Villain wants to live as a commoner chapter 45

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“You might not like this either.”

Baek Gunho said ominously.

“What do you mean?”

“When we enter the dungeon, I’m going to thoroughly examine everything—how strong you are, what you can and can’t do, everything.”

Hadn’t he just said this earlier? I nodded in agreement.

“Doesn’t that bother you?”

“…What do you mean?”

“I’m saying I’m going to uncover everything about you.”

For a moment, I didn’t grasp the meaning of his words and just blinked.

Then, I shrugged as if it wasn’t a big deal.

“Are Hunters usually sensitive about that? I don’t mind. It’s not like my skills are what I rely on for a living.”

I didn’t finish my sentence and my lips twitched.

Just figuring out my skills doesn’t mean you’ve uncovered everything about me.

The biggest secret I’m hiding is that I like you.

I must be feeling more unsettled lately. Even though I lack the courage to say it, my lips are betraying me.

Baek Gunho, waiting for me to finish, seemed to lose patience and asked first.

“Why did you stop talking?”

I let out a long sigh and looked at Baek Gunho like he was a naive child.

“No… How could you possibly understand my profound thoughts just by seeing a bit of my skills?”

“You’re easy to read.”

“I’m not that simple.”

He talks a big game for someone who knows nothing. I scoffed at him.

“When are we going to the dungeon?”

“Today. As soon as you’re ready.”

Isn’t this guy in too much of a rush?

I looked at him with a face full of disbelief, but Baek Gunho remained unfazed.

“You never know what might happen, so you should always be prepared.”

“Oh, sure. Whatever you say.”

One moment, I’m watching Netyflix, and the next, this is dropped on me.

I reluctantly got up, shuffling my feet.

“Let’s go.”

Looks like he picked the right day since tomorrow’s a holiday. As I sluggishly got up, Baek Gunho pulled some clothes out of his inventory and handed them to me.

“What’s this?”

“You weren’t thinking of going to the dungeon in just a t-shirt, were you?”

That was exactly what I was planning. But if I say it, I’ll get a lecture, so I quietly accepted the clothes.

‘This is a ridiculously expensive brand…’

I’m not very knowledgeable about Hunter item brands, but even I recognized this brand because it’s famously expensive.

Hunter items are already pricey, but this is from a particularly high-end brand.

And knowing Baek Gunho’s picky nature, there’s no way he bought something cheap.

How much does this even cost?

My hands trembled as I held the clothes. I’d better wear them carefully and return them in pristine condition.

After changing into the luxurious outfit, Baek Gunho personally placed a black cap on my head.

Dressed in black from head to toe, I looked suspiciously like someone up to no good.

“If I walk around like this, I’m going to get reported.”

“It can’t be helped. It’s not like anyone would be happy to see me bringing you into a dungeon.”

He had a point. It’s rare for an F-rank, who’s practically a civilian, to enter a dungeon alone with Baek Gunho.

“Make sure you have potions in your inventory.”

“I’ve got plenty of potions.”

I replied nonchalantly, but Baek Gunho glared at me. Under his silent pressure, I checked my inventory.

‘What’s this?’

There was an item in my inventory I had never seen before.

1■■th’s Trace (S): The last weapon fragment held by ■■■ of 1■■th.

My inventory is displayed with images of items neatly arranged in a system window. To retrieve an item, you open the inventory and think of the item you need.

Since I usually just pull out whatever I need on the spot, I rarely checked what was actually in there.

I’ve seen plenty of Hunters on YouTube meticulously organizing their inventories, but I’ve never been good at that, so I just left mine as it was.

But even though I neglected it, it’s not like the items magically multiplied or created new ones. So what is this?

‘Oh. Is it the reward from that dungeon?’

The magic stone I picked up from the dungeon I was caught in with Baekmyeon Sect also had a broken name, appearing as [■■’s Memory]. This item was likely from that dungeon too.

“What’s wrong? Why do you look so dirty?”

My inventory was indeed a mess, dirty enough that I didn’t even notice a new item had been added. I’ll have to clean it up one of these days.

I decided to leave the mysterious item for later and checked the remaining potions. Though I’d never bought them myself, I had plenty stored up from gifts.

“I’ve got enough.”

“How many?”

“Fifteen health potions and about ten mana potions.”

Without a word, Baek Gunho took out ten more potions from his inventory and handed them to me. They were expensive, hand-crafted potions made by an alchemist.

“Hurry up and take them.”

“Are we going to an S-rank dungeon or something?”

