《Daddy is too Strong》


 Chapter 1

    Chapter 1


    Sizzle.


    Eggs were frying in the pan.


    A girl was busy preparing breakfast. She wore an apron over her school uniform, and her black hair, which was neither too long nor too short, swayed gently as she worked. Despite not being fully mature, she had a face prettier than most celebrities.


    Once done, she took off her apron and stood in front of a door in the living room.


    ¡°Hooo.¡± She took a short, deep breath before knocking twice on the door.


    But there was no response.


    The girl opened the door softly and stared at the man in his mid-twenties, who seemed to be sleeping soundly.


    ¡°It¡¯s time to wake up, Father,¡± she called softly.


    She moved closer, brought her lips close to his ear, and whispered, ¡°You might be late.¡±


    Thump!


    The man quickly sat up and nodded with an awkward smile.


    ¡°R-right,¡± he replied.


    The girl smiled sweetly, closed the door, and returned to the living room. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Left alone, Lee Do-Jun let out a long sigh and thought of the Dad Contract.


    It all happened two months ago.


    ***


    Year 2020.


    Ten years had passed since the appearance of the first Fissure on the once-peaceful Earth.


    Monsters appeared, and Hunters who could exterminate these monsters emerged in response.


    Every person in the world obtained a Status Window through which they could objectively see their physical abilities.


    ¡°Status Window,¡± Do-Jun called out.


    Name: Lee Do-Jun


    Level: 999


    Title: Heavenly Demon


    Strength: 999


    Agility: 999


    Stamina: 999


    Internal Energy: 999


    Skills: Pocket Watch (SSS), Heavenly Demon Cultivation Art (SS), Indestructible (S), Poison Immunity (S), Formless Sword (S), Sword Summon (S), Qi Circulation (D), Qi Barrier (B), Telepathy (D), Samadhi Fire (B), Pressure Point (C), One with the Blade (A)


    After completing his military service and three years of studies, Lee Do-Jun passed the civil service exam to earn a spot as a technical civil servant in the Fissure Management Division. At twenty-five, he joined as the youngest member of the Seoul City Hall Fissure Management Unit.


    A year later, he was finally assigned a personal Hunter, though it was for an F-rank Fissure.


    However, just the day before his first Fissure exploration, he was hit by a truck.


    It happened suddenly. Do-Jun was heading toward the F-rank Fissure in Gangdong-gu. While on the crosswalk, he was hit by a semi-truck and lost consciousness. And just like that, Do-Jun crossed over to the so-called Martial World, where he acquired a unique skill: Pocket Watch.


    He died countless times in the Martial World, and by using Pocket Watch¡ªwhich returned him to the day before he died¡ªhe came back to life again and again.


    He finally became the strongest being in the Central Plains, known as Heavenly Demon.


    And then, he returned to Earth.


    Ding.


    As the hospital¡¯s automatic door opened, Do-Jun inhaled a breath of fresh, outside air before taking out his smartphone.


    January 18, 2020.


    ¡°I-if you feel any discomfort, please come back,¡± said a doctor in a white coat and glasses from beyond the automatic door.


    Do-Jun simply nodded and stepped outside.


    While studying the charts in her hands, the nurse standing beside the doctor murmured incredulously, ¡°How can a person who was in such a state yesterday be perfectly fine today...?¡±


    When Do-Jun was brought to the emergency room, his condition was dire.


    A major surgery lasting seventeen hours barely managed to keep him alive, and the chance of him regaining consciousness was less than ten percent.


    But despite all that, after just a single day, all his internal and external injuries healed as if they had never been there.


    Equally clueless, the doctor replied, ¡°How should I know?¡±


    ***


    Do-Jun sent a message to Kang Cheol-Soo, the section chief of the Fissure Exploration Unit he belonged to.


    Do-Jun: Chief, I have been discharged.


    It had only been a day since he returned from the Central Plains to Korea.


    His memories of living in Korea had turned hazy, and adapting back to work would require significant effort. On top of that, he could still live a comfortable life even if he stopped working as a civil servant. Yet despite all of that, Do-Jun decided to continue living as one.


    This time, I want to live an ordinary life, Do-Jun vowed.


    In the Central Plains, his hands were stained with blood.


    He experienced terrible betrayals and reached a point where he could hardly trust anyone.


    He even considered retreating to a mountain to live in seclusion, but after living through an extremely long period, he concluded that nothing was better than an ordinary life.


    Ring, ring.


    His smartphone rang, and the screen displayed: Section Head Kang Cheol-Soo.


    Beep.


    Do-Jun answered immediately.


    ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡ªKiddo! Are you awake? A-are you alright? And what¡¯s this about being discharged?


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m awake. I¡¯m perfectly fine now, so the doctor said I could be discharged.¡±


    Do-Jun¡¯s words were met with a moment of silence before a loud voice came booming through the receiver.


    ¡ªWho the hell are you, you bastard?! This is some sick joke, isn¡¯t it?


    In response to the yelling, Do-Jun frowned and pulled the phone away from his ear for a moment, then sighed and brought it back to his ear.


    Cheol-Soo¡¯s reaction was entirely normal.


    After all, it would be strange if someone who seemed like they could die at any moment said they were perfectly fine the following morning.


    ¡°Section Chief, it really is me. I¡¯m coming to the office now.¡±


    ¡ªNo, I-I¡¯ll come pick you up!


    ¡°There is no need for that. I¡¯ll be there within twenty minutes if I get a taxi, so don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Do-Jun replied firmly.


    ¡ªWait a second, you sonova¡ª


    Beep.


    Do-Jun hung up and walked to the main road to wait for a taxi. Cheol-Soo kept calling, but he chose not to answer.


    Finally, he got a text.


    Cheol-Soo: Stay there. I¡¯ll come and get you.


    Do-Jun: I¡¯m already on my way, Chief.


    Cheol-Soo: Hah. You seem different. Anyway, fine, get your butt over here ASAP!


    Do-Jun: Yes, understood.


    Do-Jun put his smartphone in his pocket and muttered, ¡°I¡¯ve changed, huh...¡±


    For him, it had been such a long time that he couldn¡¯t even remember how he used to be.


    Was he outgoing or quiet? What were people¡¯s impressions of him?


    Do-Jun quickly flagged down an approaching taxi.


    ¡°Seoul City Hall, please.¡±


    The taxi driver nodded and started driving. Shortly after, an alert sounded inside the taxi.


    ¡°Sir, you need to fasten your seatbelt,¡± the driver told Do-Jun.


    ¡°Seatbelt? Oh.¡±


    Do-Jun pulled the seatbelt from the passenger side and fastened it.


    Then he took out his smartphone again and scrolled through his contacts.


    Family (1)


    Friends (0)


    Work (11)


    Others (2)


    ¡°I guess I didn¡¯t have any friends...¡± Do-Jun muttered as he clicked on the tab labeled ¡°Family,¡± displaying a contact labeled ¡°Brother.¡±


    ¡°Ah, but I did have a brother?¡± Do-Jun muttered with narrowed eyes.


    Try as he might, he couldn¡¯t remember his brother¡¯s name, but he was sure of one thing.


    I don¡¯t think he was a good person, Do-Jun thought.


    He felt no attachment whatsoever for his brother. Instead, he could actually feel a slight anger welling up from within.


    Do-Jun took a deep breath and called his brother.


    ¡ªThe number you have dialed is not in service....


    He tried calling again, only to be met with the same automated message.


    It seemed his brother had changed his number.


    This time, he clicked on the ¡°Others¡± tab, and two phone numbers appeared.


    [Bae Yoo-Jin]


    [Seol Yoon-Hee]


    ¡°I have no idea who these people are,¡± Do-Jun said with a sigh.


    He had no recollection of who Bae Yoo-Jin or Seol Yoon-Hee could be. However, seeing that he vaguely remembered some of the office people in the ¡°Work¡± tab, it seemed that these two didn¡¯t have much importance in his life.


    ¡°We¡¯re here, sir,¡± the taxi driver said suddenly.


    Before he knew it, the taxi had arrived in front of Seoul City Hall.


    Do-Jun fetched his wallet from his pocket and handed over a card, which the taxi driver skillfully took, inserted it into the terminal, and processed the payment.


    ¡°Have a good day, sir,¡± the taxi driver said as he returned the card with a smile.


    ***


    As Do-Jun entered the Fissure Management Division, which was located on the seventh floor, the staff naturally noticed him, and a few people ran toward him.


    ¡°Hey! A-are you okay?¡± a man in his mid to late forties asked, his eyes wide with surprise.


    Do-Jun could tell that this man was Kang Cheol-Soo.


    ¡°Yes, as you can see, I am perfectly fine,¡± Do-Jun assured.


    ¡°You really are. You look completely fine,¡± Cheol-Soo said, sounding surprised.


    It was unbelievable. He had visited the hospital where Do-Jun was admitted just yesterday. He had been told that Do-Jun¡¯s condition was too dire for visitors, and he had to head back without seeing him, so how could he become perfectly fine overnight?


    ¡°Are you really okay? They actually said you could be discharged?¡± asked a woman who appeared to be a fellow staff. Her gaze scanned him up and down with apparent concern.


    Do-Jun nodded and replied, ¡°As you can see, I am fine.¡±


    ¡°Thank goodness. Do you know how worried I was when I heard about the accident? Wait, that¡¯s one thing, but what happened to your stutter, Do-Jun?¡± a male employee asked, tilting his head in puzzlement.


    ¡°I had a stutter?¡± Do-Jun asked.


    ¡°Yes, you did, right, Chief?¡± the male employee replied.


    ¡°You¡¯re right. That¡¯s why I thought it wasn¡¯t him when I answered the phone earlier,¡± Cheol-Soo explained.


    Then, the male employee grabbed Do-Jun¡¯s arm, only to discover it wasn¡¯t squishy. Even though he was wearing a long-sleeved dress shirt, the firmness of his well-defined muscles was easily palpable.


    ¡°Your body... your body is different. What happened?¡±


    ¡°Was I not always like this?¡± Do-Jun asked curiously.


    At Do-Jun¡¯s question, Cheol-Soo nodded and said, ¡°Man, you used to be pretty skinny. You were introverted, too. Actually, you even seem a bit taller....¡±


    Cheol-Soo recalled Do-Jun, who was similar in height to him 171 centimeters, and a look of confusion appeared on his face. Now, he had to look up slightly when looking at Do-Jun. The latter appeared to be at least 180 centimeters.


    ¡°Is that so? Thank you for the information,¡± Do-Jun replied nonchalantly.


    ¡°Can a person really change this much overnight? Are you really Do-Jun? You¡¯re not someone else, right?¡± Cheol-Soo asked skeptically.


    ¡°You might feel that I¡¯ve changed a bit, but I really am Do-Jun,¡± Do-Jun assured them once more.


    Expressions of disbelief surfaced on everyone''s faces, but Do-Jun paid no attention and just looked around.


    He asked, ¡°Where is my desk? It seems I lost some of my memories as a result of the accident.¡±


    ¡°You lost your memory? Hah, that¡¯s really suspicious. Are you really Lee Do-Jun?¡±


    ¡°Your face, too... It¡¯s got a similar vibe, but you¡¯ve actually gotten a bit more handsome.¡±


    Cheol-Soo nudged the staff member next to him and said, ¡°Hyun Soo, could you grab the fingerprint scanner?¡±


    The man named Hyun Soo went to the office storage and returned with the fingerprint scanner that used to be attached to a storage room marked ¡°Authorized Personnel Only.¡± That fingerprint scanner had been replaced with a newer model two months ago and was stored away.


    ¡°Put your right thumb on it. If this checks out, we¡¯ll believe you,¡± Cheol-Soo said.


    Without hesitation, Do-Jun placed his right thumb on the scanner.


    [Lee Do-Jun, Fissure Management Division, confirmed.]


    Cheol-Soo was in disbelief.


    ¡°T-try again!¡± he commanded.


    [Lee Do-Jun, Fissure Management Division, confirmed.]


    ¡°Again!¡±


    But no matter how many times they made Do-Jun scan his fingerprint, the result was the same.


    ¡°But how can a person change so much overnight?¡±


    ¡°He says he has amnesia. Maybe that cured his stuttering, somehow.¡±


    ¡°Fine, let¡¯s say that explains the stutter. But how can a person grow taller all of a sudden?¡±


    Amid all the disbelief and shock, Do-Jun sighed and said, ¡°Now, can you please tell me where my desk is?¡±


    ¡°No, no. You should go home and get ple~nty of rest today. You¡¯re still on sick leave, so you can start working again tomorrow!¡± Cheol-Soo refused.


    ¡°But...¡± Do-Jun trailed off hesitantly.


    Cheol-Soo shoved him on the back, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll take you home. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. I can go alone.¡±


    Do-Jun reluctantly left the Fissure Management Division. He then retrieved his ID card from his wallet to check his home address.


    ***


    ¡°What was the password...?¡±


    Do-Jun stood in front of the door of unit 301 in Changshin Villa. He searched himself in hopes of finding a key somewhere but found nothing.


    Just in case someone was inside, he knocked on the door.


    ¡ªWho is it?


    A voice came through the intercom.


    Do-Jun swallowed his saliva before carefully speaking, ¡°And who are you?¡±

 Chapter 2

    Chapter 2


    As a heavy atmosphere weighed upon the room, Do-Jun took a sip of the green tea before placing his cup down as he gazed steadily at the girl sitting across the table.


    The girl, Seol Yoon-Hee, met his eyes and quickly lowered her head to avoid his gaze.


    Do-Jun broke the awkward silence by asking, ¡°So, you are telling me that you are the daughter of my brother¡¯s... girlfriend?¡±


    ¡°T-that¡¯s right.¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯re saying that my brother and his girlfriend passed away in an accident, and I agreed to care for you since you have nowhere to go? That¡¯s why I gave you the passcode to my door, and you are here today?¡±


    Yoon-Hee nodded vigorously in affirmation.


    Do-Jun took out his phone and looked through his contacts again. So, the two names under the ¡°Others¡± tab referred to his brother¡¯s girlfriend and her daughter.


    ¡°Have we met before?¡± he asked.


    ¡°N-no. It¡¯s the first time today,¡± Yoon-Hee answered anxiously before looking down again.


    Holding his throbbing temple, Do-Jun fell into thought.


    With all things considered, he wasn¡¯t in a position to care for someone. Money wasn¡¯t the only issue. He had returned to Earth just a day before, and it was already challenging to adapt to the life he once knew all over again.


    ¡°Do you have any other family?¡± Do-Jun inquired after a short silence.


    ¡°My mother was an orphan. So, no, there¡¯s no one else I can rely on...¡± Yoon-Hee replied, looking up at Do-Jun anxiously while fidgeting with her fingers.


    That¡¯s when Do-Jun noticed a plate wrapped in plastic wrap on the table. It was omurice.[1]


    ¡°And this is?¡± he asked Yoon-Hee, glancing at the plate.


    ¡°It¡¯s omurice. Uh, I made it for you... to eat when you get home... from work,¡± she replied haltingly.


    Do-Jun replied bluntly, ¡°To tell you the truth, I cannot take you in.¡±


    ¡°B-but you clearly said...¡± Yoon-Hee protested as she pulled out her smartphone. Opening something on the screen, she showed it to Do-Jun.


    It was a text message sent by Do-Jun himself.


    The gist of the message was that she could live at his house until she graduated from high school. It was dated three days ago, two days before his car accident.


    Do-Jun realized that Yoon-Hee didn¡¯t know he had been in a car accident.


    ¡°It seems I did send you this message,¡± he accepted reluctantly.


    Yoon-Hee frowned as she couldn¡¯t understand why Do-Jun was reacting this way. If she had shown up unannounced, it would be understandable, but he was the one who had offered to help.


    Do-Jun explained, ¡°I was hospitalized until yesterday due to a car accident and just got discharged today. What I¡¯m trying to tell you is... that I have amnesia.¡±


    ¡°A car accident? Are you okay?¡± Yoon-Hee asked, shocked.


    Do-Jun nodded and replied, ¡°I have fully recovered.¡±


    Yoon-Hee sighed with relief, clutching her chest.


    ¡°My biggest problem is the amnesia. I am afraid it is going to cause me significant issues. I need time to readjust to my own life, so I am in no position to take care of someone else right now.¡±


    Those words were like a bolt from the blue for Yoon-Hee.


    She had nowhere to live since she hadn¡¯t been accepted into the dormitory of National Hunter Academy, which she was set to enter in March, due to poor grades.


    ¡°A... a contract. Let¡¯s make a contract,¡± she said suddenly, sounding desperate.


    ¡°A contract?¡±


    ¡°Please become my father! Just until I graduate,¡± Yoon-Hee blurted out.


    ¡°What?¡±


    That was something he hadn¡¯t expected to hear.


    ¡°You said you have amnesia. It will be hard for you to live alone. Cleaning, laundry, cooking¡ªI¡¯ll do the household chores. All I ask in return is that you let me live here just until I graduate... No, even just for half a year! Until I can get into the dormitory.¡±


    Do-Jun looked at the omurice on the table, then at Yoon-Hee, who was staring at him anxiously, biting her lips.


    It wasn¡¯t a bad deal. No, it was rather good.


    He had been in the Central Plains for a long time, making his daily life in the modern world a clumsy affair. Of course, he could use his power to reign over Earth and make everyone serve him out of fear, but right now, all he wanted was to live an ordinary life.


    Moreover, he could ask her if there was anything he didn¡¯t know about his new life.


    After weighing all the pros and cons, Do-Jun agreed. ¡°Alright. If those are the conditions, I think this will be helpful for me as well. Let¡¯s draw up a contract.¡±


    ¡°Sorry? An actual contract?¡± Yoon-Hee asked, surprised.


    Do-Jun nodded and took out paper and a pen from his briefcase, starting to write the contract terms slowly.


    For a moment, he was worried that writing in Korean would be awkward, as he had been using Chinese characters all this time, but fortunately, it seemed he hadn¡¯t forgotten it and could write with no problems.


    Once he finished drafting the terms, he placed the pen on the table and handed the draft over to Yoon-Hee.


    She wondered if they really needed to write a formal contract for something like this, but she wasn¡¯t in a position to argue.


    1. This contract is between Lee Do-Jun, hereinafter referred to as Party A, and Seol Yoon-Hee, hereinafter referred to as Party B.


    2. Party A will provide a living environment for Party B until December 31, 2020.


    3. Party B will notify Party A of all utility bills, living expenses, and allowances with receipts or other statements, and Party A will pay Party B the stated amounts unless there are special circumstances.


    4. Party B must diligently perform household chores during the contract period.


    [...]


    ¡°Please read it through, and if there is anything you don¡¯t understand or need to be amended, let me know.¡±


    ¡°A-ah, yes!¡±


    She calmly and carefully read the contract, though she felt a bit sad as she did so. She glanced at Do-Jun¡¯s expression over the paper.


    Do-Jun tilted his head and asked, ¡°Is there anything you want to amend?¡±


    ¡°N-no, there isn¡¯t!¡± she said, shaking her head.


    ¡°Then let¡¯s go ahead and sign it.¡±


    Yoon-Hee wondered if such a formal contract was necessary.


    Though they weren¡¯t blood-related, she was still the daughter of his brother¡¯s girlfriend and could be considered an acquaintance¡ªone who had lost her family and needed care.


    She felt a bit, just a bit, dissatisfied with how coldly Do-Jun was treating her, but she had heard that in such times, even parents and children often became estranged. When she looked at it like that, she felt it was only natural for Do-Jun to treat her so formally, though it was still a sad thought.


    Do-Jun signed the contract, followed by Yoon-Hee.


    She was a bit concerned about the one-year contract period in the first clause. Of course, if she worked hard and got into the dormitory, the problem would fix itself, but she thought it would be beneficial for both of them to live together. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yoon-Hee shook her head and clenched her fist as she made up her mind. She was going to work hard and become independent.


    ¡°Then, I look forward to living with you for the next year,¡± Do-Jun said, putting the contract away.


    ¡°Y-yes! I will work hard. Ah, should I start... calling you Father... now?¡± Yoon-Hee asked slowly.


    ¡°You can call me whatever you prefer,¡± Do-Jun answered calmly.


    ¡°Please call me Yoon-Hee. And please don¡¯t be so formal with me.¡±


    ¡°Got it, Yoon-Hee.¡±


    ¡°Huh? You¡¯re quick to adapt,¡± she commented.


    Do-Jun chuckled and stood up from his seat.


    He walked over to the laundry basket, took off his suit jacket, and unbuttoned his dress shirt to change into more comfortable clothes now that he was home.


    Yoon-Hee¡¯s eyes were unknowingly drawn to Do-Jun¡¯s body.


    From the first moment they met, she thought that Do-Jun had the physique of a model¡ªa well-balanced, sturdy body.


    It was almost hard to believe that this man, at least 180 centimeters tall and with distinct features, was the brother of Lee Kang-Jun, her mother¡¯s boyfriend.


    That¡¯s that, but he hasn¡¯t mentioned anything about me cleaning up the house, Yoon-Hee thought with a frown.


    When she first entered the house, it was as dirty as a pigsty. The floor was littered with clothes thrown everywhere and piles of dried-up food containers as if he had ordered food delivery every day.


    There were leftovers like chicken and braised pork trotters rotting in the fridge, which took a lot of effort to throw away, and the house stank so bad she had to ventilate it, vacuum, and mop.


    Of course, Do-Jun was not praising her because he had no memories of this filthy state.


    The fridge is empty, so I need to do some grocery shopping, Yoon-Hee thought.


    ¡°Father,¡± she called.


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing in the fridge, so I need to do some grocery shopping...¡± Yoon-Hee trailed off.


    With a flourish, Do-Jun pulled out a card from his wallet and handed it to Yoon-Hee.


    She held the card in her hand and stared blankly at Do-Jun.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked.


    ¡°W-well, you said you have amnesia, right? Maybe if you go grocery shopping at the local store, it might trigger some memories?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, that makes sense. Let¡¯s go together then.¡±


    He didn¡¯t find modern life difficult to adapt to because of amnesia. It was actually because of the long time spent in the Central Plains, but Do-Jun couldn¡¯t give people that explanation.


    ***


    ¡°Father, I realized that you don¡¯t eat a lot of vegetables, so I plan to make a lot of vegetable dishes for you for a while. Is that okay?¡± Yoon-Hee said as she picked up a bunch of water parsley and put it in the cart.


    Do-Jun chuckled and patted Yoon-Hee¡¯s head. For a moment, her face turned red.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Do-Jun said with a smile.


    He didn¡¯t avoid vegetables, but seeing her take care of such trivial matters was a plus for him, and it almost made him feel proud of her.


    Suddenly, a scream rang out of nowhere.


    ¡°Aaaaack!¡±


    ¡°R-run!!¡±


    Crackle!


    An electric current sparked in the air about ten meters away, and a moment later, it seemed like space itself was tearing apart. A crack appeared, spanning just over a meter.


    People shopping nearby screamed and scattered hurriedly.


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Do-Jun asked.


    Yoon-Hee explained, ¡°It¡¯s a Fissure. Fortunately, it¡¯s not an entrance, and the length is just over a meter... It¡¯s probably a goblin. Father, it¡¯s dangerous, so please stay back.¡±


    A moment later, she took a revolver-like gun out of her bag. It wasn¡¯t a gun that used regular bullets but one of the basic weapons of Hunters, a mana gun.


    It was a simple weapon that required the infusion of mana, which would then be condensed and shot out like a bullet.


    Yoon-Hee was confident in handling the mana gun. Although she didn¡¯t have much mana, she was confident that her control of it was second to none.


    ¡°Kerrrk!¡±


    Just as Yoon-Hee had predicted, a goblin jumped out of the Fissure.


    A store employee was gesturing for people to evacuate, and someone else was hurriedly calling the police.


    Do-Jun observed Yoon-Hee silently. He didn¡¯t bother to take a step forward, as he intended to live without standing out.


    She is a Hunter? he thought in surprise.


    He could feel something similar to qi from the gun Yoon-Hee was holding. Although the gun was barely noticeable by Do-Jun¡¯s standards, he judged it sufficient to handle the goblin before them.


    Bang!


    The mana bullet spun forward and pierced through the goblin''s head, killing it instantly without giving it even a chance to scream in pain.


    ¡°I-it¡¯s dead!¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a Hunter here!¡±


    Relieved cries were heard around them.


    Yoon-Hee put the gun back in her bag and then looked at Do-Jun with a frown. He hadn¡¯t moved back and was still standing beside her.


    ¡°I told you to stay back because it could be dangerous. What if you got hurt, Father!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll be more careful from now on.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Yoon-Hee grumbled with a pout.


    1. The popular Japanese dish made from fried rice covered with a thin, soft-cooked egg omelet and often topped with ketchup. The name is a combination of the Japanese words for ¡°omelet¡± and ¡°rice.¡± Feel free to Google if you want more info on this. ?

 Chapter 3

    Chapter 3


    Three police officers dressed in combat suits and holding anti-monster batons burst into the store.


    However, they quickly realized the situation was already resolved and took pictures of the goblin¡¯s corpse sporting a hole in its head.


    Then, one of the police officers walked up to Do-Jun.


    ¡°Excuse me, did you kill this goblin?¡± he asked.


    Given that the two people standing in front of the goblin¡¯s corpse were a sturdy man in his mid-to-late twenties and a delicate-looking teenage girl, the police officer had approached Do-Jun, assuming he was the one who had killed the monster.


    Do-Jun shook his head and then placed his hands on Yoon-Hee¡¯s shoulders, pushing her forward.


    ¡°No, it was my daughter,¡± he said.


    The police officer nodded slightly as if it wasn¡¯t anything shocking that a teenage girl had taken down a goblin.


    In fact, anyone, regardless of age or gender, could become a Hunter if they Awakened their abilities or enhanced their physical capabilities using mana stones.


    ¡°Do you have any identification?¡± the police officer asked Yoon-Hee, taking out a pen and notebook.


    She took out her wallet and showed her middle school student ID since she hadn¡¯t yet entered high school.


    ¡°Please provide your phone number, home address, and bank account number so we can send your reward.¡±


    ¡°A reward?¡± Do-Jun asked, surprised.


    The police officer nodded and answered, ¡°The police department issues a reward for protecting our citizens. This is in addition to the value of the goblin¡¯s mana stone and corpse. As you are her parent, you can provide your account number instead.¡±


    But it was Yoon-Hee who had taken down the goblin, and Do-Jun wasn¡¯t even her legal guardian. In fact, he hadn¡¯t even registered her as a house resident.


    ¡°Yoon-Hee, give them your account number,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°H-huh? Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you take down that monster?¡±


    After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Yoon-Hee gave her bank details.


    ¡°Thank you for your cooperation,¡± the police officer said with a short salute after jotting down the details Yoon-Hee provided.


    ***


    When they returned home after shopping at the store, Yoon-Hee saw a message indicating that 150,000 won had been deposited in her bank account: 50,000 for the goblin¡¯s mana stone and corpse, and 100,000 as a reward from the police.


    Do-Jun quietly approached Yoon-Hee and glanced at the message, commenting, ¡°That¡¯s quite a bit of money.¡±


    Maybe because he had approached without a sound, her cheeks were slightly flushed in embarrassment.


    ¡°But if you get this much for catching just one of these things, is there really a need to live with me?¡± Do-Jun asked.


    Even without the reward from the police, fifty thousand won for one goblin meant that hunting ten would earn her five hundred thousand. Considering that Yoon-Hee could take down a goblin in a single blow, it didn¡¯t seem like a difficult task for her.


    However, Yoon-Hee shook her head.


    ¡°That situation was exceptional. It¡¯s rare for a Fissure to appear in the air, just enough for one monster to come out, and it¡¯s even less likely for all of them to be as easy to take down as the goblin we saw today. Besides, you can only enter a Dungeon if you have a Hunter license or work in a related field. I¡¯m still just a regular citizen, so it¡¯s impossible for me.¡±


    Do-Jun remembered the gun Yoon-Hee had used earlier, which didn¡¯t shoot bullets but condensed her internal energy[1] into it and released it.


    He used his senses to gauge the amount of internal energy in her dantian. It was an insignificant amount, but still impressive, nonetheless.


    ¡°Do you have any cultivation art you¡¯re learning?¡± Do-Jun asked.


    ¡°Cultivation art? What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°To absorb energy from nature into your dantian... N-no, never mind.¡±


    Now that he thought about it, it did seem strange. Yoon-Hee hadn¡¯t opened her Conception Vessel and Governing Vessel.


    No matter how high the level of the cultivation art, or even if she consumed spiritual medicine, she needed an entrance and exit¡ªnamely, the meridians known as the Conception and Governing Vessels¡ªto store energy in her dantian.


    Yoon-Hee broke the awkward silence. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, that must¡¯ve scared you. I¡¯m going to enter the National Hunter Academy in March. Frankly, I haven¡¯t Awakened yet, but I can handle mana to some extent... and I even have a mana gun license. Though it¡¯s only a temporary license, I can carry a mana gun.¡±


    She smiled bashfully while placing the side dishes on the dining table.


    Yoon-Hee thought Do-Jun would be surprised to hear this. While she wasn¡¯t a full-fledged Hunter yet, entering the National Hunter Academy was an outstanding achievement.


    Being a student at the National Hunter Academy meant there was a ninety-nine percent chance of becoming a Hunter upon graduation.


    Looking at her expectant gaze, Do-Jun replied stiffly, ¡°That''s impressive. Not everyone can become a Hunter, right?¡±


    He sounded as if he was reading off a script.


    Yoon-Hee puffed out her cheeks and carried the groceries to the kitchen, dissatisfied with Do-Jun¡¯s unexpectedly dry reaction.


    She suddenly said, ¡°You should treat me well. I¡¯ll be a veeeery famous person someday.¡±


    Do-Jun just chuckled lightly, finding her reaction a bit adorable.


    ***


    7:00 AM the following day.


    Do-Jun woke up lightly without an alarm, as he could wake up at will.


    As he got out of bed and went out to the living room, he saw Yoon-Hee busy in the kitchen.


    ¡°Ah, you¡¯re up, Father!¡±


    She turned around after hearing the door to Do-Jun¡¯s room opening, but she was startled and quickly turned away when she saw him wearing nothing but his underwear.


    ¡°P-please put some clothes on!¡± she stammered awkwardly.


    ¡°Yes, once I wash up,¡± Do-Jun replied as if he saw nothing wrong with the situation.


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant... Sigh.¡±


    A short while later, Do-Jun came out of the restroom and saw the carefully prepared food on the dining table: water parsley salad, spinach, braised black beans, cabbage salad... It was vegetables, vegetables, and more vegetables.


    On the first day that Yoon-Hee came to Do-Jun¡¯s apartment, she saw the disposable containers of delivered food piled up everywhere and decided that Do-Jun hardly ate any vegetables. So today, she prepared nothing but vegetable side dishes[2].


    ¡°I¡¯ll grill some meat for you when you get back from work, so please eat everything, okay?¡±


    Even though Do-Jun had eaten well without complaints the night before, she still felt uneasy serving only vegetable side dishes for breakfast.


    ¡°Thanks for the meal.¡±


    Do-Jun sat down and started eating without a word of complaint.


    Since he didn¡¯t have to leave for work until 9:00 AM, there was still plenty of time.


    Sitting across from Do-Jun, Yoon-Hee watched him eat and then said, ¡°So, Father, what kind of work do you do?¡±


    ¡°I work at Seoul City Hall.¡±


    ¡°Wow. So, you¡¯re a civil servant?¡±


    Do-Jun nodded as he drank his potato soup, and when he put down the bowl, he saw Yoon-Hee¡¯s face full of smiles.


    ¡°Why are you smiling like that?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Yoon-Hee said, smiling even more broadly.


    She was relieved that Do-Jun wasn¡¯t doing anything dangerous, and to make things even better, Seoul City Hall was a place that was relatively safe from monsters. Even though they weren¡¯t related, and he wasn¡¯t her actual father, she didn¡¯t want to lose another family member.


    ¡°Eat up, Dad,¡± she said happily.


    ***


    Seoul City Hall was a peaceful place at 8:30 in the morning, but some divisions were an exception.


    Click, click, tap, tap.


    In the Fissure Management Division, located on the seventh floor of Seoul City Hall, most of the staff had already arrived and were working.


    Given the nature of the division, where emergencies could arise at any time, it wasn¡¯t uncommon for employees to work overnight.


    ¡°Good morning.¡±


    Do-Jun entered the office labeled ¡°Fissure Exploration Unit¡± with a bow. Seeing him, Cheol-Soo quickly stood up and hurried over to Do-Jun.


    ¡°So, are you okay? How are you feeling? Are you sure you can work?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Chief. Thank you for your concern. As you can see, I¡¯m really fine,¡± Do-Jun assured him.


    ¡°Let me know if it gets tough at any time. If anyone gives you trouble, tell me right away. You know I have your back, right?¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Chief.¡±


    He couldn¡¯t understand why Cheol-Soo was overreacting and being overly cautious, as if he were dealing with a child.


    But there wasn¡¯t a single person in the Fissure Exploration Unit who dared to object to Cheol-Soo¡ªuntil a few days ago.


    Do-Jun had been an introverted employee who struggled to adapt to work and even spoke with a stutter. Though he had changed overnight, he was still widely considered as someone who should be cared for.


    ¡°This is your seat, do you remember?¡±


    Do-Jun chose not to answer because he did not, in fact, remember.


    Even after sitting at the desk he had worked at before being transported to Martial World, it felt completely unfamiliar, as if it was his first time seeing it.


    ¡°Feel free to ask me anything you don¡¯t know,¡± said a man sitting next to Do-Jun.


    His name was Kwon Hyuk-Soo, and he appeared to be in his thirties. He had been a civil servant for five years and had worked in the Fissure Exploration Unit for the past three.


    Due to Do-Jun¡¯s many mistakes and inefficiency, Hyuk-Soo had to handle about 1.5 times the workload, becoming a semi-forced workaholic.


    Despite all that, he never complained.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Do-Jun said sincerely.


    He took this as a fresh start and started reviewing the basic work manual on every aspect of his work, from the Seoul Administrative Portal to the Onnara system used by civil servants nationwide [3]. He also learned how to submit basic proposals, manage business trips, and handle overtime tabs.


    There was a lot to learn.


    At 9:10 AM, Cheol-Soo looked at his wristwatch and muttered, ¡°She should be here by now.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s a precious Hunter; we should cut her some slack,¡± Hyuk-Soo said.


    ¡°Are we calling F-rankers precious now?¡± Cheol-Soo said, laughing.


    ¡°She¡¯s still a Hunter,¡± Hyuk-Soo responded with a chuckle.


    As if speaking of the devil, a young girl burst through the door, panting heavily as if she had run all the way to Seoul City Hall. She appeared to be in her early twenties.


    ¡°S-sorry for being late!¡± she said, gasping for air.


    Cheol-Soo stood up and approached her to shake hands, saying, ¡°Oh, I should have come outside to greet you.¡±


    ¡°N-no, Chief. Again, I¡¯m sorry for being late.¡±


    The employees of the Fissure Exploration Unit stood up from their seats in greeting, but the girl, feeling burdened, waved her hand.


    ¡°Please, you don¡¯t have to get up for me...¡±...


    She was well aware that she was a mere F-rank Hunter.


    Even though the civil servants treated her well on the surface, they were likely dismissive internally.


    ¡°Do-Jun, let me introduce you. This is the new Hunter we¡¯ve contracted. Ah, you might not remember, but our unit''s main job is to explore Fissures by teaming up with Hunters. This is Hunter Cha Ye-Ji, and you... were assigned to her before your accident,¡± Hyuk-Soo explained.


    Before Do-Jun¡¯s unfortunate accident and the subsequent transfer to the Central Plains, he and Ye-Ji were supposed to explore the F-rank fissure in Gangdong-gu.


    Hyuk-Soo suddenly added, ¡°Since Do-Jun isn¡¯t ready to go out on the field, I¡¯ll be taking over.¡±


    At those words, Do-Jun rubbed his chin thoughtfully and realized that he had been labeled a ¡°troublemaker.¡±


    Having his supervisor do his job for him wasn¡¯t a good start to his plan to live an ordinary life. After all, he had heard that the best thing for a civil servant was to stay out of sight.


    ¡°So, you are saying this was originally my job?¡± Do-Jun asked.


    ¡°Yes, but you don¡¯t have to push yourself. No one will say anything.¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s alright. I¡¯ll take it from here.¡±


    Do-Jun¡¯s eyes flickered with the determination to blend in as a team member.


    1. We are aware we called this mana in the previous chapter. ¡°Internal energy¡± is a new term that we learn in this chapter, and we will know more about it in later chapters. ?


    2. Side dishes or banchan are an integral part of Korean food and accompany all meals, including breakfast. One of the most popular banchan everyone knows of is kimchi. ?


    3. An online Business Process System that manages all administrative procedures for the government of Korea. ?


    sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 4

    Chapter 4


    In a taxi crossing the Cheonho Bridge, Ye-Ji glanced at Do-Jun sitting in the adjacent seat. He was muttering to himself while going through a thick stack of documents perched on his knees.


    She recalled the situation from twenty minutes ago.


    ***


    ¡°Huh? There is no need for you to push yourself, Do-Jun,¡± Hyuk-Soo said as he let out a hearty laugh, genuinely amused.


    Do-Jun couldn¡¯t even find his own seat and even seemed to have forgotten how to handle the basic administrative system. Not to mention, he was in the ICU just yesterday. Sending someone like this to a Fissure, even if it was only an F-rank one, wasn¡¯t an option.


    ¡°Y-yeah. Do-Jun, think of it as learning the work step by step from the beginning. Also, we¡¯ve already reassigned Hunter Ye-Ji to Hyuk-Soo and have even revised the official paperwork,¡± Cheol-Soo explained.


    Do-Jun looked around and noticed that everyone in the division, from the manager to the members, was watching him. Some were whispering to each other, not realizing that they were being noticed.


    He said earnestly, ¡°I understand why you don¡¯t trust me. It¡¯s only natural. But please, just this once, try to believe in me.¡±


    Everyone stared at Do-Jun in surprise.


    ¡°Help me become a part of the team.¡±


    At those words, Hyuk-Soo, who was standing there blankly, let out a chuckle. He then walked over to the cabinet, took out a file titled Fissure Exploration Work Handover, and handed it to Do-Jun.


    ¡°Kwon Hyuk-Soo! What are you doing?¡± Cheol-Soo shouted.


    ¡°Chief, isn¡¯t Do-Jun also a member of our team?¡± Hyuk-Soo asked calmly.


    ¡°Y-yes, he is.¡±


    ¡°I understand your concerns. As the one responsible for the division, you¡¯re worried about any potential accidents, and all of us are aware of that. But honestly, until now...¡± Hyuk-Soo trailed off as he looked every member of the division in the eye and continued, ¡°Honestly, has anyone here actually considered Do-Jun a real member of our team?¡±


    At these words, everyone avoided his gaze, and Cheol-Soo¡¯s face turned red, and he raised his voice.


    ¡°H-hey, that¡¯s not true! He¡¯s our precious junior!¡±


    ¡°When Do-Jun was in the ICU, critically injured and unconscious, someone even expressed during lunch break that this might be a good chance for us to get a new member. Did anyone in the team get angry about that? No, in fact, everyone was secretly happy, right?¡± Hyuk-Soo challenged them.


    The atmosphere sank.


    Then, a female staff member stood up and shouted, ¡°No, Hyuk-Soo, how could you even say that? When did we ever think that¡ª¡±


    Hyuk-Soo cut her off, raising his voice, ¡°Can we all just be honest, please?¡± Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His booming voice reached the neighboring division, causing their members to stand up and look over in bewilderment.


    ¡°Honestly, I was very annoyed when Do-Jun first joined the team. It felt like he joined through a special recruitment drive for disabled people. I even questioned how someone like that could be hired for a Fissure Management position, given the hazardous nature of our work, where even lives are at stake.


    ¡°Did you know that I even resented the HR division for giving us such an inept employee? He couldn¡¯t even answer the phone properly, forgot everything I taught him like a goldfish, didn¡¯t put in any effort, and while others stayed longer to finish their work, he would leave at six sharp with no second thought!¡±


    Hyuk-Soo¡¯s shoulders shook as he ranted as if wanting to get everything off his chest. Then, he ran his hand through his hair and took a deep breath.


    ¡°Even now, I dislike Do-Jun; I just don¡¯t show it. But look, he¡¯s trying to change. He¡¯s trying to work hard. Nothing¡¯s going to change if we continue to treat him like he¡¯s invisible.¡±


    He handed Do-Jun the work transfer file.


    ¡°I am Do-Jun¡¯s mentor, and as such, I will take full responsibility for my decision. So just this once, please believe in him,¡± Hyuk-Soo pleaded with a bow of his head.


    Do-Jun stood next to Hyuk-Soo and followed suit, bowing at a ninety-degree angle.


    Seeing this, Cheol-Soo let out a dry laugh. Go, Lee Do-Jun.¡±


    With those encouraging words, Do-Jun left Seoul City Hall with Ye-Ji, leaving behind a heavy and stifled atmosphere.


    ¡°Hey, Hyuk-Soo!¡±


    At Cheol-Soo¡¯s call, Hyuk-Soo quickly stood up and ran over.


    ¡°Yes, Chief.¡±


    ¡°You asshole. That talk during lunch was all for your sake. Su-Yeon said that because she felt bad for you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s all water under the bridge now. Let¡¯s see if the guy you stood up for is the real deal or just a waste of oxygen.¡±


    ***


    Do-Jun closed the file and put it back in his briefcase.


    It was a quick read, and after skimming through it five times, he understood what his job entailed. He was mainly responsible for acquiring information about the Fissures.


    Originally, this task was contracted out to the Hunter¡¯s Association, but due to rampant corruption issues, such as false reports and bribery stemming from disputes between major guilds, the government started handling it directly.


    Do-Jun broke the ongoing silence in the taxi. ¡°Come to think of it, we haven''t properly introduced ourselves yet. I¡¯m Lee Do-Jun.¡±


    ¡°I-I¡¯m Cha Ye-Ji! I¡¯m twenty-one years old.¡±


    ¡°Sorry for the embarrassing scene earlier.¡±


    ¡°N-not a problem at all!¡±


    Do-Jun noticed a suit-case at Ye-Ji¡¯s feet.


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Oh, this? It¡¯s my armor and weapons¡ªthey¡¯re essential items for fighting monsters.¡±


    The taxi arrived at a neighborhood park in Myeongil-dong, Gangdong-gu, where the target F-rank Fissure had appeared.


    A considerable crowd had gathered at the site. A person from the Hunter¡¯s Association, along with military and police personnel, was controlling the area to prevent any civilians from accidentally entering the Fissure.


    Upon arriving at the site, Ye-Ji put her suit-case on the ground, opened it, and took out the contents¡ªa sword that didn¡¯t look to be made of metal and a small bead.


    With familiar action, Ye-Ji brought the bead to her chest, following which, the suit compressed within the bead covered her entire body. This was a white, full-body compression suit that was commonly referred to as tights by Hunters and was worn in battle.


    ¡°Woah,¡± Do-Jun expressed his awe, amazed by the sight.


    How could such a small bead produce such clothing?


    ¡°Hehe. This must be your first time seeing a Hunter¡¯s suit?¡± Ye-Ji remarked.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s fascinating.¡±


    ¡°This is the lowest grade suit that is mass-produced in a factory, but it still costs 3 million won. It¡¯s quite expensive, right?¡±


    ¡°I see. What about the sword?¡± Do-Jun asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s the sword of a D-rank monster, the Skeleton Soldier. It¡¯s about two hundred and fifty thousand won, not that expensive. Rumor has it that Skeleton Soldiers carve these from their own bones. It¡¯s quite sharp and cuts really well.¡±


    Do-Jun simply nodded in response, as he wasn¡¯t very interested, to be honest.


    Regardless of how expensive her suit was or what kind of sword she used, to him, she was just a Hunter he was paired with; nothing more, nothing less.


    ¡°Shall we get going then?¡± Do-Jun asked.


    ¡°Yes. Oh, how should I address you?¡± Ye-Ji asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care; anything is fine,¡± Do-Jun said nonchalantly.


    He took out his employee ID and approached the staff from the Hunter¡¯s Bureau controlling the entrance.


    Ye-Ji followed closely behind Do-Jun with a big smile. She said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll call you Mr. Administrator. Since you manage the Fissures.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    The person from the Hunter¡¯s Bureau checked Do-Jun¡¯s employee ID and asked him to place his thumb on the prepared terminal.


    [Lee Do-Jun, Fissure Management Division, confirmed.]


    ¡°Verification complete. You may proceed.¡± The staff member smiled and gestured toward the Fissure with both hands.


    Ye-Ji swallowed nervously as she looked at the Fissure that had opened up about ten meters above ground.


    Even though it was F-rank, it was her first time entering a Fissure alone. Of course, with Do-Jun accompanying her, she wasn¡¯t actually alone, but he was just an ordinary person, so she didn¡¯t consider him of much help.


    Suddenly, they heard a deep male voice, ¡°Well, well, who do we have here?¡±


    Ye-Ji¡¯s shoulders trembled slightly¡ªthis particular voice was one she really didn¡¯t want to hear. She turned her head and saw two men and one woman walking toward them.


    She lowered her head deeply, wanting nothing more than to avoid these people.


    ¡°Long time no see, huh? I thought you gave up being a Hunter. But I guess not?¡±


    A man in a shiny golden suit and sunglasses stood in front of Ye-Ji and grinned. Then he looked at Do-Jun and tilted his head.


    He asked, ¡°Did you join a guild too?¡±


    ¡°Y-yeah,¡± Ye-Ji answered reluctantly.


    ¡°Oho, so there¡¯s actually a place that would accept even you? Even though you can¡¯t even receive mana injections?¡± the man mocked Ye-Ji as he looked Do-Jun up and down.


    Do-Jun turned to Ye-Ji and asked, ¡°Do you know him?¡±


    ¡°Yes. We were in the same prep academy... to become Hunters...¡±


    Her voice was small and shaky.


    Then the man noticed the government ID hanging around Do-Jun¡¯s neck and burst into laughter.


    ¡°Hahahaha! So you became a contract Hunter, huh? That makes total sense. No guild would possibly accept you. Kek, judging by the fact that you¡¯re at this Fissure, you must be an F-rank. Well, that rank is a no-brainer since you¡¯ve got no mana.¡±


    Ye-Ji didn¡¯t say anything.


    Do-Jun noticed that her legs were trembling, but it had nothing to do with him. He didn¡¯t know what their relationship was in the past, and even if he did, Do-Jun and Ye-Ji were just an employer and contracted Hunter, so he had no reason to intervene.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough. What¡¯s the point of all this talk?¡± Do-Jun snapped at the man.


    The man did not like Do-Jun¡¯s attitude. He frowned and grabbed Do-Jun by the collar.


    After all, he was a D-rank Hunter, while the guy who just snapped at him was simply a civil servant. He had nothing to fear.


    ¡°What are you going to do about it, Sir Civil Servant?¡±


    Ye-Ji¡¯s eyes widened, and she moved to intervene.


    ¡°M-mr. Administrator!¡±


    ¡ªIf you let go before I count to three, I won¡¯t hold you accountable for your actions.


    Telepathy.


    The man flinched at the voice echoing in his mind, and when he met Do-Jun''s gaze, he fell backward, trembling.


    The man¡¯s crotch became wet.


    Do-Jun dusted off his shirt and straightened his crooked tie. He then approached the man sprawled on the ground and extended a hand.


    ¡°Are you okay? Can you stand up?¡±


    It looked like a simple, kind gesture to the others, but to the man, Do-Jun felt like a mountain towering over him.


    And when their eyes met again, he wet himself once more.


    Do-Jun smirked at the sight and turned to Ye-Ji. ¡°We¡¯re running late. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Ye-Ji glanced at the man sprawled on the ground before following Do-Jun into the Fissure.


    ***


    ¡°Hey! What¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    ¡°Na Han-Jung, what happened?¡±


    Na Han-Jung¡¯s guildmates looked puzzled.


    ¡°M-monster...¡± Na Han-Jung murmured dazedly.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°T-that guy! He¡¯s definitely a monster! How could a human have a gaze like that...?¡±


    Na Han-Jung thought that if he had been even a second late in letting go, he probably would have been dead.

 Chapter 5

    Chapter 5


    Fissures or Gates¡ªthat''s what people called the dungeons that started appearing in the cities a decade ago.


    Upon discovering the monsters within the Fissures and the mana stones obtained by capturing them, people seeking to make a fortune scrambled to become Hunters. This marked the beginning of the era of the Great Hunters.


    The interior of the F-rank Fissure that appeared in Myeongil-dong, Gangdong-gu, was simple. A vast grassland stretched out, and groups of three to five goblins, one of the F-rank monsters, roamed around in that field.


    Do-Jun took out a tablet PC called SpacePad, which he had brought from the office, and launched the Fissure Management System application.


    [Welcome to the Fissure Management System.]


    A woman¡¯s melodious voice echoed as the app launched.


    Do-Jun clicked on the ¡°Register New Fissure Information¡± tab, and after selecting the area and location, a management number was automatically assigned. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Fissure in Myeongil-dong - 002, Gangdong-gu, Seoul has been registered.]


    [Please select the rank of the Fissure. If you enter the rank of the appearing monster, the Fissure rank will be automatically assigned. If the Fissure is deemed to be ranked higher than what is assessed by the system, please select the Exception option.]


    Do-Jun recalled the previous day¡¯s incident when a temporary Fissure suddenly appeared while he was grocery shopping with Yoon-Hee. He also remembered the goblin that had emerged from it.


    Yoon-Hee had said that the goblin was an F-rank monster.


    Tap, tap.


    He roughly entered the necessary information in the app and placed the SpacePad back into his briefcase.


    The next task was to check for the presence of a boss monster and mapping, which basically entailed creating a map of the interior of the Fissure.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get going,¡± Do-Jun said after taking a few pictures of the overall appearance of the Fissure. Ye-Ji nodded and followed, gripping the Skeleton Soldier¡¯s Sword tightly.


    Her only task was to protect the civil servant conducting the Fissure exploration.


    Try your best... no, do your best, she reminded herself.


    An F-rank Hunter was treated almost no differently than a civilian. Being scouted by a guild was out of the question, and it was fortunate if they were even used as porters.


    She knew she was lucky to even be employed as a contract Hunter at Seoul City Hall, so she didn¡¯t want to mess up this opportunity.


    There were quite a few other people besides Do-Jun and Ye-Ji inside the Fissure. Most of them were Hunters. Although it had only been a few days since the Fissure appeared in Myeongil-dong, rumors that it was an F-rank had already spread, causing the weakest Hunters in the area to flock in for the hunt.


    ¡°Status Window.¡±


    Name: Cha Ye-Ji


    Level: 4


    Title: None


    Strength: 6


    Agility: 11


    Stamina: 8


    Mana: 0


    Skill: Scholar¡¯s Swordsmanship (S)


    Her stats were abysmal compared to those of the most physically fit civilian men.


    Ye-Ji followed Do-Jun closely, blankly staring at the Scholar¡¯s Swordsmanship skill on her Status Window.


    She was surprised when she first Awakened, as she had joined the ranks of the select few who had Awakened directly as S-rankers in Korea.


    [Skill - Scholar¡¯s Swordsmanship]


    Category: Passive


    Rank: S


    Effect: Allows access to Scholar¡¯s Swordsmanship.


    Stage: 1


    (You cannot possess Mana until you reach Stage 3.)


    She had entered the preparation academy with top-tier grades¡ªespecially in written exams. She never missed a perfect score, and no one could beat her in sparring classes.


    But when she took the exam at the Hunter¡¯s Bureau, she was rated a mere F-rank. No one acknowledged her.


    With a mana level of zero, she could not show anything during the Skill Demonstration stage, and as if things weren¡¯t bad enough already, she couldn''t even receive mana injections.


    ¡°Ye-Ji,¡± Do-Jun called.


    If I work hard, I¡¯ll succeed someday. Ye-Ji was immersed in her thoughts and didn¡¯t hear the call.


    ¡°Ye-Ji.¡± It was an urgent call.


    I don¡¯t know how to get to Stage 2, but if I keep trying, I will be able to join a guild someday.


    She clenched her sword tightly, pouring her determination into her grip.


    At that moment, Do-Jun grabbed the back of Ye-Ji¡¯s neck.


    Whoosh!


    A wooden club passed right in front of her eyes, and only then did she snap out of her reverie and open her eyes to the reality before her.


    ¡°Enough daydreaming. This is not a drill,¡± Do-Jun rebuked.


    Before Ye-Ji realized it, three goblins had surrounded her and Do-Jun. She was startled at the sight. She was so lost in her thoughts that she hadn¡¯t even noticed the monsters had gotten so close.


    Slash!


    Without hesitation, Ye-Ji¡¯s sword cut across, slashing the goblin¡¯s chest, and it fell on the spot.


    It wasn¡¯t a deep wound, but it hit a vital spot, making it impossible for the goblin to move.


    Suddenly, another goblin swung its club at Do-Jun¡¯s back, and Ye-Ji turned away in shock instead of meeting the attack. Her resolve from just a few seconds ago already felt pathetic.


    Huh? She looked on in surprise as Do-Jun easily dodged the goblin''s attack. She was sure the club would hit him without fail.


    Although it was an F-rank monster, it was still a monster and should have been difficult for an ordinary person to handle. And here Do-Jun was easily dodging such attacks.


    ¡°What are you doing? Please hurry up and finish them,¡± Do-Jun urged her, snapping her out of her dazed state.


    ¡°Ah, right!¡±


    Swish, swish.


    Soon, three goblin corpses lay on the ground after Ye-Ji dealt with the remaining two goblins with ease.


    After finishing the monsters off, she quickly approached Do-Jun and bowed her head.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Administrator! I wasn¡¯t paying attention...¡±


    ¡°Please do your job properly next time. I nearly died back there.¡±


    ¡°Y-yes!¡±


    But even while apologizing, she felt a sense of doubt.


    Do-Jun¡¯s words, ¡°nearly died,¡± seemed rather absurd, given how easily he dodged the goblin¡¯s attack. Moreover, he stayed calm from start to finish without even a slight change in his complexion.


    Do-Jun took a picture of the goblin corpses that Ye-Ji had slain.


    The compensation for the corpses of monsters defeated by contracted Hunters and the mana stones extracted from them was settled through a third-party agency after the mission at a later time once the items were evaluated.


    ¡°Your payment will be deposited later. If you aren¡¯t tired, shall we continue?¡± Do-Jun said to Ye-Ji.


    ***


    This is weird, Ye-Ji thought.


    It had been two hours since they entered the Fissure.


    While Do-Jun walked around mapping the Fissure, Ye-Ji dealt with the goblins approaching from the surroundings.


    She tried not to let the goblins slip through to Do-Jun as much as possible, but considering that there were only two of them dealing with five monsters at a time, one or two were bound to end up running toward him.


    But Do-Jun just kept inputting the Fissure information into his SpacePad as he easily dodged the goblins¡¯ attacks without even looking at them. It was as if he had eyes on the back of his head.


    Then, when it seemed like all the goblins around him were dealt with, he would turn his head shamelessly and say, ¡°Please take care of these as well. It¡¯s getting dangerous,¡± in a completely monotonous voice.


    There was no urgency or panic in his voice.


    At first, Ye-Ji thought it was just a fluke, but the more it continued, the more suspicious she became.


    And an hour later...


    ¡°Thanks to you, we got through the Fissure exploration safely. It seems there''s no boss monster in this Fissure,¡± Do-Jun thanked her.


    A Fissure without a boss monster did not close, but this was not a problem as it also meant that the monsters within it wouldn¡¯t come out into the city.


    Do-Jun calculated Ye-Ji¡¯s potential earnings based on the number of goblins she had killed today.


    At fifty thousand won per goblin and seventeen goblins killed, Ye-Ji would earn eight hundred and fifty thousand won¡ªa tidy sum for a day¡¯s work.


    Surprised by the amount, Do-Jun asked, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you earn more if you worked independently than for us?¡±


    Ye-Ji¡¯s monthly pay through her contract was about seven million won. After taxes and paying for the expensive Hunter¡¯s insurance, she would end up with only about three and a half million won.


    ¡°It¡¯s not just about the money. Even as a porter, I can probably make ten million won, but I just... I just wanted to belong somewhere,¡± Ye-Ji confessed to Do-Jun.


    ¡°I don¡¯t really understand, but if that¡¯s what you want, Ye-Ji, then there¡¯s nothing for me to say. Anyway, you did well today. The chief said earlier that you can leave after the exploration, so I think you can call it a day.¡±


    But Ye-Ji didn¡¯t move and instead fiddled with her fingers, looking at Do-Jun as if she had something to say.


    Then, after taking a deep breath, she spoke, ¡°Are you... hiding your powers, Mr. Administrator?¡±


    There was a tremble in Ye-Ji¡¯s eyes. She expected Do-Jun to be shaken, but he just shrugged and laughed.


    ¡°I will see you tomorrow.¡±


    ***


    7:00 PM


    Back at the office, Do-Jun was writing the official report on the Fissure exploration.


    Hyuk-Soo logged into the Fissure Management System and reviewed the information Do-Jun had uploaded about the Myeongil-dong-002 Fissure. Though it was a Fissure of the lowest rank, he was genuinely amazed at what he saw.


    The details that had been uploaded were as thorough as if the Fissure had been open for several months. Compiling such detailed information from a single exploration was not easy, even for himself.


    ¡°Did you really do all this in one day?¡± he asked the working Do-Jun.


    ¡°Is there a problem?¡±


    ¡°N-no, there isn¡¯t.¡±


    Even though he said that there surely was one problem¡ªit was too perfect.


    Do-Jun suddenly sighed deeply and looked to the side. Ye-Ji was sitting on a makeshift chair and staring at him intently.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you leaving?¡± he asked her.


    ¡°Huh? Oh! I-I have some work!¡±


    Ye-Ji opened a blank notebook and grabbed a pencil, but it was obvious to anyone that it was a lie. There was no need for her to do any office work.


    Seeing this, Hyuk-Soo chuckled in amusement. He said, ¡°You two seem to have gotten really close in just one day. Perhaps...¡±


    ¡°N-no! It¡¯s not like that!¡± Ye-Ji¡¯s face turned red as she waved her hands in denial.


    She glanced furtively at Do-Jun to see his reaction, only to find him entirely focused on the computer screen as if nothing had happened.


    Hyuk-Soo simply smiled at the scene unfolding before him.


    ¡°Let¡¯s call it a day. Everyone else has already left,¡± he suggested.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s alright. I¡¯ll leave once I finish this,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll head out first. See you tomorrow, Do-Jun.¡±


    After Hyuk-Soo left, only Do-Jun and Ye-Ji remained in the Fissure Exploration Unit¡¯s office.


    Ye-Ji doodled in her notebook, occasionally stealing glances at Do-Jun.


    [Would you like to submit for approval?]


    Do-Jun clicked the confirmation button, shut down the computer, and stood up, quickly followed by Ye-Ji.


    Seeing this, Do-Jun sighed, cleaned the office, and left Seoul City Hall.


    ***


    Do-Jun stopped in front of his house. He turned and spoke to Ye-Ji, who was hiding behind a utility pole.


    ¡°If you come out in five seconds, I won¡¯t be mad. Five, four, three...¡±


    Ye-Ji dashed out from behind the utility pole and stood before Do-Jun.


    He pretended not to notice that their paths had coincided since leaving Seoul City Hall, thinking that maybe their houses were just coincidentally in the same direction.


    But by this point, there was no room for doubt as suspicion had turned into certainty.


    ¡°Why are you following me?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t gotten an answer yet.¡±


    ¡°What answer?¡±


    ¡°Whether you¡¯re hiding your powers,¡± Ye-Ji said.


    Do-Jun clicked his tongue at her words.


    As if on cue, Ye-Ji¡¯s stomach growled loudly. She blushed and held her stomach.


    ¡°You can come in for dinner,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°R-really? Are you sure that¡¯s okay?¡±


    Do-Jun nodded in response, got on the elevator, and pressed the button for the eleventh floor. As the elevator ascended, a brief silence fell, though not for too long.


    Do-Jun suddenly said, ¡°Oh, by the way, I live with my daughter. And please don¡¯t talk about my job. She thinks I¡¯m just a regular civil servant.¡±


    ¡°Your daughter...?¡± Ye-Ji responded in shock.


    Do-Jun appeared to be in his mid-to-late twenties, and Ye-Ji naturally assumed he was unmarried.


    The elevator soon reached the eleventh floor, and Do-Jun stopped in front of his apartment door and rang the doorbell.


    Soon after, there was the sound of someone running, and the door swung open.


    ¡°Welcome back, Fath...¡±


    Yoon-Hee froze in shock.

 Chapter 6

    Chapter 6


    ¡°Father, who is this?¡± Yoon-Hee asked with cold, sunken eyes, laced with a hint of hostility.


    Under the unfriendly gaze, Ye-Ji shrank back involuntarily. ¡°Oh, hello. I¡¯m Mr. Administrator¡¯s... I mean, Do-Jun¡¯s colleague,¡± she replied before Do-Jun could say a word.


    ¡°Is that all...?¡± At Yoon-Hee¡¯s chilly voice, Ye-Ji nodded vigorously.


    Yoon-Hee then looked at Do-Jun for confirmation.


    ¡°She¡¯s a colleague from the same division. Can we go inside now?¡± Do-Jun added upon noticing her glare.


    Although Do-Jun didn¡¯t mind the cold January wind, Ye-Ji seemed to be shivering. Seeing this, Yoon-Hee sighed and opened the door wide.


    ¡°If you¡¯ll excuse me...¡±


    Ye-Ji cautiously entered the apartment, and as she went inside, she saw a fairly spacious living room. And from its appearance, it was a one-bedroom apartment.


    ¡°Mr. Administrator, I mean Do-Jun, your place is quite clean, hehe,¡± Ye-Ji remarked as she clung to Do-Jun without hesitation.


    Even with a winter coat on, her ample chest was pressed against Do-Jun¡¯s arm.


    Yoon-Hee didn¡¯t miss that detail and frowned as she separated them.


    ¡°We¡¯re about to have dinner soon, so we won¡¯t be able to entertain you for long. Have a cup of tea before leaving,¡± Yoon-Hee said coldly.


    ¡°O-oh, actually...¡± Ye-Ji looked at Do-Jun.


    Since he had invited her for dinner, she silently pleaded with him to say something.


    Realizing her intention, Do-Jun turned toward Yoon-Hee and said, ¡°I invited her to stay for dinner. I hope you don¡¯t mind an additional person joining in.¡±


    At Do-Jun¡¯s words, Yoon-Hee puffed up her cheeks, turned her head with a huff, and stomped toward the kitchen.


    At her sudden change in attitude, Do-Jun muttered, ¡°Is this what they call puberty?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not!¡± Yoon-Hee shouted back, seemingly having heard him.


    After all, Do-Jun was the homeowner, so she couldn¡¯t just send the stranger away when he had invited her.


    ***


    Everyone was gathered at the dinner table, but it was too quiet.


    Ye-Ji sighed inwardly as she quietly watched Do-Jun and Yoon-Hee eat, alternating her gaze between them. In an attempt to break the awkward silence, she decided to speak to Yoon-Hee.


    ¡°This is really delicious! You have great cooking skills,¡± she said.


    ¡°Oh, that? It¡¯s a takeout,¡± Yoon-Hee replied coldly.


    ¡°Oh, right.¡±


    Silence once again.


    At that moment, Yoon-Hee noticed the large suit-case Ye-Ji had brought with her.


    She asked excitedly, ¡°Huh? Is that a suit-case?¡±


    Yoon-Hee showed interest, and Ye-Ji didn¡¯t miss the opportunity and grabbed it with both hands. Soon, she was gushing like there was no end in sight.


    ¡°Y-yeah! I¡¯m a Hunter, you see! Though I might just be an F-rank...¡± She indicated the suit-case and continued, ¡°Ah, that¡¯s a supply type, but it¡¯s still from Schwartz Smithy. And... oh!¡±


    She stopped abruptly as she hurriedly covered her mouth, then turned slowly to look at Do-Jun.


    He continued chewing his food without even a slight change in expression, but the chopsticks he was holding snapped in his grasp.


    ¡°Eek! I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve committed a grave sin,¡± Ye-Ji apologized beside herself.


    ¡°A Hunter? What do you mean? My father is a civil servant,¡± Yoon-Hee asked in confusion.


    This woman had definitely said she was her father¡¯s colleague, and as far as Yoon-Hee knew, civil servants were not allowed to have a side job.


    One could only be one of the other¡ªa Hunter or a civil servant.


    Do-Jun finally decided to explain. ¡°She¡¯s doing it as a side hustle. But if she gets caught, she¡¯ll be disciplined. This cannot get out. My friend isn¡¯t careful enough and talks without thinking. If you talk about it elsewhere, it could be a big problem, so can you please help us keep it a secret?¡±


    ¡°Is that true...?¡± Yoon-Hee asked as she looked suspiciously at Ye-Ji.


    Ye-Ji nodded vigorously, her hands still covering her mouth.


    Against all expectations, Yoon-Hee jumped up, rushed to Ye-Ji, and grabbed her hand tightly with sparkling eyes.


    ¡°That¡¯s amazing! I actually aspire to be a Hunter, too! I¡¯m still a student, but I¡¯m entering the National Hunter Academy in March. Wow, I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m meeting a Hunter right here, right now!¡±


    ¡°Eh?¡± Ye-Ji was flabbergasted.


    Yoon-Hee¡¯s wary and guarded demeanor, like a cat on alert, suddenly changed to something completely different. Now, she was wagging her imaginary tail with excitement.


    ¡°T-there is no need for you to praise me like that. After all, I am just an F-rank...¡± Ye-Ji said, sounding flustered.


    ¡°So what? You¡¯re still a Hunter, aren¡¯t you? You passed the exam, didn¡¯t you?¡± Yoon-Hee didn¡¯t back down.


    ¡°Well, yes...¡±


    ¡°So, what type are you? Melee? Ranged? Do you wield magic? Oh! Are you a healer?¡±


    Hah.


    Do-Jun couldn¡¯t help but smile at the scene.


    ***


    After dinner, Yoon-Hee smiled happily as she saw Ye-Ji off at the apartment door.


    ¡°I had a lot of fun today, Ye-Ji.¡±


    ¡°Me too! Hehe. I¡¯ll come again next time.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I will have to turn down that offer.¡±


    ¡°Eh?! Why?¡± Ye-Ji asked in surprise.


    In response, Yoon-Hee put her hands behind her back, smiled sheepishly, and said, ¡°I just don¡¯t like it.¡±


    ***


    8:20 AM.


    ¡°Good morning.¡± Do-Jun arrived at the office a bit earlier than usual.


    Cheol-Soo hadn¡¯t arrived yet, but his mentor Hyuk-Soo was already typing away at the keyboard as if he had started work a while ago.


    ¡°Oh. Good morning, Do-Jun,¡± he greeted Do-Jun upon seeing him.


    ¡°You¡¯re early today,¡± Do-Jun said after returning the greeting.


    ¡°Yeah. With the rate you are going, I felt like you¡¯d catch up to me soon,¡± Hyuk-Soo replied with a grin. ¡°Coffee?¡± he asked Do-Jun as he got up from his desk.


    ¡°No, no. Let me fetch one for you,¡± Do-Jun countered.


    ¡°Can a mentor not offer his mentee a cup of coffee? Stop being so old-fashioned.¡± S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°If you put it like that, I can¡¯t refuse.¡±


    ¡°Is instant coffee okay? There¡¯s nothing else.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s perfect.¡±


    The office door burst open at that moment, and Cheol-Soo walked in. He reeked of alcohol as if he had a lot to drink the night before.


    ¡°Dammit. What¡¯s with all these Hunters thinking they¡¯re so high and mighty,¡± he complained right off the bat.


    It seemed something had happened, but Do-Jun didn¡¯t say anything.


    ¡°Oh! Our junior. You¡¯re here early, hahaha!¡± Cheol-Soo ruffled Do-Jun¡¯s hair as he passed by. ¡°I saw what you posted yesterday, and wow, how did you do such a good job? It¡¯s absolutely perfect, perfect!¡±


    Cheol-Soo had been pleasantly surprised after reading the exploration report of the F-rank Fissure that appeared in Myeongil-dong.


    Even though it was one of the lowest-ranked Fissures, the data was so thorough it was as if it had been accumulated over several months, without a single spot missed. It was an exceptional pace of work considering the fact that the standard turnaround time for previous subcontracted mapping explorations was at least three months to fill the map to a hundred percent.


    Hyuk-Soo placed the instant coffee on Do-Jun¡¯s desk and chuckled, saying, ¡°Now imagine you gave the work to someone else, Chief.¡±


    ¡°Hyuk-Soo, I¡¯m sorry for doubting you. Hahaha!¡±


    ¡°Welcome to the team. From now on, let¡¯s work well together,¡± Hyuk-Soo said as he sat down and extended his hand to Do-Jun for a handshake.


    ¡°Thank you, senior.¡±


    ***


    Click, click, click, click.


    Only the sounds of typing and the mouse clicking filled the silent office.


    ¡°You are aware that you don¡¯t have work today, right?¡± Do-Jun frowned as he looked at Ye-Ji, who couldn¡¯t stop staring at him.


    In response, Ye-Ji pretended to be distracted and started doodling in her notebook, which looked like someone practicing swordsmanship.


    ¡°You know what, do as you please. It¡¯s not like it changes your salary anyway,¡± Do-Jun said with a shrug and ignored her.


    Beeeep.


    The printer behind him finished printing a single sheet of paper. Hyuk-Soo stood up and placed the printed paper on Do-Jun¡¯s desk.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Do-Jun asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s the schedule for the Hunter rank evaluation exam. Since you now have an assigned Hunter, it¡¯s good to keep track of these things.¡±


    The Hunter rank evaluation was something every Hunter had to undergo once a year. The evaluation was divided into different sessions, and depending on the results of the evaluation, a Hunter¡¯s rank could go up or down.


    Therefore, it was an especially important day for the Hunters.


    So basically, it¡¯s an evaluation of one¡¯s value, Do-Jun thought.


    In Korea alone, there were hundreds of guilds, all desperate to recruit high-ranking Hunters.


    The rank evaluation season was when the transfer of organizations among Hunters became most prevalent¡ªso much so that the day of the rank evaluation was also called the opening day of the transfer market.


    ¡°This is our chief¡¯s top concern,¡± Hyuk-Soo explained.


    ¡°Is he worried that contracted Hunters might suddenly join another guild if their rank goes up?¡± Do-Jun asked for clarification.


    ¡°Exactly. That¡¯s why he drank himself silly yesterday. One of our D-rank Hunters left the division. Chief tried to convince him to stay with the division over some drinks but failed.¡±


    Just then, Cheol-Soo shouted, ¡°Hey, you asshole! I can hear everything!¡±


    ¡°Haha, you have such good ears, Chief!¡± Hyuk-Soo said with a laugh.


    ¡°Fucking hell,¡± Cheol-Soo muttered and turned his chair away, clearly not wanting to hear more.


    ¡°Anyway, Hunter Ye-Ji also has to take the rank evaluation, so it would be better if you accompanied her for her session. Let¡¯s see, her first session is... next week,¡± Hyuk-Soo said, checking the sheet.


    Do-Jun took the printed schedule and read it over, then noticed the dark expression on Ye-Ji¡¯s face next to him.


    Seeing this, Do-Jun asked, ¡°Are you thinking of leaving us as well, Hunter Ye-Ji?¡±


    ¡°N-no! I-I¡¯d prefer it if... you could extend my contract.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not something I decide.¡±


    ¡°Hmph.¡±


    ¡°Anyway, it would be good if your rank goes up during the evaluation. Not only would it make explorations easier for me, but your salary will also increase.¡±


    Ye-Ji glanced through the detailed schedule and announcement for the Hunter rank evaluation that Do-Jun handed her, then let out a sigh.


    ¡°I¡¯m still an F-rank,¡± she said, sounding deflated.


    A body that could not possess mana.


    The Hunter rank evaluation exam checked levels and stat measurements, followed by a practical evaluation. The total score of these exams determined a Hunter¡¯s rank.


    The absolute amount of mana was the most crucial factor for this evaluation. There was also physical enhancement through mana stones, also known as Mana Injection.


    Ye-Ji could not possess any mana due to her low stage in Scholar¡¯s Swordsmanship, meaning that she had to start at the lowest grade in the level and stat measurement stage. This made it impossible for her to aim for anything above E-rank.


    ¡°You never know until you try,¡± Do-Jun encouraged her.


    ¡°I know myself better than anyone. I... was born to be an F-rank.¡±


    Do-Jun couldn¡¯t understand why Ye-Ji was so self-deprecating.


    Was the barrier to E-rank that high?


    No, it couldn¡¯t be. Do-Jun thought there must be another reason, but he chose not to bring it up.


    At the end of the day, she¡¯s just a Hunter contracted with our division, he thought.


    She was nothing more, nothing less, and thinking that way made it easier for both of them.


    Whether Ye-Ji was F-rank, E-rank, or D-rank, it didn¡¯t significantly affect Do-Jun¡¯s work.


    ¡°Then I will remain at F-rank with you,¡± Do-Jun told Ye-ji.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the only Hunter assigned to me. Your rank determines the rank of Fissures I can explore,¡± he explained.


    ¡°B-but... you can explore higher ranked Fissures if you just... find another Hunter, can¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true. Are you suggesting that I do that? I could post a listing to look for another Hunter.¡±


    Ye-Ji just fiddled with her hands and didn¡¯t say anything.


    ¡°Right now, you are the only Hunter for me,¡± Do-Jun said.


    At those words, Ye-Ji¡¯s face flushed red.


    Honestly, Do-Jun couldn¡¯t care less about Ye-Ji¡¯s rank. If it were low, he would work accordingly; if high, the same.


    But Do-Jun wanted to, even if very, very slightly, offer her some help.


    Ordinary is best, Do-Jun thought to himself.


    Just enough to ensure this routine remained undisturbed and to the extent that it didn¡¯t hinder him from living his new life quietly.


    He would give her his advice.

 Chapter 7

    Chapter 7


    ¡°What is this place...?¡± Ye-Ji asked curiously.


    It was an empty office located in a corner of the sixth floor of City Hall. However, with not a single piece of office supplies, it could hardly be called an office. Instead, various weapons and ragged, lower-grade suits were displayed in one corner.


    ¡°This used to be the old office of the Fissure Management Division, but it has now been converted into a training room. This is actually my first time here, too. It has been rebuilt with special materials provided by the Hunter¡¯s Bureau, so the walls won¡¯t crack under most impacts. It¡¯s perfect for training,¡± Do-Jun explained.


    As he placed the file with Ye-Ji¡¯s profile on the corner desk and hung his suit jacket on the coat hanger, Ye-Ji¡¯s face reddened slightly, and she turned away.


    ¡°You¡¯re the Hunter assigned to me, yet I knew nothing about you. I plan to get to know you better from now on.¡±


    ¡°W-what do you mean!¡± Ye-Ji exclaimed in a panic.


    She was so flustered she bit her tongue.


    Before she could even feel the sting, Do-Jun responded, ¡°Please tell me your level, stats, and any skills you possess. I want to know your capabilities so that we can efficiently handle any future Fissure explorations. I will also assist you in achieving a good score in the Hunter rank evaluation next week.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s what you meant.¡± Ye-Ji sighed deeply, feeling inexplicably drained.


    ¡°I am currently Level 4, and my stats are Strength 6, Agility 11, Stamina 8, and Mana 0. I have a skill called Scholar¡¯s Swordsmanship.¡±


    ¡°Thank you. I just have one question, though. Why is your mana at zero compared to your other stats? As far as I know, unlike Strength, Agility, and Stamina, which increase when you level up by hunting monsters, mana increases through physical enhancement using mana stones, isn¡¯t that right? Have you never undergone physical enhancement?¡±


    When mana stones obtained from hunting monsters were brought to the Hunter¡¯s Bureau, they performed enhancements for the Hunters.


    It was a free service provided by the Bureau, but since physical enhancement placed a significant burden on the body, it was limited to once a month.


    The amount of mana absorbed by a Hunter from the same mana stone varied greatly depending on the Hunter¡¯s level and individual capabilities. Some Hunters couldn¡¯t get their mana over a hundred despite how much money they spent, while others could surpass a hundred with just a single enhancement.


    Hunters, treating themselves like characters in video games, would call those in the latter category ¡°blessed characters¡± and those in the former ¡°cursed.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve actually tried the physical enhancement,¡± Ye-Ji said.


    ¡°Then why is your mana at zero?¡±


    ¡°One of my skills is called Scholar¡¯s Swordsmanship. Its description says that I can¡¯t have mana until I reach stage 3 of the skill. Being skeptical, I tried physical enhancement anyway... but it turned out to be useless. How could someone be this cursed?¡±


    Do-Jun stroked his chin, lost in thought.


    If she couldn¡¯t have mana because Scholar¡¯s Swordsmanship wasn¡¯t at the third stage, wouldn¡¯t it just be a matter of upgrading the skill to that stage?


    Ye-Ji continued her explanation, ¡°But I can¡¯t even reach the second stage, never mind the third....¡±


    ¡°Can you show me this Scholar¡¯s Swordsmanship?¡± Do-Jun asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s written in text. I¡¯ll write it down for you.¡±


    After a while, Ye-Ji handed a half-filled sheet of paper to Do-Jun, who read it slowly.


    There are three elements called the Tri-Elements. The universe, which is the source of all things, contains the three origins: Heaven, Earth, and Human. Ultimately, everything in the universe starts and ends with these three origins, and swordsmanship is no exception. Therefore, the foundation of swordsmanship, as well as everything else in the world....


    ¡°I tried my best to summarize it,¡± Ye-Ji said as she handed him another notebook.


    It was the same notebook she had been doodling in while Do-Jun worked, filled with drawings of a person performing sword techniques.


    Tri-Element Swordsmanship, huh? Do-Jun thought.


    Tri-Element Swordsmanship was so common in the Central Plains that even third-rate scoundrels knew it. Perhaps due to its commonness, it was regarded as a third-rate martial art and had no demand.


    Later, a top master from the Martial Arts Alliance named Un Ja-Sam created a basic swordsmanship called Six Harmony Sword and spread its illustrated guide, causing Tri-Element Swordsmanship to fade into history.


    Scholar¡¯s Swordsmanship... wait, hold on a second. Do-Jun had a sudden revelation.


    Tri-Element Swordsmanship.


    And Scholar¡¯s Swordsmanship.


    Do-Jun recalled a name: Sword Saint Jin So-Un¡ªthe royal scholar, who burst onto the scene with a flashy bang, defeated the Chief of the Martial Arts Alliance in a duel, and then disappeared into thin air.


    At that time, the Chief of the Martial Arts Alliance was the best in the world. The royal scholar, a genius among geniuses, had reinterpreted the looked-down-upon Tri-Element Swordsmanship and conquered the world with it. He called that swordsmanship Scholar''s Swordsmanship, and there were even legends that he left advice about the sword to the Chief of the Martial Arts Alliance before departing from the world.


    The storytellers might have exaggerated some parts of this fabled event, but the core story was no lie.


    ¡°Mr. Administrator...?¡± Ye-Ji waved her hand in front of Do-Jun¡¯s eyes as he suddenly fell silent.


    At that moment, Do-Jun¡¯s eyes snapped open.


    He grabbed Ye-Ji¡¯s wrist and pulled her close enough for them to feel each other¡¯s breath.


    ¡°Ye-Ji.¡±


    Thump, thump, thump.


    Ye-Ji closed her eyes tightly.


    Do-Jun whispered in her ear in a sweet voice, ¡°There¡¯s no character more blessed than you.¡±


    ¡°Sorry...?¡±


    ***


    A few days later, Do-Jun turned off his computer as soon as the clock hit 6:00 PM.


    Ye-Ji was sound asleep with her head resting on the office desk next to Do-Jun¡¯s. Shaking her awake, he looked at Cheol-Soo and Hyuk-Soo and said, ¡°Sorry, but I¡¯ll be leaving early today.¡±


    ¡°No worries. Good work today, Do-Jun.¡±


    As Do-Jun bowed slightly and left the office, Ye-Ji closely trailed behind him, looking like a puppy following its owner.


    After the two had left the office, Cheol-Soo walked over to Hyuk-Soo and mumbled as he looked toward the door, ¡°Don¡¯t you think there¡¯s something going on between those two?¡±


    For the past few days, they had been leaving together at 6:00 PM. sharp. At first, he didn¡¯t think much of it, but it had been almost a week already.


    ¡°Well, it seems like the girl definitely has feelings for him,¡± Hyuk-Soo said.


    ¡°You feel that way, too?¡±


    ¡°I would have to be blind not to notice.¡±


    ¡°But it seems like Do-Jun is clueless.¡±


    Pfft.


    ¡°Well, at least he¡¯s good at his job. Who cares if he¡¯s a bit clueless about romance?¡±


    ***


    Swoosh!


    The wooden sword pointed toward the ceiling and then quickly slashed diagonally downward, followed by two more consecutive strikes.


    From Ye-Ji¡¯s fingertips, an intricate sword path unfolded, resembling a drawing on a canvas.


    When the sequence of moves ended, Ye-Ji lay on the floor, panting heavily.


    For the past few days, Do-Jun had been helping her refine her Scholar¡¯s Swordsmanship for an hour after work.


    To avoid raising suspicions by being too direct or showing her the techniques himself, he would suggest corrections with, ¡°How about doing it this way?¡±


    ¡°Since tomorrow is the evaluation day, we¡¯ll call it a night here. Go home and try to get plenty of rest,¡± he said. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ye-Ji caught her breath and checked her Status Window.


    ¡°Huff... Status Window.¡±


    Name: Cha Ye-Ji


    Level: 4


    Title: None


    Strength: 6


    Agility: 11


    Stamina: 8


    Mana: 10


    Skill: Scholar¡¯s Swordsmanship (S)


    [Skill - Scholar¡¯s Swordsmanship]


    Category: Passive


    Rank: S


    Effect: Allows access to Scholar¡¯s Swordsmanship.


    Stage: 3


    A smile spread across Ye-Ji¡¯s lips.


    Her Scholar¡¯s Swordsmanship, which hadn¡¯t been improving at all despite all her efforts, had risen by two stages in just a few days.


    Most importantly, reaching the third stage of Scholar¡¯s Swordsmanship allowed her to gain mana, that too, without undergoing physical enhancement. As she practiced Scholar¡¯s Swordsmanship, she gradually started accumulating mana on her own.


    ¡°Mr. Administrator...¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m really glad I met you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for saying that. I¡¯ll keep it in mind when considering contract extensions.¡±


    ¡°Pfft. What does that mean?¡± Ye-Ji chuckled as she slowly got up.


    She felt indescribable small streams of energy swirling inside her, but it wasn¡¯t an unpleasant sensation. On the contrary, it brought a sense of calm to her body.


    So, this is what mana feels like, she marveled.


    Something she thought she could never have now felt so natural, as if it had always been there.


    ¡°You really are hiding your powers, aren¡¯t you?¡± she asked Do-Jun.


    ¡°You can think whatever lets you rest easy.¡±


    Do-Jun picked up the wooden sword lying on the floor and placed it back on the weapon rack.


    Every time he moved, the sight of his well-defined muscles shifting underneath his dress shirt captivated Ye-Ji.


    ¡°I like you.¡± Her voice echoed in the empty training room.


    Her face flushed.


    W-what did I just say? Did I really say that out loud? N-no, there¡¯s no way. I must have just imagined it.


    Panicked, she carefully scanned Do-Jun¡¯s expression, and only after finding no signs of emotional disturbance on his face did she breathe a sigh of relief.


    If he had heard what she said, it would have shown on his face somehow.


    ¡°We¡¯ve tidied up, so let¡¯s head home,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°R-right.¡±


    As Ye-Ji followed him out the door, she felt her face heat up once again.


    I guess I really do like this person, she thought.


    ***


    Do-Jun picked up a piece of grilled eel that was nicely browned and cut into a size perfect for a single bite with his chopsticks and brought it to his mouth.


    Yoon-Hee rested her chin on her hands, smiling as she watched him eat.


    ¡°Tasty, right? It was on sale at the store, so I decided to make something with it.¡±


    ¡°Anything my daughter cooks is always delicious.¡±


    ¡°Ugh. Saying it so flatly makes it seem like you¡¯re just being nice.¡±


    Do-Jun couldn¡¯t help but smile at Yoon-Hee¡¯s grumbling. Seeing Do-Jun smile, Yoon-Hee felt happy but also a bit uneasy.


    Their relationship was based on a contract that would last until she graduated from Hunter Academy. They weren¡¯t even distantly related by blood; in essence, they were just strangers.


    Am I just a housekeeper? Yoon-Hee wondered to herself.


    Would their relationship end just like that once she graduated and Do-Jun fully adapted to his life?


    ?Next news. A temporary Fissure has appeared once again in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province. The monster from the Fissure is presumed to be a C-rank Orc Warrior, resulting in three civilian casualties. The police quickly responded with mana guns but could not easily subdue the monster...?


    ¡°What a scary world,¡± Do-Jun muttered monotonously as he chewed his food.


    At that moment, Yoon-Hee suddenly stood up and said, ¡°I will...¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°When I graduate and become a Hunter, I will protect you, Father!¡±


    Without even realizing it, Do-Jun nodded at Yoon-Hee¡¯s unexpected declaration, and her face brightened more than ever.


    ¡°Promise?¡± she asked as she extended her pinky.


    ¡°O-okay.¡±


    Reluctantly, he hooked his pinky with hers.


    Yoon-Hee completed the pinky promise with a thumb press and then, satisfied, placed more eel on Do-Jun¡¯s rice.


    ¡°Eat up, Father.¡±


    Who¡¯s protecting who? Do-Jun thought as he sighed inwardly.

 Chapter 8

    Chapter 8


    The Hunter¡¯s Bureau, located not far from Seoul City Hall, was a place that served as a control tower, handling all matters related to Hunters.


    Being a towering skyscraper with over eighty floors, it often overwhelmed first-time visitors with its imposing presence.


    Despite the building not being opened yet, crowds were already gathering near the entrance because it was Saturday, the day of the annual rank evaluation for Hunters.


    The evaluations were divided into four sessions as it wasn¡¯t possible to evaluate all Hunters at once. Ye-Ji was scheduled for the first session.


    As Do-Jun skimmed through a pamphlet detailing the evaluation procedures and other important information, he checked the time on his smartphone to see that it was 9:10 AM. The evaluations were scheduled to start precisely at 10:00 AM, so there was still some time left.


    ¡°Is this your first time at a rank evaluation?¡± Do-Jun asked upon noticing that Ye-Ji was looking quite tense.


    Ye-Ji shook her head slightly in response.


    ¡°We do the same thing when taking our Hunter exam. But it is my first time doing this since then.¡±


    ¡°I know you didn¡¯t have much time to train, but you¡¯ve trained hard with what little time you had. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll see the results of your training, so don¡¯t worry.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    At that moment, shouts erupted from a distance.


    ¡°It¡¯s Kang Min-Hyuk!¡±


    ¡°Han Min-Ji is here too!¡±


    ¡°Not just one, but two S-rank big shots...!¡±


    When Do-Jun and Ye-Ji turned to look, they witnessed a spectacle akin to the miracle of Moses parting the Red Sea.


    A man and a woman, appearing to be in their early thirties¡ªno, late twenties¡ªwere walking side by side toward the entrance of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau, with people making way for them.


    ¡°Please sign this!¡±


    Click!


    Click!


    The scene of reporters busily pressing their shutters and people reaching out to shake their hands resembled celebrities walking the red carpet to an award ceremony.


    ¡°Are those people famous?¡± Do-Jun asked.


    Ye-Ji looked at him in surprise, wondering how anyone could possibly not know those two.


    ¡°Of course! They¡¯re ranked seventh and tenth among all Hunters! Ah, I wish I could at least shake their hands...¡± she trailed off.


    The two S-rankers, Min-Hyuk and Min-Ji, passed by Do-Jun and Ye-Ji and entered the Hunter¡¯s Bureau.


    Do-Jun focused on sensing their qi. Then he said, ¡°If you work hard, you could catch up to them within a year.¡±


    Befitting the S-rank Hunters, the qi they exuded was similar to that of the top-tier martial artists back in the Central Plains, but it wasn¡¯t a level that Ye-Ji couldn¡¯t dream of surpassing.


    Moreover, since she possessed the swordsmanship of someone once known as the Sword Saint, she could easily catch up to top-tier martial artists with sufficient effort.


    ¡°Eck? M-mr. Administrator! Please don¡¯t say such embarrassing things...¡±


    The people in the vicinity turned their gazes toward them, having heard Do-Jun¡¯s comment.


    Seeing Ye-Ji blush red like a beetroot, Do-Jun chuckled.


    ***


    The Hunter rank evaluation began with stat measurement.


    Much like the blood pressure monitors found in health clinics, Hunters placed their arms on a specially designed Stat Measurement Device. This device emitted qi to measure the Hunters¡¯ stats and then display them on the device.


    Beep.


    As a man in his early forties placed his arm on the Stat Measurement Device, the numbers on the device began to rise slowly. The readings, categorized into Strength, Agility, Stamina, and Mana, soon stopped. An assisting staff member smiled as they printed out the result sheet.


    ¡°Thank you for your participation.¡±


    ¡°Ugh. E-rank again.¡±


    The man snatched the printed result sheet with irritation and got up from his seat.


    Do-Jun glanced over a table that summarized the provisional rank. The rank was determined by the sum of all stats except Mana, with a particular emphasis on the Mana stat.


    ¡°A total of twenty points in Strength, Agility, and Stamina, combined with a Mana stat of one or higher, ranks someone an E,¡± Do-Jun muttered.


    The man¡¯s stats were: Strength 10, Agility 4, Stamina 9.


    Along with a Mana stat of 2, his provisional rank based purely on his stats was E-rank.


    While it was possible that the results could be overturned in the practical evaluation against monsters, such cases were rare, so without any significant variable, the man was all but certain to finish the evaluation as an E-rank.


    ¡°Woah, that person ranked one higher than last year.¡±


    ¡°A C-rank, huh? Must be nice.¡±


    Managers from various guilds quickly swarmed the woman who received a C-rank evaluation sheet.


    ¡°Hello! I¡¯m Go Gil-Dong, HR manager of the Valkan guild. If it¡¯s not a bother, could we have a quick chat?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Cho Hyun-Jin from the Buffalo guild! Our guild has many C-rank and higher Hunters, and we offer free rentals of D-rank or higher weapons and suits to new Hunters! We also offer a generous signing bonus.¡±


    A radiant smile appeared on the woman¡¯s face, and understandably so, as Hunters who were C-rank and above were quite a rarity.


    A Hunter¡¯s value was determined by their rank, and at C-rank, medium-sized guilds would be eager to recruit them.


    Watching this, Ye-Ji sighed.


    Do-Jun alternated his gaze between the woman who received a C-rank evaluation and Ye-Ji, then asked in a strange tone, ¡°Are you envious, human?¡± [1]


    ¡°Pft! What is that?¡±


    ¡°You were staring at that person quite intensely, so I thought I¡¯d ask.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not because of the guilds¡¯ offers. It¡¯s just... I¡¯m nervous.¡±


    Ding-dong.


    [Number 78, Hunter Cha Ye-Ji. Please come to counter number five.]


    ¡°You¡¯re up, Ye-Ji. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Ye-Ji took a deep breath, walked slowly to counter number five, and sat down.


    ¡°Please roll up your sleeve above your wrist and place your arm on the measurement device.¡±


    Ye-Ji followed the staff¡¯s instructions while Do-Jun watched her calmly as the numbers on the measurement device began to rise gradually.


    A moment later, the measurement was complete.


    Strength 6, Agility 11, Stamina 8, Mana 10.


    The staff member¡¯s eyes widened slightly in surprise.


    Noticing this, Do-Jun asked, ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    ¡°Oh, no, not at all... It¡¯s just that her Mana stat is unusually high compared to the other stats. She must respond well to physical enhancement effects. The measurement is complete, and your provisional rank is... D-rank.¡±


    ¡°Thank you. Let¡¯s go, Ye-Ji,¡± Do-Jun said to her.


    ¡°Yes!¡± S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As they were about to move, guild managers who had been observing Ye-Ji flocked toward her.


    ¡°Hello! I¡¯m from the Mir guild...¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m from the Buffalo guild! We...¡±


    Ye-Ji looked overwhelmed, unable to respond.


    Not wanting to wait around any longer, Do-Jun sighed and pulled her closer, almost in an embrace.


    ¡°Do you have any business with our Hunter?¡± he asked.


    At this sudden, unexpected development, Ye-Ji¡¯s face turned bright red as she lowered her head.


    The guild managers clicked their tongues and turned away.


    ¡°T-thank you, Mr. Administrator.¡±


    ¡°I was just doing my job.¡±


    She was a Hunter that the division had worked hard to hire, and if she were poached by a guild, he wouldn¡¯t be able to face the other members of the Fissure Exploration Unit.


    However, Ye-Ji interpreted Do-Jun¡¯s words differently.


    He¡¯s got an unexpectedly bold side... Hehe. She looked up at Do-Jun and smiled bashfully.


    ***


    After completing the stat measurement and finishing a quick lunch, Do-Jun and Ye-Ji entered the waiting room of the test arena located in the basement of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau building and waited for two hours.


    Do-Jun lightly tapped the glass partition separating the waiting room from the arena with his finger, observing what lay beyond the glass. Five stages could be seen, each with dozens of Hunters battling D-rank monsters known as Skeleton Soldiers.


    ¡°It¡¯s finally your turn next,¡± Do-Jun said to Ye-Ji.


    ¡°Um... Mr. Administrator, do you really think it¡¯s okay for me to challenge the C-rank?¡± Ye-Ji asked, fidgeting her fingers as if she couldn¡¯t hide her uneasiness.


    ¡°Believe in yourself. Your stat assessment might have placed you at D-rank, but you are more than capable of facing C-rank monsters.¡±


    ¡°H-how can you be so sure?¡±


    ¡°I can feel it in my guts.¡±


    ¡°Sigh...¡±


    Although he passed it off as a gut feeling, Do-Jun did not doubt that Ye-Ji would achieve excellent results in the practical portion of the evaluation.


    After all, the skills and performance he had analyzed during their training sessions were already those of someone who had surpassed the C-rank.


    The Scholar¡¯s Swordsmanship might be a training sword technique, but its power exceeds even the absolute martial arts, Do-Jun thought.


    The more she wielded the sword, the higher her swordsmanship level rose, and on top of that, she could store the mana from nature in her dantian.


    Do-Jun felt a newfound respect for Jin So-Un, the creator of Scholar¡¯s Swordsmanship.


    [The C-rank Fissure will be activated in ten minutes.]


    As the Hunters who had challenged D-rank left the stage, it reset as if nothing had happened, and the Cave Field was shortly replaced by the Grassland Field.


    ¡°It¡¯s an Orc Warrior, just as we expected. Remember what we discussed¡ªyou can¡¯t win by force alone, so don¡¯t think about taking its attacks head-on,¡± Do-Jun reminded Ye-Ji.


    She gulped and nodded, then took out her suit-case and equipped herself with a suit of the lowest grade and the Skeleton Soldier¡¯s sword, a D-rank weapon.


    Upon seeing them again, Do-Jun thought it might be time to upgrade her equipment after this test.


    It shouldn¡¯t be too much of an ask if she gets promoted to C-rank, Do-Jun thought as he pictured Chief Cheol-Soo laughing heartily.


    ***


    Ye-Ji raised her head and looked at a point on the opaque partition thirty meters above the ground.


    While one couldn¡¯t see the waiting room from the stage, the former had a clear view of the latter from behind the partition.


    ¡°What the... What are you doing here?¡±


    With a twitch, Ye-Ji turned her head to see a familiar face. ¡°Na... Han-Jung.¡±


    ¡°Hah, in all my life, I¡¯ve never seen an F-rank challenging a C-rank test.¡±


    As soon as he muttered those words, the Hunters on the same stage murmured.


    ¡°F-rank...? What are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°Did he just say F-rank?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s wearing the lowest grade supplementary suit.¡±


    ¡°Wow. That¡¯s crazy.¡±


    Ye-Ji bit her lip hard but soon gripped her sword tightly and turned away, knowing that now was the time to focus on the test. There was no time to be distracted by insignificant disturbances.


    Na Han-Jung looked around and realized that the monster from last time wasn¡¯t there.


    ¡°Well, break a leg, keke.¡±


    ***


    Do-Jun turned his head, sensing someone¡¯s presence next to him.


    After Ye-Ji entered the stage, the waiting room had suddenly become noisy.


    He turned to see the face of the man standing beside him.


    Kang Min-Hyuk, was it? he thought.


    A seventh-ranked, S-rank Hunter.


    Even though it wasn¡¯t yet time for the S-rank evaluation, Min-Hyuk¡¯s appearance in the waiting room excited people, who secretly took pictures or approached for autographs.


    ¡°I¡¯m a huge fan! Could I please get your autograph?¡± Blushing deeply, a woman handed him a piece of paper and a pen.


    Min-Hyuk smiled softly and pointed at the stage. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯d like to focus on that right now.¡±


    The woman retreated reluctantly.


    Min-Hyuk turned his gaze back to the stage, and at the end of it stood Ye-Ji.


    1. ¡°Human¡± will come up every now and then. Seems like it was a popular reference in Korea back in 2019! ?

 Chapter 9

    Chapter 9


    ¡°Seoul City Hall Fissure Management Division.¡±


    At those words, Do-Jun turned his head to find Min-Hyuk speaking without taking his eyes off the stage.


    ¡°That¡¯s where Hunter Cha Ye-Ji is contracted. And the responsible civil servant is Lee Do-Jun, twenty-six years old.¡±


    ¡°You seem to know us quite well,¡± Do-Jun commented.


    ¡°And that doesn¡¯t seem to surprise you much.¡±


    Do-Jun smirked in response. The corner of the waiting room he was standing in wasn¡¯t the best spot to view the stage. He had been curious why Min-Hyuk, an S-rank Hunter, approached him, but now he had a rough idea from the conversation.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll get straight to the point,¡± Min-Hyuk said.


    Do-Jun decided to listen quietly.


    ¡°We want to recruit Ye-Ji to our guild.¡±


    A few hours ago, Min-Hyuk coincidentally witnessed Ye-Ji¡¯s stat measurement results. While her Strength, Agility, and Stamina stats were unimpressive, the Mana stat was off the charts compared to the other three.


    ¡°She underwent physical enhancement only once when she was just level 1, and that too with an F-rank mana stone given to anyone obtaining their first Hunter license.¡±


    Min-Hyuk turned toward Do-Jun with gleaming eyes.


    ¡°Having 10 points of Mana injected with just a single F-rank mana stone enhancement, and no further enhancements afterward, is an absurdly monstrous talent.¡±


    Do-Jun realized that Min-Hyuk was mistakenly assuming that Ye-Ji¡¯s Mana stat of 10 was due to a single physical enhancement.


    ¡°The Icarus Guild will give her wings. If she joins our guild, we¡¯ll provide her with an A-rank suit, pass down all the tips and tricks of our senior Hunters, and let her participate in high-rank Fissure raids to cultivate practical experience.¡±


    Do-Jun continued to listen in silence.


    ¡°But what can the Fissure Management Division offer her? A raise?¡±


    He turned to the stage and continued, ¡°And challenging a C-rank Fissure for a Hunter who¡¯s only a year in and has no experience with anything above D-rank¡ªwhat are you people thinking? Do you think it¡¯s even remotely possible?


    ¡°Hunters can only be trained by other Hunters. If you truly care for her and want her to survive in the dog-eat-dog world of Hunters, it would be best to hand her over to us.¡±


    Do-Jun finally spoke up. ¡°First of all, she is not an object. Please know that it¡¯s not up to me whether to hand her over or not...¡±


    [A C-rank Fissure is being activated.]


    [Hunters participating in the trial, please eliminate the Orc Warriors within the time limit.]


    As the automated message released the instruction, the barrier that had contained the Orc Warriors started lowering.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we make a bet?¡± Do-Jun suggested with a bright smile.


    ***


    ¡°Phew.¡± Ye-Ji took a deep breath as she watched the descending barrier.


    Including herself, five Hunters were challenging the C-rank, with most being either D-rank or C-rank Hunters.


    ¡°Stay sharp, Hunter Ye-Ji.¡± Na Han-Jung sneered as he readied himself for battle, handling a one-handed axe that appeared to weigh at least ten kilograms.


    Screech.


    Three Orc Warriors charged with their distinctive cries.


    Na Han-Jung shrunk back slightly as the three hulking figures standing over two meters tall rushed forward with ferocious expressions.


    Fuck. Should I not have challenged the C-rank?


    Thump, thump.


    One of the Orc Warriors charged at Na Han-Jung, swinging its massive trademark club studded with nails toward his abdomen.


    Na Han-Jung hurriedly raised his axe to block the club.


    Bang!


    ¡°Keugh!¡±


    Although he managed to block the blow, the overwhelming force from the Orc Warrior¡¯s swing caused him to lose his grip on the axe. It spun several times in the air before flying nearly ten meters and embedding in the ground, leaving Na Han-Jung weaponless and pale.


    He quickly turned his head to look at the other Hunters, only to find each of them too busy dealing with an Orc Warrior to help. Then, he spotted Ye-Ji running toward him.


    Whoosh!


    The Orc Warrior quickly changed its target, swinging its club at Ye-Ji.


    I see it, Ye-Ji thought.


    The path of the orc¡¯s attack was incredibly clear to her.


    As she watched the club descending in a clean arc, it felt as if the trajectory was clearly marked in the air, visible only to herself.


    Whoosh!


    She dodged the attack with ease by lowering her stance.


    Then, Sword Path, the first form of Scholar¡¯s Swordsmanship, took shape in her mind. She was sure that if she swung her sword along that path, the orc would surely die.


    The sequence of events appeared in her mind as if she were watching a slow-motion video.


    The sword was drawn, but Ye-Ji did not swing immediately as she recalled something Do-Jun had said.


    ¡°It would be a lot cleaner if you could fix that habit.¡±


    After reaching the third stage of Scholar¡¯s Swordsmanship, Ye-Ji noticed a new inscription in the manual that read: Scholar¡¯s Swordsmanship, first form. She remembered what Do-Jun had told her while she blindly followed the description in the manual.


    ¡°A habit...?¡±


    ¡°Yes. It seems you don¡¯t realize it yourself... Instead of swinging your sword like that, don¡¯t you think it should be like this?¡±


    With that hint, Ye-Ji¡¯s Sword Path, the first form of Scholar¡¯s Swordsmanship, was corrected.


    As if possessed, Ye-Ji moved.


    My stomach feels hot.


    The qi inside her surged as if it would explode, enveloping her entire body, then soon seeped into the Skeleton Soldier¡¯s Sword she held in her hands.


    Slaaaash!


    Ye-Ji¡¯s sword deflected the orc¡¯s club and simultaneously slashed diagonally across its abdomen.


    It was Heaven, the first form of Scholar¡¯s Swordsmanship that was based on the Tri-Element Swordsmanship.


    Thud.


    The orc¡¯s corpse collapsed to the ground.


    ***


    [The test has been completed.]


    Na Han-Jung¡¯s eyes twitched.


    Was what he had just witnessed truly real?


    And he could not believe the numbers he saw displayed on the scoreboard.


    [Cha Ye-Ji: 8]


    [Yang Seung-Ho: 4]


    [Kim Hee-Soo: 3]


    [Park Chan-Il: 2]


    [Na Han-Jung: 0]


    The other Hunters felt no different.


    Even among other C-rank monsters, Orc Warriors were known to be quite difficult to deal with. However, Ye-Ji had single-handedly defeated eight of them, one at a time.


    ¡°Is she really an F-rank Hunter...?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s simply no way, right? If anything, that guy looked more like an F-rank.¡± One Hunter glanced at Na Han-Jung as he spoke, and the latter¡¯s face turned beet red at the comment.


    You¡¯re telling me that bitch is really Ye-Ji?


    Even after undergoing physical enhancement, her Mana level was 0, and during the Hunter test, she couldn¡¯t showcase any skills.


    To him, she was just a simpleton who seemed destined to remain a perennial F-rank.


    What the hell did she do?


    [Hunters remaining on stage, please return to the waiting room.]


    ***


    Min-Hyuk shivered.


    The methods by which Hunters could manipulate mana were classified into three categories.


    The first was Infusion, where mana was imbued into a weapon.


    The second was Release, where mana was expelled.


    The third was Transmutation, where mana was converted into another attribute.


    ¡°She handled Infusion so perfectly...¡± Min-Hyuk trailed off in disbelief.


    Imbuing mana into a weapon wasn¡¯t difficult, but keeping control over the infused mana was a whole different story.


    Among Hunters, the act of handling Infusion was likened to pouring water into a plate because balancing the limited amount of mana for combat was similar to adjusting the water level in a plate to prevent it from overflowing or being insufficient.


    Ye-Ji had defeated eight Orc Warriors with her 10-point Mana.


    Such control over mana was only possible with perfect mastery.


    Buzz.


    As the automatic door to the waiting room opened, Ye-Ji entered. Spotting Do-Jun, she immediately ran over to him.


    ¡°You did well,¡± Do-Jun praised her.


    ¡°I-I really did it!¡±


    ¡°Yes, you did. And it¡¯s all thanks to your hard training.¡±


    Ye-Ji shook her head vigorously.


    She knew that her growth was entirely thanks to Do-Jun. Despite holding a Hunter license, she had remained an F-rank Hunter for over a year, yet she had grown this much in less than ten days after meeting Do-Jun.


    ¡°Huh...? Gasp!¡±


    Ye-Ji was startled as soon as she saw the man standing beside Do-Jun¡ªKang Min-Hyuk, an S-rank Hunter ranked seventh among all Hunters.


    Gazing at Ye-Ji, Min-Hyuk finally spoke. ¡°That was an excellent battle.¡±


    ¡°N-no! It must be nothing to an S-ranker...¡± Ye-Ji said humbly.


    ¡°You handled Infusion perfectly. Do you have a mentor?¡± Min-Hyuk assumed that someone was mentoring Ye-Ji, but he never thought it could be Do-Jun.


    According to the information he obtained, Do-Jun was just an ordinary civil servant, nothing more, nothing less.


    Could it be Lee Kang-Hyun?


    The first ever Hunter, the Sword Emperor, Lee Kang-Hyun.


    The very man who established the three current methods of mana control¡ªInfusion, Release, and Transmutation¡ªand was ranked first among Hunters.


    ¡°Actually...¡± Ye-Ji began to say.


    ¡°Ye-Ji trained herself,¡± Do-Jun interrupted her.


    ¡°Huh...? Sorry?¡± Ye-Ji looked up at Do-Jun, confused, and Min-Hyuk turned to her in surprise.


    ¡°Is that true?¡± Min-Hyuk asked in disbelief.


    ¡°Uh, aha, maybe?¡± Ye-Ji said cautiously.


    ¡°Hunter Ye-Ji,¡± Min-Hyuk said.


    ¡°Y-yes!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll keep it short and simple. We, the Icarus Guild, would like you to join us.¡±


    Ye-Ji¡¯s eyes widened.


    The Icarus Guild was one of the top guilds in the country that housed three S-rank Hunters.


    ¡°If you join us, you will have our full support. If there¡¯s anything you want, I¡¯ll do everything within my power to provide it. And¡ª¡± S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°I¡¯m truly, truly grateful for the offer... but I will not be joining you,¡± Ye-Ji said before Min-Hyuk could even finish.


    ¡°Pardon?¡±


    Min-Hyuk couldn''t believe his ears. It was every Hunter¡¯s dream to join a top guild, so why on earth would she refuse?


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that so, Mr. Administrator?¡± Ye-Ji looked up at Do-Jun with a wide smile.


    Unable to comprehend the sudden development, Min-Hyuk shouted, ¡°Please, reconsider! Such opportunities do not come often, and you¡¯ll receive far better treatment and opportunities for growth than remaining as a contract Hunter with Seoul City Hall!¡±


    Min-Hyuk felt a surge of irritation. Why did he have to beg like this? Never before had he acted like this!


    If this is what it takes for me to recruit her...! Min-Hyuk thought to himself as he frowned.


    Seeing this, Ye-Ji stepped back slightly and hid behind Do-Jun, who simply smirked and said, ¡°Be sure you stay in touch, Hunter Min-Hyuk.¡±


    With those last words, he and Ye-Ji left the waiting room. Min-Hyuk couldn¡¯t help but laugh helplessly as he watched the two walk out the door.


    He knew exactly what Do-Jun meant: the bet.


    Min-Hyuk recalled what Do-Jun had said.


    ¡°I will bet that Ye-Ji defeats more than five Orc Warriors. If I lose, I¡¯ll personally recommend that she join the Icarus Guild.¡±


    Min-Hyuk had agreed without hesitation, thinking that it was impossible.


    ¡°But if I win, give us an A-rank suit.¡±


    Min-Hyuk took out his smartphone and made a call.

 Chapter 10

    Chapter 10


    ¡°T-this is...¡±


    ¡°This is remarkable, going directly to C-rank from F...¡±


    Murmured remarks spread among the staff surrounding Ye-Ji, who now proudly showed off the large C prominently displayed on her Hunter ID card.


    A few days ago, she participated in the Hunter rank evaluation and received a D-rank for her stats. She then performed brilliantly in the C-rank Fissure practical evaluation, earning herself a C-rank Hunter certification from the Hunter¡¯s Bureau.


    ¡°Hehe, this is a bit embarrassing.¡± Ye-Ji scratched her head shyly.


    She glanced at Do-Jun, who was drafting the Hunter Rank Evaluation Result Report.


    The fact that she could be promoted to C-rank was all thanks to Do-Jun; honestly, it still felt like a dream to Ye-Ji.


    I thought I would be an F-rank forever...


    Hyuk-Soo observed Cheol-Soo¡¯s expression. He was clearly pleased, but his face was dark for rather obvious reasons.


    ¡°Hunter Ye-Ji,¡± Hyuk-Soo called out.


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Are you... really okay with this?¡±


    ¡°With what?¡±


    An article was displayed on Hyuk-Soo¡¯s monitor.


    ¡°Icarus Guild Rejected!¡±


    ¡°Kang Min-Hyuk: ¡®An Incredibly Tempting Talent¡¯¡±


    ¡°Hunter Cha Ye-Ji! Just who is she?¡±


    After that day, Min-Hyuk¡¯s open offer to Ye-Ji was widely reported online.


    A Hunter below B-rank being invited to join the Icarus Guild was already breaking news, but the story of Ye-Ji, a lower-ranked Hunter, rejecting the Icarus Guild was excellent fodder for journalists.


    ¡°The Icarus Guild is one of the top guilds in the country. Frankly, if I were you, Ye-Ji, I would have joined them without a second thought. Of course, we are also willing to provide full support to ensure you are not disappointed, but I need to clarify that the difference in standards between us is quite significant. This is... a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,¡± Hyuk-Soo said.


    Ye-Ji looked at Do-Jun and smiled bashfully. ¡°You¡¯ll take good care of me, right, Mr. Administrator?¡±


    ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll make sure you don¡¯t regret choosing us.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all I needed to hear,¡± Ye-Ji said happily.


    A wide smile spread across Cheol-Soo¡¯s face.


    ¡°Let¡¯s have beef for dinner tonight!¡± Cheol-Soo said as he clapped Do-Jun on the shoulder and laughed heartily. Hyuk-Soo simply chuckled at the sight.


    There were a total of seventeen Hunters affiliated with the Fissure Management Division¡ªfive F-rank Hunters, six E-rank, and three D-rank. With Ye-Ji¡¯s rank promotion, there were now three C-rank Hunters.


    ¡°If we play our cards right, we might be able to secure the management rights for at least one B-rank Fissure. With three C-ranks, it¡¯s worth a try,¡± Hyuk-Soo murmured as he looked through the data.


    At this point, Seoul City Hall did not manage Fissures ranked B or higher because they lacked Hunters capable of handling that level of difficulty, even if they wanted to.


    The reality was that B-rank and higher Great Fissures were managed exclusively by the Hunter¡¯s Bureau.


    ¡°But would the Bureau even hand it over? After all, that¡¯s where their money comes from.¡±


    ¡°We should at least try to issue a ¡°Cooperation Request¡± document. We should at least try negotiating with them.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough. Let¡¯s wrap up early tonight. Beef. I want beef. My treat.¡±


    Suddenly, Do-Jun stood up, naturally drawing everyone¡¯s eyes to him. ¡°I¡¯m going to take Hunter Ye-Ji to the Korean National Smithy for a bit.¡±


    The Korean National Smithy, located within the Hunter''s Bureau, was the largest Hunter equipment shop in Korea, where Hunters purchased and sold essential gear like suits and weapons, as well as other miscellaneous consumables.


    ¡°Do-Jun, I understand you¡¯re eager, but we don¡¯t have the budget to buy her gear. The funds have already been allocated to other Hunters, and we would need to prepare a supplementary budget¡ª¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s alright. We¡¯re not going there to buy; we¡¯re collecting,¡± Do-Jun interrupted with a smile.


    ***


    There were different sectors within the Korean National Smithy.


    Zone 1 handled miscellaneous goods.


    Zone 2 sold equipment of D-grade and below.


    Zone 3 sold equipment graded between C and B.


    Zone 4 sold equipment for A-grade and above.


    Zone 1 was the most bustling out of the four as it could be accessed by everyone. Next was Zone 2, as most Hunters were ranked between F-rank to D, while Zone 3 and above rarely had customers.


    Zone 4 was known as the Luxury Section; with even the cheapest suits starting at 5 billion won, ordinary Hunters couldn¡¯t even think of stepping in there. But that was exactly where Do-Jun and Ye-Ji were standing.


    After winning a bet against Min-Hyuk, they received a message four days ago instructing them to come to Zone 4 and pick any A-grade suit they liked.


    ¡°I¡¯m Lee Do-Jun from the Fissure Management Division. I was referred here by Hunter Kang Min-Hyuk.¡±


    A tall, beautiful young female employee greeted Do-Jun with her hands neatly clasped in front of her. She smiled and guided them to the suit section as if already informed.


    Do-Jun and Ye-Ji followed her.


    ¡°Mr. Administrator, were you having naughty thoughts just now?¡± Ye-Ji asked suddenly.


    ¡°Please refrain from making such comments, even if it¡¯s just a joke. It could be misunderstood by others.¡±


    ¡°Geez, why do men lose their minds whenever they see a pretty face?¡± Ye-Ji pouted as she looked at Do-Jun, who just sighed.


    While the employee was indeed attractive, he felt no emotions. It was purely Ye-Ji¡¯s misconception. Besides, even if he did, what difference did it make?


    ¡°Take your time to browse, and please let me know if you need any assistance. Enjoy your shopping.¡±


    As soon as the employee stepped back, Ye-Ji started to browse the suits with sparkling eyes as if she hadn¡¯t been upset moments ago.


    ¡°Wow! Mr. Administrator, Mr. Administrator! Look at this! It¡¯s a Silver Wing Suit! T-this is supposed to be an amazing suit, and they even say it¡¯s made from the wings of a Queen Ant. Woah...¡±


    ¡°It looks good. Would you like to go with that one?¡± Do-Jun asked her.


    Ye-Ji shook her head and hung the Silver Wing Suit back on the hanger.


    What Do-Jun wasn¡¯t aware of was how genuinely grueling a task shopping with a woman could be.


    ***


    By around 5 PM, Do-Jun was silently patting himself on the back for enduring five laps around the same section. He had gone through a full seven hours of shopping. Even discounting the time it took for a short meal break, it was still long.


    ¡°I think I¡¯m going to go with this one, hehe,¡± Ye-Ji said happily.


    What she selected after much browsing and deliberation was none other than the Silver Wing Suit¡ªthe first one she had picked up since walking into Zone 4.


    Do-Jun felt a sense of futility as he wondered why he had spent seven hours following her around. However, seeing her delighted expression made those thoughts vanish as if they were never there.


    I guess it¡¯s fine as long as she¡¯s happy.


    After thanking Min-Hyuk via a text message, Do-Jun headed down to the first floor.


    Holding the case containing the Silver Wing Suit, Ye-Ji followed him closely, her joy evident.


    Hmm? Then, Do-Jun noticed a sign.


    Massive Sale, Today Only! 50% Off!


    The sign was stuck to a large wooden box that contained various equipment mixed together. Most of it was old, unsold inventory, and even some brand-new products of E-rank or lower were mixed in. Still, with the starting price of at least 1 million won, it was a significant amount for Do-Jun, whose monthly salary was around three million won.


    I guess there¡¯s nothing special, anyway, Do-Jun thought dismissively.


    However, as he was about to move on, he saw something that made him doubt his eyes.


    Among the assorted junk-like equipment, he found a sword.


    He picked it up. The sword was so damaged that it was embarrassing to even call it one. Its blade was cut off, leaving only the hilt behind.


    Do-Jun checked the price tag attached to the handle¡ª?50,000.


    ¡°How come...?¡± he blurted out in disbelief.


    The sword of the Heavenly Demon, a weapon that once ruled the world.


    What was it doing here?


    Do-Jun¡¯s hand trembled involuntarily.


    ¡°Why is it only fifty thousand...?¡± he muttered.


    It was an S-grade¡ªno, an SSS-grade weapon. At least, that¡¯s what its grade would be if it had to be graded.


    Why was a sword that should obviously be part of the luxury collection being neglected and treated like this in a dusty corner?


    ¡°Mr. Administrator?¡± Ye-Ji tilted her head, looking at the frozen Do-Jun.


    Then she frowned, seeing the sword he was holding, with only its handle remaining.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this too much? How can they sell such a useless weapon for any amount of money?¡± she grumbled.


    ¡°What did you say?¡± Do-Jun asked her.


    When their eyes met, Ye-Ji almost felt her heart stop. Do-Jun¡¯s gaze was infinitely cold. Just his eyes alone made her think of the word death.


    ¡°Ah.¡± Ye-Ji collapsed to the ground as her legs lost all their strength.


    Do-Jun quickly withdrew the murderous intent he had inadvertently released.


    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry,¡± Ye-Ji stammered with a hiccup.


    ¡°Can you stand up?¡± Do-Jun extended his hand with a face that seemed almost too kind.


    Ye-Ji doubted whether the person she had just seen was really Do-Jun.


    I-I must¡¯ve imagined it.


    Taking Do-Jun¡¯s hand, Ye-Ji stood up.


    After helping her up, Do-Jun quickly looked around and called over a shopkeeper who looked like a friendly neighborhood uncle. ¡°Excuse me.¡±


    ¡°Yes, hello, are you looking for something?¡± The shopkeeper replied with a kind tone.


    ¡°Is this really 50,000 won?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, well, it¡¯s a bit.... Sorry, I found it while cleaning the storage, but you¡¯re right; it¡¯s not something I should be trying to sell for money.¡±


    Do-Jun quickly took out a 50,000 won bill from his wallet and handed it to the shopkeeper. He said, ¡°I¡¯ll take it.¡±


    ¡°Sorry...? Do you really want to buy this thing? It¡¯s not even worth scrap metal...¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m satisfied.¡±


    He was indeed satisfied. Very.


    ***


    Standing on a nearby mountain slope, Do-Jun looked down at the night view and laughed helplessly.


    After rolling endlessly in the dirt of the Central Plains, when he finally came to his senses, he was called the Heavenly Demon and feared by everyone in that realm.


    ¡°The sword of that very Heavenly Demon is only worth 50,000 won, huh.¡±


    How could this sword, which should have been sealed with the Heavenly Demon Sect in the Central Plains, be on Earth?


    As Do-Jun channeled his Heavenly Demon Cultivation Art and injected his internal energy into the sword handle, the bladeless sword began to resonate.


    At the same time, the air around him grew heavy, and the heavens and earth began to tremble.


    Crrrraaaackle!


    A pitch-black blade appeared from the sword handle that Do-Jun was holding. It glinted with a sharp aura every time the moonlight reflected off the sword.


    ¡°Tsk.¡±


    When Do-Jun withdrew the internal energy he had infused into the sword, the blade disappeared again and returned to the state of just a hilt.


    ¡°Oh, right.¡±


    He glanced at his wristwatch, remembering that he had skipped a company outing, thinking of Yoon-Hee eating dinner alone at home. By now, she would have finished preparing dinner and be waiting for him.


    Do-Jun¡¯s form disappeared in an instant. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ***


    ?Breaking news. At around 7:20 PM today, a Great Fissure was detected in the Umyeon Mountain area but later disappeared. The Fissure Wave Level was unmeasurable, and the Fissure is currently estimated to be an S-rank. The Hunter¡¯s Bureau declared an emergency and investigated the Umyeon Mountain area but could not find any unusual traces. Some speculate that the Fissure-detection Equipment might have malfunctioned due to its age.?


    Yoon-Hee was startled by the news report.


    ¡°F-father, Umyeon Mountain is close to here!¡±


    ¡°It seems like a temporary Fissure opened up like last time. We should be more careful for a while,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°Yes, we should... Please take care of yourself, Father.¡±


    Do-Jun tilted his head in thought. Strange. I was around Umyeon Mountain at that time. I wonder why I didn¡¯t feel... wait...


    Observing Do-Jun¡¯s strange expression, Yoon-Hee said, ¡°Father? You don¡¯t look too good.¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing.¡±


    Do-Jun decided not to bring out the Heavenly Demon Sword again.

 Chapter 11

    Chapter 11


    As always, Yoon-Hee¡¯s day started at 6 AM.


    Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she got up from the mattress placed in the corner of the living room and took a shower.


    Do-Jun had insisted that she use his room and that he was completely fine with sleeping in the living room, but Yoon-Hee firmly refused, feeling that she was imposing on him.


    After showering, Yoon-Hee took out a large envelope tucked between the bookshelves. It was an admission guide from the National Hunter Academy. The guide was one of the standard pieces of mail that all schools sent their students.


    Yoon-Hee sighed, looking at the school mail.


    Accompanying the admission guide was a second sheet of paper titled ¡°Payment Notice.¡±


    The notice stated that she needed to pay the tuition fee, which included equipment rental, instructor fees, and other facility maintenance costs, by the end of the month. Even with the national subsidy reducing the amount, it still was a staggering 50 million won.


    ¡°Failure to pay the tuition fee by the specified date may result in the cancellation or deferment of admission.¡±


    ¡°How am I supposed to tell him about this...?¡±


    It wasn¡¯t just a few million won. It was fifty.


    Knowing Do-Jun¡¯s salary and already grateful that he took her in when she had nowhere to go, Yoon-Hee found it difficult to bring up the topic of her school fees.


    However, there was less than a week left until the deadline.


    Beep! Beep! Beep!


    ¡°Oh, look at the time.¡±


    It was 7 AM.


    She had to start preparing breakfast soon, or Do-Jun might have to leave for work without eating.


    Feeling pressed for time, she left the documents on the spot and walked to the kitchen.


    ***


    At 7:20 AM, Do-Jun got out of bed and headed to the bathroom. That was when he noticed a pile of documents on the floor. He picked them up and slowly began to read.


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re up. Fath... Eek!¡± Yoon-Hee screamed and hurriedly ran to Do-Jun to quickly snatch the documents from him.


    ¡°D-did you read this?¡± she asked, her eyes wide.


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s the admission guide, right? But why are you hiding it?¡±


    Yoon-Hee sighed in relief, thinking he must not have seen the payment notice.


    She smiled awkwardly, hid the documents behind her back, and said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Ah, breakfast is ready, so please eat.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll eat after washing up. Thanks.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s nothing. It¡¯s my job here, after all.¡±


    Such was their father-daughter relationship that was bound by a contract. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Do-Jun nodded and went to the bathroom.


    ***


    Do-Jun checked his bank account balance on his phone.


    [818,070 won.]


    It was the result of his lack of thriftiness. Before his accident, even though he had worked at his current job for a year, Do-Jun hadn¡¯t saved any of his pay, frequently ordering delivery food and buying beer.


    Furthermore, Yoon-Hee¡¯s living expenses were added to his own starting this month.


    After deducting rent, food, transportation, communication, and other bills, there was simply nothing left.


    Well, the admission fee was never listed in the contract, Do-Jun thought.


    He turned off his phone and looked at the computer screen, trying to refocus on his work.


    But for some reason, he just could not concentrate.


    Without realizing it, he typed ¡°loan¡± into the portal search bar and pressed enter.


    He soon realized that, in his current state, it was impossible for him to borrow 50 million won in credit loans.


    Of course, he could use third-party lending institutions, but the exorbitant interest rates would be unbearable.


    Tap, tap, tap.


    As Do-Jun drafted the income report for the goblin¡¯s mana stones and corpses obtained while exploring the F-rank Fissure with Ye-Ji, he was slightly surprised to see that the total amount was just over 2 million won.


    The byproducts of the monsters caught in the Fissure were all handed over to the contracted Hunter, but for Do-Jun, who was earning a salary of 3 million won, it was a considerable amount.


    I wonder how much the mana stones of an A-rank monster would be worth.


    Do-Jun searched for the price list of mana stones by rank and was utterly shocked.


    Unlike the F-rank stones, which were 50,000 won each, the price increased exponentially as the rank went up. Even a B-rank stone was around 30 million won.


    No wonder everyone wants to become a Hunter. A stone from an A-rank monster is... 200 million?


    He could easily solve Yoon-Hee¡¯s tuition problem by hunting just one monster.


    But he couldn¡¯t do that.


    Entering the Fissure would leave a record.


    For Do-Jun, entering a Fissure wasn¡¯t a difficult task in itself. Civil servants from the Fissure Management Division were allowed to enter any Fissure freely, whether B-rank, A-rank, or even S-rank.


    However, there was no precedent for this.


    Fissures with a rank of B or higher were also known as the Great Fissures, and they were strictly and tacitly the domain of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau.


    But Do-Jun faced a problem. Entering a Fissure and taking down a monster would be fine. After all, catching a single monster was not a difficult task for Do-Jun at all. But if, by chance, rumors of his activity spread, his so-called normal civil service life would be over immediately.


    Ah, this is tiring.


    Being the center of attention was an exhausting affair.


    There was a reason the term recluse was coined.


    In the Central Plains, Do-Jun had lived more fiercely than anyone else, and when he finally stood at the peak of it all, the entire world¡¯s attention was focused on him.


    It was overwhelmingly exhausting.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡±


    Do-Jun suddenly recalled what Yoon-Hee had said in the morning. She had told a lie to avoid placing a burden on him.


    If she had just asked for money directly, it would have been easier for him to forget about it.


    ¡°This is why I didn¡¯t want to get attached.¡±


    Do-Jun clicked his tongue, opened a drawer, and then took out a Hunter ID card labeled F that was covered in dust. It was an unused temporary pass card.


    It was something issued to civil servants for Fissure entry back when the Fissure Management Division was first established in coordination with the Hunter¡¯s Bureau.


    Do-Jun logged into the administrative system and clicked on the Hunter Management tab.


    Just this once.


    Without drawing attention, he added an F-rank Hunter affiliated with the Fissure Management Division¡ªjust this once, a fictional person who would enter the Fissure on his behalf.


    ***


    Saturday morning.


    Do-Jun woke up at 6 AM and approached Yoon-Hee, sleeping in the corner of the living room. He carefully covered her with the blanket that had slipped off, making sure not to wake her. Then he quietly walked to the fridge and took out a note that read, ¡°I¡¯ll be back after work.¡±


    He stuck the note on the fridge handle where it would be easily visible.


    He put on a pair of shabby jeans and a stretched gray hoodie, pulled the hood over his head, and finished his attire with a white mask to cover his face.


    Then he opened his smartphone and checked the location of the A-rank Fissure, Swamp of the Dark Ogre, saved in his photo gallery. It was at the entrance of Guryongsan Mountain in Yeomgok-dong, Seocho-gu.


    Although he could travel there instantly using his lightfoot technique, he decided against it, recalling how the Hunter¡¯s Bureau had detected him when he activated the Heavenly Demon Sword.


    I should take a taxi.


    Considering the distance, the taxi fare would be at least 20,000 won, but it was a feeble amount considering the income he would gain from taking down just one Dark Ogre.


    Squeaaak.


    Thud.


    Shortly after the door closed, Yoon-Hee opened her eyes, got up from the mattress, and took the note off the fridge to read it.


    ¡°But it¡¯s the weekend.¡±


    Looking at the firmly closed front door, she felt a pang of guilt.


    She also reaffirmed her decision not to mention the issue of tuition fees.


    ***


    The taxi that dropped Do-Jun at the entrance of Guryongsan Mountain sped away along the road.


    After confirming his location with a map application, he began walking toward the area where the Great Fissure was located.


    ¡°Restricted Access Zone.¡±


    There was a sign prohibiting entry along with a chain-link fence.


    Following the fence, his gaze fell on a securely locked gate a little distance away.


    He walked over to the gate and held his Hunter ID card against the attached lock.


    [Hunter Kim Hyun-Woo, confirmed.]


    The gate opened, and Do-Jun entered the Guryongsan Mountain.


    It wasn¡¯t even 8 AM yet.


    After walking for about twenty minutes, he saw what seemed to be a slit torn in the sky that appeared to be at least dozens of meters tall.


    Hunter¡¯s Bureau staff and military personnel were stationed at the entrance of all regular Fissures, ranked C and below. But that was not the case for Great Fissures. Do-Jun could enter the Great Fissure with his new ID alone, without scanning his fingerprint.


    [Hunter Kim Hyun-Woo, confirmed.]


    [Warning! The difficulty of the Fissure is too high for your Hunter rank. If you still wish to enter, please tap your card once more time.]


    Beep.


    ***


    The inside of the Fissure was a dark and damp swamp with dry, withered trees and algae-filled waters.


    Though the overall atmosphere was dark, a faint moonlight illuminated the ground.


    A few birds flew past Do-Jun and soared into the sky.


    As he closed his eyes and extended his qi sense, he felt presences around him, likely those of monsters.


    An F-rank Hunter, Kim Hyun-Woo, accidentally entered Guryongsan Mountain, an A-rank Great Fissure, without a clue before fleeing in terror.


    I guess taking out one monster wouldn¡¯t hurt.


    Having formed the ideal scenario in his head, Do-Jun walked on, but that was when the entrance to the Fissure split open again, and three people appeared.


    Do-Jun turned around to look.


    ***


    ¡°Who is that...?¡±


    Han Dong-Hyun frowned, glaring at the hooded figure.


    Though it was hard to identify the hooded man because of his white mask and the darkness typical of a swamp, one thing was certain.


    ¡°Is he just some crazy person?¡±


    Despite this being in a Great Fissure, this man wasn¡¯t wearing a suit, nor was he carrying any weapon.


    If someone had entered an A-rank Great Fissure, they should have been a well-known Hunter.


    But entering one in jeans, a hoodie, and a mask? It was never seen or heard of.


    ¡°I am Han Dong-Hyun from the Mejai Guild. Who are you?¡±


    Do-Jun stayed silent.


    ¡°Don¡¯t want to say it? Do you even know where you waltzed into?¡±


    Do-Jun sighed.


    At this point, making up a story of unknowingly stumbling into the Fissure wouldn¡¯t work. He considered leaving but decided that he had already spent too much time getting here.


    ¡°Of course, I know,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°Are you even a Hunter? Don¡¯t you know coming in here dressed like that is practically suicide?¡± Dong-Hyun retorted.


    ¡°Thanks for the concern. But I¡¯m just here to take down one monster, so don¡¯t worry too much.¡±


    Coincidently, at that moment, a big rumbling sound was heard.


    Rrrrrrumble!


    [A Fissure Distortion is occurring.]


    [A Monarch Ogre is appearing.]


    [During a Fissure Distortion, entering and exiting the Fissure is restricted.]


    [If all challengers inside the Fissure die, the Fissure will be released.]


    The ground shook.


    ¡°Fuck me...¡± Dong-Hyun cursed. His face turned grim.


    Why was a Fissure Distortion, a rare phenomenon occurring only in Great Fissures and above, happening now?


    ¡°Turn on the emergency cam.¡±


    The emergency cam was a miniature camera equipped with image recording capabilities. The Hunter¡¯s Bureau provided it for Hunters above C-rank entering a Great Fissure in case of a Fissure Distortion.


    When Hunters activated the emergency cam, the footage was transmitted in real-time to the Hunter¡¯s Bureau. They assessed the situation inside the Fissure and prepared to dispatch S-rank Hunters if necessary.


    If all the challengers inside the Fissure were to die, the monsters inside would all escape to Earth.


    ¡°I guess I¡¯ll have to worry about you again. It seems like you won¡¯t be able to just take down one and leave,¡± Dong-Hyun said to Do-Jun with a bitter laugh, his face pale.

 Chapter 12

    Chapter 12


    In the Emergency Response Center Situation Room of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau, Bureau Chief Jung Young-Chul watched the screen displaying the interior of the A-rank Great Fissure, the Swamp of the Dark Ogre, while reading the documents handed over by his aide.


    ¡°Upon confirmation, four Hunters have entered the Great Fissure: three A-rankers from the Mejai Guild and one F-ranker. According to the investigation, the F-rank Hunter, Kim Hyun-Woo, entered the Fissure at 07:40, followed by A-rank Hunters Han Dong-Hyun, Yoo Mi-Ra, and Yoo Jung-Ho at 07:42. Three minutes later, at 07:45, the Fissure distorted, and the boss monster appeared. It is a Monarch Ogre.¡±


    Young-Chul placed the document on the desk and shifted his gaze to the screen displaying the emergency cam feed to see three familiar A-rank Hunters¡ªthey were top battle assets, including Han Dong-Hyun, the guild master of the major guild, Mejai.


    They¡¯re going to die.


    Statistics showed that to survive a Fissure Distortion, there needed to be at least two Hunters, one rank or higher than the Fissure. In other words, at least two S-rank Hunters were needed in that Great Fissure to defeat the Monarch Ogre.


    ¡°What¡¯s the status of the Hunter deployment?¡±


    ¡°Kang Min-Hyuk and Han Min-Ji were nearby and departed immediately.¡±


    ¡°Will two S-rankers be enough to handle it?¡±


    ¡°It should be possible.¡±


    Young-Chul turned to his aide with a deeply furrowed face.


    Realizing his mistake, the aide bowed his head. ¡°I will deploy an additional S-rank Hunter. If we do that, we will definitely be able to handle it.¡±


    ¡°We cannot afford a single mistake. Do you understand?¡±


    ¡°Yes. My apologies, Chief.¡±


    Young-Chul tapped his fingers on the armrest of his chair and thought to himself.


    What is an F-rank doing there?


    ***


    A holographic message stating that entry and exit were restricted during the Fissure Distortion appeared before their eyes.


    This meant that no one could enter or leave.


    ¡°Drink all the potions we have. Mi-Ra, keep us updated with the Monarch Ogre¡¯s location. If we get caught, we¡¯re one hundred percent dead. Stay focused,¡± Dong-Hyun issued orders to his companions.


    He was relieved that Yoo Mi-Ra was with them. Her skill, Hawk Eye, was a B-rank skill that allowed her to detect enemies within a kilometer by consuming mana.


    In the current situation, where the surroundings were dark and hard to discern, Hawk Eye would be more useful than any other skill.


    ¡°Do you think we can make it out alive...?¡± Yoo Mi-Ra asked him.


    ¡°Well, don¡¯t they tell us to keep our wits about even in a lion¡¯s den? If we do just that, we will survive. Don¡¯t think so negatively and focus on how we can get through this instead.¡±


    Yoo Mi-Ra nodded, then gathered her mana and activated Hawk Eye. Her eyes glowed, and everything became clear.


    ¡°I don¡¯t see the boss monster just yet.¡±


    ¡°Good, that¡¯s a relief. If we lure and take down the Dark Ogres one by one, we¡¯ll gain the upper hand. Jung-Ho, you make sure you conserve your mana. If it¡¯s just a scratch, don¡¯t heal it. And if all three of us get injured, prioritize yourself.¡±


    Yoo Jung-Ho was a healer, often referred to as a noble. But that didn¡¯t mean he lacked combat power.


    He had the strength of a typical B-rank Hunter, but with his A-rank healing skill, Light, he was classified as an A-rank Hunter.


    ¡°The problem is this guy with the mask...¡± Dong-Hyun trailed off.


    At first glance, the man in jeans and a hoodie looked like an ordinary person.


    Dong-Hyun bit his lips and asked, ¡°Let¡¯s cut to the chase. Are you a Hunter?¡±


    Do-Jun nodded.


    After confirming that Do-Jun had nothing in his hands, Dong-Hyun scolded, ¡°Fucking hell, you¡¯re a Hunter, and you came in without any equipment? Into a Great Fissure?¡±


    ¡°Man, try not to get so worked up,¡± Do-Jun replied dismissively.


    ¡°Are you not grasping the magnitude of this situation? Be honest. What rank are you?¡±


    When Do-Jun fished around in his pocket and showed his Hunter ID card, Dong-Hyun saw the large letter F.


    Even the small glimmer of hope was crushed.


    ¡°You¡¯re a liability. Just hide somewhere. We absolutely won¡¯t have the luxury to protect you.¡±


    Do-Jun pondered, realizing that just taking down one monster and leaving was not an option anymore. Judging by the message displayed in front of him, they would have to defeat the Monarch Ogre to exit.


    Should I just observe them for now?


    There were three pairs of eyes watching him.


    If they managed to defeat the Monarch Ogre and leave the Great Fissure, he could stay until the end, kill a Dark Ogre, collect its mana stone, and leave without any issues.


    Dong-Hyun and his group drank the three potions hanging from their belts. Each costing 100 million won per bottle, they temporarily amplified Strength, Agility, and Stamina stats. Normally, they would¡¯ve carried out the hunt without them, but now wasn¡¯t the time to spare any resources.


    ¡°Good thing it¡¯s Dark Ogres. If we were somewhere else, we¡¯d be dead for sure.¡±


    Unlike goblins or trolls, ogres did not move in groups.


    Though taking down one ogre was just as hard as taking down five trolls, it worked in their favor in the current situation.


    ¡°We¡¯ll take them down one by one. One at a time...¡± Dong-Hyun muttered and Yoo Jung-Ho nodded in agreement.


    Meanwhile, Yoo Mi-Ra was observing the surroundings with Hawk Eye. She felt puzzled as she detected three Dark Ogres four hundred meters ahead walking northward in unison as if they were possessed.


    That¡¯s strange, she thought.


    Why were they walking together?


    At that moment, Do-Jun approached Yoo Mi-Ra and said, ¡°It seems unlikely we can take them down one by one.¡±


    ¡°I told you to stay hidden in a corner somewhere!¡± Dong-Hyun shouted in frustration.


    Blocking Dong-Hyun, Yoo Mi-Ra calmly asked Do-Jun, ¡°Why do you think that?¡±


    Do-Jun looked beyond and saw an ogre over twenty meters tall. The distance was too great for normal eyes to see, but it wasn''t a long distance for Do-Jun, who could see a thousand miles by using just a bit of his internal energy.


    ¡°The ogres are gathering.¡±


    Do-Jun could see it¡ªdozens of Dark Ogres converging toward their master, the Monarch Ogre.


    ¡°Gathering? That¡¯s nonsense! Ogres don¡¯t form groups!¡± Dong-Hyun growled.


    His group was already anxious, and Do-Jun was spouting words that were ominous enough to lower the morale.


    ¡°Calm down, Guild Master,¡± Yoo Mi-Ra said as she tapped Dong-Hyun on the shoulder. He was glaring at Do-Jun as if he would devour him.


    ¡°Sorry, I got worked up. But still...¡±


    ¡°Masked Hunter, please explain in detail,¡± Yoo Mi-Ra said.


    Do-Jun smirked and continued his explanation, ¡°Unlike the others, there¡¯s an ogre about four times taller. That must be the Monarch Ogre. And the Dark Ogres are gathering around it. In total... there are about fifty of them.¡±


    Everyone fell into despair at Do-Jun¡¯s words.


    If what he said was true, there was no way they could survive.


    It was relatively easy to take down one, but anything more than that was going to be impossible.


    ¡°Can you take them down with your powers?¡± Do-Jun asked the three Mejai Hunters. It wasn¡¯t a taunt; he was genuinely curious. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If there was even a slight chance that they could handle it on their own, Do-Jun had no intention of stepping in.


    ¡°Even an S-rank Hunter wouldn¡¯t be able to handle that,¡± Yoo Jung-Ho answered with a bitter smile.


    Rooooaaar!


    Rrrrrrumble.


    The entire swamp shook.


    Do-Jun spotted the Monarch Ogre letting out a roar as it walked toward them, followed by the Dark Ogres marching in a line.


    ¡°They¡¯re coming,¡± Do-Jun muttered, and the group tensed up.


    ¡°Tell me it¡¯s a lie,¡± Dong-Hyun pleaded.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m not really fond of lying.¡±


    ¡°At this point, we have no choice but to fight. Even if we can take down just one, it would make things easier for the others,¡± Yoo Jung-Ho said, pulling out a mana gun from his waistband.


    Seeing this, Dong-Hyun and Yoo Mi-Ra also drew their weapons. Dong-Hyun unsheathed a sword while Yoo Mi-Ra readied a bow.


    Noticing the trio trembling with tension, Do-Jun clicked his tongue as he watched the approaching group of ogres.


    If Dong-Hyun¡¯s group were to die and he was the only survivor, it was obvious that Hunter Kim Hyun-Woo would receive all the attention in the world.


    It¡¯s better if we all make it out alive.


    He thought that the scenario where F-rank Hunter Kim Hyun-Woo barely survived a Monarch Ogre with the help of other Hunters would let him get away without drawing any attention to himself.


    But what he was unaware of was the fact that the emergency cam was running.


    ¡°They¡¯re here! Everyone, stay sharp!¡±


    ¡°So that¡¯s the Monarch Ogre.¡±


    ¡°Try not to get hit!¡±


    Everyone saw the Monarch Ogre leading an army of dozens of ogres.


    Deep down, Dong-Hyun knew that no matter how focused they were, they wouldn¡¯t win this one.


    Against all expectations, Do-Jun suddenly stepped forward, holding a stick the size of a forearm. He drew a circle on the ground around Dong-Hyun¡¯s group.


    ¡°What are you doing...?¡±


    After finishing the circle, Do-Jun threw the stick away.


    Then something amazing happened.


    Whoosh!


    A faintly glowing blue barrier surrounded the group.


    After confirming the activation of Barrier, Do-Jun pulled out a bladeless sword, basically a hilt.


    ¡°Don¡¯t take a single step out of there.¡± Do-Jun turned to Dong-Hyun¡¯s group and spoke as they stared blankly at the transparent circular barrier surrounding them.


    Crackle, crack!


    An ink-black blade revealed itself, and the ground began to shake far more violently than before.


    Even the air grew heavy and oppressive.


    ¡°Hurrrrk!¡±


    Yoo Mi-Ra felt like her mana was flowing in reverse and up her throat, making her nauseous.


    At the same time, Dong-Hyun and Yoo Jung-Ho felt suffocating pressure, and they started to tremble, making them feel that if they lost focus for even a second, they would pass out.


    Crack!


    ¡°Hurk!¡±


    Yoo Mi-Ra continued to gag, unaware that the emergency cam hanging from her neck had cracked. Struggling to breathe, she barely managed to lift her head to see what was happening in front of her.


    Do-Jun let go of the Heavenly Demon Sword from his hand, but it did not fall to the ground.


    Instead, it began to rise into the air.


    As Do-Jun gestured forward, the Heavenly Demon Sword soared toward the Monarch Ogre with a loud bang.


    It was a sword technique called Sword Summon, where internal energy was infused into the sword for a strike.


    Slash!


    The Heavenly Demon Sword cleaved the Monarch Ogre¡¯s body in half, then, like a boomerang, returned to Do-Jun¡¯s hand.


    Yoo Mi-Ra¡¯s eyes widened at the sight.


    Huh...?


    The Dark Ogres didn¡¯t move anymore. No, they couldn¡¯t move.


    They were overwhelmed by the immense demonic energy emanating from the Heavenly Demon Sword.


    [The Monarch Ogre has been defeated.]


    [The distorted Fissure will return to normal.]


    Crackle!


    As Do-Jun withdrew the internal energy he had infused into the sword, the blade of the Heavenly Demon Sword disappeared, returning to its original bladeless form.


    Regaining their senses, the Dark Ogres hastily began to flee.


    ¡°Tsk.¡±


    Do-Jun didn¡¯t chase after them. Instead, he retrieved a mana stone from the Monarch Ogre¡¯s corpse that was only as big as his palm despite the massive size of its source.


    Then, he erased the lines drawn on the ground, lifting the Barrier.


    ¡°Let¡¯s just say that you guys killed the Monarch Ogre. I¡¯m sure that will be better for you as well.¡±


    Poof.


    Just like that, Do-Jun¡¯s figure disappeared.

 Chapter 13

    Chapter 13


    Silence fell as the people in the Emergency Response Center Situation Room of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau lost count of how many times they had replayed the scene captured by Hunter Yoo Mi-Ra¡¯s emergency cam.


    ¡°Play it again,¡± Young-Chul said.


    The video started playing again from the point of recording.


    Young-Chul gestured and said, ¡°There, rewind it a bit. Start from when the ogres appear.¡±


    Ziiiing.


    The video resumed at triple speed for a while, then resumed normal speed when dozens of Dark Ogres, led by the Monarch Ogre, began walking toward the Hunters.


    ¡°They¡¯re here! Everyone, stay sharp!¡±


    ¡°So that¡¯s the Monarch Ogre...¡±


    ¡°Try not to get hit!¡±


    ¡°Slow it down from here.¡±


    The footage then played at half speed.


    Young-Chul leaned forward, focusing on the video.


    He was looking at a Hunter wearing a white mask in casual clothes picking up a branch and drawing a large circle around the three members of the Mejai Guild.


    Fwoosh!


    Then, a translucent blue barrier enveloped them.


    ¡°Do not leave this circle.¡±


    The masked Hunter pulled out a sword from their waist.


    No, could it even be called a sword? With its broken blade, it was less than twenty centimeters long. The only intact part was the hilt, making it a ridiculously poor excuse for a sword.


    Crrrrackle!


    The sword flashed, and an ink-black blade as dark as pitch extended from the hilt.


    Boooooom!


    The Fissure shook violently from the impact, so strong that it felt palpable even through the screen.


    The Mejai Guild Hunters clutched their heads or started dry heaving, unable to maintain their composure.


    Crrrrrackle!


    And that¡¯s where the video cut off.


    Young-Chul leaned back against his chair, an expression of disbelief on his face. He closed his eyes and replayed the scene in his mind.


    ¡°What did you say that guy¡¯s name was?¡± he asked.


    An aide responded immediately, ¡°His name is Kim Hyun-Woo.¡±


    ¡°And the info on him?¡±


    ¡°About that...¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t make me wait. Spit it out.¡±


    The aide scratched his head awkwardly. He swallowed hard, then said, ¡°There is none.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°His resident registration number, address, and all the other information on file is false. Even his Hunter registration date is listed as December 99, 9999.¡±


    Young-Chul frowned. ¡°Are there no witnesses? He must have left the Fissure. Didn¡¯t Min-Hyuk and Min-Ji go there? They must have seen him.¡±


    ¡°No one saw him leave,¡± the aide answered, sweating profusely.


    He thought Young-Chul would soon explode in anger, demanding they find the masked Hunter no matter what.


    ¡°Tsk, forget it.¡±


    ¡°Sir?¡±


    Even though the video cut off in the middle of the battle, anyone with half a brain could deduce who defeated the Monarch Ogre, the boss monster of the A-rank Great Fissure. The issue at hand was his identity.


    He must¡¯ve worn a mask to conceal his identity.


    The puzzling question was, why would he want to hide?


    His skill level was clearly at S-rank, probably even higher.


    The way he imbued mana into the sword using Infusion and the barrier he placed around the Mejai Guild members was likely an application of some other technique.


    However, based on these two pieces of information, he knew of no Hunters among the S-rankers who matched this description.


    Young-Chul stood up. ¡°A person with skills like that will come to light soon enough. Let¡¯s just wait and see.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir. In the meantime, I¡¯ll continue the investigation.¡±


    ¡°One more thing. Bring me a list of any new S-rankers from the Hunter ranking evaluations.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    ***


    Returning home, Do-Jun placed the hoodie and jeans he had been wearing into the laundry bag and quickly changed his clothes. Checking that Yoon-Hee had gone out, he placed the mask in the desk drawer and set the mana stone he obtained from defeating the Monarch Ogre on the desk.


    He felt the condensed mana from the palm-sized mana stone.


    In terms of internal energy, it amounted to about ten years¡¯ worth of training. Do-Jun divided the mana stone into ten pieces, thinking that bringing the whole stone to the Korean National Smithy might raise unnecessary suspicions.


    Do-Jun looked at the Hunter ID card in his hand and contemplated, Should I destroy it?


    Thinking ahead, destroying it seemed prudent. The best strategy was always to avoid leaving a trail. However, Do-Jun shook his head and gently placed the Hunter ID card in the drawer.


    I didn¡¯t leave any traces. There¡¯s nothing for them to track me with.


    He might need the ID card in the future. If he needed to enter any more Fissures after destroying this card, he would have no choice but to use his civil servant ID.


    Besides, the information he had entered for Kim Hyun-Woo in the Seoul Administrative System registration was false.


    Of course, the Hunter¡¯s Bureau might find a way to track him down somehow, but that was a problem for later.


    Do-Jun walked out of his room and pulled out a thick envelope hidden between small bookshelves beside Yoon-Hee¡¯s mattress.


    He alternately looked at the enrollment notice and the Payment Reminder.


    Fifty million won.


    Do-Jun looked at the mana stone fragment he had on him.


    He wasn¡¯t sure how much he could sell it for, but considering the average price of a mana stone obtained from an A-rank monster was around 200 million won, he thought he could at least get tens of millions of won.


    ***


    Do-Jun arrived at the Korean National Smithy by subway and immediately entered Zone 1, which housed a general store selling potions and various miscellaneous items for Hunters. It was also a place where Hunters could bring monster corpses and mana stones they obtained from them.


    [Customer number forty-eight, please proceed to counter number three.]


    Despite it being a Saturday, the place was crowded with people selling monster corpses and mana stones. Most of them were guild managers who handled the sale of the items hunted by their guild Hunters.


    Since Do-Jun wasn¡¯t affiliated with any guild, he had to sell his mana stone himself.


    ¡°Welcome. You¡¯ve written here that you¡¯re selling one mana stone. Please write down the date and time for the appraisal request, as well as the approximate grade of the mana stone.¡±


    ¡°Is it not possible to sell it right now? I¡¯m in a bit of a hurry.¡±


    ¡°You want a quick sale, I see. In that case, an accurate appraisal is difficult, and ten percent of the sale price of your mana stone will be taken as a fee. Is that alright?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    ¡°Great, do you have the mana stone with you?¡±


    ¡°Yes, here it is.¡±


    The employee took the mana stone from Do-Jun. As they examined the small mana stone roughly the size of a fingertip, they sighed inwardly, knowing that individuals who came alone to sell a single mana stone were mostly F-rank Hunters just starting out hunting in Fissures.


    It¡¯s also a typical size for an F-rank mana stone.


    When it came to F-rank mana stones, they varied in price depending on mana concentration, generally ranging from 40 to 60 thousand won. Assuming an average of 50 thousand won and deducting the fee, the Hunter would get only 45 thousand won.


    The employee placed the mana stone on a device that measured mana concentration. The mana level displayed on the machine began to rise gradually, and as the increase continued, the employee¡¯s jaw dropped further open.


    The amount of mana contained in what they had thought was a negligible mana stone was equivalent to that of an A-rank stone. In fact, it was slightly above the average A-rank.


    ¡°L-let me measure it again. My apologies,¡± the employee said, evidently taken aback.


    ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Do-Jun asked them.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s just... it looks like the machine might be malfunctioning.¡±


    However, the result was the same even after several re-measurements and even when using a machine from the adjacent counter.


    Finally, the employee showed Do-Jun the calculated number on the calculator: 27,850,000.


    ¡°Is that 27 million won?¡± Do-Jun asked, regretting not bringing another of the mana stone fragments he had.


    But the employee¡¯s next words were more surprising. ¡°That¡¯s the ten percent for the fee. After that, the amount you will receive is 250,650,000 won.¡±


    ***


    Tap, tap.


    [Welcome, Mr. Lee Do-Jun.]


    [Current balance: 251,400,190 won.]


    Seeing the balance on his online banking app, Do-Jun glanced at the nine mana stone fragments rolling around in his desk drawer. If he sold all these mana stones, he could receive over 2 billion won, but he had no intention of doing so.


    Hearing the front door open, he closed the desk drawer and exited his room. Yoon-Hee had placed bags filled with groceries from her shopping trip at the entrance.


    ¡°You¡¯re home, Father! How was work?¡± she asked Do-Jun.


    ¡°Thanks. That must have been heavy. Good job,¡± he said, pointing to the grocery bags.


    ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s nothing.¡±


    Do-Jun lifted the bags and placed them on the dining table.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    At that moment, Yoon-Hee noticed a neatly placed envelope on the table. She looked at Do-Jun in surprise, and Do-Jun sighed at her reaction.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me about the tuition fees?¡± he asked her. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Did you see it?¡± Yoon-Hee¡¯s face darkened as she asked.


    Despite calling each other father and daughter, their relationship was purely contractual. The reality was that they were complete strangers with no blood ties. Asking to borrow or even expecting 50 million won from such a person was out of the question.


    ¡°I thought it might make you hate me. I¡¯m already grateful just to live here...¡± Yoon-Hee said.


    ¡°Hate you?¡±


    ¡°B-but... Fifty million won all of a sudden... I didn¡¯t want to burden you any further...¡±


    ¡°Right. Fifty million won is certainly a burden for me. It¡¯s also not covered in our contract,¡± Do-Jun said.


    Yoon-Hee bit her lip and nodded slightly. Do-Jun¡¯s reaction was understandable; after all, this was a purely contractual relationship.


    ¡°So we¡¯d better add it.¡±


    ¡°Sorry?¡±


    With that, Do-Jun pulled out the contract and spread it on the table while Yoon-Hee blinked in confusion.


    8. Party A will finance any school-related fees of Party B.


    Do-Jun then signed above the new addendum and urged Yoon-Hee to do the same.


    ¡°Go ahead and put your signature next to mine.¡±


    ¡°Sorry...?¡± she asked, looking back and forth between Do-Jun and the contract. ¡°But... this is...¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere until you sign it. I¡¯m hungry, so it¡¯d be best if you could hurry,¡± Do-Jun said with a smile, and that kindness made Yoon-Hee tear up without realizing it.


    ¡°Come on, dad¡¯s hungry, sign it.¡±


    She had always thought how nice it would be to have a dependable father.


    When she was just a kindergartener, she envied the kids whose fathers came to pick them up. Her mother often yelled that it was her fault her father left.


    Do-Jun¡¯s older brother, whom her mother brought home as a boyfriend, was an alcoholic who beat her and her mother daily.


    ¡°You really make me do everything for you, huh?¡± Do-Jun helped Yoon-Hee up, placed his hand over hers, and made her hold the pen to force her to write her name.


    ¡°Dad... Dad...¡± Yoon-Hee hugged Do-Jun and burst into tears as if her long-suppressed sorrow exploded all at once.


    Do-Jun patted her back and stroked her hair. After about a minute passed and Do-Jun tried to pull her away, Yoon-Hee clung on even more tightly.


    ¡°Just a little longer... let me be spoiled.¡±


    At her words, Do-Jun chuckled and muttered, ¡°Alright.¡±

 Chapter 14

    Chapter 14


    It was another peaceful Monday morning.


    As usual, Do-Jun woke up at 7 AM, showered, dressed for work, and sat at the dining table. The only unusual thing was the food on the table.


    ¡°When did you prepare all this...?¡± Do-Jun asked in surprise.


    Instead of white rice, there was a bowl of rice mixed with various grains and chopped mushrooms. Accompanying the rice bowl was a plate of shredded radish, stir-fried anchovies, a fried egg, and a bubbling pot of doenjang jjigae[1].


    The most notable menu on the table was a well-grilled mackerel and three bite-sized pieces of pear for dessert.


    ¡°Hehe. Eat up,¡± Yoon-Hee said.


    ¡°Why did you make all this in the morning? You should have gotten more sleep instead.¡±


    ¡°Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Eating well in the morning gives us energy for the day!¡±


    ¡°I get it... Thank you.¡±


    Yoon-Hee sat across from Do-Jun, resting her chin on her hands, watching him eat with a bright smile. Then she picked up her chopsticks and placed a piece of mackerel that she separated from its bones on Do-Jun¡¯s spoon.


    Although Yoon-Hee usually took good care of Do-Jun, this felt much more than usual. The only reason he could think of for her change was that he had offered to pay her tuition fee of 50 million won.


    Indeed, he had promptly paid the tuition after their conversation.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been so happy lately,¡± Yoon-Hee said.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear that. Anyway, thank you for the meal. I should get going.¡±


    Do-Jun wiped his mouth with a tissue and stood up, and Yoon-Hee quickly followed him to the front door.


    As he was about to leave, she called out, ¡°Ah, hold on a moment.¡±


    Yoon-Hee approached Do-Jun closely to straighten his crooked tie and smiled sweetly.


    ¡°Have a good day at work, Father.¡±


    ***


    8:40 AM.


    Hyuk-Soo was reading a web article as he sipped on his coffee.


    It was about a Fissure Distortion that occurred in the Swamp of the Dark Ogre, an A-rank Great Fissure located at the entrance of Guryongsan Mountain.


    ¡°Mejai Guild defeats the Monarch Ogre!¡±


    The article was brief. A Fissure Distortion occurred in the Swamp of the Dark Ogre, followed by an appearance of the Monarch Ogre, an A-rank boss monster, which was defeated by the leader and three elite members of the Mejai Guild.


    ¦éincu****: Wow, the Mejai Guild seems to be on a roll damn (Likes: 92,231 / Dislikes: 11,531)


    ¦édokd***: They killed an A-rank Great Fissure boss with just three A-rank Hunters? Another A-rank Great Fissure in the neighboring area wiped out seven A-rankers before it was released... The ranking evaluation results aren¡¯t out yet, right? I bet their skills are already S-rank. (Likes: 72,231 / Dislikes: 29,461)


    ¦ésinh****: But what¡¯s this about an F-ranker being there? Enough with innocent passersby getting caught in this stuff! (Likes: 32,231 / Dislikes: 2,511)


    ¦étutu****: Give us the name of the F-rank Hunter. They seem to want attention, so let¡¯s give them some. (Likes: 9,231 / Dislikes: 6,531)


    ¡°Good morning, Hyuk-Soo,¡± Do-Jun greeted his senior as he placed his bag down at his desk.


    Hyuk-Soo raised his hand slightly to acknowledge the greeting and continued reading the comments.


    ¦éjds7****: That¡¯s that, but I heard they had an emergency cam with them, so why isn''t the video being released? Even if the emergency cam broke during the fight, there should be footage until that point. Something smells fishy hmmmmm. (Likes: 33,231 / Dislikes: 199)


    ¡°Three A-rank Hunters killed the boss of an A-rank Great Fissure...¡± Hyuk-Soo murmured.


    Though he wasn''t well-versed in the world of B-rank or higher Hunters, he still knew how implausible this was.


    The boss of a Great Fissure had stats at least one level higher than the rank of the actual Fissure, and with its special abilities, the Monarch Ogre¡¯s rank had to be at least S.


    But three A-rank Hunters defeated an S-rank monster?


    ¡°Something definitely does not add up, don¡¯t you think so too, Do-Jun?¡± Hyuk-Soo asked.


    ¡°Sorry, what are you talking about...¡±


    Do-Jun was internally surprised to see the event that happened just two days ago already on Hyuk-Soo¡¯s screen. He still maintained a calm expression and replied as if he knew nothing, ¡°If you say so, Senior, then it must be.¡±


    Do-Jun sat down at his desk and turned on his computer.


    ¡°You should start reading up on Great Fissures as well, Do-Jun. Considering Ye-Ji¡¯s growth rate, reaching B-rank doesn¡¯t seem too much of a reach. But we¡¯ve never had a Hunter with a rank B or higher in our team, so I¡¯m not even sure what to prepare.¡±


    Though there were provisions and regulations outlining the necessary measures, they lacked practical experience with the work itself.


    If Ye-Ji were to actually advance to B-rank, they would need to start considering the management of B-rank or higher Fissures on a regular basis. They couldn¡¯t always leave Great Fissures under the jurisdiction of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau.


    ¡°Oh, right. I forgot to give you this.¡± Hyuk-Soo handed Do-Jun a file with the title ¡°The Orc Forest.¡±


    ¡°What is this?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a new Fissure that appeared in Deogyang-gu, Goyang-si, in Gyeonggi-do. I briefly checked the area just inside the entrance during a recent trip, and there were orcs. The estimated Fissure rank is C, and since Hunter Ye-Ji has recently reached C-rank, I thought it wouldn''t hurt for you two to check it out.¡±


    Do-Jun only had one Fissure under his management until now.


    Even as Hyuk-Soo handed over the Fissure management work, he looked apologetic, and understandably so, as C-rank Fissure management was originally Hyuk-Soo¡¯s responsibility.


    ¡°Yes, understood.¡± Do-Jun accepted the file with no complaints.


    ¡°I hope you don¡¯t resent me; it¡¯s the Chief¡¯s order.¡±


    ¡°No, I appreciate it. It shows you trust me.¡±


    Hyuk-Soo¡¯s eyes widened, then he chuckled. ¡°You¡¯ve been doing well lately, Do-Jun.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, but I still have a lot to learn.¡±


    ¡°Feel free to ask if there¡¯s anything you don¡¯t know. If I can help, I will.¡±


    ¡°I will, thank you.¡±


    Just then, the door to the Fissure Management Division opened, and a young woman in her early twenties hurried in. It was none other than Ye-Ji.


    She then took her now-designated seat next to Do-Jun, glanced at her wristwatch, and saw that it was 9:03 AM.


    ¡°Sorry for being late,¡± she said.


    She tidied her hair with her hands, which seemed to have not been dried properly due to the morning rush.


    Do-Jun glanced around the office to notice that out of the seven employees of the Fissure Exploration Unit, he was the only one with his assigned Hunter present with him in the office.


    ¡°Um... Hunter Ye-Ji, it¡¯s okay for you to stay home when we don¡¯t have a scheduled trip to a Fissure. Actually, that¡¯s the protocol,¡± Hyuk-Soo said quietly.


    Ever since Ye-Ji received her C-rank assessment, Hyuk-Soo and the other Fissure Exploration Unit staff had been treating her with more respect.


    ¡°O-oh, it¡¯s fine! I¡¯m being paid, so of course, I should show up on time!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I was trying to say...¡±


    While Hyuk-Soo and Ye-Ji conversed, Do-Jun began skimming through the Orc Forest file. As expected, no proper mapping had been done yet, and the monster information was also not completely reliable. Even the name of the Fissure, Orc Forest, was merely provisional.


    ¡°Do you have any pressing work today, Hyuk-Soo?¡± Do-Jun asked.


    ¡°Why do you ask...¡±


    ¡°Since you brought it up anyway, I am thinking of taking Ye-Ji there.¡±


    ¡°Hmm. We should report to the chief first...¡±


    As if on cue, Cheol-Soo stood up abruptly from his seat, walked briskly toward Do-Jun, pulled out his wallet from inside his suit jacket, and took out two 50,000 won bills.


    Then he pressed them into Do-Jun¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Buy her some Korean beef!¡±


    Cheol-Soo then beamed at Ye-Ji. ¡°Please be careful, Hunter Ye-Ji.¡±


    ***


    The C-rank Fissure was in Seongsa-dong, Deokyang-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do.


    Upon arrival, Do-Jun understood why Cheol-Soo had suggested treating Ye-Ji to Korean beef.


    ¡°The Fissure was inside a Korean beef shop premises,¡± Do-Jun pointed out.


    ¡°Y-you are right, hehe,¡± Ye-Ji said with a grin.


    Do-Jun didn¡¯t spend any of the 100,000 won that Cheol-Soo gave him.


    Civil servants were entitled to a 20,000 won allowance when traveling on duty without using a personal vehicle, and under the rules for contracted Hunters, transportation expenses were provided for any dispatches.


    ¡°Did you have breakfast?¡± Do-Jun asked Ye-Ji.


    ¡°I had some bread on the way, so I''m not very hungry. We can head in right away,¡± Ye-Ji replied while looking at the Fissure, which was a little over ten meters wide.


    At the entrance of the Fissure was a staff member dispatched from the Hunter¡¯s Bureau along with a few other Hunters who had rushed over upon hearing the news.


    I have to stay alert, Ye-Ji thought, looking at the gathered Hunters.


    Among them were quite a few fairly well-known B-rank Hunters, which was natural given that it was typical practice to hunt in Fissures one rank lower than their own for safety¡¯s sake.


    This was Ye-Ji¡¯s first time entering a C-rank Fissure, and it just happened to be one with almost no information. Who knew what dangers lurked inside?


    I have to protect him, Ye-Ji resolved to herself.


    At first, she had suspected that Do-Jun might be hiding his power. To be honest, she still had that suspicion.


    However, Do-Jun was a perfectly ordinary person on the outside, and she had to consider the possibility that he really might not have any special abilities.


    I can¡¯t let a single monster slip through this time.


    Goblins were classified as F-rank, the weakest among monsters. But these C-rank monsters were vastly different from them. A regular person could die with just one hit.


    ¡°Mr. Administrator, if I find myself in danger, please run away.¡±


    ¡°That won¡¯t happen.¡±


    ¡°Sorry?¡±


    As if naturally, Do-Jun refuted Ye-Ji¡¯s words confidently, sounding as if talking about an obvious outcome.


    He explained, ¡°I mean, you¡¯re wearing an A-rank suit, so it¡¯s unlikely that such a situation will arise. Also, your skills were verified during the rank evaluation. You handled the Orc Warriors with ease, so we should be safe as long as we remain cautious.¡±


    ¡°I will keep that in mind, Mr. Administrator,¡± Ye-Ji said with a determined expression, taking out her suit-case and placing the bead on her chest.


    Shortly after, a radiant silver suit enveloped her body.


    ¡°We¡¯ve got a tank now, so let¡¯s head inside.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t have a healer in our party; be careful.¡±


    As Do-Jun watched the Hunters forming parties and entering the Fissure, he suddenly recalled the trio from the Mejai Guild he had met in the Swamp of the Dark Ogre. They were a balanced party formed of melee, ranged, and healer.


    If we ever face a Great Fissure, even Ye-Ji might struggle. Maybe it would be better to recruit a tank or healer in advance. Do-Jun started thinking of the future.


    However, no matter how many hiring listings were posted, the number of Hunters willing to join as contracted Hunters at City Hall was extremely low¡ªin fact, it was almost nonexistent.


    ¡°Ye-Ji,¡± Do-Jun called.


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Administrator?¡±


    ¡°If we could recruit a teammate, what type would you prefer? For example, a tank to draw the monsters¡¯ attention, or a ranged class to provide support from a distance...?¡±


    Ye-Ji¡¯s eyes suddenly turned cold, and she took a step closer to Do-Jun and murmured coldly, ¡°Are you trying to cheat on me?¡±


    ¡°Sorry...?¡±


    ¡°Did you not say that I was the only Hunter for you? Was that a lie? Are you thinking of contracting with another Hunter besides me?¡± S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    There seemed to be a misunderstanding on Ye-Ji¡¯s part.


    ¡°Recruiting another Hunter doesn¡¯t mean that I¡¯m going to terminate your contract.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Administrator.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need all that.¡±


    With that, she walked toward the Fissure entrance. Then she turned around and smiled at Do-Jun, extending her hand in an invitation.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, Mr. Administrator.¡±


    1. You can think of doenjang jjigae as a Korean version of miso soup with more ingredients such as meat, zucchini, onions, etc. ?

 Chapter 15

    Chapter 15


    10:40 AM.


    Byeon Dae-Sang, an intern on the Hunter¡¯s Bureau Fissure Control Team, checked the time on his smartphone.


    It had been an hour and forty minutes since he swapped shifts with his fellow intern, Cha Seok-Woo.


    Two days ago, a Fissure suddenly appeared inside the premises of a Korean beef shop in Deokyang-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do.


    The Fissure was given a provisional rank of C by Supervisor Kwon Hyuk-Soo from the Seoul City Hall Fissure Management Division, and the majority of monsters inside were orcs, the most common among C-rank monsters.


    Something feels off, Byeon Dae-Sang thought to himself as he checked the entry records for the Fissure.


    It had been two days since the appearance of the Fissure, and a total of thirty-seven Hunters had entered. However, only five Hunters had come out of the Fissure.


    The team of five Hunters who came out after eight hours were the first to enter. In the following twelve hours, twenty-five more Hunters had entered, but these additional Hunters showed no signs of coming out.


    It was common practice for Hunters to limit their time in a Fissure to eight hours, whether hunting or exploring, as there was no food or proper place to rest.


    Sleeping inside a Fissure is basically suicide.


    Did this mean the Hunters who hadn¡¯t come out yet were continuously hunting without sleep?


    Should I report this to the Bureau? Byeon Dae-Sang contemplated.


    As he was lost in thoughts, two people walked toward him, one of whom was a typical Hunter dressed in a suit and holding a sword.


    That looks like a pretty decent suit.


    The woman, seemingly in her early twenties, wore a suit that looked superior even at a quick glance and was noticeably different from the mass-produced ones.


    But on the other hand, the man accompanying her looked to be in his mid-to-late twenties and looked nothing like a Hunter. Dressed in a neat suit, he looked more like a typical office worker.


    ¡°Hello. I¡¯m Lee Do-Jun from the Seoul City Hall Fissure Management Division, and this is Hunter Cha Ye-Ji, who has contracted with our division.¡±


    ¡°Ah. No wonder I thought your attire was unusual. Are you here for the Fissure exploration scheduled for today?¡±


    Do-Jun nodded in affirmation and pulled out his civil servant ID from his inner pocket.


    Byeon Dae-Sang handed over the fingerprint scanner according to protocol, and Do-Jun placed his right thumb on it as if he were now used to the process.


    [Lee Do-Jun, Fissure Management Division, confirmed.]


    Instead of a civil servant ID, Ye-Ji handed over a Hunter ID card labeled ¡°C.¡± Upon noticing the name, a thought crossed Byeon Dae-Sang¡¯s mind.


    ¡°Ah! You¡¯re the one who refused to join the Icarus Guild...?¡± he asked.


    Ye-Ji had become quite famous after the incident at the annual rank evaluation. Despite being personally invited by the S-rank Min-Hyuk to join the Icarus Guild, she had turned him down. This action was incomprehensible from an ordinary person¡¯s perspective and soon became a hot topic.


    ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, may we enter?¡± Do-Jun asked.


    ¡°Of course, haha. Thank you for all the work you do for our country.¡±


    ¡°Likewise, thank you and welcome.¡±


    Do-Jun and Ye-Ji stepped inside the Fissure, which was shimmering with light, and soon they disappeared, confirming their entry into the Fissure.


    Shoot! I should have mentioned the situation right now, Byeon Dae-Sang thought after momentarily forgetting that most of the Hunters hadn¡¯t come out of the Fissure for over thirty hours.


    He finally decided to report this to the Hunter¡¯s Bureau.


    ***


    Upon entering the Fissure, Do-Jun retrieved his SpacePad from his briefcase and launched the Fissure Management System application installed on the home screen.


    [Welcome to the Fissure Management System, Lee Do-Jun.]


    It¡¯s a nice voice, no matter how many times I hear it, Do-Jun thought, wondering whether they hired a professional voice actor for the recording.


    He quickly brushed off the idle thoughts and touched the ¡°Register New Fissure Information¡± button at the bottom right corner, then selected the region and location where the Fissure had occurred.


    [The Fissure at Seongsa-dong-001, Deokyang-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do has been registered.]


    [Please select the rank of the Fissure. Or if you enter the rank of the appearing monster, the rank of the Fissure will be automatically assigned. Also, if the Fissure is deemed a higher rank than what is assessed by the system, please select the Exception option.]


    He decided to withhold entering the Fissure rank and the appearing monsters for now.


    Hyuk-Soo had told him that the Fissure was given a provisional rank of C from the reported appearance of orcs, but he chose to make an informed decision after looking around himself.


    After taking a few photos of the surroundings with the SpacePad, he pressed the Register button. This was the basic procedure for mapping the interior of the Fissure.


    A map similar to those in RPG games appeared at the top right corner of the SpacePad, but it was pitch black other than the spot where Do-Jun was standing.


    He would have to draw the map from here on out.


    Do-Jun suddenly stopped in his tracks.


    About twenty Hunters lay sprawled at the entrance, and their condition was deplorable. There were dried bloodstains all over their suits, and some were even groaning as if they were about to die, much like patients in intensive care units.


    Just then, a middle-aged Hunter in his early forties, leaning against a large rock and groaning, made eye contact with Do-Jun. The Hunter then sneered and shook his head.


    ¡°Another sacrifice walked in, huh? And in a business suit, no less. Are you out of your mind? Are you even a Hunter?¡±


    In response, Do-Jun showed his civil servant ID and said, ¡°I¡¯m Lee Do-Jun from the Seoul City Hall Fissure Management Division.¡±


    ¡°What the hell is a civil servant doing in here...? Oh, right. I¡¯ve heard that Fissures ranked C and lower are managed by civil servants, but I was sure it was just formality.¡±


    Most Hunters, including this middle-aged one, knew that the actual management of Fissures was handled by the Hunter¡¯s Bureau.


    ¡°If it¡¯s not too much trouble, could you tell me about the situation here? I can see that some of these people are in pretty bad shape. Why haven¡¯t you left the Fissure?¡± Do-Jun asked the Hunter.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that we don¡¯t want to leave. We can¡¯t, Mr. Civil Servant,¡± the middle-aged Hunter answered as he pointed to the exit.


    Only then did Do-Jun realize that the portal to the exit wasn¡¯t functioning properly.


    The portal, which should have been glowing brightly, was colorless.


    This... This is... Do-Jun tried to understand the situation.


    This was the same thing he saw with the Fissure Distortion in the Swamp of the Dark Ogre.


    Did this mean that he and Ye-Ji were inside a Great Fissure?


    Distortion? No. If that were the case, we would not have been able to come here in the first place.


    The appearance of a boss monster caused Fissure Distortion, sealing off both the entrance and the exit.


    ¡°A Fissure Break...¡± Ye-Ji muttered.


    A Fissure Break occurred along with a Distortion in a Great Fissure with a rank of B or higher.


    Each Fissure had a special condition that, when met, caused unusual phenomena.


    ¡°Can you show us the Fissure Break info?¡± Ye-Ji asked the middle-aged Hunter.


    He nodded and made a gesture in the air, and a holographic message appeared in front of Do-Jun and Ye-Ji.


    [Fissure Break]


    [Activation Condition: Number of current challengers entering the Fissure is 25 or more]


    [Clear Condition: Eliminate all common monsters in the Fissure]


    [Perfect Clear Condition: Eliminate all monsters in the Fissure]


    [Penalty: Cannot exit the Fissure during the Break]


    [Clear Reward: All challengers¡¯ Strength, Agility, Stamina stats +5]


    [Additional Reward: Random B-rank or higher weapon awarded to challengers who defeat the Boss and Champion monsters]


    [Remaining common monsters: 280]


    [Remaining champion monsters: 3]


    [Remaining boss monster: 1]


    ¡°Two hundred and eighty monsters...¡±


    It was a significant number, but it wasn¡¯t impossible to eliminate them all since the monsters here were orcs.


    With about thirty Hunters ranking from C to B, they could handle up to five hundred C-rank orcs if they hunted intensively.


    ¡°It would be better for you to wait here. If the Bureau notices that Hunters haven¡¯t come out of the Fissure for days, they¡¯ll send the skilled ones in.¡±


    ¡°Can we not take down two hundred and eighty monsters by combining our efforts?¡± Do-Jun asked.


    The middle-aged Hunter chuckled at Do-Jun¡¯s question. It was generally a feasible idea.


    ¡°Do you know what kind of monsters are here?¡± the middle-aged Hunter asked.


    ¡°We heard they were orcs.¡±


    ¡°Yes. We thought so, too. And it was true¡ªat the beginning, at least.¡±


    In the initial part of the dungeon, the monsters were indeed orcs. However, as the Hunters traveled further inside, the monsters that appeared were completely different.


    ¡°Just a bit further in from here, trolls start showing up. B-rank monsters. Does that help you understand why we¡¯re stuck waiting here?¡±


    Ye-Ji¡¯s expression hardened at those words. Having taken down eight Orc Warriors during her rank evaluation, she was confident she could handle up to five of them simultaneously. Moreover, she hadn¡¯t neglected her training in Scholar¡¯s Swordsmanship since then.


    But trolls were a different story.


    Not only had she never faced them before, but B-rank monsters were several times stronger than C-rank. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    To make matters worse, trolls couldn¡¯t be killed with just minor wounds.


    Their monstrous recovery ability meant they could only be dealt with critical hits.


    However, among all these issues, the most critical was that she couldn¡¯t guarantee Do-Jun¡¯s safety.


    After a moment, Ye-Ji made her decision. ¡°I say we sit this one out.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your reason?¡± Do-Jun asked her.


    ¡°I can¡¯t put you in danger, Mr. Administrator.¡±


    ¡°As I mentioned before, that won¡¯t happen.¡±


    ¡°No, this is different. If a bunch of trolls charge at us all together, I won¡¯t be able to protect you. I absolutely oppose this.¡±


    At Ye-Ji¡¯s firm stance, Do-Jun rubbed his chin, contemplating.


    It didn¡¯t matter if they didn¡¯t go hunting. In fact, not going was clearly the right choice, but that was if he were a normal person.


    [Additional Reward: Random B-rank or higher weapon awarded to challengers who defeat the boss and champion monsters]


    Do-Jun looked at the weapon that Ye-Ji was holding. The Skeleton Soldier¡¯s Sword was a feeble D-rank weapon, but it was the best the Fissure Management Division could afford with their operational budget.


    It wasn¡¯t like he could buy her a weapon with his own money, either.


    This is a good opportunity to upgrade her weapon...


    Then Do-Jun noticed three Hunters who seemed like they were about to go hunting.


    ¡°Ye-Ji, if my safety was guaranteed, would you agree to go on this hunt?¡±


    ¡°Well, in that case, I wouldn¡¯t oppose it... Wait, what are you saying?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s find us a party.¡±


    ***


    Ye-Ji turned around every three seconds to look behind her.


    Trailing about ten meters away, Do-Jun was taking photos with his SpacePad and tapping something.


    Ye-Ji sighed deeply.


    Just half an hour ago, Do-Jun pressed her for the hunt with a smile after he brought three other Hunters to form a party with Ye-Ji: a tank, a healer, and a ranged damage dealer.


    They, too, needed a close-combat damage dealer, so they readily accepted Do-Jun¡¯s proposal.


    ¡°Telling ourselves we entered a B-rank Fissure, to begin with, makes it feel much better,¡± said Choi Ho-Jun, the party leader. Laughing heartily, he equipped the shield on his back.


    He glanced at Do-Jun, following behind them, and said, ¡°Follow carefully. We can¡¯t have a government worker dying on us.¡±


    Do-Jun was typing up a document on his SpacePad with his head lowered.


    In a monotonous voice, he said, ¡°Thirty meters ahead, three trolls. Prepare for battle.¡±


    ¡°What? What are you talking about? Where are the¡ª¡±


    Two seconds later, three trolls appeared from behind a giant tree.

 Chapter 16

    Chapter 16


    This is a B-rank Fissure, without a doubt, Do-Jun thought as he clicked the ¡°Select Fissure Rank¡± button, scrolled down, and selected B-rank.


    He then chose orcs and trolls as the types of appearing monsters, and the registered Fissure¡¯s border turned red.


    [B-rank Great Fissure has been registered.]


    [The map completion rate is below 5%.]


    After confirming the system message, he looked up from the SpacePad and ahead.


    Choi Ho-Jun, the designated leader of the newly formed party, positioned a massive iron shield in front of him and adjusted the formation. Moments later, his shield began to shine.


    ¡°Kerr!¡±


    Three trolls turned their attention to Choi Ho-Jun and lumbered toward him with their massive bodies.


    He¡¯s using a taunt skill, Do-Jun realized.


    A troll¡¯s fist cut through the air, extending toward the shield.


    Bang!


    Choi Ho-Jun winced as a loud thud echoed. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The two party members, except Ye-Ji, began their attack while the attacks of the three trolls were focused on Choi Ho-Jun as if this was their routine.


    ¡°Target the one on the right first!¡± Choi Ho-Jun ordered.


    As the Archer, Park Sung-Min, drew his bowstring, a target appeared on the troll¡¯s body.


    Thwip!


    An arrow was then released toward the troll.


    Thuck!


    The arrow pierced the troll¡¯s body, but Park Sung-Min didn¡¯t stop shooting.


    The most annoying characteristic of trolls was their rapid health regeneration. If left alone, an arrow wound like that would heal in the blink of an eye.


    Thwip! Thwip!


    This time, two targets appeared on the troll¡¯s body, and Park Sung-Min aimed for the center of the marked targets.


    Thuck! Thuck!


    He was using Striker¡¯s Mark, a B-rank skill that drastically lowered the defense of the marked target and increased inflicted damage by 50%.


    Park Sung-Min was a former national archery team member. With this skill, he could climb to B-rank in less than a year since becoming a Hunter.


    ¡°Kwooooh!¡±


    Pierced by three arrows, the troll turned its head toward Park Sung-Min and charged ferociously with a roar.


    Thump! Thump!


    At that moment, Ye-Ji took a running start and spun in the air. Using the rotational force, she concentrated her body weight on her sword.


    Mana flowed from her dantian into the Skeleton Soldier¡¯s Sword, which sliced through the troll¡¯s neck with the mana concentrated at its tip.


    Thud.


    ¡°I did hear that your skills were comparable to most B-rank Hunters,¡± Park Sung-Min remarked.


    ¡°We work pretty well, don¡¯t we?¡± Ye-Ji replied playfully.


    Choi Ho-Jun was drawing the trolls¡¯ aggression and was under attack, but he grinned despite steadily declining health.


    As the Healer, Kang Tae-Sung, used a healing skill on Choi Ho-Jun, a green light flickered from the staff in Kang Tae-Sung¡¯s hand, which was circling around Choi Ho-Jun.


    ¡°Mr. Administrator, are you okay?¡± Ye-Ji asked Do-Jun.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m just watching over here.¡±


    ¡°Stay back at least fifty... no, two hundred meters away.¡±


    ¡°Ye-Ji.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Enemy ahead.¡±


    As one of the trolls that shook off the taunt skill charged at Ye-Ji, Do-Jun slowly retreated as per her advice to avoid being a distraction during the battle.


    Whoosh!


    Ye-Ji leaned back and narrowly dodged the troll''s fist. Then, she started emitting a murderous intent toward the troll that attacked her, but it wasn¡¯t because she almost got hurt.


    If Mr. Administrator had been hit...


    If an ordinary person like Do-Jun, who wasn¡¯t even wearing a combat suit, had been struck by the troll¡¯s fist, he would have undoubtedly been killed.


    Thinking this, Ye-Ji¡¯s anger surged, and her heart burned.


    I¡¯m going to kill you.


    She took a nimble step toward the troll as the second form of the Scholar¡¯s Swordsmanship technique was drawn in her mind.


    Then, with a brilliant flash, the sword was drawn.


    Park Sung-Min was about to release another arrow but was stunned silent by the scene of Ye-Ji gracefully dodging the troll¡¯s attacks and pouring strikes onto it with her sword in a movement that was better described as a choreography.


    Shortly after a series of wounds appeared on the troll¡¯s body, mana exploded from Ye-Ji¡¯s sword and pierced the troll¡¯s heart.


    Thud!


    The troll collapsed to the ground, and the others in the party gaped in astonishment.


    ¡°T-that was...¡±


    ¡°Sword Aura...!¡±


    It was a rare ability that only S-rank Hunters and very few A-rank Hunters were known to possess.


    It was the pinnacle of Infusion, where mana was transferred to a weapon.


    ¡°There¡¯s still one left,¡± Do-Jun reminded.


    At those words, Choi Ho-Jun raised his shield and swung at the remaining troll while Park Sung-Min drew his bowstring and unleashed his shots.


    Thuck! Thuck!


    Thud!


    With the last troll defeated, the party sighed in relief, catching their breath.


    Do-Jun walked over to Ye-Ji, who had dropped her sword.


    He took her trembling hand and asked, ¡°Why did you overdo it?¡±


    For the final strike, Ye-Ji exhausted all her mana using a technique known as mutual destruction, which placed a tremendous burden on the user.


    It was a final blow that could deal a fatal strike to the enemy, but if Choi Ho-Jun¡¯s party hadn¡¯t been there, Ye-Ji would have faced death herself.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry...¡± Ye-Ji mumbled.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to apologize to me, but please be more careful next time.¡±


    Ye-Ji nodded in agreement.


    But this is incredible growth, Do-Jun thought despite his words of caution.


    What Ye-Ji had shown at the end was undoubtedly Sword Qi: a peak technique that only the absolute masters in the Central Plains could use.


    Even though it was a fleeting moment, manifesting it with such a small amount of mana demonstrated significant talent.


    ¡°Shall we take a short break?¡±


    Everyone nodded at Do-Jun¡¯s suggestion.


    ***


    ¡°I bet he¡¯ll love this, hehe,¡± Yoon-Hee said to herself.


    She looked at her smartphone screen and inspected the ingredients she bought from the market: one monkfish, bean sprouts, mugwort, and tofu, along with a few seasonings she didn¡¯t have at home.


    ¡°Top 10 Winter Seasonal Dishes to Boost Energy.¡±


    ¡°Rich in vitamin C, protein, and excellent for dry winter skin. Let¡¯s make monkfish stew!¡±


    Yoon-Hee was certain that Do-Jun would be happy to find a delicious monkfish stew ready after coming home from a hard day at work.


    Imagining this, she couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    ¡°I¡¯ll start with the cleaning first,¡± she muttered as she put on an apron and took out the vacuum cleaner.


    She then carefully opened the door to Do-Jun¡¯s humble room. The only furniture was a bed, a desk, and a large bookshelf.


    There wasn¡¯t even a computer, but the bookshelf held various books, most related to daily knowledge.


    ¡°100 Common Sense Tips You Need to Know¡±


    ¡°Understanding the Trends of 20¡¯s and 30¡¯s¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s trying his best,¡± Yoon-Hee commented.


    Do-Jun, who supposedly had amnesia, felt like someone from the past who couldn¡¯t adapt to modern life. He wasn¡¯t completely ignorant, but sometimes he did absurd things.


    ¡°He didn¡¯t know how to turn on the hot water and kept showering in cold water...¡±


    Recalling that event, Yoon-Hee chuckled.


    Perhaps it was because their age difference wasn¡¯t that big, but sometimes he seemed genuinely adorable.


    ¡°50 Ways to Be a Good Dad¡±


    Yoon-Hee picked up the book sitting on his desk and flipped through it.


    ¡°He has highlighted so much...¡±


    She could picture Do-Jun studying this book every night before going to bed. Thinking of this made Yoon-Hee blush. Honestly, Do-Jun could have lived comfortably on his own and was more than justified to feel burdened by the unwanted daughter.


    ¡°He¡¯s even studying... for me...¡±


    As she carefully returned the book to its original location, she resolved to become a good daughter. She vowed to become a Hunter and repay this debt multiple times over¡ªno, thousands of times over.


    At that moment, Yoon-Hee noticed the slightly open desk drawer. Curious, she opened the drawer and found a few items: a blade-less sword with just the hilt, nine small blue stones, and a white mask.


    ¡°What is all this? Is this... a Hunter ID card?¡±


    The card read: F-rank Hunter, Kim Hyun-Woo.


    ***


    [A Fissure Break is in progress.]


    [Remaining regular monsters: 171]


    [Remaining champion monsters: 3]


    [Remaining boss monsters: 1]


    After defeating the last troll, Choi Ho-Jun checked the remaining number of monsters.


    We¡¯re moving at an insane speed.


    In just two hours, they had killed 109 trolls, almost entirely thanks to Ye-Ji.


