* * *
Even if one had no desire to fight—if they wished to live as an office worker instead of a combat hunter—they still had to enter a dungeon every quarter to maintain even an F-rank Awakening status.
Since dungeon rank didn’t matter for this mission, non-combat Awakened individuals typically hired mercenaries or requested guild assistance to clear herbalist dungeons.
This party was assembled precisely for that purpose—Danbaek Guild’s F-rank office workers needed to complete their mandatory mission.
Back when Seohwa was a Guild Leader, he used to assign low-tier dungeons specifically for this reason.
Currently, Seohwa’s main mission was on temporary hold.
[Main Mission: “The Crown is Heavy.”
Mission temporarily suspended due to an unmanageable situation.]
The system’s consideration was appreciated but unwanted.
It would have been easier if it had just stripped away his rank, demoted him over and over until he lost his Awakening abilities altogether.
‘Then I could have freely gone to see Kang Yigeon…’
The thought made his chest tighten.
As Kim Biyul explained the dungeon’s terrain—predicted using Alpha-N measurement—and the key materials they needed to secure, Seohwa found himself lost in thought.
With a B-rank hunter in a second-tier dungeon, the strategy should take three to six hours at most.
By tonight, he would definitely see Kang Yigeon.
As soon as night fell and the hospital’s security relaxed, he would go check on him.
If it really was all an act… he’d at least flick Kang Yigeon’s forehead before leaving.
‘Why pretend to be sick? That’s just cruel.’
If it wasn’t an act… he’d still flick his forehead.
‘Why are you sick? That’s just cruel too…’
“Do not touch any unidentified plants in the dungeon—Lee Yuje?”
“Huh? Oh, yes?”
“You were zoning out, weren’t you?”
His heart plummeted.
Had it shown on his face?
Did they notice his social anxiety?
Had they figured out he’d been ostracized for 18 years?
Despite his frantic thoughts, his face remained calm.
“No, I was paying close attention.”
“Then, what monsters are expected to appear?”
“Grox, Dreadfr, Acranian, Porge, and Pizlik. The most dangerous one is the Pizlik—a bird similar to an eagle, with sharp hooks at the tips of its wings, electrified feathers, and high mobility due to its flexible body. Based on the map you showed earlier, the dungeon is a canyon surrounded by cliffs. That makes Pizlik encounters highly likely. It would be best to distribute anti-electricity gear to the guild members before we enter.”
Instead of being impressed, Kim Biyul sighed.
“Knew it. You weren’t listening. Lee Yuje, that’s a penalty. If you rack up too many, you won’t be allowed to work as a mercenary for our guild.”
With a cold declaration, Kim Biyul tapped something into his tablet.
Seohwa, despite knowing he was at fault, felt somewhat wronged.
“My answer was perfect. What mistake did I make?”
When he asked the mercenary next to him, the mercenary answered with a slightly reluctant expression.
“There were only three expected types of monsters, and we hadn’t even been briefed about a Pizlik yet…”
“Ah… I see.”
“How the hell did you know?”
“Know what? I just said whatever came to mind…”
Seohwa also felt reluctant.
He needed to act dumber.
“As Hunter Lee Yuje said, a Pizlik appearance is expected. Let’s prepare in advance.”
Kim Biyul took out the anti-shock items and armor he had prepared and distributed them to the guild members.
The guild didn’t provide equipment for mercenaries, so they had to take care of themselves.
The mercenaries put on their anti-shock gear on their shoulders, arms, and knees.
Unlike the F-rank guild members, who were visibly tense, the mercenaries looked like they couldn’t be more annoyed.
Seohwa also dug through his inventory and found some low-grade anti-shock items that had been gathering dust.
“Has everyone set their skill usage messages to visible? For evaluation purposes, you’ll also need to reveal your unique skills.”
“Yes.”
“Hunter Lee Yuje?”
“Of course, that’s basic.”
When an Awakened person turns on the skill usage message setting, others can receive notifications whenever they use a skill.
If it’s off, others won’t be notified whether they use a skill or not.
Of course, there are other ways to detect it—items or special skills can reveal skill usage.
‘I’ll just use piercing magic.’
If he used a natural ability instead of a skill, no matter what others did, they wouldn’t receive any notifications.
To maintain the facade of an ordinary C-rank mercenary, Seohwa decided to stick to piercing magic alone.
6:30 AM. It was time to enter, but Kim Biyul didn’t open the gate. He checked his watch and frowned.
