They do exist. That said, I don’t think there are Djinn lying in ambush in this dungeon, but I do think there might be some kind of fatal trap set up if we fall for it.
“It’s common sense to follow the marksman in dungeon exploration, you know?”
“...”
Tomer looked at Rachel. But Rachel was on my side too.
“I’ll follow Hajin-ssi’s words.”
“...Don’t blame me if you regret it later.”
Tomer looked pathetic.
“Found one yeti.”
There was a single yeti sleeping along the path I had chosen.
The first dungeon monster, a yeti.
We took note of it and continued forward.
Even after that, Tomer kept trying to lead us—especially Rachel—into traps, but I blocked her every time.
“Guys, I think it’s here this time. If you look at the traces lined up along this ice path...”
“Nope.”
“No. This time, seriously, just trust me once. Rachel-ssi. Come with me. Splitting into two teams is more efficient for exploration, isn’t it?”
“Nope, can’t.”
Her efforts to separate Rachel from us were admirable, but I couldn’t allow that. I grabbed Rachel by the wrist first and pulled her along. Rachel followed me without a word.
And so, as time went on, Tomer’s expression grew worse and worse.
“Um...”
My Thousand-Mile Eyes found the “shortest route” through the maze-like Frozen Dungeon. There were no obstacles, and no difficulties.
At last, when the endpoint—the instructor—began to come into view in the distance, Rachel showed a slightly uncomfortable expression.
“Um... Hajin-ssi.”
“Yes?”
“This...”
Rachel glanced at her wrist. It was the wrist I had been holding tightly in case Tomer tried to snatch her away.
“Ah, right. Sorry.”
“No. It’s not something you need to apologize for...”
“Rachel Team!”
The instructor’s booming voice rang through the dungeon upon discovering us. We hurried over and stood before him.
“Recite them.”
“Yes. Yeti, snow beast, White Calamity, White Drake...”
Rachel recited the results of our investigation. The instructor listened quietly, checking them against his list, then gave a small smile.
“Judging by the grades of the monsters placed inside the dungeon, the dungeon boss seems to be at least mid-rank grade 3 or higher.”
“Good. Rachel Team, perfect.”
Rachel’s face lit up. The other team members were the same. They clenched their fists, savoring the word “perfect” from the instructor, who was usually stingy with praise.
“...Ah, damn it.”
Only Tomer was kicking at a stone rolling on the ground with an irritated look on her face.
tzoa
End
“Haa.”
After returning to the mage dormitory, Tomer let out a sigh.
[Tomer. Why is the mission being delayed? Are there any other variables?]
Her superior, unable to wait any longer, had sent a message.
Tomer’s mission objective was to injure or weaken Rachel. It was a simple task that only required taking her out of daily life for a while.
The Cube executive who had infiltrated as a spy had also promised active cooperation, so she had thought she could finish quickly and return, but some meddler was sticking to her like glue and marking her.
“Do I have to deal with that guy first...?”
These days, just seeing Kim Hajin’s face gave her an allergic reaction. A Rachel barnacle who appeared like a ghost and stopped her whenever she tried to do anything. Whether in class or after school, Kim Hajin hadn’t left Rachel’s side lately.
“Tsk. I wish he’d know his place.”
Tomer couldn’t understand what a cadet ranked 334th was relying on to charge in so aggressively. When she looked into him, he had no parents and nothing special to speak of. Did he actually believe that bullshit about the courageous winning the beauty?
...Wait.
In that instant, a spark flashed in her mind.
Tomer quietly developed the thought.
Kim Hajin had strong feelings for Rachel. At least, she was certain of that. But Rachel, even if she didn’t show it, clearly felt burdened by him.
In other words, a wedge-driving scheme.
There were many kinds of sowing discord. Passing along bad words about each other, or inflating malicious rumors.
But right now, she didn’t need such a complicated scheme.
She just had to convey the truth with a slight exaggeration.