    Whenever Choi Ho-Jun used the Shield Howling skill to draw the trolls, Ye-Ji would slaughter the trolls with ghost-like movements. While Park Sung-Min¡¯s ranged support played a part, the finishing blows were always dealt by Ye-Ji.


    ¡°Mr. Administrator, are you alright?¡±


    ¡°As I keep saying, I¡¯m just watching.¡±


    ¡°Alright. Step back three hundred meters.¡±


    Do-Jun sighed and checked his SpacePad.


    [The current map is 30% complete.]


    The mapping was progressing smoothly. At this rate, it seemed possible to reach a hundred percent completion within the day.


    The Hunters saw their wounds heal quickly and were in good condition thanks to the healer.


    Not only that, but...


    Do-Jun turned his gaze to Ye-Ji, who was wiping blood off her sword, and used his qi senses to examine her dantian. The amount of mana had clearly doubled compared to before entering the Fissure.


    It¡¯s at least double what it was before.


    Of course, it didn''t seem like much to Do-Jun, but in terms of levels, it was quite a significant growth and seemed almost monstrous by usual standards. Moreover, the steadily rising mana without undergoing physical enhancement was basically a cheat in the eyes of ordinary Hunters.


    I wonder how much her level has increased. Her other stats must have gone up significantly, too...


    Then, he detected another massive energy that was unlike any troll they had encountered so far.


    ¡°Prepare for battle.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Let us catch our breaths for just a bit longer, Mr. Administrator,¡± Park Sung-Min joked with a smile.


    ¡°Enemy, two hundred meters ahead...¡± Do-Jun stopped mid-sentence.


    He sensed qi gathering two hundred meters away, then he finally saw it: a three-headed troll. Qi was gathering in its three mouths, and the energy soon converged into a single point.


    Boom!


    Then, it was launched.


    Fwooooosh!


    In Do-Jun¡¯s eyes, everything was playing out like a slow-motion video.


    The trajectory of the qi shot from the troll was headed straight for Ye-Ji¡¯s head, who was wiping her sword.


    It¡¯s going to kill her, Do-Jun realized.


    The suit didn¡¯t protect the head.


    I can save her if I use Barrier.


    But that would undo all his efforts to keep his identity hidden.


    If the target were any Hunter other than Ye-Ji, he would have let it happen without hesitation.


    Do-Jun lunged toward Ye-Ji and pushed her away. Simultaneously, a layer of blue shield formed around Do-Jun in that brief moment.


    Boooooom!


    As an enormous explosion sounded, Do-Jun was hurled dozens of meters away.


    ¡°Mr. Administrator...?¡± Ye-Ji muttered in a daze.

 Chapter 17

    Chapter 17


    It was an attack with an amount of force that should have punctured a hole straight through a normal person¡¯s body. However, Do-Jun¡¯s body remained unscathed.


    He had a legendary level of Indestructable[1], where even sharp blades and extreme cold or heat couldn¡¯t leave a mark, and he had even wrapped himself in Barrier right before the attack.


    The only visible damage was the tear in his clothes, created by his exaggerated rolling. Even though he was perfectly fine, he decided to pretend to have been knocked unconscious.


    ¡°Mr. Administrator...!¡± Ye-Ji shouted as she ran to Do-Jun.


    She lifted his upper body, which was sprawled on the ground.


    It should have been suspicious enough that Do-Jun had no visible wounds after the massive bombardment that had hit him directly, but what mattered to her at this moment was the fact that he was unconscious.


    ¡°Mr. Ad...ministrator?¡±


    He wasn¡¯t breathing.


    Ye-Ji¡¯s hands, holding Do-Jun, began to tremble, and her lips quivered, unable to form words.


    ¡°Ye-Ji! Monsters are coming!¡± Choi Ho-Jun shouted as he looked back.


    The approaching aura was significantly different from the trolls they had fought up to this point. The party could tell that the approaching monster was at least a champion or higher¡ªit could even be a boss monster.


    Why is all this happening? We¡¯re not even halfway through the Fissure! Choi Ho-Jun thought in despair.


    As before, Choi Ho-Jun planted his steel shield into the ground and activated Shield Howling, but amidst all this commotion, Ye-Ji couldn¡¯t hear his shout. Do-Jun was right in front of her, lying unconscious, and that was the only thing that mattered.


    ¡°Come to think of it, we haven¡¯t properly introduced ourselves yet. I¡¯m Lee Do-Jun.¡±


    Their first meeting, which felt awkward then, flashed through her mind.


    And the first Fissure they had entered together.


    ¡°Enough daydreaming. This is not a drill.¡±


    Ever since she saw him easily dodge the goblin¡¯s attacks, she had thought that, secretly, he might be strong.


    ¡°Mr. Administrator... are you hiding your power?¡±


    He was, in fact, not hiding his power. No, perhaps it was obvious from the start. There was no reason for him to.


    ¡°Right now, you are the only Hunter for me.¡±


    Tears flowed endlessly from Ye-Ji¡¯s eyes.


    Her reason for becoming a Hunter in the first place was simple: she wanted to change her weak self and be recognized and loved by someone.


    Money and fame didn¡¯t matter to her.


    ¡°I thought... I had finally found my place...¡±


    [You have met the conditions to acquire a new skill.]


    [Vow (Skill) has been acquired.]


    ¡°Ye-Ji! What are you doing? Get a grip!¡± Choi Ho-Jun shouted at the top of his lungs.


    Energy was concentrated in the mouths of the three-headed troll, and Choi Ho-Jun was designated as the target due to the effect of Shield Howling.


    Tap!


    Park Sung-Min took aim, and a target formed on each of the troll¡¯s heads. He rapidly shot arrows, but the troll blasted out energy from all of its three mouths at the same time.


    Boom!


    The arrows melted away powerlessly; then, the blast struck Choi Ho-Jun¡¯s shield. With a deafening noise, the shield shattered, and Choi Ho-Jun was flung backward from the impact.


    ¡°Wait... what is this...?¡± Ye-Ji mumbled in surprise.


    [Vow]


    Rank: S


    Category: Passive


    Effect: Swear loyalty by designating a chosen target as your Lord. When the Lord is within a five-hundred-meter radius, Blessing of the Vow is applied. However, a severe penalty is applied to the user if the designated Lord dies due to an enemy attack.


    (Blessing of the Vow: All stats increase by 100%, damage received from enemies reduced by 50%, immunity to all status effects)


    (Penalty: Level and Skills reset)


    Lord: None


    Ye-Ji extended her hand toward Do-Jun as if she were possessed by something.


    [Are you sure you want to designate Lee Do-Jun as your Lord? This choice cannot be changed.]


    A moment later, a light shimmered on Ye-Ji and Do-Jun¡¯s wrists, engraved a small sword symbol, and disappeared.


    [The Lord has been designated.]


    [The Lord is within a five-hundred-meter radius.]


    [Blessing of the Vow is applied.]


    Suddenly, her body felt lighter as mana within her stirred and invigorated her entire body. But that wasn¡¯t what mattered to Ye-Ji.


    ¡°He¡¯s alive,¡± she muttered to herself.


    If the skill description was accurate, the activation meant that Do-Jun was still alive.


    Ye-Ji carefully laid Do-Jun down again. She picked up her dropped sword, gripped it tightly, and walked toward the troll that had attacked Do-Jun.


    ***


    What was that just now? Do-Jun thought.


    [Cha Ye-Ji has designated you as her Lord.]


    With the status message, he sensed an increase in Ye-Ji¡¯s mana. Though it was a minor change in his eyes, the amount had exactly doubled.


    Do-Jun opened his eyes slightly to assess the situation.


    ¡°Kwooooh!¡±


    The three-headed troll was engaged in fierce combat with Ye-Ji. Choi Ho-Jun was being healed by Kang Tae-Sung as his shield lay shattered with its fragments scattered around. Only Park Sung-Min intermittently shot arrows to support Ye-Ji, but the tide of battle was definitely shifting in their favor.


    The troll couldn¡¯t keep up with Ye-Ji¡¯s movements, which were leaving large and small wounds on its body.


    Do-Jun quietly stood up, trying to avoid being noticed by the party to prevent distracting them. Noticing his tattered suit, he decided to buy a new one at the department store before going home.


    It¡¯ll be a headache if I go home like this.


    Surely, Yoon-Hee would question him upon seeing the condition of his clothes.


    A moment later, the troll fell before Ye-Ji with its green blood dripping from her sword.


    She then turned around, and her eyes widened upon realizing what had happened during her battle. She immediately dropped her sword and ran toward Do-Jun for an embrace.


    ¡°Ye-Ji...?¡±


    Ye-Ji hugged Do-Jun so tightly that it seemed she would crush him, sobbing all the while as Do-Jun felt the gazes of Choi Ho-Jun¡¯s party staring blankly at him from a distance.


    Well, it was understandable, as they must have thought he was surely dead.


    As he tried to think of a way to explain how he didn¡¯t die, Ye-Ji spoke up, ¡°Mr. Administrator.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Administrator.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Ye-Ji.¡±


    Ye-Ji burrowed into his chest, rubbing her face against him. Tears, snot, and makeup smeared onto his white dress shirt.


    Well, I guess it doesn¡¯t matter.


    He was planning on buying a new one anyway. Do-Jun patted Ye-Ji¡¯s head comfortingly.


    Seeing this, Choi Ho-Jun¡¯s party approached cautiously.


    ¡°H-how are you alive?¡± Choi Ho-Jun asked with a dumbfounded expression.


    Do-Jun decided to be evasive. He simply answered, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°Huh...?¡±


    Kang Tae-Sung slumped down on the spot with a sigh of relief. ¡°Fuuucking hell, I really thought we were all dead. Man, I feel like that took a hundred years off my life.¡±


    ¡°But are you really okay? That noise was something else. Tae-Sung, heal him,¡± Park Sung-Min said.


    Kang Tae-Sung stood up immediately and pointed his staff at Do-Jun.


    ¡°Huh...?¡± he grunted in surprise. Something was off. The healing skill was not working on Do-Jun.


    He tried again but to no avail.


    ¡°This is strange,¡± Kang Tae-Sung said.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°My heal isn¡¯t working on him.¡±


    There was only one possible explanation for this: Do-Jun was at full health and didn''t need healing.


    ¡°Supervisor Lee, are you hurt anywhere?¡± Kang Tae-Sung asked, and Do-Jun simply shook his head.


    At that moment, Ye-Ji pulled away from Do-Jun, looked up at him, then asked, ¡°Are you really okay...?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I don¡¯t know how, but I¡¯m perfectly fine.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a relief. Really, thank goodness...¡± Ye-Ji burst into tears again.


    Choi Ho-Jun watched her, rubbing his eyes and smiling awkwardly.


    ¡°Hah, it feels like I¡¯m watching one of those long-lost family reunions,¡± he joked.


    ¡°By the way, Ho-Jun, what are we going to do? Do you think we can keep hunting?¡±


    Everyone was mentally exhausted from coming back from the brink of death, and on top of that, Choi Ho-Jun couldn¡¯t be their tank anymore with his iron shield shattered.


    Continuing to hunt was out of the question.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s best to stop here. What do you think, Supervisor Lee?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I think that¡¯s a good idea.¡±


    Ye-Ji didn¡¯t seem to be in great shape either. After all, this was her first time hunting a B-rank monster, and she even had to fight a champion troll, which had put them through quite a lot, to say the least.


    ¡°How should we divide the mana stones and corpse value?¡±


    ¡°There are four of you, so I think you should each take a quarter. We¡¯ll leave the calculations and the payments to you, Ye-Ji.¡±


    Choi Ho-Jun was hesitant to accept Do-Jun¡¯s offer.


    Even though Do-Jun hadn¡¯t directly participated in the battle, he had been with them for hours and even provided indirect assistance by indicating the trolls¡¯ locations.


    ¡°Ah, it¡¯s illegal for me to receive money here,¡± Do-Jun reassured Choi Ho-Jun after noticing his dilemma.


    ¡°Oh, I see. By the way, that application seems really useful. Is it only for civil servants?¡±


    Choi Ho-Jun believed that the Fissure Management System application Do-Jun was using indicated the monsters¡¯ positions. This was natural since no one would expect a seemingly ordinary person like Do-Jun to know the trolls¡¯ locations.


    ¡°In a way, yes. Ah, in exchange for not receiving any payment myself, I¡¯d like to ask for a favor,¡± Do-Jun said as he pointed to where the troll¡¯s body lay.


    ¡°Favor? What kind of...¡±


    A sword was gleaming atop the troll¡¯s body. It was the extra reward that was given to those who defeated champions or boss monsters.


    ¡°I¡¯d like to ask you to let our Hunter have that extra reward for taking down the troll.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that...¡±


    Choi Ho-Jun¡¯s party exchanged glances and smiled.


    ¡°Please take it. It¡¯s yours.¡±


    Do-Jun was somewhat surprised by their easy reaction.


    It was human nature to be greedy for valuables, especially for something like a B-rank or higher weapon. So, how were they giving it away so easily?


    ¡°Without Ye-Ji, we wouldn¡¯t have been able to kill it,¡± Choi Ho-Jun remarked. ¡°The mana stones and corpses alone are worth more than enough money for us. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡±


    ¡°Wow, isn¡¯t this heartwarming? Guys, just be honest. This is a bribe, isn¡¯t it? Thank you.¡± Do-Jun joked.


    He walked over to the troll¡¯s body and picked up the sword. It was a B-rank sword and had fairly good options, clearly much better than the Skeleton Soldier¡¯s Sword that Ye-Ji was using.


    ¡°Take it, Ye-Ji.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Administrator.¡± Ye-Ji wiped her tears and sniffled. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In moments like this, she really just looked like a twenty-one-year-old girl.


    Suddenly, Do-Jun sensed two powerful presences approaching rapidly.


    They aren¡¯t monsters.


    Hunters, and quite skilled ones.


    Just as Do-Jun expected, two Hunters with faces familiar to Do-Jun approached and stopped before them¡ªMin-Hyuk and Min-Ji ranked seventh and tenth among Hunters.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Choi Ho-Jun¡¯s party was shocked to see them.


    Two S-rank Hunters, a rarity in South Korea, had appeared before them out of nowhere.


    Min-Hyuk seemed surprised to see Ye-Ji. His eyes sparkled, and the corners of his mouth lifted. He turned abruptly to look at Do-Jun.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Supervisor Lee.¡±


    1. This is one of Do-Jun¡¯s skills and was introduced in Chapter 1. ?

 Chapter 18

    Chapter 18


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to run into you here,¡± Min-Hyuk said with a slightly surprised expression.


    Why was Ye-Ji inside a Great Fissure where B-rank monsters like trolls appeared?


    I didn¡¯t expect her to come this far in such a short time, Min-Hyuk thought.


    It was just a month ago that she was labeled an F-rank Hunter.


    Ye-Ji¡¯s Mana is 10, and she shouldn¡¯t have received any physical enhancement since then.


    No matter how he tried to look at it, it was close to impossible for her to defeat a troll.


    Or is she just tagging along?


    However, he couldn¡¯t overlook the champion troll¡¯s corpse with wounds that were undoubtedly from sword strikes. Of the four Hunters present, Ye-Ji was the only one who wielded a sword.


    ¡°You¡¯ve grown, Hunter Ye-Ji,¡± Min-Hyuk said.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Ye-Ji murmured softly.


    Min-Hyuk noticed that Ye-Ji was grabbing onto the end of Do-Jun¡¯s shirt. This act only meant one thing: she relied on him.


    But why?


    He was just an average civil servant, nothing more, nothing less. Especially to the Hunters, he was truly no different than an ordinary civilian.


    On the other hand, Ye-Ji was a Hunter¡ªnot just any Hunter, but an above-average one who could apparently handle B-rank monsters.


    ¡°We appreciate the suit you gave us, Hunter Min-Hyuk,¡± Do-Jun said with a smile.


    ¡°Well... a bet is a bet.¡±


    Then came the awkward silence, and the heavy atmosphere weighed on everyone¡¯s shoulders.


    Choi Ho-Jun rolled his eyes and looked at Do-Jun and Min-Hyuk. What the fuck is this shit? Are these two enemies or something?


    While they were both smiling, they didn¡¯t seem close at all. The tension was palpable.


    ¡°Senior Min-Hyuk, please stop.¡± Min-Ji sighed and nudged Min-Hyuk¡¯s side.


    Min-Hyuk¡¯s smile faded. ¡°Tsk.¡±


    He just went deeper into the Fissure, and the roars of trolls followed shortly after.


    ¡°My senior can be a bit mischievous. Please try to understand.¡± Min-Ji smiled as she approached Do-Jun and handed him a business card with the Icarus Guild¡¯s contact details.


    ¡°By the way, if you ever change your mind, feel free to contact us anytime.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Do-Jun asked.


    ¡°Handing Ye-Ji over to our guild.¡±


    ¡°You are... Han Min-Ji, right?¡± Do-Jun said.


    Ye-Ji¡¯s grip on Do-Jun¡¯s clothes tightened.


    ¡°I...¡± But before she could even finish, Do-Jun took the business card from Min-Ji. Ye-Ji¡¯s eyes wavered, looking up at Do-Jun with an uneasy gaze.


    ¡°Gasp!¡±


    ¡°W-what are you doing!¡±


    Choi Ho-Jun and Park Sung-Min were startled at the scene that unfolded next.


    Do-Jun tore up the Icarus Guild¡¯s business card.


    ¡°What are you trying to tell me, Supervisor Lee?¡± Min-Ji asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t concern myself with others. I¡¯m sure most people are like this, too.¡±


    The corners of Do-Jun¡¯s mouth were slightly upturned. He was definitely smiling, but his eyes were cold.


    W-what is this?


    Min-Ji stepped back out of pure instinct without even realizing it. Cold sweat trickled down her body, and she felt suffocated by the oppressive feeling.


    Do-Jun continued, ¡°But if that ¡®other people¡¯ is one of ¡®my people,¡¯ then it¡¯s a different story.¡± As he opened his clenched hand, the torn pieces of the business card scattered to the ground. ¡°This is your last warning. Don¡¯t meddle in matters beyond your business, and keep telling me whether to hand her over or not. It¡¯s extremely unpleasant.¡±


    ***


    Sizzle.


    The pork on the grill over the charcoal was cooking deliciously.


    The Fissure Exploration Unit staff were having a casual outing near Seoul City Hall in a samgyeopsal restaurant in Bukchang-dong Food Alley. [1]


    ¡°Pahaha! So, then, Mr. Administrator was like!¡± An extremely drunk Ye-Ji put down her soju glass and shouted, ¡°I¡¯m the one who¡¯s going to protect my people!¡±


    Hearing that, Cheol-Soo laughed heartily and turned to Do-Jun. ¡°Do-Jun, is that true? Kyahahaha!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m telling you, it is! Hehe, isn¡¯t that riiiight, Mr. Administrator?¡±


    ¡°That never happened,¡± Do-Jun said firmly, then downed a glass of water in one gulp.


    After that incident, Min-Hyuk and Min-Ji handled all the monsters in the Fissure, including the boss monster, and the Fissure was closed.


    I should¡¯ve just stayed quiet, Do-Jun thought with a sigh.


    Honestly, they annoyed him a bit. So, he said what he had to say to Min-Ji to draw a clear line this time.


    Anyway, the Icarus Guild won¡¯t like me too much from now on.


    To be precise, the two S-rank Hunters, Min-Hyuk and Min-Ji, would likely have that sentiment.


    Do-Jun sighed, thinking there might be some troublesome times ahead.


    ¡°Tearing up their business card might have been a bit too much,¡± Hyuk-Soo said as he looked at Do-Jun with concern.


    The Icarus Guild was one of the top guilds in the country. Do-Jun was well aware of their significant influence on the Hunter industry.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry about that¡ª¡± Do-Jun started his apology.


    But Hyuk-Soo cut it short. ¡°But man, is it satisfying hearing about it.¡±


    ¡°Sorry?¡±


    Hyuk-Soo grinned and continued, ¡°Do-Jun, I believe that you should bow when you need to but also get angry when needed. The Icarus Guild is indeed a big deal, but that doesn¡¯t mean we always have to let them walk all over us. Who are they to tell us to hand over Hunter Ye-Ji? You did well. Unless Hunter Ye-Ji leaves of her own accord, it¡¯s not right to treat her like some object.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, man. At times, it¡¯s okay to mess with those big-shot S-rank Hunters! Hahaha!¡± Cheol-Soo said that and then slammed his nose into the table. Then he started snoring.


    This was the consequence of the binge drinking with Ye-Ji.


    ¡°Since the establishment of the Fissure Management Division, there have been many ups and downs. Some questioned whether mere civil servants could handle the domain of Hunters. Well, there were parts they were wrong about, but they were also right about some. After all, we can¡¯t handle everything ourselves without any Skills or Awakenings.¡± Hyuk-Soo paused to take a breath. ¡°But we¡¯re doing pretty well in our own way, right?¡±


    He filled Do-Jun¡¯s empty glass with soju and lifted his own glass.


    ¡°Do-Jun.¡±


    ¡°Yes, senior.¡±


    ¡°Am I also considered one of ¡®your people¡¯?¡±


    Do-Jun nodded with a slight smirk.


    At that moment, Ye-Ji extended her glass as well. ¡°Hehe, Mr. Administratoooor.¡±


    ¡°Chief is completely passed out, and Hunter Ye-Ji is quite drunk, too. Let¡¯s call it a night after this one, hahaha!¡± Hyuk-Soo let out a hearty laugh that he had never shown before.


    Clink!


    The three soju glasses clinked in mid-air.


    As Do-Jun downed the soju that could never make him drunk, he thought to himself that he would protect the peaceful daily lives of his people.


    ***


    By the time he returned home, it was only 10 PM.


    When he opened the front door and entered the living room, Yoon-Hee greeted him with quick steps, as she always did. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Welcome home.¡±


    ¡°Thanks. Did you have dinner?¡±


    ¡°I did. You must be tired... Oh? Did you buy new clothes?¡±


    Despite Do-Jun¡¯s effort to choose something similar to his clothes, she immediately noticed the subtle changes.


    Do-Jun nodded and changed the subject.


    ¡°They were too old. I¡¯m going to wash up right away.¡±


    ¡°Oh...¡± When Yoon-Hee hesitated, Do-Jun realized that she had something to say.


    He sat at the dining table and hung his outer coat on the chair. ¡°Can you make me a cup of tea?¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡± Yoon-Hee hurried to the kitchen, filled the kettle with water, and turned it on. Taking out two tea bags from the drawer, she placed them in the cups.


    Then silence followed.


    She immediately wanted to ask about the Hunter ID card and mana stone fragments she found in Do-Jun¡¯s desk drawer. She didn¡¯t want to believe it, but a growing suspicion lingered in her heart that maybe, just maybe, Do-Jun could be a Hunter.


    Come to think of it, Ye-Ji is also a Hunter, she remembered.


    Do-Jun had said that his colleague Ye-Ji was doing it as a side hustle in secret, but upon some pondering, it didn¡¯t make any sense. Civil servants were prohibited from having a second job.


    Of course, some people might secretly take under-the-table jobs out of necessity, but Seoul City Hall would be informed if they registered as Hunters.


    The premise of not getting caught didn¡¯t make sense.


    I got him right now.


    ¡°Yoon-Hee, I think the water has boiled.¡±


    But what if Father really is a Hunter...?


    ¡°Yoon-Hee.¡±


    Could she ask him to quit being a Hunter?


    Maybe that¡¯s how he was able to come up with the 50 million won...


    Lost in her thoughts, Yoon-Hee was startled to see Do-Jun suddenly beside her. ¡°Eek!¡±


    ¡°What are you thinking about, zoning out like that?¡±


    ¡°O-oh, it¡¯s nothing. I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll make the tea right away.¡±


    Yoon-Hee quickly reached for the kettle. But just as she was about to pour the water into the cup, it fell out of her hand.


    Without time to dodge, she thought the kettle would fall on her foot.


    However, Do-Jun quickly caught the falling kettle before it hit the floor. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be more careful.¡±


    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry. But... Father, w-why are you holding the kettle that way?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Yoon-Hee quickly grabbed the handle, removed the kettle from Do-Jun¡¯s hand, and examined his palm. Do-Jun had grabbed the kettle at its base, which was bound to be hot. His hand should¡¯ve been burned, or at least that¡¯s what she thought.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Yoon-Hee exclaimed in surprise.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°A-are you okay?¡± she asked.


    Do-Jun¡¯s hand looked fine on the surface. From what Yoon-Hee knew, the kettle¡¯s base could reach several hundred degrees after heating. It was natural to get a burn from touching it with bare hands.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just be more careful next time,¡± Do-Jun assured her.


    ¡°What are you talking about?! Quick, put your hand in cold water.¡±


    ¡°Huh? What¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    ¡°Was that not hot? You just grabbed the kettle¡¯s base!¡± Yoon-Hee said incredulously.


    In that split second, the scenario from a few seconds ago played through Do-Jun¡¯s mind. He quickly turned on the tap and put his hand under the running water. Then, he frowned and pretended to be in pain.


    ¡°See! Geez! We have a burn ointment somewhere; hold on a second.¡±


    Do-Jun sighed in relief as he watched Yoon-Hee run to the living room to get the first aid kit and look for the burn ointment.


    That was close. She would¡¯ve been suspicious if I had acted like nothing happened, Do-Jun rebuked himself mentally.


    This level of heat couldn¡¯t harm Do-Jun¡¯s Indestructible body at all; in fact, it couldn¡¯t cause him even a bit of pain.


    ¡°You need to keep it under running water for about twenty minutes,¡± Yoon-Hee instructed him.


    He nodded.


    After the twenty minutes, Yoon-Hee examined Do-Jun¡¯s hand and tilted her head in confusion.


    Why does it look fine?


    Yoon-Hee still applied burn ointment on Do-Jun¡¯s palm and put a bandage over it.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°No, it was my fault for being careless in the first place... I¡¯m really sorry.¡±


    ¡°Anyway, it looked like you had something to tell me,¡± Do-Jun tried to continue their conversation.


    But Yoon-Hee shook her head, thinking this wasn¡¯t the right moment to ask. Instead, she broached a different topic.


    ¡°Oh, right.¡±


    She stood up, took a piece of paper from her bag, and showed it to Do-Jun.


    ¡°This is...¡±


    It was a notice about a school admission ceremony.


    ¡°I just wanted to let you know... I¡¯m not asking you to come, since I know you¡¯re busy... And it¡¯s on a weekday...¡± Yoon-Hee said hesitatingly, looking at Do-Jun.


    Do-Jun checked the date of the admission ceremony: it was the following Monday.


    1. samgyeopsal is pork belly. ?

 Chapter 19

    Chapter 19


    Mondays were often the busier days for office workers.


    After enjoying the sweet rest for the weekend, the commute to work felt a bit tedious due to a mix of tension and apprehension¡ªa case of Monday blues.


    But for Do-Jun, this Monday was an exception.


    Everything about today, from his suit jacket, which slightly restricted his movements, to his slightly wide trousers that rustled with every step, felt pleasantly and unusually harmonious.


    ¡°To the Hunter Academy, please,¡± Do-Jun said to the taxi driver.


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    Do-Jun rechecked the location and time on the admission notice: National Hunter Academy, Yejang-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul. Originally a forested area, it was repurposed, and the academy was built there a few years ago.


    Do-Jun reached for his phone and chuckled at the text message.


    Hyuk-Soo: Have a great time. Treat her to something delicious.


    Smiling, he recalled the previous Friday¡¯s afternoon.


    ***


    It was 2:30 PM when everyone was intensely focused on their work.


    Do-Jun quietly walked over to Cheol-Soo¡¯s desk. ¡°Um... Chief.¡±


    Recently, Cheol-Soo had been busy drafting a cooperation document for the joint management of a B-rank Great Fissure with the Hunter¡¯s Bureau.


    ¡°Yes, what¡¯s up?¡± Cheol-Soo asked Do-Jun.


    ¡°Would it be alright if I took half a day off on Monday morning?¡±


    A half-day leave meant that he would be absent from 9 AM to 2 PM.


    Do-Jun would have preferred to take a full day off but felt it was inappropriate to mention due to the recent increase in the unit¡¯s workload.


    ¡°Is everything okay?¡± Cheol-Soo asked in concern.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s just something personal.¡±


    ¡°Is it something you can¡¯t share with me?¡±


    Do-Jun had kept it a secret from his division colleagues that he now had a daughter, mostly because he knew they wouldn¡¯t understand the impossibly small nine-year age gap between him and his daughter.


    He considered explaining how things had come to this, but upon pondering the outcome, he decided that it was better not to disclose it from the start.


    So, Do-Jun just nodded without much explanation.


    Cheol-Soo scratched his head. ¡°This is tough. Hyuk-Soo is scheduled for a business trip next Monday.¡±


    ¡°A business trip?¡±


    ¡°Well, the Hunter Academy admission ceremony is next Monday. We received a collaboration request from related organizations to attend, so we need to send someone. That¡¯s why Hyuk-Soo is going.¡±


    Do-Jun¡¯s eyes widened. He was completely unaware of this job.


    ¡°I¡¯m sending Hyuk-Soo so you can focus solely on Hunter Ye-Ji,¡± Cheol-Soo said.


    ¡°I understand. Please disregard my earlier request.¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s an urgent matter, submit the request anyway. It¡¯s not like our division will collapse just because the two of you are absent.¡±


    Despite his words, Cheol-Soo was internally anxious, fully aware that it would be difficult to handle urgent situations if core members like Hyuk-Soo and Do-Jun were absent at the same time.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. Don¡¯t worry about what I said, Chief.¡±


    After bowing to Cheol-Soo, Do-Jun returned to his seat. He turned on the On-Nara Messenger and sent a message to Hyuk-Soo.


    Lee Do-Jun: Hyuk-Soo.


    Hyuk-Soo tilted his head, puzzled at the message from Do-Jun, and wondered why he sent a message when they were right next to each other.


    Kwon Hyuk-Soo: Yes?


    Lee Do-Jun: Are you attending the Hunter Academy admission ceremony on Monday?


    Kwon Hyuk-Soo: Yes, from 8 AM to 12 PM. I¡¯ll be back after lunch.


    Lee Do-Jun: Do you mind if I went to that instead?


    Kwon Hyuk-Soo: Why all of a sudden?


    Lee Do-Jun: Let¡¯s go to the break room. I¡¯ll explain everything there.


    ***


    Pfft!


    Hyuk-Soo spat out the coffee he was drinking.


    ¡°A-a daughter?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that happens to be the situation. I¡¯d appreciate it if you kept it a secret from the others.¡±


    ¡°How... how old are you this year, Do-Jun?¡±


    ¡°I am twenty-six.¡±


    ¡°And your daughter is seventeen?¡±


    It was hard to believe. At what age did he have her? A simple calculation was enough to know that it was obviously impossible.


    ¡°Were you married?¡± Hyuk-Soo probed him.


    ¡°No. She is not my biological daughter.¡±


    ¡°Ha... haha.¡± Hyuk-Soo let out an empty laugh. ¡°Does Ye-Ji know about this?¡±


    ¡°Huh? Why does that matter?¡±


    Ye-Ji clearly had feelings for Do-Jun. Who would be happy to know that the person they liked was raising a daughter?


    However, Do-Jun was completely oblivious to romantic matters and seemed not to understand this part.


    ¡°Ye-Ji has been to my house, so she knows.¡±


    ¡°A-and she didn¡¯t say anything?¡± Hyuk-Soo inquired curiously.


    ¡°No, nothing much.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s strange... How was it not awkward...?¡± Hyuk-Soo muttered to himself as he sipped his coffee, a confused look still evident on his face.


    ¡°Anyway, if that¡¯s the case, you should go instead of me. I¡¯ll explain it to Chief and keep this a secret.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Senior.¡±


    ***


    After driving for about twenty minutes, the taxi stopped at the main entrance of the Hunter Academy.


    Yoon-Hee had woken up at the crack of dawn and arrived at the academy very early. She was probably practicing for the admission ceremony in the auditorium by now.


    ¡°Would you like me to drive up further, sir?¡± the taxi driver asked, knowing that it was a ten-minute uphill walk from the main gate to the academy¡¯s main building.


    ¡°No need. Thank you for the ride,¡± Do-Jun said as he shook his head and handed over his card.


    After settling the fare, he got out of the taxi and noticed that he was surrounded by stalls selling snacks and bouquets.


    Should I get one?


    After taking a quick look around, he chose a bouquet he liked¡ªa nicely wrapped one of about ten purple tulips.


    Vroom! Vroom!


    Luxury cars kept driving up the hill one after another.


    Most students entering the National Hunter Academy came from wealthy families. They were either relatives of Hunters, members of the upper class, or even members of chaebol families.


    The slope of the hill was enough to exhaust any ordinary person, but Do-Jun walked up the hill casually as if it was nothing more than a light stroll, all the while receiving curious glances.


    ¡°Woah. Who is that guy?¡±


    He stood at an impressive height, not to mention his distinct facial features. With his broad shoulders, he looked fit even though he was in a suit. Despite seeming like he was on a casual stroll, he advanced as quickly as if he were running up the hill.


    Why are they staring? Do-Jun quickened his pace as he felt puzzled by the attention.


    He soon reached the entrance of the main building, where a large banner greeted him warmly.


    So many people, he thought in surprise.


    Then, he saw a familiar face¡ªa striking woman with a slim figure, standing about 165 centimeters tall, with long, straight hair cascading down to her waist.


    That¡¯s... Han Min-Ji. What is she doing here?


    Min-Hyuk, who was always with her, wasn¡¯t there.


    Do-Jun decided it was best to avoid unnecessary entanglements and turned his head, hastening his steps.


    However, life doesn¡¯t always go as planned.


    ¡°Supervisor Lee Do-Jun!¡± A cry came from behind him.


    Do-Jun was stopped in his tracks. When he turned around, he saw Min-Ji running toward him.


    ¡°You¡¯re here too, Supervisor Lee.¡±


    ¡°Y-yes, I am.¡±


    ¡°Is someone you know entering the academy today?¡±


    Min-Ji acted like nothing remarkable had happened between them a few days back, which bewildered Do-Jun.


    Upon sensing his confusion, Min-Ji bowed deeply and apologized, ¡°I apologize for what happened at our last meeting.¡±


    ¡°Pardon...?¡±


    ¡°You were right, Supervisor Lee. I¡¯m sorry for stepping out of line. I hope you know that I had no bad intentions.¡±


    Why would this woman, an S-rank Hunter, no less, bow and apologize to a mere civil servant? It wouldn¡¯t have been strange if she had picked a fight, but here she was, apologizing to him publicly.


    ¡°P-please stop bowing to me. People are staring.¡±


    Min-Ji straightened up only after people began murmuring upon recognizing her.


    Do-Jun sighed and said, ¡°I think I was also a little too harsh back then. I apologize.¡±


    Upon hearing his apology, a faint smile appeared on Min-Ji¡¯s face. Then she took something out from her pocket and handed it to Do-Jun. It was a business card.


    ¡°What is this supposed to mean?¡± Do-Jun asked in confusion.


    ¡°It¡¯s a token of reconciliation.¡±


    ¡°Hunter Min-Ji, if this is about recruiting Ye-Ji for your guild¡ª¡± But it didn¡¯t take long for Do-Jun to get interrupted by Min-Ji.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, this has nothing to do with Ye-Ji.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t?¡±


    ¡°It does not. Just keep it. And if you ever need help, reach out to me anytime. As I just said, it¡¯s a token of reconciliation.¡±


    Do-Jun stood there blankly, then took the business card with a chuckle. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, really. Shall we head inside? The ceremony will start soon,¡± Min-Ji said with a smile, pointing toward the auditorium.


    Do-Jun nodded, and the two walked into the auditorium.


    ¡°Ah, I have to go this way,¡± Min-Ji said as she pointed to the VIP seats.


    ¡°I see. See you next time, then.¡±


    ¡°Yes, see you later, Supervisor Lee.¡±


    Min-Ji gave a playful salute. Seeing that, Do-Jun couldn¡¯t help but chuckle as he walked inside to find an empty seat.


    Min-Ji¡¯s eyes sparkled as she watched Do-Jun walk away.


    There¡¯s no doubt, she thought to herself.


    The energy she felt from Do-Jun during their last encounter was something no ordinary person could ever emit. It even made her, an S-rank Hunter, step back out of sheer instinct.


    You¡¯re hiding your identity, Supervisor Lee.


    But she had no intention of doing anything about it. She was just curious when he would reveal his abilities.


    I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll join our world sooner or later.


    ***


    With no seats left on the first floor, Do-Jun had to go to the second floor to find an empty seat. He sat down in the first open seat he could find.


    The front row on the first floor was reserved as the VIP section. Behind that were the seats for the entering students, while the last ten rows on the first floor and the entire second floor were reserved for visitors.


    There she is. Do-Jun spotted Yoon-Hee immediately with ease without using any special senses.


    Is this what it means to be a father?


    He then quickly cleared his throat to hide his embarrassment.


    He looked at his wristwatch to check that it was 9:30 AM. The admission ceremony finally began.


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, I welcome you to the fifth National Hunter Academy entrance ceremony. For those of you who are still standing, please take your seats.¡±


    The host began the proceedings smoothly.


    ¡°Let me introduce the distinguished guests who have graced this occasion with their presence. This morning, we are honored to have Director Jung Young-Chul of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau with us.¡±


    Clap, clap, clap.


    A middle-aged man sitting in the VIP section stood up and bowed, then the introductions of other guests followed.


    The Mayor of Seoul, Members of the National Assembly, and S-rank Hunters.


    Out of all the guests, the S-rank Hunters were extremely popular among the students, evident by the thunderous applause from every single student in the auditorium.


    ¡°Hello, respected students.¡±


    And then a clich¨¦d speech followed.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    After the tedious congratulatory speeches ended, the next in line was the speech by the representative of the new students.


    A girl with a beauty that was unmistakable even from a distance walked up onto the stage.


    She¡¯s no Yoon-Hee, that¡¯s for sure, Do-Jun thought as he chuckled.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t she the sister of the Sword Emperor?¡±


    ¡°Wow, the top S-rank Hunter¡¯s sister.¡±


    ¡°They say she¡¯s already comparable to most A-rank Hunters.¡±


    People around Do-Jun whispered, but he couldn¡¯t care less. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Hooo.¡± The student representative stood at the podium and took a deep breath. Then she began her speech calmly, without a script, as if she had memorized it. Her speech soon came to an end and was followed by an oath-taking ceremony.


    ¡°On behalf of all entering students, I solemnly declare that we, the proud members of the National Hunter Academy....¡±


    Do-Jun turned his head and looked at Yoon-Hee, who raised her right hand and followed the student representative¡¯s oath with a big smile as if she simply couldn¡¯t contain her joy.


    Suddenly, Do-Jun remembered what Yoon-Hee had said to him after the supermarket goblin incident.


    ¡°You should treat me well. I¡¯ll become a veeeery famous person someday.¡±


    Do-Jun chuckled and muttered, ¡°Must be nice to be young.¡±

 Chapter 20

    Chapter 20


    Though the admission ceremony ended at 10:30 AM, Do-Jun still had plenty of time for lunch as his business trip was scheduled until 2 PM.


    The freshmen chatted with their families and friends as they left the auditorium.


    ¡°Father!¡± Yoon-Hee ran over with a bright smile when she spotted Do-Jun.


    She was very grateful that Do-Jun could come, knowing he was most likely busy with work on a weekday.


    ¡°Congratulations on your admission,¡± Do-Jun said as he handed her the bouquet of tulips he had prepared in advance.


    Not expecting Do-Jun to prepare such a thing, Yoon-Hee was pleasantly surprised. She accepted the bouquet with slightly moist eyes.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°You like it, right?¡±


    Do-Jun was slightly taken aback by the unexpected tears, but Yoon-Hee nodded vigorously.


    It was the first time she had a family member attend an admission or graduation ceremony for her, even considering her elementary and middle school years. It was also the first time she had received a bouquet to celebrate her admission, though she had received quite a few from boys for other reasons.


    ¡°So, when do your classes start?¡± Do-Jun asked her.


    ¡°In two days. I¡¯ve already been assigned to my class as well.¡±


    ¡°Which class are you in?¡±


    ¡°Class D...¡± Yoon-Hee twisted her body and answered as if embarrassed.


    ¡°I see.¡±


    Do-Jun assumed that the classes were labeled with letters instead of numbers without any specific criteria. However, the Hunter Academy was a place that was strictly merit-based.


    Students were divided into classes A, B, C, D, E, and F based on their admission grades.


    ¡°I¡¯ll work hard to move up to Class A,¡± Yoon-Hee promised him.


    ¡°Oh? Is that what it means? Alright, then. Work hard.¡± Do-Jun smiled and patted Yoon-Hee on the head.


    As she leaned into his hand, feeling pleased, she told herself that she would move up to Class A no matter what.


    That way, I can get into the dormitory too.


    But the sudden thought of moving into the dormitory made her anxious, knowing that she wouldn¡¯t be living with Do-Jun anymore.


    The dormitory isn¡¯t mandatory, anyway, she thought as if consoling herself.


    Moreover, Do-Jun still had a plethora of things he couldn¡¯t do on his own. She believed that without her care, he would find it quite inconvenient to live. At least, thinking that way eased her anxiety.


    ¡°Why are you so happy? You look like a blooming flower,¡± Do-Jun asked her curiously.


    Yoon-Hee shook her head with a flushed face and said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Aren¡¯t you hungry? Let¡¯s eat. There¡¯s a really good army stew place around here.¡±


    Just as they were about to leave, they noticed several people walking toward them and the crowd parting for them like the miracle of Moses. Upon recognizing them, Yoon-Hee gasped in surprise.


    Then, the people stopped in front of Do-Jun.


    Chief Jung Young-Chul of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau; the Sword Emperor Lee Kang-Hyun, the Hunter ranked first in the world; and his sister Lee Eun-Joo.


    And last but not least...


    ¡°Supervisor Lee, you haven¡¯t had lunch yet, have you?¡± Min-Ji asked with a bright smile.


    ¡°We were just about to head there,¡± Do-Jun replied.


    ¡°Perfect timing. Join us.¡± Min-Ji extended an invitation.


    ¡°Pardon?¡± Yoon-Hee¡¯s mouth dropped open as she looked back and forth between Do-Jun and the S-rank Hunter Min-Ji, ranked tenth¡ªa big name, to say the least. Of course, she was shocked that Do-Jun knew someone like her.


    ¡°Who is this?¡± Young-Chul asked Min-Ji.


    ¡°This is Supervisor Lee Do-Jun from the Seoul City Hall Fissure Management Division. You know, the one I mentioned last time....¡± Min-Ji trailed off and looked at Do-Jun.


    Young-Chul nodded as if he understood. He had been told that Do-Jun was Hunter Ye-Ji¡¯s direct supervisor during the recent B-rank Great Fissure Break incident.


    He then extended his hand to Do-Jun for a handshake. ¡°Pleasure to meet you. I am Jung Young-Chul, the Chief of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau.¡±


    ¡°The honor and pleasure are all mine. I am Lee Do-Jun from the Seoul City Hall Fissure Management Division.¡±


    As the two exchanged formal greetings, Min-Ji glanced at Yoon-Hee standing next to Do-Jun.


    ¡°Is this your sister?¡± she asked Do-Jun.


    Do-Jun hesitated a bit, debating whether he should lie and agree with their conjecture or tell the truth that she was his daughter. He didn¡¯t take long to decide.


    ¡°She¡¯s my daughter.¡±


    ¡°Come again?¡± Min-Ji looked back and forth between Do-Jun and Yoon-Hee in disbelief. ¡°B-but that just doesn¡¯t make sense.¡±


    The vibe between Do-Jun and Yoon-Hee was far from a father-daughter relationship.


    ¡°Did you have one of those teen accidents, Supervisor Lee...?¡±


    How was he supposed to answer that question?


    Do-Jun decided to be vague. ¡°It¡¯s a long story.¡±


    ¡°I-I see.¡±


    Min-Ji and Yoon-Hee¡¯s eyes met.


    Yoon-Hee bowed deeply at the waist. ¡°My name is Seol Yoon-Hee! I-I am an incoming freshman.¡±


    ¡°Your last name is S-seol?¡± Min-Ji said in shock as she looked at Do-Jun once again.


    Without changing his expression, Do-Jun said, ¡°It¡¯s a long story.¡±


    Min-Ji decided not to pry any deeper. Everyone had a complicated story or two.


    ¡°Oh, I haven¡¯t introduced these two yet. This is Hunter Lee Kang-Hyun and his sister, Lee Eun-Joo. Hunter Kang-Hyun is quite famous, so I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard of him.¡±


    Do-Jun nodded in affirmation. In Korea, Kang-Hyun was so famous that not knowing him made people treat you like a spy. He was the very first Hunter and the creator of the three operational methods currently used by Hunters: Infusion, Release, and Transmutation.


    ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Lee Kang-Hyun,¡± the man said, extending his hand to Do-Jun. He looked quite young, perhaps in his early thirties or maybe even late twenties.


    ¡°Oho,¡± Kang-Hyun exclaimed in admiration when Do-Jun shook his hand. Then, chuckling, he said, ¡°You have a strong build. If you ever become a Hunter, you¡¯d do very well.¡±


    ¡°Thank... you,¡± Do-Jun replied hesitantly.


    It was a strange feeling.


    Should I be happy about this or not?


    The Heavenly Demon, Lee Do-Jun, who had once looked down on the entire world, forced a smile with a complicated expression.


    Seeing this, Min-Ji couldn¡¯t help but chuckle.


    ¡°Eun-Joo, you should introduce yourself as well,¡± Kang-Hyun said to his sister.


    ¡°I have no interest in people who are weaker than me,¡± Eun-Joo said coldly.


    ¡°Lee. Eun. Joo.¡±


    ¡°Eek! I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Her bratty attitude changed instantly the moment Kang-Hyun showed a hit of strictness.


    Seeing this, Do-Jun chuckled, thinking, She¡¯s still just a kid.


    Turning towards her, he extended his hand.


    ¡°T-this doesn¡¯t mean that I¡¯m acknowledging you, mister,¡± she said as she shook Do-Jun¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Sure... Nice to meet you, Eun-Joo.¡± Do-Jun smiled as he shook her hand, while Young-Chul laughed heartily at the sight.


    ¡°Alright, it seems we¡¯ve all introduced ourselves. Let¡¯s go get some food now.¡±


    ***


    The place they arrived at was not a restaurant or a hotel but the Hunter¡¯s Bureau.


    Do-Jun stared blankly at the sparkling star emblem embedded in the car as he exited the luxury sedan. To be precise, he was inspecting the mana emanating from the emblem.


    Is it made of a mana stone? Why would they do that? He sighed, thinking it was a waste of money.


    Seeing this, Yoon-Hee pouted. Do-Jun always took the rush hour trains, often called the hell trains, during his commute to and from work. She assumed he couldn¡¯t afford to buy a car to drive to work despite wanting one.


    Father, just give me three years. She vowed to become a filial daughter once she became a Hunter.


    ¡°Come to think of it, this is where I first saw you, Supervisor Lee,¡± Min-Jin said.


    ¡°Is that so? I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t say that I remember.¡±


    ¡°I saw you talking to my senior during the rank assessment.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I see,¡± Do-Jun replied, recalling the time he was with Min-Hyuk in the waiting room during the practical evaluation. That must be what she was referring to.


    Meanwhile, listening to their conversation, Yoon-Hee suddenly thought, Practical evaluation?


    She then remembered the F-rank Hunter license she found in Do-Jun¡¯s drawer. However, when Do-Jun shook hands with Kang-Hyun, he had said, ¡°If you become a Hunter...¡±


    He said Father¡¯s not a Hunter. So, does that mean...?


    Yoon-Hee remembered Do-Jun¡¯s introduction from earlier. ¡°My name is Lee Do-Jun from Seoul City Hall Fissure Management Division.¡±


    The word Fissure only had one meaning.


    Fissure management. Does that mean he goes into Fissures himself?


    She quickly shook her head in denial. There was no way a regular person like Do-Jun would be sent into a Fissure.


    I need to get a clear answer from him later, she decided.


    ***


    The course meal prepared on the spot by chefs from renowned hotels was certainly satisfying.


    Every time Yoon-Hee took a bite, she couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°How can something be this delicious?¡±


    It was the first time she had ever tasted such delicious food. The steak served as the main dish melted in her mouth, enchanting her with its juicy texture and the fullness of her mouth.


    ¡°Haha. Eat as much as you want,¡± Young-Chul said as he looked at Yoon-Hee fondly.


    ¡°Tsk, peasants,¡± Eun-Joo muttered as she smirked and shook her head.


    Seeing this, Kang-Hyun gave her a warning look. ¡°Apologize.¡±


    Eun-Joo flinched, then said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry...¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m just grateful to be treated to such delicious food.¡± Yoon-Hee simply waved her hand and smiled in response.


    ¡°I wish Eun-Joo could be half as considerate as you,¡± Kang-Hyun said with a sigh.


    Yoon-Hee turned to check on Do-Jun, who was also eating well and seemingly enjoying the food.


    ¡°Father! I¡¯ll learn to cook even better,¡± she declared.


    ¡°Huh? Sure, that sounds good.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡± Yoon-Hee clenched her fist tightly.


    ¡°Oh, Miss Seol, since you¡¯re here, would you like to get a preliminary assessment? Or have you already had one?¡± Min-Ji tilted her head and smiled.


    A preliminary assessment was a test using a special machine to measure a Hunter¡¯s potential and the skill grade they could expect to reach in the future. It was also available to regular people, but the cost of one assessment was 10 million won, making it unaffordable for most.


    ¡°B-but...¡± Yoon-Hee trailed off as she glanced at Do-Jun.


    ¡°It¡¯s completely free, of course,¡± Min-Ji said.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it! I¡¯ll take it!¡± Yoon-Hee answered immediately at the mention of it being free. ¡°I¡¯ve never had one before. Hehe.¡±


    ¡°Really? That¡¯s great. Oh, why don¡¯t you try it too, supervisor? For fun,¡± Min-Ji said as she smiled slyly.


    In truth, she had no interest in Yoon-Hee¡¯s assessment result. This was simply a bait to find out Do-Jun¡¯s abilities, and Yoon-Hee was just a bonus.


    ¡°Thank you, but I¡¯m good.¡±


    ¡°Why not? Who knows, if you get a good result, you might consider becoming a Hunter,¡± Min-Ji teased him.


    ¡°It¡¯s not something I¡¯m interested in.¡± At Do-Jun¡¯s firm refusal, Min-Ji pursed her lips thoughtfully.


    Then Young-Chul added, ¡°Why don¡¯t you just give it a try, Mr. Lee? A chance like this doesn¡¯t come very often.¡±


    Kang-Hyun supported the director¡¯s suggestion. ¡°I¡¯m curious, too.¡±


    Do-Jun glanced around at the eyes focused on him.


    Ho, look at these people.


    ***


    [The assessment results are being printed.]


    Thump, thump.


    Yoon-Hee stood in front of the measuring device with her eyes tightly closed, then pulled out the printed result sheet. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Potential: A]


    [Expected Skill Grade upon Awakening: A]


    ¡°Wow.¡±


    The people watching from the side seemed slightly surprised at the result. The accuracy of the measuring device was about seventy percent, and a potential of A meant she was in the top five percent of Hunters in the country.


    It didn¡¯t mean she was an A-ranker at this moment, but it indicated a high probability of reaching that height in the future.


    ¡°Oho.¡± Young-Chul stroked his chin in admiration. ¡°We don¡¯t see an A-rank potential with this assessment very often. This is amazing.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect it to be so high. Looks like you¡¯ll be living the high life in the future, Supervisor Lee,¡± Min-Ji said with a broad smile.


    Kang-Hyun and Eun-Joo, watching from the side, also seemed slightly surprised.


    ¡°Hmph, not bad,¡± Eun-Joo said indifferently.


    ¡°Thanks.¡± When Yoon-Hee replied with a smile, Eun-Joo¡¯s face turned red, and she looked away with a huff.


    ¡°You¡¯re up next, Mr. Lee.¡±


    Everyone¡¯s eyes turned to Do-Jun.

 Chapter 21

    Chapter 21


    This should do it, Min-Ji thought excitedly.


    The measuring machine was accurate to about seventy percent, and even the remaining thirty percent produced a reading that was only one rank off.


    When this device was first introduced, most S-rank Hunters, including Min-Ji, received S-rank results. They also expected Do-Jun to display at least an A-rank, if not higher.


    Do-Jun lay down on a platform attached to the machine that resembled an MRI scanner. The assistant standing beside it confirmed that Do-Jun was ready and pressed the start button.


    Whirrrr.


    The platform started moving, and Do-Jun¡¯s body was slowly fed into the machine.


    Soon, dozens of holes in the machine¡¯s circular tube started emitting a blue light that was none other than mana.


    Do-Jun knew what to expect, having already watched Yoon-Hee undergo the measurement process ahead of him.


    The mana emitted from the machine was supposed to flow into the subject¡¯s body for analysis, but Do-Jun had no intention of accepting it into his body.


    Hummm.


    The mana that emanated from the machine circulated around Do-Jun¡¯s body, but all it could do was hover over him, unable to enter. It was as if the mana and Do-Jun¡¯s body were magnets of the same polarity, repelling each other.


    [Measurement complete.]


    With the conclusion of the measurement, Do-Jun emerged from the machine.


    [The results will now be printed.]


    He picked up the printed result sheet, and on it said:


    [Potential: -]


    [Expected Skill Grade upon Awakening: -] S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Nothing was displayed, disappointing Do-Jun as he had hoped for an F-rank. He looked at the assistant, wondering if he needed to redo the measurement.


    However, the assistant glanced at the result slip in Do-Jun¡¯s hand, scratched his head apologetically, and said, ¡°Cheer up...¡±


    ¡°Do I need to retake the assessment?¡± Do-Jun asked.


    ¡°No. There¡¯s no need,¡± the assistant answered.


    Everyone gathered around Do-Jun to check the result slip.


    Min-Ji said with an incredulous look, ¡°That can¡¯t be...¡±


    The others had similar reactions.


    The result having no value indicated that this individual had no talent as a Hunter whatsoever.


    Cases of blank measurements like this were extremely rare, as even those with minimal talent would produce a result of F or E-rank.


    ¡°R-run it one more time!¡± Min-Ji urged the assistant.


    But the assistant shook his head, looking troubled.


    The measurement process put a lot of strain on the body. Although there were no outward symptoms, the measurement involved a large amount of mana circulating inside the body and exiting all at once. Therefore, one needed ample rest for at least a whole day after undergoing the process. In fact, resting for over a week was recommended for ordinary people.


    ¡°I¡¯m also puzzled by the result,¡± Kang-Hyun murmured, stroking his chin.


    He had thought that Do-Jun¡¯s build was beyond exceptional, nearly perfect, and that if he trained a bit, he could easily hunt E-rank monsters.


    ¡°Well, maybe the results would change with physical enhancement. Occasionally, some people Awaken while undergoing physical enhancement, so don¡¯t be too disheartened, Supervisor Lee,¡± Kang-Hyun consoled him.


    Do-Jun just shrugged in response. He never had the slightest intention of becoming a Hunter. If he wanted to, he would have become one long ago.


    Watching the unfazed Do-Jun, Min-Ji thought, Was it really just my imagination back then?


    That couldn¡¯t be.


    The memory was too vivid to be mere imagination. Though it was only for a moment, the aura Do-Jun emitted had definitely overwhelmed her.


    Min-Ji rubbed her lips while watching Do-Jun chatting with the others.


    ***


    A few days later, on a Friday evening, three hours past sunset.


    Do-Jun entered the meeting room, separated by glass partitions within the Fissure Management Division, carrying three dinner boxes he had bought from a bento chain store near Seoul City Hall.


    Inside the meeting room, Cheol-Soo and Hyuk-Soo were intensely typing away on their laptops, staring intently at their screens.


    ¡°Dinner¡¯s here,¡± Do-Jun announced.


    The clock on the wall in the room already pointed past 9 PM.


    Seeing the dinner boxes and barley tea that Do-Jun had brought, Cheol-Soo pressed the Enter key irritably and got up from his seat.


    ¡°Man, I thought I was going to die from starvation. Hyuk-Soo! Let¡¯s eat first.¡±


    Hyuk-Soo stretched and nodded. He had shadows under his eyes.


    Both Cheol-Soo and Hyuk-Soo were a mess, having practically lived in the office for the past two days without going home once.


    ¡°Chief, I¡¯m going to go to the sauna after we eat,¡± Hyuk-Soo said.


    ¡°You idiot, if you¡¯re going, we¡¯re all going together.¡±


    Their hair was greasy from not being washed since Wednesday, their beards were unkempt, and their shirts smelled faintly of sweat.


    Do-Jun quietly set the dinner and tea at each person¡¯s spot.


    ¡°By the way, Do-Jun, how come you look fresh? Did you go home behind our backs?¡±


    Do-Jun shook his head in response to the question.


    How could he shamelessly go home when his direct supervisor and chief were working tirelessly? Hyuk-Soo and Cheol-Soo knew that Do-Jun would never even think of something like that, but they still found it strange that Do-Jun always appeared freshly groomed and didn¡¯t have even the slightest scent of sweat.


    Do-Jun sighed and opened his smartphone. He checked his messages to find that he had thirty-seven unread messages piled up and eleven missed calls¡ªall from Yoon-Hee.


    Click.


    Do-Jun took a picture of his dinner and sent it to Yoon-Hee.


    Then, a moment later, his phone rang, and the screen displayed the caller¡¯s name.


    [Seol Yoon-Hee]


    Do-Jun hesitated for a moment before pressing the answer button.


    ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡ªAll-nighter at the office again?


    ¡°Seems like it.¡±


    ¡ªYour dinner looks a bit too simple. Should I bring some side dishes?


    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. This is good enough.¡±


    ¡ªWhat about a change of clothes?


    ¡°I¡¯m still good.¡±


    ¡ªDo you need anything else? Like some fresh socks...


    Do-Jun sighed.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I gotta eat. Let¡¯s talk later.¡±


    Beep.


    Do-Jun ended the call immediately. Although it might have seemed a bit cold, if he hadn¡¯t, the conversation would have continued.


    ¡°Do-Jun, are you seeing someone?¡± Cheol-Soo asked, while Hyuk-Soo, aware of Do-Jun¡¯s situation, chuckled as he opened his bento box.


    Inside the box was rice covered with egg, bulgogi, spinach, stir-fried anchovies, and other typical side dishes.


    ¡°How about we go out to eat breakfast tomorrow?¡± Hyuk-Soo suggested, trying to change the subject.


    ¡°Yeah. I was just about to say that. This is already the fourth meal in a row eating these boxes. Tsk,¡± Cheol-Soo grumbled discontentedly.


    Although the contents of the box always changed, it was still getting tiring.


    ¡°Do-Jun.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Chief.¡±


    ¡°I asked if you were seeing someone.¡±


    ¡°No, I am not.¡±


    ¡°I have a third eye for these things. Just spill it. Is it Hunter Ye-Ji?¡± Cheol-Soo asked with a mischievous grin.


    Noticing the troubled look on Do-Jun¡¯s face, Hyuk-Soo decided to help out. ¡°Chief, are you set on going for the Fissure on Inwangsan Mountain?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, probably. Sigh. I really do hate this season.¡±


    Fissure field trip¡ªa regular program operated by the Hunter Academy where they took their new students to see C-rank or lower Fissures. The Fissure Management Division, responsible for managing the Fissures of those ranks, selected appropriate Fissures and provided the tour.


    ¡°We¡¯ve been working overtime for days because of this, haha,¡± Hyuk-Soo said with a hearty laugh.


    ¡°Admit it, Hyuk-Soo. You like being at work more than staying home, don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Me?¡± Hyuk-Soo smiled as he brought some bulgogi to his mouth.


    Feeling grateful that his senior helped him, Do-Jun turned to look at the whiteboard, which was packed with ideas and diagrams.


    Over the past two days, they had erased and rewritten it dozens, no, hundreds of times during meetings.


    Yoon-Hee will be there too, Do-Jun thought.


    Being one of the hundred new students, Yoon-Hee would naturally be at the Fissure tour that the Fissure Management Division selected.


    Should I give her a heads-up? As he contemplated, Do-Jun flipped through the paperwork from their meeting.


    The Fissure was an F-rank Fissure located in Inwangsan Mountain, 1-9, Sajik-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.


    It shouldn¡¯t be dangerous.


    The Fissure was supposed to have only a few goblins inside with no boss monsters, and the entry of Hunters had been restricted until the tour scheduled for the following Wednesday.


    And it¡¯s fully mapped out as well.


    The map data had already been sent to the academy through official channels, so there shouldn¡¯t be any issues with conducting the tour.


    However, there was one problem.


    She already found out that I work in the Fissure Management Division...


    Yoon-Hee was present when Do-Jun introduced himself and disclosed his affiliation in his conversation with Young-Chul, the Chief of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau. Since then, she had been interrogating him every night about what kind of work he did at Seoul City Hall.


    Do-Jun had vaguely dodged the questions and made his escape every time.


    I can¡¯t hide it forever.


    ***


    The following morning at 8 AM.


    Do-Jun froze in front of the door to his house. When he spread his senses to check inside, he sensed one person beyond the door.


    Ah, I¡¯m afraid to go in.


    [Missed Calls: 8]


    [Unread Messages: 21]


    He had set his phone to silent mode and had even forgotten to call her.


    These were the two things Do-Jun was at fault for.


    Creaaaak.


    When he carefully opened the door and went inside, he saw Yoon-Hee leaning against the wall, dozing off with a blanket wrapped around her.


    ¡°Phew.¡± Do-Jun sighed in relief and gently carried Yoon-Hee to the mattress laid out in the living room. Then he placed a pillow under her head and covered her with a thick blanket.


    That¡¯s when he noticed the food on the dining table: two plates of fried rice wrapped in plastic wrap, now cold.


    Looking at them made Do-Jun feel guilty, as though he had done something wrong.


    ¡°Father...?¡± Yoon-Hee murmured as she sluggishly opened her eyes and tried to get up. She probably woke up because he moved her from her spot.


    Do-Jun gently laid her down again and said, ¡°You must be tired. Go back to sleep.¡±


    But his words seemed to only have made her more irritated. Yoon-Hee furrowed her brows with a dissatisfied expression.


    ¡°Come sit for a second,¡± she said, patting the mattress.


    ¡°Alright...¡±


    ¡°Now, tell me this. Why didn¡¯t you answer my calls? Were you not the one who said you¡¯d call back? And you didn¡¯t even send me a single text afterward. Did you not think that the person waiting for you might get worried?¡±


    If he were to make an excuse, Do-Jun could have mentioned that he had set his phone to silent mode, but knowing that this might only make things worse, he decided not to say it.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he apologized instead.


    ¡°Please be sure to give me a heads-up next time you work late. That¡¯s all I¡¯m asking for.¡±


    When Do-Jun nodded, Yoon-Hee smiled in satisfaction.


    ¡°Oh, right. Father, I¡¯m going on a field trip to a Fissure next Wednesday. It¡¯s only an F-rank, but it¡¯ll be my first time entering a Fissure. I¡¯m really looking forward to it.¡±


    Yoon-Hee took out a few sheets of paper from her bag containing information about the tour, the Fissure¡¯s rank and location, and a map. Surely enough, it was the F-rank Fissure located in Inwangsan Mountain.


    ¡°And you work in the Fissure Management Division, right? What did you say you do there?¡± Yoon-Hee asked with a smile.


    Do-Jun hesitated before answering, ¡°O-oh, I just work on rules and regulations for Fissure management...?¡±


    ¡°So... do you go inside the Fissures for that too?¡±


    He carefully observed her reaction, but there was no sign of her frowning or any displeasure.


    Do-Jun nodded slightly.

 Chapter 22

    Chapter 22


    ¡°Hmm. I see. So, you actually enter the Fissures yourself,¡± Yoon-Hee commented, tightening her fist.


    Only when the papers in Yoon-Hee¡¯s hand were helplessly crumpled did Do-Jun realize he had made a mistake.


    Seeing her stern expression, Do-Jun cleared his throat and said, ¡°Ehem, shall we have breakfast?¡±


    ¡°So, what exactly do you do inside the Fissures, Father?¡±


    During the preliminary assessment, Do-Jun¡¯s result showed no values at all.


    Kang-Hyun mentioned that the results might change if Do-Jun underwent physical enhancement, but for now, it meant he was just an ordinary person with no Abilities whatsoever as a Hunter. The fact that someone like him was entering a Fissure was an extremely dangerous act.


    ¡°Well...¡± Do-Jun knew he couldn¡¯t evade the question any longer. He sighed and began explaining what his job entailed.


    ¡°I look around inside the Fissure, gather information on the monsters appearing in it, and assess the Fissure¡¯s rank.¡±


    Hearing this, Yoon-Hee bit her lip. Honestly, she wanted to ask him to change his job, but she knew she had no right to tell Do-Jun what to do and that it would only cause him trouble.


    ¡°But of course, I don¡¯t go in alone. I go with the Hunters contracted with our department, so there¡¯s no need to worry about safety. You don¡¯t have to worry too much.¡±


    Smack!


    Yoon-Hee¡¯s palm struck the mattress with force. ¡°How can I not worry when my father just waltzes into Fissures!¡±


    Do-Jun didn¡¯t know what to say.


    ¡°You know what, Father, we¡¯ve got to do something about this.¡±


    ¡°Do... what?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you special training,¡± Yoon-Hee declared.


    Those words left Do-Jun dumbfounded.


    He pointed a finger at Yoon-Hee. ¡°You.¡± Then he pointed at himself. ¡°Training me?¡±


    Yoon-Hee nodded resolutely.


    ¡°Father, let me remind you that I¡¯m an aspiring Hunter. Let¡¯s train together on the weekends. I¡¯ll teach you the basics step by step. And next Monday, please go to the Hunter¡¯s Bureau for a physical enhancement. That will help you accumulate some mana.¡±


    Do-Jun wasn¡¯t sure how to respond to Yoon-Hee.


    ¡°Father, are you listening?¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes.¡±


    What would the martial artists of the Central Plains think if they heard this? They would probably joke about it in their taverns for decades, maybe even centuries.


    Yoon-Hee approached Do-Jun and stared at him seriously. ¡°I¡¯m being serious, so please try to take it seriously yourself, Father.¡±


    Despite sighing inwardly, Do-Jun nodded.


    ***


    On a leisurely Saturday morning, Do-Jun and Yoon-Hee came to a nearby park where quite a few people were already out for a walk.


    ¡°Father, you know about the Status Window, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Since the first Fissure appeared ten years ago, everyone gained a system that allowed them to see their stats objectively. Father, try saying ¡®Status Window.¡¯¡±


    ¡°Status Window...¡± Do-Jun called.


    Name: Lee Do-Jun


    Level: 999


    Title: Heavenly Demon


    Strength: 999


    Agility: 999


    Stamina: 999


    Internal Energy: 999


    Skills: Pocket Watch (SSS), Heavenly Demon Cultivation Art (SS), Indestructible (S), Poison Immunity (S), Formless Sword (S), Sword Summon (S), Qi Circulation (D), Qi Barrier (B), Telepathy (D), Samadhi Fire (B), Pressure Point (C), One with the Blade (A)


    Do-Jun¡¯s stats had converged to 999 some time back.


    He didn¡¯t know if the Status Window¡¯s limit was 999, but the one thing he was sure of was that his actual stats far exceeded that number.


    ¡°There¡¯s a hologram-like window in front of you, right? What does it say?¡± Yoon-Hee asked.


    Do-Jun thought that he obviously couldn¡¯t tell her the truth.


    He needed to reduce the information, but to what extent? He decided to consider that Yoon-Hee was present when nothing showed up during his preliminary assessment at the Hunter¡¯s Bureau.


    ¡°My level is 1. Strength is 10, Agility 6, Stamina 9. Internal Energy is 0. It says here that I don¡¯t have any Skills,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°Hold on. Your Strength, Agility, and Stamina combined is 25?¡± Yoon-Hee asked in shock.


    If the sum of one¡¯s Strength, Agility, and Stamina exceeded 20, and Mana was 1 or more, it would qualify them as an E-rank Hunter. Moreover, his Strength and Stamina stats were higher than her own.


    Well, just looking at him, Father seems to be in good shape.


    Even just estimating based on his appearance¡ªhis height was well over 180 cm, and his firm muscles were visible through his exercise clothes¡ªit seemed plausible.


    ¡°But... did you say Internal Energy? There¡¯s no such stat...¡± Yoon-Hee trailed off.


    That¡¯s when Do-Jun realized he had made a mistake.


    Internal Energy was something that mana naturally transformed into as Do-Jun trained his Cultivation Arts in the Central Plains.


    If mana was an energy mixed with unrefined, impure elements in the atmosphere, Internal Energy was qi in its purest concentrated form.


    ¡°Oops, I must have seen it wrong. It does say Mana,¡± Do-Jun corrected himself.


    ¡°I see, so your Mana is 0... Well, I guess there¡¯s no surprise there.¡±


    Unlike Yoon-Hee, who had a physical enhancement at the Hunter¡¯s Bureau, Do-Jun had never gotten one. Since mana could only be absorbed through physical enhancement, it made sense that Do-Jun had 0 Mana.


    ¡°Whatever the case is, now that I know you¡¯re going into Fissures, as your daughter, I can¡¯t just stand by and do nothing.¡±


    Yoon-Hee took out a book from her bag.


    ¡°Mana Application Techniques¡ªThe Basics of Infusion, Release, and Transmutation.¡±


    It was a relatively thin book, about a hundred pages long, and quite worn, seemingly having been read many times.


    Yoon-Hee handed the book to him.


    ¡°Hunters use three main techniques to manipulate mana. Infusion, which is imbuing mana into a weapon to attack enemies; Release, which is releasing mana; and finally, Transmutation, which is using one¡¯s own mana to perform skills.¡±


    She then took out a revolver from her bag¡ªthe same mana gun she had used to take down a goblin when an unexpected Fissure had appeared in the grocery store they were shopping at.


    ¡°The easiest of these techniques is Transmutation. But since you don¡¯t have any skills, you can¡¯t use it... The next easiest and safest technique against monsters is Release, so I¡¯ll teach you that from now on. You don¡¯t have any mana yet, so you won¡¯t be able to use it fully, but we can start with the theory.¡±


    Yoon-Hee took a deep breath, and as she gripped the mana gun with both hands, the mana within her began to gradually flow into the gun. The mana gun absorbed the infused mana and started to emit a light.


    Yoon-Hee then withdrew her mana.


    ¡°The process of storing mana in the mana gun is called charging. If you can do this, you¡¯re already halfway there. Hmm... Would you like to give it a try, even if it¡¯s just pretending? Even though it may not be displayed in the Status Window, everyone has a tiny amount of mana in their body.¡±


    In fact, Yoon-Hee had succeeded in this charging process even before undergoing physical enhancement.


    ¡°Here you go,¡± she said, handing the mana gun to Do-Jun.


    Do-Jun held the mana gun and stood still for a moment.


    Yoon-Hee guided him, ¡°First, close your eyes and try to sense the faint currents flowing inside your body.¡±


    ¡°Okay...¡±


    Do-Jun closed his eyes as instructed and sensed the vast amount of Internal Energy writhing in his dantian.


    ¡°And now, try imagining that energy flowing into the mana gun.¡±


    But he wasn¡¯t going to do it.


    No matter how much he tried to control it. If he infused even a tiny, minuscule amount of his Internal Energy into the gun, Yoon-Hee would immediately notice that something was off.


    Instead, Do-Jun decided to take a different approach. He channeled a tiny portion of the mana floating in the atmosphere into the gun¡ªan extremely minute amount, barely registering as 0.1 on the scale.


    It required incredibly delicate control.


    Humm.


    The mana gun emitted a faint glow for a brief moment before fading.


    Yoon-Hee saw this and was startled. She exclaimed, ¡°H-how did you manage that on your first try...?¡±


    Back when she tried to do the same thing, it took her a whole month, and considering that it usually took anywhere from three to six months to charge the gun, she was considered to be among the quicker ones.


    In Yoon-Hee¡¯s eyes, Do-Jun appeared to be a genius. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Ah...¡± Should he have pretended to fail a few times? Do-Jun returned the mana gun to Yoon-Hee, feeling a bit of regret.


    Still in disbelief, Yoon-Hee alternated her gaze between the gun and Do-Jun.


    ¡°Father.¡±


    ¡°Yeah?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so talented!¡±


    ¡°T-thank you.¡±


    ¡°Oh, but I¡¯m still against you becoming a Hunter,¡± Yoon-Hee said, drawing a clear line.


    The reason? It was dangerous.


    Her purpose in training Do-Jun was solely to ensure he could defend himself if it ever became necessary. Actually, hunting monsters was something she wanted him to avoid at all costs.


    ¡°I don¡¯t plan on becoming one.¡± Do-Jun¡¯s response made Yoon-Hee smile in satisfaction.


    ***


    Monday morning.


    Hyuk-Soo turned his head toward the constant sound of typing from beside him to find Do-Jun diligently writing something.


    When he pulled his chair closer to take a look, he called out in a concerned tone, ¡°Do-Jun...?¡±


    [Physical Enhancement Result Report]


    Do-Jun was editing the contents of a random person¡¯s physical enhancement result report that he had found online.


    The subject of the physical enhancement was himself, Lee Do-Jun, the mana stone used was F-rank, and the result was the acquisition of 1 Mana.


    ¡°What are you doing...?¡± Hyuk-Soo asked in disbelief.


    Do-Jun was clearly forging a document. If done for personal gain, it would undoubtedly be considered a serious crime and result in criminal charges.


    After copying and pasting the seal of the Chief of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau onto the document, Do-Jun printed the document in color.


    Hyuk-Soo was at a loss for words.


    ¡°Please keep this a secret,¡± Do-Jun requested him.


    ¡°Why... why would you do this?¡±


    Do-Jun explained his situation to Hyuk-Soo via messenger.


    His daughter, Yoon-Hee, had found out that he worked in the Fissure Management Division and had to enter Fissures as part of his job. She then demanded that he go to the Hunter¡¯s Bureau for a physical enhancement.


    However, it was forbidden for civil servants in the Fissure Management Division to receive physical enhancements, as there was a possibility that former Fissure Management civil servants could potentially commit corruption if they became Hunters.


    After listening to Do-Jun¡¯s detailed explanation in the break room, Hyuk-Soo nodded in understanding.


    ¡°You¡¯re completely under her thumb, aren¡¯t you?¡± he said to Do-Jun.


    ¡°Am I?¡±


    ¡°Yeah... very...¡± Hyuk-Soo chuckled as he recalled the frequent ringing of Do-Jun¡¯s phone. ¡°But you said your daughter is a student at the Academy, right? She just started, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡±


    ¡°Then she¡¯ll be coming on the field trip this time, won¡¯t she?¡±


    Do-Jun nodded in response.


    Hyuk-Soo looked at Do-Jun with a worried expression and asked, ¡°What are you going to do?¡±


    ¡°Sorry?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to keep your daughter¡¯s existence a secret? Chief is also coming with us. Won¡¯t he find out?¡±


    Do-Jun shook his head, as there was no reason to go to that extent to hide Yoon-Hee. Besides, he had already told the Chief of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau and his entourage.


    ¡°Oh, right. You know we have another big thing coming up next week, right?¡± Hyuk-Soo reminded him.


    The big thing he was referring to was the transfer of the management rights of a B-rank Great Fissure from the Hunter¡¯s Bureau.


    The Fissure Management Division was scheduled to conduct a joint inspection and test with the Bureau next Friday.


    ¡°Chief was transferred to our division from another one, so he¡¯s far behind his peers in terms of promotions. He¡¯s really looking forward to this, thinking that if he secures this, his promotion could come a year or two sooner.¡±


    Do-Jun gulped and asked, ¡°If we fail to secure the transfer... what happens then?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll have to lay low for a while,¡± Hyuk-Soo said as he tossed his empty coffee cup into the trash.

 Chapter 23

    Chapter 23


    Wednesday, 10 AM.


    Over a hundred students were lined up in front of the entrance to an F-rank Fissure located at Inwangsan Mountain, Sajik-dong, 1-9 Jongno-gu. They were all wearing standard-issue suits without any insignia, each equipped with a mana gun and a dagger at their waists. They were murmuring among themselves.


    ¡°Everyone, may I have your attention, please.¡±


    The teacher in charge of the students drew their attention with a clap, then pointed to the three men standing at the entrance of the Fissure.


    ¡°First, let me introduce the three individuals assisting us with today¡¯s Fissure tour. This is Section Chief Kang Cheol-Soo from the Fissure Management Division at Seoul City Hall, and next to him are Supervisors Kwon Hyuk-Soo and Lee Do-Jun.¡±


    The students clapped politely as the three Fissure Management staff bowed their heads slightly in greeting.


    ¡°Chief, we look forward to working with you today,¡± the teacher said while shaking hands with Cheol-Soo.


    After clearing his throat, Cheol-Soo addressed the waiting students.


    ¡°I am Section Chief Kang Cheol-Soo, responsible for Fissure Management. It¡¯s truly an honor to meet the freshmen of the academy today. To give a brief overview, this is an F-rank Fissure where F-rank monsters appear. The monsters within are goblins.


    ¡°While goblins may not be particularly thrilling for you, please remember that safety is the first and foremost priority while inside the Fissure, as we cannot predict what might happen. Are there any questions?¡±


    As soon as he stopped talking, a girl with long, slightly wavy hair raised her hand. She was so beautiful that a stranger might mistake her for a celebrity. It was none other than Eun-Joo, the younger sister of the Sword Emperor, who was known to almost everyone.


    ¡°An F-rank Fissure? I heard the Fissure for the tour was selected by the Fissure Management Division; are you sure you weren¡¯t underestimating us?¡±


    Her words made some of the surrounding students nod in agreement as most of the cadets entering the Hunter Academy already possessed some level of stats and skills.


    For them, touring an F-rank Fissure was nothing but a dull experience.


    After quietly listening to Eun-Joo¡¯s complaint, Hyuk-Soo spoke up. ¡°You¡¯re Lee Eun-Joo, right? The younger sister of the Sword Emperor?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right,¡± Eun-Joo responded.


    ¡°I can see why you might have such an opinion. I¡¯m sure it will be boring and even more tedious for people like you, who are already at the level of A-rank Hunters. However, today is merely a tour. Since this is your first time entering a Fissure, the purpose is to familiarize yourselves with a Fissure. So, we ask for your understanding.¡±


    At Hyuk-Soo¡¯s words, Eun-Joo clicked her tongue in annoyance but did not raise any further complaints.


    ¡°If there are no more questions, please proceed inside in an orderly manner.¡±


    The academy¡¯s teacher, along with Cheol-Soo and Hyuk-Soo, entered the Fissure first.


    Do-Jun stayed behind to help the students into the Fissure one by one.


    Eun-Joo was grumbling and walking forward from the very back but suddenly stopped when she spotted Do-Jun.


    ¡°Are you the one in charge?¡± she asked him.


    ¡°I¡¯m not exactly in charge, more like an assistant.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    ***


    What awaited the freshmen of the Hunter Academy on the other side of the F-rank Fissure was a vast green meadow stretched out before them, with nothing particularly noteworthy.


    Since the area had been secured for the academy tour a few days prior, no other Hunters were in sight.


    ¡°Kerrk.¡±


    Goblins were roaming in groups of three to five.


    Though the scenery wasn¡¯t anything crazy, the students, who had been somewhat unenthusiastic earlier, now smiled broadly as they took in the different scenery and the sight of wandering monsters.


    ¡°So this is what the inside of a Fissure looks like...¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s like a completely different world in here!¡±


    ¡°Wow, it definitely feels different to actually be here instead of watching it on a screen.¡±


    The teacher clapped his hands to regain the attention of the chattering students.


    ¡°Alright, everyone. First, we¡¯ll follow the Seoul City Hall staff for a quick tour, and then you¡¯ll have some free hunting time. Please line up again. Also, please refer to the maps we handed out earlier, as it will help you navigate more efficiently.¡± S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The students unfolded their maps, which had been meticulously drawn up over the past year with detailed information about the Fissure.


    A moment later, Cheol-Soo stood before the line of students with Do-Jun and Hyuk-Soo behind him.


    Knowing that they were outnumbered, the goblins didn¡¯t show any signs of attacking. It was a natural survival instinct that any animal would have.


    ¡°Things are going quite smoothly,¡± Hyuk-Soo muttered while keeping watch, and Do-Jun nodded in agreement.


    If things continued like this, they would be done with the field trip with no significant events.


    ¡°So, which one is your daughter?¡± Hyuk-Soo whispered.


    Do-Jun pointed to a spot about ten meters away.


    Hyuk-Soo gazed in the direction and was slightly surprised. ¡°She¡¯s pretty! She¡¯ll probably break a lot of hearts when she grows up.¡±


    Yoon-Hee was comparable to most celebrities. Though she still had an immature look, it was almost a given how much more beautiful she would become as she matured.


    At that moment, Yoon-Hee glanced back at the chatting Do-Jun and Hyuk-Soo.


    Teacher Lee Joo-Hyung and Chief Cheol-Soo were loudly explaining the Fissure in front of her, but it barely registered in her ears. And when Do-Jun and Yoon-Hee made eye contact, she blushed and turned her head forward.


    She sure is adorable.


    Do-Jun smiled.


    ***


    An hour had passed since they entered the Fissure.


    As all they had to do was walk around the Fissure without hunting anything, that was enough time to complete the tour.


    ¡°Now, we¡¯ll give you some free hunting time. You may hunt individually or in teams,¡± Teacher Lee Joo-Hyung called out to the students.


    With only goblins appearing in this Fissure and no boss monsters present, the likelihood of any dangerous situations was low as long as everyone remained cautious.


    ¡°Just don¡¯t stray too far.¡±


    With Lee Joo-Hyung¡¯s permission, smiles spread across the students¡¯ faces.


    ¡°Good job,¡± Cheol-Soo said as he walked over.


    Hyuk-Soo smiled as he massaged Cheol-Soo¡¯s shoulders. ¡°You did all the hard work, Chief.¡±


    ¡°I need a break. Man, how do these kids come up with so many questions?¡± Cheol-Soo shook his head and clicked his tongue as he looked at the freshmen who were hunting... or rather, slaughtering the goblins.


    With every flash of a mana gun, a goblin¡¯s body exploded.


    When a dagger was swung, a goblin¡¯s head fell off.


    ¡°Do you think any of them will sign with us after they graduate?¡± Hyuk-Soo wondered aloud.


    ¡°Who knows? Probably not, though...¡± Cheol-Soo said after clicking his tongue.


    Thinking so made him feel a bit deflated, as one reason they put in so much effort today was to leave a good impression of the Fissure Management Division on the students.


    ***


    Bang!


    The mana stored in the mana gun was converted into a bullet and fired. It shot out from the muzzle, spinning rapidly, and pierced through the goblin¡¯s head.


    ¡°Phew.¡± Yoon-Hee wiped the sweat from her forehead.


    She could definitely feel that she had grown stronger compared to a month ago, though it wasn¡¯t a big change.


    With the next physical enhancement, she would likely have even more mana.


    ¡°So, what did you think?¡± she asked Do-Jun.


    ¡°Impressive,¡± Do-Jun replied with a smile.


    Seeing their child grow was always a joyous thing for a parent.


    Crackle.


    Huh? Do-Jun looked up at the sky.


    When they had first entered the Fissure, the sky had been clear without a cloud in sight.


    The sun is setting, Do-Jun thought.


    Wooooong.


    The airflow inside the Fissure was gradually increasing in speed.


    As his gaze followed the direction of the airflow, he spotted a goblin different from the other ones in the Fissure.


    Is that a skull? Do-Jun thought, spotting a skull-shaped tattoo engraved on the goblin¡¯s forehead.


    According to the data, we shouldn¡¯t see a boss monster here.


    Do-Jun pulled out his SpacePad and accessed the Fissure Management System.


    He reviewed the Fissure¡¯s information again, but there was no mention of a boss anywhere.


    It¡¯s not attacking, though.


    The goblin didn¡¯t make any moves toward Do-Jun or Yoon-Hee.


    ¡°Father, please step back.¡±


    Click.


    She aimed her mana gun at the goblin¡¯s forehead.


    Even if it was a boss monster, it was only an F-rank boss. A mana bullet to the vital spot should kill it instantly.


    Whrlllll.


    The mana from her body flowed into the mana gun, and a mana bullet was created in the chamber.


    Bang!


    Thud.


    Blood spurted from the goblin¡¯s forehead as it collapsed.


    Yoon-Hee smiled brightly and approached the goblin¡¯s corpse. But a dark current surged from the goblin¡¯s body at that moment.


    Crackle, crackle, crackle!


    [You have defeated a Fissure Warden.]


    [The conditions have been met. An Event Fissure will open.]


    [Difficulty will be set randomly.]


    ¡°Huh...?¡±


    Ripppp!


    The space began to tear open from the ground to the sky. A Fissure was rapidly forming, spiraling upward endlessly.


    Booooooom!


    W-what is this...? Yoon-Hee gasped in shock, taking a step back.


    At that moment, a gust of wind blew from the Fissure, lifting her into the air and pulling her into the newly formed Fissure. And as soon as she disappeared behind the Fissure, it began to close rapidly.


    Bang!


    Do-Jun pushed off the ground and leaped into the Fissure after her.


    [You are entering the Nest of Izaas.]


    The Fissure that swallowed Do-Jun and Yoon-Hee vanished without a trace.


    ***


    Thud.


    Yoon-Hee collapsed to the ground as her legs gave out.


    [You have entered the Nest of Izaas.]


    [Event triggered!]


    [Survive for more than 30 minutes or defeat Izaas. Rewards will be given upon success.]


    An empty canyon surrounded them, and in the center, a massive dragon exhaled steam from its nostrils.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Do-Jun hummed thoughtfully.


    He had followed Yoon-Hee into the Fissure without much thought. He looked down and found her trembling with fear.


    Yoon-Hee was startled, seeing Do-Jun standing silently beside her.


    ¡°D-dad... t-that thing is...¡±


    The word death flashed through Yoon-Hee¡¯s mind as she recalled a Giant Fissure that had appeared around Busan three years ago.


    The creature before her resembled the Dragon Family that had been discovered there.


    She remembered reading in a Hunter¡¯s report that it had taken eight S-rank Hunters and twenty A-rank Hunters three days of fierce battle to finally defeat the creature called Masalis.


    I guess this is it, Do-Jun thought with a sigh.


    He took off his suit jacket and draped it over Yoon-Hee.


    ¡°Dad...?¡±


    ¡°Let me borrow your mana gun for a second.¡±


    ¡°Sorry...?¡±


    Do-Jun took the mana gun from Yoon-Hee¡¯s waist.


    ¡°Feeble humans,¡± Izaas said.


    He opened his mouth wide, and a red fireball began to form, growing larger and larger.


    It was Dragon¡¯s Breath, an attack that instantly killed two S-rank Hunters.


    ¡°Stay here,¡± Do-Jun told Yoon-Hee and walked forward.


    Yoon-Hee¡¯s eyes widened in shock. She tried to get up to stop him, but her legs wouldn¡¯t move.


    ¡°D-dad, Dad, no!¡±


    Then, the Dragon¡¯s Breath was unleashed.


    Kwoooaaarrr!


    But what unfolded next made Yoon-Hee doubt her own eyes.


    The Dragon¡¯s Breath split into two streams right in front of Do-Jun. What she saw when the Dragon¡¯s Breath ceased was Do-Jun standing there, completely unharmed, looking way too normal.


    ¡°You took a shot, so I can take one, too, right?¡± Do-Jun said, aiming the mana gun at Izaas.


    As his internal energy slowly flowed from his dantian into the mana gun, the air began to tremble, and the ground shook.


    Rumble, rumble!


    ¡°H-h-hold on a minute!¡± Izaas hastily exclaimed, trying to call for a timeout.

 Chapter 24

    Chapter 24


    ¡°¡®Hold on¡¯ my ass,¡± Do-Jun cursed at Izaas.


    Rumble...


    The mana gun resonated with Do-Jun¡¯s internal energy and roared as if it would explode at any moment.


    As a shiver ran down Izaas¡¯ spine, he thought that if that bullet hit him directly, even he, a dragon, could die.


    ¡°I have a question!¡± he blurted out.


    Do-Jun nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll allow one.¡±


    ¡°What must I do for you to let me live?¡±


    ¡°Why are you asking me that?¡±


    ¡°Because you hold my life in your hands right now!¡±


    Booooom!


    A bullet shot out from the mana gun. With a thunderous noise, it tore through the air, just narrowly missing Izaas.


    A moment later, a massive explosion erupted.


    Booooom!


    Upon turning his head, Izaas saw that an entire mountain range had been obliterated.


    Swallowing hard, he looked back at Do-Jun and muttered, ¡°This power... What in the world? How can a human...¡±


    On the other hand, Do-Jun couldn¡¯t understand why the dragon was trembling so hard from an attack that he had significantly held back on.


    There¡¯s no doubt that he¡¯s stronger than the Monarch Ogre, but.... Do-Jun recalled the boss monster he had encountered in the Swamp of the Dark Ogre, but Izaas seemed at least ten times stronger.


    So, was this dragon in front of him an S-rank monster?


    ¡°I can let you live,¡± Do-Jun said.


    Izaas grinned in relief at Do-Jun¡¯s words, but he realized it was too early to celebrate as Do-Jun continued to speak.


    ¡°But first, you gotta take like five hits.¡±


    ¡°Pardon...?¡±


    ***


    Yoon-Hee pinched her own cheek. She couldn¡¯t believe whether the sight before her was real.


    ¡°Straighten up,¡± Do-Jun commanded the dragon.


    ¡°Y-yes, sir!¡±


    Izaas, the Dragon, looked like he was in excruciating pain as Do-Jun sat on top of his head, using a martial art technique called Ten-Thousand-Pound Weight. It was a skill where Internal Energy was injected into the lower body to increase its mass.


    ¡°H-how long do I have to keep doing this...¡± Izaas asked cautiously. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At those words, Do-Jun released the skill and lightly stepped off Izaas¡¯ head, enabling the dragon to finally straighten his neck.


    ¡°So, your answer?¡± Do-Jun asked him.


    Izaas nodded vigorously, knowing that doing otherwise would mean death.


    Whoosh.


    Izaas¡¯ massive body began to shrink. In just a moment, he turned into a mini dragon the size of a typical pet with a cute tail and wings just a bit bigger than a hand.


    ¡°C-curses. The great Izaas... reduced to this ridiculous form...¡±


    ¡°What was that?¡±


    ¡°Oh, nothing, Master.¡±


    Do-Jun walked over to Yoon-Hee, who was still on the ground. He returned the mana gun to her and extended his hand.


    ¡°Can you stand?¡± he asked.


    ¡°U-uh... Y-yes, I can!¡±


    Yoon-Hee quickly got up without taking Do-Jun¡¯s hand. She seemed very tense for some reason. Do-Jun reached out to retrieve his suit jacket and put it on again.


    ¡°Um, Dad¡ªno, Father.¡±


    ¡°Yeah?¡±


    ¡°Y-you are... my father... right?¡±


    Until now, she knew Do-Jun to be always kind and considerate to everyone, but most importantly, he was an ordinary person with basically no mana.


    But the person in front of her was completely different.


    Do-Jun noticed that Yoon-Hee seemed slightly afraid of him, but he also thought that it was understandable. After all, he had always tried to keep his power hidden from everyone.


    However, in this situation, Yoon-Hee¡¯s life could have been in danger if he had continued to hide his power, so he had no choice but to reveal it.


    ¡°Yoon-Hee, about what you just saw...¡± Do-Jun started to speak, but Yoon-Hee nodded as if she already knew what he was about to say.


    ¡°You want me to keep it a secret, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah...¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°Are you really okay with that?¡± Do-Jun asked, surprised at Yoon-Hee¡¯s rather quick acceptance.


    ¡°Father, you must¡¯ve hidden your powers for a reason, and as your daughter, of course I should cooperate!¡±


    Do-Jun felt grateful. He smiled and patted Yoon-Hee¡¯s head. At that, Yoon-Hee smiled shyly as if the touch seemed to comfort her.


    The now-adorable Izaas cautiously approached Do-Jun. However, still shaken by the earlier terror, Yoon-Hee flinched and took a step back.


    ¡°Grrr...¡± Izaas growled lowly as if his playful side was emerging.


    Do-Jun picked Izaas and brought him up to his face. Seeing Do-Jun¡¯s cold eyes, Izaas shuddered and quickly apologized, ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry!¡±


    ¡°Act cute.¡±


    ¡°Y-yes, Master!¡±


    As soon as Do-Jun put Izaas back down, Izaas flipped over and exposed its belly, a sign of submission in the kingdom of animals.


    Only then did Yoon-Hee cautiously approach and petted Izaas¡¯ belly.


    This is humiliating...


    ***


    Meanwhile, Cheol-Soo checked his wristwatch and looked around.


    It was already close to noon. The free hunting time was nearly over, and it was time to wrap up the field trip.


    ¡°Have you seen Do-Jun? Where is this guy?¡± Cheol-Soo asked Hyuk-Soo.


    ¡°He was just over there earlier, but he¡¯s disappeared,¡± Hyuk-Soo said, staring at the spot where Do-Jun had been hunting with Yoon-Hee.


    Then, out of nowhere, Do-Jun and Yoon-Hee suddenly appeared in midair.


    Hyuk-Soo rubbed his eyes and looked again, thinking, What just happened? Did I just miss them because it suddenly got dark for a second?


    But it didn¡¯t really matter anyway.


    ¡°Chief, he is there.¡±


    ¡°Where?¡±


    Hyuk-Soo pointed in the direction. Cheol-Soo turned his head and saw Do-Jun walking over with a student and some sort of pet.


    ¡°Where were you?¡±


    Do-Jun replied to the Chief¡¯s question, scratching his head, ¡°I had to take care of something.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re about to wrap things up, so let¡¯s get ready... Hmm?¡± Cheol-Soo noticed Yoon-Hee sticking close to Do-Jun and tilted his head in curiosity. ¡°Do you know this student?¡±


    Hyuk-Soo glanced at Do-Jun with concern.


    However, contrary to his expectations, Do-Jun answered without hesitation, ¡°She¡¯s my daughter, Chief.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see. Your daughter... huh... huh?¡±


    Cheol-Soo was shocked.


    As if he had anticipated this, Do-Jun elaborated, ¡°It¡¯s a long and complicated story, so I can¡¯t go into details. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°No, no, that¡¯s understandable, haha! Everyone makes mistakes when they¡¯re young.¡±


    Despite his words, Cheol-Soo alternated his gaze between the two, mouth agape. They didn¡¯t look that far apart in age, so how was this even biologically possible?


    ¡°H-hello, I¡¯m Seol Yoon-Hee.¡±


    ¡°Nice to meet you, haha. I¡¯m Kang Cheol-Soo, the Section Chief of the Fissure Management Division... hold on, your last name is Seol?¡± Cheol-Soo said, then quickly turned his head to Do-Jun.


    ¡°I can¡¯t go into details.¡±


    ¡°Ah... haha, I see. Okay, okay.¡± Cheol-Soo didn¡¯t pry further.


    Hyuk-Soo smiled and extended his hand for a handshake. He had been standing next to Cheol-Soo during the awkward interaction.


    ¡°I¡¯m Kwon Hyuk-Soo, Do-Jun¡¯s senior.¡±


    ¡°Oh! I¡¯ve heard a lot about you. My father says you¡¯ve been helping him a lot... Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Haha, not at all. Actually, Do-Jun has been helping me a lot.¡±


    Then, Cheol-Soo pointed to the creature clinging to Do-Jun¡¯s feet. ¡°But this little... Is it a dog or a cat? No... it¡¯s neither. Anyway, what is it?¡±


    ¡°This is Izaas... I mean, Yong-Yong.¡± Do-Jun quickly changed his answer mid-sentence.


    ¡°Yong-Yong?¡± Hyuk-Soo said, surprised.


    Upon hearing that, Izaas growled lowly at Do-Jun, perhaps because of his new name.


    ¡°Tsk.¡± Do-Jun fired a light warning.


    ¡°Yong-Yong...¡± Izaas muttered in disbelief.[1]


    Do-Jun continued, ¡°He¡¯s my new pet. He will be helping me from now on.¡±


    ¡°A pet...?¡± Hyuk-Soo asked, confused.


    ¡°I¡¯ve had my Awakening,¡± Do-Jun said, startling Cheol-Soo and Hyuk-Soo.


    Awakening without undergoing physical enhancement meant that he was what was commonly referred to as ¡°blessed.¡±


    ¡°D-Do-Jun, are you serious? You¡¯ve Awakened? Then does that mean....¡± Cheol-Soo trailed off.


    ¡°Do-Jun, are you planning to become a Hunter?¡± Hyuk-Soo asked instead.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not. But I do think it will be quite helpful for future Fissure explorations.¡±


    Cheol-Soo sighed in relief at Do-Jun¡¯s response.


    Compared to a year ago, Do-Jun¡¯s contribution at work had become significantly more substantial, and losing a capable subordinate like him would be tough for the head of the division.


    ¡°Chief, we should start wrapping things up,¡± Hyuk-Soo said, looking at the gathering students.


    Cheol-Soo walked over to the students while stealing glances at Yong-Yong as if he was still fascinated.


    ***


    Amid the students who had finished hunting and were resting, Teacher Lee Joo-Hyung stood up as he saw the Seoul City Hall staff approaching.


    Cheol-Soo shook hands with Lee Joo-Hyung, saying, ¡°Thank you for your hard work today, Mr. Lee.¡±


    ¡°Not at all. Thanks to you, Chief, everything went smoothly. Thank you all.¡±


    Lee Joo-Hyung smiled and bowed his head to the three men from Seoul City Hall.


    At that moment, Do-Jun turned his head toward an inexplicable hot gaze locked on him. The person staring at him was Eun-Joo. To be precise, she was staring at Yong-Yong at his feet.


    Sensing her gaze, Yong-Yong growled at her, but he looked more like a small puppy trying to be playful.


    Eun-Joo got up and strode over to Do-Jun.


    ¡°M-mister! What is this unbelievably cute animal?¡± she asked in an excited voice.


    ¡°He¡¯s my pet.¡±


    ¡°Your pet?¡±


    With its adorable legs, wings, tail, and a tiny horn on its forehead as the cherry on top, it was clear at a glance that this wasn¡¯t an ordinary pet.


    ¡°I¡¯ve Awakened,¡± Do-Jun said as an explanation.


    ¡°Awakened? Then, are you a Tamer?¡±


    Tamer was an extremely rare special Class of Hunters that could summon or control monsters as slaves.


    ¡°But... mister, during the preliminary assessment...¡±


    Do-Jun¡¯s assessment showed that he had no Abilities or any potential. He was rankless.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe this is happening... So are you going to switch to being a Hunter now?¡± Eun-Joo inquired.


    ¡°No, I have no plan to do so,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°But why not? Tamers are treated like royalty in any guild!¡±


    Tamers were treated on par with Healers or perhaps even higher. They were versatile enough to act as tanks or dealers by controlling summoned beasts or contracted monsters, which was enough to make any guild desperate to recruit them.


    ¡°I am going to use it, but for Fissure explorations, of course.¡±


    ¡°But still... this is your chance to make a fortune,¡± Eun-Joo said, clearly feeling it was a waste.


    Lee Joo-Hyung had been listening from the side and quickly agreed with her. ¡°While it¡¯s your choice, Supervisor Lee, I agree with Eun-Joo. If you became a Hunter, you could really make a name for yourself. With the skills of a Tamer, no matter the rank, you could get a contract with a signing bonus of at least 100 million won.¡±


    Success.


    At that word, Do-Jun gave a bittersweet smile.


    Money and fame were words he¡¯d grown tired of in the Central Plains. Honestly, if he wanted them, he could get them whenever he wished.


    Just selling the remaining mana stones he got from the Monarch Ogre sitting at home would net him over 2 billion won, and if he started to wipe out monsters with his power, the honor would naturally follow.


    But instead of thinking of doing any of that, Do-Jun smiled at Cheol-Soo, who was looking at him with worried eyes.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Chief. As I said earlier, I¡¯m not quitting.¡±


    ¡°E-Ehem, did anyone say anything? I was just...¡± Cheol-Soo cleared his throat, embarrassed, and turned his head, and Hyuk-Soo chuckled as he watched.


    Do-Jun looked over at Yoon-Hee. When their eyes met, her face flushed, and she quickly lowered her head.


    Honestly, I¡¯m having more fun now than I did back then, Do-Jun thought with a chuckle.


    That was his true feeling.


    1. Yong is the Korean word for ¡°Dragon.¡± It¡¯s as good as giving a lion the nickname ¡°Kitty-kitty.¡±

 Chapter 25

    Chapter 25


    Do-Jun was typing up a post-trip report on the Hunter Academy tour when he felt an intense gaze directed at him. He turned his head to see Ye-Ji, laying her head on her desk, staring intently in his direction, and he let out a sigh.


    ¡°Ye-Ji, I told you I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so mean.¡±


    ¡°Sigh.¡±


    ¡°How could you just ditch me like that? Without giving me any prior notice,¡± Ye-Ji said, pouting.


    According to her, unlike her usual tardiness, she had arrived at the office by 8:40 AM this morning. She happily waited with a smile, thinking she would receive praise from Do-Jun for being early.


    But when he didn¡¯t show up by 9:00 AM, she got curious and asked another employee, only to find out that he was attending a field trip for the Hunter Academy freshmen.


    ¡°And you even had samgyeopsal for lunch!¡± she vented and slammed her fist on the desk.


    Hyuk-Soo, who had been working quietly, flinched and shrugged his shoulders.


    With a good-natured smile, he said, ¡°Hunter Ye-Ji, we weren¡¯t trying to leave you out or anything...¡±


    ¡°But you had. Sam. Gyeop. Sal.¡±


    It seemed that samgyeopsal was a critical point for Ye-Ji.


    At that moment, Cheol-Soo stood up abruptly and approached Ye-Ji, rubbing his hands together and chuckling. He said, ¡°Would our dear Hunter Ye-Ji like to have samgyeopsal for dinner tonight?¡±


    ¡°O-oh, C-Chief, that¡¯s not what I meant...¡± Ye-Ji sighed.


    The tantrum stemmed from her envy of the bond between the three of them. They had a genuine relationship among colleagues, tied by their civil servant roles.


    If only I had come here as a civil servant...


    As she fell into her thoughts, her eyes met Do-Jun¡¯s. Then, she let her imagination run wild.


    What would life have been like as Do-Jun¡¯s junior at work?


    I would have been so happy.


    He would have taught her the ropes, and when she made mistakes, he would comfort her and tell her it was okay.


    The more her thoughts drifted in that direction, the redder her face got.


    And then she snapped back to reality. ¡°A-anyway. Please don¡¯t forget that I¡¯m also part of the Fissure Management Division.¡±


    ¡°Haha, of course not, Hunter Ye-Ji.¡±


    Cheol-Soo seemed unusually deferential, perhaps because of the scheduled joint inspection of a B-rank Great Fissure next week with some Hunter¡¯s Bureau employees.


    ¡°What the... did they seriously cancel the inspection at the last minute?¡± Hyuk-Soo muttered as he frowned upon seeing the newly received official document.


    At his words, Cheol-Soo quickly turned his head to look at the monitor.


    Subject: Response to B-Rank Great Fissure Joint Inspection Opinion at Daehyeonsan Mountain Park (Revised)


    We sincerely appreciate your continued cooperation in Fissure management operations.


    Regarding the request by Seoul Fissure Management Division-1841 (2019.02.20), upon further review, based on Article 13 of the Great Fissure Management Act and Article 11 of the Enforcement Decree of the same Act, we inform you that the transfer of management rights for the B-rank Great Fissure at Daehyeonsan Mountain Park is not possible due to the failure to meet the requirement of possessing at least one Hunter with a rank of B or higher.


    For the reasons stated above, the scheduled joint inspection has been canceled. Please reconvene once the qualifications are met.


    Regards.


    Cheol-Soo was frowning as he finished reading the official document from the Hunter¡¯s Bureau.


    ¡°These bastards!¡± he cursed out loudly, then returned to his seat and started making a call.


    Soon, his voice boomed through the office, loud enough to shake the walls.


    Seeing this, Ye-Ji shuddered and quietly returned to her seat.


    ¡°Senior, didn¡¯t they say they would make an exception for this case?¡± Do-Jun asked Hyuk-Soo.


    ¡°Well... this isn¡¯t the first time they have pulled something like this. They once promised to provide free equipment to Hunters, but they canceled that out of the blue, too.¡±


    ¡°Are they allowed to do that?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re just making sure we know who¡¯s the boss.¡± Hyuk-Soo clicked his tongue in disapproval.


    ***


    Clack.


    Do-Jun walked into his apartment.


    Yoon-Hee, who normally would have run out to greet him immediately, was nowhere to be seen. Actually, she was still there but with just her head poking out from behind the wall, cautiously looking at Do-Jun. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°W-welcome home, Father.¡± She spoke hesitantly.


    ¡°What¡¯s... what¡¯s with the formal tone all of a sudden?¡± Do-Jun asked her surprised.


    ¡°My apologies, my apologies.¡±


    ¡°Wait, why are you acting like this? This isn¡¯t like you.¡±


    There was only one reason for Yoon-Hee¡¯s sudden change in behavior¡ªthe Event Fissure that had appeared earlier in the day. More specifically, witnessing Do-Jun¡¯s power there.


    An inexplicable fear had struck her after seeing Do-Jun, whom she thought of as just an ordinary person, take down a dragon with a single blow.


    ¡°I-I sincerely apologize for acting like a know-it-all and trying to boss you around...¡±


    ¡°Sigh... It makes me uncomfortable when you act like this. Just be your usual self.¡±


    Memories of the past flashed through Yoon-Hee¡¯s mind.


    ¡°When I graduate and become a Hunter, I will protect you, Father!¡±


    ¡°Father, it¡¯s dangerous, so please stay back.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s train together on the weekends. I¡¯ll teach you the basics step by step.¡±


    Recalling the embarrassing things she had said in the past, Yoon-Hee slowly slid down the wall and collapsed onto the floor. She felt so mortified that she couldn¡¯t bring herself to stand up. Her face was burning with shame.


    ¡°Ughhhh...¡±


    Do-Jun couldn¡¯t understand why Yoon-Hee was acting this way.


    At that moment, Izaas, or rather Yong-Yong, waltzed into the living room.


    ¡°Master, I give you one hell of a welcome.¡±


    Yong-Yong, the mini-dragon, no bigger than the palm of his hand, lowered himself and pressed his head to the floor.


    ¡°Yeah... okay.¡±


    As soon as Do-Jun acknowledged him, he stood up and wagged his tail as he approached his master.


    ¡°Why are you acting so clingy?¡±


    ¡°E-eh? But you clearly told me to act cute...¡±


    ¡°Ah, right. Yeah, this is nice.¡±


    ¡°Tsk.¡± After a brief pout, Yong-Yong spun around and leaped onto the sofa.


    Do-Jun helped Yoon-Hee to her feet as she was still sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall. She trembled slightly at his touch but didn¡¯t resist.


    ¡°Why is your face so red?¡±


    ¡°T-that¡¯s...¡±


    ¡°Are you sick?¡±


    Do-Jun placed his hand on Yoon-Hee¡¯s forehead, looking at her with concern. For some reason, it felt like her forehead was getting hotter.


    ¡°N-no, I¡¯m fine! I¡¯ll get dinner ready right away!¡± she said as she hurriedly headed to the kitchen, wincing in pain as if she bit her tongue at the last word.


    Cute, Do-Jun thought with a smile.


    After taking a shower, he came out of his room dressed in fresh clothes. As he walked out, he glanced at Yong-Yong, curled up on the sofa, watching TV.


    ?How could you do this to me, oppa??


    ?Let¡¯s break up. I¡¯m so sick of this.?


    ?You bastard! Now that you¡¯ve passed your bar, you just forget about all the things I did to support you while you were studying. And you replace me with another woman? How can you call yourself human? Huh? Waaaah.?


    Yong-Yong sat up and leaned forward, seemingly completely engrossed in the TV drama.


    ?Thanks for everything.?


    ¡°Wow, that guy is a proper dickhead,¡± he muttered, frowning at the drama scene.


    Do-Jun pretended not to notice and turned away. He saw that dinner was already prepared on the table.


    ¡°A-are you freshened up?¡± Yoon-Hee asked him hesitatingly.


    ¡°Yeah. But why did you make so much food? It must¡¯ve been a lot of work.¡±


    As Do-Jun looked at the table piled high with food, enough to nearly collapse it, he marveled at Yoon-Hee¡¯s steadily improving cooking skills and the care she put into each meal.


    Sitting in his chair, Do-Jun frowned as he noticed Yong-Yong already sitting at the dining table.


    Yong-Yong¡¯s eyes sparkled as he stared at the delicious food, drooling.


    ¡°Thank you for the...¡± But he trailed off and slowly turned his head as he sensed a sudden murderous intent.


    At the end of his gaze, he met Do-Jun¡¯s cold, steely eyes.


    ¡°Meal...?¡± Yong-Yong finished uncertainly.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to eat with us? At the same table?¡± Do-Jun asked him.


    ¡°Please uphold my human... I mean, dragon rights...¡±


    Coincidently, as if on cue, Yoon-Hee brought out a large dog bowl with a smile. ¡°I bought this on my way home from school. Since we¡¯ll be living together from now on, I thought it might come in handy, hehe.¡±


    Yong-Yong froze when he saw the dog bowl Yoon-Hee had placed on the table, which she then filled with braised short ribs.


    ¡°Eat up, Yong-Yong.¡±


    ¡°You know...¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    Izaas trembled all over. He couldn¡¯t hold it in any longer. If other dragons learned about this, they would surely laugh at him for the rest of his life.


    But why...


    What lay before his eyes was a juicy piece of braised short rib with brown sauce dripping down the meat fibers.


    Why is my body... moving on its own...?


    The moment his teeth tore into the rib meat, and the sweet morsel touched his tongue, Yong-Yong felt a tingling sensation coursing through his entire body. It was over.


    Munch, munch!


    ¡°Woow, Yong-Yong, you eat so well!¡± Yoon-Hee smiled as she patted Yong-Yong¡¯s head.


    It seemed all fear had disappeared.


    Why! Why is this so delicious!?


    Having only ever eaten raw monster meat, Yong-Yong thought the braised short rib was the tastiest food in the world. But this also turned his world upside down.


    Munch, munch!


    Watching Yong-Yong bury his face into the dog bowl, Do-Jun chuckled quietly with his chin resting on his hand.


    ***


    5 PM, the next day.


    Returning to the office after exploring an E-rank Fissure, Do-Jun noticed the excited atmosphere in the office.


    The staff were huddled around Hyuk-Soo¡¯s desk.


    ¡°Wow! So, a B-rank Hunter is going to sign with our division?¡±


    ¡°Oh my goodness... A B-rank Hunter is satisfied with a salary of just 300 million won?¡±


    The staff was abuzz with excitement, and at the center of everything was Hyuk-Soo, beaming with a wide smile.


    He explained, ¡°Haha, this guy was my high school buddy. He said he¡¯s earned enough money and wants to sign a contract with our division. He wants to honor our friendship.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe there¡¯s a Hunter like that. Hoho, thanks to you, Hyuk-Soo, Chief¡¯s career will finally take off. We might even get the B-rank Great Fissure management rights this time.¡±


    The happiest person, of course, was Cheol-Soo.


    ¡°Hyuk-Soooooo! How could I ever live without you? I mean, you are such a good person that you are only surrounded by other good people, right? Huh? The deep, brotherly friendship between two men! You don¡¯t see that often these days, especially not with B-rank Hunters. Supervisor Kwon. Hyuk. Soo. There¡¯s no one like him!¡±


    Do-Jun quietly joined the group.


    When Hyuk-Soo noticed Do-Jun, he greeted him with a big smile.


    ¡°Oh, Do-Jun! So, this time...¡± Unable to contain his excitement, Hyuk-Soo spoke with the biggest smile on his face like a joyful child.


    ¡°Congratulations, Senior. You said he¡¯s your high school friend?¡± Do-Jun asked with a soft smile.


    He knew that if they signed a contract with a B-rank Hunter, they could renegotiate the transfer of the B-rank Great Fissure management rights for Daehyeonsan Mountain Park, which had been rejected by the Hunter¡¯s Bureau.


    ¡°This guy and I were inseparable in high school. We lost touch when he became a Hunter, but when he saw the job posting and found out I was here, he agreed to join in a heartbeat...¡±


    ¡°So, Hyuk-Soo, has he submitted the application yet?¡±


    ¡°He said we should meet today and talk. Oh, Chief, would you like to come along?¡±


    ¡°Of course! It¡¯s all on me today. Tuna! I¡¯ll treat you to tuna.¡± Cheol-Soo laughed heartily as he ruffled Hyuk-Soo¡¯s hair.


    ¡°Do-Jun, would you like to come too? He said he would bring a few Hunter colleagues of his, so it would be good for you to get acquainted with them,¡± Hyuk-Soo suggested him.


    ¡°Are you sure that would be alright?¡±


    ¡°Of course. You¡¯re my precious junior. Oh, and Chief, by the way, he said dinner¡¯s on him tonight. Since it¡¯s been so long, he insisted on paying. He said he¡¯d send the location by text.¡±


    Just then, Hyuk-Soo¡¯s smartphone vibrated from the incoming message.


    XXX: Location: Sinsa-dong, XXX-XX, Gangnam-gu.

 Chapter 26

    Chapter 26


    Sinsa-dong, Seoul.


    Hyuk-Soo had gotten off at exit number eight of Sinsa Station. He checked the map on his smartphone one more time. Walking down Garosu Street, he spotted a four-story building that was quite lavishly decorated.


    After confirming the upscale sign that read Shilla, Hyuk-Soo swallowed nervously and said, ¡°This is the place, Do-Jun.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s more extravagant than I thought. Is Chief really not coming?¡± Do-Jun asked as he looked up at the sign.


    The Shilla in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, was a nightclub frequented by celebrities, Hunters, and the wealthy¡ªbasically, people who had ¡°done well for themselves.¡± Cheol-Soo had said that an old guy like him would only ruin the mood in such a place and had sent only Do-Jun and Hyuk-Soo to the meeting.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure he wanted to come. When would civil servants like us ever get to visit a place like this? And it¡¯s not like we¡¯re accepting bribes; it¡¯s just a friend treating us with pure intentions,¡± Hyuk-Soo explained.


    ¡°Pure intentions, huh...¡± Do-Jun murmured with an ambiguous expression.


    The moment Hyuk-Soo stepped on the red carpet at the building entrance, the automatic doors opened to reveal a well-decorated interior with marble walls and floors, potted plants, and paintings scattered throughout.


    ¡°There¡¯s no one here,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°Oh, it looks like we have to go downstairs.¡±


    After walking a bit further, they saw a staircase leading down to a long corridor illuminated with warm, pink lights, with dozens of rooms on either side.


    Men who appeared to be waiters were busily moving around, carrying food and drinks.


    ¡°Hello, gentlemen. Is there someone you are looking for?¡± A beautiful woman in her mid-thirties wearing a red dress with a deep neckline approached them. Her seductive appearance was enough to catch Hyuk-Soo¡¯s attention.


    The woman glanced at the cheap suits and shoes Do-Jun and Hyuk-Soo were wearing and the rather worn-out briefcase.


    ¡°Excuse me... is Choi Young-Hoon here, by any chance?¡± Hyuk-Soo asked cautiously.


    ¡°Ah! You¡¯re with Hunter Choi Young-Hoon. Please follow me. I¡¯ll guide you to him.¡±


    As they followed the woman down the long corridor, they saw a waiter carrying a hwachae and various liquors into a room. [1]


    The scene inside the room glimpsed over the waiter¡¯s shoulder was quite shocking. Seven people were slumped over the table with their heads down while a man yelled at them. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hyuk-Soo was left speechless by what looked like a scene straight out of a drama. As he watched the people with his mouth agape, he made eye contact with the yelling man and quickly turned his head.


    After walking a bit longer, they rounded a corner and stopped in front of the first room they saw.


    The woman guiding Do-Jun and Hyuk-Soo smiled and opened the door.


    ¡°I hope you have a pleasant evening.¡± She bowed her head and left.


    Do-Jun and Hyuk-Soo entered the room and found four men and women with expensive-looking liquor bottles on the table and several ashtrays already overflowing with cigarette butts.


    ¡°Cough, cough.¡± Hyuk-Soo coughed and waved his hand at the thick cigarette smoke.


    ¡°Oh, Hyuk-Soo! Why are you so late?¡±


    A young man in his early thirties waved enthusiastically.


    Next to him, a half-naked woman in a nearly sheer blouse, looking to be in her early twenties, clung to him, acting coquettishly.


    ¡°Hey, Young-Hoon. Sorry, we probably should have taken a taxi, haha,¡± Hyuk-Soo apologized nervously.


    ¡°Ah, and the gentleman next to you must be your junior,¡± Choi Young-Hoon said as he looked at Do-Jun.


    ¡°Yeah. This is Supervisor Lee Do-Jun. We¡¯ve worked together for a little over a year.¡±


    Choi Young-Hoon chuckled and gestured to Hyuk-Soo and Do-Jun. ¡°Come sit next to me. Hey, you guys, move over a bit. Make room for our honorable civil servants.¡±


    ¡°Haha.¡± Hyuk-Soo laughed awkwardly.


    At Choi Young-Hoon¡¯s command, the men making room snickered and scooted to the sides. They were clearly mocking Do-Jun and Hyuk-Soo.


    ¡°Here, have a drink first.¡± Choi Young-Hoon poured some liquor for Hyuk-Soo and offered a drink to Do-Jun. ¡°You, too, sir, have a drink.¡±


    ¡°Thank... you.¡±


    After handing out the drinks, Choi Young-Hoon raised his glass.


    ¡°Cheers.¡±


    The three glasses clinked together.


    After downing his drink in one shot, Hyuk-Soo clicked his tongue. He wasn¡¯t used to liquor that was much stronger than the soju he usually drank.


    ¡°Man, how long has it been? Eleven years, right? We lost touch after you moved to Seoul. How have you been? How¡¯s work treating you?¡± Choi Young-Hoon asked Hyuk-Soo as he put a cigarette in his mouth, which the woman beside him lit with a Dupont lighter.


    He then took a drag on the filter as if it were the most natural thing in the world.


    ¡°Whoo.¡±


    Hyuk-Soo answered him, ¡°Something like that... My colleagues are all good people, and the work is fulfilling. What about you, Young-Hoon? I heard you¡¯re a B-rank Hunter. Man, you¡¯ve really made it. Look at you coming to places like this.¡±


    ¡°Well, this is pretty standard. Oh, I guess not really for you since you¡¯re a salaried worker and whatnot.¡±


    ¡°Haha. Come on, what civil servant can afford to come to a place like this?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right. Why do I even bother saying that to someone who took public transit to save on cab fare,¡± Choi Young-Hoon said with a scoff. ¡°Oh, by the way, I haven¡¯t introduced you to everyone. This is Kim Kwang-Soo, Park Min-Jun, and Han Min-Jae. They¡¯re all B-rank Hunters from our guild. They¡¯re big shots, you know? It wasn¡¯t easy to get them here.¡±


    ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Kwon Hyuk-Soo, an officer at the Seoul City Hall Fissure Management Division. It¡¯s an honor to meet you all. I look forward to working with you,¡± Hyuk-Soo said, slightly bowing his head in greeting.


    ¡°Come on, man. The honor is all ours! You¡¯re working for the government, after all,¡± Choi Young-Hoon said with a sly smile as he brushed off Hyuk-Soo¡¯s jacket.


    ¡°Th-thanks. Ah, um... about the contract. When were you thinking of coming to Seoul City Hall? Our chief would like to meet you. It would be a good opportunity to get to know each other and introduce ourselves...¡±


    The Hunters who had been watching turned their heads, trying to stifle their laughter.


    Do-Jun glanced at them one by one, touching his lips.


    Look at these guys.


    As soon as they stepped foot inside the room a few minutes ago, Do-Jun knew right off the bat that Choi Young-Hoon and his fellow Hunters had never intended to sign the contract in the first place.


    While an annual salary of 300 million won wasn¡¯t a small amount, considering the average annual income of a B-rank Hunter was 4.7 billion won, there was no reason for them to join the civil service field as contracted Hunters, not to mention for someone who lived so extravagantly.


    In fact, Hyuk-Soo slowly started to realize it, too.


    It seemed Choi Young-Hoon had called him here just to toy with him and to use him as entertainment.


    Though it was as clear as day, Hyuk-Soo desperately tried to deny it as admitting it would be too humiliating.


    ¡°Hyuk-Soo,¡± Choi Young-Hoon called.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s sign that contract. I¡¯ll come to City Hall first thing tomorrow.¡±


    At Choi Young-Hoon¡¯s words, Hyuk-Soo¡¯s forced smile genuinely brightened.


    ¡°A-are you being serious?¡±


    ¡°I am, but there¡¯s one condition...¡±


    Choi Young-Hoon poured whiskey into Hyuk-Soo¡¯s glass. Then, after taking a deep drag on his cigarette, he dropped the cigarette butt into Hyuk-Soo¡¯s glass.


    ¡°Drink this.¡±


    ¡°Huh...?¡±


    With a sly smile, Choi Young-Hoon took out a new cigarette and put it between his lips. The Hunters watching couldn¡¯t hold back their laughter any longer.


    ¡°Hahaha! Young-Hoon, isn¡¯t that too much?¡±


    ¡°People really don¡¯t change, huh? I heard you were close with Mr. Civil Servant in high school. Take it easy on him.¡±


    ¡°Supervisor Kwon looks like he¡¯s about to cry, hehe.¡±


    Do-Jun saw that Hyuk-Soo¡¯s hands were clenching his knees tightly and trembling.


    ¡°What are you doing, Hyuk-Soo? Drink up and I¡¯ll show up at Seoul City Hall tomorrow and sign the contract!¡±


    More laughter erupted.


    ¡°You men are too much. He might actually cry!¡± the woman who had lit Young-Hoon¡¯s cigarette said with a chuckle.


    Unable to withstand the humiliation any further, Hyuk-Soo quietly stood up.


    ¡°Do-Jun, let¡¯s go...¡± he said, biting his lips, his shoulders slumped and head hung low.


    Do-Jun hated seeing Hyuk-Soo like this. The always confident and reliable shoulders now seemed so small.


    ¡°This guy and I were inseparable in high school.¡±


    ¡°When he saw the job posting and found out I was here, he agreed to join without hesitation.¡±


    Do-Jun recalled the excited look on Hyuk-Soo¡¯s face.


    He knew that following Hyuk-Soo out of the room right now wouldn¡¯t affect his life much, but what about Hyuk-Soo?


    If we leave like this... he¡¯ll break.


    All the self-esteem he had built up would disappear like a mirage in an instant.


    Do-Jun pulled out his smartphone and sent a message to someone, and it didn¡¯t take ten seconds for that person to reply.


    ¡°Senior, I don¡¯t think we need to sign these trash of humans,¡± Do-Jun said.


    His words shocked everyone in the room. A mere civil servant called B-rank Hunters trash?


    ¡°What... did you say?¡± Choi Young-Hoon¡¯s face twisted into an ugly scowl.


    Even Hyuk-Soo looked at Do-Jun as if he were crazy.


    ¡°The Hunter you mentioned before, Han Min-Ji, said she wants to sign with us,¡± Do-Jun said nonchalantly.


    ¡°Sorry...?¡± Hyuk-Soo looked at Do-Jun, looking completely clueless.


    ¡°Apparently, she¡¯s already in the area, so she would like to draft the contract right now. She¡¯s on her way here as we speak.¡±


    The Hunters burst out in laughter at Do-Jun¡¯s words.


    ¡°Listen to this bullshit, what an idiot.¡±


    ¡°An S-rank Hunter is going to sign with you guys?¡±


    Do-Jun nodded with a smile, and said, ¡°Yes. That¡¯s what she said.¡±


    ¡°D-Do-Jun, what are you...?¡±


    ¡°You said we might be able to sign Han Min-Ji, didn¡¯t you, Senior?¡±


    As soon as Do-Jun finished his sentence, someone burst through the door and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry I¡¯m late. Did I keep you waiting?¡±


    A stunned silence filled the room when a woman in her early twenties stepped inside.


    ¡°H-han Min-Ji...¡± The cigarette Choi Young-Hoon was holding fell from his mouth.


    Han Min-Ji frowned as she looked around the room.


    Do-Jun said, ¡°Senior Hyuk-Soo, how did you manage to connect with Hunter Han Min-Ji and even get her to sign a contract with us? You have my utmost respect. Wow.¡±


    After hearing Do-Jun¡¯s words, Min-Ji stood blankly for a moment then smirked. ¡°What¡¯s this, Supervisor Kwon? Were you trying to sign these people over me? Honestly, I¡¯m disappointed.¡±


    ¡°Huh...? N-no, that¡¯s...¡± Hyuk-Soo stammered as he looked at Do-Jun.


    Do-Jun smiled, took a thick envelope from his briefcase, handed it to Hyuk-Soo, and gently pushed him forward.


    ¡°Let¡¯s hurry up and finalize the contract with Hunter Min-Ji before she changes her mind. Oh, could you please order an Americano for me? I¡¯ll follow right behind in a bit.¡±


    Hyuk-Soo looked back and forth between Do-Jun and Min-Ji, utterly confused.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, Supervisor Kwon. Don¡¯t you check your messages? I had to talk to Supervisor Lee because you weren¡¯t replying. There¡¯s a nice cafe nearby. Let¡¯s go there,¡± Min-Ji said as she led Hyuk-Soo out of the room.


    After the door closed behind them, Do-Jun sighed and sat down on the sofa.


    He then picked up Hyuk-Soo¡¯s glass, filled with cigarette butts, from the table and poured it into the ashtray.


    ¡°Young-Hoon.¡±


    At Do-Jun¡¯s call, Choi Young-Hoon turned his head.


    ¡°Drink this and I¡¯ll let this go.¡±


    1. Hwachae is a Korean fruit punch made with various fruits and cider! ?

 Chapter 27

    Chapter 27


    At Do-Jun¡¯s words, Choi Young-Hoon brushed his hair back and chuckled, looking at the ashtray, now nearly overflowing with liquor and cigarette butts.


    ¡°Hah...¡±


    Taking out a new cigarette, he put it in his mouth, then brought his index finger to it.


    Sizzle.


    Manipulating the mana in his body using Transmutation, he lit the cigarette using an E-rank skill called Ignite. Then, after taking a drag from his cigarette, he blew the smoke right into Do-Jun¡¯s face.


    ¡°What if I don¡¯t want to? What are you going to do?¡± Choi Young-Hoon said as his eyebrows twitched.


    He couldn¡¯t believe that this mere civil servant was showing him disrespect when he was a B-rank Hunter¡ªone among the top ten percent in the world. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Huh? I asked you what you were going to do?¡± he mocked again.


    Without any warning, a blue aura flickered from Do-Jun¡¯s fingers and jabbed Choi Young-Hoon¡¯s chest, hitting the paralysis point to immobilize his body and the mute point to silence him.


    ¡°Young-Hoon.¡± Do-Jun took the cigarette from between Choi Young-Hoon¡¯s fingers.


    Unable to move, Choi Young-Hoon had no choice but to watch. As Do-Jun grabbed his jaw, his mouth opened on its own, and his tongue stuck out.


    W-what the hell! Fuck, my body isn¡¯t...!


    Do-Jun slowly brought the lit cigarette toward Choi Young-Hoon¡¯s tongue. ¡°You should have just drunk it.¡±


    Sizzle.


    ¡°U-uuuugh...!¡±


    Tears streamed down Choi Young-Hoon¡¯s face as an intense burning pain radiated from his tongue.


    ¡°Why would a big-shot B-rank Hunter like you do something so foolish?¡± Do-Jun muttered while smiling softly.


    He then extended his fist toward Choi Young-Hoon¡¯s stomach, stopping right before making contact with the abdomen.


    Gurgle!


    A strange noise came from Choi Young-Hoon¡¯s abdomen, and a second later, his eyes rolled back, and foam spewed from his mouth.


    His dantian, the core where he stored his mana, shattered, bringing immense pain.


    Karrghhh!


    Despite feeling an utterly excruciating pain, Choi Young-Hoon couldn¡¯t even scream. It felt like his internal organs were twisting, and he sensed all the mana in his body dissipating.


    ¡°You should have known better, Young-Hoon.¡±


    Do-Jun grabbed Choi Young-Hoon by the hair and then slammed his face into the table.


    Bang!


    The table shattered, and Choi Young-Hoon collapsed forward, leaving those watching frozen in shock.


    Do-Jun adjusted his clothes and got up, making everyone around him flinch.


    After seeing Choi Young-Hoon clearly broken down, not a single person dared to approach him. They could only watch as Do-Jun walked out.


    ***


    At a caf¨¦ about five minutes from Shilla, an awkward silence filled the air. Sweat trickled down Hyuk-Soo¡¯s back as he tried to think of a reason why Min-Ji, an S-rank Hunter from Icarus Guild, one of the top three guilds in the country, was here with him.


    It¡¯s clear that Do-Jun did something to help me, but...


    Hyuk-Soo couldn¡¯t deny that the person he viewed as his close childhood friend had abused his power for fun, humiliating Hyuk-Soo in the process. He knew that Do-Jun had fabricated a story to get him out of trouble without much damage.


    As a result, Min-Ji came to help.


    It doesn¡¯t make any sense, Hyuk-Soo thought.


    At the last company outing, he heard Ye-Ji say that Do-Jun had torn up the business card Min-Ji had given him right in front of her.


    So why would Min-Ji make time to come and help?


    Buzzzz.


    The buzzer on the table lit up, and Hyuk-Soo and Min-Ji stood up simultaneously.


    ¡°I-I¡¯ll go get it.¡±


    ¡°N-no, please stay seated. I¡¯ll bring it over.¡±


    This was an uncomfortable situation for both sides. After a few rounds of awkward back-and-forth, Hyuk-Soo sat down, and Min-Ji walked to the counter to get their coffee.


    While waiting, Hyuk-Soo took out the envelope Do-Jun had given him.


    ¡°Hah, man...¡± he said with a dry laugh.


    Inside the envelope were nothing but simple legal books and guidelines that Do-Jun must have brought to study at home.


    Min-Ji returned with their coffee and placed it on the table.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Hyuk-Soo said and nodded slightly.


    He glanced at his wristwatch and began shaking his leg without realizing it.


    Why isn¡¯t he coming? Has something happened? Should I call the police?


    Seeing his unease, Min-Ji reassured him, ¡°Do-Jun will be fine. Don¡¯t worry too much.¡±


    ¡°But those guys are B-rank Hunters. I have a bad feeling. I think I should call the police. Something bad might be happening inside...¡±


    Hyuk-Soo¡¯s words made Han Min-Ji chuckle. ¡°Do-Jun? Getting bullied by some B-rank Hunters? Honestly, I feel sorrier for them.¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡± Hyuk-Soo was taken aback by Min-Ji¡¯s casual reaction.


    Sure, Do-Jun had recently Awakened, but he had never undergone physical enhancement. It was natural for him to be overwhelmed by B-rank Hunters who had years of experience as well as several physical enhancements.


    ¡°Oh, maybe you aren¡¯t aware of some things, Supervisor Kwon. Then I¡¯ll just be quiet.¡±


    Min-Ji recalled the energy she sensed from Do-Jun. It was overwhelming enough to make even an S-rank Hunter like her flinch.


    She was puzzled as to why the machine couldn¡¯t measure his rank during the preliminary assessment, but she figured it was just a system error.


    ¡°By the way, your offer to sign a contract with us was just an act, right?¡± Hyuk-Soo asked.


    ¡°Yes, completely just for show. It was clear what was happening in the situation. You two were probably trying to entertain those B-rank Hunters to recruit them, weren¡¯t you?¡±


    Min-Ji showed her smartphone to Hyuk-Soo.


    Lee Do-Jun: Please come immediately. Sinsa-dong XXX-XX. Room 38 at Shilla.


    ¡°Honestly, I thought he had good news for me or something,¡± Min-Ji said, letting out a deep sigh.


    She was very happy when she received a text from Do-Jun, wondering if perhaps he had developed an interest in becoming a Hunter or if Ye-Ji was planning to join the Icarus Guild.


    She had a small glimmer of hope.


    At that moment, the caf¨¦ door opened, and Do-Jun walked in. He approached their table and sat down next to Hyuk-Soo.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Hyuk-Soo asked, looking over Do-Jun.


    Watching them, Min-Ji smiled. ¡°Supervisor Lee.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Hunter Min-Ji.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m assuming I scored some points with you today?¡±


    Do-Jun nodded in response.


    Min-Ji clenched her fist and softly exclaimed, ¡°Yes!¡±


    Hyuk-Soo was lost for words.


    Min-Ji should have an unfavorable impression not only of Do-Jun but also of the entire Fissure Management Division. Do-Jun had torn up her business card, telling her she had displeased him.


    Regardless of whose fault it was, from the perspective of an S-rank Hunter like Min-Ji, it would have seemed almost laughable.


    But what¡¯s with her expression? Hyuk-Soo thought with astonishment.


    A pure smile, like that of a child receiving candy, adorned Min-Ji¡¯s face. If Min-Ji had a tail, it would probably be wagging.


    ¡°Whatever this is... Thank you so much for today, both of you.¡± Hyuk-Soo bowed his head.


    If he had come alone today, and if Min-Ji hadn¡¯t come, he would have been truly miserable.


    ¡°No, I should be thanking you, Senior,¡± Do-Jun said with a smile.


    Hyuk-Soo¡¯s eyes widened. There was no reason for Do-Jun to thank him.


    ¡°It¡¯s because of your kindness and trust that I was able to stay in civil service. And today, you encouraged me to come along because you were looking out for me. Even though there were some hiccups along the way, you were still looking out for me.¡±


    Hyuk-Soo lowered his head deeply, feeling that he would tear up uncontrollably if he looked at Do-Jun¡¯s face right now.


    ¡°Supervisor Kwon, you have a really good junior,¡± Min-Ji chimed in.


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t have asked for anyone better...¡± Hyuk-Soo wiped his tears with his fingers.


    Then, Do-Jun¡¯s smartphone vibrated.


    Buzz, buzz.


    [Seol Yoon-Hee]


    ¡°Yes, Yoon-Hee?¡±


    ¡ªWhere are you, Father?


    ¡°Well...¡± Do-Jun hesitated to answer.


    Now that he thought about it, he hadn¡¯t told her he might be out for dinner tonight. He checked the time; it was 8:10 PM.


    ¡°What¡¯s for dinner tonight?¡±


    ¡ªWhy? Will you decide whether to come home based on what I¡¯m cooking?


    ¡°N-no...?¡± Do-Jun was momentarily flustered but managed to cover it up.


    ¡ªI¡¯m making beef hotpot. I¡¯m just starting to prepare it.


    ¡°Yoon-Hee, is it okay to bring two more people over?¡±


    ¡ªWho are they...?


    ¡°My senior from work and Hunter Min-Ji.¡±


    ¡ªH-hunter Min-Ji?


    ¡°Yeah. Is that okay? Last time, we ate together at the Bureau...¡±


    ¡ªYes, it¡¯s okay! I¡¯ll have everything ready!


    Click.


    Do-Jun looked at Hyuk-Soo and Min-Ji and asked, ¡°Do you like beef hotpot?¡±


    ***


    A short while later, Do-Jun and his party stopped in front of his apartment.


    When Do-Jun pressed the doorbell, they could hear the rushed footsteps of someone running to the door. Then the door burst open, revealing the greeting Yoon-Hee.


    ¡°Welcome home, Father.¡±


    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m back.¡±


    Hyuk-Soo and Min-Ji looked at Yoon-Hee and bowed slightly.


    ¡°Hello. I¡¯m Kwon Hyuk-Soo, Supervisor Lee¡¯s senior from work.¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes! I¡¯m...¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re Do-Jun¡¯s daughter, right? Do-Jun told me about you during your field trip.¡±


    At those words, Yoon-Hee looked at Do-Jun anxiously. Had he told them everything, including their contractual relationship?


    Catching on to her thoughts, Do-Jun shook his head.


    ¡°Nice to meet you. We met last time, didn¡¯t we?¡± Min-Ji spoke with a smile, and Yoon-Hee nodded vigorously.


    To a Hunter Academy freshman, an S-rank Hunter was practically a god. Having such a figure visit her home was a great honor.


    ¡°Welcome home, Master.¡± Yong-Yong walked up to the entrance and bowed his head toward Do-Jun.


    Min-Ji glanced between Yong-Yong and Do-Jun before asking, ¡°What is this... Supervisor Lee?¡±


    ¡°This is my pet... no, my partner.¡±


    ¡°Your partner?¡±


    Do-Jun nodded.


    Standing beside him, Hyuk-Soo added, ¡°Last time, during a tour with the Academy freshmen in an F-rank Fissure, Do-Jun had his Awakening, though I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s a summoning skill or a taming skill.¡±


    Min-Ji looked at Do-Jun.


    A natural Awakening typically occurred in relation to one¡¯s talents or something closely related to one¡¯s life.


    Summoning skills were almost never obtained without physical enhancement, and taming skills very occasionally appeared in people who had a close bond with their pets or worked with animals.


    But a partner out of the blue? That was hard to understand.


    ¡°Grrr,¡± Yong-Yong growled at Min-Ji.


    She picked up Yong-Yong, turned him around, and examined him.


    ¡°Aaargh! Let go! You demon!¡± Yong-Yong yelled at her.


    ¡°Supervisor Lee... is this...?¡±


    A dragon.


    Though it was tiny, its appearance was unmistakably that of a dragon. On top of that, she noticed something on its forehead, a small number etched there.


    Number 1...


    Min-Ji recalled Masalis, the dragon discovered three years ago in a Great Fissure near Busan. During the raid, an accident cost the lives of three S-rank Hunters.


    She also remembered that there was a number on Masalis¡¯ forehead.


    Masalis was number 10.


    Looking at Yong-Yong, struggling to escape her grasp, Min-Ji shrugged her shoulders and set him down on the floor.


    Now free, Yong-Yong sprinted to the living room and leaped onto the sofa.


    That thing can¡¯t be a dragon, Min-Ji told herself, remembering the incident where a single Breath attack from Masalis had killed two S-rank Hunters.


    ¡°Burp.¡±


    Hearing Yong-Yong¡¯s burp, Han Min-Ji chuckled softly.


    I guess I was worrying about nothing.

 Chapter 28

    Chapter 28


    The B-rank Hunter contract, which had seemed a sure thing, had fallen through.


    Hyuk-Soo walked over to Cheol-Soo¡¯s desk, clasped his hands together, and explained that they couldn¡¯t finalize the contract due to various complications.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Chief.¡±


    He was sure that Cheol-Soo would be disappointed. The Fissure Management Division had never signed a B-rank Hunter in their history.


    They had all believed it would be a breakthrough. But it didn¡¯t happen, and the only thing waiting for Hyuk-Soo back at the office was the heavy atmosphere.


    Cheol-Soo was playing an online game of Go while resting his chin on his hand. He didn¡¯t take his eyes off the monitor.


    ¡°You thought he was a friend, but he wasn¡¯t, right?¡± he muttered as he placed down a stone.


    ¡°No, he wasn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Mhm... I wouldn¡¯t want a truckload of guys like that. I¡¯m more worried you might be hurt by this.¡±


    [Victory]


    Cheol-Soo smiled broadly as a message showed he¡¯d won by half a point, then got up from his seat. When he noticed Do-Jun working hard at his desk, he called, ¡°Do-Jun!¡±


    Hearing his name, Do-Jun jumped up and turned around. Maybe because Cheol-Soo shouted so loudly, the other office staff briefly glanced over at the Fissure Exploration Unit.


    Ignoring their looks, Cheol-Soo said to Hyuk-Soo and Do-Jun, ¡°Come with me.¡±


    With that, he strode out of the office, leaving the door open behind him.


    ¡°Let¡¯s... let¡¯s go, Do-Jun.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Senior.¡±


    Hyuk-Soo and Do-Jun exchanged a glance and followed their chief.


    ***


    ¡°Chief, this is...¡± Hyuk-Soo looked up to check the sign hung outside the building they stood before.


    The place they were led to by Cheol-Soo was...


    Jewel Sauna. Open 24 hours.


    Do-Jun checked his wristwatch. 9:40 AM. It was peak working hours.


    ¡°Let¡¯s head inside.¡± Without hesitation, Cheol-Soo walked into the sauna.


    ¡°Is this not against work policy...?¡± Do-Jun asked.


    Hyuk-Soo sighed and nodded.


    ¡°But what can we do? You know what our chief is like. Once he gets a whim, he acts on it immediately. I guess he¡¯s got a whim for the sauna today.¡±


    Do-Jun and Hyuk-Soo followed him inside.


    ***


    Wooooosh!


    Cheol-Soo and Hyuk-Soo were washing themselves in the shower booths inside the bathhouse. Since it was a weekday morning, there weren¡¯t many people around.


    Perhaps that was why the silence from Cheol-Soo was even more stifling than usual.


    What on earth is on the chief¡¯s mind? Hyuk-Soo glanced at Cheol-Soo while lathering up.


    ¡°Hahaha!¡± Suddenly, Cheol-Soo let out a hearty laugh, then stopped abruptly.


    People in the bathhouse looked at Cheol-Soo with puzzled expressions.


    Why do I have to be the one to bear the embarrassment? Hyuk-Soo¡¯s face turned red as he scrubbed himself vigorously.


    Just then, the door slid open, and Do-Jun walked in.


    ¡°What the...¡± Hyuk-Soo was taken aback looking at Do-Jun¡¯s well-toned and balanced body. His prominently displayed six-pack didn¡¯t have an ounce of belly fat that most working men carried.


    He was used to seeing such a sight in movies.


    Do-Jun entered the shower booth next to Hyuk-Soo¡¯s and turned on the water.


    Woosh.


    ¡°D-do-Jun, you¡¯re in incredible shape.¡±


    ¡°Am I? Thank you for the compliment.¡±


    ¡°Huh? What about his body...?¡± Cheol-Soo said as he turned around but quickly trailed off upon seeing Do-Jun''s muscles.


    He inhaled sharply, then looked down at his own protruding belly¡ªthe typical middle-aged paunch.


    ¡°I hate you,¡± he blurted out.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Never mind. Let¡¯s just scrub each other¡¯s backs.¡±


    Cheol-Soo laid out three stools in a row in front of the bath and sat down on the front one. Do-Jun and Hyuk-Soo finished their showers quickly and sat on the stools he had laid out.


    They each put on a scrub towel on their hands and began scrubbing each other¡¯s backs.


    While scrubbing Hyuk-Soo, Cheol-Soo suddenly smacked him on the back. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Ow! What are you doing, Chief?!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve got such broad shoulders, yet you¡¯re down about something like this.¡±


    ¡°Pardon me?¡±


    ¡°Thinking about it, it¡¯s probably for the best. If that bastard actually joined us, we would¡¯ve had to start managing B-rank Great Fissures. How were we going to handle that anyway? I can¡¯t stand seeing one bad apple ruining our entire good bunch.¡±


    Hyuk-Soo couldn¡¯t say anything.


    ¡°And if you have any issues like that again, tell me right away. I¡¯ll figure something out, whatever it takes. You too, Do-Jun. Got it?¡±


    At those words, Do-Jun let out a small chuckle. ¡°Yes, Chief.¡±


    ¡°Look, if the three of us break apart, we¡¯re finished. But if we stick together, we thrive! In today¡¯s civil service, where individualism is rampant, let¡¯s try to be a bit different from everyone else. That sounds good?¡± Cheol-Soo exclaimed, emphasizing each word, his tone serious.


    Hyuk-Soo felt incredibly grateful to his chief.


    When he had mentioned the possibility of a contract with a B-rank Hunter, Cheol-Soo had been the happiest. After watching his peers get promoted quickly, he must have finally felt like he had a shot at a promotion himself.


    ¡°I¡¯ll work hard, Chief.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all I ask, buddy.¡± Cheol-Soo smiled broadly.


    ***


    Friday, 9:00 PM.


    Despite it being Friday night, Do-Jun was alone in the office, staring at his computer screen.


    He was scrolling the website of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau, looking through the various information. As he continued to scroll with the mouse wheel, his hand suddenly stopped.


    ¡°Looking for an attacker for a hunt in a newly formed B-rank Great Fissure! (Saturday)¡±


    He clicked on the newly posted entry in the ¡°Party Recruitment¡± tab.


    ¡°Hello! This is Hunter Choi Kyu-Sik from the Solomon Guild. We are looking for people to hunt in a new Great Fissure estimated to be a B-rank by the Hunter¡¯s Bureau. The monsters appearing are Merfolk, and since it''s not that well known yet, it¡¯ll make a perfect hunting ground. We already have two healers and one tank ready, so novice attackers are also welcome! Contact: 010-1234-5678.¡±


    Even novice attackers were welcome. Did that mean they would accept even a C-rank?


    ¡°Merfolk, huh.¡±


    Do-Jun knew that Hunters generally avoided Merfolk monsters. They were always covered in a sticky substance that made them hard to attack, and, more importantly, they were poisonous, making them a very tricky opponent.


    He glanced over the printout on his desk.


    ¡°Special Promotion Conditions Chart¡±


    There were two ways for Hunters to increase their rank.


    The first was the annual rank evaluation match.


    The second was a special promotion, which could be taken at any time as long as certain conditions were met.


    However, special promotions had more stringent requirements for level and stat totals compared to rank evaluations, so most Hunters opted for the annual rank evaluation match to rank up.


    She has the skills but doesn¡¯t meet the rest of the conditions.


    For Ye-Ji to be promoted to a B-rank Hunter, she needed to meet the requirements of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau: a level of 80 or above and the sum of her Strength, Agility, and Stamina to be 130 or more.


    However, all the Fissures managed by the Fissure Management Division were C-rank or below, so their experience points were lower than those of Great Fissures, making it difficult to level up.


    Do-Jun called the number listed on the bulletin.


    Ring, ring.


    ¡ªHello?


    ¡°Hello, I saw your post on the bulletin. Are you accepting C-ranks as well?¡±


    ¡ªYes! Beginners are welcome. Our tank is an A-rank Hunter, so attacking will be easy. Plus, there are two healers, including myself, so it will be quite safe for Hunters of all levels.


    Something felt off.


    There were always plenty of attackers in the Hunter world, but there were always fewer healers and tanks than the demand.


    So, having an A-rank tank and two healers welcoming a C-rank striker was a bit strange.


    But Do-Jun decided to see how things played out.


    ¡°I¡¯m in. When and where should I meet you?¡±


    ¡ªCan you come to Seobinggo Station by 10 AM?


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll be there.¡±


    ¡ªAlright, see you then.


    Click.


    Everything proceeded smoothly. There wasn¡¯t even an interview process commonly done when recruiting party members.


    Hunting in Fissures carried considerable risk. It wouldn¡¯t be surprising if someone died at any moment, anywhere.


    That¡¯s why it was typical to assess potential party members¡¯ strengths, Skills, and ranks through interviews.


    Why didn¡¯t they ask me any questions?


    Do-Jun rubbed his chin and searched for the Solomon Guild on the ¡°Guild Search¡± tab on the Hunter¡¯s Bureau website.


    The guild was ranked D on the website and had a total of three members. Photos and legal names of the members were not disclosed in accordance with privacy laws.


    ¡°It does feel pretty fishy.¡±


    Do-Jun decided to call Ye-Ji.


    She answered within two seconds.


    ¡ªH-hello?


    ¡°Ye-Ji, I¡¯m sorry to call on a Friday night. Do you have a moment?¡±


    ¡ªNo problem, it¡¯s fine! Go ahead, Mr. Administrator. I¡¯m very, very free!


    She sounded oddly excited, and sensing that, Do-Jun tilted his head in confusion and continued.


    ¡°Can you meet me at Seobinggo Station tomorrow at 9:30 AM?¡±


    ¡ªHuh? D-does that mean... Yes, I¡¯ll be there! I¡¯ll definitely be there! Even if the sky is falling, I¡¯ll be there!


    ¡°Well... Thanks for agreeing to come. See you tomorrow then.¡±


    ¡ªYes, Mr. Administrator!


    After ending the call, Do-Jun returned to the Hunter¡¯s Bureau website, went to the ¡°Fissure Announcements¡± tab, and searched for Fissures near Seobinggo Station.


    He quickly found one B-rank Great Fissure and printed out the map with its location and general information.


    I¡¯d better check it out in advance.


    Just in case something goes wrong.


    ***


    Meanwhile, Ye-Ji was rolling around on her bed, hugging a teddy bear, her lips curled into a big smile.


    ¡°He asked me out! Mr. Administrator actually asked me on a date...¡±


    Do-Jun rarely contacted her outside of work. He always treated her like an ordinary colleague, never sending a text or calling outside of work, especially on weekends.


    But then, a call came in on a Friday night. Naturally, Ye-Ji thought that Do-Jun had contacted her because he had feelings for her.


    ¡°Maybe Mr. Administrator was interested in me too, hehe.¡±


    She unlocked her smartphone and opened the portal site.


    ¡°But where even is Seobinggo Station?¡±


    After checking the location, Ye-Ji tilted her head in confusion.


    It didn¡¯t seem like a lively area. Even when she searched for restaurants or date spots near Seobinggo Station, there were no notable food or entertainment options.


    ¡°But since the Han River is nearby... We could go on a nice walk.¡±


    Ye-Ji lowered her head, blushing as she imagined walking hand in hand with Do-Jun.


    Pop!


    She opened her closet and pulled out all the clothes hanging there, laying them on her bed.


    She then typed in the search bar: Spring Date Outfit Ideas for Women.


    ***


    10:00 PM, late at night.


    Do-Jun arrived at Seobinggo Station and looked over the map he had brought.


    A few days ago, the Hunter¡¯s Bureau had announced a B-rank Great Fissure.


    After following the Han River down, he found an outdoor public court for volleyball and tennis. A bit further along the river and the walking trail, he found the Fissure, which was about fifteen meters tall, tearing through the sky.


    Is this the place?


    The B-rank Great Fissure where Merfolk were said to appear.


    Do-Jun took out his civil servant ID from his pocket and placed it on the terminal controlling access to the Fissure.


    [Lee Do-Jun, Fissure Management Division, confirmed.]


    The fence gate opened, and Do-Jun entered the Fissure.

 Chapter 29

    Chapter 29


    Waiting inside the Fissure was a cave with damp air.


    Upon entering, Do-Jun took the SpacePad out of his briefcase and launched the Fissure Management System application.


    [Welcome to the Fissure Management System, Mr. Lee Do-Jun]


    For a Great Fissure that the Hunter¡¯s Bureau managed like this one, Do-Jun technically didn¡¯t need to do any mapping, but he decided to do it anyway to help Ye-Ji with the hunt tomorrow.


    [Fissure in Yongsan-dong 6-001, Yongsan-gu, Seoul has been registered.]


    [Please select the rank of the Fissure. Or if you enter the rank of the appearing monster, the rank of the Fissure will be automatically assigned. Also, if the Fissure is deemed a higher rank than what is assessed by the system, please select the Exception option.]


    Do-Jun walked cautiously while looking at the SpacePad screen.


    Limestone stalactites resembling icicles protruded from the cave ceiling in several places, and sticky liquid resembling snail slime trailed along the floor.


    Do-Jun dipped two fingers into the liquid.


    It has some poison.


    It wasn¡¯t a dangerous level but could be lethal if it came into contact with an open wound.


    Do-Jun checked the official website of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau for information on registered monsters. However, none of the recorded Merfolk monsters were known to secrete a poisonous slime.


    Just then, a monster appeared.


    ¡°Grrr...¡±


    It had a single eye, sharp, sparse teeth, and an upper body resembling a woman, while its lower body was a fishtail¡ªa mermaid-type monster not listed in the monster guide of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau.


    As the monster quickly slithered toward him, dragging its body across the ground, Do-Jun noticed the slimy trail left behind in the monster¡¯s wake.


    Squelch!


    The monster opened its mouth, and just as it lunged to bite Do-Jun, he unleashed a wave of murderous intent that made the monster instantly freeze in place.


    ¡°You move, you die,¡± Do-Jun muttered as soon as he noticed the monster was trying to retreat.


    He hadn¡¯t used any binding skills, but the monster¡¯s body stiffened as if paralyzed as it instinctively realized its predicament.


    Do-Jun approached the monster and pried open its mouth to examine its teeth.


    When a drop of green liquid dripped from one of the sharp molars, Do-Jun touched the liquid with his finger without a second thought.


    Paralysis poison, huh?


    Next, he examined the monster¡¯s body more thoroughly.


    Its entire body was covered in sticky mucus, which he discovered would make regular sword attacks ineffective. While a much stronger attack might work, casually swinging a B-rank sword wouldn¡¯t do any damage.


    He ripped off a couple of scales from its lower half. The monster groaned in pain, but Do-Jun didn¡¯t care. The scales were quite hard, leading him to conclude that attacking its lower body would be inefficient.


    [The Mermaid¡¯s hostility toward you has dissipated.]


    A message appeared before his eyes, but Do-Jun ignored it and continued his investigation.


    [The Mermaid feels fear and terror toward you.]


    After about thirty minutes, the Mermaid couldn¡¯t move at all, even when Do-Jun wasn¡¯t exuding murderous intent.


    ¡°Grrr...¡±


    The ground was a mess, littered with dozens of the Mermaid¡¯s scales, bodily fluids, mucus, and blood. Its body was covered in small wounds, with blood streaming from its closed eyes.


    Then, Do-Jun noticed the Mermaid¡¯s palm. It was the only part not covered in mucus.


    Shing!


    A white flash shot out from Do-Jun, and the Mermaid¡¯s right wrist was severed.


    ¡°Graaaah!¡±


    Shortly after, Do-Jun noticed a significant decrease in the mucus secretion from the Mermaid¡¯s body.


    So, this is where it was being produced, Do-Jun thought to himself as he examined the wrist, secreting a large quantity of mucus before halting.


    [You have become a figure of terror to the Mermaid Clan. If any Mermaid within a 50-meter radius detects you, their abilities will be reduced by 30%.]


    ¡°Well done.¡±


    Do-Jun reached out to the battered Mermaid, and its body burst into flames.


    It was Samadhi Fire, a martial art technique that burned targets using internal energy.


    ***


    After inputting the information about the Mermaid into the Fissure Management System, Do-Jun continued mapping as he walked deeper into the cave.


    ¡°Grrr...¡±


    He occasionally encountered groups of Mermaids, but they hurriedly fled upon seeing him. Since Do-Jun had no further interest in them, it actually worked out for him.


    Do-Jun checked the map displayed in the upper-right corner of the SpacePad.


    [The current map is 99% complete.]


    He stopped in front of a firmly closed bronze door.


    Spreading his qi senses, he sensed a massive monster beyond the door. It wasn¡¯t hard to guess that this was the boss monster.


    Creeeak.


    He opened the heavy bronze door without hesitation, and the noise it made as it slid across the ground echoed through the cave.


    Revealed beyond the door was a massive shark that appeared to be at least fifteen meters long. It swam in the vast cavity, defying the fact that there was no water.


    Upon spotting Do-Jun, it stopped moving.


    [Accessing the ongoing Special Quest.]


    [Special Quest: Sacrifice]


    [If you cross the red line marked on the floor, Shark Tooth will attack. Sacrifice Count will start five minutes after crossing the red line, and upon reaching the target count, Shark Tooth will be sealed for one hour. As a reward, you will be permitted to open the Treasure Chest of Shark Tooth.]


    [Target Count: 9/10]


    Do-Jun looked at Shark Tooth, which was staring right at him.


    He noticed a long red line drawn on the ground below and spotted a treasure chest in the corner beyond the red line.


    So this was their plan.


    The Hunters of the Solomon guild did not even ask about rank, skills, or even a name. They just needed to bring people here to use as sacrifices to open the treasure chest.


    The Hunter¡¯s Bureau won¡¯t be suspicious if someone dies in a Fissure.


    Moreover, this was a recently formed Great Fissure.


    Great Fissures weren¡¯t guarded at the entrance. There was only a specially made iron fence and a terminal to control access. Even if a Hunter who entered didn¡¯t come out for days or weeks, nothing would be done unless someone reported it.


    Furthermore, even if a report was made and they patrolled the Fissure, the Bureau would conduct a cursory search, and if they found nothing, they would simply mark the person as deceased.


    So, nine have already died, Do-Jun thought, clicking his tongue as he crossed the red line.


    [Shark Tooth¡¯s territory will become restricted for 5 minutes.]


    [Remaining time under restriction: 299 seconds]


    [Shark Tooth has identified you as a sacrifice.]


    Splaaash!


    Shark Tooth opened its jaws wide and charged rapidly at Do-Jun.


    But all of a sudden, the boss monster, which had gotten right up to Do-Jun¡¯s face, stopped moving, its body trembling with convulsions.


    Then, it started fleeing upwards.


    Pressed tightly against the corner, Shark Tooth began to panic, darting back and forth in confusion.


    [Remaining time under restriction: 285 seconds]


    Splash!


    When Shark Tooth tried to swim past the red line, an invisible barrier blocked it.


    Thud!


    Shark Tooth desperately slammed its body against the unseen wall in an attempt to escape.


    Thud!


    [Remaining time under restriction: 276 seconds]


    It turned out that the restriction also applied to the boss monster, not just the challenger.


    Do-Jun chuckled, took out his SpacePad, and took a picture of Shark Tooth.


    [Registering information on the boss monster.]


    He then waited until the remaining time ran out.


    ***


    [Special Quest: Sacrifice has been completed.]


    [Shark Tooth will be sealed for one hour.]


    [The restriction barrier will disappear.]


    [You can now open the Treasure Chest of Shark Tooth.]


    With the series of system messages, Shark Tooth vanished.


    Do-Jun opened the treasure chest, and inside, he found a sword.


    [Shark Tooth¡¯s Bone Sword.]


    It was an A-rank weapon with high attack power and piercing options. Do-Jun smiled, thinking it would be good to give it to Ye-Ji.


    ***


    Saturday morning, 9:30 AM.


    Ye-Ji arrived at Seobinggo Station an hour early. She looked at herself in the full-length mirror inside the station and spun around once.


    She took a deep breath as she looked at herself in a white blouse, a tennis skirt that reached her knees, and a pink mink coat.


    ¡°Whew...¡±


    Will Do-Jun like her look? Should she have worn something cuter?


    She pondered various thoughts as she adjusted her bangs. Then she slapped her cheeks lightly to boost her morale.


    ¡°I will make him fall for me today, no matter what!¡±


    Just then, she heard a voice from behind her. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re early, Ye-Ji.¡±


    ¡°Eek, ahhh!¡± Ye-Ji flinched as she looked at Do-Jun. ¡°Mr. Administrator! Why are you here so early?¡±


    ¡°I had to finish organizing the Fissure data, so I came out a bit early.¡±


    ¡°Huh? What do you mean...?¡±


    Ye-Ji looked at Do-Jun¡¯s outfit. He was in a suit, not much different from his work attire, holding a briefcase in one hand and... a sword.


    He looks cool, but still, it¡¯s a date, and he¡¯s dressed like he¡¯s going to work... Ye-Ji sighed.


    Do-Jun held out Shark Tooth¡¯s sword to her and said, ¡°Here, this one is better than the one you are using now.¡±


    ¡°What...?¡±


    As Ye-Ji took the sword from Do-Jun, she checked its stats and was taken aback.


    ¡°A-rank...? Mr. Administrator, where did you get this...?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a secret. Anyway, this should make you even stronger now. Since the other Hunters haven''t arrived yet, I¡¯ll brief you on the Fissure.¡±


    Only then did Ye-Ji realize something was off.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Hmm? Did you not hear me?¡± Do-Jun replied without much thought.


    ¡°Weren¡¯t we supposed to be here for fun today?¡±


    Do-Jun was about to take out his SpacePad but paused and noticed a picnic basket in Ye-Ji¡¯s hand.


    Cold sweat ran down Do-Jun¡¯s back. Come to think of it, he hadn¡¯t told Ye-Ji they would be hunting in a Fissure. He also noticed that Ye-Ji wasn¡¯t carrying her suitcase.


    ¡°Mr. Administrator.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Ye-Ji.¡±


    ¡°This was clearly your mistake, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Ye-Ji said as she smiled slightly.


    Do-Jun nodded cautiously.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t notify me, a contract Hunter, about overtime work. This is a clear violation of employment regulations, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I should have informed you in advance.¡±


    ¡°Take responsibility.¡±


    ¡°I will make sure to get you the overtime pay.¡±


    But Ye-Ji shook her head at Do-Jun¡¯s apologetic words. ¡°No, I don¡¯t need money.¡±


    ¡°Then what do you want...?¡±


    ¡°Next time, have dinner with me. You have to treat me.¡± S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Sure, that¡¯s the least I could do.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t a difficult request.


    ¡°I-it has to be just the two of us!¡± Ye-Ji shouted, her face turning red as she watched Do-Jun¡¯s reaction closely.


    She was worried that he might think it was weird and afraid of being rejected, her heart pounded nervously.


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    But Do-Jun responded immediately, and Ye-Ji beamed brightly.


    ¡°Promise,¡± she said.

 Chapter 30

    Chapter 30


    Do-Jun and Ye-Ji were in a taxi to Seobinggo station after picking up her suitcase from her house.


    When they checked the time, it was already about twenty minutes past their scheduled meeting time of 10:00 AM. Do-Jun messaged Choi Kyu-Sik, saying they would arrive in about ten minutes.


    Choi Kyu-Sik: No worries! Take your time.


    Do-Jun saw the reply and smiled faintly.


    I bet they have no choice but to wait.


    The Solomon Guild needed a sacrifice to open the Treasure Chest of Shark Tooth.


    ¡°Gulp. Um, so as I was saying, these Mermaids have a unique trait: they secrete a toxic mucus all over their bodies and inject paralyzing venom through their molars to incapacitate Hunters... Are you listening?¡± Do-Jun asked Ye-Ji.


    ¡°Yes, of course. By the way, Mr. Administrator, how¡¯s the sandwich?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s good. Anyway, once they incapacitate the Hunter, the Mermaids...¡±


    Ye-Ji handed Do-Jun another sandwich from the disposable container that had been in the picnic basket she had brought earlier. She had thought it would be nice to bring snacks, assuming they were going on an outing, and she didn¡¯t want to leave the sandwiches behind, so she brought them along.


    ¡°Mr. Administrator, surely you¡¯re not saying you won¡¯t eat anymore? I got up at 6 AM to make these. If Mr. Somebody hadn¡¯t called, I wouldn¡¯t have gone to all this trouble,¡± Ye-Ji said with a smile.


    Do-Jun wanted to say, ¡°No one told you to make any sandwiches, Ye-Ji,¡± instead, he smiled and took the offered sandwich.


    Ye-Ji watched Do-Jun take a big bite of the sandwich and smiled brightly.


    The taxi driver, watching them through the rearview mirror, chuckled and asked, ¡°You two look good together.¡±


    At that question, Ye-Ji blushed and smacked Do-Jun lightly on the shoulder.


    ¡°Oh, come on, Mister. Do we really look like a couple? Well, he did say I¡¯m the only one for him.¡±


    ¡°Haha! Seems like the gentleman is quite bold!¡±


    Do-Jun glanced sideways at Ye-Ji.


    When their eyes met, Ye-Ji was startled and quickly turned her head away. Do-Jun continued the briefing as he ate the sandwich.


    ***


    They arrived at Seobinggo Station at 10:40 AM, forty minutes past the scheduled time.


    ¡°I¡¯m Lee Do-Jun, the one who contacted you.¡±


    ¡°Oh... there are two of you?¡±


    ¡°Yes. This lady is Hunter Cha Ye-Ji, who will be hunting with you today. I¡¯m her supervisor,¡± Do-Jun said, handing over a business card.


    Choi Kyu-Sik quickly scanned the card.


    ¡°Seoul City Hall¡¯s Fissure Management Division? Civil servants get involved in things like this nowadays, I see.¡±


    ¡°Our division was established about five years ago. We currently manage Fissures of C-rank and below.¡±


    ¡°Is that so? But the Fissure we¡¯re going to is B-rank.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here today not for official business but purely to help level up the Hunter I manage. This is a personal matter.¡±


    The three members of Solomon Guild exchanged glances at the unexpected turn of events.


    In their line of trade, it was common for Hunters to die inside the Fissures. However, if the deceased Hunter was one that Seoul City Hall managed, the situation was bound to become a bit more complicated.


    ¡°And I will also be accompanying my Hunter on the Fissure hunt,¡± Do-Jun stated.


    ¡°Sorry? But civilians are not allowed to enter Fissures,¡± Choi Kyu-Sik said.


    ¡°Employees of the Fissure Management Division are allowed to enter, so there¡¯s no need to worry about that.¡±


    Kim Hong-Yeop, another Hunter from Solomon Guild who had been listening in on the conversation, interjected, ¡°Sorry, but we might need to reconsider¡ª¡±


    But Choi Kyu-Sik talked over him just as Kim Hong-Yeop was about to express his refusal.


    ¡°Well then, we look forward to working with you today, Supervisor Lee Do-Jun and Hunter Cha Ye-Ji.¡± Choi Kyu-Sik nodded in agreement.


    Kim Hong-Yeop nudged Choi Kyu-Sik¡¯s side as if asking why he had to complicate things.


    We just have to kill them both.


    Sacrifice one of them in the boss room, then kill the remaining one right there. If an investigation ever came up, they could just say it was an unfortunate accident during the hunt.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get moving.¡±


    ***


    [A Monarch is present within a 500-meter radius.]


    [The Blessing of the Vow effect is active.]


    [All stats are increased by 100%.]


    [Damage received from enemies is reduced by 50%.]


    [Immunity to all status effects has been granted.]


    Ye-Ji turned to look at Do-Jun as she walked alongside the three members of the Solomon Guild. Even though this wasn¡¯t a Fissure managed by the Fissure Management Division, Do-Jun held a SpacePad in one hand.


    Ye-Ji checked the sword tattoo on her wrist and recalled what Do-Jun had said in the taxi.


    ¡°This Fissure has Mermaids. Think of them as creepy-looking fish people. The strategy is simple. If you cut off their wrists, the mucus they secrete will disappear, and you can easily kill them by attacking anywhere on the upper body.¡±


    Kim Hong-Yeop was the tank for the party and walked ahead cautiously. He muttered, ¡°I don¡¯t see any Mermaids... What¡¯s going on?¡±


    It was indeed strange. It had been thirty minutes since they entered the Fissure. By now, they should have encountered at least twenty Mermaids, but there wasn¡¯t even one, let alone twenty.


    Hearing Kim Hong-Yeop¡¯s words, Do-Jun stopped in his tracks.


    ¡°Ye-Ji.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Administrator.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll stay a hundred meters back.¡±


    ¡°Oh, um... sure, that works for me.¡±


    Ye-Ji tilted her head in confusion, as Do-Jun never stayed more than twenty meters away from her. She had always nagged him to stay at least a hundred, no, two hundred meters away for safety, but today, he offered to distance himself before she even said a word.


    ¡°Three Mermaids, ten meters out!¡±


    And just as Do-Jun stepped away, three Mermaids appeared in front of Kim Hong-Yeop, who was leading the group.


    Ye-Ji drew her sword and charged at the Mermaids.


    ¡°H-hold on!¡± Choi Kyu-Sik yelled, trying to stop Ye-Ji.


    From what he¡¯d heard, she was a C-rank Hunter. Charging recklessly like that, she would likely become prey for the Mermaids.


    We can¡¯t have her die before we reach the boss room.


    In truth, Choi Kyu-Sik and Cho Hyun-Jin weren¡¯t actually healers. While each had a healing skill, they were low-grade, garbage skills of F-rank.


    With Choi Kyu-Sik¡¯s one debuff skill and one healing skill and Cho Hyun-Jin¡¯s one attack skill and one healing skill, they were closer to attackers than anything else.


    I was planning to reveal it later... I¡¯ll just have to make something up, Choi Kyu-Sik thought as he drew his dagger.


    But just as he was about to charge at the Mermaids, the sword in Ye-Ji¡¯s hand flashed with a white light.


    The Mermaids¡¯ wrists were severed, and the mucus that had flowed from their bodies like water dried up.


    ¡°Huh...?¡±


    It wasn¡¯t just Choi Kyu-Sik. The remaining two members of the Solomon Guild were also stunned.


    Slash, slash, slash!


    The Mermaids didn¡¯t even have a chance to think about attacking before they were slain helplessly by just a few casual swings of Ye-Ji¡¯s sword.


    Thud.


    After finishing her sword dance, Ye-Ji landed on the ground and swung her sword in the air once.


    The Mermaids¡¯ blood that had stained the blade dripped down.


    Choi Kyu-Sik couldn¡¯t close his mouth. The flawless movements and the power to massacre the Mermaids he had just witnessed were more like a work of art than a battle scene.


    Is she really supposed to be a C-rank?


    She had to be at least a B-rank¡ªno, even higher, possibly even on par with A-rank Hunters.


    The truth was that the B-ranked Choi Kyu-Sik and Cho Hyun-Jin had a hard time killing just one Mermaid. The Mermaids¡¯ unique sticky mucus made it difficult to inflict any wounds.


    ¡°Y-you are amazing,¡± Choi Kyu-Sik said in awe.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. It¡¯s definitely easier knowing their weaknesses.¡±


    ¡°Weaknesses...?¡±


    ¡°Yes. If you cut off a Mermaid¡¯s wrists, their defense is almost nullified...¡± Ye-Ji said as she looked at Do-Jun, who was following behind. ¡°At least that¡¯s what Mr. Administrator told me.¡±


    ***


    [Level up!]


    Smash!


    The Mermaid¡¯s head flew off.


    To the members of the Solomon Guild, Ye-Ji looked like a monster leading the charge and slaughtering the Mermaids. Her movements were swift and fearless, and even when surrounded and attacked by a group of Mermaids, she didn¡¯t seem to take much damage.


    ¡°Would you like a heal...?¡± Cho Hyun-Jin approached cautiously and asked.


    But Ye-Ji shook her head as if she was fine. ¡°I¡¯m okay, but please take good care of Mr. Administrator.¡±


    ¡°Okay...¡±


    Crack.


    Choi Kyu-Sik bit his nails.


    The plan had gone awry. He now fully understood that Ye-Ji¡¯s skill level wasn¡¯t C-rank or even B-rank. Their plan to force her to be a sacrifice when they entered the boss room was no longer possible.


    We¡¯ll sacrifice that damn civil servant and gang up on Ye-Ji three to one to kill her, he mentally improvised the plan.


    There was no other way.


    No matter how close to A-rank her skills were, overwhelming numbers always won. If they combined their strength, they could take her down.


    ¡°The path splits ahead,¡± Ye-Ji said and stopped abruptly.


    Having been here more than ten times already, Choi Kyu-Sik knew which way led to the boss room.


    ¡°We should go righ¡ª¡±


    ¡°We should go left,¡± Do-Jun said, interrupting him.


    Choi Kyu-Sik quickly turned his head to look at Do-Jun and smirked. ¡°Supervisor Lee, I¡¯m very familiar with this area, so please leave it to me.¡±


    However, without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Ye-Ji started walking to the left.


    ¡°Hunter Ye-Ji! We need to go to the right!¡± Choi Kyu-Sik called out.


    ¡°If Mr. Administrator says it¡¯s left, then it¡¯s left.¡±


    Hearing those words, Choi Kyu-Sik chuckled in disbelief.


    ¡°And on what basis are you saying that? This is the first time either you or Supervisor Lee have been here. On the other hand, we¡¯ve been here several times. Whose word should we trust?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Choi Kyu-Sik,¡± Ye-Ji said with a serious look.


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°If you want to go to the right that badly, go ahead. Mr. Administrator and I will go to the left.¡±


    ¡°What...?¡±


    He couldn¡¯t believe it.


    For a moment, a surge of anger welled up but now wasn¡¯t the time to lose his temper.


    ***


    ¡°This can¡¯t be...¡±


    With Do-Jun¡¯s guidance, it took them less than ten minutes to reach the boss room.


    Do-Jun gave directions as if he knew the entire layout of the cave, and Ye-Ji followed him without hesitation.


    ¡°Was there always a path like this?¡± Choi Kyu-Sik muttered to himself while watching Do-Jun put his SpacePad into his briefcase.


    If they had gone to the right at the fork, it would have taken more than two hours to reach the boss room.


    Whatever, this works for us.


    Now they could get the treasure chest of Shark Tooth.


    Choi Kyu-Sik grinned as he looked at the tightly shut bronze door. He asked, ¡°It seems there¡¯s a boss monster behind this door. What will you do?¡±


    He was planning to fight them on the spot if they were unwilling to enter.


    ¡°Mr. Administrator, it¡¯s dangerous, so should we head back?¡± Ye-Ji asked Do-Jun.


    ¡°I think it might be worth a try,¡± Do-Jun accepted without hesitation. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Then let¡¯s go in. But please don¡¯t leave my side.¡±


    Do-Jun nodded, and the members of Solomon Guild smirked inwardly.


    Choi Kyu-Sik decided to place a debuff on Ye-Ji first.


    Disease.


    It was an A-rank skill that reduced the opponent¡¯s stats by thirty percent. No matter how close to A-rank she was, facing three opponents with almost a third of her stats reduced would be too much.


    What? Choi Kyu-Sik couldn¡¯t believe his eyes.


    [The Disease effect cannot be applied to the opponent.]


    At that moment, Ye-Ji also received a message.


    [Choi Kyu-Sik¡¯s Disease was blocked by Blessing of the Vow.]


    ¡°Mr. Choi Kyu-Sik.¡±


    ¡°Yes...?¡±


    Ye-Ji turned around and glared at Choi Kyu-Sik.


    ¡°Are you a PK?¡±

 Chapter 31

    Chapter 31


    ¡°Are you a PK?¡±


    At those words, the Solomon Guild Hunters froze in place. At a crossroads of choices, several thoughts ran through Choi Kyu-Sik¡¯s mind.


    This opponent was immune to his skill, Disease.


    He didn¡¯t know why, but one thing was clear: even if the three of them attacked together, there was no guarantee of them winning.


    I can¡¯t die here, Choi Kyu-Sik thought, eyes darting around, looking for a way out.


    Then, his gaze landed on Do-Jun.


    Why does that bastard look so calm?


    PK, or Player Killer, was even more terrifying than monsters in some ways. And yet, the civil servant in front of him showed no fear. In fact, there was a slight smirk on his lips, as if he had known all along.


    Suddenly, Ye-Ji¡¯s words flashed through Choi Kyu-Sik¡¯s mind.


    ¡°If Mr. Administrator says it¡¯s left, then it¡¯s left.¡±


    ¡°But please don¡¯t leave my side.¡±


    After following Do-Jun¡¯s advice and taking the left path at the first crossroads, it took them less than ten minutes to reach the boss room through a shortcut they hadn¡¯t known about.


    He wondered if the civil servant had some special Ability, but then he remembered Ye-Ji¡¯s insistence that he stay close to her.


    That must mean he was so weak that he couldn¡¯t even take care of himself!


    I¡¯ll take him hostage.


    Then, he would offer the civil servant as a sacrifice to open the Treasure Chest of Shark Tooth.


    Shark Tooth is the boss monster of a B-rank Great Fissure. If it¡¯s the boss monster¡¯s treasure chest, it has to be something at least A-rank.


    That was their chance to turn the tables and the last opportunity for Choi Kyu-Sik¡¯s group.


    And when the scheming was complete in his head, Choi Kyu-Sik swiftly put his plan into action.


    He launched himself off the ground and charged at Do-Jun, immobilized him from behind, and pressed a dagger against his neck.


    ¡°Don¡¯t move, or I¡¯ll kill him.¡±


    ¡°M-mr. Administrator!¡± Ye-Ji¡¯s face went pale, and her body began to tremble.


    She had let her guard down. Guarding Do-Jun should have been the first thing she did when the message regarding the Disease skill popped up.


    Instead, her first thought was her confidence to win even three against one. Her arrogance had made her forget about Do-Jun.


    Do-Jun glanced at the dagger pressed against his neck, then looked at Ye-Ji, whose face was as white as a sheet, clearly in shock.


    Actually, he had roughly anticipated Choi Kyu-Sik to pull something like this. He simply let it happen. A mere knife like this wouldn¡¯t even leave a small scratch on him, but he decided to play along for a bit.


    ¡°What do you intend to do with me?¡± His tone was stiff as if he was reading from a textbook.


    Choi Kyu-Sik found Do-Jun¡¯s lack of fear a bit odd, but he didn¡¯t dwell on it. What mattered was Ye-Ji¡¯s reaction.


    ¡°If you want him alive, stay put and don¡¯t make any moves,¡± Choi Kyu-Sik said to Ye-Ji.


    ¡°N-no, Mr-Mr. Ad...ministrator...¡± Ye-Ji half sobbed from her panic.


    Why hadn¡¯t she realized sooner? Why hadn¡¯t she handled this more wisely?


    The pressure on her chest was tightening with the overwhelming sense of regret.


    Choi Kyu-Sik opened the bronze door, still holding the dagger against Do-Jun¡¯s neck. Like that, the three Hunters of the Solomon Guild entered the boss room with Do-Jun as their hostage.


    Bang!


    When the door slammed shut, Ye-Ji collapsed to the ground.


    ***


    Bang!


    Cho Hyun-Jin shut the door and grinned.


    The boss monster, Shark Tooth, was hovering about fifty meters in the air. That thing wouldn¡¯t launch a pre-emptive attack unless someone crossed the red line on the ground.


    At least, that was the rule it was supposed to follow.


    Whoosh!


    Realizing that four challengers had entered its territory, Shark Tooth rushed forward at high speed. But then, it made a sharp U-turn and started to flee.


    Do-Jun chuckled as he watched Shark Tooth turn tail and run.


    ¡°W-what was that?¡± Kim Hong-Yeop muttered, startled as he withdrew the shield he had extended.


    Shark Tooth shouldn¡¯t have been able to cross the restriction line, but it had come right up to the bronze door.


    ¡°The red line is gone...¡± Choi Kyu-Sik¡¯s eyes widened as he quickly checked the quest list. ¡°What the fuck is this?¡±


    [Special Quest: Sacrifice]


    [This quest has already been completed.]


    He quickly turned his head to discover the opened treasure chest.


    ¡°What the hell happened here?!¡±


    He released Do-Jun and rushed to the treasure chest, only to realize it was completely empty.


    He gritted his teeth at the unexpected turn of events.


    Could someone else have come here?


    No, that was impossible.


    If that were the case, the number of Mermaids would have significantly decreased. Although they didn¡¯t run into any Mermaids in the first thirty minutes after entering the Fissure, everything returned to normal afterward.


    Do-Jun looked down at the three confused Hunters with a cold gaze.


    ¡°You must be wondering where the contents of the treasure chest went. Ah, it¡¯s a bummer, huh? After all, you¡¯ve worked so hard to sacrifice nine people for it already.¡±


    ¡°What? H-how do you know that...?¡± Choi Kyu-Sik¡¯s eyes widened.


    Nine sacrifices.


    That was information only they knew. So how could a mere civil servant who had just entered this Fissure today know about it?


    ¡°The contents are with Ye-Ji,¡± Do-Jun informed them.


    ¡°Cut the bullshit. Are you saying she knew about the boss room?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m the one who knew. After I talked to you on the phone yesterday, I came to check it out.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Choi Kyu-Sik said in disbelief.


    Came to check it out? What did that even mean?


    This was a Great Fissure. It was never supposed to be a place where someone could just casually waltz in and out, like a neighborhood park.


    ¡°The sword Ye-Ji was holding¡ªthat¡¯s the treasure from the chest,¡± Do-Jun said again.


    ¡°Shut the fuck up, you bastard!¡± Choi Kyu-Sik¡¯s face turned red with anger.


    ¡°You three died the moment you took me hostage,¡± Do-Jun said, narrowing his cold eyes.


    The three Hunters flinched.


    W-what¡¯s with those eyes...? Is he really human?


    It was as if he was looking at something insignificant, something feeble. His eyes saw them as nothing more than worthless creatures. An involuntary shiver ran down their spines.


    I am scared? Me, Choi Kyu-Sik?


    Choi Kyu-Sik gripped his dagger tightly and charged at Do-Jun. ¡°Die, you son of a bitch!¡± S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And just as he was about to stab the cocky civil servant in the stomach.


    Claaaaang!


    An invisible barrier blocked the dagger, making Choi Kyu-Sik frown in confusion.


    ¡°What are you doing, Choi Kyu-Sik?! Kill him already!¡±


    His watching party members thought Choi Kyu-Sik was just hesitating to stab Do-Jun.


    ¡°I¡¯d rather not dirty my hands with your blood,¡± Do-Jun said, then looked at Shark Tooth, who was trembling in the corner. He then gave a command. ¡°I¡¯ll let you live if you take care of this trash for me.¡±


    Watching Do-Jun speak to Shark Tooth, Choi Kyu-Sik was beyond disbelief and burst into laughter.


    ¡°Pfft, hahaha! What is this fucking idiot say¡ª¡± But he couldn¡¯t finish his sentence.


    Crunch!


    Shark Tooth had approached unnoticed and swallowed Choi Kyu-Sik whole.


    Thud!


    Seeing their comrade¡¯s limbs dismembered in an instant, the remaining two Hunters collapsed on the spot.


    ¡°This... this can¡¯t be happening...¡±


    After practically deleting Choi Kyu-Sik, Shark Tooth crept up to Do-Jun, who patted its body and murmured, ¡°Go.¡±


    Shark Tooth¡¯s eyes glowed a bright red.


    Whoooosh!


    It charged at the remaining two.


    ¡°Aaaargh!¡±


    Their screams echoed throughout the chamber.


    ***


    ¡°Ugh... sniff... Mr. Administrator...¡± Ye-Ji was slumped against the bronze door, sobbing uncontrollably.


    She stared blankly at the faintly glowing sword tattoo on her wrist, praying that this light would not fade away.


    Bang! Crack!


    ¡°Aaaargh!¡±


    A strange noise and a scream echoed from inside.


    Fortunately, the scream didn¡¯t belong to Do-Jun, but as her anxiety grew, only more tears streamed down her face.


    ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. Everything... my fault...¡±


    If only she had paid more attention to Do-Jun.


    No, she shouldn¡¯t have let him come to such a dangerous place in the first place. The mere idea of an ordinary person entering a Great Fissure was incredibly risky.


    ¡°I should have... protected him...¡±


    At that moment, the tattoo of the Vow on her wrist began to turn red without her even realizing it. Simultaneously, a red aura began to rise from her body.


    ¡°I will...¡±


    I¡¯ll kill them all.


    Rumble.


    As the cave started to quake, the bronze door opened. At the same time, Ye-Ji quickly turned around.


    ¡°M-mr. Administra...tor?¡±


    Do-Jun looked down at Ye-Ji, whose eyes were wet with tears. She sprang up and hugged Do-Jun tightly.


    ¡°Ye-Ye-Ji?¡±


    ¡°Sob... sniff... waaah!¡± Ye-Ji burst into tears.


    The red aura that had been emanating from her body began to dissipate. Do-Jun didn¡¯t miss this sight. Rather, he couldn¡¯t miss it.


    That aura just now... What was that?


    It was a terrifying amount of murderous intent.


    Do-Jun examined the tattoo on his wrist and discovered it wasn¡¯t just his imagination. Although it had returned to normal as if nothing had happened, the tattoo had glowed red just moments ago, and he felt a massive energy coming from it.


    Pat, pat.


    Perhaps it was because of Do-Jun¡¯s careful touch, but Ye-Ji¡¯s trembling body seemed to calm down, and the frightening, murderous intent completely disappeared.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for making you worry,¡± Do-Jun apologized.


    But Ye-Ji shook her head. Right now, she didn¡¯t want to think about anything other than the fact that Do-Jun was alive¡ªthe only thing that mattered to her at this moment.


    Ye-Ji rubbed her face against Do-Jun¡¯s chest, smearing and staining his white shirt with her tears, snot, and makeup.


    ¡°Mr. Administrator.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°I promise I¡¯ll never let you be in danger again.¡±


    ¡°You certainly shouldn¡¯t. That¡¯s what our contract is for...¡±


    Do-Jun couldn¡¯t finish his sentence when he noticed that Ye-Ji¡¯s eyes were empty when looking at him. He decided to flick her forehead instead.


    ¡°Ouch!¡±


    Ye-Ji winced and rubbed her forehead. ¡°That hurts, Mr. Administrator.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I did it. To knock some sense into you.¡±


    Only then did her eyes regain their vitality, perhaps thanks to the flick.


    ¡°Yes! From now on, I¡¯ll be fully alert and protect you, Mr. Administrator! If anyone dares to even lay a finger on you, I¡¯ll kill them!¡±


    Flick!


    ¡°Ouch! W-what is it this time?¡±


    ¡°Where did you get the idea of killing someone? I don¡¯t want you to become a murderer, Ye-Ji. Just take care of the monsters.¡±


    ¡°But what if you¡¯re in danger, Mr. Administrator?¡± Ye-Ji said as she puffed out her cheeks.


    Do-Jun sighed and started walking back the way they came.


    ¡°W-wait up, Mr. Administrator!¡±


    Just as they were leaving the cave, Ye-Ji saw the boss monster floating in the air beyond the bronze door and a pool of blood on the ground.


    ¡°What happened in there...?¡±


    ***


    That night, at 11 PM, when he didn¡¯t have to worry about being interrupted by anyone, Do-Jun was studying in his room.


    ¡°In modern society, where smartphones are widespread, conversations between fathers and children have decreased compared to the past, and correspondingly, the bond between parents...¡±


    ¡°To promote emotional development in children, it¡¯s important to share hobbies or enjoy cultural activities together...¡±


    Do-Jun drew a line under the text with a highlighter. He was reading 50 Ways to Be a Good Father¡ªthe first book he had bought at the bookstore after becoming a father.


    There was a knock on his door, followed by Yoon-Hee¡¯s voice. ¡°F-father, are you asleep...?¡±


    Do-Jun quickly closed the book and hid it in his desk drawer.


    ¡°No, what¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°Can I come in for a moment?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    Creak.


    Yoon-Hee, dressed in pajamas, slowly opened the door and carefully stepped inside, holding a piece of paper.


    ¡°I-I was just wondering... if you were free tomorrow.¡±


    Do-Jun took the paper Yoon-Hee handed him.


    ¡°2019 Hunter Festival¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a festival held every year. They sell and display Hunter equipment and goods, and there are performances and sparring matches. Experienced Hunters also provide mentoring sessions...¡±


    Yoon-Hee fidgeted, gauging Do-Jun¡¯s reaction.


    Seeing that he wasn¡¯t reacting much, she continued, ¡°Y-you probably can¡¯t, right...? You need to rest on Sundays too...¡±


    ¡°To promote emotional development in children, it¡¯s important to share hobbies or enjoy cultural activities together...¡±


    Do-Jun recalled the passage he had just highlighted.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°R-really?¡± Yoon-Hee¡¯s face brightened up instantly.


    Do-Jun nodded, thinking, Look how happy she is. How could I say no?

 Chapter 32

    Chapter 32


    AT Center, located in Seocho-gu, Gangnam, was an exhibition and convention center affiliated with the Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corporation. It hosted various events, including exhibitions and viewings, under the operation and management of COEX[1].


    It was a significant day, marking the last day of the Hunter Festival, which had been running for the past two weeks.


    ¡°Father, look! There are so many people here!¡± Yoon-Hee remarked as she looked at Do-Jun with a broad smile.


    ¡°I-I can¡¯t breathe, Master.¡±


    Yong-Yong was squirming in Yoon-Hee¡¯s arms, trying to escape, but she frowned at his struggle and hugged him closer to her chest.


    ¡°No way! There are so many people; you might get stepped on.¡±


    ¡°M-master... Ugh. This is torture.¡± Yong-Yong sent a rescue signal to Do-Jun with his eyes.


    Do-Jun smiled at Yoon-Hee and said, ¡°Yoon-Hee, would you give him to me?¡±


    ¡°B-but he might be too heavy for you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I can handle that much.¡±


    Yong-Yong¡¯s expression brightened, thinking Do-Jun would put him down on the ground.


    But that was a big mistake.