“We’re going to a B-rank dungeon.”

“That’s overkill.”

Two S-rank Hunters in a B-rank dungeon? We could probably clear it without using a single potion. I looked at the expensive potions with reluctance but eventually put them in my inventory.

“Where are we headed?”

“Suncheon.”

I expected a nearby location, but he mentioned somewhere far away.

“Why so far?”

“It’s the most suitable place for testing.”

Well, I’m sure he picked it for a reason. I accepted it and got in the car with Baek Gunho.

As we drove to Suncheon, the car headed into the mountains. After struggling up a bumpy road, the car finally came to a stop midway.

“We’ll have to walk from here.”

What kind of dungeon did this guy choose?

I got out of the car and looked around. The mountains weren’t particularly high or rugged, but the overwhelming darkness made the place feel eerie.

“This way.”

Baek Gunho took the lead, holding a flashlight in one hand. I followed behind him. As we walked along the narrow path, a ridiculous thought crossed my mind.

“If it weren’t you, this situation would be really suspicious.”

“What do you mean?”

“You suddenly dragged me to Suncheon in the middle of the night and now you’re leading me up a narrow mountain path. Doesn’t it feel like the start of a murder mystery?”

“Guess I’ve been found out.”

Baek Gunho replied nonchalantly. Even though I knew it was a joke, the low pitch of his voice gave me a bit of a chill.

“Should I beg for my life?”

“I’ll let you live because you’ve been good.”

“Even if I’ve been bad, let me live.”

“That’s not possible.”

Baek Gunho replied firmly.

“You’re heartless.”

Baek Gunho, who was ahead of me, chuckled.

“The dungeon is more dangerous than the mountain path. If we kill the boss and the dungeon closes, the body would disappear without a trace.”

“That’s true.”

I’ve heard that missing persons cases increased after dungeons started appearing.

Even Choi Dokyum mentioned it—the dungeon is the closest place to committing the perfect crime.

“So don’t ever follow someone into a dungeon, no matter who they are.”

Does he think I’m three years old? I’m twenty-six, and here I am, getting lectured not to follow strangers.

“Who else but you would take me into a dungeon?”

“Promise me.”

“Fine, I won’t follow anyone.”

“Awakened people should always be cautious.”

“I got it.”

A conversation full of nagging—classic Baek Gunho.

After a bit of banter, we finally saw some lights in the distance.

As we got closer, I noticed a streetlamp standing in the middle of the mountain.

Beneath the streetlamp was a sign that read “No Entry.”

Beyond that, a barrier was set up around the gate managed by the Somang Guild, prohibiting access.

Baek Gunho approached the streetlamp. He opened a device attached to the middle of the lamp, revealing a keyhole. Baek Gunho took a key out of his inventory, inserted it into the hole, and turned it halfway. The circular barrier surrounding the area melted away.

The melted barrier sank to knee level, wavering like a mirage. Baek Gunho put the key back into his inventory and stepped over the barrier.

“You too, come on.”

I quickly followed him over the barrier. After a moment, the barrier restored itself to its original form. Baek Gunho knocked on the barrier to make sure it was secure.

“Now, let’s go in.”

“Okay.”

Baek Gunho naturally grabbed my hand. While it’s said that it’s rare to be separated when entering a dungeon together, most of the time, you end up in the same place if you enter consecutively.

Is there really a need to hold hands?

I tried to subtly pull my hand away, but the grip on my hand only tightened. In the end, I entered the gate with Baek Gunho holding my hand.

My vision darkened for a moment, then brightened again.

Dazzling sunlight streamed down, brushing against the corners of my eyes. Instead of the heavy scent of the forest, a salty breeze tinged with the scent of the sea brushed against my nose.

Soft white sand cushioned my feet.

A vast blue ocean stretched out before me, with the horizon visible in the distance.

“Wow.”

Dark blue waves rolled in towards the sandy beach. The waves broke into white foam, only to be replaced by new ones.

Though I knew the space beyond the gate was an entirely different world, it was still surprising to find myself moving from the heart of a forest to the sea.

“It’s beautiful.”

“This is a dungeon. Don’t let your guard down…”

Baek Gunho looked ready to start lecturing. I can’t even admire the view for a moment. Instead of responding, I used my skill.

• Screeeeech!

A large bird-like monster that had been flying around fell to the ground, pierced by an invisible force.

“I know. Satisfied?”

“…Yeah.”

Baek Gunho looked displeased but responded obediently.

After all, showing is the best way to silence nagging.

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