.

Technically, this was Doyoung’s job as Beom Sinje’s reluctant secretary.

But since he wasn’t available, someone else should’ve filled in.

“That’s why Team Leader Yeo will be attending the meeting with him.”

“Team Leader Yeo?”

That was surprising.

Yeo Giwon rarely involved himself in non-dungeon-related matters, let alone guild operations.

He always claimed such tasks didn’t suit him.

“Maybe clearing that S-rank dungeon changed his mind.”

“No way. The Guild Master instructed him to present the results to ATE Pharmaceuticals himself.”

As expected.

Picturing Yeo Giwon reluctantly giving a detailed briefing to pharmaceutical staff made Doyoung smirk.

It was an undeniably mischievous smile.

“I wonder how well he did.”

“Who knows… He might ask you to review the report once you’re back at work.”

It seemed his confinement wasn’t permanent.

Park Chanoh spoke about work as if Doyoung returning to the office was a given.

“I’m curious, too. Whether it worked as intended. There are some things I’d like to test out myself.”

“Test out?”

“Yes. ATE Pharmaceuticals has several products designed to enhance hunters’ abilities.”

As they talked, the food gradually disappeared.

While it had seemed like a lot, it turned out to be just right for two hunters with healthy appetites.

Park Chano, in particular, looked quite satisfied.

“Then, have a good rest.”

After finishing the meal and cleaning up, Park Chanoh bowed slightly.

“Are you leaving?”

When Doyoung asked, Park Chanoh didn’t respond verbally but simply shook his head.

He wasn’t going anywhere.

“Don’t tell me you’re going to wait out in the hallway again. Just stay here.”

“Ah, but…”

“I doubt Beom Sinje told you to wait outside.”

As if agreeing, Park Chanoh quietly sat on the sofa.

It must have been tiring for him to stand in the hallway all this time.

Doyoung handed him a cup of tea before grabbing one for himself and returning to the table with his laptop.

He checked his smartphone, but there were no new messages.

“ATE Pharmaceuticals must not care about time zones, huh? Visiting the guild this late at night.”

As Doyoung clicked the mouse, Park Chanoh responded hesitantly, “That’s not it. They’re holding a video conference with the ATE team based in the U.S.”

So it was late because they were accommodating the other team’s schedule.

Doyoung frowned.

“If I had taken the call, I’d have told them to wait until the next morning.”

Shaking his head, he muttered to himself about the importance of secretarial roles.

“Well, Beom Sinje can handle it.”

After all, he was the one who’d confined Doyoung to the house.

Though he didn’t openly express it, being under house arrest wasn’t particularly enjoyable.

It was satisfying, in a petty way, to know Beom Sinje was stuck working late.

Not that Doyoung had wished for the man to be delayed until nearly midnight.

“He’s really late.”

Distracted from his hobbies, Doyoung checked the time and frowned.

“The Guild Master said his meeting extended into a dinner,” Park Chanoh explained.

“Ah. Are you planning to stay here until he gets back?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Alright. Then I’ll head to bed first.”

He had intended to wait up for Beom Sinje but couldn’t keep his eyes open any longer.

Feeling the weight of exhaustion, Doyoung bid goodnight to Park Chanoh and headed straight to bed.

His body, eager for rest, quickly surrendered to sleep.

“I’ll talk to Beom Sinje when I wake up,” he resolved as his consciousness faded.

◇◆◇◆◇

Doyoung glared at the translucent frame floating before his eyes.

“This thing stayed quiet for a while. Why is it showing up again now?”

He thought he’d finally rid himself of the annoying system that had plagued him endlessly.

And yet, here it was, reappearing out of the blue.

Unfortunately, ignoring it wasn’t an option.

The obnoxious emoticons and flashing lights obstructed his vision.

[※ Status Effect Detected ※
To neutralize the poison currently infiltrating your body, defeat the boss monster! (ง •_•)ง
Failure to eliminate the boss within the time limit will result in penalties.]

To make matters worse, a timer now loomed in the corner.

“Ah, damn it!”

He had no choice but to move.

The dungeon walls were a dark crimson, and the floor rippled beneath his feet, as if he were walking on a living, breathing mattress.

‘This feels like I’ve stepped inside the belly or intestines of some beast.’

Doyoung didn’t know how he’d ended up in such a revolting place, but the unease gnawing at him urged him to get out as quickly as possible.

Just as he resolved to pick up the pace, something coiled around his ankle.

Before he could react, his body was yanked violently into the air.

“Wha—whoa!”

Frantically looking down, Doyoung saw an elongated, grotesque tentacle in a murky shade of pink, wrapping tightly around his ankle.

“What the hell is this?”

Panicking, Doyoung reached for the sword that had been in his hand since he first opened his eyes.

He slashed at the tentacle in an attempt to sever it.

But before he could succeed, another tentacle snatched his wrist, immobilizing him.

Clatter.

To his dismay, the sword slipped from his grasp, falling uselessly to the ground.

The tentacles weren’t satisfied with just restraining his arms and legs—they slithered up to coil around his thighs and waist, binding him further.

“Let go! I said, let go!”

As he was dragged across the dungeon floor, Doyoung came face-to-face with the boss monster—the very creature controlling the tentacles with unnatural precision.

But what shocked him more than the monster’s movements was its appearance.

“No way… Beom Sinje?!”

Frozen in disbelief, Doyoung could only gape at the boss monster.

Its face was a perfect replica of Beom Sinje’s.

While he was paralyzed with shock, the tentacles moved diligently, dragging him closer to the monster.

“Strip,” it commanded.

Of all things, the boss monster spoke in flawless foreign language.

At this point, Doyoung began to wonder if he was dreaming.

“Ha… What the hell is this…”

In all the strange dreams he’d ever had, nothing came close to this.

First, the infuriating system interface, and now, a boss monster with Beom Sinje’s face.

But he had no time to dwell on the absurdity. The tentacles started pulling at his clothes, trying to remove them.

“Stop! Hey! Don’t strip me!”

His resistance was in vain. If anything, the tentacles only tightened their grip.

Shouldn’t dreams at least work in the dreamer’s favor?

* * *