    Do-Jun grabbed Yong-Yong by the head and carried him with one hand. ¡°Are you more comfortable now?¡±


    ¡°I was wrong, Master. Please forgive me. I have committed a grave sin.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just joking. Be careful not to get stepped on.¡± He placed Yong-Yong on the ground.


    Honestly, it wouldn¡¯t matter, even if he got stepped on. Would a dragon get hurt from merely being stepped on by a human?


    Sniff, sniff.


    ¡°This smell...¡±


    A slightly spicy yet sweet aroma drew Yong-Yong as if it were enchanting the dragon.


    And when he looked up, he saw a sign: Special Goblin Ribs! Only 9,900 won per serving!


    ¡°Ribs!¡± Yong-Yong panted like a dog as his eyes sparkled with excitement.


    Seeing this, Do-Jun and Yoon-Hee smiled at each other and walked over to the stall selling goblin ribs.


    ¡°Welcome! These are ribs made with fresh goblin meat sourced from the Fissure yesterday! We¡¯re offering them for just 9,900 won during the festival period.¡±


    Do-Jun took out a ten thousand won bill from his wallet and handed it to the vendor.


    ¡°We¡¯ll take one, please.¡±


    ¡°Thank you! It¡¯ll be ready in just a moment.¡±


    Sizzle!


    A few ribs stored in the refrigerator were placed on the grill and began to cook with a delicious sizzling sound. Unable to contain himself, Yong-Yong bounced on the spot.


    ¡°Oh, he¡¯s cute. Are you a Tamer?¡± the vendor asked after seeing Yong-Yong.


    ¡°I¡¯m raising him, but I¡¯m not a Hunter.¡±


    ¡°Haha, I see. Well, just because you¡¯ve Awakened doesn¡¯t mean you have to become a Hunter.¡±


    Do-Jun nodded.


    A moment later, the vendor packed the ribs in a takeout container.


    ¡°You two make such a lovely couple, so I¡¯ve added a little extra. Enjoy!¡±


    ¡°That... well, thank you,¡± Do-Jun thanked the vendor, took the ribs without any denial, and tossed a piece into Yong-Yong¡¯s mouth.


    Chomp, chomp.


    ¡°I... love... ribs...¡± Yong-Yong said between mouthfuls.


    ¡°Yoon-Hee, you should try one too... Hey, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Do-Jun asked her.


    Yoon-Hee had lowered her head. When Do-Jun bent to check on her, he found her face bright red, like a tomato.


    ¡°You don¡¯t want any?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Ahh!¡± Yoon-Hee jumped back, startled.


    ¡°Are you not feeling well?¡±


    ¡°N-no! It¡¯s nothing.¡±


    ¡°Let me know if you don¡¯t feel well.¡±


    ¡°I-I will...¡±


    ¡°Master, could I have one more, please?¡±


    As Do-Jun took another rib from the container and gave it to Yong-Yong, Yoon-Hee took a deep breath and steadied herself.


    ***


    The inside of the convention center was much bigger than expected. With the exhibition halls separated into first and second floors, the crowd seemed larger than outside.


    Do-Jun glanced at the paper band wrapped around his wrist. ¡°You have to pay again to see the inside?¡±


    At four thousand won per person, it wasn¡¯t an expensive event by any means.


    ¡°Father, would you like to take a picture with this?¡±


    ¡°A picture?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Just cross your arms like this so the band shows.¡±


    Do-Jun extended his left arm with the band, and Yoon-Hee placed her arm over Do-Jun¡¯s wrist and took a quick photo with her smartphone.


    Looking at the newly taken photo in her gallery, she smiled in satisfaction.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Then, Yong-Yong saw a puppy approaching him.


    For some reason, the puppy started barking at Yong-Yong.


    ¡°Woof! Woof woof!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your problem...?¡± Yong-Yong said to the dog.


    ¡°Woof! Woof!¡±


    At the dog¡¯s attitude, Yong-Yong decided to give it a little taste of himself. ¡°Grrrr.¡±


    Startled by Yong-Yong¡¯s growling, the puppy tucked its tail between its legs and ran to its owner nearby.


    Yong-Yong chuckled at the sight.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, so sorry!¡± The puppy¡¯s owner ran over to Do-Jun to apologize, who awkwardly waved it off with a smile.


    It seemed the owner had accidentally let go of the leash.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t Yong-Yong wear a leash too? There¡¯s a sign over there saying all pets must be on a leash,¡± Yoon-Hee suggested.


    ¡°W-what did you say?¡± Yong-Yong muttered in utter disbelief.


    ¡°That sounds like a good idea,¡± Do-Jun agreed without hesitation.


    ¡°I... need to wear... a leash?¡±


    And just like that, Izaas, now known as Yong-Yong, the adorable dragon, wore a leash around his neck.


    ¡°If other dragons see this, they¡¯ll definitely laugh at me... I want to die,¡± Yong-Yong cried.


    It was the greatest humiliation of his long dragon life.


    ***


    A-3 Exhibition Hall was where Hunter equipment and supplies were being sold¡ªeverything from suits to weapons, accessories, and miscellaneous items ranging in grade from F to A-rank.


    ¡°F-father! Look at this,¡± Yoon-Hee said.


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    In Yoon-Hee¡¯s hand was a small ring labeled as a B-rank item, Elder Elf¡¯s Ring.


    It increased the user¡¯s Agility by 25 and slightly boosted Accuracy, but the price was unrealistic.


    ¡°800 million...?¡±


    Why was Hunter equipment so expensive?


    Do-Jun felt concerned seeing Yoon-Hee¡¯s eyes sparkle as she fidgeted with the ring in her hand. All he had on him was eighty thousand won in cash and a debit card with a little over 200 million won.


    Of course, he could easily get a billion won if he sold all the mana stones he had at home, but even with that, a ring of this price wasn¡¯t something he should easily buy for her.


    ¡°If you¡¯re interested in that ring, it¡¯s a rare accessory obtained by defeating the Elder Elf in the Dark Elf¡¯s Forest, a B-rank Great Fissure. It¡¯s one of our shop¡¯s featured items. If you purchase it now, you can get a five percent discount,¡± the clerk said as he approached with a friendly smile, but Yoon-Hee shook her head and put the ring back.


    She was only browsing, with no intention or means to purchase it.


    ¡°No, just seeing such a great item is enough for me.¡±


    ¡°The price is a bit steep, isn¡¯t it? In that case, how about participating in our event?¡± the clerk suggested.


    ¡°An event?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± The clerk, Cha Ik-Hyun, smiled and pointed to the right to a partitioned area about 1.5 meters wide and 30 meters long with a sign next to it that read, ¡°Challenge! Sharpshooter.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Yoon-Hee asked him curiously.


    ¡°There are ten targets inside the partition, spaced three meters apart. You can shoot them down with a mana gun, and we¡¯ll give you prizes according to how many targets you knock down. If you shoot down all ten targets, then the Elder Elf¡¯s Ring is yours.¡±


    ¡°I-I want to try! How do I¡ª¡± But Yoon-Hee couldn¡¯t finish her sentence. One attempt at the challenge cost a million won. It was an absurdly high price. ¡°Ah... I think I¡¯ll pass...¡±


    ¡°Move if you¡¯re not going to play. Let me give it a try.¡±


    Just then, a big man over 185 cm tall rolled up his sleeves and approached Cha Ik-Hyun.


    ¡°You accept cards, right?¡± the big man said to Cha Ik-Hyun without any honorifics.


    ¡°Yes, of course.¡±


    The large man swiped his card, and Cha Ik-Hyun handed him a mana gun.


    Once the man walked up to the shooting range, Cha Ik-Hyun explained from the side, ¡°You have three chances in total. By the way, the farther back the target, the sturdier it is.¡±


    ¡°Heh. How sturdy could these targets be? Get ready to pack up that Elder Elf¡¯s Ring, shopkeeper.¡±


    But Cha Ik-Hyun only chuckled at the man¡¯s words. Despite the many attempts today, the highest record was five targets by an S-rank Hunter, ranked eleventh.


    The last target was especially impossible to knock down, being made from the bone of an S-rank monster.


    Even the strongest Hunter, Lee Kang-Hyun, wouldn¡¯t be able to knock down all ten, Cha Ik-Hyun thought with a smile.


    Knowing that knocking down all ten targets with just three shots would require overwhelming mana, the man focused on carefully charging the mana gun with his mana, then took the shots.


    Bang! Bang! Bang!


    After a series of loud bangs echoed through the shooting range, Cha Ik-Hyun walked over to check the knocked-down targets.


    Only two had fallen.


    ¡°You got two, impressive! You win a buff potion worth three million won.¡±


    The man¡¯s hand trembled. He was a B-rank Hunter, but even after using ninety percent of his mana, only two targets had fallen. Moreover, he had to hit the second target twice to knock it down.


    ¡°Are you kidding me? What kind of scam is this?¡± he shouted.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure I told you that the targets are sturdier the farther back they are.¡±


    The people around them began to stare and whisper at the raised voices. Feeling embarrassed, the man clicked his tongue.


    Do-Jun glanced over the list of prizes based on the number of targets hit.


    ¡°May I give it a try?¡± he asked Cha Ik-Hyun.


    ¡°F-father?¡±


    Cha Ik-Hyun nodded and extended the card reader to Do-Jun.


    After the transaction went through, Do-Jun was handed the receipt along with the mana gun and walked up to the shooting range.


    ¡°Please wait a moment.¡± Cha Ik-Hyun walked over to the machine, reset the fallen targets, and said, ¡°Whenever you¡¯re ready, sir.¡±


    ¡°Yes, thank you.¡±


    Click.


    Do-Jun assumed a firing stance. He then took only a tiny bit of his internal energy in his dantian and channeled it into the mana gun.


    Pew!


    The first mana bullet he fired struck the target¡¯s bullseye, but the target did not fall. The same went for the second and third shots. Despite managing to hit the targets, all that was left were a few scratches on them, and none fell.


    Cha Ik-Hyun walked over to check the target.


    ¡°Oh... That¡¯s too bad. As a consolation prize, here¡¯s a 100 thousand won gift certificate for you to use here.¡±


    It was an outcome that everyone expected. Cha Ik-Hyun thought of Do-Jun as a D-rank or E-rank Hunter, and even the very first target was too much for Hunters below D-rank to knock down.


    As Cha Ik-Hyun was about to wrap things up, someone ran up to him and whispered in his ear, making him widen his eyes. He lifted the partition slightly to peek inside, and after a moment, he approached Do-Jun with a ring in his hand.


    It was a D-rank ring labeled Ring of Beginner¡¯s Agility with the effect of increasing the user¡¯s Agility by 10.


    ¡°Here,¡± Do-Jun said as he handed the ring to Yoon-Hee.


    ¡°Huh...?¡±


    ¡°I hope this counts for something, for now, at least.¡±


    "B-but Father, you won this...¡±


    Do-Jun patted Yoon-Hee¡¯s head and said, ¡°You should say, ¡®Thank you.¡¯¡±


    Blushing, Yoon-Hee mumbled, ¡°Thank you...¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good enough.¡± Do-Jun smiled slightly.


    ***


    As Cha Ik-Hyun stood blankly in front of the shooting range, the man who took a turn before Do-Jun approached to check the target.


    His face twisted as he grabbed Cha Ik-Hyun by the collar and angrily said, ¡°Are you joking? None of them fell! Are you discriminating or what?¡±


    He rechecked the target, but all he could see were three scratches in the center of the first target. It hadn¡¯t fallen.


    ¡°Anyone can do this! Hey, run it back. If I hit the center three times, I get the same ring as that guy, right?¡± S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Did you just say that anyone can do this...?¡± Cha Ik-Hyun asked, pulling back the partition.


    The man¡¯s eyes widened as the targets hidden behind the partition were revealed. The eighth, ninth, and tenth targets were shattered.


    Cha Ik-Hyun looked at the man and asked, ¡°Can you do it like this?¡±


    1. COEX is a well-known mall/ tourist attraction in Seoul. ?

 Chapter 33

    Chapter 33


    S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was just a plain silver ring without any design, but despite its simplicity, Yoon-Hee¡¯s lips were curling upward as if she couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    Do-Jun glanced at his wristwatch, confirming there were about ten minutes left until entry time.


    ¡°The History of Hunters, huh...¡±


    It was an exhibition program held at Gallery B-2 where a guide would explain the history of the Hunter world, from when the Fissures first appeared ten years ago to the present day.


    It was set up like a museum, displaying equipment used by Hunters, various monsters that had appeared, and the flora and fauna that existed only within the Fissures, all integrated with hologram technology. The program was quite popular, and visitors had to line up to get in.


    ¡°Maybe listening to this might help you regain your memories, don¡¯t you think so, Father?¡±


    Do-Jun remembered Yoon-Hee¡¯s words from earlier and smiled faintly as he watched her hum a tune while fiddling with the ring. He felt grateful to have a daughter who would think of such things for her father.


    Suddenly, he wondered how he would have lived if Yoon-Hee hadn¡¯t shown up. Cleaning, laundry, cooking, managing bills¡ªshe handled all the tedious tasks according to the contract. Without her, he would have undoubtedly struggled to keep up with all the necessities even now.


    ¡°Here, Yong-Yong.¡± Yoon-Hee popped another jelly into Yong-Yong¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°Nom nom. Hit me again!¡±


    ¡°No, you have to save some space for dinner,¡± Yoon-Hee declined his request.


    ¡°You¡¯re so stingy.¡±


    Yong-Yong kept whining for more, having developed a taste for the jelly.


    Before Do-Jun even realized it, his new daily life came to feel so natural that he wished he could protect it forever.


    ***


    ¡°Hello, everyone. I am Assistant Manager Bae Na-Ra from the Hunter¡¯s Bureau, and I¡¯ll be your guide for today¡¯s Hunter History program. Nice to meet you all.¡±


    A woman who looked to be in her late twenties, dressed in a suit, bowed her head slightly as she greeted the group.


    The space inside was much larger than it appeared from the outside, and with each tour group being limited to twenty people, it didn¡¯t feel crowded at all.


    ¡°As you all probably know, Fissures began appearing on Earth about ten years ago. And as you can see here...¡±


    Bae Na-Ra extended her hand into the air and a holographic image of a stone sculpture modeled after a Fissure appeared.


    ¡°This is the first Fissure that appeared in our country. It was discovered at Geumjeongsan Mountain in Busan. Although the Fissure has since closed, a monument and a Fissure statue were erected at the site, which is now designated as a memorial,¡± Bae Na-Ra explained.


    ¡°Now, here¡¯s a quiz for you. And there is a prize for the correct answer,¡± she continued, shaking a small, gift-wrapped box about the size of her palm. ¡°Here¡¯s the question: the Fissure I just mentioned is also known as¡ª¡±


    ¡°First Break!¡± Yoon-Hee shouted, raising her hand.


    The question hadn¡¯t even been fully asked yet, but Bae Na-Ra smiled and handed over the prize. ¡°That¡¯s correct. Thank you for your enthusiastic participation.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Yoon-Hee showed the prize to Do-Jun with a bashful smile, while Yong-Yong, nestled in Do-Jun¡¯s arms, sniffed it with interest.


    He then clicked his tongue and muttered, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not food.¡±


    Yoon-Hee sighed at Yong-Yong¡¯s reaction. Ever since he got a taste of her braised short ribs, he had developed a stronger appetite.


    Thinking she might have spoiled him, Yoon-Hee muttered, ¡°Maybe I should have just fed him pet food.¡±


    Hearing that, Yong-Yong retorted, ¡°Are you out of your mind, human?¡±


    They continued to follow Bae Na-Ra and listened to her explanations on various topics, such as the early equipment used by the First Hunters[1], the harsh working conditions before the development of physical enhancement, and how things had improved up to the present day.


    Then, without warning, Bae Na-Ra stopped in her tracks in front of a glass display case that held a claw over five meters long.


    Do-Jun quickly skimmed the information on the plaque as Bae Na-Ra explained.¡°Three years ago, a Fissure opened in an apartment area in Busan. It¡¯s a famous story, so many of you might already know it. A monster¡ªa dragon, specifically¡ªescaped from the Fissure, causing many casualties. And this here is the claw of that dragon.¡±


    Masalis the Dragon was an S-rank monster that was responsible for 857 deaths and 1,494 injuries. Though classified as S-rank, it was in a league of its own compared to other S-rank monsters, with its Breath attack alone being enough to kill Rankers[2] instantly.


    Thwack.


    Yoon-Hee flicked Yong-Yong on the forehead.


    ¡°Ow! W-what was that for?!¡±


    ¡°Yong-Yong, you better not do anything like that,¡± she said sternly.


    ¡°I... I was just sleeping in my nest when you people barged in, okay? Going wild outside is something only low-class beings would do. But... ugh, look at me now. Look what you¡¯ve done to me, ¡±Yong-Yong whimpered.


    He looked at Do-Jun with pitiful eyes.


    ¡°Master... please release me back into the wild. I promise to live quietly in my own little corner and never cause trouble ever again.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re saying you won¡¯t eat braised short ribs anymore?¡± Do-Jun teased as he smiled slyly.


    Yong-Yong clicked his tongue and grumbled, ¡°Tsk, nasty old man.¡±


    Do-Jun chuckled at that. He knew that if Izaas wanted to escape, he could have done so anytime. If he truly disliked being dragged around on this purely for-show leash or enduring Yoon-Hee¡¯s teasing, he could have transformed back into his true form or gotten angry.


    But there was a reason he didn¡¯t.


    Do-Jun stroked Yong-Yong, who had fallen asleep in his arms.


    ***


    In the main conference room of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau, Young-Chul sat at the head of the long, circular table, flipping through the documents his aide had handed him.


    ¡°So, it wasn¡¯t just a one-off event.¡±


    About a month ago, in the Umyeonsan Mountain area of Seocho-gu, a presumed S-rank Great Fissure had been detected.


    During that time, a strange phenomenon occurred for about ten seconds where the Fissure wave readings in the Umyeonsan Mountain area exceeded 9,999.


    Analysts concluded that this was due to a malfunction in the detector and had reported it to Young-Chul.


    But after some time passed, a strong wave was detected from Umyeonsan Mountain once again.


    ¡°What¡¯s the reading?¡± Young-Chul asked.


    ¡°1,581, sir.¡±


    ¡°Are we certain this time?¡±


    The Hunter¡¯s Bureau went on high alert when the readings on the Fissure detector exceeded a thousand, indicating an S-rank Great Fissure.


    Considering that the readings when the dragon, Masalis, appeared last time were 2,200, the current readings seemed relatively manageable, but it was still an S-rank Fissure with considerable danger.


    It was a situation where they could not afford to let their guard down even for a second.


    ¡°Yes. And although it¡¯s gradual... the readings are slowly increasing. Currently, Kang Min-Hyuk and other elite members of the Icarus Guild are controlling the entrance.¡±


    ¡°What about the Sword Emperor?¡±


    ¡°He will likely remain in the Core until his scheduled return. That area is out of communication range, so...¡±


    The Core, also known as the Vortex of the Fissure, was a massive hole labeled a danger zone in Sodaesan Mountain in Gangwon Province when the first Fissure appeared ten years ago.


    Unlike normal Fissures, which could be contacted through a special network established via mana stones, once inside the Core, all external communication was cut off.


    The Sword Emperor, Lee Kang-Hyun, and three First Hunters of the Behemoth Guild periodically entered the Core to investigate its ecosystem.


    Whenever they went on their Core expedition, return dates were set in advance. There were still more than three weeks until their scheduled return.


    ¡°How is the progress there?¡± Young-Chul asked his aide.


    ¡°According to the report submitted after the last Dive, it¡¯s about 1.4 percent.¡±


    Young-Chul ran his hand through his hair upon hearing the aide¡¯s report. More than twenty Dives have been conducted in the past three years, but all they had managed was a progress of 1.4 percent.


    ¡°We¡¯ll worry about that when Kang-Hyun returns. Do we have any information on the situation in Umyeonsan Mountain?¡±


    ¡°None, sir. It¡¯s risky to enter without proper information, and there¡¯s a chance we might not be able to get out.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a Distortion, then.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir. If we enter recklessly for reconnaissance like we did in the Swamp of the Dark Ogre and something goes wrong, there could be a total wipeout. I apologize for making a unilateral decision.¡±


    Young-Chul shook his head at the apology, thinking the aide had made the correct decision. As he said, if it indeed was a Distortion, no one could predict what could happen.


    ¡°Ah, right, I forgot to ask earlier. Do we have any Hunters who were recently promoted to S-rank?¡± Young-Chul asked the aide.


    ¡°There are a few A-ranks, but...¡±


    ¡°Ah, don¡¯t worry about it, then.¡±


    Young-Chul recalled the masked Hunter he had seen on the emergency cam during the Distortion in the Swamp of the Dark Ogre.


    ***


    ¡°Oh, those people are...¡±


    Yoon-Hee noticed three Hunters signing autographs for people at a temporary booth. They were the three elite members of the Mejai Guild who were currently making headlines.


    Over three hundred people were in line to get their autographs.


    ¡°Ah, must be nice,¡± she said in envy.


    ¡°Do you want to get their autographs?¡± Do-Jun asked after noticing her tone.


    ¡°M-maybe I do... a little...?¡±


    Yoon-Hee admired Hunters, especially skilled ones.


    The Mejai Guild had become famous for clearing an A-rank Great Fissure with just three members, and there were even rumors that the skills of those members were already at S-rank.


    ¡°Then should we line up too?¡± Do-Jun suggested.


    ¡°W-would that be okay, Father?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Why not? We¡¯re here to enjoy ourselves today, right? If there¡¯s something you want to do, you should do it.¡±


    ¡°Thank you!¡± Yoon-Hee smiled brightly and ran to the back of the line.


    Watching her, Yong-Yong, who was in Do-Jun¡¯s arms, commented, ¡°I mean, we¡¯ve got a sick-ass guy right here, so why is she so excited about those chumps?¡±


    Yong-Yong¡¯s not-so-subtle suck-up made Do-Jun chuckle as he walked toward Yoon-Hee.


    The line moved pretty fast since it didn¡¯t even take twenty seconds per person to get a signature.


    Occasionally, there were some strange requests, but the Mejai Hunters handled them appropriately.


    ¡°Next, please.¡±


    It didn¡¯t take long before it was Yoon-Hee¡¯s turn, and the first Hunter to greet her with a smile was the Guild Leader, Han Dong-Hyun.


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Seol Yoon-Hee.¡±


    ¡°I see, that¡¯s a nice name. Do you have any specific message you¡¯d like me to write?¡±


    ¡°N-no, not really.¡±


    Dong-Hyun wrote, ¡°Have a great day,¡± then signed his name underneath and handed it to Yoon-Hee.


    She happily showed the signed paper to Do-Jun, who stood behind her.


    ¡°That¡¯s great, congrats,¡± Do-Jun said with a smile.


    Dong-Hyun suddenly shot up from his chair, startling Yoo Mi-Ra and Yoo Jung-Ho, who were signing autographs beside him.


    ¡°Why, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Yoo Mi-Ra turned and asked, but Dong-Hyun ignored her.


    No, it was more like he didn¡¯t hear her. The only thing he could see at this moment was Do-Jun.


    That voice... Dong-Hyun thought as he stared intently at Do-Jun.


    As Do-Jun turned around to leave with Yoon-Hee, Dong-Hyun quickly rushed over and grabbed his shoulder.


    Do-Jun turned to look and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    That was when Dong-Hyun saw the silhouette of the masked Hunter overlapping with Do-Jun.


    ¡°Kim Hyun-Woo...?¡±


    1. First Hunters were the first people to Awaken when Fissures first appeared 10 years ago. ?


    2. Rankers is referred to anyone at S-rank. ?

 Chapter 34

    Chapter 34


    The masked F-rank Hunter who killed the Monarch Ogre in a single strike¡ªthe man who introduced himself as Kim Hyun-Woo was standing before him.


    It was possible that Dong-Hyun was mistaken, but one thing was certain.


    ¡°That voice...¡± He could never forget it.


    How could he?


    Dong-Hyun waited for Do-Jun¡¯s response. He waited to hear Do-Jun say, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. I am Kim Hyun-Woo,¡± but what came back was completely unexpected.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I think you¡¯ve mistaken me for someone else.¡±


    After saying this, Do-Jun turned to walk away. However, Dong-Hyun quickly blocked his path.


    Seeing the desperate look on Dong-Hyun¡¯s face, Do-Jun sighed. ¡°My name is Lee Do-Jun, not Kim Hyun-Woo.¡±


    He then took out his ID card and showed it to Dong-Hyun.


    After checking the name Lee Do-Jun on the ID card, Dong-Hyun froze on the spot.


    Yoon-Hee had been watching this from the side. She recalled the Hunter ID card she found in Do-Jun¡¯s desk drawer a few weeks ago, with the name Kim Hyun-Woo written on it.


    I wonder what happened...?


    Dong-Hyun looked at Do-Jun¡¯s resolute expression and his ID card. He couldn¡¯t do anything but bite down on his lips. He had a hunch but no solid proof.


    What could he do if the person himself denied it?


    ¡°I... I apologize. I must have been mistaken,¡± Dong-Hyun said.


    ¡°No worries. It happens. Well, we¡¯ll be going now.¡± With that, Do-Jun left.


    Yoon-Hee looked back and forth between her father and the slumped Dong-Hyun and ran after Do-Jun.


    The people waiting for autographs whispered, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    Yoo Mi-Ra, who had been sitting, ran up to Dong-Hyun and asked, ¡°Is that guy really Kim Hyun-Woo?¡±


    ¡°He said he wasn¡¯t, but...¡±


    ¡°What made you think so?¡±


    ¡°His voice...¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Dong-Hyun clenched his fists, staring at the departing Do-Jun.


    ***


    Craaaaaack!


    The Fissure in the sky stretched endlessly.


    It was only about ten stories high in the morning but was now over twenty stories in height. As the Fissure grew, the faces of the eleven operational teams watching it hardened.


    Beep, beep.


    Min-Ji checked the readings on the detection device on her wrist.


    After seeing the numbers, she felt a cold sweat on her back. The average reading for an S-rank Great Fissure was 1,000, but the device¡¯s reading had exceeded 2,000.


    Please...! Masalis was 2,200! she pleaded desperately.


    But the numbers didn¡¯t stop rising. The reading on her wrist was still consistently climbing, bit by bit.


    How high was it going to get?


    Out of the hundred Hunters gathered, seven were S-ranks, including Min-Ji, and the rest were A or B-rank.


    ¡°Why is this happening when Behemoth isn¡¯t here...¡± the leader of Team 3 muttered, looking at the Fissure.


    Min-Ji could see that the morale of the Hunters gathered here was already at rock bottom before the operation had even started.


    It was understandable. Hunters usually tackled Fissures that were one or two levels below their rank. Given that, it was only natural that the A and B-rank Hunters felt immense pressure.


    Moreover, the absence of the Behemoth Guild in this operation didn¡¯t help either.


    For many, the Behemoth Guild, which housed the three First Hunters, including Kang-Hyun, was like their spiritual pillar.


    Min-Hyuk pulled out his smartphone to check he was getting a call from Young-Chul. He answered it immediately.


    ¡°Yes, Chief.¡±


    ¡ªWe are about to start the controlled evacuation of the civilians.


    ¡°Understood. I will keep that in mind.¡±


    ¡ªThe Behemoth Guild is currently in a Dive. As you know, with Kang-Hyun absent, you¡¯re the only one who can act as the commander-in-chief inside the Fissure. Do you think you can handle it?


    A siren blared in the middle of the city lights beyond the ridge of Umyeonsan Mountain, followed by a public announcement.


    [Attention citizens, this is the Fissure Control Situation Room of the Hunter Management Bureau. Due to the confirmed observation of an S-rank Fissure in the Umyeonsan Mountain area, a Fissure alert is now being issued. If you hear this alert, please cease your current activities immediately and proceed to the nearest underground shelter, following the instructions of Bureau staff, civil servants, military, and police personnel. We repeat...]


    ¡°I will try my best,¡± Min-Hyuk said to Young-Chul.


    ¡ªNo trying, doing. You have to do it.


    Min-Hyuk glanced at the eleven operational teams gathered at the entrance of the Fissure. Their morale was already on the ground.


    Except for the S-rank Hunters assigned as team leaders, everyone looked as if they were about to walk into their deaths.


    Of course, the leaders were trying to boost their team members¡¯ spirits, but to the other Hunters facing the reality of an S-rank Fissure, their little pep talks were of little use.


    This was the first time an S-rank Fissure with a reading over 2,000 had opened since Masalis appeared three years ago, recording a reading of 2,200 with its presence alone.


    Either way, it was just as dangerous.


    ¡ªAccording to what we know so far, we are 70% certain that we have two hours left until the Breakout. We will evacuate as many citizens as possible in that time, and then I will send the signal to enter, so stand by until then.


    ¡°Yes, understood...¡± MiHyuk said, hanging up.


    Min-Ji watched the trembling Min-Hyuk and bit her lip. Then, she pulled out her smartphone, scrolled through her contacts, and placed a call to Do-Jun.


    ***


    It was 5 PM, and Do-Jun was back home relaxing on the sofa after a shower. He heard a text alert and checked his smartphone.


    [Amber Alert]


    [Emergency Assembly Notice due to the detection of an S-rank Fissure in the Umyeonsan Mountain area of Bangbae-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul. All civil servants must assemble at Seoul City Hall immediately upon reading this message and follow the instructions of their department head.]


    ¡°Umyeonsan Mountain?¡± Do-Jun said in surprise.


    This mountain was so close that it almost felt like the neighborhood¡¯s backyard.


    Do-Jun picked up the remote and turned on the TV.


    ?Breaking news. At around 4:20 PM today, an S-rank Great Fissure was detected in the Umyeonsan Mountain area. The Fissure wave levels currently exceed 2,000, the highest since the Masalis incident, which recorded 2,200. The Hunter¡¯s Bureau, military, and government have declared a state of emergency and are urgently evacuating residents within a ten-kilometer radius to nearby underground shelters...?


    Do-Jun glanced toward the kitchen where Yoon-Hee was preparing dinner while humming a tune.


    ¡°Yong-Yong,¡± he called.


    Yong-Yong was drooling clumsily in the kitchen but quickly ran over when Do-Jun called.


    ¡°Yes, Master?¡±


    ¡°I have to go in for some overtime work, so take care of Yoon-Hee while I¡¯m gone.¡±


    ¡°Well, Master...¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Tonight¡¯s dinner is braised chicken, though?¡±


    Tonight¡¯s menu was none other than braised chicken, and Izaas assumed that Do-Jun would naturally stay home for it.


    ¡°I have to go somewhere, and it¡¯s urgent.¡±


    ¡°If that is your will, Master... I shall consume it all.¡±


    ¡°Do whatever you want. But if Yoon-Hee has even a single scratch on her when I come back....¡±


    Do-Jun deliberately left his sentence unfinished because this was enough to leave Yong-Yong trembling in fear with his face pale.


    Seeing this, Do-Jun chuckled softly, stood up, and walked toward the entrance.


    Yoon-Hee turned her head while tasting the soup she was boiling. She asked, ¡°Where are you going, Father? The food¡¯s almost ready...¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s an emergency assembly. You can start eating without me.¡±


    At that moment, an evacuation alarm blared.


    [Attention, citizens. This is the Fissure Control Situation Room of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau. Currently, Umyeonsan...]


    Startled by the sound, Yoon-Hee asked in shock, ¡°An S-rank Fissure...? F-father, that¡¯s not where you¡¯re going, is it?¡±


    ¡°No, we¡¯ve been told to gather at City Hall,¡± Do-Jun assured Yoon-Hee as he showed her the message.


    Civil servants were required by policy to respond to assembly notices during national emergencies. Furthermore, with the occurrence of an S-rank Fissure, it was mandatory for Do-Jun to respond as part of the Fissure Management Division.


    ¡°Master, why don¡¯t you just deal with that thing yourself? Or I could handle it instead if you¡¯d like.¡±


    At Yong-Yong¡¯s suggestion, Yoon-Hee recalled the first time she met him. Yong-Yong had fired a Breath attack, which Do-Jun blocked easily. And with just one shot of a mana gun, he had blown away an entire mountain inside the Fissure.


    ¡°No, that¡¯s something for the Bureau¡¯s Hunters to handle,¡± Do-Jun said.


    He was just a civil servant, not a Hunter.


    They won¡¯t fall so easily, he thought, recalling Kang-Hyun, who was called the Sword Emperor. He had exuded a strong enough internal energy to rank among the top ten masters in the Central Plains.


    Just then, Do-Jun¡¯s phone rang. It was Min-Ji.


    ¡°Yes, Hunter Min-Ji.¡±


    ¡ªCould you do me a favor?


    Hearing the word favor, Do-Jun hesitated momentarily, though not for long.


    ¡°Yes, go ahead.¡±


    When he had asked Min-Ji for a favor on behalf of his senior, Hyuk-Soo, she had come running immediately.


    ¡ªAs you may know, an S-rank Great Fissure has opened in Umyeonsan Mountain. There are two hours left until the Break Out, meaning we have two hours until monsters start pouring out of the Fissure. We will be deployed inside before that happens.


    What was she trying to say?


    Do-Jun knew that Min-Ji was vaguely aware of his abilities.


    She might not know the exact extent of his power, but she was clearly turning a blind eye to the fact that he was hiding it.


    ¡ªNormally, the commander-in-chief of the operational team for S-rank Great Fissures is Senior Kang-Hyun. However, he is currently attacking the central zone and won¡¯t be back for at least another three weeks. With Senior Kang-Hyun¡¯s absence, Chief Jung has assigned Senior Min-Hyuk as the commander-in-chief for this Fissure.


    Do-Jun could roughly guess what Min-Ji wanted to say.


    ¡ªSupervisor Lee.


    ¡°Yes.¡± S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡ªWe have eleven operational teams. Of those, seven team leaders are S-rankers, and the other four are A-rankers. The team members under them are at least B-rank. As long as everyone stays focused, subduing an S-rank Great Fissure won¡¯t be impossible.


    After saying that, Min-Ji presented her conclusion, and Do-Jun ended the call.


    Then, he immediately called Hyuk-Soo.


    ¡ªYes, Do-Jun?


    ¡°Senior, I¡¯m sorry, but I won¡¯t be able to respond to the assembly right now.¡±


    ¡ªI understand. I¡¯ll let the Chief know.


    Do-Jun was a little taken aback, as normally, he would have been asked why he couldn¡¯t attend the assembly.


    But Hyuk-Soo didn¡¯t ask any questions.


    ¡°I¡¯ll come as soon as I¡¯m done with my business.¡±


    ¡ªAlright, see you later.


    Beep.


    Do-Jun changed out of his casual clothes into his work suit and checked the map Min-Ji had sent him.


    ¡°Father...¡± Yoon-Hee murmured as she looked at him with worried eyes.


    Do-Jun recalled what Min-Ji had just said.


    ¡°Supervisor Lee, I¡¯m not asking you to defeat the monsters. I¡¯m sure you have your reasons for hiding your strength. What I¡¯d like to ask is...¡±


    Do-Jun hung his civil servant ID around his neck and gently patted Yoon-Hee¡¯s head.


    ¡°Please guide us as our commander-in-chief for this operation.¡±

 Chapter 35

    Chapter 35


    Commander-in-chief¡ªthe weight of those two words was too heavy for an ordinary person to bear. The single person standing above eleven operational teams, each made up of some of the best Hunters in the country, assembled for the S-rank Fissure raid.


    The thought of being that control tower brought Min-Hyuk an overwhelming pressure beyond imagination.


    How does the Sword Emperor stay so calm? he wondered in amazement.


    The Hunters were looking at the Great Fissure with anxious eyes.


    When he announced that he was the new commander-in-chief and that they would have to follow his orders from now on, would they actually comply?


    All sorts of negative thoughts crossed his mind.


    Why did a Fissure like this have to open now...?


    Min-Hyuk spotted Min-Ji talking on the phone some distance away and wondered who she was talking to. Whatever the case, he needed to inform the Hunters of this fact now, but he found it hard to speak.


    ¡°Senior Min-Hyuk.¡± Min-Ji approached after finishing her call. ¡°Did Chief appoint you as the commander-in-chief?¡±


    ¡°Ah, you heard.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s someone I would like to propose to take that position, separate from Chief¡¯s orders. But only if you allow me, of course.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± At Min-Ji¡¯s words, Min-Hyuk scanned the team leaders.


    Who among the remaining S-rank Hunters from Team Leader 3 to Team Leader 7 could she propose for this position?


    If she¡¯s suggesting a replacement... could it be Kwak Young-Ho?


    Kwak Young-Ho was the leader of Team 5, an S-rank Hunter from the Tank class. He was a man highly trusted by the Hunters here.


    Min-Hyuk thought that if Kwak Young-Ho took over as commander-in-chief, he might be able to lead them well and considered accepting Min-Ji''s suggestion. But Min-Ji¡¯s suggestion was out of his expectations.


    ¡°I would like to suggest Supervisor Lee Do-Jun,¡± she said confidently.


    ¡°Hold on... Lee Do-Jun?¡±


    Why on earth would the name of a civil servant from Seoul City Hall¡¯s Fissure Management Division come up here?


    Min-Hyuk looked at Min-Ji in confusion and asked, ¡°You¡¯re messing with me, right?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m serious.¡±


    ¡°Do you think people will accept this?¡±


    ¡°No, they won¡¯t. That¡¯s why I need you to agree with me. Just say it¡¯s the chief¡¯s direct orders.¡±


    ¡°Why are you trying so hard to appoint Lee Do-Jun as commander-in-chief? And did he even agree to this? Do you think what you¡¯re saying makes any sense right now?¡± Min-Hyuk growled in a low voice, and it was a fair reaction.


    But Min-Ji did not back down. ¡°He¡¯ll be here soon.¡±


    ¡°Min-Ji, what¡¯s wrong with you today?! My head is already...¡± Min-Hyuk couldn¡¯t finish his sentence as he spotted Do-Jun walking toward them from a distance.


    He strolled through the Hunters and stopped in front of Min-Ji. Min-Hyuk frowned deeply as he scanned Do-Jun¡¯s attire.


    He wore a suit, no different from a typical office worker¡¯s outfit. A civil servant ID was hanging around his neck. He wore dress shoes and held a briefcase in one hand.


    Min-Hyuk let out a dry laugh. But Min-Ji approached Do-Jun with a smile and extended her hand.


    ¡°Thank you for making the time for us, Supervisor Lee.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± Do-Jun responded curtly.


    Min-Hyuk looked at him disapprovingly but still extended his hand for a handshake¡ªthough reluctantly.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Hunter Min-Hyuk,¡± Do-Jun said as he shook hands.


    ¡°Let me ask you one thing...¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Did you really come here to take on the role of commander-in-chief?¡± Min-Hyuk asked, his eyes filled with murderous intent.


    Any normal person would immediately back down and wet themselves.


    Do-Jun smirked, shrugged, and said, ¡°If you don¡¯t need me, I¡¯ll just return to Seoul City Hall.¡±


    ¡°Senior!¡± Min-Ji grabbed Min-Hyuk¡¯s arm.


    She had a strong gut feeling that if Do-Jun really returned to Seoul City Hall like this, the S-rank Great Fissure raid operation in Umyeonsan Mountain would end in failure.


    ¡°When are you planning to enter the Fissure?¡± Do-Jun asked.


    ¡°We will enter as soon as the chief gives the order. We need to get inside before a Breakout occurs, so say within the next hour and a half.¡±


    Listening to Min-Ji¡¯s explanation, Do-Jun looked up at the Fissure tearing more than sixty meters high through the sky.


    ***


    A short while later, all eleven operational team leaders gathered together, including Min-Hyuk and Min-Ji.


    Each of them wondered what a civil servant was doing at an S-rank Great Fissure as they looked at Do-Jun¡¯s work ID hanging around his neck.


    But the question didn¡¯t last long.


    ¡°This is Supervisor Lee Do-Jun from the Seoul City Hall Fissure Management Division, who will be directing today¡¯s operation,¡± Min-Ji introduced Do-Jun to the team leaders.


    Everyone looked like they had just bitten into something sour. The person to fill the void left by the absence of the Sword Emperor, Kang-Hyun, was a mere civil servant!?


    Moreover, the Fissure in front of them was an S-rank Fissure with the highest wave frequency since the Masalis incident.


    ¡°Are you kidding me right now?¡± Kwak Young-Ho, the leader of Team 5, shouted.


    Min-Ji spoke up at this very expected reaction. ¡°This is a direct order from Chief Jung Young-Chul.¡±


    ¡°W-what did you say? From the chief?¡±


    Min-Hyuk couldn¡¯t understand why Min-Ji would go so far as to lie to appoint Do-Jun as the commander. He had known Min-Ji for years and always thought of her as rational and calculating, but now that impression seemed to be crumbling.


    The die is already cast, Min-Hyuk thought dejectedly.


    Swallowing hard, he said, ¡°It¡¯s true.¡±


    Upon the confirmation from both Min-Ji and Min-Hyuk, Kwak Young-Ho shouted in disbelief, ¡°Why on earth would Chief make such a crazy decision?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d like to know that myself. Why...¡± Min-Hyuk turned his head to look at Min-Ji. ¡°Why would he give such an order?¡±


    ***


    ¡°Here you go, Supervisor Lee.¡± Min-Ji handed the radio she was holding to Do-Jun, who then put it away into his briefcase.


    Once inside the Fissure, communication with the outside would be cut off.


    All they could do was transmit footage to the Hunter Bureau¡¯s control room via an emergency cam and use a specially designed radio to communicate with other operational teams within the Fissure.


    Maybe I should take a look inside first.


    Do-Jun turned his head to look at the Fissure.


    ***


    The inside of the S-rank Great Fissure that appeared on Umyeonsan Mountain was desolate beyond belief. It was an endless expanse stretched out without a single weed in sight.


    So this is what an S-rank Fissure looks like... Do-Jun thought while looking around.


    Monsters were scattered everywhere, starting from a point one kilometer away from the Fissure¡¯s exit.


    However, though the Fissure was S-rank, the monster ranks weren¡¯t restricted to just that. Other monsters like the B-rank trolls, A-rank ogres, and even some bizarre creatures that Do-Jun had never seen before were seen in the Fissure.


    Do-Jun pushed off the ground and landed among the monsters in an instant. A goblin began to approach him, but this one had dark skin, unlike the usual green-skinned goblins.


    Do-Jun moved closer to the goblin, and its body started to swell. Before long, it exploded with a loud boom.


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    The ground around Do-Jun got scorched. The power of the explosion was enough to instantly kill and be fatal for anyone standing in its vicinity other than him. Fortunately, the blast radius wasn¡¯t wide.


    Do-Jun took out the SpacePad from his briefcase and searched for information about the monster. However, there was no registered information on the dark-skinned goblin. Other Hunters likely knew nothing about this goblin either.


    I need to take it down from a distance.


    Kroar!


    An ogre charged at him, but Do-Jun didn¡¯t try to evade it. Just as the ogre¡¯s fist was about to slam down on him, a sound was heard, and the ogre¡¯s belly caved in. It was sent flying dozens of meters back.


    Do-Jun unclenched his fist and moved forward.


    Ogres are nothing special.


    Crash!


    Suddenly, lightning struck from the sky and hit Do-Jun directly. He lifted his head to check the sky, but there wasn¡¯t a cloud in sight.


    Upon looking down, he noticed that the spot he was standing on had turned yellow. Do-Jun lifted his foot, then stepped on the yellow-tinted ground again.


    Crash!


    Once more, lightning struck Do-Jun.


    Ah, I guess I shouldn¡¯t step on that... huh?


    In the distance, a gigantic creature that looked strikingly similar to a human appeared. It was a one-eyed giant with a protruding belly, holding a wooden club.


    In terms of power, it¡¯s a bit weaker than the Monarch Ogre...


    There were three of them, each nearly twenty meters tall. The problem was that they were all grouped together.


    Do-Jun decided it would be difficult to take down all three simultaneously and resolved to separate them.


    With a running start, he leaped between the giants. He then performed a roundhouse kick in mid-air. The giant struck directly by Do-Jun¡¯s kick was sent flying about a kilometer and a half to the east.


    ¡°Human, kill.¡±


    ¡°Human, dangerous, eliminate.¡±


    The two remaining giants raised their clubs as they looked down at Do-Jun. The clubs came down rapidly, but the result was unexpected.


    ¡°M-my... club...¡±


    The massive wooden club split along its grain.


    Do-Jun punched the now-unarmed giant, and the giant was hurled to the west with a loud crash.


    The last remaining giant stared blankly at Do-Jun with its lone eye.


    Do-Jun searched the SpacePad¡¯s monster encyclopedia and confirmed that there was no information about these giants either. He glanced at the remaining giant briefly, then pushed off the ground and flew forward.


    ***


    ¡°Chief.¡±


    In the Hunter¡¯s Bureau Situation Room, an analyst reading data transmitted from the monitors called out to Young-Chul.


    Young-Chul stood up and walked over to the analyst.


    ¡°Is there a problem?¡± he asked.


    ¡°No, not exactly... It¡¯s just that the Fissure wave readings are gradually decreasing, albeit slowly. As a result, the breakout time has been extended from the expected 19:00 to 19:15.¡±


    In this case, there were two possibilities: the first was that the Fissure itself was dissipating, and the second was that the number of monsters inside it was decreasing.


    However, in the first scenario, the wave readings would typically drop sharply.


    ¡°Could it be...?¡±


    Young-Chul quickly contacted Min-Hyuk.


    ¡ªYes, sir.


    ¡°You¡¯re picking up the phone, so I guess you haven¡¯t entered the Fissure yet.¡±


    ¡ªWe¡¯re on standby until we get the signal to enter. Is there something wrong?


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. And if you don¡¯t hear from me, proceed with the entry in thirty minutes. Once inside the Fissure, tell the team leaders to keep all emergency cams on.¡±


    ¡ªUh... sir, the commander-in-chief right now is...


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    There was a brief silence.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s nothing. We¡¯ll proceed with the entry in thirty minutes, as you instructed.


    ***


    After ending the call with the chief, Min-Hyuk spoke to Min-Ji. ¡°Operation deployment in thirty minutes.¡±


    ¡°Yes, understood.¡±


    ¡°But where on earth did Lee Do-Jun go? Still no contact?¡±


    He had been missing for over an hour.


    Min-Ji nodded cautiously, and Min-Hyuk clicked his tongue in frustration. ¡°So, he finally came to his senses. That guy must have run away.¡±


    ¡°Supervisor Lee isn¡¯t like that. If he were going to run away, he wouldn¡¯t have come in the first place,¡± Min-Ji defended Do-Jun in his stead. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Are you serious? He¡¯s been missing for an hour, and we can¡¯t even reach him.¡±


    Min-Hyuk decided to inform the operational team leaders that the deployment would be in thirty minutes. But at that moment, a familiar voice came from behind.


    ¡°Thank you for worrying about me, but I didn¡¯t run away.¡±


    Min-Hyuk quickly turned around and found Do-Jun standing there, smiling brightly.


    I... couldn¡¯t sense his presence?

 Chapter 36

    Chapter 36


    Min-Hyuk was a veteran with eight years of experience and was ranked seventh among all professional Hunters.


    Even if he wasn¡¯t inside a Fissure, he was always on high alert for survival.


    Did I really not notice him? he questioned himself, shocked.


    It seemed unlikely, but if that was the case and Do-Jun had been a PK, he could have been killed instantly in that very spot. Min-Hyuk looked at Do-Jun with an expression of disbelief.


    ¡°Is there any change in the Fissure entry time?¡± Do-Jun asked.


    ¡°We have been ordered to enter in thirty minutes.¡±


    ¡°Thirty minutes should be enough. I need to brief you all before we head inside. Can you gather all the Hunters?¡±


    With that, Do-Jun walked toward the entrance of the Fissure.


    ***


    With the sun having set, Umyeonsan Mountain was dark enough that one couldn¡¯t see an inch ahead of them.


    But one spot was an exception¡ªthanks to the skill called Light, which illuminated the surroundings, the gathering area was bright.


    ¡°You¡¯re telling me that person is the commander-in-chief...?¡±


    ¡°Have the higher-ups gone mad?¡±


    ¡°Apparently, it was Chief¡¯s direct fucking order. Fuck.¡±


    Eleven operational teams had lined up with a three-meter gap between each, their leaders standing at the front of their respective teams.


    Do-Jun stood alone on the opposite side, scanning the Hunters.


    After taking a deep breath, he said, ¡°Attention, everyone.¡±


    In the desolate mountain, Do-Jun¡¯s voice echoed in the Hunters¡¯ ears amidst the occasional sound of the eerie wind.


    But it wasn¡¯t like he particularly shouted or raised his voice. In fact, his tone was no different from what he used in everyday speech¡ªnothing more, nothing less.


    But why was it that, with just one word telling them to pay attention, all the gathered Hunters felt overwhelmed?


    It didn¡¯t seem like he was using any skill.


    It was instinct, a defense mechanism that automatically activated when facing a formidable presence.


    W-what is this feeling? Kwak Young-Ho, the leader of Team 5, felt a cold sweat forming on his forehead and then noticed that his passive skill, Shout to Survive, had been activated.


    It was a B-rank skill that reduced incoming damage by 20% when the user sensed a crisis.


    ¡°Thank you for your attention. I will now briefly go over the operation plan. I will hand out some materials, so please listen while you review them. Team leaders, please take copies according to the number of your team members.¡±


    The eleven team leaders stepped forward and took the materials.


    ¡°What I¡¯ve just handed out is the map of the Fissure¡¯s interior,¡± Do-Jun continued.


    At those words, everyone was taken aback, not out of surprise but utter disbelief.


    The team leaders quickly skimmed through the materials while Do-Jun looked at the screen of his SpacePad and began to speak.


    ¡°The operation area is divided into nine zones in total, labeled A-1 to A-9. Upon entering the Fissure, we will step into Zone A-8, as marked on the map. We will then clear the monsters in Zones A-7 and A-9 simultaneously and advance upward. Are there any questions up to this point?¡±


    At that moment, a Hunter from Team 7 raised a hand.


    ¡°Go ahead,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°Is there any proof that this is an actual map of the Fissure?¡± Team 7 Leader asked the question Do-Jun had expected.


    Do-Jun shook his head and answered, ¡°Even if there were proof, you probably wouldn¡¯t believe it. Are there any other questions?¡±


    This time, Min-Hyuk spoke up. ¡°Supervisor Lee Do-Jun, you need to answer that question accurately. Where did this map come from, and what proof do you have that it is the map of the S-rank Great Fissure we are about to enter? Whether we believe it or not is for us to decide.¡± He glared at Do-Jun.


    The Hunters waited for his response.


    ¡°Civil servants in the Fissure Management Division have access to an application called the Fissure Management System. This app allows access to information on registered Fissures. The information about the S-rank Great Fissure in Umyeonsan Mountain is also stored on this SpacePad I¡¯m holding.¡±


    There wasn¡¯t a single Hunter here who didn¡¯t know about the Fissure Management System used by the Fissure Management Division to document and manage Fissures below the B-rank, which was then posted on the Seoul City Hall website.


    But information on an S-rank Great Fissure? Not only did Seoul City Hall lack the authority, but the Fissure in Umyeonsan Mountain had appeared less than a day ago. Under such circumstances, Do-Jun¡¯s words lacked credibility.


    ¡°Do you really think we can believe that?¡± a Hunter shouted, to which Do-Jun replied, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Everyone looked stunned by the brief answer without any supporting evidence. They were at a loss for words.


    ¡°I understand that you are all anxious. I know this S-rank Great Fissure, with a reading of over 2,000, is the highest measured Fissure since the Masalis incident three years ago. But your commander-in-chief is a mere civil servant, and the map he just handed out, claiming to be of the Fissure, is just a piece of paper.


    ¡°You must feel reluctant to entrust your lives to this uncertain map. I¡¯m also sure that no one here is confident that this operation will succeed. In fact, some of you may have already concluded that we will be wiped out,¡± Do-Jun said as he glanced at the massive violet Fissure behind him.


    He scanned the faces of the hundred-plus people watching him, every single one of their eyes filled with anxiety.


    And he looked at the city lights visible behind them. If this operation failed, Seoul would be decimated.


    But obviously, that wouldn¡¯t happen.


    ¡°Despite this, for the sake of victory, you must put your trust in me.¡± Do-Jun infused his words with internal energy, giving them weight.


    Perhaps because of that, the moment he spoke, people felt goosebumps and shivered involuntarily.


    Continuing with that momentum, Do-Jun said, ¡°And the more trust you place in me, the more I will secure victory.¡±


    He checked his watch. There were fifteen minutes left until the Fissure entry. He needed to finish speaking and start the briefing as soon as possible.


    Clicking his tongue internally, Do-Jun declared, ¡°I can guarantee everyone¡¯s survival.¡±


    ***


    As soon as the eleven operational teams entered the Fissure, the Hunters¡¯ eyes widened upon seeing the desolate expanse stretched endlessly before them.


    ¡°Huh...¡± Min-Hyuk alternated glances between the map in his hand and Do-Jun.


    He couldn¡¯t be completely sure yet since they were just at the entrance, but the terrain up to the points visible to the naked eye matched the map exactly.


    ¡°As mentioned earlier, Team Alpha, composed of Teams 1 through 5, will take Zone A-7, and Team Beta, composed of Teams 6 through 10, will take Zone A-9. Team 11, which is responsible for supplying materials, will follow Team Alpha. Also, report immediately if anything happens,¡± Do-Jun instructed everyone.


    Zone A-7 was home to ogres, while Zone A-9 had trolls.


    Team Alpha, with more A-rank Hunters than Team Beta, was assigned to deal with the ogres, and Team Beta would handle the trolls.


    ¡°Let¡¯s move out.¡±


    With that, Min-Hyuk ran toward Zone A-7, followed by Team Alpha.


    Meanwhile, Team Beta leader Kwak Young-Ho glared at Do-Jun and muttered under his breath, ¡°Don¡¯t screw up.¡±


    He then ran off to Zone A-9, followed by Team Beta.


    Min-Ji then approached Do-Jun. ¡°I¡¯m heading out too, Supervisor Lee.¡±


    ¡°Alright, be careful.¡±


    ¡°Supervisor Lee.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Min-Ji expressed her gratitude with a bow before running off toward Zone A-9.


    Left alone, Do-Jun raised his head and gazed toward the end of the Fissure, where he found a creature standing alone.


    ***


    The large screen in the Hunter¡¯s Bureau Situation Room was transmitting footage from eleven different feeds.


    The screens showed the footage sent from the emergency cams of the team leaders who had entered the S-rank Great Fissure at Umyeonsan Mountain.


    The eleven teams had split into two groups, each focusing on hunting ogres and trolls. Young-Chul watched the screens and sighed with relief as ogres were semi-A-rank monsters, and trolls were B-rank.


    The teams gathered now consisted of the cream of the crop Hunters of the Bureau, who should be able to deal with trolls with ease. While the ogres might pose a bit more of a challenge, the footage showed them being handled smoothly.


    But the person who I just saw on the screen...


    It was a familiar face. Young-Chul searched his memory and realized that it was Lee Do-Jun, a civil servant from Seoul City Hall, whom he had met at the National Hunter Academy admission ceremony.


    But...


    He recalled the moment when the Hunters entered the Fissure.


    When Do-Jun pointed west with his finger and mumbled something, the Hunters moved in perfect coordination.


    However, since the emergency cams couldn¡¯t capture sound, he had no way of knowing what was said.


    I can¡¯t figure out what¡¯s going on here.


    ***


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    As the sword fell, the ogre¡¯s head flew right off.


    Min-Hyuk withdrew the mana infused in his sword, then took a thumb-sized stick from his bandolier and placed it in between his lips.


    Ssssss.


    Mana Smoke, a type of mana potion made using mana stones, was an artifact that instantly replenished mana in the body.


    Kwaaaaaaa!


    Sword Aura, the pinnacle technique of using Infusion to infuse mana into a blade, showed itself as blue energy busting from Min-Hyuk¡¯s sword.


    The instant he pushed off the ground toward two ogres, Min-Hyuk¡¯s figure vanished, and the ogres were sliced clean in half.


    It was Super Speed, an S-rank skill that greatly enhanced movement speed and attack power. It was also the very skill that made Min-Hyuk the seventh-ranked S-rank Hunter.


    ¡°That¡¯s Min-Hyuk for you,¡± said Lee Jin-Goo, the eighth-ranked S-rank Hunter and leader of Team 3.


    Min-Hyuk turned around to see him and asked, ¡°Is everything wrapped up now?¡±


    ¡°Seems like it.¡±


    Looking around, the ground was littered with ogre corpses. Team Alpha had taken down a total of eighty-seven ogres, which was essentially equivalent to an entire A-rank Fissure.


    Min-Hyuk picked up his radio and pressed the button.


    Crackle.


    ¡°This is Team Alpha. Zone A-7 is clear.¡±


    ¡ªGood work. Any injuries?


    Do-Jun¡¯s voice came through the radio.


    ¡°None.¡±


    ¡ªThat¡¯s good to hear. Please return to Zone A-8.


    ¡°Understood...¡±


    Listening to the radio, Lee Jin-Goo clicked his tongue.


    ¡°If I were the chief, I would have made you the commander-in-chief. Honestly, you¡¯re the only one who could replace the Sword Emperor. Things are going smoothly now, but... who knows what¡¯ll happen later?¡± he said with a clear tone of complaint.


    The operational teams here had always been under the control of the Sword Emperor, who led the operations from the front with overwhelming force.


    And the Hunters, who felt awe for such a commander, followed his orders.


    ¡°A leader who fights alongside his men versus one who just gives orders from behind. I honestly prefer the former, and I bet others feel the same way.¡± Min-Hyuk agreed with that sentiment.


    But it was too late to turn back now.


    Min-Hyuk looked at the emergency cam hanging around his neck.


    Bureau Chief Young-Chul would be watching everything right now, and Min-Ji would also know this fact.


    We¡¯ll find out whether your choice was right or not soon enough, he thought.

 Chapter 37

    Chapter 37


    The operational teams lined up while watching Do-Jun. They still seemed relatively energetic with no signs of fatigue, and even the supplies prepared for the Fissure raid appeared almost untouched.


    So this is what makes them elites, Do-Jun thought.


    Only a small number of ordinary people underwent Awakening or physical enhancement to become Hunters. From that small sample, the members of the operational teams were those who the Hunter¡¯s Bureau had carefully selected.


    With a large number of A-rank Hunters and most of their leader being S-rank, it seemed that ogres and trolls posed no threat to them at all.


    ¡°Before we advance, I have some information to share,¡± Do-Jun said.


    Do-Jun tapped on his SpacePad a few times, then turned the screen toward the group to show them a picture of a goblin with black skin.


    ¡°As we move forward, we¡¯ll encounter these Suicide Goblins. As the name suggests, they self-destruct, and their damage is significant. Even if you¡¯re wearing a suit, a direct hit could be fatal, so be cautious. The good news is that they don¡¯t initiate attacks. When you spot a Suicide Goblin, engage from at least ten meters away with ranged attacks.¡±


    Generally speaking, goblins were like ants to Hunters. Even though they were numerous, they were so weak that even a light tap could kill them, making them ideal monsters for beginner Hunters.


    However, the goblins appearing in an S-rank Great Fissure would be far from ordinary.


    ¡°Additionally...¡±


    Do-Jun swiped to display another picture.


    ¡°The yellow-marked ground you see here is a Lightning Trap. If you step on it, lightning will strike from the sky, and similar to the Suicide Goblins, getting hit by it is likely fatal. Therefore, each team should maintain about a thirty-meter distance while keeping vigilant as you move.¡±


    A brief silence followed.


    The Hunters, although unsure, were not dismissive of Do-Jun¡¯s words. After all, everything Do-Jun had said so far had been accurate.


    ¡°And four kilometers ahead in Zone A-5...¡±


    He swiped the screen again, this time showing a large monster with a protruding belly. It had a single eye on its face and grotesque tusks sticking out.


    ¡°It¡¯s a Cyclops. It¡¯s S-rank and has strong attack power but is slow, so it¡¯s not too tricky. However, consider any hit as fatal. Does anyone here have a binding skill?¡±


    That¡¯s when Park Dong-Cheol, the leader of Team 11, raised his hand.


    ¡°It¡¯s not a skill, but I have an equipment called a Mesh Gun that can serve a similar function. I¡¯m not sure if it will work on the Cyclops you¡¯ve mentioned, Commander, but at the very least, it should immobilize it temporarily.¡±


    ¡°May I take a look?¡± Do-Jun asked as he stroked his chin.


    Park Dong-Cheol pulled a gun from a supply crate nearby. Its basic shape resembled a shotgun, but the ammo compartment was large and round.


    He walked over to Do-Jun and handed over the mesh gun extremely politely, which seemed to surprise his team members quite a bit, and understandably so. Although Park Dong-Cheol wasn¡¯t an S-rank, he was one of the best among the A-rank Hunters.


    It was unexpected to see him, whom even politicians would tread carefully around, show such deference to a mere civil servant.


    ¡°Hey, I know he¡¯s technically the commander-in-chief, but...¡± one of the team members whispered to another.


    But Park Dong-Cheol ignored them and simply stood at attention in front of Do-Jun.


    Do-Jun took the mesh gun and examined it closely, feeling the mana intertwined within the ammo compartment.


    ¡°This should be able to keep them bound for about five seconds. Is it single use?¡± Do-Jun asked Park Dong-Cheol.


    ¡°Yes, it is.¡±


    ¡°How many do you have?¡±


    ¡°We have a total of six.¡±


    Do-Jun nodded and handed back the mesh gun. Park Dong-Cheol bowed his head slightly and returned to his position.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get moving.¡±


    ***


    For the past twenty minutes, the Hunters had been walking slowly with thirty meters between each team, just as Do-Jun instructed.


    However, the Suicide Goblins and Lightning Traps he had mentioned were nowhere to be seen. But just as some were starting to doubt whether Do-Jun¡¯s warnings were lies, they heard a sound.


    ¡°Kerrrk.¡±


    Fifty meters ahead, a black-skinned goblin appeared between a pile of rocks.


    Min-Hyuk glanced at Do-Jun, then he aimed his mana gun at the goblin and fired. The bullet from the mana gun pierced the goblin¡¯s head.


    The goblin¡¯s body swelled up momentarily and then exploded. Moreover, as Do-Jun had described, its power was significant.


    ¡°I-it really exploded.¡±


    Soon after, the Lightning Trap also came into view. Unlike the rest of the Fissure they had seen so far, the ground was marked with a yellow stain. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    One of the Hunters gulped and tossed a stone onto that spot.


    Crash!


    Lightning flashed, striking down from the sky.


    The Hunters widened their eyes, focusing their gaze on Do-Jun. None of them tried to add any explanations to this phenomenon, as there was one sure thing.


    The Hunters unfolded a map that was divided into nine zones, each containing details of the terrain and dangerous monsters.


    ¡°This map is the real deal.¡±


    ***


    In Zone A-5, the raid team spotted a Cyclops walking two hundred meters ahead.


    With its thick hide, the Cyclops was nearly impervious to damage from mana guns. In the world of Hunters, when using the same mana, offensive power was inherently stronger with Infusion than with Release, necessitating a direct attack.


    Finally, when the one-eyed giant was within thirty meters, a Hunter from Team 11, holding a mesh gun, pulled the trigger.


    Bang!


    The moment the bullet was fired, there was an explosive sound from the orb attached to Min-Ji¡¯s heel. She soared over forty meters into the air, flying toward the Cyclops¡¯ shoulder.


    ¡°Min-Ji!¡± Min-Hyuk shouted in shock.


    Their opponent was an S-rank monster. They needed to be cautious when engaging.


    However, Min-Ji charged directly at the Cyclops the moment the mesh gun fired without checking if it had bound the creature.


    She did not doubt that the gun would restrain the monster. As Han Min-Ji flew toward the giant¡¯s shoulder, she recalled Do-Jun¡¯s words.


    ¡°This should be able to keep them bound for about five seconds.¡±


    The moment she saw the orb-shaped mana projectile from the mesh gun hit the giant¡¯s leg, she started counting silently.


    One.


    With a thud, a sharp-edged blade embedded itself in the giant¡¯s shoulder, and mana began to flow like threads from the blade. Min-Ji then pulled out a Mana Smoke from her bandolier and put it in between her lips.


    Two.


    She jumped off the shoulder with both her hands gripping the blade while Sword Aura formed on the blade simultaneously.


    Three.


    The blade imbued with Sword Aura, began to cut through the Cyclops¡¯ body.


    Four.


    Min-Ji inhaled the Mana Smoke once more and swung the blade wide, a blue flash drawing a crescent shape.


    It was an A-rank skill, Moon Slash.


    Kaaaargh!


    The Cyclops screeched in immense pain as its right arm was severed.


    Min-Hyuk¡¯s eyes widened as he watched Min-Ji land on the ground. ¡°You...¡±


    Min-Ji spat out the used Mana Smoke she had been biting and quickly bit down on a new one.


    Bang!


    Without a moment¡¯s rest, the muzzle of the mesh gun flashed again, and at the same time, Min-Ji lunged toward the Cyclops once more, and Min-Hyuk, who had been watching, followed her lead, charging toward the giant¡¯s feet.


    ***


    Young-Chul ran his hand through his hair as he watched the screens transmitting live footage, then put out his cigarette on his ashtray.


    I had my doubts, but...


    An unexpected S-rank Great Fissure had occurred, and with the absence of Sword Emperor Lee Kang-Hyun, the position of commander-in-chief was delegated to Min-Hyuk.


    But judging by the scenes on the screen, anyone could see that the real commander was Do-Jun.


    But despite that...


    Things were going smoothly.


    The average survival rate inside an S-rank Great Fissure is sixty-eight percent.


    Unlike A or B-rank Great Fissures, S-rank Fissures required immediate raiding without any prior information because monsters would start pouring out onto Earth approximately twelve hours after the Fissure appeared.


    Usually, within two hours of starting an S-rank Great Fissure raid operation, at least twenty percent of the team was dead.


    But even at a glance, there seemed to be no casualties.


    Young-Chul gulped as he thought, If they can keep this up....


    The ashtray was already overflowing with cigarette butts, but Young-Chul immediately pulled out another one and lit it.


    But suddenly, an employee watching the computer monitor swiveled their chair to face Young-Chul, urgently shouting, ¡°C-chief!¡±


    ***


    Munch, munch.


    Izaas, or now Yong-Yong, was devouring the braised chicken in a dog bowl as if inhaling it, thinking it was a divine dish that was right up there with braised short ribs.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you eating? It¡¯s so good,¡± he asked Yoon-Hee, who sat across from him, staring blankly at a bowl of white rice that was now cold and no longer steaming.


    Yong-Yong could tell what she was thinking.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think Master will be coming home today. Can I eat that?¡±


    At those words, Yoon-Hee frowned and snatched Yong-Yong¡¯s bowl away.


    ¡°N-no, I was joking! Seriously. Don¡¯t worry. Master is invincible. He¡¯s the very human who defeated the great Izaas!¡±


    Yoon-Hee sighed, even though she had done that so many times that she lost count.


    ¡°Do you really think so...?¡±


    ¡°Y-yes, really! I mean, you were there too, right? You saw that crazy bast... no, Master¡¯s power, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    Yong-Yong shivered as he remembered being disciplined by Do-Jun. Yoon-Hee returned the bowl she had taken. Just as Yong-Yong was about to bring his mouth to the bowl with a broad smile, an earthquake struck, shaking the whole house.


    The plates on the dining table fell to the floor, and Yong-Yong¡¯s bowl was no exception.


    Clang, clatter!


    The braised chicken, or what was left of it, fell to the floor.


    The intense shaking soon subsided, but Yong-Yong¡¯s mouth trembled, and its eyes welled up with tears.


    ¡°My... chicken...¡±


    ?Breaking news! A monster presumed to be a dragon has appeared in the Banpo-dong area of Seocho-gu. It bears similarities to the Dragon Masalis, which appeared three years ago. While the Hunter¡¯s Bureau is urgently organizing a raid team, most of their forces are already deployed at the Fissure at Umyeonsan Mountain...?


    Yong-Yong walked over to the TV with a blank expression and stared at the image of the monster displayed on the TV¡ªa dragon with a light brown hue all over. The number nine was visible on its forehead.


    ¡°That son of a...¡± Yong-Yong spread his tiny wings and breaking through the balcony window, he flew outside, shouting, ¡°You¡¯re finished!¡±


    ¡°Yong-Yong!¡±


    Yoon-Hee quickly put on her shoes and ran outside.

 Chapter 38

    Chapter 38


    An eighty-meter-tall Fissure suddenly appeared in front of the National Gugak Center on Nambu Beltway, Seocho-gu, Bangbae-dong. A giant dragon sat still in front of that Fissure without attacking the civilians.


    The urgently dispatched police and military were busy evacuating citizens.


    A police officer blew a whistle, directing traffic and guiding people to safety away from the dragon. Amidst the chaotic scene, filled with screams and shouts, a middle-aged man in a yellow civil defense uniform shouted, leading people to the underground shelters.


    ¡°This way! Hey, over there, don¡¯t push!¡±


    Cheol-Soo gritted his teeth as he looked up at the massive dragon with beige skin and was as tall as a skyscraper. The dragon stared blankly into the distance, expressionless, making Cheol-Soo almost wonder what it was thinking.


    Amidst all this chaos, one thing was sure.


    If it starts rampaging, we¡¯re all dead.


    Three years ago, when Masalis appeared, a single breath wiped out everything within its range. Even the elite S-rank Hunters who got caught in it were instantly killed. Recalling that incident, every second now felt like walking on thin ice.


    ¡°It¡¯s the Mejai Guild!¡±


    At those words, Cheol-Soo turned his head and spotted the three elite members of the Mejai Guild.


    The expressions of the military and government staff, who had been in despair, brightened slightly upon seeing the Hunters rated quite close to S-rank who were praised for defeating the boss monster in the A-rank Fissure Swamp of the Dark Ogre with just three people.


    Yoo Mi-Ra drew the Dark Elf¡¯s Longbow, an A-rank bow she had been carrying on her back. But just when she was about to pull the bowstring, Mejai Guild leader Dong-Hyun stopped her.


    ¡°That thing isn¡¯t moving.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why now¡¯s our chance. If I hit its weak spot in the eyes with a double shot, we can gain the upper hand. Once it loses its sight, it¡¯ll be easier to take down.¡±


    ¡°But attacking might just provoke it even more,¡± Dong-Hyun disagreed.


    What would happen if the dragon started a rampage after losing its vision? The situation could become even worse than the Masalis incident.


    ¡°So are you saying we¡¯re just going to stand here and watch?¡± Yoo Mi-Ra said in frustration.


    ¡°Well...¡±


    At that moment, a man in his early thirties approached them. ¡°You must hold back for now.¡±


    Yoo Mi-Ra quickly turned to see that it was Hyuk-Soo, a man in a civil defense uniform with a government ID around his neck.


    ¡°If that dragon starts rampaging like Hunter Han just said, this entire area will be decimated. There¡¯s a residential complex nearby, with an estimated population of over ten thousand citizens. I understand how you feel, Hunter Yoo, but attacking now would be a mis...¡± Hyuk-Soo trailed off.


    Grrr...


    The dragon, which had been still, furrowed its brow and growled softly. But it wasn¡¯t directed at the people.


    A small creature was flying toward the dragon from afar, headed straight for it without hesitation.


    ¡°That¡¯s...¡± Hyuk-Soo murmured.


    The creature was, without a doubt, the pet that Do-Jun had with him. It then grew in size as it approached the dragon, soon becoming more than twice the size of the beige dragon sitting in front of the Fissure.


    It was another dragon but with the number one engraved on its forehead.


    The newly arrived dragon spread its massive wings and charged at the beige dragon, dragging both into the Fissure.


    ¡°W-what was that?¡± Dong-Hyun stammered in shock.


    But the most surprised person was Hyuk-Soo.


    ¡°He¡¯s my new pet. He will be helping me from now on.¡±


    ¡°Yong-Yong!¡± Suddenly, a teenage girl appeared in Hyuk-Soo¡¯s line of sight.


    The girl, Yoon-Hee, saw Yong-Yong being sucked into the Fissure, and without hesitation, she ran toward it.


    ¡°H-hold on a second!¡± Hyuk-Soo shouted in panic, trying to stop her, but it was already too late.


    Yoon-Hee was already pulled into the Fissure.


    ***


    In a land of seething magma, two dragons faced each other. The beige dragon, Karsiel, trembled uncontrollably in disbelief.


    ¡°L-lord Izaas...¡±


    The first and the lord of all dragons. The leader of the beings that ruled over all other beings. He was supposed to be in eternal slumber, so why was the lord here standing before him?


    Izaas was the first to speak. ¡°You¡¯ve made two mistakes.¡±


    ¡°M-mistakes, you say...?¡±


    Karsiel couldn¡¯t move due to the overwhelming presence that was predetermined at birth. The sheer power, at least dozens of times greater than her own, paralyzed her body.


    ¡°The first mistake was leaving the nest without my permission.¡±


    Izaas¡¯s tail whipped across Karsiel¡¯s face. Unable to withstand the impact, Karsiel was sent flying hundreds of meters away.


    ¡°Come.¡±


    As Izaas¡¯ words reverberated throughout the Fissure, Karsiel quickly picked herself up and flew back to stand before him. Blood dripped from her cheek, but she didn¡¯t show any pain.


    ¡°Do you know what braised chicken is?¡± Izaas asked him.


    ¡°I cannot say that I do...¡±


    ¡°Of course you don¡¯t. But that¡¯s your second mistake.¡±


    ¡°So...rry...? What?¡±


    Thwack!


    Another tail strike landed, and this time, Karsiel was flung in the air and crashed into a boulder.


    But at that moment, a familiar voice was heard. ¡°Yong-Yong!¡±


    Izaas turned his head to look behind him. There stood Yoon-Hee.


    ¡°Why are you here...?¡±


    ¡°Because you just flew out without warning! Of course, I¡¯m going to follow!¡±


    ¡°T-true, but you shouldn¡¯t have come in here...¡±


    Right then, Karsiel flew back and stood in front of Izaas. When she saw Yoon-Hee standing behind Izaas, her murderous intent flared up.


    Yoon-Hee¡¯s face turned pale, and she stumbled backward from the dragon''s oppressive aura.


    ¡°What the hell do you think you¡¯re doing to my master¡¯s family? Do you really want to die?¡± Izaas shouted.


    Realizing her mistake, Karsiel hastily retracted her murderous intent.


    ¡°Y-your m-master...?¡±


    Izaas, the Lord of the Dragons, was known to have immense pride and unmatched power. But he was now calling someone his master.


    ¡°This is my master¡¯s daughter, the one who made the great braised chicken. And you dare threaten her? You¡¯re really asking for it. I¡¯ll show you what real pain is. You¡¯ll wish you were dead. But before that...¡± Izaas smirked. ¡°You gotta take five hits.¡±


    He was about to unleash on Karsiel what he suffered from Do-Jun.


    ***


    ¡°Straighten up.¡±


    Trembling incessantly, Karsiel looked up in agony at the now-small Izaas, who was sitting on her head, and asked, ¡°H-how long do I have to keep doing this?¡±


    ¡°Kekekeke. You say the exact same thing.¡±


    Feeling a twisted sense of pleasure from repaying the pain he had suffered at the hands of Do-Jun, Izaas laughed uproariously.


    ¡°Sigh...¡±


    Yoon-Hee watched them and let out a deep sigh. She had seen something like this on TV once. In the military, people who had been bullied by their seniors would treat their juniors the same way.


    ¡°You have no idea how much harder things were back in my day!¡± Yong-Yong said.


    ¡°D-does that mean you suffer through this too, Lord Izaas?¡±


    ¡°Enough with the unnecessary questions!¡± Yong-Yong smacked Karsiel¡¯s head with his tiny foreleg.


    ¡°How long are you going to keep this up?¡± Yoon-Hee asked, seemingly grown tired of watching.


    ¡°Chef, this brat hasn¡¯t tasted the bitterness of Hell-Joseon yet. We have to put her through this for at least another twelve hours...¡±


    ¡°Can we just go home? I can make the braised chicken again if needed.¡±


    At those words, Yong-Yong quickly hopped off Karsiel¡¯s head and ran to Yoon-Hee, panting like a dog.


    ¡°Lord Izaas...?¡± Karsiel said uncertainly.


    The dragon that once ruled over all as their lord now seemed no different from an ordinary pet.


    ¡°If you run away from the nest again, you¡¯re dead for real. You better close the Fissure up as soon as we leave, got it?¡± Yong-Yong scolded Karsiel.


    ¡°L-Lord Izaas!¡± Karsiel stared at him blankly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be too harsh! She looks sad,¡± Yoon-Hee said.


    ¡°Sad? That dragon needs more beatings to get her head on straight.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t she your friend?¡±


    ¡°Hah!¡± Yong-Yong scoffed as if Yoon-Hee had just told a big joke.


    Yoon-Hee approached the slumped-over Karsiel. ¡°Do you also have nowhere to go?¡±


    ¡°Sorry...?¡±


    ¡°Do you want to come to our house? Oh, but I¡¯ll have to ask my father first. I couldn¡¯t reach him on the phone...¡±


    At those words, Yong-Yong jumped up in shock. ¡°No! Absolutely not! What are we, a shelter for stray dragons?¡±


    That was the outward reason, but deep down, Yong-Yong had another concern.


    If that gal comes, there¡¯ll be less food for me!


    Yoon-Hee touched her lips, deep in thought.


    ¡°Can you shrink down like Yong-Yong?¡± she asked Karsiel.


    ¡°I can.¡±


    Swoosh.


    Just like that, the once massive Karsiel shrank down to a size similar to Yong-Yong¡¯s.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go to our house for now. But if my father says no, there¡¯s nothing I can do. Okay?¡±


    Yoon-Hee smiled as she patted Karsiel, whose eyes grew wide.


    She...she is an angel!


    ***


    Whoosh!


    Yoon-Hee stepped out from the Fissure. Seeing her, Hyuk-Soo quickly ran toward her but then quickly slammed on the brakes.


    ¡°W-what is...?¡±


    Following closely behind Yoon-Hee¡¯s heels were two small creatures. One was Yong-Yong, whom Hyuk-Soo knew, but the other was one he had never seen before.


    ¡°Ah, Mr. Kwon!¡± Yoon-Hee greeted him.


    ¡°Y-yoon-Hee, what are these...?¡±


    ¡°Oh, did you not see Yong-Yong last time?¡±


    Hyuk-Soo gulped and asked, ¡°Is he... a dragon?¡±


    Yoon-Hee nodded, assuming Hyuk-Soo already knew Yong-Yong¡¯s true identity. But that was a big mistake. Hyuk-Soo took a shocked step back.


    At that moment, Dong-Hyun and the members of the Mejai Guild approached, having confirmed that the Fissure had closed.


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re...¡± Dong-Hyun recalled the events from the morning when he saw Yoon-Hee.


    She was the girl who had been with the man claiming to be Lee Do-Jun, who was suspected to be Kim Hyun-Woo, at the Hunter Festival.


    Recognizing Dong-Hyun, Yoon-Hee bowed her head in slight surprise.


    Yoo Mi-Ra, standing next to him, looked down at the two small creatures following closely behind Yoon-Hee.


    ¡°What are these?¡± Yoo Mi-Ra asked.


    Caught off guard, Hyuk-Soo spoke quickly, ¡°Ah? Haha! These are pets, pets! Right, Yoon-Hee?¡±


    ¡°Huh? Well, yeah, I guess.¡± Yoon-Hee tilted her head, not understanding why Hyuk-Soo was so flustered.


    Yoo Mi-Ra squinted as she alternated her gaze between Yong-Yong and Karsiel.


    ¡°Wait...! Aren¡¯t these the dragons from earlier?¡±


    Everyone gasped at her words. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°W-what are you talking about?¡± Hyuk-Soo began stammering as he tried to explain.


    ¡°But they¡¯re the same color as the dragons from before. Their appearance is different, but look at the number! Earlier, the brown dragon had a nine on its forehead, right? And so does this one!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not true! There¡¯s no way these are dragons! Look at how cute they are!¡± Hyuk-Soo rebutted as he lifted Karsiel and held him out to Yoo Mi-Ra.


    ¡°They... are cute, but aren¡¯t these just those dragons shrunken down?¡±


    ¡°They are drag... hup!¡± As Yoon-Hee was about to confirm Yoo Mi-Ra¡¯s speculation, Hyuk-Soo quickly covered her mouth with his hand.


    If it was revealed that they were dragons, it would cause a huge upheaval in society.


    Hyuk-Soo whispered into Yoon-Hee¡¯s ear, ¡°If you reveal they¡¯re dragons, Do-Jun will get in big trouble.¡±


    Yoon-Hee nodded in understanding. She had thought that those around Do-Jun already knew Yong-Yong¡¯s identity, but if he had kept it a secret, as his daughter, she needed to cooperate.


    ¡°They may look like dragons, but they¡¯re not.¡±


    ¡°Are you lying...? This one looks just like the red dragon from earlier. Oh, and you went into the Fissure too! W-what happened?¡±


    At Yoo Mi-Ra¡¯s persistent questioning, Kwon Hyuk-Soo quickly stepped in and separated them.


    Then, he pretended to check his phone and said, ¡°Do-Jun says to come home quickly! Come on. Your father¡¯s worried, so you should go.¡±


    ¡°Oh...! Oh no! I¡¯m going to be in trouble. I have to get home fast. T-then, I¡¯ll be off.¡±


    Yoon-Hee hurriedly left, with Yong-Yong and Karsiel trailing behind her.


    Watching them go, Dong-Hyun rubbed his chin in thought.


    Kim Hyun-Woo is Lee Do-Jun, and those two little creatures are the dragons from earlier?


    He ruffled his hair roughly and sighed.


    I don¡¯t know what¡¯s what anymore.

 Chapter 39

    Chapter 39


    Hunter¡¯s Bureau Situation Room.


    Young-Chul sat in his chair, anxiously shaking his leg as he kept his eyes fixed on the screen.


    The S-rank Fissure extermination operation in Umyeonsan Mountain was progressing smoothly. However, the issue now was the appearance of a dragon in Bangbae-dong.


    Of all times... Young-Chul thought in frustration.


    Kang-Hyun was absent, and all the operational teams had been deployed inside the Fissure at Umyeonsan Mountain.


    According to his aide, the Mejai Guild, along with several A and B-rank Hunters, had been dispatched to the newly opened Fissure, but Young-Chul had no confidence that they would be able to take down the dragon.


    Four new feeds appeared on the large screen displaying eleven different feeds due to the dragon sighting in Bangbae-dong, bringing the total to fifteen screens.


    The four additional screens showed the area around the National Gugak Center on the Nambu Beltway, where the Hunters from the Mejai Guild had arrived.


    But what happened next made Young-Chul doubt his eyes.


    W-what is that!


    A red dragon that had suddenly appeared out of nowhere charged at the beige dragon that showed up in Bangbae-dong, and shortly after, both dragons disappeared into the Fissure.


    Bang!


    Young-Chul shot up from his seat and shouted, ¡°Rewind that footage now!¡±


    Following his orders, one of the staff members rewound the footage.


    They saw a tiny speck growing larger and transforming into a red dragon. When they zoomed in on the speck, the image was too pixelated to make out anything.


    The silver lining was that the situation in Bangbae-dong had calmed down after the two dragons flew into the Fissure.


    The ideal outcome would be for both of them to kill each other in there... Young-Chul thought.


    But how likely was that?


    Young-Chul bit his nails as he kept an eye on the operational teams under Do-Jun¡¯s command. After taking down three Cyclopes, the teams fought their way through several other monsters, which appeared to be S-rank and pressed forward.


    But then again...


    Three hours had passed since the operation began in the S-rank Fissure at Umyeonsan Mountain. As the Hunters ventured deeper inside, the A and B-rank monsters became scarcer and were seemingly replaced by more powerful S-rank monsters.


    Seeing the Hunters panting heavily, it was clear they were exhausted. However, their expressions were bright. Some were even smiling. It was a natural reaction, considering that not a single one of them had died.


    How is this even possible? Young-Chul wondered in amazement.


    Do-Jun was completely different from the Sword Emperor. Kang-Hyun would always fight alongside the Hunters at the front line, directing the situation as it unfolded. But in Do-Jun¡¯s case, he acted as if he already knew what would happen.


    It¡¯s almost astonishing.


    If watched closely, it seemed like Do-Jun knew what his opponent¡¯s next move would be. It almost looked like he was playing a game of chess, strategically deploying the Hunters into the battle like chess pieces.


    ¡°Chief! The Fissure in Bangbae-dong has disappeared,¡± one of the employees shouted.


    Young-Chul immediately turned his head to the screen displaying Bangbae-dong. Indeed, the Fissure had vanished, along with the dragons.


    Did both of them die after all?


    He tried to calm his racing heart.


    ¡°Any damage?¡± he asked the employee.


    ¡°Just some damage to the road, nothing else.¡±


    ¡°Understood...¡±


    Young-Chul leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh of relief. His expression hardened when he turned his gaze back to the Fissure at Umyeonsan Mountain.


    ***


    A long line was drawn on the ground, acting as a restrictive boundary.


    Beyond that boundary stood a muscular giant, easily over three hundred meters tall.


    Instead of hair, flames roared from the top of its head, fierce sparks flashed in its eyes, and as if that weren¡¯t enough, it held a spear as tall as itself.


    [Select who will challenge Malanuh the Titan.]


    [Only five challengers can enter the boss zone. No more will be allowed.]


    [Those who did not enter the boss zone will be removed from the Fissure.]


    [If the raid fails or Malanuh is not defeated within one hour, his legion will be unleashed.]


    The titan was an overwhelming presence. The operational teams gulped audibly. It had seen many boss monsters before, but none were this big.


    But there was one big problem.


    Only five?


    All except the chosen five would be forcibly ejected from the Fissure when they weren¡¯t sure if they could win, even if they all attacked simultaneously.


    One of the Hunters looked at the seven S-rank Hunters, thinking, Five of them need to go in.


    And that decision was up to the commander.


    Everyone¡¯s eyes turned to Do-Jun.


    With his eyes closed, Do-Jun took a deep breath and spoke, ¡°Before we start the selection, do any of the team leaders feel that they absolutely cannot enter beyond this line?¡±


    The team leaders glanced at each other. S-rank Hunters they may be, they were still human and feared death.


    But at that moment, Min-Ji raised her hand.


    Do-Jun nodded and said, ¡°Understood. So, other than Hunter Min-Ji, is there anyone else who can¡¯t go in¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m going to go in there no matter what. Supervisor Lee, please select me as one of the challengers,¡± Min-Ji interrupted him.


    Everyone was shocked by her words. Do-Jun looked at her with a hint of surprise, then chuckled.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid?¡± he asked Min-Ji.


    ¡°You¡¯ll be guiding us, won¡¯t you?¡±


    Watching this, Min-Hyuk frowned. It wasn¡¯t like he didn¡¯t acknowledge the significant contributions Do-Jun had made thus far. No one had died and Do-Jun had successfully led them to the boss monster. That much was undeniable.


    But wouldn¡¯t defeating Malanuh be the job of the S-rank Hunters?


    Once the five challengers were selected, Do-Jun would be ejected from the Fissure.


    ¡°I take it the rest of you are willing to go in, so I¡¯ll make the selections,¡± Do-Jun said.


    He pointed at the Hunters one by one, choosing Min-Hyuk, Kwak Young-Ho, and Lee Jin-Goo in that order.


    All of them were S-rank Hunters. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°That¡¯s it.¡±


    As soon as Do-Jun¡¯s selection was finished, Lee Jin-Goo clicked his tongue.


    ¡°Commander, you haven¡¯t chosen the last one...¡±


    But Lee Jin-Goo couldn¡¯t finish his comment as Do-Jun crossed the boundary, and what he said next stunned everyone into silence. ¡°That would be me.¡±


    ***


    [Challengers have been selected.]


    [All remaining personnel will be removed.]


    [In one minute, Malanuh will awaken from his seal.]


    [Challengers, prepare for battle.]


    Bang!


    Kwak Young-Ho slammed his shield on the ground in frustration. He had no choice but to enter as Do-Jun instructed, but this was just too much.


    ¡°What the hell are you thinking when we need as many S-rankers as possible!¡± Kwak Young-Ho growled as he glared at Do-Jun, who simply shrugged and smirked.


    ¡°No matter how I thought about it, I couldn¡¯t figure out a way,¡± Do-Jun said rather mysteriously.


    ¡°What...?¡±


    ¡°A way that five of you can beat that thing without me.¡±


    Before entering the Fissure with the Hunters, Do-Jun had scouted the entire Fissure for mapping purposes. At the far end, he had discovered the Titan Malanuh.


    Upon discovery, he immediately realized that the operational teams had no chance of defeating the titan on their own.


    [Malanuh is awakening from his seal.]


    Rumble, rumble, rumble...


    At that moment, Min-Ji glanced at the detector on her wrist and saw the pulse levels spike. The reading climbed rapidly, easily passing two thousand. Eventually, it stabilized at a number that was double that of Masalis.


    ¡°5,800...¡±


    The Hunters¡¯ faces twisted in fear.


    As Malanuh, the Titan, raised its spear high, the Hunters tried to scatter in a panic.


    [Malanuh¡¯s Authority is activated.]


    [Movement is restricted.]


    [Skills cannot be used.]


    Do-Jun clicked his tongue as he looked at the Hunters frozen in place.


    I guess they couldn¡¯t move, after all.


    Even Do-Jun acknowledged that S-rank Hunters were strong, but that strength only applied within the boundaries of what a Hunter was. Compared to Malanuh, their level was drastically inferior.


    Screeeeech!


    A deafening roar tore through the air as the titan¡¯s spear descended toward the ground.


    The Hunters squeezed their eyes shut, bracing for death.


    Kakakakakakakak!


    Min-Ji cautiously opened her eyes.


    ¡°S-supervisor Lee...?¡±


    Her lips trembled as she witnessed the unbelievable sight before her.


    It looked like the spear, which seemed about to shatter the earth along with them, had struck an invisible wall and completely stopped. It could not advance any further.


    Then, Do-Jun stepped forward, aimed his fingers at the spear¡¯s sharp tip, then flicked them.


    Boom!


    The spear shattered.


    [Malanuh¡¯s Authority has been lifted.]


    [Status ailments have been removed.]


    The other Hunters slowly opened their eyes, their pupils widening as they took in the scene.


    The colossal spear of Malanuh lay shattered with a thunderous crash.


    ¡°D-did you... how...?¡± Kwak Young-Ho muttered, staring at Do-Jun¡¯s back.


    Lee Jin-Goo gulped, eyes wide in disbelief. But the one most shocked was Min-Hyuk.


    ¡°Thank you for worrying about me, but I didn¡¯t run away.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t a coincidence! Min-Hyuk realized.


    The fact that he couldn¡¯t sense Do-Jun¡¯s presence before, the situation he had brushed off as mere chance, was all due to an overwhelming gap in skill.


    Do-Jun turned to look at the frozen Hunters staring at him with mouths agape. And as he noticed the emergency cams hanging around their necks, he sighed deeply.


    I shouldn¡¯t have said that.


    He regretted promising the guaranteed survival for every single Hunter present. If he could go back in time, he would retract that statement, but what was done was done.


    Do-Jun said, ¡°This will truly be the last time, Hunter Min-Ji.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me...?¡±


    With a rumble, the ground trembled, and as Do-Jun activated the Heavenly Demon Cultivation Art, a sword¡¯s shape briefly manifested from his body.


    One with the Blade.


    Black energy rose from his entire body like a mirage.


    Zzzzt!


    The Hunters felt as if their mana was flowing backward inside their bodies.


    Lee Jin-Goo collapsed on the spot, vomiting, and Min-Hyuk and Min-Ji also swayed, overcome by dizziness. Only Kwak Young-Ho managed to stay upright, using his shield as support.


    D-damn it... W-what the hell is this?!


    He tried to use a skill to regain his composure, but his mana was no longer cooperating as if it had become oil in the water that was his body.


    In his eight years as a Hunter, he had faced many situations, but never anything like this.


    Whoosh!


    Leaving a trail of afterimages, the dark aura swirling around Do-Jun flew toward Malanuh in a graceful arc.


    As it gathered, it formed a sword, which stopped just above Malanuh¡¯s head. The gathered energy then bloomed like petals, scattering in all directions and drifting down slowly.


    It was the eighth move of the Plum Blossom Swordsmanship: Blood Rain of Plum Blossoms.


    A moment later, blood sprayed from Malanuh¡¯s entire body, and then it collapsed.


    After confirming that the titan had fully collapsed, Do-Jun withdrew his internal energy.


    [You have successfully defeated Malanuh the Titan.]


    [Would you like to announce your achievement to the Core?]


    [Yes / No]


    Huh?


    He didn¡¯t know what it meant, but he had a feeling that choosing ¡°Yes¡± would bring unnecessary trouble.


    Do-Jun selected No.


    [You have cleared the Fissure.]


    [The Fissure will close in two hours. All challengers must exit within the time limit.]


    Do-Jun turned to the Hunters, smiled faintly, and said, ¡°Well done.¡±


    When he went home, a delicious dinner would be waiting for him.

 Chapter 40

    Chapter 40


    Chop, chop, chop.


    Yoon-Hee chopped the green onions with nimble hands, busily preparing to make a new batch of braised chicken before Do-Jun returned.


    Meanwhile, Karsiel was wide-eyed, looking around the rather small house that was just over sixty square meters. She cautiously approached Izaas¡ªno, Yong-Yong¡ªwho was lying on the sofa, giggling at the TV.


    ¡°Lord Izaas, is this really the new nest you spoke of...?¡± she asked.


    Yong-Yong ignored her question and continued watching the TV screen as his eyes grew wider.


    ?Here¡¯s the money. Just stay away from our Yoon-Sung.?


    ?M-mother.?


    ?Mother? Why are you calling me mother?! It looks like you tried to use my Yoon-Sung to turn your little life around, but I won¡¯t stand for it. I don¡¯t even want to talk to you anymore, so get out of this house now!?


    ¡°Why are these dramas always the same?¡± Yong-Yong grumbled but still didn¡¯t take his eyes off the TV for a single moment¡ªat least not until the doorbell rang.


    ¡°Master¡¯s home!¡±


    Yong-Yong hurriedly ran to the front door, and Yoon-Hee, who had been adding the chopped green onions to the pot, also stopped what she was doing and ran to the door.


    ¡°I¡¯m back,¡± Do-Jun said when Yoon-Hee flung the door open.


    ¡°Are you okay? You¡¯re not hurt anywhere, are you?¡± Yoon-Hee asked as she scanned Do-Jun up and down with worried eyes.


    Touched by her concern, Do-Jun patted her on the head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Thanks for worrying.¡±


    ¡°Huff, huff, welcome back, Master! You must be tired from working so hard!¡± Yong-Yong clung to Do-Jun, wagging his tail to show his brimming affection.


    Do-Jun confirmed that Yoon-Hee wasn¡¯t hurt and said to Yong-Yong, ¡°You must be buzzing now that you can live to see another day.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± As Yong-Yong slowly understood the meaning behind Do-Jun¡¯s words, his face turned pale, and his body trembled.


    Do-Jun ignored the frozen Yong-Yong and walked inside. The stiffened Yong-Yong quickly snapped out of his daze and scurried after Do-Jun.


    Do-Jun glanced at blankly staring Karsiel, and then at the shattered balcony window.


    ¡°Down,¡± he muttered in a voice as cold as ice.


    Sensing the danger, Yong-Yong immediately dropped to the ground and lay flat. Karsiel was shocked watching this scene.


    S-so this is the Master I¡¯ve heard so much about...!


    The Master of this ¡°nest,¡± the one served by the Dragon Lord Izaas.


    Karsiel quickly did the math in her head, and it didn¡¯t take long for her to come to a conclusion.


    With a thud, she also knelt before Do-Jun. ¡°My name is Karsiel, the ninth dragon!¡±


    Yoon-Hee cautiously approached and explained what had happened earlier.


    Out of nowhere, a dragon, Karsiel, appeared in Bangbae-dong, and Yong-Yong, who thought she was an enemy, broke the window and rushed out in a desperate attempt to protect her.


    It also turned out that Karsiel was just a pitiful dragon with nowhere to go, so she had temporarily taken her in.


    ¡°Is that true?¡± Do-Jun asked, to which Yong-Yong nodded vigorously.


    Although the story had some ¡°slight¡± embellishments, it wasn¡¯t entirely inaccurate.


    ¡°Um... So... Father,¡± Yoon-Hee mumbled as she clasped her hands together, fidgeting nervously.


    Do-Jun immediately understood what she was trying to say.


    Who knows what trouble could arise if we let her roam free outside?


    Dragons, by their very existence, incited immense fear in people. If Karsiel were to wander around outside, it would surely cause problems. Besides, Yoon-Hee clearly seemed to want to keep her.


    ¡°You said it was Karsiel, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that is correct.¡±


    ¡°Cool name. Nice to meet you, Karsiel.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Master.¡±


    With those words, Do-Jun took off his suit jacket, and Yoon-Hee quickly came over to take it.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower.¡±


    ¡°Sounds good. I¡¯ll keep working on dinner.¡±


    Do-Jun headed for a shower, and Yoon-Hee returned to the kitchen to finish the braised chicken.


    ¡°Hmm...?¡± Yong-Yong scratched his head with his paw, deep in thought. Then, he slowly walked to the kitchen, looking up at Yoon-Hee. ¡°Hey, umm.¡±


    Yoon-Hee smiled down at Yong-Yong and asked, ¡°Hm? What¡¯s wrong, Yong-Yong?¡±


    ¡°How come Karsiel didn¡¯t get a nickname?¡±


    ¡°Father said ¡°Karsiel¡± was a cool name. Did you not hear that?¡±


    Yoon-Hee hummed a little tune and went back to cooking.


    Yong-Yong tapped her leg with his paw to get her attention again.


    ¡°Mhm?¡±


    ¡°But... my name¡¯s cool too, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°It is cool! Yong-Yong!¡±


    ¡°N-no. My name is Izaas.¡±


    ¡°Sure, sure. Yong-Yong, go back to your show. I¡¯ll make you some good braised chicken soon.¡±


    With a forlorn look, Yong-Yong trudged back to the sofa with a sigh. Such was the fleeting nature of this particular dragon¡¯s life.


    ***


    The next day, Sunday.


    News outlets ran headlines on the fact that none of the members of the operational teams had died and all returned safely from the S-rank Great Fissure that had appeared in the Umyeonsan Mountain area, making it a hot topic on TV and the internet.


    However, the most intriguing detail was that the man who led the operational teams was a civil servant from Seoul City Hall.


    Although his identity was kept anonymous for privacy reasons, it was more of a formality, and those who knew quickly figured out that the commander-in-chief was Do-Jun.


    Do-Jun sighed and turned off his smartphone. He had already gotten dozens of calls from reporters from various newspapers and media outlets since the release of the news article.


    Some people even claimed to be acquaintances, though none were familiar to him.


    Yoon-Hee placed a cup of tea on the table and said, ¡°You¡¯ve become quite the celebrity, Father.¡±


    ¡°At least no one¡¯s come knocking on the door yet,¡± Do-Jun said, but perhaps he jinxed himself as the doorbell rang just then.


    ¡°Should I... see who it is?¡± Yoon-Hee asked, glancing at Do-Jun.


    ¡°Check who it is first, and don¡¯t open the door just yet. If it¡¯s someone you don¡¯t recognize, could you pretend like I¡¯m not here?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Father!¡± She jokingly saluted and headed toward the front door.


    She looked through the intercom and was startled to see who had rang the doorbell.


    ¡°The Chief of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau...?¡± Yoon-Hee muttered.


    Do-Jun hesitated for a moment, debating whether to let him in. Then he approached the two dragons lying on the couch, sound asleep.


    ¡°Up.¡±


    In an instant, Yong-Yong and Karsiel sprang to their feet as if they were never sleeping in the first place.


    ¡°Is it time for lunch, Master?¡± Yong-Yong¡¯s eyes sparkled with hope as he asked, but Do-Jun shook his head.


    ¡°An important guest is coming, so hide in my room.¡±


    ¡°Your wish is our command, Master!¡±


    A small smile crept onto Do-Jun¡¯s face as he patted their heads, and the two dragons scurried into his room and hid.


    Haven¡¯t heard that in a while, Do-Jun thought with a slight smirk.


    He briefly recalled his time in the Central Plains as he strode over to the front door. When he opened the door, he was met with Young-Chul and his assistant.


    Both bowed deeply, a full ninety degrees.


    ¡°How did you find my address?¡± Do-Jun asked.


    ¡°I apologize for the rudeness. I¡¯m aware it¡¯s an intrusion, but I did a bit of research in order to meet you, Supervisor Lee.¡±


    Do-Jun clicked his tongue with a tsk. After all, someone in the chief¡¯s position could easily access most personal information, and since he had already apologized, there was no point in pursuing the matter.


    ¡°Please, come in,¡± Do-Jun invited the two inside.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    A little while later, Yoon-Hee brought out tea and Young-Chul nodded in appreciation toward her.


    ¡°Thank you. It smells great.¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing. If I had known you were coming, I would have prepared some snacks or something...¡±


    To a Hunter Academy freshman like Yoon-Hee, Young-Chul was a god-like figure.


    Young-Chul knew that, but he never took it for granted. After all, he had heard that Yoon-Hee was none other than Do-Jun¡¯s daughter.


    ¡°First of all, I would like to deeply thank you for safely bringing our Hunters back. Without you, many of the Hunters in that Fissure would not have survived.¡±


    His statement was only half true. They would have all died, not just the majority of them. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But Do-Jun didn¡¯t say that out loud. Modesty was a virtue, after all.


    ¡°It was the Hunters who did most of the work, not me,¡± Do-Jun said humbly.


    ¡°Supervisor Lee, I watched the entire situation unfold in real-time through the emergency cams attached to the operational team leaders. The longer I watched, the more fascinated I was.¡±


    The Hunters had moved in perfect sync with Do-Jun¡¯s commands.


    Initially, they were reluctant to follow orders, but as time passed, Do-Jun¡¯s words became the law, and they followed him without question.


    ¡°You are too kind, Chief.¡±


    ¡°And about your...¡±


    ¡°Chief,¡± Do-Jun interrupted as he set down his teacup. ¡°Could we skip the formalities and get to the point?¡±


    He knew that the Chief wasn¡¯t here just to give compliments.


    ¡°If you say so, Supervisor Lee.¡±


    Young-Chul then handed over a list of F-rank Hunters, with the name Kim Hyun-Woo highlighted in yellow.


    ¡°I mentioned the emergency cams earlier, and...¡± Young-Chul¡¯s eyes gleamed as he continued, ¡°I also saw some of your actions during the boss fight.¡±


    Although the cam had cut out midway, preventing a full transmission of the footage, everything leading up to that point had been recorded. Young-Chul recalled the black energy emanating from Do-Jun¡¯s body.


    ¡°And a month ago. The Mejai Guild entered the A-rank Great Fissure, the Swamp of the Dark Ogre. In that Great Fissure was another Hunter, an F-ranker named Kim Hyun-Woo. I was also watching the footage sent from the emergency cams then as well.¡±


    Young-Chul swallowed and continued, ¡°The media reported that four S-rank Hunters defeated the boss monster, Malanuh, in that S-rank Great Fissure. But the truth is that the one who killed Malanuh was...¡±


    Do-Jun locked eyes with Young-Chul, and not shying away, he stared at Do-Jun with wide eyes.


    ¡°You, wasn¡¯t it, Supervisor Lee?¡± Young-Chul finished.


    At the question, Do-Jun closed his eyes and then opened them again.


    ¡°Chief.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°What if it was?¡± At Do-Jun¡¯s ambiguous answer, Young-Chul clenched his fists.


    ¡°If it was you, then I have a proposal for you.¡±


    He then handed Do-Jun a document, hoping that he would accept his proposal.


    ***


    ¡°So, with the transfer of the Great Fissure, the negotiation terms include increasing the number of Hunters...¡±


    Do-Jun waved his hand in front of Hyuk-Soo, who was staring blankly at him. Hyuk-Soo flinched.


    ¡°Are you listening, Senior?¡± Do-Jun asked.


    ¡°Sorry, what were you saying?¡±


    ¡°I was saying we need to acquire at least two more B-rank Hunters.¡±


    Inside the taxi headed to the Hunter¡¯s Bureau, Hyuk-Soo was once again thinking about the news reports regarding the anonymous civil servant from Seoul City Hall at the S-rank Great Fissure at Umyeonsan Mountain.


    Recalling the attention Do-Jun had received at work that Monday, Hyuk-Soo said, ¡°Do-Jun. I think you should be the one managing the Great Fissures, not me...¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why there¡¯s one for me and two for you, Senior.¡±


    Hyuk-Soo gulped as he reviewed the negotiation document offered by the Hunter¡¯s Bureau.

 Chapter 41

    Chapter 41


    Although Hyuk-Soo had visited the Fissure Management Planning Team at the Hunter¡¯s Bureau several times before, he couldn¡¯t help but feel nervous each time he sat inside the conference room, enclosed by transparent partitions within the office.


    Feeling increasingly thirsty due to his nerves, Hyuk-Soo gulped down the barley tea on the table and began to thoroughly review the meeting documents he had already gone through dozens of times.


    ¡°Everything will go well. Don¡¯t worry too much, Senior,¡± Do-Jun comforted him.


    At 9 AM that morning, the Seoul City Hall Fissure Management Division received a call from the Hunter¡¯s Bureau regarding another discussion of the B-rank Great Fissure Management Rights Transfer, which had been previously shut down.


    Moreover, the Bureau offered to accommodate Seoul City Hall¡¯s schedule for the time and place of the meeting, and seizing the opportunity, Do-Jun suggested they meet at 2 PM that very day.


    I don¡¯t mind their quick responses, Do-Jun thought, recalling the events from the day before.


    ***


    ¡°I¡¯d like to offer you a proposal,¡± Young-Chul said, handing Do-Jun a document.


    Do-Jun picked it up and began reading while Young-Chul swallowed nervously.


    ¡°I won¡¯t do it,¡± Do-Jun said as he put down the document before even finishing it.


    The contents were simple. It was an application for the Hunter qualification exam. Young-Chul wanted Do-Jun to become a Hunter.


    ¡°I can¡¯t fully estimate your abilities, Supervisor Lee, but if you became a Hunter, you can get anything you desire. As far as I know, as a ninth-grade civil servant, you¡¯re likely earning about 3 million won per month, and that is considering the Fissure Management role pays slightly more than other civil servant positions.¡±


    ¡°You are well versed regarding my income. Yes, I make about that much.¡±


    ¡°But if you become a Hunter, it wouldn¡¯t be a reach to say that you could earn 300 million won in a single day. In fact, it might even be easy for someone like you.¡±


    Do-Jun sighed at Young-Chul¡¯s words.


    ¡°You seem to be misunderstanding something. Money isn¡¯t that important to me,¡± he said as he glanced over at Yoon-Hee, who looked surprised.


    His life in the Central Plains was one filled with the stench of blood. Even though he had money and fame, in the end, all that remained was emptiness.


    Compared to that life, he had none of that glory at present.


    However, he had made valuable connections through his work, and when he returned home after a day¡¯s work, he had a family waiting to welcome him warmly. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, Do-Jun¡¯s eyes narrowed. It was clear that Young-Chul was desperate at this moment. And it made sense. Without Do-Jun¡¯s help, they wouldn¡¯t have been able to defeat the boss of the S-rank Great Fissure yesterday.


    There was no guarantee that similar situations wouldn¡¯t happen again in the future, and for the Hunter¡¯s Bureau, the more talented Hunters they had, the better it was.


    ¡°That being said, Chief, if you show some sincerity, I might reconsider.¡± Do-Jun threw out a bait.


    Young-Chul¡¯s face lit up but quickly grew uncertain. In most cases, the word sincerity referred to money. But since Do-Jun didn¡¯t seem concerned about money, he wondered what kind of sincerity Do-Jun was referring to.


    Do-Jun took out his smartphone and showed a photo of an official letter from the Hunter¡¯s Bureau regarding the B-rank Great Fissure Joint Inspection sent a few days ago. The letter mentioned that the inspection had been canceled and would need to be rescheduled once Seoul City Hall met the requirements for B-rank Great Fissure management.


    As Young-Chul quickly processed the information, Do-Jun said, ¡°Can you take care of this?¡±


    This was asking Young-Chul if he could use his influence to transfer part of the management rights for the B-rank Great Fissure.


    Young-Chul carefully re-read the letter and replied, ¡°It¡¯s impossible. As stated in the document, it¡¯s against our policy and the law.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I see. Then I guess there¡¯s nothing we can do,¡± Do-Jun said drily.


    ¡°That is, for now, at least... However, if Seoul City Hall can meet the requirement for the number of B-rank Hunters, we could transfer part of the management rights to you anytime...¡±


    As the Bureau Chief desperately tried to continue persuading him, Do-Jun watched him with amusement.


    Seeing Do-Jun¡¯s expression, Young-Chul couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that he was playing right into Do-Jun¡¯s hands. However, since Do-Jun was a man worth the trouble, he decided to put aside his pride for now.


    ¡°So, I¡¯ll make sure that you can meet that requirement,¡± Young-Chul offered.


    Do-Jun finally nodded in satisfaction, then firmly said, ¡°But I¡¯m still not becoming a Hunter. I have no intention of quitting my job, and civil servants are prohibited from holding dual employment. I¡¯m sure you already know that.¡±


    Young-Chul wanted to argue that he had already shown his sincerity. Moreover, Do-Jun was a crucial asset for the Hunter¡¯s Bureau not just because of the S-rank Great Fissure but for an even more fundamental reason: the Core. This was the enormous hole that had appeared in Sotaesan Mountain, Gangwon-do.


    Even as they spoke, the top three Hunters were leading an expedition there.


    The Behemoth Guild, formed by the Sword Emperor Kang-Hyun, simultaneously studied the Core¡¯s ecosystem and attempted to subjugate it under Young-Chul¡¯s direction.


    However, not only was the progress extremely slow, but the expedition team reported that past the five-hundred-meter depth point, the monsters¡¯ ranks rose sharply, with the minimum rank being S-rank.


    Considering that the current monster ranking system only went up to S, it was possible that the monsters below the five-hundred-meter mark could potentially be ranked SS.


    ¡°Perhaps the Fissures appearing on Earth are caused by the Core.¡±


    That was the speculation from the expedition team, though nothing had been confirmed yet.


    Placing his cup of tea down, Do-Jun continued, ¡°But if you ever truly need my help, Chief... I might step in for the sake of your sincerity. But only when it¡¯s truly necessary.¡±


    Young-Chul stood up abruptly and bowed deeply at a right angle. ¡°That is more than enough for now. Thank you for your time today.¡±


    His assistant also stood and followed him out.


    When Young-Chul reached the doorway, he turned around and said, ¡°Oh, and there¡¯s one more thing, Supervisor Lee...¡±


    ***


    Two men popped their heads up like meerkats, peeking over the partition to look into the conference room.


    One was Cha Dae-Cheol, who had been promoted to assistant manager three years after joining the Hunter¡¯s Bureau, and next to him was Kang Seok-Hoon, the head of the Fissure Management Planning Team 4.


    ¡°Boss, the guy sitting on the left is the...¡± Cha Dae-Cheol trailed off.


    ¡°Yes, he is the commander-in-chief everyone¡¯s been talking about,¡± Kang Seok-Hoon confirmed.


    ¡°Even so, it¡¯s surprising that the Mejai Guild agreed so easily.¡±


    ¡°Well, if the Chief tells you to do it, wouldn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°I.. would, yeah,¡± Cha Dae-Cheol said.


    ¡°Let¡¯s head in.¡± Kang Seok-Hoon took a deep breath, then walked confidently toward the conference room with Cha Dae-Cheol following closely behind.


    As the glass door swung open, the two civil servants from Seoul City Hall turned their gazes toward them.


    Kang Seok-Hoon approached Hyuk-Soo with a friendly smile and extended his hand. ¡°Ehem, Supervisor Kwon, long time no see! How have you been?¡±


    ¡°Oh, Chief Kang Seok-Hoon, how are you?¡±


    ¡°You look more handsome every time I see you, Supervisor Kwon. Haha!¡±


    While Hyuk-Soo and Kang Seok-Hoon exchanged formal greetings, Cha Dae-Cheol glanced at Do-Jun. He had the tall, well-built physique and good looks that seemed wasted on a civil servant. Even in a suit, his broad shoulders and solid frame were apparent.


    When his eyes met Do-Jun¡¯s, he quickly looked away. Why... why did I look away? What are you doing, Cha Dae-Cheol?


    Seeing this, Do-Jun smirked slightly, stood up, and bowed politely. ¡°Hello. Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Lee Do-Jun from the Fissure Management Division at Seoul City Hall. Thank you for taking the time to meet with us today.¡±


    ¡°Ah! So, you¡¯re the famous commander! It¡¯s an honor to finally meet you. I¡¯m Kang Seok-Hoon, the head of Fissure Management Planning Team 4. Please, everyone, have a seat.¡±


    Kang Seok-Hoon wet his finger, flipping through the papers he had brought, and turned the document toward Do-Jun and Hyuk-Soo after reaching page sixteen. It displayed a list of three B-rank Great Fissures to be transferred to the Fissure Management Division. This included Daehyeonsan Mountain Park¡¯s B-rank Fissure, which had previously been deemed impossible to manage for Seoul City Hall.


    ¡°We sent you a notice stating that we could not transfer the management rights for these Fissures because Seoul City Hall didn¡¯t meet the requirements. But, as you know, Chief Jung pulled some strings, and three Hunters will sign with Seoul City Hall, and everything will proceed without breaking any laws.¡±


    Hyuk-Soo was visibly surprised by Kang Seok-Hoon¡¯s words. He had assumed that finding B-rank Hunters would be the responsibility of the Fissure Management Division alone.


    He was aware that Young-Chul¡¯s influence as the Hunter¡¯s Bureau Chief had played a role in today¡¯s meeting, but he never expected the Hunter contracts to be arranged as well.


    ¡°Is... is that really true?¡± he asked as his expression showed clear disbelief.


    Cha Dae-Cheol nodded and handed over the documents containing the list of Hunters who would sign with Seoul City Hall and the contract application forms, complete with their signatures.


    Still in shock, Hyuk-Soo gawked at the papers.


    ¡°Is... is there a reason you¡¯re going this far to help us...?¡± he asked, glancing over at Do-Jun, who also seemed slightly surprised after reviewing the list of Hunters.


    He had anticipated that Hunters might be provided, but for them to be the elite members of the Mejai Guild was unexpected. In fact, the arranged Hunters were all A-rank or higher, including the guild master Dong-Hyun, Yoo Jung-Ho, and Yoo Mi-Ra.


    No matter Chief Young-Chul¡¯s influence, he hadn¡¯t expected things to progress this smoothly.


    ¡°Please review the application forms. If there are no issues, you can proceed with the contracts immediately. The three Fissures being transferred have already been fully mapped, so they should be easy to manage. If there are no objections, we¡¯ll send the transfer documents later today.¡±


    Hyuk-Soo still looked like he couldn¡¯t believe it, but Do-Jun noticed that the corners of his mouth were starting to rise.


    It was a natural reaction, as Fissures that were already completely mapped required no additional work. All that was needed was some data entry into the Fissure management system and occasional patrols every two to three weeks.


    ¡°With this much help, I think you could handle two Fissures yourself, Senior.¡±


    ¡°I guess I could. Did you know all this, Do-Jun?¡±


    ¡°No, if I had, I would¡¯ve told you.¡±


    As Hyuk-Soo read through the documents with the face of an innocent child, Do-Jun asked, ¡°Is Seoul the first city to take on the management of a Great Fissure?¡±


    ¡°I believe so,¡± Hyuk-Soo answered.


    ¡°I would like some tuna, Senior,¡± Do-Jun joked with a smile.


    Hyuk-Soo nodded enthusiastically. ¡°Me too, Do-Jun. Ah, Chief Kang, I think we¡¯re good to proceed with this.¡±


    ¡°Great, I¡¯ll assume there are no objections and send the official documents.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    The meeting ended quicker than expected, and Do-Jun and Hyuk-Soo left the Fissure Management Planning Team office.


    ¡°Shall we grab a cup of coffee?¡± Hyuk-Soo asked Do-Jun.


    ¡°I think we¡¯ll have to get coffee back at the office. I have somewhere I need to stop by.¡±


    ¡°Where?¡±


    Do-Jun¡¯s gaze was fixed on the directory board next to the elevator, particularly the tenth floor.


    ***


    Six hours earlier, Incheon Airport.


    A young man in his early twenties took off his sunglasses and hooked them onto the collar of his T-shirt. He pulled his suitcase beside him as he stepped outside.


    Shielding his eyes from the warm sunlight with one hand, he muttered in Chinese, ¡°So this is the land of the Sword Emperor.¡±


    He then pulled out his smartphone to check the address of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau he had taken a screenshot of.


    As the young man, Yang Cheok-Gi, clenched his bandage-wrapped fists, blue energy erupted from his knuckles. It was Fist Qi.


    Looks like I¡¯m in luck.


    Being able to challenge the massive hole discovered in Korea, known as the Core or the Vortex of the Fissure, alongside Behemoth, the guild founded by the First Hunter, the Sword Emperor Lee Kang-Hyun, was a huge stroke of luck.


    Although the Korean government didn¡¯t restrict foreigners from entering the Core, most top Hunters from other countries weren¡¯t particularly interested in it as they were too busy dealing with the Fissures in their own countries.


    And with the survival rate from the Core being less than ten percent, rumors spread that attempting it was a suicide mission.


    But Behemoth Guild was an exception. They had never lost a single member, even after more than ten attempts.


    Yang Cheok-Gi wanted to see it for himself¡ªboth the Sword Emperor Lee Kang-Hyun and the Core.

 Chapter 42

    Chapter 42


    In the Hunter¡¯s Bureau Conference Room, five people were seated around the long oval table.


    Chief Young-Chul, seated at the head, checked his wristwatch. It was now past 2:30 PM.


    Yang Cheok-Gi, an S-rank Hunter from China, scanned the faces of everyone in the room. Even though he wasn¡¯t from Korea, he naturally knew the identities of everyone here as they were all famous.


    That¡¯s Kang Min-Hyuk and Han Min-Ji from the Icarus Guild, and the other one must be... Kwak Young-Ho.


    These were S-rank Hunters, ranked within the top ten in South Korea.


    But who are we waiting for? Yang Cheok-Gi thought as he clicked his tongue and leaned back in his chair.


    Dispatched from the Chinese Hunter¡¯s Bureau, he had come to Korea to help with the expedition of the Core. Currently, Behemoth was the only group actively engaged in the Core expedition, and the Hunters gathered in this room were to add manpower.


    Yang Cheok-Gi assumed more S-rank Korean Hunters would be joining and closed his eyes.


    At that moment, the conference room¡¯s automatic doors slid open, leading Yang Cheok-Gi to open his eyes slightly and turn his head toward the door.


    Who¡¯s that...? He couldn¡¯t remember any S-rank Hunter who resembled the person.


    ¡°S-supervisor Lee Do-Jun?¡±


    Everyone other than Young-Chul and Yang Cheok-Gi was visibly surprised.


    Young-Chul quickly stood up and bowed deeply in greeting. ¡°Thank you so much for attending our meeting despite your busy schedule.¡±


    ¡°No, I should be the one thanking you, Chief Jung. It¡¯s because of you that my negotiations went smoothly. Thank you.¡± Do-Jun returned the expression of gratitude.


    ¡°Of course. If there is anything else you need, please don¡¯t hesitate to let me know.¡±


    Yang Cheok-Gi alternated between looking at Young-Chul and Do-Jun with a puzzled expression.


    Young-Chul was the Chief of the Korean Hunter¡¯s Bureau. Aside from the president, was there anyone in Korea he would treat with such respect?


    However, the other S-rank Hunters were also frozen in place. All of them were showing deference to this man named Lee Do-Jun.


    This situation wasn¡¯t one that Yang Cheok-Gi could easily comprehend. The title Supervisor was only used for civil servants, and considering his young age, his rank couldn¡¯t be that high either.


    Or did I just mishear? Yang Cheok-Gi checked the ring on his finger. It was an artifact that eliminated language barriers. The green light was on, indicating that the real-time translation was working fine.


    Do-Jun grabbed an empty seat, which just so happened to be right next to Yang Cheok-Gi.


    After briefly glancing at Do-Jun, Young-Chul said, ¡°Now that everyone is here, welcome. I am Jung Young-Chul, Chief of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau. I believe everyone here is aware of why we¡¯ve gathered today. Oh, and Supervisor Lee, please feel free to just listen in and take note of the Core.¡±


    Do-Jun nodded.


    Shortly after, the lights in the conference room dimmed, and a hologram appeared in the center of the table. It was an image of a massive hole located in Sotaesan Mountain, Gangwon-do¡ªthe Core.


    Young-Chul tapped the table to zoom in on the hologram and showed the interior of the Core.


    ¡°Ten years ago, when Fissures first appeared, a hole opened in Sotaesan Mountain in Gangwon-do. As you all know, we call this the Core. Three years ago, Behemoth Guild was selected to lead the expedition, and they commenced a Dive.¡±


    The word ¡°Progress¡± appeared next to the image, accompanied by a percentage.


    ¡°Excluding the most recent Dive, twenty Dives have been made over the past three years. We¡¯ve managed to map out approximately 1.4% of the Core¡¯s ecosystem to a depth of five hundred meters below the surface. However, Behemoth Guild has been stuck at this five-hundred-meter mark since the 18th Dive, and they¡¯re likely to face the same situation this time.¡±


    Behemoth Guild was an extremely elite group of only three members, including Kang-Hyun, one of the First Hunters. But even they had repeatedly failed to make progress in the Core.


    The reason was simple¡ªthe difficulty level was too high.


    ¡°To be honest, making it down to the five-hundred-meter mark and returning alive is almost miraculous in itself. However, it¡¯s our duty at the Hunter¡¯s Bureau to complete the Core expedition. Since the current Dives aren¡¯t yielding progress, I plan to increase the number of members in the expedition team. And all of you gathered here today are potential candidates for that team.¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Young-Chul glanced at Do-Jun, then back at the hologram.


    Do-Jun could tell that everyone in the room, except Yang Cheok-Gi, was discreetly watching him for one simple reason.


    They wanted him to join their Core expedition.


    ¡°I have a question,¡± Yang Cheok-Gi said as he raised his hand.


    ¡°Yes, Hunter Yang Cheok-Gi?¡±


    ¡°Who is this man?¡± Yang Cheok-Gi pointed at Do-Jun with his thumb, but he wasn¡¯t asking for his name.


    He simply wanted to know why this person was being treated with such respect and why everyone was so mindful of him.


    Young-Chul responded, ¡°This is Supervisor Lee Do-Jun from the Fissure Management Division of Seoul City Hall. And... he was the commander-in-chief during the S-rank Great Fissure subjugation that occurred the day before yesterday.¡±


    ¡°Commander? So, he has some sort of command skill, I assume,¡± Yang Cheok-Gi muttered, and Do-Jun smirked and shrugged.


    At that moment, Young-Chul realized something and quickly added to Do-Jun, ¡°Ah, I didn¡¯t provide you with a translation ring. Please wait a moment¡ª¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I understand everything,¡± Do-Jun interrupted him.


    ¡°Did... did you major in Chinese in university?¡±


    ¡°Hmm. Something like that.¡±


    He had spent who knows how long in the Central Plains, where people exclusively spoke Chinese. Honestly, for about a week after returning to Earth, the Chinese language had felt more natural to him.


    Young-Chul nodded and continued, ¡°We have just over two weeks until Behemoth returns. After that, we plan to increase the size of the expedition team with the current members and attempt another Dive. More detailed plans will be discussed after Behemoth submits their report upon return.¡±


    At that moment, Min-Hyuk raised his hand and asked, ¡°You mentioned new members. Does that include Supervisor Lee Do-Jun?¡±


    ¡°That has yet to be decided. It depends on what Supervisor Lee wants.¡±


    At Young-Chul¡¯s response, the other Hunters looked visibly disappointed. Of course, Yang Cheok-Gi was not one of them.


    Do-Jun was someone who had killed the S-rank Great Fissure¡¯s boss monster, Malanuh the Titan, with ease. If he were to join the expedition team, it would be more valuable than gaining a million-man army.


    ¡°He looks hella weak...¡± When Yang Cheok-Gi muttered those words, the expressions of the others hardened.


    Except for Do-Jun.


    Yang Cheok-Gi smirked and asked, ¡°Or... are you strong?¡±


    Everyone was taken aback by his words. It was evident to anyone that Yang Cheok-Gi was provoking Do-Jun. Even though he was currently ranked eighth in China, those who had witnessed Do-Jun¡¯s power knew that Yang Cheok-Gi would be no match for Do-Jun.


    However, his reaction was somewhat understandable, given that Yang Cheok-Gi was unaware of Do-Jun¡¯s abilities. It was absurd to him that a mere civil servant could be considered a potential member of the Core expedition team.


    He¡¯s full of confidence. Do-Jun chuckled internally as he looked at Yang Cheok-Gi, who was glaring at him.


    In the Central Plains, there was always someone like this. But having confidence meant having high self-esteem, which was worth praise.


    How should I handle this? Do-Jun wondered.


    He could crush that confidence in an instant, play along and gently deal with him, or even just ignore him entirely. Normally, he would have chosen the third option, but everyone in the conference room already had a vague idea of his strength.


    It didn¡¯t take long for him to decide.


    ¡°At the very least,¡± Do-Jun said, looking at Yang Cheok-Gi with disdain, ¡°I think I can beat you.¡±


    Yang Cheok-Gi laughed mockingly as he thought that the only person in Korea who could possibly defeat him, the Hunter who was ranked within the top ten among over a billion people in all of China, was the Sword Emperor.


    ¡°Shall we test that out?¡± Yang Cheok-Gi said as he stood up, his face twisted in anger.


    ***


    In the underground training hall near the Hunter Bureau¡¯s practical evaluation exam room, Yang Cheok-Gi wrapped his loosened bandages around his wrists.


    He said to Do-Jun, ¡°If you want to ask me to go easy on you, now¡¯s the time.¡±


    At that, Do-Jun simply shrugged, and his relaxed attitude made Yang Cheok-Gi grit his teeth without realizing it. In China, everyone was always subservient to him. So, how was Do-Jun so arrogant?


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to die, you should put on a Hunter suit,¡± he advised.


    Do-Jun was dressed in a white dress shirt, black suit, and sharp shoes¡ªthe typical outfit of an office worker. He chuckled at Yang Cheok-Gi¡¯s needless concern, then glanced at the calluses on Yang Cheok-Gi¡¯s knuckles.


    Soon, Yang Cheok-Gi finished wrapping the bandages around his fists, stepped forward with his right leg, lowered his stance slightly, and clenched his fists, ready to fight.


    S-rank skill: Taeguk Divine Fist¡ªthe skill that had made Yang Cheok-Gi one of the top Rankers[1] in China.


    He had gained enlightenment after combining the mana manipulation method of Infusion, the style developed by Kang-Hyun, and ascended to a higher level to become a Ranker.


    Seeing Yang Cheok-Gi¡¯s stance, Do-Jun recognized it immediately as the basic stance of Taeguk Divine Fist. At the same time, one of the many fragmented memories from his time in the Central Plains resurfaced.


    Was it the Great Void Sage...?


    This was the eleventh sect leader of the Shaman Clan. Do-Jun couldn¡¯t recall the exact time, but he remembered that he had entered the Shaman Clan as a secular disciple during one of his countless lives in the Central Plains.


    After being promoted to a formal disciple, he received direct instruction in the clan¡¯s martial arts from the eleventh sect leader Great Void Sage, including the Taeguk Divine Fist.


    But Yang Cheok-Gi¡¯s stance was way too sloppy, even at a quick glance. It was pathetic. If the Great Void Sage could see Yang Cheok-Gi now, he would probably have asked to be killed from sheer frustration.


    Do-Jun took his stance, and Yang Cheok-Gi¡¯s eyes widened as he realized that it was the basic stance of the Taeguk Divine Fist. He simply assumed that Do-Jun was merely copying him, but there was something that Yang Cheok-Gi couldn¡¯t overlook.


    No openings... at all? It felt as if he was staring at a massive boulder.


    ¡°Should I go first?¡± Do-Jun asked flatly, seeing Yang Cheok-Gi¡¯s pale face.


    He then made his move without waiting for a response. He lightly stepped forward, and in an instant, his figure disappeared.


    Yang Cheok-Gi was shocked. A shadow then appeared behind him.


    Ethereal Shift, Do-Jun thought.


    He held himself for a moment, wanting Yang Cheok-Gi to realize the truth for himself.


    Yang Cheok-Gi turned around and threw a punch, but his fist barely missed Do-Jun¡¯s neck.


    ¡°You bastard!¡± Veins bulging in his neck, Yang Cheok-Gi shouted angrily, charging at Do-Jun, who was still smiling as if amused by him.


    His fists flew wildly through the air, but again, they missed Do-Jun by the narrowest of margins.


    As the air crackled with each missed punch, Yang Cheok-Gi¡¯s face turned pale.


    This... this is... he thought in disbelief.


    His punches weren¡¯t just barely missing; they merely appeared that way. Although he was the one attacking, it was clear to him now that the one in control was, without a doubt, Do-Jun.


    The longer the fight went on, the more suffocating the sense of helplessness grew.


    Meanwhile, Young-Chul, who was watching the spar, swallowed nervously. He could only see the occasional afterimage of Yang Cheok-Gi; Do-Jun¡¯s movements were completely untraceable.


    At that moment, blue energy began to rise from Yang Cheok-Gi¡¯s fists as his bloodshot eyes filled up with fury.


    He kicked off the ground and charged at Do-Jun. His fists, crackling with energy, roared as the techniques of the Taeguk Divine Fist were executed one by one.


    Why! To a bastard like this guy! Why is not a single punch landing?


    The more Yang Cheok-Gi attacked, the more Do-Jun dodged. The crushing difference in their abilities weighed heavily on Yang Cheok-Gi¡¯s body.


    ¡°Huff... how...?¡± Yang Cheok-Gi was beyond shocked by now.


    Sweat gushed from his body, soaking the inside of his Hunter suit. In contrast, Do-Jun hadn¡¯t even broken any sweat.


    And just as Yang Cheok-Gi unleashed the final move with all his strength, Do-Jun, who had only been dodging until now, suddenly stood still. He then threw a punch aimed at Yang Cheok-Gi¡¯s face, which stopped just short of Yang Cheok-Gi¡¯s forehead.


    Bam!


    ¡°A-ah...¡±


    It was as if a storm had passed. Yang Cheok-Gi¡¯s hair was disheveled. He simply collapsed on the spot, unconscious.


    1. Just a reminder, Ranker is used only for S-rank Hunters. ?

 Chapter 43

    Chapter 43


    The fresh season of spring had arrived.


    At the National Hunter Academy, the fragrance of beautifully bloomed colorful flowers wafted inside the classroom of Class 1-D from the well-maintained flower beds outside the window.


    The sliding door at the front of the classroom opened with a slight grating sound, and Mr. Choi Yang-Rok, who was in charge of Class 1-D, entered.


    He tapped the attendance book against the podium and said, ¡°You¡¯ve told your parents about the class observation day in two days, right? I need to know who all can attend, so when I hand out this paper, mark if they¡¯re not coming and pass it along.¡±


    Choi Yang-Rok handed the paper to the student sitting in the front row. The first student marked the attendance section with a circle and passed it to the next.


    Yoon-Hee bit her lip as she received the paper. She had completely forgotten to tell Do-Jun about the upcoming parent observation class.


    Her pen hovered over the box that said ¡°Not Attending¡± and then moved back to the ¡°Attending¡± box.


    What should I do...?


    If she told Do-Jun, he would definitely say he¡¯d attend without hesitation. But recently, he came home late, around 8 PM, seemingly burdened with a lot of work.


    Asking him to attend the class on such short notice felt like an inconvenience. Despite knowing all that, Yoon-Hee still wanted him to be there.


    The observation class was a program only for first-year students, meaning that this would be the last observation class in her school life.


    Yoon-Hee let out a deep sigh.


    ¡°What are you doing? If you¡¯re done, pass it back,¡± a boy sitting behind her urged.


    With her eyes tightly shut, Yoon-Hee drew her circle and passed the paper behind her.


    ***


    ¡°Chief, this... this is a non-smoking area.¡±


    Near the emergency stairs between the seventh and eighth floors of the office building, close to the division, Cheol-Soo was crouching in a corner with a cigarette in his trembling hand.


    Watching him from the side, Do-Jun sighed and opened one of the windows to let the cigarette smoke slowly drift out.


    ¡°I mean, why are three A-rank Hunters signing with us?¡± Cheol-Soo asked in confusion.


    ¡°Apparently, it was the work of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau. It seems like their Chief pulled some strings because of Do-Jun¡¯s outstanding performance as commander-in-chief in their last operation,¡± Hyuk-Soo explained to him.


    ¡°And just because the Chief says so, do you really think it makes sense for the Mejai Guild to contract with our division? Hyuk-Soo, how much do we pay A-rank Hunters? Just the contract fee alone.¡±


    ¡°Three hundred million won. Three hundred million for anyone B-rank and above. It¡¯s the same for A-rank and S-rank.¡±


    It didn¡¯t make sense.


    It was already strange that the Hunter¡¯s Bureau had granted them three B-rank Fissures, but the fact that they went as far as to secure three elite A-rank Hunters from the Mejai Guild to help Seoul City Hall fulfill those conditions?


    ¡°Something smells fishy,¡± Cheol-Soo muttered.


    ¡°Then put out your cigarette, Chief.¡±


    ¡°No, not that smell, you dummy. I¡¯m saying something¡¯s off. I can understand B-rank Hunters, but A-rank? And do you think those monsters will even listen to us?¡±


    He suddenly looked up at Do-Jun and asked, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me... Was the Mejai Guild part of the S-rank Great Fissure raid team at Umyeonsan Mountain?¡±


    At that, Hyuk-Soo also gave Do-Jun a puzzled look.


    ¡°No, they weren¡¯t,¡± Do-Jun answered.


    ¡°Then do you know them personally?¡±


    ¡°I briefly greeted them once during the Hunter Festival for an autograph, but we¡¯re not personally acquainted.¡±


    ¡°Ah... anyway, Do-Jun will handle the Fissure at Daehyeonsan Mountain, while Hyuk-Soo will take care of the ones near Sangmyung University and Seongbuk Park. That¡¯s all fine. But how are you planning to split up the newly assigned A-rank Hunters?¡± Cheol-Soo asked them.


    Do-Jun and Hyuk-Soo exchanged glances.


    ***


    Hyuk-Soo, Do-Jun, and Ye-Ji were gathered inside the Fissure Management Division meeting room.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need them,¡± Ye-Ji said as she glared at Hyuk-Soo with dissatisfaction.


    Do-Jun chuckled and added, ¡°She says she doesn¡¯t need them, Senior.¡±


    From the three new A-rank Hunters from the Mejai Guild, Hyuk-Soo suggested that he take charge of Dong-Hyun and Yoo Mi-Ra while Do-Jun managed Yoo Jung-Ho.


    But Ye-Ji was adamantly opposed to it.


    ¡°Hunter Ye-Ji... what is the reason? Are you trying to tell me that you want two of them?¡± Hyuk-Soo asked with a puzzled and slightly frustrated look.


    ¡°I¡¯m saying that I can protect Mr. Administrator myself, so there¡¯s no need for anyone else.¡±


    Currently, Ye-Ji was the only Hunter under Do-Jun¡¯s care, and he was in charge of one F and C-rank Fissure each, as well as a B-rank Great Fissure.


    Hyuk-Soo scratched his head, clearly troubled.


    ¡°Hunter Ye-Ji, from B-rank onwards, we¡¯re dealing with Great Fissures. They¡¯re on a completely different level from C-rank. We don¡¯t know what kind of dangers might arise,¡± he said, observing Ye-Ji¡¯s reaction before continuing. ¡°This isn¡¯t about preference; it¡¯s a necessity. Let¡¯s think of the worst-case scenario here. What if Do-Jun gets into trouble?¡±


    At that, Ye-Ji recalled the time on Saturday when Do-Jun almost died due to a PK.


    Truthfully, Hyuk-Soo wasn¡¯t wrong. Her desire to monopolize Do-Jun shouldn¡¯t put him at risk.


    ¡°Honestly, Senior, I¡¯m fine with it. Hunter Ye-Ji has grown to the point where her skills are almost comparable to an A-rank¡¯s. As long as we¡¯re cautious, there shouldn¡¯t be any danger. Besides, the B-rank Fissures we¡¯re handling have already been mapped. As long as we do a bit of diligent maintenance work, it should be fine... Right, Hunter Ye-Ji?¡±


    Do-Jun¡¯s warm smile caused Ye-Ji to lower her head to hide her reddened face.


    He¡¯s spoiling her, Hyuk-Soo thought with a mental shake of his head.


    At twenty-one years of age, she was still quite young, but it was time for her to grow up.


    Yet, in front of Do-Jun, she still acted like a child, and that was probably because Do-Jun treated her so kindly.


    ¡°Well, if that¡¯s what you think, Do-Jun, then let¡¯s do that. Besides, I¡¯ll be the one managing those three, but they¡¯re contracted with the Fissure Management Division as a whole, so if you ever need them during patrols, feel free to take them with you.¡±


    Do-Jun nodded at Hyuk-Soo¡¯s conclusion.


    Moments later, they heard Cheol-Soo¡¯s loud voice coming from the office entrance. ¡°If I knew you were coming, I would¡¯ve come to greet you. My apologies.¡±


    ¡°Looks like they¡¯re here.¡±


    ***


    As Do-Jun and Hyuk-Soo walked toward the Fissure Exploration Unit, they saw Cheol-Soo bowing repeatedly, fawning over the three newly contracted Hunters.


    Do-Jun and Hyuk-Soo approached the members of the Mejai Guild.


    Upon noticing Do-Jun, Dong-Hyun visibly trembled before lowering his head so deeply that it almost seemed to touch the ground.


    He then spoke in a small, powerful voice. ¡°Hello, sir!¡±


    Standing beside him, Yoo Jung-Ho and Yoo Mi-Ra also bowed their heads deeply.


    The staff of the Fissure Management Division, witnessing the scene, widened their eyes in shock.


    Cheol-Soo pulled Do-Jun aside and whispered, ¡°W-what¡¯s going on? Didn¡¯t you say you weren¡¯t acquainted with them?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s true. I don¡¯t know them well.¡±


    ¡°Then why are they acting like that?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure either...¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°Ahem, why don¡¯t you all have a seat over there? I¡¯ll bring out some tea,¡± Cheol-Soo said after clearing his throat.


    The Mejai Guild members sat on the sofa as Cheol-Soo suggested.


    Since the administrative staff was out for training today, Do-Jun, being the junior, went to prepare the tea in the break room.


    ¡°Ah...!¡±


    Fidgeting nervously in his seat, Dong-Hyun suddenly stood up and rushed toward the break room where Do-Jun was making tea.


    ¡°I-I¡¯ll make the tea! Please, let me do this much, Supervisor Lee,¡± Dong-Hyun pleaded anxiously.


    ¡°Huh? No, please have a seat. It wouldn¡¯t be right to make a guest brew the tea,¡± Do-Jun declined his offer, puzzled.


    ¡°No! I insist! I really want to make it.¡±


    Dong-Hyun swallowed dryly as he recalled the words of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau Chief, Young-Chul.


    ¡°Serve him with all your heart and soul!¡±


    According to Young-Chul, Do-Jun was the one who took down the boss monster of the S-rank Great Fissure at Umyeonsan Mountain.


    He also added that though this was classified information, he was telling them for precautionary reasons, emphasizing that they should never upset Do-Jun.


    ¡°If anything goes wrong between Supervisor Lee Do-Jun and I, I¡¯ll hold you all responsible. So, make sure you handle everything properly. Do you understand?¡±


    Dong-Hyun trembled with the recollection.


    ¡°Hunter Dong-Hyun, I appreciate the gesture, but you¡¯re making things difficult for me,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°Huh? D-difficult... What should I do then?¡±


    ¡°Just go have a seat. That would make things much easier,¡± Do-Jun said with a sigh, and only then did Dong-Hyun quickly return to his seat.


    It seems Chief Jung had a word with them.


    The sudden change in attitude of the Mejai Guild Hunters made it clear that Young-Chul had given them a stern disclaimer.


    Soon, Do-Jun brought six cups of tea to the table, and the Hunters, sitting with their backs straight with perfect posture, bowed their heads and said in unison, ¡°Thank you for the tea.¡±


    Witnessing this, Cheol-Soo and Hyuk-Soo stood there with their mouths agape, staring at Do-Jun.


    ¡°Is something wrong...?¡± Do-Jun asked.


    ¡°Oh, n-no, everything is fine,¡± Hyuk-Soo replied, laughing awkwardly.


    ***


    The signing of the Mejai Guild Hunters was completed without issues.


    After having them review the contents of the contract application received from the Hunter¡¯s Bureau, they were asked to sign the acknowledgment, ¡°I confirm there are no objections to the contract terms.¡±


    Despite emphasizing that, even as A-ranks, they would receive the same 300 million won compensation as B-ranks, they didn¡¯t seem to care at all.


    Do-Jun turned the first corner and came to the villa building at the intersection. Checking his watch, he saw it was almost 8 PM.


    Feeling guilty that Yoon-Hee was likely waiting for him without having dinner, Do-Jun took the elevator to the third floor, unlocked the door, and entered apartment 301.


    ¡°I¡¯m back,¡± he called out.


    A small dragon dashed out and slammed its head onto the floor.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you, Master!¡± Yong-Yong wagged his tail as its head remained pressed to the floor.


    There was only one reason for this behavior: dinner.


    I guess he thinks he can¡¯t eat until I come home.


    Unless it was an unusually late night, Yoon-Hee always waited to have dinner with Do-Jun.


    Naturally, Yong-Yong¡¯s mealtime got delayed as well, which led him to eagerly wait for Do-Jun to come home in anticipation of his meal.


    ¡°Ah, you¡¯re home? Let me take your jacket.¡±


    ¡°Welcome home, Master.¡±


    Soon, Yoon-Hee and Karsiel came out to greet him at the entrance as well.


    The more Do-Jun observed the two dragons, Karsiel¡¯s personality was quite the opposite of Yong-Yong¡¯s.


    While Yong-Yong was impulsive and acted on instinct, Karsiel gave off a more mature vibe.


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    Do-Jun took off his jacket and handed it to Yoon-Hee, then headed into his room to grab fresh clothes before making his way to the shower.


    After showering and changing into clean clothes, Do-Jun walked out to see Yoon-Hee and Yong-Yong sitting at the dining table, still waiting to have their dinner.


    ¡°You must be hungry. You should¡¯ve started without me.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s alright? Haha! I¡¯ll dig in then...¡± Yong-Yong said, just about to start eating.


    He froze as he felt Yoon-Hee¡¯s cold gaze.


    ¡°Ahem...¡± Startled, Yong-Yong coughed awkwardly.


    Seeing this, Do-Jun chuckled softly and sat down.


    ¡°Thanks for the meal, Yoon-Hee.¡±


    When Do-Jun took his first spoonful of rice, Yong-Yong gave Yoon-Hee a pleading look.


    She finally nodded and said, ¡°You can eat now.¡±


    ¡°Huff, huff, thank you!¡±


    Then, Do-Jun¡¯s attention was drawn to Karsiel, who was watching TV alone, and the dog bowl filled with kibbles sitting about a meter away from the sofa.


    ¡°It¡¯s interesting how Karsiel is so different. Is Yong-Yong the odd one here?¡±


    Unlike Yong-Yong, Karsiel only ate the kibbles, saying it was more to her liking.


    ¡°Nope, that one¡¯s just weird.¡± Yong-Yong munched happily on a piece of kimchi from his own bowl.


    ¡°I see....¡±


    Do-Jun decided not to pursue the topic any further.


    ¡°Anyway, Yoon-Hee, do you have something to say to me?¡± he asked, noticing that Yoon-Hee had been staring at him for a while.


    ¡°Well, um...¡± Yoon-Hee fidgeted with her fingers, hesitating before asking, ¡°Do you have time the day after tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°The day after tomorrow? At what time?¡±


    ¡°At 10 AM... I¡¯m sure you¡¯re busy since it¡¯s a work day.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine. Why do you ask?¡±


    Hearing him say it wasn¡¯t an issue, Yoon-Hee¡¯s face lit up. She quickly ran to the living room and came back with a printed sheet from her bag.


    ¡°Parent Observation Class Notice¡±


    ¡°A parent observation class?¡±


    ¡°Yes. You can come and see what kind of classes we¡¯re taking. And if you want, you can have a meeting with the instructor. The school will provide lunch too...¡± Yoon-Hee, now sitting right next to Do-Jun, excitedly pointed to the details on the paper and explained enthusiastically.


    Watching her bright expression, Do-Jun smiled softly. How could I say no when she¡¯s this happy about it... Ah.


    He glanced over at Yong-Yong, who was still eating.


    ¡°Do they usually stay home all day?¡± he asked Yoon-Hee.


    ¡°Yes. I¡¯m afraid they might cause trouble outside... When I get home from the Academy, I have to get right to the chores, so I don¡¯t really have time to take them outside except on weekends...¡±


    ¡°Should we bring them along?¡±


    At Do-Jun¡¯s suggestion, Yong-Yong, who had his face buried in his bowl, perked up his ears and wagged his tail.


    An outing! S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The outside was full of delicious food.

 Chapter 44

    Chapter 44


    Do-Jun stepped out of the taxi in front of the main gate of the National Hunter Academy, located in Yejang-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul.


    Two miniature dragons followed him.


    ¡°Thank you for the ride. Have a good day,¡± Do-Jun said as he received his credit card and receipt from the driver.


    Do-Jun was visiting the Academy for the parent observation class.


    Although he had been busy lately with the management rights of the B-rank Great Fissure and Hunter contracts, Do-Jun gladly took leave for Yoon-Hee¡¯s sake.


    ¡°Is this the young master¡¯s school?¡± Karsiel said as she looked at the main gate with curiosity.


    Unlike a certain someone, Karsiel also called Yoon-Hee ¡°master¡± and used formal speech with her, which Do-Jun found admirable. He patted Karsiel on the head.


    ¡°This smell...¡±


    Sniffing furiously, Yong-Yong instinctively followed the scent to a particular place, only to find a street vendor selling taiyaki[1].


    ¡°Taiyaki, 3 for 1,000 won¡±


    Taiyaki vendors were out despite the relatively chilly spring weather.


    Do-Jun sighed as he saw Yong-Yong drooling in front of the cart.


    Recently, Yong-Yong¡¯s appetite was almost no different from a human¡¯s. He ate whatever food humans ate, including snacks and sweets, especially anything sweet¡ªhe couldn¡¯t get enough of it.


    Yoon-Hee has spoiled his eating habits, Do-Jun thought, but he still approached the vendor and handed over a thousand won bill.


    ¡°Three with red bean, please,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°Coming right up!¡±


    The vendor packed the pastries into a paper bag and handed it to Do-Jun.


    Do-Jun pulled out a taiyaki and placed it in Yong-Yong¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°Wow. My life so far has been a waste without these.¡±


    ¡°Would you like one too?¡± Do-Jun asked Karsiel.


    She politely shook her head as if she really didn¡¯t need it. ¡°Thank you, master, for offering, but foods like this don¡¯t suit me very well.¡±


    She was being honest.


    On the day she moved into Do-Jun¡¯s house, she tried the braised short ribs Yoon-Hee had made as a snack, following Yong-Yong¡¯s lead, but she didn¡¯t like the taste.


    The next day, she tried the pet food Yoon-Hee bought on her way home, and it suited her taste far better than the ribs.


    They¡¯re both dragons, but their tastes are completely different.


    Do-Jun ate one of the remaining two taiyaki and tossed the last one into Yong-Yong¡¯s mouth before heading up the paved road toward the Academy.


    ***


    The Hunter Academy buildings were divided by grade level.


    To reach the first-year annex where Yoon-Hee studied, Do-Jun had to walk about a hundred meters further up from the main building.


    With his nimble feet, Do-Jun arrived at the annex¡¯s sports field in just five minutes.


    Looking at the parking lot, he saw it was lined with luxury cars.


    Although the Hunter Academy was technically a public institution, due to its high tuition and education fees, it was attended mainly by children from wealthy families.


    ¡°2019 Parent Observation Class Orientation¡±


    A banner hung at the small auditorium on the annex grounds, and inside the auditorium, students sat spaced one or two seats apart, accompanied by their parents and guardians.


    She said she was in Class D.


    Do-Jun checked the seating chart posted at the entrance and then walked over to seat D-2, where Yoon-Hee was seated.


    ¡°Sorry I¡¯m late,¡± Do-Jun apologized as he sat beside her.


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re here!¡±


    ¡°Sorry, but could you sit Karsiel on your lap?¡± Do-Jun asked, then lifted Karsiel and handed her to Yoon-Hee.


    Grinning widely, Yong-Yong leaped onto Do-Jun¡¯s lap. Yes! I get to sit on Master¡¯s lap!


    Looking around, Do-Jun saw that there were about a hundred students. Upon noticing that most students had a parent or relative seated beside them, he felt he had made the right choice by coming today.


    If he hadn¡¯t, Yoon-Hee would have been sitting here alone.


    A few moments later, a man appearing to be in his mid-fifties climbed onto the stage and grabbed the microphone.


    ¡°What a beautiful morning. Did you feel the spring breeze? I¡¯d like to express our deepest gratitude to all the parents and guardians who are visiting our academy despite your busy schedules. Every year, the Hunter Academy invites parents of first-year students to observe their classes...¡±


    The middle-aged man, Dean Shin Hak-Bae, finished his formal greeting and passed the microphone to a man with slicked-back hair standing behind him.


    ¡°Hello, everyone. My name is Jung Min-Kook, and I am the representative in charge of this year¡¯s freshmen students. Nice to meet you all. Last year as well, I was in charge of managing new first-year students. Unlike last year¡¯s theory lesson in the classroom, we have decided to conduct a practical lesson this year. Now, let me briefly explain today¡¯s class. Please take a look at this screen.¡±


    The projector turned on, and the screen behind Jung Min-Kook lit up, displaying a dense, green forest.


    ¡°This training Fissure is used to help students master mana manipulation techniques. Parents and guardians of the students will be able to watch their children from a temporary observation platform set up inside the Fissure. After the class, those who wish to do so may meet with their child¡¯s instructor for a chat.¡±


    Two weeks ago, an F-rank Fissure had appeared on the Academy grounds.


    Goblins, the lowest-ranked monsters in the food chain, had emerged from it, and the Academy designated it a training Fissure for first-year students in mana manipulation techniques like Infusion, Release, and Transmutation.


    ¡°The format for today¡¯s observation class is simple. Students who enter the training Fissure will use the Assistance Bead to find hidden map fragments and then put them into the chalice in the plaza inside the Fissure. Today¡¯s activities will not be graded, so students can participate without pressure.¡±


    The Assistance Bead was an artifact developed jointly by the Korean National Smithy and the National Hunter Academy to help students practice mana manipulation techniques.


    The bead was slightly smaller than the average adult male¡¯s palm and changed its shape, use, and function depending on how the mana was manipulated.


    ¡°This is the Assistance Bead, Father,¡± Yoon-Hee whispered, pulling a bead from her bag and showing it to Do-Jun.


    It was a semi-transparent white bead that every first-year student had.


    Do-Jun took the bead, turned it around in his hand, and injected a tiny amount of internal energy into it. The bead melted like soft clay, then reformed into a dagger that was pitch black down to its handle.


    When Do-Jun withdrew his energy, the dagger returned to its original bead form.


    ¡°I see,¡± Do-Jun said, handing the bead back to Yoon-Hee, who looked slightly surprised.


    The Assistance Bead was supposed to change color depending on the amount of mana injected, but she had never seen one turning black.


    The instructor definitely said it would only change into seven colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, navy, and purple.


    The Bead was supposed to turn red with a little bit of mana injection, then orange, then yellow, and so on with more mana injected.


    Yoon-Hee tilted her head in confusion and put the bead back in her bag.


    ***


    [You cannot exit the Fissure during the time limit.]


    [Time remaining: 00:45:57]


    After the orientation ended, the students immediately entered the practice Fissure while the parents ascended to the observation platform set up inside it.


    ¡°So, this is a Fissure...¡± one of the parents remarked as they gazed around in amazement.


    A few Hunters were among them, but most of the parents and guardians were business owners or professionals, many of whom had never entered a Fissure before.


    ¡°Woah, so that¡¯s what a goblin looks like,¡± one of the parents murmured, staring at the green creature about a meter in height.


    Then, they turned to Jung Min-Kook, the first-year representative standing nearby, and asked, ¡°Excuse me, but isn¡¯t this dangerous? These children have just started in the Academy, after all...¡±


    ¡°I understand your concern, but the instructors responsible for each class will be patrolling regularly in case of emergencies. Plus, goblins are only F-rank monsters, so realistically, there¡¯s no real danger.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a relief...¡±


    ¡°Also, our instructors are all at least B-rank Hunters. So, please don¡¯t worry too much,¡± Jung Min-Kook assured the worried parent.


    Meanwhile, Do-Jun stood in a corner of the observatory with his arms crossed, scanning the Fissure.


    Besides the eighty-two goblins, no other monsters were in sight.


    Do-Jun thought back to Jung Min-Kook¡¯s words as he recalled the last time Academy freshmen visited an F-rank Fissure. It was unlikely that anything dangerous would happen.


    His gaze shifted to the clearing at the center of the Fissure, where an ornate chalice stood. Within a two-hundred-meter radius around the chalice, not a single blade of grass grew, nor did the goblins dare enter the area.


    Do-Jun flicked his finger toward the chalice, shooting a stream of internal energy. The energy flew through the observatory glass without breaking it and landed on the chalice instead.


    Then, a soft light enveloped the chalice.


    Suddenly, the space shook violently as if a massive earthquake had struck, causing some parents to lose their balance and tumble into each other.


    Three seconds later, the earthquake stopped.


    ¡°W-what was that?¡± one of the parents asked Jung Min-Kook.


    This was a first for Jung Min-Kook as well, but there was one thing he knew for sure. If I say I don¡¯t know, they¡¯ll spiral into panic.


    Deciding to lie to calm the parents, Jung Min-Kook spoke confidently. ¡°This is an occasional phenomenon. Please don¡¯t worry. I apologize for not informing you in advance.¡±


    ¡°Oh, are we okay now?¡±


    ¡°Yes, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    ¡°Whew. Fissures really are unpredictable places, huh?¡± Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Do-Jun¡¯s eyes narrowed. Watching Jung Min-Kook quietly descend from the observatory with a hardened expression, Do-Jun turned to Yong-Yong and Karsiel.


    ¡°You see Yoon-Hee over there?¡± he asked them.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Stay with her.¡±


    ¡°As you wish.¡±


    With excited looks on their faces, Yong-Yong and Karsiel dashed from the observatory.


    It was time for a stroll.


    ***


    The Assistant Bead floated in the air, emitting a red light.


    It was a transformation technique of Transmutation that scattered mana around the bead.


    When a map fragment was nearby, the light from the bead would shine on its location, usually pointing toward something hidden in tree bark or underground.


    ¡°Found it.¡±


    Using Infusion, Yoon-Hee injected mana into the bead, transformed it into a red hand plow, and started digging into the ground with it.


    A small piece of paper, about the size of her thumb, emerged from the dirt. But at that moment, the ground shook as if there was an earthquake.


    The tremor lasted for about three seconds before stopping.


    Startled, Yoon-Hee fell backward onto the ground. W-what was that just now...?


    Then, with a gust of wind, a figure appeared among the trees. It was a girl with long, straight hair flowing past her shoulders. Her Assistant Bead, which had been glowing blue, lost its light and fell into her hand.


    ¡°What are you doing sitting there?¡±


    It was Eun-Joo, the younger sister of Kang-Hyun, the Sword Emperor and the number-one-ranked Hunter.


    She was at the top of her class and was already said to have the skills of an A-rank.


    ¡°Oh, were you worried about me?¡± Yoon-Hee asked, smiling.


    Eun-Joo¡¯s face turned red, and she yelled sharply, ¡°W-who would worry about someone like you?! I just saw you sitting there looking pathetic, so I came over! Your dad¡¯s probably watching. Don¡¯t make him worry...¡±


    But she couldn¡¯t finish her sentence as she felt an enormous energy rapidly approaching from a distance, the likes of which she had never felt before.


    ¡°Get down!¡± Eun-Joo shouted at Yoon-Hee, her face pale.


    She quickly gripped the Assistant Bead in her hand that transformed into a pistol, and aimed in the direction of the approaching threat. She pulled the trigger as two small shadows jumped out of the bushes.


    A flash of light exploded from the muzzle as a bullet shot forward, but it was easily dodged by the shadows, which stopped right in front of Yoon-Hee.


    These were Yong-Yong and Karsiel.


    ¡°Why are you guys here...? Where¡¯s Father?¡±


    Yong-Yong glanced at the gun in Eun-Joo¡¯s hand, then looked at Yoon-Hee sitting on the ground.


    ¡°Master told us to come find you. But...¡±


    True qi radiated from Yong-Yong.


    He glared at Lee Eun-Joo and said, ¡°Who the hell are you?¡±


    1. Taiyaki is a Japanese fish-shaped cake commonly sold as street food. It imitates the shape of tai (õ , red sea bream), which it is named after. Source: Wikipedia. ?

 Chapter 45

    Chapter 45


    ¡°Who the hell are you?¡±


    The red, puppy-like creature¡¯s words were suffocating.


    Without realizing it, Eun-Joo¡¯s legs started trembling, and her heart pounded faster. It felt like if she moved even an inch or broke eye contact, she would be attacked immediately.


    The word death flashed through her mind.


    ¡°Knock it off. She¡¯s my friend,¡± Yoon-Hee said, gently tapping Yong-Yong on the head with her palm.


    Once the overwhelming pure qi pressing down on Eun-Joo dissipated, she collapsed to the ground, the tension in her body seemingly completely relieved.


    ¡°F-friend?¡± Yong-Yong mumbled with a confused look.


    Yoon-Hee had been frowning but gave a slight nod. ¡°You saw her before, remember? She said you were cute. You don¡¯t remember that?¡±


    Yong-Yong recalled his first meeting with Do-Jun. He glanced at Eun-Joo and finally recognized her. She was the girl who had approached him during the freshman Fissure tour and called him adorable.


    ¡°But why were you sitting on the ground, and why was she aiming a gun at us?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I fell because of the earthquake earlier. As for the gun, I don¡¯t really know, but she definitely wasn¡¯t aiming it at me.¡±


    ¡°Hmm... Is that true, human?¡±


    Yong-Yong glared at Eun-Joo with a displeased look, and she nodded vigorously.


    Watching this interaction, Yoon-Hee sighed and pulled Yong-Yong over to where Eun-Joo was. She then grabbed Yong-Yong¡¯s paw and Eun-Joo¡¯s hand and clasped them together.


    ¡°Shake hands. And Yong-Yong, apologize.¡±


    ¡°But I didn¡¯t do anything wrong.¡±


    ¡°Then you can eat kibbles like Karsiel.¡±


    ¡°I sincerely apologize, Ms. Eun-Joo. I have committed a grave sin worthy of death. It won¡¯t happen again.¡±


    Eun-Joo looked at Yoon-Hee, surprised.


    The once intimidating Yong-Yong had turned meek as if nothing happened. Normally, tamed monsters or animals didn¡¯t follow anyone except their masters, but Yong-Yong was acting like Yoon-Hee was his master.


    ¡°I-it seems like you have another one now?¡± Eun-Joo asked, noticing Karsiel.


    ¡°Yeah. She¡¯s Yong-Yong¡¯s friend, and my father said we could keep her. Karsiel, you should introduce yourself too.¡±


    Karsiel approached and bowed her head politely. ¡°Hello, my name is Karsiel. I hear you are a friend of my young master. I look forward to your acquaintance.¡±


    ¡°H-hello... I¡¯m Lee Eun-Joo.¡±


    ¡°You can speak comfortably.¡±


    ¡°O-okay.¡±


    Yoon-Hee smiled and said, ¡°We can walk around together now.¡±


    ***


    After sending Yong-Yong and Karsiel to stay with Yoon-Hee, Do-Jun began reading through the quest that had just been activated.


    [Nergess is watching you.]


    [Special Quest: Toward the Core]


    [Content: One day, Nergess, the guardian of the tutorial zone in the Core, violated the rules of the Core and massacred the challengers who had entered the tutorial. Nergess then disappeared, taking all the entry tokens. Gather all the entry tokens, break Nergess¡¯ seal, and earn his acknowledgment.]


    [Progress: 9,934/10,000]


    [Reward: Obtain an entry token and open the central tutorial zone.]


    [You cannot exit the Fissure during the time limit.]


    [Time Remaining: 00:21:38]


    The map fragments were referred to as entry tokens.


    Considering how long it took the students to gather the entry tokens, it was likely that they would collect the remaining sixty-six within the next twenty-one minutes.


    Do-Jun decided that he should hold at least one token before then.


    He picked up an extra Assistant Bead from a corner of the observation deck. Then, he walked down the stairs, and soon, his figure disappeared.


    ***


    ¡°Kerrk.¡±


    A goblin, a green-skinned, bald, one-meter-tall humanoid monster, emerged from behind a giant tree, boasting its pointy ears and the sharp fangs protruding between its lips.


    An Assistant Bead shone beneath the tree, emitting a dark light.


    Do-Jun ignored the goblin and reached for the area the light pointed to, and a sharp aura split the ground.


    ¡°Kerrk, kerrk.¡±


    While Do-Jun was inspecting the area, the goblin slowly backed away. As soon as Do-Jun bent down to pick up the entry token buried in the dirt, it bolted away as if its life depended on it.


    Unfortunately for the monster, Do-Jun flicked his hand without even turning around and shot the Assistant Bead toward the goblin.


    With a resounding impact, the goblin exploded.


    Do-Jun checked the number of entry tokens in his pocket after fifteen minutes of wandering the Fissure since leaving the observation deck.


    Fifty-five.


    [Progress: 9,945/10,000]


    If he placed his tokens in the chalice in the plaza, the monster referred to as Nergess in the quest would probably appear.


    And it seemed like the students were gathering at the temporary observation deck as the lesson neared its conclusion.


    I have the entry tokens for now, but...


    He recalled what the Young-Chul had said. ¡°Please clear the Core with Behemoth Guild.¡±


    Though it wasn¡¯t mandatory, it was still a request asking him to consider it.


    I¡¯ll just hand them over. Do-Jun decided.


    He wasn¡¯t sure how strong the monsters in the Core were, but with a team of S-rank Hunters, including the Sword Emperor, there shouldn¡¯t be much to worry about.


    If it were a monster on the level of Malanuh the Titan from last time, it would be a different story, but even Do-Jun thought it was an irregular monster.


    The Core shouldn¡¯t have too many of those. At least, he hoped not.


    ¡°Father?¡± Yoon-Hee appeared through the bushes, looking confused, when she saw Do-Jun.


    She had expected him to be watching with the other parents at the observation deck.


    ¡°Master!¡±


    Yong-Yong ran over and leaped into Do-Jun¡¯s arms with tears streaming down his face.


    He looked up at Do-Jun with a pitiful expression and said, ¡°Please listen to my tragedy. T-that girl, Eun-Joo... she kept pinching me, pulling at me, and squishing my cheeks. She bullied me so much! Sob, sob.¡±


    ¡°Yong-Yong! Why do you keep running awa... Oh, mister?¡±


    Eun-Joo had been chasing after him. She shivered when she saw Do-Jun.


    Seeing that, Yong-Yong tugged at his lower eyelid and stuck out his tongue.


    ¡°You¡¯re finished now. Master, please teach her a lesson... eh?¡±


    Do-Jun silently walked over to Eun-Joo and handed Yong-Yong to her. ¡°Keep taking good care of him.¡±


    ¡°Master...?¡±


    After Eun-Joo took Yong-Yong into her arms, Do-Jun quickly looked at Yoon-Hee to make sure she wasn¡¯t hurt. She was wearing the white academy-issued suit, and since there were no rips or stains, it seemed she was unharmed.


    ¡°By the way, mister... Is that an Assistant Bead?¡± Eun-Joo asked as she looked at the black, glowing orb floating around Do-Jun.


    He said last time that he Awakened as a Tamer, so it¡¯s natural for him to have mana, but...


    Since he hadn¡¯t been Awakened for long, the bead should have emitted a red or, at most, an orange glow.


    But black? She¡¯d never heard of that.


    ¡°Yeah. Is there a problem?¡±


    ¡°Uh... how much mana do you have?¡±


    Do-Jun withdrew the internal energy he had stored in the Assistant Bead. After putting the orb into his pocket, he walked toward Eun-Joo.


    Seeing him approach with a blank expression, Eun-Joo instinctively backed away in fear.


    ¡°M-mister?¡±


    Do-Jun reached his hand over Eun-Joo¡¯s shoulder. She yelped as she squeezed her eyes shut, but when she opened them again, she saw a small stone in Do-Jun¡¯s outstretched palm.


    Do-Jun threw the stone in the direction it had come from.


    ¡°Kerrk!¡±


    When Eun-Joo turned around, she saw a goblin with a hole in its stomach lying dead on the ground.


    ¡°You need to stay alert inside a Fissure, even if it¡¯s just a training one,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to apologize. But you¡¯ll only cause worry if you get hurt, so be more careful next time.¡±


    Of course, it wasn¡¯t Do-Jun who was going to worry. He was talking about her brother, Kang-Hyun.


    ¡°Okay...¡± Eun-Joo mumbled as she lowered her head deeply.


    Suddenly, Yong-Yong sensed a quickening heartbeat behind him and looked up at Eun-Joo¡¯s face. Though her hair cast a shadow over her features, her cheeks were clearly flushed.


    ***


    That night at 8 PM.


    Looking out the balcony window, it was pouring down rain as if someone had punched a hole in the sky. The weather forecast had warned of heavy showers with thunder and lightning, but no one expected it to be this bad.


    ?Eventually, we decided to enter the log cabin.?


    After dinner, the family sat together on the sofa, watching a horror movie.


    To set the mood, Yong-Yong had turned off the lights, and the only illumination came from the occasional flashes of lightning outside and the light from the TV.


    Do-Jun sighed as he looked at Yoon-Hee, who was clutching his sleeve, and at Yong-Yong, who was shaking while sitting on his head. Only Karsiel watched the horror movie with an indifferent expression.


    Rumble!


    ¡°Eek!¡±


    ¡°Ack!¡±


    Startled by the thunder, Yoon-Hee pressed herself closer to Do-Jun¡¯s arm while Yong-Yong started smacking Do-Jun¡¯s head with his paws.


    ¡°Pause,¡± Do-Jun said.


    He pulled Yong-Yong off his head and brought him in front of his face, glaring at him.


    ¡°Be honest. You¡¯re not scared at all, are you?¡± he asked Yong-Yong.


    Yong-Yong trembled. He averted his gaze and whistled as if trying to avoid Do-Jun¡¯s stare.


    Do-Jun clicked his tongue and set him down on the floor. Yong-Yong was probably sulking and had decided to get revenge after being handed over to Eun-Joo earlier in the day.


    ¡°I wondered why you suggested watching a horror movie... You need some punishment. Come with me,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°What?¡±


    Do-Jun stood up.


    ¡°W-where are we going?¡± Yong-Yong asked.


    ¡°To the Academy. I need to do something in that Fissure from earlier.¡±


    ¡°At this hour?¡±


    ¡°I need to do it when no one¡¯s around. Yoon-Hee, I¡¯ll be back soon, so stay here and watch the house with Karsiel.¡± sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Do-Jun flipped up the hood of his hoodie and patted Yoon-Hee on the head. Coincidentally, at that moment, it thundered again.


    Yoon-Hee quickly grabbed his sleeve. When Do-Jun looked back at her, he noticed that she was on the verge of tears.


    ¡°T-take me with you... please, Father...¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t. It¡¯s too dangerous. I¡¯ll be back soon.¡±


    ¡°How soon...?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s an hour¡¯s round round trip in the cab. With the rain, maybe two hours to be safe?¡±


    Yoon-Hee shook her head at the mention of two hours. ¡°Absolutely not, No way. In two hours, I¡¯ll be...¡±


    She couldn¡¯t finish her sentence. Instead, her face turned red as she bit her lip.


    Do-Jun sighed and asked, ¡°Then how quick should I be?¡±


    ¡°Thirty minutes.... no, twenty.¡±


    ¡°Twenty minutes? The audacity of this girl?¡± Yong-Yong sneered and giggled at her suggestion.


    Yoon-Hee shot him a cold glare. The lifeless look in her eyes frightened Yong-Yong, who then turned to Do-Jun.


    ¡°C-can we do that, Master? It seems like my life might be on the line here.¡±


    Do-Jun stroked his chin in thought. If he used the skill, Steps of Heavenly Demon, he could reach the Academy in under a minute, but the problem with that skill was that it would draw too much attention.


    Traceless Steps would take at least seven minutes.


    It was a movement technique that left no footprints, even in snow.


    Though it wasn¡¯t the fastest, it was perfect for hiding one¡¯s presence, making it a favored technique of the elite assassins of the Heavenly Martial Sect.


    Putting aside around fifteen minutes for the round trip, if he could manage to defeat the monster Nergess in under five minutes, he could return well within 20 minutes.


    ¡°I have to defeat a monster in five minutes... I wonder if that¡¯ll be possible.¡±


    As Do-Jun pondered this seriously, Yong-Yong scowled.


    If a monster can last five minutes against you, it might as well be a god, not a monster.

 Chapter 46

    Chapter 46


    [The tutorial zone is currently sealed.]


    [You do not have enough entry tokens to access the tutorial zone.]


    [Complete the special quest: Toward the Core.]


    The Bead lodged in the heel of Sword Emperor Kang-Hyun extinguished. The purple glow emitted by the Assault Gear, which enhanced the mobility of Hunters, faded, and it returned to its original colorless translucent shade.


    ¡°Sir, we¡¯ve run out of Mana Smoke reserves. It might be best to head back to the Bureau and report the situation. Even though it¡¯s earlier than planned, there¡¯s no point in staying here any longer.¡±


    Kang-Hyun looked down at the seemingly bottomless pit beneath his feet. The entrance to the Core was about five hundred meters down. It had taken twenty Dives just to reach this boundary between the Core and the tutorial zone.


    We¡¯ve already scouted the entire area, he thought.


    He had scoured every part of the entrance to the Core, but the special quest ¡°Toward the Core¡± still hadn¡¯t appeared.


    Just as Aileen had suggested, there was no further reason to remain here.


    Kang-Hyun looked up at the sky and met the rain pouring heavily as if the heavens had torn open.


    ¡°Let¡¯s head back,¡± he declared.


    ***


    In the heavy rainfall, Yong-Yong, cradled in Do-Jun¡¯s arms, gulped nervously.


    Despite stepping through puddles and trudging through muddy fields, no sound or trace was left behind. Do-Jun was at the level where silent and traceless movement was not just possible but was effortless.


    What the hell is this guy? Yong-Yong thought for the umpteenth time.


    Such fine, delicate mana control was impossible even for himself. He could try to mimic it, but the absolute absence of sound or trace was beyond reach, even if he were to spend multiple lifetimes trying to learn it.


    Realizing this, Yong-Yong thought himself incredibly lucky to have survived his first encounter with Do-Jun.


    Do-Jun finally arrived at the rooftop of a side building of the Hunter Academy. He could see the lights on in various dormitory rooms approximately two hundred meters away. Further off, he spotted the training Fissure from earlier, glowing faintly.


    Do-Jun glanced at his wristwatch and then leaped toward the Fissure.


    ***


    [Nergess is watching you.]


    [Special Quest: Toward the Core is in progress.]


    Do-Jun poured the entry tokens from his pocket into the chalice in the plaza of the Fissure, then pulled out an Assistant Bead and infused it with internal energy.


    The Bead began to spin slowly, circling him. But despite waiting for a whole minute, nothing happened.


    Peeking up at the motionless Do-Jun, Yong-Yong tilted his head in confusion.


    ¡°Master, what are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Ah, I forgot one.¡±


    Do-Jun retrieved the token he had accidentally left behind in his pocket and tossed it into the chalice.


    With a loud rumbling sound, the Fissure began to shake as if it would collapse at any moment. Seven rays of light¡ªred, orange, yellow, green, blue, navy, and purple¡ªswirled out before coalescing into a single point and re-entering the chalice.


    Soon after, the violently shaking ground settled.


    With a faint popping sound, a small fairy, no larger than the palm of a hand like a typical fairy from storybooks, emerged from the chalice.


    He looked at Do-Jun and flashed a mischievous smile. ¡°So, you¡¯re the challenger who woke me.¡±


    ¡°You must be Nergess,¡± Do-Jun replied.


    ¡°Precisely. I am Nergess, the guardian of the tutorial zone of the Core. First, I must thank you. You¡¯ve awakened me from an eternity of sleep.¡±


    Nergess then spotted Yong-Yong at Do-Jun¡¯s feet and looked startled. Wasn¡¯t that Izaas, the Dragon Lord?


    ¡°Why... why are you here? You dragons are supposed to be in eternal slumber!¡± Nergess commented.


    ¡°What¡¯s this thing even saying? Master, we can go home if we kill this thing, right?¡±


    Do-Jun nodded to Yong-Yong¡¯s question, who then turned to Nergess. ¡°You heard him. Time to die quietly.¡±


    Shocked, Nergess immediately took a step back. Even though he was the tutorial zone¡¯s guardian, he was at the lowest rank among other monsters of the Core and didn¡¯t stand a chance against Izaas.


    ¡°Wait, wait! Aren¡¯t you one of the great dragons born from the Core? Why are you obeying the orders of a mere human? And calling him ¡®Master¡¯? That demeans the dignity of your noble race!¡±


    Wearing an indifferent expression while listening to Nergess¡¯ pleading, Yong-Yong scratched his ear with his paw and yawned.


    ¡°So what?¡± he asked Nergess.


    ¡°Huh...?¡±


    ¡°Whether I was born in the Core or not, what does that have to do with you? And who cares about the dignity of dragons? Is pride going to feed me? Huh? Is it going to serve me braised ribs or chicken?!¡±


    Nergess looked at Do-Jun with a dumbfounded expression, stunned by Yong-Yong¡¯s words. Izaas was a mighty being who once resided in the Core¡ªnot just anywhere but in the Deep Realm. How did a human bend such a being to his will?


    Do-Jun checked his wristwatch. Three minutes had already passed since they entered the Fissure. He had about two minutes remaining.


    ¡°Any last words?¡± he asked Nergess, not wasting any more time.


    ¡°Pardon...?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s asking if you have anything you want to say before... you know,¡± Yong-Yong said.


    ¡°I guess not,¡± Do-Jun said and triggered his Assistant Bead. It melted like clay, then morphed into a small, dull black dagger that was plain and unadorned.


    Just as the dagger, with the surging dark energy like electricity, was about to rush toward Nergess, he shouted, ¡°W-wait! If you kill me, you won¡¯t be able to advance to the Core. Are you sure you want to go through with this?¡±


    Nergess had his eyes tightly shut. Begging a human for his life¡ªin his own tutorial zone, no less¡ªwas a disgrace to his role as the guardian.


    But survival was the priority.


    ¡°What do you mean I won¡¯t be able to advance to the Core?¡± Do-Jun asked him.


    ¡°If I die, there will be no guardian for the tutorial zone, which means that you won¡¯t be able to descend to the next floor, and you¡¯ll never uncover the secrets of the Core.¡±


    The current expedition team, Behemoth Guild, was attempting to breach the Core with Korea¡¯s top three Hunters, including the Sword Emperor Kang-Hyun himself. In addition, Min-Hyuk, Min-Ji, Kwak Young-Ho, and Yang Cheok-Gi were also scheduled to be deployed. Even Bureau Chief Young-Chul had asked Do-Jun to join the expedition team.


    Frankly, Do-Jun didn¡¯t care if he joined the team. In fact, he preferred not to. It was probably going to be a hassle, anyway.


    Do-Jun made up his mind.¡°I don¡¯t think I mind that.¡±


    Crackle!


    As Do-Jun increased the energy infused in the Assistant Bead, he looked at the trembling Nergess and sighed. If he had known the monster was this weak, he would¡¯ve just let the Academy students complete the quest.


    ¡°P-please, spare me... I beg you,¡± Negress pleaded.


    [You have gained the Acknowledgement of Nergess.]


    [You have obtained a Bunch of Entrance Tickets.]


    [From now on, the tutorial zone within the Core will be opened. Only challengers with entrance tickets may enter the tutorial zone.]


    [Would you like to announce your achievement to the Core?]


    [Yes / No]


    Do-Jun picked up the pouch that had dropped at his feet. It was full of entry tokens. He then approached Nergess, who was staring at the ground in terror.


    Do-Jun patted Nergess on the head and walked toward the Fissure¡¯s exit.


    With teary eyes, Negress watched Do-Jun walk toward the exit with Yong-Yong trotting along after him.


    ***


    7 AM, Fissure Management Division, Seoul City Hall.


    Hyuk-Soo, who had arrived to work early as usual, noticed that the office security system had been deactivated and tilted his head in confusion. Normally, no employees would have arrived so early, so the security system should still have been active.


    ¡°Do-Jun?¡±


    Hyuk-Soo walked over to the Fissure Exploration Unit office and found Do-Jun already working on an Excel spreadsheet.


    ¡°Oh, good morning, Senior.¡±


    Placing his briefcase on his desk, Hyuk-Soo asked, ¡°Why did you come in so early today?¡±


    ¡°I guess it just happened,¡± Do-Jun replied, thinking back to the events of last night.


    ¡°Can¡¯t we just all sleep together in the living room, Father?¡±


    It was probably the horror movie, and maybe the gloomy weather had also played a part. Whatever the case, that night, Do-Jun had no choice but to sleep on the living room floor.


    He had tried suggesting that Yong-Yong and Karsiel sleep beside Yoon-Hee, but it didn¡¯t work. In the end, he had to lay out a blanket next to the mattress on the living room floor and spent an uncomfortable night, wide awake, with the two dragons and a terrified girl. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Shall we have some coffee?¡± Hyuk-Soo asked Do-Jun.


    ¡°Yes, that sounds good.¡±


    Do-Jun went to the break room, grabbed two instant coffee packets, and poured them into separate paper cups. He added hot water and stirred with a spoon, then handed Hyuk-Soo one of the finished cups.


    Hyuk-Soo smiled as he accepted it.


    ¡°Thank you. By the way, Do-Jun, you¡¯ve been here for almost a year and a quarter now, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I believe so.¡±


    ¡°Have you completed all your required training hours?¡±


    ¡°Training hours?¡±


    To be promoted, civil servants needed to complete a required number of ongoing education hours. These included online courses, in-person training hosted by educational institutions, and mandatory social welfare training, among others.


    ¡°You¡¯ll be up for promotion to level 8 in about three months, but you need to complete all the required training hours to be eligible. You didn¡¯t even attend the new employee training, so you¡¯re probably quite a bit behind. I saw that the Hunter¡¯s Bureau is offering a training session soon. You should attend that. I¡¯ll let our Chief know.¡±


    Do-Jun nodded. Though he didn¡¯t particularly care whether he got promoted, it was probably best to keep up with the standard flow of things.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see, when was it?¡± Hyuk-Soo said.


    He returned to his desk, logged into the Seoul City Administrative Portal, and searched for the relevant notice. It didn¡¯t take long for him to find the training schedule for March.


    After checking the dates for the training hosted by the Hunter¡¯s Bureau, he informed Do-Jun, ¡°There¡¯s one next week. Monday to Wednesday.¡±


    ***


    Do-Jun glanced at Ye-Ji, sitting next to him, engrossed in her smartphone. She seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood, even humming a tune.


    Curious, Do-Jun slyly peeked at her phone screen and saw that she was searching for ¡°Best Restaurants Near Seoul City Hall Station.¡±


    That¡¯s when Do-Jun remembered Ye-Ji¡¯s request to have dinner together. He had agreed and also promised that it would be just the two of them.


    ¡°Mr. Administrator, Mr. Administrator. Do you like gambas?¡± Ye-Ji asked suddenly.


    ¡°Gambas?¡±


    ¡°Gambas al Ajillo. It¡¯s a Spanish dish with shrimp, garlic, and olive oil. If you¡¯ve never tried it, should we have that?¡±


    Since there was no reason to refuse, Do-Jun nodded, seemingly catching Ye-Ji by surprise a little bit.


    ¡°T-then, how about this Saturday?¡± she asked tentatively.


    ¡°Saturday is a bit... ah, how about next Monday?¡±


    ¡°Monday?¡±


    ¡°I have to attend a training session at the Hunter¡¯s Bureau starting next Monday. You need to visit the Bureau too, to apply for your special promotion, right? We could have dinner together after that.¡±


    ¡°Then, next Monday it is!¡± Ye-Ji said with a bright smile.


    ¡°Yes, let¡¯s do that.¡±


    That¡¯ll be a good time to drop off the entry tokens, too. Do-Jun thought about the pouch sitting in his drawer.

 Chapter 47

    Chapter 47


    The training center was located on the fourth floor of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau. In front of the large lecture hall, a banner that read, ¡°2019 Basic Course on Understanding Fissure Management, Session 1¡± was placed alongside a desk.


    Do-Jun found his name on the attendance sheet on the desk, signed in, picked up his assigned name tag, and entered the lecture hall.


    With over three hundred attendees, including Fissure Management and general civil servants from across the country, most of the three hundred reserved seats inside were already almost full.


    I don¡¯t see any empty seats.


    Not a single spot was left in the back rows, but the seats in the front rows were naturally scattered and vacant since many attendees were just there to fulfill their mandatory training hours for promotions.


    Do-Jun had no choice but to sit in the front row, right in the center¡ªthe seat students avoid the most because it was where the lecturer could see you the best.


    Shortly after Do-Jun took his seat, a woman in her mid-to-late twenties sat next to him.


    Although it was still the chilly part of spring, the woman was fanning herself vigorously from the stuffy air due to the completely packed room.


    She glanced at Do-Jun without realizing it and thought, Not bad.


    The woman, Lee Min-Hee, sat in the front row because all the other seats were taken, but she ended up sitting by a man with a pleasant face, broad shoulders, and a strong physique. Though he wasn¡¯t extraordinary, it still gave her something nice to look at for a change.


    Why is someone like him a civil servant? He could be an actor.


    Lee Min-Hee checked the name tag hanging from Do-Jun¡¯s neck. The number seventy-three was written along with the text ¡°City of Seoul.¡±


    She decided to try and strike up a conversation. ¡°Hello. I see that you¡¯re from Seoul.¡±


    Do-Jun glanced at the smiling Lee Min-Hee and nodded.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right,¡± he replied.


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Lee Min-Hee asked next.


    ¡°It¡¯s Lee Do-Jun.¡±


    ¡°Come again?¡± Lee Min-Hee¡¯s expression showed surprise.


    Although the news didn¡¯t reveal full names due to privacy laws, anyone who was in the know would recognize that name.


    ¡°Sorry, but are you the one who led the Hunters at the Great Fissure in Umyeonsan Mountain...?¡±


    Suddenly, the chatter around them stopped. Maybe her voice was too loud. For a moment, silence hung in the air, and then all eyes turned toward them.


    Do-Jun frowned slightly and clicked his tongue.


    ¡°I-is it really you?¡± Lee Min-Hee asked again, seeking confirmation.


    Do-Jun nodded, and as soon as he confirmed it, murmurs began spreading throughout the room. More than half of the people gathered here were Fissure management civil servants. To them, Do-Jun was an anomaly, but not without good reason.


    For civil servants who had always bowed down to Hunters, the story of a low-level civil servant who became the commander of the Hunters in an S-rank Great Fissure operation without a single casualty was already a legend.


    ¡°I¡¯m a fan!¡± Lee Min-Hee grabbed Do-Jun¡¯s hand with both of hers, her eyes shining.


    ¡°Sorry...?¡±


    ¡°You have no idea how much my heart raced when I read the articles. Do you even know that you¡¯re a superstar among the civil servants?¡±


    Do-Jun glanced around. People were getting up from their seats and pointing at him while whispering.


    ¡°He is that commander civil servant.¡±


    ¡°The one who led the team in the S-rank Fissure raid...¡±


    ¡°He didn¡¯t participate in the boss battle, but they say he had zero casualties leading up to it. Doesn¡¯t that sound like something straight out of a movie?¡±


    But at that moment, someone stepped up to the podium and tapped the microphone to test the sound.


    ¡°Testing, testing. Can everyone hear me? Please take your seats.¡±


    As the instructor redirected the attendees¡¯ attention, the murmuring began to die down.


    ¡°Hello, everyone. My name is Cha Jin-Woo. I am the Assistant Manager of the Fissure Analysis Team 2 at the Hunter¡¯s Bureau, and I will be leading the first session of this training series. It¡¯s nice to meet you all.¡±


    With his neatly styled hair, Cha Jin-Woo bowed his head while holding the microphone, which was met with a light round of applause from the audience. He fiddled with the remote, and the beam projector flashed on, displaying a PowerPoint titled, Definition of a Fissure, on the screen behind him.


    ¡°Just the title alone makes me want to fall asleep,¡± Lee Min-Hee muttered as she pulled out her smartphone.


    Civil servants took this mandatory training course to fulfill the required training hours for their promotion. Most attendees either slacked off, dozed, or checked in and left early, and Lee Min-Hee was no exception.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you agree, Supervisor Le...¡± She trailed off, chuckling, as she saw Do-Jun had pulled out the small desk attached to his chair and placed a notepad on it, diligently taking notes.


    ¡°Supervisor Lee...?¡± she called out.


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Uh, nothing. It just looks like you¡¯re taking this really seriously, even taking notes.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not particularly smart, so if I don¡¯t write things down, I won¡¯t remember them. I¡¯m still quite clumsy at my job since my recent hospital stay due to a severe injury,¡± Do-Jun said, continuing to write down what Cha Jin-Woo was saying.


    Hearing that Do-Jun considered his work clumsy, Lee Min-Hee let out a short scoff.


    The PowerPoint moved to the next slide. The screen now displayed the main interface of the Fissure Management System.


    Cha Jin-Woo glanced around the room and said, ¡°Most of you are probably familiar with this since many of you serve in Fissure Management. This is the Fissure Management System app. It allows you to systematically manage the ranks and internal information of each Fissure. Our Bureau began developing this app in earnest back in July 2016...¡±


    Cha Jin-Woo continued explaining for about twenty more minutes before pulling something from behind the podium and placing it on the stand.


    It was a SpacePad, the standard device issued to all Fissure Management civil servants.


    ¡°It seems like many of you are getting bored. I saw this coming, so I¡¯ve prepared something. This SpacePad has the Fissure Management System app preinstalled. Now, I know that each municipality manages at least three Fissures. Would anyone like to briefly explain one of the Fissures managed by their city or district? There is a small prize involved for the person who volunteers.¡±


    Cha Jin-Woo pulled a box wrapped in packaging paper with question marks all over it out from the podium.


    ¡°This is an unidentified artifact.¡±


    An unidentified artifact was a spherical item that was sometimes dropped when a monster was killed. When infused with a certain amount of mana, a message would pop up asking the carrier if they would like to open it. Upon opening, a random weapon, armor, accessory, or consumable item would appear from it that ranged from F to S-rank.


    However, the problem was that most failed to produce anything, and even when they succeeded, the content was usually an F-rank item. When a failure message appeared, the artifact instantly became a useless piece of garbage.


    Moreover, this was just a standard artifact that could be found at any smithy for fifty thousand won.


    ¡°Is there anyone who would like to volunteer?¡± Cha Jin-Woo asked the class.


    However, the response was lukewarm at best. The reason was simple. Most of the attendees weren¡¯t interested in the class to begin with, and volunteering was even more burdensome. To make things more difficult, most civil servants didn¡¯t possess mana, so the unidentified artifact Cha Jin-Woo offered was essentially useless to them. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Finally, a hand stuck out among the crowd. Cha Jin-Woo¡¯s face brightened as Do-Jun raised his hand slightly.