“One person is late. Everyone, do some stretching or meditation while we wait.”
“Weren’t there supposed to be seven of us?”
“A member was added last minute yesterday. You’ll be surprised when you see who it is.”
There was an unusual hint of amusement in his voice.
Seohwa assumed it was just another F-rank guild member who hadn’t finished their training and didn’t think much of it.
Then, when the last member arrived, Seohwa almost fainted on the spot.
“Hey, sorry I’m late. It’s been a while since I’ve done a Rank-2 dungeon. Looking forward to working with you all~.”
The tardy newcomer cheerfully waved his hand.
It was none other than Cho Wookwon.
∗ ∗ ∗
[Dungeon Entry Confirmed.
The party leader has closed the gate.
Time Limit: 110 hours 40 minutes 39 seconds
Dungeon Rank: 2nd Rank
Participants: 8 ← See More
Failure Penalty: Dungeon Explosion
Rank-2 Party Dungeon Perks:
1 Escape Stone
Check your inventory!
The system understands your situation.
You are registered as “Lee Yuje.”
Be careful not to violate your oath. Ծ‸Ծ! ]
Should he be grateful for this…?
Seohwa dismissed the system window and followed the party. He took the rear position.
As expected, Cho Wookwon took the lead.
Normally, healers would stay in the middle of the formation for protection, but in an herb-gathering dungeon like this, an S-rank hunter had to be treated differently.
‘Damn it. I didn’t expect Wookwon to be here. Can I even get injured?’
Seohwa worried, and his concerns turned out to be completely valid.
Kraaaagh!
When the Pizlik swarm attacked—
“Huh? It’s been a while since I did a Rank-2 dungeon. Were they always this weak? Even mosquitoes put up more of a fight.”
Before anyone else could react, Cho Wookwon single-handedly wiped them all out.
Raiding a Rank-2 dungeon with an S-rank hunter who had even participated in Rank-6 dungeons was safer than taking a walk in the park.
Even though Wookwon was a healer and specialized in recovery skills, at S-rank, his physical abilities alone were enough to effortlessly handle Rank-2 monsters.
For Seohwa, who needed to get injured to be hospitalized at the Center, the presence of an S-rank healer was an absolute nuisance.
And to make matters worse, why was Wookwon even in this party?
He had no reason to join a Rank-2 dungeon. Something was off.
‘It can’t be helped. I’ll give up on this dungeon and wait for another opportunity.’
Danbaek was a massive guild that managed dozens of dungeons daily and was constantly hiring mercenaries.
There would be plenty of chances.
But then another thought crossed his mind.
…What if Kang Yigeon was really in critical condition?
What if, in a life-or-death situation, he was calling for Seohwa?
What if today was his last chance?
What if he would never see him again?
A cold chill ran down Seohwa’s spine.
‘No. I have to try something.’
Three years ago, getting injured was the easiest thing in the world.
Now, it was so difficult that he had to scheme just to make it happen.
Life sure was unpredictable.
After only 30 minutes, the end of the dungeon’s terrain was in sight.
At the final battleground, another wave of Pizlik swarmed in, brandishing their hook-like claws.
Seohwa focused on the monster in front of him, pretending not to notice the one creeping up from behind.
‘Come on, scratch my back already. Not with those wing hooks—use your claws.’
A Pizlik’s claws were laced with venom.
Simple wounds would be instantly healed by an S-rank healer, but poisoning was different.
The only way to cure it was by getting hospitalized at the Center and taking alchemist potions regularly.
Kraaagh!
‘Perfect. Just shred my back open.’
Boom!
A sudden, heavy impact shook the air.
When Seohwa turned around, a massive, pure-white marble wall had slammed into the ground behind him.
Beneath it, the Pizlik that had been about to attack him lay crushed to death.
Cho Wookwon, still in his punching stance, grinned.
“Hey, mercenary hyung, be careful. You owe me one life now!”
“…Thanks.”
Cho Wookwon’s S-rank shield skill, [Marvelous Marble], had activated.
It summoned a majestic, holy marble wall inscribed with the system’s sacred markings, providing divine protection against monsters.
But instead of just using it as a shield, Wookwon had slammed it down like a guillotine, bisecting the monster.
Seohwa let out a deep sigh.
Why is he so damn good?
Who the hell trained him?
…Right. It was me.
I trained him.
I should be proud, really.
If only he weren’t so overwhelmingly talented that it was now making my life difficult.
* * *