For that, first... she would have to get close to Kim Hajin and Rachel—no, to the whole team.
Tomer sent a text to her superior.
[Is the mission really complete as long as I separate that woman?]
[Yes. The rest will be handled by the agent we dispatched.]
Okay. Change of plans.
Just as Tomer was smiling wickedly and typing her reply,
her smart watch trembled. This particularly strong vibration was a notification from Violet Banquet. Tomer hurriedly turned on her watch.
[Truth Office]
[We will accept Jamie Jamer-ssi’s request.]
“They’re replying now?”
It was something from almost two or three weeks ago, so she had forgotten about it. There had been no response, so she thought it was a dead end.
Were they delayed because they had many clients?
Whatever the case, it was fine.
As long as she could find out where that damn bastard was.
For now, that was enough.
* * *
“Next week, each team will select one small-scale dungeon and give a presentation on how to clear it in the smoothest way possible.”
Friday theory class—“Phenomenal Realm Analysis II.”
Right before the class ended, the professor handed out a team assignment to the cadets. The classroom was instantly filled with the cadets’ groans. However, Jin Hoseung and Yi Bokgyu, sitting in front of me, didn’t look particularly worried. They turned around to look at me with pleased grins.
“We’re counting on you, Hajin.”
It wasn’t just them.
The other cadets were also sending envious glances this way.
“Have a good weekend.”
With those final words, the professor left the classroom. Rachel Team, including me, also rose from our seats.
“Guys. There’s a team leader meeting next Wednesday at seven. Team leaders, don’t skip it and gather in the auditorium.”
At that moment, class president I Yeonghan shouted loudly. I looked at Rachel. Our eyes met as Rachel was gathering up her writing utensils.
I said,
“Let’s just go to a café today, lightly divide up the roles, and split up.”
“Sounds good.”
That voice wasn’t Rachel’s. I turned my gaze beside me. It was Tomer.
“Let’s go to a café.”
Tomer’s face was extremely bright.
“...What are you?”
“What do you mean, what? Everyone, Rachel-ssi, let’s hurry. We don’t have time.”
Tomer took the lead and began gathering the team members. I stared blankly at her. What was she plotting this time? Had she planted a nuclear bomb in the café or something?
...Ten minutes later.
We arrived at the café.
I looked through the roof and underground, but there were no traps in the café. Still feeling uneasy, I assigned roles to the team members.
“So Hoseung and Bokgyu will gather dungeon materials, and Tomer and Rachel-ssi will calculate mana concentration?”
That was the conclusion of the meeting that had gone on for thirty minutes.
After everyone handled their own part, they would send the information to me. Then I would compile all that information, make the PPT, and present it.
“Yeah. Let’s do that.”
“Sounds good.”
The team members agreed with bright faces.
Just as I was about to pack up and head outside, Rachel suddenly grabbed my sleeve.
“Um, Hajin-ssi.”
“Yes?”
“Did the British royal family perhaps contact you?”
“Uh... What kind of contact?”
For a moment, Rachel’s brow furrowed slightly.
“From the British Royal Guild...”
“?”
I tilted my head. I didn’t think that had happened, but just in case, I opened my email. 1,097 emails had arrived. I hadn’t checked a single one. Among those countless emails, I searched for one containing the word “royal.”
There was one.
“Ah. It came by email. But I don’t really check my email.”
“They contacted you through something like email...”
For some reason, Rachel seemed angry, and her lips stuck out in a pout.
“Later, when you get home, please read it.”
“I’ll just read it now.”
I clicked on the email. Just as Rachel had said, the British Royal Guild had contacted me directly. It was written in Korean, so there was no difficulty reading it.
A base annual salary of 100 million won, with performance bonuses separate.
For a pre-contract, the conditions weren’t that good.
“May I take a look too?”
“Yes.”
Rachel leaned in and checked the contents. After her eyes moved busily across the screen, her face crumpled hard.
“No. How on earth do they work like this... Forget it. Don’t read it.”