    ¡°Ah! A volunteer. Please come up and introduce yourself first.¡±


    Do-Jun went up to the podium and received the microphone from Cha Jin-Woo. He bowed slightly toward the audience and introduced himself, ¡°Hello. I am Lee Do-Jun from the Seoul City Hall¡¯s Fissure Management Division.¡±


    The audience erupted into cheers.


    ¡°Wooaaaaah!¡±


    Do-Jun coughed awkwardly in surprise.


    Cha Jin-Woo was also just as taken aback. After all, the man who had been making waves in the Hunter¡¯s Bureau was standing right in front of him.


    ¡°W-well then, Supervisor Lee Do-Jun. The app is already open, so if you could select one of the Fissures managed by Seoul City Hall, explain it briefly, and share how you managed it, that would be great.¡±


    ¡°Sure. I can do that.¡±


    Taking the SpacePad handed to him, Do-Jun browsed through the list of Fissures managed by the City of Seoul. Then he made his selection.


    [Accessing the Fissure at Myeongil-dong 002, Gangdong-gu, Seoul.]


    This was the first F-rank Fissure that Do-Jun visited after returning to Earth.


    The projection screen automatically mirrored what came up on the SpacePad screen.


    ¡°This was the first Fissure I was assigned to after resuming work. It was classified as an F-rank, and I entered it with a Hunter named Cha Ye-Ji, who had recently signed with our department. As you know, the priority for us civil servants is mapping, so from the entrance of the Fissure¡ª¡± Do-Jun¡¯s voice rang through the speakers.


    Cha Jin-Woo interrupted him, ¡°Wait a moment. Did you say you entered the Fissure yourself?¡±


    ¡°Yes, is there a problem?¡±


    According to the Fissure Management guidelines, civil servants were supposed to ¡°accompany a Hunter to acquire information about the Fissure,¡± but in practice, that wasn¡¯t how things were done. Most of the time, the work was left to contracted Hunters, and civil servants would compile the Fissure data based on the photos and reports submitted by the Hunters after they finished exploring.


    The reason was simple: it was dangerous.


    Because of this, auditors never raised an issue about this practice. In fact, they didn¡¯t even address it. It was an unspoken rule.


    ¡°But isn¡¯t that dangerous? Honestly, I don¡¯t understand why you even entered that S-rank Great Fissure in the first place. For ordinary people like us, taking one hit inside a Fissure could mean instant death,¡± Cha Jin-Woo commented, surprised by Do-Jun¡¯s work practice.


    ¡°You¡¯re right, it is dangerous. Which is exactly why I went in myself,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°What?¡± Cha Jin-Woo was puzzled, and he was joined by everyone else in the room.


    The idea of entering a Fissure because it was dangerous seemed contradictory.


    Do-Jun explained, ¡°The Fissures we document and manage are published on the local government websites or the Hunter¡¯s Bureau website. Hunters use this information to compare and analyze Fissures before choosing which one suits them best.¡±


    He tapped the SpacePad, which displayed a map and photos of the Fissure in Myeongil-dong 002, Gangdong-gu, Seoul, taken from the 12 o¡¯clock position.


    ¡°Hunters accept this information without a second thought because it¡¯s official data created by a government office. Most assume it¡¯s accurate and reliable. Then they enter the Fissure based on this data.¡±


    Everyone swallowed nervously.


    Most of the Fissures managed by local governments were C-rank or lower, and the majority of Hunters were ranked C or below.


    In other words, most Hunters hunted in Fissures managed by government offices.


    ¡°Yes, our work is dangerous, and it¡¯s natural that we feel hesitant to enter the Fissures ourselves¡ªyou could die at any moment. But that¡¯s why I personally go in, check it with my own eyes, and compile the data. So that the dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of Hunters who use the information I create can safely hunt in the Fissures.¡±


    Do-Jun shifted his gaze to Lee Min-Hee, who was staring at him in disbelief with her smartphone in one hand.


    ¡°I am always on alert and doing my best.¡±


    ***


    That night, Do-Jun returned home just before 9 PM after dinner with Ye-Ji.


    Although his training ended at 4 PM, he waited for the results of Ye-Ji¡¯s special promotion review and then had dinner near Seoul City Hall, which made his day quite long.


    Ms. Ye-Ji is a B-rank Hunter now, Do-Jun thought happily.


    Watching Ye-Ji, who was an F-rank Hunter just two months ago, rise to B-rank in such a short time made him happy, like a father watching his child grow.


    Just then, the bathroom door swung open, and Yong-Yong burst out, looking terrified.


    ¡°Aaaah! What is that taste!?¡±


    Behind him, Yoon-Hee followed, wearing a swimsuit and holding a toothbrush. ¡°I told you to stay still... F-father?¡±


    Yong-Yong hid behind Do-Jun. ¡°Ugh, sniff, Master, please save me.¡±


    Do-Jun noticed the toothpaste foam covering Yong-Yong¡¯s mouth and asked Yoon-Hee, ¡°Were you trying to brush his teeth?¡±


    Seeing her nod with a flushed face, Do-Jun grabbed Yong-Yong by the head and carried him straight into the bathroom. Then, he tossed him inside.


    Yong-Yong stared at Do-Jun in disbelief. ¡°M-master...?¡±


    Do-Jun noticed Karsiel trembling beside Yong-Yong, evidently just as afraid of getting her teeth brushed.


    ¡°Give me the toothbrush.¡± Do-Jun extended his hand to Yoon-Hee.


    ¡°N-no, I can do it, Father.¡±


    ¡°You need to take a break.¡±


    ¡°But...¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to shower anyway, so I¡¯ll brush their teeth while I¡¯m at it.¡±


    Do-Jun took the toothbrush and entered the bathroom, closing the door behind him.


    ¡°Aaaah!¡±


    A moment later, Yong-Yong¡¯s scream echoed inside the bathroom.


    ***


    ¡°Hic... sniff...¡±


    Yong-Yong lay on the sofa, crying with snot and tears streaming down his face.


    Next to him, Karsiel tried to comfort him. ¡°Lord Izaas, based on what I read online, if you don¡¯t brush your teeth, the bacteria in your mouth will break down the sugars from leftover food particles and produce lactic acid, which will erode your tooth enamel and cause cavities.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve lived thousands of years just fine without it, though... sniff, sniff.¡±


    Watching them, Do-Jun sighed, then gave some advice. ¡°You¡¯re not supposed to eat the toothpaste. You cry about the taste because you keep swallowing it.¡±


    ¡°I instinctively swallow anything that enters my mouth, sniff, sniff.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s something to brag about...¡± Do-Jun said.


    Yoon-Hee walked out of the kitchen holding a plate of sliced apples. She placed it on the coffee table in front of the sofa.


    Then, noticing the box wrapped in packaging with question marks littered over it, she asked, ¡°Oh, isn¡¯t this an unidentified artifact?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. I got it as a prize at the training today.¡±


    ¡°People say those prizes are usually junk. I¡¯ve tried a few times myself. Are you going to open it?¡±


    Do-Jun nodded and picked up the unidentified artifact.

 Chapter 48

    Chapter 48


    Do-Jun pulled on the ribbon of the neatly wrapped package. As the bow came undone, the question mark wrapping paper came apart smoothly to reveal a monochrome sphere.


    Do-Jun held the sphere in his palm, and a message appeared.


    [Would you like to open the artifact?]


    [Please infuse mana to open the artifact. Required mana: 5]


    Do-Jun¡¯s internal energy flowed from his dantian through his fingertips and into the unidentified artifact. However, despite his effort to infuse a minimal amount, the artifact could not absorb it all, and the residual energy returned from his fingertips to his dantian.


    [The artifact begins to shine!]


    The sphere glowed faintly red.


    Seeing this, Yoon-Hee¡¯s expression brightened.


    ¡°It¡¯s not a dud,¡± she said, sounding relieved.


    ¡°Good.¡±


    The light emitted by the sphere gradually shifted from red to orange, then from orange to yellow.


    Another message appeared before Do-Jun¡¯s eyes.


    [The artifact begins to shine brilliantly.]


    The light continued to change, from yellow to green, from green to blue, then navy, and finally purple.


    Then, an electrical current sparked from the sphere, accompanied by a loud noise.


    Crackle.


    Crack, crackle, crackle!


    [You have discovered a relic from the Deep Realm!]


    With a pop, the sparks and loud noise subsided, and the monochrome sphere transformed into a book and fell onto the table.


    Yoon-Hee leaned forward to take a closer look at the book and muttered, ¡°It¡¯s a... book?¡±


    It was an old, dusty book, looking much like an ancient manuscript.


    Do-Jun picked it up to check its properties.


    [Interpreter - Ataraxia]


    Category: Miscellaneous / Support


    Grade: Relic of the Deep Realm


    Completion: 0%


    Magic Resistance: 10 (+0)


    Description: Encyclopedia of the Core compiled by Epicurus, a traveler of the Deep Realm (incomplete). Tap the magnifying glass button on a blank page to record information about a target. As the completion increases, magic resistance will also increase (for use in the Core only).


    Yong-Yong, who had been watching with interest from beside Do-Jun, clicked his tongue and rolled over to his right to pick up the remote control. He pressed the power button and turned on the TV.


    ¡°It¡¯s not food.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not food.¡±


    Do-Jun and Yong-Yong¡¯s eyes met as they both muttered simultaneously.


    Do-Jun smirked and said, ¡°You are so predictable.¡±


    ¡°That... that just gave me goosebumps.¡± Yong-Yong shuddered and moved a little farther away from Do-Jun.


    Do-Jun flipped the book around, examining it from various angles, and murmured, ¡°A relic of the Deep Realm...¡±


    Suddenly, he recalled what Nergess had said during the training Fissure incident.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you one of the great dragons born from the Core?¡±


    ¡°You said you were born in the Core, right?¡± Do-Jun asked Yong-Yong.


    ¡°Sorry?¡±


    ¡°I remember Nergess mentioning something similar.¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t tell ya.¡± Yong-Yong picked up an apple with his front paws and popped it into his mouth, chewing as he replied. But seeing Do-Jun¡¯s expression grow cold, Yong-Yong paled, hurriedly swallowed the apple he was eating, and hastily elaborated, ¡°I-I¡¯m serious! I really don¡¯t remember!¡±


    This time, Do-Jun looked at Karsiel, but she also closed her eyes and shook her head.


    ¡°I, too, know little about the Core. I¡¯m certain our kind was born there, but I have no memories of the place. When I opened my eyes, I was simply in the nest.¡±


    ¡°Yoon-Hee, do you know anything about the grade ¡®relic of the Deep Realm¡¯?¡±


    Yoon-Hee also shook her head, indicating she wasn¡¯t sure.


    Artifacts were generally graded starting from the lowest, F-rank, to the highest known S-rank.


    But words like ¡°Deep Realm¡± or even ¡°relic¡± were completely unfamiliar.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of such a grade before,¡± Yoon-Hee said.


    ¡°This thing is obviously related to the Core...¡±


    ¡°The Core? Oh, you mean the place that Behemoth Guild is currently exploring?¡±


    Do-Jun nodded.


    I guess I¡¯ll keep it for now.


    Whatever it was, it was an artifact that could provide information about the Core. It might prove helpful if he ever needed to enter the Core, although he had no plans to go there at the moment.


    ***


    Twentieth floor, Hunter¡¯s Bureau Chief¡¯s Office.


    ¡°This concludes my report.¡±


    Young-Chul stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray as he glanced again at the last page of the report submitted by the Sword Emperor.


    According to Kang-Hyun, the place five hundred meters below the ground was called the entrance to the Core. However, they had searched every inch of the Core¡¯s entrance but couldn¡¯t find any of the needed tickets.


    ¡°So, you need something called an entry token...¡±


    Feeling a sharp pain in his temples, Young-Chul rubbed his forehead and began rereading the report from the first page.


    Over the twenty-one Dives conducted over the past three years, the estimated progress made in the exploration was a mere 1.4 percent.


    However, that was okay. Though minute, the progress was steady.


    But the Bureau was now facing a massive wall.


    The grand five-year plan of the Core expedition, which had been in preparation for two years and executed over the last three, was coming to an end.


    Young-Chul let out a long sigh, turning his chair to face the night view of Seoul through the full-length glass windows.


    For the past decade, ever since Fissures first appeared, he had always moved forward. He had gained both wealth and fame in amounts that not many could top. But what truly ignited his passion was something else entirely.


    The exploration of the unknown.


    The first appearance of Fissures and the subsequent process of people undergoing awakening and retrieving items from monsters stirred something deep within him as a former military officer.


    Joining the Hunter-related field had blown a second wind into his life, and since then, each day had been exhausting, but it was fulfilling and exhilarating. This was especially true when a massive hole appeared in the Sotaesan Mountain region of Gangwon-do. Upon discovering the Core, his heart raced like a child¡¯s.


    ¡°In the end, all of this might just be my greed. I¡¯m pushing talent into danger because of my own ambitions,¡± Young-Chul muttered. He then called, ¡°Kang-Hyun.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s pull back from the Core for now.¡±


    Feeling mixed emotions, Kang-Hyun turned his gaze to the file on the Chief¡¯s desk titled: ¡°Expedition Team Member Prospects.¡±


    ¡°Prospective members for the expedition team...?¡± Kang-Hyun said as he picked up the file and flipped open the cover.


    Several familiar names caught his eye, but one name stood out in particular: Lee Do-Jun.


    ¡°We even managed to recruit a Ranker from China, though he¡¯s already gone back,¡± Young-Chul said, pulling out a new cigarette and lighting it.


    ¡°Yang Cheok-Gi, the tenth-ranked Hunter. I¡¯ve heard him being referred to as the master of martial arts,¡± Kang-Hyun said.


    ¡°Yes. Originally, he was supposed to stay in Korea for an extended period, but I guess his pride got the better of him. He ended up cutting his visit short.¡±


    ¡°His pride?¡±


    Young-Chul turned his chair to face Kang-Hyun.


    ¡°While you were away, an S-rank Great Fissure appeared in Umyeonsan Mountain in Seocho-gu. You must¡¯ve seen it on the news.¡±


    ¡°No, this is the first I¡¯ve heard of it,¡± Kang-Hyun responded with mild surprise.


    It had only been two days since he returned from the Core, and he had been spending those days recovering his strength in a meditation capsule. Naturally, he hadn¡¯t had time to catch up on the news.


    Young-Chul tapped his smartphone and brought up a news article, showing it to Kang-Hyun.


    Kang-Hyun took the phone and began reading the article. His eyes widened the further down he read.


    ?S-rank Great Fissure Operational Team, all members survived... Thanks to the Commander¡¯s leadership.?


    ? The Commander turns out to be a civil servant at Seoul City Hall.?


    ?Civil servant fills the void left by the Sword Emperor.?


    ¡°No fatality?¡± Kang-Hyun asked, looking up at Young-Chul.


    The average survival rate for S-rank Great Fissure was sixty-eight percent. Out of a team of ten, an average of three would either die or be stranded, never returning. Yet not seventy, not eighty, but a hundred percent survival and return rate.


    It was unbelievable.


    ¡°I watched the situation unfold through the emergency cam. It was extraordinary. The longer the operation went on, the more organized they became. All the Hunters moved like chess pieces under Lee Do-Jun¡¯s command. The results speak for themselves in that article.¡±


    ¡°Sir, is that even possible?¡±


    Lee Do-Jun was certainly special.


    Though nothing showed up during his preliminary assessment, his physique alone made it clear he was born to be a Hunter. He also emanated an inexplicable sense of pressure.


    But still, an ordinary person was just that¡ªordinary.


    An S-rank Great Fissure was a place where even A-rankers could lose their lives with a single mistake. The chances of an ordinary person surviving in there were close to zero.


    ¡°You remember I said Yang Cheok-Gi left because his ego was hurt, right?¡± Young-Chul asked Kang-Hyun.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°That day, we gathered the prospective expedition team members to brief them about the Core. During the briefing, Yang Cheok-Gi picked a fight with Do-Jun, and Do-Jun didn¡¯t back down.¡± S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°What do you mean he didn¡¯t back down?¡±


    Young-Chul nodded and continued, ¡°They sparred. And Yang Cheok-Gi... not even once... Not even once did he manage to touch Lee Do-Jun.¡±


    ¡°Sir..., Yang Cheok-Gi is a ranker from China.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I wouldn¡¯t believe it either if I were you.¡±


    Young-Chul wasn¡¯t the type of man to lie about something like this. And so, the doubts in Kang-Hyun¡¯s mind only grew.


    Just who was this Lee Do-Jun?


    Young-Chul continued, ¡°The article says that four S-rank Hunters defeated the boss monster, but that¡¯s not the truth. I later received a report from Min-Hyuk saying that only five people were allowed into the boss zone. The rest were force-ejected from the Fissure.¡± He paused for a moment. ¡°I¡¯ll let you guess the fifth member.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re saying that Lee Do-Jun killed the boss monster? In an S-rank Great Fissure?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. And he did it alone.¡±


    In Korea, only a handful of people were capable of solo-killing the boss of an S-rank Great Fissure¡ªthe three First Hunters, including the Sword Emperor himself.


    If what Young-Chul said was true, then it meant that Lee Do-Jun was on par with, or possibly even stronger than, the First Hunters.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s late. We¡¯ll talk more tomorrow. I still have some work to finish up,¡± Young-Chul said.


    Despite having a mountain of questions, Kang-Hyun simply responded, ¡°Yes, understood,¡± bowed briefly, and left the Chief¡¯s office.


    Soon after Kang-Hyun left, Young-Chul opened the file containing the prospective expedition members and looked over Do-Jun¡¯s profile.


    ¡°He really killed it by himself...¡±


    The boss monster with a reading of 5,800.


    ***


    The following morning, at 7:40 AM.


    Standing in front of the elevator at the Hunter¡¯s Bureau¡¯s main building was Do-Jun, with a small red pouch in one hand. Inside was the entry token that would grant access to the Core¡¯s tutorial zone.


    I forgot to drop this off yesterday.


    The Hunter¡¯s Bureau had high-speed elevators, fitting of an eighty-story skyscraper. The elevator, which had been on the fortieth floor, arrived at the ground floor in less than ten seconds.


    The doors opened, and Do-Jun stepped inside. He pressed the twentieth-floor button and arrived five seconds later at his destination.


    As he stepped out of the elevator, he found himself in front of the door marked ¡°Chief¡¯s Office.¡±


    Upon knocking, the door opened, revealing a man in his late thirties. Do-Jun recognized him as the aide who had visited his house before.


    The aide looked surprised to see Do-Jun, his eyes widening as he bowed. ¡°W-what brings you here at this hour?¡±


    ¡°Is Chief Jung in?¡±


    The aide shook his head and answered, ¡°Chief Jung will arrive around 8:50.¡±


    ¡°Then, could you pass this on to him for me?¡±


    ¡°W-what is this?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯ll know what it is when he sees it.¡±


    ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll make sure he gets it when he arrives.¡±


    ¡°Thank you. Take care.¡±


    With a brief smile, Do-Jun turned back toward the elevator.


    I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll figure it out from here.

 Chapter 49

    Chapter 49


    ?The expedition team returns without progress.?


    ?Can the Hunter¡¯s Bureau ease the public¡¯s doubt about its Chief¡¯s competence??


    ?Behemoth Guild Master Lee Kang-Hyun currently on break.?


    In the backseat of a luxury sedan crossing through Euljiro, Young-Chul sighed as he scrolled through internet articles on his smartphone.


    Since Behemoth Guild¡¯s return from the Core region, he had held a press conference admitting that no progress had been made, sparking a debate over the competence of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau Chief.


    ¦éttis***: Is Behemoth the problem, or is it the Chief? They haven¡¯t made any discoveries in three years. (Likes: 111,231 / Dislikes: 38,531)


    ¦échro****: They said there are S-rank monsters blocking the entrance. That¡¯s understandable. But my question is, why only send three members on the expedition? Sure, Behemoth Guild is the strongest¡ªhaving the top three Hunters. But the numbers are overwhelmingly insufficient. Chief, if you¡¯re reading this, consider increasing the expedition team size. (Likes: 72,231 / Dislikes: 1,461)


    ¦ésinh****: I know that Korea is a Hunter powerhouse, but honestly, if we cooperated with other countries, the progress would be faster. Is this a pride thing? Or are they just squabbling over their political interests again? The people in Gangwon-do are anxious because we don¡¯t know when monsters from the Core might pop out, so you need to come up with a solution quickly. (Likes: 42,231 / Dislikes: 7,589)


    ¦ésks****: Just sack the current Chief and appoint someone else. He¡¯s completely washed. (Likes: 22,910 / Dislikes: 6,539)


    While he was lost in the comments, the sedan soon arrived at the Hunter¡¯s Bureau building.


    ¡°Sir, we¡¯ve arrived,¡± the driver quietly informed him.


    ¡°Oh, we¡¯re here already? You¡¯ve had an early start today; thank you for your help.¡±


    ¡°Not at all. I¡¯ll be on standby in the office.¡±


    ¡°Alright. Be sure to have breakfast.¡±


    Young-Chul pocketed his smartphone, stepped out of the car, and headed for the elevator.


    Twenty? he thought in surprise when the elevator started descending from the twentieth floor, where his office was the only one.


    Did someone have business with him?


    Young-Chul¡¯s eyes widened as the elevator doors opened.


    ¡°S-supervisor Lee, what brings you here so early in the morning...?¡±


    Seeing Young-Chul swallow nervously, Do-Jun silently pointed to the opposite side of the hall. There, the promotional screen briefly flashed the words ¡°2019 Basic Course on Understanding Fissure Management, Session 1.¡±


    ¡°I have training today. You¡¯re in early, too. I was told you would arrive at 8:50,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°Ah, yes... I had some business to attend to.¡±


    ¡°I see. Well, if you¡¯ll excuse me.¡± Do-Jun bowed slightly and passed by Young-Chul.


    Young-Chul turned around and called out to Do-Jun, ¡°Supervisor Lee, you came down from the twentieth floor. Were you here to see me?¡±


    Do-Jun stopped in his tracks and looked back.


    ¡°You¡¯ll find out once you get to your office.¡±


    ***


    [Tutorial Zone Entry Token (Core Exclusive)]


    Category: Miscellaneous / Consumable


    Grade: S


    Description: A token that allows access to the Core region¡¯s tutorial zone. Once used, the token is consumed. Each challenger requires one token. Even for re-entry, a ticket is required, so use them wisely.


    ¡°Supervisor Lee left this?¡± Young-Chul asked his aide.


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    Young-Chul¡¯s pupils trembled slightly.


    Curious as to why the Chief was reacting this way, the aide picked up one of the many paper scraps from the pouch and checked it.


    Now he understood.


    ¡°I-isn¡¯t this... the entry token?¡± he stammered.


    This token granted access to the tutorial zone¡ªthe very item that Young-Chul and Behemoth Guild had been desperately searching for since their twentieth expedition attempt.


    How had Do-Jun gotten hold of these? And so many, at that?


    ¡°Did he say anything else when he gave these to you?¡±


    ¡°No, sir. He only told me that you¡¯ll know what it is.¡±


    Young-Chul thought he had to secure Do-Jun, no matter what it took.


    This isn¡¯t just a matter of how strong he is.


    It seemed possible that Do-Jun knew the secrets of the Core that ordinary people could not.


    That suspicion gnawed at Young-Chul.


    ¡°Bring Supervisor Lee here,¡± He ordered the aide.


    ¡°Pardon?¡±


    ¡°He should be at the training in the small auditorium.¡±


    But then, Young-Chul realized that he had given the wrong order. He shot up from his seat and hurriedly left the office.


    ¡°S-sir! Where are you going?¡±


    His aide hastily followed after him.


    ***


    Day 2 of training, 9:30 a.m.


    Assistant Manager Cha Jin-Woo, in charge of the day''s first class, enthusiastically explained the by-products and mana stones that could be obtained by defeating monsters inside Fissures.


    The trainees'' attitudes had noticeably changed after Do-Jun¡¯s presentation the previous day. No one was dozing off or playing with their smartphones. Everyone was focused on the lecturer, trying to absorb every word he said.


    Cha Jin-Woo glanced at Do-Jun, who was diligently taking notes just like the previous day. His lecture was filled with shallow information that anyone could find by searching the internet, so he wondered why Do-Jun was so focused.


    Ugh. I made eye contact with him,Cha Jin-Woo thought as he unwillingly flinched.


    Though his gaze wasn¡¯t exactly fierce, there was an inexplicable power behind those eyes. For some reason, whenever Do-Jun looked at him, Cha Jin-Woo felt like he was being stripped naked and as if Do-Jun could see through everything.


    Just then, the door to the small auditorium flung open with a loud Bam!


    ¡°As you can see, you can take the leather and teeth to the smithy... gasp!¡± Cha Jin-Woo audibly gasped in the middle of the lecture when he saw who entered through those doors.


    It was the Hunter¡¯s Bureau Chief Jung and his aide.


    To a Bureau employee, Young-Chul was like the president of the nation. Outside of the quarterly Bureau-wide meetings, it was almost impossible to see him under normal circumstances. Every word he said profoundly impacted the entire Bureau¡ªno, the entire Hunter world.


    The civil servants in the room turned around, feeling something was off. When they spotted the Bureau Chief, they were astonished and began whispering to each other.


    ¡°Why is the Bureau Chief here?¡±


    As Young-Chul walked down to the front, paying no attention to the gazes, the still-stunned Cha Jin-Woo quickly gathered his wits and ran down from the podium, bowing so deeply it looked like his back would break.


    But Young-Chul didn¡¯t pay him any mind either and stopped in front of Do-Jun. Then, together with his aide, he bowed to Do-Jun.


    ¡°W-what is happening?¡±


    The people around gasped in surprise. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Not only did Chief Jung appear at a training session out of nowhere, but he was now bowing to Do-Jun?


    ¡°I apologize for intruding during your training,¡± Young-Chul said.


    Do-Jun had been silently staring at Young-Chul. He sighed and finally muttered, ¡°I thought you were smarter.¡±


    ¡°Sorry...?¡±


    Do-Jun stood up and walked over to Cha Jin-Woo, who stood frozen with his mouth agape.


    ¡°I apologize for the commotion, Assistant Manager Cha. May I be excused for a moment?¡± Do-Jun asked politely.


    Cha Jin-Woo glanced between Young-Chul and Do-Jun, then nodded vigorously.


    With permission granted, Do-Jun turned to Young-Chul and asked, ¡°Shall we head to your office?¡±


    ¡°Yes... that would be appreciated.¡±


    As Do-Jun walked ahead toward the exit, he paused and turned around. ¡°Make sure to apologize to the instructor and the other trainees before you leave, Chief Jung.¡±


    Do-Jun left the small auditorium, shutting the door behind him.


    The others stared, their mouths hanging open.


    A mere civil servant had just said something so audacious to the head of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau. Yet, Young-Chul didn¡¯t seem offended at all. In fact, he felt grateful to Do-Jun.


    ¡°S-s-sir...¡± Cha Jin-Woo¡¯s lips trembled as he approached Young-Chul.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for disrupting your lecture. Could I borrow the microphone for a moment?¡±


    ¡°N-no need to apologize, sir! Here¡¯s the mic.¡±


    Young-Chul took the microphone, addressing the attendees who were still watching him.


    ¡°I sincerely apologize for interrupting your valuable time. Please forgive this intrusion with generosity,¡± he said to the auditorium, bowing deeply.


    ***


    Inside the Chief¡¯s office.


    Sword Emperor Kang-Hyun sat on the sofa while a blonde beauty with slightly wavy long hair that came down to her waist poured him tea.


    She was Moon Ae-Kyung, ranked third among the First Hunters.


    Across from Kang-Hyun sat a spiky-haired man with an undercut, wearing sunglasses, who was casually blowing cigarette smoke while holding an entry token.


    ¡°So, you''re saying some civil servant named Lee Do-Jun brought this?¡±


    Ryu Jun-Yeol, ranked second among the First Hunters, snorted as he propped his legs up on the table.


    Ae-Kyung frowned at him and scolded, ¡° Jun-Yeol, put your feet down.¡±


    ¡°There you go, nagging again. What¡¯s the big deal? The table isn¡¯t going to wear out. Besides, the old man must¡¯ve finally lost it. Lying about some civil servant bringing this. Who would believe that?¡±


    Kang-Hyun set down his teacup and spoke up. ¡°Put your legs down. The Chief will be back soon.¡±


    At Kang-Hyun¡¯s words, Jun-Yeol reluctantly lowered his legs, though not without complaint. ¡°Tch. Guild Master, no¡ªbrother Kang-Hyun. We¡¯re past tiptoeing around Chief now, aren¡¯t we? You should change that stiff personality of yours, too. What¡¯s the point of being ranked first if you¡¯re so uptight you can¡¯t enjoy it? You¡¯re too rigid.¡±


    Ignoring Jun-Yeol¡¯s grumbling, Kang-Hyun examined the token again. The red pouch contained ten thousand of them.


    ¡°Anyway, that civil servant... I heard he replaced you as commander. Judging from the articles, he doesn¡¯t seem to be one of ours. Is he some sort of a genius strategist? Well, he must be smart to be a civil servant. A meathead like me could never.¡±


    The office door burst open at that moment, and three men entered.


    Jun-Yeol turned his head to see Young-Chul and his aide, who was accompanied by a man he hadn¡¯t seen before. But he instantly knew that this man was the civil servant from the rumors.


    ¡°I see that everyone¡¯s here,¡± Young-Chul said and gestured to the sofa for Do-Jun.


    ¡°Please, sit wherever you like, Supervisor Lee.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Watching this, Jun-Yeol snickered.


    Young-Chul, who was always full of pride, was acting so subservient it was almost comical. He wished he could take a picture.


    That¡¯s that, but... Jun-Yeol wasn¡¯t too fond of Do-Jun.


    Despite seeing the might of Behemoth, the top guild with the most powerful Hunters, Do-Jun remained unfazed and indifferent.


    Arrogant, Jun-Yeol thought.


    Just because he played the role of commander once, did he think he could look down on Hunters?


    Jun-Yeol decided to give Do-Jun a little greeting of his own.


    With a crackle, the ring on his finger began to glow and transformed into a long spear.


    Startled, Kang-Hyun shouted, ¡°Stop!¡±


    But Jun-Yeol ignored him, smirked, and gripped the spear. Then, a flash of light shot toward Do-Jun¡¯s eyes.


    He had no intention of harming him. He just wanted to scare him a little.


    Seeing that Do-Jun didn¡¯t move, Ryu Jun-Yeol thought to himself, He can¡¯t even react. How boring.


    He was sure that Do-Jun was just an average person.


    The sharp tip of the spear stopped just before reaching Do-Jun¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Ryu Jun-Yeol!¡± Kang-Hyun growled with his face twisted in anger, and seeing that, Jun-Yeol shrugged and retracted the spear.


    ¡°Did I scare you? Oops, sorry.¡±


    At Jun-Yeol¡¯s sarcastic apology, Do-Jun narrowed his eyes and chuckled softly.


    It wasn¡¯t that he couldn¡¯t dodge¡ªit was just so pathetic. It reminded him of the lowly thugs he used to deal with in Martial World, so he had decided to just watch.


    ¡°W-what... what did you just do...?¡± Young-Chul was standing beside Do-Jun. He turned pale and slowly glanced at Do-Jun, trying to gauge his reaction.


    ¡°Chief Jung,¡± Do-Jun called.


    ¡°Yes...?¡±


    Do-Jun smiled and continued, ¡°You¡¯ve trained your dog poorly.¡±

 Chapter 50

    Chapter 50


    ¡°You trained your dog poorly,¡± Do-Jun said.


    With that one sentence, the air in the room sank.


    ¡°Pahahahaha!¡± Jun-Yeol¡¯s laughter broke the silence.


    He was a First Hunter ranked second in Korea and was also known as the Spear King. It was utterly ridiculous to him that a mere civil servant had called him a dog.


    Jun-Yeol laughed for a while, covering his face with his hand. When he finally stopped and took off his sunglasses, his face was twisted in anger. Then, mana surged from his body as if it was about to explode.


    ¡°Jun-Yeol, stop. This is the Chief¡¯s office,¡± Ae-Kyung warned him.


    Jun-Yeol ignored it and strode over to Do-Jun. He got up close, almost in his face, pressing his forehead against Do-Jun¡¯s, glaring at him as if he were about to devour him.


    ¡°Want that dog to rip the life out of you?¡± Jun-Yeol growled lowly, thick with killing intent.


    Young-Chul had been watching anxiously. Just as he was about to raise his voice, Do-Jun slowly raised his hand and grabbed Jun-Yeol by the neck.


    Watching this, Ae-Kyung was shocked.


    An ordinary person dared to lay their hands on the Spear King and his neck, no less? She was certain that Jun-Yeol would kill Do-Jun, but what happened next was quite the opposite.


    Do-Jun lifted Jun-Yeol into the air, and the mana radiating from Jun-Yeol¡¯s body dissipated instantly.


    As Jun-Yeol struggled to pry Do-Jun¡¯s hand off his neck, Do-Jun spoke. ¡°If I squeeze any harder, you¡¯ll die.¡±


    His cold voice echoed in the room.


    Ae-Kyung couldn¡¯t believe what she was seeing. She wondered if this was a dream or if Jun-Yeol, the Spear King, was really being subdued.


    ¡°S-spare... me...¡± Jun-Yeol pleaded, his face turning paler by the second the longer he couldn¡¯t breathe.


    He tried to gather his mana to escape the situation, but for some reason, his mana wouldn¡¯t respond.


    ¡°I¡¯ll let it slide just this once, but know that...¡± Do-Jun released his grip, and Jun-Yeol collapsed onto the floor, gasping for breath and coughing violently. ¡°There won¡¯t be a second time.¡±


    ¡°Cough! Cough, cough!¡±


    ¡°I apologize, Supervisor Lee. This won¡¯t happen again,¡± Young-Chul quickly apologized as he bowed his head.


    ¡°Well, Chief, it wasn¡¯t really your fault,¡± Do-Jun said as he walked over to the sofa and sat down.


    Meanwhile, Kang-Hyun swallowed dryly, deep in thought. He didn¡¯t even use mana.


    Do-Jun had overwhelmed Jun-Yeol with pure physical strength. But what was puzzling was that the mana Jun-Yeol had gathered had scattered so abruptly, and after that, he couldn¡¯t use his mana at all.


    Young-Chul felt cold sweat trickling down his back.


    He knew Do-Jun was strong, but he hadn¡¯t expected him to be able to subdue Jun-Yeol, a First Hunter, in a single move.


    Ridiculous monster, he thought.


    Ignoring the stares directed at him, Do-Jun said, ¡°Can you tell me why you called me here? Though, I think I can guess why.¡±


    Now regaining his composure, Young-Chul walked to his seat and sat down. The still-pale Jun-Yeol clenched his lips and sat next to Kang-Hyun.


    The overwhelming difference in power made it hard even to consider it a humiliation. His fists trembled in anger, but he had to swallow that rage.


    Young-Chul said, ¡°Very well, Supervisor Lee, let me be direct. Please join the expedition team for the Core.¡±


    It was just as Do-Jun expected, but he had no intention of accepting. The Core expeditions, called Dives, usually required a leave of a minimum of two weeks. If he had no responsibilities and no family, he might have considered it, but the reality was that he had a job and a daughter to take care of. He couldn¡¯t leave for that long.


    ¡°I will not join the expedition team.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t say I¡¯m surprised. Ah, we are very grateful that you secured the entry tokens for us. Honestly, we were about to give up on the Core expedition altogether... but thanks to you, we can proceed.¡±


    Young-Chul paused briefly before pulling out a bankbook from the inside pocket of his suit and handing it to Do-Jun. ¡°This is a small token of my appreciation. Please accept it.¡±


    ¡°Chief Jung.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Supervisor Lee?¡±


    ¡°Civil servants get fired for accepting bribes,¡± Do-Jun said as he pushed the bankbook back toward Young-Chul.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t a bribe, it¡¯s a token of gratitude.¡±


    ¡°In our line of work, that¡¯s considered a bribe.¡±


    Young-Chul let out a pained groan.


    Seeing this, Do-Jun chuckled softly and continued, ¡°That said, I¡¯d like to maintain a good relationship with the Hunter¡¯s Bureau going forward.¡±


    ¡°T-thank you.¡±


    ¡°If you continue to show your sincerity in the future, I might help you a little more. So that your expedition team can make it through the Core smoothly.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean by sincerity...?¡± Young-Chul asked tentatively.


    Do-Jun didn¡¯t want money or fame, so what was he asking for?


    Everyone was stunned by Do-Jun¡¯s next words.


    ¡°It¡¯s quite simple. Whatever I request from you in the future, Chief... All you need to do is say, ¡®done¡¯.¡±


    Do-Jun had practically declared himself the de facto leader of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau.


    ***


    Friday, 4 PM.


    After finishing his work, Do-Jun stopped by a nearby supermarket to pick up some groceries before heading home.


    He was planning to explore the Core over the weekend, which meant that he would be leaving his family for two days, so he wanted to do something nice for them.


    This should be enough.


    His hands were full of grocery bags that totaled over 100,000 won. He had even searched blogs on portal sites to learn the recipes for the dishes he would make. Everything was going according to plan.


    Two small dragons ran toward him as he opened the door to his apartment and stepped inside.


    ¡°You¡¯re home ea... huh?¡± Yong-Yong stopped running toward the door and looked back and forth between Do-Jun and the clock on the wall.


    ¡°Master,¡± he said.


    ¡°Yeah?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve finally been fired.¡±


    ¡°No, I haven¡¯t.¡±


    Karsiel also chimed in, ¡°Does this mean we¡¯re going to be starving from now on?¡±


    ¡°I said I wasn¡¯t fired.¡±


    Do-Jun walked into the kitchen and placed the groceries on the counter. Yong-Yong jumped up and inspected the contents of the bags. When he saw a package wrapped in plastic, his eyes gleamed.


    ¡°T-this is... beef ribs...!¡±


    ¡°Yep. I got them for you guys.¡±


    Seeing Yong-Yong¡¯s excitement, Karsiel smiled. ¡°I hope Young Master comes home soon.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Do-Jun inquired curiously.


    ¡°Well, because she¡¯s the one who does the cooking.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m cooking today.¡±


    At Do-Jun¡¯s words, Yong-Yong and Karsiel tilted their heads in confusion.


    ¡°Master... cooking?¡±


    ¡°But we¡¯ve never seen you cook before.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The recipe is all in my head.¡±


    Yong-Yong and Karsiel stared at him, dumbfounded.


    Do-Jun decided to clean the house before Yoon-Hee returned.


    Since she juggled both school and household chores, she must have been exhausted. He figured it would be nice to do this for her, at least for a day.


    ¡°How...?¡± Do-Jun said in surprise. ¡°How is there not a single speck of dust?¡±


    The living room, bathroom, and even his room were sparkling clean. There wasn¡¯t a single dirty dish in the sink or any dirty laundry in the hampers.


    Seeing Do-Jun wandering around in confusion, Yong-Yong spoke up. ¡°As soon as you leave for work, she does all the cleaning, laundry, and dishes before going to school.¡±


    ¡°Young master is incredibly diligent,¡± Karsiel added.


    Hearing this, Do-Jun felt a mix of emotions. He remembered hearing about Cheol-Soo¡¯s daughter, who refused to clean anything, not even her room. On top of that, Cheol-Soo had said with a deep sigh that she constantly complained and took over 500,000 won in allowance every month.


    I knew Yoon-Hee was different from other high school girls, but...


    Now that he thought about it, she had never once asked him for allowance. She must have needed money to do stuff for fun outside, but now that he thought about it, she had never even mentioned any friends.


    Have I been burdening her without realizing it?


    Do-Jun decided he needed to have a conversation with her about it and walked back to the kitchen.


    ¡°Huff, huff, Master, are you making braised ribs?¡±


    ¡°Yep. braised ribs, doenjang jjigae, and three rolled omelets. Let me get started with the prep.¡±


    Do-Jun took out a pack of beef ribs and opened it. He then dumped the ribs into a pot, poured in a bottle of water, and placed it on the stove. Bright red blood spread through the water in the pot.


    ¡°We¡¯re cooked...¡± Yong-Yong muttered.


    *** S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yoon-Hee glanced at her wristwatch as she ran toward home. It was already well past 6:40 PM.


    Her practical class had ended late, and she was rushing because she needed to start dinner immediately so that it would be ready by the time Do-Jun came home.


    As she opened the door a little while later, she noticed a savory smell in the air.


    She noticed Do-Jun¡¯s shoes in the entryway, took off her own, and stepped inside. She then found Yong-Yong and Karsiel frowning by Do-Jun¡¯s side as he stirred a pot with a ladle.


    ¡°Master, I really don¡¯t think that¡¯s how you¡¯re supposed to do it.¡±


    ¡°The blog said to do it like this.¡±


    ¡°I... I apologize for speaking out of line, but I believe you might be misremembering...¡±


    Yoon-Hee walked over to Do-Jun and asked, ¡°F-father, are you... cooking?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re home? Dinner will be ready soon, so just wait a little.¡±


    ¡°Sorry...?¡±


    What had come over him to make him cook all of a sudden?


    And judging by the bloody foam floating in the boiling pot, it didn¡¯t seem like he was doing it right.


    ¡°Did you leave work early today?¡± Yoon-Hee asked him.


    ¡°I took the afternoon off. You work hard every day, so I thought I¡¯d make dinner for a change.¡±


    ¡°Huh...?¡±


    As Do-Jun skimmed off the foam with the ladle, he continued speaking.


    ¡°You prepare dinner every day after school and do my laundry too. I didn¡¯t realize it until I tried to do some cleaning myself, but the house is spotless. I understand that all these things I had taken for granted were because of you.¡±


    Yoon-Hee stared at him silently.


    ¡°Thank you, Yoon-Hee. Let Dad make dinner tonight.¡±


    Hearing those words, Yoon-Hee felt her heart ache; before she knew it, tears were streaming down her face. She hugged Do-Jun¡¯s broad back from behind.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not all because of me.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°Because of you... because I have you, I feel like I¡¯m experiencing more happiness than I deserve. Having dinner together in a warm home every day, watching TV together, going out on weekends sometimes. If you hadn¡¯t taken me in, I wouldn¡¯t have any of this.¡±


    What an incredible kid, Do-Jun thought.


    ***


    The four sat around the warm table, steam rising from the freshly cooked food.


    ¡°Today¡¯s ribs have a peculiar taste.¡± Even as he said that, Yong-Yong was busy gnawing on the rib meat.


    Watching him, Do-Jun and Yoon-Hee exchanged smiles.


    ¡°By the way, why have you never asked for allowance money?¡± Do-Jun asked Yoon-Hee.


    ¡°Allowance? I already get some, though...¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never given you any.¡±


    ¡°You gave me 720,000 won last month.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°I bought a vacuum for 210,000 won and a dryer for 340,000 won...¡± Yoon-Hee mumbled as she counted on her fingers.


    Do-Jun sighed and said, ¡°That was money for household items. I meant something for your personal use.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I spent 70,000 won on transportation.¡±


    Was she actually this na?ve, or was she pretending to be?


    Do-Jun let out an empty laugh.


    ¡°And besides¡ª¡±


    Do-Jun interrupted her, ¡°You need allowance money if you¡¯re going to hang out with your friends.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m okay on that part.¡±


    ¡°Why? Do your friends pay for you?¡±


    ¡°No. I just like being at home better.¡± Yoon-Hee smiled, and it seemed genuine.


    ¡°You need to hang out with your friends every now and then to build relationships. Well, in any case, if you need anything, just ask.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°Oh, and by the way, I have a work trip to Gangwon-do this weekend, just so you know.¡±


    At those words, Yoon-Hee flinched. ¡°S-so suddenly?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. It just came up,¡± Do-Jun said as he put a spoonful of the potato side dish in his mouth.


    ¡°Can I come with you?¡± Yoon-Hee asked him.


    ¡°No.¡± Do-Jun was firm.


    Yoon-Hee pouted her lips, then sighed. ¡°So, you¡¯ll be back Sunday night?¡±


    ¡°Probably. Maybe earlier.¡±


    As Karsiel munched on her food, she glanced up at Do-Jun and thought, Is he going to the Core?

 Chapter 51

    Chapter 51


    Saturday, 8:00 AM.


    The morning started with a breakfast of crispy toast and a warm cup of coffee.


    At Do-Jun¡¯s feet sat a backpack packed to the brim with all sorts of things¡ªclothes, toiletries, snacks, water, hand cream, and so on.


    Of course, it wasn¡¯t Do-Jun who had packed all of this.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll need this much stuff,¡± Do-Jun said, looking at the rather large bag.


    ¡°I know you said you will be staying at a hotel, but you never know if you will need these, so it¡¯s better to take them. Oh, I forgot to pack the vitamins. Wait a moment,¡± Yoon-Hee said as she walked to the kitchen drawer.


    She pulled out a small white pill bottle and squeezed it into the already overstuffed backpack.


    Do-Jun stared blankly at the backpack, now bulging as if it would burst. Should I just tell her the truth?


    The truth was that he was going to the Core.


    But he didn¡¯t dwell on the thought for long. He could already imagine her reaction if he said he was headed to the Core.


    ¡°You won¡¯t ghost me like last time, right?¡± Yoon-Hee asked with a slight smile.


    ¡°Cough, cough.¡± Do-Jun choked, caught mid-sip of his coffee.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Startled, Yoon-Hee handed him a handkerchief, with which Do-Jun wiped his lips.


    ¡°I...¡± Do-Jun started but realized that Yoon-Hee was looking straight into his eyes.


    Under that intense gaze, he averted his eyes, looking elsewhere.


    ¡°I won¡¯t.¡±


    Yoon-Hee then nodded with a smile.


    Probably...? Do-Jun thought to himself.


    ***


    ¡°See you guys. I¡¯ll be back in a couple of days.¡±


    Do-Jun pulled on his hoodie and slipped into his sneakers.


    Yoon-Hee nodded and spoke to Yong-Yong and Karsiel, who were at her feet. ¡°Hey, you two should say goodbye to Dad before he leaves.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me...?¡± Yong-Yong looked up at Yoon-Hee, confused.


    Do-Jun might have been a Father to her, but to him, he was his Master. Realizing her slip up, Yoon-Hee¡¯s face reddened, and she gave an embarrassed smile.


    ¡°Master, please be safe on your journey. Even though I will miss you terribly for the next two days... I, Yong-Yong... no, Izaas, will wait for you steadfastly!¡±


    With tears brimming in his eyes, Yong-Yong knelt and bowed.


    Seeing this, Do-Jun chuckled and left the house.


    As soon as the door closed behind him, Yong-Yong smirked as if nothing had happened. ¡°Now I get Master¡¯s portion of the food as well. Heh. You wouldn¡¯t understand this joy since you¡¯re just a kibble muncher. Karsi... el?¡±


    But Karsiel, who had been by his side just moments ago, was nowhere to be seen. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ***


    As Do-Jun stepped out of the building, he suddenly heard someone running up from behind. He turned around to see who it was and saw a small girl, not even 140 cm tall, running towards him.


    Startled by their eye contact, the girl stopped in her tracks and spoke. ¡°M-master. I will accompany you.¡±


    Despite the still chilly spring weather, the girl was wearing only a thin white dress. Her long, light-brown hair flowed just past her waist.


    Suspicious, Do-Jun used his qi sense to check the girl.


    ¡°Are you... Karsiel?¡± he asked her.


    The girl nodded shyly.


    ¡°You can change into a human form?¡±


    ¡°Yes...¡±


    ¡°Then why haven¡¯t you done it before?¡±


    ¡°I felt a bit shy about it, and that other form was just more comfortable...¡± Karsiel explained.


    Suddenly, a wave of guilt washed over Do-Jun as he recalled feeding Karsiel dog food up until now. But then again, he had offered alternatives several times, and Karsiel always chose the dog food.


    So maybe Do-Jun didn¡¯t do anything wrong.


    ¡°That¡¯s fair, but why are you suddenly coming along?¡±


    ¡°The Core is dangerous.¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°Please don¡¯t just say ¡®and.¡¯ I¡¯m telling you that it¡¯s really dangerous!¡±


    Do-Jun stroked his chin thoughtfully. Karsiel had claimed not to remember anything about the Core. So, how did she know it was dangerous?


    He voiced his thoughts. ¡°How do you know the Core is dangerous? You said you don¡¯t remember anything about it.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a gut feeling. While I don¡¯t have any memory of the Core, my instincts are warning me that it¡¯s dangerous.¡±


    Karsiel¡¯s eyes weren¡¯t lying. Seeing her biting her lower lip and looking up at him, Do-Jun chuckled and patted her head.


    ¡°I appreciate the concern, but you don¡¯t need to come along,¡± he assured Karsiel, but her determination was clear.


    ¡°If something bad happens to you, everyone will be sad. I¡¯ll follow and protect you, Master.¡±


    In some ways, it was only natural for Karsiel to react this way. After all, Do-Jun had never shown her his powers.


    After some internal debate on what to do with Karsiel, Do-Jun chose to bring her along. ¡°Alright, then. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Karsiel beamed with a bright smile. ¡°Yes!¡±


    She nodded enthusiastically.


    Do-Jun then texted Yoon-Hee, letting her know he was taking Karsiel along.


    ***


    At Saemgol Rest Stop near Sodaesan Mountain in Gangwon-do.


    Do-Jun handed the taxi driver 350,000 won in cash and stepped out of the car.


    The original fare was 380,000 won, but the driver was grateful for such a big trip and gave him a discount. However, Karsiel was stunned by the large sum and couldn¡¯t pick her jaw off the ground.


    ¡°If I had flown, it would have taken less than ten minutes, let alone three hundred and fifty thousand...¡±


    Considering that a bag of the kibble she ate cost about 50,000 won, that was enough money to buy seven bags.


    Do-Jun placed his hand on Karsiel¡¯s head and said, ¡°If you flew, it would attract too much attention. Don¡¯t worry. I can always earn more money.¡±


    ¡°Uuuh... still...¡±


    Do-Jun noticed a family walking past him. A little boy, holding his parents¡¯ hands, was walking into the rest stop as he asked, ¡°Dad, I want some ramen!¡±


    Watching the scene, Do-Jun turned to Karsiel and said, ¡°Should we grab some food before we go, too?¡±


    ***


    Steam gently rose from the pot where chewy noodles floated in the red broth. Finely chopped green onions and halved boiled eggs were neatly arranged on the top.


    ¡°W-what is this...?¡± Karsiel muttered as she watched Do-Jun slurp the ramen.


    ¡°It¡¯s called Ramen.¡±


    ¡°Ramen?¡±


    Do-Jun took a sip of the broth, put the bowl down, and nodded as he continued, ¡°It¡¯s delicious. Yoon-Hee doesn¡¯t let me have this at home because she says it¡¯s bad for our health, so I gotta take advantage of the chance. You¡¯re lucky¡ªyou¡¯re getting to try something even Yong-Yong hasn¡¯t.¡±


    Hearing this, Karsiel glanced at the bowl in front of her and swallowed nervously. Most of the human food she had tried didn¡¯t suit her taste. Why would ramen be any different?


    Karsiel picked up the chopsticks. Having never used them before, she couldn¡¯t grasp the noodles properly and eventually dropped the chopsticks onto the floor.


    Seeing that, Do-Jun walked over and sat beside Karsiel without a word, and using his own chopsticks, he picked up a portion of noodles, placed it on a spoon, and held it out toward Karsiel¡¯s mouth. ¡°Say ¡®ah.¡¯¡±


    Karsiel squeezed her eyes shut, opened her mouth, and took the noodles into her mouth from the spoon.


    A moment later, her eyes widened.


    ¡°I-it¡¯s delicious...?¡± she said, caught off-guard by her own reaction.


    ¡°You can¡¯t call yourself Korean and not like rame¡ª¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Nothing, never mind.¡±


    ***


    After walking along the mountain ridge, they reached a semi-transparent barrier rising high into the sky designed explicitly for the Core. This barrier was directly managed by the Hunter¡¯s Bureau.


    Though it hadn¡¯t happened yet, it was installed to prevent any disasters from occurring in case monsters ever broke free from the Core.


    ¡°When we go inside the Core, stay close to me,¡± Do-Jun murmured as they climbed the slope.


    It¡¯s pretty obvious that he¡¯s different from other ordinary people, Karsiel thought as she followed behind Do-Jun.


    If the Dragon Lord Izaas was subservient to him, he was at least stronger than Izaas.


    Or maybe Izaas was just pretending for fun?


    No, that couldn¡¯t be. This was Izaas, after all¡ªthe one known as the Tyrant.


    Honestly, when Karsiel first arrived at Do-Jun¡¯s apartment, she was shocked to see the Dragon Lord so obedient and docile.


    [Lee Do-Jun, Fissure Management Division, confirmed.]


    [Warning! This is the Core.]


    [Rank: Not assessable. For more information, please contact the Hunter¡¯s Bureau.]


    [Warning! The difficulty of this Fissure far exceeds the Hunter rank. If you would still like to proceed, please scan your card again.]


    Do-Jun scanned his ID again, and the barrier opened just wide enough to let a single person pass through.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    As Do-Jun and Karsiel crossed the barrier, it immediately restored itself to its original state.


    Walking ahead, Do-Jun unzipped his backpack and pulled out his SpacePad.


    In the distance, about three hundred meters ahead, a massive, bottomless hole, approximately ten kilometers wide, came into view.


    Click.


    Do-Jun took a photo of the Core¡¯s entrance and opened the Fissure Management System app.


    [Welcome to the Fissure Management System, Mr. Lee Do-Jun.]


    [Fissure in Gwangwon-ri - 001, Naemyeon, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon-do, has been registered.]


    [Please select the grade of the Fissure. Or if you enter the grade of the appearing monster, the grade of the Fissure will be automatically assigned. Also, if the Fissure is deemed a higher grade than what is assessed by the system, please select the Exception option.]


    Do-Jun selected the highest rank possible: S.


    As Karsiel curiously observed the SpacePad, Do-Jun handed her an entry token for the Tutorial Zone.


    ¡°We¡¯re going deeper than the five-hundred-meter mark today, so hold on to this.¡±


    ¡°What is this? An entry token for the Tutorial Zone?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll see.¡±


    Behemoth Guild had already done twenty-one dives to investigate the area between the surface down to the five-hundred-meter mark, so Do-Jun planned to descend quickly.


    Do-Jun and Karsiel soon arrived at the very edge of the Core. As they looked down, they felt a bone-chilling energy.


    Whooosh.


    A strong wind blew up from below.


    Although the path down wasn¡¯t paved, it wasn¡¯t a steep ninety-degree drop, either, so as long as they watched their steps, it seemed they could descend safely.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Do-Jun began to descend with Karsiel following closely.


    Right then, Karsiel spotted three massive monsters moving through the thick foliage about fifty meters below.


    ¡°Enemies, Master.¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Do-Jun recalled the Core Report he had gotten from Young-Chul.


    The monsters were Titans, one of the S-rank monsters of the Core. No wonder the Hunter¡¯s Bureau was so wary.


    S-rank monsters were roaming around as if they owned the place right from the entrance.


    ¡°Master, I¡¯ll handle this.¡± As Karsiel muttered in Dragon Tongue, crimson flames began to rise from her hand.


    Just then, Do-Jun reached out to grab Karsiel¡¯s hand.


    Startled, she tried to pull her hand away. ¡°Your hand will melt if you touch...!¡±


    But Do-Jun was faster than her.


    What happened next was out of Karsiel¡¯s expectations.


    The fierce flames died down. Karsiel¡¯s pupils shook as she realized her mana had dissipated. Moreover, Do-Jun¡¯s hand was completely unharmed.


    ¡°What the...?¡± Karsiel exclaimed in surprise.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the monsters. Help only if needed,¡± Do-Jun said.


    Then, his sleeve fluttered. A formless blade of sword energy flickered in his hand, and with a flash of light, it shot toward the group of Titans.


    Swoosh!


    The Titans were shattered into pieces.


    ¡°W-what was that...?¡± Karsiel stared at the remains of the Titans in disbelief. They now lay utterly destroyed.


    She had never sensed such a level of energy before. If she had been hit by that attack, she would have died without even being able to react.


    ¡°Let¡¯s keep moving.¡± Do-Jun smiled and resumed the descent.


    Karsiel could only stare blankly at his back.


    How can a human....

 Chapter 52

    Chapter 52


    After descending about halfway, Do-Jun instinctively pulled out his smartphone only to see a message that he was in a restricted service area.


    As the Hunter¡¯s Bureau Chief had mentioned, it seemed clear that this place was indeed a Fissure.


    Suddenly, Karsiel tugged at Do-Jun¡¯s collar and pointed west.


    Following the direction of her finger, Do-Jun spotted a middle-aged man gasping for breath, looking as if he was about to collapse.


    ¡°It¡¯s a person, Master.¡±


    ¡°You think so? It looks like a monster to me.¡±


    ¡°Huh? B-but...¡±


    It clearly looked like a human.


    Do-Jun pulled out a book from his bag and opened the first page.


    [Interpreter ¨C Ataraxia]


    Category: Miscellaneous / Support


    Grade: Relic of the Deep Realm


    Completion: 0%


    Magic Resistance: 10 (+0)


    Description: Encyclopedia of the Core compiled by Epicurus, a traveler of the Deep Realm (incomplete). Tap the magnifying glass button on a blank page to record information about a target. As the completion increases, magic resistance will also increase (for use in the Core only).


    Do-Jun tapped the magnifying glass button displayed at the top right of the blank page.


    [Please choose the target you wish to identify.]


    He chose the middle-aged man lying on the ground. Then, a faint glow illuminated the once-empty page, which began to fill with a brief description and illustration.


    [Human Trap has been added to the encyclopedia.]


    [Human Trap]


    Category: Trap / Plant


    Description: A plant that grows at the entrance to the Core. It lures new challengers into its snare by mimicking a human form. Once the victim gets close, it attacks. Almost had my face skinned off last time. Better be cautious from now on.


    Danger Level: ¡ï


    [The completion percentage of Interpreter ¨C Ataraxia has increased.]


    [You have earned the title Traveler of the Deep Realm.]


    [Additional Magic Resistance has been granted.]


    ¡°A Human Trap?¡± Karsiel¡¯s eyes widened as she read the text on the page.


    Do-Jun used his SpacePad to take a picture of the Human Trap and recorded the information before saying to Karsiel in a rather forced parental tone, ¡°No touch. Don¡¯t go near it.¡±


    ¡°I see... but, Master, why are you talking like that?¡±


    ¡°I... I heard it on TV, so I¡¯m not entirely sure either. Whatever. Just stay close to me.¡±


    Watching Do-Jun, whose face seemed to redden slightly for some reason, Karsiel tilted her head in confusion.


    ***


    At the infamous five-hundred-meter mark that even Behemoth Guild¡¯s expedition team had been unable to cross, Do-Jun lifted his head to look at the sky.


    In contrast to the warm sunlight shining down from the blue sky filled with fluffy clouds, an endless expanse of darkness lay below them.


    [Are you sure you want to use your entry token to enter the Tutorial Zone?]


    [Warning! Once you enter, you may never return.]


    [Recommended magic resistance for the tutorial zone is 0.5. Challengers with lower magic resistance are advised to proceed with caution.]


    ¡°M-master...¡± Reading the message, Karsiel looked up at Do-Jun with anxious eyes, a natural reaction to the clear warnings.


    In a nutshell, it meant, Leave now if you don¡¯t want to die.


    Even though Karsiel was a dragon, the unknown still seemed to frighten her. Honestly, Do-Jun felt the same way; if it weren¡¯t for Pocket Watch, that is.


    ¡°Karsiel,¡± he said.


    ¡°Yes...?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re scared, you don¡¯t have to go any further. I¡¯ll take you home.¡±


    Hearing this, Karsiel bit her lip and looked at Do-Jun¡¯s serious expression. ¡°Master, are you not afraid?¡±


    ¡°Not really.¡±


    Do-Jun¡¯s strength could be described as unparalleled, to the point that it even made sense that Izaas would bow to him. But just because someone was strong didn¡¯t mean they didn¡¯t fear death.


    But... how is he so calm?


    Karsiel glanced down at the dark, seemingly bottomless abyss beneath them. Every cell in her body was warning her of danger, but somehow, she felt that turning back now would haunt her for the rest of her life.


    ¡°If I follow you, won¡¯t I just hold you back?¡± Karsiel asked with concern.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t give you a chance to slow me down.¡±


    Karsiel¡¯s eyes widened as she looked at Do-Jun, whose face was brimming with confidence.


    Do-Jun held out his hand to Karsiel. After hesitating for a moment, she cautiously placed her hand on top of Do-Jun¡¯s.


    [Now entering the Tutorial Zone.]


    ***


    ¡°Are you awake?¡± Do-Jun asked from nearby.


    Karsiel slowly opened her eyes, having briefly lost consciousness. She squinted against the bright sunlight and slowly sat up.


    Looking around, her mouth dropped open in shock. Twelve small islands, each about a hundred and sixty square meters in size, were floating in the air.


    Do-Jun and Karsiel were on one of those islands.


    ¡°What... is this...¡± Karsiel asked haltingly.


    A massive central island was located in the middle of the small islands and connected to them by suspension bridges.


    Karsiel tilted her head back to look up at the sky.


    Before entering the Tutorial Zone, everything had been pitch-black, and they couldn¡¯t see anything. But now, the surroundings were unbelievably bright.


    ¡°Master, what are you doing...?¡± she asked, seeing Do-Jun holding a fishing rod as a bobber floated peacefully on the lake¡¯s surface.


    ¡°I¡¯m fishing.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Utterly confused, Karsiel wore a puzzled expression. Do-Jun handed her the Interpreter ¨C Ataraxia.


    Karsiel took the book and started flipping through the pages.


    [Island of Beginnings]


    Category: Structure


    Description: I think I passed out for a moment when I first entered the Tutorial Zone. When I woke up, I was on a floating object. I decided to call this object the Island of Beginnings. The maximum time I could stay here was two hours.


    Danger Level: ¡ï


    [Artifact Lake]


    Category: Structure


    Description: There was a lake in the center of the Island of Beginnings. Various items were submerged in it. It seemed like a mechanism to help challengers. Occasionally, there were artifacts imbued with magic resistance, and I was lucky enough to catch one. Sometimes, fish monsters get caught, and getting bitten would probably hurt. If you try to enter the water directly to fish, all the artifacts will disappear, so be careful.


    Danger Level: ¡ï


    [Fishing Rod]


    Category: Tool / Support


    Description: A fishing rod that can be used at Artifact Lake. When infused with mana, it creates a fishing line and a float, which can be used to catch artifacts. You only get three casts. Looking back, I realize it¡¯s more about control than just pouring in a lot of mana. Can only be used in the Island of Beginnings.


    [Center Island]


    Category: Structure


    Description: A place you can go once the Island of Beginnings starts to collapse. When you arrive, a Peculiar Eagle will appear. It is said that if more than five adventurers arrive, the strange eagle¡¯s power weakens, but I think Tusitala was lying.


    Danger Level: ¡ï


    [Tusitala]


    Category: Character


    Description: Dickhead. Absolute dickhead. A self-proclaimed ¡°helper¡± who occasionally shows up randomly anywhere in the Core. Emphasis on ¡°self-proclaimed.¡± He enjoys watching challengers suffer. But don''t even think about confronting this little shit, as it is stupidly strong.


    Danger Level: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï


    Interpreter ¨C Ataraxia already had seven more completed pages.


    Karsiel thoroughly read the new pages, handed the book back to Do-Jun, and sat beside him. Do-Jun narrowed his eyes as he looked at the small horn sprouting from Karsiel¡¯s forehead and the number nine that had now appeared on her cheek.


    Her qi has amplified, he realized.


    At least double, no, more than triple.


    Do-Jun recalled what Karsiel had said before. ¡°I¡¯m certain our kind was born there, but I have no memories of the place.¡±


    ¡°Karsiel.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    ¡°Take a look at your reflection in the lake.¡±


    Upon hearing that, Karsiel immediately went to the lake¡¯s edge and looked at her reflection. She saw the horn protruding from her forehead and the number on her cheek.


    Flustered, Karsiel touched the horn while her face turned red.


    ¡°D-don¡¯t stare at me like that. It¡¯s embarrassing.¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t staring.¡±


    ¡°O-oh, okay, then.¡±


    Do-Jun returned his focus to the fishing rod, which had a transparent fishing line created with his inner energy.


    When he noticed artifacts and fish being drawn to the float, he flicked the fishing line with his finger.


    Boom!


    An enormous sound reverberated as the shock shook the lake, causing the fish to lose consciousness and float belly-up on the surface.


    They seemed to be knocked out.


    Whistling, Do-Jun leisurely reeled in an artifact¡ªone that appeared to be quite high-quality.


    Watching him, Karsiel muttered, ¡°That... that has got to be cheating.¡±


    ***


    Yoon-Hee was picking up some groceries for dinner at the local grocery store not far from home.


    While she shopped, Yong-Yong wandered around the sample stations, receiving plenty of affection from the employees.


    ¡°Here, try this, ohoho!¡±


    ¡°Whose dog is this? So cute.¡±


    ¡°Here you go, take the whole plate.¡±


    With his belly now full, Yong-Yong let out a burp and waddled back to Yoon-Hee¡¯s side.


    ¡°This place is heaven. Haha.¡±


    Seeing his bloated belly, Yoon-Hee frowned. ¡°If you eat that much, how will you eat dinner?¡±


    ¡°Ehem, that was my snack stomach. Dinner goes in a different one.¡±


    ¡°Sigh... Did you thank all the ladies properly?¡±


    Seeing Yong-Yong avert his eyes, Yoon-Hee sighed as if she had expected as much. ¡°Next time, make sure to thank them, alright?¡±


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am. I¡¯ll keep that in mi...¡±


    Yong-Yong suddenly halted.


    Yoon-Hee, who had been pushing the cart, also stopped and looked back. ¡°If you don¡¯t hurry, I¡¯m leaving you behind.¡±


    She got no reaction from Yong-Yong and asked, ¡°What are you staring at?¡±


    Eventually, Yoon-Hee walked over to see what had caught Yong-Yong¡¯s attention. It was a pack of ramen.


    ¡°I saw this on TV. People were loving it.¡± Yong-Yong looked up at Yoon-Hee with pleading eyes.


    Yoon-Hee smiled and said, ¡°Nope,¡± then coldly turned and walked away.


    Yong-Yong clicked his tongue and trotted after her. He gave up rather easily because whenever she was this firm, no amount of begging or pitiful expression could change her mind.


    ***


    Swooosh!


    When Do-Jun lifted the fishing rod, a single leather boot was pulled out. Smoke rose from the rod, and then it disappeared. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [You have caught three artifacts.]


    [Achievement unlocked.]


    [Your magic resistance has increased by 0.5.]


    [You have discovered a Hidden Piece. You may now combine the artifacts you have acquired. Would you like to combine three artifacts to create a higher-grade artifact?]


    [Yes / No]


    ¡°A Hidden Piece?¡±


    Whatever it was, it seemed like a good thing. Do-Jun selected ¡°Yes¡± without hesitation, and the three artifacts he had fished from the lake merged into a single point, emitting light.


    [You have crafted the Wizard¡¯s Bracelet.]


    [Wizard¡¯s Bracelet]


    Category: Accessory


    Grade: 3


    Options: Increases all skill and magic damage by 30%.


    Reduces mana consumption for all skills and magic by 10%.


    Magic Resistance: 1


    Description: A bracelet used by Roy the Wizard.


    While Do-Jun was reviewing the artifact¡¯s options, a figure suddenly appeared out of thin air. It was a tiny person¡ªno, a fairy, the size of a palm.


    The fairy smiled and greeted him. ¡°Hello there.¡±

 Chapter 53

    Chapter 53


    ¡°Hello, there.¡±


    Do-Jun instantly knew who this fairy that appeared mid-air was¡ªTusitala the Fairy, the guide of the Core, recorded in Interpreter ¨C Ataraxia.


    ¡°It¡¯s been so long since I¡¯ve seen a challenger! Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Tusitala, the storyteller. I was created to help challengers survive in the Core. You could call me a guide of sorts.¡±


    Karsiel became extremely wary after seeing Tusitala. She didn¡¯t know why, but she instinctively sensed that this being was dangerous.


    ¡°Hmm...¡± For a moment, Tusitala¡¯s smile vanished. She circled Karsiel once and then smiled again, turning to Do-Jun.


    ¡°By the way, you¡¯re impressive. You¡¯re adjusting so well to the Core, even without my guidance. A Hidden Piece, huh? Did you already know about it, or was it just luck? I like you. I tend to favor people like you.¡±


    Do-Jun carefully observed the fairy, who introduced herself as Tusitala. He spread his senses to check the qi emanating from her and soon came to a conclusion.


    She¡¯s definitely on the stronger side.


    The fairy was stronger than the Sword Emperor Kang-Hyun; Malanuh, the Titan; and even Karsiel, the Ninth Dragon.


    But that was about it.


    Tusitala frowned slightly as she looked at Do-Jun¡¯s relaxed expression. He felt different from the other challengers she had seen so far. It wasn¡¯t just that he was adapting well; it felt like he was hiding something.


    Tusitala briefly considered fixing his attitude before she proceeded to the explanation but decided against it. Soon enough, that confidence would turn into despair anyway, and just thinking about it sent a thrilling shiver through her body.


    ¡°Well, I guess that¡¯s enough small talk. First, let me explain the most important system in the Core: the Magic Resistance system. In this place, the deeper you go, the stronger the magic forces become. Magic is a curse that weakens a challenger¡¯s power and, in severe cases, kills them. Magic Resistance is the force that counters this curse. While you don¡¯t need it here in the Tutorial Zone since it¡¯s just the beginning of the Core, the deeper you go, the higher the resistance required. Does that make sense?¡±


    Do-Jun nodded.


    ¡°You can obtain Magic Resistance in various ways. The most common method is through artifacts. However, not all artifacts provide resistance, so keep that in mind. The second method is through achievements. Clearing hidden achievements will grant you resistance. There are other methods, but I¡¯ll leave it here for now.¡±


    Tusitala glanced at the Wizard¡¯s Bracelet in Do-Jun¡¯s hand. ¡°But you¡¯re really lucky. You¡¯ve already obtained such a great artifact.¡±


    "Yeah, I guess so. Lucky indeed,¡± Do-Jun agreed, but not because of the bracelet.


    He felt lucky because of Interpreter ¨C Ataraxia stored in his bag, which allowed him to gather information on the unknown Core.


    Tusitala then pointed toward the Central Island. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°On that island, you¡¯ll find the Peculiar Eagle. It¡¯s weak, but it¡¯s still a boss monster. If you defeat it, the path to descend further will open. Of course, if you don¡¯t feel like fighting, you could always just jump down from here, but if you do that...¡±


    She paused, and with a Whoosh, the ground below seemed to stretch endlessly.


    Tusitala smiled brightly and continued without batting her eyelids, ¡°You¡¯ll die for sure.¡±


    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t think I¡¯d die,¡± Do-Jun replied honestly.


    And even if he died by some chance, he would simply return to the previous day thanks to his skill, Pocket Watch.


    The only reason he didn¡¯t want to take that path was simple: Do-Jun¡¯s purpose for coming here was to gather information so the expedition party, Behemoth Guild, could easily raid the tutorial zone. He needed to proceed step by step.


    Tusitala¡¯s smile disappeared, and her gaze grew cold as she looked at Do-Jun. ¡°I don¡¯t know how famous you were out there, but you should probably keep in mind that this place is home to beings far stronger than you could ever imagine.¡±


    But seeing her expression, Do-Jun just chuckled and shrugged, which seemed to only worsen her mood.


    ¡°Hmm... you¡¯re pissing me off. Your arrogance is way over the top,¡± she said in annoyance.


    Until now, challengers were divided into two categories: those who trembled in fear and those who expressed their anger toward her.


    In the latter case, a small display of her power was enough to turn them into the former.


    But this was the first time someone responded with neither fear nor anger¡ªjust pure disregard.


    ¡°I¡¯m letting you off because it¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve had a challenger, but you should really watch yourself. Unless you want to die,¡± she warned him as a spear materialized above Tusitala¡¯s head, and its radiance caused Karsiel to squint involuntarily.


    But Do-Jun simply smirked in return, amused at the laughable audacity of pointing a spear at the Heavenly Demon who once ruled the heaven and the earth.


    ¡°I think there¡¯s some misunderstanding,¡± Do-Jun said with a smile, ¡°The one who¡¯s being arrogant right now is...¡±


    He waved his hand casually, and a sharp force struck Tusitala¡¯s spear with a thunderous sound. The spear vanished as if it had never existed.


    ¡°You,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ***


    The three were crossing the bridge that swayed violently from side to side, almost as if it was a second from snapping.


    ¡°Sniff... sob... I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m so sorry for my insolence...¡± Tears streamed down Tusitala¡¯s face as she floated slowly toward Central Island with a thin leash of qi wrapped around her neck.


    Karsiel stared blankly at the weeping Tusitala as she followed Do-Jun.


    ¡°Keep your eyes up front,¡± Do-Jun commanded the fairy dryly.


    ¡°Sniff, y-yes, sir.¡±


    Her previous cocky attitude was long gone. After receiving a thorough lesson from Do-Jun, Tusitala had become their tearful guide.


    Karsiel shuddered as she recalled the events from ten minutes ago. After nullifying Tusitala¡¯s spear attack, Do-Jun had caught her as she tried to escape and tortured her.


    The result was her current state, treated no better than a slave.


    ¡°We¡¯ve arrived. You¡¯ll let me go now, right...?¡± Tusitala looked at Do-Jun with desperate, pleading eyes.


    ¡°Nope.¡±


    Her hopes were shattered.


    Upon arriving at Central Island, Do-Jun fixed his gaze on the large bird-like creature standing in the center.


    He pulled out Interpreter ¨C Ataraxia and checked the information on the Peculiar Eagle.


    [Peculiar Eagle]


    Category: Monster


    Description: A creature found on Central Island. This bird-like boss monster is the first one adventurers encounter in the Tutorial Zone. It uses its powerful beak to kill adventurers in one blow. It remains sealed within a barrier most of the time but becomes unsealed five minutes after an adventurer arrives on Central Island. Interestingly, giving it a grade 3 or higher artifact allows you to descend further without needing to defeat it.


    Danger Level: ¡ï¡ï


    [The completion percentage of Interpreter ¨C Ataraxia has increased.]


    [Additional Magic Resistance has been granted.]


    Tusitala''s eyes widened as she caught sight of the ancient book in Do-Jun¡¯s hand. She stammered as he approached Do-Jun. ¡°Th-th-that¡¯s... Ataraxia!¡±


    Ataraxia was a relic of the Deep Realm, containing all the secrets from the entrance of the Core to its farthest reaches, which should have disappeared into the annals of history. How could such a relic be in the hands of a mere human who had just entered the Tutorial Zone?


    ¡°H-how the hell do you have th... No, I mean, how did you acquire such a valuable relic, sir?¡±


    Karsiel couldn¡¯t help but scoff when she heard the fairy¡¯s urgent correction.


    Do-Jun responded in a flat tone. ¡°I won it from a draw.¡±


    ¡°A draw...?¡±


    Do-Jun nodded and took out his SpacePad, capturing a frontal image of the Peculiar Eagle. He then tapped on the Fissure Information tab and registered the information and photo of Peculiar Eagle under the Monster Information sub-tab.


    ¡°P-please tell me more!¡± Tusitala exclaimed.


    ¡°Sigh, you talk too much.¡± As Do-Jun lowered his voice and furrowed his brow, Tusitala covered her mouth with both hands and swallowed nervously.


    Clicking his tongue, Do-Jun approached the Peculiar Eagle.


    The Peculiar Eagle, trapped inside a translucent, square barrier, spotted Do-Jun and started thrashing violently as if it would break free any moment.


    Do-Jun looked back and forth between the grade 3 artifact, the Wizard¡¯s Bracelet, and the Peculiar Eagle. He decided that sacrificing the artifact, which granted a 30% increase in skill damage and a 10% reduction in mana consumption, ultimately wasn¡¯t worth it.


    A glint flashed in Do-Jun¡¯s eyes as he gazed at Peculiar Eagle. Then, black flames erupted inside the barrier where Peculiar Eagle was trapped, soon engulfing the monster¡¯s entire body.


    It was Samadhi Fire, a martial arts technique that incinerated the opponent by channeling internal energy from the dantian.


    Kyaaaah!


    As the Peculiar Eagle¡¯s screech gradually faded, the flames died down, leaving nothing but the monster¡¯s bones.


    [You have slain the first boss monster solo.]


    [Achievement unlocked. Would you like to announce your achievement to the Core?]


    Do-Jun ignored the message and turned around to see Tusitala standing there, looking as if she had just witnessed something indescribable.


    ¡°The barrier wasn¡¯t even broken yet... how...?¡±


    The ground beneath the Peculiar Eagle split open. The bones and square barrier fell below, and a faint light flickered as a passageway began forming downward.


    [You may enter the second stage of the Tutorial Zone after 168 hours.]


    [Choose between a random artifact or the Challenger¡¯s Memory (Tutorial Zone Stage 1).]


    [Challenger¡¯s Memory (Tutorial Zone Stage 1)]


    Category: Consumable / Support


    Grade: 4


    Description: Teleports the user to the cleared point of Stage 1 in the Tutorial Zone (single use). Upon obtaining this item, the user will be forcibly ejected from the Core.


    Do-Jun stroked his chin, deep in thought. A random artifact or an artifact that allows re-entry to the Core after leaving.


    If he could move straight to the next tutorial stage, the choice would¡¯ve been simple, but since he had to wait 168 hours, there was no real debate.


    He made his choice, and a luminous, six-sided gemstone fell from the sky into Do-Jun¡¯s palm.


    ¡°Wh-why did you choose that? I understand if you no longer wish to be here, but if you plan to keep descending, the random artifact would¡¯ve been a better choice.¡±


    Unlike her words, Tusitala was celebrating on the inside, thinking that she wouldn¡¯t have to see Do-Jun anymore.


    ¡°I have work next week,¡± Do-Jun said.


    A bright white light enveloped Do-Jun and Karsiel. The consequence of receiving the Challenger¡¯s Memory was a forced ejection from the Core.


    Do-Jun glanced at Tusitala and smiled. ¡°Stay right there. I¡¯ll be back next week.¡±


    With that, Do-Jun and Karsiel disappeared.


    Tusitala¡¯s face twisted into an expression of utter frustration.


    ***


    The water in the pot was boiling.


    ¡°Hey, one question... Where¡¯s the meat?¡± Yong-Yong muttered in a daze as he stared at the pot filled with tofu and vegetables.


    Yoon-Hee jabbed him in the belly with her finger and spoke with a dissatisfied expression. ¡°Have you seen your belly? It¡¯s all because you only eat meat all the time. And since Father¡¯s not home today, we¡¯re going to save on some groceries. Do you know how much the meat you eat every month costs?¡±


    ¡°So there¡¯s no meat because Master isn¡¯t here?¡±


    ¡°Do you have a problem with that?¡±


    ¡°Cheap! That is soooo cheap! We¡¯re all a family! Why are you discriminating?!¡±


    Yoon-Hee sighed. Though Do-Jun had told her not to worry about food expenses, the cost of Yong-Yong¡¯s meat alone exceeded 800,000 won a month.


    Knowing that a civil servant¡¯s salary wasn¡¯t that high, she had to consider the possibility of falling into debt at this rate.


    ¡°Just bear with it for a little while. When Father comes back, I¡¯ll cook you some meat.¡±


    Yong-Yong leaped off the kitchen counter and walked out to the balcony, gazing up at the sky. The moonlight was bright, perhaps because it was a full moon.


    ¡°Oh, moon.¡± Yong-Yong clasped his front paws together, closed his eyes, and prayed earnestly, ¡°Please bring Master home soon.¡±

 Chapter 54

    Chapter 54


    ?Next up: A-list celebrity Kim has been caught secretly filming a video of his intimate relationship with his ex-girlfriend and leaking it in a group chat with his acquaintances. The divery was made when Park, who was in the chat room, took his broken smartphone to a repair shop and...?


    Yong-Yong was watching TV and clicked his tongue. ¡°This world...¡±


    His ears suddenly perked up upon hearing someone walking down the apartment hallway. A large stride and a fast pace¡ªonly one person on the third floor walked like that.


    ¡°It¡¯s Master!¡± Yong-Yong exclaimed and hurriedly ran to the front door, his tail wagging furiously as he waited for the door to open.


    A moment later, there was the sound of someone entering the doorde, and the front door swung open.


    There stood Do-Jun and Karsiel.


    Oveme with joy, Yong-Yong leaped at Do-Jun with tears of excitement.


    ¡°Master! I missed...¡±


    But in that instant, Do-Jun instinctively twisted his body to avoid Yong-Yong, and the mini dragon flew out the door and over the third-floor railing.


    ¡°Youuuu?¡±


    Yong-Yong¡¯s voice faded in the distance as he fell down three stories. Do-Jun closed the door without a snd thought.


    ¡°I¡¯m home.¡±


    Upon hearing Do-Jun¡¯s voice, Yoon-Hee turned off the gas stove, took off her apron, and walked toward the entrance.


    With a slightly surprised expression, she said, ¡°Weren¡¯t you supposed to be on your trip until tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°That was the plan, but the job finished early. What¡¯s for dinner?¡±


    Taken aback by Do-Jun¡¯s question, Yoon-Hee stammered, ¡°W-would you like to wash up first?¡±


    ¡°Alright. But, what¡¯s for dinner?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll be ready as soon as you wash up.¡± S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She gave an awkward smile as she gently pushed Do-Jun toward the bathroom and quickly scanned the pot on the gas stove. It was a vegetable hotpot with only tofu and a few veggies floating around.


    Sheuldn¡¯t possibly serve only grass to Do-Jun, who had worked hard away from home.


    ¡°Take your time in the shower. Around two hours would be great!¡± she said.


    Do-Jun was left speechless.


    He glanced over at Karsiel, who had returned to her baby dragon form. She has gotten dusty from roaming around the Core with him.


    ¡°Might as well wash Karsiel too. Oh, and when Yong-Yongmes back in, send him to the bathroom as well.¡±


    ***


    The water overflowed as Do-Jun sunk into the bathtub. He glanced over at Yong-Yong, sitting in therner with his back to Do-Jun. He was sulking because Do-Jun had evaded him earlier.


    ¡°I told you it wasn¡¯t on purpose,¡± Do-Jun tried to explain.


    ¡°That is a pathetic excuse.¡±


    It seemed Yong-Yong was quite hurt by it.


    Ignoring him for now, Do-Jun turned to Karsiel. She was watching Yong-Yong cautiously.


    ¡°You get in, too,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°Eh? Choose carefully, Karsiel. Is it me or Master? Who do you think you¡¯ll spend more time with?¡±


    After glancing at Do-Jun and Yong-Yong, Karsiel slipped into the bathtub without hesitation.


    ¡°Youuld¡¯ve at least pretended to think about it... Sigh.¡±


    Yong-Yong shuffled to the bathtub and climbed in to sit on Do-Jun¡¯s lap. His pouty face quickly relaxed as soon as he got in the warm water.


    ¡°This is heaven.¡± He sighed withntentment.


    ¡°You said it, Lord Izaas.¡±


    Do-Jun chuckled as he watched Yong-Yong¡¯s expression soften as if he hadn¡¯t been upset two snds before.


    ***


    After finishing his bath, Do-Jun emerged to see a dining table piled high with dishes. The spread resembled something from a high-end traditional Korean restaurant, with a wide variety of dishes.


    ¡°Is there something special today?¡± Do-Jun asked, pleasantly surprised by the menu.


    ¡°I thought you might be tired from your trip, so I prepared a lot to help you recharge.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t have to prepare so mu¡ª¡±


    Just as Do-Jun was about to say it wasn¡¯t necessary, he saw Yoon-Hee¡¯s face, looking at him with an expression that seemed to ask for his approval.


    Swallowing his words, Do-Jun smiled and said, ¡°I feel energized already. Thanks.¡±


    ¡°Ofurse! Hope you like it, Father.¡± Yoon-Hee beamed as she sat down in the chair across from him.


    Meanwhile, Yong-Yong had been staring blankly at the mountain of food on the table with his mouth open. He urgently spoke to Do-Jun. ¡°M-master. Please, don¡¯t ever leave us again. I¡¯m begging you.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    The difference in the quality of meals when Do-Jun was home versus when he wasn¡¯t was night and day.


    ¡°Yong-Yong,¡± Yoon-Hee called out in a low voice, smiling. Hearing her voice, Yong-Yong slowly turned to look at her.


    ¡°Enough talking. Eat.¡±


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡±


    Noticing the strange atmosphere between the two, Do-Jun tilted his head innfusion.


    ¡°By the way, what did you have for lunch today?¡± Yoon-Hee asked him.


    ¡°Well, um...¡± Do-Jun fumbled for an answer, avoiding eyentact.


    Karsiel, on the other hand, recalled the taste of the ramen she and Do-Jun had at the rest stop and broke into a happy smile.


    ¡°We had ramen. It was delicious... hup.¡±


    Karsiel hurriedlyvered her mouth with her front paw as she remembered Do-Jun¡¯s warning to keep their lunch between them.


    ¡°What...?¡±


    Yong-Yong¡¯s face was buried in the meat in his bowl. He looked up with wide eyes, evidently shocked. Heuldn¡¯t believe that Karsiel, who was below him in the pecking order, had tasted the rare and precious ramen he had never tried.


    ¡°Ramen?¡± he said, shocked.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Do-Jun said.


    Yoon-Hee sighed deeply. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Once in a while is fine.¡±


    Do-Jun thought she was about to let it slide for a snd, but he was well off the mark.


    ¡°However, you should try to avoid it if possible. You know ramen seasoningntains artificial MSG, which isn¡¯t good for your health, right? Also, the sodiumntent in one pack of ramen exceeds the daily rmmended intake. If you frequently eat high-sodium foods, you¡¯re at risk of high blood pressure, which can lead tomplications like heart failure, myocardial infarction, angina, osteoporosis, and...¡±


    The family received a mini-lecture that went on for more than twenty minutes.


    ***


    Monday, 3 PM.


    ¡°Coffee¡¯s here.¡±


    Do-Jun entered thenference room, where papers were scattered messily across the table.


    Hyuk-Soo had been reviewing the budget sheet. Hearing Do-Jun¡¯s call, he stretched, stood up, and said, ¡°Let¡¯s take a break, Chief.¡±


    ¡°Good idea. Man, this is exhausting.¡± Cheol-Soo stretched his neck and received therporate card from Do-Jun.


    Do-Jun pulled theffees from the cardboard tray and placed one in front of Cheol-Soo and another in front of Hyuk-Soo.


    He then picked up one of the documents titled ¡°Plan for Purchasing Equipment for Contract Hunters.¡±


    The Fissure Management Division had a budget category dedicated to providing equipment forntract Hunters. Each year, about 1.5 billion won of the budget was allocated for Hunter equipment, allowing them to purchase suits, weapons, and accessories for thentracted Hunters.


    Unlike previous years, when they signed a wholesale pricentract with the Korean National Smithy and made bulk purchases based on equipment grades, this year, the manager issued a special directive to participate in the Smithy auctions, which ran three times a year, for a chance to acquire higher-grade equipment. As a result, Do-Jun and the other staff were busy preparing for this event.


    The previous year¡¯s auction results and documents detailing the equipment up for bid were on the table. Amparison analysisntrasting the equipment purchased through wholesalentracts with the equipment thatuld potentially be obtained through the auction was also pinned to the whiteboard.


    Unlike purchasing items with pre-determined prices, auctioned items didn¡¯t have a set price, so thorough preparation was essential. They were especially keen to avoid the worst-case scenario of overpaying for low-grade equipment.


    ¡°Their marketing is no joke. This feels more like gambling than an auction,¡± Cheol-Soo remarked.


    ¡°They want us to bid without even showing us the item stats. This is definitely gambling at this point. It reminds me of those gacha games I used to play.¡±


    While acquiring high-grade equipment through the auctions seemed promising, there was one big problem. Bidders had to judge the value of the equipment based solely on its appearance, as the Korean National Smithy didn¡¯t disclose the stats for the equipment they put up for auction.


    There were some extreme results where low-grade equipment was bought for several billion won.


    ¡°Looking at last year¡¯s results, D-grade items made up over sixty percent of all auctioned items. So how about we limit our bids to 30 million won at most? That way, even if we hit a dud, our losses won¡¯t be too bad,¡± Cheol-Soo suggested.


    ¡°You make a good point, Chief, but...¡±


    Listening to thenversation between Cheol-Soo and Hyuk-Soo, Do-Jun recalled the time he had attended training at the Hunter¡¯s Bureau and had received the unidentified artifact box.


    Back then, Do-Jun used his qi sense to examine the artifact the instructor was holding and detected a powerful energy. Knowing this, he volunteered to give a presentation to receive the reward.


    Just as he had sensed, he ended up with a valuable item.


    Is this something others can¡¯t notice? Do-Jun wondered.


    The auction results showed instances where D-grade equipment was purchased for over 7 billion won.


    Considering that the winning bidder was an A-grade Hunter, it seemed even those capable of handling mana well found it challenging to judge the equipment¡¯s grade based on appearance alone.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s worth a shot,¡± Do-Jun muttered.


    Hearing this, Cheol-Soo turned to look at him. ¡°Worth a shot?¡±


    Do-Jun nodded, and Cheol-Soo brightened as he saw hisnfident demeanor.


    ¡°So what¡¯s your plan?¡±


    ***


    The next day, at the Korean National Smithy, an annex building located within the grounds of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau.


    Although it was not even nine in the morning, the Korean National Smithy building was already packed with people, most of whom had gathered to participate in the auction.


    ¡°It starts at 10, right? Let¡¯s head inside.¡±


    With about an hour left before the auction began, Cheol-Soo looked over at the third auditorium, twenty meters away.


    They had already checked in at theunter and received their seat assignments, so entering early wasn¡¯t a problem.


    Once inside, Cheol-Soo took a seat marked ¡°F-13¡± while Hyuk-Soo and Do-Jun sat beside him.


    Do-Jun pulled out a device resembling a remotentrol. It had a number pad, and the number 68 was attached to the armrest of his chair.


    Looks like this is the bidding device.


    In the front, the stage wasncealed behind a curtain.


    Thirty items were to be auctioned today, which were likely being prepared behind the curtain.


    Considering that each auditorium had seating for a hundred people, it was possible that some participants might leave the auction empty-handed.


    After an hour, the large curtain drew back, revealing the stage, the auctioneer, and the first piece of equipment: a bow drated with intricate floral patterns. Murmurs quickly filled the room.


    ¡°That looks pretty good.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s just watch for now.¡±


    ¡°Hmm...¡±


    The auctioneer picked up the microphone and announced, ¡°We¡¯ll begin the auction shortly.¡±


    ¡°Chief, you said you¡¯d leave it to me, right?¡± Do-Jun said as he turned to Cheol-Soo.


    ¡°Huh? Y-yeah,¡± Cheol-Soo answered as he recalled what Do-Jun had said the day before.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got a sixth sense for these things.¡±


    At first, he had been a bit taken aback by the statement.


    However, upon reflection, he realized that luck played a significant role in securing valuable items at low prices anyway. Seeing hownfident Do-Jun was, Cheol-Soo and Hyuk-Soo decided to trust him entirely for this auction.


    ¡°We¡¯ll start the bidding at one million won.¡±


    The auction was on.

 Chapter 55

    Chapter 55


    The screen above the stage displayed the current bid of 500 million won, which had started at just one million merely ten minutes ago, showing how heated the auction was getting.


    ¡°We have 500 million won. If there is no higher bid in the next five seconds, it will be sold to Guest No. 53.¡±


    This feels like it might be a jackpot. Shouldn¡¯t we bid? Cheol-Soo anxiously bit his nails, his leg bouncing nervously.


    However, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to enter the bid on the number pad. After all, today¡¯s auction had been completely entrusted to Do-Jun, and there was also the chance of buying low-grade equipment at an exorbitant price.


    ¡°And... sold! The item goes to Guest No. 53. Congratulations! Now, let¡¯s reveal the stats for the winning equipment.¡±


    The equipment auction hosted by the Korean National Smithy had an additional layer of excitement¡ªthey would reveal the stats of the winning equipment to all participants, which brought about a mix of regret and relief.


    [Quirez¡¯s Decorative Bow]


    Category: Weapon / Bow


    Grade: E


    Attack Power: 1


    Agility +5


    Description: A bow carved by the sculptor Quirez as a gift for his wife. To please his wife, who loved flowers, he painted colorful blossoms along the bow¡¯s body, making it aesthetically pleasing. As it was not meant for actual use, its attack power is very low.


    Once the stats were revealed, sighs of relief and chuckles of disbelief could be heard all around.


    ¡°It certainly looked like an A-grade weapon.¡±


    ¡°I almost bought an E-grade bow for 200 million.¡±


    ¡°Quiet down. I¡¯d be crying if I were the winner.¡±


    ¡°Please note that the winning items will be handed over after the auction is concluded and the payment is completed. If a fraudulent bid is made, compensation will be claimed, and the item will be returned to the Korean National Smithy. We will resume the auction in one minute.¡±


    Staff members emerged from behind the stage, covered Quirez¡¯s Decorative Bow with a cloth, and then removed it.


    Do-Jun watched the process with indifference.


    Sitting next to him, Hyuk-Soo whispered to Do-Jun, ¡°That was close.¡±


    ¡°I had no intention of bidding in the first place.¡±


    ¡°No way... Do-Jun, did you somehow get the list of the auction items or something...?¡±


    ¡°If I did, I would have told you,¡± Do-Jun said with a smirk.


    As Hyuk-Soo had mentioned, Do-Jun could have obtained information on the auctioned items in advance from the Bureau Chief if he wanted. But there was no need to go that far.


    ¡°Now, for our second item of the night! We¡¯ll start again with a starting bid of one million won.¡±


    The second item was a wooden plaque¡ªone that was broken in half.


    Without much expectation, Do-Jun extended his qi sense to inspect the equipment. When he didn¡¯t sense any energy, he clicked his tongue in disappointment, resting his chin on his hand. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then, suddenly, his half-open eyes flashed with interest momentarily. For a fleeting instant, he sensed qi from the characters inscribed on the plaque, which read ¡°Return to the Origin,¡± before it disappeared.


    Do-Jun flicked his finger and sent his internal energy toward the wooden plaque. The energy moved through the air and was absorbed into the plaque.


    The dormant qi within the plaque¡¯s inscription blended with Do-Jun¡¯s energy and resonated for a brief moment. It was a pure concentration of qi, gathered and lying dormant within the characters.


    After calculating everything in his head, Do-Jun placed his fingers on the number pad.


    ¡°Guest No. 68 has bid 10 million won. If a higher bid is not entered within five seconds, Guest No. 68 will win... Oh! Guest No. 11 has bid 50 million won. All right, let¡¯s restart the countdown.¡±


    Heh. The auctioneer¡¯s lips curled up in a smile.


    The wooden plaque was an F-grade item with almost no useful stats. It was basically a piece of junk. Considering that the average price for F-grade equipment was around one million won, they were already achieving more than fifty times the usual profit.


    Without hesitation, Do-Jun entered a hundred million on the keypad, and the auctioneer cheered internally. Selling a low-value item for a high price would certainly boost his performance rating.


    Watching from the side, Hyuk-Soo swallowed hard and thought, If that¡¯s not at least B-grade or higher, we¡¯ll be at a loss...


    Judging by the trends of the previous auctions, about seventy percent of the auctioned equipment tended to be C-grade or below.


    Based purely on probability, there was a seventy percent chance of suffering a loss. Perhaps aware of this fact, no one else placed a bid, and the plaque was soon awarded to Do-Jun.


    ¡°Sold! To guest No. 68 for 100 million won.¡±


    ¡°Now, let¡¯s reveal the stats for the winning equipment.¡±


    [Broken Wooden Plaque]


    Category: Talisman/Support


    Grade: F


    +1 HP when carried.


    Description: A broken wooden plaque of unknown origin, marked by the passage of time.


    Murmurs spread through the crowd with reactions similar to those when the stats for Quirez¡¯s Decorative Bow were revealed.


    ¡°Wow, someone really bought that for 100 million won.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough to make someone cry.¡±


    ¡°But isn¡¯t the Korean National Smithy the real problem for auctioning off something like that?¡±


    ¡°I really feel sorry for him.¡±


    Meanwhile, seeing the plaque¡¯s grade and options, Cheol-Soo checked the price displayed on the screen. He rubbed his temples and sighed deeply.


    ¡°Chief, I¡¯ll buy this one for myself.¡±


    ¡°What? Hey, everyone makes mistakes. Why spend your own money? We can just include it in our budget.¡±


    Cheol-Soo thought that Do-Jun intended to pay out of pocket because of guilt.


    Looking concerned, Hyuk-Soo also added, ¡°Do-Jun, the chief is right. It¡¯s not just a few hundred thousand won; it¡¯s a hundred million...¡±


    ¡°The auction will resume shortly!¡±


    Do-Jun shrugged and turned his head back to the stage.


    ***


    Cheol-Soo checked the auction results with disbelief.


    The Fissure Management Division had won five pieces of equipment with a bid of 1.47 billion won.


    Do-Jun sat at the counter, reading through the purchasing contract.


    Warlord¡¯s Spear (B)


    Plunderer¡¯s Gloves (B)


    Vampire Cape (A)


    Qilin (A)


    Broken Wooden Plaque (F)


    ¡°Please write up a separate contract for the Broken Wooden Plaque under my name,¡± Do-Jun requested.


    ¡°D-Do-Jun, I''m telling you, we can just buy this with our budget.¡±


    ¡°But if we do that, the plaque will be registered as the property of the Fissure Management Division, right?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. You don¡¯t need to waste your own money.¡±


    After winning the Broken Wooden Plaque for 100 million won, Do-Jun successfully bid for two A-grade pieces of equipment and two B-grade ones.


    This was a massive gain, considering that just one piece of A-grade equipment would typically cost over 3 billion won.


    Cheol-Soo assumed that Do-Jun was stubbornly trying to take responsibility for his mistake.


    ¡°So, how would you like me to proceed?¡± the staff at the counter asked impatiently.


    ¡°Please do as I¡¯ve said. Oh, and I¡¯ll pay for the plaque right now.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    Cheol-Soo kept muttering something beside him, but Do-Jun ignored him, proceeded with the contract, and paid for the plaque immediately.


    ¡°Payment has been confirmed.¡±


    Receiving the plaque from the staff, Do-Jun double-checked its stats on the spot, but nothing had changed. However, as he looked at the plaque, a strange, indescribable feeling welled up inside him.


    Return to the Origin.


    At its current state, it meant going back to the beginning but considering the plaque was broken, there must have been more text that continued on the other half.


    Do-Jun channeled his internal energy into the plaque.


    Suddenly, the characters emitted a faint light, and a scene flashed in Do-Jun¡¯s mind.


    ¡°Go back. You are not ready yet,¡± a woman dressed in flowing martial attire whispered as she stabbed a sword into Do-Jun¡¯s abdomen.


    The scene ended there, and the light on the plaque¡¯s character faded.


    What was that just now...?


    Do-Jun tried pouring his internal energy into the plaque again, but it was no longer responsive. He checked the options again, but there were no changes.


    He slipped the plaque into the inner pocket of his suit jacket.


    ***


    Time passed quickly, and it was Saturday morning.


    Using the Challenger¡¯s Memory artifact, Do-Jun and Karsiel teleported to the Central Island. Not much had changed since the week before, but now there was a pathway leading downward at the island¡¯s center.


    Nearby, he could see the back of Tusitala as she stared off into the distance.


    ¡°Thanks for waiting, Tusitala,¡± Do-Jun said to the fairy with a ring of internal energy around her neck.


    Since Do-Jun returned to Earth, Tusitala had tried everything to break free from this restraint but had been unsuccessful. She remained in place, waiting for Do-Jun¡¯s return.


    Do-Jun loosened the ring around Tusitala¡¯s neck, but the fairy stayed still, looking off into the distance. Then, she turned to face Do-Jun.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking for a while now, and with your strength...¡± She had a rather serious look, and after taking a deep breath, she continued, ¡°May I ask a favor?¡±


    ¡°A favor?¡±


    ¡°To set the story straight.¡±


    Tusitala then gestured into the air, and a translucent image of a pillar appeared. It was a representation of the entire Core. Tusitala pointed to the bottom-most point, the Deep Realm.


    ¡°I¡¯ve only heard rumors myself, but at the end of the Deep Realm, there are said to be seven beings called the Transcendents. These are individuals who have broken through the Core and adapted to the Deep Realm. I¡¯ve heard that Epicurus, the one who compiled your Ataraxia, is also one of them.¡±


    ¡°The Transcendents...¡± Do-Jun let out a small chuckle.


    ¡°It means they are incredibly strong. You saw the monsters at the entrance to the Core, right? On Earth, they classify such monsters as S-rank, but these monsters were pushed out because they couldn¡¯t even adapt to the very outskirts of the Core. Imagine how powerful the beings residing in the Deep Realm at the very end must be,¡± Tusitala said, biting her lip.


    At that moment, Karsiel asked, ¡°Um... What exactly do you mean by ¡®setting the story straight¡¯?¡±


    ¡°The Core has been thrown into chaos by the actions of the Transcendents on their journey to the Deep Realm. So, it means returning the Core to its original state.¡±


    Listening to Tusitala, Do-Jun thought back to the plaque he had obtained at the auction a few days prior. Could there be a connection?


    ¡°Of course, I leave the decision to you. It¡¯s not my place to force you, and I don¡¯t have the power to do so anyway.¡±


    Do-Jun stroked his chin. As Tusitala said, this was a matter of choice, and it didn¡¯t matter whether he did it or not.


    All he needed to do now was to gather information for Behemoth Guild to assist them with their expedition. For now, his life on Earth was unfolding just the way he wanted.


    However, the scene he had seen when he first acquired the plaque replayed over and over in his mind.


    ¡°Go back. You are not ready yet.¡±


    That was the only thing bothering him.


    Do-Jun scrutinized Tusitala¡¯s eyes. Her gaze was ambiguous. It didn¡¯t seem like she was lying, but it didn¡¯t seem entirely sincere either.


    Why had her attitude suddenly changed? What could this fairy gain from making such a request?


    Still, he wanted to find out if he could perhaps regain some of his lost memories.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s on the way, anyway. Seems like fate,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°Come again...?¡± Tusitala¡¯s jaw dropped, but then she soon smiled and nodded.


    Do-Jun and Karsiel leaped toward the pathway.


    Looking down toward the Deep Realm, Tusitala murmured, ¡°He... he might be able to save you, Cecilia.¡±

 Chapter 56

    Chapter 56


    [You have entered Stage 2 of the Tutorial Zone.]


    [The recommended Magic Resistance is 1. Your Magic Resistance is exceedingly high. All your stats are greatly enhanced by the Blessing of the Deep Realm.]


    As Do-Jun descended along the passageway, he saw an open square unfold before him.


    In the center of the plaza, just like in Stage 1, a massive monster was sealed within a barrier. It was a monster resembling an ogre, thrashing wildly upon seeing Do-Jun.


    [Cyclops]


    Category: Monster


    Description: The boss monster of Stage 2 of the tutorial. It can use the Skill Armorize, so be careful. It¡¯s usually sealed within a barrier, but the seal breaks after 24 hours. I was able to defeat Laika at the second station and, with some luck, obtain the Book of Armorization with 0.5% mastery, which was just enough to kill Cyclops.


    Danger Level: ¡ï¡ï¡ï


    After filling in the page on Ataraxia and confirming the information, Do-Jun focused on the term Armorize mentioned in the first line.


    Tusitala, who was peeking at Ataraxia alongside Do-Jun, said, ¡°This is where you learn Armorize, one of the three most important skills to survive in the Core. In simple terms, Armorize is similar to physical enhancement. I know you¡¯re strong, but if you want to stand against the strongest in the Core, you¡¯ll need to master this skill.¡±


    Bang!


    The Cyclops punched the barrier.


    According to Ataraxia¡¯s information, the barrier would break in twenty-four hours, and the monster would charge.


    Do-Jun inspected the Cyclops¡¯ fist using his qi sense and was impressed. It was extremely solid, and its power was incomparable to anything he¡¯d seen before. It was likely that the Cyclops had Armorized its fist.


    ¡°The higher your mastery, the stronger you become. You can obtain the Book of Armorization at a place recorded in Ataraxia called the Subway,¡± Tusitala muttered, looking at an entrance to the pathway in the corner of the square that led to the Subway.


    Suddenly, she wondered if her information was also recorded in Ataraxia.


    ¡°By the way, does it say anything about me in there?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. But you probably wouldn¡¯t want to know what it says. It might hurt your feelings.¡±


    ¡°That just makes me want to know more.¡±


    Do-Jun showed the Ataraxia entry on her.


    The moment she saw the words ¡°dickhead¡± and ¡°absolute dickhead,¡± she snapped the book shut and handed it back to Do-Jun.


    Karsiel chuckled quietly beside her, but when their eyes met, she quickly looked away and said, ¡°Let¡¯s just head to the Subway... shall we?¡±


    ***


    Descending through the entrance at the corner of the plaza, they arrived at what looked like a familiar subway platform in Korea. In the distance, a train stood still on the tracks with its doors open.


    [Train]


    Category: Structure S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Description: The place where you can learn Armorize, the main focus of the second stage of the Tutorial Zone. The train leaves the moment you board and stops at a station every minute. At each station, a monster awaits. Defeating the monsters grants you a Book of Armorization. The further you go, the stronger the monsters become, but the mastery of the books also increases. I¡¯d recommend disembarking before the second station. Defeating a monster will return you to the original platform.


    Do-Jun took photos of the subway interior with his SpacePad.


    Watching him, Tusitala asked, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Gathering information. I¡¯m the recon; there¡¯s a separate team for the actual raid.¡±


    ¡°Wait... Are there more people as strong as you on Earth?¡± Tusitala was in disbelief.


    Do-Jun¡¯s strength was so formidable that she suspected him to rank within the top hundred in the entire Core. The thought of there being others like him on Earth left her astounded.


    ¡°Maybe?¡± Do-Jun replied as he shrugged with a smirk.


    He and Karsiel then boarded the train.


    [Only one person may board.]


    At that moment, Tusitala spoke up. ¡°You can¡¯t go together. Only one person is allowed on the train. If that child needs to learn Armorize as well, you¡¯ll have to repeat the process on the next run. In other words, you must complete the entire Tutorial Zone and then use another entry token to return to this place.¡±


    Hearing this, Karsiel stepped off the train. ¡°I¡¯ll wait here, Master. You go ahead.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°By the way, Tusitala, how many stations are there in total?¡± Do-Jun asked her.


    Tusitala shook her head and answered, ¡°That, I don¡¯t know. Does it not say anything in Ataraxia?¡±


    ¡°Not to such a detailed extent. It might be like an encyclopedia, but since it¡¯s based on Epicurus¡¯ personal experiences, anything he didn¡¯t encounter isn¡¯t recorded.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t go back to a station once you pass it. Keep that in mind. And also...¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°After the fourth station, the monsters will be using Armorize, so be careful.¡±


    ***


    Clunk, clunk.


    [We will shortly be arriving at the ninety-ninth station.]


    Screech.


    [We have arrived at the 99th station.]


    [You may challenge the Demon King or proceed to the next station.]


    [Caution! The difficulty level far exceeds the tutorial.]


    The train doors opened, and Do-Jun gazed at the monster beyond the door.


    It was a sloppy-looking creature with dozens of slimy tentacles, looking almost mockingly at Do-Jun with the singular focusless eye on its body.


    Do-Jun tried to use Interpreter ¨C Ataraxia just to be sure, but he wasn¡¯t surprised at the result.


    [Target cannot be identified.]


    Do-Jun clicked his tongue in irritation. Though it was said that Ataraxia recorded nearly everything about the Core, anything its author hadn¡¯t encountered remained a mystery.


    Turning his gaze forward, Do-Jun looked ahead.


    [Would you like to proceed to the next station?]


    [Proceeding to the final station.]


    [You have discovered a Hidden Piece.]


    [Your Magic Resistance has permanently increased by 10.]


    Do-Jun ignored the holographic messages flickering past his eyes and focused his senses on the approaching powerful aura.


    Screech.


    [We have arrived at the final station.]


    [You will now face the Clone of Armorization.]


    [Caution! The difficulty level far exceeds the tutorial.]


    As Do-Jun disembarked without hesitation, the train, having fulfilled its role, disappeared.


    Before him sat an old man, cross-legged on the ground. The completely bald elderly man, dressed in a long robe, stood up.


    ¡°What gives you the confidence to come here, challenger?¡± he asked.


    Do-Jun pulled out Ataraxia again, only for it to tell him that the target could not be identified. He took a photo with his SpacePad as a backup.


    The old man, who was mostly just skin and bones, looked quite frail. But Do-Jun knew otherwise.


    He¡¯s strong.


    He had seen countless monsters as he passed each station, but they were nothing compared to this old man before him.


    But that was about it.


    ¡°What confidence, you ask...¡±


    Do-Jun unbuttoned his cuffs and rolled up his sleeves with a smirk.


    The old man was undoubtedly powerful. Even Izaas, the Dragon Lord, wouldn¡¯t stand much of a chance against him.


    But again, that was about it.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have a weapon, so I won¡¯t use any either,¡± Do-Jun told the monster.


    ¡°Hehe. Foolish child, even if you came at me with everything you got, you won¡¯t even last a single move.¡±


    The old man¡¯s entire skin turned black.


    Do-Jun realized that this was the Armorize skill. The old man¡¯s mastery of it was likely astounding.


    Do-Jun drew up the internal energy from his dantian. And the two fists clashed in mid-air.


    Boom!


    A shockwave rippled out from the impact.


    ***


    Two hours had already passed. Karsiel and Tusitala were staring endlessly at the tracks. He should have returned a while ago.


    ¡°Could he have... died?¡± Tusitala muttered in despair, thinking that Do-Jun might have been too confident in his strength and passed the tenth station, only to lose to one of the powerful beings there.


    ¡°Th-there¡¯s no way our master would die!¡± Karsiel yelled, glaring at Tusitala.


    ¡°I admit, he¡¯s strong. But how can you be so sure he¡¯s not dead?¡±


    At that question, Karsiel lowered her head. ¡°Our master is...¡±


    Suddenly, a light approached from a distance. A train was coming down the tracks toward them.


    Karsiel had been sitting on a bench at the station. She jumped to her feet.


    When train doors opened to reveal Do-Jun, Karsiel dashed over and embraced him.


    ¡°Master!¡±


    ¡°Sorry for keeping you waiting.¡± Do-Jun patted Karsiel¡¯s head.


    ¡°Just how many stations did you pass through? I thought you were dead!¡± Tusitala said angrily.


    ¡°I went all the way to the end.¡±


    ¡°What...?¡± Do-Jun¡¯s answer left Tusitala stunned.


    ¡°They gave me a Book of Armorization, just like you said.¡±


    Tusitala swallowed dryly. The further one traveled past the stations on the train, the higher the starting mastery level when acquiring the Book of Armorization.


    What could Do-Jun¡¯s mastery level possibly be now?


    ¡°Shall we head up?¡± Do-Jun said.


    ***


    Boom!


    Tusitala watched the Cyclops¡¯ body explode in a single punch in disbelief.


    ¡°What the hell...¡±


    What shocked her wasn¡¯t the fact that the Cyclops died in one blow. For a moment, Do-Jun¡¯s fist was enveloped in Armorize, but there was a problem with its color.


    It was black.


    The color of the body reinforced with Armorize changed based on its mastery level. It had seven colors. These were red, orange, yellow, green, blue, navy, purple¡ªin ascending order.


    The higher the mastery, the closer it would be to purple, but most people could only reach green or blue, even at the peak of their skills.


    Of course, rumors claimed that purple was the standard near the Deep Realm or inside it.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never heard or seen such a color...¡± Tusitala murmured.


    [You may enter the third stage of the Tutorial Zone after 168 hours.]


    [Choose between a random artifact or the Challenger¡¯s Memory (Tutorial Zone Stage 2).]


    [Challenger¡¯s Memory (Tutorial Zone Stage 2)]


    Category: Consumable / Support


    Grade: 4


    Description: Teleports the user to the cleared point of Stage 2 in the Tutorial Zone (single use). Upon obtaining this item, the user will be forcibly ejected from the Core.


    Rumble.


    The ground where the Cyclops once stood split open and once again revealed a passage leading downward.


    ¡°What on earth is your mastery percentage?!¡± Tusitala flew toward Do-Jun, shouting into his ear.


    Do-Jun frowned, covered his ears, and answered, ¡°0%. Oh, now it¡¯s 0.1%.¡±


    ¡°Liar... If that¡¯s true, the color should be red. And if you went to the last station, it¡¯s impossible for your mastery to be at 0%. Even receiving the reward at the second station would start you at 0.5%.¡±


    ¡°Maybe I¡¯m just in a different class.¡±


    ¡°In a different class...?¡±


    ¡°Different class of skill.¡±


    Do-Jun opened his status window and checked the newly updated information in his Skill tab.


    [Armorize ¨C True]


    Category: Skill


    Mastery: 0.14%


    Description: Super-enhances a part or all of your body. As mastery increases, the duration extends, and strength improves.

 Chapter 57

    Chapter 57


    The Fissure Management Division office was in one of its peaceful states.


    A neatly dressed man with slicked-back hair entered through the door, startling Cheol-Soo. He had been resting his chin on his hand and staring blankly at his monitor but now hastily scrambled under his desk.


    The newly-arrived man grinned, then walked briskly toward Cheol-Soo¡¯s desk, bent down, and looked at Cheol-Soo, tucked away behind his chair.


    ¡°Oh my! Chief Kang, it¡¯s been a hot minute! Why did you crawl into such a cramped space?¡± The man greeted him in a distinct Busan dialect.


    Cheol-Soo acted as if nothing happened and sat back in his seat.


    After clearing his throat, he looked at the man, Yoo Min-Sang, and asked, ¡°Why are you here again? Do you think the City Hall is your backyard?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be like that. You¡¯re hurting my feelings. I came all the way from Busan just to see you, Chief Kang.¡±


    ¡°Oh, cut it out. Your lies are only getting worse.¡±


    ¡°By the way, do you still have any equipment funds left?¡± Yoo Min-Sang probed him.


    Cheol-Soo clicked his tongue as if this was exactly what he expected.


    Yoo Min-Sang was, in essence, a peddler who visited Seoul City Hall every few months. He owned a workshop named after himself, Yoo Min-Sang Smithy, a small shop that dealt in basic weapons, suits, and other combat-related supplies.


    The problem was that he was practically a con artist who would sell a suit worth 3 million won for double or even triple the price to naive buyers using his silver tongue.


    ¡°We¡¯ve got nothing. We spent it all at the auction last time, so you might as well leave now,¡± Cheol-Soo told him.


    ¡°You bought equipment at an auction? Is that allowed?¡±


    ¡°Why do you think we did it?¡±


    ¡°You should have bought from my smithy. I would have given you a discount.¡±


    ¡°Whatever. My point is we don¡¯t have any equipment funds left. So, off you go.¡±


    Yoo Min-Sang sighed and seemed to contemplate something for a moment. Then, as if nothing had happened, he flashed a wide smile and approached Hyuk-Soo.


    Hyuk-Soo was drafting an official document when he muttered, ¡°Not buying,¡± as if it were routine.


    ¡°How are you always so diligent, Supervisor Kwon? Civil service jobs are meant to be easygoing; do the bare minimum, grab your money,¡± Yoo Min-Sang said, trying to find an opening.


    ¡°I¡¯m busy. Let¡¯s talk some other time.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so prickly, but that¡¯s part of your charm...¡± Yoo Min-Sang¡¯s words trailed off.


    He had spotted Do-Jun, who entered the office and sat at the desk next to Hyuk-Soo.


    Looking back and forth between the nameplate on Do-Jun¡¯s monitor and the man himself, Yoo Min-Sang said, ¡°Who is this incredibly handsome man? Are you a model, sir?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve met him before. This is Supervisor Lee Do-Jun,¡± Hyuk-Soo introduced him.


    ¡°This... this is Supervisor Lee Do-Jun?¡± Yoo Min-Sang was stunned as he looked at Do-Jun.


    It was only natural because the last time he saw Do-Jun a few months ago, he had been a slightly chubby man of average height with an unremarkable face.


    ¡°How can someone change this much in a few months? Incredible! Do you remember me, Supervisor Lee? I¡¯m Yoo Min-Sang, the owner of Yoo Min-Sang Smithy. I hope you enjoyed the mana supplement you purchased last time.¡±


    Yoo Min-Sang sat next to Do-Jun, acting as if they were more acquainted than they actually were. But there was no way Do-Jun would remember him.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t recall. What do you mean by mana supplement?¡± Do-Jun asked him.


    ¡°You bought a mana supplement from me last time. That thing works wonders, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m not sure.¡±


    At that moment, Do-Jun realized something from Hyuk-Soo¡¯s uncomfortable reaction and Yoo Min-Sang¡¯s mention of the mana supplement. This guy was just a peddler.


    Yoo Min-Sang rummaged through his backpack and placed a small plastic bottle filled with blue liquid on Do-Jun¡¯s desk.


    ¡°This is our workshop¡¯s latest product. Supervisor Lee, have you heard of the Black Squirrel? That¡¯s right, the Black Squirrel that sometimes appears in the Fissure at Sanbangsan Mountain, Jeju Island. When you catch a Black Squirrel that feeds on Jeju¡¯s pure energy, a small amount of mana stone comes out. This mana juice is made using that very mana stone!¡±


    ¡°I see...¡±


    The inside of a Fissure was a completely different environment, so why was he mentioning a mountain in Jeju?


    Do-Jun examined the mana juice Yoo Min-Sang had placed on his desk. He realized it indeed had a faint trace of mana, but it was so weak that it wasn¡¯t even worth calling mana.


    It was much weaker than even an F-rank mana stone from a goblin.


    ¡°This usually sells for 4 million won, but for today only, I¡¯ll sell it to you for 200 thousand won, Supervisor Lee. And since it¡¯s imbued with Jeju¡¯s energy, it¡¯s especially good for men.¡±


    Do-Jun chuckled at the sales pitch. Look at this guy.


    An F-rank mana stone was worth about 50 thousand won. Yet this one with far less mana than an F-rank stone was being sold for 200 thousand won? It was basically a daylight robbery.


    At most, this was probably a solution made with the tiniest bit of an F-rank stone, never mind the Jeju Black Squirrel.


    ¡°Mr. Yoo.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Supervisor Lee?¡±


    ¡°You should thank me for pretending to fall for your scam last time.¡±


    ¡°S-scam? I¡¯ve always lived by my conscience since I was a child.¡±


    ¡°Nobody actually gets tricked these days. They all just pretend to,¡± Do-Jun told the peddler.


    After a brief silence, Yoo Min-Sang leaned in closer to Do-Jun and whispered, ¡°Is it that obvious?¡±


    Do-Jun nodded.


    ***


    One hour later.


    ¡°Mr. Administrator, I brought you a gift.¡± Ye-Ji smiled brightly as she placed a paper bag on Do-Jun¡¯s desk.


    ¡°A gift?¡±


    ¡°Yes! Open it.¡±


    Do-Jun opened the paper bag to see a familiar plastic bottle inside. He rubbed his lips and said, ¡°So this is where it ended up.¡±


    ¡°Sorry?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡±


    Noticing Hyuk-Soo glance over in their direction, Ye-Ji smiled and said, ¡°I bought one for you too, Supervisor Kwon. And one for Chief Kang as well.¡±


    She placed one on each of their desks.


    ¡°Apparently, this is very beneficial for men. It was originally 4 million won, but I got it for two hundred thousand. How lucky am I? Hehe.¡±


    ¡°Why on earth did you...¡± Hyuk-Soo muttered and sighed deeply.


    ¡°Hey, now. Everyone gets scammed at least once. Don¡¯t you remember, Hyuk-Soo, when you bought that Malgur flower extract? You were so proud of getting it for 800 thousand won, claiming it was worth five million,¡± Cheol-Soo said as he picked up the mana supplement.


    ¡°W-why are you bringing that up here?¡±


    Do-Jun stifled a laugh.


    ¡°Do-Jun, you shouldn¡¯t be laughing. You were worse. You paid 1.5 million for yours.¡±


    Ye-Ji had been listening to talk and asked with a shocked look, ¡°Wait, is this a scam?¡±


    ¡°Oh, no, Hunter Ye-Ji. Thank you for the gift!¡± Cheol-Soo hastily replied, scratching his head.


    ¡°Of course!¡± Ye-Ji beamed with a smile.


    ***


    Returning home, Do-Jun placed the mana juice on the dining table. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°How was work, Father?¡±


    ¡°It was good, thanks.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Yoon-Hee tilted her head in curiosity as she checked the contents of the cardboard box. Upon recognizing the blue liquid, she exclaimed, ¡°Oh, this is mana juice, right?¡±


    ¡°You know about it too?¡±


    ¡°Of course! It¡¯s been trending on the internet. They say if you drink it with your meal, the mana components get absorbed better by your body. Although it doesn¡¯t increase your mana, it¡¯s supposed to purify the mana you already have. Did you buy it yourself?¡±


    Do-Jun shook his head and replied, ¡°Ye-Ji gifted it to me.¡±


    ¡°Hmm...¡±


    ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing. I should at least send her a thank-you message. I heard this is super expensive and hard to find.¡±


    Yong-Yong jumped onto the dining table and inspected the mana juice. Then he snickered.


    ¡°Mana juice? Hah, this is just... mmmph!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re coming with me to wash up.¡± Do-Jun clamped a hand over Yong-Yong¡¯s mouth and headed to the bathroom.


    He didn¡¯t want to shatter Yoon-Hee¡¯s enthusiasm over the juice.


    Well, it¡¯s not like it doesn¡¯t have any mana in it.


    ***


    At the dinner table, Yoon-Hee opened the mana juice bottle and poured it for Do-Jun with both hands. He had said he didn¡¯t need to drink it, but she insisted it was good for him, so he reluctantly held out his glass.


    ¡°Do you want to try some too...?¡± Do-Jun asked, watching Yoon-Hee stare intently at the nutrient water.


    All fathers wanted to share good things with their children. He decided he¡¯d buy the real thing for her next time as he poured her a glass.


    ¡°Shall we do a little gunbae?¡± Yoon-Hee asked happily. [1]


    The glass cups made a clear clinking sound as they touched. Do-Jun took a sip of the nutrient water in his glass. A slight tingling sensation hit his tongue, followed by a faint hint of alcohol.


    He didn¡¯t think much about the alcohol in the drink as he placed the glass down. Then suddenly, he realized it and glanced at Yoon-Hee in a hurry, only to see her down her entire glass in one go and set it down.


    ¡°It has a unique taste,¡± Yoon-Hee commented.


    ¡°Are... are you okay?¡± Do-Jun asked her in concern.


    ¡°Huh? What do you mean?¡±


    Maybe it was because the alcohol content was low, but Yoon-Hee seemed completely fine. Relieved, Do-Jun began eating his meal.


    But then, a black bean from the side dish smacked Yong-Yong on the cheek as he was chomping down his food, making him cry out, ¡°Ouch!¡±


    Yoon-Hee had dropped the bean while trying to pick it up with her chopsticks.


    ¡°Oops, sorry, Yong-Yong.¡±


    Apologizing, she tried using her chopsticks again, but her grip weakened, and she dropped them onto the floor this time.


    ¡°Ah...¡± Yoon-Hee picked up her chopsticks and sat in her chair.


    Seeing her face flushed red from the alcohol, Do-Jun let out a sigh. Though the alcohol was in miniscule quantity, he hadn¡¯t expected her to be this lightweight.


    ¡°Yong-Yong, eat up, okay?¡± Yoon-Hee said with a giggle.


    ¡°Uh... yeah.¡±


    Watching her behavior, Yong-Yong sensed something was off and dragged his bowl over to Do-Jun¡¯s side.


    Yoon-Hee pouted and complained, ¡°Why are you running away?¡±


    ¡°Haha, running away? Me? No, no. This is a tactical retreat. Is there a prob...lem...?¡±


    Tears began to flow from Yoon-Hee¡¯s eyes. Yong-Yong froze, taken aback by the sudden escalation of the situation.


    ¡°Haha, you made the young master cry, haaaa.¡± Karsiel joked in a flat tone as she continued eating her food.


    Yong-Yong looked at Do-Jun, frantically waving his paws. ¡°N-no, Master. I-I didn¡¯t... this isn¡¯t...¡±


    ¡°I know it¡¯s not your fault.¡±


    Do-Jun stood up, approached Yoon-Hee, and then lifted her in his arms.


    ¡°F-father?¡± Her teary eyes blinked as she looked up at him.


    Do-Jun placed his forehead against hers to check her temperature and noticed that it was quite hot. She was definitely drunk.


    Looks like she needs to sleep it off.


    Since he couldn¡¯t have her sleep in the living room, he had no choice but to carry her to his room.


    He laid her down on his bed and covered her with a blanket.


    ¡°I¡¯ll clean up, so just get some sleep.¡±


    ¡°W-what¡¯s happening...?¡±


    ¡°Let me know when you¡¯re up. I¡¯ll make you some porridge.¡±


    Do-Jun closed the door and left the room.


    Maybe because she was lying down, her tension eased, and Yoon-Hee felt the ceiling spinning. Soon, she drifted off to sleep.


    ***


    The sound of chirping sparrows filled the morning air.


    Yoon-Hee felt a throbbing headache as she opened her eyes. After sitting up with a start, she stared around blankly for a moment before realizing where she was.


    ¡°W-why am I...?¡±


    Why was she sleeping here?


    ¡°Ehe...he.¡± Next to her, Yong-Yong and Karsiel were curled up, sleeping soundly.


    Yoon-Hee carefully nudged Yong-Yong awake. ¡°Yong-Yong.¡±


    ¡°Eh... huh?¡±


    ¡°W-what happened yesterday?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Yesterday?¡±


    Yong-Yong rubbed his sleepy eyes, recalling the events, and then he started explaining bit by bit.


    Yoon-Hee buried her reddening face in the blanket as she listened to the recap.


    ¡°You were acting a bit strange yesterday,¡± Yong-Yong said.


    ¡°Ughhhh.¡±


    ¡°Master even did all the dishes last night.¡±


    ¡°Aaaaah.¡±


    ¡°And he said you weren¡¯t useful anymore and that he¡¯d have to replace you.¡±


    At those words, Yoon-Hee¡¯s eyes widened, and she lifted Yong-Yong. ¡°A-are you serious?¡±


    ¡°Keugh, n-no, I¡¯m just kidding.¡±


    ¡°You silly! Don¡¯t make jokes like that!¡±


    ¡°W-whatever. Everything else was true, though.¡±


    Just then, the door opened, and Do-Jun entered, dressed in his work clothes. He set a small table on the floor and a bowl of porridge on it.


    ¡°Oh, are you up? I¡¯m heading to work now, so eat this before you go to school,¡± he told Yoon-Hee.


    She glanced at the clock. It was already 7:30 AM.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry...¡± Yoon-Hee said, hanging her head low.


    ¡°Huh? For what?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve failed you...¡±


    Do-Jun let out a small chuckle, finding her endearing. ¡°Just eat that and start getting ready for school.¡±


    The door closed, and she heard the sound of Do-Jun leaving the house.


    ***


    8:30 AM.


    Do-Jun stepped into the Fissure Management Division office and felt an unusually busy atmosphere.


    Hyuk-Soo put down the phone receiver, grabbed his coat, and hung his civil servant ID around his neck. He picked up his notebook and was about to leave the office when he ran into Do-Jun.


    ¡°Senior, is something going on?¡± Do-Jun asked him.


    ¡°We¡¯ve got an urgent complaint. It looks like someone¡¯s set up a workshop at the B-rank Great Fissure in Seongbuk Park that we recently took over. I need to head over there quickly to assess the situation. Keep an eye on the office, okay?¡±


    Hyuk-Soo hurriedly left the office.


    Do-Jun then walked over to Hyuk-Soo¡¯s desk and picked up the file labeled ¡°Seongbuk Park B-rank Great Fissure,¡± which was assigned to Hyuk-Soo.


    ¡°A workshop, huh...¡± Do-Jun muttered to himself.


    1. Gunbae means ¡°cheers¡± in Korean! Gunbae! ?

 Chapter 58

    Chapter 58


    Workshop was a term used to describe the act of multiple Hunters colluding to monopolize an entire Fissure.


    It was clearly defined as an illegal activity in Article 3, Clause 2 of the ¡°Special Act on Monopoly Regulation and Fissure Utilization (Prohibition of Abuse of Dominant Position).¡±


    However, it was extremely difficult to crack down on workshops occurring in B-rank or higher Great Fissures because most Hunters operating these workshops were A-rank or above.


    Hunters on this level or higher were considered walking weapons of mass destruction. If provoked, whether inside or outside the Fissure, they could cause immense damage to citizens¡¯ lives and property.


    In the Hunter society, fists rule over the law.


    Though Hyuk-Soo thought he could handle it with a few words and headed out alone in a hurry, his life could be in danger if that wasn¡¯t the case.


    What happened inside a Fissure was practically beyond the reach of the law.


    That¡¯s that, but... Do-Jun tried to make some sense of the situation.


    Workshops were prevalent at the beginning of the Fissure era but were now considered nearly extinct.


    In C-rank and lower Fissures, the number of monsters appearing each day was limited, and the little money that came out of them wasn¡¯t worth the time and effort.


    B-rank or higher Great Fissures were under the management of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau until now. Establishing a workshop in a Great Fissure would mean going against the Hunter¡¯s Bureau, and unless a guild was particularly reckless, no one would dare attempt it.


    But now, shortly after the management rights were transferred to Seoul City Hall, a workshop had appeared.


    They think they can just walk all over us.


    Do-Jun turned on his computer, accessed Seoul¡¯s administrative system, and checked the entry records for the Seongbuk Park Fissure. He wanted to identify who was bold enough to run the workshop.


    He quickly found out their identities.


    [Records of Fissure Entry and Exit]


    Entered at 06:01, Choi Chang-Sik (View Details)


    Entered at 06:01, Jeon In-Tak (View Details)


    Entered at 06:01, Yang Min-Hee (View Details)


    ...


    Ten Hunters had entered simultaneously at around 6 AM.


    Though he could access their ranks and basic personal information in the ¡°View Details¡± tab, only limited information was available due to privacy laws. However, it still was enough to make an educated guess.


    If it¡¯s Ake... it¡¯s the eighth-ranked guild, Do-Jun concluded.


    They were a semi-large guild with numerous A-rank Hunters and S-rank Hunter Choi Chang-Sik at the forefront.


    Do-Jun picked up the office phone and called Hyuk-Soo.


    ¡ªYes, this is Kwon Hyuk-Soo.


    ¡°Senior, where are you?¡±


    ¡ªI¡¯m around Yulgok-ro, fifteen minutes away from Seongbuk Park. Is everything alright at the office?


    ¡°It¡¯s all good here.¡±


    ¡ªPlease tell the chief that I¡¯ll be back soon.


    With that, the call ended.


    Do-Jun surely expected him to ask for backup, but he didn¡¯t. So, why didn¡¯t he?


    Was it because it was the Fissure he was in charge of, or did he want to display his capability as a senior? Do-Jun could sense Hyuk-Soo¡¯s determination to handle the matter on his own.


    Do-Jun recalled what Hyuk-Soo had said during a modest gathering they had a while ago.


    ¡°I¡¯ve always thought it would be nice to have a reliable senior. Since this field isn¡¯t that old, I had to work alone without one. So, I thought, why not become that kind of senior myself?¡±


    ¡°I want to be a dependable senior you can rely on, Do-Jun.¡±


    He then remembered when he, Hyuk-Soo, and Cheol-Soo had gone to a bathhouse during work hours.


    ¡°If the three of us break apart, we¡¯re finished. But if we stick together, we thrive!¡±


    That was what Cheol-Soo had said as they scrubbed each other¡¯s backs. As Do-Jun reminisced, someone walked through the office doors.


    ¡°Good morning. You¡¯re here early.¡± It was Cheol-Soo.


    ¡°Chief.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    Do-Jun grinned. ¡°Would you like to go for a drive?¡±


    ***


    A Kia Sorento raced down Changgunggyeong-ro, ignoring the 60 km/h speed cameras and running red lights.


    Do-Jun swung the steering wheel back and forth, flooring the accelerator like a madman. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°W-whoa! We¡¯re going to crash!¡± Cheol-Soo was terrified, raising his arms to protect himself.


    Do-Jun came dangerously close to hitting the car in front of them but veered into the right lane the moment a gap opened, speeding ahead.


    ¡°Y-y-you know there¡¯s cameras everywhere, right? You could get your license suspended! And this is a government vehicle; you can¡¯t just drive like¡ª¡±


    ¡°Chief,¡± Do-Jun interrupted him.


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°How will they suspend a license that doesn¡¯t exist?¡±


    Cheol-Soo¡¯s face went blank for a moment at Do-Jun¡¯s response. Then his mouth dropped open with an audible gasp.


    ¡°You... you don¡¯t have a license...? And you¡¯re driving?¡±


    Do-Jun nodded.


    Upon returning to Earth, he checked with the Road Traffic Authority out of curiosity to see if he had a driver¡¯s license, but his former self had never acquired one.


    And yet, he found driving incredibly easy.


    ¡°Oh, we¡¯re finally caught up,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°What?¡±


    While driving on Seongbuk-ro 4-gil, leading up to Seongbuk Park, Do-Jun saw a white Sonata parked at the park entrance. He pulled up right behind it and saw a man with a determined expression getting out of the car.


    It was none other than Hyuk-Soo.


    As Do-Jun exited the car, he called out, ¡°Senior.¡±


    ¡°Do-Jun...?¡±


    Cheol-Soo, who had stumbled out of the passenger seat, heaved as he walked over to Hyuk-Soo.


    ¡°Even Chief Kang... how did you...?¡±


    ¡°Hyuk-Soo, you should¡¯ve told me if something like this was happening... Ugh.¡±


    ¡°A-are you okay?¡± Hyuk-Soo asked as he patted Cheol-Soo¡¯s back.


    ¡°Senior, what did the complainant say? Are we sure that it¡¯s a workshop?¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s what they claimed, but we¡¯ll have to go inside and check to be sure. But why did you both come here? I was just going to give them a warning...¡±


    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s great if it¡¯s that simple, but what if they pick a fight? And as I said earlier, you should report to me first on matters like this! Am I still your chief or not?¡±


    Cheol-Soo was clearly upset, but it was obvious it was because he was genuinely worried about Hyuk-Soo.


    Hyuk-Soo felt sorry, knowing that, and apologized immediately. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°Our unit is only complete when all three of us are together. Remember that? If even one person is missing, it¡¯s not the same Fissure Exploration Unit. Together, we survive, apart; aparte. Did I not say that?¡±


    Do-Jun chuckled softly and checked his watch. It was still ten minutes before 9 AM.


    ¡°Shall we head inside?¡±


    ***


    A vast field stretched before them.


    This area was already mapped by the Hunter¡¯s Bureau. The difficulty level was relatively manageable among the Great Fissures, with the frequent monsters being orcs and trolls.


    As soon as Do-Jun¡¯s party entered the Fissure, a sharp voice reached their ears. ¡°Man, who are you trying to fool? I know this is a workshop!¡±


    Turning his head, Do-Jun saw a schoolgirl in a uniform pointing her finger and questioning a man wearing a golden suit.


    That uniform...


    It was undoubtedly the freshmen uniform from the National Hunter Academy. The first years wore a reddish hue, the second years a blue shade, and finally, the third years navy blue.


    The girl wearing the same uniform as Yoon-Hee noticed Do-Jun¡¯s party and waved.


    ¡°What... is this situation?¡± Cheol-Soo asked Hyuk-Soo with a bewildered expression.


    He shook his head and muttered, ¡°I am not sure, but let¡¯s just check it out.¡±


    As they got closer, Choi Chang-Sik, the Guild Master of the Ake Guild, glanced in their direction.


    Cheol-Soo held out his civil servant ID and introduced himself. ¡°I¡¯m Chief Kang Cheol-Soo from the Seoul City Hall Fissure Management Division. We¡¯ve received a complaint that you¡¯re operating a workshop here. Could you please tell us what¡¯s happening here?¡±


    Hearing the words ¡°Fissure Management Division,¡± Choi Chang-Sik scratched his head with an awkward smile and bowed.


    ¡°My name is Choi Chang-Sik from the Ake Guild. It¡¯s just that we were hunting here, and then suddenly, this girl appeared and accused us of running a workshop. I assure you that this isn¡¯t a workshop operation. We¡¯re simply hunting.¡±


    Choi Chang-Sik pointed to a group of Hunters hunting orcs in the distance and then to another group hunting trolls.


    ¡°As you can see, it¡¯s not a workshop.¡±


    At his words, the girl raised her voice. ¡°No! You had ten people hogging seventy percent of the monsters. If that¡¯s not setting up a workshop, then what is it? And what is an S-rank Hunter like you doing in this Fissure? It¡¯s obvious!¡±


    ¡°Is that true...?¡± Cheol-Soo asked the man.


    Choi Chang-Sik replied, ¡°It¡¯s true that our guild members have been hunting many monsters, but that¡¯s only because they¡¯re that skilled. A so-called workshop involves preventing other Hunters from hunting, but we¡¯ve never stopped anyone. Ah, we actually worried that something like this might happen, so we¡¯ve recorded everything with our AutoCam while hunting. Please feel free to check the footage.¡±


    Choi Chang-Sik handed over the memory card from the AutoCam. Cheol-Soo inserted the memory card into his SpacePad and played the video. Upon review, it was evident that Choi Chang-Sik was telling the truth.


    ¡°Ahem. I¡¯m sorry, young lady, but this can¡¯t be considered a workshop,¡± Cheol-Soo told the girl and shook his head.


    ¡°W-what is this? Are you taking his side?¡±


    ¡°N-no, that¡¯s not...¡±


    ¡°Forget it! I¡¯m going to report all of you! Do you even know who my father is?¡±


    Choi Chang-Sik looked troubled and said, ¡°Ms. Yoo-Rin, I¡¯ve already apologized.¡±


    Cheol-Soo¡¯s eyes widened upon hearing the name Yoo-Rin.


    ¡°B-by chance, are you Bureau Chief Jung¡¯s daughter...?¡±


    ¡°You bet! You all better get ready to look for other jobs.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m terribly sorry for not recognizing you,¡± Cheol-Soo apologized in an extra polite tone.


    ¡°Hmph, too late for that.¡±


    Watching the scene unfold, Do-Jun let out a long sigh¡ªall this fuss just because of one spoiled brat.


    Hyuk-Soo, who had entered the Fissure with a resolute mindset, fell to the ground as his legs gave out, completely drained of energy.


    ¡°At this rate, I¡¯m gonna die of stress...¡± he mumbled, gazing into the distance.


    The girl, Jung Yoo-Rin, turned her head away, pouting in anger with her arms crossed.


    Seeing that, Do-Jun clicked his tongue and muttered, ¡°You should be at school.¡±


    ¡°Are... are you talking to me? What¡¯s your name? I¡¯m calling my father right now to get you fired. Just wait right there.¡±


    Yoo-Rin pulled out her smartphone and pressed the call button, only to get a message that she was outside the service area.


    Do-Jun shook his head at her lapse in memory that phones didn¡¯t work inside a Great Fissure.


    Yoo-Rin locked eyes with Do-Jun, her face reddening in frustration. ¡°You, mister! Come outside with me!¡±


    With that, she stormed out of the Fissure, and Cheol-Soo nudged Do-Jun in the ribs.


    ¡°She¡¯s the Bureau Chief¡¯s daughter. Try to appease her a bit. Go on, we¡¯ll wait here.¡±


    ***


    Once outside, Yoo-Rin promptly called her father.


    ¡°Dad? Yeah, it¡¯s me. Listen, there¡¯s a negligent civil servant here. Can you get him fired? He¡¯s right here; I¡¯ll put him on the phone.¡±


    Smirking confidently, Yoo-Rin handed her smartphone to Do-Jun. ¡°Take it, mister.¡±


    Do-Jun chuckled, seeing ¡°Dad ?¡± displayed on the phone screen. He took the phone, held it to his ear, and spoke.


    ¡°Hello.¡±


    ¡ªThis is Hunter¡¯s Bureau Chief Jung Young-Chul.


    ¡°Yes, Chief Jung.¡±


    There was a moment of silence.


    ¡ªI¡¯m sorry, but you are...


    ¡°It¡¯s Lee Do-Jun.¡±


    ¡ªY-yes, Supervisor Lee! How have you been?


    ¡°I was doing fine, but thanks to your daughter, I¡¯ve got to deal with some issues now.¡±


    ¡ªI-I apologize. My daughter doesn¡¯t understand...


    Young-Chul¡¯s clearly flustered voice could be heard through the receiver.


    Yoo-Rin tilted her head in confusion.


    Why was this civil servant acting so composed? Most would be bowing and scraping in a situation like this.


    Do-Jun glanced at Yoo-Rin and smiled faintly.


    ¡°Your daughter skipped school and summoned us civil servants by filing a false report. You know we are already backed up. What would you like me to do about this?¡±

 Chapter 59

    Chapter 59


    ¡ªI... I¡¯m not sure what exactly happened, but I sincerely apologize.


    ¡°Chief Jung.¡±


    ¡ªY-yes, Supervisor Lee.


    Young-Chul¡¯s flustered voice could be heard from the phone. In contrast, Do-Jun sounded like his usual self.


    W-what is this? Yoo-Rin bit her lip, realizing that something was seriously off.


    Her father was the Chief of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau and wielded absolute, unparalleled power. Even members of the National Assembly and the country''s president were wary of him.


    Yet here he was, pleading to a mere civil servant.


    Who is this man? she wondered, glancing at the ID card hanging around Do-Jun¡¯s neck.


    The bottom of the ID indicated Seoul City Hall, and above it was written: Lee Do-Jun, Fissure Management Division.


    I feel like I¡¯ve heard that name before... Ah!


    She recalled hearing it about two weeks ago when the news was abuzz with the S-rank Great Fissure at Umyeonsan Mountain. She vaguely remembered hearing from her father¡¯s aide that a civil servant had directed the Hunters during the Great Fissure raid and became a hot topic and that his name was Lee Do-Jun.


    But why would her father be so deferential to him?


    ¡°Your father would like a word,¡± Do-Jun said as he handed her the smartphone.


    Yoo-Rin took it, held it to her ear, and was met by a shout.


    ¡ªJung Yoo-Rin!!!


    Startled, she flinched.


    ¡ªWhat on earth do you think you are doing?


    ¡°D-dad?¡±


    Her father had always been kind to her. In the past, he had even laughed off the incident when she broke a millennium-old porcelain piece he cherished. But today, for the first time ever, he was furious.


    ¡ªI won¡¯t say much. We will talk when you get home. Expect to be severely reprimanded.


    With that, the call ended.


    Yoo-Rin slowly turned her head and looked at Do-Jun, who had a cold expression. Maybe it was because her father scolded her, but Yoo-Rin¡¯s face had turned pale as a ghost¡¯s.


    ***


    Do-Jun and Yoo-Rin returned to the Fissure.


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    Cheol-Soo scratched his head as he saw Yoo-Rin trailing behind Do-Jun with slumped shoulders. He was curious about what had transpired between them, but he wasn¡¯t going to ask when the person directly involved was present.


    ¡°Go on, apologize,¡± Do-Jun muttered.


    Yoo-Rin was visibly startled. Then, she bowed deeply to the Ake Guild members.


    Choi Chang-Sik and his party¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief.


    ¡°I... I¡¯m very sorry,¡± she said.


    ¡°N-no, Ms. Jung. It was an easily mistakable situation,¡± Choi Chang-Sik stammered, waving his hand awkwardly while looking at Do-Jun incredulously.


    He still couldn¡¯t believe what he was seeing. Yoo-Rin was the daughter of Young-Chul, a man of absolute power.


    As one might expect from a child in such a position, she was notorious for her arrogance and high-handedness, so it was beyond surprising to see her suddenly behave so submissively.


    ¡°And apologize to the people who came all the way here because of you,¡± Do-Jun told her.


    Yoo-Rin sniffled and bowed to Cheol-Soo and Hyuk-Soo as well. The duo exchanged looks, their mouths agape.


    ¡°Well, it looks like the complaint has been resolved. Would it be alright if we let you be?¡± Do-Jun asked, and Choi Chang-Sik nodded vigorously.


    ***


    Do-Jun¡¯s party and Yoo-Rin stood together outside the Fissure.


    ¡°Chief, would it be okay if I dropped by the Academy before returning to the office?¡± Do-Jun asked Cheol-Soo.


    ¡°Huh? Oh, sure. I¡¯ll go back with Hyuk-Soo, then.¡±


    ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll be quick.¡±


    Cheol-Soo assumed it was at the Chief¡¯s request.


    Yoo-Rin looked up at Do-Jun in surprise. Going to the Academy likely meant he was going to take her back to school, and she frantically tried to figure out the reason.


    After Hyuk-Soo¡¯s white Sonata drove off down the road, Do-Jun sat in the driver¡¯s seat of his Sorento. He then looked at the hesitant Yoo-Rin and said, ¡°Get in. I¡¯ll drop you off.¡±


    ¡°O-okay!¡±


    Yoo-Rin sat in the passenger seat and closed the door. As Do-Jun fastened his seatbelt, she kept stealing glances at him, evidently anxious.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to die, I suggest you put on your seatbelt,¡± Do-Jun said.


    At those words, Yoo-Rin¡¯s face turned pale once more, and she hurriedly fastened her seatbelt.


    Do-Jun meant that it would be dangerous because he was driving without a license, but she took it as Put on your seatbelt before I kill you.


    ¡°Um.¡±


    ¡°Yeah?¡±


    ¡°I-I¡¯m really sorry for earlier,¡± Yoo-Rin apologized again and bowed her head.


    Watching her, Do-Jun started the car and asked, ¡°Why were you even at that Fissure in the first place? Why weren¡¯t you at school?¡±


    At his question, she sighed and mumbled, ¡°It¡¯s just... boring.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    A brief silence followed.


    ¡°You¡¯re not going to ask more?¡± Yoo-Rin asked, looking at Do-Jun with a dumbfounded look.


    ¡°Why should I?¡±


    ¡°W-well, I mean, wouldn¡¯t most people ask why it¡¯s boring or if there¡¯s any other reason?¡±


    With that feedback, Do-Jun asked flatly, ¡°Why is it boring?¡±


    ¡°Wow... It¡¯s like I¡¯m speaking to a robot... Whatever. Anyway, why are you taking me back to school when I was so rude to you?¡±


    ¡°I also have a daughter about your age. And she goes to the Academy, too.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I se... W-what?¡± Yoo-Rin¡¯s eyebrows twitched, and she stared at Do-Jun¡¯s face.


    He was clearly in his twenties. She couldn¡¯t believe that he had a daughter her age.


    ¡°H-how... how old were you when you had her?¡± Yoo-Rin stuttered, counting on her fingers.


    ¡°She¡¯s not my biological daughter.¡±


    ¡°Did you adopt her?¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s something like that.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s with that vague answer...?¡±


    ¡°So, what¡¯s boring about school?¡± Do-Jun asked, chuckling.


    ¡°Honestly, I think I¡¯m on the same level as most A-rank Hunters. That¡¯s why I¡¯m in Class A, but all they teach us are monster and artifact theory lessons or basic mana infusion techniques. I already mastered those a long time ago.¡±


    ¡°So you were hunting in the Great Fissure at Seongbuk Park instead. Is that it?¡±


    ¡°Exactly. What I need isn¡¯t theory but actual combat experience.¡± Yoo-Rin shrugged.


    It was only natural for someone who had achieved A-rank Hunter skills at seventeen to feel a bit conceited.


    ¡°My dad insists that I¡¯ll gain a variety of experiences at the Academy and should stay, but I think it¡¯s a waste of time for me. Don¡¯t you think so too?¡±


    ¡°Well, you¡¯re not entirely wrong, but that doesn¡¯t mean Chief Jung is either. If I had to choose, I¡¯d lean toward the latter¡ª¡± Do-Jun paused mid-sentence as an alert popped up.


    [Core Distortion is occurring.]


    Rumble! Crack!


    The sky began to split apart, and a gigantic bird emerged from the cracked space. It continued to reveal itself, eventually landing on the road. Then, it let out a loud roar.


    The massive bird over fifty meters tall was none other than the Peculiar Eagle that appeared in the first stage of the Tutorial Zone.


    Crushed vehicles lay beneath its feet, blood oozing out between them.


    The Peculiar Eagle then opened its beak, spewing out a torrent of flames that engulfed everything on the road in a fiery blaze.


    ***


    Yoo-Rin slowly opened her eyes to see a scene of cars ablaze, along with trees that lined the road just seconds ago collapsed and burning.


    She then gasped in shock. ¡°Mister!¡±


    Do-Jun was standing over her, holding up a car with his arms.


    ¡°Tsk.¡± He clicked his tongue and pushed the car away, which was the very government vehicle they had just been riding in.


    He was trying to think of what to say to Hyuk-Soo later.


    ¡°A-are you okay?¡± Yoo-Rin asked, panic clear in her voice.


    The weight of a typical car ranged from one to one and a half tons. It should have been impossible for an ordinary person to lift.


    She couldn¡¯t comprehend how Do-Jun managed it, but that wasn¡¯t the most pressing matter.


    ¡°What are those...?¡± Yoo-Rin muttered.


    A bird was screeching wildly in the sky, and a giant ogre with bloodshot eyes was standing before them: Peculiar Eagle and the Cyclops.


    Looking around, the entire area was already in ruins.


    Do-Jun observed them while stroking his chin.


    Those are definitely the ones I killed before.


    He was told that the monsters would reappear once the Tutorial Zone was fully cleared and reset, but it hadn¡¯t been cleared yet.


    Moreover, this was the first time monsters that should have been in the Core appeared above ground.


    While Do-Jun was trying to process the situation, Yoo-Rin stood frozen in place, overwhelmed by the oppressive presence of the two giant monsters.


    They were on a completely different level from the B-rank monsters she had faced before. In fact, they weren¡¯t even A-rank.


    S-rank... monsters...


    Not just one, but two.


    With trembling hands, Yoo-Rin fumbled in her pocket. She needed to call her father for help immediately. There was no way she could handle these monsters alone.


    But just then, Do-Jun stepped forward and walked toward the monsters.


    Seeing that, Yoo-Rin was startled and reached out, trying to stop him. But before she could reach him, Do-Jun kicked off the ground, leaving a faint afterimage as he instantly closed the distance between himself and the monsters.


    Assault Gear? Yoo-Rin wondered, straining her eyes to see.


    Assault Gear was a device attached to the heel that enhanced a Hunter¡¯s mobility. Yet try as she might, Yoo-Rin couldn¡¯t see anything attached to his shoes.


    The Peculiar Eagle let out a terrifying shriek as it drove its massive beak toward the airborne Do-Jun, while the Cyclops struck at him with its fist, which had turned red.


    Zing.


    A sword-shaped energy shimmered around Do-Jun¡¯s body, and a single flash of light burst from his hand. Then, the bodies of the Peculiar Eagle and the Cyclops split in half.


    Shrrrak!


    Thump!


    Their cleaved upper halves fell to the ground, causing the earth to tremble.


    ¡°T-that... was that...¡± Yoo-Rin was struggling to speak.


    It wasn¡¯t Sword Aura, the pinnacle technique of infusing mana into a sword. For that, one needed a sword as a medium, which Do-Jun did not have.


    It wasn¡¯t a manifestation of Release or Transmutation either. It was something completely outside of the ordinary.


    Do-Jun walked toward Yoo-Rin and continued past her. He stared at the charred and skeletal remains of the government vehicle lying on the ground with a blank expression and sighed.


    ¡°You¡¯re not hurt, are you?¡± he finally asked, turning his attention to Yoo-Rin.


    ¡°Mister...¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Yoo-Rin asked.


    ***


    The news of the destruction of the two-lane road on Seongbuk-ro 4-gil quickly spread online and on TV, along with the appearance of a never-before-seen S-rank monster making the headlines.


    ¡°This accident left twenty-three casualties, who all unfortunately lost their lives. The road is currently blocked off, and restoration work will begin shortly. The analysis team has collected the monsters¡¯ corpses for further examination, but no Hunter has come forward to claim the kill yet.¡±


    Hearing the aide¡¯s report, Young-Chul ran his hands over his face and muttered, ¡°Only one person could do it. Who else?


    ¡°That¡¯s that, but why isn¡¯t Yoo-Rin answering her phone?¡±


    It was already 7 PM.


    ***


    Yoo-Rin was standing in front of the door to Suite 301 at Changshin Villa, a modest two-room apartment on the third floor of the building in Bangbae-dong.


    She took a deep breath and pressed the doorbell.


    *** Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Yong-Yong, could you check who¡¯s at the door?¡± Yoon-Hee called out as she stirred the stir-fried potatoes in the frying pan.


    ¡°Ah, but things are just about to get interesting,¡± Yong-Yong grumbled from where he was watching the TV.


    He reluctantly trudged to the entrance and jumped up to open the door. He soon locked eyes with Yoo-Rin.


    Yong-Yong was the first to speak. ¡°Who are you?¡±

 Chapter 60

    Chapter 60


    A small red creature with two little horns protruding from its head and cute, tiny wings on its back¡ªno matter how one looked at it, it wasn¡¯t a typical pet.


    ¡°H-hello?¡± Caught off guard, Yoo-Rin smiled awkwardly.


    Yong-Yong, who had been staring intently at her, widened his eyes as he realized that the school uniform this stranger was wearing was identical to the one Yoon-Hee wore every day.


    ¡°My name is Jung Yoo-Rin. Is Supervisor Lee Do-Jun home by any chance?¡±


    ¡°Master is currently in the shower.¡±


    ¡°O-oh, I see.¡± Yoo-Rin seemed flustered.


    Based on how this creature referred to him as Master, she figured it must be Do-Jun¡¯s pet and asked, ¡°Is there anyone else at home?¡±


    ¡°Why are you at our door, human?¡± Yong-Yong glared at Yoo-Rin as he recalled something Do-Jun had mentioned before.


    If a stranger came to the house, he was supposed to find out why they were there and chase them out if they weren¡¯t welcomed guests.


    ¡°Yong-Yong, who are you talking to...?¡± Wearing an apron, Yoon-Hee gently walked to the doorway.


    She noticed Yoo-Rin facing off with Yong-Yong and said with a hint of surprise, ¡°Jung Yoo-Rin...?¡±


    Yoo-Rin was quite famous at the academy¡ªso much so that not knowing her would make others doubt if one were even a student there.


    She was the daughter of the Chief of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau and, in terms of skill, was just behind Eun-Joo, the number one student and the sister of the Sword Emperor.


    Yoo-Rin lightly bowed to Yoon-Hee and looked her up and down.


    So, this is the girl who¡¯s supposedly his daughter, huh? Interesting.


    Yoo-Rin couldn¡¯t remember ever seeing Yoon-Hee as she generally wasn¡¯t interested in anyone other than herself and perhaps Eun-Joo at school.


    ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Jung Yoo-Rin.¡±


    ¡°W-what brings you here...?¡±


    ¡°Well, today, Mister... no, Supervisor Lee was a great help to me, so I came by to say thank you. I heard he¡¯s in the shower... Could I perhaps meet him?¡±


    Although Yoon-Hee was curious about what kind of help Do-Jun had given her, she couldn¡¯t get herself to turn away someone who had come all the way to thank him.


    But what¡¯s with calling him Mister? She¡¯s making him sound old. In what way is Father old?


    She felt annoyed but decided to be as polite as possible since Yoo-Rin was a guest looking for Do-Jun. She led Yoo-Rin to the sofa, upon which Karsiel was curled up, asleep.


    ¡°There¡¯s two of them...?¡± Yoo-Rin muttered.


    Yong-Yong shut the door and hopped back onto the sofa next to Karsiel, resuming the reality show he¡¯d been watching.


    Yoo-Rin observed this with curiosity before turning her attention back to Yoon-Hee.


    ¡°I heard from Mister... no, Supervisor Lee, that you¡¯re his daughter?¡±


    There it is, that Mister thing again... Yoon-Hee furrowed her brows.


    To make matters worse, the way Yoo-Rin called him Mister somehow made it sound like she was close to Do-Jun, which Yoon-Hee wasn¡¯t too fond of.


    Placing the teacup she had brought with a rather loud clatter, Yoon-Hee said, ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°Sorry...?¡±


    As Yoo-Rin was taken aback by Yoon-Hee¡¯s cold tone, the bathroom door swung open. Do-Jun emerged amidst the steam, wearing a white short-sleeved shirt and shorts.


    He saw Yoo-Rin sitting on the sofa, sighed, and, while drying his hair with a towel, walked to the water purifier to get a glass of water.


    ¡°W-what¡¯s with that sigh!¡± Yoo-Rin asked, caught off-guard by Do-Jun¡¯s attitude.


    ¡°I knew someone had come, but I didn¡¯t expect it to be you.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean you had to be so disappointed!¡±


    ¡°Seriously, who keeps giving out our address?¡± Do-Jun murmured as he placed the glass in the sink.


    Do-Jun stared at Yong-Yong, who was giggling while watching TV on the sofa. Sensing imminent danger, Yong-Yong slowly turned his head toward his master to meet his gaze and then quickly darted toward him.


    ¡°I told you to chase away solicitors,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°Forgive me, Master. I was deceived by the uniform.¡±


    Hearing this, Yoo-Rin shouted, ¡°W-who are you calling solicitor?!¡±


    Do-Jun briefly covered his ears with both hands, taking a seat in the single chair next to the large sofa.


    ¡°So, why did you come here?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I wanted to thank you for earlier,¡± Yoo-Rin answered as Do-Jun studied her expression.


    No one would have gone through the trouble of finding his home address and coming all the way here just to express gratitude. Besides, she had already thanked him enough that morning.


    ¡°And what about the real reason?¡±


    Yoo-Rin swallowed nervously and said, ¡°Please ta...¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Do-Jun shut her down.


    ¡°But I haven¡¯t even finished my sentence yet!¡±


    ¡°You were going to ask me to take you on as a disciple, right? Sorry if I was wrong.¡± Do-Jun shrugged.


    Yoo-Rin lowered her head. ¡°Yeah...¡±


    She had felt something stir inside her chest when Do-Jun slaughtered two S-rank monsters with overwhelming power.


    It wasn¡¯t love or infatuation but a primal desire to become stronger like him. If she could become Do-Jun¡¯s student, her growth would be much faster than taking lessons at the academy. There was no doubt about it.


    ¡°May I ask why you won¡¯t take me on as your student?¡±


    ¡°On the contrary, why should I take you on as my student?¡±


    ¡°A billion won.¡± S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you a billion won. Then you can move into a much nicer and bigger house instead of this cramped, shabby place.¡± Yoo-Rin said, wearing a confident expression.


    Do-Jun was a low-level civil servant at Seoul City Hall. According to her research, his annual salary was not even 40 million won.


    A billion won was an amount that a civil servant could never even dream of having.


    ¡°Do you know how much an S-rank mana stone costs?¡± Do-Jun asked her.


    ¡°Yes. About 800 milli... oh.¡±


    That¡¯s when it dawned on her. Do-Jun could make as much money as he wanted and move into a better house whenever he wanted.


    ¡°Yoon-Hee does all the cleaning in this house. If we moved to a bigger place, the amount of cleaning would be overwhelming. Besides, I like this house, so I have no intention of moving right now.¡±


    ¡°I-isn¡¯t there anything else you¡¯d like?¡±


    ¡°There is. I¡¯d like you to leave as soon as possible because it¡¯s time for us to have dinner.¡±


    The blunt response made Yoo-Rin feel a lump in her throat. Had she ever been so thoroughly rejected before?


    Do-Jun let out a sigh as he watched Yoo-Rin trembling with clenched lips. In truth, he wasn¡¯t entirely comfortable with just sending her back like this.


    After a brief moment of contemplation, he finally said, ¡°If you graduate at the top of your class, I¡¯ll consider it.¡±


    At Do-Jun¡¯s words, the despondent-looking Yoo-Rin lifted her head sharply with a drastically brightened expression.


    ¡°R-really?¡±


    Do-Jun was slightly taken aback by her sudden change in demeanor and slightly regretted what he had just said, but he quickly nodded regardless.


    She was still a freshman, having only recently entered the Academy. It would take about three years for her to graduate; by then, this matter might simply fade away.


    ¡°Wow! Thank you! I¡¯ll graduate at the top of my class for sure.¡±


    Yoo-Rin walked over and clasped her hands around Do-Jun¡¯s. Watching this, Yoon-Hee flinched slightly and bit her lips.


    Then, Yoo-Rin approached Yoon-Hee, grabbed her hand with a bright smile, and said, ¡°Let¡¯s be friends from now on.¡±


    ***


    Young-Chul and Kang-Hyun walked down the long, dimly lit corridor of the Monster Analysis Lab located in the basement of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau.


    On both sides of the hallway were various capsules, each containing live, squirming monsters with staff hustling around, checking their status.


    One purpose of the Monster Analysis Lab was to study the monsters¡¯ characteristics and produce auxiliary artifacts, using the byproducts obtained from them to aid hunters in hunting them.


    ¡°Has Supervisor Lee said anything else since then?¡± Kang-Hyun asked.


    After obtaining the entry token for the tutorial zone, Do-Jun took about ten of them, saying he would enter first, understand the ecosystem, and report back. However, it had been two weeks since he had communicated with the Hunter¡¯s Bureau.


    ¡°He said he¡¯d organize the information he gathered and pass it along, but it seems it¡¯s not ready yet. The good news is that he¡¯s still showing up to work in Seoul, which means he¡¯s not trapped in the Core.¡±


    At the end of the hallway was a massive iron door over fifty meters tall. Young-Chul paused in front of the entrance and placed his palm on the scanner.


    [Confirmed.]


    [Opening the door.]


    Creak...


    The iron door began to part like an automatic door.


    A short walk down the revealed corridor brought them to a view of researchers conducting analysis through a transparent glass window.


    ¡°Are those the monsters that were all over the news?¡±


    A strange-looking bird and another monster resembling an ogre were neatly sliced precisely in half.


    When Young-Chul tapped on a data pad attached to the glass, a holographic screen displaying the original forms and the Fissure wave readings of the monsters appeared in midair.


    ¡°The readings were 7,500 and 8,200. We consider anything over a thousand an S-rank, but these have far surpassed that. They¡¯re too massive to be placed in the same S-rank category,¡± Young-Chul muttered as he looked at the data.


    Kang-Hyun nodded and replied, ¡°SS-rank. Supervisor Lee defeated them with such ease. It¡¯s truly impressive.¡±


    ¡°Well, yes. But that¡¯s not what I wanted to talk about. Do you remember your first Dive?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it was about three years ago.¡±


    Kang-Hyun and two others became the First Hunters when there wasn¡¯t even a concept of S-rank. He had entered the Core three years ago after repeated preparation and selection. That Dive was when Behemoth encountered S-rank monsters for the first time at the entrance to the Core.


    ¡°That was the start, wasn¡¯t it? The appearance of S-rank Great Fissures on Earth.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it was.¡±


    ¡°And if we consider that Supervisor Lee Do-Jun was the first to enter the Tutorial Zone and explore, and after that, SS-rank monsters started appearing on Earth, it all lines up, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°You are referring to the Encroachment you mentioned before?¡± Kang-Hyun asked Young-Chul.


    Ten years ago, when Fissures started appearing, people were suddenly able to view their own Status Windows. Awakened individuals emerged, capable of using their abilities to subdue monsters.


    At first, only the weak F-rank monsters¡ªgoblins¡ªemerged, but as time went on, stronger monsters started showing up. But even then, they never went beyond A-rank.


    Not until they initiated the Dives into the Core.


    ¡°Maybe I was right. Perhaps all of this stems from the Core itself,¡± Young-Chul said. ¡°Yes, I am talking about the Encroachment. We might be getting devoured by the Core.¡±


    He named this phenomenon Encroachment for a reason. The Core didn¡¯t unleash powerful monsters right from the get-go. Instead, it gradually released stronger and stronger monsters, starting with the weakest ones, as if it were allowing humans to adapt.


    Earth seemed to be gradually eroding.


    ¡°Once Supervisor Lee sends us the information regarding the Tutorial Zone, we¡¯ll reconsider this matter. Who knows, I could still be wrong,¡± Young-Chul said as he deactivated the data pad.

 Chapter 61

    Chapter 61


    It was a peaceful Saturday morning.


    ¡°Work trip... again?¡± Yoon-Hee muttered as she paused while preparing breakfast.


    Do-Jun nodded and sipped his coffee at the dining table. Yoon-Hee glanced at the four movie tickets tucked into her apron pocket.


    But it¡¯s the weekend...


    She hadn¡¯t mentioned it to Do-Jun yet, but a few days ago, she had received a scholarship of 500,000 won from the Academy. She planned to take everyone out for dinner and a movie with it.


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s the same job. Why, did you have something in mind?¡± Do-Jun asked her.


    Yoon-Hee shook her head, knowing she shouldn¡¯t complain to someone who worked so hard. However, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit disappointed.


    That was when Yong-Yong trudged over. He tapped Do-Jun¡¯s leg with his front paw and spoke with a dejected expression. ¡°She said... we¡¯d eat out today... and watch a movie too...¡±


    Before Do-Jun returned home the previous night, Yoon-Hee had shown the movie tickets to Yong-Yong and Karsiel, explaining that she had received a scholarship and that they would all go out together on Saturday. She also told them she planned to surprise Do-Jun on the day of.


    After hearing this, Yong-Yong eagerly looked forward to the day.


    ¡°This is the first I¡¯ve heard about it...¡± Listening to Yong-Yong, Do-Jun shifted his gaze to Yoon-Hee.


    ¡°Well... actually... I got a scholarship... and thought we could all go out this weekend to eat and have fun. I was going to tell you today...¡± Yoon-Hee fidgeted with her hands, speaking cautiously.


    Seeing her hesitating and being so careful, Do-Jun felt a pang of guilt. He had promised himself he would be a good father, even buying books to learn how to be one, but he had failed to pay attention to the little things.


    ¡°Hmm.¡± Do-Jun stroked his chin in thought.


    He remembered reading that parents were spending less and less time with their children in modern society and that participating in hobbies together or going on outings was beneficial for nurturing a child''s emotional well-being.


    ¡°I-it¡¯s really okay. We can go next week instead. Besides, I don¡¯t want to interfere with your work...¡±


    Yoon-Hee forced a smile as she spoke, but seeing her trying so hard to act like everything was fine made Do-Jun¡¯s guilt grow even more.


    After a moment of thought, he made his decision. ¡°If I¡¯m back by five, will we have enough time to catch the movie and dinner?¡±


    ¡°Well, yes, but I don¡¯t want to pressure you...¡±


    ¡°You earned a scholarship and wanted to treat us, so it¡¯s only right that I return as soon as possible.¡± Do-Jun smiled warmly at her.


    Yong-Yong¡¯s face lit up, his ears perked up, and his tail began to wag. ¡°Yay, Master!¡±


    ***


    A brilliant light shone in an open square. As the light faded, the figure of a man wearing a hooded sweatshirt and a young girl in a dress appeared.


    It¡¯s 10 AM already.


    Do-Jun checked his wristwatch. At the latest, he needed to clear the third stage of the Tutorial Zone by 3 PM to make it back home by five. Even if he couldn¡¯t clear it in time, he planned to use his Light Foot skill to leave the Core by 3 PM.


    Poof!


    ¡°Welcome back,¡± Tusitala greeted Do-Jun.


    ¡°Thanks. Any issues?¡±


    ¡°None, thanks to you.¡±


    The two exchanged casual, formal greetings.


    Tusitala thought it was almost surreal to feel such a peaceful atmosphere in the Core, which was usually filled with blood and screams. One never knew how things were going to turn out.


    ¡°Shall we proceed then?¡±


    They headed to the third stage of the Tutorial.


    ***


    [You have entered the third stage of the Tutorial Zone.]


    [Recommended Magic Resistance is 1.5. Your Magic Resistance is exceedingly high. All your stats are greatly enhanced by the Blessing of the Deep Realm.]


    When Do-Jun opened his eyes, he found himself in a space roughly 330 square meters in size and surrounded by stone walls.


    He and Karsiel stood on a one-square-meter floating platform suspended in the air, with lava flowing below them.


    Similar platforms were ahead of them, spaced two meters apart, at the end of which was a single monster standing guard in front of a staircase leading upward.


    [Skill Ring (Colorless) has been granted.]


    With a sudden message, a colorless ring was placed in Do-Jun¡¯s hand. He checked the artifact¡¯s stats.


    [Skill Ring (Colorless)]


    Category: Accessory / Support


    Grade: 5


    Number of sockets: 0


    Description: A ring that enables Skill usage.


    ¡°The Skill Ring. In some ways, it¡¯s the most important artifact. Even Armorize, the skill you acquired earlier that was essential for surviving in the Core, can¡¯t be used without this ring in here,¡± Tusitala explained.


    ¡°But I could use skills just fine without it before.¡±


    ¡°Technically, this place isn¡¯t considered the Core. It¡¯s just a tutorial, a place to prepare adventurers before they enter the Core. Normally, in the Core, you need a Skill Ring to use any skills, and its most important aspect is the number of sockets.¡±


    Tusitala continued, ¡°If the ring has one socket, you can equip one skill. But be cautious¡ªonce a skill is placed, it can¡¯t be removed.¡±


    Do-Jun nodded.


    He could freely use his skills in the Tutorial Zone without the Skill Ring, but that would change once properly inside the Core.


    ¡°But the ring has zero sockets right now. I can¡¯t place any skills in it.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. You need to increase the number of sockets.¡± Tusitala looked at the monster guarding the stairs to the second floor and continued, ¡°Doing that is simple. Defeat the gatekeepers on each floor. This tower has seven floors. Defeat all seven gatekeepers, and the Skill Ring will turn purple, allowing you to store up to seven skills. Of course, you don¡¯t have to clear all the floors. You can skip to the next tutorial stage after defeating just the first gatekeeper.¡±


    Most challengers only reached the red or orange stage, meaning most only had up to two sockets.


    Tusitala observed Do-Jun, who seemed to be contemplating something.


    To face the Transcendents, he has to at least get to blue.


    The Transcendents possessed a minimum of five skills. In the Core, the difference between having one more skill could be as vast as the difference between heaven and earth.


    ¡°I have a question,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    ¡°Do I have to beat these gatekeepers in order?¡±


    ¡°Sorry...? I¡¯m not really sure. But why do you ask?¡±


    Do-Jun glanced at his wristwatch and muttered, ¡°I¡¯m in a bit of a rush today.¡±


    Do-Jun leaped toward the platform near the wall and tapped the stone wall with his fingers.


    Then, drawing his right arm back, he clenched his fist.


    Tusitala watched him, eyes widening. ¡°Y-you¡¯re not going to...!¡±


    Bang! Thud!


    A massive hole appeared with a single punch, and Tusitala¡¯s jaw dropped in shock.


    In all the years of watching countless challengers, she had never seen anything like this before.


    ***


    [You have discovered a Hidden Piece.]


    [Your Magic Resistance has permanently increased by 5.]


    As he walked toward the railing and looked down, Do-Jun realized he was so high that the bottom wasn¡¯t visible anymore. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He was literally in the clouds.


    [Caution! The difficulty level far exceeds the tutorial.]


    [Your Magic Resistance is significantly lower than the recommended 85. All your stats are greatly reduced by the Curse of the Deep Realm.]


    Do-Jun expanded his qi sense and detected an enormous presence at the top of the tower, but it wasn¡¯t the gatekeeper of the seventh floor. It was something far more elevated.


    Do-Jun gathered the True Qi from his dantian. He didn¡¯t pay any attention to the message, indicating his abilities had decreased due to insufficient Magic Resistance.


    Bang!


    The ground he stood on caved in, and Do-Jun¡¯s figure vanished.


    It was the re-emergence of the Heavenly Demon¡¯s Sovereign Steps that once struck terror into the hearts of countless martial artists in the Central Plains.


    ***


    Upon reaching the top of the tower, Do-Jun¡¯s eyes narrowed at the giant Imoogi[1] coiled before his eyes.


    Sticky liquid soon started to flow from the creature¡¯s entire body, vaporizing and spreading out.


    Poison, huh? Do-Jun thought.


    Without a hint of concern for the poisonous mist, Do-Jun walked toward the Imoogi.


    It didn¡¯t take long for the mist to envelop him, but it failed to harm Do-Jun, who had reached the highest level of Poison Immunity.


    Kyaaaah!


    The Imoogi¡¯s skin began to glow in seven rainbow colors, and it opened its massive jaws wide, threatening Do-Jun. Its murderous intent was evident as if to say it would kill him if he took another step.


    No, it was a defensive mechanism born out of fear and terror.


    ¡°Are you afraid?¡± Do-Jun asked as his arm started to turn pitch black.


    Seeing this, the Imoogi let out a roar, lunging at Do-Jun with its gaping mouth to swallow him whole.


    Then, a thunderous sound erupted from the sky.


    ***


    Rumble!


    Suddenly, the tower shook violently as if it might collapse at any moment. Karsiel, who was standing on the platform, lost her balance and sat down in place.


    What on earth was happening up there?


    ¡°Wait... where did it go?¡±


    The lava flowing below the platform had vanished, and so had the gatekeeper guarding the entrance to the second floor. Instead, the floor began to shimmer, revealing the doorway to the next tutorial stage.


    ¡°I guess I got lucky,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°Y-you scared me! When did you get here?!¡± Tusitala said, shocked.


    At some point, Do-Jun had appeared on the platform, but Tusitala hadn¡¯t sensed his presence at all. She just stood there, bewildered.


    ¡°Huh...? Why is it still colorless?¡± Tusitala tilted her head, staring at the Skill Ring on Do-Jun¡¯s finger.


    The ring¡¯s color should have changed based on his achievements, but it remained in its original, colorless state.


    Instead of answering, Do-Jun showed her the ring¡¯s stats.


    [Skill Enhancement Ring]


    Category: Accessory / Support


    Rating: Treasure of the Deep Realm


    Socket Count: 7


    Description: A ring that enables the use of Skills. When a Skill is registered in the socket, the effect of the registered Skill is enhanced. However, once registered, the Skill cannot be removed or replaced, so it must be chosen carefully.


    Tusitala was taken aback as she read the stats, and with good reason¡ªthere were seven sockets, and most importantly, it had the ability to enhance skills.


    She had never heard of or seen a Skill Ring with such an option before.


    [You have ranked first in the third stage of the Tutorial Zone.]


    [Would you like to announce your achievement to the Core?]


    Looking annoyed at the same old message, Do-Jun waved it away and checked the time on his wristwatch.


    ***


    4:30 PM.


    Sitting on the sofa, Do-Jun watched Yong-Yong joyfully running around the living room and chuckled.


    How was he so excited to be going out?


    ¡°That¡¯s that, but what on earth is she doing?¡± Do-Jun sighed as he thought of Yoon-Hee, who hadn¡¯t come out of the bedroom for the past hour.


    It was almost time to leave if they wanted to get to the movies in time.


    Unable to wait any longer, he swung the door open.


    He saw clothes strewn all over the bed, with Yoon-Hee trying on different outfits in front of a full-length mirror.


    ¡°Hah, what should I wear... F-father?¡± Yoon-Hee¡¯s face turned beet red after being caught while contemplating what to wear.


    Do-Jun looked at her impassively, then quietly closed the door and muttered, ¡°Do we need to move...?¡±


    He thought to himself that he needed to get her a room of her own.


    1. In Korean folklore, an Imoogi is a lesser dragon resembling a large serpent and is said to be the origin of all dragons. ?

 Chapter 62

    Chapter 62


    Ten minutes later, Yoon-Hee stepped out of her room, looking shy. She was wearing a floral one-piece dress with a coat draped over it.


    When she met Do-Jun¡¯s gaze, her face turned red as she spoke. ¡°Um... how do I look?¡±


    She looked up at him, fidgeting nervously.


    Do-Jun wondered why it took her so long to get ready when she could¡¯ve just put on anything, but he knew that saying that out loud would definitely upset her.


    ¡°You look great,¡± he remarked.


    ¡°R-really?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Shall we get going?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    Do-Jun got up from the sofa and walked toward the entrance. Yoon-Hee followed him closely, smiling.


    Watching them, Yong-Yong shook his head and muttered, ¡°They¡¯re both so slow.¡±


    ***


    After a brisk thirty-minute walk, they arrived at the local movie theatre near Isu Station.


    As Yoon-Hee scanned the movie posters on the wall one by one, she turned to Do-Jun and asked, ¡°Father, is there anything you want to see?¡±


    ¡°Hmm... is there one you want to see?¡± he asked back.


    ¡°I''m fine with anything.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m okay with anything too...¡±


    Do-Jun rubbed his chin and examined the movie posters. There were a variety of genres: thrillers, romance, noir, and comedies, but since he didn¡¯t watch movies very often, he had no idea which one would be interesting.


    It was also his first time visiting a theatre since returning to Earth.


    Yong-Yong jumped in place to get their attention and spoke to Yoon-Hee with the innocent, carefree smile of a child.


    ¡°I wanna see that one!¡± he exclaimed.


    ¡°Oh, which one?¡±


    Yong-Yong stood in front of the poster for Young Hunters, which depicted two young men in suits smiling brightly.


    It was currently at the top of the charts, already surpassing ten million viewers.


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve heard people say this one is good. I think all the kids in my class have seen it at least once...¡± Yoon-Hee muttered.


    Since it was a movie about Hunters, it seemed natural that students from the Hunter Academy would be interested. Moreover, since Hunters were immensely popular in South Korea¡ªand around the world¡ªit made sense that everyone was talking about it.


    ¡°Your classmates all saw it?¡± Do-Jun asked with a serious expression.


    Startled by his unexpected tone, Yoon-Hee nodded carefully.


    Recalling that kids nowadays were very sensitive to trends and that those who didn¡¯t keep up were often excluded, Do-Jun decided they would watch Young Hunters today.


    ¡°Should I buy tickets for this one, then...?¡± Yoon-Hee asked him.


    ¡°Go ahead. Should we get them tickets, too?¡± Do-Jun asked, looking at the two dragons.


    ¡°I think we should get four tickets since we can¡¯t just carry them the whole time... I¡¯ll book the next showtime.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    Yoon-Hee walked to the ticket counter while Do-Jun sat on a nearby bench. Sitting next to Do-Jun, Yong-Yong stared at the couple sitting across from them.


    More precisely, at the popcorn they were holding.


    The sweet, savory smell of the popcorn tickled Yong-Yong¡¯s nose. He turned to Do-Jun, who was looking at his smartphone.


    ¡°Master.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    Yong-Yong pointed at the couple¡¯s popcorn with his front paw, then lay down with his eyes sparkling.


    It was obvious that there was only one thing on his mind. Seeing this, Do-Jun chuckled and stood up.


    ¡°You want the same stuff?¡±


    ¡°Master, you¡¯re truly generous, unlike someone.¡± Yong-Yong wagged his tail energetically.


    A short while later, Do-Jun returned with caramel popcorn and cola and sat down. He gave Yong-Yong and Karsiel each a piece of popcorn.


    ¡°Yum!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s quite sweet.¡±


    Yong-Yong munched on the popcorn happily. He was startled when he suddenly made eye contact with Yoon-Hee as she returned with the movie tickets. Out of reflex, he began coughing as if the popcorn had gone down the wrong way. He didn¡¯t look different from a child caught sneaking snacks late at night.


    ¡°Do you want some water?¡± Yoon-Hee asked.


    She had taken a seat beside Do-Jun and now took out a bottle of water from her bag and handed it to Yong-Yong.


    Yong-Yong was caught off by her kind gesture but accepted the water. He fully believed that she would get mad at him.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to eat right after the movie, so don¡¯t eat too much, okay?¡±


    Something... something is up... he thought as he nodded.


    ***


    The plot of the movie was straightforward.


    Two young men who aspired to be Hunters met and became friends at an academy.


    One weekend, out of curiosity, they entered a Fissure, which unfortunately turned out to be an S-rank Great Fissure, and due to a Distortion, they couldn¡¯t leave until they cleared it. They had to struggle together to survive in the S-rank Great Fissure.


    They discovered the corpses of S-rank Hunters inside the Fissure, used their weapons and equipment, defeated the boss monster, and ultimately cleared the Fissure, becoming celebrated as heroes.


    ¡°I thought it was a comedy at first, but it ended up being so touching,¡± Yoon-Hee said, wiping away a tear.


    Do-Jun nodded in agreement, thinking that the final escape scene, where the two young men fought desperately to save each other, was definitely a highlight.


    ¡°Let¡¯s watch another one!¡±


    Yong-Yong exclaimed excitedly, seemingly having been really captivated by the movie to the point that he even forgot about the popcorn halfway through.


    ¡°Looks like everyone¡¯s happy. That¡¯s a relief.¡± Do-Jun smiled, watching everyone chatting together.


    ***


    It was already dark when they stepped out of the theatre, but the city¡¯s streetlights replaced the sun, illuminating the path.


    Following the streetlights, they soon saw a large two-story building with a sign reading Korean Beef Farm.


    ¡°How much did you say your scholarship was again?¡± Do-Jun asked Yoon-Hee after reading something.


    ¡°Pardon? Why do you ask all of a sudden...?¡±


    A menu displayed on a stand at the door listed various cuts of beef, most of which were priced well over 40,000 won per serving.


    It was quite expensive for a student¡¯s budget.


    Well, if she needs it, I can cover the rest.


    As they stepped inside, they were greeted by an interior that exuded a traditional Korean house vibe.


    The server led them to the second floor, removed the reserved sign from a table, and gestured with both hands to the inside of the room. It seemed Yoon-Hee had made a reservation in advance.


    ¡°Please press the bell when you¡¯re ready to order.¡± The server bowed and slid the door shut behind them.


    Looking at the menu again, Do-Jun was once more struck by how expensive everything was.


    He¡¯d had beef a couple of times at office dinners before, but those were all-you-can-eat or relatively cheap, about 15,000 won per serving.


    Yong-Yong stared at the menu, swallowing his saliva.


    ¡°Do you think six servings of mixed cuts will be enough?¡± Yoon-Hee asked them.


    Do-Jun glanced at Yong-Yong, who was licking his lips, and mumbled, ¡°I¡¯m not sure...¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s not, then we can always order more.¡±


    Shortly after they ordered two servings each of sirloin, chuck flap tail, and skirt steak, the server set up the table with various side dishes and brought in the charcoal grill.


    ¡°Enjoy your meal. Please let us know if you need anything,¡± the server said after they placed the plates of beef on the table.


    After the server left, Do-Jun picked up the tongs and placed the sirloin on the grill.


    As the pink meat sizzled and gradually turned brown, its juices dripped, and a rich, savory aroma filled the air. When Do-Jun lifted the meat to cut it, Yong-Yong¡¯s eyes followed every movement.


    ¡°Oh, right. Yoon-Hee,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°You mentioned before that you might be able to move into a dorm, right? How¡¯s that going? You probably qualify now, especially with that scholarship, right?¡±


    Although he had already read that teenagers needed their own personal space, after what happened earlier today, Do-Jun felt the need to ask about the dorm situation.


    If she moved into the dorm, they would not need to move to a new place.


    ¡°D-dorm...?¡± Yoon-Hee avoided his gaze.


    The Academy provided dormitories for students with above-average grades, and her recent improvements meant she had not only received this scholarship but also qualified for dormitory residency if she wanted it.


    But something seemed to make her hesitate.


    What happens if I move into the dorm...?


    The contract she had with Do-Jun was essentially a work agreement where Do-Jun provided her with a place to live in exchange for household chores.


    But if she moved into the dormitory, the contract would be unnecessary, and Do-Jun would no longer be her father but a stranger.


    I... don¡¯t want that.


    However, even though she didn¡¯t want it, refusing to move into the dorm and staying at Do-Jun¡¯s place felt like imposing on him. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°What... what do you think, Father?¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°About me moving into the dormitory...¡±


    ¡°Why are you asking me about my thoughts?¡±


    ¡°Well... if I qualify, would you want me to move in...?¡± Yoon-Hee bit her lip and looked at Do-Jun anxiously.


    As he flipped the meat, Do-Jun answered, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to, then don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡±


    ¡°You want to stay at home, right?¡± Do-Jun asked her.


    At Yoon-Hee¡¯s silence, he continued, ¡°I like having you here, too.¡±


    The house was always spotless, and there was always dinner waiting for him at home. There wasn¡¯t a single household chore he had to do¡ªno trash sorting, no bill payments, nothing.


    All of it was possible because of Yoon-Hee.


    If she moved into the dorm, life would become much more challenging.


    And I¡¯d have to feed these guys, too. Do-Jun glanced at Yong-Yong and Karsiel, who were both staring intently at the grill.


    ¡°Yoon-Hee?¡± He waved his hand in front of Yoon-Hee¡¯s dazed eyes.


    Her face flushed red, and she jumped up from her seat.


    ¡°I-I have to go to the bathroo...m!¡±


    ¡°Uh... sure.¡±


    She seemed to have bitten her tongue at the end, but Do-Jun chose not to point it out.


    As Yoon-Hee left through the sliding door, Do-Jun moved the perfectly cooked beef to the stone plate outside the grill. He then placed a piece into Yong-Yong and Karsiel¡¯s mouths.


    ¡°T-this flavor...¡± Yong-Yong¡¯s eyes widened as he closed his eyes, savoring the beef.


    He recalled the flavors of the braised short ribs and chicken that Yoon-Hee used to make, thinking that this new flavor could rival the high standards they set.


    ***


    Outside, Yoon-Hee looked at herself in the mirror installed near the parking lot entrance and noticed that her lips were curved up without her realizing it.


    On top of that, her cheeks were clearly flushed.


    ¡°I like having you here, too.¡±


    As she recalled Do-Jun¡¯s words, her face grew hot despite the chilly night air.


    Memories of her first meeting with Do-Jun, all the way up to now, flashed before her eyes.


    ¡°Alright. If those are the conditions, I think this will be helpful for me as well. Let¡¯s draw up a contract.¡±


    A dad contract.


    Looking back now, it was an absurd agreement that would be laughed off by anyone.


    ¡°Sigh...¡±


    At first, she thought she would move into the dorm once her grades qualified her. She would complete the one-year contract and then thank him before moving out.


    Though it hadn¡¯t even been three months since they made the contract, it felt like she¡¯d spent decades with him. She couldn¡¯t even imagine living apart from him now.


    Actually, she didn¡¯t want to imagine it.


    I know I¡¯ll have to move out someday, but...


    But as long as she attended the Academy, and as long as she wasn¡¯t an adult yet, she wanted to stay in this home a little longer.

 Chapter 63

    Chapter 63


    Vroooom.


    At 2 PM on a peaceful Saturday afternoon, a large chartered bus was cruising down the highway. Inside, over twenty people were drinking soju and beer while a karaoke machine played songs.


    Cheol-Soo stood with a necktie wrapped around his forehead, singing a trot song. ¡°Ohh, my beloved?¡±


    Thump-thump, thump-thump.


    The crowd clapped along, some shaking tambourines. Others weaved through the narrow bus aisles, passing around the liquor.


    ¡°Here, Do-Jun, have a drink, ohoho.¡± Lee Yeon-Hee handed Do-Jun a paper cup and filled it about one-third of the way with soju.


    She was a woman in her mid-thirties, a fellow employee from the Fissure Management Division on the administration team. She was passing out drinks and setting the party atmosphere.


    Do-Jun lightly downed the soju and returned the paper cup.


    ¡°Hunter Ye-Ji, would you also like a drink... Oh, she¡¯s asleep.¡± Lee Yeon-Hee chuckled awkwardly as she moved further down the bus after realizing Ye-Ji had already dozed off in the seat next to Do-Jun.


    ¡°Mmm... Mr. Administrator... Hehe.¡±


    Do-Jun stared indifferently at Ye-Ji, who was sleeping so soundly that not even a bomb going off could wake her up. More precisely, he stared at the damp patch on his shirt¡¯s shoulder, soaked by the drool trickling from her mouth.


    Do-Jun recalled what had happened a few days ago.


    ***


    Earlier in the week, on Wednesday, at the office of Seoul City Hall¡¯s Fissure Management Division, Cheol-Soo¡¯s loud voice echoed through the otherwise quiet office. ¡°What do you mean you¡¯re canceling? But we¡¯ve already paid?!¡±


    Do-Jun paused his work on the Excel sheet to listen to the conversation. If he concentrated, he could make out the faint voice coming from the other end of the receiver.


    ¡ªI sincerely apologize, sir. It seems our staff made a mistake and overlooked the pre-existing reservation. We will issue a full refund immediately. Again, we are deeply sorry.


    ¡°You¡¯ve ruined our plans! Do you think just a refund will be enough? It¡¯s too late to find another place now. What are you going to do about this?¡±


    ¡ªW-we¡¯re truly sorry. We sincerely apologize.


    ¡°You can forget about your apology. We¡¯ll be staying at your place, which we reserved, on the scheduled date as planned. Goodbye.¡±


    ¡ªW-wait, sir!


    Without hesitation, Cheol-Soo slammed the receiver down with a heavy sigh.


    The upcoming trip was an overnight retreat for the Fissure Management Division staff, scheduled as part of an Advanced Site Tour in April. But now, the accommodation they booked in mid-March was trying to cancel at the last minute.


    Do-Jun quickly searched for the tour announcement document to find the address of the previously reserved lodging and found it was near Mongdol Beach on Geoje Island.


    Searching Resorts near Mongdol Beach, he filtered out the spacious-looking ones from the preview images and began making calls.


    ¡°Hello, I¡¯d like to make a reservation for April 6th. Would you be able to accommodate twenty people?¡±


    ¡ªOh, you should have called much earlier. You would need four rooms, but we¡¯re fully booked this Saturday. I¡¯m sure other places are the same.


    ¡°All right, thank you.¡±


    No matter how many places he called, the response was the same. While there was room for smaller groups, no place could accommodate twenty people at once, and it was too last minute to change the location entirely.


    But that was when Ye-Ji entered.


    ¡°Mr. Administrator, is something wrong?¡± Ye-Ji asked with a tilt of her head.


    She had just returned from the Hunter¡¯s Bureau. She sat in what had now become her designated seat next to Do-Jun.


    After Do-Jun explained the situation, Ye-Ji suddenly stood up and left for the hallway.


    ¡°Huh...?¡± Do-Jun muttered with a puzzled look.


    After a few minutes, Ye-Ji returned to the desk and said, ¡°Mr. Administrator, you don¡¯t need to worry about finding a place.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    ¡°So, my family runs a hot spring inn near that area. I asked my mom, and she said we can host up to twenty-five people, and you can all stay for free.¡±


    Hearing this, Hyuk-Soo, who was also searching for accommodations, turned and stared wide-eyed at Ye-Ji as if silently asking if she was serious.


    Upon hearing the conversation, Cheol-Soo jumped up from his seat and walked over. ¡°H-hunter Ye-Ji, is that really true?¡±


    ¡°Yes. The original resort was near Mongdol Beach, right? Our inn is about two hundred meters from there. My mom said exactly four rooms are available, so we can put the men in two and the women in the other two. You can look it up if you search for Mongdol Hot Spring Inn.¡±


    It did indeed come up in the online search results, and it seemed quite famous, with dozens of blog posts about it. But there was one problem.


    ¡°W-wait, it¡¯s 400,000 won per night?¡± Cheol-Soo¡¯s eyes widened at the cost of stay.


    That would cost them 1.6 million won for the four rooms, which was far beyond their budget.


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s okay. My mom said not to worry about the fees.¡±


    ¡°S-still...¡±


    ¡°She said it¡¯s nothing compared to what you guys do for her clumsy daughter.¡±


    Ye-Ji then glanced at Do-Jun with a bashful smile and said, ¡°Mr. Administrator, I did well, didn¡¯t I? Say I did!¡±


    Her eyes were filled with anticipation. If she had a tail, it would probably be wagging furiously.


    Do-Jun awkwardly patted her head while avoiding her gaze, and Ye-Ji leaned into his hand with a contented expression.


    ***


    The chartered bus, speeding along the highway, finally arrived at Mongdol Hot Spring Inn around 3 PM.


    As people stepped off the bus, they couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in awe as they were greeted by the spacious private parking lot and a charmingly decorated garden.


    ¡°Hmm, it feels similar to the ryokan[1] I stayed in Japan,¡± Cheol-Soo muttered as he looked at the large two-story building.


    ¡°You¡¯re right. I heard we designed it with that concept in mind from the beginning. That¡¯s why we get a lot of Japanese tourists. Come on, let¡¯s go inside,¡± Ye-Ji explained as she urged the group inside.


    She cheerfully led the way, and the staff from the Fissure Management Division followed her. Upon passing through the main gate, they found themselves in a quaint and elegant interior that caught everyone¡¯s eye.


    A middle-aged woman emerged from the front desk, glanced at Ye-Ji, and bowed to the group. ¡°Welcome to our inn. You must be the guests from Seoul City Hall! My daughter has told me a lot about you.¡±


    The head of the division, Kim Deok-Bae, stepped out of the group to receive the greeting. ¡°I¡¯m Kim Deok-Bae, head of the Fissure Management Division. We can¡¯t thank you enough for inviting us today. We came very close to canceling this trip, so thank you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the one who should be thanking you for taking such good care of my daughter. By the way... which one of you might be Supervisor Lee Do-Jun...?¡±


    As the owner, Yang In-Sook, scanned the group, Do-Jun stepped forward and bowed.


    ¡°Hello. I¡¯m Lee Do-Jun from Seoul City Hall¡¯s Fissure Management Division.¡±


    ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re the supervisor my daughter mentioned. She speaks so highly of you. She told me how much of a help you¡¯ve been to her. I don¡¯t know how ever to repay the favor. Now, please, come inside; it¡¯s chilly outside. I¡¯ll guide you to your rooms.¡±


    Smiling, Yang In-Sook led them down the corridor. As they followed, the group marveled at their surroundings. Noticing a presence, Do-Jun glanced at a small room behind the front desk.


    A shadow quickly vanished from sight. Someone had been hiding and observing him from earlier.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, Mr. Administrator,¡± Ye-Ji urged as she tugged on Do-Jun¡¯s arm.


    As they walked with the others, a young girl peeked out from the room behind the front desk, biting her nails while glaring at Do-Jun.


    So, that¡¯s the guy who¡¯s got my sister head over heels for himself...


    ***


    As they entered the room assigned to them and opened the window, the breathtaking full view of the beach was enough to make Cheol-Soo exclaim in awe. The room was spacious enough to accommodate ten people comfortably, and the warm air rising from the floor relieved the fatigue from their long journey from Seoul to Geoje Island.


    ¡°Well, since the barbecue isn¡¯t until after 6 PM, how about checking out the hot springs beforehand?¡± Cheol-Soo suggested to the group.


    ¡°Chief, you had a drink earlier. Are you sure you¡¯re okay to go in hot water?¡± Hyuk-Soo asked with concern.


    ¡°It¡¯s fiiine. I¡¯ll just dip my toes for a bit. Do-Jun, let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll join you a little later,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°Really? Then Hyuk-Soo and I will go ahead. Take your time.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Chief.¡±


    Shortly after the two headed toward the hot springs, Do-Jun stepped out into the hallway. After turning a corner, Do-Jun paused, turned around, and stood still in silence.


    Soon, he was confronted by someone who had been stealthily following him.


    The girl, who appeared to be in middle school, flinched and stepped back in fear the moment she met Do-Jun¡¯s gaze.


    Do-Jun sighed and asked the girl, ¡°You¡¯ve been tailing me for a while... Is there something you need from me?¡±


    ¡°W-who said I was following you?!¡± the startled girl stuttered, avoiding Do-Jun¡¯s eyes.


    Although he had noticed her following him for some time, there was no point in pressing her further since she denied it. Ignoring her, Do-Jun walked into the nearby lounge, and the girl naturally followed him.


    Pretending to choose a drink from the vending machine, she kept sneaking peeks at Do-Jun sitting in a massage chair with his eyes closed.


    Finally, she approached him. ¡°Excuse me, Mister.¡±


    Do-Jun slowly opened his eyes and replied, ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Stop hitting on my sister.¡±


    ¡°What...?¡± Do-Jun stared at the girl, bewildered.


    The fact that she was Ye-Ji¡¯s younger sister was surprising enough, but the accusation that he was hitting on Ye-Ji was utterly absurd.


    ¡°There seems to be a misunderstanding. I...¡±


    ¡°Misunderstanding? Do you think I don¡¯t know your true intentions? Sure, my sister¡¯s beautiful, has a great figure, and a good personality. Plus, she¡¯s kind and always buys you food. It¡¯s only natural you¡¯d be interested! But I won¡¯t eeeever accept you!¡±


    When people were extremely taken aback, they often lost their ability to speak. And that¡¯s exactly where Do-Jun was right now.


    ¡°But you won¡¯t give up, will you? Because you wouldn¡¯t want to miss out on such an all-rounded beauty! So, here¡¯s my proposal. Let¡¯s play a game. If you lose, you give up on my sister, got it?¡±


    The girl¡¯s attitude was actually quite endearing to Do-Jun. She probably grew up receiving tons of love from her older sister, but now that Do-Jun was in the equation, she likely thought that her sister¡¯s attention had been stolen away by him, making her feel defensive.


    Smiling, Do-Jun asked, ¡°And if I win?¡± Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Hah? That¡¯s not going to happen.¡±


    ¡°Why are you so sure?¡±


    The reason was simple: The girl, Cha Yoon-Ji, wasn¡¯t an official Hunter, but she had already Awakened. Thanks to that, she was able to obtain a temporary Hunter license and, through physical enhancement and hunting in Fissures, had reached the capabilities of an E-rank Hunter.


    In terms of physical prowess, defeating an ordinary person was a piece of cake. However, she didn¡¯t reveal this.


    ¡°Well, fine. If you win, I¡¯ll do anything you ask,¡± Yoon-Ji said.


    ¡°Anything, huh... So, what are we playing?¡± Do-Jun asked her.


    Yoon-Ji raised her hand and pointed to the table tennis table.


    ¡°Table tennis. The first one to score eleven wins,¡± she declared and placed her hands on her hips, wearing a confident smile.


    She must have been pretty good at table tennis. On the other hand, Do-Jun had never played table tennis before¡ªor at least not since he returned to Earth, so he naturally didn¡¯t even know the rules.


    Do-Jun pulled out his smartphone and searched for the rules of table tennis on a portal site. Once he roughly grasped the rules and how to play, he looked up at Yoon-Ji.


    ¡°Remember, you said anything,¡± he said with a smile.


    ***


    Yoon-Ji bounced the ball on the table tennis table with one hand, watching Do-Jun.


    The well-defined forearm visible through the rolled-up sleeves of his shirt was admittedly slightly intimidating, but seeing him examining the paddle and nodding as if he got the gist of it made her chuckle.


    He was clearly a complete beginner. In contrast, she had once won first place in a regional table tennis tournament. There was no way she would lose.


    ¡°Don¡¯t expect me to go easy on you. You¡¯d better be ready to cry.¡± She fired her warning.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah...¡±


    Given their age difference, Do-Jun switched from honorifics to informal language, which seemed to irk Yoon-Ji.


    ¡°You seem pretty confident, but let¡¯s see how long that lasts.¡±


    Tack.


    Yoon-Ji served lightly. She didn¡¯t plan to use any mana from the start, as she was confident that her sheer skill would be more than enough to beat a novice.


    But what followed suggested otherwise.


    With a casual flick of the wrist from Do-Jun, the ball bounced once on her side of the table before hitting the net behind her.


    Yoon-Ji stared at the ball rolling down the net in disbelief. ¡°Eh...?¡±


    Seeing her reaction, Do-Jun smirked and asked, ¡°That means 1:0 for me, right?¡±


    ¡°B-beginner¡¯s luck. I¡¯ll be serious now.¡±


    Yoon-Ji served once again and gripped her paddle tightly as she waited for Do-Jun¡¯s counter. She thought she was just too relaxed earlier and would have no problem if she concentrated just a little bit.


    But she was wrong.


    Thwack!


    As Do-Jun swung his paddle, the sound of the ball bouncing on the table rang out, and the table tennis ball spun and got stuck in the net behind her.


    ¡°W-what is happening...?¡±


    She couldn¡¯t see the ball at all. All she knew was that it bounced on her side of the table. After that, it was impossible to tell where it went, how it spun, and its trajectory.


    ¡°Now it¡¯s my turn to serve, right?¡±


    Do-Jun caught the ball and looked at Yoon-Ji as she took a deep breath and gathered her mana into her body.


    She told herself, no more going easy. Using mana against an ordinary person was cheap, but she couldn¡¯t bear the thought of losing her sister.


    Sensing the mana seeping out of Yoon-Ji, Do-Jun smirked and swung his paddle.


    ***


    The utterly one-sided game ended with a final score of 11:0. Yoon-Ji couldn¡¯t score a single point.


    She stared blankly at the scoreboard beside the table tennis table, then turned to Do-Jun, who was smiling at her.


    What... is this guy?


    Placing the paddle on the table, Do-Jun looked at Yoon-Ji and asked, ¡°You did say you¡¯d do anything if you lost, right?¡±


    Yoon-Ji twitched at those words.


    1. A ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn that offers a cultural experience and a glimpse into Japanese hospitality. They are known for their communal baths, tatami-matted rooms, and kaiseki meals served in guests¡¯ rooms¡ªfrom Google. ?

 Chapter 64

    Chapter 64


    ¡°You said you¡¯d do anything if you lost, right?¡± Do-Jun asked as he walked toward Yoon-Ji, who was shivering in fear.


    A sly grin spread across his lips, but his eyes were completely devoid of amusement.


    As the distance between them narrowed, Yoon-Ji wrapped her arms around herself and backed away.


    ¡°W-what are you planning to do to me? I-I¡¯m still a middle schooler.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. This is something even a middle schooler can handle.¡±


    ¡°T-t-that¡¯s a crime! Though I don¡¯t know what exactly you¡¯re thinking...! I¡¯ll call the police!¡±


    Yoon-Ji kept backing up until she hit the wall, and there was nowhere left for her to retreat.


    Do-Jun continued moving closer as his grin grew wider.


    Her face turned pale, tears welling up in her eyes. ¡°P-please... don¡¯t kill me...¡±


    Yoon-Ji shut her eyes tightly.


    ***


    Red-hot charcoal crackled as it burned brightly in a long rectangular brazier.


    ¡°Maybe he¡¯s impotent,¡± Yoon-Ji muttered, staring blankly as she turned over the burning coals with a tong.


    Meanwhile, Do-Jun spotted her spacing out while carrying a box of drinks and alcohol. He set the box down, used a special footwork to hide his presence, and quietly approached her from behind.


    Leaning close to her ear, Do-Jun whispered softly, ¡°Don¡¯t slack off, human.¡±


    Startled by the sudden presence, Yoon-Ji let out a scream. When she turned around and saw who it was, her face twisted as if she might cry.


    ¡°You almost gave me a heart attack!¡± she snapped at Do-Jun.


    ¡°Who said you can slack off? Go grab some boxes from the bus.¡±


    ¡°Ugh.¡±


    Seven coolers filled with drinks and alcohol were in the open luggage compartment of the bus. The ice was mostly melted, so the boxes were going to be heavy.


    ¡°Sorry, but...¡± Putting on a frail, delicate expression, Yoon-Ji looked up at Do-Jun. Smirking inwardly, she said, ¡°I¡¯m a bit frail, so could you help me out, oppa?¡±


    No man had ever been able to resist this face before. Yoon-Ji thought that this act would surely get him no matter how impotent Do-Jun was.


    But she was gravely mistaken.


    Do-Jun¡¯s expression hardened, his eyes cold as if saying he would kill her if she didn¡¯t start moving. Letting out an involuntary hiccup, Yoon-Ji quickly sprinted toward the bus.


    As she hurried off, Do-Jun sighed and moved the tables stacked in the corner.


    ¡°So, what do you like so much about my sister that you¡¯re dating her? Be honest. I bet it¡¯s her looks, isn¡¯t it?¡± Yoon-Ji asked while carefully stacking the boxes.


    Though she seemed frail, she must have had a decent Strength stat. It was evident even when she played ping-pong earlier.


    ¡°I¡¯m dating who?¡± Do-Jun asked back.


    ¡°You¡¯re not dating her? My sister told me you confessed to her. Didn¡¯t you say, ¡®You¡¯re the only one for me¡¯?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s just how your sister chose to interpret things.¡±


    ¡°So... you¡¯re not together?¡±


    Do-Jun shook his head.


    Yoon-Ji had been watching him closely. She took a step back in surprise, exclaiming, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re after me now? Sorry, but you¡¯re not my type, so I must reject you.¡±


    ¡°Got it. Just focus on your work.¡±


    Deciding to ignore her, Do-Jun walked over to the side with the tables.


    ***


    After an hour of hard preparation, the barbeque was finally ready.


    The employees of the Fissure Management Division gathered in the open space in front of the lodge and held up their glasses.


    Kim Deok-Bae, Department Head of the Fissure Management Division, cleared his throat, glanced at the staff, and began his speech.


    ¡°Thank you all for your hard work during the first half of the year. I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for persevering and handling everything without major incidents. Tonight, let¡¯s forget about work and have a great time! To the Fissure Management Division!¡±


    As Kim Deok-Bae raised his glass, all the staff clinked theirs together, shouting, ¡°Fissure Management Division!¡± They downed their drinks and picked off the meat, mushrooms, sausages, and other barbeque dishes sizzling to a perfect golden brown on the grill.


    ¡°This is the life,¡± Cheol-Soo said, putting down his glass and wiping the beer foam from his mouth with his hand.


    Looking at Do-Jun with Ye-Ji stuck to his side, Cheol-Soo chuckled. He nudged Hyuk-Soo¡¯s waist with his elbow, nodding toward them.


    ¡°Hey, Hyuk-Soo, want to bet on when those two will get married?¡±


    Hyuk-Soo sipped his soju and watched as Ye-Ji tried to feed Do-Jun a rib. He shrugged and replied, ¡°I¡¯ll bet they won¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Seriously? Do you not see how lovey-dovey they are?¡±


    ¡°Do-Jun is clearly not interested. Does one-sided love ever work out?¡±


    ***


    The first half hour of the barbeque flew by as the atmosphere warmed up and the drinking pace picked up.


    Ye-Ji, who wasn¡¯t a heavy drinker, especially seemed to have reached her limit.


    ¡°Hehe, Mr. Administrator, have another drink with me.¡±


    ¡°Ye-Ji, you¡¯ve had enough.¡±


    Do-Jun took the soju glass from her hand and placed it on the table.


    Her usual drinking limit was half a bottle. Learning Scholar¡¯s Swordsmanship had increased her mana, raising her limit to one and a half bottles, but she had already had more than two and was swaying, barely able to stay upright.


    ¡°Senior Lee Yeon-Hee.¡± Unable to watch any longer, Do-Jun called out to his female colleague.


    ¡°Yes?¡± she responded.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but Hunter Ye-Ji is quite drunk. Could you take her to her room and help her rest?¡±


    ¡°Oh my, she does look pretty wasted. I can do that; I was just about to head to my room, too.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Lee Yeon-Hee took Ye-Ji¡¯s hand and led her back to the inn.


    ***


    Soon after, Yoon-Ji sneaked over to the barbecue area. She had been helping her mother with the inn¡¯s administration so far.


    She walked over to where Do-Jun was, looked around cautiously, and asked him, ¡°Where¡¯s my sister?¡±


    ¡°She looked tired, so I had her sent back to her room so she could get some sleep.¡±


    Yoon-Ji seemed slightly surprised as she understood this statement as Do-Jun had personally escorted her sister to the room and helped her sleep.


    ¡°You¡¯re surprisingly kind, Mister.¡±


    ¡°Thanks for thinking that way.¡±


    ¡°I suppose I could give you five more points.¡±


    ¡°So, what am I at right now?¡±


    ¡°Negative ninety-five.¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Do-Jun chuckled at her joke and took a sip of soju.


    He wasn¡¯t getting drunk at all since his body was already immune to any sort of poison, and he also had the pure internal energy from his dantian circulating throughout his body. However, he still drank for the mood.


    ¡°Do you like the taste of alcohol, Mister?¡± Yoon-Ji asked curiously.


    In her fifteen years of life, she had never tasted a single drop of alcohol because adults always emphasized that alcohol was something she could drink only after growing up.


    She always thought it was just one of those things and moved on. But watching Do-Jun drink, she felt the urge to try it for herself.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯d say cola would suit your taste buds better,¡± Do-Jun answered.


    ¡°Y-you¡¯re just treating me like a child right now, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Oh, are you an adult, then?¡±


    Do-Jun shared his honest opinion¡ªa straightforward comment with no hidden meaning, but Yoon-Ji took even that as a challenge.


    She quickly grabbed a soju glass from the table, not knowing or caring whose it was, and downed it in one gulp.


    Ugh, what is this taste?! It¡¯s so bitter! Do adults really like this?


    Despite the wave of regret, she managed to maintain her composure and keep a straight face.


    Do-Jun watched her with an amused look.


    ¡°Not... bad...¡± Yoon-Ji said, her face turning bright red.


    It seemed she hadn¡¯t noticed it herself.


    Ah... I feel dizzy.


    The sudden onset of intoxication made her regret drinking the soju as she struggled to keep her body steady. The last thing she wanted was to show a weak side in front of Do-Jun, so she decided to leave immediately.


    ¡°I should get back to work.¡±


    With that, Yoon-Ji turned and walked away while Do-Jun sipped his soju, quietly watching her retreating figure.


    He could clearly see she was trying to fight the dizziness with sheer willpower. But that was none of his business.


    ***


    Ah... my body feels so hot...


    Yoon-Ji¡¯s entire body felt like it was burning up while the dizziness made it hard to walk properly¡ªall after just one drink.


    How did adults manage to drink more than a whole bottle of this?


    I should take a break here before going inside.


    There was a place she went to sit and zone out whenever her head got too busy. Behind the storage next to the hot spring inn building was a wooden pavilion she often played at as a child with her sister.


    After walking for about two minutes, a modest-sized wooden pavilion came into view.


    Yoon-Ji walked over and sat down. She lifted her head, her blurry eyes fixed on the crescent moon hanging in the night sky.


    I don¡¯t get what she sees in that guy.


    ¡°You see, the thing about Mr. Administrator is that at first, he was really cold, but once you get to know him, he¡¯s incredibly kind. Even though he acts like he¡¯s annoyed, he¡¯s always the first to help me when I¡¯m in trouble. When I started at Seoul City Hall...¡±


    Whenever they spoke on the phone, Ye-Ji would always talk about what she did with this man named Mr. Administrator. All their conversations somehow centered around him, and each time, Yoon-Ji was annoyed to hear it.


    She thought her sister was being used by some shady guy.


    Suddenly, she heard a crackling sound, and space tore open right before her eyes. It wasn¡¯t very large, just about two meters.


    ¡°Huh...? A-a Fissure...?¡±


    Then, the Fissure swallowed her whole.


    ***


    When she came to her senses and opened her eyes, she found herself in a spacious cave. A chilling, eerie cry echoed from within, and the blood-red eyes of bats hanging from the ceiling seemed to be glaring at her.


    [Fissure Break Occurred!]


    [Activation Condition: Current number of challengers inside the Fissure 3 or fewer]


    [Clear Condition: Eliminate all monsters within the Fissure]


    [Clear Reward: All challengers¡¯ Strength, Agility, and Stamina stats +15]


    [Penalty: Unable to exit during the Break]


    [Remaining Regular Monsters: 7]


    [Remaining Champion Monsters: 2]


    [Remaining Boss Monster: 1]


    ¡°W-what is this...¡±


    Yoon-Ji was sucked into a Fissure that had appeared out of nowhere, shocking her enough to make the effects of alcohol dissipate in an instant.


    Her lips trembled as she read the Fissure Break message floating before her eyes.


    ¡°I can¡¯t exit during the Break... Ouch!¡±


    As she tried to stand up, she noticed her ankle was swollen. It seemed that she had sprained it. She couldn¡¯t muster any strength in her leg.


    ¡°You¡¯re lying... What is going on?¡± she uttered in disbelief.


    At this moment, when she was unable to move and facing a Fissure Break, the word death flashed through her mind. To make the situation even more dire, the aura emanating from inside the cave was far more intimidating than that of F-rank or E-rank monsters like goblins or kobolds.


    Thud.


    Thud.


    Something was approaching from inside. The sound was so heavy it felt like the cave was shaking. And when she finally saw the creature, Yoon-Ji¡¯s face turned pale.


    ¡°Cave... Ogre...¡±


    Kwaaaah!


    The Cave Ogre roared as it spotted Yoon-Ji sitting helplessly on the ground.


    It charged toward her, lifting the axe in its hand.


    As she sensed that death was a split second away, her life flashed before her eyes like a lantern showing her past.


    ¡°Mr. Administrator is always the first to help me when I¡¯m in trouble.¡± She recalled her sister¡¯s words.


    ¡°Mister...¡±


    Why was he the person that came to her mind?


    Thud!


    Now, right in front of Yoon-Ji, the Cave Ogre drove its axe down.


    She squeezed her eyes shut.

 Chapter 65

    Chapter 65


    The ground that she was lying on shook for a moment, but the pain she should expected was nowhere to be found.


    She should have been sliced in half by the Cave Ogre¡¯s double-bladed axe. Was the death so quick that it was basically painless?


    As the puzzlement filled her head, Yoon-Ji slowly opened her eyes. ¡°Huh...?¡±


    It was a bizarre sight. The body split in half wasn¡¯t hers, but the Cave Ogre¡¯s¡ªcleanly sliced. She then heard footsteps behind her and slowly turned her head to identify the source of the sound.


    ¡°Mister...?¡±


    Without a word, Do-Jun walked over to Yoon-Ji and examined her swollen right ankle. He then glanced up at the exit located ten meters above.


    It looked like she had twisted her ankle upon landing.


    Do-Jun let out a deep sigh as he turned his back toward her and said, ¡°Get on.¡±


    Yoon-Ji had countless questions¡ªhow he got in here, what happened to the ogre¡ªbut she remained silent.


    After she climbed onto Do-Jun¡¯s back, he used his qi sense to locate the remaining monsters. Then, the sound of a sword being drawn was heard, but not just once.


    ¡°I-is this...¡± Yoon-Ji¡¯s eyes widened as she saw that a total of nine swords were circling Do-Jun.


    They weren¡¯t physical swords but were swords made of qi.


    ¡°You¡¯re an Awakened...? A-aren¡¯t you a civil servant?¡± Yoon-Ji asked in shock.


    Awakened individuals almost never became civil servants, as even someone awakened to the E-rank Hunter level could easily earn several times the salary of a civil servant.


    In fact, most people quit their jobs upon awakening.


    Among Hunters, civil servants were seen as merely weak and powerless people.


    ¡°Hold on tight,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°What? Eeeek!¡±


    Do-Jun kicked off the ground and flew through the cave so fast that Yoon-Ji¡¯s hair blew wildly like it was caught in a gust of wind.


    A moment later, a Cave Ogre appeared in front of them.


    One of the black swords orbiting Do-Jun shot forward with a thunderous roar, hurtling toward the ogre. It was a legendary technique, said to be wieldable only by those who had reached the pinnacle of martial arts and attained enlightenment, known as Sudden Awakening.


    Do-Jun was using Sword Summon¡ªa form of summoning a sword with one¡¯s qi and controlling it, which was part of Sudden Awakening.


    The flying sword pierced through the Cave Ogre, pinning it to the wall, and Do-Jun continued moving forward without looking back.


    [Remaining Regular Monsters: 5]


    [Remaining Champion Monsters: 2]


    [Remaining Boss Monster: 1]


    ¡°W-what kind of power is this...¡± Yoon-Ji said, shocked.


    The Cave Ogre was a dangerous monster classified as an A-rank among the monsters in the Great Fissure. It would take at least an A-rank Hunter to face it, and even then, it was dangerous enough to make solo hunting risky.


    ¡°That too, in just one hit...?¡±


    Boom!


    Boom!


    Boom!


    With each sound of a sword being drawn, the Cave Ogres fell helplessly to the ground with a thunderous noise.


    Even the champion monsters were no exception.


    Every creature that appeared before them was indiscriminately felled by a single qi sword.


    [Remaining boss monster: 1] S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Before Yoon-Ji could even fully grasp what was happening, all that remained was the boss monster that was three times larger than the previous ogres.


    And when Do-Jun sent out the final sword without hesitation, it died without even being able to let out a screech.


    [You have cleared the A-rank Great Fissure ¨C Worthless Cave in 5 minutes 17 seconds.]


    [An incredible achievement!]


    [Time mission cleared, unlocking a hidden piece.]


    [An avatar of Belial, one of Solomon¡¯s Seventy-Two Demons, reveals itself.]


    Following the system message, the boss monster¡¯s corpse dissipated into smoke, and a single lotus flower bloomed in its place, a beam of light shooting out from the open flower bud.


    ¡°Argh.¡± Squinting at the dazzling light, Yoon-Ji covered her eyes with her hand while Do-Jun watched on with a smirk.


    The aura emanating from the light was similar to the Magic Resistance he had felt while in the Core.


    Do-Jun¡¯s Barrier enveloped his body as blue qi. Right on cue, a beam of light shot straight toward him, but it failed to penetrate his protective aura.


    After a brief struggle, it disappeared.


    ¡°Oho.¡± A clear voice echoed through the cave.


    In front of them stood a handsome man dressed in a white robe, smiling. He looked like the classic depiction of an angel with wings of pure white light stretching out from his back.


    He gazed at Do-Jun and murmured, ¡°You¡¯re not even a Transcendent... this is fascinating. To think you could block my Destructive Ray, even if I¡¯m just an avatar.¡±


    The man was Belial, the sixty-eighth-ranked demon among Solomon¡¯s seventy-two. To alleviate his boredom, he had placed his avatar in a Fissure that would appear on Earth.


    ¡°I like you. Join my legion. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you.¡± Belial reached out his hand toward Do-Jun.


    Do-Jun looked at Belial¡¯s confident smirk with disdain and activated his Heavenly Demon Cultivation Art.


    ¡°H-hold...!¡±


    A shapeless qi then shot out toward Belial. The avatar disappeared into smoke, and the blossoming flower withered and shriveled.


    To think a mere avatar would dare ask the Heavenly Demon to be his subordinate.


    The things you see when you live long enough.


    Had this been his old self, a creature like that wouldn¡¯t even have dared to meet Do-Jun¡¯s gaze.


    ***


    Do-Jun and Yoon-Ji emerged from the Fissure.


    After sitting Yoon-Ji on a bench, Do-Jun gently held her ankle and channeled his internal energy.


    With a low buzz, a refreshing sensation wrapped around her ankle, and the swelling disappeared along with the pain.


    ¡°No way...¡± Yoon-Ji muttered.


    Even a skilled Healer couldn¡¯t heal an injury this quickly, as healing skills generally only sped up the existing recovery process.


    ¡°M-mister, who are you really¡ª Ouch!¡±


    Before letting her finish, Do-Jun flicked Yoon-Ji¡¯s forehead.


    She grimaced in pain, holding her forehead with her palm.


    Watching her, Do-Jun clicked his tongue and said, ¡°Can you stop causing trouble? Come help clean up the barbeque afterward. That¡¯s your punishment.¡± He stood up.


    Still in a daze, Yoon-Ji asked in a bewildered voice, ¡°But... how did you know where I was in the first place?¡±


    ¡°Superpowers,¡± Do-Jun answered lazily, not wanting to explain.


    Yoon-Ji tilted her head in confusion for a few seconds, then suddenly looked shocked. ¡°W-wait, are you saying we¡¯re destined to be together, and that¡¯s how you always know where I am? Sorry, Mister. I¡¯ll admit that that was pretty cool, but you¡¯re not really my type, so please refrain from such language until we become closer.¡±


    ¡°If we get closer.¡± Do-Jun chuckled and walked toward where the others were.


    ***


    The barbecue party that had started early in the evening had finally wound down after 11 PM, and cleanup began.


    Most people were heavily drunk, so only a few remained to help.


    A typical resort would have let them clean up after themselves in the morning, but they had promised the innkeeper, Yang In-Sook, that they would tidy up immediately after the party.


    ¡°Senior, you should go rest. There¡¯s not much left, and I can handle the rest,¡± Do-Jun said to Hyuk-Soo, who was gathering the scattered liquor bottles into a box.


    Though Hyuk-Soo seemed fine on the outside, he also drank a lot because he wasn¡¯t someone who could refuse when people offered him drinks.


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t help much with the preparations earlier, so I should at least do this. By the way, have you called home? I bet your daughter¡¯s worried about you.¡± Hyuk-Soo shrugged, recalling their all-nighter work session in the office two months back when Do-Jun¡¯s phone wouldn¡¯t stop ringing.


    ¡°Ah...¡± Do-Jun halted the cleaning.


    ***


    After finishing the cleanup and washing up in the hot springs, Do-Jun carefully stepped out of the room where everyone was snoring and sat down on the veranda.


    He then pulled out his phone and checked the time. It was already past 1 AM.


    ¡°Hmm...¡±


    Unlike usual, there wasn¡¯t a single missed call or text. Did he do something to upset his daughter?


    It¡¯s late. She¡¯s probably asleep. Should I just call her tomorrow?


    But his finger moved toward the call button, betraying his thoughts. He heard the ringing sound and the call connected in less than a second.


    ¡ªF-father?


    ¡°Hey. You¡¯re still up?¡±


    ¡ªI-I was just about to go to sleep...


    Before she could finish, Yong-Yong¡¯s voice came from the background.


    ¡ªLiar. You¡¯ve been fidgeting in front of your phone, wondering whether to call him like a dog that needs to go to the bathroom... Keugh!


    A dull sound followed, then Yoon-Hee¡¯s voice could be heard again.


    ¡ªHuff. Huff. Ah, sorry! A mosquito came out of nowhere.


    ¡°O-okay.¡±


    It was early April, so a mosquito might appear.


    ¡ªHow¡¯s your trip going? I just realized I forgot to pack your lotion and toner. If any of your colleagues brought some, make sure to borrow them and apply them before bed. And don¡¯t skip brushing your teeth just because you¡¯re feeling lazy. Hmm, what else...


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, I got it. Did you have dinner?¡±


    ¡ªYes. Um... We had braised mackerel, radish soup...


    Her voice that came through the phone was full of excitement. Despite wanting to talk so much, she had probably been waiting for him to call first out of consideration.


    Yong-Yong and Karsiel¡¯s voices could also be heard from the other side.


    ¡ªI want to talk, too! Me too!


    ¡ªYoung Master, I would also like to join the conversation.


    Do-Jun chuckled and muttered softly, ¡°No need to worry. I¡¯m not going to hang up.¡±


    ***


    [Tutorial Stage 3 Ranking]


    1st: Unknown


    2nd: Imfelheim


    3rd: Murmu


    4th: Kiriel


    5th: ...


    .


    .


    .


    Seated on a throne, propping up his chin, Belial frowned as he scanned the tutorial rankings.


    How long had it been¡ªdays or even longer?


    The rankings for the third stage of the tutorial, which hadn¡¯t changed for thousands of years, were now altered.


    Those placed on the top ranks of the tutorial usually descended into the Deep Realm of the Core, becoming beings known as the Transcendents among the inhabitants of this place.


    ¡°Who the hell is this person?¡± said Imfelheim, the one known as the strongest among the Transcendents and now standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the gods.


    He had slaughtered every boss monster in the third stage of the tutorial and obtained the purple Skill Ring, which allowed him to use seven skills, securing him the first-place spot in the rankings.


    The fact that his record, which seemed unbeatable forever, had been broken was huge gossip in the otherwise monotonous Deep Realm.


    Of course, the fact that the ranking was altered was noteworthy, but the real buzz stemmed from one specific reason: the grade above purple.


    The strength classification system was divided into seven colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, navy, and purple. But now, an irregular had appeared.


    Someone didn¡¯t fit into the established system.


    ¡°That¡¯s that, but...¡± Belial gritted his teeth, recalling Do-Jun¡¯s face, thinking he would surely kill him if the human ever came down to the Core¡ªthe human who killed his avatar in a single blow.

 Chapter 66

    Chapter 66


    ?No way I¡¯m asking for advice from someone who¡¯s been divorced three times.?


    Yong-Yong laughed heartily at the reality show he was watching on TV. Meanwhile, Do-Jun was preparing to leave for the Core now that a week had passed since the Fissure Management Division trip.


    ¡°Yong-Yong,¡± he called out while packing a half-litre water bottle into his bag.


    The little dragon hopped down from the couch and walked over to Do-Jun, giving him a salute.


    ¡°You always work so hard, Master. Please stay safe.¡±


    Yong-Yong¡¯s attitude made it seem like Do-Jun¡¯s excursions had nothing to do with him.


    Shrugging, Do-Jun said, ¡°This time, you¡¯re coming with me instead of Karsiel.¡±


    ¡°P-pardon? W-what do you mean by that?¡±


    Karsiel jumped in and explained, ¡°Master recently mentioned that you seemed to be spending too much time lounging around at home, so for this Dive¡ªI mean, this trip, he said he¡¯d take you instead of me.¡±


    Yong-Yong appeared flustered as Karsiel spoke.


    Although Do-Jun hadn¡¯t mentioned it to Yoon-Hee, Yong-Yong had heard from Karsiel that they dived into the Core every weekend. However, Yong-Yong had always considered it none of his concern.


    ¡°Master,¡± Yong-Yong muttered as he approached Do-Jun. He fully expected Yong-Yong to refuse to come along, suggesting he could stay at home or that Do-Jun should take Karsiel instead.


    But his reaction was quite the opposite.


    ¡°Thank you!¡± Yong-Yong¡¯s eyes sparkled as he leaped into Do-Jun¡¯s arms.


    In truth, Yong-Yong had secretly felt a bit jealous that only Karsiel accompanied Do-Jun during his Dives into the Core.


    He never expected Do-Jun to offer to take him first.


    Looking down at Yong-Yong, who was gleaming with excitement in his arms, Do-Jun thought that if he¡¯d known how much Yong-Yong wanted this, he would have taken him sooner.


    ***


    [You have entered the fourth stage of the Tutorial Zone.]


    Do-Jun looked down as he lay inside a narrow groove carved halfway down a three-hundred-meter cliff with Yong-Yong.


    Below them was a dense jungle, and within the thick fog, monsters of various sizes with different energies intertwined.


    But they were all of one type: snakes.


    The only differences were their colors and sizes. Some were red, some orange, some yellow, and so on. The closer they were to purple, the larger and more powerful their size and energy became.


    Hissss!


    But these were no ordinary snakes.


    Despite being the same species, they followed a strict rule of survival of the fittest, where a small, weak red snake would be eaten by a larger, stronger orange snake. The orange snake would, in turn, be eaten by a yellow snake, and so on.


    At the top of the food chain was the purple snake. Its body spanned several kilometers in length, and its diameter exceeded thirty meters.


    ¡°Wow...¡± Yong-Yong couldn¡¯t help but exclaim his honest reaction upon seeing the horrifying sight unfolding in the jungle three hundred meters below.


    Do-Jun took out Interpreter ¨C Ataraxia and scanned the snakes for information. He soon learned what they were and what needed to be done in this stage.


    The critical point was that the fourth stage was the last step before officially entering the Core.


    Suddenly, they heard a popping sound, and Tusitala appeared with a pout. ¡°Man, I thought you weren¡¯t coming back.¡±


    It was understandable since Do-Jun took two weeks to return when he normally only took one. Do-Jun was also the first challenger to choose to return directly to his home planet after clearing each stage instead of receiving the random artifact rewards.


    Most challengers either stayed in the Tutorial Zone or never returned after going back home.


    ¡°You waited for me,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°Of course! You¡¯re the only challenger from Earth right now. And besides, you¡¯re Cecilia¡¯s... Ah, never mind. Anyway! Just know that you¡¯re the only one I¡¯m waiting for.¡±


    Do-Jun mulled over Tusitala¡¯s words but just decided to commit them to memory and not press for more information right away. The fact that Tusitala abruptly changed the subject meant there was certainly some hidden meaning.


    [You have received a Status Window Snake (Colorless).]


    [Status Window Snake (Colorless)]


    Category: Creature / System


    Description: A creature received upon entering Tutorial Stage 4 (the last stage). It is essential to use the color-coded status windows in each layer of the Core. If you plan to descend deeper, it¡¯s recommended to feed it at least up to the green snake level. I was lucky enough to feed mine to the navy snake level, which allowed me to descend to the Deep Realm.


    Danger Level: ¡ï


    Currently Available Status Window: None


    Do-Jun skimmed through the information stored in Ataraxia, then closed the book and tucked it back into his bag. He glanced at the small, transparent snake wriggling in his palm with a dry expression.


    Tusitala explained, ¡°That¡¯s the Status Window Snake. It¡¯s somewhat similar to the concept of the Skill Ring. You know how, on the outside, you could use as many skills as you wanted, but in the Core, the number of skills you can use is limited? The same goes for the Status Window.


    ¡°For example, if you feed your snake a red gem, you¡¯ll gain access to a red status window. But once you enter the Core with that, you¡¯ll be stuck with the red status window for life. Your skill levels, power, and artifact quality will all be capped at that level. So it¡¯s important to obtain the highest-level status window, preferably as close to purple as possible, before you go any deeper.¡±


    While explaining, she glanced at Yong-Yong, standing beside Do-Jun, looking down at the snakes while nonchalantly cleaning his ears as if he were entirely uninterested in the explanation.


    With the number ¡°1¡± on his forehead, two horns protruding from his head, sharp claws, and tiny wings on his back, Tusitala couldn¡¯t help but think, How does he have the Dragon Lord with him...?


    But Tusitala chose not to dwell on it.


    Asking would only be tiring for her.


    Do-Jun stared at the small Status Window Snake writhing in his hand and said, ¡°But can this tiny thing really eat those massive snakes down there?¡±


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry about that. It doesn¡¯t literally eat them. You just have to collect the small gems the snakes drop when they die and feed them to yours. Also, remember that the evolution process must be done in sequence.¡±


    I have to evolve them in order. As Do-Jun repeated this to himself, he leaped off the cliff with Yong-Yong by his side.


    ***


    Do-Jun and Yong-Yong hid behind a large tree, concealing their presence, and observed the wide clearing where a massacre was taking place.


    Snakes of various sizes and colors were tearing into each other as if they were planning to drive themselves to extinction. The weaker snakes were quickly killed, dropping gleaming gemstones that matched their respective colors.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see... huh?¡± Just as Do-Jun was about to leap toward a red gem on the battlefield, the snakes, like sharks smelling blood in the water, rushed toward it simultaneously and caused a chain reaction to spread rapidly through the clearing.


    Kyeeeeeeh!


    Perhaps it was because of all the gemstones scattered on the ground, but the Status Window Snake screeched toward the sky. For the snakes, the gemstones were prey to be consumed. The Status Window Snake must have been clearly irritated that it still had gotten nothing to eat.


    A small red snake tried to slip past Do-Jun¡¯s feet, but Yong-Yong slammed his paw down on the snake¡¯s head, determined not to let it escape.


    The red snake died instantly from Yong-Yong¡¯s attack, and in its place appeared a red gemstone about the size of a fingertip.


    ¡°Oho, shine bright like a diamond.¡± Yong-Yong picked up the gemstone and brought it to Do-Jun.


    Do-Jun patted Yong-Yong on the head and then offered the gemstone to the Status Window Snake, which then swallowed the gem in one gulp as if savoring it.


    A moment later, its body trembled, turning red briefly before reverting to its original color.


    [Currently Available Status Window: Red]


    The Status Window Snake''s status has changed. It now offered an option that was previously listed as none.


    Do-Jun tried to activate the Red Status Window, but a message popped up and quickly vanished.


    [You cannot use this in the Tutorial Zone.]


    Whatever. But...


    Do-Jun ignored the snakes tangled into each other and instead looked at a slightly less dense area in the distance. He then decided to return to the tall cliff from which he had descended earlier.


    This time, he climbed to the very top, beyond the point with the indentations. Upon seeing an endless expanse of jungle stretched before him, he clicked his tongue in annoyance.


    So it wasn¡¯t an island after all.


    Where he was standing was the body of a massive snake, and the entire ground beneath him was part of that snake¡¯s body.


    ***


    Ouroboros was the mythical creature that provided the location for the fourth stage of the Tutorial Zone. Only a select few in the Core knew of its existence, and that did not include Tusitala, who was supposed to be the guide.


    Now that Tusitala had realized the truth, thanks to Do-Jun, she looked at him in disbelief.


    [Status Window Snake (The One Who Swallowed Ouroboros)]


    Category: Creature / System


    Currently Available Status Window: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Navy, Purple, Black


    Special Effect 1: 100% mastery in all Status Windows except Black


    Special Effect 2: Black Status Window can be used on any floor sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Special Effect 3: (Locked)


    ¡°You are insane. Completely insane!¡± Utterly stunned, Tusitala stared at Ouroboros, now reduced to a corpse.


    The fact that a challenger in the tutorial area had killed a mythical creature, or at least something close to an epic monster, was simply unbelievable.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Yong-Yong looked at the Status Window Snake in Do-Jun¡¯s hand.


    The snake wiggled sluggishly before coiling around Do-Jun¡¯s wrist. Then, it hardened, transforming into what looked like a bracelet.


    [Unbelievable Achievement!]


    [You have finished Tutorial Stage 4 in the first place.]


    [You have completed all tutorials. Congratulations.]


    [The tutorial will be reconstructed in one month. Challengers who have cleared the tutorial cannot re-enter.]


    [Hidden quest completed!]


    [You have obtained the Core Talisman.]


    Description: Teleports you to a location in your memory.


    [Would you like to announce your achievement to the Core?]


    ¡°It¡¯s finally over.¡± Do-Jun stretched as he muttered to himself.


    He then accessed the Fissure Management System via the SpacePad and entered the information about the Status Window Snake and a brief report on the fourth stage of the Tutorial Zone.


    All that was left was to find a place with internet access and press the submit button, which would make the information public for everyone to see.


    However, he had no intention of releasing it for now. He had an agreement with the Bureau to show this information only to Behemoth.

 Chapter 67

    Chapter 67


    ¡°By the way, Master, when do you think we¡¯ll have that beef we ate last time...? Uuuh?¡± Yong-Yong asked but was interrupted by a rumbling sound.


    Suddenly, the island¡ªno, the corpse of Ouroboros they were standing on¡ªshook like a massive earthquake.


    Yong-Yong was startled and mistakenly thought the tremors were caused by Do-Jun.


    ¡°Ahh! Words! Use your words, Master!¡± he carefully urged Do-Jun but was clearly in panic.


    Though he was aware that beef was expensive, he believed he had behaved well enough today to earn some favor. However, he hadn¡¯t expected such an intense reaction.


    ¡°Eh...?¡± Then, Yong-Yong realized that Do-Jun wasn¡¯t looking at him. Instead, his gaze was fixed far into the distance, down below.


    Yong-Yong turned around to follow Do-Jun¡¯s line of sight and whispered with wide eyes, ¡°What is that?¡±


    Like water being drained from a sink, a hole appeared in the middle of the ground, swallowing the earth. The hole expanded and stopped when it reached a radius of about five kilometers. Inside it, a swirling red vortex spun furiously.


    Tusitala spoke up. ¡°That is the entrance to the first floor of the Core.¡±


    Do-Jun shrugged and asked, ¡°Do I have to wait another week for this one too?¡±


    ¡°No, there¡¯s no need. That was a system put in place just for the tutorial to prevent an overlapping of challengers from different dimensions. However, starting from the first floor of the Core, you will coexist with challengers from all dimensions.¡±


    Do-Jun turned to Tusitala and asked, ¡°Challengers from different dimensions?¡±


    ¡°Yes. To be precise, challengers from what we call Mirror Earths.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean by ¡®Mirror Earths¡¯?¡±


    Tusitala snapped her fingers to summon a hologram of Earth. With Earth in the center, similar-looking planets orbited it in a circular pattern. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Pointing to Earth at the center, Tusitala explained, ¡°This planet that you come from is what you call Earth, and the planets orbiting it are mirror versions¡ªreplicas of Earth. Some are identical to yours, while others are vastly different, and challengers from these planets all take on human form. But this doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯re fake. They are all real, living humans.¡±


    Do-Jun nodded in understanding, but his reaction made Tusitala look at him in astonishment.


    ¡°You don¡¯t seem surprised. Most challengers faint or throw up when they learn this truth.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that surprising. If you think about it, things like skills and all can¡¯t really be explained by conventional science anyway.¡±


    Impressed by his calm demeanor, Tusitala continued explaining. ¡°Remember that once you enter the Core, you can never return to the Earth you came from, unlike you did here in the Tutorial Zone. Once you¡¯re in the Core, the dimensions will overlap, and you won¡¯t be able to come back here or your home planet.¡±


    Even as she offered this advice, Tusitala thought she had lost her mind. This was a clear violation of the rules. But for her goals to be realized, she needed Do-Jun to venture into the Deep Realm.


    Do-Jun glanced at the small talisman in his hand.


    [Core Talisman]


    Category: Miscellaneous


    Grade: Treasure of the Deep Realm


    Description: Teleports you to a location in your memory (can only be used once every 24 hours).


    If the description was accurate, he could use it to teleport to any place in his memory, including Changshin Villa in Bangbae-dong.


    Tusitala seemed unaware of the talisman¡¯s existence, as she showed no reaction when she saw it.


    ¡°Knowing that, will you still proceed to the Core?¡± she asked Do-Jun.


    He replied, ¡°I...¡±


    ***


    ¡°Eugyaaaaaaah!¡±


    ¡°Be quiet. You¡¯re too loud,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°B-but...¡± Yong-Yong closed his eyes, and as he felt the wind blowing against his whole body, he reopened his eyes and shouted, ¡°How far are we falling?!¡±


    They were high enough among the fluffy clouds that the ground below wasn¡¯t visible. Instead, what they saw was a cliff face surrounding them, jagged with protruding trees.


    ¡°Tsk.¡± Do-Jun realized that his former power had vanished and recalled Tusitala¡¯s words.


    ¡°As soon as you enter the first floor of the Core, the Status Window you previously used will be sealed. Remember, when you enter, summon the Core-exclusive Status Window from the snake around your wrist. There¡¯s no need to worry about colors; only the red Status Window will be usable on the first floor. Also, don¡¯t forget to register your skills in the Skill Ring, but be extremely careful with skill registration, as once a skill is set into a socket, it cannot be removed.¡±


    The snake wrapped around Do-Jun¡¯s wrist shimmered with the seven colors of the rainbow, gradually blending into one. Soon, the Status Window Snake turned black.


    [Status Window (Black) has been applied.]


    [The mastery of the current Status Window (Red) is at 100%. The stats of Status Window (Black) will now be expanded. Current stat: Strength.]


    [The mastery of the current Status Window (Orange) is at 100%. The stats of Status Window (Black) will now be expanded. Current stat: Agility.]


    .


    .


    [The mastery of the current Status Window (Purple) is at 100%. The stats of Status Window (Black) will now be expanded. Current stat: True Qi.]


    [Condition fulfilled.]


    [Magic stat will be removed.]


    [True Qi stat will be removed.]


    [Internal Energy stat has been generated.]


    ¡°But Master, just how far are we falling...?¡± Seeing Do-Jun lost in thought, Yong-Yong couldn¡¯t hold back his question any longer.


    Without responding, Do-Jun held Yong-Yong in his arms. Then, grabbing a jutting cliff edge with one hand, he climbed up.


    He then said softly, ¡°Status Window.¡±


    [Status Window (Black)]


    Name: Lee Do-Jun


    Mastery: 0.00%


    Title: Heavenly Demon


    Strength: 5


    Agility: 5


    Stamina: 5


    Internal Energy: 5


    Physical Resistance: 5


    Magic Resistance: 5


    Registered Skills: None


    His stats had dropped drastically compared to before, even including his combat power.


    However, despite the average-looking stats of 5, Do-Jun knew this wasn¡¯t reflective of ordinary strength and deduced that it had something to do with the black color of the Status Window.


    Just then, a small, round creature resembling a rabbit approached him. It looked so fluffy and soft that it could be mistaken for a cotton ball.


    As the creature drew closer and eventually climbed up to Do-Jun¡¯s knee, he took out Interpreter ¨C Ataraxia and analyzed the creature¡¯s information.


    [Pokopo]


    Category: Monster


    Description: A monster that frequently appears on the first floor of the Core. It has a small and cute appearance. It clings to challengers, using its cuteness to make them drop their guard, and when an opening is seen, it immediately devours them. It isn¡¯t particularly strong, but it¡¯s best not to let it get too close.


    Danger Level: ¡ï¡ï


    The ball of fur, Pokopo, had climbed onto Do-Jun¡¯s thigh before he even realized it. Just as it was recorded in Ataraxia, it opened its mouth wide as if to swallow him whole.


    Do-Jun sighed and thrust his fist forward.


    With a thump, Pokopo¡¯s body burst open without much resistance, and a red stone fragment popped out.


    Do-Jun picked up the fragment and examined it.


    [Mastery Stone (Red)]


    Category: Consumable / Miscellaneous


    Description: A stone that can sometimes be obtained by defeating monsters on the first floor of the Core. When used, it slightly increases the mastery level shown in the Status Window. If the color doesn¡¯t match the Status Window, the mastery growth effect is minimal. The method of use is simple. Feed the acquired mastery stone to the snake in the Status Window, and that¡¯s it.


    Do-Jun handed the Mastery Stone from Pokopo¡¯s corpse to the snake¡ªno, to the Status Window attached to his wrist, which then swallowed the stone whole.


    Sure enough, the mastery level in the Status Window increased, and more importantly, his stats rose as well.


    Now, I need to register my skills, Do-Jun thought.


    He brought his hand toward the Skill Enhancement Ring on his finger.


    [Do you wish to register a skill?]


    [Warning! Once a skill is registered, it cannot be undone.]


    [Please select the skill you wish to register into the socket.]


    He didn¡¯t deliberate for long. Do-Jun carefully selected the essential skills and registered three of them for now.


    [Are you sure you want to register Pocket Watch, Heavenly Demon Cultivation Art, and Armorize-True as skills?]


    [Pocket Watch, Heavenly Demon Cultivation Art, and Armorize-True have been registered in the skill sockets.]


    [The power of the skills has increased due to the effect of the artifact.]


    Now, I¡¯ve four slots left, Do-Jun thought.


    There was no need to rush. For the time being, these three skills would be more than enough, and he could consider his options later when he acquired new skills.


    ***


    A man stood atop a hill, watching Do-Jun through binoculars.


    He saw the challenger fall from the Tutorial Zone twenty minutes ago. He seemed to be carrying some strange pet, but it wouldn¡¯t be a problem.


    He would just kill them both.


    A rookie at this time of year, huh? Does that mean the Core has appeared in another dimension?


    Ten years ago, a massive influx of new challengers descended onto the first floor of the Core, and most of them lost their lives to those who had already been living there. Regardless of their strength in the outside world, once inside the Core, everything was determined by the mastery level displayed in the Status Window.


    After that, no new rookies appeared for a while¡ªuntil today, when one lone challenger had shown up.


    Welcome to the Core, my mastery. The man, Kim Jong-Heon, grinned.


    ***


    Do-Jun sat with his legs stretched out, leaning against a tree, ignoring the sharp gazes directed at him from above and below. The hostility was so blatant that it was impossible not to notice.


    ¡°Yong-Yong, let¡¯s get up. We¡¯ll look around a little more, then head home,¡± he said.


    ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Yong-Yong responded cheerfully with a bright smile.


    Going home meant delicious meat was waiting for him. A walk should always be followed by a meal.


    ¡°Put braised ribs on top of my rice? Yum yum?¡± Humming a little tune, Yong-Yong happily followed behind Do-Jun.


    Do-Jun chuckled as he watched Yong-Yong. How could he be so different from Karsiel?


    As he strolled and took in the scenery, Do-Jun discovered a suspension bridge connecting two hills and walked toward it.


    Then, a sharp spear dropped from above, landing on the ground exactly where Do-Jun had been about to step.


    Kim Jong-Heon jumped down from above, looked at Do-Jun with a relaxed expression, and said, ¡°First time in the Core?¡±


    Do-Jun shrugged, thinking that this confrontation was inevitable.


    Not just this man¡ªcountless others were monitoring the situation as well. It felt like order was forming out of the chaos.


    Yong-Yong looked up at the man, Kim Jong-Heon, and muttered in a flat tone, ¡°Who¡¯s this dumbass?¡±

 Chapter 68

    Chapter 68


    Clang.


    Pulling out the spear embedded in the ground, Kim Jong-Heon let out a twisted grin.


    His opponent was a newbie who had just entered the Core. Although that didn¡¯t mean the guy was as weak as a regular person, his skill mastery in the Status Window was likely close to zero, making him no match for someone like him, whose mastery had exceeded 50%.


    However, as he stood before his prey, an inexplicable unease wrapped around his entire body.


    Do-Jun¡¯s eyes, watching him as if finding this amusing, and his casual attire¡ªa gray hoodie, jeans, and sneakers, with a casual backpack slung over his shoulder¡ªput Kim Jong-Heon at unease.


    The fact that he¡¯s here means he¡¯s at least cleared the tutorial, he thought.


    This man looked like he was on a leisurely walk in a neighborhood park. He wasn¡¯t even holding a weapon.


    And that tattoo on his wrist... what is that? There¡¯s no way he¡¯s already joined a Blood Alliance, Kim Jong-Heon thought, looking at the sword-shaped tattoo engraved on Do-Jun¡¯s wrist.


    Kim Jong-Heon swallowed hard and muttered something under his breath, thinking he should test something. Soon, the leaf-shaped tattoo on his own wrist started to glow.


    Then he got an unexpected message.


    [You cannot send a Blood Alliance invitation to a Monarch.]


    Kim Jong-Heon¡¯s eyes widened in shock, and cold sweat trickled down his back. How could a newbie who had just entered the Core have already awakened the properties of a Monarch?


    Though he was puzzled, he knew one thing for sure. I have to kill him right now, right here, no matter what.


    Just as he made up his mind, Do-Jun raised his hand and pointed at Kim Jong-Heon, saying, ¡°You,¡± then pointed toward the cliff two hundred meters above. ¡°And you three over there.¡±


    Face pale, Kim Jong-Heon stared at Do-Jun, who smiled and asked, ¡°You know what joint liability means, right?¡±


    A chill ran down Kim Jong-Heon¡¯s spine. His Blood Alliance members were stationed where Do-Jun pointed.


    Setting aside his confusion over how Do-Jun knew, he shouted, ¡°Die!¡± and thrust the spear he held at Do-Jun¡¯s chest, only for it to be blocked by something.


    It was Yong-Yong, the little dragon that followed Do-Jun around.


    As if hitting an invisible barrier, the spear could go no further.


    ¡°Piss off.¡± Yong-Yong spun around and whipped his tail, creating a massive shockwave of magical energy that spread out in a fan shape with a loud boom.


    Everything within its range was annihilated¡ªthe cliff, the trees, the monsters, even the spectators. Those standing outside the shockwave¡¯s range trembled as they blinked in disbelief at the reality unfolding before them.


    Do-Jun narrowed his eyes, looking at the place he had pointed at earlier. Three people were hiding behind the bushes, holding their breath.


    Dark energy rose from his body as he activated the Heavenly Demon Cultivation Art. Even though his power had been restricted since entering the Core, one thing remained certain: he was still strong.


    Do-Jun launched forward with a start, his body bending like a bow. He flew at an incredible speed toward the people.


    ¡°Fuck, who is that bastard?!¡±


    Realizing that Do-Jun was coming for them, Kim Jong-Heon¡¯s Blood Alliance members tried to flee in panic, some running up, some down, while others dashed toward the jutting cliffs on the opposite side.


    Their instincts screamed that if they clumped together and fled, they¡¯d be wiped out in one fell swoop.


    ¡°Huh?¡± One man fleeing downhill noticed a black streak resembling a single flower petal following him like a magnet, prompting him to scream.


    The petal stuck to the man and ignited, setting his entire body ablaze. He rolled on the grass in an attempt to extinguish the flames, but they only burned more fiercely.


    The man ran to the cliff¡¯s edge and looked down.


    Below was a place called the Pond of the Core, where the waterfalls converged at a single point. It was a dangerous zone that most people avoided unless they were trying to advance to and challenge the second floor of the Core.


    But, blinded and paralyzed by excruciating pain, the man leaped toward the Pond of the Core.


    ¡°No!¡± One of his fellow Blood Alliance members screamed as the man dove toward the pond.


    Still, she did not move to stop him or think of saving him. If she followed, she¡¯d meet her death as well.


    Splash!


    ¡°Dammit,¡± the woman cursed as she confirmed that the man had plunged into the water.


    The pond was dangerous in its own right, but the biggest issue was the required amount of Magic Resistance.


    The Core required higher Magic Resistance the deeper one went, and the amount recommended when attempting the Pond of the Core was 20. If anyone with less than that entered, their body wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand it, leading to instant death in the worst case.


    ¡°Aaaaargh!¡±


    While the woman was occupied by the falling alliance member, another scream rang out from above. And just like that, before she could even fully grasp the situation, she was the only one in her Blood Alliance left on the first floor of the Core.


    She gazed at the sky with a hollow expression.


    While she wasn¡¯t the strongest on the first floor, she and her fellow Blood Alliance members were all proficient, with over 50% mastery in their Status Windows.


    But now, a newbie who had just entered the Core had annihilated them.


    What the hell is that absurd power? she thought, terrified.


    On the first floor of the Core, only the lowest-tier Red Status Window could be used, regardless of what other colors someone acquired in the fourth stage of the Tutorial Zone.


    Unless one had insanely overpowered items, all challengers¡¯ strength would level out as their mastery approached 100% with time.


    ¡°Seriously...¡± Biting her lip, the woman watched the dark wave approaching her.


    What is this?


    ***


    Meanwhile, Yoon-Hee was shopping at the local grocery store with Karsiel. She picked up two 500g packs of Korean beef brisket in the meat section, which were on sale for 8,800 won per pack.


    She was never going to pass on such a deal.


    ¡°Should I make stir-fried beef with bean sprouts? What do you think, Siel?¡± she asked Karsiel.


    ¡°I think that sounds great.¡± Karsiel, who had transformed into her human form again, nodded enthusiastically.


    Since trying ramen, Karsiel had gradually developed a taste for human food, though unlike Yong-Yong, she showed a particular interest in vegetarian dishes.


    ?The Hunter¡¯s Bureau has responded that it will continue its efforts to break into the Core soon, but the public¡¯s reaction remains mostly cold. However, some have defended the Bureau, citing the difficulty of the Core as a valid reason...?


    After placing the two packs of beef brisket into the shopping cart, Yoon-Hee glanced at the TV in the store airing the news.


    She wondered if the day would come when she would get to go to the Core. Although she was growing stronger by the day, her abilities were still only around that of a C-rank Hunter.


    The Core, a place that supposedly made even S-rank Hunters struggle, felt like a distant dream.


    ¡°By the way, where does Father go for his work trips every weekend?¡± Yoon-Hee asked suddenly. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At her question, Karsiel flinched and avoided eye contact. ¡°T-that¡¯s... something Master told me to keep secret. He said you would worry, Young Master.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t you tell me just a little? I won¡¯t say you told me. I¡¯ll even pretend I don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°No. Absolutely not. It¡¯s a secret,¡± Karsiel said firmly.


    ¡°Well, if you say so... Though it sounds like he¡¯s going somewhere I would be worried about, huh?¡±


    ¡°Argh, that¡¯s so unfair! You can¡¯t just deduce it like that!¡±


    Seeing Karsiel¡¯s flustered expression, Yoon-Hee couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, but her smile didn¡¯t last long.


    ¡°Hey, Siel.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m so happy right now. But sometimes I¡¯m scared. I¡¯m afraid this happiness will disappear someday. It could be gone as soon as tomorrow. That¡¯s why I¡¯m scared to close my eyes at night. I once had a dream like that.¡±


    ¡°What kind of dream?¡±


    ¡°In the dream, everything was just a figment of my imagination... When I woke up, Father was gone, Yong-Yong was gone, and even you weren¡¯t there. So, every day, even though I¡¯m happy, I¡¯m also anxious. I¡¯m afraid everything will suddenly vanish.¡±


    Tears welled up in Yoon-Hee¡¯s eyes, and she wiped the corners of her eyes with her fingers.


    ¡°S-sorry. That was a weird thing to say. Let¡¯s just finish shopping.¡± As Yoon-Hee pushed the shopping cart and walked ahead, Karsiel looked at her with concern.


    ***


    The family was gathered at the table for dinner.


    ¡°...is what Young Master said at the store.¡± As soon as Karsiel finished speaking, Yoon-Hee¡¯s face turned bright red as she fumbled with her chopsticks, accidentally dropping them to the floor.


    ¡°S-siel? Did you really just tell them all of that?¡± she stammered, staring blankly at Karsiel.


    Meanwhile, Yong-Yong was chewing on a mouthful of stir-fried beef and rice. He swallowed and said, ¡°Heh. Buddy, even if you tell me to leave, I¡¯m not going anywhere.¡±


    As Yoon-Hee turned beet-red in embarrassment, stammering in front of everyone, Do-Jun watched her silently.


    He realized he needed to do something to ease her anxiety. Knowing the kind of household Yoon-Hee had grown up in, he couldn¡¯t just brush off what Karsiel had just told them.


    An hour later, Do-Jun got rid of his twin bed and went to a nearby furniture store to buy a king-size bed along with a large blanket to match.


    ¡°Wow! It¡¯s so spacious!¡± Yong-Yong beamed and jumped onto the bed.


    ¡°Why the new bed all of a sudden, Father...?¡±


    ¡°The old bed was too small for us to sleep in together.¡± Do-Jun¡¯s casual response left Yoon-Hee staring at the bed in confusion.


    ¡°T-together?¡±


    Nodding, Do-Jun turned off the lights and opened the curtains. As the soft moonlight filled the room in place of the overhead LED light, Do-Jun lay down at the edge of the bed.


    ¡°Master, may I lie down too?¡± Karsiel asked him.


    Do-Jun chuckled softly and replied, ¡°Lie down next to Yong-Yong.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    ¡°Yoon-Hee, don¡¯t just stand there and come over,¡± he called out to Yoon-Hee.


    ¡°Y-yes.¡±


    After cautiously sliding under the blanket, she rested her head on the pillow and glanced to the side. When her eyes met Do-Jun¡¯s, she blushed and quickly turned away.


    ¡°This way, you won¡¯t feel as anxious, right?¡± Do-Jun asked her.


    ¡°Sorry...?¡± Yoon-Hee¡¯s eyes widened as she looked back at Do-Jun. ¡°Wait, did you do all this because of me...?¡±


    ¡°Tsk. She finally got it. So slow,¡± Yong-Yong clicked his tongue and muttered while Karsiel watched the scene with a satisfied smile.


    Do-Jun continued, ¡°From now on, when you wake up, we¡¯ll be right here beside you. And even before you fall asleep, it¡¯ll be the same.¡±


    Yoon-Hee¡¯s face crumpled as if she was about to cry. No, tears were already welling up and spilling from her eyes.


    ¡°When I heard what you said earlier, I was genuinely shocked. You see, dragons are creatures that cherish their nests more than anything else. We¡¯ll never leave even if you told us to,¡± Yong-Yong explained.


    Though a bit of exaggeration was mixed in, it was true that dragons valued their nests.


    ¡°For both Lord Izaas and me, this house has already become our nest,¡± Karsiel added.


    ¡°And who are you to worry about our Master? He¡¯s the world¡¯s strongest, most invincible being. The only thing you should be concerned with is how to serve delicious meals to me. That¡¯s it,¡± Yong-Yong said.


    As tears flowed continuously from Yoon-Hee¡¯s eyes, Do-Jun pulled her into an embrace and let her rest her head on his arm.


    He gently stroked her hair and assured her, ¡°I told you, if something¡¯s bothering you, you should tell me.¡±


    Yoon-Hee broke down at the warmth, letting go of the bottom lip she was biting down on. She tried to hold in her tears, but it was no use.


    ¡°Hng... Sob...¡±


    Do-Jun closed his eyes and gently patted his daughter¡¯s back.

 Chapter 69

    Chapter 69


    Changshin Villa, Unit 301.


    Morning sunlight streamed through the bedroom window in the small one-bedroom apartment.


    Yoon-Hee, who had been sleeping soundly, slowly opened her eyes. The chirping of sparrows probably stirred her.


    She sat up, her face still groggy with sleep.


    ¡°Mm...¡± As she rubbed her eyes after waking up, she was slightly flustered to find that the usual sight of the living room wasn¡¯t there.


    She then spotted Do-Jun sleeping on the large bed, gasped, and sighed as she recalled what had happened the day before.


    ¡°Right... We all decided to sleep together starting last night.¡±


    Yong-Yong and Karsiel were sleeping curled up atop Do-Jun.


    ¡°Mmm... Hehehe.¡± Yong-Yong was drooling as he giggled, seemingly in a pleasant dream.


    Seeing Yong-Yong¡¯s happy face, Yoon-Hee couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    She then turned her gaze towards Do-Jun¡¯s face and murmured, ¡°He¡¯s sleeping so peacefully.¡±


    Yoon-Hee suddenly glanced around surreptitiously and waved her hand in front of Do-Jun¡¯s face. Seeing no reaction, she surmised he was deeply asleep.


    He wasn¡¯t objectively considered extremely handsome by most people¡¯s standards, but for some reason, he seemed more attractive to Yoon-Hee than anyone else.


    It was probably because he had done so much for her.


    ¡°I want to take a closer look.¡± Yoon-Hee¡¯s face reddened for a moment, realizing that she had unknowingly spoken her thoughts aloud.


    After confirming that Do-Jun, Yong-Yong, and Karsiel were still sleeping, she took a deep breath and leaned closer to his face. As the distance between their faces narrowed to less than ten centimeters, Do-Jun opened his eyes.


    He stared directly at Yoon-Hee, who was so close that he could feel her breath, and muttered in a dry tone, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Startled, Yoon-Hee quickly pulled back, frantically waving her hands, coming up with the best excuse she could think of. ¡°Ahhh! T-this is... There was a mosquito! Yes, I was just trying to get it off you!¡±


    What a lie!


    In truth, Do-Jun had already been awake and had even heard Yoon-Hee mumble to herself. But he chose not to bring it up.


    He sat up and ruffled his hair, making a point of yawning loudly to spare her the embarrassment.


    ¡°Thanks. But you don¡¯t need to do that next time,¡± he said to Yoon-Hee, who still seemed embarrassed.


    ¡°G-got it...¡±


    ¡°So, did you have it last night?¡±


    ¡°Have what?¡± Yoon-Hee asked, puzzled.


    ¡°Nightmares.¡±


    Yoon-Hee jogged her memory at his words, trying to remember if she¡¯d had any dreams. Realizing she had slept peacefully without any dreams, she smiled and shook her head.


    ¡°That¡¯s a relief. Looks like the new bed was worth it.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Thanks to you, Father... Ah!¡± Yoon-Hee suddenly yelped, grabbing the alarm clock on the bedside table.


    It was already 8:20 AM.


    She tapped the clock with her face nearly on the verge of tears. ¡°Why didn¡¯t this thing go off...?¡±


    Even if she started getting ready now, she¡¯d definitely be late. She wasn¡¯t too worried for herself, but Do-Jun was another matter.


    Wondering how she could possibly miss the alarm just because she was sleeping next to Do-Jun, Yoon-Hee rushed out of bed and ran into the living room.


    She opened the fridge, poured a glass of milk, and brought it back to Do-Jun.


    ¡°H-here, drink this for now. I¡¯ll get your work clothes ready,¡± she said in a rushed tone.


    ¡°W-what¡¯s going on...? Why the rush?¡± Do-Jun asked, puzzled.


    ¡°What do you mean, why? It¡¯s already well past eight.¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s Sunday.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re going to be la... Huh?¡±


    Do-Jun showed her his smartphone screen, which displayed Sunday. Seeing this, Yoon-Hee let out a sigh of relief.


    ¡°Thanks for the milk, though.¡±


    He chugged the milk on the spot, then carefully moved the sleeping Yong-Yong and Karsiel from between his legs to the side and got out of bed.


    ¡°What would you like for breakfast?¡± Yoon-Hee asked him.


    ¡°Hmm. I don¡¯t really have anything in mind.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll make some mini sandwiches, something easy to eat.¡±


    Before Do-Jun could finish saying it was okay, Yoon-Hee was already headed to the kitchen, humming a tune.


    ***


    ?On Wednesday, April 10th, at 10 AM, the Hunter¡¯s Bureau Headquarters will release the updated rankings for S-rank Hunters. Based on data from the past year¡¯s Fissure hunts, Bureau Chief Jung Young-Chul will reassess the top thirty rankings, considering individual contributions... Additionally, Chief Jung mentioned there would be an important announcement, drawing even more attention...?


    Do-Jun nibbled on the sandwich Yoon-Hee had made while watching the morning news on the TV as he sat on the sofa. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He then got up to grab his SpacePad and activated the Fissure Management System, which contained the data he had compiled over the past month about the Core¡¯s Tutorial Zone.


    I don¡¯t really want to drop this off myself; should I just send it over by email?


    But then he shook his head. They¡¯d probably have lots of questions and would ask him to explain everything anyway.


    Do-Jun decided to call Young-Chul. As the call connected, he heard Yong-Chul¡¯s voice on the other end.


    ¡ªY-yes, Supervisor Lee.


    ¡°Sorry to call so early. I have something to discuss. Would it be possible for you to come to my apar¡ª¡±


    Do-Jun paused abruptly. He initially thought of inviting the Bureau Chief over, but he remembered he wasn¡¯t the only one living here.


    He also didn¡¯t want Yoon-Hee to learn about his trips to the Core, so he decided to find another meeting location.


    ¡ªShall I come to your place?


    Young-Chul asked because of the pause.


    ¡°No, I¡¯ll send you an address. Could you come there instead? If that¡¯s okay with your schedule, of course.¡±


    ¡ªI have plenty of free time, so don¡¯t worry. Haha.¡±


    ¡°Alright then, please check your messages for the address. I¡¯ll see you later.¡±


    Do-Jun hung up and sent the address for their upcoming meeting.


    [1490-30, Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, XX Caf¨¦]


    ***


    The meeting place was a chain caf¨¦ located at the intersection near Seoul High School in Seocho-gu.


    Do-Jun walked through the door and headed to a corner table where Young-Chul sat, taking a seat across from him.


    Looking slightly nervous, Young-Chul stood up and bowed. ¡°Thank you for your call, Supervisor Lee.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so formal... Please, have a seat.¡±


    ¡°I apologize.¡±


    ¡°N-no, there¡¯s no need to apologize...¡± Do-Jun said.


    Young-Chul chuckled awkwardly as he sat down and looked at Do-Jun, dressed casually in black slacks and a knit sweater.


    ¡°Seeing you outside your work clothes, you look like a regular university student,¡± Young-Chul commented.


    ¡°Well, I guess a lot of twenty-six-year-olds in Korea do still attend university.¡±


    ¡°To be honest, I¡¯d even like to introduce you to my daughter. Haha.¡±


    Do-Jun merely chuckled at the comment and moved on, pulling out his SpacePad. He launched the Fissure Management System app and showed Young-Chul the data on the Core¡¯s Tutorial Zone, which had yet to be made public, as he hadn¡¯t submitted the report.


    ¡°What...what is this?¡± Young-Chul asked.


    ¡°Please take a look.¡±


    Young-Chul carefully took the SpacePad, and his eyes widened as he read the contents. He looked at Do-Jun in disbelief before turning his attention back to the SpacePad, scrolling through the data with a swipe of his fingers.


    ¡°Are... are you saying you went to the Core alone, Supervisor Lee? We thought you just secured the entry tokens to the Tutorial Zone for us and then stepped back...¡±


    In fact, discussions with Behemoth Guild were already underway, and a Dive was planned for the week after next.


    To be honest, Young-Chul had considered asking for Do-Jun¡¯s help but knew it would be shameless, so he had kept quiet. He never would have guessed that Do-Jun would bring the data to him instead.


    ¡°I¡¯ve cleared the Tutorial Zone once, so it will take a month for it to be reset. Until then, no one else can enter, so please inform Behemoth of this. Also, I need the SpacePad for work, so I¡¯ll email you the data separately.¡±


    ¡°Thank you so much. I don¡¯t know how we could ever repay you...¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you how later. And please give me a heads-up before Behemoth heads to the Core.¡±


    Young-Chul was on the verge of tears. That¡¯s how grateful he was for Do-Jun¡¯s help. Since meeting Do-Jun, everything has been going smoothly.


    ¡°By the way, I saw the news this morning that the Hunter¡¯s Bureau is making an important announcement next Wednesday. What¡¯s that about?¡±


    ¡°Well...¡± Young-Chul looked as if he couldn¡¯t say the reason, but when Do-Jun clicked his tongue and turned away, he fidgeted in his seat and spoke with a pale face.


    ¡°This has to be just between us, Supervisor Lee.¡±


    ¡°Of course. My lips are very tight.¡±


    Young-Chul glanced around before leaning in and whispering into Do-Jun¡¯s ear, ¡°We plan to introduce a new SS-rank above S-rank. And Hunter Kang-Hyun will be the first to hold that rank... Other than that, there¡¯s nothing particularly noteworthy.¡±


    Young-Chul returned to his seat while Do-Jun muttered indifferently, ¡°That¡¯s it?¡±


    ***


    Monday, 5 PM, Seoul City Hall.


    Hyuk-Soo propped his chin with his left hand and scrolled through news articles with his right, quickly skimming the headlines. He habitually checked for any unusual news related to Fissures or monsters every day, but suddenly, his fingers froze.


    ¡°W-what is this...?¡±


    [A-rank Fissure suspected near the Muakbong Neighborhood Park area... Dark Elf monsters detected]


    Not wanting to believe what he had just read, Hyuk-Soo double-checked the article¡¯s headline. But even upon reading it several times over, the headline remained unchanged.


    He swallowed dryly and clicked on the article, which was accompanied by several ad pop-ups.


    The content underneath the ads was simple.


    At approximately 4:14 PM today, a Fissure with a wave reading of 800 was detected near a park close to an apartment complex in Hawangsimni-dong. The Hunter¡¯s Bureau monitored the situation, but eventually, the entrance to the Fissure opened. A few staff members from the Bureau had been stationed around the A-rank Great Fissure that appeared in Muakbong Neighborhood Park, and several Hunters of A or B rank had entered the Fissure.


    ¡°That¡¯s right in front of my place...¡± Hyuk-Soo muttered, agitated.


    Do-Jun pulled a chair over and approached Hyuk-Soo. ¡°Something wrong, Senior?¡±


    ¡°Yes... And it¡¯s a pretty big one.¡±


    ¡°A big one?¡±


    Hyuk-Soo turned the monitor to show the article to Do-Jun, then sighed, rubbing his face with his hands.


    Do-Jun skimmed through the article and commented, ¡°That¡¯s near your apartment, Senior...¡±


    Hyuk-Soo nodded with a distressed expression. ¡°I still have ten more years of mortgage to pay off...¡±


    The emergence of a Fissure inevitably led to a drop in nearby property values. The biggest issue was the decreased sense of security and the influx of people hunting in the Fissure, which brought noise and disturbances.


    ¡°So, if they defeat the boss monster and close the Fissure, that should help, right?¡± Do-Jun asked.


    ¡°That would be better, but... the problem is that it¡¯s an A-rank Great Fissure. It¡¯s not likely to close that easily. And though it¡¯s a small chance, it could be one of those Fissures that stay even after its boss is defeated.¡±


    Do-Jun thought about suggesting that Hyuk-Soo ask the Mejai Guild for assistance in the raid but soon dismissed the idea. The Fissure fell under the jurisdiction of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau, not the Seoul City Hall¡¯s. Also, since the Mejai Guild consisted of A-rank Hunters, it would be difficult for Hyuk-Soo to ask for such a favor.


    The door to the Fissure Management Division office opened at that moment, and Ye-Ji walked in briskly.


    ¡°I¡¯m back, Mr. Administrator.¡±


    Do-Jun naturally turned to face her and called out, ¡°Ye-Ji.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡± she answered as she tilted her head in confusion.


    After glancing at his wristwatch, Do-Jun said, ¡°Would you like to do some overtime work today?¡±


    ¡°Pardon...?¡±

 Chapter 70

    Chapter 70


    ¡°Please, come in,¡± Hyuk-Soo said.


    As they stepped through the door, a surprisingly neat living room came into view¡ªespecially considering that it was a bachelor pad. There wasn¡¯t a pile of dirty dishes, and the trash bin was empty and clean.


    Hyuk-Soo removed his shoes and walked directly to the kitchen to boil water in the kettle.


    ¡°Supervisor Kwon, you do live alone, right?¡± Ye-Ji commented, impressed, as she looked around.


    She also lived alone after moving to Seoul, but to be honest, even if she tried, she couldn¡¯t keep her place as spotless as this.


    She wondered if perhaps a secret, skilled girlfriend was helping him keep the place clean.


    ¡°You really live as properly as your image suggests,¡± she commented playfully once more.


    ¡°Thank you for the compliment,¡± Hyuk-Soo cheerfully responded while bringing out coffee.


    Do-Jun sipped his coffee and walked over to the balcony. He glanced down at the Fissure that had appeared near the neighborhood park and the crowds gathered around it.


    ¡°It really is right there.¡±


    ¡°It is...¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s understandable that you¡¯re worried, Senior.¡±


    What worried Hyuk-Soo the most was the potential decline in the property value due to this Great Fissure. With over sixty percent of his property tied up in mortgage loans, it was easy to empathize with his concern.


    Although civil servant salaries weren¡¯t particularly low, paying off the 300 million won principal would still take at least ten years of focusing on debt repayment. If the apartment¡¯s value decreased in the meantime, it would be a significant source of stress.


    ¡°Shall we drink this quickly and head out?¡±


    Do-Jun¡¯s relaxed demeanor prompted Ye-Ji to nod as she glanced at the suitcase she had left by the entrance.


    ¡°A-are you serious?¡± Hyuk-Soo asked in surprise.


    The Fissure that had appeared in the neighborhood park was classified as an A-rank.


    Considering that the monsters inside were powerful enough to threaten the lives of most Hunters, entering it would have been a suicide attempt for most.


    He had ended up inviting them to his home due to the flow of things, but he expected the visit to end with some conversation with coffee and then send them on their way.


    Seeing the two seriously consider entering the Fissure left him utterly bewildered.


    ***


    A large crowd was gathered in front of the Fissure.


    ¡°Ugh, why did this have to happen?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, why right in front of our building?¡±


    ¡°They said it¡¯s the second-highest rank among Fissures.¡±


    Local ladies out for a walk chatted as they looked over at the Great Fissure.


    ¡°Ladies, please step away from the barrier tape!¡±


    The staff from the Hunter¡¯s Bureau, tasked with managing the Fissure, had set up a control line about five meters from it to prevent civilians from entering.


    It was a chaotic scene.


    Ye-Ji glanced at Do-Jun and said, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better if you stayed at Supervisor Kwon¡¯s place?¡±


    ¡°No, I can¡¯t just stay put when my assigned Hunter is entering the Fissure.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, and yet you¡¯ve been sending me out on my own a lot lately.¡±


    Do-Jun was momentarily speechless and looked away.


    Recently, with the busy administrative work, he had been sending Ye-Ji alone to do the safety patrols for mapped-out Fissures, which seemed to have left her feeling a bit neglected.


    ¡°And since it¡¯s a Great Fissure, it might actually be dangerous for you, Mr. Administrator.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. You¡¯ll protect me, won¡¯t you, Ms. Ye-Ji?¡±


    ¡°W-well... that¡¯s true! But there¡¯s always a chance that...¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Do-Jun approached the Hunter¡¯s Bureau staff managing the Fissure.


    ¡°He¡¯s getting slyer,¡± Ye-Ji mumbled with a sigh.


    ***


    [Lee Do-Jun, Fissure Management Division, confirmed.]


    An automated voice rang out as Do-Jun pressed his thumb on the biometric scanner presented by the Hunter¡¯s Bureau staff.


    The staff member reminded them to stay cautious as it was a dangerous Fissure and allowed them through.


    Normally, in the case of Great Fissures, the area would be sealed off with a specially designed protective barrier, and entry would be controlled via automated ID verification. However, since the Fissure had appeared so suddenly, staff had to manually guard the area in shifts until the barrier could be constructed.


    ¡°Excuse me!¡± A young man with a short, cropped undercut waved his hand and ran toward them.


    Do-Jun stopped just before entering the Fissure and turned to face him.


    ¡°Are you entering the Fissure right now?¡± the man asked.


    ¡°Yes, we are,¡± Do-Jun answered.


    ¡°Then, could I join you? It¡¯s tough to hunt alone, and I hoped to get some help... Ah, of course, I won¡¯t drag you down. Working together would be much more efficient for you as well.¡±


    As Do-Jun considered the request, Ye-Ji mumbled upon recognizing the young man, ¡°Hunter Lee Sang-Woo?¡±


    Lee Sang-Woo, as he was called, nodded eagerly.


    Do-Jun turned to Ye-Ji and asked, ¡°Do you know him?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve never actually met, but I recognized him because he¡¯s recently been quite popular online. The Hunter¡¯s Bureau recently released a new emergency camera that allows one to broadcast directly from inside a Fissure. Hunter Lee Sang-Woo has been streaming using that and has over ten thousand viewers. I¡¯ve also watched his streams a few times, but I never thought I¡¯d meet him here...¡±


    Lee Sang-Woo scratched his head awkwardly, hearing that Ye-Ji seemed to know quite a bit about him.


    ¡°Thank you for recognizing me. I¡¯m not that famous yet, though...¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t having over ten thousand viewers pretty impressive?¡± Do-Jun asked him.


    ¡°Well, not really when there are channels with a million viewers. Haha,¡± Sang-Woo replied.


    Do-Jun raised an eyebrow slightly at the mention of a million. Considering Korea¡¯s population was just under sixty million, it meant that about one in every sixty people, regardless of age or gender, was watching the stream simultaneously.


    Even if it was just a peak number, it was still quite impressive¡ªalmost unbelievable.


    ¡°By the way, what are your names?¡± Lee Sang-Woo asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m Cha Ye-Ji, a B-rank Hunter. And this is Supervisor Lee Do-Jun from the City¡¯s Fissure Management Division.¡±


    Upon hearing that, Lee Sang-Woo mumbled that the name sounded familiar. After thinking for a moment, he recalled that this was the same civil servant who had once made headlines.


    When the S-rank Great Fissure incident in Umyeonsan Mountain took place, articles about a civil servant leading the operation dominated the trending search rankings for days.


    Do-Jun extended his qi sense to assess Lee Sang-Woo¡¯s physical condition. Though he couldn¡¯t determine his exact level, he estimated that the young man¡¯s stats were just about at the threshold of an A-rank Hunter.


    We could use him.


    With that, Do-Jun decided that bringing Lee Sang-Woo along would make things easier, especially since working together would lessen Ye-Ji''s burden.


    ***


    Do-Jun and his group entered the Fissure in a forest bathed in the setting sun.


    Lee Sang-Woo eyed Do-Jun with concern, noticing he wasn¡¯t wearing any protective gear despite being inside a Fissure.


    Do-Jun was dressed in typical office attire, a suit meant for work.


    ¡°If we run into A-rank monsters, you could be killed in one blow...¡± Lee Sang-Woo said with concern.


    ¡°Thank you for your concern, but that won¡¯t happen.¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Well, if you say so, Supervisor Lee.¡±


    Today, Do-Jun even left his SpacePad back at the office since there was no need to map it, as this Fissure didn¡¯t fall under the jurisdiction of the Fissure Management Division.


    He planned to simply walk around and help out a bit if Ye-Ji found herself in danger.


    Lee Sang-Woo¡¯s circular camcorder around his neck activated with a beep, emitting a light. When he reached out into the air, a rectangular hologram screen appeared, followed by a notification sound and a chat window.


    ¦éDidn¡¯t you say you weren¡¯t streaming today?


    ¦éHi, Sang-Woo!


    ¦éThis is so sick! Sang-Woo!


    ¦éWhere is this? Is it a Fissure?


    The viewer count climbed rapidly, surpassing three thousand in the first minute.


    Watching from the side, Ye-Ji widened her eyes in awe. ¡°So, this is how streamers see things.¡±


    ¡°It was really fascinating for me, too, at first.¡±


    [SangWooSangWooSan has donated 500,000 won.]


    ¦éSang-Woo, you¡¯re always complaining about not having a girlfriend, so who¡¯s that next to you?


    Images of bills filled the hologram window, followed by a robotic voice reading the message aloud.


    Lee Sang-Woo pointed to Do-Jun and Ye-Ji and said, ¡°These are my partners for today¡¯s run through the Fissure. And for those interested, we¡¯re currently in the A-rank Great Fissure located in Muhakbong Neighborhood Park, Hawangsimni-dong.¡±


    Standing nearby, Ye-Ji curiously browsed through the messages in the hologram chat, but Do-Jun was uninterested and focused on sensing the energies moving through the forest.


    The monsters seemed to have established a settlement in the deeper woods and were living together.


    Elves typically formed communities to care for their needs as higher-order life forms.


    That one must be it.


    By amplifying his vision with his internal energy, Do-Jun spotted a dark elf. Likely the boss monster, it was sitting beneath the base of a large tree fashioned into a dwelling in the deep recesses of the forest.


    ***


    A bright red broth boiled inside a pot¡ªit was a budae-jjigae, filled with sausages, rice cakes, kimchi, onions, and other ingredients.


    Yoon-Hee stirred the stew to evenly mix in the seasoning. She paused and took out her smartphone from the pocket of her apron to make a call, only to receive an automated message that the number she had dialed could not be reached.


    ¡°Sigh... where is he and what is he doing?¡±


    It was almost 7 PM, yet she hadn¡¯t heard a word from Do-Jun, nor could she reach him.


    The automated message hinted that he was inside a Fissure somewhere.


    Yoon-Hee turned around and looked at the two dragons huddled together in the corner of the living room. They had been fiddling with a SpacePad that Do-Jun had purchased with his money, just in case he needed it for remote work from home.


    ¡°Eh? It¡¯s Master!¡± Yong-Yong¡¯s expression brightened as he looked at the SpacePad, wagging his tail vigorously from side to side.


    Hearing that, Yoon-Hee turned off the stove and walked over to where the two dragons were. She peeked at the SpacePad screen that the dragons were watching.


    ¡°An online stream...?¡±


    It was indeed an online broadcast, showing a male Hunter hunting inside a Fissure, facing off against a pitch-black elf amidst the setting sun in the forest, exchanging blows with his sword.


    But why did the word ¡°Master¡± come out of Yong-Yong¡¯s mouth?


    ¡°Yong-Yong, where is Father?¡±


    ¡°He was on the screen a moment ago... hmm.¡±


    ¡°I saw him too. It was definitely Master,¡± Karsiel added.


    And soon after, as the streamer turned around, the screen shifted and revealed a man dressed in a suit.


    ¡°See? I told you. It¡¯s Master.¡±


    ¡°Why is he there...?¡±


    [SaebyukS has donated 100,000 won.]


    ¦éAre we getting a ¡°stream til I beat this game¡± tonight? Damnn


    The automated voice read the donation amount and message, prompting the streamer to reply.


    Yong-Yong had been watching the screen in a daze. He looked up at Yoon-Hee and spoke. ¡°I think I can ask when Master¡¯s coming home.¡±


    Yong-Yong reached out with his paw and pressed the Donate button.

 Chapter 71

    Chapter 71


    When Yong-Yong tapped on the Donate button, a popup window appeared on the SpacePad.


    [Minimum donation amount: 10,000 won]


    [Minimum amount for a voice message: 100,000 won]


    [Insufficient funds. Would you like to top up?]


    ¡°Ah, come on! Is this guy a gold digger or what?¡± Yong-Yong shouted and frowned in frustration.


    The function that played a voice message when a donation was received allowed streamers to set the minimum donation amount required for it. In Lee Sang-Woo¡¯s case, he set the threshold at a hundred thousand won.


    ¡°O-one hundred thousand won...?¡± Yoon-Hee was startled when she saw the popup.


    That was nearly three days¡¯ worth of their grocery expenses and even exceeded her monthly transportation allowance. Living off the allowance Do-Jun provided, the amount was a significant burden for Yoon-Hee.


    However, Yong-Yong seemed unconcerned, shrugging his shoulders and gazing at her with wide, expectant eyes. ¡°Money, pwease.¡±


    ¡°No way! Do you even know how much that is?¡±


    ¡°I can pay you back later. Besides, don¡¯t you want to know when Master is coming back?¡±


    ¡°W-well, I do, but...¡± Yoon-Hee fidgeted with her fingers and bit her lip.


    Of course, she was curious. Hearing directly from Do-Jun would make her very happy. She still had some scholarship money left in her account even after their beef dinner, so paying the 100,000 won wasn¡¯t too difficult, but she wondered how on earth Yong-Yong planned to pay her back.


    ¡°Okay, but just this once, okay? I don¡¯t have money for a second time.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Five minutes later, a message appeared, confirming that the payment was successful, and Yong-Yong typed into the chat with his awkward, hunt-and-peck typing style.


    ***


    Ding!


    [xXSupremeYongYongXx has donated 100,000 won.]


    ¦éWhen r u coning home master?


    Seeing the message in the chat, Lee Sang-Woo came to a halt.


    He could be selective about which normal messages to respond to, but he had to respond to every single donation message. However, he had no idea how to react to this one.


    Thinking it was probably just a joke from a viewer, he replied nonchalantly, ¡°Well, who knows? When should I go home?¡±


    ***


    Meanwhile, at Do-Jun¡¯s house, Yong-Yong was in trouble.


    ¡°You stupid!¡± Yoon-Hee shouted.


    ¡°Ack! Why the hell is he answering?¡±


    Yoon-Hee grabbed Yong-Yong by the scruff and shook him vigorously after a hefty 100,000 won just disappeared into thin air without finding out when Do-Jun would get home.


    ¡°Lord Izaas, I think you were supposed to mention Master¡¯s name and ask the streamer directly to relay the question,¡± Karsiel added.


    ¡°L-let¡¯s ask just one more time.¡±


    ¡°Stop being silly! Even if I wanted to, I don¡¯t have any more money,¡± Yoon-Hee said dejectedly.


    ¡°Take it out of our living expenses.¡±


    She hesitated as spending the money that Do-Jun worked hard to earn filled her with guilt. But since they had already come this far, Yoon-Hee decided to follow Karsiel¡¯s advice and send another donation message.


    She promised herself that she would make sure to repay the money later.


    ***


    Ding!


    [xXSupremeYongYongXx has donated 100,000 won.]


    ¦éPlease ask Supervisor Lee Do-Jun, who is next to you, when he plans to return home. Please tell him his family is waiting for him.


    Reading the supporter¡¯s message, Lee Sang-Woo turned to face Do-Jun, who was trailing about ten meters behind him, and showed the message while explaining the situation.


    It was 7:30 PM, and Do-Jun glanced over the message log from the user named xXSupremeYongYongXx and chuckled.


    The first message was probably from Yong-Yong, while the second one seemed to have been adjusted by Yoon-Hee or Karsiel. He was a bit curious about where they had gotten the money from, but he felt responsible since he hadn¡¯t informed them that he¡¯d be late.


    ¡°Thank you for your support, xXSupremeYongYongXx. Supervisor Lee Do-Jun is expected to return home in three hours. I, Lee Sang-Woo, will do my best to clear the Fissure quickly for the sake of your family¡¯s peace. Thank you.¡±


    ¦éSang-Woo the Guardian of Families, let¡¯s go!


    ¦éLMAO


    ¦éThree-hour Fissure clear mission, go!


    ¦éThis is too funny, LOL


    Before he knew it, the viewer count had surpassed fifteen thousand, five thousand more than usual since he had entered an A-rank Great Fissure. But what was even more surprising was that the number of viewers was still climbing.


    Feeling elated, Lee Sang-Woo raised his fist and shouted, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±


    What on earth am I doing here? Do-Jun thought, letting out a wry laugh.


    ***


    They had reached about halfway through after passing the entrance of the Fissure.


    Since it was an A-rank Great Fissure with limited information, most Hunters stuck to hunting the occasional Dark Elves near the entrance. Only Do-Jun¡¯s group had ventured this far.


    ¡°Is this the entrance to the forest...?¡± Ye-Ji said.


    A rugged, unpaved path lay between the thick trees.


    Judging by the tangled thorny vines blocking other paths, it seemed the Dark Elves used this as their primary entrance and exit.


    ¡°How should we proceed¡ª¡± Lee Sang-Woo couldn¡¯t finish his sentence as a system message appeared before their eyes.


    [To those who challenge the Sleeping Forest.]


    [This place shall become your grave.]


    Dense fog surrounded them to obscure their vision, and the surroundings changed.


    The path they had walked on disappeared, and the single route into the forest split into three branching paths. A large iron gate appeared at the entrance to each path, preventing a clear view inside.


    ¡°W-what is...¡±


    Looking back, there was nothing but darkness.


    [Sangwoo¡¯sWalletAI has donated 1,000,000 won.]


    ¦éGoodbye, Sang-Woo. Use this to get to the afterlife.


    [PorriPorriPorridge has donated 500,000 won.]


    ¦éYou were supposed to send Mr. Civil Servant home, not back to god¡¯s embrace lol.


    Both the chat and donation messages started exploding with activity. Simultaneously, the viewer counts surged past eighty thousand, and the stream quickly climbed to the number one spot on the trending list.


    ©¸Isn¡¯t this actually really dangerous? I¡¯ve already contacted the Hunter¡¯s Bureau for help.


    ©¸What did that poor civil servant do to deserve this?


    ©¸It¡¯s his own fault. He walked into the Fissure voluntarily.


    ©¸It¡¯s probably a boss zone... No way they¡¯re surviving without an S-rank Hunter.


    ¡°A boss zone...?¡± Lee Sang-Woo muttered, clenching his fists.


    Honestly, he hadn¡¯t planned on fighting the boss monster as he knew he wouldn¡¯t be able to defeat it anyway. His plan was to hunt a few regular monsters and leave once the time was up.


    ¡°Mr. A-administrator...¡± Ye-Ji called out to Do-Jun, her eyes and voice filled with concern as if she was caught off-guard by the unexpected turn of events.


    [Please select the path you would like to challenge.]


    [First Door: Edge of the Sleeping Forest]


    [Second Door: Trunk of the Sleeping Forest]


    [Third Door: Core of the Sleeping Forest]


    The three doors before them led to three different locations of the Sleeping Forest, and the location they entered would depend on which door they chose.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go for the edge.¡± Lee Sang-Woo swallowed hard and suggested.


    Even at a glance, the core seemed far too dangerous. It made sense to choose the door that seemed to have the lowest difficulty.


    Ye-Ji nodded in agreement, showing her support for his suggestion, but still hesitated.


    Do-Jun had been silent until now. He spoke up, drawing the attention of the other two. He glanced at the three doors and said, ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like all three of us can enter the same door.¡±


    ***


    Do-Jun recalled their conversation from a few minutes ago.


    ¡°Mr. Administrator, you should wait here.¡±


    ¡°Hunter Ye-Ji is right, Supervisor Lee. It¡¯d be best if you waited here. The fog might be thick, but if we¡¯re still in our dimension, there¡¯s a high chance the Hunter¡¯s Bureau will find you when they send a team.¡±


    Ye-Ji and Lee Sang-Woo had each entered the doors leading to the edge and trunk of the Sleeping Forest, leaving only one remaining¡ªthe one leading to the core of the forest.


    Two of the three iron doors had disappeared along with their paths.


    Rescue... huh, Do-Jun thought, amused.


    Did they genuinely believe that?


    The truth was that the Hunter¡¯s Bureau rarely conducted rescue operations for Hunters who voluntarily entered Fissures unless under exceptional circumstances.


    It was a different story for civilians, but every Hunter knew the unspoken rule: once you entered a Fissure, the responsibility for your life fell on you and you only.


    If rescuing Hunters was the Bureau¡¯s responsibility, it would have to spend all its time doing just that.


    Do-Jun walked up to the remaining door. As he placed his hand on it, the door creaked open with a groan.


    [Entering the Core of the Sleeping Forest.]


    ***


    Do-Jun slowly opened his eyes.


    A vast green meadow spread out around a massive tree that seemed to tower over two hundred meters tall. When he looked around, there was nothing else in sight besides one man standing by a small shelter under the base of the great tree, admiring the meadow¡¯s flowers.


    A tiger swallowtail butterfly landed on the man¡¯s fingertip and folded its wings. With a soft smile, the man gazed at the butterfly with satisfaction. He was a dark-skinned elf, over two meters tall, dressed in loose robes.


    Do-Jun realized that this man was none other than the boss monster.


    ¡°Do you know why this place is called the Sleeping Forest?¡± the man murmured without even glancing at Do-Jun.


    He already knew that Do-Jun had arrived without needing to see him, and his leisurely attitude was evident in his tone.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Do-Jun answered and shrugged.


    Whether it was the Sleeping Forest or the Sleeping River, he didn¡¯t care. He only wanted to kill the boss monster quickly and return home as soon as possible.


    Everything else was just trivial matters that he didn¡¯t care about one bit.


    ¡°The name came about unknowingly as those who trespassed into our Dark Elves¡¯ territory were sent to eternal rest. Personally, I find the name fitting. The Sleeping Forest! Doesn¡¯t it perfectly suit our home, where we deal with intruders?¡±


    Do-Jun yawned, and the man looked at him as if in disbelief.


    Had humans finally gone mad?


    The man, Einhasad, the leader of the Dark Elves, burst into laughter on the spot, then abruptly stopped, turning serious as he glared at Do-Jun.


    ¡°With the mercy of this forest, I shall grant you the honor of becoming its nourishment.¡±


    As soon as he spoke, the wind blew, and the breeze gradually gathered at Einhasad¡¯s fingertips. It then combined with light, forming a green bow.


    ¡°Ah! O power of the radiant World Tree! May your glory spread across all lands...¡± Einhasad raised his arms to the sky as he chanted.


    It looked like he was seconds away from attacking Do-Jun, but now, he was raising his voice in prayer to the sky like a madman.


    Do-Jun pressed his temples, feeling a headache. ¡°Hey, man, let¡¯s stop there. I can¡¯t listen to this any longer.¡±


    Whether it was an act or a genuine behavior, this man clearly had a terminal case of delulu. On top of that, he was a chatterbox.


    Do-Jun now understood why this boss monster was alone in this remote place without any guards.


    ***


    Hunter¡¯s Bureau Headquarters.


    Kang-Hyun couldn¡¯t hide his excitement as he read through the information about the Core: The Tutorial Zone was divided into four stages. Upon clearing these, they would gain entry to the first floor of the Core.


    What shocked him most was the presence of countless challengers within the first floor of the Core and also the fact that they hailed from Mirror Earths, which were dimensional versions of this Earth.


    ¡°The Tutorial Zone is the most critical part, it seems,¡± he commented.


    ¡°Yes, at least according to the materials that Supervisor Lee sent. Your ceiling is determined by the Skill Ring and the color of the Status Window,¡± Young-Chul said.


    Once someone cleared the Tutorial Zone and entered the Core, they had to have a fresh start through the Skill Ring and the Status Window Snake obtained there. The conclusion was that no matter how strong one might have been on Earth, if the rank of their Skill Ring and Status Window Snake were low, they would inevitably be weeded out.


    ¡°Is Supervisor Lee stepping back from this?¡± Kang-Hyun expressed his unease.


    Only after receiving this information did he fully realize that the power of Behemoth alone would not be enough to raid the Core.


    ¡°He did not mention anything about that.¡±


    ¡°Is that so...¡±


    A brief silence followed.


    ¡°In any case, Kang-Hyun, focus on what¡¯s immediately in front of you and make sure there are no issues with the announcement of the new SS-rank. I¡¯ll maintain contact and seek cooperation with Supervisor Lee...¡±


    ¡°Sir.¡± Kang-Hyun bit his lip, then continued, ¡°I wonder... if I am truly deserving of the SS-rank.¡±


    His expression was dark.


    Young-Chul understood why Kang-Hyun was saying this.


    He had always stood at the pinnacle of the Hunter world as the supernova, the First Hunter, the Sword Emperor, and the Father of all Hunters. Even now, the general public regarded him as the best and the strongest. But now, he had come to face a monumental wall: the emergence of the unprecedented Do-Jun.


    Young-Chul lit a cigarette.


    ¡°You operate in different fields,¡± he said to the sulking Kang-Hyun.


    ¡°Sorry?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re Superman, and Supervisor Lee is the Dark Knight. Each has their own role, don¡¯t they?¡±


    Young-Chul extinguished the cigarette as he pondered, How did the story of the Dark Knight end again?


    ***


    ¡°That calmness of yours...¡± Einhasad ceased his prayer. ¡°...will vanish.¡±


    In an instant, the sun sank, and its spot was taken over by the moon. The twilight that had stained the land red faded, leaving the field in darkness.


    [The hidden face of the Sleeping Forest is revealed.]


    [Your Status Window is sealed.]


    Whoosh!


    As the grass in the field withered and dried up, gravestones and skeletal remains appeared in their place. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    These were likely the victims Einhasad had referred to as having entered eternal rest.


    Swoosh.


    Einhasad¡¯s figure vanished. It was a high-level skill that allowed the user to blend with the darkness and conceal their presence.


    ¡°I shall guide you to your eternal rest.¡± Einhasad¡¯s voice echoed, but his form remained hidden.


    [An activatable Status Window has been detected.]


    Kyeeeh!


    The Status Window Snake coiled around Do-Jun¡¯s wrist screeched as its scales began to shimmer in the colors of the rainbow.


    [Status Window (Black) activated.]


    [Skill Enhancement Ring activated.]


    Pew!


    From the pitch-black darkness, a single green arrow shot toward Do-Jun.


    Thwack!


    When the arrow struck Do-Jun, Einhasad, hiding in the shadows, grinned widely. Then he froze.


    The arrow had indeed hit, yet the human appeared entirely unharmed.


    ¡°How...¡± Einhasad¡¯s eyes widened as he came to a realization. ¡°No.¡±


    The Status Window of Earth became disabled when the hidden face of the Sleeping Forest was activated, making any human entering this place inevitably powerless.


    However, there was one kind of power that was still usable in such a place.


    Swoosh.


    Do-Jun¡¯s figure disappeared.

 Chapter 72

    Chapter 72


    The Seven Star Formation.


    There once was a time when Do-Jun served as a scribe for the Martial Arts Alliance of the Central Plains.


    One day, as he strolled through a training ground where junior warriors honed their skills, he looked up at the sky and saw a breathtaking scene where starlight was spread out like a river of stars.


    Among them, the seven brightest stars¡ªtogether known as the Big Dipper constellation¡ªstood out.


    The stars were named Heavenly Pivot, Heavenly Jade, Heavenly Pearl, Heavenly Authority, Jade Balance, Opening Sun, and Shaking Light. Each shone in the colors of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, navy, and purple.


    As he stared at the constellation, a realization flashed through Do-Jun¡¯s mind, and the result of that epiphany was a new martial art born by his hand: the Seven Stars Escape Technique.


    Flash!


    ¡°W-what in the world!¡± Einhasad exclaimed.


    In the cloudless night sky, where only moonlight illuminated the hidden world within the forest, seven stars appeared out of nowhere, each radiating a different color and forming a constellation.


    Each of these stars held an immense power¡ªthe very same used by the challengers of the Core.


    ¡°Y-you, are you...?¡± Einhasad was shocked.


    The Transcendents were the seven god-like beings that resided at the deepest level of the Core¡¯s Deep Realm. There was no way such a being could exist among humans, so why was a Transcendent who should remain in the Deep Realm here in this place?


    ¡°Destroy.¡±


    As Do-Jun¡¯s deep voice echoed throughout the hidden world of the forest, the seven stars that were drawn in the sky each transformed into a soul sword.


    ***


    The mist that had shrouded the Sleeping Forest dissipated along with the death of Einhasad.


    At the same time, the borders between the Edge, the Trunk, and the Core of the Sleeping Forest were broken.


    Looking around, Do-Jun found himself surrounded by hundreds of Dark Elves. Ignoring the Dark Elves, Do-Jun approached a woman¡¯s corpse lying on the ground, lifted it, and examined the face.


    The woman¡¯s face had often looked up at him in admiration and trust. Her body now had a hole in the abdomen as if pierced by a sharp spear.


    He gently set the woman¡¯s corpse down and then walked about two hundred meters eastward. There, he found the body of a young man.


    A light blinked from the lens hanging around the man¡¯s neck.


    ©¸This is crazy... Did he really die?


    ©¸But how did he die without even putting up a fight?


    ©¸RIP Sang-Woo, damn.


    ©¸Idiots, read the room.


    ©¸Wait, isn¡¯t this guy that civil servant from earlier?


    ©¸How did he survive?


    Do-Jun clenched his fingers and crushed the emergency camera.


    Both Ye-Ji and Lee Sang-Woo, who had been with him just a moment ago, had died.


    The Dark Elves must have killed them after they were stripped of their Hunter powers with their Status Windows sealed.


    They were in a Fissure that appeared on Earth, not in the Core. Why were their Status Windows sealed?


    Suddenly, Do-Jun remembered what Tusitala had once said.


    ¡°The Encroachment will begin.¡±


    ¡°The Core has been thrown into chaos by the actions of the Transcendents on their journey to the Deep Realm. So, it means returning the Core to its original state.¡±


    Do-Jun looked at the Skill Enhancement Ring on his finger. Light flowed from the ring, which was only supposed to be usable in the Core. Still, this place was a Fissure, not the Core.


    He wondered why the Skill Enhancement Ring was activated here, but he set that thought aside for now.


    [Pocket Watch (Enhanced)]


    Effect: Turn back time by 24 hours.


    The Pocket Watch skill allowed him to return to the day before his death.


    When he was first transported to the Central Plains, he received a message about his awakening and acquired the Pocket Watch skill, which eventually enabled him to gain his current strength.


    Due to the power of the Skill Enhancement Ring, the activation condition that required him to die seemed to have been removed.


    [Returning to 24 hours prior.]


    ***


    Do-Jun opened his eyes.


    He found himself soaking in a bathtub with Yong-Yong and Karsiel swimming atop the water.


    He had returned exactly twenty-four hours back in time.


    ¡°Sigh.¡± Do-Jun closed his eyes and submerged himself up to his shoulders. He didn¡¯t think he¡¯d be using the Pocket Watch skill again, never mind using it for such a reason.


    He reached into the towel drawer on the wall, pulled out his smartphone, and called Ye-Ji.


    The call connected within a second.


    ¡ªH-hello?


    Hearing her familiar voice over the phone, Do-Jun unknowingly let out a sigh of relief.


    ¡°Ye-Ji.¡±


    ¡ªYes, Mr. Administrator?


    ¡°Live a long life.¡±


    ¡ªH-huh? What is this all of a sudden?


    ¡°I just wanted to hear your voice. See you tomorrow.¡±


    ¡ªHuh? Huh? Hold on, what?


    Do-Jun hung up, and watching Yong-Yong float on the water, he mumbled, ¡°Supreme Yong-Yong.¡±


    ¡°Eh?¡±


    Yong-Yong¡¯s face turned pale as he scrambled out of the bathtub with a loud splash.


    He had been making full use of Do-Jun¡¯s SpacePad by watching internet streams at home while Do-Jun was at work. He was shocked, wondering how Do-Jun knew his nickname.


    ¡°How long have you known?¡± he asked.


    Do-Jun chuckled softly and replied, ¡°Since tomorrow.¡±


    ***


    1 AM.


    A pen twirled between Do-Jun¡¯s fingers, who was sitting alone in the living room, jotting down notes in a notebook.


    He was organizing his thoughts about what had happened... tomorrow.


    There was just one main point: the sealing of the Status Window.


    In the place known as the Sleeping Forest, when he encountered the boss monster Einhasad, he felt the space warp, and as a result, the Status Window he had been able to use on Earth became unavailable. He activated a new Status Window using the Status Window Snake artifact he had obtained in the Core.


    And those who didn¡¯t have the snake, Ye-Ji and Lee Sang-Woo, met their ends.


    If they could have used their original Status Windows, they likely wouldn¡¯t have died.


    ¡°Encroachment, huh...¡±


    The Transcendents caused chaos in the Core during their journey to the Deep Realm. This meant that they weren¡¯t originally from the Deep Realm.


    It made him wonder if they were humans of the Mirror Earths that Tusitala had mentioned.


    To correct the narrative¡ªthat was what Tusitala wanted¡ªand it clearly had something to do with the Encroachment and the Status Window sealing incident that had happened tomorrow.


    After reaching his conclusion, Do-Jun stretched and took a sip of water.


    The bedroom door opened with a slight creak.


    He turned his head to see Yoon-Hee peeking out, clutching a pillow tightly as she watched him cautiously.


    ¡°Can¡¯t sleep?¡± Do-Jun asked her.


    Yoon-Hee mumbled, ¡°Nope...¡±


    ¡°If you lie down, you¡¯ll fall asleep eventually.¡±


    ¡°When are you going to sleep, Father...?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll come in soon. You have school tomorrow, so you should get to bed.¡±


    ¡°You also have work tomorrow, don¡¯t you?¡±


    She absolutely couldn¡¯t say what she really wanted to say¡ªthat she couldn¡¯t sleep because Do-Jun wasn¡¯t by her side.


    Even Yoon-Hee didn¡¯t know why she felt that way, as she had always managed to sleep alone in the living room until now.


    ¡°Want a cup of tea?¡± Do-Jun asked as he got up.


    ¡°Oh, I-I¡¯ll make it for you.¡±


    ¡°Just sit down. Let me do this, at least. If I keep relying on you for everything, I won¡¯t know how to do anything when I have to live alone someday,¡± Do-Jun said.


    Yoon-Hee was stunned into silence.


    Do-Jun boiled water in the kettle and took out two teacups. He opened the drawer, placed a tea bag in each cup, and poured the hot water evenly before bringing them to the table.


    ¡°Do you... want to live alone, Father?¡± Yoon-Hee asked him tentatively.


    ¡°Hm? No, not really, but it¡¯ll happen eventually.¡±


    ¡°W-why do you think that?¡± S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°When you eventually get married and move out, and Yong-Yong and Karsiel return to their original nests, it¡¯ll just be me here, right? Well, if they decide to stay, I guess I won¡¯t be alone.¡±


    Thud!


    Yoon-Hee slapped the table with her palm. ¡°Father, I am not going to get married.¡±


    ¡°Uh, okay, it¡¯s your choice to make.¡±


    Nowadays, more and more people chose to be single rather than get married, as if staying single had become something of a trend.


    But that wasn¡¯t what Yoon-Hee meant.


    ¡°Marriage is just a formality where two people become a family, right?¡± she asked him.


    ¡°I... guess so?¡± Do-Jun replied, slightly bewildered.


    Yoon-Hee smiled in satisfaction and nodded.


    Anyway... Do-Jun¡¯s thoughts turned to the Core again.


    He had intended to leave the Core raid to Behemoth and withdraw from it himself, but considering what had happened tomorrow, he couldn¡¯t just sit idly by.


    There was no telling what would happen if the Encroachment fully came into effect, but one thing was certain: His current everyday life would collapse.


    ***


    [Entusha has revealed itself.]


    The challengers hid themselves as soon as a massive unicorn emerged from the pond on the first floor of the Core.


    They all knew well what would happen if they were spotted by it. They had seen it hundreds, no, thousands of times over the decades.


    Neigh.


    Entusha snorted as it kicked off the ground and leaped upward. It was one of the three Mythic Beasts dwelling on the first floor of the Core. It emerged periodically from the pond and roamed the first floor in search of food.


    ¡°Fuck, it¡¯s showing up way too often now.¡± A middle-aged man cursed under his breath as he watched the creature frantically ascend.


    The beast, which used to appear once every five years, had recently appeared once every three months.


    Cruuunch!


    ¡°Aaargh!¡±


    It was always going to take an unfortunate victim. This time, it was Carson, the youngest member of the Nadia Blood Alliance.


    Having only just reached 20% mastery with his Red Status Window, he failed to hide properly and was caught by Entusha.


    After Carson was murdered by Entusha, all that remained was a mastery stone.


    Though it was only 1% of the mastery Carson had accumulated, gaining 0.2% at once was significant in the Core.


    Entusha absorbed the mastery stone, a primary food source for Mythic Beasts.


    It was said that Entusha once thrived on plants and mushrooms growing in the Core, but at some point, it started hunting challengers to the point where it craved nothing but mastery stones.


    Suddenly, the members of the Nadia Blood Alliance, who had been hiding, charged Entusha all at once. Five of their members had already fallen to the beast this year alone, and with the loss of Carson, they lost their minds with rage.


    Sadly, they shouldn¡¯t have done that.


    ¡°Idiots...¡±


    As the long horn growing atop Entusha¡¯s head glowed red, crimson clouds gathered in the sky. A single bolt of lightning struck down toward the members of Nadia.


    That was all it took to turn the Blood Alliance members into mastery stones.


    Entusha let out a savage roar into the air.


    ***


    Monday, again.


    Do-Jun took the afternoon off and entered a Fissure that appeared at Muhakbong Neighborhood Park.


    ¡°Foolish human...¡± Einhasad muttered as it toyed with a flower.


    Shortly after, the Sleeping Forest shifted to its alternate state, which Do-Jun was now familiar with. As soon as the Status Window was sealed, Do-Jun used the Status Window Snake to activate a new one.


    ¡°I know this is my second time listening to your spiel, but I just can¡¯t get used to it,¡± Do-Jun muttered as he observed the creature¡¯s delusion one more time.


    Boooom!


    True qi surged from Do-Jun¡¯s body.


    ***


    Ding-dong.


    ¡°Welcome.¡±


    After raiding the Fissure, Do-Jun stopped by a nearby caf¨¦.


    He responded to the cheerful welcome from the barista with a smile and glanced over the menu with its dozens of drink options. At first, he didn¡¯t know what to choose, but after the countless coffee runs he did during meetings and late nights as the rookie, he had a general idea of what was what.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have an iced Americano, please.¡±


    Handing over his card to pay 4,500 won, Do-Jun received the buzzer and found a seat.


    Then, he called Bureau Chief Jung Young-Chul.

 Chapter 73

    Chapter 73


    Ding-dong.


    The caf¨¦ door swung open, and a middle-aged man in a suit hurriedly entered. He wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief as he scanned the surroundings.


    After spotting Do-Jun seated in a corner, he made his way over.


    Do-Jun glanced at his wristwatch. It should have taken at least twenty minutes to drive from the Hunter¡¯s Bureau to the caf¨¦, but Young-Chul managed to cut that down to just ten.


    ¡°Sorry for being late, Supervisor Lee.¡±


    ¡°No, please, Chief Jung. You make it sound like you were an hour late. And besides, I¡¯m the one who called you out of the blue, so there¡¯s no need to apologize.¡± Do-Jun glanced around and said, ¡°Also, you seem too formal with me, which honestly feels a bit overwhelming. So, could you please take it easy?¡±


    Noticing people around them whispering and casting curious glances, Do-Jun clicked his tongue in annoyance.


    While people won¡¯t necessarily recognize Do-Jun, Young-Chul¡¯s face was more well-known than most celebrities. If someone like Young-Chul appeared flustered and deferential like this, it would certainly draw unwanted attention and could become a nuisance.


    ¡°Yes, I understand,¡± Young-Chul replied.


    ¡°So, what would you like to drink? This might take a while, so how about you order something, too, Chief Jung?¡±


    Do-Jun stood up and pulled out his wallet, but Young-Chul quickly waved his hand, urging him to put the wallet back into his pocket. He owed too much to Do-Jun to accept even a small treat.


    However, faced with Do-Jun¡¯s firm expression, Young-Chul murmured reluctantly, ¡°Then, I¡¯ll have a brownie mocha, please.¡±


    ¡°Y-you¡¯ll have what?¡± Do-Jun was taken aback and asked again.


    With a face that seemed more suited for drinking black coffee, Young-Chul¡¯s choice of a sweet treat like a mocha surprised him.


    ***


    Young-Chul took a spoonful of brownie from atop the whipped cream and reflected on what Do-Jun just told him.


    Do-Jun recounted how he had raided the Fissure that appeared at a neighborhood park in Muhakbong while leaving out the part about his Pocket Watch skill. He explained how the boss monster called Einhasad had shifted the stage called the Core of the Sleeping Forest into its alternate stage, sealing the usual Status Window.


    ¡°And you said you were able to activate a new Status Window using a snake you obtained from the Tutorial Zone... Could I please take a look at this Status Window Snake?¡±


    Do-Jun nodded and showed the rather dull-looking, plain white metal bracelet on his right wrist. Upon closer inspection, it had a faint scale-like pattern.


    When Do-Jun focused on the Status Window Snake, it softened and writhed.


    Kyeeeh!


    The bracelet transformed into a small snake and opened its jaws wide in Young-Chul¡¯s direction, making him gasp in terror.


    The snake returned to its bracelet form when Do-Jun petted it briefly.


    Young-Chul swallowed hard and let out a sigh of relief. Since he was a civilian, unlike his Hunters, if such a creature bit him even once, it could be fatal.


    ¡°We don¡¯t know when another Fissure like this might appear, and I can¡¯t keep stepping in whenever a strange Fissure like this opens... I hope you understand what I¡¯m getting at.¡±


    The point was that he hoped Behemoth Guild would grow stronger by making full use of the information provided so he could avoid getting entangled in troublesome matters. The person ultimately responsible for this task was Young-Chul.


    ¡°I understand,¡± Young-Chul replied with a nod.


    ¡°Also, whenever a challenger clears a stage in the tutorial, they can choose between a random artifact and an artifact called the Challenger¡¯s Memory. Make sure they always choose the latter.¡±


    ¡°And is there a reason for that?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a Hidden Piece you must obtain. It¡¯s an artifact called the Core Talisman, which allows you to teleport to a location in your memory. It will be useful for returning to Earth or even moving to other places.¡±


    Young-Chul¡¯s eyes widened in surprise.


    Teleporting to any remembered location?


    It sounded like something out of a science fiction novel. If what Do-Jun said was true, it was an artifact that was absolutely necessary.


    ¡°Ah, one last thing... I recently learned that streaming from the Fissure is possible using an emergency cam because Yong-Yong... I mean, someone I know has been watching Hunter streams a lot. Could you test whether using it even inside the Core is possible?¡±


    In Fissures, contact with the outside world was restricted unless an emergency cam made from specially processed mana stones was used. Even then, the cam could only transmit, not receive, and couldn¡¯t capture sound.


    However, with the advent of new technology, two-way communication involving both audio and video became possible, enabling live streaming. Hunters could now broadcast even from inside Fissures, much like regular streaming.


    ¡°That is not a problem, but may I ask why?¡±


    ¡°If it works, please pass the message on to Hunter Kang-Hyun and ask if he¡¯d be willing to stream when he enters the Tutorial Zone.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Hmmm.¡±


    In the living room, a playmat was spread across the floor. Yong-Yong used his paw to slide two facedown playing cards toward himself, then slowly peeked at them.


    He grinned widely before putting on a poker face.


    Jackpot!


    He had drawn two cards depicting orchids, representing the fifth month. In the Korean card game Seotda [1], it was a strong hand called Five Pair. With only two cards, it usually resulted in a high hand and, if lucky, could be a jackpot.


    ¡°I fold.¡± Karsiel sighed and placed her cards back down.


    They were playing for candy as stakes, and three candies were tossed in the center of the playmat.


    ¡°Go big or go home, isn¡¯t that right, Master?¡± Yong-Yong sneered as he gathered four candies from his side and tossed them into the center of the mat.


    Losing was impossible with a hand like his.


    Noticing Yong-Yong¡¯s confident expression, Do-Jun calmly placed eight candies in the center of the mat.


    Yong-Yong¡¯s face stiffened at Do-Jun¡¯s unexpected and aggressive bet. ¡°W-why are you being so aggressive?¡±


    ¡°Scared?¡± Do-Jun taunted him.


    There was no way he could lose. In a two-card Seotda, a Five Pair was almost invincible.


    Convinced that Do-Jun was bluffing, Yong-Yong bet all his remaining candies and revealed his cards on the mat.


    ¡°Five Pair, Master.¡±


    ¡°Hmm...¡±


    Seeing Do-Jun hesitate, Yong-Yong flashed a triumphant smile and was about to sweep the candies on the blanket toward him with his paws.


    Just then, Do-Jun stopped him. ¡°38 Gwang Pair.¡±


    38 Gwang was the highest hand in Seotda.


    Do-Jun smirked as he swept the candies. ¡°Looks like you won¡¯t get any snacks this week.¡±


    Yong-Yong looked as if he¡¯d lost his house. He stared blankly at the pile of candies next to Do-Jun.


    ¡°Nah, there¡¯s no way this is possible! How can someone get 38 Gwang in every single one of the five rounds? Aaaargh!¡± Yong-Yong collapsed onto the floor, rolling around in frustration.


    The game, which started with each player having fifty candies, ended in a landslide victory for Do-Jun.


    Karsiel shook her head and muttered, ¡°Your mistake was trying to win against Master in the first place.¡±


    ¡°Whose side are you on, anyway!¡±


    ¡°You gotta know which way the wind is blowing, you know?¡± Karsiel said as she clung to Do-Jun¡¯s side, who gave her ten candies.


    Karsiel bowed her head in thanks. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He counted the cards, Yong-Yong thought as he sniffled.


    He was bitter not only because he lost all his candies but also because he couldn¡¯t catch him in the act despite being sure Do-Jun was cheating.


    ***


    ¡°We have a Fissure field trip tomorrow, so I was just preparing for that,¡± Yoon-Hee said.


    The students of the National Hunter Academy had a practical class day in a Fissure about once a month or every three weeks.


    Of course, the training location was chosen based on the students¡¯ capabilities, considering the strength differences between each class. Since Yoon-Hee had improved her grades and moved up to Class B, she would be training in a C-rank Fissure.


    ¡°That sounds fun. I want to go, too.¡± Yong-Yong had approached quietly and showed interest with an innocent smile.


    However, Yoon-Hee shook her head firmly. She didn¡¯t want any potential mishaps and wanted to focus fully on the Fissure training.


    Lately, Yong-Yong seemed bored and lonely house-sitting and had been trying hard to tag along to the Academy.


    ¡°Well, I guess no means no,¡± Yong-Yong said.


    ¡°Huh...?¡±


    Normally, Yong-Yong would whine and beg to be taken along, but he gave up surprisingly easily this time. Yoon-Hee thought that perhaps Yong-Yong was maturing and patted his head, feeling slightly guilty.


    ¡°Sorry. I¡¯ll buy you something tasty next time.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Karsiel glanced at Yong-Yong.


    ***


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m off.¡± Yoon-Hee turned around after putting on her shoes.


    Yong-Yong and Karsiel were seeing her off at the door. She looked at them with a mixture of guilt and affection.


    ¡°Okay. Have a good day.¡±


    ¡°Safe travels, Young Master.¡±


    As soon as the door closed, Yong-Yong stretched and murmured, ¡°Well then, shall we get going too?¡±


    ¡°I knew it. But, Lord Izaas, if you do that, Young Master will get angry at you.¡±


    ¡°Okay, then you stay home.¡± With that, Yong-Yong leaped up and turned the front door handle.


    As Yong-Yong stepped outside, Karsiel glanced around the now-empty house. Then, two figures¡ªan angel and a devil¡ªappeared above Karsiel¡¯s head.


    The angel spoke. ¡°Don¡¯t go. Are you really thinking of betraying the Young Master who trusts you?¡±


    Then, the devil spoke. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to that thing. Do you really want to stay home alone? What will you do all by yourself for more than ten hours?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s so bad about staying home alone? It¡¯s better than getting in trouble with the Young Master later.¡±


    ¡°You dummy! Getting scolded is temporary, but being lonely lasts ten hours!¡±


    The devil¡¯s words left the angel speechless.


    Rubbing its chin, the angel muttered, ¡°Come to think of it, that makes sense. The scolding won¡¯t last long.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, let¡¯s go!¡±


    The devil won.


    ***


    Inside the subway platform at Bangbae Station, Yong-Yong and Karsiel followed Yoon-Hee, keeping a distance of about twenty meters.


    ¡°I thought you weren¡¯t coming,¡± Yong-Yong teased Karsiel.


    ¡°The devil won.¡±


    ¡°Eh?¡±


    Whatever Karsiel was saying, they were now accomplices.


    ¡°Yoon-Hee¡¯s heading that way,¡± Yong-Yong said, pointing at Yoon-Hee.


    She scanned her transit pass, passed through the turnstile, and headed toward the platform.


    Smirking, Yong-Yong stealthily followed her and tried to slip under the turnstile. Just then, someone grabbed him by the scruff.


    It was a station worker. ¡°What¡¯s a dog doing here...?¡±


    ¡°Ack! Let go! Let me go!¡±


    ¡°Eek, L-lord Izaas!¡±


    Murmurs could be heard in the surroundings.


    ¡°That dog¡¯s talking.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not a dog; it¡¯s a cat.


    ¡°Either way, a talking pet...¡±


    ***


    ¡°Huh, that¡¯s...¡±


    A woman in her mid-twenties, a striking beauty, removed her sunglasses and stared at Yong-Yong.


    1. Seotda is a Korean card game that is similar to other showdown games like poker. ?

 Chapter 74

    Chapter 74


    Looking troubled, the station attendant said, ¡°Did someone summon their pet...?¡±


    Or it could have been a tamed monster.


    Either way, he wondered if there was possibly a Tamer nearby.


    In any case, as a station attendant, he thought he should do his duty and find its owner. He decided to take it to the office and make an announcement.


    That¡¯s when a woman¡¯s voice interrupted. ¡°Is there a problem?¡±


    The station attendant turned his head to identify the speaker. His eyes widened, and he stammered as he recognized her. ¡°H-hunter Han Min-Ji!¡±


    ¡°Thank you for recognizing me. But... have my little ones caused some trouble?¡±


    The attendant looked back and forth between Yong-Yong in his hands and Min-Ji.


    ¡°Y-your little ones?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I¡¯m taking care of these cute little things, but they went off running as soon as I took my eyes off them for a second. Thank you for holding onto them!¡±


    The station attendant looked confused but quickly nodded, giving a weak laugh.


    Min-Ji was an incredibly influential Hunter in the country; it was best to stay on her good side and avoid any actions that might upset her.


    ¡°Y-yes, of course. Haha... I never imagined you had taming skills as well.¡±


    Min-Ji simply smiled in response to the attendant¡¯s remark.


    This woman... Yong-Yong thought her face looked familiar, and as he wracked his brains, he realized who she was.


    She was the woman named Min-Ji who had once visited Do-Jun¡¯s house.


    In any case, it was clear that she was trying to help him right now, so he decided it was best to play along with her story.


    Yong-Yong jumped out of the attendant¡¯s hands and into Min-Ji¡¯s arms, calling, ¡°Mommy!¡±


    Min-Ji was momentarily taken aback by the word ¡°mommy,¡± but she decided to go along with the act to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings.


    ¡°Y-yes... come to mom.¡±


    Karsiel, who was watching, looked horrified and muttered to herself, ¡°Lord Izaas¡¯... mother...?¡±


    The one who had given birth to Izaas, the Lord of all Dragons, stood before her. She trembled and crouched involuntarily.


    ***


    8:40 AM, Fissure Management Division, Seoul City Hall.


    ¡°That¡¯s odd... Has he ever been this late before?¡± Cheol-Soo muttered as he looked at the time displayed on his monitor.


    Hyuk-Soo had always arrived before 8 AM, or at the latest by 8:30 AM, but today, he seemed to be running late.


    Though a civil servant¡¯s official working hours started at 9 AM, it was strange that someone who always showed up early suddenly didn¡¯t.


    Is something wrong? Do-Jun thought, deciding to call Hyuk-Soo, and pulled out his smartphone.


    But before he could, he got a call from Hyuk-Soo himself.


    ¡°Yes, Senior.¡±


    ¡ªDo-Jun? Cough, cough.


    From the cough coming from the other end of the line, it seemed Hyuk-Soo had caught a cold.


    ¡°Are you feeling unwell, Senior?¡±


    ¡ªYes... I think I¡¯ve caught the flu... Cough! Could you... please ask Chief... if I could take the day off...? S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Understood. Have you taken any medicine?¡±


    ¡ªYes, I¡¯ve taken some. Thanks for asking.


    ¡°I¡¯ll speak with Chief, so don¡¯t worry and get some rest. I hope you feel better soon.¡±


    ¡°Ah, cough, cough. I also have a favor to ask. Could you... cover the Hunter Academy... field trip today? Cough!¡±


    Hyuk-Soo was scheduled to visit and give a brief introduction of a C-rank Fissure called the Orc Settlement at the Dongguk University Seoul Campus, where students from the Hunter Academy would be undergoing their practical class.


    Though the Fissure had already been mapped, and occasional patrols were all that was needed, like any other workplace, the civil service had certain unspoken rules to follow¡ªthe Fissure Management Division needed to attend the practical class even though it wasn¡¯t necessary.


    Furthermore, if the division suddenly backed out of a pre-scheduled engagement, it would harm Seoul City Hall''s image and reflect poorly on Hyuk-Soo.


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll handle it. Leave this to me and rest well, Senior.¡±


    ¡ªT-thank you... Please let Chief know as well...


    After ending the call, Do-Jun explained the situation to Cheol-Soo and reviewed the materials on the C-rank Fissure, the Orc Settlement, as his task was to provide a brief overview of the Fissure.


    ¡°Hmm, Dongguk University by 10:30 AM.¡±


    ***


    Vroom!


    A sleek black sports car started up in the parking lot.


    Min-Ji casually opened the door, got into the driver¡¯s seat, and then looked over at the mini dragons.


    ¡°We¡¯re going the same way, so I¡¯ll give you guys a ride.¡±


    ¡°What a weird-looking car,¡± Yong-Yong muttered.


    He had only ever ridden in taxis. Now, he was looking at a small car with a low-slung body and an emblem that read ¡°Dugatti.¡± Its doors opened upward.


    Yong-Yong and Karsiel hopped into the passenger seat.


    Min-Ji had been invited by the academy to assist the students with their field practice, and since the dragons were going to the same place, she decided to drop them off at the university grounds.


    ¡°Ajumma [1], how much does this car cost?¡± Yong-Yong asked.


    Min-Ji¡¯s grip on the steering wheel tightened for a moment. She was only twenty-five and not even married yet. Her looks were so stunning that she even had a fan club.


    She never expected to hear herself called ajumma.


    ¡°About eight billion won. And please don¡¯t call me ajumma, okay?¡±


    Karsiel glanced between Yong-Yong and Min-Ji. It seemed that the ¡°mommy¡± comment Yong-Yong had made earlier was a lie.


    She let out a sigh, a mix of disappointment and relief.


    ¡°Eight billion?¡± The enormous amount of money left Yong-Yong baffled.


    Karsiel whispered in his ear to clarify, ¡°That¡¯s enough money for you to eat braised short ribs and chicken every day for the rest of our lives, Lord Izaas.¡±


    ¡°What... did you just say?¡±


    The idea of eating short ribs and chicken every day pleasantly shocked Yong-Yong, especially since at home, Yoon-Hee was frugal and limited meat dishes to two or three times a week, so the thought made an even stronger impression.


    ¡°Hmm...¡±


    Min-Ji, driving the car, suddenly hit the brakes hard, startled by Yong-Yong¡¯s next words. ¡°Will you marry our master?¡±


    ***


    10 AM, Dongguk University¡¯s Sanglog-Won.


    The three-story building housed student and faculty cafeterias as well as other eateries. Near its entrance, a Fissure about fifteen meters stretched toward the sky¡ªa C-rank Fissure known as the Orc Settlement.


    The surroundings were ablaze with murmurs as passing students gathered to watch the Hunter Academy trainees assembled in front of the Fissure.


    In 21st-century society, Hunters were more admired than any other profession. Academy trainees, who had a 99% chance of becoming Hunters upon graduation, were a source of fascination and envy for ordinary people.


    ¡°Oh yeah, apparently, today¡¯s the field trip day for the Academy.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t notice before, but the newer suits actually look pretty stylish.¡±


    ¡°Wow, that girl¡¯s really cute.¡±


    The students of the Hunter Academy freshmen Class B reacted differently as the passing university students whispered about them: some shrank back in embarrassment, while others puffed up with pride.


    Yoon-Hee fell into the former category.


    This is so embarrassing...


    She wasn¡¯t sure if it was just her imagination, but it felt like the university students, especially the guys, were staring directly at her.


    The skintight suit, often called tights, accentuated her curves, making her all the more self-conscious.


    ¡°Y-yoon-Hee!¡± At that moment, someone approached Yoon-Hee.


    It was Seo Jin-Soo, a fellow student from Class B and the second son of the chairman of IG Group, Korea¡¯s fourth-largest conglomerate.


    He was currently, undeniably, in love.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Yoon-Hee looked at Jin-Soo, tilting her head in confusion.


    Seeing this, Jin-Soo¡¯s face flushed, and he stammered as he clenched his fists, ¡°Let¡¯s d-do our best today!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, thanks. Good luck to you, too.¡±


    ¡°O-okay!¡±


    Jin-Soo turned away and headed back to his spot, tears of joy welling up as he cheered himself on.


    She¡¯s an angel. That girl¡¯s an angel...


    While her looks certainly played a part, the main reason Jin-Soo had fallen for her was her purity¡ªa quality he hadn¡¯t seen in other girls these days.


    Though many girls had approached him before, they all seemed more interested in Jin-Soo, the heir, than Jin-Soo, the student.


    As he was feeling disillusioned and developing a certain opinion against women, one girl was promoted to Class B from Class D¡ªYoon-Hee.


    It was then that Jin-Soo understood what love at first sight truly meant.


    That untainted innocence, plus her kindness and beauty... I know other guys are after her, too, though...


    But fortunately, Yoon-Hee didn¡¯t seem interested in anyone from her class¡ªor the Academy as a whole.


    You got this, Jin-Soo!


    He was determined to make today the day he impressed his love.


    ***


    Meanwhile, Do-Jun had just arrived at Dongguk University.


    It took less than twenty minutes to travel from Seoul City Hall to the C-rank Fissure at Dongguk University.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± After handing the taxi driver a 10,000 won bill, Do-Jun stepped out of the car.


    Seeing that about twenty minutes remained until the assembly time, he started walking toward Sanglog-Won, where the students were gathering.


    That should be it.


    He spotted the Academy trainees gathered in front of a building. Among them, he quickly found Yoon-Hee amidst the crowd.


    However, rather than pushing through the bustling group of students to greet her since that might embarrass her, he approached the Class B instructor instead.


    ¡°Good morning. I¡¯m Lee Do-Jun from the Seoul City Hall¡¯s Fissure Management Division.¡±


    Class B¡¯s instructor, Seo Mu-Kwon, extended a friendly handshake with a warm smile.


    ¡°Ah, I heard from Supervisor Kwon that you were filling in for him today. Nice to meet you, my name is Seo Mu-Kwon. Thank you in advance for helping with today¡¯s Fissure class.¡±


    ¡°Nice to meet you as well. I just need to provide information about the Fissure, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, exactly. Ah, and a Hunter from the Hunter¡¯s Bureau has been invited today. We plan to start as soon as she arrives. Is that alright with you?¡±


    Do-Jun nodded.


    Seo Mu-Kwon cleared his throat, then clapped his hands loudly to gather the students¡¯ attention, which was quite effective thanks to the slight mana involvement.


    ¡°Attention, everyone. Today, we have the honor of having Supervisor Lee Do-Jun from the Seoul City Hall¡¯s Fissure Management Division with us. Please give him a warm round of applause.¡±


    Most of the students clapped with a lack of enthusiasm.


    Though Do-Jun had gained some fame during the S-rank Fissure incident, his name wasn¡¯t publicized due to privacy laws, so only a few people actually knew about him.


    ¡°The honor is mine. It¡¯s nice to meet and see all of you bright future Hunters today. If you have any questions about today¡¯s Fissure or any Fissures in general, feel free to ask at any time.¡±


    For a brief moment, Do-Jun made eye contact with Yoon-Hee and gave her a small wave with a smile.


    Yoon-Hee, in turn, blushed shyly.


    W-wait, what¡¯s with that face?!


    It was only a fleeting moment, but Jin-Soo didn¡¯t miss the scene because he had been glancing at Yoon-Hee¡¯s face every other second.


    No way...


    He shook his head in denial.


    1. Ajumma is a title used to refer to married or middle-aged women. Most people hate being mistaken for an ¡°ajumma¡± as it implies that they look old. ?

 Chapter 75

    Chapter 75


    ¡°We should get going soon... Perhaps I¡¯ll give her a call,¡± Seo Mu-Kwon said.


    It was already past the 10:30 AM gathering time.


    Seo Mu-Kwon sighed and fiddled with his smartphone, but as if on cue, the sound of a luxury sports car¡¯s engine filled the air, naturally drawing everyone¡¯s attention toward it.


    The car pulled up to the parking line in front of Sanglog-Won and came to a stop. Then, the door opened, and a woman stepped out from the driver¡¯s seat.


    ¡°T-that¡¯s...¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Han Min-Ji!¡±


    ¡°Wow! An S-rank Hunter came to our school!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve got to get her autograph.¡±


    All eyes were on her, and Min-Ji, seemingly accustomed to the attention, ignored the stares as she looked toward the group of Academy trainees gathered nearby. Then, her eyes met with a man¡¯s.


    ¡°Supervisor Lee?¡±


    Min-Ji¡¯s expression showed a brief moment of surprise. She froze and wondered why he was here until she remembered that this C-rank Fissure was under the Seoul Fissure Management Division¡¯s jurisdiction.


    ¡°Hoit!¡± Yong-Yong jumped out of the passenger seat, smiling widely as he breathed in the fresh air.


    Fortunately, it seemed Yoon-Hee hadn¡¯t noticed them yet, and they just had to keep it that way.


    ¡°Keke, as long as I don¡¯t get caught...¡± Then, he met eyes with Do-Jun.


    Despite being chilly early April morning, cold sweat instantly broke out and trickled down Yong-Yong¡¯s back.


    W-why is Master here...?


    Yong-Yong avoided Do-Jun¡¯s gaze, his eyes darting around nervously.


    But in the single moment when their eyes locked, Yong-Yong saw Do-Jun silently mouthing something: I¡¯ll give you five seconds.


    Along with those words, Do-Jun wiggled his fingers with a smile.


    At that, Yong-Yong and Karsiel rushed toward Do-Jun as if their feet were on fire. As Karsiel ran, she thought that she should¡¯ve just stayed home.


    ***


    Yong-Yong and Karsiel? Don¡¯t tell me they followed me. Yoon-Hee thought as she recalled what had happened that morning.


    ¡°Okay. Have a good day.¡±


    The two dragons had seen her off as she left for school. They were trying to act like everything was fine despite their eyes saying quite the opposite.


    That was how it had been, at least until the morning.


    I guess it was all just an act.


    But instead of feeling betrayed, Yoon-Hee felt a sense of relief. Seeing their sorrowful faces as she left them behind had her feeling uneasy.


    With a resigned smile, Yoon-Hee told herself she would show them her cool side today.


    So the guest Hunter today was Hunter Min-Ji...


    Min-Ji was one of the top-ranked S-rank Hunters. Among female Hunters, she ranked only below Moon Ae-Kyung of Behemoth Guild, the third-ranked Hunter and one of the First Hunters.


    The Academy students were abuzz with excitement upon realizing who had arrived. They were filled with anticipation, thinking that if they were deemed talented enough, they might even receive a recruitment offer from one of Korea¡¯s top guilds, like the Icarus Guild.


    However, Yoon-Hee was distracted.


    Do-Jun and Min-Ji were engaged in a seemingly pleasant conversation. Though she couldn¡¯t make out what they were saying due to the distance, it was obvious they were getting along quite well.


    On top of that, both were attractive people, making them appear like a perfect couple. While it didn¡¯t seem like they had romantic feelings for each other, one could never predict such things.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like this at all,¡± Yoon-Hee said.


    ¡°What don¡¯t you like, Yoon-Hee?¡± someone suddenly asked. It was Jung Hye-Jung, another student from Class B.


    Yoon-Hee¡¯s face flushed red hearing the question. She had only meant to think those words, but they had slipped out aloud without her realizing it.


    ¡°N-no, it¡¯s nothing.¡± Yoon-Hee awkwardly waved her hands with a forced smile.


    ¡°Hmm, really? Oh, by the way, don¡¯t you think that city official over there is pretty handsome? He¡¯s tall, and he looks pretty fit, too.¡±


    Hye-Jung pointed at Do-Jun as she asked, assuming that Yoon-Hee didn¡¯t know him.


    After all, no one in Class B knew that Do-Jun was Yoon-Hee¡¯s father.


    Yoon-Hee nodded cautiously while Hye-Jung continued, ¡°But you should be careful around guys like that. Handsome men tend to live up to their looks. He probably flirts with a bunch of girls. He seems like the type to cause a lot of heartbreak.¡±


    ¡°N-no, my father is so kind and...!¡±


    For a moment, Yoon-Hee lost her cool, perhaps because someone was badmouthing her father right in front of her.


    Hye-Jung stared blankly at her and asked, ¡°Your father...?¡±


    ¡°N-no, I meant that he¡¯d probably be a kind dad.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s what you meant? For a second, I thought you were saying he was your dad, but that wouldn¡¯t make sense. He looks like he¡¯s in his twenties, so there¡¯s no way he¡¯d have a daughter our age.¡±


    Yoon-Hee laughed awkwardly and sighed in relief.


    ***


    The students entered the Fissure under Seo Mu-Kwon¡¯s guidance.


    It was a plain field¡ªa typical feature of this type of Fissure, with a log cabin surrounded by defensive barriers in the distance.


    Do-Jun handed out pre-printed maps of Orc Settlement to the students. The maps contained brief information about the Fissure''s terrain and monsters.


    ¡°As long as you follow the instructions I¡¯ve given, you shouldn¡¯t have much trouble with the hunt. Any questions?¡± Do-Jun asked the group.


    The brief introduction took about ten minutes.


    The students had already learned more than enough about orcs in their classes and were familiar with the mapped-out areas of the Fissure, so no one seemed to have any questions.


    They were all eager to get started with the hunt.


    ¡°Great. And as previously instructed, split into teams of three and proceed with your activities,¡± Seo Mu-Kwon said to the students.


    The teams had already been formed before arriving here.


    Seeing Yoon-Hee team up with Jin-Soo and Hye-Jung, Do-Jun couldn¡¯t help but smile. She seems to be getting along well.


    Thinking about how Yoon-Hee always came home early without lingering after classes, Do-Jun had been slightly worried that she might be excluded or ostracized at the Academy. But it seemed his concerns had been unnecessary.


    ¡°Alright. That¡¯s that, but...¡± Do-Jun looked at Yong-Yong, who was eyeing him warily. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When their eyes met, Yong-Yong quickly averted his gaze and started whistling.


    Seeing this, Do-Jun chuckled and said, ¡°Go ahead and play. I won¡¯t scold you.¡±


    Yong-Yong¡¯s guard went up even more.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? I¡¯m not lying. Feel free to play around.¡±


    Do-Jun had his own task to take care of. While Hyuk-Soo had said that Orc Settlement was a completely mapped-out Fissure, Do-Jun could sense the presence of other monsters at the three o¡¯clock position on the map, which was marked as being blocked off by a tall cliff.


    Do-Jun intended to investigate that spot.


    ¡°Um, Master...¡± Yong-Yong said hesitantly.


    Watching this, Karsiel sighed and decided to speak on his behalf. ¡°Master, if you¡¯re not too busy, perhaps you could join us for a walk?¡±


    ¡°A walk?¡± Do-Jun rubbed his chin thoughtfully, but the decision didn¡¯t take long. ¡°I¡¯ll pick the walking route, though. Is that okay?¡±


    Yong-Yong beamed innocently, like a child. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±


    Yong-Yong darted across the field. He then suddenly stopped, turned around, and waved his paw at Do-Jun.


    Do-Jun shrugged and muttered, ¡°I said I was going to choose the route.¡±


    ***


    Yoon-Hee found herself watching Do-Jun, Yong-Yong, and Karsiel walking somewhere intently without even realizing it.


    Where on earth could they be going?


    I wish I could join them...


    Despite what she wanted to do, today was a precious opportunity to gain real-world experience with practical Fissure training. She couldn¡¯t waste such a valuable chance, especially with S-rank Hunter Min-Ji, whose face was rarely seen, here as a guest instructor.


    Not taking full advantage of her knowledge and experience would be a huge loss.


    ¡°When¡¯s it going to be our turn?¡± Hye-Jung mumbled enviously, watching the other students receiving advice from Min-Ji.


    ¡°Instead of just waiting around, let¡¯s go hunt. Come on, just follow me.¡± Jin-Soo glanced at Yoon-Hee with a confident expression.


    He was determined to impress her today at any cost. He figured that taking on the role of leader would make him look cool, so he naturally took the initiative.


    ¡°You are sooo obvious, Jin-Soo,¡± Hye-Jung teased.


    ¡°Aha. Haha. I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡±


    Hye-Jung clicked her tongue and shook her head. It was apparent to everyone that Jin-Soo liked Yoon-Hee. Anyone observing from a third-party perspective would immediately figure it out, but it was clear that Yoon-Hee herself didn¡¯t have any particular thoughts about it.


    ¡°Thanks, Jin-Soo,¡± Yoon-Hee said.


    ¡°Haha, l-leave it to me. I¡¯ll take down any orcs that come our way with just one blow.¡±


    ¡°Hah, so you¡¯re a comedian now, huh? Aren¡¯t you weaker than Yoon-Hee?¡±


    ¡°Hye-Jung! Why are you always...!¡±


    ¡°Am I wrong?¡±


    Jin-Soo and Hye-Jung glared at each other, growling. The two were always at each other¡¯s throats like they were mortal enemies in a past life.


    Suddenly, a sound came from the nearby bushes.


    As if on cue, the duo immediately pulled out their weapons and braced themselves. They saw the five orcs crawling out from the bushes.


    Click.


    Yoon-Hee drew her mana gun from her waistbelt and loaded it using Charging.


    Since enrolling in the Academy, she had undergone one physical enhancement using the B-rank mana stone provided to the students, gaining 20 Mana in the process and making considerable progress.


    Let¡¯s focus on this for now, she thought to herself.


    The mana stones and other spoils from the orcs they defeated would be divided among the team, and a stone from a C-rank monster like an orc could fetch around 800,000 won.


    Even taking down one would net each of the three about 250,000 won.


    I bet that¡¯ll make Father happy, she thought happily, imagining preparing a hearty dinner tonight.


    ***


    S-squeal!


    The orcs stepping aside to make way was like a reenactment of the parting of the Red Sea.


    It wasn¡¯t because of Do-Jun but because of the two dragons leading the way. The two beings were far too formidable for the C-rank orcs to face.


    Just making eye contact with them caused the orcs to flinch, either fleeing or averting their gaze. Even though their bodies had shrunk and their forms had changed slightly, the orcs instinctively knew what they were.


    ¡°The weather is really pleasant,¡± Karsiel commented.


    It wasn¡¯t too hot or too cold inside the Fissure. With the warm sunlight streaming down, it felt as if both body and soul were being warmed.


    Do-Jun nodded in agreement.


    ¡°Hoho, what a perfect day for a stroll,¡± Yong-Yong said.


    ¡°That being said, I think it would be best to apologize to Young Master later properly. After all, we did leave the house after she told us not to.¡±


    Yong-Yong suddenly stopped, scurried over to Karsiel, and whispered in her ear, ¡°Karsiel.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Lord Izaas?¡±


    ¡°All we need to be forgiven is to flash some aegyo. Don¡¯t even sweat.¡±


    After saying that, Yong-Yong resumed walking ahead, humming a tune. Before long, he found himself standing before the tall wall surrounding Orc Settlement.


    Do-Jun touched his SpacePad and checked the mapping status; as he expected, nothing was marked on it.


    Do-Jun tapped a particular spot on the wall, and the sound that came back was hollow, as if the inside was empty.


    It was at that moment that his slight suspicion became a certainty.


    ¡°Move aside,¡± he said.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    When Yong-Yong scurried back, Do-Jun lightly punched the wall. With a loud Boom! a portion of the wall crumbled.


    No, the wall was actually a large rock.


    ¡°This...¡±


    What they found on the other side was a staircase leading downward.


    [You have discovered a hidden dungeon.]

 Chapter 76

    Chapter 76


    A small wisp of energy shot from Do-Jun¡¯s fingertip, clinging to the outer wall as it slowly descended the stairs. As the once-dark interior was illuminated by the energy, the hidden space revealed itself.


    A hidden dungeon.


    Not every Fissure had one, but there were times when a hidden dungeon could be found inside a Fissure.


    Typically, monsters inside hidden dungeons were one or two ranks higher than the ones roaming the main Fissure, but that wasn¡¯t the point.


    Treasure Goblin.


    The reason why Hunters would shout, ¡°Jackpot!¡± upon discovering a hidden dungeon was the Treasure Goblin. Each hidden dungeon had precisely one, and if defeated, it dropped a Skillbook.


    Generally, there was only one way for Hunters to acquire skills: through natural Awakening, either spontaneously or via physical enhancement.


    For that reason, most Hunters only had one skill throughout their lives. If they Awakened an F-rank skill, they were stuck hunting with that low-rank skill for the rest of their lives.


    This was the conundrum of the naturally blessed and the cursed.


    The Treasure Goblin was a way to bridge that gap. The Skillbooks, which dropped from Treasure Goblins with a low drop rate, could be sold for a high price depending on their rank.


    Just a few weeks ago, a C-rank skill named Flame Bolt had dropped after a Treasure Goblin was killed in a hidden dungeon within an E-rank Fissure, the Forest of Kobolds. It had sold for a staggering 35 billion won. That¡¯s why everyone had their eyes peeled, desperately searching for hidden dungeons.


    ¡°At least that¡¯s what I read on the internet,¡± Do-Jun muttered as he pulled out his SpacePad.


    While it was great that he had discovered a hidden dungeon, he was still a civil servant with the Fissure Management Division. Since this Fissure fell under the jurisdiction of Seoul City, the hidden dungeon also needed to be mapped so that Hunters could hunt efficiently.


    Of course, he wasn¡¯t planning to give up the Treasure Goblin.


    [Welcome to the Fissure Management System, Mr. Lee Do-Jun.]


    [Initiating mapping of Pil-dong 3-ga-001, Jung-gu, Seoul Fissure.]


    [Registering hidden dungeon. Added to the exception list.]


    As long as he didn¡¯t press the submit button, the information would remain hidden from the public page. Do-Jun planned to catch the Treasure Goblin, finish mapping, and later submit it for internal approval at the office.


    Looking back, he saw the Academy students diligently hunting orcs. Min-Ji was also mingling with the students, assisting with the hunt and providing advice, seemingly unaware of the hidden dungeon¡¯s presence.


    ¡°Let¡¯s head in.¡± Do-Jun smiled at Yong-Yong and Karsiel.


    ***


    The view that unfolded before them as they descended the stairs was an expansive grass field. It seemed they had crossed beyond the cliff that surrounded Orc Settlement.


    There, Do-Jun spotted orcs roaming in groups, except they looked more ferocious, and instead of the typical green skin, the orcs in the hidden dungeon had red skin.


    An unregistered monster species, Do-Jun thought.


    He searched for these red-skinned orcs in the Fissure Management System¡¯s monster encyclopedia, but no results appeared.


    In such cases, Do-Jun had the authority to name the new species himself.


    He decided to call them Red Orcs.


    [Red Orc has been added.]


    [You may now assign a provisional rank and register information about the Red Orc.]


    Just by looking, he estimated their rank to be B¡ªweaker than A-rank ogres but slightly stronger than trolls. Still, it was more reliable to confirm this firsthand, so Do-Jun decided to take one down for testing.


    ¡°You two stay here,¡± Do-Jun told the dragons.


    ¡°Eh? Are you just gonna neglect us? Pets grow with their master¡¯s love, you know,¡± Yong-Yong complained.


    ¡°Lord Izaas, it seems you¡¯ve fully accepted the role of a pet now.¡±


    Just two months ago, if anyone had dared to call him a pet, Yong-Yong, who once prided himself as Izaas the Great, would have considered it the greatest insult of his dragon life. But now, he seemed to have completely adapted to his new life as a pet.


    Do-Jun sighed, looking at Yong-Yong. ¡°If you come with me, they¡¯ll just run away.¡±


    ¡°Tsk.¡± Yong-Yong clicked his tongue and flopped onto the field.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be right back.¡±


    ¡°Good luck, Master.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    Karsiel was always really kind.


    ***


    Yong-Yong and Karsiel watched as Do-Jun walked toward the Red Orcs.


    The monsters that normally ran at the sight of them seemed to rush at Do-Jun without hesitation, as if they were moths drawn to a flame. It was almost pitiful.


    ¡°I was one of those moths once...¡±


    Yong-Yong recalled the first time he met Do-Jun. He had been peacefully living in his nest when Yoon-Hee invaded, and he tried to kill her.


    That was when Do-Jun appeared. Yong-Yong had attempted to annihilate them both with his Dragon Breath, but Do-Jun effortlessly blocked it. Not only that, he nearly killed him with his mana gun.


    Just thinking about that terrifying moment still sent shivers down his spine. Yong-Yong recalled what he had said then.


    ¡°H-h-hold on a minute!¡±


    ¡°If I hadn¡¯t called for a time-out, I would not be here today,¡± he whispered to himself, thinking he was indeed lucky.


    ¡°Huh?¡± At that moment, something caught Yong-Yong¡¯s eye.


    It was a goblin with golden skin, leisurely strolling around with a bag the size of its body slung over its back.


    ¡°That one looks different,¡± Yong-Yong said.


    ¡°It¡¯s suspicious, Lord Izaas,¡± Karsiel warned him.


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    Yong-Yong glanced over at Do-Jun.


    He was still busy ¡°assessing¡± the Red Orcs and didn¡¯t seem like he would be done anytime soon.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Yong-Yong called out to the Treasure Goblin.


    The goblin froze, turning to look at Yong-Yong. The moment it realized what was happening, the Treasure Goblin tried to flee in a panic, only to be stopped by Yong-Yong¡¯s Dragon Speech skill, which bound him in place.


    ¡°O-o-o, Great Dragon! What business could you possibly have with me...?¡± the Treasure Goblin stammered, sweating profusely.


    Yong-Yong grinned and beckoned with his paw. ¡°Come.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Huff, huff...¡±


    Hye-Jung and Jin-Soo were lying flat on the ground, gasping for breath, perhaps because they had fought off six orcs simultaneously. There had been several dangerous moments where things could have gone quite wrong, and if it weren¡¯t for Yoon-Hee¡¯s efforts, they might have been seriously injured.


    ¡°Here, guys. Drink some water.¡± Yoon-Hee handed a bottle of water to the two lying on the ground.


    Looking exhausted, Hye-Jung remarked, ¡°Yoon-Hee, what¡¯s your Stamina stat even at?¡±


    Yoon-Hee smiled and replied, ¡°It¡¯s a secret.¡±


    ¡°Tsk. Fine. Keep your secrets, then. But thanks for the water.¡±


    ¡°Sure, and it¡¯ll be our turn soon for the guided practice.¡±


    Min-Ji had been making rounds, giving individual guidance to the Academy students. It was almost their turn.


    Hye-Jung took a sip from the bottle that Yoon-Hee handed her.


    ¡°Hey! Why are you putting your mouth on the bottle?¡± Jin-Soo snapped.


    Yoon-Hee gave an awkward smile and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay... I drank from it directly, too...¡±


    ¡°What...?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I have a new bottle here. Jin-Soo, you can have this one.¡±


    Yoon-Hee handed Jin-Soo an unopened bottle of water. However, Jin-Soo stared longingly at the bottle Hye-Jung was holding, which was now less than a third full.


    He didn¡¯t like that Hye-Jung had drunk from it, but there was now another factor.


    If I drink from that bottle, then i-it would be an indirect kiss with Y-yoon-Hee!


    However, the situation he hoped for didn¡¯t come to pass.


    Catching onto Jin-Soo¡¯s rather impure desire, Hye-Jung smirked and downed the remaining water. She then flashed him a mischievous grin, sticking out her tongue while flipping him the middle finger in a way that only he could see.


    ¡°You! Why do you always¡ªYou!¡±


    Jin-Soo stood up and tried to march over to her when someone approached them. Turning to check, they saw Min-Ji.


    ¡°Looks like you¡¯re taking a break,¡± Min-Ji said.


    ¡°Y-yes, ma¡¯am!¡± Hye-Jung and Jin-Soo answered in unison.


    To the students of the Hunter Academy, an S-rank Hunter like Min-Ji held a status higher than even the president. Naturally, their attitude was one of utmost respect.


    At that moment, Min-Ji¡¯s and Yoon-Hee¡¯s eyes met, and the latter bowed politely.


    ¡°H-hello,¡± she said to Min-Ji.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Yoon-Hee. How have you been?¡±


    ¡°Good, thank you. How about you, Hunter Min-Ji? Anything new?¡±


    ¡°Oh, you know, same as always.¡±


    Jin-Soo and Hye-Jung looked at the two with blank expressions. They clearly knew each other.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Supervisor Lee? I don¡¯t see him around,¡± Min-Ji murmured, glancing around.


    Yoon-Hee recalled the sight of Do-Jun and Min-Ji chatting happily before entering the Fissure. She wasn¡¯t sure why, but thinking about that made her feel unsettled. She didn¡¯t dislike Min-Ji, but something about that situation bothered her.


    ¡°Do you two know each other?¡± Hye-Jung asked, unable to contain her curiosity.


    Min-Ji answered, ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve even visited Yoon-Hee¡¯s house before.¡± S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Wow... How do you know Yoon-Hee?¡±


    ¡°I think the first time we met was at the admission ceremony? If I remember correctly, she was with Supervisor Lee.¡±


    At that, Jin-Soo and Hye-Jung were taken aback.


    ¡°Wait, you were with that civil servant? You know him?¡±


    Min-Ji tilted her head and said, ¡°Know him? Of course, they¡¯re father and daughter.¡±


    ¡°H-hunter Min-Ji, that¡¯s...¡±


    Watching Hye-Jung and Jin-Soo¡¯s jaws drop, Min-Ji realized her slip and turned to Yoon-Hee, her expression apologetic. ¡°Was that supposed to be a secret...?¡±


    ***


    [Red Orc¡¯s information has been updated.]


    [Hidden dungeon¡¯s ranking has been updated.]


    About ten minutes later, through hunting Red Orcs and running various tests, Do-Jun had successfully inputted the necessary information into the Fissure Management System without much trouble.


    As he had estimated by eyeballing the monster, the Red Orc was slightly stronger than a troll, placing it in the upper-middle tier of B-rank monsters.


    Now, time to catch that Treasure Goblin and map the area...


    But Do-Jun abruptly stopped in his tracks upon noticing Yong-Yong and Karsiel¡¯s situation about two hundred meters away, in the shaded area under a massive tree.


    Next to them was the Treasure Goblin.


    What... is going on over there?


    ***


    ¡°Is this it?¡± Yong-Yong said.


    Artifacts were laid out on the ground. These were the items from the sack the Treasure Goblin had been carrying. A few pieces of armor, weapons, and several gold coins were among them.


    Yong-Yong glanced over the items, muttering, ¡°Something important is missing.¡±


    ¡°W-what do you mean by important?¡± the goblin stammered.


    ¡°There¡¯s no food! Where the hell is the food?¡±


    ¡°P-pardon...?¡±


    The Treasure Goblin swallowed dryly, eyeing Yong-Yong and Karsiel nervously. He couldn¡¯t understand why a dragon¡ªno, two dragons¡ªwho should have been sleeping indefinitely in their nests were here in this place.


    Still, survival was his top priority, so the Treasure Goblin obediently dumped out the contents of his sack, though now he was being berated for not having any food.


    That¡¯s when they heard someone approaching them.


    ¡°Ah, you¡¯re here, Master.¡± Karsiel bowed her head as Do-Jun approached.


    Startled, the Treasure Goblin spun around to see a human male standing there.


    W-what? Master? What the hell?!


    Dragons¡ªthe supreme predators who stood at the pinnacle of all creatures¡ªwere bowing to their master.

 Chapter 77

    Chapter 77


    They were father and daughter?


    The age gap between parents and children varied, but generally, a difference of about twenty-five years was typical.


    Jin-Soo recalled Do-Jun¡¯s appearance and thought, Does... does he just look really good for his age?


    With recent advancements in skincare and cosmetic techniques, it wasn¡¯t uncommon to see people in their fifties looking as young as their twenties. Even on entertainment programs, there were cases where women in their fifties, introduced as ¡°college moms,¡± looked no different from college students.


    ¡°Is that really your dad, Yoon-Hee?¡± Hye-Jung exclaimed in surprise.


    Her words were mixed with a hint of guilt as she had somewhat badmouthed him to Yoon-Hee, not knowing who he was.


    Yoon-Hee gave a slight nod, but she didn¡¯t want to discuss the matter any further. If others found out about their contractual father-daughter arrangement, they would surely find it odd. It was something neither she nor Do-Jun wanted to be exposed.


    Noticing Yoon-Hee¡¯s uncomfortable expression, Min-Ji clapped her hands, bringing everyone¡¯s attention back to her, and shifted the topic.


    ¡°Alright then, let¡¯s start with the map training first.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    Do-Jun glanced at the piles of gold coins scattered on the ground, along with several artifacts.


    Typically, when a Treasure Goblin was taken down, one artifact from its treasure bag dropped randomly. However, the Treasure Goblin before them had given up quite literally everything he had.


    Looking at the trembling goblin before him, Do-Jun almost felt sorry.


    ¡°Master, this guy¡¯s broke as hell.¡± Yong-Yong clicked his tongue in disapproval.


    ¡°Hey, this is considered wealthy in our industry!¡± the Treasure Goblin protested, looking wronged.


    ¡°That¡¯s not for you to decide, is it?¡±


    ¡°Master, is there anything you need?¡±


    There were various artifacts¡ªarmor, weapons, accessories¡ªbut Do-Jun only needed one thing.


    He picked up a book lying on the ground.


    [Skillbook ¨C Binding Chains]


    Grade: A


    Description: Upon completion, grants the skill Binding Chains. (The skill book will disappear after one use.)


    Skill Effect: Summons chains to bind the target. The strength of the chains increases in proportion to the user¡¯s mana. (Minimum mana requirement: 10)


    It was a Skillbook and an A-grade one, at that.


    Though he appeared nonchalant, Do-Jun was actually quite surprised.


    Lucky me, he thought happily.


    Most people who acquired a Skillbook sold it, and the sale would end up on the front page of the news. Out of the Skillbooks that were made public that way, the highest grade ever dropped by a Treasure Goblin was B. Of course, unofficially, higher grades might exist, but they were almost unheard of.


    As for the rest of his stuff...


    The other artifacts were nothing special. Though they could all be converted to cash, the selling process was cumbersome, and Do-Jun didn¡¯t need the money right away. Taking them would just be extra baggage for now.


    ¡°Please, just let me live...¡± The Treasure Goblin trembled violently.


    Do-Jun looked down at the goblin with a cold gaze. He was planning on taking down a Treasure Goblin for the Skillbook, so he had no further use for the monster.


    With a smile, Do-Jun said, ¡°I¡¯ll let you go if you give me this.¡±


    ¡°A-are you sure you don¡¯t want the other stuff?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m okay. Besides, you need to have some stuff in your bag, don¡¯t you?¡±


    For some reason, the Treasure Goblin felt tears welling up in its eyes. Most humans would be eager to kill them for their treasures. But this man only took what he needed and spared his life.


    The Treasure Goblin bowed and said, ¡°Thank you, thank you. Oh great, Master of Dragons.¡±


    ¡°No, I should be thanking you. I¡¯ll make good use of this Skillbook.¡±


    The Treasure Goblin gathered the scattered artifacts into its bag.


    ¡°Make sure to hide better next time. And don¡¯t get caught and beaten up by someone else,¡± Yong-Yong added, turning his head away with a snort.


    The Treasure Goblin stared at Yong-Yong in awe.


    Dragons were a mighty species that many lived their entire lives not seeing even one, but not only did he see two, one of them was concerned about his wellbeing. What an honor for his entire family.


    ¡°Well, should we finish up here and head back?¡± Do-Jun said as he placed the Skillbook into his briefcase.


    At that moment, the Treasure Goblin cautiously approached Do-Jun and handed him a card.


    [Treasure Goblin Company Pass]


    Grade: S


    Effect: Transports the user to the ¡°Treasure Goblin Company.¡± (Single-use)


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Do-Jun asked him.


    ¡°If you visit us sometime, I¡¯ll give you a proper reception.¡±


    The Treasure Goblin bowed deeply, and a brilliant light enveloped its body before it vanished.


    ***


    Bang!


    The mana bullet fired from the mana gun spun through the air and pierced the orc¡¯s head with precision. The orc was standing more than fifty meters away.


    Watching this, Min-Ji let out a genuine expression of admiration.


    Yoon-Hee¡¯s marksmanship was quite impressive, even among other Hunters. No, it was more than impressive¡ªit was so precise that one could hardly believe she was just a student.


    ¡°That¡¯s amazing. To be honest, just based on your mana gun control, you¡¯re on par with most A-rank Hunters. There¡¯s a bit of mana residue during the Charging phase, though. If you can work on that, you¡¯ll be able to eliminate your mana wastage entirely.¡±


    Blushing in embarrassment at Min-Ji¡¯s praise, Yoon-Hee shyly looked away.


    Seeing this, Min-Ji smiled and whispered in her ear, ¡°You must be getting some private lessons from Supervisor Lee, huh?¡±


    Though most Hunters weren¡¯t aware of Do-Jun¡¯s strength, the S-rank Hunters who had been with him at the boss zone of the S-rank Great Fissure in Umyeonsan Mountain and the Chief of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau knew just how powerful he was.


    Min-Ji was one of them. Naturally, she assumed Yoon-Hee had been learning from him.


    ¡°Ah... haha.¡± Yoon-Hee laughed awkwardly, choosing not to answer.


    If anything, it¡¯s the opposite... Why did I even say that back then? Yoon-Hee thought, suddenly recalling the words she had said to Do-Jun not long ago.


    ¡°Father, let me remind you that I¡¯m an aspiring Hunter. Let¡¯s train together on the weekends. I¡¯ll teach you the basics step by step.¡±


    She had forgotten this moment, but now the memory came rushing back, and she wanted to crawl into a hole out of embarrassment.


    ¡°I have to check in with the other groups now, so I¡¯ll leave it here,¡± Min-Ji said.


    ¡°Ah, yes. Thank you so much for your help today, Hunter Min-Ji!¡±


    The three students thanked her.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad I could be of help. See you around.¡±


    Min-Ji gave a soft smile and walked toward the next group. After taking a few steps, she stopped and turned to glance back at Yoon-Hee¡¯s retreating figure.


    With a bittersweet smile, she muttered to herself, ¡°Must be nice.¡±


    ***


    8 PM.


    Do-Jun had stayed a little late at the office, catching up on some of Hyuk-Soo¡¯s overdue work.


    A delicious aroma hit his nose as he walked through the door of his apartment. The two mini dragons came running from the sofa.


    ¡°Master, today¡¯s dinner is insane!¡± Yong-Yong reported as he panted, sticking out his tongue in excitement.


    After removing his shoes and stepping into the living room, Do-Jun spotted a grand dinner spread on the table. The care and effort put into the meal were evident at first glance¡ªit wasn¡¯t just about expensive ingredients; the dishes were prepared with genuine attention.


    ¡°You¡¯re home? Give me your coat,¡± Yoon-Hee said to Do-Jun.


    ¡°What¡¯s all this...?¡±


    Yoon-Hee stood proudly, smiling. She had earned about 2 million won by selling the by-products and mana stones obtained from the Fissure class. Since she finished school three hours earlier than usual, she had taken Yong-Yong and Karsiel to a large grocery store and bought all the ingredients for the recipes she had seen in a cookbook, cooking ever since.


    ¡°Do you want to take a shower first? Or eat right away? Or¡ª¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go wash up first,¡± Do-Jun interrupted her, loosening his tie as he headed to his room.


    Left in the living room, Yoon-Hee hid her hands behind her back. She took the small gift box she had been holding and tucked it into a kitchen drawer with a smile.


    ¡°I hope he likes it.¡±


    Humming a little tune, Yoon-Hee went back to focusing on her cooking.


    ***


    ¡°I wish we could eat like this every day.¡± Yong-Yong grinned happily as he gnawed on the ribs piled high in his bowl.


    Given the special occasion, even Karsiel, who usually ate pet food, changed into her human form to join the meal at the table.


    ¡°Ugh... Chopsticks are so hard to use,¡± Karsiel whined as she dropped a potato she had been trying to pick up, her expression crestfallen.


    Watching her struggle, Do-Jun sighed and handed her a spork, a utensil for children that combined a spoon and a fork.


    ¡°I-I can use chopsticks just like you guys, Master,¡± Karsiel said, seemingly slightly embarrassed.


    ¡°Sure, sure. But let¡¯s use this for now.¡±


    ¡°But I really can...¡± Karsiel pouted as she reluctantly accepted the spork from Do-Jun.


    Do-Jun had taught her how to use chopsticks some time ago, but she hadn¡¯t quite mastered the skill yet, which slightly hurt her pride.


    Do-Jun chuckled as he watched her, thinking, Karsiel is adorable.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± He noticed Yoon-Hee staring at him intently.


    When their eyes met, her face turned red, and she quickly averted her gaze. She leaned under her chair for a moment and then pulled out a gift box.


    ¡°T-this is for you, Father.¡±


    ¡°For me?¡±


    Yoon-Hee nodded, twisting her fingers through her hair, hesitating momentarily before speaking. ¡°I-it¡¯s nothing crazy...¡±


    Do-Jun untied the ribbon and opened the box to reveal a sleek-looking metal watch. He picked it up and examined it, noticing the brand name Armani engraved on the back.


    ¡°Your wristwatch looked pretty worn out, and you mentioned it breaks down often. So, I stopped by the department store on my way home and grabbed one. How do you like it?¡± Yoon-Hee fidgeted nervously with her fingers, cautiously looking up at Do-Jun.


    Do-Jun glanced at his old watch. The faux leather strap was on the verge of snapping, and the second hand was broken, spinning aimlessly inside the watch face. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He took off his old watch and strapped on the new metal one Yoon-Hee had given him. Though he hadn¡¯t adjusted the strap, it fit perfectly.


    Showing her the watch on his wrist, Do-Jun smiled. ¡°Thanks. I¡¯ll use it well.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t an overly dramatic reaction, but considering that Do-Jun was usually stoic, even a simple thank you like this one brought a bright smile to Yoon-Hee¡¯s face.


    ¡°O-okay!¡±


    ¡°I have something for you, too,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°For me?¡±


    Do-Jun went into his room, retrieved a book from his briefcase, and returned to the table to hand it to her.


    Yoon-Hee initially accepted the book with a puzzled expression, but her eyes gradually widened as she recognized what it was. Her hands trembled, and her face paled as she extended the skill book back toward Do-Jun, her voice shaky.


    ¡°I-I can¡¯t accept this,¡± she said.


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean ¡®why not?¡¯ This thing is worth at least 10 billion won!¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°And? Do you not understand? If you sell this, you won¡¯t have to work another day in your life¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yoon-Hee.¡± Do-Jun interrupted her stammering. He paused, giving her a moment to calm down.


    Once she had collected herself, Do-Jun spoke again. ¡°You¡¯re far more valuable to me than 10 billion won.¡±


    Hearing those words, Yoon-Hee froze. Do-Jun tilted his head, waving a hand in front of her face.


    ¡°Ah... Uh...¡± Her face flushed bright red, and she quickly lowered her head.


    Grabbing the hem of her skirt with both hands, she suddenly stood up and said, ¡°I-I¡¯ll be right back! I need to go to the bathroom!¡±


    It sounded like she had bit her tongue at the end.


    Bang!


    The bathroom door slammed shut as if it were about to break.


    Yong-Yong tapped Do-Jun¡¯s arm with his paw. ¡°Master.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°Maybe just ease into it next time.¡±


    ***


    The three Hunters of Behemoth Guild stood at the entrance to the Core. Each of them held the Tutorial Zone Entrance Token that Do-Jun had acquired for them, and an emergency cam was hung around Kang-Hyun¡¯s neck.


    [Are you sure you want to use your entry token to enter the Tutorial Zone?]


    [Warning! Once you enter, you may never return.]


    [Recommended magic resistance for the tutorial zone is 0.5. Challengers with lower magic resistance are advised to proceed with caution.]


    Recalling Young-Chul¡¯s words and reviewing the materials Do-Jun had provided about the Tutorial Zone, Kang-Hyun tapped the button linked to the cam.


    [Would you like to begin your stream?]

 Chapter 78

    Chapter 78


    10 AM, Seoul City Hall Entrance.


    Yoon-Hee stepped off the subway, biting her lip as she looked at the basket in her hands, which contained a carefully prepared lunch.


    Yong-Yong, who had been watching from her feet, sighed and said, ¡°Let¡¯s be honest. The Hunter Training Center is just an excuse. You really came to see Master, didn¡¯t you? You haven¡¯t even finished the skill book yet.¡±


    ¡°I-I¡¯m just stopping by since I¡¯m in the area. You stupid!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve told you this multiple times, but Master isn¡¯t thinking about what happened yesterday.¡±


    Yoon-Hee recalled the dinner from the night before.


    ¡°You¡¯re far more valuable to me than 10 billion won.¡±


    Just thinking about those words made her face burn. She had tossed and turned all night, finally falling asleep around 5 AM, and by the time she woke up, Do-Jun had already left for work.


    I know I said I was just stopping by, but...


    But in truth, she had come to deliver lunch out of guilt for not making breakfast that morning. Despite what she told Yong-Yong, her true intentions had already been found out.


    I didn¡¯t even make him breakfast before he left for work... I¡¯m such a failure as a daughter... Thank God I didn¡¯t have school today.


    She felt a pang of guilt at the thought of Do-Jun going to work on an empty stomach. On top of that, she was violating the fourth clause of the contract they had signed when they first met, which said she must be diligent in her household duties during the contract period.


    When she entered Seoul City Hall, she scanned the directory on the wall and quickly found that the Fissure Management Division was on the seventh floor.


    However, there was one obstacle.


    ¡°The elevator¡¯s on the other side...¡± Yoon-Hee sighed.


    The high-speed elevator was beyond the front desk, guarded by several female receptionists and security personnel. It seemed that only employees or authorized personnel could use it.


    Swallowing hard, Yoon-Hee walked over to the desk and spoke to one of the female receptionists. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Um, excuse me...¡±


    ***


    ¡°Behemoth, resuming Core exploration.¡±


    ¡°A deep Dive into the Tutorial Zone.¡±


    ¡°¡®This was just the preparation phase.¡¯ ¨C Hunter¡¯s Bureau.¡±


    ¡°Online stream surpasses 300 million concurrent viewers for the first time...¡±


    There had been twenty-one Dives under the leadership of the Bureau. The Core¡ªan enormous hole near Sodaesan Mountain in Gangwon-do, suspected to have appeared around the same time as the Fissures ten years ago¡ªwas back in the spotlight.


    For years, exploration had stagnated at a measly 1.4% completion rate, but now, thanks to Behemoth Guild, progress was finally being made and revealed to the public.


    News articles about Behemoth¡¯s twenty-second Dive dominated the portal site¡¯s homepage. While the Core remained a mystery to the general public and, in fact, to almost everyone except a select few, a live stream of the Dive was being broadcast in real-time.


    Do-Jun leaned back slightly in his chair and glanced at Hyuk-Soo¡¯s monitors beside him. One monitor displayed his work tasks, while the other streamed the broadcast.


    Of course, Hyuk-Soo wasn¡¯t the only one with such a display. All of the Fissure Management Division¡¯s staff were glued to their screens, watching the stream with shadows under their eyes.


    Looks like no one got any sleep, Do-Jun thought.


    The stream had started at 9 PM on Sunday and had been going on for over fourteen hours straight. Both the chat and donations had been disabled, and Behemoth Guild wasn¡¯t engaging in any idle talk with the viewers. They were focused entirely on their raid, only sharing necessary information. But despite that, people couldn¡¯t tear their eyes away.


    ¡°Mr. Administrator, look at this! They¡¯re calling this pool of water the Artifact Lake. It seems like this lake has a lot of artifacts floating in it. Isn¡¯t that fascinating?¡±


    Ye-Ji turned her smartphone toward Do-Jun, excited.


    Behemoth Guild was currently in the first stage of the Tutorial Zone, fishing in Artifact Lake, though there was no sign of Tusitala.


    I guess they don¡¯t need her anyway.


    The expedition seemed to be going smoothly even without Tusitala¡¯s help.


    ¡°Mr. Administrator, are you not interested in this?¡±


    Although this was a stream of a Core raid, considered the ultimate challenge among Fissures, Do-Jun¡¯s indifferent attitude made Ye-Ji tilt her head in confusion.


    After all, not only had Do-Jun already seen all this, but he was also the one who developed the strategy they were watching on the stream.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s fascinating. Artifact Lake, huh... Very interesting,¡± Do-Jun said flatly.


    ¡°You sound like you¡¯re reading from a textbook. Really, sometimes it¡¯s hard to tell what you¡¯re thinking,¡± Ye-Ji grumbled.


    ¡°Alright then. You keep watching. I¡¯ve got some work to finish.¡±


    ¡°Okaaay.¡±


    Still glued to the screen, Ye-Ji reluctantly turned her chair back to the stream while Do-Jun resumed working on the mapping report for the hidden dungeon in the C-rank Fissure at Dongguk University.


    Then, his hands stopped typing after a moment as he had a sudden thought. Now that I think of it...


    Do-Jun accessed the Fissure Management System and clicked on the E-rank tab. A Fissure marked in red appeared on the list, which meant it was overdue for patrol and inspection.


    ¡°Ye-Ji.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Administrator.¡±


    ¡°How about we go on patrol after lunch? An E-rank Fissure in the training center hasn¡¯t been inspected in a month. We should check it out.¡±


    Though she had been engrossed in the stream, Ye-Ji¡¯s eyes sparkled as she eagerly nodded. After all, it had been a while since she had gone out with Do-Jun to inspect a Fissure.


    ¡°Yes! Let¡¯s go!¡± She accepted with excitement.


    ¡°How about at 2 PM...?¡±


    Just then, the office phone rang, and a call came from the reception desk on the first floor.


    ¡°Hello, this is Lee Do-Jun from the Fissure Management Division.¡±


    ***


    Yoon-Hee was seated in a chair in the Fissure Management Division¡¯s meeting room. She gazed out at the office through the transparent glass partition. It was her first time actually visiting, and it all felt rather fascinating.


    Do-Jun walked in through the glass door and handed her a cup of tea before sitting down.


    Though she had offered to make the tea, Do-Jun insisted that guests shouldn¡¯t be preparing it, so he made it himself.


    ¡°Thank you for the tea,¡± Yoon-Hee said.


    ¡°Of course. So, what brings you here?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t have school, and I have the day off today, so I was planning to go to the Hunter Training Center. On the way, I thought I¡¯d drop by and bring you a lunchbox...¡±


    The Hunter Training Center was a training ground attached to the Hunter¡¯s Bureau, designed to help Hunters test their skills or improve their combat abilities. Hunters with a Hunter ID or temporary ID, as well as Academy students, could use the facility for free, making it quite popular among Hunters.


    ¡°But why the sudden lunchbox...?¡±


    Usually, Do-Jun would either eat at the staff cafeteria or go out to a nearby restaurant. Yoon-Hee knew this, and until now, she had never packed a lunch for him, which made her sudden appearance with one today all the more curious.


    ¡°Young Master spent over an hour and a half making this lunch with great care. She seems to feel guilty for not preparing breakfast due to oversleeping. Please accept it without hesitation, Master.¡± Karsiel spoke up.


    ¡°K-karsiel!¡± Yoon-Hee yelped and gave the dragon a tearful look.


    Finally, Do-Jun understood why she had brought the lunchbox. While he didn¡¯t think it was necessary, he decided not to say anything.


    ¡°You mentioned you¡¯re going to the training center? I¡¯ll come with you guys in the afternoon,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°Would that be... okay?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. I have some business there as well.¡±


    Yoon-Hee¡¯s face lit up.


    ***


    After lunch, a taxi was on its way to the Hunter Training Center.


    Silence ensued in the car. Yoon-Hee, Yong-Yong, Karsiel, and Ye-Ji sat in the back seat in that order while Do-Jun occupied the passenger seat.


    The tension in the taxi was palpable, with Yoon-Hee and Ye-Ji both silently staring out the windows.


    Caught between them, Yong-Yong and Karsiel felt as though they were being crushed by the weight of the tension in the air, while only Do-Jun alone seemed oblivious, busy fiddling with his SpacePad.


    The E-rank Fissure, Tomb of the Spirits, was where the lowest-rank elemental spirits of water, fire, wind, and earth appeared. However, few Hunters bothered hunting there, as spirits were difficult to kill compared to their rank. Additionally, aside from mana stones, they dropped no other valuable by-products.


    ¡°Hunter Ye-Ji.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Administrator.¡±


    ¡°The Tomb of the Spirits has a much larger map than other Fissures, so just walking around could take half a day. We may need to work overtime, depending on the situation. Will that be alright with you?¡±


    Upon entering the Fissure, there were four entrances, each corresponding to one of the elemental attributes¡ªwater, fire, wind, and earth. Do-Jun planned to explore all of them today unless Ye-Ji had other plans.


    ¡°So, I¡¯ll be spending the entire afternoon on a date with you, Mr. Administrator?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not a date. It¡¯s a patrol.¡±


    At Ye-Ji¡¯s words, Yoon-Hee, who had been blankly staring out the window, subtly tensed.


    Yong-Yong noticed her hand trembling slightly. A glance at her reflection in the window showed her brow furrowed. Considering that Yoon-Hee rarely frowned, it was clear that something was significantly bothering her.


    However, since it was just patrol work, even if Ye-Ji called it a date, there wasn¡¯t much Yoon-Hee could say.


    ¡°Master, can we come with you too?¡± Yong-Yong asked Do-Jun.


    ¡°Y-yong-Yong...?¡± Startled, Yoon-Hee looked down at Yong-Yong, who had been resting his chin on his paw, gazing out the window. He winked at her, giving a thumbs-up¡ªor rather, a toe-up, with his foot.


    ***


    [You have entered the Tomb of the Spirits.]


    Inside the Fissure, a large cavern spread out before them with four entrances, each marked with a symbol representing water, fire, wind, and earth. Rather, there should have been four entrances.


    ¡°Hmm...¡±


    There was only one entrance.


    Yong-Yong stared at the mural above the entrance, depicting a serene woman with her eyes closed and her hands pressed together in prayer. As if in a trance, he walked toward it.


    Do-Jun quietly observed him, sensing that Yong-Yong knew something.


    ¡°Laghaim, was it?¡± Yong-Yong muttered.


    ¡°What is Laghaim?¡± Ye-Ji asked.


    ¡°Laghaim is the first ever spirit and the queen of all spirits,¡± Karsiel answered instead of Yong-Yong.


    ¡°Queen of Spirits... Mr. Administrator, wasn¡¯t this supposed to be an E-rank Fissure?¡±


    ¡°It was, but... looks like that changed.¡±


    The map had changed. It had transformed into an entirely unfamiliar Fissure.


    Since when? Do-Jun wondered.


    The Tomb of the Spirits had always been an unpopular hunting ground, so few Hunters ever entered. It was unclear when the change occurred, but one thing was certain.


    A brilliant light emanated from the entrance.


    ¡°Is it telling us to come in?¡± Do-Jun said.

 Chapter 79

    Chapter 79


    ¡°It¡¯s the Spirit Queen... This is too dangerous. I don¡¯t think we should go in,¡± Ye-Ji said.