Rachel stood up, huffing. She hurried outside, and her face was the angriest I had ever seen since I entered Cube.
“...What was that? Why is she so angry?”
All the team members stared blankly at her retreating figure.
* * *
Sunday evening, a day off I had personally designated for my mental stability.
I was absorbed in a game.
[Victory]
I won again this time.
[Hey]
[Yes?]
[How did you pull off that combo just now?]
The loser, NayunJjajangman, sent me a message.
I had added NayunJjajangman as a friend after facing off against him once on Wednesday, and since our login times roughly matched, we had been playing together continuously. Fortunately, the enhancement system came out as 37, 40, 39, and so on, so I hadn’t lost once yet.
[You just have to stay calm.]
[But why are you so good? Are you an active Hero by any chance??]
[No. Not really.]
Conceptual Reinforcement. Because of it, how to execute certain combos, which combos were the most efficient, even the thoughts and methods within the game were enhanced. So although my performance fluctuated a little, right now I was good enough to be called an expert.
[Then why are you 43 wins and 43 losses in ranked?? Did you lose on purpose?]
[Yes. I don’t want to obsess over wins, losses, or rankings.]
I lied through my teeth without blinking.
[Ah... I see. You’re amazing. If I lose even one ranked match, I can’t sleep. But do you log in around this time every day?]
[Yes.]
[Could I get a match with you each time?]
A smile formed on my lips. He was surprisingly polite.
[Anytime. I’ll be going to work out now.]
[Oh lol I was just about to go work out too lol jinx]
I didn’t bother replying and set down the helmet.
I carefully opened the door so Evandel wouldn’t wake up.
My destination was the physical training room.
After walking for about five minutes, I arrived.
I changed into workout clothes in the locker room and came out, and just then, Chae Nayun was entering the physical training room.
“What? You’re here to work out too?”
“Huh? Yeah.”
“...Right. Work hard.”
Chae Nayun passed by me and went into the women’s locker room. I was about to get on the treadmill without much thought when something suddenly flashed through my mind.
NayunJjajangman.
Nayun. Chae Nayun.
“Hm... no way, right?”
No way. To begin with, Chae Nayun didn’t like jjajangmyeon enough to put it in her ID. And judging from the ID and the way they spoke, NayunJjajangman was definitely a man.
Beep—
I set the treadmill speed to 20 km/h. It was a speed I couldn’t have imagined in the past, but now I could manage it without difficulty.
Like that, I ran for thirty minutes, until my whole body was soaked with sweat.
“Hoo...”
I took a sports drink out of the refrigerator.
Chae Nayun, who had just come out of the gravity field, sidled up beside me.
“Hey.”
I looked at Chae Nayun without answering. Chae Nayun hesitated, dragging out the time.
“What? Say it.”
“...It’s just, our team picked the Hongcheon Mantis Dungeon.”
It seemed Chae Nayun was worried about this theory team project. That aside, the Mantis Dungeon? They had chosen the most troublesome insect dungeon.
“You, uh. Do you know anything about it?”
“...How did you manage to choose the hardest one?”
“Right? But that obnoxious mage bastard kept insisting on doing that one.”
The mage with Chae Nayun was named O Junsik. He was a character recorded in my setting book as well. He certainly had ability, but he had a pretty rotten personality. Since he was a relative of the 7-star mage O Yeonju, he probably wouldn’t be intimidated by Chae Nayun either.
“He probably thought you’d get more points because it’s a difficult topic. But isn’t he kind of hopeless? He’ll just stammer and won’t even be able to present.”
“Exactly. I was going to let it slide if I could, but seriously, it’s the first time I’ve met a bastard more self-centered than me.”
At least she knew she was self-centered.
“Have someone else present as much as possible. Hazuki seems like she’d be surprisingly good at presentations.”
“Ah, I’d like that too. But I’m worried whether that bastard would allow it... Ahem.”