    The name of Laghaim, the Spirit Queen, stirred fear in her heart despite this being her first time hearing it. The title Queen usually indicated at least a named monster and the idea of a queen of spirits was beyond her comprehension of strength.


    Even though she possessed skills comparable to an A-rank Hunter, throwing herself into what could be a death trap just based on that was not something she wanted to risk.


    ¡°That¡¯s a rational decision. Please don¡¯t ever forget that mindset,¡± Do-Jun said with a smile and walked toward Ye-Ji.


    As he stood in front of her and gently closed her eyes with his hand, she fell asleep instantly as if she¡¯d been administered a potent sedative. Do-Jun carefully leaned her against a wall and sighed.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take a quick look. You two wait here.¡±


    ¡°As you wish, Master.¡± Karsiel bowed.


    If this Fissure weren¡¯t under Seoul¡¯s management, Do-Jun would have simply left, as Ye-Ji suggested. However, this was an E-rank Fissure that he was responsible for, and he needed to record the sudden changes in the Fissure¡¯s structure.


    ¡°Master, I want to come with you.¡± Yong-Yong wagged his tail enthusiastically, looking at Do-Jun with so much energy that he resembled an eel freshly caught from the water, wriggling intensely.


    Watching Yong-Yong¡¯s somewhat silly expression and bright smile, Do-Jun sometimes wondered if he really was the lord of all dragons.


    ¡°Be careful, Father,¡± Yoon-Hee said with worried eyes.


    She knew Do-Jun was strong, but the thought of a boss monster called the Spirit Queen waiting beyond the entrance made her reluctant to let him go. Yet, she couldn¡¯t argue with his decision.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, nothing will happen.¡±


    At least, probably not.


    ***


    Once he walked through the entrance, he was left staring at a field of flowers¡ªa field brimming with the fresh energy of spring.


    It was a paradise, bathed in warm sunlight, with a gentle breeze blowing through¡ªneither too hot nor too cold. Spirits of water, fire, wind, and earth ran around happily, carefree.


    In the middle of the spirits stood a breathtakingly beautiful woman dressed in a pure white dress.


    Using his qi senses, Do-Jun deduced that this woman was the Spirit Queen known as Laghaim.


    Laghaim¡¯s face twisted into a frown as she walked toward him with light steps. Then, the essence of nature gathered around her, and a beam of light shot toward Do-Jun.


    Ruuuuumble!


    ¡°Master!¡± Yong-Yong leaped in front of Do-Jun, opening his mouth wide.


    The air around them twisted intensely, filled with a suffocating pressure as magical power swirled, and then a blast of Dragon Breath shot from Yong-Yong¡¯s mouth.


    Boom!


    The two energies collided in mid-air, crashing and intertwining against each other. The clash of powers continued, each pushing and being pushed back, locked in a contest of strength.


    It was clear that if one side faltered even slightly, they would lose.


    However, the two forces seemed evenly matched. Eventually, both powers exhausted their energy and disappeared into the air.


    Spirit Queen Laghaim alternated her gaze between Yong-Yong and the relaxed-looking human. She couldn¡¯t understand why the Dragon Lord, who should be in eternal slumber beyond the Deep Realm, was here. But what troubled her more was this human¡ªor rather, this Transcendent.


    To protect the lesser spirits, Laghaim had used the ancient artifact of the Deep Realm, the Book of Ascension, to flee from the Transcendents and Solomon¡¯s demons. She had used the artifact to create a new domain up to the second layer of the Core, thinking no one would ever find her.


    She had spilled so much blood to obtain the one and only artifact of the Deep Realm, finally believing she could live in peace.


    ¡°I trusted you, Izaas...¡± Laghaim said through gritted teeth.


    The Core had been twisted by the Transcendents and Solomon¡¯s seventy-two demons, and the inhabitants of the Core had fought the Great War to restore it.


    Particularly, the spirits and dragons had even formed a covenant to reclaim the land. But now, Izaas, the Lord of Dragons, stood with a Transcendent and even used his Dragon Breath to protect one.


    ¡°You... You betrayed me! You betrayed the spirits!¡± Tears fell from her eyes onto her white dress while Yong-Yong stared at her, dumbfounded.


    Wasn¡¯t she the one who attacked first? What was she talking about?


    And betrayal? None of this made sense.


    ¡°W-wait, hey! You attacked first! Isn¡¯t that right, Master?¡±


    Do-Jun nodded as he walked toward Laghaim.


    Once again, the essence of nature gathered around her. With a terrifying murderous intent, another beam of light shot straight toward Do-Jun.


    Boom!


    Do-Jun sighed and wrapped his body in Barrier, and as the beam struck the layer of his internal energy, a cloud of smoke rose with a loud bang.


    As the smoke cleared, Do-Jun emerged completely unscathed.


    ¡°What...?¡± Laghaim¡¯s lips trembled in disbelief.


    Even if this man was a Transcendent, he shouldn¡¯t have been able to take a direct hit of the essence of nature and remain unharmed, but Do-Jun didn¡¯t have so much as a scratch on him.


    ¡°Are you Laghaim, the Queen of Spirits?¡±


    ¡°Y-yes.¡±


    Do-Jun smiled. ¡°Down.¡±


    ***


    ¡°So, you¡¯re saying you and I formed an alliance to fight against those Transcendents and demons, right?¡± Yong-Yong spoke nonchalantly, sitting on Laghaim¡¯s back as she engaged in a plank position.


    The immense weight on her back made Laghaim feel like she would lose her balance and fall at any moment, but she didn¡¯t dare break her form. No, she couldn¡¯t.


    If she did, Do-Jun would flick her forehead without hesitation, which hurt more than she could bear despite him not using much force at all.


    According to Izaas, Do-Jun was neither a Transcendent nor a demon, just one of the countless humans on Earth. Nothing more, nothing less.


    But what is this power?


    Not even Imfelheim, the strongest of the Transcendents, nor Baal, the highest-ranking demon among Solomon¡¯s seventy-two, possessed this level of power.


    It was unprecedented.


    ¡°Yong-Yong, you can get off now,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡±


    ¡°And you can get up.¡±


    ¡°T-thank you.¡±


    Do-Jun organized the information he had gathered from Laghaim in his head.


    Why was she, who should be in the Core, inside a Fissure on Earth?


    It likely had something to do with the Encroachment that Tusitala had mentioned.


    According to Laghaim, this place was supposed to be part of the second layer of the Core, but for some unknown reason, his normal status window wasn¡¯t sealed, and he could still use his abilities.


    Do-Jun observed the many spirits frolicking in the flower field. Bringing Laghaim back with him would certainly be helpful in various ways, but doing so would mean these spirits would lose their protector.


    Moreover, the decisive reason was that the house was too small to accommodate any more members.


    ¡°Should we head back?¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°Yes!¡± Yong-Yong replied.


    As Do-Jun and Yong-Yong were about to turn back, Laghaim carefully spoke up. ¡°S-sorry, but...¡±


    She extended her hand as if trying to stop them.


    Do-Jun turned around.


    ¡°Are you planning to deal with the Transcendents and the demons?¡± she asked.


    At her question, Do-Jun shrugged his shoulders.


    When she didn¡¯t receive the answer she had hoped for, Laghaim bit her lip. She had seen many strong individuals in her time, but Do-Jun was on an entirely different level. She had hoped she could rely on his help.


    ¡°Maybe someday,¡± Do-Jun finally said.


    Laghaim¡¯s face brightened upon hearing his response.


    ***


    As Do-Jun exited the Fissure, he noticed that the entrance to the Tomb of the Spirits, which was merged into a single door when he entered, had split back into four.


    Each represented one of the four elements¡ªwater, fire, wind, and earth¡ªreturning to their original E-rank Fissure forms.


    ¡°Welcome back, Master,¡± Karsiel whispered softly as Yoon-Hee and Ye-Ji were asleep, resting against each other.


    ¡°Come to think of it, she didn¡¯t get much sleep last night,¡± Do-Jun said and smiled as he looked at them.


    He had noticed that Yoon-Hee had barely slept, only managing to doze off near 5 AM, so he decided to let her rest a little longer.


    ***


    ¡°Behemoth Guild clears the first stage of the tutorial in the Core!¡±


    ¡°20 Hours in the Core: KBA Broadcast Exclusive Interview.¡±


    ¡°When is the next Dive?¡±


    After dinner, Do-Jun browsed through news articles on his smartphone regarding Behemoth Guild¡¯s Core raid. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was reported that they had narrowly avoided death during the boss fight, but fortunately, they completed it without any major injuries.


    Looks like they made the right choice and got the Challenger¡¯s Memory.


    Each time a tutorial was cleared, one could choose between a random artifact or the Challenger¡¯s Memory, which allowed instantaneous teleportation out of the Core. Do-Jun had repeatedly advised Behemoth Guild to choose the latter, and it seemed they had wisely set aside their greed and made the right choice.


    Hearing a gulping sound, Do-Jun glanced at Yong-Yong and Karsiel, who were fiddling with the SpacePad beside him. It displayed information about monsters on the screen. He wondered if they were studying strategies, but that wasn¡¯t quite what they were doing.


    [Top 10 Edible Monsters]


    Yoon-Hee placed a plate of sliced apples in front of Do-Jun and asked, ¡°What are you two looking at?¡±


    In response to her question, Yong-Yong showed her the SpacePad screen. ¡°Apparently, all of these monsters are edible.¡±


    ¡°They say fried Cockatrice is a real delicacy.¡±


    ¡°You just had dinner... How are you already hungry enough to be looking up food?¡± Yoon-Hee gave Yong-Yong a look of exasperation, but to be honest, she wasn¡¯t completely uninterested herself.


    After all, as Karsiel mentioned, the D-rank monster Cockatrice¡ªknown for its chicken-lizard appearance¡ªwas said to be even tastier than regular fried chicken.


    Yong-Yong turned to Do-Jun, gauging his reaction.


    Ultimately, whether they could hunt a Cockatrice was up to their master, Do-Jun.


    ¡°Hmm. Where can we find this Cockatrice?¡± Do-Jun asked, noticing Yong-Yong¡¯s intention.


    ¡°Oh, I know that. Um... It¡¯s on Bukhansan Mountain in Eunpyeong-gu. It¡¯s quite famous, so not only Hunters but regular people also go there. There are even food stalls selling grilled and fried Cockatrice near the entrance,¡± Yong-Yong said immediately.


    ¡°Then why don¡¯t we just buy some from there?¡±


    ¡°Well, we could, but the price...¡±


    It was expensive.


    Do-Jun checked its price online and confirmed that it wasn¡¯t something they couldn¡¯t afford, but it was still quite pricey.


    At that moment, Yoon-Hee mumbled, ¡°And besides...¡±


    ¡°Yeah?¡±


    ¡°Cooking is a homemaker¡¯s pride! I¡¯ll make it myself,¡± Yoon-Hee declared with determination.


    ¡°Is that so... eh?¡± Do-Jun casually agreed to Yoon-Hee¡¯s resolve but soon tilted his head.


    Strictly speaking, she was more of a daughter helping out with house chores, not a homemaker.

 Chapter 80

    Chapter 80


    1 PM on a Saturday.


    Do-Jun was sitting at the dining table, drinking coffee. He set down his cup with a sigh. ¡°Maybe I should just go by myself...¡±


    The two dragons, who had been silently glaring at each other on the sofa, shook their heads at Do-Jun¡¯s declaration of going alone. They quickly stopped their prolonged stare-off, and an intense competition began. The mini dragons started playing rock-paper-scissors with their small forepaws.


    ¡°Rock, paper...¡±


    ¡°Scissors!¡±


    ¡°Argh!¡±


    The result?


    Yong-Yong, who had been boasting about how there was no such thing as ¡°best of three¡± among the prided species of dragons, ended up losing. He trembled, staring pitifully at his clenched paw.


    ¡°How... how about best two out of three?¡± he suggested.


    ¡°Let¡¯s not go around changing the rules, Lord Izaas.¡±


    ¡°Ugh, I wish I could go back and slap my past self.¡±


    The winner was set to accompany Do-Jun to Bukhansan Mountain. Do-Jun had planned to go alone to hunt the Cockatrice in the mountain, but the dragons insisted on going with him, leading them to settle it with a competition. The dragon left behind would have to go grocery shopping with Yoon-Hee and watch over the house.


    Do-Jun finished his coffee and grabbed his simple, plain Hunter ID card that bore the name Kim Hyun-Woo.


    ¡°Alright, see you guys later.¡±


    ***


    At the entrance to Bukhansan Mountain National Park.


    Usually, most visitors here were hikers, but the appearance of the D-rank Fissure Cockatrice¡¯s Nest three years ago made it one of Korea''s top tourist destinations, attracting a wider variety of visitors, including Hunters hunting Cockatrices, their porters, and tourists.


    A bus pulled up at the entrance to the hiking trail. This was the Hunter Bus, which transported Hunters to Fissures. The Hunter¡¯s Bureau had operated it free of charge for the past five years.


    ¡°It¡¯s here.¡±


    Hunters, dressed in colorful suits with mana guns holstered at their waists, boarded the bus through the front door. Like a regular bus, there was a terminal next to the driver¡¯s seat where they could scan their Hunter ID cards.


    Beep.


    [Hunter Kim Ho-Chul, confirmed.]


    Kim Ho-Chul was a man in his forties with a scruffy, unkempt beard. As he scanned his ID card, an automated voice echoed, and the letter F appeared in large font on the terminal screen. He let out a long sigh as he took his seat.


    He placed his belongings in the storage box attached to the seat¡ªa Swiss army knife and a bag made of a special synthetic material, rather than weapons like swords, spears, or combat support artifacts such as Mana Smoke.


    Kim Ho-Chul, a perpetual F-rank Hunter, was a porter.


    [Hunter Kim Hyun-Woo, confirmed.]


    Oh, a fellow porter. Kim Ho-Chul noticed the large F on the terminal screen as the next person boarded.


    Since most of the real Hunters who boarded the Hunter Bus at Bukhansan Mountain¡¯s entrance were at least D-rank, it was natural for him to assume that an F-rank Hunter must be a porter.


    However, the man¡¯s attire was peculiar.


    Due to the Fissure¡¯s nature, even porters were required to wear suits, but this young man, who appeared to be in his mid-twenties and went by the name Kim Hyun-Woo, was dressed in jeans and a hoodie, with a backpack slung over his shoulder.


    But there was something even more unusual than his attire.


    A daughter? No... a younger sister?


    Following behind him was a small girl, around seven or eight years old. Despite the chilly April weather, she was wearing just a thin dress and holding an ice cream as she followed Kim Hyun-Woo onto the bus.


    ¡°Would it be alright if we sat here?¡± The man, Kim Hyun-Woo, approached and asked Kim Ho-Chul, who nodded with a puzzled look.


    The seats on the Hunter Bus were arranged in threes, and Kim Hyun-Woo sat in the middle, placing the little girl on the aisle seat.


    [The bus will depart in 10 minutes.]


    The announcement came on as the bus engine started. The slight movement of the bus caused the little girl¡¯s ice cream to wobble, smudging her cheek.


    Seeing this, Kim Hyun-Woo pulled a tissue from his hiking backpack and gently wiped the girl¡¯s cheek.


    ¡°You should be careful,¡± he said to the girl.


    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°No, no, it¡¯s fine.¡±


    As he watched them, Kim Ho-Chul suddenly thought of his ten-year-old son, who was home alone, and felt a pang of sadness.


    Perhaps this man, Kim Hyun-Woo, was also raising a child on his own without a wife.


    ¡°Is she your daughter?¡± Kim Ho-Chul asked, unable to hold back his curiosity.


    ***


    Hearing the middle-aged man¡¯s question, Do-Jun hesitated briefly but decided to play along. It was too much hassle to explain everything.


    ¡°Ah, I thought so. But isn¡¯t it dangerous to bring your daughter to a Fissure? Besides, you probably don¡¯t want to show her anything too embarrassing.¡±


    In the hierarchical, pyramid-like society of Hunters, F-rank Hunters were often looked down on and treated poorly, especially when they weren¡¯t even combatants but mere porters.


    ¡°Thank you for your concern,¡± Do-Jun replied noncommittally.


    ¡°I have a son myself, so I guess I tend to get a bit nosey. I¡¯m raising him alone, so I worry about him more... Ah, I didn¡¯t even introduce myself. My name is Kim Ho-Chul.¡± Kim Ho-Chul extended his hand for a handshake.


    ¡°I¡¯m Lee Do... I mean, Kim Hyun-Woo.¡± Do-Jun smiled and shook his hand.


    Judging by how Kim Ho-Chul glanced at Do-Jun and Karsiel with a sympathetic look, he seemed to be convinced that they were in the same situation¡ªa single dad.


    [Hunter Lee Guk-Hyun, confirmed.]


    [Hunter Yoo Min-Tae, confirmed.]


    [Hunter Ahn Sung-Guk, confirmed.]


    ¡°Ugh.¡±


    As three more Hunters boarded the bus, Kim Ho-Chul¡¯s expression hardened, and he sighed under his breath.


    The newly arrived Hunters were members of a B-rank team called Sky Devil, which also happened to be the team Kim Ho-Chul was assigned to as the porter.


    Sky Devil¡¯s team leader, B-rank Hunter Lee Guk-Hyun, walked down the aisle toward the back seats. He spotted Kim Ho-Chul sitting there and stopped in his tracks.


    Kim Ho-Chul stood up and bowed, greeting nervously, ¡°G-good to see you again.¡±


    ¡°You know what¡¯ll happen if you¡¯re as slow as last time, right?¡± With that remark, the Hunters continued to the back of the bus.


    As Kim Ho-Chul briefly locked eyes with Karsiel, he sighed inwardly and sat down.


    [The bus is now departing.]


    ***


    Passing by Borisa Temple, the bus came to a stop after driving about two kilometers uphill.


    Outside the window were hikers, tourists, and people wearing suits¡ªpresumably Hunters. And, towering high in the sky, was the Cockatrice¡¯s Nest.


    ¡°Master, there are so many people here.¡± Karsiel looked around in awe after disembarking the bus.


    She seemed especially fascinated by the food stalls grilling and frying cockatrice on the spot. Noticing her wonder, Do-Jun smiled and patted her head.


    Karsiel grinned as she clung to the hem of Do-Jun¡¯s clothes.


    For some reason, while at home with everyone, Karsiel was always reserved. However, her expressions became much more varied whenever it was just the two of them. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The reason for this remained a mystery to Do-Jun.


    [Hunter Cha Jin-Woong, confirmed.]


    At the entrance of the Fissure, a Hunter¡¯s Bureau employee was helping Hunters enter by scanning their Hunter ID cards and verifying their fingerprints, making it impossible for Karsiel to accompany Do-Jun inside.


    ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll have to go alone. Can you wait for me at that pavilion over there?¡± Do-Jun asked her, pointing towards a sign that read Rest Area and beneath which was an octagonal pavilion.


    Although Karsiel also wanted to go inside the Fissure, she knew that throwing a tantrum would only trouble Do-Jun, so she easily agreed.


    ¡°If a strange man offers you candy or tries to lure you away¡ª¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll kill him,¡± Karsiel interrupted immediately.


    ¡°No, you... you can¡¯t kill him.¡±


    Karsiel giggled softly and added, ¡°I¡¯m joking. I can tell right from wrong, you know.¡±


    ¡°Good. I¡¯ll be back soon.¡±


    ¡°Be safe, Master.¡±


    Do-Jun walked toward the Fissure entrance while Karsiel smiled and waved until he disappeared from view.


    ¡°Hey, little girl. Want some candy?¡± A voice came as soon as she was left alone.


    ***


    [Hunter Kim Hyun-Woo, confirmed.]


    ¡°Which team are you with?¡± the Hunter¡®s Bureau employee asked.


    Do-Jun replied, ¡°Solo.¡±


    ¡°But... you¡¯re not wearing a suit, and you¡¯re an F-rank Hunter. Are you really soloing?¡± The employee asked, looking confused.


    He had assumed Do-Jun was a porter since he was only an F-rank Hunter, but solo hunting?


    Was this dumbass trying to get himself killed?


    However, he could only look on with pity as employees had no authority to stop Hunters wishing to entire a Fissure.


    There were always a few crazy people like this every now and then.


    ¡°You do know that the cockatrices here are a pack species, right?¡± he asked in a warning.


    Cockatrice never moved alone¡ªonly in packs of tens, if not dozens.


    This was precisely why most of the Hunters who came here were B-rank or higher¡ªand they usually came in teams.


    ¡°I¡¯m aware,¡± Do-Jun replied.


    How could he not know?


    This Fissure was under his management.


    ***


    D-rank Fissure, Cockatrice¡¯s Nest¡ªas the name suggested, it was a nest.


    Though not as strong as stainless steel, the large nest was made of branches from Milang Trees, which were known to be nearly as tough. This meant that the cockatrices¡¯ beaks and teeth, capable of breaking those branches to build their nests, were known to be as strong as steel.


    Most E-rank or lower suits were easily pierced by them.


    To combat this challenge, Hunters formed teams of ten to fifteen people at the entrance before venturing further to hunt the pack-based cockatrices.


    ¡°As you all know, according to the Seoul Fissure Management Division¡¯s mapping data, a named monster, Nimble Cockatrice, is in the C-1 area. So, make sure not to go anywhere near there...¡± Lee Guk-Hyun from Sky Devil was briefing the Hunters.


    Apart from Do-Jun, the fourteen C and B-rank Hunters gathered here each held a copy of the completed map and followed along as Lee Guk-Hyun explained.


    ¡°Porters, follow about thirty meters behind the Hunters.¡±


    The three porters, standing separately from the Hunters, nodded.


    Seeing that, Lee Guk-Hyun pressed his pen hard against his brow, clearly irritated, and shouted, ¡°Am I speaking to a bunch of ghosts, you idiots?!¡±


    His temper flared when the F-rank porters didn¡¯t immediately respond verbally to an upper B-rank Hunter like himself.


    The world of Hunters was a world of survival of the fittest. Age and gender played no role, as strength was everything.


    ¡°Y-yes, sir! Understood!¡± A visibly tense Kim Ho-Cheol shouted back.


    Nothing good would come out of getting on the wrong side of Sky Devil¡¯s team leader. Besides, Lee Guk-Hyun was a veteran of Cockatrice¡¯s Nest. Ignoring his words would lead to nothing but trouble.


    ¡°Now, according to your positions...¡±


    It was at that moment the entrance of the Fissure shimmered, and a man emerged.


    Kim Ho-Cheol recognized him immediately. It was Kim Hyun-Woo, who had sat next to him on the Hunter bus.


    All eyes turned toward him.

 Chapter 81

    Chapter 81


    Meanwhile, at an indoor playground near their home.


    ¡°This is the ¡®fun¡¯ place...?¡± Yong-Yong blankly stared at the kids running around and playing.


    Yoon-Hee smiled and nodded her head.


    A small bouncy ball flew toward Yong-Yong and hit him on the cheek.


    ¡°You don¡¯t like it? I thought this place was perfect for someone your age...¡± Yoon-Hee said happily.


    ¡°How... how old do you think I am?¡±


    ¡°Hm, maybe around six... no, five?¡±


    Yong-Yong pressed his throbbing forehead with his paw and muttered, ¡°Uh...¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°I am over eight thousand years old.¡±


    Yong-Yong had long passed his hatchling days and had become a fully grown dragon. It had been over two millennia since he had become the king of all dragons, feared and revered by his kind. The tyrant, the emperor, the Dragon Lord Izaas¡ªthese were all titles he once held.


    But now...


    ¡°An indoor playground? Really?¡± Yong-Yong shouted, slamming his foot on the bouncy ball rolling on the floor.


    He hadn¡¯t often rebelled against Yoon-Hee, but this time, he simply couldn¡¯t forgive her. He needed to establish the hierarchy in this house, once and for all.


    ¡°W-whoa?!¡± Yong-Yong exclaimed as Yoon-Hee picked him up and patted his head.


    ¡°Okay, okay, Yong-Yong. Let¡¯s go try the slide now.¡±


    ¡°Did you even hear a word I said?¡± Young-Yong asked in exasperation.


    ¡°Yup, yup. You¡¯re eight thousand years old. Our Yong-Yong is eight thousand years old!¡±


    Yong-Yong was left speechless.


    They climbed the playfully designed stairs to the top of the slide, where children were already lined up, ready to go down the slide that dropped into a pool filled with bouncy balls.


    ¡°Looks fun, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Yoon-Hee asked him.


    ¡°Tch, the hell it does.¡± Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was finally Yong-Yong¡¯s turn. Holding him in her arms, Yoon-Hee slid down the slide. The breeze created by the slide¡¯s speed wrapped around them as they hit the bouncy balls, which cushioned their landing.


    While in Yoon-Hee¡¯s arms, Yong-Yong¡¯s body involuntarily started to tremble slightly.


    He stared off blankly, deep in thought. What the... this is...


    It was fun.


    ¡°How was it? Fun, right?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Yong-Yong grumbled and turned his head.


    However, noticing the slight smile tugging at the corner of his lips, Yoon-Hee chuckled softly. She thought to herself that Yong-Yong was not an honest kid.


    ¡°Shall we try that next, Mr. Yong-Yong?¡±


    ¡°Why are you suddenly being so polite...?¡±


    Yoon-Hee had read in a book that speaking with respect could help a child¡¯s emotional development.


    ***


    After spending about an hour at the indoor playground, Yoon-Hee and Yong-Yong stopped by the local grocery store to pick up ingredients for fried chicken¡ªflour, milk, onions, garlic, and more. After putting everything in the fridge, she sat on the couch and pulled out her smartphone.


    Do-Jun had said he would be home in about three hours, and there was still an hour left before then.


    ?So what you¡¯re saying, Mr. Kyung-Sik, is that F-rank Hunters face a lot of discrimination even among other Hunters. According to the statistics published by the Hunter¡¯s Bureau, F-rankers make up twenty percent of the entire...?


    A program called Hunter History was airing on TV. It was a popular show with over twenty percent viewership for every episode despite not being a public network show.


    Yong-Yong regularly watched it and was glued to the screen.


    ¡°Father took his F-rank Hunter license with him today...¡±


    ¡°Why does that matter?¡± Yong-Yong asked and glanced at her, curious if there was a problem.


    ¡°I¡¯m just worried that other Hunters might pick a fight with him...¡±


    ¡°What poor bum would be crazy enough to pick a fight with Master?¡±


    ¡°Right...?¡±


    They would have to be completely insane.


    ***


    Recognizing the man who just walked into the Fissure, Lee Guk-Hyun muttered, ¡°That guy...¡±


    Only one person among the passengers on the Hunter bus wasn¡¯t wearing proper hunting attire. If he remembered correctly, that person was an F-rank Hunter. He must have come as a porter.


    ¡°Is he mad?¡±


    Though the Fissure was ranked D¡ªneither too high nor too low¡ªwithout a suit, even an A-rank Hunter could be fatally wounded by a D-rank monster¡¯s attack. So, what was this guy thinking, entering the Fissure in just a hoodie and jeans?


    Not only Lee Guk-Hyun but the rest of the Hunters also shared the same sentiment.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Lee Guk-Hyun called out to Do-Jun, but Do-Jun paid him no mind and kept walking.


    Enraged that an F-rank dared ignore him, Lee Guk-Hyun rushed over, grabbed Do-Jun¡¯s shoulder, and stopped him in his tracks. He shouted, ¡°When someone calls you, you stop and look, you bastard.¡±


    Do-Jun looked down at Lee Guk-Hyun¡¯s hand on his shoulder and let out a long sigh. For some reason, he had a feeling this would happen.


    ¡°The way you speak to someone you just met,¡± he said, brushing the hand off his shoulder, ¡°are you my boss?¡±


    Everyone around them was shocked. Kim Ho-Chul, in particular, turned pale.


    How could a mere porter speak that way to a B-rank Hunter?


    ¡°What... did you just say?¡± Lee Guk-Hyun said as he ground his teeth and clenched his fists.


    How could this F-rank porter act so bold?


    Despite wanting to beat him like a dog, he couldn¡¯t do that with this many people watching. Some were even recording the scene with their cams.


    Do-Jun said, ¡°Well, I suppose I can see why you¡¯d think that way. I¡¯m a F-rank, and you¡¯re a B-rank. If we look at it that way, I guess you could be considered my senior.¡±


    ¡°If you know that, then you should¡ª¡±


    Do-Jun continued, not bothering to let Lee Guk-Hyun finish his sentence. ¡°And if you were offering me advice or looking out for me as that senior, I would humbly accept it. But if you¡¯re just trying to pull rank, I¡¯d prefer you didn¡¯t.¡±


    Do-Jun¡¯s hand rested on the mana gun holstered at Lee Guk-Hyun¡¯s waist with a cold, steely gaze. The others couldn¡¯t see it from afar, but Lee Guk-Hyun, standing close, knew exactly what message Do-Jun was sending.


    He wasn¡¯t saying anything out loud, but his warning was clear: I¡¯ll let it go this time, but there will be no next time, so don¡¯t push your luck.


    Crack!


    Lee Guk-Hyun¡¯s mana gun shattered.


    ***


    Do-Jun emerged from the Fissure after taking down a cockatrice.


    As he stepped outside, he noticed a large crowd gathered around the octagonal pavilion. Most of the people there were middle-aged hikers in their forties and fifties, dressed in hiking gear, and the object of their fascination was none other than Karsiel.


    ¡°Whose daughter is she? She¡¯s so adorable.¡±


    ¡°Here, try some of this. I¡¯ve also got chocolate if that¡¯s what you like.¡±


    Karsiel¡¯s hands were full of snacks, and the hikers smiled warmly as they admired her, who happened to resemble the adorable mix-raced children popular on TV.


    ¡°Masteeeer!¡± The moment Karsiel spotted Do-Jun coming out of the Fissure, she jumped up and hurriedly ran over to him, drawing the attention of all the hikers.


    Feeling their eyes on him, Do-Jun gulped nervously.


    ¡°Is that her father...?¡±


    ¡°But why did she call him Master?¡±


    ¡°Should we call the police?¡±


    Karsiel paid no attention to them. She happily sucked on a lollipop and smiled brightly.


    ¡°Master, I got lots of things to eat!¡± she said with her mouth full of candy.


    ¡°Could you call me Dad for now, please?¡±


    Hearing that, Karsiel dropped her lollipop. Shaking her head vigorously, she replied, ¡°No, I can¡¯t. Young Master wouldn¡¯t like that. I¡¯ll just keep calling you Master.¡±


    For a brief moment, the hikers, who had locked eyes with Do-Jun, whispered among themselves again.


    Do-Jun leaned in to whisper to Karsiel, ¡°Just until we get home, call me Dad. Please, Karsiel.¡±


    ¡°Is... that really okay?¡±


    ¡°Please.¡±


    That was when Do-Jun discovered that Karsiel could make such a radiant expression.


    ¡°Okay, Dad!¡±


    ***


    Yong-Yong was curled up on the sofa, half-asleep. Hearing the sound of the door unlocking, he perked up his ears and reflexively got up, then ran toward the entrance.


    ¡°Welcome home, Mas¡ª Huh?¡±


    Do-Jun and Karsiel entered the house, but something was different. Karsiel was holding Do-Jun¡¯s hand tightly.


    ¡°Let¡¯s wash our hands first,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°Yes, Dad.¡±


    ¡°Dad...?¡±


    As Yong-Yong mumbled in confusion, the smiling Karsiel¡¯s expression immediately turned blank, and she let go of Do-Jun¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Karsiel, did you just call Master Dad...?¡± Yong-Yong asked her.


    ¡°You must be hearing things, Lord Izaas.¡±


    ¡°N-no, I¡¯m sure that¡¯s what you said.¡±


    ¡°I said Master.¡± Karsiel¡¯s eyes grew cold.


    ¡°R-right. No, you¡¯re right, haha.¡±


    ***


    ¡°I swear I heard her say Dad...¡± Yong-Yong muttered to himself.


    Yoon-Hee was draining the milk from the cockatrice meat she had soaked earlier. She tilted her head in confusion as she asked, ¡°Hm? What are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°Do you want some help?¡± Do-Jun asked as he dried his wet hair with a towel.


    Given that frying food involved a lot of hot oil, he thought there was a chance Yoon-Hee would burn herself.


    ¡°You went through all the trouble to get the main ingredient. I can¡¯t have you cook as well,¡± Yoon-Hee politely declined.


    ¡°Well, it wasn¡¯t that hard...¡±


    ¡°And please don¡¯t take away my fun.¡±


    Yoon-Hee thought it was better for Do-Jun to just enjoy the meal rather than help her cook. After all, she was working hard for the satisfaction of seeing him enjoy the food, and that was enough for her.


    Pouring nearly half a bottle of canola oil into the frying pan, Yoon-Hee lit the gas stove and waited until the oil reached around one hundred and eighty degrees Celsius. Then, she carefully placed the batter-coated cockatrice pieces into the pan one by one, making sure they didn¡¯t stick together.


    This scene shocked Yong-Yong. Weren¡¯t grilling or boiling the only ways to cook meat? In fact, he thought that grilling it was the best way to bring out the flavor.


    ¡°U-umm...¡± Biting her lip slightly, Yoon-Hee glanced nervously at Do-Jun, Yong-Yong, and Karsiel, all hovering close to her.


    Then, with an awkward smile, she said, ¡°I¡¯ll try to be quick.¡±


    It seemed like everyone was famished.


    ***


    ¡°H-how is it, Father?¡± Yoon-Hee waited until Do-Jun swallowed the chicken before she timidly asked the question, her voice wavering slightly with nervousness.


    What if he said it didn¡¯t taste good?


    ¡°It¡¯s delicious,¡± Do-Jun replied.


    ¡°R-really?¡±


    The positive response from Do-Jun filled her with an overwhelming happiness that nothing else could compare to, as these were the moments she could truly feel how much she was needed.


    ¡°The fact that you put so much care into it makes it taste even better, Young Master.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Karsiel. Eat up.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    The fried cockatrice¡¯s golden, crispy coating gleamed as the intense, juicy flavor burst out with every bite. The outside was crunchy and savory, while the inside was tender and juicy with just the right amount of seasoning.


    Yong-Yong closed his eyes as he mumbled, ¡°This is the taste of the cosmos.¡±

 Chapter 82

    Chapter 82


    The Hunters assigned to the Seoul City Hall¡¯s Fissure Management Division were on standby at their own homes most of the time unless a special occasion required them to be in office¡ªsuch as when a new C-rank or lower Fissures were detected, or when issues arose with existing Fissures managed by the city, or for patrols. Additionally, they were required to come in once a month for the monthly physical enhancement session.


    On the day of the physical enhancement, the Hunters gathered in the break room attached to the Fissure Management Division office, waiting their turn. They sat close together, quietly eyeing Ye-Ji¡ªmore precisely, they were looking at the man sitting next to her, with whom she was happily chatting: Lee Do-Jun.


    The Hunters started talking among themselves.


    ¡°I heard Supervisor Kwon isn¡¯t coming in today.¡±


    ¡°So, we¡¯re going with the drill sergeant?¡±


    ¡°Man, keep your voice down, or the sergeant¡¯s gonna hear you.¡±


    Among the Hunters contracted by the city, Do-Jun had earned the nickname Drill Sergeant. His by-the-book, process-driven way of working made the Hunters think of him as an instructor at a military academy.


    Still, that wasn¡¯t the only reason he had earned that nickname. There was another key factor for this.


    ¡°I wish he¡¯d run drills with me, too...¡±


    ¡°Are you crazy?¡±


    ¡°Hah, don¡¯t act like you¡¯re not jealous.¡±


    The nickname came about after an unexpected change in Do-Jun following his sudden accident. Before the accident, people had mocked him behind his back for being useless, mainly due to his timid speech and clumsy work, but out of nowhere, he had grown taller, become more muscular, and even better looking. After that, he quickly became a pillar of the division alongside Hyuk-Soo.


    But what truly caught the Hunters¡¯ attention wasn¡¯t just Do-Jun¡¯s transformation. Ye-Ji, an ex-F-rank Hunter managed by Do-Jun, had experienced rapid growth in recent months, quickly rising to the top among the contracted Hunters.


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯m jealous... I¡¯m crazy jealous.¡±


    The Hunters suspected that Ye-Ji¡¯s sudden growth was due to Do-Jun¡¯s lessons. They weren¡¯t sure what exactly he had taught her, but there seemed to be no other explanation. Plus, Ye-Ji followed Do-Jun around like a chick following its mother, solidifying their theory.


    ¡°Here comes the sergeant. Quiet down, everyone,¡± one of the Hunters said as Do-Jun approached.


    ***


    I can hear everything, you dummies... Do-Jun reprimanded the Hunters mentally as he entered the break room with an indifferent expression.


    He walked past the Hunters, who were avoiding his eyes and whistling as if they hadn¡¯t just been talking about him. He placed a stack of documents on the round table and gestured with a smile for the Hunters to take their seats.


    It was a signal for them to stop their chatting and sit down.


    ¡°Since Senior Kwon isn¡¯t here today, I¡¯ll be accompanying you to the Hunter¡¯s Bureau. I¡¯ve already reviewed your physical enhancement data. Is there anyone who¡¯s had alcohol or isn¡¯t feeling well today?¡±


    No one raised their hand.


    Of course, this was expected. For Hunters, the day of physical enhancement was one of the most important days, as it was their chance to increase their mana. Knowing how much these mana stones cost, no one was going to waste this opportunity.


    ¡°As usual, we¡¯ll be using the C-rank mana stones provided by the Fissure Management Division for your physical enhancement. If any of you have acquired higher-grade stones and want to use those instead, please let me know now.¡±


    The average price of a C-rank mana stone was about a million won, which was drastically lower than its price of thirty million five years ago, thanks to its rapid increase in supply. Despite a million won being an insignificant amount for Hunters, since using a higher-grade stone wouldn¡¯t dramatically increase the amount of mana absorbed, most were content with the C-rank stones provided by the Fissure Management Division.


    Anyway, it was also common for many Hunters to fail to absorb the mana from a C-rank stone fully.


    At that moment, one man raised his hand. It was Ahn Young-Guk, an E-rank Hunter managed by Hyuk-Soo. ¡°Excuse me, sergeant.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Hearing Ahn Young-Guk unintentionally address Do-Jun as sergeant, the nearby Hunters nudged his side as their eyes widened.


    Realizing his mistake, Ahn Young-Guk stammered nervously, ¡°N-no, I mean, S-supervisor Lee...¡±


    ¡°Yes, go ahead.¡±


    Despite being called sergeant, Do-Jun¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, and the Hunters breathed a collective sigh of relief. Perhaps he already knew about the nickname. In any case, the Hunters made a mental note to be more careful next time.


    ¡°I was just wondering... Is Hunter Ye-Ji not coming with us today? Not that it matters; just curious,¡± Ahn Young-Guk asked.


    The Hunters had long been suspicious. Was Ye-Ji receiving some special kind of enhancement? Was she being treated differently?


    Do-Jun shook his head and replied, ¡°She won¡¯t be coming with us. Hunter Ye-Ji doesn¡¯t receive mana stones from our department; she handles her physical enhancement privately. Any other questions?¡±


    In truth, she didn¡¯t need the enhancement. Thanks to her S-rank skill Scholar¡¯s Swordsmanship, her mana increased naturally with every training session. But Do-Jun didn¡¯t mention that, as it would only cause unnecessary trouble.


    Although the Hunters had plenty of things they were curious about, talking to Do-Jun felt somewhat intimidating, so they held back from asking any more questions.


    Most Hunters had similar thoughts: He used to be so timid around us...


    Aside from Do-Jun, most of the Fissure Management Division staff treated the Hunters with utmost respect. The Hunters knew how difficult it was for the city to secure contracts with Hunters, so they had grown used to this implicit hierarchy.


    Of course, it wasn¡¯t that Do-Jun was rude to the Hunters. He still maintained basic manners when interacting with people. The only difference was that he didn¡¯t lower himself and spoke to them as equals, unlike the others.


    Where is his confidence coming from?


    The reality was that these contracted Hunters had no idea who was superior and who was inferior.


    They truly had no clue.


    ***


    Meanwhile, the Hunter¡¯s Bureau was in a state of mild panic.


    The supervisor of the fifteen contract Hunters from Seoul City Hall, who were scheduled for physical enhancement at 2 PM that day, had been changed from Hyuk-Soo to Do-Jun.


    This change was not notified until 1 PM.


    An employee in the first-floor physical enhancement room had received a call from Do-Jun notifying them that he would be coming in place of the originally scheduled Hyuk-Soo.


    A secretary happened to overhear this and promptly reported it to Young-Chul.


    ¡°Tell the executive board to come to the central hall on the first floor right now,¡± Young-Chul¡¯s aide relayed the Bureau Chief¡¯s direct order to several secretaries.


    Young-Chul had attempted to invite Do-Jun for a grand dinner at a hotel to celebrate Behemoth Guild¡¯s successful raid of the first stage of the Tutorial Zone last week, but he was met with Do-Jun¡¯s cold rejection.


    ¡°I¡¯m not interested in those kinds of things.¡±


    Since then, Young-Chul had eagerly awaited the day when Do-Jun would visit the Hunter¡¯s Bureau.


    After all, the Bureau¡¯s progress in the Core was all thanks to Do-Jun¡¯s strategy guide.


    Behemoth Guild¡¯s advance in the Core had been broadcast not only across Korea but also worldwide, boosting public opinion in favor of both Young-Chul and the Hunter¡¯s Bureau. As such, he was keen to show his gratitude.


    The sound of polished shoes echoed as the well-dressed executives of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau made their way to the central hall on the first floor.


    They knew they were gathering because of a civil servant named Lee Do-Jun from Seoul City Hall, but none of them could understand why the Bureau Chief was mobilizing them just because this man was visiting.


    However, the chief¡¯s orders were absolute law, leaving them with no choice but to comply.


    Lined up in front of the revolving doors at the entrance of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau, the executives stood at attention.


    Seeing the impressive lineup, murmurs spread among the passersby.


    ¡°T-that¡¯s Behemoth Guild!¡±


    ¡°And the Bureau Chief is here too?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on all of a sudden?¡±


    ¡°Those people look pretty important as well...¡±


    ¡°Look, the Director of the Fissure Research Center is here too.¡±


    As the elevator doors opened, Young-Chul, his aide, and the three members of Behemoth Guild stepped out.


    People passing by the central hall pointed and stared wide-eyed.


    Bowing slightly, the waiting executives greeted Young-Chul. They then formed a line on either side of the chief and the Behemoth Guild members. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Young-Chul glanced at his wristwatch, which now showed that it was just past 1:30 PM, and stood at attention, his gaze fixed on the revolving door.


    ***


    Having just stepped off the subway, the contract Hunters grumbled as they ascended the escalator.


    Last time, when they went for physical enhancement with Hyuk-Soo, they had comfortably taken taxis in groups of four. But Do-Jun had explained that the contract Hunters were not allocated travel expenses and that they had to take the subway using his own twenty-thousand-won travel allowance.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to put you in taxis on the way back. I didn¡¯t realize you¡¯d be so inconvenienced,¡± Do-Jun spoke apologetically to the complaining Hunters.


    ¡°Please, Supervisor Lee, try to remember we¡¯re important people,¡± one of the Hunters said.


    ¡°Yes, I understand.¡±


    Do-Jun was well aware of just how much Cheol-Soo treasured them. He chuckled as he stepped off the escalator.


    He glanced up, taking in the towering height of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau building before checking his watch and organizing the Hunters. It was almost 2 PM, time for their appointment.


    ¡°Let¡¯s head in,¡± Do-Jun said and stepped through the front entrance of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau as the Hunters followed behind.


    ***


    As they walked inside, the contract Hunters¡¯ eyes widened, and they swallowed nervously at the sight that unfolded before them.


    Standing in a line alongside the executives of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau was none other than Behemoth Guild, the number one guild in Korea, a group almost impossible to meet in person.


    ¡°W-what... what¡¯s going on...?¡±


    The contract Hunters began to edge away, trying to avoid the scene, but they then noticed the Bureau Chief and other distinguished figures bowing at a ninety-degree angle toward them.


    The contract Hunters glanced around, wondering if the President of Korea was nearby. However, no matter where they looked, there didn¡¯t seem to be anyone worthy of such deference.


    Then, they heard an authoritative voice speak up. ¡°Welcome, Supervisor Lee Do-Jun.¡±


    Young-Chul¡¯s deep voice echoed through the central hall.


    For a moment, the contract Hunters doubted their ears. This was the Hunter¡¯s Bureau Chief, a man with influence rivaling that of the President of the nation. Why would he bow to a mere civil servant?


    The Hunters turned their heads quickly toward Do-Jun, who was... sighing.


    ¡°Come on...¡± Do-Jun mumbled amidst everyone¡¯s stares. ¡°What are you doing...¡±


    As Do-Jun muttered to himself in disappointment, Sword Emperor Kang-Hyun stepped forward. ¡°I sincerely apologize if any of this is displeasing you. However... upon hearing that you would be visiting, we simply couldn¡¯t sit idly by. Please try to understand our side.¡±


    The contract Hunters stood frozen in place, glancing back and forth between Do-Jun and Kang-Hyun, their mouths opening and closing in confusion.


    What on earth was happening?


    The bewildered expression was shared with the executive board members as well.


    They knew the Bureau Chief held this civil servant named Lee Do-Jun in high regard, but they didn¡¯t know why.


    Why go this far? And why was even Behemoth Guild showing such humility toward him?


    ¡°I understand you¡¯re here today to supervise the physical enhancement of the Hunters contracted with Seoul City Hall,¡± Kang-Hyun said, looking past Do-Jun to the group of contract Hunters.


    Meeting Kang-Hyun¡¯s gaze, the Hunters shrank back. Facing the top-ranked Hunter in Korea was overwhelming for the mostly D-rank Hunters.

 Chapter 83

    Chapter 83


    ¡°I heard you are here today because of the physical enhancements of the Hunters under your care,¡± Young-Chul said.


    Do-Jun had somewhat expected this to happen, but he didn¡¯t expect the Hunter¡¯s Bureau to be so blatant about it.


    Surely, they already knew he wouldn¡¯t like such a performance.


    The fact that they were putting on this grand show regardless of Do-Jun¡¯s taste was their way of expressing their stance: Stop hiding and come out already.


    Their vague comment during Behemoth Guild¡¯s press conference a few days ago, which mentioned the efficient collaboration with Seoul City Hall¡¯s Fissure Management Division as one of the factors of the Bureau¡¯s success, was also one of their silent messages to Do-Jun.


    I see what you people are trying to do, Do-Jun thought, but he didn¡¯t necessarily dislike it.


    When he thought about how desperate they must have been to go through with this, even at the risk of being disliked, he found it kind of endearing.


    Besides, he had entered through the front gate with the contracted Hunters to put a little pressure on them, knowing full well that the prominent Bureau officials were stationed there. After all, staff like Cheol-Soo and Hyuk-Soo from the Fissure Management Division found their Hunters too intimidating, and sometimes their behavior crossed the line.


    ¡°Well, yes. My senior had other work today, so I¡¯m filling in. But... are the people next to you all employees? I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve met them before,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°Yes, they are our executive directors. This is Mr. Lee Choon-Goo, who is in charge of audits, and Mr. Park Jung-Ryul, who is in charge of planning...¡± Young-Chul stepped forward and introduced the executives.


    The people introduced cautiously approached Do-Jun, revealing their names and positions, bowing deeply as they extended their hands for a handshake.


    Do-Jun naturally accepted their handshake without showing any fluster or hesitation in reciprocation. Acting subservient was never in his mind, as he knew they would have wanted that.


    However, Do-Jun decided to give a small warning of his own to prevent the Bureau from pulling such stunts again in the future.


    After shaking hands with the executives, Do-Jun was again standing in front of Young-Chul to shake his hand. During the handshake, Do-Jun applied a little pressure¡ªjust a tiny bit.


    Crack!


    ¡°Keugh.¡± Young-Chul grimaced, letting out a groan of discomfort.


    ¡°Thank you so much for this... this warm welcome today, Chief Jung.¡±


    ¡°H-haha, n-no need for such words...¡±


    ¡°I know you¡¯re a wise man, Chief. I trust you won¡¯t make any self-sabotaging moves next time,¡± Do-Jun said with a smile.


    Though Do-Jun was smiling, sweat was pouring down Young-Chul¡¯s back.


    ***


    The physical enhancements for all the contracted Hunters were completed in around two hours.


    The Hunters stood rigidly in the enhancement waiting room, not chatting at all, and remained silent while Do-Jun reviewed the reports each Hunter had submitted and recorded their data individually in the Physical Enhancement Result Sheet.


    ¡°Hunter Ahn Young-Kook,¡± Do-Jun called out a Hunter.


    ¡°Y-yes!¡± The E-rank Hunter, Ahn Young-Kook, jumped to his feet and walked toward Do-Jun.


    His stride was like that of a recruit during military training, and his expression was tense as he stood in front of Do-Jun at attention.


    ¡°Your mana absorption rate has improved since last month. Congratulations.¡±


    This month, Ahn Young-Kook¡¯s mana absorption increased from 5 to 7 using the same C-rank mana stone provided by the Fissure Management Division for physical enhancement.


    Considering that absorption amounts rarely changed, it was definitely something to be congratulated for.


    ¡°T-thank you!¡±


    Do-Jun chuckled as he observed Ahn Young-Kook, who stood rigidly, like a nervous private in front of a general.


    Since the incident in the central hall on the first floor two hours ago, the attitudes of the contracted Hunters had completely changed. That was undoubtedly thanks to Behemoth Guild¡¯s Jun-Yeol.


    As Do-Jun headed up to the Chief¡¯s office, he had asked the Spear King, Jun-Yeol, to guide the contracted Hunters, and Jun-Yeol gladly accepted his request.


    Jun-Yeol escorted the Hunters to the enhancement room. Then, recalling the time Do-Jun taught him a lesson, he left the Hunters with a parting remark full of pity before departing.


    ¡°Know your levels. Don¡¯t act up and regret it later like someone... You¡¯d better treat him with utmost care and sincerity. He could literally delete hundreds of small fries like you in the blink of an eye with just a snap of his fingers.¡±


    Once Do-Jun had finished recording the physical enhancement data for each Hunter, he packed the document folder into his briefcase and addressed the Hunters.


    ¡°If I recall correctly, you told me that taking the subway was a pain for most of you. So, I¡¯d like to offer to cover your taxi fare. Is anyone interested? By the way, this will be out of my own pocket.¡±


    Who would dare raise their hand?


    Moreover, he offered to pay from his own pocket, not the public budget. Anyone with half a brain would understand that Do-Jun¡¯s message was loud and clear.


    ¡°No one? Then let¡¯s take the subway back.¡±


    He was telling them to shut their mouths and just take the subway.


    ***


    A day at the Hunter Academy came to an end at around 4 PM.


    The Academy students were split into two groups: those who lived on campus and those who did not.


    From the first to third year, the Hunter Academy system divided students into six classes¡ªA to F¡ªbased on their grades.


    Generally, once a student reached the upper ranks, like Class B, getting into the dorms was almost a given, and as would be expected, most Class B students lived in the dorms.


    However, Yoon-Hee commuted from home instead of applying for a room on campus.


    ¡°Is it just me, or does Yoon-Hee seem to be in a really good mood whenever 4 o''clock comes around?¡± Jin-Soo murmured as he watched Yoon-Hee hum a tune while packing her things.


    Hye-Jung, who sat next to him, shrugged as if it were obvious and replied, ¡°Of course, she¡¯s in a good mood. School¡¯s done, and she¡¯s going home. Are you an idiot?¡±


    ¡°Woah, I know that! But, like, she seems extra happy. And every time we ask her to hang out with us, she says she has to get home quickly.¡±


    Jin-Soo and Hye-Jung both lived in the dorm, which, unlike college or high school dorms, didn¡¯t have a curfew.


    The city area, with its great restaurants, theaters, and entertainment, was only fifteen minutes away by foot, and the academy grounds even provided plenty of facilities for training and studying.


    With all these amenities, it would be strange for any student to turn down an opportunity to live on campus.


    ¡°It must be tiring to commute two hours every day,¡± Jin-Soo said.


    ¡°Yeah, waking up early must be tough,¡± Hye-Jung replied half-heartedly.


    Overlooking the careless response, Jin-Soo added with a sigh, ¡°How nice would it be if Yoon-Hee lived in the dorms too?¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    Hye-Jung knew well that Jin-Soo liked Yoon-Hee. In fact, not only he but most of the boys in Class B secretly admired her. However, because Jin-Soo from the GI Group made it the most obvious, most of them kept their feelings to themselves.


    ¡°Should we go over to Yoon-Hee¡¯s house today?¡± Hye-Jung stood up and suggested.


    Jin-Soo jumped up in surprise and tried to stop her, worried that they might be rejected or become a burden, but Hye-Jung paid no attention.


    ¡°I¡¯m just going to ask, dumbass.¡±


    ***


    Should I try making king oyster mushroom rice for dinner tonight? Yoon-Hee pondered as she packed her things to leave school. She was looking at the 100 Best Housewife Recipes book she had bought from the local bookstore a week ago.


    Although she changed side dishes every day, she always served plain rice, so she thought it was time to add some variety.


    What caught her eye was king oyster mushroom rice. King oyster mushrooms were less expensive than pine mushrooms, so she could make the dish without any financial burden.


    ¡°Yoon-Hee.¡±


    Hearing a voice, she turned her head and saw her classmate, Hye-Jung, smiling at her, with Jin-Soo standing awkwardly by her side.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Yoon-Hee responded.


    ¡°Can we come over today? To your place?¡±


    ¡°H-huh? Why?¡± Yoon-Hee asked back with a confused expression.


    Although Do-Jun¡¯s apartment has had many visitors, they were all either spontaneous visits or invited by Do-Jun in the first place.


    Yoon-Hee herself had never invited anyone over.


    ¡°Well... if I had to give a reason, we live in the dorms, and you live at home, so we¡¯re kind of curious about your place. Plus, you always rush home after school without hanging out with us, so we¡¯ve been curious about it.¡±


    Looking troubled, Yoon-Hee brought her hand to her mouth as she pondered. ¡°Hmm...¡±


    Watching her, Jin-Soo wondered how on earth a person could be this adorable. He had seen countless celebrities who were hailed as absolute beauties, but Yoon-Hee was in a league of her own. She gave off the vibe of an innocent, angelic being, untouched by the world.


    She¡¯s so cu... Keugh!


    While Jin-Soo was grinning with his mouth agape, Hye-Jung elbowed him in the ribs.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure if my father would be okay with that... but I¡¯ll ask him,¡± Yoon-Hee said.


    ¡°Well, if he¡¯s not, then it can¡¯t be helped. That¡¯s totally understandable. But could you at least ask him once?¡± Hye-Jung said with determination.


    ¡°Okay...¡± Yoon-Hee secretly hoped Do-Jun would say no.


    ***


    Meanwhile, at the Seoul City Hall Fissure Management Division.


    ¡°That concludes the report on the physical enhancement results,¡± Do-Jun reported to Cheol-Soo, who was scratching his forehead with the back of the pen as he looked over the document folder handed to him.


    To be honest, the report didn¡¯t really catch his attention. He glanced ahead at the other thing taking up all of his attention.


    The Hunters were standing in a perfectly straight line with their hands clasped in front of them.


    Cheol-Soo gestured for Do-Jun to come closer, and when Do-Jun leaned in toward him, he whispered, ¡°Do-Jun, what¡¯s up with them?¡±


    The contracted Hunters usually carried themselves with an air of superiority.


    That made sense, considering they were indispensable to the Fissure Management Division and were always treated with the utmost care and respect. However, today, for some reason, they were polite, spoke respectfully, and observed proper manners.


    ¡°I don¡¯t really know, but it¡¯s working out well for us,¡± Do-Jun whispered back.


    ¡°Y-yeah, I guess... but it¡¯s so sudden...¡± Cheol-Soo swallowed hard, then peeked over the partition to take a quick look at the Hunters before clearing his throat. ¡°Anyway, thanks for covering for Hyuk-Soo and going to the Bureau today. Make sure to share the report with him as well.¡±


    ¡°Yes, understood.¡±


    After finishing the report, Do-Jun walked over to the Hunters. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°You¡¯ve all worked hard today. You are free to go,¡± Do-Jun said with a smile.


    ¡°Thank you for your hard work, sir!¡± the Hunters responded loudly, bowed to Do-Jun, and left the office one by one.


    The Fissure Management Division staff exchanged baffled glances between the Hunters and Do-Jun.


    After the Hunters left, Do-Jun sat at his desk and opened the Excel sheet to input the physical enhancement results so Hyuk-Soo could review them when he returned to work the next day.


    Due to the unexpected task, he had a backlog of work to catch up on, but this was nothing compared to how often Hyuk-Soo had helped him.


    His smartphone buzzed, displaying his daughter¡¯s name on the screen. Do-Jun answered immediately.


    ¡°What¡¯s up, Yoon-Hee?¡±


    ¡ªHi, Father... um...


    ¡°Go on.¡±


    ¡ªSo, um... would it be okay if two of my friends came over to hang out today?


    Yoon-Hee¡¯s hesitant and uncertain voice came through the phone.


    But why would Do-Jun say no? In fact, he welcomed the idea as the thought of his daughter getting along with her friends made him happy as a father.


    ¡°Sure, that¡¯s fine.¡±


    Then, he was met with a brief silence.


    ¡°Yoon-Hee?¡± he asked to check if she was still on the line.


    ¡ªW-why are you okay with it?


    Her surprised voice echoed through the phone.

 Chapter 84

    Chapter 84


    On the way home, Yoon-Hee stopped by the local grocery store to pick out ingredients for dinner. Since she now had two friends coming for dinner tonight, she had to buy more than usual.


    ¡°Hmm...¡± Yoon-Hee carefully examined a pack of king oyster mushrooms, reading the label.


    Watching her from the side, Hye-Jung suddenly felt like she was witnessing the aura of an experienced homemaker emanating from Yoon-Hee.


    ¡°Wait, are you the one cooking?¡± Hye-Jung asked her.


    ¡°Ah, yeah. My father¡¯s not a great cook. He only ate takeout before I came here.¡±


    ¡°Before you came? What do you mean?¡± Hye-Jung wondered if Yoon-Hee¡¯s father had been living alone in Seoul. It would make sense if Yoon-Hee had moved to Seoul after getting into the Academy.


    Yoon-Hee¡¯s reaction was odd. She blushed as if she had said something she shouldn¡¯t have.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing. A-ah! Let¡¯s go check out that flash sale over there...¡± Yoon-Hee quickly changed the subject, steering the cart toward a sign that read ¡°duck meat half off.¡±


    She sighed quietly, reminding herself to be more careful. It would be better not to talk about her family too much. If her friends found out about the ¡°dad contract,¡± it would be a huge problem.


    ***


    ¡°Hello,¡± Hye-Jung said quietly as she entered the apartment.


    ¡°I¡¯ll put away the groceries in the fridge and bring out some drinks. Meanwhile, make yourself comfortable on the sofa,¡± Yoon-Hee told her friends.


    ¡°Okay, sure,¡± Hye-Jung replied.


    Upon entering the apartment, they were greeted by an immaculately clean, spotless, and tidy interior. The apartment had a simple one-bedroom layout with a living room and a bedroom. It was just the right size for one or two people to live in, perhaps slightly larger than the Academy dorms.


    The furniture was minimal, giving off a somewhat bare feeling.


    The living room had just a sofa, a TV, a small bookshelf, and a tiny coffee table, while the kitchen had a dining table for four.


    As Hye-Jung¡¯s eyes wandered, she noticed the tightly shut bedroom door.


    Does Yoon-Hee sleep in the living room? she wondered.


    Still, there was no sign of any bedding like blankets or pillows.


    Normally, snooping around someone¡¯s house without permission would be rude, but since Yoon-Hee was busy putting away groceries from the mart, Hye-Jung figured she could take a quick peek inside the bedroom.


    Just then, Jin-Soo broke the silence. ¡°Hey, Yoon-Hee, where do you sleep?¡±


    Startled, Hye-Jung stopped in her tracks and shot him a glare. Confused by her reaction, Jin-Soo gave her a look as if asking what he had done wrong.


    On the other hand, Hye-Jung actually found his direct question a relief, thinking it was better just to ask outright.


    Still organizing the fridge, Yoon-Hee absentmindedly answered, ¡°Huh? I... sleep...¡±


    She suddenly closed her mouth as she was about to tell them their sleeping arrangements.


    Why hadn¡¯t she thought about this before?


    Surely, others might find it strange. It hadn¡¯t crossed her mind because she had become so used to sharing a bed with her family.


    ¡°I-I sleep... in the living room... I guess,¡± Yoon-Hee blurted out haltingly.


    ¡°Ah, I figured. For a second, I thought maybe you were sharing a room with your dad. But yeah, high schoolers usually sleep alone,¡± Jin-Soo replied, scratching his head.


    Though he seemed satisfied with her answer, Hye-Jung wasn¡¯t entirely convinced.


    Why was Yoon-Hee so flustered?


    It wasn¡¯t odd for a father and daughter to share a room when she was younger, but at seventeen, it would definitely seem strange to anyone else.


    Yoon-Hee tucked a cabbage into the fridge¡¯s vegetable drawer, thinking she absolutely could not let them see the bedroom. If they saw the king-sized bed adorned with just two pillows, there would be no way to hide the fact that she shared the bed with her father.


    Suddenly, the bedroom door opened and out walked two tiny dragons.


    Yong-Yong noticed the two humans looking at him¡ªno, the bedroom behind him. Regardless of what caught their attention, Yong-Yong recognized the two strangers as Yoon-Hee¡¯s friends.


    He said to Yoon-Hee, ¡°Oh, you brought friends ov¡ª¡±


    Before Yong-Yong could finish, Yoon-Hee quickly shut the door and looked down at Yong-Yong with a frosty expression.


    ¡°...er?¡± Yong-Yong finished the sentence uncertainly.


    Yoon-Hee¡¯s eyes were cold and unfocused¡ªthe look she had when she was truly angry.


    Yong-Yong felt cold sweat dripping down his back, and Karsiel swallowed nervously, slowly backing away.


    Yoon-Hee carefully turned around, checking to see Hye-Jung and Jin-Soo¡¯s reaction. They were just staring at her, dumbfounded.


    ¡°I¡¯ll... get you some tea,¡± Yoon-Hee said with a forced smile as she awkwardly headed for the kitchen.


    ***


    At 7 PM, Do-Jun came home after leaving work right on time.


    ¡°I¡¯m home,¡± he called out.


    Yoon-Hee came to the door to greet him, still wearing her apron as she was still cooking.


    ¡°Welcome home!¡±


    ¡°Thanks. Where are your friends?¡± Do-Jun asked after receiving Yoon-Hee¡¯s greeting with a smile.


    Yoon-Hee took his coat and glanced toward the sofa. Hye-Jung and Jin-Soo were watching TV but quickly stood up and rushed to the entrance to greet him.


    Jin-Soo, in particular, bowed at a sharp right angle. ¡°H-hello, sir! I¡¯m Seo Jin-Soo, Yoon-Hee¡¯s classmate.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Jung Hye-Jung, also Yoon-Hee¡¯s classmate. Sorry for dropping by unexpectedly, and thank you for having us, sir.¡±


    Do-Jun smiled and replied, ¡°No worries. I¡¯m happy to meet Yoon-Hee¡¯s friends. Please keep taking good care of her.¡±


    At that, Jin-Soo nodded enthusiastically.


    Watching from the side, Hye-Jung clicked her tongue in disapproval.


    It was obvious to her that Jin-Soo was trying hard to make a good impression on his future ¡°father-in-law,¡± but she knew Yoon-Hee herself wasn¡¯t interested, so his efforts were futile.


    But... how old is this guy? Hye-Jung thought, eyeing Do-Jun curiously.


    No matter how she looked at him, he didn¡¯t seem older than his late twenties. His well-toned muscles were clearly visible through his dress shirt, making it even harder to believe he was the father of a seventeen-year-old daughter.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to take a quick shower,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°Okay! I¡¯ll finish making dinner. Oh, I put some fresh clothes out for you.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡± Do-Jun patted Yoon-Hee on the head before heading to the shower.


    Yoon-Hee grinned and quickly skipped back to the kitchen. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ***


    For dinner, they had freshly made rice with king oyster mushrooms, smoked duck salad mixed with various greens, and doenjang soup with large chunks of tofu.


    It was a simple, home-style meal, nothing too fancy, but the flavors were extraordinary.


    ¡°Woah...¡± Hye-Jung exclaimed as her eyes widened after taking a sip of the soup.


    Honestly, she hadn¡¯t expected Yoon-Hee¡¯s cooking to be this good. The soup was rich, and the king oyster mushroom rice was perfectly cooked, melting in her mouth.


    ¡°Is it okay to feed them human food?¡± Jin-Soo asked, looking under the table where the two ¡°dogs¡± were happily eating the mushroom rice.


    Yoon-Hee nodded and replied, ¡°They don¡¯t really like dog food.¡±


    ¡°I mean, I wouldn¡¯t either after tasting Yoon-Hee¡¯s cooking,¡± Hye-Jung added while munching on the smoked duck salad.


    Then, she turned to Do-Jun and joked, ¡°I¡¯m so jealous, sir. You get to eat this delicious food every day.¡±


    ¡°Right? Oh, by the way, Jin-Soo, was it? Are you Yoon-Hee¡¯s boyfriend by any chance?¡± Do-Jun asked.


    Jin-Soo nearly choked on his food, coughing awkwardly. Smiling nervously, he asked, ¡°D-do I... really seem like it?¡±


    ¡°No, he¡¯s not,¡± Yoon-Hee cut in sharply.


    Seeing Jin-Soo deflate a little, Hye-Jung couldn¡¯t help but giggle.


    Do-Jun had many questions for Yoon-Hee¡¯s friends¡ªabout her academy life, whether she was getting along well, and if she had any difficulties¡ªbut he chose not to ask.


    It would be rude to do so in front of her.


    As Do-Jun watched the three of them chatting happily, a smile crept onto his face without him realizing it. Seeing Yoon-Hee doing so well made him happy.


    Suddenly, Do-Jun felt grateful to his past self, who had texted Yoon-Hee and made this connection possible.


    When he was in the Central Plains, it was hard for him to remember the last time he smiled. But these days, every day was filled with joy.


    ***


    ¡°I¡¯ll be back.¡±


    ¡°Okay, see you.¡±


    Yong-Yong waved his small paw as he saw Yoon-Hee head off to school. Then, he walked into the kitchen and jumped up onto the sink. He turned on the faucet, gulped down a few mouthfuls of water, and turned the faucet off again.


    ¡°Ahh, refreshing.¡±


    With both Do-Jun and Yoon-Hee gone, he and Karsiel were the only ones in the apartment.


    ¡°Right now... I¡¯m the master here.¡±


    He walked over to the bedroom to check on his subordinate. The weather was nice today, and he had planned to suggest a walk in the park. However, perhaps still tired from the previous day, Karsiel lay peacefully on the bed, completely at ease.


    ¡°Tsk. Look at you, still lazily sleeping when your master is already up,¡± Yong-Yong said, even as he fetched a blanket with his mouth and carefully covered Karsiel to keep her warm.


    Then, he walked over to the two dog bowls under the dining table. The two bowls, made of stainless steel and adorned with paw print designs, were labeled ¡°Yong-Yong?¡± and ¡°Siel?.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for the meal.¡± Yong-Yong clasped his front paws together in a little prayer, then devoured the sausages in his bowl in just a couple of bites.


    He walked to the front door, jumped up to twist the automatic lock¡¯s button, turned the handle, and opened the door. Once outside, he heard the lock click shut behind him. He jumped again to check that the door was securely locked before heading to the park.


    As he entered the small neighborhood park, he saw a group of kids, no older than four, playing with a ball. As soon as they spotted Yong-Yong, they shouted excitedly and ran toward him.


    Yong-Yong had always been a star among the kids.


    ¡°It¡¯s Yong-Yong!¡±


    ¡°Woaah.¡±


    The kids threw their ball aside and started petting Yong-Yong all over.


    Frowning as their hands roamed across his body, Yong-Yong shouted, ¡°Let go, you little devils! Hey! Where do you think you¡¯re touching?!¡±


    ¡°Yong-Yong¡¯s angwy.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, this is fun.¡±


    ¡°Ugh, where are your moms? What if you get hurt?¡± Yong-Yong grumbled, though, around this point, he always gave up.


    ¡°Fine... Do whatever you want, you little¡ªwait, what is that?¡±


    Suddenly, a spark flashed across the bright, cloudless sky. With a deafening roar, a Fissure tore open in the air.


    It released a pulse so powerful that it felt like it was a forewarning of humanity¡¯s end.


    [Core Distortion is occurring due to the Encroachment.]


    [Vapula has appeared.]


    The Great Demon Vapula was one of Solomon¡¯s seventy-two demons. He had acquired a hidden piece, the Book of Transfer, one of the relics of the Deep Realm.


    Finally able to arrive on Earth, Vapula¡¯s grand plan was to kill humans, plant seeds in their corpses, and raise an army of evil to storm the Deep Realm and reign as king.


    However, the children naturally were unaware of the gravity of the danger.


    ¡°That thing looks weird!¡±


    ¡°Lion!¡±


    ¡°A funny lion.¡±


    A giant lion with griffin wings appeared from the Fissure.


    The once peaceful park was now at risk of turning into complete chaos.


    Picking his nose, Yong-Yong glanced nonchalantly at Vapula. ¡°Earth must really seem like an easy picking, huh? Even a small fry like you managed to crawl up here.¡±


    Despite his casual words, this was an unprecedented danger for ordinary humans. Clicking his tongue, Yong-Yong checked on the kids. If they got caught up in this, they wouldn¡¯t survive.


    ¡°Look, there¡¯s candy over there!¡± Yong-Yong pointed to the far corner of the park with his paw, drawing the children¡¯s attention.


    ¡°Candy?¡±


    ¡°Where is candy?¡±


    ¡°Behind that tree. The first one to grab it gets to keep it,¡± Yong-Yong said.


    ¡°I want candy!¡±


    ¡°Yay!¡±


    All the children ran toward the tree as fast as they could.


    ¡°Don¡¯t run! Walk slowly so you don¡¯t get hurt,¡± Yong-Yong called after them.


    Then, he turned to face Vapula, who had almost fully emerged from the Fissure, raised his tail, and focused his mind.


    Voom.


    Energy gathered at the tip of Yong-Yong¡¯s tail, a force so overwhelming it seemed to devour everything around it and soon transformed into a shining spear. It was the Lord Spear.


    With a twang, the spear shot toward Vapula, ripping through the air with a loud screech.


    ***


    ¡°No candy.¡±


    ¡°Yong-Yong lied. That was mean.¡±


    With Vapula defeated and the Fissure closed, the sky returned to its usual bright blue, and peace was restored to the park.


    Yong-Yong was once again surrounded by the little devils, enduring their ¡°torture.¡±


    ¡°Teacher¡¯s here!¡± One of the children pointed to their daycare teacher, who had just emerged from the bathroom.


    The teacher hurried over, scanning the area with a worried look after hearing what sounded like a bomb exploding.


    ¡°There was a lion.¡±


    ¡°A funny lion. It was over there.¡±


    Hearing the children¡¯s recollection, the teacher asked, ¡°Hmm? A lion? Are you talking about this puppy?¡±


    ¡°No, no. Yong-Yong no lion.¡±


    Worried that something might happen, the teacher decided to lead the kids back. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s head back inside, everyone.¡±


    ¡°That worked out well, I guess,¡± Yong-Yong muttered as he watched the kids walk away. ¡°I didn¡¯t do it for recognition, anyway.¡±


    The true hero always worked from the shadows.


    ¡°I¡¯m just a warm-hearted dragon in this cold, cold city,¡± Yong-Yong muttered to himself.


    ¡°Yong-Yong,¡± one of the children called out.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Then, the kids turned around, waved at him, and shouted in unison, ¡°See you tomorrow!¡±


    Yong-Yong let out a chuckle, wiping his nose. He waved a paw at the little devils and muttered, ¡°Guess I¡¯ll have to come back tomorrow too.¡±

 Chapter 85

    Chapter 85


    After finishing a day at the academy, Yoon-Hee always stopped by the local grocery store on the way home.


    As she was responsible for making dinner for her family every day, she carefully selected fresh ingredients from the mart to ensure she didn¡¯t serve the same dish twice in a row. Cooking was the highlight of her day.


    Although she enjoyed the process of cooking itself, her greatest joy came from seeing her family enjoy the food she prepared. If her cooking could relieve their daily fatigue and restore their energy, then no matter how tired she was, she could always find the strength to keep going.


    When she entered the seafood section, a store employee was loudly announcing a flash sale.


    ¡°Freshwater eel, one kilogram for just twenty-two thousand won! Special promotion for the next half an hour only!¡±


    Since eel was quite expensive compared to other fish or meat, it was a bit of a luxury she usually avoided. But now, Yoon-Hee walked over to the display with a smile.


    ¡°Oh, Yoon-Hee! Here to shop again today?¡± Kim Hwan-Joong greeted Yoon-Hee warmly. He was the supervisor and had worked at the 365 Discount Mart for five years.


    Since she came to the store every day around 5 PM without fail, she had become quite adored by the staff. They admired how she took care of all the household chores, living alone with her father, and found it endearing.


    ¡°Hi, Mr. Kim! Yes, I am, hehe. Could you please give me two kilograms of the freshest ones?¡± Yoon-Hee asked with a bright smile.


    ¡°Haha, sure. Just a moment,¡± Kim Hwan-Joong said and packed the eels into a plastic bag.


    As he placed two packs into her cart, Yoon-Hee tilted her head in curiosity upon noticing the extra bag.


    Seeing that, Kim Hwan-Joong added with a wink and a playful tone, ¡°This is eel sauce. I¡¯m giving it to you as a special treat, so keep it a secret.¡±


    Yoon-Hee smiled brightly and bowed her head in gratitude. ¡°Thank you. Hope you sell lots today.¡±


    After buying the ingredients for the main dish, she decided to pick out some dessert next. Seasonal vegetables or fruits seemed like a good idea, so she settled on a pack of strawberries, which was also one of her favorites.


    ¡°Yoon-Hee, you¡¯re here!¡± the woman in the vegetable section greeted her with a warm smile.


    ¡°Hello, ma¡¯am.¡± Yoon-Hee returned the smile.


    ¡°Oh my, you¡¯re getting prettier by the day! Did you get a boyfriend or something?¡±


    ¡°H-huh! Stop it, please!¡± Yoon-Hee pleaded, visibly flustered.


    ¡°Haha, I¡¯m just teasing. Here, take some of this. Try blanching it when you get home,¡± the woman said and handed her a pack of greens.


    Yoon-Hee always gratefully accepted the little extras the staff at the store often gave her. After all, they helped reduce household expenses, lightening Do-Jun¡¯s burden even just a little.


    ¡°Thank you!¡± Yoon-Hee said with a smile.


    ***


    Meanwhile, at the Seoul City Hall Fissure Management Division.


    [Pending documents: 0]


    Do-Jun had worked tirelessly all day to go through all the paperwork that had piled up, finishing it all by the end of the day.


    It had been four months since he returned to work after returning to Earth.


    Though his work skills were lacking at first, he improved rapidly, to the point that he was on par with¡ªif not better than¡ªmany of his veteran colleagues and fully adapting to life as a civil servant.


    ¡°S-sir! But it¡¯s almost time to clock out...!¡± Cheol-Soo¡¯s flustered voice echoed from behind him.


    A moment later, Cheol-Soo hung up the phone, running his hand through his hair with a long sigh before suddenly standing up.


    ¡°Hyuk-Soo, Do-Jun, come here for a second,¡± he called out to his two juniors.


    Do-Jun and Hyuk-Soo exchanged glances.


    Hyuk-Soo chuckled, shrugged his shoulders, and said, ¡°Looks like something¡¯s come up.¡±


    Do-Jun nodded in agreement and followed him over to Cheol-Soo¡¯s desk, where a document was displayed on the computer screen.


    ¡°Fissure management status...?¡± Hyuk-Soo read the title aloud.


    Scrolling down revealed a template that included the serial number, management number, Fissure rank, monster and byproduct information, mapping data, average daily entry count, and Hunter rankings. It was a format for filling in information on the Fissures managed by the city of Seoul.


    But there was one problem.


    ¡°Urgent... Mayor¡¯s request... Must be submitted by 7 AM tomorrow...¡± Hyuk-Soo muttered the red letters beside the document title.


    Do-Jun pulled out his smartphone and asked the other two, ¡°Should I order dinner?¡±


    ***


    Yoon-Hee already knew how to prepare an eel.


    First, pour warm water over the eel to remove the slimy mucus from its surface. Next, cut off the fins with cooking scissors and rinse it thoroughly under running water. Then, using a towel, gently pat the fish dry, being careful not to damage the flesh. The final step was to score the inside of the fish at five-millimeter intervals with a knife.


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Yong-Yong asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s eel. Just wait, I¡¯ll make something really delicious.¡±


    Yong-Yong wagged his tail eagerly, watching her prep the eel from beside the sink. This was his first time seeing an eel, but one thing was certain¡ªit was a type of meat, and that had him excited.


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard eel is good for restoring energy,¡± Karsiel said.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, Siel.¡±


    ¡°I read it on the internet. Oh, and apparently, it¡¯s also good for men¡¯s vitality.¡±


    At Karsiel¡¯s words, Yoon-Hee froze mid-prep, and her face turned as red as a tomato.


    Watching her flustered expression, Yong-Yong snickered. ¡°Oh? You¡¯re sneakier than I thou¡ª¡±


    Suddenly, Yoon-Hee slammed the knife into the cutting board.


    Startled, Yong-Yong took a step back.


    ¡°I wonder what our little Yong-Yong could possibly be trying to say...¡±


    ¡°I-I meant you¡¯re good at preparing the eel.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    Too scared to say another word, Yong-Yong hopped down from the sink. He waved over to Karsiel, who was similarly frozen in place, gesturing for her to follow if she wanted to live to see another day.


    ¡°Hmm, Master¡¯s running a bit late today, huh?¡± Yong-Yong said as he noticed the clock on the wall was pointing just past 7 PM.


    At that moment, Yoon-Hee¡¯s phone, resting on the table, pinged with a message.


    Yong-Yong jumped onto the table and tapped at the pin with his paw. For the record, the humans in this house used a very simple code: 0000.


    ¡°Oho...¡±


    It was a message from Do-Jun.


    Father: We suddenly got some more work, so I¡¯ll be staying late tonight. Go ahead and have dinner without me. Make sure the kids brush their teeth.


    Yong-Yong sighed as he looked at Yoon-Hee, who was still busy cooking. She was bound to be disappointed.


    ***


    A plate filled with perfectly grilled spicy eel was placed on the table.


    Although the aroma alone would make one feel that the eel would melt in one¡¯s mouth, the air was heavy and silent, so quiet that the only sound was the ticking of the wall clock.


    ¡°Y-you know, sometimes days like this just happen.¡± Yong-Yong tried to comfort the downcast Yoon-Hee.


    Karsiel couldn¡¯t bring herself to eat either, aware of Yoon-Hee¡¯s mood. Things might not have been this bad if tonight¡¯s dinner had been just an ordinary meal.


    ¡°Of all nights, why did he have to work late today?¡± Karsiel said with a sigh.


    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry, you¡¯re not eating because of me. The food¡¯s getting cold¡ªlet¡¯s eat,¡± Yoon-Hee said.


    She forced a smile as she picked at her food with her chopsticks, but as she chewed on a mouthful of rice, her spirits sank again. She had worked so hard to make this meal. The rice had turned out especially well tonight, but that only made it feel more unfair.


    She unlocked her smartphone and scrolled through her gallery, glancing at the photos. Most of them were scenic photos, pictures with her friends at the academy, videos of her classes, or shots of Yong-Yong and Karsiel. One photo showed Yong-Yong asleep, mouth wide open, drooling.


    Yoon-Hee couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°So dumb,¡± she muttered.


    ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡±


    Seeing Yoon-Hee smile, Yong-Yong and Karsiel also broke into smiles, moving closer to sneak a peek at her phone.


    ¡°W-wait, when did you take this?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a cute photo of you, Lord Izaas.¡±


    Yoon-Hee swiped to the next photo. It was a picture of Yong-Yong curled up and sleeping on Do-Jun¡¯s chest.


    ¡°This one is a bit blurry.¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Oh, y-yeah.¡± Yoon-Hee smiled awkwardly.


    The next picture showed Karsiel and Yong-Yong eating together.


    ¡°This one¡¯s clear.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re not all going to be blurry, duh.¡±


    ¡°M-maybe we should stop looking now,¡± Yoon-Hee suggested.


    ¡°Just a little more, please, Young Master,¡± Karsiel pleaded.


    ¡°Me too! This is fun,¡± Yon-Yong added.


    ¡°Fine... just a few more, okay?¡±


    They looked at about ten more pictures before Karsiel suddenly muttered, ¡°How strange... All the photos with Master are blurry.¡±


    Yoon-Hee¡¯s face turned red at those words, and she hurriedly turned off her phone.


    ¡°The food¡¯s getting cold. Let¡¯s eat.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Say ah.¡±


    ¡°Aaaah.¡±


    After dinner, Yoon-Hee was brushing Yong-Yong¡¯s teeth.


    He seemed to have finally gotten used to the toothpaste and no longer tried to escape. It struck her again how hard and strong a dragon¡¯s teeth were¡ªshe had to buy a new toothbrush every week.


    ¡°Rinse.¡±


    Yoon-Hee filled a cup with water and poured it into Yong-Yong¡¯s mouth, who gargled and spat it into the drain.


    After wiping Yong-Yong¡¯s mouth with a towel, Yoon-Hee wiped the sweat off her forehead with the back of her hand. Her day was finally coming to an end.


    ¡°Alright, head to bed now,¡± she told the dragons.


    ¡°What about you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll... come in a bit.¡±


    Yoon-Hee glanced at the eel on the table, now wrapped in plastic wrap. Yong-Yong nodded and walked toward the bedroom.


    It was already past midnight. Normally, she would have gone to bed long ago.


    Yoon-Hee sat down on the sofa, pulled out her smartphone, and almost called Do-Jun but stopped herself. He was probably focused on work, and she didn¡¯t want to disturb him.


    ¡°We¡¯ll turn in first, then, Young Master,¡± Karsiel said.


    ¡°Okay. Good night, Siel.¡±


    ¡°Good night, Young Master. Don¡¯t stay up too late.¡±


    ¡°Thanks for worrying about me,¡± Yoon-Hee said with a smile.


    ***


    ¡°Well done, guys,¡± Cheol-Soo said, exasperated.


    The overtime, caused by the mayor¡¯s sudden request for information documents, had finally ended. The clock showed that it was already past 2 AM. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hyuk-Soo stretched and said, ¡°Good work, Do-Jun.¡±


    ¡°At least it ended sooner than we expected,¡± Do-Jun said with a sigh.


    Cheol-Soo pulled two 50,000 won bills from his wallet and handed one to both Hyuk-Soo and Do-Jun.


    ¡°Thanks, guys. Take a taxi home tonight.¡±


    Do-Jun shook his head. They had all worked hard together, so why should Cheol-Soo pay their taxi fare?


    ¡°Ah, come on. If you don¡¯t take it, I¡¯ll feel guilty and won¡¯t be able to sleep. Seriously, just take it; my arm¡¯s hurting here.¡±


    Cheol-Soo exaggeratedly pretended his arm was in pain. Seeing this, Do-Jun chuckled and took the money.


    ¡°Thank you, Chief.¡±


    ***


    When Do-Jun returned home and stepped into the entryway, he noticed the light in the living room was still on. The house should have been dark past 2:30 AM.


    ¡°I told her to go to bed...¡± he muttered.


    Yoon-Hee was fast asleep on the sofa, breathing softly.


    Had she been waiting for him?


    The thought made him feel guilty. Her waiting for him like this was not part of their contract.


    Do-Jun sighed and went to the bedroom to grab a blanket. Carefully, so as not to wake her, he gently draped the blanket over Yoon-Hee.


    ¡°Dad...¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Mm...¡±


    It seemed she was talking in her sleep.


    Just then, a plate on the dining table caught his eye. Do-Jun walked over to check, finding the eel from earlier wrapped in plastic.


    It must have been tonight¡¯s dinner.


    Do-Jun sat at the table, unwrapped the eel, and picked up a piece with his chopsticks. Since the eel had been sitting there for hours, it was stone cold, but somehow, it still felt warm.

 Chapter 86

    Chapter 86


    Administrative Affairs was a position where the person in charge was responsible for various miscellaneous tasks without a specific purpose.


    In the public sector, each office or department typically had one person responsible for document classification, reception, budgeting, and accounting, usually assigned to the junior-most employee in the department.


    Do-Jun and a female employee were at a fairly large stationery store, just a five-minute walk from Seoul City Hall.


    ¡°Hmm... Senior, which one should we pick?¡± she muttered as she stared at a box filled with various types of instant coffee, struggling to decide.


    One month ago, Lee Yeon-Hee, previously in charge of administration, went on maternity leave. A new employee was assigned to the Fissure Management Division, but since she was still inexperienced, Do-Jun had been teaching her various tasks, and she learned to follow him around.


    ¡°The manager and Senior Kwon prefer instant coffee, while the three section chiefs take theirs black. Senior Park and Senior Cha like barley tea...¡± Do-Jun explained.


    After working in the Fissure Management Division for four months, he had already memorized the drink preferences of everyone in the office. In fact, he had made it a point to learn them quickly when he first returned to Earth, wanting to adapt to normal life as soon as possible.


    By now, it had become a habit¡ªsomething he could recall without even thinking.


    ¡°And you, Senior? What do you like?¡± the female employee asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind. Anything¡¯s fine,¡± Do-Jun answered honestly.


    He really didn¡¯t care. Whether it was instant or black coffee, he drank both without preference. Still, if he really had to choose, he was partial to one specific drink.


    ¡°Maybe Dragon Well Tea,¡± Do-Jun muttered as a smile crept across his face, recalling the tea he often drank in the Central Plains.


    ***


    Lately, Yong-Yong had taken a liking to wandering around the city.


    After being cooped up in his nest for thousands of years, he found himself lost in thought, musing that he would never have thought of coming to Earth if he hadn¡¯t met Do-Jun that day.


    ¡°Come test your aim with this darts challenge and win a prize!¡± He heard someone advertising in a loud voice.


    Every ten meters or so, cellphone carrier booths lined the street. To attract customers, they had everything from inflatable advertising balloons to loud music, even setting up small stages for dance performances. What caught Yong-Yong¡¯s attention was the dart challenge, which, judging by the size of the crowd, seemed quite popular.


    Yong-Yong squeezed through the people to poke his head out, only to see a man throw a dart at the spinning roulette wheel. When the assistant stopped the wheel, the word ¡°Miss¡± appeared. The man sighed in disappointment and stepped back.


    ¡°Anyone else want to give it a try?¡± the assistant asked.


    Yong-Yong immediately jumped out and shouted, ¡°I do!¡±


    In an instant, everyone¡¯s eyes turned toward him.


    A talking dog? No, it didn¡¯t exactly look like a dog.


    He had two small white horns on his head and tiny wings on his back. Even with that, it didn¡¯t take long for people to accept his appearance.


    In a world where everyone had a Status Window and certain individuals could awaken special skills, a talking dog with a slightly odd appearance wasn¡¯t beyond belief.


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± the assistant asked.


    ¡°Yong-Yong... Ah, no, Izaas.¡±


    The assistant wrote ¡°Izaas¡± in large letters on the participant list and handed Yong-Yong a dart from the box.


    ¡°Alright, Izaas, you only get one shot. Ready?¡±


    Five words were written on the spinning wheel, and Yong-Yong decided to go for the narrowest spot, barely an inch wide. Such games often placed the best prizes in the toughest spots to hit. Though he had no idea what glamping was, Yong-Yong figured it had to be delicious.


    The wheel spun rapidly, and Yong-Yong lifted the dart with his front paw. Suddenly, time around him seemed to slow down, and everything seemed stuck in slow motion.


    It was his ninth-circle high-magic spell, Time Slip.


    Thwip!


    The dart landed, but the wheel was still spinning. The assistant stopped it to check the result, his eyes widening in surprise. Everyone watching gasped.


    ¡°Congratulations! You¡¯ve won first place: a glamping voucher!¡±


    Yong-Yong¡¯s grin stretched from ear to ear until he saw the prize. He stared blankly at the two pieces of paper in his paw and looked up at the assistant.


    ¡°Sir... what is this...?¡± he asked the vendor.


    The assistant crouched down to meet Yong-Yong¡¯s eye level and smiled. ¡°It¡¯s the first-place prize.¡±


    Slowly, Yong-Yong confirmed once again that it wasn¡¯t food. Then he looked up at the assistant, utterly confused, murmuring as if he had lost his whole world, ¡°Sir, where... where¡¯s the food?¡±


    ***


    After returning home from school, Yoon-Hee found a ticket on the dining table. It read ¡°Glamping in Nature,¡± and its expiration date was this Sunday.


    She was sure it hadn¡¯t been there that morning.


    ¡°Yong-Yong, where did this come from?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I won it in darts,¡± Yong-Yong answered flatly from his lounging position on the sofa as he watched TV.


    Yoon-Hee tilted her head and flipped the ticket over, her eyes widening slightly as she read the back: Free private BBQ and free use of the fishing pond (fishing rods not provided). It also mentioned that the BBQ meat and seafood were available for unlimited refills.


    A quick search on her smartphone revealed that one night at the very glamping place cost 250,000 won.


    ¡°I should¡¯ve gone for fifth place... ugh.¡± Still watching the TV, Yong-Yong slammed his paw on the sofa in frustration.


    Why did he go for a useless first-place prize when the prize for fifth place was delicious chocolate? He had assumed the best prize would naturally be something delicious.


    ¡°Yong-Yong, can... can I have this?¡± Yoon-Hee asked him tentatively.


    ¡°Sure, take it. It¡¯s not like I have any use for it.¡±


    ¡°Why? You don¡¯t want to go?¡±


    ¡°Why would I wa¡ª¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re offering unlimited BBQ.¡±


    Yong-Yong vanished from the sofa instantly, reappearing on Yoon-Hee¡¯s shoulder. His eyes darted around, reading the ticket in her hand. Upon confirming the part about unlimited BBQ meat and seafood, he panicked, shaking her shoulder.


    ¡°I-I want to go too! Take me! Besides, that¡¯s my ticket in the first place!¡±


    Yoon-Hee smiled and tucked the ticket behind her back. ¡°Who was that dragon earlier who said he didn¡¯t need it?¡±


    ¡°T-that was...¡±


    ¡°Well, I might take you if you really want to go.¡±


    ¡°Huff, huff... Please take me!¡±


    ¡°What should I do?¡± Yoon-Hee pretended to ponder, but just then, something caught her eye.


    ***


    Having returned home from work, Do-Jun walked into the living room. He stopped in his tracks at the bizarre sight he had never seen before.


    Usually, Yong-Yong would be lying on the sofa, watching TV, but instead, he was scurrying around the living room, mopping the floor.


    ¡°Welcome home!¡± Yoon-Hee smiled as she approached Do-Jun.


    Just then, having finished mopping the living room thoroughly, including the corners, Yong-Yong picked up a piece of paper from the table and handed it to Yoon-Hee. She patted his head proudly, took a stamp out of her pocket, and stamped the paper. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Great Job!¡±


    Yong-Yong beamed with joy after receiving the stamp.


    Do-Jun watched the scene in silence for a moment before turning his head toward Yoon-Hee, who gave a sheepish smile and explained the situation.


    Yong-Yong won a glamping ticket as a prize from a dart game, but he tossed it away since he didn¡¯t need it. However, when he found out that the ticket came with unlimited barbeque, Yoon-Hee set a condition that he needed to earn ten ¡°Great Job!¡± stamps to come along.


    ¡°So... I was wondering, Father, are you free this weekend?¡± she asked, checking whether he had any business trips or prior engagements.


    Do-Jun recalled that he didn¡¯t have any plans and nodded.


    Yoon-Hee¡¯s face brightened instantly.


    ***


    The glamping site in Pocheon, Gyeonggi-do, was bustling with visitors.


    A stream and swimming hole were right next to the campsite, offering plenty of fun activities like swimming and fishing. Despite being a camp, the site was well-equipped with a bathhouse and a convenience store, so there was no need to bring much.


    Upon entering the assigned tent, they found a spacious area complete with a TV, air conditioning, and heated mats. Even the storage cabinet had books that looked interesting enough to read while lounging in the hammock outside.


    ¡°There¡¯s a second floor!¡± Yong-Yong yelled, peeking over the ledge after climbing the stairs.[1]


    Looking at the bed on the second floor and the small night light beside it, Yong-Yong only had one thought. ¡°Heh. It¡¯s smaller than the bed at home.¡±


    For Yong-Yong, home was no longer the nest he had lived in for thousands of years. It was now Unit 301 in Changshin Villa, where he had lived for only a few months.


    Meanwhile, Do-Jun stepped outside the tent and looked up at the sky. Noticing that the sun was particularly hot that day, he decided that his skin would burn if he stayed under the sun too long, so he went back inside to get sunscreen.


    ¡°Karsiel, come here for a second,¡± Do-Jun called out.


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡± Karsiel ran over at Do-Jun¡¯s call in her human form.


    Do-Jun took off her straw hat and squeezed some sunscreen onto her face, arms, and legs, rubbing it in thoroughly.


    ¡°Thank you, Master.¡±


    ¡°Yong¡ª¡± Just as Do-Jun was about to call Yong-Yong, he noticed that Yong-Yong was already slapping on some sunscreen from a single-use pack.


    Do-Jun wondered if dragons even needed sunscreen, but he decided not to think too hard about it.


    Yoon-Hee sat down in front of Do-Jun. Unsure of what she wanted, he just stared at her.


    ¡°Hmm...?¡± Yoon-Hee mumbled as her face showed a bit of embarrassment.


    A moment later, her face turned beet red, and she jumped up. She had somehow thought that Do-Jun would naturally do the same for her as well.


    ***


    After spending the afternoon swimming and fishing, it was finally time for dinner.


    Seafood sizzled on the grill over the charcoal, filling the air with a delicious aroma. Scallops and pen shells soaked in butter popped open, and large prawns turned a beautiful shade of red.


    ¡°Aah... Hmm?¡± Yong-Yong paused just as he was about to pop a piece of scallop into his mouth.


    A cat with innocent eyes was staring at him from nearby.


    ¡°Sigh, here.¡± Yong-Yong tossed the scallop meat, and the cat quickly dashed over to gobble it up.


    The cats around here mostly survived on scraps from campers or by scavenging the campsite leftovers.


    Meanwhile, Yoon-Hee was busy peeling shrimp. After about a minute, she had a perfectly peeled shrimp, which she carefully offered to Do-Jun.


    ¡°This is delicious,¡± Do-Jun remarked.


    ¡°Want me to peel you another one?¡± Yoon-Hee asked with a smile.


    ¡°No, you should eat too, and so should they.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll peel one for you, Young Master,¡± said Karsiel.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll peel one for you, Karsiel,¡± Yong-Yong added.


    Do-Jun chuckled as he picked up a shrimp and peeled it.


    ***


    A man was staring at the ranking board in the depths of the Deep Realm. The name of Vapula, the sixty-third demon of Solomon¡¯s seventy-two, had vanished.


    ¡°He¡¯s dead...?¡±


    At whose hands?


    1. Koreans like to take their urban conveniences along while immersing themselves in nature, so we have these ugly-ahhh two-story tents :)))) ?

 Chapter 87

    Chapter 87


    The first floor of the Core was home to three mythical creatures¡ªEntusha, which took the form of a unicorn, and Laikar, resembling a whale. However, the last mythical creature remained a mystery, with no one among the adventurers having seen it.


    ***


    [Nallanium]


    Category: Miscellaneous/Herbs


    Description: An herb commonly found on the first floor of the Core. Its most distinguishing feature is the curled tip of its leaves, which form a question mark shape. When crushed and applied to wounds, it acts as both a disinfectant and a coagulant. Be careful not to confuse it with the poisonous Tyren, which looks similar.


    Do-Jun was using Interpreter¡ªAtaraxia to gather information about the first floor of the Core and input it into the Fissure Management System. He was preparing in advance since Behemoth Guild was likely to clear the final stage of the tutorial and descend to the first floor next month.


    He tore off a sprig of Nallanium and chewed it to see if it could be used as a substitute for potions. A bitter taste quickly spread from his tongue to his nose. While it did seem to have a slight healing effect, the taste was so awful that it wasn¡¯t worth eating.


    ¡°Hey, mistah.¡± A voice came from behind.


    Do-Jun turned to see where it came from. It was a little girl, about three years old, wearing a light tunic that fluttered down to her knees.


    ¡°You no eat that,¡± she said.


    Do-Jun nodded in agreement. Though the herb wasn¡¯t something one absolutely couldn¡¯t eat, the taste was quite awful.


    ¡°Thanks for the advice,¡± he said, standing up and stretching.


    Deciding to check the clearly suspicious child, Do-Jun opened the Interpreter.


    [Unidentified Mythical Creature discovered!]


    [Not registered in the Interpreter. Unable to confirm identity.]


    [Warning! Approach with caution.]


    This girl was not even listed in the Interpreter, and the fact that she was labeled a mythical creature meant she was undoubtedly a significant threat to adventurers in the Core.


    From the faint aura she emitted, Do-Jun could tell she was among the most powerful beings he had encountered¡ªexcept, perhaps, for Yong-Yong.


    ¡°Are you hungwy?¡± The child tilted her head as she asked.


    Do-Jun smiled and patted her on the head. Her concern for someone she had just met was adorable.


    ¡°Here, eat this,¡± the girl said, rummaging in her pocket to pull out a strawberry, big enough to fill her tiny hand.


    Do-Jun wondered where on earth she had gotten it, but he accepted the strawberry. He wasn¡¯t particularly hungry but didn¡¯t want to ignore her kindness.


    ¡°If I eat this, what about you?¡± Do-Jun asked her.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ve got more.¡±


    She showed him the three strawberries left in her pocket, then took one out and sat on the cliff''s edge. Do-Jun shrugged and sat next to her.


    As she bit into her strawberry, she pointed downward at a waterfall. ¡°A fish comes out there.¡±


    Sure enough, just as she said, a massive fish emerged from the waterfall. Actually, it was more like a whale¡ªa massive, black whale, kilometers in length. It was the second mythical creature¡ªLaikar.


    Laikar soared through the air, swallowing adventurers and insignificant monsters whole. The adventurers scrambled in desperation, their lives in peril. Some tried to escape while others hid behind debris.


    ¡°Mistah, you shouldn¡¯t be here,¡± the child said with concern.


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°Die.¡±


    Her concern for Do-Jun was sincere. After all, every adventurer Laikar had caught until now had met their end. No matter how skilled an adventurer was, with a mere red status window¡ªthe lowest rank¡ªthey stood no chance against a mythical creature.


    ¡°There¡¯s a saying in Korea,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°What saying...?¡±


    Do-Jun wondered for a second if a child could understand it but decided to tell her anyway. ¡°The first strike wins.¡±


    ***


    [You have entered the third stage of the Tutorial Zone.]


    [Recommended Magic Resistance: 1.5]


    Jun-Yeol opened his eyes to see a space about a hundred square meters, walled off by stone on all sides. The members of Behemoth Guild stood on floating platforms, each about a meter wide, suspended in midair with lava flowing below.


    [Skill Ring (Colorless) has been granted.]


    A translucent ring appeared in Jun-Yeol¡¯s hand. He whistled as he slipped it onto his finger. According to the ¡°Core Tutorial Walkthrough,¡± this ring was necessary to use skills once they reached the first floor of the Core.


    [Baphogedon]


    Category: Tutorial/Monster


    Description: The gatekeeper of the first floor in the third stage of the tutorial. It uses the trident in its hand to stab approaching adventurers and throw them into the lava. Its weak point is the horn. Be mindful of this.


    Danger Level: ¡ï¡ï


    Tusitala sighed, looking at the walkthrough in Jun-Yeol¡¯s hand. ¡°This is... cheating...¡±


    She knew that Do-Jun had given Behemoth Guild this strategy guide. If the other tutorial challengers learned about this, they would likely complain about the unfairness, but what could they do? It wasn¡¯t like Tusitala was the one who broke the rules.


    ¡°I have a question,¡± Kang-Hyun said, raising his hand slightly.


    ¡°Yes, go ahead,¡± Tusitala said lightly.


    ¡°How many sockets has Supervisor Lee unlocked?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s just say he¡¯s unmatched.¡±


    ¡°So, he got the purple ring after killing the monster on the seventh floor.¡±


    Unparalleled. Kang-Hyun was once again struck by how incredible Do-Jun was.


    Tusitala realized that Kang-Hyun didn¡¯t quite understand what Do-Jun had done, but she didn¡¯t bother to correct him.


    She then glanced at the wall¡ªthe very one Do-Jun had broken through to ascend directly to the top¡ªand shuddered as she recalled the Skill Enhancement Ring Do-Jun had obtained.


    No matter how she thought about it, he was absurdly overpowered.


    *** S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Unbelievable Achievement!]


    [You have defeated Laikar.]


    [Would you like to announce your achievement?]


    Down below, a massive whale lay dead, belly up, with its body split in half.


    A child gazed curiously at the lifeless Laikar. Every adventurer she had seen before was terrified of Laikar and always tried to avoid it. However, when Do-Jun, whom she had just met, casually waved his hand, a sword made of energy shot out, and Laikar was killed in an instant.


    ¡°What your name, mistah?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m Lee Do-Jun.¡±


    The child mumbled Do-Jun¡¯s name several times, committing it to memory.


    Do-Jun smiled, finding it cute.


    ¡°And your name?¡± he asked this time.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have one,¡± the child replied with a blank expression.


    ¡°No name?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    This child, a mythical creature, rarely left the protected boundaries of her domain. In fact, this was the first time she had ever met an adventurer. Since she had always lived alone, she was never given a name to be called by.


    Do-Jun thought for a moment, then asked, ¡°Would it be okay if I gave you a name?¡±


    At those words, the child paused from eating her strawberry, turning to stare blankly at Do-Jun.


    ¡°Weally?¡± she asked, surprised.


    ¡°Only if it¡¯s okay with you.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    But even though he had offered to name her, he hadn¡¯t exactly thought of a name that would suit her. Do-Jun stroked his chin, looking at the child who was waiting expectantly. Then, he noticed a small birthmark under her eye.


    Upon closer inspection, the mark looked like a perfectly shaped star, as if someone had drawn it with a ruler.


    ¡°Byeol,¡± Do-Jun said.[1]


    At that moment, a beam of light descended from the clear blue sky and shone directly onto the child.


    [Someone has tamed a mythical creature.]


    [A new legend in the Core is being written.]


    ***


    Do-Jun traveled around the first floor of the Core with Byeol.


    He used Interpreter¡ªAtaraxia to record information about monsters, plants, and artifacts into the Fissure Management System and relied on Byeol¡¯s input for anything the Interpreter couldn¡¯t identify.


    Her explanations were a bit lacking, but she was never wrong.


    ¡°You can¡¯t eat this.¡± Byeol shook her head as she looked at a mushroom growing on a tree.


    Do-Jun snapped a photo of the mushroom with his portable device.


    Realizing it was already past 6 PM, Do-Jun thought it was time to head back. His family was waiting for him at home, and he also had to prepare for work the next day.


    ¡°Byeol,¡± he said.


    ¡°Yeah?¡±


    ¡°I need to head back home now.¡±


    ¡°Home?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. My home in Korea.¡±


    Byeol tilted her head, clearly confused. In the Core, the concept of ¡°home¡± didn¡¯t exist. In this world, where enemies or monsters could attack at any moment, staying in one place was practically suicide. Adventurers typically moved from place to place, sleeping wherever they could find shelter.


    ¡°See you next time,¡± Do-Jun said, smiling as he patted Byeol on the head.


    Perhaps sensing he was leaving for a while, Byeol grabbed onto his shirt with her tiny hand.


    ¡°You have to weally come back.¡± She looked up at him with anxious eyes. As if she had grown attached to him in their short time together, Byeol wasn¡¯t ready to let him go.


    ¡°Of course. I promise.¡± Do-Jun hooked his pinky finger with hers.


    ***


    Instead of heading straight home after returning to Earth, Do-Jun stopped by the local bookstore called Book 24.


    Since returning from the Central Plains, Do-Jun visited the bookstore once a week, purchasing various books to help him adapt to modern society. His personal library now held over seventy books.


    ¡°Welcome!¡± Kim Mina, the part-time worker at Book 24, greeted him warmly with a bright smile.


    Do-Jun was a regular customer of the store, which boosted its sales, and he even brought her occasional snacks as a treat.


    ¡°Looking for anything in particular today?¡± she asked with a smile.


    ¡°Do you have any parenting books?¡± Do-Jun asked.


    ¡°Parenting? They are in aisle F15. But... wait, are you married?¡± she asked, shocked.


    She never saw it coming. She knew he worked an office job, but she assumed he was unmarried because he looked so young.


    Do-Jun shook his head, muttering a quick thanks before heading to the parenting section. He made his way past young couples who appeared to be newlyweds and headed further in.


    ¡°Senior Hyuk-Soo?¡±


    ¡°Do-Jun?¡±


    Hyuk-Soo also happened to be browsing the same section, looking at parenting books.


    ¡°What a coincidence, meeting you here,¡± Hyuk-Soo said with a laugh.


    ¡°Yes, are you here to buy a book too?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. I have to start watching my relative¡¯s kid in the evenings next week, but I don¡¯t know much about caring for children, so I¡¯m trying to learn. What about you?¡±


    ¡°I come here about once a week.¡±


    Hyuk-Soo nodded, turning his attention back to the book he had been reading. After about two minutes, he made his choice.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be heading out now.¡± Waving his chosen book, Hyuk-Soo gave a quick goodbye.


    ¡°Alright, see you tomorrow, Senior.¡±


    Hyuk-Soo made his way toward the checkout counter. But his pace gradually slowed until he turned around and called, ¡°Do-Jun. Would you like to grab a drink?¡±


    1. Byeol translates to star in Korean! ?

 Chapter 88

    Chapter 88


    The dim street was lit by the glow of streetlights. Do-Jun and Hyuk-Soo sat next to each other on a bench under one of the streetlights overlooking the Han River and the city¡¯s nightscape.


    Hyuk-Soo cracked open a beer can, and with a hiss, foam rose from the top of the can. He took a big gulp and exhaled a long breath.


    Watching him, Do-Jun also opened his can and took a large sip. The carbonation tickled his throat in a refreshing way as it flowed down.


    ¡°This is where I come whenever my thoughts get too cluttered. Staring blankly at the night view helps me... I don¡¯t know, clear my head? It¡¯s kind of counterintuitive, really,¡± Hyuk-Soo said in explanation.


    Do-Jun didn¡¯t question him and simply stared at the same view. Now that he thought about it, this was the first time Hyuk-Soo had personally invited him out for a drink. He couldn¡¯t refuse it, especially after seeing the complicated expression on his face when he suggested it.


    ¡°Your daughter is seventeen, right?¡± Hyuk-Soo asked him.


    Do-Jun nodded.


    ¡°I think you are truly amazing, Do-Jun. Raising a kid all by yourself... I can¡¯t even imagine what that¡¯s like. Especially at that age when they¡¯re so... sensitive.¡±


    Raising a child was an unfathomable task for Hyuk-Soo. Starting next week, though, he would have to look after his four-year-old niece who lived next door. Even if it was just part-time babysitting in the evenings, he wondered if he could handle it.


    He continued, ¡°I¡¯m a selfish guy... I can barely take care of myself, so I¡¯m worried I¡¯ll mess it up or, worse, end up being a burden. What if I come home after work, too exhausted to care for the kid?¡±


    He let out a bitter laugh and drank his beer.


    Do-Jun finally broke his silence. ¡°I also don¡¯t know much about raising a child, but I think you¡¯ll do great, Senior.¡±


    When Do-Jun first returned from the Martial World and started working at the Fissure Management Division, all the other employees looked down on him. Yet, Hyuk-Soo was different.


    He patiently taught Do-Jun the basics, guiding him through the work no matter how busy he was, never showing the slightest bit of annoyance. Thanks to him, Do-Jun was able to adjust to office life.


    ¡°And... if you were really selfish, you wouldn¡¯t have bought that book.¡± Do-Jun pointed to the book in the plastic bag next to Hyuk-Soo, which he had bought at Book 24. It was titled ¡°From Newbie Dad to Veteran Dad.¡±


    Do-Jun drank his beer in one long gulp, thinking that he was fortunate to have met someone like Hyuk-Soo.


    *** S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yoon-Hee had already finished an early dinner with the dragons after getting the message from Do-Jun saying he was coming home after having drinks with a coworker.


    Their dinner was simple¡ªseasoned lance asiabell, sausages, and fried eggs. Regardless of the complexity of the dishes, her cooking was always delicious.


    ¡°We already ate. What are you making again?¡± Yong-Yong asked, peering into the pot of bubbling bean sprout soup.


    After dinner, Yoon-Hee finished washing the dishes, then went to the grocery store in front of their house to buy a bunch of bean sprouts and started making soup, which Yong-Yong found strange.


    Since they wouldn¡¯t eat more, what was the point of making soup?


    ¡°I¡¯m making hangover soup,¡± Yoon-Hee said.


    ¡°Hangover soup?¡±


    ¡°Lord Izaas, hangover soup is a dish made to help recover from a hangover. The asparagine in bean sprouts helps break down the alcohol. I imagine Young Master is preparing it in case our master drank too much,¡± Karsiel explained.


    ¡°So it¡¯s basically detoxification, huh.¡±


    Considering Do-Jun was not affected by poison, it seemed unnecessary to worry about detoxifying anything. Considerately, Yong-Yong decided to keep quiet about it, not wanting to ruin Yoon-Hee¡¯s efforts.


    ¡°Master¡¯s here,¡± Yong-Yong said, perking up his ears at the sound of footsteps coming from the elevator as it opened.


    By now, Yong-Yong could tell just from the sound whether it was Do-Jun or not.


    He dashed to the front door, wagging his tail, waiting for it to open.


    ¡°I¡¯m back,¡± Do-Jun said as he entered.


    ¡°Haha! Traveler! If you wish to pass this way, you must answer my riddle! In the morning, I have four legs...¡± Yong-Yong spread his front paws wide and started asking his riddle.


    But Do-Jun answered before he could even finish, ¡°You¡¯re a human.¡±[1]


    He kicked off his shoes and walked into the living room.


    Yong-Yong froze on the spot, stunned. It had taken him two hours to solve that same riddle when Karsiel asked him.


    ¡°Welcome back, Master.¡± Karsiel bowed her head respectfully.


    Do-Jun smiled and patted her on the head. Karsiel beamed, pleased.


    ¡°Welcome home, Father.¡±


    ¡°Thanks. You haven¡¯t eaten yet?¡±


    ¡°No, we did.¡±


    ¡°Then what¡¯s the soup...?¡± Do_Jun asked her.


    ¡°You said you were drinking, so I made some hangover soup. Do you not like bean sprout soup...?¡±


    Do-Jun didn¡¯t react, and Yoon-Hee anxiously watched him, worriedly thinking that perhaps she should have gone with pollock stew instead.


    For hangover, huh... Do-Jun thought.


    He had reached a state of absolute Poison Immunity, and he never got drunk, thanks to the internal energy circulating within him. Still, he decided there was no reason to reveal that now.


    ¡°Thank you, this is perfect,¡± Do-Jun said with a smile.


    ***


    Meanwhile, back at the Core, on the first floor.


    After Do-Jun had left, Byeol, who was left alone, approached the Tree of Wisdom.


    Whenever she got bored, she would spend time chatting with the Tree of Wisdom, who always kept her company. The tree was incredibly knowledgeable, as if there was nothing it didn¡¯t know.


    ¡ªYes, Korea is the country where the human you met, Lee Do-Jun, lives. I¡¯m sure you already knew he was from Earth. But I see he gave you a name.


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡ªHe called you Byeol, right? It suits you.


    ¡°Tanks. But hey, you know, I wanna go to Korea too.¡±


    Thinking of Do-Jun, Byeol pouted. Holding a small stone in her tiny hands, she drew Do-Jun¡¯s face in the dirt.


    After drawing uneven eyes, Byeol muttered, ¡°Not good enough! This is not him,¡± and started to tear up at the sight of her drawing.


    Just then, the drawing was wiped away, and a tree root poked out of the ground. The root moved like a hand and redrew the face¡ªDo-Jun¡¯s face.


    ¡ªByeol. Did he look like this?


    ¡°Woah!¡± Byeol exclaimed in astonishment upon seeing that the face drawn by the Tree of Wisdom was a perfect match for how Do-Jun looked in her eyes: cool, yet warm at the same time.


    Byeol grinned from ear to ear at the tree. ¡°You¡¯re amazing.¡±


    ¡ªBut, Byeol... let me warn you in advance. This Lee Do-Jun is a dangerous person.


    ¡°Dangerous?¡±


    The Tree of Wisdom projected a video of what had happened during the tutorial phase.


    It showed Do-Jun killing the Clone of Armorization, defeating the Imoogi, acquiring a Skill Enhancement Ring no one had ever gotten before, and finally tearing the mythical creature Laikar apart with a single flick of his hand.


    Since the Core was established, the tree had seen countless adventurers come and go, but none like him. Such feats shouldn¡¯t be possible, and yet they were.


    ¡ªI am certain that if he wanted to, he could destroy the entire ecosystem of the Core. Byeol, I¡¯m not sure yet, but if he ever turns evil...


    ¡°He. Not. A. Bad. Person,¡± Byeol spoke slowly, carefully, one syllable at a time, showing her dissatisfaction with the tree¡¯s words.


    Do-Jun had given her a name and spent all day playing with her.


    ¡ªI think it would be best if he stayed on Earth.


    ¡°He promised me. He said he¡¯d come back.¡±


    The tree decided to stay silent in the face of this stubbornness.


    ¡°I wonder when he¡¯s coming back,¡± Byeol said.


    ***


    Do-Jun mixed rice into the bean sprout soup and took a spoonful. The spicy broth, with finely chopped Cheongyang peppers, was incredible.[2]


    Despite not being hungover one bit, it couldn¡¯t get better than this.


    Do-Jun marveled at how much Yoon-Hee¡¯s cooking skills had improved day by day. He paused while eating and looked at Yoon-Hee, who was watching him with a subtle smile.


    In fact, Do-Jun knew exactly what she wanted. She wanted him to say it was delicious.


    ¡°How is it?¡± she asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s good,¡± Do-Jun answered.


    Those two words were more than enough to light up Yoon-Hee¡¯s face with pure happiness.


    Despite the busy days filled with the Academy¡¯s demanding schedule, coming home to clean, do laundry, and cook dinner¡ªan endless stream of house chores¡ªDo-Jun¡¯s simple affirmation made all the fatigue melt away.


    In truth, she could live just to hear those few words.


    ¡°Um... Actually, I have something to tell you,¡± Yoon-Hee hesitantly started.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    She stood up, went to the bedroom, and brought something, placing it carefully in front of Do-Jun.


    It was a letter from her school.


    ¡°A field trip?¡±


    It was a four-day trip to Busan with a simple itinerary: a tour of the site of the first Fissure and participation in the upcoming International Hunter Festival in Busan. Although it seemed to be part of their practical curriculum, attendance was semi-optional.


    ¡°Could you sign here?¡± Yoon-Hee asked, pointing to a line requiring the signature of a parent or guardian.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± When Do-Jun looked up slightly from where Yoon-Hee was pointing, he saw that she had marked the section indicating she didn¡¯t wish to attend.


    ¡°You¡¯re not going?¡± he asked her.


    ¡°Nope.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    A school field trip was one of the highlights of student life. Of course, it was up to her to decide whether to go, but as a parent, Do-Jun wanted his daughter to experience the same things other kids did.


    Yoon-Hee pulled out the Dad Contract and pointed to the fourth clause: 4. Party B must diligently perform household chores during the contract period.


    ¡°If I go on the trip, I can¡¯t diligently perform our household chores.¡±


    Why did she look like she was happy about this? Was it just Do-Jun¡¯s imagination?


    No, Yoon-Hee was definitely smiling.


    Seeing that, Do-Jun sighed and said, ¡°Go on the trip.¡±


    ¡°W-what?¡±


    ¡°What kind of terrible dad doesn¡¯t let his daughter go on a field trip because of chores?¡±


    ¡°But, but I...¡± Yoon-Hee¡¯s face fell, looking as if she was about to cry.


    It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t want to go. Honestly, she did. But she liked being at home even more, where there was Do-Jun, Yong-Yong, and Karsiel.


    However, Do-Jun¡¯s expression was firm.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go. But I want to ask you for one thing,¡± Yoon-Hee said quietly.


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    ¡°Can you... pick me up when I get back?¡± she asked, slightly nervous.


    Do-Jun nodded and replied, ¡°I¡¯ll even see you off.¡±


    Only then did Yoon-Hee¡¯s face brighten up with a big smile.


    ***


    On the day of the trip, the Academy¡¯s field was lined with large charter buses. More parents were dropping their children off than Do-Jun had expected.


    ¡°I¡¯ll see you in a few days, Father,¡± Yoon-Hee said.


    ¡°Mhm. Have fun and be safe.¡±


    ¡°Make sure you eat properly while I¡¯m gone, okay? I prepared enough side dishes for four days in the fridge, so you just need to heat them in the microwave. Oh, and don¡¯t worry about cleaning or doing the laundry. I¡¯ll handle that when I get back. Just leave the dishes in the sink, and I¡¯ll wash them when I return.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Do-Jun gently patted Yoon-Hee on the head.


    ¡°Alrighty, then. See you in four days!¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Oh, take this with you,¡± Do-Jun said, handing her a surprisingly heavy duffel bag.


    ¡°What¡¯s this...? W-what¡¯s in here, Father?¡±


    ***


    After the bus left, Do-Jun stood there momentarily, staring at the now-empty field. Then, he started walking to work.


    He wondered how he would spend the next four days alone.


    1. This is the famous ¡°Riddle of the Sphinx¡± from Greek mythology.


    The full riddle goes like this: ¡°In the morning, I walk on four legs, At noon, I walk on two legs, In the evening, I walk on three legs. What am I?¡±


    The answer is a human. The ¡°morning¡± represents early life, when a baby crawls on all fours. ¡°Noon¡± is adulthood, when a person walks on two legs. ¡°Evening¡± is old age, when a person may use a cane (the third leg) for support. ?


    2. Cheongyang pepper is basically a Korean Jalapeno! ?

 Chapter 89

    Chapter 89


    Yoon-Hee exclaimed in disappointment as she saw that the only available seat was at the front of the bus. She had no choice but to sit right behind the driver, placing her duffel bag¡ªwhich seemed to weigh at least twenty kilograms¡ªon the seat next to her.


    ¡°Whew. Just what on earth is in this bag...¡±


    Wondering why it was so heavy, she carefully unzipped the duffle bag. Inside, she saw two small dragons staring back at her.


    She stared at them silently, asking why the two of them were in there.


    Karsiel lowered her head in shame while Yong-Yong waved a front paw at Yoon-Hee with a bright smile. ¡°Hi!¡±


    Without saying a word in response, Yoon-Hee zipped the bag closed again.


    The bag squirmed.


    ¡°U-um! Excuse me, we¡¯re still in here!¡± The zipper opened again, and Yong-Yong poked his head out, sighing in relief. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Karsiel cautiously spoke as her eyes met Yoon-Hee¡¯s. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Young Master.¡±


    ¡°Why... why are you two here? Who¡¯s staying with Father?¡±


    Yong-Yong shrugged and replied, ¡°He told us to go with you on your trip.¡±


    ***


    [Next stop, Bangbae Station. The doors will open on the right...]


    Do-Jun was on the subway on his way home from work. As usual, he was reading a news article on Fissures and Hunters¡ªa habit he had developed after returning to Earth. Keeping up with such news sometimes proved helpful in his work.


    ¡°The 2nd International Hunter Festival to be held at Busan BEXCO.¡±


    ¡°Starting on the 30th, the 2nd International Hunter Festival will take place at Busan BEXCO. Co-hosted by the Hunter¡¯s Bureau and Busan BEXCO, Hunter¡¯s Bureau Chief Jung Young-Chul expressed his hope that broad exchanges with Hunters from various countries would contribute to public safety. Reports of top-ranking Hunters attending have also caused an explosive response from citizens...¡±


    His phone beeped from an incoming text message. He checked to see that it was from Yoon-Hee, reminding him to have dinner. Do-Jun smiled and replied yes.


    She had arrived in Busan and sent him a photo of herself with Yong-Yong and Karsiel at the hotel. She looked like she was having fun.


    The subway doors opened, and Do-Jun stepped onto the platform, tucking his phone into his pocket.


    An irritating voice stood out among the sound of footsteps moving toward the turnstiles.


    ¡°You know the Phoenix Guild, right?¡±


    A man was trying to hit on a woman leaning against a pillar.


    The sweater she wore could not hide her curves and slim waist, and her skinny jeans seemed seconds away from blowing at the seams due to her thick thighs. Her tied-up hair and black sunglasses gave her a cold, distant look, which only made Jung Chang-Hoon more obsessed.


    The woman let out an annoyed breath and replied, ¡°I have a boyfriend.¡±


    But Jung Chang-Hoon didn¡¯t give up. It didn¡¯t matter to him if she had a boyfriend. He had seduced many women with boyfriends before, using his good looks and the fact that he was a C-rank Hunter. This woman wouldn¡¯t be any different.


    ¡°He¡¯s not here right now, is he? How about you and I start our own little secret?¡±


    ¡°Ah, like I said...¡±


    That woman is... I think she said her name was Moon Ae-Kyung, Do-Jun thought as he recognized her through the sunglasses covering her face.


    The woman possessed an extraordinary level of mana, even among Hunters. Ranked third among Hunters in Korea, a member of Behemoth Guild, and one of the First Hunters.


    However, that was all there was to it.


    Do-Jun turned and headed for the turnstiles, having no reason to get involved.


    Unexpectedly, Ae-Kyung rushed to Do-Jun, linking her arm with his, and said to Jung Chang-Hoon, ¡°This is my boyfriend.¡±


    Do-Jun stared at her in disbelief.


    Ae-Kyung whispered, ¡°Please just play along, Supervisor Lee.¡±


    If they were inside a Fissure or even somewhere with fewer people, she would have easily crushed this pest of a man. Unfortunately, they were in a crowded subway, and Ae-Kyung didn¡¯t want to cause a scene, so she had no choice but to turn to Do-Jun for help.


    Do-Jun clicked his tongue and whispered back, ¡°Then might as well make it convincing.¡±


    Ae-Kyung wasn¡¯t sure what he meant by that, but she nodded.


    ¡°I¡¯m not just her boyfriend...¡± Do-Jun said.


    Ae-Kyung frowned slightly as if to ask how this was more convincing. But then, Do-Jun wrapped his right arm around her waist and pulled her close.


    ¡°I¡¯m her husband.¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Ae-Kyung¡¯s face turned red with embarrassment as she whipped her head around to stare at Do-Jun.


    This is what you meant by making it convincing?!


    Her expression was one of silent protest.


    ***


    Ae-Kyung found herself walking alongside Do-Jun all the way to his apartment.


    She bowed deeply to him in gratitude. Though she had been a bit flustered when he referred to her as his wife, it was clear he did it for her sake.


    Ae-Kyung glanced up at the old building where Do-Jun lived. On the outer wall, there was a sign that read Changshin Villa.


    It didn¡¯t suit him at all.


    If he wanted, he could live in a much nicer, luxurious place.


    ¡°Would you like to stay for dinner?¡± Do-Jun asked her.


    ¡°Pardon? Oh, no, I wouldn¡¯t want to impose any further.¡±


    ¡°Actually, there are a few things about the Core I¡¯d like to discuss with you,¡± Do-Jun added.


    ¡°A-are you sure?¡±


    Do-Jun nodded to ease Ae-Kyung¡¯s mind.


    If his family had been home, he wouldn¡¯t have made the offer, but they were all away on Yoon-Hee¡¯s school trip, so he figured this was a good chance to give her some information about the first floor of the Core.


    Soon, they got off on the third floor.


    Do-Jun entered the passcode into the door lock, turned the handle, and opened the door. The usually brightly lit home was dark and empty.


    For a moment, the absence of his family felt more noticeable than usual.


    When he turned on the lights, the room brightened to reveal the apartment¡¯s interior.


    ¡°Please, have a seat,¡± Do-Jun offered.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Ae-Kyung sat down at the dining table, glancing around the room. The apartment looked small, probably less than seventy square meters.


    Taking down a single S-rank monster would probably fetch him a much better place.


    As Do-Jun took out some side dishes from the fridge and placed them in the microwave, he said, ¡°Now that I¡¯m alone, this place feels huge.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry...?¡±


    What was that supposed to mean? Huge? This place? And what did he mean by ¡°now that I¡¯m alone¡±?


    It implied that he usually lived with someone.


    ¡°Oh, right. My daughter¡¯s on a school trip, so I¡¯ll be alone until the end of the week,¡± Do-Jun explained.


    Ae-Kyung was stunned. He didn¡¯t look like someone who had a daughter old enough to go on a school trip.


    A school trip usually meant she was at least in the upper grades of elementary school, and as far as she knew, Do-Jun was in his mid-to-late twenties.


    ¡°Sorry, but... How old is your daughter?¡± she asked.


    ¡°She¡¯s seventeen,¡± Do-Jun replied nonchalantly.


    ¡°What?¡±


    Was that even possible? Still, Ae-Kyung didn¡¯t press him for details. It seemed like a complicated family situation.


    ¡°Here, help yourself,¡± Do-Jun said.


    The dishes were simple: braised tofu, sausages, and bulgogi, with various seasoned vegetables as side dishes. There was also a bowl of rice, about one serving.


    It was an unfamiliar sight to Ae-Kyung, who was used to eating at hotels almost daily. She looked up to see Do-Jun eating heartily.


    Cautiously, she picked up some vegetables with her chopsticks, placed them on her rice, and took a bite.


    Her eyes widened.


    Next, she tried a piece of braised tofu.


    Seeing her reaction, Do-Jun chuckled and asked, ¡°Tasty?¡±


    She nodded. It was delicious. The hotel food was great, but this was something different.


    ¡°It¡¯s... comforting.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. That¡¯s why I prefer to eat at home when I can. My daughter¡¯s a good cook.¡±


    For some reason, the space she had just thought of as small and cramped now felt different. It felt cozy, filled with the warmth of people living there.


    ¡°And earlier, I mentioned I had something to tell you about the Core,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°Ah, right. Yes.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we head over there after dinner?¡± Do-Jun sipped his water and casually suggested as if the Core was just another park in his neighborhood.


    ***


    The space before them seemed like a giant hole. Looking up, they saw the waterfall cascading down from what seemed like a sky-high distance.


    Do-Jun and Ae-Kyung were standing on a piece of land jutting out from a steep cliff¡ªthe first floor of the Core. Ae-Kyung swallowed dryly, looking at the ten strange-looking birds flying by in a group. This was her first time entering the first floor of the Core.


    Do-Jun zipped up his windbreaker to his neck and pulled out his SpacePad.


    ¡°Supervisor Lee...¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    Ae-Kyung looked at Do-Jun incredulously. He was wearing shorts and slippers, with one hand casually tucked into his pocket. She wanted to ask if he was on a grocery run but held it in.


    ¡°Never mind...¡± She almost felt ridiculous in her suit.


    Just then, Do-Jun approached and showed her the screen of his SpacePad. It was a map of the first floor of the Core, clearly outlining the area with small red dots. When he tapped on the dots, information about the monsters and terrain at each location appeared.


    ¡°And... there are other adventurers here,¡± Do-Jun said and glanced around.


    Not far below, about fifty meters down, they could see some people walking through the bushes.


    Pointing at them, Do-Jun said to Ae-Kyung, ¡°They¡¯re just like us. The only difference is they came to the Core before us. These are the adventurers from the Wind Blood Alliance. You¡¯ll find details about them in the reference materials I gave Chief Jung last time.¡±


    Ae-Kyung swallowed as she thought that the greatest threat in the Core would be the other adventurers, not the monsters.


    Status Windows from Earth were sealed, which meant that their Core-exclusive Status Windows would be far more advanced.


    But... how is Supervisor Lee so relaxed?


    In the Core, everyone¡¯s power was reset.


    At this moment, even Ae-Kyung¡¯s Status Window from Earth was sealed. Her current stats, displayed in her Red Status Window, were pathetic, especially since she had yet to register any skills, meaning she had none.


    He has to be in the same boat as me.


    While peeking over the edge, Ae-Kyung made eye contact with the adventurers below. Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly pulled back, feeling a wave of panic.


    The three adventurers smirked and jumped toward her. ¡°Haven¡¯t seen this newbie before...¡±


    Filled with tension, Ae-Kyung gripped her weapon. However, the adventurers¡¯ expressions suddenly changed. Their faces turned pale as if they¡¯d seen something horrifying.


    ¡°S-sorry! We must¡¯ve been mistaken. W-we¡¯ll be on our way.¡± They bowed so low it seemed their backs might break, then hurriedly turned to leave.


    As Do-Jun watched them leave, he asked calmly, ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡±

 Chapter 90

    Chapter 90


    Recently, Byeol was immersed in a new hobby of drawing Do-Jun¡¯s face.


    She jogged her memory to search for his features¡ªneatly cut, medium-length black hair with a slight brown tint, slightly thick eyebrows, and moderately sized eyes without double eyelids. A sharp nose, closed lips, and a slender jawline.


    Although the image was clear in her mind, Byeol¡¯s drawings always ended up somewhat off.


    Sitting on the roots of the Tree of Wisdom, Byeol swung her feet as she sketched. Piled up beneath her were more than ten sketchbooks, all filled with drawings of Do-Jun¡¯s face. The Tree of Wisdom sighed, looking at her tireless efforts.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you get tired of drawing, huh, Byeol?¡±


    Byeol smiled brightly and answered, ¡°Nope. I like Mistah.¡±


    Unlike the others, who always wore stern and serious expressions, Do-Jun had a warm, gentle face that exuded calmness. Moreover, he had even given her the name ¡°Byeol.¡±


    While the Tree of Wisdom deemed Do-Jun dangerous, Byeol thought differently. To her, he was the kindest person in the world.


    ¡°Do you think Mistah will come today?¡± she asked the tree.


    Suddenly, Byeol stood up and pointed at something in the distance. Following her finger, one could spot a person in a strange outfit that didn¡¯t quite belong in the Core: a black windbreaker with a logo shaped like a puma, gray shorts, and slippers.


    ¡°There¡¯s Mistah!¡±


    Byeol¡¯s eyes sparkled.


    ***


    Three adventurers were sprawled out on the ground in a plank position while Do-Jun paced around in front of them, inspecting their form. They were grunting in pain and saying random, incoherent things.


    ¡°Grr, ugh...¡±


    ¡°Hey, stop pushing!¡±


    On each of their backs was a rock, weighed down by Do-Jun¡¯s internal energy, making it unbearably heavy. It was Do-Jun¡¯s unique martial art combining Thousand-Pound Weight and Void Manipulation.


    Before Do-Jun became known as the Heavenly Demon in the Central Plains, he had worked as a teacher at the Black Death Academy, an institution that trained talents for Heavenly Demonism. This new form of torture had been one of the most notorious punishments for disobedient students, and it was feared among the academy¡¯s trainees.


    ¡°S-supervisor Lee, what is this...?¡± Ae-Kyung asked, astonished by the scene before her.


    The adventurers didn¡¯t dare to fight or flee. They obeyed Do-Jun¡¯s every word, trembling like rats before a cat.


    Do-Jun had referred to them as ¡°the seniors from last year,¡± meaning their Status Window mastery was likely high. Yet, how had Do-Jun managed to subdue them with just a few words?


    Fucking hell, what a shit day. Ugh, my back, one of the adventurers thought as they writhed in agony, drenched in sweat.


    Of all the things they could have encountered, they had encountered this monster called Lee Do-Jun.


    At first, they thought he was just an above-average rookie, but as time passed, they realized it didn¡¯t stop there.


    He¡¯s no rookie¡ªhe¡¯s the endgame.


    The realization hit when they witnessed Do-Jun effortlessly killing a mythical creature a few days ago. Since then, everyone knew not to provoke him.


    ¡°I¡¯ll let you go, but you need to pass on a message,¡± Do-Jun said to the trio.


    He showed the adventurers the screen on his SpacePad, which displayed the faces of the members of Behemoth Guild.


    The adventurers painfully lifted their heads to look at the screen.


    ¡°Tell everyone not to mess with these people.¡± At Do-Jun¡¯s stern warning, the adventurers nodded vigorously.


    ***


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Turning his head, Do-Jun saw Byeol running toward him at full speed. Halfway through, she tripped over a rock and fell, but instead of crying, she got up right away and ran to him.


    ¡°Mistah!¡± Byeol cheerfully shouted and wrapped her arms tightly around Do-Jun¡¯s leg.


    Watching from the side, Ae-Kyung gasped in shock, wondering how such a young child could be in the Core.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a while, huh?¡± Do-Jun said to Byeol.


    ¡°It has! I¡¯ve been waiting for you.¡±


    Do-Jun chuckled and patted Byeol¡¯s head. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°How is there a child in a place like this...?¡± Ae-Kyung asked in wonder.


    ¡°She¡¯s not an adventurer. She¡¯s one of the mythical creatures who originally lived in the Core,¡± Do-Jun replied.


    ¡°Yup, that¡¯s me.¡± Byeol nodded in agreement.


    ¡°M-mythical creature...?¡± After hearing Do-Jun¡¯s explanation, Ae-Kyung looked at Byeol in disbelief. Was this child truly a mythical creature, strong enough to take on all the adventurers on the first floor?


    She found that hard to believe.


    ¡°Did you come from Korea too, ajumma?¡± Byeol asked in interest.


    ¡°A-ajumma?¡±


    Ae-Kyung was only twenty-five by Korean age, twenty-three by international standards [1]¡ªa young woman in the prime of her youth. And yet, to be called ¡°ajumma¡± crushed her pride.


    Do-Jun shrugged in amusement and consoled, ¡°She calls me Mister, too.¡±


    All adults were old people to a child, but being called ajumma seemed to hit Ae-Kyung hard.


    Seeing her tremble, Byeol asked in concern, ¡°Ajumma, are you hurt?¡±


    ¡°N-no, I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°Good. Hurt is not good.¡±


    Ae-Kyung thought about asking the child not to call her ¡°ajumma,¡± but she swallowed the words with a sigh.


    Byeol pressed her hands on Do-Jun¡¯s leg to get his attention and pointed somewhere off in the distance. It was where the Tree of Wisdom stood.


    ¡°Mistah, come with me, um... please.¡±


    She wanted to introduce Do-Jun to the Tree of Wisdom. Even though the tree had warned her to stay away from Do-Jun, Byeol wanted the Tree of Wisdom to see that he was a good person.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll follow you.¡±


    ¡°Yay! Make sure to follow closely. Some parts you shouldn¡¯t step on,¡± Byeol warned them.


    The places she referred to were patches of Guji vines, a type of thorny vine that grew in certain areas. They weren¡¯t terribly dangerous, but if stepped on, the vines would quickly spread and entangle your legs, leaving small and large cuts.


    Do-Jun knew that Byeol was leading him to a place that was quite a distance away. With Ae-Kyung still at zero percent mastery of her Status Window, there was a risk of her falling or getting caught in the Guji vines.


    Do-Jun made a decision.


    ¡°Hop on,¡± he said to Ae-Kyung.


    ¡°What...?¡±


    Do-Jun lowered himself and extended his arms backward.


    Ae-Kyung blushed and waved her hands in refusal, embarrassed at the idea of riding on a man¡¯s back at her age. But as fear crept in from the wind howling around them and the seemingly endless cliff below them, she reluctantly entrusted herself to Do-Jun¡¯s back.


    Despite her compression suit, her naturally large chest pushed against Do-Jun¡¯s back.


    This is embarrassing, she thought.


    On the other hand, Do-Jun seemed completely unfazed. Ae-Kyung sighed to herself, feeling silly for being the only one acting awkwardly.


    ***


    The Tree of Wisdom had the ability to observe all areas of the Core, so naturally, it was aware of Do-Jun¡¯s arrival on the first floor. However, it had hidden that fact from Byeol, but she easily found him. Now, here she was, bringing them along.


    The Tree of Wisdom chided the little girl. ¡°Byeol, you can¡¯t just reveal my location to others so easily.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. Mistah is a good person.¡±


    Listening to their conversation, Do-Jun watched with amusement while Ae-Kyung stared in awe at the talking tree. Even in all the Fissures she had encountered, she had never seen anything like this.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Do-Jun picked up one of the drawing books lying on the ground.


    As he flipped through the pages, he saw drawings of what seemed to be a face.


    The Tree of Wisdom explained that all the pictures were of him and that Byeol had been drawing his face in the drawing book so she wouldn¡¯t forget what he looked like until he returned to the Core.


    ¡°Byeol has been wanting to go to Korea, where you live.¡±


    Do-Jun looked between the scattered sketchbooks on the floor and Byeol, who was clinging tightly to his side. He didn¡¯t fully understand why she was so attached to him, but he realized it had something to do with the ¡°tamed¡±message that had appeared when he gave her the name ¡°Byeol.¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t finished that book yet, though....¡± Do-Jun mumbled, recalling the parenting book he had bought on Sunday that was marked at page ninety with a bookmark.


    He had thought he would finish the book before deciding whether to bring Byeol to Earth. However, after learning that this child had been drawing his face in a sketchbook just to remember him, he couldn¡¯t leave her here any longer.


    The Tree of Wisdom could tell that Do-Jun intended to take Byeol back to Earth with him. So, it called out to the little girl. ¡°Byeol.¡±


    ¡°Mm?¡±


    ¡°Listen to your mom and dad well, okay?¡±


    At that moment, Ae-Kyung¡¯s face flushed bright red. ¡°M-mom?¡±


    ***


    By the time they returned to Earth, it was past 11 PM.


    Do-Jun bathed Byeol and dressed her in one of Karsiel¡¯s small T-shirts, which was so big on Byeol that it hung down to her knees.


    ¡°You¡¯re pretty good at this,¡± Ae-Kyung remarked, clearly impressed, but soon nodded in understanding after thinking that he must have been taking care of his seventeen-year-old daughter since she was just a kid.


    Checking the time, Ae-Kyung figured it was about time for her to head back to her hotel. It wouldn¡¯t be polite to stay in someone else¡¯s home too long.


    ¡°Supervisor Lee, I¡¯ll be heading out now,¡± she said to Do-Jun.


    ¡°Shall I walk you out?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. Thank you so much for everything today.¡± Ae-Kyung bowed deeply in gratitude, and Do-Jun saw her off to the door.


    Just then, Byeol¡¯s face crumpled in distress. She clung tightly to Ae-Kyung¡¯s skinny jeans and said, ¡°Mommy, where are you going?¡±


    Startled, Ae-Kyung knelt down to meet Byeol at eye level. Before she could explain to the little girl that she wasn¡¯t her mother, fat tears started falling from Byeol¡¯s eyes incessantly.


    ¡°Mommy...¡± she cried out.


    Seeing this, Ae-Kyung tried to comfort her, stammering, ¡°No, no, Byeol, that¡¯s not...¡±


    She glanced at Do-Jun, silently asking for help. Do-Jun avoided her gaze, signaling that she should handle it herself. In truth, he didn¡¯t think he could calm Byeol down either.


    Forcing a smile, Ae-Kyung said, ¡°Who said Mommy¡¯s leaving?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re... not leaving?¡± Byeol asked in confirmation.


    ¡°Of course not.¡±


    Ae-Kyung shot a desperate look toward Do-Jun, asking him to say something and resolve the situation.


    Do-Jun sighed, then scooped Byeol up into his arms, gently patting her back. The look of distress on Byeol¡¯s face slowly softened. Soon, she fell asleep.


    Do-Jun carefully carried her to the bedroom, laid her down on the bed, and quietly shut the door before returning to the living room.


    Ae-Kyung sighed in relief as she watched him sit beside her on the sofa.


    ¡°Hunter Ae-Kyung,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    He asked with a serious face, ¡°Why don¡¯t you and I live together?¡±


    Ae-Kyung momentarily zoned out at the question. Then, she blinked in surprise and turned to look at him. ¡°Excuse... me...?¡±


    ¡°Just for four days,¡± Do-Jun said.


    1. Until recently, Korea had a different age system where you became one immediately upon birth. ?

 Chapter 91

    Chapter 91


    The sound of chirping sparrows could be heard through the gap in the open curtains as sunlight filtered in.


    Ae-Kyung slowly opened her eyes to see a ceiling and bed she had never woken up to. Startled, she quickly sat up and looked around.


    Byeol was snuggled beside her, sleeping peacefully.


    She glanced down at herself and saw that she was wearing only a white dress shirt, with the rest of her clothes scattered on the floor.


    ¡°D-don¡¯t tell me...¡± she muttered and hurriedly jumped up to open the door.


    She stepped out of the room and saw Do-Jun frying eggs and bacon in the kitchen. The delicious smell reached her, but that didn¡¯t matter right now.


    ¡°Good morning, Hunter Ae-Kyung,¡± Do-Jun said, flashing her a cheerful smile.


    Ae-Kyung stomped over and stopped right in front of him, biting her lip as she stammered, ¡°S-supervisor Lee, this shirt... why am I wearing this shirt?¡± S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She pointed at the white dress shirt she was wearing, which hung down to her thighs. Her face had gone completely pale.


    Ae-Kyung found clothes too uncomfortable to wear in bed and had a habit of sleeping naked. Judging by the clothes scattered on the bedroom floor, she was certain she must have unknowingly taken them off while sleeping.


    The oversized shirt she was wearing was definitely Do-Jun¡¯s. But she had no memory of putting it on herself.


    ¡°I put it on you so you wouldn¡¯t catch a cold,¡± Do-Jun said, not giving the current situation much thought.


    Ae-Kyung wanted to ask if he had laid his hands on her, but judging by his reaction, it didn¡¯t seem like he had. Instead, she asked a different question.


    ¡°Alright, just one more thing... Where did you sleep, Supervisor Lee?¡±


    Looking at her as if she was asking the obvious, Do-Jun placed the eggs and bacon onto a plate and replied, ¡°I slept in the bed.¡±


    That response left Ae-Kyung completely stunned¡ªonly one thing could have happened when two grown adults shared a bed.


    Tugging at the hem of his shirt, she whined, ¡°W-who¡¯s going to marry me now...?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Do-Jun looked genuinely confused.


    What did her marriage have to do with him?


    Then, he had a sudden realization of what she was trying to say. He sighed and muttered, ¡°All we had was a good night¡¯s sleep. Since you¡¯re up, have some breakfast. I¡¯m heading to work.¡±


    Do-Jun put on his suit jacket and grabbed his briefcase, thinking he should probably head out soon to arrive on time.


    Ae-Kyung wasn¡¯t sure if he was telling the truth about last night, but she decided to believe him.


    Thinking about the situation rationally, she realized that the bedsheets were still clean. She also didn¡¯t have any soreness or discomfort, which would¡¯ve been expected as that would¡¯ve been her first time. Plus, Do-Jun didn¡¯t seem like the type to do something like that anyway.


    ¡°Have a good day...¡± she said to Do-Jun, weakly.


    ¡°For the next three days, you¡¯re Byeol¡¯s mom, so please take good care of her while I¡¯m gone.¡± With those parting words, Do-Jun left, and the front door closed behind him.


    Ae-Kyung, who had been waving weakly, stopped and looked at the plate of eggs and bacon on the table. The food was still steaming hot.


    ***


    Meanwhile, in a hotel lobby in Haeundae, Busan, Yong-Yong was checking the itinerary for Yoon-Hee¡¯s school trip.


    Today, they were scheduled to visit the Busan Regional Hunter¡¯s Bureau and explore a B-rank Great Fissure, followed by plans to attend the International Hunter Festival at BEXCO the next day.


    ¡°Alright, it seems like I just need to keep an eye on her during the Fissure part.¡±


    Do-Jun had sent him on this school trip to protect Yoon-Hee, and other than the Fissure portion of the trip, there didn¡¯t seem to be any major danger.


    Visiting the Hunter¡¯s Bureau for a tour shouldn¡¯t be an issue, and during the B-rank Great Fissure exploration, he planned to follow closely, just in case something happened.


    ¡°Why did you bring your dogs along?¡± Hye-Jung asked as she looked at Yong-Yong and Karsiel.


    Yong-Yong scowled in displeasure that this girl had just called the mighty dragons ¡°dogs,¡± but he quickly sighed and chose to ignore it.


    ¡°Oh yeah, these are the pets your dad tamed after he Awakened as a tamer, right?¡± Jin-Soo asked Yoon-Hee.


    Jin-Soo and Hye-Jung knew that though her father worked as a civil servant at Seoul City Hall, he had one day Awakened as a Tamer. They thought these dogs were monsters he had tamed in the Fissures.


    ¡°But what kind of monsters are they? They don¡¯t look like Mad Dogs...¡±


    Mad Dogs were E-rank monsters, similar in size to large dogs, with vicious fangs. Yong-Yong and Karsiel didn¡¯t have those trademark fangs and instead had horns sticking out of their heads.


    ¡°And what¡¯s with the numbers on their foreheads?¡± They were referring to the numbers ¡°1¡± and ¡°9¡± on their foreheads.


    Yoon-Hee awkwardly smiled, avoiding the question. She couldn¡¯t exactly tell them they were dragons as it might cause chaos.


    ¡°By the way, tomorrow¡¯s going to be amazing, right, Yoon-Hee?¡± Hye-Jung asked and grinned.


    ¡°Tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Kanzaki Soshiro is coming.¡±


    ¡°Kanzaki...? Sorry, I¡¯m not sure who that is.¡± Yoon-Hee fidgeted awkwardly. In truth, she didn¡¯t know much about Hunters outside of Korea.


    Jin-Soo pulled up a picture of Kanzaki Soshiro on his smartphone and showed it to her. ¡°He¡¯s super famous. He¡¯s ranked first worldwide in taming. Though to be fair, there aren¡¯t many people who awaken as Tamers...¡±


    ¡°R-ranked first in the whole world?¡±


    Even if it was limited to Tamers, it was still shocking. Yoon-Hee took a closer look at the screen Jin-Soo was showing her.


    ¡°The Master of Dragons to attend the International Hunter Festival; Schedule revealed?¡±


    When she clicked on the article, a picture of Kanzaki Soshiro appeared. He was a young man with shaggy hair, a style popular in Japan. Behind him was a massive dragon.


    ¡°He has a dragon, too?¡± Yoon-Hee asked.


    ¡°Huh...?¡± Jin-Soo tilted his head in confusion and replied, ¡°Wait, what do you mean, ¡®too¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Oh, never mind.¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not exactly a dragon. It¡¯s a Wyvern.¡±


    Wyverns were S-rank monsters that looked similar to dragons. Though they couldn¡¯t use breath attacks like dragons, they had a similar skill called ¡°Blast,¡± where they shot fire cannons from their mouths.


    For most people and Hunters below A-rank, Wyverns were seen as being on par with dragons in terms of danger.


    ¡°But this isn¡¯t just any ordinary Wyvern; he tamed a Wyvern Lord. In Japan, he¡¯s practically a hero¡ªkind of like the Sword Emperor here. His fan club has over five million members.¡±


    ¡°Wow... He must be incredible.¡±


    Yoon-Hee glanced at Yong-Yong and Karsiel, who were staring at the itinerary, particularly the lunch section. Yong-Yong pointed at the section labeled ¡°Chinese course meal¡± with his front paw and showed it to Yoon-Hee. ¡°Have you tried this?¡±


    ***


    Ae-Kyung took Byeol shopping for children¡¯s clothes at a department store in Gangnam, as none of the clothes at home fit her.


    ¡°How about this one?¡± she asked Byeol, showing a black mini dress with a red ribbon.


    ¡°I like it.¡±


    Ae-Kyung took Byeol to the full-length mirror. Byeol seemed pleased with her reflection.


    The dress was priced at 199,000 won. It was quite expensive, but Ae-Kyung didn¡¯t think much of it. In fact, even something worth hundreds of millions would be a mere pocket change for her.


    Ae-Kyung took out her smartphone to check an incoming text message.


    Supervisor Lee Do-Jun: Sorry, but could you bring the tablet from home?


    Byeol¡¯s eyes were filled with anticipation. Ae-Kyung felt a deep affection for her and how she called her ¡°Mom.¡± Even though Byeol wasn¡¯t her biological daughter, her heart felt warm.


    Was this what maternal love felt like?


    ¡°Mommy, I...¡±


    ¡°Yes, Byeol?¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s Daddy?¡±


    ¡°Do you miss Daddy?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. I like Daddy.¡±


    Ae-Kyung smiled as she gently stroked Byeol¡¯s hair. ¡°Shall we go see Daddy, then?¡±


    ¡°Yeah!¡±


    Ae-Kyung¡¯s heart fluttered. It wasn¡¯t love for Do-Jun, but rather the thought of what it would feel like to have a family of her own.


    That¡¯s what she wanted to believe, at least.


    ***


    Seoul City Hall, Fissure Management Division.


    Three men, Cheol-Soo, Hyuk-Soo, and Do-Jun, were in a meeting room separated from the rest of the office by a transparent partition.


    After the meeting, Do-Jun was erasing the marker traces from the whiteboard when Cheol-Soo spoke up. ¡°Hey, Do-Jun.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Chief.¡±


    ¡°I know a nice woman.¡±


    At this, Hyuk-Soo made an uncomfortable face and said, ¡°Chief, Do-Jun has a daughter...¡±


    ¡°I know that! The woman I know is an elementary school teacher. I showed her Do-Jun¡¯s picture, and she had nothing but praise. She said she doesn¡¯t even mind that he has a kid.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s okay with him having a child?¡± Hyuk-Soo asked in surprise.


    ¡°Yeah. As long as Do-Jun¡¯s fine with it, she¡¯s totally on board. I¡¯ve already set everything up.¡±


    Cheol-Soo stood up and showed Do-Jun the profile picture of a woman named Im Soo-Ah on KakaoTalk. It was a selfie taken in a caf¨¦, featuring a pure and gentle appearance with long, straight hair.


    ¡°What do you think? She¡¯s thirty, so four years older than you. But doesn¡¯t she look younger?¡±


    Do-Jun glanced at the picture without much reaction, and when Cheol-Soo noticed that Do-Jun didn¡¯t show the enthusiasm he expected, he added, ¡°You can¡¯t find a better bride than an elementary school teacher! Plus, her family is full of teachers, so you don¡¯t have to worry about supporting her parents into retirement. She doesn¡¯t even mind that you have a daughter. It doesn¡¯t get any better than that, Do-Jun.¡±


    Listening to his Chief¡¯s words, Hyuk-Soo nodded in agreement. ¡°If this is all true, it¡¯s an incredible opportunity, Do-Jun.¡±


    Do-Jun looked uncomfortable. Honestly, he wasn¡¯t thinking about getting married right now. No, if he were to marry, it would be after Yoon-Hee got married. Plus, he was only twenty-six, so there was no need to rush.


    ¡°I appreciate your concern, but I¡¯m not thinking about marriage right now.¡±


    ¡°What? Why? Think about it, Do-Jun. You won¡¯t find a better match than this!¡±


    Just then, there was a commotion near the office entrance. Cheol-Soo and Hyuk-Soo turned to look, and their eyes widened.


    They saw a woman and a child, but the woman was so famous that the child was overlooked entirely.


    ¡°M-moon Ae-Kyung? Why is she here?¡±


    Ae-Kyung, a member of Korea¡¯s top guild, Behemoth, and ranked third among Hunters, had come to the Fissure Management Division.


    Cheol-Soo shot up from his seat and hurried over to her. ¡°H-hello. I¡¯m Kang Cheol-Soo, the Section Chief of the Fissure Exploration Unit.¡±


    ¡°Sorry for the sudden visit. Is Supervisor Lee Do-Jun in?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re looking for Do-Jun...¡±


    Cheol-Soo turned and looked toward the meeting room.


    Ae-Kyung followed his gaze and spotted Do-Jun through the transparent partition. She gave a small nod of thanks to Cheol-Soo and approached Do-Jun in the meeting room.


    As soon as Byeol saw Do-Jun, she beamed and ran toward him. ¡°Daddy!¡±


    Do-Jun naturally picked Byeol up in his arms.


    The office staff stared in stunned silence.


    Ae-Kyung handed the SpacePad to Do-Jun.


    He glanced at the black dress Byeol was wearing and asked, ¡°This dress is...?¡±


    ¡°We picked it up at the department store on the way here. There¡¯s nothing for her to wear at home.¡±


    Do-Jun looked at Byeol and asked, ¡°Did Mommy pick it out for you?¡±


    ¡°Yeah! Mommy said it¡¯s pwetty!¡±


    Ae-Kyung smiled as she watched the two.


    The entire office was in complete shock.

 Chapter 92

    Chapter 92


    A sweet and savory smell welcomed Do-Jun as he entered his apartment after work.


    Byeol was asleep in the bedroom, and Ae-Kyung was busy cooking, reading from a recipe book. This book wasn¡¯t something one could buy in stores; it was a collection of recipes compiled by Yoon-Hee herself.


    ¡°Hmm... one tablespoon of soy sauce...¡± Ae-Kyung muttered, so engrossed in the recipe that she didn¡¯t even notice Do-Jun come in.


    He smiled and walked behind her, deliberately keeping his presence hidden. Softly, he said, ¡°Are you making dinner?¡±


    Startled by a man¡¯s voice behind her, Ae-Kyung immediately gathered her mana and assumed a combat stance. But as soon as she realized it was Do-Jun, she relaxed and let out a sigh of relief, clutching her chest.


    ¡°You scared me. I wasn¡¯t expecting to hear a man behind me...¡±


    ¡°Sorry about that. Oh, and don¡¯t worry, I handled the situation at the office,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°What situation?¡±


    ¡°The whole office misunderstood that you¡¯re my wife.¡±


    Do-Jun recalled what had happened earlier that morning. The office had been in an uproar when Ae-Kyung and Byeol came by to deliver the SpacePad. After they left, Do-Jun had to deal with a barrage of questions. He calmly deflected them, and fortunately, it all ended as a harmless misunderstanding.


    Firmly denying the rumors had helped clear things up.


    ¡°Oh... Is that so? Well, I¡¯m glad,¡± Ae-Kyung said, smiling awkwardly.


    She then glanced back at the recipe. For some reason, a bitter smile lingered on her lips as she realized that once again, she was the only one who felt anxious. Sighing briefly, she returned to mixing the sauce for the braised short ribs.


    ¡°I prefer to eat at home when I can. My daughter is a good cook.¡±


    She recalled Do-Jun¡¯s words from the previous night while preparing a recipe from Yoon-Hee¡¯s collection that was bookmarked.


    A cracking sound jolted her from her thoughts. The spoon in her hand had snapped. She hadn¡¯t realized she was gripping it too hard.


    Flustered, Ae-Kyung glanced nervously at Do-Jun, who looked at her curiously.


    ¡°Is something wrong?¡± he asked.


    ¡°No, nothing at all.¡± Even as she denied it, she wondered why she was angry, as she had always been so calm and collected.


    There really was no reason to be upset. If people thought she was his wife, it would have caused trouble for both of them. As such, Do-Jun handled the situation well.


    ¡°Anyway, you didn¡¯t have to make dinner... Thank you,¡± Do-Jun said to Ae-Kyung.


    ¡°I-I just wanted to try cooking as it¡¯s been a while. It doesn¡¯t really mean anything,¡± Ae-Kyung said dismissively.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m going to go wash up. I¡¯m looking forward to your cooking.¡± With a smile, Do-Jun headed to his room.


    A faint smile crept across her lips as Ae-Kyung watched him disappear behind the firmly closed bedroom door. ¡°He¡¯s looking forward to my cooking...¡±


    ***


    White porridge, side dishes heated in the microwave, and boneless braised short ribs cut into small pieces were carefully arranged for Byeol on a kid¡¯s plate adorned with cute teddy bears.


    Ae-Kyung scooped up some porridge with a baby spoon, fed it to her, and asked, ¡°Tasty, Byeol?¡±


    ¡°Mm!¡± Byeol nodded enthusiastically.


    The baby toys scattered around the apartment caught Do-Jun¡¯s eyes. They were all bought by Ae-Kyung for Byeol.


    Watching Do-Jun eat his braised short ribs, Ae-Kyung cautiously asked, ¡°H-how is it, Supervisor Lee?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s delicious.¡±


    With just that one word, a smile spread across Ae-Kyung¡¯s face. It seemed she had followed the recipe properly.


    ¡°Daddy says it¡¯s good,¡± she said, looking at Byeol.


    Byeol quickly added, ¡°Eat lots, Daddy!¡±


    Do-Jun rested his chin on his hand, watching Ae-Kyung for a good ten seconds. He started to feel a little concerned. Was she becoming too immersed in her role? He wondered if she was taking this act of caring for Byeol too seriously.


    He thought about saying something but decided against it. Instead, he changed the topic and asked Ae-Kyung, ¡°Any word from the other guild members?¡±


    ¡°Sorry? Oh, I haven¡¯t told the guild master or Jun-Yeol about this.¡±


    ¡°No, I meant about you being away.¡±


    Though it had only been a day since Ae-Kyung started living here, she was still a member of the Behemoth Guild¡ªone of the only three members. Naturally, her absence would be deeply felt.


    ¡°Everyone¡¯s taking time off right now. They¡¯re probably with their families,¡± Ae-Kyung explained.


    ¡°And you? Aren¡¯t you going home?¡±


    Ae-Kyung fell silent, avoiding the question. It seemed there was a story behind her silence.


    Sensing that, Do-Jun didn¡¯t press further and quietly resumed eating.


    ***


    The gentle, yellow light from the bedside lamp softly illuminated the room.


    ¡°And so, the three little pigs lived happily ever after.¡± Ae-Kyung lay beside Byeol on the bed, reading her a fairy tale.


    Sometime during the story, Byeol had fallen asleep in her arms.


    ¡°You could be a voice actor, you know,¡± Do-Jun said as he walked in, wiping his face with a towel after washing up.


    Ae-Kyung¡¯s face turned bright red as she stammered, ¡°D-did you hear that?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I could hear everything from the bathroom.¡±


    ¡°Please... delete it from your memory.¡±


    Do-Jun chuckled as he placed the towel on the desk and climbed into bed beside Byeol.


    Ae-Kyung briefly wondered if one of them should be sleeping on the couch or the floor, but she decided not to bring it up.


    ¡°Should I turn off the lamp?¡± Do-Jun asked.


    ¡°Yes, please.¡±


    With the lamp switched off, the moonlight shining through the window became more prominent. Ae-Kyung turned her head to check if Do-Jun had fallen asleep. His eyes were closed.


    ¡°Supervisor Lee, are you sleeping?¡± she asked softly.


    ¡°No, not yet.¡±


    ¡°Then, may I ask you for a favor?¡±


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    Ae-Kyung carefully got out of bed and placed a pair of pajamas by Do-Jun¡¯s pillow. ¡°If something like last night happens again, could you put these on me instead? The dress shirt rubs against me...¡±


    Do-Jun asked, ¡°You¡¯re not doing it on purpose, are you?¡±


    ¡°N-no, of course not!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m joking.¡±


    Ae-Kyung returned to bed, glancing at Byeol, who was sleeping soundly, and then at Do-Jun, who lay still with his eyes closed.


    Slowly, she drifted off to sleep.


    ***


    A large banner hung at the BEXCO Convention Center in Busan that read: ¡°International Hunter Festival.¡±


    Even though Yoon-Hee¡¯s group had arrived right after lunch, the plaza was already bustling with people. Given the location, most were Koreans, but since it was an international event, there were also a fair number of foreigners.


    ¡°This is so weird,¡± Yong-Yong muttered, looking around as if searching for something.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Yong-Yong?¡± Yoon-Hee asked.


    ¡°Why isn¡¯t anyone selling Goblin Short Ribs here?¡±


    At the previous Hunter Festival at Seoul¡¯s COEX, there had been various food stalls selling not only Goblin Short Ribs but also all sorts of street food. However, there were no stalls in sight here.


    Yoon-Hee pointed toward the convention center and replied, ¡°If you want food, we¡¯ll have to go inside. Once the teachers finish ticketing and handing out the entry passes, we¡¯ll get some free time. We can check it out then.¡±


    ¡°Tch. And I already had my allowance ready in my hand...¡± Yong-Yong grumbled as he stuffed the crumpled 50,000 won bill in his hand into the little wallet pouch hanging around his neck.


    Yoon-Hee giggled at the sight.


    The money was a reward she had given him after he collected ten ¡°Great Job!¡± stamps, and it looked like he had kept it all this time. Yong-Yong really was adorable.


    ¡°Class B, gather up,¡± called out Seo Sung-Rok, the instructor in charge of the first-year Class B students.


    The students gathered around Seo Sung-Rok, who handed out long paper wristbands to each of them. The students wrapped the papers around their wrists like bracelets.


    Then he gave them further instructions. ¡°It¡¯s twelve now, so I¡¯ll give you some free time until four. Don¡¯t just hang around outside, though. Once you enter the building, you¡¯ll find booths displaying artifacts, skills, and Hunter culture from different countries, so take your time and explore.¡±


    The students split into groups with their friends and wandered around the plaza or headed straight into the convention center to start browsing.


    ¡°It really is cool, though. A talking monster? I thought there weren¡¯t many monsters that could talk. What exactly is he?¡± Hye-Jung asked as she stared at the two mini-dragons.


    ¡°I... I¡¯m not really sure either,¡± Yoon-Hee replied vaguely.


    To avoid Hye-Jung¡¯s curious gaze, she fed Yong-Yong pieces of a Cockatrice skewer one by one.


    After chewing and swallowing the meat, Yong-Yong turned to Hye-Jung and spoke. ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? We¡¯ll tell you all about ourselves. Ready, Karsiel?¡±


    ¡°Of course. So, dragons naturally acquire Dragon Speech when they mature from hatchlings to adults, allowing them to understand and speak all languages...¡±


    Before Karsiel could finish, Yoon-Hee hastily covered her mouth.


    Hye-Jung tilted her head, confused by the mention of dragons and hatchlings. The thought briefly crossed her mind¡ªcould these two really be dragons? But she quickly dismissed it.


    Masalis, the dragon, had appeared in the city three years ago. The Hunter¡¯s Bureau had formed a special task force to capture that one dragon, deploying several S-rank and A-rank Hunters. Three S-rank Hunters had even died in the process.


    Remembering that incident, Hye-Jung realized that it was impossible for these two to be dragons.


    Yoon-Hee¡¯s father was a civil servant. Although he had awakened as a Tamer a bit later in life than people usually did, it didn¡¯t seem like his abilities were particularly exceptional. If he had really been a strong Hunter, why would he still be a civil servant?


    Hye-Jung concluded that these two tamed monsters were probably not very powerful.


    Suddenly, a piercing scream echoed through the air outside the convention center. The people who had been browsing the booths turned toward the source of the sound, eyes fixed on a flying object visible through the massive glass windows.


    ¡°It¡¯s Kanzaki Soshiro!¡± someone yelled.


    People rushed outside to get a closer look.


    One of the main events of the International Hunter Festival was the ¡°Wyvern Air Show.¡±


    In fact, many visitors had come specifically to see the extremely popular show. Seeing a tamed wyvern perform stunts across the sky was spectacular, a dream come true for taming Hunters especially.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go watch it!¡± Hye-Jung exclaimed in excitement.


    She dragged Yoon-Hee and Jin-Soo by the hands toward the exit, with Yong-Yong and Karsiel following closely behind.


    ***


    Hundreds of people were already gathered outside.


    An area of the plaza had been cleared for the wyvern to land, with control lines set up, and staff members were busy ensuring people didn¡¯t cross the boundary.


    ¡°That¡¯s so cool!¡±


    ¡°I wish I had a pet like that...¡±


    People were taking pictures and recording videos nonstop, eager to capture the rare sight, something they might never see again in their lifetime.


    The wyvern¡¯s wings sent gusts of wind rippling through the crowd as it neared the final stage of its performance, preparing to land. Kanzaki Soshiro glanced down at the spectators below, smirking slightly. He decided to give them a little extra thrill.


    The wyvern suddenly dove straight down at a steep angle, pulling up at the last second before its wings could touch the ground.


    The wind gusted fiercely as if a typhoon had just swept by.


    ¡°Eek!¡± Yoon-Hee exclaimed as the strong wind accidentally caused her to drop the Cockatrice skewer on the ground. It was instantly covered in dust and dirt.


    ¡°F-five-second rule...!¡± Yong-Yong panicked and scrambled to grab the skewer with his front paw.


    Just then, the wyvern landed with a heavy thud, shaking the ground like an earthquake. In the chaos, Karsiel unknowingly stepped on the skewer. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yong-Yong shot her a frosty glare.


    Trembling, Karsiel raised her paw and pointed at the wyvern. ¡°I-it¡¯s his fault!¡±

 Chapter 93

    Chapter 93


    ¡°It¡¯s his fault!¡± Karsiel said, pointing at the wyvern.


    Even though she had stepped on the skewer herself, the cause of it all lay with the wyvern and its owner. In a desperate plea for survival, Karsiel instinctively tattled, shifting the blame to the real culprits.


    Yong-Yong stared blankly at the disfigured, saucy Cockatrice skewer beneath Karsiel¡¯s paw. It was practically untouched, with only two of the eight pieces eaten.


    This wasn¡¯t just any skewer. It was the result of hard-earned labor, the 50,000 won he scraped together with blood, sweat, and sheer determination.


    Yong-Yong remembered what he had to go through to earn that money. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Yoon-Hee, I finished cleaning the floor!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m back with the tofu.¡±


    ¡°Good job! Here¡¯s your stamp!¡±


    He¡¯d bought the skewers as a special treat for himself, planning to savor them slowly. But now, they were nothing more than trash.


    As Yong-Yong stared at the ruined skewer dejectedly, the crowd cheered for the Wyvern Lord, who was affectionately called Ryo, and his tamer, Kanzaki Soshiro.


    ¡°You¡¯re amazing, Soshiro!¡±


    ¡°Please sign my shirt!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the best, Ryo!¡±


    The majestic air show performed by the Wyvern Lord across the sky ignited the audience¡¯s excitement, and applause filled the air. Soshiro waved casually at the crowd and smiled faintly as if he was used to such a reception.


    ¡°Keke.¡± Yong-Yong snickered mysteriously, and his eyes glinted with a dangerous light.


    Watching beside him, Karsiel shivered and took a step back. She had seen that look in Yong-Yong¡¯s eyes once before, back when she first came to Earth from her nest.


    Yong-Yong turned toward the Wyvern Lord and started walking. No, not walking¡ªhe started running. With each step he took, his form grew larger. The two small horns on his head lengthened, and his innocent, cute appearance was replaced by his true Dragon Lord form.


    The Wyvern Lord and his master, Soshiro, sensed something was amiss, but it was far too late. Even though it was still midday, the surroundings darkened as though night had fallen. A total eclipse, no¡ªa massive flying object had blotted out the sun.


    ¡°What... what is that...?¡± the crowd murmured as they noticed a monster of a size never seen before.


    Still, everyone instantly recognized what they were witnessing.


    How could they not?


    The true ruler of the skies, resembling the one that had appeared three years ago and had the world trembling in fear, had appeared again.


    It was a dragon.


    Booooom!


    The sky seemed to split open as a rift tore through it, larger than any they had ever seen. It was a Fissure of a truly overwhelming size, dwarfing even the largest S-rank Great Fissures.


    The dragon opened its jaws and, in one swift motion, devoured the trembling Wyvern Lord and his master whole.


    The people were too stunned to flee because of the unbelievable sight before them. They simply clutched their shaking legs, watching the scene unfold in terror.


    The dragon soared into the sky and disappeared into the Fissure.


    It wasn¡¯t until then that the people snapped out of their daze, and chaos erupted in the plaza.


    ¡°R-run!¡±


    ¡°Aaah!¡±


    Attempting to get as far away from the Fissure in the sky as possible, the crowd scattered in all directions, fleeing at top speed.


    Watching the dumbfounded Yoon-Hee, Karsiel spoke up, suggesting they should try to stop the irate Yong-Yong.


    ***


    [You have entered the Nest of Izaaz.]


    Yong-Yong spat out the Wyvern Lord and Soshiro, whom he had been holding in his mouth.


    Soaked and gasping for air, Soshiro looked up cautiously, his eyes widening in horror. ¡°A-a dragon...¡±


    Aside from Masalis, who appeared in Korea three years ago, this was the first time he had ever seen a dragon in real life. Though, one thing was certain¡ªthe dragon before him was on a far higher level than Masalis.


    The Wyvern Lord shrank back, instinctively realizing the overwhelming difference in power. Soshiro, too, couldn¡¯t help but understand; the sheer disparity made any thought of resistance impossible.


    ¡°W-why...¡± he muttered incomprehensibly.


    This dragon had suddenly appeared in the peaceful plaza, and Soshiro had no idea where it came from or why it brought him and his wyvern into the Fissure.


    The earth shook violently as if the world were coming to an end, and a massive energy flared around the dragon.


    As Soshiro¡¯s life flashed before his eyes, he closed them, ready to submit to fate.


    Then, a gust of wind swept over him, striking his entire body.


    Curious, Soshiro slowly opened his eyes, and his pupils shook wildly. ¡°W-what in the...¡±


    The source of the wind was yet another dragon. Though it was slightly smaller than the red dragon before him, its presence was also terrifying.


    The brown dragon landed before Soshiro with a loud thud. He could see someone carefully dismounting from the dragon¡¯s head¡ªa girl who looked to be in her mid-to-late teens.


    ¡°A person...?¡± He gasped in shock.


    The red dragon turned its head toward the girl, taking a step back as if startled. The girl sighed, walked over to Soshiro, who was slumped on the ground, and extended her hand.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± she asked.


    Soshiro stared at the girl, too stunned to speak.


    ***


    Yong-Yong wriggled furiously in Yoon-Hee¡¯s arms, trying to break free.


    ¡°Let me go! I swear I¡¯ll kill those guys and go to hell where my skewer is!¡±


    Restrained tightly in Yoon-Hee¡¯s arms, Yong-Yong snarled at the trembling Wyvern Lord across from him.


    ¡°What is happening...¡± Soshiro muttered as he stood in shock, watching the girl who had suddenly appeared with a light-brown dragon by her side.


    The moment she arrived, the ferocious red dragon had disappeared, leaving only a small red puppy in its place. It seemed that the red dragon had transformed. However, the real issue was how completely helpless the ferocious dragon was before the girl.


    Poof!


    A puff of smoke rose from the light-brown dragon, and it also returned to its usual, adorable form.


    Karsiel approached Yong-Yong with a lowered head. ¡°Lord Izaas, they¡¯re not to blame. I was the one who stepped on your skewer...¡±


    Though Karsiel had tried to shift the blame earlier out of fear, she now accepted full responsibility, thinking it was her fault for stepping on the Cockatrice skewer.


    Watching this scene, Yoon-Hee sighed and said, ¡°We can always buy another skewer. Come on, let¡¯s go and get you another one.¡±


    Yong-Yong¡¯s frantic struggle came to an abrupt halt. The angry scowl he had worn vanished instantly, replaced by an expression of pure excitement like a child being taken to the candy shop. Then, suddenly, as if he decided that wasn¡¯t enough, he wiped the smile off his face and glared at Soshiro once more.


    Seeing that, Yoon-Hee added, ¡°How about I buy you two? Will that make you feel better?¡±


    Yong-Yong¡¯s tail started wagging. At that, Yoon-Hee smiled and set him down.


    With a little cough, Yong-Yong leaped onto the head of the Wyvern Lord, raised a paw, and smacked it hard. With a loud boom, the ground caved slightly from the impact, and the Wyvern Lord let out a cry of intense pain. Yet, as soon as he made eye contact with Yong-Yong, he swallowed his agony as if nothing had happened.


    ¡°Count your lucky stars,¡± Yong-Yong told the wyvern, then smacked it once more for good measure and jumped off to scamper back to Yoon-Hee.


    Yoon-Hee flicked his forehead.


    ¡°Ouch!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re lucky Father isn¡¯t here. I¡¯ll keep this a secret, so don¡¯t pull something like this again.¡±


    The mention of ¡°Father¡± made Yong-Yong flinch, and he quickly nodded his head.


    ¡°I... I can¡¯t believe this...¡± Soshiro couldn¡¯t keep his mouth closed as he watched the unbelievable sight of Yoon-Hee controlling two dragons.


    Until now, he had believed himself to be the top Hunter among those with taming-type skills. After all, the Wyvern Lord he had tamed was an S-rank monster. However, this girl in front of him seemed to be on a whole other level, taming even dragons.


    Crackle!


    A portal opened beside Yong-Yong that connected directly to Booth A-7 at the BEXCO convention center, where they sold the saucy Cockatrice skewers.


    With his two front paws, Yong-Yong gestured toward the portal. ¡°This way, ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay,¡± Yoon-Hee said as she took out a ten-thousand-won bill from her wallet.


    ***


    ?A dragon suddenly appeared at BEXCO in Haeundae, Busan. It devoured Hunter Kanzaki Soshiro and his Wyvern Lord, dragging them into the Fissure... then another dragon appeared, and...?


    ?Fortunately, there seemed to be no serious issues, though authorities are tight-lipped about what happened inside. This is Yoon Il-Sang, reporting for KBC from Haeundae, Busan.?


    ¦éMadS******: How did Soshiro even survive that? (Likes: 966,354, Dislikes: 111,700)


    ¦éHero1****: That¡¯s that, but how come we¡¯re the only country that keeps getting dragons? (Likes: 725,191, Dislikes: 158,729)


    ¦élovec****: Soshiro¡¯s never coming back to Korea, LOL (Likes: 449,008, Dislikes: 58,709)


    ¦éaoo***: That brown dragon that flew away looks exactly like the one that appeared in Bangbae-dong a while ago. It was on the news back then too. [Click for link] The Hunter¡¯s Bureau should address this. (Likes: 345,001, Dislikes: 48,775)


    ¦étheg****: Maybe the world really is ending. (Likes: 246,185, Dislikes: 38,714)


    ¦érlaskd***: If two dragons show up at once, who can stop them? LOL. Even a truckload of S-rank Hunters wouldn¡¯t be able to handle it. (Likes: 197,150, Dislikes: 24,666)


    ¦éretlk****: Japan¡¯s pet lizard vs. Korea¡¯s godly dragon, wow. (Likes: 109,108, Dislikes: 4,221)


    Watching the news on his smartphone, Do-Jun turned to Ae-Kyung, who was watching TV with Byeol. The screen was filled with breaking news coverage of the BEXCO incident.


    Ae-Kyung spoke to Do-Jun with a serious expression. ¡°Supervisor Lee, it seems that the Encroachment is accelerating.¡±


    Monsters from the Core appeared on Earth, along with the emergence of Status Windows and Awakenings among humans. The Hunter¡¯s Bureau had defined all these unusual phenomena as Encroachment.


    Ae-Kyung believed that the appearance of the two dragons was also caused by the same reason.


    ¡°Two dragons appearing at once...¡± she muttered, biting her lip anxiously.


    Fortunately, there were no casualties this time, but there was no guarantee that they would be this lucky in the future. Catching a single dragon was already difficult enough, even for the special task force.


    Two dragons were beyond impossible.


    ¡°Where do those dragons live...?¡± she muttered.


    If they could just locate their nest, maybe the Hunter¡¯s Bureau could formulate some kind of plan. Ae-Kyung¡¯s face grew tense as she pondered the situation.


    Glancing under the table at the two dog bowls, Do-Jun muttered to himself, ¡°Who knows.¡±

 Chapter 94

    Chapter 94


    An incoming call beeped on Ae-Kyung¡¯s smartphone on Thursday morning at 6:30 AM.


    Still half-asleep, Ae-Kyung reached groggily for her phone on the nightstand next to the bed, squinting at the screen. She tapped the answer button and held the phone to her ear.


    ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡ªAe-Kyung.


    The moment she heard that deep, resonant voice, marked by the passage of time, her eyes flew open. It was impossible to forget despite not hearing it for over ten years.


    It was her father¡¯s voice.


    Ae-Kyung pulled the phone away from her ear to check the caller, but it came from an unknown number. She took a quick, sharp breath in surprise when she saw the face of a man in his mid-fifties on the screen.


    In her half-asleep state, she had answered a video call, not a regular one.


    Just as she was about to quickly press the end call button, her father spoke again.


    ¡ªWho¡¯s the man beside you?


    ***


    In the SG Group Chairman¡¯s Office, a man in his fifties leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. The luxurious, mother-of-pearl nameplate on his desk read ¡°Chairman Moon Gwang-Ho.¡±


    With over twenty subsidiaries in electronics, chemicals, and telecommunications, SG Group was a company even a passing three-year-old would recognize. That same company¡¯s chairman, Gwang-Ho, had experienced quite a shock early that morning.


    Sitting on his desk was a small picture frame with a photo of a teenage girl¡ªhis daughter, Ae-Kyung. Inside the desk drawer was a scrapbook filled with articles about her.


    When the peaceful world was first struck by Fissures ten years ago, everyone gained a Status Window, and a select few Awakened with unique powers. In this era of rampant monsters, those Awakened could hunt the monsters spilling out of the Fissures, and the world came to call them the First Hunters.


    Ae-Kyung, who had never even killed a fly in her life, was one of those who awakened.


    She was his precious daughter, raised with utmost care and affection, someone he would cherish more than anything in all his life. Yet, after awakening, she declared she would live as a Hunter, hunting monsters from that day forward.


    Of course, Gwang-Ho was firmly opposed.


    He¡¯d pleaded with her, asking why she wanted to risk her life when so many others could do it. He urged her to grow safely under his care and lead the SG Group in the future.


    Gwang-Ho remembered what his daughter had said then. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Father. I...¡±


    When she turned fifteen, Ae-Kyung moved out.


    ***


    Do-Jun sipped his coffee while scrolling through the news on his smartphone. A breakfast spread of toast, bacon, and a garden salad topped with a hard-boiled egg was laid on the table.


    Byeol was still sound asleep on the bed, and Ae-Kyung sat across from Do-Jun, quietly eating her toast.


    Ae-Kyung peeked at Do-Jun, who was engrossed in his smartphone. She stole a glance at him for about three seconds before their eyes met, and she quickly looked away, sipping her coffee as if nothing had happened.


    Do-Jun sighed and asked, ¡°Is there something you want to say?¡±


    ¡°N-no, there¡¯s nothing at all,¡± Ae-Kyung stuttered.


    There was definitely something, and Do-Jun had a rough idea why she was hesitating.


    Earlier in the morning, Ae-Kyung had quietly slipped out to the living room to take a call from a man. Though she hadn¡¯t put it on speaker, Do-Jun, whose five senses were already on a Transcendent level, could hear even the faintest sounds if he chose. He had caught the entire conversation.


    ¡°It¡¯s already been ten years. You should at least show your face. That¡¯s your duty as a child...¡±


    From what he gathered, Ae-Kyung hadn¡¯t seen her parents in a decade. She must have had her reasons. He also had no intention of meddling in someone else¡¯s family matters.


    After finishing his coffee, Do-Jun stood up from the table and said, ¡°Alright, then, I¡¯m off.¡±


    ¡°Have a good day...¡± Unlike usual, Ae-Kyung¡¯s response was subdued.


    Sighing, Do-Jun set his briefcase down and sat back at the table. Ae-Kyung, who had assumed he was heading straight out the door, looked a little startled.


    ¡°Hunter Ae-Kyung,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°Y-yes?¡±


    ¡°If you have something on your mind, feel free to share it. I¡¯ll listen.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it...¡±


    She looked away, glancing up at the wall clock. It was already 8:20 AM. If she held him up any longer, Do-Jun would likely be late for work. She didn¡¯t intend to burden Do-Jun with her problem and would feel guilty if he were late just because he took time to listen to her.


    ¡°I see. Alright, I¡¯ll really be on my way, then.¡± Do-Jun rose from his seat and walked to the entrance to put on his shoes.


    Ae-Kyung followed him to see him off.


    Do-Jun opened the front door and paused for a moment. He turned back to Ae-Kyung and said, ¡°If you ever need someone to talk to, I¡¯m here. See you later.¡±


    The door closed behind him, and his footsteps grew distant.


    Ae-Kyung checked her father''s text message, asking her to bring her boyfriend along. Her father had seen Do-Jun¡¯s face briefly during the video call. Perhaps because they had been in bed together, he had mistaken him for her boyfriend.


    ***


    While working, Do-Jun glanced at his phone to check a new message from Ae-Kyung.


    Moon Ae-Kyung: Are you busy, Supervisor Lee?


    Do-Jun: I¡¯m free at the moment.


    Moon Ae-Kyung: Would it be alright to ask you a favor...?


    Do-Jun: Yes, of course.


    He answered positively without hesitation. After all, she had accepted his absurd suggestion to live together for four days, took care of the household, and prepared meals while Yoon-Hee was away.


    Taking care of a young child was no easy task, yet she had looked after Byeol without a word of complaint.


    Doing her a small favor was nothing.


    Ae-Kyung didn¡¯t reply until thirty minutes later.


    Moon Ae-Kyung: Are you really sure?


    Do-Jun: Yes.


    Moon Ae-Kyung: When do you finish work today?


    Do-Jun: At 6 PM.


    Moon Ae-Kyung: Then... would you mind listening to my problem when you get back?


    ***


    When Do-Jun went home in the evening, Ae-Kyung didn¡¯t waste much time explaining the problem to Do-Jun.


    ¡°And that¡¯s how it happened. I¡¯m really sorry,¡± Ae-Kyung apologized and lowered her head.


    After organizing his thoughts, Do-Jun spoke up. ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to apologize. This all started because of me in the first place.¡±


    From bringing Byeol into his life to asking Ae-Kyung to stay with him for four days and act as Byeol¡¯s mother¡ªit had all been Do-Jun¡¯s unilateral decision. If there was anything Ae-Kyung could blame herself for, it would be accepting Do-Jun¡¯s absurd request.


    Ae-Kyung explained her situation.


    ¡°In fact, I stay in touch with my mother pretty often. My father also hears about me from her, and since Behemoth is frequently mentioned on the news and TV, he has some idea of how I¡¯m doing. He used to be strongly against me being a Hunter, but according to my mother, he¡¯s lately come around... The issue, though, is...¡±


    Do-Jun¡¯s gaze rested on Byeol, who was sleeping soundly in his arms.


    ¡°Did they mention anything about Byeol?¡± he asked.


    ¡°No... Thankfully, I don¡¯t think he saw her,¡± Ae-Kyung said, sighing as she fidgeted with her fingers.


    Seeing this, Do-Jun spoke calmly. ¡°I think there are two possible ways to handle this. The first is to be honest and tell him that he¡¯s mistaken, that I¡¯m not your boyfriend. Of course, explaining why we were sharing a bed would be a bit tricky, but we¡¯ll just have to deal with that.¡±


    Ae-Kyung still had to have a future with someone, so it would be best to set things straight now.


    Ae-Kyung smiled bitterly. It was the obvious answer, but perhaps because of the short-lived family play they had engaged in for a few days, she couldn¡¯t help but feel slightly disappointed.


    ¡°And the second option is...¡± Do-Jun continued to explain his thoughts.


    Upon hearing them, Ae-Kyung¡¯s eyes widened in shock. She hesitantly asked, ¡°That... isn¡¯t that too honest?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll tweak it a little, of course,¡± Do-Jun replied with a smirk.


    ***


    An hour later, the three stood in front of a house in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu. The house clearly had a high value, likely worth over 40 billion won based on official land prices alone.


    Do-Jun straightened his tie and checked his reflection in the roadside mirror. His hair was neatly combed back, and he wore a clean suit and polished shoes. He carried an expensive liquor made from mana stone extract.


    A man in a black suit, who appeared to be a staff member, came to escort them.


    They entered through the gate and followed the man. They passed by a pond with a few koi fish and eventually reached the entrance to the house.


    Another suited man spoke briefly into the intercom by the front door, then opened it and said, ¡°Please.¡±


    The two men bowed respectfully to Ae-Kyung as she entered. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Inside, the interior was surprisingly simple. There were no paintings in elaborate frames on the walls nor chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, as one might expect from a drama scene.


    ¡°This is gwempa¡¯s house?¡± Byeol asked, looking around curiously while nestled in Do-Jun¡¯s arms.


    Watching her, Ae-Kyung bit her lips together, wondering if bringing Byeol along had been the right choice. She couldn¡¯t even imagine how angry her father might get.


    They walked down the hall and into the living room.


    Gwang-Ho had been sitting on the sofa. He rose to greet them as Ae-Kyung entered the living room but froze instantly.


    The man standing next to Ae-Kyung was certainly, as he had guessed, her boyfriend. However, what baffled him more was the little girl, around two or three years old, in the man¡¯s arms.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Father,¡± Ae-Kyung said, breaking the silence.


    ¡°H-hmm? Oh, yes, you¡¯ve grown,¡± Gwang-Ho replied, snapping out of the shock.


    For someone who was seeing his daughter in person for the first time in ten years, Gwang-Ho¡¯s reaction was surprisingly calm. Internally, he was overcome with intense emotions, but something even more surprising caught his attention.


    Slowly, Gwang-Ho¡¯s gaze shifted to Do-Jun. He knew it was polite to introduce himself first, but there was no room in his mind for such formality at the moment.


    ¡°Are you... my Ae-Kyung¡¯s boyfriend?¡± he asked.


    Then, his gaze fell slightly, noticing the child''s innocent eyes looking back at him.


    Byeol was the one who answered Gwang-Ho¡¯s question. ¡°He¡¯s not.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s... not...?¡± Gwang-Ho echoed her.


    ¡°Not her boyfwend.¡±


    ¡°T-then...?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s her husband.¡±


    Moon Gwang-Ho clutched his neck and collapsed.


    ***


    Once Gwang-Ho had calmed down, Do-Jun explained the situation to him.


    He altered the story slightly, omitting the fact that Byeol was a mythical creature from the Core. He explained that he had found a baby crying in a Fissure during a job, and from that moment, Byeol recognized him and Ae-Kyung as mom and dad. So, they had been living together for a few days out of necessity.


    Gwang-Ho looked at the kitchen and saw Ae-Kyung brewing tea with his wife, Kim Jung-Sook, while Byeol watched them in fascination.


    ¡°Gwemma, what¡¯s that?¡± Byeol asked Jung-Sook.


    ¡°Hoho, it¡¯s lotus leaf tea,¡± Jung-Sook replied in a grandmotherly fashion.


    ¡°Wotus weaf tee?¡±


    Watching this scene, Gwang-Ho sighed deeply. ¡°You said your name was Lee Do-Jun, correct?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯ve asked my daughter to act as that child¡¯s mother until tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. After tomorrow, there won¡¯t be any more requests like this. There¡¯s a person who¡¯s coming back tomorrow who can take care of her.¡±


    Yoon-Hee, Yong-Yong, and Karsiel were returning from their trip the next day. Do-Jun planned to leave Byeol in Karsiel¡¯s care during working hours so he wouldn¡¯t need to ask for Ae-Kyung¡¯s help anymore.


    Just then, Byeol approached Gwang-Ho, holding out her small palm, which contained three different tea bags.


    ¡°Gwempa, which one do you want? Gwemma said to pick one.¡±


    Gwang-Ho was dumbstruck.


    Byeol tilted her head and added, ¡°If you don¡¯t say, you won¡¯t get any.¡±


    Feeling his heart skip a beat, Gwang-Ho cleared his throat and murmured to Do-Jun, ¡°My daughter is at an age where she should be getting married...¡±

 Chapter 95

    Chapter 95


    A black luxury sedan, adorned with a three-pointed star, cruised down the road. It paused briefly as the light turned red, and Ae-Kyung, seated in the driver¡¯s seat, glanced at Do-Jun in the rearview mirror.


    She sighed, recalling her father¡¯s words. ¡°Come visit anytime. And... it¡¯d be wonderful to have Byeol as my granddaughter.¡±


    Do-Jun¡¯s daughter was returning from her school trip today. Though Do-Jun said she didn¡¯t need to, Ae-Kyung insisted that she drive him to the academy after lunch.


    ¡°My father seems to have taken a real liking to Byeol,¡± Ae-Kyung remarked.


    ¡°Yes, I think so too. I¡¯ll be sure to bring her by occasionally. If you are free, you¡¯re always welcome to visit us, Hunter Ae-Kyung. I¡¯m sure Byeol would love that.¡±


    Unconsciously, Ae-Kyung clenched the steering wheel, only loosening her hold when the leather cover sank under her grip. She knew Do-Jun felt no special emotion for her, yet after spending four days together, she couldn¡¯t help feeling a pang of disappointment.


    ¡°It might have been better if I¡¯d never met you,¡± Ae-Kyung muttered with a slight, bitter smile across her face.


    ***


    Returning home, Yoon-Hee felt a wave of curiosity.


    The house was spotlessly clean, and there were no dirty dishes in the sink. The refrigerator was also fully stocked. To top it off, items for young children were neatly arranged in a corner of the apartment.


    ¡°What is this...?¡± she muttered.


    Just then, something white sticking out from under the sofa caught her eye. Reaching out to pull it, she found a small, white silk pair of underwear with a tiny red ribbon. She froze, staring at it.


    There was no doubt it was a woman¡¯s underwear¡ªand it definitely wasn¡¯t hers.


    There was no way it belonged to Do-Jun.


    With vacant eyes, Yoon-Hee approached Do-Jun, who was about to open the bedroom door, and held up the underwear.


    ¡°Father, what is this...?¡±


    Do-Jun took the underwear from her, looked it over, and finally recalled how it got there. On her first night over, Ae-Kyung had taken it off in her sleep. He had searched for it everywhere in the apartment to return it to her but couldn¡¯t find it at the time.


    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s where it was. I¡¯ll return it to her when she visits next,¡± Do-Jun said with a straight face.


    He then carefully folded the underwear and placed it inside a small gift box, then opened a drawer under the TV and stowed it away in the corner.


    A flood of thoughts raced through Yoon-Hee¡¯s mind, and she suddenly understood why the house had been so clean.


    ¡ªOh my...


    ¡ªWow...


    Yong-Yong and Karsiel exchanged glances as they exclaimed telepathically, then discreetly slipped into the bedroom. They didn¡¯t want to get caught in the crossfire.


    ***


    Yong-Yong jumped up, turned on the light, and said, ¡°Let¡¯s hide here for a while.¡±


    ¡°Yes, that seems wise, Lord Izaas.¡±


    ¡°Anyway, there really is no place like ho...¡± He trailed off, rubbing his eyes with his paw, wondering if he was hallucinating.


    There was a child sound asleep on the bed. Awakened by the light, she sat up, eyes sparkling with curiosity as they spotted Yong-Yong and Karsiel, then crawled toward them.


    ¡°Puppies!¡± she said.


    ¡°Lord Izaas, this child... is no ordinary child...¡±


    Yong-Yong nodded.


    Outwardly, the child looked about three or four years old, but the mana she emitted was enormous¡ªalmost dragon-like in scale. Her mana also carried a sense of kinship.


    ¡°This one... must have come from the Core,¡± Yong-Yong commented.


    ¡°Yeah! Byeol moved!¡± she said with a giggle. With a broad smile, she reached out and grabbed Yong-Yong¡¯s cheeks. ¡°Fun!¡±


    Yong-Yong closed his eyes, thinking that life was about to get even rougher.


    ***


    Do-Jun explained the situation to Yoon-Hee. He recounted how he had run into Ae-Kyung on his way home from work, invited her over, and then traveled with her to the Core, ultimately bringing Byeol home.


    Byeol lived with them for four days, seeing Ae-Kyung as her mother and Do-Jun as her father. He omitted the detail about sharing the bed.


    ¡°Hmm... is that so? That must¡¯ve been nice for you,¡± Yoon-Hee murmured, staring into space as she stirred her tea.


    Ae-Kyung was more popular than most celebrities. Her strength, beauty, and figure were flawless, so much so that she was described as a divine masterpiece. Though her personality was famously cold, that only seemed to captivate men more.


    It was hard for Yoon-Hee to believe such a woman spent four days living with Do-Jun.


    ¡°She was a big help. She took care of the house while you were away,¡± Do-Jun recalled.


    ¡°So all she did was housework...?¡± Yoon-Hee asked with an accusing look.


    ¡°And she looked after Byeol, too.¡±


    At that moment, Yoon-Hee¡¯s eyes met Byeol¡¯s. Byeol stared at her, gathering her thoughts, and finally spoke after some internal calculations. ¡°Mommy.¡±


    Yoon-Hee¡¯s face flushed with surprise while Do-Jun chuckled quietly. ¡°It seems like she¡¯s decided you¡¯re her mom.¡±


    ¡°Out of nowhere? Just like that?¡± Yoon-Hee asked, flustered.


    Watching from the side, Yong-Yong snickered while Karsiel addressed Byeol. ¡°Byeol, you already have a mother, don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Nope.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°The twee said so.¡±


    ¡°The tree?¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡±


    Byeol remembered the words of the Tree of Wisdom, which had told her that any woman close to her father was her mother. So Byeol had seen Ae-Kyung as her mother when she met her and Do-Jun in the Core. Now, living with Do-Jun and Yoon-Hee, she considered Yoon-Hee her mother as well.


    ¡°Anyone close to Daddy is Mommy,¡± Byeol stated firmly.


    At those words, Yong-Yong folded his toes one by one. ¡°Then how many Mommies do we have? Let¡¯s see, one, two...¡±


    ***


    After dinner, Karsiel transformed into her human form and joined Yoon-Hee in washing the dishes. Meanwhile, Do-Jun was catching up on some backlogged work in the bedroom.


    Though he couldn¡¯t use the city hall¡¯s network from home, he managed all the Fissure data through Excel, so the only thing he couldn¡¯t do was submit official documents; otherwise, he didn¡¯t find it too inconvenient.


    Yong-Yong was pawing at a picture book that Ae-Kyung had bought. He covered the word ¡°butterfly¡± under a large illustration of one and asked, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±


    Byeol recalled the names she had learned while wandering around the Core.


    ¡°Weyga,¡± she answered.


    Reyga was a venomous insect found on the first floor of the Core, resembling Earth¡¯s butterflies.


    Yong-Yong lifted his paw and muttered, ¡°Reyga...? No, the answer is ¡®butterfly.¡¯¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°Haha. Maybe it¡¯ll also take you three months to get to my level.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re amazing, Yong-Yong. You¡¯re the best.¡±


    Slightly embarrassed, Yong-Yong scratched his head with his paw. Honestly, no one else in the house ever praised him like this. Sure, Karsiel respected him, but that was only because of his strength, not because she admired his knowledge.


    This rookie, however, was different.


    ¡°You... you¡¯re such a good kid!¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Byeol replied, remembering what Do-Jun had told her¡ªto give Yong-Yong lots of praise.


    She was faithfully following that advice.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯m in a good mood. Come with me,¡± Yong-Yong said and bounded toward the front door.


    Byeol watched him go, then toddled over to Yoon-Hee, who was washing dishes in the kitchen.


    ¡°Mommy,¡± she called to Yoon-Hee.


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°I go out with Yong-Yong.¡±


    ¡°Just the two of you?¡± Yoon-Hee asked with a bit of concern in her voice.


    Though Yong-Yong often roamed around on his own, Byeol was still just a small child who hadn¡¯t even learned to talk properly yet. Letting the two of them go out alone seemed risky.


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°But... what if you get kidnapped...?¡±


    There were cases of children being abducted for ransom, and she worried that something like that might happen to Byeol.


    Sensing Yoon-Hee¡¯s concern, Karsiel reassured her, ¡°Byeol¡¯s is as powerful as a mid-level dragon, so it¡¯s unlikely anything will happen.¡±


    ¡°Okay then. Yong-Yong, make sure to be careful, alright?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re just going to the grocery store.¡±


    With that, Yong-Yong jumped up to open the door, and he and Byeol left the house.


    ***


    Yong-Yong jumped up to press the elevator button, and the elevator descended from the eleventh floor.


    ¡°Come on.¡±


    Byeol followed Yong-Yong into the elevator. He pressed the button for the ground floor, and the elevator started descending. Once they stepped out, the security lights outside illuminated the dark evening streets.


    After about a minute¡¯s walk, they arrived at a small store with a sign that read, ¡°Changshin Mart.¡± A woman in her seventies ran the store by herself. Yong-Yong was one of her regulars at the store.


    ¡°Hello, Yong-Yong,¡± the woman greeted the mini-dragon.


    Yong-Yong pulled two ten-thousand-won bills out of the wallet hanging around his neck and held them in his mouth. He then hopped up onto the counter and set down the crumpled bills.


    ¡°This is for my tab, Grammy!¡±


    ¡°Ah, you got an allowance, didn¡¯t you? Hoho.¡±


    ¡°Yes! I earned it by cleaning.¡±


    ¡°Such a good boy.¡±


    Yong-Yong hopped down from the counter and looked over at Byeol. he said, ¡°Pick something. It¡¯s my treat.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s a tweat?¡± Byeol asked with curious eyes.


    ¡°It means I¡¯ll buy you something to eat.¡±


    ¡°But I already ate food.¡±


    Byeol tilted her head as if she couldn¡¯t grasp this new concept. She wasn¡¯t hungry after Yoon-Hee fed her vegetable porridge and didn¡¯t understand why she would eat again so soon.


    ¡°I ate too. Well, since you don¡¯t know what to get, I¡¯ll pick something out for you,¡± Yong-Yong said and looked around the store.


    Byeol¡¯s teeth were stronger than those of other children, but Yong-Yong decided to be careful just in case. Nothing too intense right away, and nothing too filling either. The perfect post-meal snack, he thought, should lightly satisfy that lingering hint of hunger after dinner.


    ¡°This is the one.¡±


    Yong-Yong opened the freezer door, slipped inside, and grabbed a chocolate ice cream with his mouth. He then closed the freezer door and placed the ice cream on the counter.


    ¡°Grammy, how much do I have left after the tab?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve got seven thousand left.¡±


    ¡°How much is the ice cream?¡±


    ¡°This one is eight hundred.¡±


    ¡°Throw the rest into my account, please. Let¡¯s go, Byeol.¡±


    Leaving the store, Yong-Yong unwrapped the ice cream, held the stick with both front paws, and split it in half. However, the split wasn¡¯t quite even. He thought for a moment, then grunted and took the smaller half for himself, handing the larger piece to Byeol.


    ¡°Let¡¯s head home.¡±


    Yong-Yong popped his half of the ice cream into his mouth, sucking on it as he got on the elevator.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you eating it?¡± Yong-Yong asked, seeing Byeol just holding the stick in her hand.


    ¡°I¡¯m gonna.¡±


    Once Yong-Yong and Byeol returned home, Byeol immediately ran to Yoon-Hee and held out the ice cream.


    ¡°Mommy, cut this into four, pwease.¡±


    ¡°Hm? Where¡¯d you get this?¡± Yoon-Hee asked.


    ¡°Store.¡±


    ¡°Ah, right. Yong-Yong did say you guys were going to the store.¡±


    Yoon-Hee cut the ice cream into four pieces on a plate as Byeol requested.


    ¡°One for Mommy and one for Sie,¡± Byeol said before taking the plate.


    ¡°Are you sure you want Mommy to eat it?¡± Yoon-Hee asked, slightly surprised.


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Byeol.¡±


    Byeol took the plate and dashed into the bedroom.


    ***


    ¡°Daddy, eat,¡± Byeol said to Do-Jun, who was still working away at his desk.


    Do-Jun looked at the plate with two pieces of ice cream, then to Byeol¡¯s expectant face. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Only one, though,¡± Byeol added.


    Do-Jun chuckled and replied, ¡°Alright.¡±

 Chapter 96

    Chapter 96


    It was a peaceful early Saturday morning.


    As if spring were on its way out and making way for summer, the indoor air was already quite stuffy even before the sun rose. Do-Jun sat at the dining table in the living room, sipping coffee and browsing on his smartphone. The topic he was most interested in was none other than Event Fissures. He was reading through an article titled, ¡°Event Fissure Created... Hunters Flock to Participate.¡±


    Once a year, or sometimes every few months, about three to four rainbow-colored Fissures appeared simultaneously across the country, remaining active for twenty-four hours. Monsters ranging from F-rank to S-rank emerged from these Fissures. The further one ventured into the Fissures, the higher the rank of the monsters encountered, allowing Hunters to hunt creatures in areas suited to their skill level.


    Event Fissures attracted so many people solely for one reason: the chances of monsters dropping an artifact were significantly higher than in regular Fissures. While artifacts could also be crafted at workshops using monster byproducts, they were often costly, so Hunters would rush to Event Fissures for a chance to get them with minimal effort.


    Reading another article titled ¡°Seoul¡¯s Event Fissure open in the Olympic Park,¡± Do-Jun looked through his contacts on his smartphone.


    ***


    Yoon-Hee furrowed her brow, half-opening her eyes. The morning sun filtering through the window warmed the room, and she felt beads of sweat soaking through her spring pajamas.


    Stretching as usual, she finally opened her eyes fully.


    ¡°Huh...?¡± she said in surprise, realizing Do-Jun wasn¡¯t lying on the bed as he should have.


    She only saw Karsiel, curled up and fast asleep, and Byeol, snoozing peacefully in the center of the bed.


    ¡°Is he in the living room?¡± Yoon-Hee muttered, threw off the covers, and went to the living room.


    However, Do-Jun was nowhere to be found, not even in the bathroom. Instead, a note lay on the dining table in the living room that read, ¡°Taking Yong-Yong for a walk.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t even 8 AM yet.


    She knew Do-Jun wasn¡¯t the type to sleep in, but she hadn¡¯t expected him to get up so early and even go for a walk. She sighed, thinking she should¡¯ve woken up earlier.


    ***


    Walking toward a coffee shop at the entrance of Olympic Park, Do-Jun spotted a woman in a white dress. Beside her stood a suitcase that looked almost like a carry-on. This was none other than Ye-Ji.


    ¡°You¡¯re early,¡± Do-Jun said to her.


    Though he¡¯d told her to meet him at 9 AM, she had arrived thirty minutes early. He¡¯d expected her to be running late after being invited out so suddenly, but it seemed she¡¯d rushed out as soon as she woke up.


    ¡°You were the one who called me, so of course I¡¯ll be... hmm?¡± Ye-Ji stopped mid-sentence when her eyes landed on Yong-Yong.


    Tilting her head, she recalled hearing from Hyuk-Soo that Do-Jun had Awakened and acquired a taming skill.


    ¡°Ah, is this Yong-Yong? The monster you tamed?¡± she asked.


    Do-Jun nodded.


    Ye-Ji knelt down to observe Yong-Yong closely. Two small horns sprouted from his head, and a pair of tiny wings adorned his back, along with a medium-length tail. Ye-Ji had thoroughly studied all types of known monsters during her years at the Hunter Academy, but the creature before her was unfamiliar.


    Unable to figure out what monster this was, she asked again, ¡°What kind of monster is this?¡±


    Yong-Yong opened his mouth in a wide yawn, still sleepy. Do-Jun focused on a bustling spot in the distance, where he could see the rainbow-colored Fissure stretching skyward, surrounded by Hunters in suits.


    ¡°Is he... going into the Fissure with us?¡± Ye-Ji asked, glancing at Yong-Yong.


    ¡°Yes, thought I¡¯d take him along for a walk.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that dangerous...?¡±


    Though she didn¡¯t know exactly what Yong-Yong was, he didn¡¯t seem particularly strong or threatening. Since Ye-Ji planned to venture to the area with B-rank monsters today, she was worried Yong-Yong might get caught by one of the monsters.


    ¡°The ones who are in danger are the scrubs insi¡ª¡± Yong-Yong started to say, but Do-Jun quickly released a burst of True Qi and sealed his mouth to prevent any more unnecessary comments.


    He then smiled slightly and said, ¡°Shall we get going?¡±


    ***


    Anyone wishing to enter the Event Fissures had to undergo an ID verification by the Hunter¡¯s Bureau staff stationed at the entrance. All around them, people were forming parties or advertising for guild members to join. Party hunting typically involved a balanced team of dealers, tanks, and healers, but Ye-Ji preferred solo Hunting.


    [Lee Do-Jun, Fissure Management Division, confirmed.]


    Dressed casually in a T-shirt and cotton pants, Do-Jun hadn¡¯t even brought a bag since he didn¡¯t have much to carry. Event Fissures already had mapped structures and standardized monster types, so there was no need for mapping tools or an overlay.


    The only item he held was a paper map handed out at the entrance.


    Do-Jun¡¯s plan for the day was just to observe as he leisurely explored the Fissure with Ye-Ji.


    Ye-Ji wore an A-rank suit with a mana gun and combat support artifacts strapped to her waist. Standing beside her, the casually dressed Do-Jun stood out in stark contrast. In fact, 99.9% of those within the Fissure were Hunters, making Do-Jun an unmistakable presence. Soon, murmurs broke out among the Hunters.


    ¡°Who¡¯s that guy...?¡±


    ¡°How¡¯d a civilian get in here?¡±


    ¡°Just ignore him; he¡¯s probably from the Bureau.¡±


    Do-Jun paid no mind to the murmurs around him, knowing they¡¯d lose interest soon enough. As he unfolded the map given at the entrance, he could see which monsters appeared in each area and got a general sense of the terrain.


    Do-Jun was surprised to see an additional area marked with an exclamation point at the very innermost section, where S-rank monsters appeared.


    Showing the map to Ye-Ji, he asked, ¡°Ye-Ji, do you know what this is?¡± S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ye-Ji nodded and replied, ¡°That¡¯s an unexplored zone.¡±


    ¡°Unexplored?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I heard it was abandoned because of the high difficulty... As far as I know, the Icarus Guild tried forming a raid party and attempted it a few months ago but failed.¡±


    The Icarus Guild was a major guild boasting S-rank Hunters like Min-Hyuk and Min-Ji, along with many other S and A-rank Hunters.


    Even with such personnel, they failed.


    Do-Jun decided he¡¯d check it out later but, for now, focused on accompanying Ye-Ji.


    ¡°The deeper we go, the fewer people there are. Here, it¡¯s a bit...¡± Do-Jun trailed off, shrugged, and looked around.


    The area was littered with Hunters hunting monsters ranked E and below. The monsters here were Dwarf Goblins, the weakest of the F-rank monsters. Since over half of Korean Hunters were ranked D or below, most of them were hunting in this section.


    Suddenly, a Dwarf Goblin approached Do-Jun.


    Ye-Ji turned, drew her sword, and dashed at the goblin. A flash of light swept through, and the goblin¡¯s body split in half.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Do-Jun said and continued forward casually, while Ye-Ji trailed after him with a grin.


    Watching them from behind, Yong-Yong tilted his head back and forth as he looked between them. ¡°Eh?¡±


    ***


    Slash!


    A horde of Red Orcs fell effortlessly to Ye-Ji¡¯s sword strikes. All Do-Jun did was watch leisurely from behind, occasionally pointing out stray monsters she failed to notice.


    ¡°Master, why aren¡¯t you fighting?¡± Yong-Yong asked Do-Jun.


    He had been wondering why Do-Jun wasn¡¯t getting involved at all. These minor monsters would have been deleted with just the snap of Do-Jun¡¯s fingers. He couldn¡¯t understand why Do-Jun was letting a weak human like Ye-Ji handle the hunting.


    ¡°Because that would defeat the purpose of bringing her along,¡± Do-Jun answered.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Ye-Ji clearly had talent in swordsmanship, and thanks to her S-rank skill, Scholar¡¯s Swordsmanship, that talent shone even brighter. However, gaining experience was the only way to grow that talent to perfection.


    Do-Jun wanted to see Ye-Ji get there.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± he said to the still-puzzled Yong-Yong.


    After finishing up her hunt, Ye-Ji ran over to Do-Jun. Her silver suit was splattered with monster blood, evidence of how hard she had fought.


    ¡°Look, Mr. Administrator! I already got three artifacts!¡±


    She proudly showed the artifacts she¡¯d collected from the monsters: a ring, a glove, and a leather pouch. The grades were one B-rank and two C-ranks, with fairly decent stats.


    ¡°Congratulations, Ye-Ji,¡± he said, thinking that bringing her along over the weekend had been worthwhile.


    ***


    After her shower, Ye-Ji lay on the bed, examining the ring on her finger. It was one of the artifacts she had earned from hunting in the Event Fissure today.


    [Zenith''s Lotus Ring]


    Category: Ring / Accessory


    Grade: B


    Stamina +10


    Agility +10


    Special Effect: Gives a slight boost in resistance against water-type attacks


    Description: A ring crafted with great care by the mid-level water spirit Zenith as a gift for his wife. Wearing it grants resistance to water-type attacks.


    Reading the ring¡¯s description made Ye-Ji¡¯s cheeks flush. A ring made as a gift for one¡¯s wife felt romantic, and imagining Do-Jun giving it to her made her heart swell.


    She opened her phone¡¯s photo album to look at a picture she had taken earlier today.


    After about two hours of hunting in the Event Fissure, they had gone to a restaurant in Olympic Park to grab some food and coffee. Casually, she had suggested they take a picture as a keepsake, to which Do-Jun had readily agreed.


    ¡°If we ever end up dating...¡± Ye-Ji mumbled.


    Of course, it was just wishful thinking.


    Ye-Ji thought she must have scored a lot of points with Do-Jun today. She hadn¡¯t let a single monster escape, and he had even complimented her, saying her skills were improving by the day.


    She looked at the picture taken at the caf¨¦ over and over again. Then, noticing the red creature in the background, she zoomed in and tilted her head.


    ¡°But seriously, what kind of monster is this?¡± she muttered.


    She searched the tameable monsters from F to C-rank and even B-rank. The one in this picture didn¡¯t look like any of the ones she knew. Just then, the trending keywords on the portal site refreshed, and the top search was ¡°Aduntath.¡±


    Ye-Ji tapped on the word and searched for Aduntath.


    ¡°System Alert of Boss Monster Death in Olympic Park Event Fissure.¡±


    ¡°Name of the Boss Monster was ¡®Aduntath.¡¯¡±


    ¡°Hunters Claim ¡®There Was No S-rank Hunter Present.¡¯¡±


    ¡°Hunter¡¯s Bureau Dismisses It as Unknown Phenomenon.¡±


    Ye-Ji was stunned after reading the articles. The system message had appeared less than ten minutes after she and Do-Jun had finished their coffee.


    ¡°If I¡¯d known, I would have kept hunting a bit longer...¡±


    That way, she could have seen the notification with Do-Jun.


    ***


    Do-Jun sat on a bench, examining an artifact¡¯s stats.


    [Aduntath¡¯s Cloak of Invisibility]


    Category: Armor


    Grade: S


    Strength +50


    Special Effect: Activates invisibility when worn.


    Description: The cloak worn by Aduntath, the Assassin of the Deep Realm. His unseen presence struck fear into all.


    He looked up at the sky, shielding his eyes from the bright sunlight with his hand.


    ¡°Looks like summer is on its way.¡±

 Chapter 97

    Chapter 97


    Tonight¡¯s menu was kimchi jjigae[1], which turned out perfectly with aged kimchi, pork, tofu, and green onions simmering in the pot. There was no need for special seasoning; just the kimchi brine alone created a spicy, tangy flavor.


    Recently, Byeol had developed quite a taste for Korean food.


    ¡°You¡¯re eating so well,¡± Do-Jun commented, watching Byeol dipping rice into the stew and taking spoonful after spoonful.


    He smiled contently, propping his chin up with one hand.


    Meanwhile, Yoon-Hee seemed a bit nervous. Since the kimchi was spicy, she worried that young Byeol might choke or suffer if it was too much for her.


    ¡°Make sure to chew it well, okay?¡± she said to Byeol.


    ¡°Mhm.¡±


    Yoon-Hee was so focused on Byeol that her own bowl of rice was almost untouched.


    Seeing this, Do-Jun chuckled softly and mumbled, ¡°You¡¯re like a real mom.¡±


    Hearing that, Yoon-Hee blushed, looking a bit flustered.


    ¡°T-that was... a compliment, right?¡± she asked.


    She couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he meant she looked older. Though she was done with her puberty and whatnot, hearing something like that at the young age of seventeen was still a bit of a shock. Of course, she knew Do-Jun had no ill intentions, but it was still hard not to think about it as criticism.


    ¡°I¡¯m all done!¡± Byeol put down her spoon, looking satisfied.


    The bowl was spotless, with not a grain of rice or drop of broth left. It was quite a large portion for someone who wasn¡¯t even a meter tall, yet Byeol looked as satisfied as ever.


    ¡°Mommy, um...¡±


    ¡°Yeah?¡±


    ¡°Can I go pway?¡±


    Byeol fidgeted with her fingers, glancing at Yoon-Hee, knowing it was 6 PM and the sun was already setting. Yoon-Hee usually didn¡¯t like letting Byeol out in the evening.


    But just as Yoon-Hee was about to say no, Do-Jun butted in. ¡°Go ahead. Just make sure to stay away from anyone suspicious.¡±


    Although it would be pretty dark soon, Yoon-Hee held back after Do-Jun gave the permission. Byeol¡¯s face lit up, and she nodded eagerly.


    Do-Jun glanced over at Yong-Yong, who was entirely focused on his meal and wasn¡¯t paying attention to the rest of the world. When their eyes met, Yong-Yong coughed a bit as if he¡¯d choked.


    ¡°O-one simply does not bother a dragon in the middle of his meal...¡±


    Slowly, Do-Jun extended his hand under the table. A glowing yellow fifty-thousand-won bill appeared between his fingers. Yong-Yong stopped all jaw movement, took the bill with his front paw, gave Do-Jun a salute, and followed after Byeol.


    ¡°See ya,¡± Byeol said with a bright smile.


    ***


    Yong-Yong and Byeol¡¯s destination was an F-rank Fissure in a nearby park. F-rank goblins were the main monsters of this common grassland-type field, and it was under Do-Jun¡¯s management. Having been open for three years now, it was also thoroughly raided.


    Yong-Yong had a drink and snacks strapped to his back. He glanced at the entrance and noticed an intern from the Hunter¡¯s Bureau standing guard.


    Seeing the intern dozing off, he nudged Byeol and muttered, ¡°Now¡¯s our chance.¡±


    They hurriedly slipped into the Fissure, and it swallowed them with a brilliant flash.


    When they opened their eyes, they were in a completely different world. Unlike Earth, where it was almost past sunset, the world inside the Fissure was bright as day. They saw the goblins spread across the green field and some Hunters hunting them clumsily. Judging by their skills, they were absolute beginners.


    ¡°Let¡¯s play around for about an hour and head back,¡± Yong-Yong told Byeol.


    Do-Jun wouldn¡¯t mind them staying for a while as long as they had fun, but Yoon-Hee would surely have a lot to say.


    Understanding Yong-Yong¡¯s intent, Byeol nodded and added, ¡°Mommy is scawy when she¡¯s mad.¡±


    ¡°Actually, Master¡¯s the one I¡¯m more scared of.¡±


    Yong-Yong noticed a young man lying on the ground. He didn¡¯t even have a mana gun, an essential item for Hunters, and was carrying a backpack nearly as big as himself.


    ¡°A porter, huh.¡±


    Porters were people who followed Hunters around, carrying loot like mana stones and monster corpses. Some ill-mannered Hunters would disrespectfully call them ¡°inventory.¡±


    Anyway, the young man, likely a porter, seemed to have fainted.


    Yong-Yong approached him and started slapping his face with his paw. ¡°Hello! You good?¡±


    It seemed like his lights were out.


    Yong-Yong couldn¡¯t help but mutter, ¡°Passed out like this in such a low-level zone...¡±


    Just then, the young man frowned and groaned, slowly opening his eyes. ¡°Ugh... cough!¡±


    This young man was called Yoon Min-Woo. He sat up slowly, feeling a warm sting on his cheek as if he¡¯d been slapped a few times. He looked up to find a child and a puppy staring at him.


    ¡°A kid...?¡± he muttered.


    She looked about four years old, with long, light brown hair down to her waist. She wore a white dress with a bear print and character slippers¡ªthe image of a typical little kid.


    ¡°I¡¯m not a kid,¡± Byeol replied. ¡°I have a name. It¡¯s Byeol.¡±


    With a slightly annoyed expression, Byeol looked at Yoon Min-Woo, wondering why people kept referring to her as a kid when she had a lovely name that Do-Jun had given her.


    ¡°So... how did you get in here?¡± Yoon Min-Woo asked her.


    Only Hunters or authorized personnel were allowed into Fissures. It wasn¡¯t a place for children or dogs, and if someone didn¡¯t show a Hunter or staff ID at the entrance, the Bureau staff wouldn¡¯t let them through.


    ¡°Um... I hopped in,¡± Byeol replied innocently.


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant... Never mind. Anyway, it¡¯s dangerous here. Where are your parents? We should get you out of here before they start worrying.¡±


    Byeol shook her head. ¡°Daddy said I could come here.¡±


    ¡°Y-your father let you come in here?¡±


    ¡°Yup! He said I could go pway.¡±


    What kind of parent would let a child who could barely speak go into a Fissure? Yoon Min-Woo looked at Byeol in disbelief.


    ¡°By the way, Mistah... are you a suspicious person?¡± Byeol asked as she recalled that Do-Jun had told her to stay away from suspicious people. She had to figure out if the man in front of her was suspicious.


    Yoon Min-Woo laughed awkwardly, somewhat impressed by the proper home training for such situations.


    ¡°So, guy, why were you sleeping here?¡± Yong-Yong asked him.


    ¡°Huh?! T-the dog is talking!¡±


    Yong-Yong clicked his tongue and sighed. Why did people always mistake him for a dog when they saw him? He created a mirror with his magic to check his appearance.


    ¡°What part of this looks like a dog? Anyway, if you¡¯re awake, get moving,¡± Yong-Yong said, annoyed.


    At those words, Yoon Min-Woo checked his watch. It was already past 7 PM. He had tried to find a party but failed, so he attempted to hunt solo, only to be knocked out by a goblin¡¯s club.


    ¡°Another day wasted...¡± Yoon Min-Woo muttered dejectedly.


    He hadn¡¯t earned a penny in days, even though he had bills and tuition due. At this rate, taking up a day labor job seemed more appealing. Despite Awakening and registering as a Hunter, his F-rank non-combat skills didn¡¯t allow him to do much.


    ¡°Even one mana stone would¡¯ve helped...¡±


    An F-rank mana stone from a goblin could sell for about 50,000 won each. He was desperate for even that much with no money left for daily expenses. Sighing, Yoon Min-Woo stood up, deciding to call it a day since it was already completely dark outside now.


    He looked so dejected that Yong-Yong frowned. ¡°Ugh, seriously.¡±


    As Yoon Min-Woo trudged weakly toward the Fissure exit, Yong-Yong ran ahead and stopped him.


    He asked, ¡°How many mana stones do you need?¡±


    ***


    A short while later, Yoon Min-Woo stood in awe.


    ¡°Are... are you sure it¡¯s okay to give me all of these?¡± he asked Yong-Yong.


    The ground was covered with a pile of F-rank mana stones, all from goblins hunted by Yong-Yong. Yoon Min-Woo rubbed his eyes in disbelief as he stared at what seemed to be at least fifty stones.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Yong-Yong replied casually.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how to thank you...¡±


    This was worth over 2.5 million won in cash, more than enough to cover the few months of rent he was behind on and then some.


    Yong-Yong sighed. ¡°Seriously, man... Who comes into a Fissure without a weapon? Use this money to buy yourself a weapon or something and stop getting beaten up by goblins. If you¡¯re going to die, at least do it somewhere else.¡±


    This was an F-rank Fissure managed by Do-Jun. Since it was low rank that had hardly any casualties, a corpse turning up would be a hassle. Knowing that, Yong-Yong couldn¡¯t just ignore Yoon Min-Woo.


    Regardless of what this puppy was saying, Yoon Min-Woo was so grateful that he started to tear up.


    ¡°Why are you crying, Mistah? Isn¡¯t this good?¡± Byeol tilted her head, puzzled. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She only knew crying as an expression of sadness.


    Yoon Min-Woo shook his head with a smile and knelt before Yong-Yong.


    ¡°Can I know your name? I want to remember this kindness and repay you if I ever get the chance.¡±


    ¡°No, there¡¯s no need...¡±


    Yoon Min-Woo took Yong-Yong¡¯s paw, his eyes shining with gratitude.


    Yong-Yong sighed and replied, ¡°It¡¯s Izaa... no, Yong-Yong.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Got it? You cannot tell Master that we were just at a Fissure,¡± Yong-Yong warned Byeol.


    ¡°Okidokie.¡±


    ¡°We were just playing at the playground.¡±


    ¡°Mhm!¡±


    After they agreed to keep their stories straight, Yong-Yong jumped up to open the front door, letting Byeol inside first before following her in.


    Do-Jun was reading a newspaper on the sofa and called out to Byeol. She ran over to him and jumped into his arms.


    ¡°Did you have fun in the Fissure?¡± Do-Jun asked.


    ¡°Yup!¡± Byeol nodded happily, then froze, her eyes widening. Realizing her slip, she quickly covered her mouth with her hand.


    ¡°N-no, we pway at the playground.¡±


    ¡°Did Yong-Yong tell you to say that?¡± Do-Jun asked with a grin.


    ¡°Ye... n-no!¡±


    Do-Jun found her flustered response so cute that he couldn¡¯t help but chuckle.


    ***


    Meanwhile, in a small studio apartment measuring just over thirty square meters, a young man was drawing on a tablet under the warm light of a desk lamp.


    As the pen moved, the drawing gradually took shape. A blue sky, a green field, a small red dog with a mana stone on its head, and a little girl smiling at it.


    ¡°Done.¡±


    As it turned out, Yoon Min-Woo was an amateur illustrator of five years. Though it was just a hobby, he had a bit of a reputation on community forums. He had a solid fan base, and his illustrations usually received hundreds of comments and over fifty thousand views when he posted them on art boards.


    A message appeared as he prepared to upload the illustration.


    [Please enter a title for the drawing.]


    Without hesitation, he typed: Yong-Yong and Byeol.


    1. Kimchi stew made with kimchi and other ingredients, such as pork, scallions, onions, and diced tofu. It is one of the most common stews in Korean cuisine. ?

 Chapter 98

    Chapter 98


    In the National Hunter Academy, the classroom for freshmen Class A was located on the second floor of the main building.


    A female student seated in the back row by the window rested her chin on her hand, gazing outside as the spring breeze blew in through the open window, gently stirring her hair.


    She was Eun-Joo, the younger sister of Kang-Hyun¡ªKorea¡¯s top-ranked Hunter and the Sword Emperor.


    ¡°As I said earlier, we have a self-guided field trip tomorrow. You do not need to come to school, and you¡¯re free to choose your own location as long as it aligns with the learning objectives. However, please remember that the report is due by Thursday, and at least one photo is mandatory,¡± the teacher explained and hurriedly left for the staff room.


    The remaining students got up and left the classroom according to their schedules¡ªheading to the cafeteria, dormitories, or straight to the training room.


    Eun-Joo sighed and slumped over her desk, glancing at a sheet of paper in her hand titled ¡°Field Trip Report.¡±


    ¡°So annoying,¡± she muttered.


    She wondered why they were even doing this.


    Sure, visiting a guild, the Hunter¡¯s Bureau, or a management office to see how the Hunter-related systems worked beyond just combat could be slightly useful, but it didn¡¯t seem essential.


    ¡°And they want us to submit a photo? Then we really have to go,¡± she muttered with a face full of annoyance. She had no idea where to go. To be more precise, she simply didn¡¯t want to go anywhere.


    A perfect idea for a field trip location suddenly popped into her mind.


    ***


    The next day. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After getting a quick smoke on the rooftop, Cheol-Soo headed to the Fissure Management Division office on the seventh floor when he noticed a girl peeking inside the office entrance.


    She had short, slightly wavy hair and looked like she had just started high school. Cheol-Soo instantly recognized her.


    ¡°Where is he...¡± the girl muttered, glancing around as if searching for someone.


    Cheol-Soo cautiously approached her and asked, ¡°Can I help you with something?¡±


    Eun-Joo jerked her shoulders up in surprise and turned quickly to look at the middle-aged man who had called out to her. She noticed the government ID badge hanging around his neck, indicating he was a staff member here.


    With a slight bow, Eun-Joo said, ¡°Oh, hello. I¡¯m...¡±


    Before she could finish her introduction, Cheol-Soo added, ¡°Lee Eun-Joo, right? The younger sister of Hunter Lee Kang-Hyun.¡±


    How could he not know her?


    Let alone that her brother, Kang-Hyun, was the most famous Hunter in Korea, Eun-Joo herself was also a promising talent with A-rank abilities and was well-known to anyone in the Korean Hunter industry.


    ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Section Chief Kang Cheol-Soo from the Fissure Exploration Unit.¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes...¡±


    ¡°So, what brings you here?¡± Cheol-Soo asked.


    ¡°Oh, right, about that... Just a second.¡±


    Eun-Joo pulled a field trip report form from her rabbit-shaped backpack and showed it to Cheol-Soo.


    ¡°We were given a field trip assignment at the Academy, and I was hoping I could check out the Seoul Fissure Management Division... would that be okay?¡±


    ¡°Haha, so that¡¯s what it is. Of course, that¡¯s fine.¡±


    She wasn¡¯t just anyone; she was the Sword Emperor¡¯s sister. Even though it was a busy time for the Fissure Management Division, Cheol-Soo was happy to agree, knowing it could only be a good thing to score some points with her.


    ¡°Um... Is Mr. Lee Do-Jun... Ah, I mean, Supervisor Lee Do-Jun here?¡± Eun-Joo asked somewhat hesitantly.


    Upon hearing yet another visitor asking for Do-Jun, Cheol-Soo replied, ¡°Popular guy, isn¡¯t he?¡±


    ¡°Sorry?¡±


    He laughed heartily.


    ***


    Do-Jun was busy typing away at his desk.


    Sitting next to the busily working Do-Jun, Eun-Joo carefully observed him, glancing at the contents of a draft document he was working on.


    He handled various tasks, from managing contracted Hunters and reviewing Fissure patrol reports to preparing an Excel spreadsheet for monster byproduct settlements and logging the use of public equipment and artifacts by Hunters.


    Before she knew it, Eun-Joo had already completed half of her field trip report.


    Two hours had flown by since she arrived at the office early in the morning, toured the Fissure Management Division, and shadowed Do-Jun, observing his work from the side.


    He just seems like a regular civil servant, though, Eun-Joo thought, confused.


    According to what her brother had told her, if it hadn¡¯t been for Do-Jun¡¯s help in the Core raid, Behemoth Guild couldn¡¯t have progressed in their exploration, or worse, they could have even been annihilated.


    Though he wouldn¡¯t share any specifics and kept them a secret, he had made it clear that Do-Jun was far from an ordinary person.


    Eun-Joo knew that her brother would never exaggerate, but she still couldn¡¯t tell in what way Do-Jun was unusual. When she witnessed his evaluation last time, the machine clearly showed that he had no powers whatsoever.


    Recently, she¡¯d heard during a Fissure field trip that he¡¯d awakened some taming skills, but if he¡¯d been of any help to Behemoth Guild, he should have been at the level of Kanzaki Soshiro, at the very least.


    Just then, Do-Jun stood up, grabbing the suit jacket draped over his chair.


    After informing Cheol-Soo that he was heading out on a business trip, he turned to her and said, ¡°I have something to take care of on-site. I¡¯ll help you finish the field trip report once I return.¡±


    ¡°Uh, wait! Could you take me with you to the site? I¡¯ve got a general idea of the office work now, but I¡¯d really like to see how you handle things on the field.¡±


    ¡°Hmm...¡± Do-Jun glanced at his wristwatch. ¡°This isn¡¯t exactly part of my official duties, but... alright.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Our dorm...?¡± Eun-Joo asked, puzzled.


    The place where Do-Jun and Eun-Joo arrived was none other than the dormitory of the Hunter Academy. More precisely, it was the backyard, a bit distant from the dorm.


    Do-Jun had clearly said they were going to a Fissure site, so she couldn¡¯t understand why they had come to the Academy, especially to the dormitory.


    Suddenly, sparks flickered in the air, and Eun-Joo instantly recognized what was happening.


    ¡°N-no way...¡± she stammered.


    There had been nothing there just a moment ago, but now a Fissure over twenty meters in height had formed, stretching up to the sky. However, something about it felt wrong¡ªits entrance felt unstable, unlike a normal Fissure.


    She realized this was a break out¡ªa phenomenon where a monster burst out of a Fissure.


    These Fissures could appear anywhere, even in places they hadn¡¯t previously formed. Usually, such temporary Fissures only released one or two monsters before vanishing, but that wasn¡¯t the issue.


    ¡°W-why is it so big?¡± Eun-Joo muttered as she stared at the Fissure.


    Temporary Fissures typically adjusted their size to fit the monster emerging from them. This one was already over twenty meters tall.


    She turned and said to Do-Jun, ¡°Mister! We need to run!¡±


    Who knew what kind of monster would appear? They had no suits, no equipment¡ªnothing to protect themselves.


    Not only was fighting a monster unarmed pure suicide, but judging by the size of the Fissure, the monster coming out would be at least an A-rank.


    Crackle!


    Sparks flew from the Fissure, and a creature slowly emerged from the unstable entrance.


    Turning to look at Do-Jun, Eun-Joo saw him calmly watching the monster¡¯s emergence. It was as if he had known this all along.


    What happened next left Eun-Joo staring at Do-Jun, her mouth wide open in astonishment.


    A single sword materialized next to Do-Jun, floating in midair. With a thunderous sound, the sword shot forward toward the monster. Then, in the blink of an eye, the balrog¡ªa notoriously difficult S-rank monster¡ªwas slaughtered instantly.


    ***


    As the washing machine hummed in the background, Do-Jun sat in Eun-Joo¡¯s dorm room, sipping tea.


    Naturally, when the balrog was killed, its blood splattered everywhere.


    Out of habit, Do-Jun surrounded himself with qi to prevent his clothes from getting dirty but completely forgot about Eun-Joo, who ended up drenched in the balrog¡¯s blood.


    Creak.


    The bathroom door opened, and thick, hot steam billowed out. Eun-Joo walked out of the bathroom and leaned against the wall beside the door. She stared at him blankly as she dried her wet hair with a towel.


    ¡°It¡¯s just so weird,¡± she mumbled.


    ¡°What is?¡± Do-Jun asked in a more comfortable tone now that they were out of the office and no one was observing them.


    After all, they were already acquainted, and she was also his daughter¡¯s friend.


    ¡°Why are you even a civil servant, mister?¡± Eun-Joo asked.


    ¡°What do you mean? There¡¯s nothing better than this out there.¡±


    The pay wasn¡¯t anything crazy, but it was enough to live on. The work hours were manageable, and the benefits were decent. All in all, it was the perfect job for someone who wanted to live a simple, ordinary life, and Do-Jun was genuinely satisfied with it.


    ¡°Do you really think that? I mean... if you become a Hunter¡ª¡± Eun-Joo abruptly stopped talking as Do-Jun stood up.


    He walked over to Eun-Joo and stopped right in front of her. His sudden actions startled her, making her flinch involuntarily.


    ¡°Uh, m-mister?¡±


    The atmosphere had changed in an instant. The warm look in Do-Jun¡¯s eyes had turned cold. Eun-Joo felt terrified as he looked down at her.


    In hindsight, how could she have been so careless?


    He may be her friend¡¯s father, but he was still a man in his twenties. Not only had she let him into her dorm room, but she had just walked out of the bathroom, freshly showered.


    The difference in their height became more pronounced as he drew nearer, making him seem even more intimidating.


    Without a word, Do-Jun slammed his hand against the wall, his palm barely missing Eun-Joo¡¯s cheek.


    Startled, her legs gave out, and she collapsed to the floor.


    ¡°I-I¡¯m s-so sorry, m-mister...¡± Eun-Joo apologized, on the verge of tears.


    Was he mad because she¡¯d disrespected his job as a civil servant?


    Do-Jun took his hand off the wall and said, ¡°Mosquitoes are coming out early this year, huh?¡±


    ¡°S-sorry?¡±


    Do-Jun casually brushed a dead mosquito off his palm and looked at the trembling Eun-Joo with a puzzled expression.


    ***


    That night, Eun-Joo worked on her laptop in her room, finishing her field trip report. Do-Jun had emailed her the necessary data, so she had no difficulty writing it.


    Since the Fissure Management Division often worked with the Hunter¡¯s Bureau, management agencies, and guilds, the content was quite extensive.


    She suddenly stopped typing as she remembered the afternoon''s events. The scene of Do-Jun slamming his hand on the wall still vividly replayed in her mind.


    Eun-Joo minimized the Word document on her taskbar, opened her web browser, and typed ¡°wall slamming¡± into the search bar.


    She stared blankly at the search results, then slumped onto her bed, burying her face in the pillow. She took out her smartphone and looked at a photo she had taken earlier that day.


    It was a side profile shot of Do-Jun at work.


    ¡°Man...¡± she said weakly.


    The photo had turned out quite well.


    ***


    Yong-Yong and Byeol were playing a memory-matching game.


    ¡°This one,¡± Byeol said, picking up a card from the ones lying face down, and revealed the rabbit on the other side.


    ¡°You... you have a pretty good memory,¡± Yong-Yong complimented her.


    Determined not to lose, he inspected the face-down cards, finally selecting one from the center, all the while praying, ¡°Please be a rabbit.¡±


    The game rule was simple: whoever picked up the most rabbit cards won.


    Byeol was in the lead with five points, while Yong-Yong had only two.


    Just then, Do-Jun¡¯s phone buzzed from an incoming message. He had left it on the table while he showered. Yong-Yong jumped onto the table to check the phone. It was a message from Eun-Joo.


    Lee Eun-Joo: Mister, I forgot to send you the photo earlier. And please, refrain from wall-slamming next time... it¡¯s bad for my heart.


    A preview of the message showed a picture¡ªa selfie of a girl with a rabbit backpack posing next to Do-Jun¡ªobviously taken by the girl.


    ¡°Woah,¡± Yong-Yong exclaimed.


    With a little hop, he jumped down to the floor and checked the card he¡¯d just picked. It had a rabbit on it.


    ¡°Byeol, how many moms do you have?¡± he asked the kid.


    ¡°I have two mommies, why...?¡± Byeol replied and tilted her head, puzzled.

 Chapter 99

    Chapter 99


    In the deep hours of the night, when everyone else was asleep and the entire house was dark, a light was still on in the living room.


    Yoon-Hee sat at the dining table as soft light from a desk lamp filled the room. Textbooks issued by the Hunter Academy, including a Monster Compendium and Advanced Mana Techniques, were spread across the table.


    ¡°Release, one of the three mana manipulation methods, can be further categorized into three subcategories...¡±


    Perhaps because of the night hour¡¯s quietness, the ticking of the clock could be heard clearly.


    Yoon-Hee took a sip from her coffee mug and refocused on her studies. Even though it was well past 2 AM, she didn¡¯t take her eyes off the books.


    Midterms were coming up next week, and her goal was to achieve high grades and earn a scholarship. That way, she could ease Do-Jun¡¯s financial burden, even if just a little.


    The coffee wasn¡¯t helping much, and even though she had already downed three cups, her eyes kept closing against her will. Balancing schoolwork and housework, along with exams, seemed to have stretched her to her limit.


    ¡°Mana... trans... mu...¡±


    Then, gently, her eyes closed as sleep took over.


    ***


    Tweet, tweet.


    Yoon-Hee slowly opened her eyes at the sound of a pair of sparrows chirping outside the window and the morning sunlight trickling in. She felt the warm comfort of the blanket wrapped around her.


    ¡°Huh...?¡±


    She looked around in confusion. She vaguely remembered studying at the dining table, but when did she come to bed?


    Yawning, Yoon-Hee checked the time¡ªand her eyes went wide.


    ¡°Why... is the alarm snoozed...?¡± she cried in panic.


    She threw off the blanket and hurriedly got up.


    Yong-Yong, Karsiel, and Byeol were still sound asleep in the bed, so deeply they wouldn¡¯t have noticed if they were carried away. Though, for some reason, Do-Jun was nowhere to be seen.


    Yoon-Hee opened the door with a bang and dashed into the living room, where she saw Do-Jun in the kitchen bustling about.


    She could hear the sizzling sound of sausages and fried eggs cooking in the pan.


    Surprised, Yoon-Hee ran over to him, apologizing, ¡°I-I overslept. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Do-Jun looked at the shadows under her eyes and her slightly messy hair.


    He sighed and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just go wash up first.¡±


    ¡°But...¡± Her eyes went to the frying pan he was holding.


    ¡°I said go wash up,¡± Do-Jun said in a firm tone.


    Feeling guilty, Yoon-Hee nodded slightly. Do-Jun was doing her job.


    ¡°I¡¯ll wash up quickly,¡± she said, heading to the bathroom.


    Do-Jun plated the sausages and eggs, setting them on the dining table. Grateful for the early breakfasts that Yoon-Hee always prepared despite her exhaustion, Do-Jun wanted to help her out, at least during this exam period.


    He went into the bedroom and saw Yong-Yong sleeping soundly with his belly up, so deep in peace he wouldn¡¯t have known if a bomb dropped.


    ***


    At 10 AM, Yong-Yong stretched and yawned as he woke up like any other day. This morning, though, he felt something on his forehead.


    He reached up with his paw and brushed it away. A sticky note fluttered down. Yong-Yong lowered his head and read what was written.


    1. Take out the trash.


    2. Clean the floor and bathroom.


    3. Eat breakfast and do the dishes.


    3. I didn¡¯t have time to prepare lunch, so be sure to find something to eat. (Don¡¯t forget to feed Byeol!)


    4. I left 100,000 won on the table. Use it for grocery shopping for dinner.


    ¡°What is this...?¡± Yong-Yong muttered as he reread the note carefully.


    No matter how he looked at it, this was Do-Jun¡¯s handwriting. Yong-Yong scratched his head as a cold sweat broke out on his back. Then he approached Karsiel, who was still sound asleep.


    ¡°K-Karsiel... help me...¡± he said, poking her awake.


    This was an emergency.


    ***


    ¡°What this?¡± Byeol asked, tilting her head and looking at a plastic straw.


    She stood in front of large trash bags separated by paper, plastic, vinyl, and Styrofoam. She was trying to figure out where the straw in her hand should go.


    ¡°Byeol, that goes into plastics,¡± Karsiel answered.


    ¡°Oh, okie.¡±


    Standing on her tiptoes, Byeol dropped the straw into the bag for plastics. Karsiel smiled as she sorted the trash while Yong-Yong stuffed each sorted piece into the different bags.


    ¡°How come you know this stuff so well?¡± Byeol asked Karsiel.


    ¡°I always come here to take out the trash with Young Master.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a diligent one.¡± S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Thank you, Lord Izaas.¡±


    Growl.


    As Byeol helped Yong-Yong with the trash, her stomach rumbled.


    ¡°I¡¯m hungry... Wanna go home...¡±


    That¡¯s when Yong-Yong suddenly remembered one of the items on the sticky note.


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget to feed Byeol.¡±


    Clink! Clank! Tack!


    Suddenly, Yong-Yong sped up his work.


    ¡°H-hold on just a couple more minutes! Please don¡¯t tell Master you were hungry!¡±


    ***


    Yoon-Hee received a text message from Do-Jun informing her that she didn¡¯t need to buy any groceries for dinner that night. She tilted her head in confusion.


    The fridge should be almost empty, so why was he asking her not to buy groceries?


    As she pondered, her hand went limp, and the pen slipped from her fingers without her noticing.


    Could it be...?


    Yoon-Hee recalled Do-Jun¡¯s unusually cold demeanor that morning. Usually, he would smile at breakfast, but this morning, he had a stern look as if deep in thought.


    She stared at the message, her mind blank.


    ¡°Am... I fired...?¡±


    She couldn¡¯t help but think that it was a possibility. Even though she knew Do-Jun wasn¡¯t the kind of person to do such a thing, his sudden change in attitude overnight left her feeling anxious.


    I haven¡¯t been keeping up with the housework lately because of the exams... Could it be because of that? she thought anxiously.


    Busy with prepping for the exams, she remembered she had only mopped the floor half as often and had left the trash unemptied for days. Also, it had probably been about five days since she last cleaned the bathroom.


    ¡°What am I going to do...?¡±


    Technically, the employer had all the right to get upset when the employee didn¡¯t carry out the tasks that were agreed upon, and in this case, it was housework. Maybe she¡¯d grown too comfortable and forgotten her responsibilities because Do-Jun had always been so kind.


    Staring at his message again, Yoon-Hee worried over how to ask for forgiveness.


    ***


    Meanwhile, at the local grocery store, Byeol was shopping in the meat corner.


    ¡°Gimme some duck meat, pwease.¡± She spoke up loudly to the butcher at the meat corner.


    The butcher looked slightly startled as no parents were in sight.


    ¡°Uh, kid, where are your parents?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Mommy¡¯s at school. Daddy¡¯s at work.¡±


    ¡°So... you came here all by yourself?¡±


    ¡°With Yong-Yong and Ciel.¡±


    ¡°Yong-Yong and Ciel?¡±


    ¡°They over there, picking veggies.¡±


    Byeol pointed to the vegetable section, where Yong-Yong and Karsiel were busy putting perilla leaves, lettuce, and chives into their basket. She had heard Yong-Yong mention that they needed duck, and since she wanted to help out, she had come to the meat section on her own.


    ¡°Hurry up, pwease,¡± Byeol urged the butcher.


    ¡°Haha, alright. Are you going to grill it or make a stew?¡±


    Byeol suddenly froze, and her mind went blank.


    ¡°I-I dunno...¡±


    ***


    4 PM.


    Today, Do-Jun got off work earlier than usual and came home. Yoon-Hee usually arrived home just after five, so he planned to have dinner ready before then.


    Tonight¡¯s menu was stir-fried spicy duck. He had memorized the recipe from an online search, and the ingredients had been entrusted to Yong-Yong.


    ¡°Daddy!¡±


    As soon as he opened the door and stepped into the living room, Byeol ran up to him, her voice on the verge of tears, and clung to him.


    Gently patting her head, Do-Jun asked what had happened.


    ¡°Byeol make mistake,¡± she mumbled.


    ¡°Mistake?¡±


    ¡°I-I buy the wrong meat...¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    He had assigned the errand to Yong-Yong, so why was Byeol fretting about what meat she bought?


    Do-Jun checked the bags on the table. Inside were green onions, onions, garlic, carrots, and last but not least, a pack of chopped fresh duck meat labeled ¡°For stew.¡±


    ¡°My apologies, master... I failed to check properly,¡± Karsiel said and lowered her head in shame.


    Do-Jun looked around the living room for Yong-Yong and spotted him quickly enough. There he was, in a plank position on his head with his paws behind his back, for some reason.


    ¡°What are you doing...?¡± Do-Jun asked him.


    Where did he even learn this pose?


    With a sigh, Do-Jun picked up the mini-dragon. ¡°Why are you like this? You bought everything that was on the list.¡±


    ¡°R-really?¡±


    Whether it was grilling meat or stewing meat, Do-Jun didn¡¯t particularly mind. He would just have to remove the bones, but that wasn¡¯t difficult.


    ¡°Thanks for doing such a good job with the cleaning, too. You did well,¡± Do-Jun complimented them.


    Honestly, he hadn¡¯t expected this much. With a small chuckle, Do-Jun rolled up his sleeves.


    Now, it was time to cook.


    ***


    Both of Yoon-Hee¡¯s hands were full of ingredients for dinner side dishes. Even though Do-Jun had told her not to worry about shopping, she figured that helping out this way might undo some of the damage she thought she had done.


    ¡°Huh...?¡±


    She noticed Do-Jun¡¯s shoes at the entrance. He was already home. On top of that, a delicious smell was wafting through the house.


    ¡°Are you back?¡± Do-Jun¡¯s voice came from the kitchen.


    He was cooking. No, he was nearly finished and was now setting the food on the table. Karsiel was in her human form, helping to set the dishes on the table as Do-Jun handed them to her.


    ¡°What is all this...? Did you cook, Father?¡± Yoon-Hee asked uncertainly.


    Do-Jun nodded and replied, ¡°Yeah, and these guys took care of the groceries.¡±


    He chuckled and patted Byeol on the head.


    ¡°Happy,¡± she chirped.


    Just then, Yong-Yong tapped Yoon-Hee on the side. With a proud expression, he led her to the bathroom, showing her the perfectly organized supplies and spotless surfaces, free of any water stains. He then cleared his throat to get her attention.


    ¡°Did you clean the bathroom, Yong-Yong?¡±


    ¡°Yep. Go on, feel free to be even more joyous.¡±


    Yoon-Hee stared blankly at Do-Jun and asked, ¡°Father... you¡¯re not angry...?¡±


    ¡°Angry? At what?¡± Do-Jun looked at her, confused.


    Why on earth would he be angry?


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s just that... this morning, you seemed... serious. And you told me not to buy groceries... I thought I was about to get fired...¡±


    ¡°Fired?¡± Do-Jun said, letting out a small laugh, finding it absurd. ¡°Just focus on your exams. They¡¯re coming up soon, right?¡±


    At that moment, Yoon-Hee finally realized why she had woken up in bed that morning, why Do-Jun had made breakfast for her before she got up, and why the dragons and a child had taken care of the cleaning and shopping.


    ¡°Your face looks weird, Mommy.¡±


    ¡°Young Master, the corners of your mouth are raised.¡±


    Yoon-Hee opened the camera on her phone to check her reflection. She looked unmistakably happy, a smile plastered on her face.


    She felt like her emotions were written all over her face, and she blushed, a little embarrassed.


    The sunset cast its warm light into the home at Changshin Villa, Unit 301, in Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul.


    ***


    Meanwhile, at the entrance of the second floor of the Core, nine adventurers swallowed nervously.


    ¡°What should we do...?¡±

 Chapter 100

    Chapter 100


    The torch on the wall cast a gentle glow around the room in a dark, dimly lit space.


    Nine adventurers stared at the statue standing in the center and swallowed hard. The man on the throne rested his chin on his right hand while his left hand held a spear as tall as he was.


    ¡°What should we do...? What exactly is that thing?¡± asked a woman, presumably part of their group.


    The man carrying a greatsword checked the floating ¡°Notice Board¡± in front of him. It was a kind of community forum accessible only from the second floor of the Core. Adventurers could post or comment whatever they wished, but the main point was that they could share information with one another.


    He scrolled down to read the comments on his post.


    ©¸A guy holding a spear? Are you sure it¡¯s not a monster?


    ©¸I really wish we could upload photos on the forum. It¡¯s hard to imagine what it looks like just from text.


    ©¸Just die, you newbie idiots, lolololol


    ©¸Let¡¯s keep it civil, even if it¡¯s anonymous.


    ©¸Yeah, whatever, Mr. Serious.


    ©¸Here¡¯s a list of Gatekeepers found on the second floor so far: Kaeg (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï), Omchik (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï), Chains of Death (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)... There¡¯s never been a humanoid one. And you said he¡¯s holding a spear? I am currently on the sixth floor, and I¡¯ve never seen anything like that. In conclusion, there¡¯s a 99.999999% chance that this post is a click-bait.


    The woman sighed deeply as she read the comments.


    ¡°Looks like no one else knows, either,¡± she said, resigned.


    ¡°Sons of bitches. They don¡¯t care since it¡¯s not their problem...¡±


    The man who had been scrolling through the forum ground his teeth in frustration. He glanced at the Gatekeeper again.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we just give it a try?¡± suggested an elderly man with long, misty gray hair.


    They¡¯d been debating here at the entrance for a week now. If this went on, they¡¯d be stuck here forever.


    They could wait for other adventurers to come down, but there was no guarantee that was the best plan either. They didn¡¯t know when other adventurers might arrive, and if a ¡°Monarch¡± descended, that would truly be a nightmare.


    ¡°Let¡¯s just wait a few more days,¡± murmured a man leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.


    ¡°Would anything change in a few days?¡±


    The adventurers sighed in frustration.


    ***


    It was the dead of night in the early hours of Saturday when everyone else was sound asleep.


    Do-Jun slowly opened his eyes and glanced at his right arm.


    At some point, Yoon-Hee, who had fallen asleep straight, had cuddled up close to him, tightly hugging his right arm. She had been holding onto it for the past two hours. Though it wasn¡¯t uncomfortable, ever since they had started sharing a bed, Do-Jun had learned that Yoon-Hee¡¯s sleep habits weren¡¯t exactly mild.


    Fortunately, she didn¡¯t snore or grind her teeth, which was a small consolation.


    He gently pried her off his arm, carefully lifted himself so as not to wake anyone, and headed to the living room. He filled the kettle with water and turned it on.


    [Welcome to the Fissure Management System.]


    Do-Jun turned on his SpacePad and tapped on the Core button among the Fissures he managed. Most of the information for the tutorial zone and the first floor had already been entered.


    The kettle automatically turned off with a click as the water finished boiling. He poured the boiling water into a mug with coffee grounds and stirred it with a spoon. It was bitter black coffee without a trace of sugar.


    Drinking it didn¡¯t necessarily help him stay awake, but Do-Jun had recently taken a liking to black coffee. Its taste reminded him of the Dragon Well tea he used to drink in Martial World.


    While content with his life now, he often reminisced about his other world.


    I wonder how she¡¯s doing.


    How many lives ago was it?


    He chuckled, recalling a woman who would visit him for duels whenever she got bored. Even in her youth, she had claimed one of the top spots among the Four Supreme Beings and was known as the strongest of the Mount Hua Sect. She always lost by a narrow margin, and whenever she did, she sulked, requiring Do-Jun to console her.


    I probably should have just defeated her outright.


    He put down the half-finished coffee, done with the drink. Do-Jun decided to briefly visit the Core during the early morning hours.


    He quietly entered the bedroom, opened a drawer, and took out the Core Talisman.


    Since it was already 2 AM, he thought he should only look around for a couple of hours, at most. That¡¯s when he heard a slight rustling sound.


    Yong-Yong had been curled up on the bed but now stirred and approached Do-Jun, crouching in a low stance.


    With a gentle wag of his tail, he quietly whispered, ¡°Master, I can¡¯t sleep.¡±


    He was asking to be taken along.


    ***


    ¡°Huh?¡± Jaycee squinted.


    A new adventurer had entered the entrance of the second floor in the Core, but his outfit was a bit unusual. He only wore a short-sleeved T-shirt and cotton pants, the kind of casual look you¡¯d see on any ordinary street.


    His face was completely unfamiliar.


    Other adventurers, who had been quietly resting, also turned their attention to the newcomer.


    The man, however, seemed unfazed, engrossed in whatever he was doing, tapping a small rectangular device in his hands as he wandered around, snapping photos here and there.


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± Jaycee called out.


    The man turned around and replied, ¡°Yes?¡±


    Upon closer inspection, his appearance was even more simple. He held no weapon, wore no armor, and the only item that could be an artifact was the backpack on his back.


    ¡°Uh, wouldn¡¯t most people talk to the first people they see in this kind of situation?¡± Jaycee asked, slightly flustered.


    The man, who had been calmly looking at her, simply nodded before finally introducing himself.


    ¡°I¡¯m Lee Do-Jun from Korea. Nice to meet you.¡±


    ¡°Is that it...?¡±


    ¡°What more should I say?¡±


    ¡°No, I just...¡± She was at a loss for words.


    Usually, new arrivals might mention which Blood Alliance they belonged to, how long they¡¯d been in the Core, or maybe ask what others were doing here and what they should be doing themselves. However, this man didn¡¯t seem the least bit curious about any of that.


    Just then, Kim Gap-Hwan, a man carrying a greatsword on his back, planted his sword into the ground with a loud clang.


    ¡°What a cocky bastard,¡± he growled.


    An older man, Yang Moon-Chang, tried to calm him. ¡°Easy now. We agreed not to fight among ourselves.¡±


    ¡°Did you not see this guy¡¯s attitude? You think I¡¯m just gonna let it slide?¡± Kim Gap-Hwan glared at the man, who merely shrugged and chuckled slightly.


    A vein bulged on Kim Gap-Hwan¡¯s forehead as he gripped his sword, pulling it out of the ground and pointing it at the man. Nobody knew who this man was, and given that he was still loitering near the entrance of the second floor, he couldn¡¯t have been in the Core for long.


    Kim Gap-Hwan had no idea how this ¡°casual¡± had raised his magic resistance to even make it to the entrance of the second floor, but one thing was for sure¡ªhis red Status Window shouldn¡¯t be very advanced. Even if he had an orange Status Window, it was likely below 30%, meaning he wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against a red Status Window maxed out at 100%.


    Finally, to top things off, he had no item on him.


    However, one thing nagged at Kim Gap-Hwan¡¯s mind. He noticed the sword tattoo on the man¡¯s wrist and wondered which alliance he was with.


    Kim Gap-Hwan¡¯s expression suddenly hardened, and he asked, ¡°Are... are you a Monarch?¡±


    ***


    Do-Jun glanced at the tattoo on his wrist and nodded. He remembered getting it in a B-rank Great Fissure, the Troll¡¯s Cave, when Ye-Ji unexpectedly awakened a new skill.


    ¡°We¡¯re fucked...¡± Kim Gap-Hwan muttered.


    Waiting those few extra days had turned out to be the worst possible move. The other adventurers paled.


    As Do-Jun calmly watched them turn ghostly white, his gaze settled on a statue in the center.


    ¡°My apologies. This is all my fault,¡± the man who suggested they wait a few more days apologized and sighed deeply, casting his eyes down.


    ¡°What¡¯s done is done. No point dwelling on it.¡± Yang Moon-Chang shook his head.


    Do-Jun placed his SpacePad in his bag, then turned to Jaycee and asked, ¡°Is there a problem?¡±


    ¡°Yes... There are two issues. This is the entrance to the second floor of the Core. Any adventurer trying to descend further has to pass a trial¡ªdefeating the Gatekeeper.¡± Jaycee pointed to the statue.


    ¡°The Gatekeeper appears randomly, but the first issue is that no one knows what this one is. Even the people on the forum were stumped. The second issue is... that you¡¯re a Monarch.¡±


    Do-Jun opened the forum.


    He remembered the system screen that had appeared when he stepped onto the second floor of the Core, briefly explaining the ¡°Forum¡± function. Most posts were casual chatter, though some occasionally asked for information on Core strategies.


    Do-Jun opened his bag. Yong-Yong poked his head out, but Do-Jun brushed him aside and pulled out Interpreter ¨C Ataraxia.


    Yong-Yong hopped to the floor, loudly yawning and stretching as he landed.


    ¡°What... what is that?¡± S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The adventurers recoiled in shock at the sudden appearance of a foreign creature.


    Ignoring them, Do-Jun opened the Interpreter and walked over to the statue to check its details.


    [Curta]


    Category: Individual/King


    Description: An exile cast out from the Deep Realm. He was overwhelmingly defeated in a battle with the Transcendent Imfelheim and was subsequently sealed in the Void. His current whereabouts are unknown. Known as the Battle King, one of the countless kings in the Deep Realm, he is said to possess strength comparable to those ranked in the sixties among Solomon¡¯s 72 Demons.


    Danger Level (Estimated): ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï


    After glancing over the information, Do-Jun returned the Interpreter to his bag.


    He remembered the mythical creature Laikar from the first floor of the Core, which had a danger level of thirteen stars. Although only an estimate, Curta¡¯s danger level was twelve stars, one lower than the Laikar.


    ¡°What¡¯s the issue with me being a Monarch?¡± Do-Jun asked Jaycee.


    ¡°According to the forum, the Gatekeepers that appear here are already tough for adventurers who¡¯ve just reached the second floor. So, what appears is usually a weakened version with only 50% of its full strength. But if a Monarch is among the challengers...¡±


    Instead of a weakened version, the Gatekeeper would show up with its full, original power.


    This was triggered just by the presence of a Monarch, the effect remaining in place until the Gatekeeper was defeated even after the Monarch was killed or not around.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not like we can blame you. We were the ones who decided to wait for more adventurers to arrive, after all. Now, there¡¯s only one option left¡ªto gather as many adventurers as possible and then challenge it. Even if it takes years...¡±


    The other adventurers listening to Jaycee¡¯s words felt their hearts sink.


    Even if they waited years and gathered more people, there was no guarantee they¡¯d be able to defeat the Gatekeeper in front of them. No one on the forum knew who the Gatekeeper was or how many stars it had, while the faceless voices continued to spread rumors.


    ¡°Just our luck, huh.¡± Kim Gap-Hwan slumped against the wall.


    Meanwhile, Yong-Yong had been silently observing till now.


    He watched as Do-Jun approached the statue and mumbled, ¡°Wow... these guys have insane luck.¡±

 Chapter 101

    Chapter 101


    Kim Gap-Hwan shot to his feet, staring in horror as Do-Jun approached the statue, more precisely, at the way Do-Jun was about to touch it.


    ¡°H-hold on!¡± he yelled.


    ¡°Yes?¡± Do-Jun answered and turned around to see the people behind him turned visibly pale.


    Tilting his head, he asked, ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    ¡°W-what are you trying to do right now?¡± Kim Gap-Hwan asked.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t we supposed to kill that thing?¡± Do-Jun asked as if he were asking something obvious.


    Kim Gap-Hwan and the others had said they would wait for more adventurers to arrive, but Do-Jun couldn¡¯t just stand around forever.


    He had work on Monday.


    [The Trial will begin.]


    [The Seal of Curta the Battle King is lifted.]


    [There is a Monarch among the challengers. A penalty will be applied. The inhibitor on the Gatekeeper has been removed.]


    Rumble!


    The space trembled violently as the man seated on the throne gradually regained life.


    The adventurers read the system messages and felt cold sweat running down their backs. The title of ¡°King¡± was said to be reserved only for the most formidable beings of the Deep Realm. There was no way they, who had only just reached the entrance to the second floor of the Core, could stand a chance.


    Come to think of it, why was there a King appearing as a Gatekeeper in the first place?


    The adventurers realized that terms like ¡°Monarch¡± or ¡°weaker version¡± were pointless here.


    ¡°They just want us all to die,¡± Jaycee muttered and chuckled bitterly, watching as Curta slowly rose from his throne.


    He struck the ground with his spear, sending a powerful shockwave that whipped up a fierce gust. The blast sent the adventurers airborne, crashing them into the walls.


    Blood spurted from their mouths from the impact, and soon, they hung their heads, unconscious.


    Meanwhile, Curta paid them no mind and inspected his own body. He was completely unharmed¡ªin pristine condition.


    He started laughing maniacally. He had awakened.


    Since his defeat to Imfelheim, he¡¯d been sealed in the King¡¯s Tomb, never expecting to open his eyes again. But now, he had regained his complete form.


    Slowly, Curta turned to look at Do-Jun, who stared back with a blank expression, completely unfazed.


    Curta grinned. ¡°Adventurer, was it you who awakened me?¡±


    Do-Jun nodded without a word.


    ¡°I¡¯d like to express my gratitude.¡±


    ¡°I simply did what had to be done,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°However...¡± Curta said, and with a rumbling sound, his power surged. His muscles swelled, and magic pulsed from the spear he held.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been sitting on that damn throne for way too long. My body¡¯s itching for a battle.¡±


    There was an unmistakable murderous intent.


    Curta was clearly asking for a fight. Do-Jun watched him and smirked at the fitting temperament of someone titled King of Battle. It seemed he was one to really enjoy a good battle.


    ¡°In that case...¡± Do-Jun smirked as he replied, ¡°Shall I give you a little massage?¡±


    ***


    Yong-Yong prodded the fallen body that once belonged to the Battle King. He was now nothing more than a cold corpse.


    ¡°Master¡¯s massage... is truly terrifying,¡± he said.


    ¡°It looks like they¡¯re going to be fine.¡±


    Do-Jun checked each unconscious adventurer one by one. Some of them had internal injuries, but nothing too concerning. Unlike regular people, they had ample magical power and rapid recovery abilities, so they would likely be fine after a day¡¯s rest.


    After confirming their survival, Do-Jun turned to look at the stairs that had appeared after Curta¡¯s death.


    Without hesitation, he headed down the stairs. After descending for about five minutes, something finally came into sight.


    ¡°A village, huh,¡± Yong-Yong remarked.


    The basic structure of this level was similar to the first floor of the Core, but there was a massive tree growing from the depths of the ground, its true base unknown. Buildings were built upon its branches, connected by a network of bridges. Elevator-like structures with pulleys allowed people to move up and down freely, and adventurers used them to travel around the village.


    ¡°Greetings,¡± a man¡¯s voice came from the entrance.


    He wore plate armor and held a spear, giving off a strong impression of being a guard.


    ¡°You¡¯re from the first floor, right?¡± he asked Do-Jun, who nodded in response.


    The man looked at him with a puzzled expression and asked, ¡°Are you alone? Where are the other adventurers...?¡±


    Do-Jun pointed back up the stairs and replied, ¡°They¡¯re resting near the entrance. You¡¯ll find them if you go up.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible to do.¡± The man laughed it off as if it were obvious.


    Just as Do-Jun wondered what the man meant and if there was a rule against leaving one¡¯s post, the man offered a detailed explanation.


    ¡°Once an adventurer reaches the square, they can¡¯t go back to the entrance. If they try, well... there¡¯s a curse that activates, and they will vanish. Simply put, they will die¡ªhey, wait!¡±


    The man stopped in the middle of his explanation when Do-Jun decided to test it out for himself and headed back up the stairs.


    After walking up a few stairs, Do-Jun turned and said, ¡°I don¡¯t feel anything.¡±


    ¡°How...?¡± The man looked bewildered, then reached a hand toward the stairway.


    As soon as he hovered his hand over the stairs, dark energy crept up his arm. Startled, he quickly withdrew his hand.


    A few more seconds and his hand would likely have vanished.


    ¡°How are you fine?¡± he asked Do-Jun.


    In the Core, moving from floor to floor was typically only possible in one direction¡ªdownward. While one could freely move up and down within a single floor, areas such as the entrance and the square on the second floor triggered the curse, preventing anyone from returning.


    The man was stationed at the entrance to the square precisely to prevent first-time adventurers from attempting to climb back up the stairs.


    Seeing the man¡¯s expression, Do-Jun replied, ¡°I¡¯d like to know that as well.¡±


    The man stroked his chin, deep in thought, then widened his eyes and looked at Do-Jun.


    Two types of beings were said to be able to move freely between the different floors of the Core¡ªthe monsters born in the Core and those who had descended all the way down to the Deep Realm.


    ¡°In any case... let me guide you to the village,¡± the man offered.


    Checking the time on his wristwatch, Do-Jun replied, ¡°No, I¡¯ll come back another time. I was just here for a short visit.¡±


    The flustered man asked in disbelief, ¡°Come again...?¡±


    ***


    Byeol was the first to wake up today, rising early at 6 AM. When she opened her eyes, everyone else was sound asleep.


    Normally, she would have slept in, but today was different.


    ¡°Yong-Yong,¡± she whispered softly into Yong-Yong¡¯s ear, careful not to wake anyone else.


    Yong-Yong¡¯s ears perked up, and his eyelids slowly lifted. He found Byeol staring at him with her bright, eager eyes.


    ¡°Wake up,¡± Byeol said.


    ¡°Buddy, it¡¯s six in the morning,¡± Yong-Yong muttered as he glanced at the clock, then closed his eyes again.


    It had been less than two hours since he and Do-Jun had returned from the Core, and he was exhausted. Though he was curious about why Byeol was awake at this hour, his desire for sleep was stronger.


    ¡°If you go back to sleep, I can¡¯t go out...¡± Byeol whispered.


    ¡°Where are you gonna go at this hour?¡±


    Yong-Yong tried to drift off to sleep again.


    Resigned, Byeol opened the door and went into the living room. She put on her shoes by the front door, then stood on her tiptoes to reach the door handle.


    The door opened and then closed.


    Hearing the sound, Yong-Yong slowly opened his tired eyes and muttered, ¡°Man, who taught her how to open the door...?¡± He scratched his head. ¡°...Oh, I did.¡±


    ***


    Yong-Yong ended up following Byeol.


    Yawning widely, he didn¡¯t even think to ask why she, who usually didn¡¯t wake up until after ten, was out and about at dawn.


    After a while, Byeol came to a stop.


    ¡°The store¡¯s not open,¡± she muttered in disbelief.


    The small coin purse she had been holding slipped from her hand and fell to the ground. Yong-Yong picked it up with his paw and placed it back in her hand.


    ¡°Hole-in-the-wall stores don¡¯t open this early. You have to wait until nine.¡± S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°I... I was twicked...¡±


    She hadn¡¯t really been tricked; she just hadn¡¯t known in the first place. Yong-Yong thought of explaining that but decided against it. Instead, he asked another question.


    ¡°You wanted a snack this early in the morning?¡±


    Byeol shook her head and said, ¡°Nom nom for Mommy and Daddy...¡±


    Hearing that, Yong-Yong stared at her in surprise, realizing that Byeol had woken up at dawn to go to the store and buy breakfast for them.


    He probed her, ¡°Were you trying to make breakfast for us, Byeol?¡±


    ¡°Mm-hmm... But the store not open... Byeol was twicked.¡±


    ¡°Where did you get the money?¡±


    ¡°Mommy gives me money when I do good things.¡±


    Yong-Yong opened the zipper of her coin purse. Inside were eight one-hundred-won coins. With that, she couldn¡¯t buy much of anything.


    ¡°Hmm... wait right here for a second.¡±


    Yong-Yong flapped his wings and flew up to Unit 301. He returned with a wallet hanging around his neck in less than ten seconds. Inside was a decent sum of about 70,000 won.


    ¡°The bakery should be open. Let¡¯s get something there.¡±


    ***


    Bakeries were always a good bet early in the morning.


    Yong-Yong and Byeol entered a chain bakery called Party Baguette, about three hundred meters from their home. The shelves were lined with freshly baked goods.


    ¡°Welcome... huh?¡±


    The bakery employee looked puzzled when a little girl, seemingly not even five, walked in by herself. She had a puppy by her side but no parents in sight.


    ¡°Hey, kiddo. Where are your parents?¡± the employee asked.


    ¡°They¡¯re sweeping,¡± Byeol replied.


    ¡°So you came here all by yourself?¡±


    ¡°I came with Yong-Yong. We¡¯re here to buy bwed.¡±


    ¡°She must live nearby...¡± the employee muttered, tilting her head, unsure what to do.


    She decided to just watch for now.


    ¡°Daddy like this. We don¡¯t have any at home. I need to buy it.¡± Byeol pointed at a loaf of plain bread, one of their usual breakfast table items.


    However, as she reached for it, she paused and checked the price tag, which read 3,000 won.


    ¡°I-I don¡¯t have that much money.¡±


    All she had to her name was eight hundred won. Byeol hung her head, dejected, and let go of the bread.


    Watching this, Yong-Yong picked up the loaf in his mouth and placed it on the counter. Not just the plain bread, but rolls, sausage bread, croquettes¡ªhe grabbed everything in sight.


    ¡°We¡¯ll take these, please.¡±


    ***


    Do-Jun slowly opened his eyes to the chirping sounds coming from the window.


    Yoon-Hee and Karsiel were still sleeping, but there was no sign of Yong-Yong or Byeol. However, by extending his qi sense, he could feel two large presences in the living room.


    He opened the bedroom door and went into the living room, where he saw bags labeled ¡°Party Baguette¡± on the dining table.


    ¡°So, that¡¯s where they went,¡± he muttered.


    Do-Jun had known the two left the house around dawn and only returned thirty minutes later.


    There was something else on the table next to the bread bags. Upon closer inspection, he saw it was Yong-Yong¡¯s ¡°Great Job¡± notebook with a bunny drawing that Byeol had drawn for him. Next to the notebook was a memo with Byeol¡¯s wobbly handwriting that read, ¡°Please stamp here.¡±


    Smiling, Do-Jun reached out his finger toward the notebook.


    A faint light shimmered, and the words ¡°Great Job!¡± appeared, stamped onto the page.

 Chapter 102

    Chapter 102


    Hot steam rose thickly in the air.


    Yoon-Hee let out a sigh as she soaked in the bathtub.


    The midterm exams were just around the corner, starting on Monday, which was only two days away. She felt confident in the written subjects and the mana manipulation techniques for Infusion, Release, and Transmutation, but one practical test worried her¡ªwater combat.


    The fields inside the Fissures could vary widely, and some were even set in the ocean. Because of this, the Academy had recently placed an emphasis on water combat skills, adding a new category to the midterms.


    ¡°What should I do...¡± Yoon-Hee muttered, fretting over her impending problem.


    She was a terrible swimmer¡ªa really terrible swimmer. Let alone swimming swimming, she even struggled to hold her breath underwater.


    For Hunters, practical experience was valued more than theory, so failing the underwater combat test would likely cost her the scholarship.


    Thinking that she might as well practice here, Yoon-Hee sank deeper, submerging her head beneath the water. She decided to hold her breath for just one minute, counting silently in her mind.


    ***


    ¡°Mmm...¡± Yoon-Hee moaned.


    Her body felt hot, but a gentle, cool breeze blowing against her was cooling her skin. Yoon-Hee cautiously opened her eyes and saw the soft moonlight streaming through the window.


    Someone was fanning her.


    ¡°Are you feeling a bit better now?¡±


    Of course, it was Do-Jun.


    ¡°Father...?¡±


    Light spilled into the room from the slightly open door, and cheerful sounds drifted in from the living room. It sounded like the others were playing around.


    However, Do-Jun was sitting on the bed, fanning her.


    What happened...? Yoon-Hee tried to remember.


    She had finished dinner, washed the dishes, showered, and then soaked in the bathtub to relax her mind. Then, she tried to practice holding her breath.


    I don¡¯t remember anything after that, she realized with a start.


    Now, here she was, lying in bed, with Do-Jun fanning her.


    ¡°You might still be a bit dizzy. Next time, don¡¯t stay in the bath so long,¡± Do-Jun said as he quietly closed the door behind him.


    Left alone in the room, Yoon-Hee felt her face heat up.


    ¡°N-no way I passed out...¡±


    She pulled the blanket over her head, wishing she could hide in a hole from embarrassment.


    The door opened again. Then, Do-Jun spoke to Yoon-Hee, hiding under the blanket. ¡°When you¡¯re feeling better, let¡¯s go practice.¡±


    ¡°What...?¡±


    ¡°Swimming.¡±


    ***


    At 1 AM, Yoon-Hee carefully got out of bed, ensuring not to wake the soundly sleeping ¡°children.¡± She crept over to the living room, where Do-Jun sat at the dining table, staring at a screen on his SpacePad.


    ¡°Um... F-father?¡± she called cautiously.


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t the pools be closed at this hour...?¡±


    Seeing right through her worries about the exams, Do-Jun had offered to help her with swimming practice. He told her to catch a few hours of sleep and wake up around 1 AM.


    ¡°We¡¯re not going to a pool. Want to pick one of these three?¡± he said, holding out his SpacePad, showing a list of F-rank, C-rank, and B-rank Fissures.


    Yoon-Hee tilted her head in confusion as she scrolled through the list, only to realize something¡ªthey were all ocean-based Fissures.


    Realizing his intentions, she blurted out, ¡°Wait, are we... practicing swimming in these...?¡±


    She was already bad with water, so how was she supposed to practice in an ocean-based Fissure with monsters lurking in the water? Yoon-Hee wanted to refuse with all her heart, but since Do-Jun offered help, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to say no.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go with the F-rank one then...¡± she said and pointed to the Fissure where, fortunately, there were no sea monsters.


    With a slight drop of her head, Yoon-Hee quietly accepted her fate.


    ***


    Arriving at the F-rank Fissure, Abandoned Beach, Yoon-Hee felt a pleasantly cool breeze brush against her skin.


    It was pretty dark, as the night had fallen over the beach, but thankfully, there were security lights powered by mana stones instead of electricity, making it just bright enough to see around. These lights were installed by the construction division of the Fissure Management Division.


    ¡°Oh? It seems like there are still quite a few people at this hour,¡± Yoon-Hee remarked.


    Do-Jun nodded.


    The Abandoned Beach was a unique Fissure with very few monster sightings. Thus, it was also open to the public as long as people came with at least one Hunter in their group. For safety, drinking and partying weren¡¯t allowed, but light strolls and dates were permitted.


    ¡°Right. Let¡¯s go practice right away,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°Ah, yes.¡±


    Yoon-Hee followed Do-Jun with quick, short steps.


    When she looked around, she saw many couples holding hands and strolling along the beach, which made her feel slightly embarrassed for some reason.


    ***


    Gentle waves rolled up onto the shore.


    Do-Jun stood in water that reached to his shoulders while Yoon-Hee floated on her front, clinging to his palm. The night sea was pitch black, and Yoon-Hee was trembling.


    ¡°F-father, you¡¯re not going to let go, right...?¡± she asked in a nearly tearful voice, looking up at Do-Jun.


    She gripped his hand with all her might, fearful of him letting her go. Had he been an ordinary person, his palm would have been crushed by now.


    ¡°I told you I¡¯m not going to let go...¡±


    Do-Jun sighed, muttering to himself about how they¡¯d been at this for half an hour already.


    Yoon-Hee finally kicked at the water¡¯s surface with her legs, splashing water everywhere. Do-Jun stepped back slowly, guiding her along with him.


    ¡°You¡¯re doing great,¡± he said.


    ¡°Really...?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    She was not. He was only saying it to boost her confidence.


    When it came to things like swimming, confidence was crucial. With that in mind, Do-Jun led her gently, helping her overcome her fear of water. He also knew it was best to make a decisive move at times like this.


    ¡°I think you can do it without holding my hand now.¡±


    Do-Jun gradually loosened his grip, letting go entirely. If she went under, he could just pull her up immediately.


    Yoon-Hee¡¯s eyes widened in alarm.


    ¡°Aah!¡±


    Panicking, she swam¡ªthough barely a meter¡ªto reach Do-Jun¡¯s hand again, clutching it tightly.


    ¡°You said you wouldn¡¯t let go!¡± she whined.


    ¡°It looks like you can swim now,¡± Do-Jun replied with a grin.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Only then did Yoon-Hee realize that she¡¯d actually swum back to grab his hand. Amazed, she murmured to herself, ¡°I really did...¡±


    ¡°Want to try again?¡±


    At Do-Jun¡¯s suggestion, Yoon-Hee nodded slightly.


    ***


    Wrapped in a swim towel over her swimsuit, Yoon-Hee sat on the sandy beach, resting.


    Do-Jun handed her a can of warm drink he had picked up from a vending machine. Maybe because she¡¯d just been in the water, she felt a bit cold, but warmth rose from the drink in her hands. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Thank you...¡± she said to Do-Jun.


    ¡°You did well,¡± Do-Jun said and plopped down beside her.


    It was so late that there was no one else around. Even if there were they¡¯d be at least half a kilometer away.


    ¡°By the way, Father... did you know we had a water combat exam next week?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t, but Eun-Joo texted me about it.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I see... wait, Eun-Joo texted you?¡± Yoon-Hee asked, sounding a bit puzzled.


    Eun-Joo could only mean one person¡ªthe Sword Emperor¡¯s sister. It seemed they had exchanged numbers at some point.


    Waves gently lapped up onto the sandy shore. Gazing out at the sea, Yoon-Hee sipped her drink, and then decided to say what was on her mind.


    ¡°Um, Father...¡± she murmured softly, biting her lip. ¡°Please... don¡¯t bring in any more women.¡±


    A wave crashed strongly, creeping up the shore to the point of just nearly missing her feet, before retreating again.


    Yoon-Hee buried her face between her knees, and for a moment, silence fell.


    What on earth did I just say?! she thought, horrified.


    Cold sweat ran down her back. Her face flushed as her lips trembled.


    She couldn¡¯t quite understand herself. The words had slipped out before she realized it. Had she actually said that out loud, or was it just a thought?


    I¡¯m pretty sure I actually said it. Yoon-Hee thought, mortified.


    What should she do?


    Yoon-Hee couldn¡¯t bring herself to look up.


    What would Do-Jun think?


    He would surely think she was acting strange.


    What had she just done?


    What do I do now...


    The thought of him texting Eun-Joo left her feeling oddly frustrated. Ever since she found out that Ae-Kyung had stayed at their place for a few days, she felt an inexplicable irritation building up, which seemed to have burst out just now.


    What right do I have to tell him not to bring women around... and out of nowhere like that...


    Boldness aside, at the end of the day, she was a daughter by contract. From Do-Jun¡¯s perspective, she must seem utterly ridiculous.


    I can¡¯t look up...


    He was probably looking at her with an expression of disbelief. But why hadn¡¯t he said anything yet?


    Yoon-Hee cautiously lifted her face from her knees and glanced to her right, where Do-Jun should have been sitting.


    He wasn¡¯t there.


    She quickly looked around, scanning her surroundings. Then she spotted him about fifty meters away, walking back from the vending machine with another drink in hand¡ªa bottle of barley tea.


    ¡°Father...?¡±


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    ¡°W-when did you leave...?¡±


    Do-Jun held up the bottle and explained, ¡°I thought I¡¯d grab something to drink too.¡±


    Yoon-Hee looked up at him, stunned.


    ¡°Did you... hear what I just said?¡± she asked, just to be sure.


    ¡°Hear what?¡±


    He had a clueless expression. Yoon-Hee let out a long sigh of relief, placing her hand over her heart.


    With a smile, she replied, ¡°It was nothing.¡±


    ***


    Stepping into the Fissure, the students found themselves on an uninhabited island in the middle of the sea.


    This was where the practical test would take place today.


    The Webbed Mermaids, a C-rank monster, were swarming under the surface.


    Each student wore a suit equipped with a tiny camera on their chest. When a mermaid was taken down, the camera would record the kill and automatically send the score to the academy. The more monsters they defeated, the higher their score would be.


    Yoon-Hee drew the dagger she had strapped to her waist. Though she could shoot with her mana gun from the island, she wouldn¡¯t be able to take down many monsters that way.


    ¡°Hey, Yoon-Hee, wouldn¡¯t it be better to use your mana gun?¡± Jin-Soo advised with concern.


    Most of the class knew she couldn¡¯t swim.


    However, Jin-Soo was soon taken aback when Yoon-Hee dove into the water and skillfully took down the mermaids with surprising ease.


    ¡°Yoon-Hee really is amazing...¡± Jin-Soo mumbled to himself in awe.


    Meanwhile, Hye-Jung watched this scene with a hint of displeasure and gave him a hard shove with her foot, sending him flying into the water.


    Splash!


    ¡°Idiot.¡±


    With a huff, Hye-Jung turned away and jumped into the water herself to begin her own hunt.

 Chapter 103

    Chapter 103


    Yong-Yong was sprawled on the sofa watching the TV.


    ?The midday temperature in Seoul today is expected to reach 27¡ãC, similar to temperatures in mid-June or July. However, since it¡¯s not humid, you should feel fairly comfortable...?


    ¡°Nice weather,¡± he muttered.


    Today marked the four-month anniversary since he started living in this apartment.


    At first, he found it hard to adjust and felt uncomfortable living among humans. However, after being introduced to TV, he picked up some daily habits and customs, and once he tasted dishes like braised short ribs and chicken, he felt completely content and decided to stay at Do-Jun¡¯s apartment.


    Initially, when he had been held ¡°hostage¡± by Do-Jun, he decided to call him ¡°Master,¡± all while looking for chances to escape. Yet, now, he had completely abandoned that idea.


    ¡°But I still can¡¯t figure it out.¡±


    Yong-Yong recalled his first encounter with Do-Jun. At first, he thought Do-Jun was just another reckless human intruding into the nest of the Dragon Lord. However, he felt a shiver run through him when Do-Jun blocked his dragon breath without breaking a sweat. Then, he was left in utter shock when Do-Jun fired his mana gun, obliterating the mountain behind the nest.


    ¡°How can a human be that strong?¡± Muttering to himself, Yong-Yong chomped on a Pepero stick he had bought from the supermarket down the street.


    Karsiel and Byeol were out for a walk around the neighborhood, so there was no risk of them snatching these from him.


    Nothing beat a little secret Pepero while watching TV.


    ?And now for the next story. Recently...?


    Suddenly, with a crackling sound, the TV screen went black, and a heavy static noise replaced the audio. The screen hadn¡¯t turned off; it still displayed the channel number in white letters.


    Scratching his head, Yong-Yong examined the TV, looking it over from all angles.


    ¡°How am I supposed to live without my TV...?¡±


    Just then, a memory flashed through his mind. He recalled the time before Byeol came when he and Karsiel were eating kimbap at a street food vendor near the house. The old TV at the vendor had shown the exact same problem, but the owner had come out and given it a few hard knocks, and it went back to normal.


    Thinking of giving it a try, Yong-Yong climbed onto the TV stand. Recalling where the owner had hit the TV, he raised his paw to that spot.


    The other TV looked slightly different, but a TV was a TV.


    He intended to hit it with just a tiny, really tiny amount of force. But just then, he felt a sudden tickling sensation near his nose.


    ¡°A-choo!¡±


    With a loud smash, half of the TV shattered and flew across the room.


    ***


    Cheol-Soo gazed over Seoul from the City Hall rooftop after talking to someone on the phone.


    ¡°All I ask for is one quiet day...¡± he muttered to himself with a sigh as he walked back into the office.


    Seeing Cheol-Soo¡¯s troubled figure, Hyuk-Soo turned his chair toward his desk and asked, ¡°Something wrong, Chief?¡±


    Cheol-Soo was leaning back in his chair, staring blankly ahead. Something was definitely wrong.


    ¡°Young-Min got into trouble at school again,¡± Cheol-Soo said, deflated.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t he get in trouble last month too?¡± Hyuk-Soo asked him.


    ¡°Yep. And the month before that.¡±


    Young-Min was Cheol-Soo¡¯s ten-year-old son. At least once a month, he¡¯d receive a call from his teacher.


    Today, too, the teacher had called, and he¡¯d gone up to the roof for some privacy while taking the call. Apparently, this time, Young-Min had broken three windows at school while playing tag with his friends.


    ¡°Having a troublemaker at home is truly exhausting,¡± Cheol-Soo said.


    Listening to this conversation while typing on his keyboard, Do-Jun thought about how glad he was that he had no troublemakers at home.


    ***


    ¡°Holy shit.¡±


    Yong-Yong stared blankly at the half-shattered TV. The floor of the living room was littered with broken pieces and parts.


    ¡°R-recovery!¡± As Yong-Yong shouted a spell, a glow enveloped the TV for a moment, but nothing happened.


    He tried various magic spells using Dragon Speech, but the broken TV stubbornly refused to return to its original state.


    Yong-Yong¡¯s legs shook as he nervously bit his claws. A cold sweat trickled down his back, and he came to a single, dreadful conclusion.


    ¡°I¡¯m dead.¡±


    No matter how he looked at it, there was no other outcome.


    ***


    When Karsiel and Byeol returned home from their walk, Karsiel froze in place as she entered the living room.


    For some unknown reason, the TV was in pieces.


    ¡°S-Sie, the TV is bwoken,¡± Byeol stammered.


    ¡°Yes, it seems so...¡±


    Then, Karsiel noticed Yong-Yong crouched on the balcony. She walked over and opened the balcony door. A one-liter milk carton sat in front of Yong-Yong.


    ¡°Lord Izaas...?¡± she called out cautiously.


    Yong-Yong¡¯s shoulders jolted as he nervously turned his head. Then, he let out a sigh of relief.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but I... uh... noticed that the TV is broken...¡±


    She looked down at the one-liter milk carton in front of him. A foul, sour smell, like spoiled cheese, wafted up from it.


    ¡°L-lord Izaas, this milk is expired.¡±


    The milk was a week past its expiration date. To make matters worse, it was lukewarm, and when shaken, the contents clumped and sloshed around.


    ¡°Yong-Yong can¡¯t dwink this,¡± Byeol said, holding her nose.


    ¡°He¡¯s not going to... right, Lord Izaas?¡±


    Yong-Yong gulped as the overwhelming stench made his nose tingle. The smell was terrible, and he really didn¡¯t want to drink it, but he had to.


    ¡°If I get sick, maybe I won¡¯t get in too big of trouble,¡± he muttered.


    Karsiel finally understood what was going on.


    ¡°Lord Izaas, could you watch over Byeol for a moment?¡±


    Before Yong-Yong could say anything, Karsiel vanished along with the shattered TV.


    ***


    As Karsiel walked further into a space filled with machine parts, a man in a crisp white lab coat came into view.


    She walked over to him and called out, ¡°Hakase.¡±


    The man named Hakase turned around. He was over two meters tall with a striking appearance. Upon recognizing Karsiel, he opened his eyes wide and, with a big smile, ran through the piles of machine parts to embrace her tightly.


    ¡°Karsiel! It¡¯s been so long!¡±


    With a flash, he lifted Karsiel into the air, swinging her around like an airplane. He treated her like a child, making Karsiel blush and frown.


    ¡°W-what are you doing? Put me down!¡± she complained.


    ¡°Hahaha! Has it really been two thousand years since a good ol¡¯ airplane ride?¡± Hakase said, laughing heartily.


    To Hakase, ¡°airplane ride¡± meant lifting and swinging her around. He had always found Karsiel, even in her polymorphed form, absolutely adorable, though she found his airplane rides embarrassingly unbearable.


    ¡°Anyway, what brings you here?¡± Hakase asked.


    ¡°I need a favor.¡±


    ¡°A favor?¡±


    Karsiel nodded and snapped her fingers. Suddenly, the broken TV appeared on the floor, split in half.


    Hakase seemed somewhat intrigued by the TV she had brought.


    ¡°A TV, huh,¡± he said, recognizing the item from Earth.


    ¡°You know this thing?¡± Karsiel asked, surprised that he knew what it was.


    ¡°Of course. If it¡¯s a machine, I know it. This is used on Earth, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, you really do know your stuff. So, can you fix this for me?¡±


    Hakase chuckled and replied, ¡°Well, you are asking, so how can I not? But you¡¯ll have to tell me what¡¯s going on. Why do you have something from Earth? And why does it need my fixing?¡±


    ¡°Just put me down first!¡± Karsiel grumbled.


    ¡°Alright, alright.¡± Hakase laughed, setting Karsiel back on the ground.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get straight to the point. If this isn¡¯t fixed in two hours, Lord Izaas will die.¡±


    Hakase scratched his head, looking confused.


    Izaas¡ªthe lord of all dragons¡ªwas a being that embodied both terror and reverence. Why in the world would he die over a mere TV?


    ¡°Do you mind elaborating? Did you really meet Lord Izaas?¡± Hakase asked her.


    ¡°We¡¯re living together now,¡± Karsiel answered casually.


    ¡°What!? Where?¡±


    ¡°At unit 301, Changshin Villa.¡±


    ¡°And where is that...?¡±


    ¡°In Korea, on Earth... It¡¯s our new nest.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re sharing a nest? With Lord Izaas, no less?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°My goodness.¡±


    Hakase, the fifth dragon, tried hard to process these incomprehensible revelations, pressing his temples as if to calm a headache.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s say what you¡¯re telling me is true. You and Lord Izaas left your nests and decided to live on Earth, out of all planets, specifically at unit 301, Changshin Villa. Honestly, just that alone would knock any other dragon flat in shock, but...¡± sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After pondering briefly, Hakase asked, ¡°And what do you mean that if I don¡¯t fix this TV in two hours, Lord Izaas will die?¡±


    This was the Dragon Lord Izaas. Not a lord of any creature, but of dragons¡ªcreatures that reigned supreme over all others.


    Who could kill such a being?


    ¡°This TV doesn¡¯t belong to Lord Izaas or me. It¡¯s our master¡¯s,¡± Karsiel explained.


    ¡°M-master?¡±


    ¡°And he¡¯s coming home from work in two hours.¡±


    ¡°W-wait a minute. What are you talking about? Master? Are you saying you¡¯re serving someone other than Lord Izaas? That¡¯s unacceptable, even if it¡¯s you, Karsiel.¡±


    Hakase growled lowly, but Karsiel let out a sigh and said, ¡°Lord Izaas also calls him Master.¡±


    ¡°Now, what kind of...¡±


    What kind of nonsense was this?


    ***


    ¡°Goodbye... dear old nest.¡±


    Yong-Yong placed a sheet of paper on the table. With a sad expression, he looked at Byeol, who was fast asleep on the sofa, and walked to the entrance.


    Jumping up, he opened the front door.


    Coincidently, Karsiel materialized in the apartment at that precise moment.


    ¡°Lord Izaas. Where are you going?¡± she asked, bewildered.


    ¡°Sorry... I gotta do what I can to survive... huh?¡±


    Yong-Yong¡¯s eyes widened. There, on the living room floor, was the TV, fully repaired.


    He dropped his bundle and rushed over to the TV to examine it. It was indeed the same TV that had been broken in half.


    ¡°H-how?¡±


    ¡°I asked Hakase to fix it. He was happy to do it.¡±


    A tear welled up in Yong-Yong¡¯s eye. ¡°Sniff... The truth is, I wanted to stay in this home a bit longer. Thanks, Karsiel! I¡¯ll have to thank Hakase later, too.¡±


    ¡°Hakase asked that you visit the nest sometime.¡±


    ¡°Of course, that¡¯s the least I could do.¡±


    ***


    Do-Jun walked home with a pack of frozen braised ribs he¡¯d bought from the supermarket. Since Yoon-Hee had an exam today, it was his turn to prepare dinner, and not being much of a cook, he opted for a frozen meal that only required heating.


    I¡¯m a bit late.


    He¡¯d left work an hour later than usual, and it was already pitch dark outside. He hoped that the rest had already started eating.


    He unlocked the front door and entered.


    Unlike usual, no one came to greet him, but he soon understood why when he saw all three of them asleep on the sofa, with the TV still running.


    ?Welcome to Gourmet Patrol! Today, we¡¯re visiting a famous blood sausage stew restaurant in Noryangjin...?


    To avoid disturbing the sleeping children, Do-Jun picked up the remote and turned off the TV. They must have dozed off while watching it.


    He set the frozen braised ribs on the dining table, where he noticed a piece of paper. He picked it up. It looked like a letter written in pencil with clumsy handwriting.


    Helo


    This is Yong-Yong


    Im sorry for braking the TB


    Thank u for all the good times


    Please dont look for me


    Do-Jun alternated between looking at the paper and Yong-Yong, fast asleep on the sofa.


    ¡°I guess maybe he ran away... no, went out for a bit,¡± he muttered to himself and began preparing dinner.

 Chapter 104

    Chapter 104The leader of the Righteous Sect was the Martial Arts Alliance Chief, while the leader of the Evil Sect was the Blood Demon.


    For centuries, these two sects had battled with each other, neither side gaining an upper hand. Their powers were nearly equal¡ªuntil one man appeared: the Heavenly Demon.


    This marked the emergence of a colossal entity of darkness that seemed to engulf the heavens.


    At first, people thought he was part of a new faction within the Evil Sect, but it soon became apparent that he was something else entirely¡ªa third force distinct from the Evil Sect.


    It all happened on a clear day with not a cloud in sight.


    A carriage, moving as if gliding on mist instead of wheels, appeared at a gathering of the Evil Sect disciples. When a man stepped out, clad in black dragon robes, he was immediately surrounded by the martial artists of the Evil Sect. He held a jet-black sword, and in the next moment, the blade dissolved into petals, scattering in the air.


    That day, the Evil Sect was filled with the stench of blood.


    The news spread, growing more exaggerated with each telling. They said a god had descended¡ªa Heavenly Demon¡ªwho had arrived from the heavens on a divine carriage called the Celestial Dragon Chariot, and he was here to bring about the end of the world.


    The rumors grew wilder, sweeping the populace with a wave of fear.


    ¡°Meet his gaze, and you¡¯ll die.¡±


    ¡°If he sees you, you¡¯re dead. Men, women, children alike.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a sect in Gonryunsan Mountain called the Heavenly Demon Sect.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re raising an army of a hundred thousand to take over the world.¡±


    Terror gripped the Central Plains, keeping it awake through the night. No greater evil could exist in the world, and even nature itself seemed to hold its breath in fear.


    ***


    Do-Jun was on the second floor of the Core, sipping tea that Laghaim, the Spirit Queen, had brewed.[1]


    According to her, the tea was brewed from herbs carefully nurtured with the energy of the spirits. Infused with the spiritual essence of nature, it possessed the power to purify magical energy.


    ¡°How is it, Master?¡± Laghaim asked as she stood with hands politely clasped.


    She was obviously slightly nervous as beads of sweat formed on her hands.


    Do-Jun sighed and replied, ¡°How many times do I have to tell you that I¡¯m not your Master?¡±


    Since the day he had subdued Laghaim alongside Yong-Yong, she had been calling him ¡°Master.¡± It wasn¡¯t just Laghaim, either. Perhaps because of her influence, spirits from low to high ranks had started to treat Do-Jun with utmost respect and care.


    ¡°Then... how should I address you?¡± she asked him nervously.


    ¡°Just use my name. That should be fine.¡±


    ¡°Lee Do...¡± Laghaim trailed off.


    Even the great Izaas called him ¡°Master.¡±


    Besides, wasn¡¯t Do-Jun their savior? The one who would bring peace to the Core by confronting Solomon¡¯s demons, the Transcendents, and countless kings and gods from the Deep Realm?


    That was Laghaim¡¯s deepest wish.


    ¡°Please allow me to call you Master.¡±


    Seeing Laghaim¡¯s resolute expression, Do-Jun let out a resigned sigh and nodded. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    For some reason, he had more and more people and creatures following him. He didn¡¯t think he had done anything remarkable.


    ¡°Speaking of which, I don¡¯t see Izaas today,¡± Laghaim commented.


    ¡°Yong-Yong is...¡±


    ***


    Meanwhile, Byeol and Yong-Yong were hanging out on the first floor of the Core.


    ¡°Only thwee, okay?¡± Byeol said to Yong-Yong, pointing at the Tree of Wisdom.


    It was covered in plump strawberries the size of Byeol¡¯s palm, hanging from its branches.


    When she told him he could only have three, Yong-Yong protested, ¡°We haven¡¯t had dinner yet, so I¡¯m hungry. Let¡¯s work it up to five.¡±


    ¡°No way! The Twee said only three a day!¡±


    Watching the two of them, the Tree of Wisdom chimed in, ¡°Byeol, you seem to have become quite close to Izaas.¡±


    ¡°Iza...? This is Yong-Yong,¡± Byeol corrected the Tree, tilting her head. ¡°Daddy calls him Yong-Yong.¡±


    Yong-Yong and Byeol visited the first floor of the Core from time to time. Byeol would tell the Tree of Wisdom stories about her life on Earth, especially the foods she had tried or the times she played with Do-Jun.


    The Tree asked Byeol a question. ¡°Are you enjoying Earth?¡±


    ¡°I wuv it a wot.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear that. I was a bit worried...¡±


    ¡°It¡¯d be even better if you could come too,¡± Byeol said.


    ¡°I cannot leave this place.¡±


    ¡°Then... what should we do?¡±


    ¡°You can come visit often,¡± the Tree suggested.


    The Tree of Wisdom played an essential role in the ecosystem of the first floor of the Core. It wasn¡¯t a crazy stretch to say that the first floor would collapse if the Tree disappeared.


    ¡°I need to ask Daddy.¡±


    ¡°Of course, that¡¯s the right thing to do.¡±


    Byeol smiled with a nod.


    ¡°Byeol, is your dad a good person?¡±


    The dark, demonic energy Do-Jun emanated when he first came to the Tree was massive¡ªalmost immeasurable. While he didn¡¯t outwardly give off an evil impression, the Tree couldn¡¯t shake its worry.


    ¡°Of course! He¡¯s the best!¡± Byeol said with excitement.


    ¡°What do you like about him?¡± The Tree was curious.


    ¡°Well...¡± Byeol trailed off.


    ¡°Well?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s so much I can¡¯t expwain.¡± Byeol looked thoughtful as she folded her fingers, muttering things to herself¡ªall praises for Do-Jun.


    ¡°It sounds like you love him very much. What about your mom?¡±


    ¡°Mommies? I love them both. They make the yummiest food.¡±


    ¡°Huh...? There should only be one mom.¡±


    Hearing the obvious confusion in the Tree¡¯s voice, Yong-Yong put a paw to his mouth and shushed the Tree.


    ***


    Laghaim chuckled at Do-Jun¡¯s response. ¡°Izaas has changed a lot. It was obvious at first glance that his personality had become much gentler. I could hardly believe it was the same Izaas. No doubt... it¡¯s because of you.¡±


    The Dragon Lord¡¯s eyes had always been cold, without even a trace of sociability. He showed no mercy to those who dared to cross him¡ªa being entirely devoid of compassion.


    However, things were different now.


    ¡°His eyes have a spark in them. To be honest, this is the first time I¡¯ve ever seen him smile,¡± Laghaim said, smiling wistfully.


    ¡°Not once in his four thousand years?¡± Do-Jun asked her.


    For some reason, he felt a pang of guilt. He had only known Yong-Yong for a few months¡ªnothing compared to four thousand years. Yet, he had treated him no differently, assigning him errands and issuing commands, much as he had done with the leaders of the Heavenly Demon Sect.


    The lower-level spirits floated around Do-Jun, each clamoring for his attention.


    ¡°The spirits seem to like people,¡± Do-Jun remarked.


    Laghaim shook her head and replied, ¡°No, I¡¯ve never seen them follow someone like this. It would¡¯ve been a different story if they were bound to you by contract, but they¡¯re not, yet they still follow you as if you were their true master.¡±


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because you call me ¡®Master?¡¯¡±


    ¡°That has nothing to do with it. They simply like you, Master.¡±


    Looking down at the spirits with a neutral expression, Do-Jun muttered, ¡°This isn¡¯t so bad.¡±


    Laghaim smiled.


    ***


    There wasn¡¯t a designated cook for dinner tonight. With Yoon-Hee unable to cook due to her midterm exams, Yong-Yong found himself facing a dilemma.


    ¡°I followed the recipe to the tee...¡± he said in dismay.


    Yoon-Hee kept a notebook with her cooking recipes in the kitchen drawer. Yong-Yong would refer to her recipes whenever he had to cook dinner alone. That way, he could at least approximate the flavors enough to make it somewhat edible.


    However, tonight, there was a problem.


    Kimchi jjigae was a dish that was impossible to fail as it only required boiling kimchi, tofu, and meat in plain water, but Yong-Yong¡¯s kimchi jjigae was simply unpalatable.


    ¡°How did you make it twaste like this?¡± Byeol¡¯s face grew stiff after tasting the broth.


    At first, she looked confused and unable to understand, but her expression gradually shifted to one of anger.


    ¡°Why is it so bad?¡±


    It was the first time Yong-Yong had seen Byeol looking so mad.


    ¡°C-calm down. Try one more bite,¡± he stammered, flustered by her reaction.


    Yong-Yong ladled out some broth for Byeol to taste again. Despite being fooled once, she continued eating each spoonful that Yong-Yong offered.


    ¡°Mommy¡¯s and Siel¡¯s cooking is awways dewicious.¡±


    Today, the typical spicy, savory taste of kimchi jjigae was completely absent. The stew Yong-Yong had made was oddly sweet, clashing with the flavors of pork and kimchi.


    Yoon-Hee was staying overnight at a separate dorm set up for midterms at Hunter Academy, and Karsiel had gone with her.


    ¡°Maybe I need to add more sugar...¡± Yong-Yong muttered, scratching his head.


    Preferring sweeter flavors himself, Yong-Yong was unconsciously pioneering an entirely new take on the recipe.


    ¡°Stop it, Yong-Yong. I am weally angwy now.¡±


    With every spoonful of the kimchi jjigae, Byeol¡¯s eyes started to water, and her hands trembled slightly. It was her way of saying she couldn¡¯t bear to eat anymore.


    That¡¯s when they heard the front door open, and Do-Jun entered.


    ¡°Daddy! Waaah!¡±


    With tears and snot running down her face, Byeol ran over and clung to Do-Jun. Puzzled, Do-Jun tilted his head and headed to the kitchen.


    ¡°What¡¯s that stench?¡± he asked.


    Finally, he locked eyes with Yong-Yong, who was standing over the bubbling pot.


    ¡°I¡¯m making dinner...¡±


    ***


    There was a kimchi jjigae restaurant in the middle of town, ten minutes from the apartment. It was quite famous, having been featured on various TV shows as a must-visit spot, and word of mouth only added to its popularity.


    Though it was slightly past dinnertime, a line of people was still waiting to get in.


    ¡°Three servings of kimchi jjigae, please,¡± Do-Jun ordered.


    ¡°Got it, three kimchi jjigae¡¯s coming right up.¡±


    The lady taking orders punched the request into the register and moved to another table.


    ¡°Daddy, could I have some watuh?¡± Byeol asked.


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    Do-Jun poured a glass of water for her. She wasn¡¯t thirsty and just wanted to wash down the aftertaste of Yong-Yong¡¯s efforts.


    Do-Jun also took a sip of water to rinse his mouth.


    ¡°Can you stop being angry now, Byeol?¡± Yong-Yong pleaded.


    ¡°I¡¯m not angwy,¡± Byeol replied stiffly, her little face still crinkled in a frown.


    Anyone could tell her anger hadn¡¯t quite faded yet.


    Do-Jun couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. He asked, ¡°Got mad because it tasted bad?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m weally not angwy!¡±


    Soon, an employee brought over a pot of kimchi jjigae and set it on the burner. The flames slowly brought the stew to a boil.


    Do-Jun ladled some stew into bowls for Yong-Yong and Byeol. Since the stew was hot, he cooled Byeol¡¯s portion a bit by blowing on it.


    Byeol took a big spoonful, and after a few bites, her face lit up with a blissful smile, looking as if she had never been angry in the first place.


    ¡°This is dewicious.¡±


    Yong-Yong, too, seemed to enjoy it and quickly dug in.


    Watching them both, Do-Jun smiled in satisfaction, taking a spoonful of rice and eating it himself.


    ¡°Byeol,¡± Yong-Yong called her.


    ¡°Yeah?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll make it really tasty next time, I promise.¡±


    Byeol paused mid-spoonful and replied, ¡°No... pwease don¡¯t.¡±


    This peaceful, ordinary moment felt warm.


    ***


    The man closed the book he was perusing. It was the final volume of ¡°The Supreme Heavenly Demon.¡±


    ¡°They said there would never be a demon greater than him. The mountains and rivers trembled in silence.¡±


    ¡°Is this ¡®Heavenly Demon¡¯ guy real?¡± the man muttered.


    He could make the entire world tremble with a single swing of his sword, and even gods feared him.


    ¡°These days, so many books are full of lies...¡± The man clicked his tongue and tossed the book aside.


    He sat up amidst a pile of corpses stacked like a mountain. These were the soldiers of Vapula, one of Solomon¡¯s demons.


    The pages of the discarded book rustled. The man glanced at the book, and one line caught his eye.


    ¡°Descending from the heavens in the Celestial Dragon Chariot, the Heavenly Demon was born to bring about the world¡¯s end.¡±


    1. So, in the raws, it is never specified where and how Do-Jun is meeting Laghaim. From the events that unfold in Chapter 79, we concluded that as the E-rank Fissure, Tomb of Spirits, returns to its normal state, its connection to the second floor of the Core was severed. As such, Do-Jun meets Laghaim in the Core. ?

 Chapter 105

    Chapter 105Seoul City Hall, Fissure Management Division.


    Cheol-Soo was nervously shaking his leg while talking on the phone. A deep furrow formed between his brows as he listened to the voice on the other end.


    ¡°So, does Do-Jun have to do this internship? Isn¡¯t it supposed to be done before being assigned to the City Hall anyway? He¡¯s already well-trained on the job, so why does he have to...?¡±


    Fissure management civil servants were required by the Fissure Management Act and regulations to complete an internship at the Hunter¡¯s Bureau before official appointment.


    ¡ªSection Chief, as I recall, I informed you about this when he was first assigned. Supervisor Lee Do-Jun has to go through an internship with the Hunter¡¯s Bureau since he didn¡¯t do it before starting his job. And when I asked you about his availability for the internship, you said you could send him whenever. So why are you changing your mind now?


    Frustrated, Cheol-Soo raised his voice. ¡°Things have changed since then!¡±


    ¡ªHuh? What do you mean by ¡®things have changed?¡¯


    The HR officer sounded incredulous.


    ¡ªAnyway, I¡¯ve reminded you several times that completing the internship is a requirement for promotion to level 8. I¡¯m trying to help Supervisor Lee get it over with since there¡¯s an opening right now. Also, his promotion review is in two months. Are you trying to get in his way?


    Cheol-Soo knew the standard procedure regarding promotions, which made it hard for him to flat-out refuse to send Do-Jun.


    ¡°I-I¡¯ll just call the Councilor and ask him to make an exception. How about that?¡±


    ¡ªSection Chief, why are you being difficult? I¡¯ve made myself clear. Please respond to the official document by today.


    The HR officer hung up without waiting for Cheol-Soo¡¯s response.


    ¡°Hello? Hello! Ugh, why does a civil servant need to intern at a government corporation?¡±


    Realizing the call had ended, Cheol-Soo muttered bitterly, ¡°Stupid internship.¡±


    Busy with his work, Hyuk-Soo sighed, glancing over at Do-Jun¡¯s empty desk as he was away on a business trip.


    ***


    ¡°I¡¯m back from my rounds.¡±


    Do-Jun walked to his desk, removed his work ID, and put it in the drawer. Noticing the unusually cold atmosphere in the office, he tilted his head in puzzlement. Sitting down, he sent a message to Hyuk-Soo.


    Lee Do-Jun: Senior, did something happen? Chief looks upset.


    Kwon Hyuk-Soo: Ah... well, Chief tried talking to an HR officer to get you out of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau internship, but it didn¡¯t go too well.


    Lee Do-Jun: Did I not do that internship yet?


    Do-Jun¡¯s fingers froze.


    When he learned about this mandatory internship program three months ago, he¡¯d assumed he had completed it already.


    Kwon Hyuk-Soo: No, I remember you started right away. You were a bit of an unusual case... though it does happen sometimes. Don¡¯t you remember?


    Of course, he wouldn¡¯t remember. He had hardly any memory of his past self.


    Lee Do-Jun: It¡¯s a bit fuzzy.


    Kwon Hyuk-Soo: Anyway, the Chief asked HR if you could be promoted without the internship, but apparently, it¡¯s a firm no.


    Do-Jun¡¯s position was Level 9 Fissure Management Clerk.


    Given that civil servants usually get promoted to level 8 after a year and a half to two years, he knew his promotion review was approaching soon. Opening his document folder, he found the official dispatch for the Hunter¡¯s Bureau internship list, drafted with today¡¯s date.


    He opened the attached Excel file and saw his name in the list.


    Just then, Cheol-Soo got up from his desk, walked over to Do-Jun, and handed him a paper bag. Inside were a box of thirty red ginseng extract sticks, eel tail juice, multivitamin tablets, and other health supplements.


    ¡°Take these whenever they give you a hard time,¡± he told Do-Jun.


    As he returned to his desk, he added, ¡°And don¡¯t go sharing these with the other interns¡ªkeep them for yourself!¡±


    Do-Jun and Hyuk-Soo exchanged glances and then shared a chuckle.


    ***


    The next day, the HR manager, Go Byung-Chul, stood in front of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau Chief¡¯s office. He adjusted his tie in the full-length mirror and cleared his throat.


    Though he was an HR higher-up, meeting the Bureau Chief face-to-face as a mere manager was always nerve-wracking.


    He flipped through the personnel file one last time to confirm that the man was listed, then took a deep breath and entered the room. The Chief¡¯s secretary stood up to greet him with a polite bow.


    ¡°Welcome, Manager Go.¡±


    ¡°Is the Chief in?¡± Go Byung-Chul asked.


    ¡°Yes, he just arrived.¡±


    Getting the confirmation, Go Byung-Chul knocked on the door. ¡°Chief, this is HR Manager Go Byung-Cheol.¡±


    ¡°Come in.¡±


    He was met by a stern voice from the other side of the door. When he stepped inside, he saw Young-Chul standing by the window, smoking a cigarette. He carefully closed the door and bowed deeply as the Chief turned around.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Young-Chul asked.


    ¡°There is something I¡¯d like to report regarding the upcoming internship.¡±


    Young-Chul looked puzzled. He didn¡¯t understand why the HR manager would come to him about a mere internship. There had been dozens of internships before, but this was the first time a report was given on the matter.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that something you should handle on your own?¡± Young-Chul asked.


    ¡°Y-yes, sir. But I thought this should be reported to you directly... just in case...¡±


    Young-Chul put out his cigarette in the ashtray and sat on the sofa.


    ¡°Alright, then. What is it?¡±


    Go Byung-Cheol handed over the internship roster.


    The Hunter¡¯s Bureau conducted internships every quarter, usually taking around thirty people each session. This time, the number was slightly reduced to twenty-five. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After skimming the file, Young-Chul set it on the table, pulling out his cigarette pack from his shirt pocket.


    ¡°I still don¡¯t understand. What¡¯s so special about this cohort?¡±


    ¡°Supervisor Lee Do-Jun is among the interns.¡±


    Young-Chul dropped his cigarette pack and picked up the list again.


    Seeing Do-Jun listed last among the twenty-five names, his lips trembled as he said, ¡°W-why is Supervisor Lee on this list?¡±


    ¡°Um... according to the law, Fissure Management civil servants must complete an internship at our Bureau before appointment.¡±


    ¡°But he¡¯s already been working for over a year!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s rare, but we do occasionally have people come in later...¡±


    Go Byung-Cheol studied Young-Chul¡¯s reaction. He knew the Chief had a particular interest in this civil servant, but he had no idea why. Rumor had it that Lee Do-Jun was a civil servant who had commanded S-rank Hunters, but that alone didn¡¯t seem to justify this level of concern.


    ¡°Shall I assign him to the General Affairs Team...?¡± Go Byung-Cheol asked cautiously.


    The General Affairs work was an inside term for a filler system.


    They would set up a position only for formality, and the assigned intern would only have to claim their work hours, not needing to actually show up.


    ¡°Manager Go, are you trying to get me killed?¡± Young-Chul said, recalling what Do-Jun had said to him before.


    ¡°I know you¡¯re a wise man, Chief. I trust you won¡¯t make any self-sabotaging moves next time.¡±


    ¡°Treat him the same as the other interns. I¡¯m sure he¡¯d want it that way.¡±


    ***


    That night, after dinner, Do-Jun sat on the sofa in the living room, searching for information on the Hunter¡¯s Bureau on his laptop. He was especially focused on the locations of the various offices, departmental information, and their responsibilities.


    Starting tomorrow, he would have to report to the Hunter¡¯s Bureau.


    Karsiel sneaked a peek at his laptop screen that displayed a document titled ¡°Hunter¡¯s Bureau Internship Program.¡± She tilted her head, wondering why Do-Jun, a civil servant, would be looking at this.


    Then, a thought crossed her mind. Could it be that Master has quit his job?


    She went to the bedroom, where Yong-Yong was fiddling with the SpacePad with Byeol.


    ¡°Lord Izaas, may I have a word with you?¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ***


    ¡°Wow, you filled out the stamp sheet again. Good job!¡±


    Yoon-Hee handed Yong-Yong a ten-thousand-won bill with a bright smile. However, something seemed off about him.


    Normally, he would have jumped up, grabbed the money with a grin, and shouted, ¡°Thank you!¡± Today, however, he simply stared at the bill, gulped, and then shook his head with a sad expression.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need it. It¡¯s not like I did it just for the money.¡±


    With a heavy heart, Yong-Yong walked to the drawer, pulled out his small wallet necklace, and opened it. It contained over 60,000 won he had saved up, mostly meant for his beloved snacks.


    With a look of despair, he handed it over to Yoon-Hee. ¡°Here, I hope this helps with our living expenses.¡±


    Surprised, Yoon-Hee stammered, ¡°H-huh? Yong-Yong, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    This wallet¡ªspecifically, the money inside¡ªwas meant for Yong-Yong¡¯s treats. He loved snacking so much that going to the corner store to buy a treat after dinner had practically become his daily joy. It was strange for him to suddenly give it all away.


    ¡°What¡¯s gotten into him...?¡±


    Perplexed, Yoon-Hee put the wallet back in the drawer, then finished slicing an apple and brought it to Do-Jun in the living room, who was busy researching something on his laptop.


    ¡°What are you doing, Father?¡± Yoon-Hee asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m looking up some things about the Hunter¡¯s Bureau since I intern with them starting tomorrow.


    ¡°What? But aren¡¯t you already a civil servant...?¡±


    ¡°Think of it as an additional training course.¡±


    ¡°Oh, got it,¡± Yoon-Hee said, nodding, seeming to understand. ¡°Oh, right. Yong-Yong¡¯s acting strange all of a sudden. Do you know why?¡±


    At Yoon-Hee¡¯s question, Do-Jun recalled what Karsiel had said to Yong-Yong in the bedroom. Though she had spoken softly, he, as a transcendental being, could pick up even the faintest sounds if he wanted to, so he had heard everything.


    ¡°It seems Master has been laid off. We might be short on living expenses for a while...¡±


    ¡°Well...¡±


    He explained the reason to Yoon-Hee, who stifled a laugh.


    ***


    ¡°Give it baaaaack! My walleeeeet!¡±


    Yoon-Hee held Yong-Yong¡¯s wallet necklace high above her head while Yong-Yong hopped up and down in place, trying to snatch it with his front paws.


    Watching this, Karsiel bowed her head apologetically. ¡°My apologies, Lord Izaas... I¡¯ve accidentally spread misinformation...¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re in on this with Yoon-Hee, aren¡¯t you? Do you all think the Dragon Lord is a joke? Grrr!¡±


    ¡°N-no! I truly believed Master had been fired.¡±


    Yong-Yong¡¯s paws flailed helplessly in the air, coming agonizingly close to reaching the wallet.


    ¡°Who was it that said, ¡®I hope this helps with our living expenses?¡¯ hehe,¡± Yoon-Hee teased him.


    ¡°I¡¯m sooo pissed off!¡±


    Satisfied with her teasing, Yoon-Hee finally handed the wallet back to him. Instantly forgetting his anger, Yong-Yong took the wallet with a beaming smile and clutched it to his chest, tears of joy streaming down his face.


    ¡°My baby, I missed you...¡±


    ¡°So, what should we do about those stamps you completed earlier?¡±


    Yong-Yong looked at her as if questioning her sanity and held out his paw.


    ¡°Give.¡±


    ¡°I thought you said you didn¡¯t do it for the money? But if you say ¡®please,¡¯ maybe I¡¯ll give it to you.¡±


    Yong-Yong immediately knelt down, looking up at her with pleading eyes.


    ¡°Please.¡±


    ¡°Oh... h-here you go.¡±


    Feeling a bit guilty, Yoon-Hee handed him the bill. Yong-Yong¡¯s face lit up as he received it, and he dashed to the bedroom.


    ¡°Byeol, let¡¯s go to the store!¡±

 Chapter 106

    Chapter 1068 AM, Monday.


    In the office of Fissure Management Team 1 at the Hunter¡¯s Bureau, a man answered a call with a troubled expression.


    ¡°Seriously? Why are you telling me this now? If you had even called last night, I could have prepared something once I got to the office. You know I¡¯m supposed to leave for Gangnam Station at nine sharp. Why are you doing this to me?¡±


    ¡ªI¡¯m sorry. I also got word from the Icarus Guild this morning. Maybe you could request support from another team... Ah, come to think of it, the new intern is supposed to start today, right? Perhaps you could delegate this to them...


    Kim Doo-Hwi, an assistant manager entering his fourth year at the bureau, felt a surge of frustration at the words of the admin team employee on the other end. Since he couldn¡¯t exactly curse at a colleague, he tried his best to keep calm and speak evenly.


    Or at least, that was his intention.


    ¡°Are you kidding me? You want me to hand this off to an intern who¡¯s on his first day? They probably don¡¯t even know where the printer is... Hello? Hello!¡±


    The call disconnected.


    Doo-Hwi quickly hit the redial button, but all he got was the dial tone as his call was declined. For a moment, he felt his brain come to a complete stop.


    ¡°How am I supposed to prepare for this meeting by ten?¡± he muttered in disbelief.


    Once a month, the Fissure Management Team 1 met with guilds partnered with the Hunter¡¯s Bureau. They assigned and requested support for the management of B-rank or higher Great Fissures that had recently emerged or were expected to emerge across the country.


    The meeting for Fissure zone assignments was initially scheduled for Tuesday, but it had suddenly been brought forward by a day to today at 10 AM.


    ¡°And of all the guilds, it had to be Icarus.¡±


    If it had been any other mid-tier guild, he could have apologized in person and still gone to his Gangnam meeting. But Icarus Guild was one of the top three guilds in the country, so that wasn¡¯t an option.


    Cancelling the trip to Gangnam was not an option as it was also an important meeting.


    ¡°Good morning.¡±


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    Hearing a low voice, Doo-Hwi turned around to see a tall man, easily over 180 centimeters, standing there. Thanks to his broad shoulders, he wore his suit with the polish of a professional model. Although he wasn¡¯t exactly a ¡°sculpted beauty,¡± he certainly had an attractive, clean-cut look.


    ¡°And you are...?¡± Doo-Hwi asked, puzzled why such a man was at the Bureau.


    ¡°My name is Lee Do-Jun, the new intern for the next month.¡±


    Finally understanding, Doo-Hwi nodded and said, ¡°Ah! So you¡¯re the intern scheduled to start today.¡±


    Smiling, he got up and walked over to Do-Jun, patting him on the shoulder.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been assigned to the most dreaded department of all. Congratulations,¡± Doo-Hwi said with a slightly pitiful look.


    Fissure Management Team 1 was known for being the most overworked team. Thanks to the workload beyond what any one person could handle, working overtime was the norm, and they even had to take care of protocol for esteemed Hunters. Basically, each team member was doing the job for two people.


    ¡°I should be giving you a proper introduction and showing you the ropes, but I¡¯m swamped right now. For now, just sit at an empty desk and get a feel for the office atmosphere. I have to deal with something urgent...¡±


    He needed to have the meeting materials ready and head straight to Gangnam Station by nine. Doo-Hwi immediately began printing the meeting documents and simultaneously dialed his supervisor.


    ¡°Chief, it¡¯s Doo-Hwi. I¡¯m sorry to bother you while you¡¯re on vacation. Something came up suddenly... Ah, right. You haven¡¯t left Jeju yet. No, no, it¡¯s nothing crazy. See you tomorrow then.¡±


    The Section Chief, who had gone on vacation to Jeju, hadn¡¯t even left for Seoul yet. Normally, the Section Chief led the meetings, with Doo-Hwi assisting. But today, both of them were unavailable.


    After a brief moment of contemplation, Doo-Hwi spoke. ¡°Uh... Mr. Kim Do-Jun? No, wait, sorry¡ªLee Do-Jun.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    Since the meeting didn¡¯t cover anything new, it would just be a review of ongoing Great Fissure management and raid progress. All Do-Jun needed to do was read off the materials, so it shouldn¡¯t be too difficult. He decided to take a gamble.


    ¡°Could I ask you a favor?¡±


    ***


    A round table with space for about twenty people was set up in the small conference room on the eighth floor of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau. A bundle of meeting materials was placed at each seat.


    The beam from the projector on the ceiling displayed the slide presentation on the conference room screen. Do-Jun reviewed the contents and tested the buttons on the projector remote to ensure the slides advanced properly.


    The presentation covered the location and distribution of Fissures ranked B and higher across Seoul. It also listed the primary monsters in each Fissure, as well as the guild responsible for managing each one. Icarus Guild, for example, managed eight B-rank and five A-rank Fissures.


    S-rank Fissures rarely appeared, and when they did, a dedicated operations team was usually assembled to raid them, leaving a few cases unaddressed.


    Do-Jun recalled Doo-Hwi¡¯s instructions. ¡°Just apologize that the manager and I couldn¡¯t attend. Get signatures from the attending Hunters on the attendance sheet and read the slides as they are. The most important thing is to stay on their good side. Bow politely whenever someone enters...¡±


    He glanced at his wristwatch. He had about ten minutes until the meeting start time of 10 AM.


    He realized there were no refreshments or drinks set out on the table.


    Maybe I should buy some drinks.


    ***


    Ten Hunters from the Icarus Guild entered the small conference room.


    Min-Hyuk, the guild master, frowned as he looked at the empty room. It was nearly 10 AM, but no staff members were in sight. He wondered if this was due to the last-minute change in the meeting date, but it still made no sense for both the manager and the assistant manager to be absent.


    ¡°Sorry for the delay.¡±


    A voice came from behind him.


    Min-Hyuk clicked his tongue in annoyance and turned around¡ªonly to freeze on the spot.


    ¡°S-supervisor Lee? W-what are you doing here...?¡±


    ¡°Long time no see, Hunter Min-Hyuk,¡± Do-Jun said, smiling. ¡°If everyone¡¯s arrived, could you please sign the attendance sheet?¡±


    ***


    Meanwhile, at Gangnam Station.


    Hearing the generic ringtone, Doo-Hwi took out his phone and checked the caller ID. It was his manager.


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    ¡ªYou can answer? Are you not in your meeting?


    ¡°Oh, you heard? Well... actually... I¡¯m currently at Gangnam Station. You know, dealing with that RPS case that came up...¡±


    There was a sudden silence.


    ¡ªGangnam Station? What about the meeting?


    Doo-Hwi gulped nervously, pressing his fingers to his temples as he replied.


    ¡°I left it to the new hire. There weren¡¯t any major changes, so he just needs to read through the presentation slides¡ªthere shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡±


    ¡ªThe new hire? What are you talking about? The new hire doesn¡¯t come until July.


    ¡°Uh, well... interns are technically new hires too... I mean, ha...¡±


    Another long silence.


    ¡ªAre you out of your mind? You left the meeting to an intern? Kang Min-Hyuk is supposed to be at the meeting today. Even with both of us there, we¡¯d barely manage! And you left it to an intern who started this morning... I¡¯m losing my mind. Just...


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir. But honestly, there was no other way. I even asked the manager from the other team, but they had an urgent matter, too.¡±


    ¡ªYou know what, you¡¯re right. It¡¯s not your fault. It¡¯s their fault for changing the meeting date at the last minute. Anyway, when you¡¯re back in the office, give me a report on how things went.


    Doo-Hwi let out a long sigh of relief.


    ***


    The meeting proceeded smoothly.


    In fact, it was less of a meeting and more like Do-Jun giving a one-sided presentation from the slides. Regardless, the atmosphere was serious, and not a single person made small talk or yawned; everyone kept their eyes on the screen and Do-Jun.


    ¡°In cases where ownership is transferred, the distribution ratio will be...¡± Do-Jun paused, noticing the fruit juices left untouched on the table.


    The bottles hadn¡¯t even been opened, and the Hunters were sitting rigidly, their backs straight, listening intently with tense expressions.


    ¡°Feel free to drink the juice while you listen. I went out of my way to get it.¡±


    Hearing this, the Hunters glanced at Min-Hyuk. They couldn¡¯t understand why an S-rank Hunter, ranked in the top ten in the country, was sitting there, so on edge around a mere bureau intern, but they decided it was best to stay quiet.


    With a subtle nod, Min-Hyuk signaled the other Hunters to drink the juice, and in unison, they opened their juice bottles and started drinking.


    ¡°By the way, this meeting was supposed to be tomorrow, right?¡± Do-Jun asked Min-Hyuk.


    ¡°Y-yes, that¡¯s right.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you moved it up for good reasons, but... make sure to call Assistant Manager Kim Doo-Hwi later to apologize. Just say you¡¯re sorry for telling him on such short notice this morning.¡±


    ***


    It wasn¡¯t until 2 PM that Doo-Hwi returned to the office.


    He picked up the meeting attendance folder on his desk and saw that all the signatures were there. Meanwhile, Do-Jun was sitting at his desk, browsing through an intern training manual.


    ¡°Looks like everything went okay. The signatures are all here,¡± Doo-Hwi remarked.


    Just then, the office phone rang. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Hello, this is Assistant Manager Kim Doo-Hwi from Fissure Management Team 1.¡±


    ¡ªHello, Assistant Manager Kim. This is Hunter Kang Min-Hyuk from the Icarus Guild.


    Startled, Doo-Hwi shot up from his seat, instinctively bowing his head as he answered. ¡°Yes, Guild Master!¡±


    ¡ªIt¡¯s just... regarding the meeting today...


    Regarding the meeting¡ªthose words struck Doo-Hwi like a knife in the chest. The intern must have messed up somehow. Otherwise, why would Min-Hyuk be calling directly?


    ¡°I apolo...¡±


    Just as Doo-Hwi was about to start apologizing, he heard¡ª


    ¡ªI wanted to apologize.


    ¡°Pardon me...?¡±


    ¡ªI just wanted to say I¡¯m sorry for the sudden notification about the meeting change today. I¡¯m calling to apologize.


    Did he hear that right? Doo-Hwi doubted his ears.


    ¡°No, no. We¡¯re the ones who should apologize for being unable to attend the meeting, sir.¡±


    After ending the call, Doo-Hwi scratched his head, mumbling to himself, ¡°What the hell happened to him? That¡¯s a first... Ah, Do-Jun, how did the meeting go today?¡±


    Do-Jun replied, ¡°I just followed your instructions, sir. The meeting ended pretty quickly, too.¡±


    ¡°No issues came up?¡±


    ¡°Nope.¡±


    Doo-Hwi let out a sigh of relief. ¡°If this had gone south, I would¡¯ve been in for a formal reprimand... Thanks, Do-Jun.¡±


    Do-Jun smiled and replied, ¡°Glad to hear it.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Welcome home, Father.¡±


    After finishing work, Do-Jun returned home, and Yoon-Hee ran over, smiling, taking his coat.


    ¡°How was work today?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Today was just... you know...¡± Do-Jun mumbled as he sat down on the sofa.


    It had been another peaceful day.

 Chapter 107

    Chapter 107The Usurper¡¯s Hourglass was one of the many relics located at the Deep Realm¡¯s edge. It served as a gauge for tracking the ¡°Encroachment¡± progress of planets connected to the Core.


    When all the sand grains fell to the bottom, it would forcibly summon the residents of the connected planet to the Core¡¯s tutorial zone.


    It was a Deep Realm artifact with immense power. However, at some point, the dropping of the sand grains had gradually but surely slowed down.


    Earth¡¯s Encroachment, which it was tracking, should have been completed long ago, and all Earthlings would have been summoned to the tutorial zone, beginning their journey toward the Deep Realm. Instead, a few months ago, the Encroachment started to slow down due to one clear reason¡ªthe deaths of the Usurpers.


    The Titan, Malanuh, and the Deep Realm Assassin, Aduntath, were among the most prominent Usurpers. Even with blessings from the Core, such as the Status Window, skills, or artifacts, humans shouldn¡¯t stand a chance against a Usurper.


    So, who could have killed them?


    There was one suspect. A single adventurer¡ªwhose name and appearance were unknown¡ªwho dared to descend into the Deep Realm. That person had never made their identity known, so their name was always displayed as ¡°Unknown.¡±


    What was troubling was that despite this person having risen to first place in the tutorial ranking, their whereabouts were a mystery. No matter how much they searched the forum, which was only accessible on the Core¡¯s second floor and below, there were no clues to their identity. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Actually, there was one clue¡ªa rumor about the death of Battle King Curta.


    It was said on the board that the Battle King Curta had appeared as the gatekeeper at the entrance to the second floor. The adventurers who challenged him lost consciousness when Curta awoke from his seal, but when they came to, Curta was already dead.


    Still, this story was so absurd it was dismissed as just the usual baiting of adventurers. After all, every now and then, there were a few boys who cried wolf, claiming Solomon¡¯s demons had appeared as gatekeepers.


    ***


    It was a rainy day, the second day of the heavy downpour, just as the weatherman had forecasted.


    Byeol pouted as she watched the pouring rain through the balcony window. Yoon-Hee had told her that going outside on rainy days was dangerous.


    ¡°Wain... bad,¡± Byeol muttered.


    She couldn''t go to her favorite playground or park. She couldn¡¯t even go to the F-rank Fissure with a snack from the store near the apartment.


    One day of rain was fine¡ªshe could look at picture books or listen to Karsiel read fairy tales, but being stuck indoors for two days was too much.


    ¡°When will the wain stop?¡± she muttered to herself.


    Hearing her grumble, Karsiel went into the bedroom and opened her laptop. She checked the weather forecast, which showed that the rain would continue throughout the day.


    ¡°Byeol, it says that the rain won¡¯t stop until dawn tomorrow,¡± she broke the news to Byeol.


    Byeol slumped down to the floor in despair. ¡°N-no... This isn¡¯t fair...¡±


    Just as the saying¡ªthe sorrow of a widow who loses her husband in war is not necessarily greater than the sorrow of a child who loses their favorite teddy bear¡ªbeing cooped up inside for two days because of the rain felt as devastating to Byeol as the sky falling down.


    ¡°What did I do to deserve this?¡± she wailed.


    ¡°Byeol, you did nothing wrong. Rain is just rain,¡± Karsiel tried to console her.


    With a sudden exclamation, Byeol jumped up and ran into the bedroom. She opened the closet, rummaged in the storage compartment in the corner, and pulled out a yellow raincoat.


    ¡°I can wear this! Is okay.¡±


    The raincoat Yoon-Hee had bought for her last week was a bit big. Regardless of Byeol¡¯s ¡°mythic¡± status, Yoon-Hee still saw her as a child, so she had worried about her getting wet and had picked it out with her at the store.


    Byeol fastened each button on her own, then dashed to the entrance to slip on her yellow rain boots. With the raincoat and boots, she looked like a little yellow chick.


    ¡°I''m going out to pway,¡± Byeol said in a much brighter tone than earlier.


    ¡°W-wait, right now?¡±


    ¡°Mhm. Before Daddy gets home.¡±


    Karsiel shook her head, recalling that she had been instructed to look after Byeol at home during this heavy rain. It wasn¡¯t an order, but it was always better to follow Do-Jun¡¯s instructions.


    Byeol explained further. ¡°Yong-Yong said...¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°As long as you don¡¯t get caught, it¡¯s fine,¡± Byeol said with an innocent smile.


    Karsiel sighed.


    What on earth had Lord Izaas been teaching this child?


    ***


    Do-Jun was having lunch with his fellow interns in the cafeteria at the Hunter¡¯s Bureau.


    Today¡¯s food options were either bulgogi rice bowl or olive pasta. Since Do-Jun preferred Korean food, he chose the bulgogi rice bowl without a second thought.


    ¡°By the way, Do-Jun, it must be tough working in the Fissure Management Team,¡± one of the interns said to him.


    The other interns nodded in agreement.


    The Fissure Management Team was notorious for the overwhelming workload. Sure, there was the upside of coming out with a lot of achievements to push for a full-time offer or even a promotion, but many employees who were placed on that team often quit within half a year.


    There was also the risk that came with entering Great Fissure sites, where one might lose their life at any moment.


    ¡°I¡¯m doing alright. The work is actually quite similar to what I¡¯m used to, so I adjusted pretty quickly,¡± Do-Jun replied.


    ¡°Really? Oh, you did mention that you work at Seoul City Hall¡¯s Fissure Management Division.¡±


    ¡°Yes. I worked there for¡ª¡± Do-Jun almost said five months but stopped himself, remembering to include his past self¡¯s time.


    ¡°It¡¯s been nearly a year and a half.¡±


    ¡°Really? Are you considering joining the Hunter¡¯s Bureau after the internship?¡± the man mumbled through a mouthful of pasta.


    According to his mentor, Assistant Manager Kim Doo-Hwi of Fissure Management Team 1 had been tirelessly praising the intern¡¯s work to his fellow assistant managers.


    ¡°Joining the Bureau... I¡¯m not sure.¡±


    At Do-Jun¡¯s unclear answer, the man had a conflicted look for a moment, then spoke up as if he had made up his mind about something.


    ¡°We¡¯re having a study meeting this weekend to work on our project reports that are due next week. Would you like to join?¡±


    ¡°A study meeting?¡±


    ¡°Yes. We can discuss any problems we run into together and help each other out.¡±


    Do-Jun considered his schedule for the weekend. Since he had no particular plans, he accepted the invitation. However, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder why he was only now being invited to the study group.


    Are they trying to keep me in check?


    They called it a study group, but the real purpose of such gatherings was often ¡°spying.¡± It was about seeing how others prepared so you could create materials that stood out even more.


    The fact that he was only now being invited likely meant they had assumed he would return to the public sector after the internship. Since all interns technically had the potential to stay for a job with the Bureau, he could be seen as competition, and they would want to keep him close to watch his progress.


    It all made sense.


    ¡°Thank you for the invite,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°I¡¯ll add you to the group chat.¡±


    Soon, a notification popped up on his smartphone. When he checked, he noticed the chat already had over ten members.


    Not everyone, but most of them were high-profile individuals from what was often called ¡°SKY.¡±[1]. It was a group of people this intern viewed as competitors.


    However, the others seemed aware of this.


    I see how it is, Do-Jun thought with a smirk.


    He had no intention of joining the Hunter¡¯s Bureau and had only hesitated for politeness, but it seemed the interns saw him as a rival.


    ¡°Got the chat invite. Thank you.¡± Do-Jun smiled and put his smartphone back in his pocket.


    What these interns didn¡¯t know was that Do-Jun was already far beyond their reach in ways they couldn¡¯t even imagine.


    ***


    Meanwhile, Byeol and Karsiel were out.


    Karsiel rarely went out for anything besides taking out the trash or going grocery shopping with Yoon-Hee. Knowing this, Byeol decided that today she would give Karsiel a little tour of the outside world.


    The first stop was Byeol¡¯s favorite place¡ªthe neighborhood store.


    ¡°Hello, gwemma!¡± Byeol said cheerfully.


    The elderly store owner greeted Byeol warmly. ¡°Hoho. Hello, Byeol.¡±


    ¡°I bwought Sieh today!¡±


    Byeol opened her coin purse to check how much money she had. Fifteen one-hundred-won coins were jingling around inside.


    ¡°Sieh, pick what u want to eat.¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡±


    ¡°I tweat you.¡±


    Byeol had earned a hundred won each time she did something good, and she¡¯d saved up a fortune of 1,500 won. Today, she planned to spend it all for Karsiel, who she adored.


    Thinking how cute she was, Karsiel picked up a lollipop.


    ¡°Gwemma, how much is this?¡± Byeol asked the store owner.


    ¡°The lollipop is one hundred won.¡±


    After purchasing two lollipops, Byeol and Karsiel unwrapped one each, popped it into their mouths, and left the store.


    Rain suddenly poured down in a torrential downpour. Karsiel held an umbrella, but the wind blowing from all directions left her completely soaked.


    ¡°Sieh, you¡¯re all wet. Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m fine.¡±


    After confirming that no one was around, Karsiel momentarily released her magic, forming a protective shield around herself. When light rippled around her once more, her wet clothes instantly dried.


    ¡°So cool,¡± Byeol commented.


    ¡°You¡¯ll be able to do it too, Byeol, if you learn magic.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    Though Byeol didn¡¯t realize it, she possessed a powerful magic source, even stronger than most dragons. However, she didn¡¯t seem very interested in learning magic at the moment. After all, what mattered to Byeol wasn¡¯t being able to use magic but the fact that they didn¡¯t have to go home just yet.


    ¡°We can stay out longer.¡±


    ***


    After coming home from work, Do-Jun slipped off his shoes and put them in the shoe cabinet. Just as he was about to walk into the living room, he stopped. He noticed a faint trace of magic lingering on Byeol¡¯s yellow rain boots tucked in the corner of the shoe cabinet.


    They were spotless, as if they had never been worn.


    He saw Byeol sprawled out in the living room, drawing in a sketchbook with crayons. When their eyes met, Byeol flinched and looked away.


    Seeing this, Do-Jun chuckled.


    ¡°Welcome back, Master,¡± Karsiel approached him cautiously.


    She, too, looked a bit guilty, as she couldn¡¯t meet his gaze directly.


    Do-Jun patted her head. ¡°Thanks for your hard work.¡±


    ¡°But I didn¡¯t do anything... Eek!¡± Karsiel¡¯s eyes widened.


    To cover up the evidence, she had used magic to return the raincoat and boots to their original state, but Do-Jun looked at her as if he knew everything.


    ¡°A-as long as I don¡¯t get caug...¡± Byeol muttered nervously in a trembling voice.


    Do-Jun glanced at Karsiel as if to ask if she knew what Byeol meant, and the flustered Karsiel glanced toward the bedroom.


    With a sigh, Do-Jun said, ¡°Go fetch Yong-Yong for me.¡±


    1. SKY refers to the top 3 universities in Korea: Seoul, Korea, and Yonsei National University. ?

 Chapter 108

    Chapter 108A solitary flame spiraled around a man¡¯s body, revolving in slow motion.


    This man was the Flame King, master of Ignium, and the mightiest among the Usurpers. The flame around his body was the essence of fire, Ignium. It was born in the hottest depths of the Deep Realm and was said to burn everything it touched.


    The Flame King frowned as he watched the slow trickle of sand in the hourglass. Beside the hourglass lay two spirit stones, now drained of color, lying hollow. They indicated the deaths of the Titan, Malanuh, and the Deep Realm Assassin, Aduntath.


    ¡°I shall go myself,¡± the Flame King declared.


    The knights of fire, who served under the Flame King, knelt to show respect for his departure. As they did so, they offered a silent farewell to Earth, which was soon to meet its end.


    ***


    Sunlight streamed through the window, casting warmth onto the bed.


    Yoon-Hee woke up even before her alarm went off, stretching briefly. She looked out the window to see the cloudless sky as if the heavy downfall of the past two days was a lie. She glanced over at Yong-Yong, who was sprawled on top of Do-Jun, fast asleep, and couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    Carefully not to wake anyone, she opened the door and headed to the living room.


    Her day always began with a morning routine: getting up before the family, showering, changing into her uniform, and preparing breakfast.


    She opened the refrigerator to look for ingredients. Unlike dinner, breakfast was usually a simple meal with few variations. She would often make toast or cook sausages to go with a few side dishes and soup.


    ¡°Hmm... That¡¯s strange,¡± she muttered as she looked in the fridge.


    The previous day, she had bought five packs of sausages on her way home from school, but no matter how much she searched, she could only find three.


    Just then, Do-Jun and Yong-Yong emerged from the room. While Yong-Yong yawned widely, stretching his mouth, Do-Jun appeared as fresh as ever.


    Yoon-Hee realized she had never once seen Do-Jun looking tired.


    ¡°What''s wrong?¡± Do-Jun asked, seeing Yoon-Hee rummage through the refrigerator.


    ¡°Well... I bought five packs of sausages yesterday, but I only see three here. It¡¯s so odd... Yong-Yong, did you happen to see the sausages that were here?¡±


    Yong-Yong flinched slightly before replying, ¡°U-uh, no?¡±


    Yong-Yong glanced nervously at Do-Jun, who, seemingly uninterested, took a towel and headed to the bathroom. With a sigh of relief, he relaxed.


    ¡°Did I only buy three...?¡± Yoon-Hee muttered to herself.


    * * *


    After finishing dinner and washing the dishes that evening, Yoon-Hee dried her hands with a towel and hung her apron on the refrigerator handle. Noticing that Yong-Yong hadn¡¯t gone outside today like he usually did, she tilted her head curiously.


    It was his routine to go to the neighborhood store with Byeol around this time to buy snacks, but he stayed home yesterday and today.


    ¡°What¡¯s he up to?¡± Yoon-Hee muttered, glancing at Yong-Yong.


    He was lying on the floor, scribbling something.


    Curious, she quietly approached him and saw that he was keeping a record of his allowance spending. Unsurprisingly, most of his allowance had been spent on food.


    Yong-Yong wrote in clumsy, crooked letters with a pencil in his paw.


    ¡°Keeping track of your spending, huh?¡± Yoon-Hee asked and smiled, finding it adorable.


    However, the log showed a balance of zero.


    Just a few days ago, he had several tens of thousands of won, but it seemed he had splurged on food over the past few days.


    The chicken was too much, ugh, Yong-Yong realized.


    He slapped the floor with his paw, recalling the back-to-back fried chicken feasts he had enjoyed with Karsiel and Byeol. He had no regret as the two enjoyed his treat, but the empty wallet was a harsh blow.


    Looks like I can¡¯t go to the store today either.


    He thought about just throwing stuff onto his tab at the store, but since it would eventually pile up and become too much for him to pay off, he decided to hold off. He even considered asking for an advance on his allowance, but that would be no different from a tab, so he gave up.


    ***


    In the stillness of the early dawn, Yong-Yong opened his eyes. He was curled up at the foot of Do-Jun¡¯s bed.


    The sound of his stomach growling echoed out.


    Yong-Yong ate much more than anyone else in unit 301 of Changshin Villa. He typically curbed his hunger by snacking at the store after dinner. But with having no money to do so for the past two days, his stomach was persistently going off like an alarm clock.


    ¡°Man, here we go again,¡± he said helplessly.


    Once his stomach started growling, it wouldn¡¯t stop until he ate, and sleeping through the hunger was impossible.


    She¡¯ll catch me for sure this time, Yong-Yong thought, recalling the incident from the morning when Yoon-Hee had noticed the two missing packs of sausages like a hawk.


    Luckily, he had managed to slip by her suspicion this time, but if this happened again, she would definitely start to catch on. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Urged by the persistent growling of his stomach, Yong-Yong eventually made his way to the refrigerator, careful not to wake anyone. Slowly, he opened the fridge door, and the light from inside illuminated him.


    ¡°Hm? What¡¯s this?¡±


    He spotted a plate of fried zucchini slices wrapped in plastic wrap and a sticky note that read, ¡°Heat in the microwave for one minute before eating.¡±


    It was probably something Yoon-Hee had prepared for lunch.


    ¡°That¡¯s for Byeol and Karsiel, so I can¡¯t eat that...¡±


    He rummaged around some more. Then, he found a hidden pudding in a corner of the fridge. It was Yoon-Hee¡¯s favorite snack.


    ¡°I¡¯ll leave that too since it¡¯s Yoon-Hee¡¯s...¡±


    Finally, after a long search, he settled on eating just one pack of sausages for the very last time.


    ***


    A loud cracking noise echoed through the air as a Fissure opened like a pane of glass. A man emerged from the darkness, his presence alone brightening the surroundings. This light came from Ignium, the essence of fire that encircled him.


    Where is the Earthling who killed Malanuh and Aduntath?


    As Ignium blazed brilliantly, the ground where the Flame King stood caved in as if struck by a small meteorite.


    The air grew heavy, and flames colored the surroundings. The temperature soared as if everything would melt in an instant. Plants in the park burst into flames, while an abandoned forklift and excavator exploded with a bang.


    The wildly vibrating Ignium shot up, punching a hole in the clouds and clearing the sky above. A moment later, the blazing essence transformed into a sword and returned to the Flame King¡¯s hand.


    With a boom, the ground quaked.


    ***


    Boom!


    Suddenly, the whole house shook as if hit by an earthquake.


    Yong-Yong jumped in surprise. He had been secretly munching on the sausages of shame. It wasn¡¯t the tremor that startled him, though¡ªhe was worried that Do-Jun or Yoon-Hee might wake up because of it.


    He glanced toward the bedroom. Luckily, there was no sign of movement.


    Relieved that he hadn¡¯t been caught, Yong-Yong sighed and then frowned, looking in the direction where an intense energy was emanating about two kilometers away.


    It didn¡¯t feel human, likely a monster. Its power was far beyond what ordinary humans could handle. Still, Yong-Yong didn¡¯t care as long as it didn¡¯t directly involve him, so he decided to let it be.


    ¡°Just gotta finish this, go back to bed, and pretend to sleep,¡± he mumbled, eyeing the half-eaten pack of sausages.


    Boom!


    There was another deafening noise, and the house rattled again.


    In the bedroom, Yoon-Hee turned in her sleep, letting out a faint groan. Thankfully, she didn¡¯t wake up and soon settled back.


    Yong-Yong wiped the cold sweat off his face with a paw and grumbled, ¡°I¡¯m gonna kill you.¡±


    With that, he flew toward the source of the noise.


    ***


    ¡°What...!¡± The Flame King froze in his tracks when he detected a presence approaching from afar.


    A chill ran down his spine.


    Had he ever felt anything like this before?


    The sheer scale of the power he felt was something he had never felt from either Solomon¡¯s demons or the Transcendents.


    ¡°I-I need to run!¡±


    He didn¡¯t know what this being¡¯s purpose was in coming here, but his thousands of years of experience told him one thing clearly: if he stayed there, he would die.


    There would be no other outcome.


    Crack!


    The Fissure he had opened to come to Earth¡ªa portal to the Deep Realm¡ªwas reopening. But before he could make his escape, a blinding streak of light struck the Fissure.


    Crash! Boom!


    The Fissure vanished.


    Swallowing dryly, the Flame King slowly turned his head, trying to see the figure of death that had approached so closely.


    It was a small, flying creature, a red figure with tiny fluttering wings and two horns on its head. Then, its appearance started to shift.


    ¡°Y-you¡¯re... no way...!¡± The Flame King gasped. He recognized him.


    The figure¡¯s red hair fluttered in the wind, revealing sharp, piercing eyes. The man brushed his bangs back and glared at the Flame King, who noticed the number ¡°1¡± marked on the back of his hand[1].


    He was a ruler who had reigned over the Deep Realm for ages but forgotten over millennia¡ªthe one who had struck fear into Solomon¡¯s demons and countless other kings.


    The Overlord.


    ¡°H-how are you here...?¡± the Flame King asked.


    Izaas looked down at the Flame King with a cold stare. He reached out toward Ignium, and a black flame surged within the fire essence, melting it away completely.


    ¡°You know me?¡± Izaas muttered, sounding annoyed.


    The Flame King nodded vigorously, his lips trembling.


    ¡°Flame King Hyperion greets the Overlord,¡± he said, his voice shaking. Then, he dropped to his knees in reverence.


    But Izaas¡¯ expression remained unchanged. He wondered if this ¡°Overlord¡± title referred to him, but that wasn¡¯t important.


    ¡°You committed an unforgivable sin,¡± he said to the kneeling Flame King.


    ¡°W-what might that be?¡±


    ¡°You nearly got me killed.¡±


    ¡°Pardon...?¡±


    Who could possibly threaten the life of the Overlord?


    But the Flame King never got an answer to that question because the radiant light that emanated from the Overlord¡¯s hand pierced through his body.


    ***


    ?And now for news on accidents and incidents. Early this morning, around 4 AM, at a construction site in Seocho-gu, Seoul, four excavators, eleven forklifts, and several construction materials were either scorched or melted. The site itself was no exception, with some areas caved in as deep as 10 meters...?


    Do-Jun opened the bedroom door and walked out. Yoon-Hee had been watching TV while preparing breakfast.


    ¡°Good morning!¡± She bowed to him slightly in greeting.


    ¡°Morning.¡±


    Do-Jun¡¯s gaze shifted to the TV screen, where a reporter was walking around the site, describing the extensive damage.


    As Yoon-Hee watched the devastated scene, she commented, ¡°What happened in the middle of the night...?¡±


    Do-Jun noticed a stray sausage on the floor near the fridge, along with a half-empty sausage pack. Blue energy gathered around his fingers, lifting them into the air and sending them straight into the trash bin.


    It was a telekinetic technique, controlling objects through internal energy.


    He opened a drawer and took out Yong-Yong¡¯s wallet, which contained nothing but dust. With a smirk, he slipped in a yellow bill[2].


    1. Yes, this isn¡¯t wrong. This number is now on his hand instead of his forehead. We are guessing it might just look weird for a person to walk with a number etched on his/her forehead, so maybe...the number moves? ?


    2. 50,000 won bills are yellow. ?

 Chapter 109

    Chapter 109Saturday was the best day of the week for office workers. It was a day to finally release the week¡¯s accumulated fatigue by indulging in a deep, restful sleep.


    However, for Do-Jun, this Saturday was not like that.


    While he wasn¡¯t one to sleep in any way, today, he was up even earlier than his usual weekday time, thanks to a study group proposed by a fellow intern.


    [Announcement. Please gather at the Yeonchan Hall by 10 AM on Saturday.]


    The group chat had a total of fifteen intern colleagues, including Do-Jun.


    This ¡°Talk¡± messenger app felt foreign at first, but Do-Jun had gotten used to it, and his friend list had grown to an impressive fifty-five contacts. Adding all the interns in the group chat as friends played a big part, but it was still a big leap from when he first arrived on Earth and had fewer than five friends.


    Do-Jun felt pleased to see himself gradually adjusting to life on Earth.


    After his shower, he put on a neatly ironed dress shirt that Yoon-Hee had prepared for him. The hot, humid summer weather was approaching, but he had long since transcended any temperature sensitivity.


    As he straightened his suit and looked at himself in the full-length mirror, he saw the image of a man in his mid to late twenties¡ªa prime example of a working professional.


    ¡°Master,¡± Yong-Yong called.


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    Usually, Yong-Yong wouldn¡¯t wake up until well after 10 AM, but today, for some reason, he was up before 9. In fact, Yong-Yong tended to wake up earlier than usual on weekends.


    ¡°Are you going to work?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m going to a study session with the other interns.¡±


    Typically, Do-Jun didn¡¯t go to work on weekends. Instead, he¡¯d either explore the Core or go out somewhere. Yong-Yong was visibly disappointed that today wasn¡¯t the same as usual and sluggishly crawled back into the bed.


    ¡°I humbly ask for a melon ice cream on your way back.¡±


    Do-Jun chuckled and headed out.


    ***


    Yeonchan Hall, a study hall built for the employees of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau, could be used when needed to read up on work-related topics. It was occasionally used as a meeting room when other rooms were full.


    Since it was a weekend morning, Yeonchan Hall, located on the seventh floor, was vacant.


    While waiting for the elevator on the ground floor, Do-Jun heard the elevator bell ring as it descended from the thirteenth floor. It was a high-speed elevator, faster than typical ones in most buildings.


    When the doors opened, a man in his fifties with his hair slicked back stepped out. He looked slightly surprised when he saw Do-Jun.


    ¡°Oh, h-hello,¡± the man stammered.


    He immediately recognized Do-Jun, who took a moment to recall him and greeted him with a friendly smile. ¡°Director Park Jung-Ryul, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes! It¡¯s an honor that you remember me.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Are you also working today?¡± Do-Jun asked him.


    ¡°Just stopped by to pick something up. But what about you...?¡±


    Park Jung-Ryul was curious about why Do-Jun was at the Hunter¡¯s Bureau so early in the morning.


    Do-Jun showed him his intern ID badge hanging around his neck.


    ¡°An... intern?¡± Park Jung-Ryul muttered, visibly puzzled.


    ¡°I was told that it was mandatory training for civil servants in the Fissure Management field,¡± Do-Jun explained.


    ¡°Ah! I see. I wasn¡¯t aware of that. But... today¡¯s Saturday.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re having a study session with the other interns, so I came by.¡±


    Park Jung-Ryul¡¯s mouth fell open slightly. Pulling himself together, he said, ¡°I hope you have a pleasant time here during your training period.¡±


    Seeing the overly stiff Park Jung-Ryul, Do-Jun said, ¡°Right now, I¡¯m technically below you in rank, so you don¡¯t have to be overly formal with me.¡±


    ¡°N-no, Supervisor Lee, I could never. In any case, if you need anything, please don¡¯t hesitate to ask.¡±


    Do-Jun nodded as he stepped into the elevator.


    ***


    Meanwhile, a man watched the two from a corner of the lobby. He was Han Baek-Myung, an intern in the Planning Department at the Hunter¡¯s Bureau, who had created the group chat and organized this study session.


    ¡°Did I... just see that right?¡± he muttered in disbelief.


    The idea of a Planning Director of the great Hunter¡¯s Bureau bowing to a mere intern was unthinkable, if not outright impossible. Just as he was about to lean out and double-check that he wasn¡¯t hallucinating, he accidentally made eye contact with Park Jung-Ryul, who was walking toward him in the lobby.


    ¡°Gah! Good morning, sir!¡± Han Baek-Myung shouted and bowed so low his head nearly touched the ground.


    Park Jung-Ryul gave him a quick glance up and down. Noticing the intern badge hanging around Han Baek-Myung¡¯s neck, he gave a casual wave of acknowledgment and strode outside.


    The difference in his demeanor was truly remarkable.


    ***


    ¡°This is too haaard...¡± Byeol wailed.


    She was on the verge of tears, struggling to write out consonants and vowels. The book in front of her was a children¡¯s Korean workbook titled ¡°Hangeul Class for Kids.¡±


    ¡°This... this is kinda tough,¡± Yong-Yong said, scratching his head.


    He was helping her study, but there was one big problem. His Korean wasn¡¯t much better than Byeol¡¯s. On top of that, his handwriting was so atrocious that it was hard for Byeol to understand anything he wrote.


    ¡°Yong-Yong... you¡¯re... kinda like me,¡± Byeol muttered, tilting her head in confusion.


    Feeling his pride getting stabbed mercilessly, Yong-Yong gripped his pencil tightly with his front paw and trembled. Until now, he had believed that the amount and variety of experience he had gained in Korea was a mountain compared to Byeol¡¯s, but it wasn¡¯t showing. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Watching from the side, Karsiel turned her head away, stifling her laughter.


    Noticing her reaction, Yong-Yong looked at her with a serious look and motioned at her with his paw.


    ¡°Look at me,¡± he commanded.


    ¡°S-sorry, Lord Izaas... b-but... haha!¡±


    Yong-Yong¡¯s face turned red with embarrassment. His skin, which was already red, turned redder than a beet, while Byeol, who didn¡¯t understand the situation, just tilted her head in confusion.


    ***


    On the ninth floor of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau, in the planning office, two men were drinking coffee in the office break room. These were Assistant Manager Kim Cheol-Soo, now in his fourth year with the Bureau, and the intern, Han Baek-Myung.


    On the table in front of them lay a single USB drive.


    Han Baek-Myung bowed his head in thanks and slipped the USB into his pocket.


    ¡°I¡¯m doing this just for you, so don¡¯t let anyone else find out about this,¡± Kim Cheol-Soo said.


    ¡°Thank you, hyung.¡±[1]


    ¡°Hyung? It¡¯s assistant manager in here, got it?¡±


    The USB contained materials from project reports completed by previous interns that had been rated ¡°Excellent.¡± The two were alumni of S University¡¯s business school, so they already knew each other well.


    At every company training, HR would harp on about ending networking cliques based on school ties, blood ties, or regional ties. However, it was only natural that such things were hard to stamp out.


    ¡°Hey, hyung, have you heard of this guy named Lee Do-Jun? You know, the intern who was working as a civil servant at the City Hall?¡±


    ¡°Lee Do... oh, you mean the one Doo-Hwi was praising for his work?¡±


    Kim Chul-Soo and Doo-Hwi, Do-Jun¡¯s mentor, were colleagues, and they had joined the company at the same time.


    ¡°Yes, him. But guess what I saw this morning?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°It was Director Park Jung-Ryul bowing respectfully to Lee Do-Jun. I mean, can you imagine a Director bowing to an intern?¡± Han Baek-Myung said.


    Kim Cheol-Soo let out a laugh of disbelief.


    ¡°That man? Bowing? You must have been hallucinating,¡± he dismissed Han Baek-Myung¡¯s claim.


    ¡°I swear I saw it with my own eyes. He treated him like a total superior,¡± Han Baek-Myung insisted.


    Kim Cheol-Soo gulped down the rest of his coffee, crumpled his paper cup, and tossed it perfectly into the trash bin as he got up.


    ¡°Quit with the nonsense. You should spend more time preparing for your presentation instead of spreading gossip. I took a look at the other interns this year. You have some serious competition. If you slack off and fail, don¡¯t come to me for help.¡±


    With that, Kim Cheol-Soo headed back to the office.


    Left alone, Han Baek-Myung mumbled to himself, ¡°Man, I did see it though...¡±


    ***


    Most of the other interns were already gathered at Yeonchan Hall. Everyone was typing away on their laptops, seated one seat apart from each other due to the notion that they were each other¡¯s competition. Still, that didn¡¯t stop them from sneaking glances at the other screens whenever someone got up to go to the restroom or grab a coffee.


    Of course, there wasn¡¯t much point in peeking. The contents of each project proposal were new business ideas related to each team or department¡¯s work, so there was rarely any overlap.


    Only those who stand out succeed¡ªthat was the mindset of most interns.


    Everyone poured their hearts and souls into creating proposals filled with fresh, profitable ideas, crafting them to be eye-catching and professional in hopes of impressing the evaluators.


    Let¡¯s see what he¡¯s got going on. Stretching, Han Baek-Myung casually strolled over to Do-Jun¡¯s seat.


    Unlike others, Do-Jun had not left his seat once, focusing solely on his own presentation. Curious about his ideas, Han Baek-Myung sneaked a glance at his screen, only to be flabbergasted.


    The reason was simple: it was plain, painfully ordinary.


    It seemed like he was working on content appropriate for Fissure Management Team 1, but it felt a bit different from the other interns¡¯ proposals. It didn¡¯t look like he was proposing any new projects.


    Guess I don¡¯t need to worry about him after all, Han Baek-Myung decided.


    Maybe it was because he had come from a civil service background, but Do-Jun¡¯s presentation was utterly devoid of any sense of urgency.


    Thinking about it, he probably didn¡¯t need to worry about it in the first place. After all, he was a civil servant. He probably didn¡¯t have to worry about competition nearly as much as one would in the Bureau.


    While the Hunter¡¯s Bureau was technically a public corporation, it was still known to be a grueling place to work, where employees had to work several times harder than those in other major companies just to survive.


    And despite that, the Bureau¡¯s salaries were high enough to draw in top talent with stellar credentials.


    I heard he¡¯s good, but... maybe he¡¯s nothing special after all. Han Baek-Myung completely disregarded Do-Jun.


    ***


    Do-Jun finally arrived home at 4 PM.


    Time had flown by as he had lunch with his fellow interns and made a few adjustments to his report. Though many interns stayed behind at the Bureau to continue working on their presentations, he preferred to have dinner at home with his family, so he decided to head back early.


    ¡°Lord Izaas got fifty-five and Byeol got eighty,¡± Karsiel announced the scores.


    ¡°W-wait, are you sure you marked that right? What is that? Is that my score?¡± Yong-Yong argued back.


    ¡°Checked it twice; I marked it right.¡±


    ¡°I won!¡± Byeol exclaimed in joy.


    The ¡°children¡± were gathered on the living room floor.


    Do-Jun handed Yoon-Hee a melon ice cream he had picked up from the store and asked, ¡°What¡¯s all this?¡±


    Yoon-Hee chuckled and answered, ¡°They¡¯re practicing spelling. Siel¡¯s helping them with their studies...¡±


    ¡°Karsiel is?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Even I didn¡¯t know, but Siel¡¯s pretty decent at Korean.¡±


    Spotting Do-Jun, Byeol ran over. He picked her up, lifting her high as she beamed.


    ¡°Daddy, Byeol won!¡±


    Do-Jun chuckled in amusement.


    ***


    A few days later, the results for the intern project proposals were posted.


    The evaluations were split into four tabs in an Excel file. Han Baek-Myung opened the tab labeled ¡°Good¡± and found his name there.


    He still thought his result was satisfactory, as a ¡°Good¡± rating meant he was still in the top tier. Curious about who had received an ¡°Excellent¡± rating, he clicked open the tab labeled ¡°Excellent.¡±


    Soon, Han Baek-Myung¡¯s expression hardened.


    1. ¡°Hyung¡± is what men call other men older than them. ?

 Chapter 110

    Chapter 110Morning work sessions were always followed by a lunch break.


    Do-Jun usually ate lunch with his teammates, but since they were all out on business trips that day, he headed to the cafeteria alone.


    There were two options on the menu: Korean and Western cuisine. As usual, Do-Jun walked over to the Korean cuisine section for his meal. He got a serving of mushroom rice, assorted greens, grilled bulgogi, and yogurt for dessert.


    Though it was just a company cafeteria, the food was tastier than most restaurants, so he was always satisfied with his meal.


    As he ate, someone placed a tray down across from him. Do-Jun looked up to see a woman with slightly wavy short hair. He recognized her immediately as a fellow intern, though his memory was a bit hazy, and he couldn¡¯t recall her name.


    ¡°Mind if I sit here? There aren¡¯t many available seats,¡± she asked, pulling a chair before Do-Jun could answer.


    A quick glance around showed that plenty of seats were available, contrary to her words.


    Though he didn¡¯t understand why she bothered to make an excuse, Do-Jun nodded in approval. However, he noticed something odd¡ªher tray held only a single piece of bread. Given the intense workload at the Hunter¡¯s Bureau, he thought it would be tough to last on just a piece of bread.


    As he munched on a piece of lettuce, someone passing by called out to her, ¡°What, you¡¯re eating again?¡±


    At the remark, the woman, Lim Jin-Ah, glanced at Do-Jun with a fluster and, after a moment, gave an awkward smile.


    ¡°O-oh, I thought the croissants looked especially good today,¡± she explained herself.


    Her curious colleague tilted their head as if puzzled but soon left, telling her to enjoy her food.


    Do-Jun glanced at Jin-Ah and made an innocent observation with no other meaning behind it. ¡°You already ate?¡±


    To Jin-Ah, though, it sounded like he was teasing her, and she flushed in embarrassment.


    ¡°I only got it because it looked good, really. Don¡¯t get the wrong idea,¡± she retorted with a scoff.


    ¡°Oh? Well, you should eat as much as you want if you¡¯re hungry.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not eating because I¡¯m hungry.¡±


    What was he supposed to say to that? Sighing, Do-Jun continued his meal.


    Jin-Ah abruptly asked, ¡°By the way, what kind of proposal did you submit to top the intern ranking?¡±


    Do-Jun finally realized why she approached him with just a single piece of bread for a lousy excuse.


    Jin-Ah continued without giving him a chance to respond. ¡°I¡¯m sure you referred to the other proposals with an ¡®Excellent¡¯ rating from the last quarter, but what was your topic? Was it Fissures? Or maybe something trending like mana stone engineering? Oh, wait, you probably wouldn¡¯t know much about engineering. I heard you joined the workforce right after high school.¡±


    Do-Jun clicked his tongue. This girl sure talked a lot.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t refer to any previous materials. I wouldn¡¯t even know where to find them,¡± he replied.


    ¡°Huh? Then how did you... What groundbreaking idea did you come up with?¡± Jin-Ah asked, surprised.


    ¡°Groundbreaking...? No, I only focused on the basics.¡±


    Do-Jun had faithfully stuck to the basics, and that was indeed the truth. Since he¡¯d lost the entirety of his first twenty-six years on Earth, he didn¡¯t have as much knowledge as others. Because of this, he knew he had to focus even more on the fundamentals than most.


    ¡°Just the basics?¡± Jin-Ah asked, puzzled at such a plain answer.


    ¡°I see internships as a time to learn the company¡¯s culture and processes and build a foundation. Besides, one month is barely enough time to learn even the basic duties of a team.¡±


    Jin-Ah nodded in agreement.


    ¡°Furthermore, the purpose of my team¡ªI work in the Fissure Management Team¡ªis management. That¡¯s it.¡±


    Countless Fissures existed across the country, with over two hundred and fifty Great Fissures ranked B and above and thousands of C-rank and lower Fissures.


    In the Fissure Management team, daily tasks were set in stone. Instead of dazzling techniques, what mattered was consistently completing necessary work. The Fissure Management Division at Seoul City Hall was no different.


    Do-Jun explained the nature of his team¡¯s work.


    ¡°Our team checks for anomalies in the registered Fissures and, if any changes are detected, contacts the guild responsible for that Fissure to verify the change. If the Hunters need support artifacts, we coordinate with the support team to expedite orders from the workshop, and we also manage the settlement for the byproducts collected by the Hunters.¡±


    All these tasks were divided among the team members. Like interlocking gears, if even one stopped turning, it would disrupt the entire operation. Employees of the Fissure Management teams were expected to perform their duties without complaint.


    Do-Jun continued explaining, ¡°Sure, adding a new business item to the proposal might stand out, but I questioned the feasibility of an intern suggesting a business plan without a thorough understanding of the team¡¯s responsibilities. To us, it might seem innovative, but to the supervisors with years of experience, it¡¯s probably all the same.¡±


    ¡°So... you think they¡¯re too set in their ways to expect creative ideas from young interns? Then why ask us to come up with proposals in the first place?¡± Jin-Ah asked, finding it hard to believe that a simple approach could earn such a good rating.


    If it could, then she wondered if she had been going about it all wrong.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think creativity is the only thing they¡¯re looking for. They¡¯re assessing if the proposal is feasible, whether it¡¯s a one-off or has sustainability, how much it would cost, and how much benefit it would bring the company. If they just wanted creative ideas, why bother with interns? They could open a public contest.¡±


    Watching Jin-Ah sit there, speechless, Do-Jun continued. ¡°There¡¯s a reason why interns are called interns. I think management wants us to learn more about our work as we prepare our proposals.¡±


    ***


    On the floor of the Artifact Business Team at the Hunter¡¯s Bureau.


    After lunch, Jin-Ah returned to her desk and stared at the pile of business ideas she had prepared on her desk. She had been working tirelessly to create proposals in hopes of standing out and getting hired as a full-time employee.


    ¡°There¡¯s a reason why interns are called interns.¡±


    Recalling Do-Jun¡¯s words, Jin-Ah turned on her computer. On her desktop, she found a folder containing materials on ongoing projects that a senior colleague had given her, as well as templates for the reports used by the bureau, guidelines, and workflow charts for the team.


    These were the ¡°basics¡± that Do-Jun had mentioned, but material that she had glanced at once and then set aside.


    Without a word, Jin-Ah began reading through the documents her senior had provided, this time with full focus.


    ***


    The hallway in front of the Fissure Management Team 1 office.


    A woman hid against the wall, peeking her head out to secretly watch a man through the glass door. He had neatly trimmed dark brown hair and sharp yet balanced features that weren¡¯t too imposing. Most importantly, his forearms with faintly visible veins, broad back, and defined shoulders were visible beneath his rolled-up shirt sleeves.


    The woman, Ae-Kyung, swallowed unconsciously.


    Had she been staring too intently? S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Just then, someone placed a hand on her shoulder, and she turned around in a panic.


    ¡°Whatcha doin?¡± the person asked.


    ¡°Please refrain from sneaking up on people like that, Ryu Jun-Yeol.¡±


    It was none other than the man known as the Spear King; the second-ranked Hunter of Korea and the second-in-command of Behemoth, the country¡¯s top guild.


    ¡°Why the sudden formal language?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I was just... a bit startled, that¡¯s all...¡±


    ¡°Whatever. The Chief wants everyone to gather, so let¡¯s go, chop-chop.¡±


    ¡°Fine, just get your hand off me already.¡±


    Ae-Kyung swatted his hand off her shoulder. Her former lovestruck face now wore a fierce expression, which Jun-Yeol found rather amusing.


    ¡°Nothing¡¯s going to happen if all you do is just stare at him, you know?¡± he commented.


    Ae-Kyung¡¯s face flushed bright red. ¡°W-what are you saying...!¡±


    Watching her flustered expression, Jun-Yeol snickered.


    ***


    Hunter¡¯s Bureau Chief¡¯s office.


    Four people sat on the sofa in front of the table: Young-Chul and three members of Behemoth Guild.


    ¡°Our Status Window mastery is currently at forty percent. At this pace, we should be able to reach one hundred percent and move on to the next level within two months,¡± Kang-Hyun reported while reviewing the mastery analysis chart.


    They steadily improved their mastery with the help of the mapping and strategy guides Do-Jun had crafted for the first floor of the Core.


    For reasons unknown, the adventurers on the first floor hadn¡¯t interfered with them, which only benefited them.


    ¡°If Supervisor Lee could accompany us, we would progress much faster. But when one of those mythical creatures shows up, we¡¯re forced to retreat to Earth for a few days, which slows us down a bit,¡± Kang-Hyun added.


    ¡°Don¡¯t rush. The most important thing is to stay alive,¡± Young-Chul reassured him.


    ¡°Yes, Chief. I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡±


    Listening to their conversation, Jun-Yeol glanced over at Ae-Kyung, who was intently studying the strategy report, and smirked. He decided to ask an innocent question.


    ¡°By the way, how long is Supervisor Lee assigned to work here?¡±


    Young-Chul answered, ¡°Until the end of the month. He¡¯s here as an intern. Why do you ask?¡±


    Ryu Jun-Yeol casually mentioned what he had seen earlier. ¡°Right before this meeting, I saw a certain lady gazing longingly at him while he was working.¡±


    Ae-Kyung visibly flinched and shot him a murderous glare.


    Watching the two, Kang-Hyun muttered, ¡°You probably didn¡¯t even see him that often... Well, Supervisor Lee is indeed handsome, but...¡±


    What they didn¡¯t know was that Ae-Kyung had spent four whole days at Do-Jun¡¯s house. And during that time, they had even shared the same bed.


    Although nothing romantic had happened between them, those days had been a significant experience for Ae-Kyung, who had zero prior experience with men.


    ¡°W-when did I do anything like that? I was just... curious about why he¡¯s working here, so I looked for a second. Can you all stop jumping to conclusions?¡± Ae-Kyung snapped, flustered.


    ¡°Eh, you¡¯re right. Might as well just give up. Supervisor Lee already has a girlfriend, anyway,¡± Jun-Yeol remarked.


    Ae-Kyung jumped in surprise. ¡°H-he does?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    She stared daggers at Jun-Yeol.


    ¡°Wow, but that really got to you, huh? Do you actually like him?¡±


    Everyone¡¯s eyes turned toward her. Feeling overwhelmed by their stares, she lowered her head and clutched the fabric of her skinny jeans. That¡¯s when Kang-Hyun stood up, walked over to Ae-Kyung, and placed both hands on her shoulders.


    ¡°An excellent choice,¡± he said with sincerity.


    ***


    It was the end of yet another workday.


    Exiting the elevator on the first floor, Do-Jun spotted Ae-Kyung hiding behind the lobby wall, casting furtive glances in his direction.


    What is she doing?


    When Do-Jun looked her way, Ae-Kyung quickly ducked out of sight. Sensing potential trouble, he considered leaving through the back entrance but sighed and headed toward the front door.


    ¡°Oh? Supervisor Lee, what brings you here?¡± Ae-Kyung greeted with a feigned surprise and emerged from around the corner.


    Seeing Do-Jun staring at her silently, Ae-Kyung stammered in embarrassment, ¡°H-hello? S-supervisor Lee?¡±


    Do-Jun spoke in a deadpan tone. ¡°Wow. What a coincidence, running into each other in a place like this.¡±


    ¡°Y-yes! W-what a coincidence!¡± she stuttered and quickly averted her gaze.


    Do-Jun glanced at a nearby corner where Kang-Hyun and Jun-Yeol watched them, trying to remain unseen.


    ¡°So.¡± Do-Jun smiled faintly. ¡°What¡¯s your intention here?¡±

 Chapter 111

    Chapter 111Do-Jun was near the Gangnam station in front of a towering forty-story, five-star hotel that seemed to reach the sky.


    A set of revolving doors opened into a lobby with a modern interior design. The front desk was managed by impeccably dressed female staff, who greeted guests with polite bows and warm smiles.


    Do-Jun recalled Ae-Kyung¡¯s earlier words as he followed her to the elevator.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a while. Would you like to have dinner together or something...?¡±


    Do-Jun had always wondered why Ae-Kyung stayed at a hotel instead of an actual residence.


    This building, previously called the ¡°Seoho Building,¡± was acquired by the SG Group, remodeled, and reopened as a hotel. As the granddaughter of SG Group¡¯s chairman, it made sense why Ae-Kyung wouldn¡¯t bother finding a separate residence and instead stayed here long-term.


    Ae-Kyung pressed the button for the thirtieth floor. However, when Do-Jun glanced at the elevator directory, he noticed that the thirtieth floor wasn¡¯t a restaurant or a floor with rooms.


    While Do-Jun pondered where they were headed, the elevator arrived at the thirtieth floor, and as the doors opened, another reception area came into view. Two female staff members at the desk stood up and bowed to Ae-Kyung, who acknowledged their greeting with a slight nod.


    Walking down the long, carpeted hallway, they arrived at a securely locked, towering door over three meters tall. Ae-Kyung placed her thumb on the fingerprint scanner, and the door opened slowly, revealing a luxurious living room straight out of a drama.


    I see. The entire floor is Ae-Kyung¡¯s private suite. Not only is she an S-rank Hunter, but a conglomerate¡¯s granddaughter... Do-Jun couldn¡¯t help but be impressed by her status.


    In societal terms, she was living a life of ultimate success, someone few would dare cross.


    As he wondered if dinner would be served by room service, brought up by staff, Ae-Kyung opened the refrigerator and placed various ingredients on the kitchen counter. Then, she gathered her kitchenware: a cutting board, knife, and scissors.


    Watching her, Do-Jun couldn¡¯t help but remark, ¡°Are you cooking?¡±


    Ae-Kyung looked slightly flustered by his reaction and asked, ¡°I-is that a problem?¡±


    ¡°Not at all. I just assumed we¡¯d either eat at the hotel restaurant or order room service.¡±


    ¡°I remember you saying you enjoyed home-cooked meals...¡±


    She remembered his meal preferences from her time staying at his home. Usually, she relied on room service, but tonight, for his sake, she wanted to cook a meal herself.


    ¡°Must be nice,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Whoever marries you. They¡¯re going to be very lucky.¡±


    Ae-Kyung smiled as she tied her apron. It was just a simple compliment, but it made her feel unexpectedly happy.


    It was a strange, interesting feeling.


    ***


    The next evening, Yoon-Hee washed dishes as usual.


    Byeol ran to her and tugged on her apron. ¡°I go to store with Yong-Yong!¡±


    She held a small coin purse filled with one-hundred-won coins in her left hand. She had recently earned a generous allowance for being a good kid.


    Yoon-Hee smiled and patted Byeol¡¯s head. ¡°Alright, go on.¡±


    ¡°Ok! Do you want anything to eat, Mommy?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°Then I will pick something good for you!¡±


    Moved by the sweet gesture, Yoon-Hee pulled Byeol into a big hug, rubbing her cheek against Byeol¡¯s. The soft, chubby feel of her skin was delightful.


    ¡°Who told you to be this cute, Byeol? You¡¯re staying with me forever, okay?¡±


    ¡°M-mommy, I can¡¯t bweath...¡±


    Yoon-Hee chuckled and let her go.


    Just then, Do-Jun came out of the bathroom after showering. Byeol ran to him. Drying his hair with a towel, Do-Jun smiled and knelt down to meet her gaze.


    ¡°Are you going to the store, Byeol?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Mhm! What snack do you want, Daddy?¡±


    Although he wasn¡¯t one for snacks, Do-Jun didn¡¯t want to hurt her feelings by saying he didn¡¯t need anything, so he asked her to get him a single candy.


    ***


    A new arcade game had been recently installed at the corner store that Yong-Yong and Byeol frequented. It was technically a gambling machine and was a huge hit among the neighborhood kids.


    A few children were gathered around the machine, playing.


    [Rock, Paper, Scissors!]


    Images of rock, paper, and scissors rotated on the screen, and a boy pressed the fist button, landing on Rock. The lights on the machine¡¯s display, labeled with numbers 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 20, started blinking, eventually stopping on 5.


    [You win!] S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Clink, clink, clink!


    Five one-hundred-won coins spilled out from the machine¡¯s bottom slot.


    ¡°Woah! You won so much money!¡±


    ¡°Young-Hoon, give me just one!¡±


    ¡°Me too, me too!¡±


    The boy, Young-Hoon, wiped his nose proudly as he looked at his friends lined up in front of him.


    Meanwhile, Yong-Yong was munching on an ice cream as he walked out of the store. He squeezed through the group and stood in front of the arcade machine.


    ¡°Is this fun?¡± he asked the children.


    ¡°Hey, Yong-Yong! You should give it a try! You can turn one hundred won into two thousand won!¡±


    Hearing this, Yong-Yong looked at the store owner¡¯s grandmother watching TV inside. Scratching his head, he let out a sigh.


    ¡°Grandma has to make a living, too. I¡¯ll pass.¡±


    ***


    [Rock, Paper, Scissors!]