Then the two of us suddenly became awkward. As if we’d come back to our senses, we both stepped away from each other at the same time. We weren’t exactly the kind of people who could chat so happily(?) like this.
“...Uh, work hard on your training. I’m going back to the gravity field.”
“Y-yeah. I’ll do some weights.”
* * *
Dawn on Tuesday, August 12.
In the empty park, the sharp sound of a sword rang out clearly.
“Hey. I’ve gotten a lot better, haven’t I?”
Chae Nayun, who had been swinging her sword until just now, asked with a bright expression. Kim Suho smiled and nodded.
“Yeah. You don’t close your eyes anymore.”
It had only been seven days since Kim Suho had appointed himself Chae Nayun’s teacher.
Chae Nayun was definitely growing at a rapid pace. Above all, the fact that she no longer feared attacks as much was a major achievement.
“I think games really do help.”
“Games?”
Kim Suho tilted his head and asked back.
“Yeah. I met someone way better than you in a game. A super expert who only does close combat.”
“Ah~ Gladiator of the Century? But that doesn’t involve moving your body, does it?”
Gladiator of the Century was played through brainwaves and iris responses. Of course, it could also be played with a keyboard and mouse, but then one’s reaction speed became noticeably slower.
“That’s true. But unless you’re a pretty strong person, you can’t reach that level of skill. He’s my mentor right now, you know?”
“Oh. He must be really amazing.”
A mentor to Chae Nayun. That meant the prideful Chae Nayun had admitted she was inferior.
“Yeah. His personality and skills are both insane. He said he’s deliberately keeping his win-loss record even so he doesn’t get hung up on winning or losing. Isn’t that really cool?”
Usually, in ranked matches, people played to win, and that was incredibly boring. They would spend a long time probing each other, and from the middle onward, they would focus only on landing effective hits to score points.
But Extra7 wasn’t like that. Always charging. Always rushing in. Every single step he took was extremely threatening, which was a huge help to Chae Nayun, who feared close combat.
“Really? If he’s that good, isn’t he an active Hero?”
“No. I asked him, and... huh?”
It was then.
A man appeared in the distance, dragging his slippers along.
It was Kim Hajin.
“Hey, Kim Hajin’s coming over there.”
Chae Nayun knew too. Today, Kim Suho had something to discuss with Kim Hajin, so he had only agreed to teach her until Kim Hajin arrived.
“Hm? Oh, you’re right. Then I’ll head out first?”
Kim Suho stood up.
“Yeah. Go.”
“You shouldn’t overdo it either. Go back in after a bit.”
Chae Nayun slowly watched Kim Suho as he walked away.
For some reason, those two seem to have gotten close lately. But what made them get close?
Oh, right. He said he mentioned me as a joke that time. Don’t tell me it’s because of me...
Kim Suho and Kim Hajin walked away while talking to each other. Chae Nayun pricked up her ears while pretending not to.
—How’s your condition?
That was Kim Hajin’s voice.
—I think I’m fine.
That was Kim Suho.
—Don’t push yourself too hard until Friday.
—Of course.
—Oh, and how’s Chae Nayun?
At that moment, Chae Nayun’s heart sank.
This was the most important moment, but they had gotten too far away, and she could no longer hear their voices.
“...What the hell.”
Chae Nayun stared at the two of them with a meaningful look.
tzoa
End
I came to a gukbap restaurant with Kim Suho. There were various restaurants on Cube’s grounds, but the only 24-hour gukbap place here was [Grandmother’s Homemade Taste].
“......”
Watching Kim Suho heartily shovel down his gukbap, I thought to myself.
Kim Suho’s current combat strength was at least above that of a mid-rank Hero. And in this world, there were still quite a few Hidden Pieces I had set up but had yet to be discovered.
Among them were things that would fall into the hands of “significant villains.” For example, things like “Lucifer’s Feather” and “the First Serpent’s Fang,” which I couldn’t even dream of obtaining on my own because I lacked the ability, but with Kim Suho, I could seize them first