    [You lose :(]


    After spending a large sum of three thousand won, he hadn¡¯t won even once.


    Yong-Yong was stunned, unable to accept reality.


    ¡°Wow...¡±


    ¡°Poor Yong-Yong...¡±


    The kids looked at him with pity.


    It just took ten minutes for ten percent of his allowance to disappear. It was utterly unbelievable.


    ¡°Yong-Yong, you suck at this,¡± Byeol said, pouring a bucket of salt on his wounded heart. ¡°I will give it a try.¡±


    ***


    A loud crash was heard, alerting Hakase that someone had clumsily broken into his nest and was wiggling its way through the machine parts near the entrance.


    Had some clueless monster from the Core dared to invade a dragon¡¯s nest?


    Hakase decided to give the intruder a good thrashing and gathered his magical power.


    Soon, the ¡°intruder¡± emerged from between the machine parts. When Hakase recognized the intruder¡¯s identity, he quickly reined in his magic, taken aback. Then, he knelt on one knee in a show of respect.


    As he bowed, the number ¡°5¡± engraved on his collarbone became visible.


    ¡°T-the fifth dragon humbly pays respect to the lord,¡± he said.


    ¡°Let¡¯s skip the formalities. I have a favor to ask,¡± Yong-Yong said.


    ¡°Speak, my lord.¡±


    ¡°Make me another one of this game machine.¡±


    A hologram appeared in the air, showing a rock-paper-scissors arcade game that Yong-Yong had been playing earlier.


    The video showed Yong-Yong playing the game, with the screen repeatedly flashing ¡°You lose.¡± Whenever Yong-Yong threw scissors, the arcade machine responded with rock; if he played rock, the machine countered with paper.


    The losing streak was so severe that it almost seemed like a rigged game. The odds of losing thirty rock-paper-scissors games in a row were nearly zero, practically a miracle in itself.


    Hakase stroked his chin as he examined the hologram carefully, his expression slowly growing grim as he watched till the end.


    He thought, My goodness. Thirty consecutive losses...


    Giving himself a mental shake, Hakase said, ¡°I can build a similar machine, my lord, but...what do you need it for?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll use it to practice and repay this humiliation. How dare it make a fool of me!¡± Yong-Yong said.


    ¡°P-practice...?¡± Hakase stammered.


    The rock-paper-scissors game that Yong-Yong had shown wasn¡¯t something where practice could improve one¡¯s win rate. Since each move¡ªrock, paper, or scissors¡ªwas a random, independent event with a one-third chance, it was purely a matter of luck, not skill.


    Even then, if the lord demanded it, he had no choice but to comply.


    ¡°I¡¯ll make it for you right away.¡±


    ***


    Lately, Yong-Yong was almost nowhere to be seen. He went out constantly and only stayed home during meal times.


    While reading the newspaper, Do-Jun thought of Yong-Yong¡¯s odd behavior. Worried that something might have happened, he asked Karsiel, but every time, she parroted the same reply: Lord Izaas is currently training.


    Do-Jun wasn¡¯t sure what kind of training Yong-Yong was undergoing, but every time the dragon returned, he mumbled things like ¡°Scissors, scissors, rock...¡± and the shadows under his eyes grew more pronounced.


    Since Yong-Yong was busy, Do-Jun decided to take Byeol to the store himself.


    ¡°Byeol. How about we go to the store together?¡±


    Byeol loved going to the store and snacking almost as much as Yong-Yong. She hadn¡¯t had any treats from the store for the past few days. At Do-Jun¡¯s suggestion, she immediately stopped her doodling, threw the crayons in her hand, and jumped up.


    She pulled out her cherished coin purse from the drawer and dashed to Do-Jun.


    The purse bulged with coins, visibly stuffed to the brim. It looked like it had over five thousand won, which seemed a bit excessive for a child, even considering the fact that she hadn¡¯t been to the store in a few days.


    Do-Jun soon understood the reason.


    ***


    Upon arriving at the store, they found a group of kids huddled around an arcade machine.


    [Rock, paper, scissors!]


    [You win!]


    ¡°Yay!¡±


    Clink, clink, clink!


    A heap of coins poured out of the machine, and Do-Jun finally understood why Byeol¡¯s coin pouch was so full. After observing for a while, though, he realized it wasn¡¯t a guaranteed win, and the kids often lost as well.


    ¡°Yong-Yong lost three thousand,¡± Byeol told him.


    ¡°He lost?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. But I won a lot.¡±


    Do-Jun chuckled, recalling Yong-Yong¡¯s weird murmuring of ¡°rock, paper, scissors¡± and Karsiel¡¯s talk of ¡°training.¡±


    ¡°Gwemma, this pwease,¡± Byeol said, placing her chosen snacks and chocolates on the counter for the store owner to ring up.


    The elderly shopkeeper was in the middle of a phone call, and from the conversation, it sounded like the rock-paper-scissors machine was getting removed the next day. It turned out that the local residents had complained that it encouraged gambling.


    ¡°If I¡¯d known it was illegal, I wouldn¡¯t have set it up in the first place...¡± the old lady said with a sigh.


    An acquaintance had offered her the machine for cheap, and she¡¯d taken it without much thought, but that had been a mistake.


    ¡°So, is that machine going away after today?¡± Do-Jun asked her.


    ¡°Yes. The local moms are furious. I¡¯ll let the kids play with it a bit longer, but then I¡¯ll have to get rid of it...¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    ***


    The next day, Yong-Yong returned home, having completed his long ¡°training.¡± He set out immediately with a bundle on his back, filled with one hundred won coins.


    After tens of thousands of rounds on the machine Hakase had made, he had discovered that the arcade machine followed a specific pattern. By figuring out that pattern, he¡¯d managed to raise his win rate to sixty-six percent.


    Today, he intended to reclaim his honor and pay back all the shame and humiliation he¡¯d suffered.


    ¡°I¡¯ll only take half of my winnings,¡± he promised to no one in particular.


    He felt sorry for the old lady if he took too much.


    ¡°Huh? Where did the machine go?¡±


    Yong-Yong set down his bundle, glancing around the store in disbelief. No matter where he looked, the rock-paper-scissors machine was nowhere to be found.


    ¡°Granny!¡± Yong-Yong cried as he entered the store.


    ¡°Someone stole the machine!¡±

 Chapter 112

    Chapter 112Today was an unusual day. The home vibes felt off, starting from the morning itself.


    The usually lively atmosphere seemed strangely subdued during breakfast.


    Master read the morning paper and ate in silence like usual, but he seemed a bit more aloof.


    The usually chatty Young Master was unusually quiet. She ate in silence and left for school without a word. That was very unlike herself. Breakfast felt different without her usual chatter about her classes at the Academy, the latest trends, and other miscellaneous things.


    I wondered if they had argued.


    But then again, it wasn¡¯t just the two of them.


    Even Lord Izaas and Byeol were up early today and left the house in a hurry. Normally, they like to sleep in well past 10 AM, so what was going on today...?


    ¡°Lord Izaas, where are you going?¡± I asked him, but he flinched and hurried outside.


    ¡°Byeol, where are you guys off to so early?¡± I inquired again.


    ¡°I-I dunno anything. Is a seecwit¡ª¡±


    Lord Izaas quickly came back and interrupted her by covering her mouth, leading her outside.


    ***


    It¡¯s been four months since I settled into my new nest. At first, it was a huge adjustment, and life on Earth felt quite unfamiliar. But now, I¡¯ve gotten used to it and have been managing pretty well.


    I emptied the washing machine and straightened the wrinkles on the clothes before placing them on the drying rack on the balcony one by one.


    Normally, Young Master takes care of the laundry, but I wanted to help out around the house, even if just a little, to reduce her workload.


    A pair of sparrows landed on the balcony railing, chirping happily. I smiled unknowingly at how cute they were. I offered them a few rice grains, and they happily accepted.


    Next up was Master¡¯s white dress shirt.


    Making sure no one was around, I took a quick sniff. I could faintly detect master¡¯s unique scent beneath the sweet scent of the fabric softener. After getting my fill of his scent, I straightened the wrinkles on the shirt and placed it on the drying rack.


    I like how smelling his scent makes me feel calm and secure.


    ***


    A scream echoed from unit 302. That was a signal for noon.


    The next-door neighbor is a web novel writer in his early thirties. It seemed like he was having another tough day with his story.


    Anyway, since it was lunchtime, it was time to eat.


    I usually have lunch with Lord Izaas and Byeol, but since they both ran off somewhere today, I had to eat alone. I checked the fridge and noticed a blue container with a sticky note that read, ¡°Take out the salad and heat the rest in the microwave.¡±


    Young Master always prepares our meals the previous night.


    I warmed up the food in the microwave, and once it was ready, I sat at the dining table.


    ¡°Thank you for the meal,¡± I said and dug in.


    Today¡¯s lunch was multigrain rice, pork cutlet, and salad. Young Master really is an amazing cook.


    Taking a big bite of the pork cutlet, I couldn¡¯t help glancing over at the dog food in the kitchen corner.


    When I first came to this nest, I didn¡¯t really enjoy human food. Dog food was actually easier to eat. But now, I¡¯m completely used to human food, and I rarely eat dog food. I still have it as a snack every now and then, though.


    The doorbell rang, interrupting my meal.


    Were Lord Izaas and Byeol back? No, that couldn¡¯t be it. I shook my head and walked to the entrance.


    I tiptoed to check the screen beside the door to see who was visiting the nest. It was a man wearing a blue vest with a hat labeled ¡°Coupong.¡±[1]


    As I remembered Master¡¯s words of never opening the door for suspicious people, the man at the door spoke loudly


    ¡°Package delivery! Is anyone home?¡±


    It was just a package, so I opened the door, and the man set down a large box at the entrance while sweating profusely.


    ¡°Are there any adults at home?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Why do you ask...?¡±


    Was he a bad person?


    I gathered my magic, prepared to neutralize him if necessary, but he smiled and handed me an electronic pad.


    ¡°Could you sign here, please?¡±


    Phew, he wasn¡¯t a bad guy after all. I took the pen and carefully wrote ¡°Karsiel¡± in neat handwriting. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The man gave me a puzzled look but simply said, ¡°Let your parents know their package arrived,¡± and left.


    ***


    After lunch, I decided to head outside as there wasn¡¯t much to do at home by myself.


    I wore my usual outdoor outfit¡ªa simple white dress. I went to the neighborhood store.


    ¡°Hello, granny,¡± I said to the store owner.


    ¡°Oh my, hi, Siel!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d like one ¡®ggang-ggang¡¯ [2]please.¡±


    Ggang-ggang is an icy, soda-flavored popsicle, and I love its refreshing chill.


    I handed the lady a thousand-won bill, and she gave me three hundred won in change. I receive a weekly allowance of five thousand won from Master, which is more than enough. If anything, I always have some left over.


    As I bit into the popsicle, a cold zing shot through my head, making me groan involuntarily. I used to dislike this feeling, but it didn¡¯t take long for me to get hooked.


    It was peaceful. Yet a sense of unease crept into my heart.


    What was I even doing here? Was it really okay to spend my days like this?


    After unexpectedly waking up from my eternal sleep, I found myself on the roads of this planet called Earth.


    Another bite and another involuntary groan.


    I mused as I ate the icy treat.


    Since waking up, Lord Izaas and I have lost most of our memories of the Core; only fragments remain. Maybe Hakase would know, for he is the only dragon who hasn¡¯t fallen into an eternal slumber.


    For a moment, I had an impulse to visit his nest to ask him but then decided against it. He would just laugh like a fool, pick me up, and spin me around. I didn¡¯t want that; I am no longer a child.


    Then, I heard a child¡¯s voice.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going! I want to play a little longer!¡±


    An adult¡¯s voice followed right after.


    ¡°Hey, didn¡¯t we promise to stay only an hour?¡±


    I looked around and saw a family of four in the playground about thirty meters away¡ªa mom, dad, daughter, and son. They continued to talk among themselves.


    ¡°But...¡±


    ¡°Look at your brother. He¡¯s such a good boy.¡±


    ¡°Honey, let them play for a bit longer.¡±


    For some reason, I couldn¡¯t help but picture Master, Young Master, Lord Izaas, and Byeol instead of that family. But I wasn¡¯t there.


    I had felt it vaguely for a while now. Since Byeol joined us, I felt somewhat left out. I know that Byeol is young and needs a lot of attention, but still... I can¡¯t help feeling a little hurt.


    I suddenly had an idea of cooking something for the family. I am not particularly good at cooking and can never match Young Master¡¯s skills, but it would still make them happy, right?


    I already felt better imagining them enjoying my food.


    ***


    Cooking dinner was one thing, but deciding on the menu was another.


    I emptied all the cash I had and gathered so far¡ªa little over 30,000 won. I went to the usual supermarket to do some grocery shopping.


    ¡°Discount on stew pork! Only six thousand won for three hundred grams!¡± the store clerk shouted into a megaphone.


    I remembered that Master loves kimchi jjigae. He enjoys a wide variety of food, but dishes with kimchi are his favorite.


    ¡°Hi sir, I¡¯ll take one pack, please.¡±


    ¡°Hehe. Are you here running an errand for your mom?¡±


    ¡°N-no... I¡¯m cooking,¡± I said, flustered.


    The clerk looked down at me, a bit surprised, and I couldn¡¯t help but lower my head under his somewhat sympathetic gaze.


    ¡°Here you go,¡± he said, handing me a plastic bag.


    However, instead of giving me a pre-packed container, he had wrapped the meat himself. Even at a glance, it looked like much more than three hundred grams. Oddly, the price on the tag was just under two thousand won.


    ¡°Uh, sir, I think there¡¯s a mistake with the price here.¡±


    I tried to be honest, but the clerk said something completely irrelevant.


    ¡°Stay strong.¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡±


    ¡°Never let the world bring you down.¡±


    The clerk wiped away a tear and sniffled as he spoke.


    Humans sometimes shed tears in the most unexpected moments. Was this man one of those sentimental kinds?


    Well, a good deal is a good deal, I thought, dismissing my previous thoughts.


    I also bought tofu and green onions for the kimchi jjigae. Since we had some well-aged kimchi at home, I could use that, and there was broth powder in the kitchen, too. With everything in hand, I checked the time. It was already past 5 PM. Four hours had flown by since I¡¯d left the house.


    I needed to hurry home and start preparing dinner quickly.


    ***


    When I reached the apartment door, I could hear voices coming from inside. It sounded like everyone was already home.


    ¡°Yong-Yong, that¡¯s not wight! Do bettuh.¡±


    ¡°N-no! These balloons just keep popping on their own, I swear!¡±


    ¡°Ugh! At this rate, Siel will get here before we¡¯re done.¡±


    The house was noisy.


    I hesitated by the door, but it suddenly swung open, and there stood Master.


    ¡°You¡¯re back?¡± he said with a warm smile.


    No matter how many times I see him, I always feel that Master is an amazing being. Even when I make no sound at all, he somehow always knows when I am at the door.


    ¡°Master, what¡¯s going on inside ...?¡± I asked, trying to peek inside, but Master immediately shut the door behind him.


    ¡°M-master?¡±


    I looked at him in confusion, but he just kept smiling silently. No, actually, I think he just gulped.


    ¡°Master, why are you home so early...?¡±


    He usually arrived around 7 PM, but it was only just past 5:30 PM now.


    The ruckus inside continued.


    ¡°Yong-Yong so bad. How many you make when I make four?¡±


    ¡°O-oh no, Karsiel¡¯s outside!¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on, Master...?¡± I asked.


    Master sighed and threw open the door.


    ¡°Let¡¯s just go inside.¡±


    ***


    As the door opened, everyone froze in shock.


    Floating balloons filled the room. Banners reading ¡°We Love You, Siel?¡± hung from the ceiling. Young Master, Lord Izaas, and Byeol all wore party hats.


    In the stunned silence, the balloon Lord Izaas was blowing up burst, and Byeol scowled.


    ¡°Yong-Yong, you pop anotha?¡±


    I heard a snicker from behind me. Turning around, I saw Master chuckling.


    ¡°Master, what is all this...?¡±


    He patted my head and said, ¡°A surprise party.¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡±


    ¡°At least, that was the plan.¡±


    Looking around, I noticed the box we had received earlier was open, and inside it were all sorts of party decorations.


    ¡°But... why all of a sudden...?¡± I asked them.


    Young Master smiled and said, ¡°Our Siel¡¯s been such a sweetheart, so we thought we¡¯d do something to make you happy. But, as you can see, we didn¡¯t finish in time. Sorry.¡±


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t you have come home a little later?¡± Lord Izaas grumbled.


    ¡°Sieh, are you cwying?¡± Byeol tilted her head, looking at me curiously.


    Crying? What was she talking about?


    That¡¯s when I felt something warm and wet trickling down my cheeks.


    ¡°Oh...¡± I exclaimed, sniffing somewhat loudly.


    I didn¡¯t understand it. I wasn¡¯t sad, so why were tears falling?


    Suddenly, Young Master scooped me up and held me close, patting my back.


    ¡°I love you.¡±


    At that moment, I felt silly for feeling left out, as if I didn¡¯t belong with the family.


    ***


    Young Master looked through the groceries I had brought for dinner and asked, ¡°What¡¯s all this?¡±


    ¡°I bought ingredients to make kimchi jjigae for tonight.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯d you get the money?¡±


    ¡°Um... with my allowance...¡±


    Young Master hugged me tightly again.


    ¡°My Siel, how are you so thoughtful?¡±


    Just then, Lord Izaas lifted the grocery bag with his front paw, announcing, ¡°Kimchi jjigae is my specialty.¡±


    Byeol flinched and stammered, ¡°N-no, please, no.¡±


    Even Master¡¯s expression hardened. Young Master and I tilted our heads in confusion.


    1. ¡°Coupang¡± is basically the Korean version of Amazon! ?


    2. ¡±Ggang-ggang is an expression used to describe something frozen solid. ?

 Chapter 113

    Chapter 113After a week-long break, the Core¡¯s first-floor raid resumed. As with the Tutorial Zone, they were streaming this live. As soon as the stream went live, the viewer count shot up.


    ¦éHiBe!


    ¦éHB!


    ¦éHi~Be!


    The chat quickly filled with comments.


    Jun-Yeol smiled slyly at the camera and waved. Internet streaming terms, like ¡°HiBe,¡± which was short for ¡°Hi Behemoth,¡± had become familiar to him.


    Eighty percent of the viewer count, which easily exceeded ten million, consisted of international viewers from the U.S., China, Japan, the U.K., France, and more. Although they came from different countries, they were united under one stream by their pride in Korea¡ªthe Hunter powerhouse nation, the legendary Sword Emperor, and his guild, Behemoth.


    They all wanted to accompany them in their raid of the mysterious world called the Core.


    [¤Á¤Ï¤ä has donated 1,000,000 won!: ¡°¥Ù¥Ï(HiBe)!¡±]


    [Jane has donated 1,000,000 won!: ¡°HiBe!¡±]


    [ÑóÖ÷ has donated 1,000,000 won!: ¡°±´¹þ(HiBe)!¡±] Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The donation amount was set at a fixed one million won, and a voice message played whenever a donation was made. Since only Korean viewers could use the chat, international viewers used donations to greet Behemoth Guild.


    ¦éAhh, this is amazing.


    ¦éGive me a pint of national pride here, lol.


    ¦éIs this real? Twenty million viewers? Wow.


    ¦éSword Emperor! Please give us a ¡®HiChat!¡¯ just once, I beg you!


    Kang-Hyun¡¯s usually stoic expression softened slightly. He wasn¡¯t used to smiling, and forcing a smile was always a chore.


    Still, he smiled and said, ¡°Hi, chat.¡±


    If it weren¡¯t for Do-Jun¡¯s orders, or rather, instructions, he wouldn¡¯t have bothered with something as tedious as streaming.


    Seeing Kang-Hyun¡¯s stiff smile, Ae-Kyung turned her head, stifling a laugh.


    ¦éLolololololol


    ¦éUgh, I¡¯m dead. How are you all so adorable!


    ¦éThank you so much for doing this stream.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get started,¡± Kang-Hyun announced the start of the hunt.


    [BeheServant43 has donated 1,000,000 won!: ¡°Flutter (this is the sound of the Korean flag waving proudly)¡±]


    The audience was thrilled as they watched Behemoth advance confidently as if they already knew their way through the Core.


    ***


    Meanwhile, on the second floor of the Core, a vast expanse of molten lava covered the ground.


    A lone giant tree named Yggdrasil stood amidst this inhospitable environment. Its existence was a blessing that allowed life to exist in such an impossible place.


    At a lookout post, an adventurer held his breath as he observed a man crossing the bridge leading to the tree. This adventurer was the Keeper, the guard who monitored the surroundings for potential intruders. He raised his binoculars to get a closer view of the approaching man.


    ¡°Who is that...?¡± he muttered, spotting the man¡¯s rather peculiar outfit.


    The simple gray hoodie, cotton pants, and sneakers definitely weren¡¯t any artifacts. Could he be a rookie who¡¯d just come in?


    ¡°Wait, where did he go?¡±


    The man had been walking along, moving slowly just a moment ago, but now he was nowhere in sight.


    The adventurer lowered his binoculars and looked around again. Then he gasped as he saw the man reach the entrance. He hadn¡¯t disappeared at all.


    Without hesitation, the adventurer jumped down from the lookout post and aimed his bow at the man.


    ¡°Stop right there!¡± the Keeper shouted, and the man turned to face him.


    ***


    Do-Jun looked at the adventurer, who was wearing a ragged poncho and had his bow drawn. From the look of hostility in his eyes, Do-Jun figured that he had failed to leave a good first impression.


    ¡°Do you need something from me?¡± Do-Jun asked him.


    The adventurer narrowed his eyes, feeling wary of Do-Jun¡¯s relaxed demeanor. In the hundreds of years he¡¯d spent on the second floor of the Core, he had never encountered anyone quite like this.


    ¡°I am Urkan, the Keeper of Yggdrasil.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± Do-Jun nodded.


    Already having some background information from Interpreter ¨C Ataraxia, he knew that Yggdrasil referred to the giant tree here. In short, this was the dwelling place of the adventurers on the second floor of the Core.


    ¡°Reveal your identity, and I¡¯ll decide whether you live or die,¡± Urkan warned.


    Do-Jun paused at the warning, momentarily speechless. Deciding who lives or dies was his prerogative, not this guy¡¯s, though he had no intention of killing him.


    Do-Jun pushed off the ground, using a quick step to move behind Urkan. Instead of a frontal approach, he shifted to the rear in a move akin to teleportation. In the Martial World, some labeled this movement a skill called Transposition, but for Do-Jun, it was simply a swift way to get behind his target.


    He struck Urkan on the back of the neck, knocking him out. He then checked Urkan¡¯s pulse by placing two fingers on his neck.


    Luckily, he had managed to control his strength just right.


    ***


    [Welcome to the Fissure Management System.]


    Do-Jun opened the SpacePad and activated the Core section of the Fissures under his management.


    He was done with the Tutorial Zone and the first floor, and it was now time to input details for the second floor.


    Just moments ago, after passing through the entrance that Urkan had been guarding, he found a village with over a thousand households. The village had restaurants, general stores, and weapon and armor shops, providing all the essentials. Aside from the stifling heat, it appeared to be a decent place to live.


    However, Do-Jun found an oddity here. All the adventurers wore cards around their necks.


    He checked the information on the cards through the Interpreter.


    [Mastery Card]


    Category: Currency / Artifact


    Description: A currency commonly used on the Core¡¯s second floor. It has the ability to store mastery stones (orange) that occasionally drop when monsters are defeated. Available from the guardian, Bi-Yeong, who resides at the top of Yggdrasil.


    Do-Jun looked up to see an open sky, with the peak of Yggdrasil towering at an immeasurable height.


    Though the Mastery Card didn¡¯t seem necessary, Do-Jun decided to ascend to the top anyway. Rather, there was no need, as a shadow at the top was already looking down at him. It was emanating an intense killing intent, clearly issuing a threat.


    Suddenly, the shadow lunged forward, and Bi-Yeong¡¯s sword stretched toward Do-Jun.


    A clash of two energies rang out with a tremendous roar.


    As expected, Bi-Yeong¡¯s blade uselessly struck the empty air, or more precisely, the blue aura that surrounded Do-Jun¡¯s body¡ªBarrier.


    No matter how much qi Bi-Yeong put into his sword, it couldn¡¯t penetrate the barrier, and his face grew paler. He felt his qi surge violently, causing the magical energy within him to reverse, wracking his body with pain.


    In stark contrast, Do-Jun looked as calm as ever.


    Then, their eyes met.


    Bi-Yeong twitched involuntarily before quickly backing away while Do-Jun continued to look at him with amusement. Though Do-Jun was smiling slightly, his gaze was icy.


    For a moment, Bi-Yeong felt as though he had brushed with death.


    They only had one exchange, but he knew immediately that he would have lost his head if there had been a second slower.


    ¡°You...¡± Bi-Yeong tried to speak up but failed to get more than a single word out and swallowed dryly.


    He then thought of a single explanation to justify this intruder¡¯s strength.


    ¡°Are you from the Deep Realm?¡± Bi-Yeong asked.


    Though highly unlikely, that was the only way this power would make sense. As far as Bi-Yeong knew, Do-Jun was an unfamiliar face on the Core¡¯s second floor.


    Sensing a trace of demonic energy, he considered Do-Jun a threat and attempted to eliminate him, never realizing that the gap in their abilities was so immense that he couldn¡¯t even last a single exchange.


    ¡°No,¡± Do-Jun replied curtly.


    At some point, a hilt appeared in Do-Jun¡¯s hand¡ªa hilt with no blade, almost as if it had lost its function as a sword.


    Soon, dark energy emanated around Do-Jun. As the air seemed to compress to the point of tearing, Bi-Yeong and the nearby adventurers winced in pain, collapsing under the overwhelming pressure.


    A dark blade shimmered and extended from the hilt in Do-Jun¡¯s hand, wavering like a mirage. In an instant, the Heavenly Demon Sword vanished as if it had never existed, and Do-Jun¡¯s gaze moved toward Bi-Yeong and then to something beyond.


    He was looking at a massive creature flying toward Yggdrasil, its maw wide open.


    In the blink of an eye, hundreds of sword marks were carved into the creature¡¯s body. Its skeletal wings, held together by knotted bones, shattered and fell.


    It was Tarantuloso, a byproduct of the distortion created during the Transcendents'' descent to the Deep Realm. It was infamous on the second floor as a calamity.


    That very calamity was slain in a single stroke.


    As Tarantuloso¡¯s body fell into the seething lava below, Bi-Yeong and the adventurers felt the oppressive pressure ease.


    For millennia, Tarantuloso had plagued and gnawed away at Yggdrasil. It was a monster so powerful that none dared to confront it until now.


    ¡°How... is that even possible...?¡± Bi-Yeong muttered.


    How could it be defeated so easily?


    Moreover, when Do-Jun had drawn his sword, Bi-Yeong had thought his life was over. A fight within the Core was always a fight to the death.


    The Heavenly Demon Sword returned to Do-Jun¡¯s hand. He sheathed it and looked at Bi-Yeong calmly. He had no intention of killing him.


    Seeing the title ¡°Guardian¡± and noting that he issued the Mastery Cards, Do-Jun figured that Bi-Yeong was someone better left alive. However, he intended to make full use of him.


    ¡°Care to guide me through the second floor?¡± Do-Jun asked him.


    ***


    Ten hours later, Bi-Yeong diligently guided Do-Jun around the second floor, almost like a navigation system. After reviewing detailed information through the Interpreter, Do-Jun gained all the key insights of the floor.


    As expected of someone called a guardian, Bi-Yeong commanded great respect from the adventurers on the second floor. Unlike the chaotic first floor, where fights broke out daily, the second floor was more harmonious under Bi-Yeong¡¯s leadership.


    However, the first floor offered a better environment for survival.


    Yggdrasil was gradually being consumed by lava from below, restricting the water supply and making hydration difficult. The constant threat of it collapsing into the lava at any moment loomed overhead like a drawn sword.


    Despite this, the adventurers hadn¡¯t ventured to the next floor as they knew that descending further would almost certainly mean death, and an instant one at that. If the messages on the forum were true, going down to the third floor was tantamount to suicide.


    ¡°While some adventurers post nonsense due to the anonymity, there¡¯s likely some truth in what¡¯s written. Even for someone like you...¡± Bi-Yeong explained.


    The third floor was currently in a state of chaos, devastated by a Transcendent who had ascended from the Deep Realm. Though the exact reports varied, all accounts agreed on one thing: encountering this Transcendent meant instant annihilation.


    ¡°There¡¯s a reason why adventurers stay on this floor.¡±


    Bi-Yeong¡¯s gaze shifted to the rusty iron door that was said to lead to the third floor, located 1.5 kilometers northwest, then moved to Do-Jun. Do-Jun looked calm, showing no trace of fear.


    ¡°Thank you for today,¡± he thanked Bi-Yeong.


    And with that, he vanished.


    The startled Bi-Yeong scanned the area, but there was no sign of him.


    ¡°Forum,¡± he summoned the Core forum.


    [Real-time trending searches]


    1. Second Floor (¡ø1)


    2. Tarantuloso ( - )


    3. Rigdmur (¨‹2)


    .


    .


    .


    10. Lee Do-Jun (New)

 Chapter 114

    Chapter 114¡°Where... meat...?¡±


    Yong-Yong gazed sadly at his bowl, filled with vegetable side dishes.


    The melodic voice of the news anchor filled the room.


    ?And now, onto today¡¯s news. Around 3 PM today, more Hunters were reported dead in the residential area of Seongbuk-dong, a designated restricted zone. Among the deceased were four B-rank Hunters, including Hunter Joo Hyun-Jin from the Leon Guild. The cause of their deaths appears to be...?


    Yoon-Hee watched TV with sympathetic eyes as she ate her dinner. As a prospective Hunter, her job was to roam the Fissures and take down monsters. While it was true that Hunters lived with the constant risk of death, the news of an entire B-rank party being wiped out came as a shock.


    ?This area, which had already been ravaged by monsters in the past, has seen recurring monster appearances even after the first raid. The reason for this anomaly remains unknown, and the Hunter¡¯s Bureau placed a barrier around the area two years ago. Rumor has it that a powerful artifact lies dormant within the area, attracting Hunters like the Leon Guild in search of a fortune...?


    Unlike Yoon-Hee, whose face reflected serious concern, Do-Jun was enjoying his meal as usual. Whenever incidents like this came up on the news, Yoon-Hee always reacted in shock.


    ¡°Yoon-Hee,¡± Do-Jun called, glancing at the TV screen and shifting his gaze to Yoon-Hee with a serious expression.


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    Did he have something to say about the news?


    ¡°Could you get me another bowl of rice?¡±


    It had nothing to do with the news.


    Taking his bowl, Yoon-Hee walked over to the rice cooker, glancing at him as she scooped another serving. Do-Jun was focused on the TV screen.


    ?Our next story: Tomorrow¡¯s forecast shows clear skies and season-appropriate temperatures nationwide.?


    However, he wasn¡¯t watching the news. He was observing Yong-Yong, who was staring blankly at the TV.


    ***


    Meanwhile, in the main conference room of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau, a large group of people had gathered around a round table.


    In the dimly lit room, the projector cast images on the screen.


    Cho Sung-Koo, the head of the Fissure Management Team, was briefing attendees on the ¡°Restricted Zone¡± incident that occurred earlier that day. Executive directors and department heads were in attendance.


    Cho Sung-Koo pressed the remote, moving the slide to the next screen, where footage from the emergency cam of the late Hunter Joo Hyun-Jin from the Leon Guild played.


    ¡°What... what is that?¡±


    Something emerged from a narrow alleyway between collapsed buildings. It was a towering figure over three meters tall, wearing rusted metal plate armor and a skull-shaped helmet, gripping a greatsword as large as itself.


    Joo Hyun-Jin and the Leon Guild Hunters muttered anxiously, ¡°A Skeleton Warrior?¡±


    The Skeleton Warrior, a C-rank monster, was known for its tough armor and difficulty in defeating. But this figure radiated an entirely different aura from a regular Skeleton Warrior.


    Nobody in the conference room had ever seen this monster before.


    The monster charged forward, slashing its massive sword effortlessly.


    The camera¡¯s angle shifted skyward. Screams erupted, followed by the sound of the greatsword slicing through the air. Then, the screams ceased.


    The massive figure dragged its greatsword along the ground as it returned to where it had come from.


    The footage ended, and Cho Sung-Koo took the microphone.


    ¡°According to the analysis team, the Fissure¡¯s wave reading at that moment was one thousand eight hundred. Considering the possibility of other monsters being present, the reading might be lower for this particular monster alone. However, if that is not the case, it exceeds twice the strength of an average S-rank boss monster.¡±


    Young-Chul closed his eyes, deep in thought.


    The area of concern was affected by the Encroachment, becoming a lawless zone consumed by monsters. The site had effectively transformed into a Fissure.


    Two years ago, a team of S-rank Hunters was assembled for a raid, and the entire area was closed off to the public by a barrier. Although it was treated like a standard Fissure, something had to be done regarding an S-rank monster that existed on Seoul¡¯s very soil.


    ¡°Do we have footage from any other Hunters¡¯ emergency cams?¡± Young-Chul asked.


    ¡°Yes, sir. The analysis team is currently reviewing the monster¡¯s movement patterns and combat tactics, though the brief duration of the encounters limits our data.¡±


    ¡°Those Hunters who died earlier... they must have fallen to that thing as well,¡± Young-Chul remarked, and Cho Sung-Koo nodded.


    Over the past two weeks, more than ten Hunters had died in that area, not only from the Leon Guild but also independent Hunters. They were all C-rank or higher, far above the usual F or E-ranks encountered in the restricted zone.


    Given that, the hulking figure from the footage was the only possible culprit.


    ***


    Yong-Yong floated lazily in the bathtub, staring blankly at the ceiling.


    ¡°A shot at a fortune...¡± he muttered, recalling the news from earlier during dinner.


    It mentioned rumors of a rare artifact hidden in the restricted zone and the Hunters flocking there for riches.


    ¡°We¡¯ve been missing some meat on our table recently.¡±


    His favorites, like braised short ribs and chicken, hadn¡¯t been on the menu much. It wasn¡¯t that Do-Jun had been eating out; it was simply that Yoon-Hee had been serving more vegetable side dishes.


    Yong-Yong took a guess at the reason.


    ¡°Are we out of money?¡±


    Yong-Yong¡¯s expression became unusually serious. He recalled how Yoon-Hee managed their household budget, meticulously recording every expense. Occasionally, she would purse her lips and frown while reviewing the household finances. Was it perhaps due to high grocery costs?


    What had been a suspicion was now becoming a certainty.


    ¡°I feel good,¡± Byeol said with a smile.


    ¡°Byeol, don¡¯t move around so much, or the soap will get in your eyes,¡± Karsiel warned her, carefully washing Byeol¡¯s hair.


    ¡°Okie.¡±


    Yong-Yong rested his front paws on the edge of the tub, peeking his head out, deep in thought.


    Karsiel rinsed the last of the bubbles from Byeol¡¯s hair.


    ¡°You guys like meat, too, right?¡± Yong-Yong asked them.


    ¡°I like vegetables as well,¡± Karsiel replied.


    ¡°What about dog food?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a great snack.¡±


    Yong-Yong sighed deeply.


    ***


    The following morning, Yong-Yong was up at 6 AM, earlier than anyone else.


    ¡°An early dragon catches the meat,¡± he hummed.


    He checked the map he had prepared the night before, which led to the restricted zone where a fortune was supposedly hidden. On the blank, white sheet, a few shaky lines were drawn. A line extended from a spot marked ¡°our house¡± to a spot marked with an ¡°X.¡±


    It was such a ridiculously simple drawing that one might wonder if it was even a map at all.


    Yong-Yong rolled up the map and tucked it into his backpack that was full of snacks, more snacks, and even more snacks.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±


    He jumped to turn the door handle.


    When the door shut behind Yong-Yong, the still-sleeping Do-Jun opened his eyes. Glancing at the clock, he checked that it was just past 6 AM.


    Reading the note left behind by Yong-Yong, Do-Jun couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    ***


    The residential area in Seongbuk-dong was surrounded by a translucent blue barrier, restricted under the control of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau.


    A staff member from the Hunter¡¯s Bureau stood guard at the entrance. The nearby open parking lot was filled with expensive sports cars and luxury sedans¡ªvehicles that belonged to the Hunters.


    Near the entrance, reporters and a crew from a TV station interviewed the Hunters as they prepared to enter the restricted area for a hunt. Most of the Hunters present were C-rank or higher, quite successful individuals in society.


    ¡°Did the recent fatalities inside the restricted zone not put you off?¡± a reporter asked.


    One of the Hunters shrugged and replied, ¡°If you¡¯re afraid of that stuff, you can¡¯t be a Hunter. Besides, Hunters die in Fissures all the time; it¡¯s something we all accept. I¡¯m here to eliminate evil monsters for the safety of our nation.¡±


    The Hunter was clearly putting on a show for the camera, something the reporter was well aware of.


    Meanwhile, Yong-Yong munched on a chocolate bar he¡¯d brought as a snack as he passed through the crowd, eventually reaching the entrance guarded by the Hunter¡¯s Bureau staff.


    ¡°Hide.¡± As he muttered a spell, Yong-Yong¡¯s body turned invisible, his presence concealed so thoroughly that hardly anyone could detect him.


    With ease, he slipped through the entrance and entered the restricted zone.


    Inside, the road was a mess, littered with debris from collapsed buildings. Signs of battles were visible everywhere¡ªon the shattered streets and ruined homes. Remnants of monster carcasses were scattered on the ground.


    Sweat beaded on Yong-Yong¡¯s forehead as he realized he had no idea what kind of artifact he was looking for or how to find this supposed fortune. He had come here based solely on news reports without any real plan.


    Bang!


    About twenty meters away, a Hunter was taking down an orc. The mana bullets fired from his gun shimmered with magical energy. Other Hunters near the entrance were also hunting monsters below C-rank.


    However, the fortune the news had mentioned couldn¡¯t be something as trivial as that.


    Step by step, Yong-Yong ventured further in.


    Monsters appeared occasionally, but not only were they afraid to approach him, but they bolted as soon as they made eye contact with him.


    Hisss!


    A group of orcs scrambled away as fast as their legs could carry them.


    ***


    Yong-Yong¡¯s pace gradually slowed.


    Unlike ordinary Fissures, it was easy to tell the time here, even without a clock. Despite the barrier, he could see the setting sun, casting an orange glow over the landscape. To make things worse, he had already eaten all his snacks.


    His stomach growled loudly.


    ¡°I¡¯m... hungry.¡±


    Yong-Yong plopped down on the spot.


    Where on earth was this fortune supposed to be? And what exactly was it?


    He had come here filled with excitement about all the meat he could buy once he struck gold. However, as he watched the setting sun, he started to feel a bit down.


    ¡°I¡¯m just going to go home.¡±


    At that moment, Yong-Yong noticed the area around him growing dark.


    Had night fallen already?


    He looked up and found himself staring into the skull-like helmet of a towering monster looming over him.


    ***


    ¡°I¡¯m home...¡± Yong-Yong said as he entered the apartment, barely dragging himself in through the front door, only to catch a whiff of something sweet in the air.


    Sniffing instinctively, his eyes lit up, and he dropped his backpack on the spot, running to the kitchen.


    Yoon-Hee was wearing her apron, busy preparing dinner. Yong-Yong hopped up to check the pot, where chunks of meat were simmering in a rich, brown broth.


    ¡°Are you back, Yong-Yong?¡± Yoon-Hee asked him.


    ¡°Yeah!¡±


    Yoon-Hee chuckled as she watched Yong-Yong¡¯s eyes sparkle with anticipation. She hadn¡¯t made braised ribs in a while, and seeing him smile so widely made her laugh even more.


    Meanwhile, Do-Jun picked up the backpack Yong-Yong had left behind, placing it back in its usual spot in the corner of the living room.


    The backpack was surprisingly heavy, so he opened it to check inside. He saw a skull-shaped helmet under five empty chocolate bar wrappers. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 115

    Chapter 115Hunter¡¯s Bureau, second basement floor, Promotion Exam Arena.


    Do-Jun walked through the exam arena, a forest field dense with conifer trees at least fifty meters tall, checking off items on a sheet of paper that read, ¡°2019 A-Rank Hunter Promotion Exam Arena Safety Inspection Checklist.¡±


    ¡°Why are we the ones stuck doing this?¡± Han Baek-Myung grumbled, examining a mushroom growing among some weeds.


    The other interns, equally unenthusiastic, were each voicing their complaints.


    Do-Jun looked up at the sky, where the sun blazed down, and checked a message from Ye-Ji on his phone.


    Ye-Ji: Mr. Administrator, I¡¯ll do my best!


    It all began yesterday.


    ***


    Monday, 10 AM, Fissure Management Team 1 Office.


    Do-Jun glanced at the calendar on his desk. Time had flown by, and only a week remained until the end of his internship.


    A chat alert appeared in the bottom right corner of Do-Jun¡¯s monitor. It was a message from the department within the Administration Team responsible for the Hunter exam.


    Taking a sip of coffee, Do-Jun slowly read through the message titled ¡°Support Request for the 2019 A-Rank Hunter Promotion Exam.¡±


    The message indicated that the A-rank Hunter promotion exam would take place in two days. However, due to the exam area¡¯s vast size, the Administration Team lacked sufficient staff to manage the safety checks alone.


    Consequently, they requested each department to provide interns to assist with the inspection.


    ¡°Oh, come on. We¡¯re busy enough already, and now they¡¯re pulling our interns...¡± Doo-Hwi muttered irritably.


    The manager chuckled while watching him and commented, ¡°You¡¯re pretty reliant on your intern these days, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Of course I am. Who would have thought he¡¯d be this good at the job?¡±


    ¡°Anyway, after this week, Do-Jun will return to Seoul City Hall, so you¡¯ll need to start getting used to doing things on your own again,¡± the manager reminded him.


    Doo-Hwi sighed as he glanced at Do-Jun, who was quietly focused on his work.


    Perhaps it was because he had previously worked in the Fissure Management Division at Seoul City Hall, but even so, he quickly picked up things and performed so skillfully that everyone began to rely on him. Now, the thought of him leaving in a week felt disappointing.


    ¡°Do-Jun, have you considered joining the Bureau? The pay and benefits are much better here than at City Hall. If you¡¯re interested, our manager would be happy to help get you in,¡± Doo-Hwi asked, feeling hopeful.


    ¡°I appreciate the offer, but I have no intention of leaving the public sector.¡± Do-Jun respectfully declined the offer.


    If he had wanted high pay and benefits, or money had been his only goal, he wouldn¡¯t have chosen this path at all.


    Do-Jun liked his job in the Fissure Management Division at Seoul City Hall, along with his colleagues and the tasks at hand.


    It was a place that reminded him of how much happiness there was to be found in living an ordinary life.


    Doo-Hwi sighed, unable to hide his disappointment.


    Meanwhile, upon seeing the words ¡°A-rank Promotion Exam,¡± Do-Jun picked up his phone and searched for a name in his contacts.


    ***


    At a chain coffee shop on the first floor of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau, Ye-Ji was very surprised by Do-Jun¡¯s proposal, and she coughed after taking a sip of her latte.


    ¡°M-me? Taking the A-rank Hunter exam?¡± she asked, startled.


    Seeing Do-Jun nod, Ye-Ji¡¯s face showed utter surprise, and rightfully so. She had only recently become a B-rank Hunter, and the idea of her taking the A-rank exam so soon was absurd.


    However, given Do-Jun¡¯s serious expression, he didn¡¯t appear to be joking.


    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s entirely your decision, Hunter Ye-Ji,¡± he said.


    ¡°But with my skills... how could I...? A-rank...¡±


    Just reaching B-rank was already seen as a significant success, and the term ¡°A-rank Hunter¡± carried an overwhelming weight. Not only did A-rank Hunters become household names recognized even by children, but they were also treated as ultra-VIPs wherever they went. For ordinary Hunters, ¡°A-rank¡± represented a dream realm, a level attainable only with unparalleled strength.


    ¡°You¡¯re truly underestimating yourself. At this moment, you possess enough skill to be more than worthy of an A-rank. Although it¡¯s true that you¡¯ve been active for only a short time and your level and stats may be lower than those of others, your skill, Scholar¡¯s Swordsmanship, more than makes up for that.¡±


    Scholar¡¯s Swordsmanship was an S-rank skill. Back in the Martial World, it was a supreme sword technique created by the Imperial scholar Jin So-Woon, also known as the Sword Saint.


    How Ye-Ji acquired this skill remained a mystery to Do-Jun, yet her abilities had grown tremendously because of it.


    ¡°But the registration period is already over...¡± Ye-Ji trailed off, remembering that the exam registration deadline was last month. She would have to wait until next year to apply for the exam.


    However, Do-Jun simply nodded as if he already knew and replied, ¡°So you are interested in taking the exam. Good. Excuse me for a moment, please.¡±


    Do-Jun texted Young-Chul, requesting that his assigned Hunter, Cha Ye-Ji, be allowed to take the A-rank promotion exam. He got a response in the form of two texts in quick succession.


    Chief Jung Young-Chul: Please send over the completed registration form, and I will process it immediately.


    Chief Jung Young-Chul: My apologies. I¡¯ll come by to collect the form instead.


    Do-Jun went directly to the lobby reception and picked up a registration form for the A-rank promotion exam.


    ¡°Please fill this out right away,¡± Do-Jun said as he handed Ye-Ji the sheet of paper.


    ¡°Are you serious...?¡±


    ¡°I am.¡±


    Ye-Ji filled out the form hesitatingly.


    That day, her name was added to the list of exam candidates.


    ***


    Do-Jun was assisting other interns with the safety inspection of the exam arena located on the second basement floor.


    Unlike the exams for Hunters below B-rank, which typically involved taking down one or two monsters, the A-rank promotion exam was held in a simulated Great Fissure environment for over forty-eight hours¡ªtwo whole days.


    It was an intensive test that assessed Hunters¡¯ overall skills, including their proficiency in mana manipulation techniques essential for Hunters¡ªsuch as Infusion, Release, and Transmutation¡ªas well as their knowledge and application of structures within the Fissure. Additionally, it evaluated how effectively they could handle unexpected situations.


    Additionally, the A-rank promotion exam was broadcast live by various stations, allowing the public to watch.


    Since this test only took place once a year and was the process of selecting A-rank Hunters, it consistently recorded high viewership ratings of around seventy percent each year.


    The interns kept grumbling now and then.


    ¡°I know we just have to inspect Sector D, but...¡±


    The area was somewhat larger than a standard middle or high school campus. There was a reason why more than twenty interns had been assigned to this.


    ¡°It¡¯s pretty exciting, don¡¯t you think? Even if it¡¯s just a simulation, we¡¯re basically in a Great Fissure right now. Who knows when we¡¯ll get to see one this up close again?¡±


    Jin-Ah smiled brightly while inspecting the blueprints and observing the lowest-level spirits darting among the bushes. Normally, the monsters would be placed on the day of the exam, but these low-level spirits were released earlier due to their nature to avoid people instead of attacking.


    ¡°So cute,¡± Jin-Ah remarked.


    She beamed at a tiny earth spirit about the size of her palm. She wanted to reach out and touch it, but as she got closer, the earth spirit was startled and scurried away.


    Without an innate affinity for spirits, it was nearly impossible to approach them.


    Jin-Ah glanced over at Do-Jun and asked, ¡°But why are they all crowding around you like that?¡±


    The spirits hovered around Do-Jun, rubbing against him as if they wanted his attention.


    The interns looked on in amazement.


    ¡°Do-Jun, you might actually be able to form a contract with a spirit. You seem to have a high affinity with them... if you make a contract, you could become a Hunter, too! Give it a try!¡±


    ¡°Human, make a contract with me,¡± a tiny water spirit urged Do-Jun. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Let¡¯s form a contract. A contract!¡± another spirit chimed in.


    Annoyed by the interns¡¯ attention and the clingy spirits, Do-Jun released a hint of murderous intent. Startled, the spirits immediately scattered.


    ¡°They ran away,¡± Do-Jun said casually.


    ¡°H-huh? All of a sudden?¡±


    With an unbothered expression, Do-Jun returned to checking the blueprints and continued the safety inspection.


    He couldn¡¯t understand why the spirits seemed so desperate to form a contract with him whenever they saw him. Even the Spirit Queen Laghaim was the same. Recently, she had even tried to slip in comments like, ¡°If you were to form a contract...¡± during their conversations.


    Each time, Do-Jun would change the subject.


    Come to think of it, Laghaim calling him ¡°Master¡± might have been part of a ploy to establish a contract in the future. Do-Jun made a mental note to tell her to stop addressing him that way the next time he visited her.


    That¡¯s that, but...


    Glancing over, Do-Jun noticed a spirit about thirty meters away that had been observing him. It was a human-shaped wind spirit with a build similar to that of a five-year-old child. When he focused his qi senses, he noticed it possessed qi comparable to that of a high-S-rank monster.


    ¡°Eek!¡± Realizing it had been spotted, the spirit swiftly flew away.


    The spirit wasn¡¯t listed among the assigned monsters but Do-Jun decided to just leave it alone.


    ***


    The A-rank promotion exam included encounters with A- and B-rank monsters that one would typically only see in a Great Fissure.


    Unlike other exams, each sector of the exam site that spanned across A to D had supervisors assigned to them. These supervisors were powerful enough to protect the B-rank Hunters from the monsters¡ªin other words, they were S-rank Hunters.


    Even after the supervisors had been assigned, Young-Chul was in a dilemma. He wanted to appoint a chief supervisor who could oversee the entire examination site. However, the Hunters of Behemoth Guild weren¡¯t an option since they were currently raiding the first floor of the Core.


    ¡°Hmm...¡± Young-Chul reviewed Ye-Ji¡¯s profile, the B-rank Hunter recommended by Do-Jun.


    He had heard she was a contracted Hunter with Seoul City Hall and one that Do-Jun was in charge of. The fact that she had climbed from F-rank to B-rank in just three months was astonishing.


    Regardless, Young-Chul knew the only suitable candidate for the chief supervisor role was Do-Jun. That way, even the S-rank Hunters would accept it without hesitation.


    The question was whether Do-Jun would agree.


    He briefly considered asking it as a favor, using the fact that he¡¯d added Ye-Ji to the exam as leverage. However, he decided against it, as being that presumptuous could leave a bad impression.


    A polite request would be the wiser approach.


    ***


    Tonight¡¯s dinner was braised spicy chicken¡ªjuicy chicken coated in a rich gochujang sauce[ref]Gochujang is Korean chili paste.[\ref].


    Recently, there had been a steady stream of meat dishes on the table.


    Yong-Yong wagged his tail energetically, staring longingly at the braised chicken in his bowl, waiting for Do-Jun to take the first bite.


    ¡°Master, please, take a bite already,¡± he said impatiently.


    ¡°You could¡¯ve started without me.¡±


    As soon as Do-Jun took a bite of his rice, Yong-Yong eagerly dug into the chicken. Yoon-Hee gently patted his head, pleased at his table manners.


    At that moment, Do-Jun¡¯s smartphone vibrated with a new message.


    Chief Jung Young-Chul: Supervisor Lee, I thought you might be having dinner, so I decided to send a text. Regarding this year¡¯s Hunter promotion exam...


    Yoon-Hee noticed him staring at the message and asked curiously, ¡°What is it?¡±


    Do-Jun slipped his phone back into his pocket and replied, ¡°A spam message.¡±

 Chapter 116

    Chapter 116Finally, the day of the A-rank Hunter promotion exam arrived.


    As usual, the parking lot at the Hunter¡¯s Bureau was lined with luxury cars. However, today, it was noticeably fuller, and eye-catching sports cars worth billions of won weren¡¯t hard to spot.


    The Hunters here today were aiming for an A-rank and nothing below that, not even the B-rank.


    Every Hunter carried a bag similar to a suitcase, with only minor variations in color or design. However, the insides undoubtedly held suits and weapons worth tens of billions of won.


    A throng of reporters waiting at the entrance continuously clicked their shutters, capturing scenes of B-rank Hunters exiting their cars, wheeling their equipment, and entering the Bureau building.


    Fans gathered around, running up to the Hunters with papers and pens, asking for their autographs.


    Do-Jun and Han Baek-Myung were tasked with guiding B-rank Hunters in front of the revolving doors at the Bureau.


    ¡°Hunters here for the exam today; please follow the marked line down to the second basement floor.¡± They repeated this message frequently.


    Much like celebrities, it was rare to see B-rank Hunters. Perhaps that was why Han Baek-Myung wore a wide smile as he helped with the directions.


    ¡°Is it this way?¡± asked a woman in a snug performance shirt as she took off her sunglasses.


    Seeing her striking figure and beautiful face, Han Baek-Myung blushed and made an exaggeratedly enthusiastic gesture compared to how he guided the other Hunters.


    ¡°You are Hunter Yoo Ha-Na, right? Yes, please go that way!¡± he said, flailing his arms.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Yoo Ha-Na smiled and headed down to the testing area.


    Han Baek-Myung turned to Do-Jun, grinning ear to ear, and said, ¡°D-do-Jun, did you see that? I just talked to Yoo Ha-Na!¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes...¡± Do-Jun responded briefly and continued guiding the Hunters.


    He was utterly disinterested. He didn¡¯t know who Yoo Ha-Na was, nor did he care to find out.


    Just then, a commotion broke out at the entrance.


    This excitement was certainly different from what they experienced with the B-rank Hunters, and the crowd was going wild with all the screaming and shouting.


    ¡°Wow! It¡¯s Kang Min-Hyuk!¡±


    ¡°Han Min-Ji is with him, too!¡±


    ¡°Kwak Young-Ho and Lee Jin-Goo are here too!¡±


    ¡°I-is this for real?¡±


    They were giants among giants, the elite Hunters of South Korea, those who had entered the realm of the superhuman: the S-rank Hunters.


    ¡°They must be here as supervisors today!¡±


    ¡°I wish I could shake hands with them...¡± Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Ahhh! Over here, please, Min-Hyuk!¡±


    Seeing the S-rank Hunters getting closer and closer, Han Baek-Myung gasped. He straightened up with his chin held high, his whole posture tense.


    Interestingly, the S-rank Hunters were just as taken aback. They stopped right in front of Do-Jun, who stood by the revolving doors. Min-Hyuk opened his mouth as if to speak, then quickly attempted to bow.


    However, Do-Jun interrupted him. ¡°Please follow the marked line down to the second basement floor,¡± Do-Jun said with a smile.


    If an S-rank Hunter greeted a mere intern so respectfully in front of reporters and fans, things would only become more complicated. Do-Jun was pre-emptively avoiding such a situation.


    The S-rank Hunters glanced at Do-Jun, beads of sweat forming on their foreheads.


    ¡°T-thank you... for... your help,¡± Min-Hyuk stammered, fumbling his words. He awkwardly waved his arm as he walked through the revolving door and followed the marked line.


    The remaining S-rank Hunters also made a conscious effort to avoid looking at Do-Jun as they went inside.


    Han Baek-Myung looked at Do-Jun in awe.


    ¡°Wow! Do-Jun, you just got thanked by Hunter Kang Min-Hyuk! You could totally brag about this!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I guess it¡¯s my lucky day,¡± Do-Jun replied stiffly as if reading off a script.


    Han Baek-Myung turned to face the front again, replaying the scene in his head. Strangely, it seemed like the S-rank Hunters were intimidated by Do-Jun.


    Must¡¯ve been my imagination, he thought.


    ***


    On the second basement floor, examinees gathered in the waiting room, their eyes fixed on the exam arena visible through a glass wall. It was a dense forest setting divided into four sectors: A, B, C, and D. Monsters roamed through the thick jungle, stomping loudly.


    Each Hunter had a supply crate in front of them.


    While the Hunters took in the surroundings, a man who looked to be in his mid-twenties spoke into a microphone.


    ¡°Hello, my name is Lee Do-Jun, and I¡¯ll be assisting you with today¡¯s exam. Before we begin, there are a couple of things we must go over. Inside the box in front of you, you¡¯ll find a suit and weapons, along with auxiliary artifacts prepared specifically for this test. Please put on your suits now.¡±


    ¡°Huh? We can¡¯t wear our personal suits?¡± One Hunter clicked his tongue in frustration.


    It was common knowledge that the A-rank promotion exam conditions changed every year, but this was the first time they weren¡¯t allowed to use personal suits or weapons.


    Do-Jun continued, ¡°As always, the number of monsters you defeat will be the largest part of your evaluation. However, please remember that other criteria will also be evaluated. Supervisors are stationed in each sector, ready to intervene in case of any cheating or emergencies.¡±


    The thirty or so B-rank Hunters in attendance listened to Do-Jun¡¯s instructions, then donned their suits and checked the contents of their supply crates.


    Each crate contained a blade, a mana gun, three mana smoke sticks for mana replenishment, an emergency kit, and miscellaneous artifacts.


    ¡°The duration of the exam is forty-eight hours, and if you choose to forfeit, you will be disqualified. Should you decide to forfeit, simply fire the distress flare included in your supply crate, and a supervisor will respond promptly. Once you¡¯re ready, please enter the door to your assigned sector. That concludes the instructions.¡±


    Murmurs filled the room.


    The items in the crates were minimal at best.


    Hunters grumbled, displeased with the standard artifacts.


    ¡°They expect us to take this exam with just this stuff?¡±


    ¡°Fuck this shit. I¡¯m not going to let them treat me like some F-rank amateur.¡±


    One Hunter marched up to Do-Jun, glaring at him with murderous intent. To him, Do-Jun was just another intern, easily disregarded.


    ¡°If I die wearing this cheap suit, will the Bureau take responsibility?¡± the angry Hunter sneered.


    ¡°Huh...? Why would we take responsibility?¡± Do-Jun replied, puzzled.


    The Hunter seized Do-Jun by the collar, crumpling his dress shirt. Do-Jun frowned at the sight of his wrinkled shirt.


    ¡°Are you serious?! A cheap suit like this won¡¯t even withstand an orc attack!¡± the Hunter continued.


    ¡°So what?¡±


    ¡°What...?¡± The Hunter¡¯s face twisted in shock at Do-Jun¡¯s dismissive response.


    It was the same intern from earlier, the one who had been helping at the revolving door, but what was he doing here? For an intern to dismiss a B-rank Hunter so casually, did he have a death wish?


    The Hunter was furious, but he held himself back. Causing a scene here wouldn¡¯t do any good. Clicking his tongue, he released Do-Jun¡¯s collar and walked back to the supply crate to change into the provided suit.


    Then, Do-Jun spoke. ¡°You actually don¡¯t need to put that on.¡±


    ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡± the Hunter replied, annoyed.


    ¡°Examinee number seventeen, Heo Young-Chang. You are disqualified.¡±


    Heo Young-Chang laughed in disbelief before his expression darkened. He leaned in, bumping his forehead against Do-Jun¡¯s, and growled, ¡°Who the hell do you think you are, you son of a bitch?¡±


    In a swift motion, Do-Jun twisted Heo Young-Chang¡¯s right arm behind his back, immobilizing him and causing him to cry out in pain.


    The other Hunters, watching from the sidelines, gasped in shock.


    With a smile, Do-Jun said, ¡°I am the chief supervisor.¡±


    ***


    Another Hunter walked in through the exam arena doors. It was a young woman in her early twenties with long, flowing hair and light makeup.


    ¡°Sorry I¡¯m late... huh?¡± Ye-Ji said but stopped as she stared blankly at the astonishing scene in the waiting room.


    One Hunter lay on the floor, groaning, while the others stood around, wide-eyed, watching him. The atmosphere in the room felt tense and subdued.


    ¡°Mr. Administrator...?¡±


    Do-Jun gave Ye-Ji a quick glance, sighed, and gestured toward an empty seat. It was a silent command to quickly take her seat.


    ¡°S-sorry.¡±


    She couldn¡¯t understand why Do-Jun was here, but with so many people around, she hesitated to approach him.


    Ye-Ji¡¯s gaze lingered on the Hunter sprawled on the floor. The Hunter¡¯s right arm dangled as if dislocated, and he let out a low groan of pain.


    ¡°You have ten minutes until the start of the exam. If you haven¡¯t done so already, please put on your suits, gather your supplies, and proceed to your designated sectors.¡±


    At Do-Jun¡¯s words, the Hunters quickly got moving.


    ***


    Five hours into the exam, the Hunters were each engaged in their own methods of hunting.


    The monsters that appeared included trolls and ogres, A and B-rank threats, as well as imps, goblins, and a few low-grade spirits.


    Yoo Ha-Na infused mana into her issued blade, weaving together the bark of a tree known as Ragnarion, a conifer that only appeared within Fissures, to reinforce her suit. Ragnarion bark was tough and highly durable, often used as raw material for leather armor. As the issued suit wouldn¡¯t withstand an ogre¡¯s attacks, she needed extra protection.


    The requirement to pass the test was to survive for forty-eight hours.


    No matter how many monsters one hunted, if they were eliminated before then, it wouldn¡¯t count. Finding food was also essential, and the Munyu-Munyu mushrooms were a good option¡ªthough not tasty, they were high in calories and very filling.


    About fifty meters away, the distinctive rumble of an ogre echoed.


    Yoo Ha-Na was not prepared for battle yet and hid behind a tree, holding her breath to stay as quiet as possible.


    Just then, someone emerged from the bushes, coming face-to-face with the ogre.


    Yoo Ha-Na peeked out carefully to see who it was. The chief supervisor?


    As far as she remembered, Chief Supervisor Lee Do-Jun was just an intern who had been helping with directions at the entrance of the Bureau. However, at one point, he had introduced himself as the chief supervisor assisting with the test.


    When he had subdued Heo Young-Chang in an instant, she couldn¡¯t believe her eyes. He must be at least B-rank, maybe even as strong as an A-rank Hunter.


    He was a man shrouded in mystery.


    An intern... as the chief supervisor...? What¡¯s going on? she wondered.


    The position of chief supervisor was something she had never heard of before.


    The ogre roared and charged toward Do-Jun. Even though he had taken down Heo Young-Chang with ease, an ogre¡ªa monster of A-rank¡ªposed a real threat even to A-rank Hunters.


    Yoo Ha-Na readied her blade, infusing mana into it. I have to help.


    She was about to spring into action against the ogre when, looking mildly annoyed, Do-Jun swatted his arm as if brushing away a fly. With a thunderous crash, the ogre was sent flying far into the distance.


    Do-Jun resumed walking as if nothing had happened.


    What... was that?! Yoo Ha-Na thought with wide eyes.


    Monster. No, calling him a monster didn¡¯t even cover it.


    Come to think of it, the fact that we have a chief supervisor made no sense in the first place...


    Each zone was assigned a supervisor, and all four supervisors were S-rank Hunters. Considering that, the chief supervisor who oversaw all sectors would need to be stronger than them.


    But he¡¯s not a Hunter.


    If a Hunter with that kind of strength existed, the world would know about him¡ªor at least, she would know.


    Then... what is he?

 Chapter 117

    Chapter 117After the grueling forty-eight-hour exam, the Hunters lay exhausted in the waiting room, sprawled out wherever they could find space.


    Their supply suits were covered in monster blood and slime. Their hair was matted, and the shadows under their eyes had extended down to their cheeks. Over the past two days, the Hunters had pushed themselves to their limits, repeatedly enduring challenges to qualify for an A-rank promotion.


    ¡°Good work,¡± Do-Jun said, approaching Ye-Ji.


    She was slumped in one corner of the waiting room, and he handed her an electrolyte drink with a gentle smile.


    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Administrator...¡±


    She drained the half-litre bottle in one go.


    Using his qi sense, Do-Jun confirmed that her mana had been depleted long ago. The same was true for the other examinees; everyone had hit their physical limits and had persevered purely through sheer willpower.


    ¡°Wow, eighty percent of us passed...¡± a Hunter muttered.


    Over the past few years, the pass rate for the A-rank promotion exam was always below thirty percent. But this batch had an unusually high passing rate, and the Hunters exchanged curious glances.


    Yet, there was no mystery regarding it. In fact, it was an expected result.


    Although the Hunters hadn¡¯t voiced it yet, they had noticed specific details during the test that contributed to a favorable situation: combat support artifacts scattered about, inedible plants discreetly marked, and other similar items.


    Moreover, even though there were numerous herd-type monsters, they never congregated in groups larger than three, and they frequently encountered monster corpses strewn about as if someone had cleared the path for them.


    ¡°It was you, wasn¡¯t it? Supervisor Lee,¡± Min-Ji whispered to Do-Jun.


    Although they didn¡¯t know why he did it, the S-rank Hunters understood that Do-Jun had walked around in the camera blind spots, offering indirect help to the examinees.


    ¡°They just reminded me of myself,¡± Do-Jun replied, seeming nostalgic.


    ¡°Come again?¡±


    Do-Jun recalled a time in the Martial World when his strength wasn¡¯t even at a second-rate level. He remembered taking an entrance exam at the Heavenly Martial Academy. Along with his fellow entrants, he had to pass through a formation art test as part of their promotion exam. It had been a long time since he had participated in a group exam like this.


    ***


    In the ground-level lobby of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau.


    The A-rank Hunter promotion exam results were displayed on a large screen while reporters from various networks waited for the Hunters. Naturally, they were there to interview the successful candidates. Among those who passed, one individual stood out.


    ¡°There she is!¡±


    The reporters hurried over to Ye-Ji, raising their cameras and thrusting their microphones forward.


    ¡°How does it feel to have secured the first place?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your awakened skill?¡±


    ¡°Do you have anything you¡¯d like to say to the public?¡±


    Ye-Ji, who had never been in such a spotlight before, looked completely flustered. Her face flushed as she stared blankly at the cameras flashing in rapid succession.


    ¡°S-sorry...? What is all this?¡± she asked cautiously.


    She glanced at the results displayed on the large screen and was stunned. A few months ago, she had only been an F-rank Hunter. She could never have imagined passing the A-rank test, let alone finishing in first place.


    ¡°E-excuse me...¡±


    Her gaze drifted down the stairs, spotting Do-Jun, who was just coming up from the basement. She looked at him with a silent plea for assistance. Do-Jun offered her a small smile and a thumbs-up before swiftly turning away to vanish from view.


    ¡°M-mr. Administrator!¡±


    ***


    ¡°Supervisor, no... I mean, Chief Supervisor!¡± a woman called out as she rushed toward Do-Jun.


    Having changed from her supply suit into casual clothes, newly promoted A-ranked Hunter Yoo Ha-Na approached Do-Jun.


    ¡°Do you need something from me?¡± Do-Jun asked.


    ¡°Yes, I do.¡±


    Yoo Ha-Na looked up at him. Though she was quite tall for a woman, she only reached Do-Jun¡¯s chin. Nevertheless, she set that thought aside and cut straight to the point.


    ¡°Are you... by any chance, one of the First Hunters?¡± she asked.


    The First Hunters were those who were the first to Awaken when the Fissures first appeared ten years ago. They were legends who had survived the chaos. Officially, the only known First Hunters were members of Behemoth Guild: Lee Kang-Hyun, Ryu Jun-Yeol, and Moon Ae-Kyung. However, rumors circulated that other undisclosed First Hunters might still exist, and Yoo Ha-Na had decided that Do-Jun was one of them.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not,¡± Do-Jun replied.


    ¡°Then what is it? How are you so strong? I know you didn¡¯t become Chief Supervisor without reason. Do the S-rank Hunters know who you really are?¡±


    It was a rapid-fire of questions.


    Do-Jun sighed. It was one thing to subdue Heo Young-Chang, but the real problem seemed to arise after Yoo Ha-Na witnessed him take down an ogre. He hadn¡¯t thought much of it at the time, yet he didn¡¯t expect her to pursue him so doggedly afterward.


    ¡°I...¡± Do-Jun realized it would be a hassle to come up with an excuse, so he gave a vague response.


    ¡°Just believe whatever would help you sleep at night.¡±


    Then, he turned to leave. However, Yoo Ha-Na blocked his path.


    Just as Do-Jun frowned and was about to say something, Yoo Ha-Na dropped to her knees on the concrete floor, bowing deeply.


    ¡°What are you doing...?¡± Do-Jun asked her.


    ¡°Please, take me in as your disciple, First Hunter.¡±


    Do-Jun clicked his tongue. He was about to refuse outright, but he stopped and decided to offer her a different option. He handed her one of his business cards.


    Yoo Ha-Na looked up and read the card.


    ***


    Sizzle.


    Prawns battered in tempura bits were frying to a crispy, golden texture in the oil. The table was laden with so many dishes that it seemed about to collapse under the weight. Yoon-Hee hummed as she arranged the prawn tempura on a plate with salad and placed it on the table.


    Standing beside her on a small stool, Karsiel peeled potatoes for the curry.


    Today was the day Do-Jun would come home after working two consecutive nights, so they were both putting extra effort into the meal.


    Hearing the sound of the automatic lock on the door, Yoon-Hee turned off the stove, removed her apron, and quickly ran to the door.


    ¡°I¡¯m back,¡± Do-Jun announced.


    At this point, Yoon-Hee usually responded with, ¡°Welcome home!¡± and greeted him brightly, but this time, she just stood in the entryway, silently looking at him.


    Do-Jun waved his hand in front of her face to get her attention. Without a word, Yoon-Hee threw her arms around him.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on...?¡± Do-Jun asked, puzzled.


    She stepped back without answering and returned to the kitchen.


    ¡°Masteeeeeeer! Welcome baaack! I missed you sooooo much!¡± Yong-Yong clung to his ankle, sniffling with tears and snot.


    Do-Jun wondered why he was acting so dramatic today.


    Byeol was peacefully dozing in the bedroom, and Karsiel was the only one acting normal.


    ¡°Welcome home, Master. Thank you for your hard work.¡± Karsiel bowed slightly.


    ¡°Thanks. How have you been?¡±


    ¡°I... I¡¯ve been well... I guess.¡±


    Shadows could be seen under Karsiel¡¯s eyes upon closer inspection.


    ¡°I suppose I can finally wake Byeol...¡± she said.


    ***


    Byeol sobbed uncontrollably, clinging to Do-Jun and shedding a bucket of tears.


    Was this what it would feel like to reunite with a long-lost family member? Do-Jun wondered.


    Watching from the side, Karsiel filled him in on the events of the past two days. Do-Jun listened quietly and chuckled to himself.


    On the morning of the first day, Byeol had gone outside to play as usual and returned home by evening. That was when the problem first arose.


    ¡°Daddy¡¯s late today, huh?¡±


    At first, there was confusion. Do-Jun usually came home around 7 PM, but he hadn¡¯t returned even by 8 PM, which made Byeol suspicious.


    The second stage was denial. When it was almost time for bed, Byeol could see Do-Jun lying on the bed within arm¡¯s reach like usual.


    ¡°What... what is going on?¡±


    The third stage was fear. When the next day came, there was still no sign of Do-Jun, Byeol was filled with sadness and dread.


    ¡°Daddy abandoned me.¡±


    The fourth stage was acceptance. Byeol was finally convinced that Do-Jun had left her, and her usual cheerfulness vanished. She spent the entire day staring blankly into thin air.


    This was when the real problem began. Byeol¡¯s started saying things that devolved pretty quickly.


    ¡°Yong-Yong, what did you do today?¡±


    ¡°Daddy¡¯s gone, and you still eat just fine, huh? Yong-Yong?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no meaning in life anymore.¡±


    Hearing all the things Byeol said during his absence, Do-Jun couldn¡¯t help but let out an incredulous laugh. His shirt was now soaked in snot.


    Byeol looked up at him. ¡°Daddy, I won¡¯t ask for awowance anymore. I won¡¯t compwain again.¡±


    Do-Jun resolved to get home on time every day from now on.


    ***


    After dinner, Do-Jun headed over to the Hunter¡¯s Bureau and returned to the underground exam hall on the second basement floor.


    The staff were busy clearing away the remains of monsters.


    Do-Jun closed his eyes and extended his qi sense.


    There you are, he thought when he sensed a spirit in Sector C emitting power equivalent to an S-rank monster.


    It was Sylphid, a high-rank wind spirit, who had been following him throughout the test. Apparently flustered by Do-Jun¡¯s brief disappearance when he went home, Sylphid was wandering around, seemingly at a loss.


    Do-Jun concealed his presence and landed quietly behind the spirit, who looked troubled.


    He watched it in silence. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Eventually, the spirit turned around and, with a startled yelp of gibberish, quickly backed away, hiding behind a pine tree. Only its head peeked out as it cautiously observed Do-Jun.


    Do-Jun sighed and gestured with his fingers.


    The spirit shook its head vigorously with its eyes squeezed shut, clearly refusing.


    Was it out of fear, or had he somehow made a bad impression? If that were the case, he wondered why it had been following him.


    Finally, it spoke. ¡°Mom¡¯s scent...¡±


    Its words puzzled Do-Jun, but he quickly understood. ¡°Are you talking about Laghaim?¡±


    The spirit nodded eagerly.


    ¡°You mean I smell like Laghaim?¡±


    The spirit nodded again.


    What the spirit called ¡°scent¡± wasn¡¯t something literal. It sensed the energy of the Spirit Queen Laghaim. Then, realizing something, the spirit suddenly darted over to Do-Jun and stared at him, soon coming to a conclusion.


    ¡°Dad?¡± it called out.


    It seemed there was a major misunderstanding.


    ***


    Do-Jun decided to hand Sylphid over to Laghaim.


    Upon entering the Core¡¯s second floor[1], the spirit flew around excitedly, and when it saw Laghaim walking over, it beamed and zoomed toward her.


    ¡°Mom!¡±


    Seeing its joyful expression, Do-Jun couldn¡¯t help but smile. So it turned out he¡¯d been right to worry it might have gotten lost.


    ¡°Thank you, Master, for bringing Sylphid home,¡± Laghaim said.


    ¡°Master?¡± Sylphid repeated in puzzlement, looking back and forth between Laghaim and Do-Jun.


    ¡°He¡¯s not Dad?¡±


    ¡°Well... not quite yet,¡± Laghaim replied, glancing nervously at Do-Jun.


    1. The original had this as Fissure instead of the Core¡¯s second floor. As we explained in Chapter 104, we believe that Laghaim can be met in the Core as its connection to the E-rank Fissure, Tomb of Spirits, was severed after Do-Jun and Yong-Yong exited the changed Fissure. ?

 Chapter 118

    Chapter 118¡°Ah, it¡¯s hot,¡± a man muttered to himself, staring blankly at an empty Word document.


    He switched on an old fan he¡¯d had for over five years and leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes.


    Lim Seong-Hoon, a web novelist, lived in unit 302 of Changshin Villa in Bangbae-dong, Seocho-gu.


    At thirty-three years old, he was in his fourth year in the fiction industry, although he was not a popular writer by any means. He had completed two novels: the first was a traditional fantasy, and the second was an apocalyptic story.


    In the past four years, he had earned a total of around 20 million won.


    Although he began writing due to his love for novels, reality had proven to be anything but kind. At this point, he wondered if it would be wiser to confront the truth, acknowledge his lack of talent, and seek a regular job like everyone else.


    Having only written novels up to now, Lim Seong-Hoon had no notable English proficiency test score, nor had he attended college.[1]


    His qualifications were a far cry from what the job market would want.


    Recently, he had been serializing a new novel on a site called Dalpia. Since Hunter-themed stories were trending, he¡¯d gone with the clich¨¦s, but for some reason, his results were dismal.


    ¡°I need some fresh air.¡± Lim Seong-Hoon sighed.


    He grabbed his wallet and trudged outside.


    ***


    He sat on a bench in a nearby park.


    With the cicadas buzzing, it really felt like summer had arrived. Wait, since when did cicadas come out as early as June?


    He chose not to dwell on that too much.


    ¡°So hot...¡± he said, fanning himself.


    The air, life, all of it.


    Just then, someone sat beside him. It was a little girl, probably no more than five, and a small dog with horns and wings.


    Oh, they¡¯re the kids from unit 301.


    He decided to say hi.


    ¡°Hey, guys.¡±


    The girl, Byeol, turned to look at him. They were vaguely familiar with one another from their occasional encounters in the hallway. He often gave her snacks, so he fell into the ¡°good person¡± category in her eyes.


    ¡°Oh, next door Mistah!¡± she said.


    ¡°That¡¯s me. So, what are you and Yong-Yong doing here?¡±


    ¡°Just pwaying. And you?¡±


    ¡°Me... I just came out for some fresh air.¡±


    ¡°Okie.¡±


    The frustration he felt from writer¡¯s block seemed to ease a bit as he watched Byeol and Yong-Yong relax.


    ¡°If you¡¯re not busy, want to read one of the stories I wrote?¡± Lim Seong-Hoon asked her.


    Perhaps it was his desire for validation from just about anyone or a simple urge to connect with the kids. Before he even realized it, Lim Seong-Hoon took out his smartphone and opened Dalpia.


    Why would he expect any reaction from kids who could barely read? He sighed to himself.


    ¡°I am weally busy,¡± Byeol said, shooting down his offer.


    ¡°O-oh, are you?¡±


    ¡°I have to walk Yong-Yong. His bewwy so big now. Fat.¡±


    Lim Seong-Hoon laughed awkwardly.


    She said, ¡°But you can show it to me later, okay? Let¡¯s go, Yong-Yong.¡±


    Byeol hopped off the bench, and Yong-Yong, who had been yawning, looked up at Lim Seong-Hoon and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the title?¡±


    ***


    Sipping his tea at the dining table, Do-Jun glanced at the kids sprawled out on the living room floor. He noticed that Yong-Yong had been reading novels to Byeol.


    ¡°Apparently, the guy next door is a writer,¡± Yoon-Hee said, resting her chin on her hand as she watched the kids fondly.


    ¡°A writer?¡± Do-Jun asked, intrigued.


    ¡°Yeah, he publishes his novels online. Looks like he recommended his work to the kids.¡±


    Yong-Yong was fully immersed in reading to Byeol, complete with dramatic expressions.


    From what Do-Jun could overhear, it was a story about a man in his mid-twenties struggling with a series of part-time jobs who, one day, awakens to become a Hunter. However, Yong-Yong¡¯s expression didn¡¯t look pleased. His face was scrunched up in irritation as he read.


    Byeol had been nodding off but suddenly slapped her cheek to stay awake, only to start dozing again shortly after.


    Yoon-Hee smiled awkwardly and added, ¡°But I guess it¡¯s not all that interesting, huh...¡±


    What Yoon-Hee didn¡¯t know was that ever since losing to Byeol in the Korean spelling test the other day, Yong-Yong had put in immense effort to study Korean.


    ¡°It¡¯s a novel about Hunters, I think,¡± Yoon-Hee said.


    ¡°He¡¯s been reading a lot of those. He must like them,¡± Do-Jun remarked.


    Lying on his back, Yong-Yong had his SpacePad open to Dalpia.


    Curious, Do-Jun opened the same app on his smartphone and checked the over fifty titles in the subscription list, all Hunter-related novels, all subscribed to by Yong-Yong. He saw that Yong-Yong had been active in the comments section, too.


    ¦éAh, another hyatis.


    ¦éDis one¡¯s good! Reed it yall!


    ¦éChat, how do you top up your gold hear? S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Reading through the comments Yong-Yong had left, Do-Jun chuckled quietly.


    ***


    The next day.


    Lim Seong-Hoon let out a sigh once again.


    He was already twenty-three chapters into his series, but the numbers just weren¡¯t coming along. The first chapter had racked up thirty thousand views, placing the novel in the top charts. However, with each subsequent release, subscriber count and views kept plummeting, eventually reaching a point where the chapters were barely receiving two thousand views.


    He wondered what the problem could be.


    ¡°I wrote it according to all the usual clich¨¦s...¡±


    A protagonist who admires Hunters awakens a special power one day and accidentally takes down a monster. He gets an S-rank rating from the Hunter¡¯s Bureau and is showered with recruitment offers from various guilds. The protagonist then embarks on a series of hunts, making a fortune as he rises to success.


    This was the story across the first twenty-three chapters.


    Following this formula was supposed to guarantee more popularity than other genres. So why had his work faded into obscurity like this? Hunter stories were still performing relatively well on Dalpia, even though the market was saturated.


    His doorbell rang.


    When he opened the door, there stood Yong-Yong from unit 301.


    ¡°Hey, Mister. I¡¯m all caught up.¡±


    Lim Seong-Hoon looked at Yong-Yong in disbelief. When Yong-Yong asked for the novel''s title the previous day, he absentmindedly gave it to him, never imagining that Yong-Yong would actually read it.


    ¡°Can you really read?¡± he inquired.


    It was strange enough that a pet could talk, but reading too? That would imply he had studied the Korean language, at least to some extent.


    Since Fissures first appeared ten years ago, many inexplicable things had occurred that modern science couldn¡¯t explain, but a talking and reading pet was still incredible.


    ¡°Yep,¡± Yong-Yong casually replied.


    The title of the novel was ¡°Return of the SSS-Rank Hunter.¡± It was serialized on Dalpia up to chapter twenty-three, but couldn¡¯t break into the top forty rankings. The first chapter had thirty thousand views, while the latest had only two thousand, indicating that he had lost most of his readers.


    ¡°So, what did you think of my novel?¡± Lim Seong-Hoon asked Yong-Yong.


    As his heart pounded, he swallowed nervously, waiting for Yong-Yong¡¯s answer. However, Yong-Yong just sighed, looking at Lim Seong-Hoon¡¯s hopeful expression, wondering if he should just be honest.


    ¡°Mister, why are the comments disabled?¡± Yong-Yong asked back.


    Every single chapter of ¡°Return of the SSS-Rank Hunter¡± had a locked comment section. While this blocked hateful comments and helped protect his peace of mind during writing, it also meant he couldn¡¯t gauge readers¡¯ feedback or reactions.


    ¡°That¡¯s... well...¡±


    The truth was that Lim Seong-Hoon was afraid to look at the comments. Whenever he received negative ones, he would become distracted throughout the day and couldn¡¯t write properly, eventually causing him to disable the comments entirely.


    This way, he thought, he wouldn¡¯t get thrown off by what people said.


    ¡°If you¡¯d left the comments open, it would have blown up by chapter nineteen,¡± Yong-Yong said.


    ¡°Chapter nineteen? Blown up?¡±


    Lim Seong-Hoon reread the chapter.


    It was a classic, cathartic scene¡ªa school reunion where the protagonist¡¯s former classmate, a B-rank Hunter, tries to belittle him, only for the protagonist to turn the tables in an epic moment of revenge.


    Blowing up probably meant there would have been hundreds of comments saying how refreshing and satisfying that chapter felt.


    Lim Seong-Hoon indulged in a moment of happy daydreaming but quickly gave a bitter smile. He knew that would never happen.


    Yong-Yong had read dozens of Hunter stories and was now a seasoned fan of the genre. He knew the Hunter story clich¨¦s inside out and understood what moments readers would cheer for and what they wanted to see.


    In truth, clich¨¦s weren¡¯t necessarily a bad thing. The patterns called clich¨¦s often included elements that readers generally enjoy. The problem lay elsewhere.


    ¡°Mister, do you enjoy writing this?¡±


    That question hit Lim Seong-Hoon like a knife to the chest.


    Truthfully, he didn¡¯t find Hunter stories enjoyable. He only wrote in this genre because it was profitable. His colleagues had told him that if he followed the formula, he would surely succeed. So, he had forced himself through twenty-three chapters to make a living.


    ¡°While I was reading this, I couldn¡¯t help but feel like you were just slogging through it, Mister. It felt like you didn¡¯t want to write this at all but were forcing yourself to. It all shows in your writing. You might think that the readers can¡¯t tell, but we can. Very well.¡±


    Yong-Yong was right.


    From chapter one to twenty-three, it had been a struggle. He never realized how difficult and joyless it would be to write something that didn¡¯t resonate with him.


    Lim Seong-Hoon said, ¡°It wasn¡¯t that I wrote carelessly. I studied hard, read everything I could find about Hunters, and kept up with new information every day. But you¡¯re right; I didn¡¯t actually enjoy writing a Hunter story. I didn¡¯t expect it to show through my writing, though...¡±


    He¡¯d considered this year his last attempt at being a writer. He¡¯d prepared meticulously, choosing a Hunter story because it seemed like the easiest path to success.


    At the end of the day, he wanted to make a career out of writing.


    Yong-Yong continued, ¡°I don¡¯t know much about writing novels, but... I think the most important thing is to write about what you enjoy. If the writer finds it fun, then the readers will too. You aren¡¯t just writing for the money, are you?¡±


    What Yong-Yong said was, in essence, the first ¡°comment¡± Lim Seong-Hoon had ever received. Writing all twenty-three chapters without readers¡¯ comments, cut off from reader interaction, had been purely mechanical.


    Despite completing two other novels, he never grasped the true essence until now. Web novels weren¡¯t like traditional books; they grew along with the readers, engaging in a journey together.


    That day, Lim Seong-Hoon posted a notice announcing the suspension of ¡°Return of the SSS-Rank Hunter.¡±


    ***


    Two weeks later.


    After his shower, Do-Jun walked into the living room, drying his wet hair with a towel. Yong-Yong dashed over, holding out the SpacePad and a ten-thousand-won bill.


    ¡°M-master! How do I donate on this thing?¡±


    Do-Jun took the SpacePad and checked the screen. The Dalpia app was open, displaying a novel titled ¡°Return of the Third-Rate Writer.¡±


    Do-Jun chuckled and tapped the purchase button.


    ***


    Ranked first on the platform, the name Lim Seong-Hoon stood proudly at the top, a smile spreading across his face.


    ¡°I did it...¡±


    Fifteen chapters had been published so far. Chapter one had forty thousand views, with the latest having thirty-five thousand. The novel had blown up.


    ¡°Write what you want, Mister.¡± That was the advice Yong-Yong had given him, and that was exactly what he did.


    He had written what he had tucked away due to the concern about marketability or commercial appeal. He wrote with complete freedom and poured his heart into the work.


    Messages from publishers filled his inbox. They all wanted to sign him on to publish ¡°Return of the Third-Rate Writer¡± on their own platforms.


    ¦éHello! I¡¯m Editor Kim Cheol-Soo from Hansol Management.


    ¦éThis is Kwon Young-Hwan, CEO of OAS Media. We¡¯d like to discuss a possible collaboration for...


    ¦éWe thoroughly enjoyed your work...


    The latest chapter had over five hundred comments, and his work occupied four slots on the first page of the recommendations.


    It was hard to believe. If it was a dream, he never wanted to wake up.


    At that moment, another message arrived.


    Could it be from another publisher?


    ¦éxXSupremeYongYongXx has sent you a donation.


    For a moment, Lim Seong-Hoon¡¯s eyes grew misty.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± he whispered.


    1. English proficiency tests like TOEIC and TOEFL are highly regarded in Korea and give individuals an advantage in finding a job. ?

 Chapter 119

    Chapter 119Yoon-Hee was crouched on the floor, inspecting the contents of her suit-case.


    Inside was the D-rank suit made of Rapid Rabbit hide, a standard issue from the Academy. There was also a blade, a basic Hunter weapon that scaled in power with the user¡¯s mana. Along with it were a mana gun, mana smoke, stamina potions, speed potions, and other combat support artifacts.


    Yoon-He let out a deep breath.


    It was time for another Fissure training at the Academy the next day. Once a month, the Hunter Academy collaborated with the Hunter¡¯s Bureau to secure exclusive access to a B-rank Fissure for practical training, during which the first-year Class B students would participate in a two-hour hunting session.


    Though it was technically training, the sessions were graded, so the students made thorough preparations to earn the highest scores they could.


    The site for this training session was the Troll¡¯s Valley, a B-rank Fissure located near the National Cemetery in Seoul, about thirty minutes from the Academy.


    [Skill¡ªBinding Chains]


    Grade: A


    Skill Effect: Summons chains to bind the target. The strength of the chains increases in proportion to the user¡¯s mana (Minimum mana requirement: 10).


    Until recently, Yoon-Hee was a ¡°half-complete Hunter¡±¡ªa term commonly used for Hunters who relied solely on physical enhancement without any skills. However, a month ago, thanks to an A-grade skill book that Do-Jun had given her, she dropped her ¡°half-complete¡± label and became a full-fledged Hunter.


    ¡°Alright. All set,¡± Yoon-Hee said to herself with a smile and closed the suitcase.


    As she stood up to leave the bedroom, she locked eyes with Do-Jun, who was lying on his side on the bed, propping his face with one hand and watching her blankly.


    ¡°F-father?¡± she said, startled.


    ¡°You¡¯re sure you¡¯ve packed everything?¡±


    Yoon-Hee¡¯s face instantly flushed. The thought that he might have overheard her talking to herself had her thoroughly embarrassed.


    ¡°H-how long have you been here...?¡± she asked him.


    She could have sworn she had seen him watching TV in the living room. When had he moved to the bed?


    ¡°About five minutes. I wondered what you were up to, staying in the room this long.¡±


    ¡°Um... please forget about the little monologue just now.¡±


    ¡°As you wish. You¡¯re going to the Fissure training tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°Yes. We¡¯re heading to the Troll¡¯s Valley. You know, near the National Cemetery.¡±


    Do-Jun got up from the bed, patted Yoon-Hee on the head, and said, ¡°Be careful.¡±


    With that, he left the room.


    ***


    The next morning, Do-Jun went to work earlier than usual.


    It had already been two weeks since he finished his internship at the Hunter¡¯s Bureau and returned to Seoul City Hall. Time had flown by.


    He poured a packet of instant coffee into a paper cup, added hot water, and stirred it with a spoon. Returning to his desk, he started browsing the main headlines on a portal site.


    It was still early, with no one else in yet, so he began his morning leisurely in the quiet.


    ¡°Behemoth Returns from the Core... When¡¯s the Next Dive?¡±


    Last night, it seemed that Behemoth had wrapped up their hunt on the first floor of the Core and returned to Earth for a break.


    Do-Jun occasionally watched their streams to check on their progress, and so far, they seemed to be proceeding smoothly without major issues.


    ¡°Early morning, huh, Do-Jun?¡± Cheol-Soo said as he entered, humming a tune.


    Do-Jun stood up slightly to greet his chief.


    Ye-Ji passed the promotion exam and became an A-rank Hunter, which put Cheol-Soo in a good mood. Now, Seoul City Hall had four A-rank Hunters under contract: the three members of the Mejai Guild and Ye-Ji.


    This was unprecedented since the establishment of the Fissure Management Division. No other local government even had one B-rank Hunter, let alone an A-ranker; yet, Seoul City had four.


    Cheol-Soo said, ¡°I know this might sound wrong, but...¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°It feels strange, you know? Ever since you returned to work from your accident, only good things have been happening for our division. You¡¯re like our lucky charm.¡±


    In a monotonous voice, Do-Jun replied, ¡°You¡¯re embarrassing me.¡±


    ¡°Though sometimes you seem like you¡¯ve lost your soul. Like an emotionless robot.¡±


    ¡°Oh, sorry about that...¡±


    ¡°No need to apologize. I mean it in a good way; women tend to like men with that cool, aloof vibe.¡±


    The conversation ended, and Do-Jun found himself staring at his expressionless reflection in the monitor screen.


    ¡°An emotionless robot, huh...¡± he mumbled.


    ***


    Meanwhile, the first-year Class B students arrived at the National Cemetery on the Academy¡¯s chartered bus.


    The bus stopped at the gate, and one by one, the students stepped out from the front door.


    Hye-Jung groaned as she stretched briefly after getting off the bus. Then, she turned to look at the field across from the gate, where, right at the center, the entrance to a long, towering Fissure stretched up toward the sky.


    This was the gateway into the Troll¡¯s Valley, an open, B-rank Great Fissure.


    As the students saw the entrance of the dazzling, radiant Fissure, they swallowed nervously, their mouths dry.


    ¡°Nervous?¡± their instructor, Seo Seong-Rok, said as he watched the frozen students.


    For most of them, this would be their first experience with a Great Fissure. After all, unlike standard Fissures below C-rank, a B-rank Great Fissure had the possibility of a Distortion occurring. If that were to happen, they wouldn¡¯t be able to exit until the boss monster was defeated.


    Thus, the one who was most on edge was none other than their instructor, Seong-Rok, a former A-rank Hunter.


    ¡°A little tension helps with focus. Don¡¯t let your guard down for even a moment,¡± he warned the students, who nodded.


    ¡°Is there anyone who feels they can¡¯t enter the Great Fissure?¡± he asked to confirm.


    Everyone glanced at each other. They were all equally scared. However, backing out here would impact their grades.


    During their entire three-year journey at the Academy, each student''s performance at every stage influenced the value they would command at graduation, which is why few students were willing to raise their hands.


    After a brief silence, five students finally raised their hands as if they¡¯d made up their minds. But no one criticized them.


    In fact, Seong-Rok praised them. ¡°It takes courage to know when to step back. You made a good choice. Stay at the entrance, and for the rest of you, I¡¯m giving you ten minutes to prepare before we head in.¡±


    Yoon-Hee opened her suit-case, pulled out a palm-sized orb, and pressed it to her chest. The orb burst open, and a suit unfolded, covering her entire body except for her face. As the suit tightened around her, she felt the weight of the impending battle settle in.


    Her entire body was tense; her palms were sweaty.


    She strapped a belt around her waist that resembled a cartridge belt. In the grooves of the belt, she attached her combat support artifacts using hooks, then secured her blade and mana gun in the sheath and holster on her thighs, completing her preparations.


    Just then, someone patted Yoon-Hee¡¯s shoulder. She turned to see that it was her friend.


    ¡°Hey Hye-Jung, are you all set?¡± Yoon-Hee asked.


    ¡°Yeah, this isn¡¯t my first rodeo.¡±


    Hye-Jung smiled, but although she appeared relaxed, her slender frame trembled ever so slightly. It was the fear of entering a Great Fissure. One mistake, one wrong decision, and even a trivial error could lead to death. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°We got this. All of us,¡± Yoon-Hee said, trying to comfort her.


    Hye-Jung wasn¡¯t the only one who was afraid; all of her classmates likely felt the same way.


    ¡°Everyone, line up,¡± Seong-Rok called out.


    ***


    Jagged rocks and dense trees surrounded them, with clear stream water flowing through. They gazed at the endless horizon. They had entered the Troll¡¯s Valley, a B-rank Great Fissure.


    Seong-Rok stepped out of the shallow stream, reviewing the mapping data posted on the official website of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau once more. The complete map was neatly marked, but he had no intention of going more than three hundred meters beyond the entrance.


    ¡°The most important thing is your safety. Don¡¯t overdo it, and if anything seems dangerous, retreat immediately. Remember to hunt only within the designated area I mentioned earlier,¡± he reminded the students.


    The students checked the emergency cams embedded in their necklaces, which the Hunter¡¯s Bureau provided for training within Great Fissures. In case of an emergency, activating them would immediately send footage to the Hunter¡¯s Bureau control room, triggering a rescue response.


    Yoon-Hee gripped her blade tightly and unsheathed it from her side. The blade was crafted from reinforced material extracted from mana stones. Although her primary weapon was the mana gun, the tough skin and remarkable regeneration of trolls made it difficult to subdue them with the gun alone, making it unsuitable for use here.


    When she activated Infusion, her mana coursed through her body and down her fingertips, enveloping the blade. While it wasn¡¯t as stable as that of A-rank Hunters, she could maintain it as long as she focused her mind.


    Soon, the students began their hunt.


    ***


    ¡°Rooooar!¡±


    A hulking monster with green skin, standing over three meters tall, let out a bellowing roar.


    Jin-Soo, who had been waiting on a tree branch, leaped down in a swift motion, driving the blade he held deep into the monster¡¯s neck. With a sound akin to an explosive going off, blood trickled down the troll¡¯s neck, and smoke wafted out.


    The troll gritted its teeth in pain and swung its fist toward Jin-Soo.


    Or at least, it tried to.


    A blue chain appeared out of the troll¡¯s blind spot, binding its fist in place. The troll flexed its arm, trying to snap the chains, causing veins to bulge and pulse on its fist. But as if to taunt the troll, the chains only tightened further.


    It was Yoon-Hee¡¯s brand-new A-grade skill, Binding Chains.


    Hye-Jung was surprised but quickly realized there was no time to admire it and sprinted toward the troll¡¯s chest. Mana flowed from her blade like threads, converging at its tip and piercing through the troll¡¯s thick skin, striking a vital spot.


    The troll fell backward.


    Although the troll was likely killed instantly from being struck in its fatal spot, Jin-Soo stabbed his blade once more to be sure.


    ¡°We make a pretty good team, don¡¯t we?¡± Jin-Soo said with a grin. ¡°When we graduate, should we start our own guild? I¡¯ll be the guild master, Yoon-Hee can be the vice-guild master, and you, Hye-Jung, can be a member.¡±


    Hye-Jung held up her middle finger in response and said, ¡°Up yours.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Jin-Soo asked with a smirk.


    ¡°Because I¡¯m going to join the Icarus Guild.¡±


    At that, Jin-Soo scoffed and said, ¡°Hah! Why would Icarus want you? Are you kidding?¡±


    ¡°At least you¡¯re realistic. You¡¯re thinking of forming your own guild because you know none of them would take you, right?¡±


    ¡°Oh, you wanna fight?¡±


    Seeing them clash again, Yoon-Hee sighed and muttered, ¡°They¡¯re always fighting.¡±


    ¡°Yoon-Hee, is there any guild you want to join?¡± Hye-Jung asked.


    Yoon-Hee shook her head as no particular guild came to mind.


    Jin-Soo chimed in, ¡°The place we all want to go to the most is...¡±


    He trailed off, but they all knew without him having to say it. This was every Hunter¡¯s hero, idol, and dream¡ªthe place where the Emperor, the King, and the Queen, the three stars, gathered.


    ¡°Behemoth.¡±

 Chapter 120

    Chapter 120Jin-Soo placed the filter of the mana smoke between his lips. Similar in appearance to an e-cigarette, it drew the compressed mana into the user¡¯s mouth in a steady stream.


    He could feel his mana being replenished after taking down fifteen trolls in a short amount of time.


    He placed the used mana smoke back into a slot on his combat belt. Although it was a low-grade mana smoke extracted from a D-rank mana stone, it restored about thirty percent of his total mana.


    ¡°Alright, time to head out again.¡±


    The hunt was going well today. If things kept up, he would finish with a solid score. Jin-Soo smiled faintly.


    ¡°Maybe we should head back,¡± Yoon-Hee muttered, sounding uneasy.


    Having already crossed the three-hundred-meter boundary set by their instructor, they couldn¡¯t see anyone else around them.


    ¡°We still have two more hours until we need to regroup. Let¡¯s push a bit further,¡± Jin-Soo encouraged his friends.


    ¡°The guy who normally jumps at Yoon-Hee¡¯s every word is acting pretty bold today,¡± Hye-Jung teased him.


    Jin-Soo frowned in response.


    She continued, ¡°And we¡¯re too far out. We must¡¯ve walked about a kilometer. We can keep hunting on the way back, so let¡¯s turn around.¡±


    They weren¡¯t opposed to Jin-Soo¡¯s idea to continue, as their hunt had been going better than expected for their first Great Fissure; however, the empty surroundings made them uneasy. On top of that, for some reason, the sky was starting to darken, and twilight was settling in.


    According to the ¡°Fissure Analysis Manual,¡± the weather in a Fissure should remain constant¡ªif it was bright, it stayed bright; if it was dark, it stayed dark.


    Then it happened. The saying that bad premonitions never miss came to life.


    There was a loud rumble.


    ¡°W-what¡¯s going on?¡±


    It felt like an earthquake. The ground began to shake violently.


    [Fissure Distortion is occurring.]


    [The Moon of Distortion rises.]


    [Due to the Moon of Distortion, monsters are empowered.]


    [A boss monster is appearing.]


    ¡°What!?¡±


    ***


    A Fissure Distortion was a rare phenomenon that only occurred in Great Fissures of B-rank or higher.


    [Fissure Distortion¡ªTroll¡¯s Valley]


    Clear Condition: Defeat all Distorted Trolls within the valley (including the boss monster).


    While the Moon of Distortion is active, monsters enter a distorted state, greatly increasing their combat strength.


    ¡°Everyone, get out!¡±


    Near the Fissure entrance, the horrified Seong-Rok counted the students and gestured urgently toward the exit.


    Inside the Fissure, which had suddenly grown dark, the sun vanished, and a blood-red moon rose in its place. That had to be the Moon of Distortion that the system referred to.


    The over three meters tall trolls had doubled in size, towering at least six meters now. The ferociously mutated trolls roared as they charged toward them.


    The students were thrown into chaos.


    Some trolls had grown a second head, others had limbs twisted at unnatural angles, and their once-green skin was now a menacing shade of red.


    The terrified students hurried to escape the Fissure.


    Seong-Rok counted the students as they exited. Seventeen, eighteen...


    With the five who were outside waiting, there should be twenty-six in total.


    Twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three...


    Three were missing.


    ¡°Kwooooh!¡±


    The trolls were now alarmingly close.


    ¡°Damn bastards.¡± Cursing under his breath, Seong-Rok drew his blade as five trolls lunged at him.


    He shot over ten meters into the air with a single leap, dodging them. The trolls collided with each other, unable to catch him.


    Seong-Rok gulped. He would have been crushed on the spot if he''d been down there. He landed back on the ground and continued evading the trolls, but they were shockingly fast.


    If they catch me, I¡¯m dead.


    Trolls were typically B-rank monsters, but these trolls were at least A-rank. In fact, he was beginning to think they might even be S-rank.


    Dammit! sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The only relief in this situation was the fact that the usual condition of a Fissure Distortion, which prevented anyone from leaving the Fissure until the boss monster was killed, seemed to be absent.


    His primary concern was the three missing students who were still inside the Fissure. They could not handle these trolls with their current abilities, as each troll was nearly as powerful as an S-rank monster.


    Then he had an ominous thought. Surely they haven¡¯t... already died.


    For a moment, an image of the students as corpses flashed through his mind.


    No, no way that happened. He shook his head, forcing the thought away.


    Maybe they already left?


    Perhaps while he was away for a brief period, they returned to the entrance and exited the Fissure. After all, he had told them not to go more than three hundred meters away. That was the most likely situation. If they had been within the three-hundred-meter boundary he had set, he would have spotted them already.


    With that conclusion, Seong-Rok spun around and ran back toward the brilliant glow of the Fissure¡¯s entrance.


    ***


    ¡°Oh, my god. Is this actually happening?¡±


    ¡°Shut up, Jin-Soo. You¡¯re going to get us caught.¡±


    Huddled together in a small pit beneath a tree, Yoon-Hee and her friends watched in horror as trolls stomped past the opening of their hiding spot.


    Jin-Soo felt someone trembling against his arm. Yoon-Hee, trying to stay calm, kept saying they would be fine and that the rescue team would come soon. However, every time a troll walked by, her body stiffened in fear.


    The tiny emergency cam hanging around her neck whirred softly.


    Hopefully, the others made it out safely. They must have realized by now that they were missing. Perhaps their instructor was out there desperately searching for them. After all, he was a former A-rank Hunter, so these trolls should be nothing for him. Jin-Soo clenched his fists, seething at the helplessness of watching the girl he liked struggle with fear.


    Suddenly, the sound of a tree breaking filled the air.


    Had they been found? Was this the end?


    Thankfully, the troll moved on.


    As they watched in tense silence, Yoon-Hee let out a quiet sigh of relief. But her fear only continued to grow.


    She opened her phone, only to see the expected ¡°No signal¡± message. She nervously bit down on her lower lip.


    ***


    Ten Hunters sat around the round conference table inside the Hunter¡¯s Bureau Conference Room. These were Korea¡¯s top-ranked Rankers[1], from first to tenth place, gathered for a regular meeting that took place twice a year.


    The Hunters read through the meeting materials placed before them.


    Kang-Hyun glanced at his wristwatch to check the time, as Young-Chul, who had never been late to a meeting before, had not shown up, even though the meeting was now ten minutes overdue.


    Just then, the door swung open, and Young-Chul walked in.


    ¡°Today¡¯s meeting is canceled,¡± he declared.


    ¡°What?¡± Jun-Yeol frowned in disbelief.


    Young-Chul had gathered everyone here, kept them waiting, and then arrived late only to announce a cancellation. Even for the Bureau Chief, this seemed too much.


    ¡°A Distortion has occurred in the Great Fissure at the National Cemetery. The Fissure wave level is at 1,100¡ªover seven times the usual level, and we¡¯ve raised its estimated rating to S-rank. The issue is that a Hunter inside the Fissure sent a distress signal...¡± Young-Chul trailed off, his sentence unfinished.


    The Hunters could guess what he was trying to convey.


    ¡°The National Cemetery is close by... But, sir, did you say a distress signal? You mean a call for help from inside the Fissure?¡± Jun-Yeol asked, still puzzled.


    Usually, with Distortions, the standard protocol imposed a lockdown, preventing entry until everyone inside was wiped out. Activating the emergency cam in such situations was typically for recording purposes, not for seeking rescue.


    ¡°An instructor from Hunter Academy, Seo Seong-Rok, contacted me. He said there are no entry restrictions this time,¡± Young-Chul explained.


    ¡°That¡¯s a rare exception. So, we¡¯re skipping the meeting and heading out for a rescue mission instead?¡±


    Young-Chul nodded and said, ¡°Everyone here is.¡±


    ¡°But it doesn¡¯t seem like all of us need to go for a 1,100 reading.¡±


    A level of 1,100 was below the average for an S-rank Great Fissure; as such, Jun-Yeol thought there was no need for him or Behemoth to go. Besides, he had just returned from the Core yesterday and wanted to rest.


    Young-Chul recalled the footage from the emergency cam and the names of the three cadets trapped inside, as Seo Seong-Rok had informed him. His lips trembled slightly.


    ¡°Supervisor Lee,¡± he muttered.


    ¡°Pardon?¡± Jun-Yeol looked taken aback. Why was that name coming up here?


    ¡°The Hunter trapped inside is Supervisor Lee¡¯s daughter.¡±


    A heavy silence fell. All the S-rank Hunters swallowed hard.


    ¡°Fuck, we¡¯re fucked.¡±


    With a clamour, the Hunters burst through the conference room door.


    Left alone, Young-Chul pulled out his smartphone and dialed a number.


    ***


    After hanging up the call from Young-Chul, Do-Jun got up and picked up his suit jacket from the back of his chair.


    He recalled Young-Chul¡¯s words. ¡°I¡¯ve sent our S-rank Hunters to the site. I¡¯m monitoring the camera feed, and she is still safe for now. We¡¯ll ensure she and her friends are rescued as soon as possible.¡±


    ¡°Senior, I¡¯m going out to a site.¡± With that, Do-Jun rushed out before Hyuk-Soo could even respond.


    ***


    Seong-Rok ground his teeth, turning his smartphone on and off repeatedly.


    That was all he had been doing.


    What am I doing?


    His legs were shaking. He should be going inside the Fissure to rescue the students still trapped there, but his fear of dying kept him rooted to the spot.


    Pathetic.


    He had contacted the Hunter¡¯s Bureau for backup, but it would take at least thirty minutes for them to arrive, and they would likely send A-rank Hunters.


    I¡¯ll go in with the support team when they arrive, he thought, as the rest of the class restlessly shifted their feet, visibly anxious.


    When their eyes met his, he felt himself shrink, embarrassed to be showing such weakness as their instructor.


    Then he heard footsteps. Someone was approaching. It was a young man in his mid-to-late twenties, dressed in a suit.


    That¡¯s... Yoon-Hee¡¯s father?


    He remembered him clearly due to his youthful appearance.


    How did he know...?


    They hadn¡¯t contacted him specifically, so it had to be a coincidence.


    At that moment, the roar of luxury sports cars reverberated through the air. With a screech of brakes, the cars came to a halt in front of the Fissure¡¯s entrance.


    The people stepping out of the cars were even more unexpected.


    ¡°It¡¯s Kang Min-Hyuk!¡±


    ¡°Kwak Young-Ho, too!¡±


    S-rank Hunters, not just one but multiple. And most notably, even Behemoth Guild!


    The students¡¯ eyes widened in awe. The top ten Hunters in Korea, every single one of them, had all gathered in one place.


    Seong-Rok rushed over to them. He wanted to confirm if they were the support team sent by the Hunter¡¯s Bureau.


    ¡°H-hello...¡± He approached, bowing slightly, extending his hand for a handshake.


    The S-rank Hunters walked right past him without a glance and gathered around one man.


    ¡°We¡¯re late. I apologize.¡± The Sword Emperor, Lee Kang-Hyun, bowed.


    Seong-Rok¡¯s eyes went wide with shock as he saw who the Sword Emperor was bowing to.


    I thought he was a grade-nine civil servant...?


    He couldn¡¯t believe what he was seeing. The idea of Korea¡¯s top Hunter bowing to a low-ranking civil servant was unfathomable. What happened next was even more astounding.


    After staring at Kang-Hyun for a good second, Do-Jun turned and walked toward the Fissure.


    ¡°Go,¡± he said.


    With that, all the S-rank Hunters moved as one and leaped into the Great Fissure.


    1. Reminder: Rankers is used for all S-rank and above Hunters. ?

 Chapter 121

    Chapter 121¡°W-what just happened?¡± one of the students said, staring in disbelief at the rippling entrance of the Fissure while trying to process what he had just seen.


    Before anyone could fully grasp the danger of the Fissure Distortion, Korea¡¯s top-ranked Hunters had gathered in one place.


    There¡¯s no way that just happened... right? Seong-Rok stood there, mouth agape, staring blankly into space.


    Ten elite Hunters had charged into the Fissure at a single word from a young man. From what he recalled, that man was Yoon-Hee¡¯s father, a low-ranking civil servant.


    The students also murmured with a similar suspicion.


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t that guy the one from before?¡±


    ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°You know, the civil servant who helped us with the C-rank Fissure training at Dongguk University.¡±


    ¡°Oh... Now that you mention it, he does look like him.¡±


    ¡°Why is he here? And what was that just now?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s his connection to those S-rank Hunters? Could he be a hidden SS-rank Hunter or something?¡±


    The students tried to solve their unanswered questions with guesses, attempting to make sense of it all.


    ¡°Nah... no way. We have to be mistaken.¡±


    Unable to accept the reality before them, they reached their own conclusions.


    ***


    From the entrance, the roar of trolls mixed with earth-shaking crashes. Dirt fell from the roots of a tree supporting the ceiling of the pit. It felt like the entire world would collapse as if a tectonic shift were happening.


    An unknown sense of dread sent chills down the spines of Yoon-Hee and her friends.


    ¡°Are the trolls rampaging?¡± Jin-Soo muttered.


    Gathering her courage, Yoon-Hee muttered as she stood up, ¡°Should we go check outside...?¡±


    If Jin-Soo¡¯s guess was correct and the trolls were rampaging, it might be safer to stay hidden here for now. Still, it seemed like a good idea to get a sense of the situation outside.


    At that moment, footsteps echoed, accompanied by the crunch of dirt beneath them. Jin-Soo tensed, drawing his blade, ready to leap out at a moment''s notice if needed.


    Then the footsteps stopped, and something emerged through a gap in the earth. Although the view was dark and unclear, one thing was certain: it was a shoe.


    ¡°W-whoa!¡±


    The tree that had been concealing them was uprooted, leaving them exposed. Then, a young man dressed in an incongruous suit for the Great Fissure appeared, dusting off his hands.


    ¡°Dad...¡±


    Yoon-Hee felt a surge of emotions that she had been holding back, emotions repressed by the fear of possibly dying. The mask of strength she had been wearing for her friends slipped off.


    It was remarkable how just the sight of Do-Jun¡¯s face could bring such relief.


    ¡°Ugh...¡± Tears flowed uncontrollably down her cheeks.


    Without a word, Do-Jun lifted her from the pit, held her close, and gently patted her back, stroking her hair.


    ¡°You¡¯re alright now,¡± Do-Jun murmured softly.


    The low, comforting tone she had always known brought in more tears.


    It was truly amazing. Just a moment ago, she had felt as if she were sinking into an abyss, overwhelmed by terror, but now warmth and a sense of peace had taken their place.


    Her body trembled, revealing just how terrified she had been all along.


    Do-Jun continued to pat her back, closing his eyes gently.


    Cheol-Soo¡¯s words from earlier in the morning came to his mind.


    ¡°You¡¯re like a robot without emotions.¡±


    Perhaps that was true.


    Even though his daughter had nearly died, he didn¡¯t feel any anger; only relief. He was just thankful for not being late. A sense of reassurance washed over him as he confirmed that Yoon-Hee was safe.


    It had been a long time since he had felt anything like this.


    ¡°Come on, you two.¡± Do-Jun smiled and extended his hand, helping Hye-Jung and Jin-Soo up one at a time.


    Jin-Soo looked at Yoon-Hee, who was sniffling while clinging to Do-Jun¡¯s jacket. Seeing her like this, he realized just how scared she must have been despite pretending to be fine.


    ¡°Sir, but... how did you get here?¡± Jin-Soo asked cautiously.


    This was a B-rank Great Fissure, and due to the mysterious presence of the Moon of Distortion, the danger level of the monsters inside had skyrocketed. For an ordinary person, entering here would be akin to suicide.


    ¡°That¡¯s not important right now. We should get out of here right away,¡± Hye-Jung said.


    Just then, a group of four drooling trolls emerged from the trees, lumbering toward them. Jin-Soo and Hye-Jung¡¯s faces turned pale as they drew their blades. They couldn¡¯t possibly handle four trolls at once. Every cell in their bodies screamed at them to flee.


    Shiiing!


    A flash of light suddenly blazed down from high above, striking the four trolls. The trolls fell without a chance to even let out a roar, collapsing to the ground.


    Soon, a figure landed atop the bodies of the fallen trolls.


    Jin-Soo and Hye-Jung instantly recognized the figure. He was one of the three brightest stars in Korea, known as the Emperor: the Sword Emperor, Lee Kang-Hyun.


    Clad in a matte black suit, he held the legendary sword, said to be crafted from the molar of an S-rank boss monster, the Basilisk. A fierce, blue aura radiated from the sword, almost bursting with power.


    ¡°T-the Sword Emperor!¡±


    But it wasn¡¯t just the Sword Emperor.


    Nine shadows streaked across the sky. With each flash of light they cast, red-skinned trolls disintegrated where they stood.


    ¡°W-what the hell is happening...?¡±


    This was now a battlefield of stars, a truly spine-tingling sight. Korea¡¯s top-ranking Hunters were now sweeping through the Fissure. Behemoth, Icarus, Phoenix, Messiah¡ªthe four pillars supporting Korea, and their guild masters, along with their S-rank Hunters.


    One leap.


    One strike.


    The trolls fell helplessly.


    Compared to B-rank, or even A-rank, the difference in power was overwhelming.


    Jin-Soo gulped involuntarily.


    So this is... S-rank!


    They were idols he had always admired from afar; figures he looked up to who now soared through the sky.


    They came... for us?


    It seemed inconceivable that these S-rank Hunters, whom one could go a lifetime without seeing up close, would all gather for the sake of three cadets from Hunter Academy.


    However, there was another reason that the students were not aware of.


    ¡°It seems your daughter is safe,¡± Kang-Hyun said with a sense of relief, looking at Yoon-Hee, who was clinging close to Do-Jun¡¯s side. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    For a moment, Jin-Soo¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°Yes, thanks to you,¡± replied Do-Jun, turning his head slightly to look at him.


    What did he just say?


    What was going on? Did Yoon-Hee¡¯s father know the Sword Emperor?


    Kang-Hyun turned his gaze to the twisted, grotesque, moon-like creature writhing in the distance¡ªthe monster that had spawned upon entering the Great Fissure known as the Troll¡¯s Valley.


    It was likely this creature that was referred to as the Moon of Distortion.


    ¡°How shall we proceed?¡± Kang-Hyun was asking for a command.


    Do-Jun said nothing and fixed his cold gaze on the Moon of Distortion. Kang-Hyun smirked, seeming to understand, and spoke into the small radio attached to his shoulder.


    ¡°Exterminate.¡±


    Kang-Hyun leaped toward the enemy.


    ***


    Once they exited the Fissure, reporters who had caught wind of the S-rank Hunters¡¯ arrival surged forward, eagerly snapping photos. Flash after flash captured these heroes who had safely returned the three Hunter Academy students.


    Reporters from the three major broadcasting stations pushed forward with their microphones, eager for a word, pressing in close.


    ¡°Sword Emperor, could you say a few words?¡±


    ¡°How did you find out the students were trapped?¡±


    ¡°Were the enhanced trolls difficult to handle?¡±


    ¡°Was there a particular reason all the S-rank Hunters came together at once?¡±


    The S-rank Hunters were inwardly annoyed; however, to the public, they were nothing short of heroes. Thus, they maintained their formal smiles and provided the standard interview responses.


    They explained that, naturally, they had come to rescue future Hunters who had requested help through the emergency cam. They were fortunate that today happened to be their regular bi-annual meeting for S-rank Hunters, so when the emergency arose, they all headed out together with a shared sense of duty.


    It wasn¡¯t necessarily a lie.


    The main reason was that one of the students in danger was Do-Jun¡¯s daughter.


    Meanwhile, as he watched Do-Jun quietly walk away from the National Cemetery, Seong-Rok gave an interview. ¡°We¡¯re truly grateful that the S-rank Hunters could come. Without them, our students would have faced significant danger...¡±


    He knew the full story behind the incident but decided against sharing it with the reporters.


    ***


    A short while later, the S-rank Hunters gathered back at the Hunter¡¯s Bureau.


    In the conference room with the big round table, Jun-Yeol chuckled to himself. An expression of indescribable joy was plastered across his face, and his mouth curved into a satisfied grin.


    Watching him, Ae-Kyung gave him a disapproving look.


    ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± she asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s just that...¡±


    This was definitely a win for him.


    Jun-Yeol recalled the first time he met Do-Jun, when he had nearly gotten himself killed for his insolence toward him. Since then, whenever he ran into Do-Jun, he couldn¡¯t help but shrink back.


    ¡°I definitely scored some points with Supervisor Lee this time, didn¡¯t I?¡± he said, grinning.


    There was no better way to earn favor than saving his daughter from a life-threatening danger. No matter how cool-headed a person is, if their daughter¡¯s life is on the line, what parent could stay calm?


    The exhilarated Jun-Yeol continued his boast. ¡°You saw! I was just cutting down the trolls, like...¡±


    ¡°Keep it down,¡± Kang-Hyun said with his eyes closed, arms crossed.


    After a brief silence, he added, ¡°I was the one who saved the day.¡±


    ***


    It was dinnertime.


    Tonight, Yoon-Hee ate in silence, unlike her usual self. Now and then, she glanced at Do-Jun with a blank expression, only to quickly look away as if nothing had happened when their eyes met.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Do-Jun asked, noticing something was off.


    ¡°N-nothing.¡±


    There was definitely something unusual about her.


    I feel like I¡¯m always causing trouble for Father, Yoon-Hee thought and sighed inwardly.


    The fact that Do-Jun had come to save her today had filled her with overwhelming gratitude, even bringing her to tears. Yet, she couldn¡¯t shake the guilty feeling.


    I need to get stronger.


    She was the weakest in the household, but at the very least, she wanted to be able to protect herself.


    She didn¡¯t want to be a burden on Do-Jun anymore.


    ¡°Young Master, why are you staring at me?¡± Karsiel asked and tilted her head in confusion.


    Yong-Yong was watching the TV, and his eyes widened at the news report.


    ?Today, several S-rank Hunters gathered in one place, at the Seoul National Cemetery. The students of Hunter Academy¡¯s first-year Class B underwent a Fissure training session...?


    ¡°Huh? Master, you¡¯re on TV,¡± he pointed out.


    ¡°Weally?¡±


    Yong-Yong scampered over to the TV, pointing his paw at a tiny figure on the screen¡ªa man in a suit barely visible in the corner. Honestly, it was hard to recognize Do-Jun¡¯s face unless one looked closely.


    Byeol, who had been eating, got down from her high chair and toddled over to the TV.


    ¡°It¡¯s weally you!¡±


    She beamed with excitement and ran over to Do-Jun. ¡°Daddy, you made it! You¡¯re famous now!¡±


    Do-Jun glanced at the tiny dot that was himself on the TV, then back at Byeol¡¯s beaming face, genuinely delighted.


    ¡°I guess so,¡± he replied with a chuckle.

 Chapter 122

    Chapter 122Cheol-Soo was on the phone, arguing with someone.


    ¡°Did that Hunter say he saw it himself?¡± he asked.


    His voice could be heard across the office, even though it wasn¡¯t overly loud. He sounded just like the middle-aged man he was.


    ¡°You must be joking¡ªwhat do you mean, ¡®a ghost in the Fissure¡¯? It¡¯s obvious they mistook a monster for one!¡± Cheol-Soo¡¯s forehead creased into deep furrows. ¡°Hello? Hello?¡±


    It seemed the other party had hung up on him. Annoyed, he slammed the phone down.


    Hyuk-Soo stood up from his desk and cautiously approached Cheol-Soo to ask whether something was wrong.


    ¡°Hyuk-Soo, do you believe in ghosts?¡± Cheol-Soo asked in response.


    What kind of answer was Hyuk-Soo supposed to give? He paused briefly, then grinned and shook his head.


    ¡°I was in the Marines. I could beat up a ghost if needed,¡± he said playfully.


    ¡°Keep up the jokes, and I¡¯m going to turn you into a ghost,¡± Cheol-Soo said, seemingly not in the mood for jokes.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s going on?¡±


    At Hyuk-Soo¡¯s question, Cheol-Soo logged into the Seoul City administrative system and pulled up a complaint filed earlier that day.


    [Subject: Too scared to hunt.]


    Hello, I¡¯m a thirty-one-year-old resident of Huam-dong. I recently became an F-rank Hunter and have been making a living by hunting in the F-rank Fissure called Horned Squirrel¡¯s Cave in our neighborhood. However, lately, a female ghost with pink hair has been appearing every evening, and it¡¯s terrifying. Please investigate and address this issue. I nearly died of a heart attack. I¡¯m not the only one who has seen her.


    The Fissure Management Division had received numerous complaints over the years, but a report of a ghost wandering inside a Fissure was unprecedented.


    It seemed reasonable to conclude that the complainant had mistaken another Hunter for a ghost.


    However, if they dismissed the issue internally and something happened later, they would undoubtedly have to write an incident report.


    ¡°What should we even¡ªgah!¡± Cheol-Soo stopped abruptly, then asked, ¡°Do-Jun, when did you get here?!¡±


    At some point, Do-Jun had appeared beside Cheol-Soo. No one had heard him approach or even noticed he was missing from his desk.


    ¡°A ghost, huh?¡± Do-Jun muttered as he mentally reviewed the information about the F-rank Fissure, the Horned Squirrel¡¯s Cave.


    Having memorized the details of most Fissures managed by Seoul City Hall, he visualized the mapping data for this one and nodded.


    ¡°Should I go check it out today?¡± he asked.


    The Fissure in question wasn¡¯t large¡ªat most, it was the size of three school fields.


    However, Cheol-Soo shook his head and replied, ¡°If this needs attention, we¡¯re doing it together.¡±


    Their workday just got a lot longer.


    ***


    Yoon-Hee¡¯s hands moved busily over the cutting board, skillfully scoring the sausages with her knife. She added the sausages to the frying pan, and they made a pleasant sizzling sound as they crackled, their sweet and savory aroma filling the kitchen.


    ¡°I want lots!¡± Yong-Yong wagged his tail eagerly, watching with a bright smile.


    Sausages were always delicious, no matter when or how one ate them.


    Yong-Yong looked on in confusion as Yoon-Hee transferred the cooked sausages into a lunchbox.


    On weekends, when Yoon-Hee took Byeol and Karsiel to the park for walks, she occasionally packed snacks or meals in a lunchbox. However, today they weren¡¯t going out, so why was she packing sausages into a lunchbox?


    Moreover, it wasn¡¯t only sausages¡ªshe carefully added rolled omelets, doenjang soup, and vegetable dishes.


    When all four lunch boxes were packed, Yoon-Hee wrapped them in a cloth with a handle to make them easier to carry.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Yong-Yong blinked as she tied the bundle around his neck, snug between his wings. He stared at her, confused, as if asking what this was about.


    Yoon-Hee smiled and said, ¡°I packed lots of sausages in yours, Yong-Yong.¡±


    ¡°Uh... what am I supposed to do with this?¡±


    ¡°Father¡¯s working late today. Can you deliver these to him?¡± Yooh-Hee asked him.


    ***


    7 PM.


    In the meeting room within the office, surrounded by transparent partitions, three men sat with their laptops, reviewing data on the F-rank Fissure, Horned Squirrel¡¯s Cave, in Huam-dong.


    This was a cave-type Fissure. Its by-products weren¡¯t as valuable as those from goblins, so it wasn¡¯t particularly popular. However, since goblins were grotesque in appearance, Hunters who were squeamish often preferred the Horned Squirrel¡¯s Cave. Its users were mainly women or younger Hunters.


    As they were engrossed in their research, Do-Jun sensed a massive presence in the lobby. He expanded his senses and heard a familiar voice talking to himself.


    ¡ªHah, where am I supposed to go?


    Glancing at Cheol-Soo, who was engrossed in his laptop, Do-Jun said, ¡°Chief, I¡¯ll be back in a moment. I need to check on something on the first floor.¡±


    Yoon-Hee had texted earlier, saying she was preparing lunchboxes, so Yong-Yong likely had arrived with the delivery.


    Do-Jun took the staff elevator, which reached the first floor in under three seconds. As the doors opened, he spotted Yong-Yong near the small fountain in the lobby, staring blankly at the information desk.


    ¡°Master!¡± Yong-Yong¡¯s face lit up as he ran toward Do-Jun, wagging his tail furiously.


    In moments like these, he was no different from an affectionate puppy, eager to please its owner.


    ***


    After dinner, Do-Jun and his group arrived at a condo complex in Huam-dong.


    A fissure stood about five meters away. Rookie Hunters¡ªstill lacking proper suits or equipment¡ªcould be seen presenting their Hunter ID cards to the Hunter¡¯s Bureau staff for verification before entering the Fissure.


    ¡°Are you really sure you¡¯ll be okay going in alone?¡± Cheol-Soo asked anxiously.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll be fine,¡± Do-Jun replied.


    They had divided the patrol area of the Horned Squirrel¡¯s Cave into three sections. Cheol-Soo and Hyuk-Soo each had an E-rank Hunter, contracted through City Hall, assigned to accompany them for protection. However, Do-Jun insisted that he didn¡¯t need any assistance and went in alone.


    Cheol-Soo glanced at Yong-Yong, who was tagging along after Do-Jun.


    He recalled the time several months ago when Do-Jun had taken first-year Hunter Academy students to an F-rank Fissure for practical training and unexpectedly brought back this mysterious monster, claiming he had awakened as a Tamer.


    ¡°Well, you are technically an Awakened, but still...¡± Cheol-Soo trailed off.


    Yong-Yong had tiny wings on his back and two small horns on his head. His overall appearance was undeniably cute¡ªtiny and adorable, as one would expect from an F-rank pet.


    However, Hyuk-Soo knew the truth.


    The ¡°1¡± marked on Yong-Yong¡¯s forehead reminded him of the ¡°Bangbae-dong Dragon Incident,¡± a case that had previously caused an uproar.


    Glancing at Do-Jun, Hyuk-Soo thought that if he wasn¡¯t mistaken, Yong-Yong was a dragon. What puzzled him, though, was why a dragon was calling Do-Jun ¡°Master¡± and following him around like a loyal subordinate, with Do-Jun clearly treating it as one.


    ¡°If anything happens, make a big noise. I¡¯ll come running right away,¡± Cheol-Soo said, his voice still filled with concern.


    ¡°Will do. Thank you, Chief.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t let your guard down just because it¡¯s the Horned Squirrels. We have good insurance coverage, but it¡¯s still best to avoid getting hurt.¡±


    Do-Jun nodded in agreement.


    ***


    [Welcome to the Fissure Management System.]


    [Accessing Fissure information for Huam-dong-001, Yongsan-gu, Seoul.]


    The map of the Horned Squirrel¡¯s Cave was displayed on his SpacePad. The area had already been mapped out two years ago, and there had been no notable changes to the terrain since.


    Recalling the complaints filed with the city, Do-Jun marked the location where the supposed ¡°ghost sightings¡± had occurred.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go over there!¡± he said to Yong-Yong.


    ¡°Got it!¡±


    Nearby, two Hunters in basic supply suits scrambled to catch a Horned Squirrel. These F-rank Hunters, still unable to use mana effectively, swung mana-less blades as they clumsily chased after the creature.


    Watching them, Do-Jun chuckled, thinking that they reminded him of his first day back at the Fissure Management Division after returning from the Martial World, when he had hunted goblins with Ye-Ji.


    ¡°Kyuu.¡± A Horned Squirrel turned toward Do-Jun, curiously circling him.


    Given their non-aggressive nature, Horned Squirrels usually lost interest and wandered off when left alone. However, the moment it locked eyes with Yong-Yong, the creature froze in place.


    Yong-Yong remarked, ¡°These guys are supposed to taste good.¡±


    Having watched ¡°Taste vs. Taste,¡± a show about cooking and eating monsters, Yong-Yong vividly remembered the host enjoying grilled Horned Squirrel. Salivating at the memory, he stared at the squirrel, making it turn pale before it bolted away in panic.


    Then, for just a second or two, the Fissure shook violently.


    The Hunters paused but quickly resumed their hunt, unfazed.


    ¡°Another tremor,¡± a Hunter remarked.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. It always happens around dinnertime.¡±


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s the ghost!¡±


    The Hunters chatted casually, but Do-Jun¡¯s sharp gaze was fixed on the source of a massive presence that had briefly appeared and then disappeared. A being so powerful that even S-rank Hunters would struggle to handle it.


    ¡°Huh...?¡± Yong-Yong glanced toward a fork in the cave¡¯s path, looking startled.


    ***


    Do-Jun walked calmly toward the source of the powerful energy he sensed. He realized that it was concealing its qi; otherwise, it would have long been detected by the monitoring room of the Hunter¡¯s Bureau, and higher-ranked Hunters would have been dispatched to investigate.


    Still, something felt off. Why was it deliberately concealing its presence? Moreover, no deaths had been reported in the Horned Squirrel¡¯s Cave in the past six months. Whoever this powerful being was, they hadn¡¯t harmed anyone who had entered the Fissure.


    Passing a stalactite that jutted from the ceiling, Do-Jun rounded a corner deeper into the cave and came to a stop.


    There, he saw a young girl feeding the Horned Squirrels. Her description matched the complaints: pink bobbed hair of moderate length. What stood out was her outfit¡ªa black maid¡¯s uniform adorned with white frills.


    The startled girl looked at him in surprise; rather, she was staring at Yong-Yong beside him. Slowly, she clasped her hands together in front of her and bowed politely, saying, ¡°Greetings, Lord Izaas.¡±


    ¡°So it is you, Anne. I knew the scent was familiar,¡± Yong-Yong remarked.


    It was clear they weren¡¯t meeting for the first time.


    Do-Jun noticed the number ¡°8¡± engraved on Anne¡¯s thigh.


    ¡°A dragon?¡± he muttered.


    Anne smiled and nodded, but then widened her eyes, speaking curiously, ¡°Lord Izaas, what is that human doing with you?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s my Master,¡± Yong-Yong replied.


    ¡°I see...¡± Anne murmured as though she understood completely. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her reaction was starkly different from Karsiel¡¯s¡ªcalm and unflustered, as if nothing could surprise her.


    ¡°If he is your master, he must also be mine. By the way, what brings you here?¡±


    Do-Jun explained the situation, including the complaints about ghost sightings and his investigation.


    Hearing this, Anne looked genuinely apologetic. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to trouble you, Master.¡±


    Despite having met him for less than ten minutes, Anne addressed Do-Jun as ¡°Master¡± without hesitation. He had not displayed any overwhelming power to assert dominance. She was truly a peculiar individual.


    ¡°What... should I do now?¡±


    Anne placed a hand lightly on her chest and looked up at Do-Jun as if uncertain and seeking guidance.

 Chapter 123

    Chapter 123Anne¡¯s nest was connected to the Horned Squirrel¡¯s Cave.


    Upon entering the nest, a quaint cabin nestled in a tranquil forest came into view. In front of it stretched fields with various crops and drying racks holding white linens and clothes.


    The setting was a stark contrast to other dragon nests.


    Do-Jun sat at a pavilion outside as Anne brought tea and an assortment of snacks on a small carrying table. The cookies and bread were beautifully arranged on the plates, showcasing her impressive culinary skills.


    ¡°You seem a bit different, Lord Izaas,¡± Anne remarked, watching Yong-Yong chatter away with a bright smile as he helped himself to the snacks.


    For Anne, this was an unusual sight. Lord Izaas, from her memory, had always been stoic and expressionless. Yet, the creature before her now seemed much more docile.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,¡± Yong-Yong replied, popping a cookie into his mouth.


    He had little recollection of his past. While Laghaim often said similar things, Yong-Yong hadn¡¯t paid much attention to them. What mattered wasn¡¯t the past but the present.


    ¡°No, you¡¯ve definitely changed. Compared to when you ruled over the Deep Realm as the Overlord... You seem much gentler now,¡± Anne explained.


    ¡°Overlord?¡± Yong-Yong muttered, momentarily reminded of the man who had introduced himself as the Flame King and had nearly gotten Yong-Yong caught while sneaking a midnight sausage snack.


    He had also referred to him as the Overlord.


    But what did it even mean?


    What was more interesting to Yong-Yong was the fact that Anne appeared to retain memories of the Deep Realm.


    ¡°Just as I expected... you¡¯ve lost your memories,¡± Anne concluded.


    Unlike other dragons, Anne had not entered the eternal slumber.


    Unable to tie up loose ends after the ¡°Final Battle¡± in the Deep Realm, other dragons scattered across the Core to replenish their strength through slumber. However, Anne had chosen to forego it to monitor the Core¡¯s state instead.


    She explained, ¡°You were the master of the Deep Realm, Lord Izaas. Everyone called you the Overlord and feared and revered you. While you didn¡¯t interfere much with the Deep Realm, you didn¡¯t leave it in chaos either.¡±


    Anne paused, looking at Yong-Yong, recalling when she had declared she wouldn¡¯t enter the eternal slumber. Lord Izaas had patted her head and said, ¡°Be a good girl. When I wake up, I¡¯ll come to you first.¡±


    She had believed him and waited through countless years until he awoke. While some had called him a tyrant, a merciless and savage ruler, Anne had followed Izaas with unwavering loyalty.


    She continued, ¡°You once said that when all the dragons awaken from their slumber, you will return to the Deep Realm. Not out of greed for past glory but to restore order to the Core disrupted by the Transcendent Seats.¡±


    Yong-Yong tilted his head. ¡°I said that, huh?¡±


    Anne stole a glance at Do-Jun, who had been silently sipping tea and admiring the scenery. To an outsider, he looked no different from any ordinary human, devoid of power. She hadn¡¯t shown it, but she had been using her unique skill called Deep in Mind to attempt to read Do-Jun¡¯s memories. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Why can¡¯t I read him...? she wondered.


    She couldn¡¯t access anything. This was a first for her. It felt like trying to peer into a void¡ªan empty, hollow vessel. In fact, she couldn¡¯t even establish a connection to begin with.


    At that moment, Do-Jun met her gaze. Instantly, her body froze, and she felt as if she were being sucked into his eyes.


    I can¡¯t move.


    She tried to turn her head or rise from her seat, but she couldn¡¯t. Even the slightest movement, like twitching a finger, was impossible. It felt as though Do-Jun was controlling her body, and until he released her, she was no more than a puppet.


    The strange sensation vanished, and Anne swallowed nervously as she slowly lifted her head.


    Do-Jun smiled faintly, like an adult amused by a child¡¯s antics.


    Her heart raced wildly. She had been the one trying to read his memories using Deep in Mind, but now she felt completely exposed, as if she were standing naked before him. It was as if he could see through everything.


    I should stop here, Do-Jun thought, deciding to stop teasing Anne.


    He had been watching her discreet attempt to channel her magic toward him for some time now. Casually, he waved his hand in the air as if fanning something away.


    Glancing at his watch, Do-Jun remarked, ¡°We should get going.¡±


    It was already past 10 PM.


    Anne stared at him blankly, still trying to process what had just happened. The mana she tried to impose on Do-Jun vanished completely. With just a casual wave of his hand, he had effortlessly erased a dragon¡¯s magic.


    Whether or not Yong-Yong noticed this, he waved his paw and said, ¡°I¡¯ll come back to hear more next time.¡±


    Anne gulped audibly.


    The two left the nest.


    Anne looked at Do-Jun¡¯s empty teacup before sighing and starting to clean up.


    ***


    In truth, Cheol-Soo was terrified of ghosts; so scared that he never worked late at the office alone. The E-rank Hunter accompanying him sighed inwardly while watching him nervously scanning his surroundings.


    The Horned Squirrel¡¯s Cave was generally dark, and whenever a flying squirrel unexpectedly darted out, Cheol-Soo occasionally yelped.


    ¡°Chief!¡± Do-Jun appeared and called from out of nowhere, startling both Cheol-Soo and the E-rank Hunter.


    Realizing it was Do-Jun, Cheol-Soo caught his breath and yelled, ¡°Y-you! S-stop doing that!¡±


    ¡°Excuse me? What do you mean?¡± Do-Jun asked, puzzled.


    ¡°D-don¡¯t just pop out of nowhere like that! It¡¯s bad for my heart!¡±


    Do-Jun chuckled softly and said, ¡°It looks like we can head back now.¡±


    ¡°W-what about the ghost?¡±


    ¡°It seems the Hunters misunderstood. I ran into a pink-haired woman, who turned out to be a Hunter as well. Her unique outfit probably made her seem like a ghost to the other Hunters, with the Fissure being dark and all.¡±


    There was no need to mention that the ¡°woman¡± was actually a dragon. Do-Jun tweaked the story a bit for everyone¡¯s benefit.


    ¡°That makes sense. Of course, there¡¯s no such thing as ghosts.¡± Cheol-Soo laughed awkwardly.


    Do-Jun knew about his fear of ghosts but decided to pretend otherwise.


    ¡°As expected of you, Chief. Honestly, I was a bit scared, but having you here was reassuring.¡±


    Cheol-Soo seemed to brighten at the compliment and laughed heartily.


    ¡°Of course! Just leave it to me. Even if a ghost showed up, I¡¯d knock it out with one punch,¡± he said with his head held high.


    The E-rank Hunter watching from the side stared at Do-Jun incredulously. Among the contracted Hunters, Do-Jun was nicknamed the ¡°Drill Sergeant.¡±


    He¡¯s lying, the Hunter thought.


    Unlike Cheol-Soo, Do-Jun seemed completely composed.


    ***


    Meanwhile, after Do-Jun and Yong-Yong left, Anne remained alone in her nest, scrolling through the Core¡¯s forum. She had opted out of the eternal slumber to stay updated on the Core¡¯s movements, and browsing the forum was part of her daily routine.


    [Subject: Let¡¯s End the Debate. Facts only.]


    She broke a snack in half and popped a piece into her mouth as she scrolled through the posts.


    Recently, the forum was ablaze with one topic, a name mentioned repeatedly: ¡°Lee Do-Jun.¡±


    Anne clicked on the post and thought, I thought the name sounded familiar...


    Let¡¯s start with the tutorial ranking debate that¡¯s been going on forever. We all know that these rankings haven¡¯t changed in 4,000 years. Apparently, the top spots have always been occupied by Transcendents from the Deep Realm, with the original #1 being Imfelheim. However, about four months ago, Imfelheim was pushed down to #2. LOL. The new #1 is listed as (Unknown), so no one actually knows who it is.


    BUT.


    Recently, Tarantuloso was taken down on the second floor. There¡¯s been a lot of talk about who did it, but it¡¯s highly likely that it was the person who took the #1 spot in the tutorial rankings. Agreed? Also, everyone on the second floor keeps mentioning the name ¡°Lee Do-Jun.¡±


    Conclusion: Tutorial Rank #1 = The person who took down Tarantuloso = Lee Do-Jun.


    [Likes: 4,771, Dislikes: 69,042, Comments: 5,623]


    ¦éWindBloodAllianceCanGoDie: LOL. Stop hyping up some random nobody.


    ¦éJookdoli: Lee Do-Jun is a Transcendent who¡¯s using a fake name; he¡¯s actually Murmu.


    ¦éHonolulu153: Agreed.


    ¦éGiveMeRelicArtifactPls: Think for a second. Even with a fully maxed-out orange status window, there''s no way anyone can beat Tarantuloso. Even with artifact spam, it¡¯s impossible. Even the second-floor boss, Bi-Yeong, couldn¡¯t take it down. How could a non-Transcendent manage it?


    ¦éCoinLife: Honestly, unless someone has the ¡°Core¡¯s Blessing¡± and can use navy or purple status windows on the second floor, it¡¯s impossible.


    The forum post was ablaze with heated discussions.


    Was the person who defeated Tarantuloso a Transcendent or not? And who was the mysterious ¡°Unknown¡± ranked first in the tutorial rankings?


    Due to the nature of the Core, adventurers from different floors couldn¡¯t move freely between them unless they were Transcendents. This restriction made the forum the only place for cross-floor discussion, leading to many wild theories.


    Once a topic caught fire, it usually burned for at least a month.


    Wanting to find out more about this man¡¯s true identity, Anne thought that she would ask Izaas more about this man named Lee Do-Jun.


    ***


    By the time they got home, it was almost bedtime.


    The clock¡¯s hour hand pointed at eleven, and Yong-Yong flopped onto the rug in the living room. He relished its soft, fluffy texture.


    Yong-Yong murmured blissfully, ¡°This is why home is the best,¡± as though he could melt into the rug.


    ¡°Father, you must be tired after such a long day,¡± said Yoon-Hee, running up to Do-Jun and taking his coat. A faint, sweet scent wafted from the suit jacket¡ªa peculiar fragrance, not quite perfume.


    ¡°Did you put something on?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Nope, I was at the nest of this dragon named Anne. The smell must have stuck to me.¡±


    ¡°Anne?¡±


    Do-Jun briefly explained what had happened earlier.


    Listening intently, Yoon-Hee slightly bit her lower lip and muttered, ¡°Hmm... A maid outfit, huh?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what she was wearing,¡± Do-Jun responded.


    ¡°Is that... your taste?¡±


    Do-Jun shrugged. ¡°Who knows?¡±


    He headed to the bedroom, grabbed some clothes and a towel, and stepped into the shower.


    Standing alone in the living room, Yoon-Hee absentmindedly touched her lips with her fingers, deep in thought.


    ¡°A maid outfit...¡± she murmured.

 Chapter 124

    Chapter 124The Hunter Academy had been buzzing lately, and the reason was none other than the ¡°Guild Presentation.¡±


    With mid-June approaching, the third-year academy students were getting closer to graduation, and they needed to decide whether to start their careers as solo Hunters or join a guild.


    The bulletin board at the academy was covered with posters announcing the schedules for various guild presentations. Third-year students stood in front of it, carefully examining the posters of the guilds they were interested in.


    ¡°The third years must have a lot on their minds,¡± Hye-Jung remarked as she walked down the first-floor hallway.


    ¡°Yeah, just half a year left until graduation...¡± Yoon-Hee muttered as she watched them.


    Since she had started her first year barely half a year ago, she couldn¡¯t really relate to their struggle, and her indifferent tone made that clear.


    Noticing that, Hye-Jung asked, ¡°Yoon-Hee, you said you didn¡¯t have any particular guilds you wanted to join, right?¡±


    She recalled the conversation they had back in the Troll¡¯s Valley. Unlike herself, who had a clear idea of the guild she wanted to join, Yoon-Hee had said she wasn¡¯t sure yet.


    ¡°Yoon-Hee?¡±


    Yoon-Hee was staring intently at one of the posters that the third-year students didn¡¯t even glance at: the poster for Seoul City Hall Fissure Management Division¡¯s Contract Hunter presentation.


    Hye-Jung nudged Yoon-Hee¡¯s shoulder.


    Startled, Yoon-Hee flinched and said, ¡°W-what?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s got your attention? The contract Hunter poster?¡± Hye-Jung asked.


    The Fissure Management Division was notorious for its poor working conditions, lack of proper suits or artifacts, and mostly attracting F-rank Hunters who were desperate for any job to make ends meet.


    Seeing Yoon-Hee¡¯s reaction, Hye-Jung let out a knowing chuckle. ¡°Now that I think about it, your dad works for the Fissure Management Division, doesn¡¯t he?¡±


    Watching Yoon-Hee¡¯s face flush red, Hye-Jung burst into laughter, teasing her further. Could it be that Yoon-Hee¡¯s lack of interest in guilds stemmed from this?


    ¡°Y-yeah...¡± Yoon-Hee answered, sounding embarrassed.


    ¡°Are you interested in becoming a contract Hunter?¡±


    Even though it was obvious that she had been staring at the Seoul City Hall poster as if trying to burn a hole through it, Yoon-Hee frantically waved her hands in denial. ¡°N-no! Not at all!¡±


    Even a passing five-year-old could tell she was interested.


    Hmm... But why would she want to become a contract Hunter of all things? Hye-Jung thought.


    Even her father, Do-Jun, would be against it. As her father, it was only natural that he would want her to join at least a mid-tier guild capable of providing proper care.


    Hye-Jung thought back to when they were trapped in the Troll¡¯s Valley.


    The Fissure Distortion had turned the trolls even more aggressive than usual, but what puzzled her most was the arrival of the S-rank Hunters who came for their rescue.


    Not just one or two, but ten of them.


    There¡¯s definitely something going on... Hye-Jung thought.


    How had a mere civil servant like Do-Jun managed to avoid running into the aggravated trolls, locate their hiding spot, and, most baffling of all, why did the S-rank Hunters treat him with such deference?


    ¡°How shall we proceed?¡±


    Hye-Jung couldn¡¯t forget the way the Sword Emperor, Lee Kang-Hyun, addressed Do-Jun as though he were a superior.


    ***


    After lunch, the staff of the Fissure Exploration Unit gathered in the small conference room at the City Hall to rehearse their presentation, which was scheduled to take place in a few days.


    No one knew what prompted the Hunter Academy to give Seoul City Hall¡¯s Fissure Management Division a chance to host a presentation. Since the division¡¯s establishment, this was the first time such an opportunity had been offered.


    ¡°Ahem! Ah, ah. Good afternoon! I¡¯m Kang Cheol-Soo, the Section Chief of the Fissure Exploration Unit at Seoul City Hall¡¯s Fissure Management Division. It¡¯s an honor to meet the future Hunters who will carry the weight of this nation...¡±


    ¡°Chief, why don¡¯t you take a short break?¡± Do-Jun suggested, seeing that Cheol-Soo had been rehearsing for over an hour without a break.


    Cheol-Soo was trembling and stammering, clearly nervous despite this being a mere practice run.


    ¡°Y-yeah, maybe I should.¡±


    Placing the microphone down on the podium, Cheol-Soo sat down and wiped the sweat from his forehead. Hyuk-Soo handed him a bottle of barley tea, which he promptly downed in one go.


    ¡°But why did the Academy suddenly give us a slot at their presentation?¡± Hyuk-Soo asked, still baffled.


    It was hard to understand, as over five hundred guilds and management companies were emerging across Korea, and among them, only well-established mid-tier or higher organizations could host presentations at the Academy. The Fissure Management Division was among the lowest-tier groups that were often, if not always, overlooked.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you take the call, Hyuk-Soo?¡±


    Cheol-Soo turned to glare at Kwon Hyuk-Soo, but looking equally puzzled, Hyuk-Soo gestured toward Do-Jun, who was sipping his barley tea.


    Recalling the phone call, Hyuk-Soo said, ¡°They said they¡¯d already spoken with Do-Jun. The administrative office politely asked about scheduling the presentation, and I was honestly surprised by how courteous they were.¡±


    Both Cheol-Soo and Hyuk-Soo turned their gazes toward Do-Jun.


    ¡°They brought it up first,¡± Do-Jun said simply.


    He hadn¡¯t done anything at all, really. The Academy had suggested that there might be students interested in the Fissure Management Division, so they figured hosting a presentation wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea.


    That was all. No, there was one more reason.


    ***


    In the Hunter Academy Annex Auditorium, the third-year students sat in their seats, waiting patiently. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Today was the briefing for Seoul City Hall¡¯s contract Hunters, the first session in a series of guild presentations held every one or two days. However, the students weren¡¯t exactly excited about this particular one.


    The third-year students chattered noisily.


    ¡°Who¡¯s even going to work at the City Hall?¡±


    ¡°Exactly. If this wasn¡¯t mandatory, no one would¡¯ve shown up.¡±


    ¡°Still, it¡¯s strange how they have four A-rank Hunters there.¡±


    ¡°One of them is that Cha Ye-Ji, right? The Hunter everyone talks about.¡±


    Cheol-Soo peeked through the curtains from behind the podium, scanning the auditorium filled with third-year students. He swallowed nervously, his face pale.


    Standing beside him, Do-Jun noticed Cheol-Soo¡¯s anxious demeanor and watched him with concern. He seemed even more tense than during the rehearsal in the City Hall¡¯s conference room.


    The emcee spoke into the microphone. ¡°Now, we will begin the presentation of the Seoul City Hall Fissure Management Division. Everyone, please welcome them with a round of applause.¡±


    At the introduction, Cheol-Soo straightened his tie and slowly walked to the center of the podium while Do-Jun and Hyuk-Soo sat on simple metal chairs at the edge of the stage.


    Cheol-Soo tapped the microphone, testing it.


    The auditorium was so quiet that it was immediately clear there were no issues with the audio system. Despite the announcement asking for applause, not a single clap was heard. The tension was palpable, like walking on eggshells.


    ¡°A-ahem... G-good afternoon. M-my name is Kang Cheol-Soo, the Section Chief of the Fissure Exploration Unit at the Seoul City Hall F-Fissure Management Division.¡±


    The opening remarks didn¡¯t go the way he planned, fumbling and tripping over his words. Soft chuckles rippled through the audience.


    ¡°It¡¯s an h-honor to meet all of you bright students today.¡±


    His voice quivered with tension. Cheol-Soo continued explaining the benefits of joining the Fissure Management Division as the slides transitioned on the projector. However, these benefits seemed laughably inadequate compared to the scouting offers from guilds and agencies, failing to capture the students¡¯ interest.


    As Cheol-Soo grew more flustered, his confidence waned. More students began to doze off or chat amongst themselves.


    ¡°S-so, in conclusion, Seoul City Hall...¡±


    Honestly, he already saw this coming. For students skilled enough to make it to their third year at Hunter Academy, even the lowest-ranked students were equivalent to C-rank Hunters, with the top students practically S-rank material.


    Naturally, they wouldn¡¯t be interested in joining a contract role that even F-rank Hunters hesitated to accept.


    ¡°That... is all. Thank you.¡±


    What was supposed to be a one-hour session ended in less than forty minutes.


    ¡°This concludes the Seoul City Hall Fissure Management Division briefing,¡± the emcee concluded the session.


    With the announcement, Do-Jun and Hyuk-Soo stepped onto the stage alongside Cheol-Soo to bow in farewell. As Cheol-Soo and Hyuk-Soo smiled bitterly, feeling defeated, the students yawned and prepared to leave.


    Just then, Do-Jun took the microphone from Cheol-Soo and announced, ¡°That concludes the briefing for our general contracts. Now, I¡¯ll give a brief explanation about the special contract at our division.¡±


    Cheol-Soo and Hyuk-Soo¡¯s eyes widened as they stared at Do-Jun.


    ¡°D-Do-Jun, what are you doing?¡± Cheol-Soo whispered in shock.


    Some students, who had been about to leave, stopped in their tracks and turned toward the stage¡ªmore specifically, toward Do-Jun, who held the microphone.


    ¡°The special contract hires will be selected through a rigorous evaluation process. If no one meets the criteria, not a single candidate will be chosen.¡±


    Cheol-Soo and Hyuk-Soo exchanged confused glances. They had never heard of this ¡°special contract.¡± What was Do-Jun talking about?


    Murmurs spread through the audience.


    ¡°What¡¯s this about special contracts?¡±


    ¡°Maybe they¡¯re offering more money.¡±


    ¡°Should we stay? This is so boring, though.¡±


    Ignoring the chatter, Do-Jun continued, ¡°The details of the special contract are confidential and will only be disclosed to those who are selected.¡±


    More students prepared to leave, rolling their eyes. But then, Do-Jun dropped the next bombshell, freezing everyone in their tracks.


    ¡°To pique your interest, here are the names of the evaluation panel members: Hunter¡¯s Bureau Chief Jung Young-Chul. Behemoth Guild Master Lee Kang-Hyun, and its members, Ryu Jun-Yeol and Moon Ae-Kyung; Icarus Guild Master Kang Min-Hyuk, and its member Han Min-Ji; Phoenix Guild Master Kwak Young-Ho, and its member, Yang Ik-Hyun; Messiah Guild Master Lee Jin-Goo, and its member, Jo Min-Hyung. A total of ten evaluators.¡±


    The students stared at Do-Jun in utter disbelief.


    Among the ten names mentioned, one carried as much weight as the president himself: the Hunter¡¯s Bureau Chief.


    The other ten were S-rank Hunters¡ªthe pinnacle of Korea¡¯s Hunter society.


    Why were all S-rank Hunters of Korea¡¯s top guilds¡ªBehemoth, Icarus, Phoenix, and Messiah¡ªbeing mentioned at this presentation?


    ¡°The application period for special contracts will be announced on Seoul City Hall¡¯s website in January next year. Please review the requirements carefully before applying. This concludes our presentation. Thank you.¡±


    The students were left stunned.


    What exactly was this special contract? Why were the titans of the Hunter society serving as evaluators?


    Do-Jun¡¯s announcement sparked an insatiable curiosity among the students.


    ¡°This can¡¯t be true,¡± a student muttered.


    ***


    Three days later, it was finally time for the presentation of Icarus Guild¡ªone that the third-year students looked forward to the most.


    Aside from Behemoth, which didn¡¯t recruit members, Icarus was the next biggest option.


    As Icarus Guild Master, Kang Min-Hyuk, stepped onto the stage, cheers erupted from the auditorium.


    ¡°Woohoo!¡±


    ¡°Yeah!¡±


    After his presentation, a brief Q&A session began.


    One student raised a hand and asked, ¡°During the Seoul City Hall presentation, they mentioned something about a special contract. They claimed that the Hunter¡¯s Bureau Chief and S-rank Hunters would be evaluators. Is that true? It sounded unbelievable, like a scam...¡±


    The room fell silent, and all eyes turned to Min-Hyuk, eagerly waiting for his reply.


    ¡°The special contract...¡±


    After a very brief puzzlement, Min-Hyuk smiled and answered, ¡°Ah, yes, that¡¯s right. The Bureau Chief and the top ten Hunters will evaluate the candidates.¡±


    The room buzzed with murmurs.


    Another student raised their hand and asked, ¡°What¡¯s so special about this contract that it has such a crazy evaluator lineup?¡±


    The students held their breath, waiting for his response.


    Min-Hyuk chuckled.


    ¡°Are you interested?¡± he asked the student.


    ¡°Depends on the details.¡±


    Looking around the room, Min-Hyuk brought the microphone closer to his lips.


    ¡°Well, I doubt that any of you would even qualify.¡±

 Chapter 125

    Chapter 125In a residential area in Seongbuk-dong stood a large detached house with an expansive garden on over 2.3 acres of land. The luxurious building, reminiscent of something out of a drama, belonged to Icarus Guild, one of the four biggest guilds in Korea.


    ¡°Ahhh...¡± Min-Ji stretched and got up from her bed.


    Her long, flowing black hair shimmered, framing her delicate features: a high-bridged nose, a petite, tightly shut mouth, and large, expressive eyes with long, elegant lashes. Just one glance was enough to confirm her beauty.


    She unlocked her smartphone to check the date and time; it was Saturday, 7:26 AM.


    After checking her text messages with Do-Jun, Min-Ji walked over to a picture frame on her desk. It was a family photo taken when she was thirteen: her parents, who appeared to be in their early forties, and a young teenage Min-Ji, all smiling happily.


    It was the last family photo they took together.


    Min-Ji gently stroked the frame, her expression softening into a bittersweet smile.


    Just then, someone gently knocked on the door.


    ¡°Miss, are you awake?¡±


    When she opened the door, a middle-aged man in a formal suit gave her a polite bow.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± Min-Ji greeted him.


    ¡°Will you be having breakfast?¡± the butler asked.


    ¡°I have plans today, so I¡¯ll eat out. Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    Today was the day she had promised to meet Do-Jun.


    ***


    10 AM, Seoul Olympic Park.


    Do-Jun was sitting on a bench in front of the fountain. He glanced at his watch before looking around.


    The weather was sunny and clear, and the park was full of couples everywhere.


    ¡°Babe, let¡¯s take a picture!¡±


    ¡°Oppa! Let¡¯s go over there!¡±


    ¡°Look at this! The flowers are blooming!¡±


    Laughter and joy filled the air, a testament to youthful vitality.


    A woman came running toward Do-Jun, stopping in front of the bench to catch her breath. She was dressed casually in denim shorts and a plain white T-shirt¡ªnothing fancy, yet her presence was so striking that she drew attention in every sense of the word.


    ¡°Woah, isn¡¯t that Han Min-Ji?¡±


    ¡°Oh, it is!¡±


    Do-Jun checked the time again. It was 10:02 AM.


    ¡°You¡¯re thirty-two minutes late,¡± he said to Min-Ji.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Supervisor Lee...¡±


    Even though she had woken up early, she had taken her time getting ready, causing her to overshoot their meeting time by over half an hour. Min-Ji looked genuinely apologetic, fidgeting nervously.


    As she bent forward slightly to apologize, the shoulder of her shirt slipped down slightly, exposing her bra strap.


    Without a word, Do-Jun stood up, adjusted her shirt, and said, ¡°I just got here too, so don¡¯t worry about it.¡±


    Min-Ji blinked at him, momentarily stunned. His unexpected attentiveness¡ªfixing her shirt and casually brushing off the delay¡ªtook her by surprise.


    ¡°T-thank you.¡±


    Do-Jun¡¯s gaze shifted to the towering fifty-meter-tall A-rank Great Fissure that was surrounded by a barrier. This was the Ancient Serpent¡¯s Cave, which had appeared a few days ago.


    Despite the looming presence of the Fissure, people went about their weekend as usual, unbothered. The protective barrier that kept the monsters contained in the Fissure had given the public a sense of complacency over the past decade.


    ¡°Thank you for meeting with me today. I know it¡¯s your day off, but... thank you for coming.¡± Min-Ji expressed her gratitude.


    The Ancient Serpent¡¯s Cave was home to a massive, venomous A-rank monster known as the Ancient Serpent. It was also the monster that had killed Min-Ji¡¯s parents ten years ago.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t have any other plans anyway,¡± Do-Jun replied nonchalantly.


    That was a lie.


    He had planned to go into the office to catch up on his backlog. However, since Min-Ji, who always came running to help whenever he asked, had requested his company, he agreed to assist her.


    Trauma, huh... Do-Jun thought.


    She had lost her parents to the Ancient Serpent a decade ago. That event had motivated her to become a Hunter, vowing to ensure no one else would go through what she had.


    Despite her efforts, which earned her the rank of S-rank Hunter, she couldn¡¯t shake the fear that paralyzed her whenever she faced the Ancient Serpent. Do-Jun¡¯s eyes shifted to the suit-case she was carrying, then to Min-Ji, who stood clenching her fists tightly, trembling slightly as she stared at the Fissure.


    It¡¯s not like having me here will magically cure her trauma.


    The Ancient Serpent was an A-rank monster. She could have easily brought members of her guild to handle it.


    He recalled her trembling voice over the phone a few days ago. ¡°Just stay by my side, and I¡¯ll do the hunting myself.¡±


    Do-Jun glanced at the food trucks lined up along the park path. One of them read, ¡°Delicious toast, only 4,000 won!¡±


    He pointed to the toast truck and said, ¡°Let¡¯s eat something first.¡±


    ***


    The crispy toast had a golden-brown exterior, and inside were layers of ham, lettuce, eggs, cheese, and a sweet sauce. It only took a couple of chews before the delicious toast melted in their mouth.


    ¡°This is delicious.¡± Min-Ji smiled happily as she ate the toast, but she didn¡¯t seem to notice the sauce smeared on the corner of her lips.


    ¡°Hunter Min-Ji, hold still.¡±


    Do-Jun grabbed a tissue and gently wiped the sauce from her mouth. Then, as if this was perfectly normal, he turned back to admire the park¡¯s scenery while taking a bite of his toast.


    Min-Ji stared at him blankly before speaking. ¡°Supervisor Lee.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t treat just anyone this kindly. Your future girlfriend won¡¯t appreciate it.¡±


    An awkward silence fell. As the weight of her words sank in, Min-Ji realized her blunder and thought she should apologize.


    ¡°Hunter Min-Ji,¡± Do-Jun¡¯s voice interrupted her thoughts. ¡°You¡¯re not just anyone to me.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me...?¡±


    Her face flushed red, and she looked at him, utterly flustered. Was this a confession?


    ¡°W-what do you mean by that?¡± she stammered.


    ¡°I said what I said,¡± Do-Jun answered nonchalantly.


    Now bright as a tomato, Min-Ji froze in place. She had always admired and respected Do-Jun, but this sudden ¡°confession¡± left her at a loss.


    As she struggled to find the right response, Do-Jun chuckled and added, ¡°It¡¯s not like we¡¯re strangers, right?¡±


    ¡°Oh, r-right...¡± she replied with an awkward laugh.


    She sighed inwardly. Do-Jun had never shown any interest in romance, so what did she expect?


    ***


    Among Hunters, the Ancient Serpent was known to be notoriously difficult to deal with. If approached, it would fire paralyzing venom-coated spikes, immobilizing its prey before swallowing it whole or injecting deadly venom through its fangs to dissolve the victim.


    Once caught, there was no escape.


    To combat this, Hunters would always coat their suits with an anti-venom potion.


    Min-Ji smeared the transparent, viscous anti-venom potion generously over her suit. In contrast, Do-Jun wore nothing more than a short-sleeve T-shirt, cotton pants, and sneakers, leaving much of his skin exposed.


    ¡°Are you really going to be okay like that...?¡± Min-Ji asked, her gaze filled with concern.


    Since she was the one who had invited Do-Jun to accompany her to the Ancient Serpent¡¯s Cave, she wanted to prevent any accidents at all costs.


    ¡°You¡¯ll be the one hunting anyway, Hunter Min-Ji,¡± Do-Jun reassured her.


    ¡°But if you¡¯re nearby, you might get hurt.¡±


    ¡°That won¡¯t happen.¡±


    Do-Jun¡¯s Poison Immunity ensured it wouldn¡¯t.


    It was a state described in the legends of the Central Plains, granting immunity to all poisons. For Do-Jun, this wasn¡¯t just a myth¡ªhe had truly achieved it, rendering even the deadliest toxins completely harmless to him.


    Of course, Min-Ji was not aware of this.


    ¡°Again, please don¡¯t worry about me. Anyway, all I need to do is stay nearby, right?¡± S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Yes. That¡¯s all.¡±


    Min-Ji would normally have felt nervous as soon as she stepped in front of the entrance to the Ancient Serpent¡¯s Cave. The traumatic memories from ten years ago would have resurfaced, leaving her gasping for breath. But strangely, just having Do-Jun by her side calmed her completely.


    Why am I calm?


    It wasn¡¯t just because Do-Jun was strong. Simply having him near her, watching over her, seemed to banish her fears and even her trauma.


    Is this how she feels every day?


    She suddenly thought of Yoon-Hee, who lived with Do-Jun. She couldn¡¯t help but envy her.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get going, Supervisor Lee.¡±


    ¡°Alright, but don¡¯t overdo it.¡±


    In the pitch-black cave, Min-Ji cautiously advanced, scattering Light Stones as she went. These small, thumbnail-sized auxiliary artifacts emitted mana-powered light and were essential for navigating dark dungeons like this one.


    A dragging sound echoed from the floor.


    The faint light of the scattered Light Stones illuminated the cave interior, revealing a massive anaconda-like creature densely covered in sharp spikes.


    Min-Ji froze for a moment.


    Confronting the Ancient Serpent directly brought back fleeting flashes of her nightmare from ten years ago. Still, a brief moment of hesitation was all.


    The Ancient Serpent let out a screech, seemingly sensing the danger posed by the intruder before it. Its once-lowered spikes now bristled menacingly.


    One of its spikes shot toward Min-Ji, but thanks to the slippery coating of anti-venom potion on her suit, the spike failed to penetrate, merely glancing off.


    Min-Ji¡¯s blade emitted an explosive burst of energy as she unleashed her sword aura. In a display of acrobatic skill, she ran along the side of the cave wall, kicking off to launch herself at the Ancient Serpent.


    Its spike attacks were useless, merely embedding themselves into the walls.


    She slashed, and her blade left a trail in the air, resembling a crescent moon. It was the manifestation of her unique skill, Moon Slash.


    The Ancient Serpent¡¯s body, now severed into two parts, thrashed violently on the ground.


    For a few moments, its green blood pooled across the floor. Then, its movements ceased entirely.


    ¡°I... did it.¡± Still in disbelief, Min-Ji muttered to herself as she stared at the fallen serpent.


    The creature she couldn¡¯t even bear to look at due to her trauma had been defeated in an instant.


    ¡°I did it! Supervisor Lee, I did it!¡± She turned to Do-Jun, her voice trembling with emotion.


    ¡°Congratulations, Hunter Min-Ji.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to you.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything, though.¡±


    ¡°You came with me.¡±


    Min-Ji¡¯s joy was infectious, and Do-Jun couldn¡¯t help but smile despite thinking it was just one snake that she took down.


    He then reached out to pat her head.


    ¡°S-supervisor Lee... your hand...¡± Min-Ji looked up at him in a daze.


    Do-Jun thought she disliked it and tried to pull his hand away. However, before he could, Min-Ji grabbed his wrist, stopping him.


    ¡°I... I don¡¯t mind it.¡±

 Chapter 126

    Chapter 126After taking down five Ancient Serpents, Min-Ji leaned against the wall for a break.


    Recalling the previous day¡¯s presentation session held by Icarus Guild at Hunter Academy, she said, ¡°Supervisor Lee, about that special contract...¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Was it really necessary to explain the special contract to the students?¡±


    The special contract with the Seoul City Hall Fissure Management Division already had predesignated recipients. Even if the students were told about it, they didn¡¯t meet the qualifications to apply.


    The only individuals who qualified were S-rank Hunters or those with S-rank capabilities, and only a handful in the country met these criteria. Aside from two exceptions, they were all S-rank Hunters without fail.


    The predetermined recipients were naturally the top ten Hunters of Korea, who also served on the evaluation committee.


    On the surface, the contract would be with the Seoul City Hall Fissure Management Division. In reality, however, the contract was effectively with Do-Jun.


    Min-Jin said, ¡°To be honest, I thought you would turn down this whole thing, Supervisor Lee.¡±


    Young-Chul had proposed the division of command authority to Do-Jun. Previously, the Bureau Chief¡¯s exclusive authority allowed him to oversee S-rank Hunters nominally. Yet now, he had suggested partially transferring this authority to Do-Jun.


    In response, Do-Jun counter-proposed the special contract, aiming to facilitate cooperation between the S-rank Hunters and Seoul City Hall.


    From Young-Chul¡¯s perspective, this was hardly a bad deal. In fact, it was advantageous¡ªhe could now visibly leverage Do-Jun¡¯s strength.


    ¡°On the surface, it¡¯s just a collaboration agreement between the Hunter¡¯s Bureau and Seoul City,¡± Do-Jun explained.


    ¡°But the reality is that Korea¡¯s four major guilds will essentially fall under Seoul City Hall¡ªor rather, under you¡ªstarting next year,¡± Min-Ji said.


    ¡°Yes, it seems so.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you find it bothersome?¡±


    ¡°A bit.¡±


    Do-Jun spoke without hiding his true feelings. He understood Young-Chul¡¯s intentions clearly: to gradually pull him into the spotlight.


    ¡°May I ask you one thing?¡± Min-Ji asked.


    ¡°Can I say no?¡±


    Not expecting this response, Min-Ji looked momentarily flustered.


    Amused by her expression, Do-Jun smiled slightly and said, ¡°I¡¯m joking. Go ahead.¡±


    ¡°Aha... Anyway, with the kind of power you have, why do you choose to live so quietly?¡±


    Min-Ji thought back to the time when Do-Jun served as the Commander of an S-rank Fissure operation. He defeated the boss monster, Malanuh the Titan, with just a single strike.


    Just thinking about the scene sent a brief shiver down her spine as she waited for Do-Jun¡¯s answer.


    ¡°I think we should tweak the question slightly,¡± Do-Jun replied.


    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±


    ¡°To put it simply, I believe it¡¯s because I have power that I can live quietly.¡±


    ¡°Because you have power... you can live quietly?¡±


    Do-Jun nodded and reflected on his past. In the Central Plains, where he had struggled to survive when he had no power, his life was inevitably noisy and chaotic. He had lived through fiercely tumultuous days.


    ¡°To protect this seemingly ordinary life, you need power. Without it, one risks losing everything to others or external interference, completely helpless.¡±


    Staring into Do-Jun¡¯s eyes, Min-Ji suddenly saw her own reflection. Her eyes widened, and she remembered that ten years ago, she had her precious daily life stolen from her. If she had power back then, her parents might still be here with her.


    ¡°That was a silly question, I¡¯m sorry,¡± Min-Ji apologized with a bitter smile.


    ***


    As the streets darkened, they stepped outside after successfully raiding the Ancient Serpent¡¯s Cave.


    Returning to the outside world, Do-Jun¡¯s previously silent smartphone started buzzing incessantly. As communication within the Fissure was impossible, all the delayed messages flooded in at once. All of them were from Yoon-Hee.


    Yoon-Hee: Father, when will you be home? (12:07)


    Yoon-Hee: You ate lunch, right? (13:11)


    Yoon-Hee: The kids and I are going to the department store. (13:58)


    Yoon-Hee: I bought clothes for Siel and Byeol. What do you think? (photo) (15:42)


    .


    .


    .


    Yoon-Hee: Massterr, Im hungrry. (18:11)


    Glancing over the messages briefly, Do-Jun slipped the phone back into his pocket.


    Still messy from the long hunt, Min-Ji had changed out of her suit into casual clothes, yet she still bore the marks of battle, coated in serpent mucus and blood.


    ¡°Thank you for today, Supervisor Lee,¡± she said.


    Thanks to Do-Jun, they had successfully raided the Ancient Serpent¡¯s Cave.


    While packing the camera that contained the footage of the hunt as proof to be submitted to the Hunter¡¯s Bureau, she added, ¡°I couldn¡¯t have done this without you, so if you give me your bank info, I¡¯ll transfer today¡¯s earnings to you.¡±


    Do-Jun shook his head. He hadn¡¯t joined the mission for the money.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. Ah, if you really want, you could buy some snacks for the kids.¡±


    ¡°The kids...?¡±


    Tilting her head, Min-Ji hesitated before nodding in realization. Right, he had two pets.


    ***


    Min-Ji hesitated at the door of unit 301 of Changshin Villa.


    ¡°Supervisor Lee, maybe I should just head home...¡±


    Even though Do-Jun had informed his family beforehand, walking into someone¡¯s home in dirty, sticky clothes felt embarrassing. To make matters trickier, it was dinner time.


    Ignoring her, Do-Jun punched in the passcode and opened the door.


    The first to greet them was none other than Byeol. Having heard that her dad would be home soon, Byeol had been waiting by the entrance. When she saw Min-Ji walking in with Do-Jun, she blinked her big eyes.


    ¡°Supervisor Lee, who is this baby...?¡± Min-Ji asked.


    The small girl, about four or five years old, wore an adorable panda onesie. Looking down at her, it was as if a tiny, cute panda had come to life.


    Kneeling, Min-Ji met Byeol¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°I¡¯m not baby,¡± Byeol said. ¡°I have a name. Byeol.¡±


    Do-Jun smiled warmly and added, ¡°She¡¯s my daughter.¡±


    ¡°Your family just keeps growing, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Min-Ji remarked. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Just then, Yong-Yong yawned from atop the shoe cabinet. He had approached without anyone noticing.


    ***


    Min-Ji was in the bathroom for a shower. Thankfully, Yoon-Hee didn¡¯t seem to mind her coming over for dinner.


    When Do-Jun asked her to have dinner together, she didn¡¯t think it was an invitation to his place. Min-Ji sighed as she stepped out of the tub and dried herself with a towel.


    There was a knock on the door accompanied by Yoon-Hee¡¯s voice. ¡°I¡¯m leaving clothes for you to change into.¡±


    ¡°Sorry for showing up unannounced...¡±


    ¡°Oh, no, it¡¯s fine. I actually like having you here,¡± Yoon-Hee said, presumably smiling on the other side of the door.


    Feeling thankful for her thoughtfulness, Min-Ji took the undergarments and clothes Yoon-Hee had prepared before quietly closing the door.


    ¡°Ah...¡± The underwear didn¡¯t fit.


    Min-Ji put on the panties and shorts, followed by the T-shirt. The bra was too small to wear, so she returned it to Yoon-Hee with an embarrassed look.


    ¡°T-the bra is a bit tight.¡±


    Yoon-Hee glanced back and forth between Min-Ji and herself, then silently went to the bedroom to return the bra to the wardrobe.


    ***


    After dinner, Min-Ji went to the store across the street with Yong-Yong and Byeol.


    ¡°Is there something you guys want to eat?¡± she asked them.


    Remembering Do-Jun¡¯s suggestion to buy the kids some snacks with today¡¯s earnings from the hunt, she had brought them down to pick out whatever snack they wanted.


    Yong-Yong looked around the store, drooling. If he could be honest, he really wanted to try the expensive tub of ice cream that cost over seven thousand won¡ªsomething he had never dared to ask for before.


    ¡°I like this,¡± Byeol said, picking up a three-hundred-won choco pie.


    It was a fluffy sponge cake coated with sweet chocolate.


    Watching from behind, Min-Ji bit her lower lip and thought, How can someone be this cute?


    With the hood attached to her pajama pulled over her head, Byeol looked like a baby panda. She was so adorable that Min-Ji wanted to scoop her up and hug her tightly.


    ¡°Hey,¡± said Yong-Yong.


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    He pointed to the tub of ice cream and remarked, ¡°This one¡¯s seven thousand won.¡±


    Yong-Yong kept picking up and putting down the tub, stealing glances at Min-Ji to gauge her reaction. Seeing this, Min-Ji couldn¡¯t help but chuckle.


    ¡°Go ahead, get it.¡±


    ***


    The hands on the clock were already pointing to 11 PM.


    Byeol, who had been doing jigsaw puzzles with Yong-Yong and Karsiel, succumbed to sleepiness and dozed off. Do-Jun gently lifted her and carried her to the bed.


    ¡°It¡¯s late. Hunter Min-Ji, you should stay the night,¡± Do-Jun said.


    Her clothes, smeared with the Ancient Serpent¡¯s slime, were still in the washing machine and hadn¡¯t dried yet.


    ¡°But I feel like I¡¯m imposing...¡±


    ¡°Hunter Ae-Kyung stayed here for four days and had no issues.¡± Do-Jun casually mentioned this as he brought out spare bedding and a pillow from the bedroom.


    Min-Ji looked at him in surprise, tilting her head as if she couldn¡¯t believe what she¡¯d just heard.


    ¡°Hunter Moon Ae-Kyung? For four days?¡±


    Why would she need to stay for four days? It didn¡¯t make sense.


    Yoon-Hee let out a small sigh from the dining table. She still remembered how Ae-Kyung had left behind her belongings¡ªeven her underwear, as if marking her territory.


    Min-Ji frowned slightly, her expression growing serious, and eventually came to a conclusion. There was only one explanation for an adult woman to stay at an adult man¡¯s house for four days.


    ¡°Are the two of you... together?¡± she asked, cautiously.


    Do-Jun¡¯s answer was brief. ¡°No.¡±


    Then why in the world would she stay for four days? Min-Ji was curious but couldn¡¯t bring herself to ask.


    Do-Jun cleared the living room, pushing the table and sofa to the side. He spread out a large blanket on the floor, setting up a pillow and a light comforter.


    ¡°You can sleep here, Hunter Min-Ji.¡±


    Min-Ji nodded, thinking that the rest of the family was sharing the king-sized bed in the bedroom.


    ¡°Well then, good night.¡±


    ***


    Moonlight filtered through the balcony window, casting a soft glow in the living room.


    Min-Ji slowly opened her eyes, her gaze drifting toward the bedroom. She couldn¡¯t sleep¡ªnot just because she struggled to sleep in unfamiliar places, but because it was almost unbelievable that she was sharing a roof with Do-Jun.


    The bedroom door opened, and Do-Jun stepped out. Min-Ji quickly closed her eyes, pretending to be asleep. She heard the sound of something being placed beside her head.


    It was a pillow.


    Do-Jun lay down next to her and said, ¡°I know you¡¯re not asleep.¡±


    ¡°B-but what¡¯s with the pillow?¡±


    ¡°On second thought, having you sleep on the floor felt wrong.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll sleep here. Please use the bed and rest comfortably.¡±


    ¡°No, if you think about it the other way, making the host sleep on the floor is not right.¡±


    A brief silence followed.


    Min-Ji gazed at the moonlight streaming through the balcony and murmured, ¡°It feels... comfortable here. Your home.¡±


    Unlike most other homes, this one didn¡¯t feel awkward. It felt familiar as if she¡¯d been here for a long time.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad you think so,¡± Do-Jun replied.


    ¡°It feels... full of happiness.¡±


    The house radiated warmth.


    For the first time in ten years, she felt that feeling again. Her eyes slowly closed, and she fell into a peaceful sleep, her breaths steady and quiet.


    Do-Jun gently pulled the blanket over her.

 Chapter 127

    Chapter 127The next day, Min-Ji woke up at dawn, left a note saying, ¡°Thank you,¡± and returned home. Before leaving, she gently stroked Do-Jun¡¯s cheek and mumbled something under her breath, but it was spoken so faintly, almost swallowed, that it was impossible to make out the words.


    Meanwhile, Byeol was sneezing a bit too much. Do-Jun placed a hand on her forehead to check for a fever.


    ¡°I¡¯m okie. I just need to eat bluey,¡± Byeol said, sniffling.


    ¡°Bluey?¡± Do-Jun asked.


    ¡°Yeah, bluey! Where I lived before.¡±


    ¡°Ah.¡± Do-Jun realized she was talking about the first floor of the Core. ¡°Alright, then. Should we go there now?¡± he asked, ready to leave.


    ¡°Let¡¯s eat bwekfast first.¡±


    Do-Jun scratched his head awkwardly, knowing that Yoon-Hee, likely still exhausted from the previous day, was sound asleep and probably wouldn¡¯t wake up for a while. This meant that making breakfast was entirely up to him. As he pondered what to prepare, his eyes landed on the blender.


    ***


    ¡°Don¡¯t drink it too quickly,¡± Do-Jun cautioned Byeol.


    ¡°Daddy, this is yummy.¡±


    ¡°Glad you like it.¡±


    Byeol sipped a thick smoothie made with strawberries, bananas, and milk. Judging by her delighted expression, it seemed to suit a child''s palate perfectly.


    ¡°When you¡¯re done, let¡¯s go visit the Core.¡±


    ¡°Okie.¡±


    Do-Jun went into the bedroom, opened a drawer, and pulled out the Core Talisman. This talisman allowed movement to the first and second floors of the Core, excluding the tutorial area. It was basically a teleportation item that took one to any place that was in their memory.


    Closing the drawer, Do-Jun noticed Yong-Yong staring blankly at the Core Talisman. His tail swayed gently, and his eyes sparkled with expectation.


    This little guy always tried to tag along whenever Do-Jun went to the Core.


    ¡°You want to come too?¡± he asked Yong-Yong.


    ¡°You and I are like Batman and Robin¡ªwe¡¯re a set, Master!¡± With his mouth curving upward, Yong-Yong¡¯s face was full of anticipation.


    Do-Jun stared at him blankly for a moment before he shut the door and walked out.


    ¡°M-Master! I was joking!¡±


    ***


    The first floor of the Core was a peaceful place, unlike the lava-filled second floor.


    It had been a long time since Do-Jun last visited. After completing its challenges and handing the strategy guide over to Behemoth, he hadn¡¯t had any reason to return.


    ¡°Achoo!¡±


    Byeol sneezed, suddenly stopping while happily running across the grassy fields. However, aside from the sneezing, she seemed perfectly healthy and didn¡¯t seem bothered by it.


    ¡°By the way, what even is this bluey thing?¡± Yong-Yong asked.


    Byeol pointed her finger toward a lakeside far below. A vast lake with tranquil turquoise waves shimmered in the sunlight.


    ¡°It¡¯s in the watuh.¡±


    ¡°Hm.¡±


    ¡°But we have to fish for it.¡±


    ¡°We have to fish?¡±


    Byeol nodded and walked toward the bridge that led down to the lake. Do-Jun and Yong-Yong exchanged glances before following her.


    ***


    On the first floor of the Core, there was a marketplace run by adventurers. This was where artifacts, either looted from monsters or crafted from byproducts, were sold in exchange for mastery stones. Behemoth had frequented this market during its time on the first floor.


    As they entered a shop with a sign reading ¡°Kelvin¡¯s Goods,¡± a middle-aged man with a stout belly and a scruffy beard greeted them.


    ¡°Welcome¡ªeek!¡± However, as soon as Kelvin saw Do-Jun, his face turned pale, as if he¡¯d seen a ghost.


    ¡°H-hello, sir! I heard you went down to the second floor...¡± he stammered.


    Among the adventurers of the Core¡¯s first floor, Do-Jun had become a figure of fear, and Kelvin was no exception.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a while,¡± Do-Jun said with a faint smile.


    Although he¡¯d never bought anything from this store, he had visited a few times while writing the strategy guide for Behemoth.


    ¡°Could I get a fishing rod?¡± Do-Jun asked politely.


    Fishing rods in the Core were quite different from those on Earth. While their appearance was similar, they lacked grooves to attach fishing lines. This was because they were special artifacts that generated both the fishing line and the bobber when infused with mana.


    ¡°H-here you go!¡± Kelvin hurriedly placed a fishing rod on the table.


    Do-Jun pulled out the mastery stones he had obtained earlier by hunting monsters on the way to the store. The stones, about the size of a finger, glowed red. When used, they slightly increased the mastery of the red-colored stats in the status window and served as the common currency on the first floor.


    ¡°P-please, it¡¯s on the house,¡± Kelvin stammered.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like that kind of thing,¡± Do-Jun replied flatly, causing Kelvin¡¯s face to turn even paler.


    Kelvin quickly grabbed one of the mastery stones.


    ¡°This one will do!¡±


    ***


    After getting their fishing rod, they stopped by nearby shops to buy snacks to munch on while fishing.


    Since Do-Jun defeated the mythical creature Laikar, referred to as a catastrophe on the first floor, the area had grown vibrant, and the marketplace had especially thrived.


    ¡°This is tasty!¡± Byeol giggled as she bit into a bread roll.


    ¡°You¡¯re right, this stuff is good,¡± Yong-Yong agreed, savoring a Pokopo skewer, a monster native to the first floor.


    Do-Jun pulled a water bottle from his backpack and took a sip, then snapped a picture of Yong-Yong and Byeol with his smartphone. A small smile spread across his face.


    ¡°This must be the place.¡±


    They stood by a lake known among adventurers as a Farming Zone for being rich with resources. However, not just anyone could come here¡ªit required a certain level of magic resistance, making it accessible only to skilled adventurers of the first floor.


    If the mythical creature Entusha emerged from the lake, everyone present could be wiped out.


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    Do-Jun expanded his qi senses to scan the lake and detected countless artifacts and fish resting within, but one small bottle glowed an intense blue, standing out from the rest.


    That must be bluey...


    Before Do-Jun could finish his thought, Yong-Yong jumped into the lake.


    ¡°Byeol! What does this ¡®bluey¡¯ thing look like?¡± he asked, bobbing on the surface with only his head poking out of the water.


    It seemed he intended to retrieve it himself. However, artifacts in the lake could only be obtained using a fishing rod¡ªa fact Yong-Yong wasn¡¯t aware of.


    Suddenly, Yong-Yong felt himself rising into the air and exclaimed in surprise, ¡°Huh?¡±


    Do-Jun had used a telekinetic skill to lift him and place him back on the shore. Typically, this technique couldn¡¯t be used on objects that possessed qi, but Do-Jun¡¯s infinite internal energy rendered such limitations meaningless.


    ¡°What are you doing, Yong-Yong?¡± Byeol asked.


    ¡°Uh... I don¡¯t know... I just floated.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s bluey,¡± Byeol pointed at the bottle containing blue liquid as it floated to the lake''s surface, drawn in by Do-Jun¡¯s fishing rod.


    Do-Jun collected extra information using the Interpreter.


    [Holy Water of Blessing] sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Category: Consumable / Miscellaneous


    Description: A blue potion obtained from the Lake of the Deep Realm. When used, it cures status ailments or neutralizes deadly poison. There are rumors it can also be found in the lake on the first floor of the Core, but it is said to be unattainable without unlocking at least the Purple Status Window, making it little more than a pipe dream.


    ¡°Daddy is amazing!¡± Byeol, who had been sneezing nonstop, ran over to Do-Jun and leaped into his arms.


    Do-Jun opened the cap and handed the potion to Byeol. As soon as she drank the Holy Water of Blessing, a light shimmered across her body for a brief moment. Then, as if by magic, the sneezing stopped.


    ¡°Tanks, Yong-Yong,¡± Byeol said to Yong-Yong.


    ¡°Huh? I didn¡¯t do anything, though?¡± Yong-Yong replied, puzzled.


    Byeol was still young, but she clearly understood that Yong-Yong¡¯s earlier dive into the water was out of concern for her.


    ¡°Tanks,¡± she said again.


    Scratching his head, Yong-Yong turned away awkwardly as if he were shy. ¡°Ehem...¡±


    ***


    ¡°Byeol, it¡¯s been a while.¡±


    The Tree of Wisdom¡¯s voice seemed slightly elevated as if genuinely pleased by Byeol¡¯s visit.


    Byeol stretched out her arms and hugged the Tree tightly. ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°You were just at the lake, weren¡¯t you?¡± the Tree asked.


    ¡°How you know?¡± Byeol asked, surprised.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been watching since you got here.¡±


    The Tree of Wisdom had the ability to observe events occurring within the Core.


    ¡°Oh, and I¡¯ve heard the news, Do-Jun. You defeated Tarantuloso.¡±


    Tarantuloso was a disaster that gnawed at Yggdrasil, the massive tree located on the second floor of the Core. It was a byproduct of the distortions caused by the Transcendents¡¯ expeditions into the Deep Realm.


    The death of Tarantuloso, the monster that no one had dared to confront until Do-Jun, had become a major topic of conversation within the Core.


    ¡°The forum was in an uproar for a while,¡± the Tree explained.


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Do-Jun seemed to have no interest whatsoever in the Core¡¯s forum.


    The Tree of Wisdom found it difficult to understand how he could remain so indifferent.


    ¡°What you¡¯ve accomplished is remarkable. Are you aware that you¡¯re reshaping the Core?¡±


    The Tree of Wisdom now held a great deal of goodwill toward Do-Jun. When it first learned about him, it harbored fear and doubt due to his overwhelming power, so powerful that it defied the norms of the Core. However, after witnessing the positive changes he brought to the first and second floors, its perspective had completely shifted.


    ¡°I hope I¡¯m not interfering unnecessarily,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°Not at all. Everything that¡¯s been happening has been wonderful,¡± the Tree said genuinely.


    What he was doing was nothing less than rewriting history.


    Although adventurers below the third floor might not yet fully grasp the impact, one thing was certain: the Core was experiencing a storm of change, centered around one adventurer¡ªLee Do-Jun.


    ***


    Do-Jun returned home using the Core Talisman once again.


    Despite all that had happened, only about two hours had passed, and Yoon-Hee and Karsiel had just woken up.


    ¡°Hey, guys. Try this,¡± Yong-Yong offered a few Pokopo skewers, which they had bought on the first floor of the Core before making their way back home.


    Yong-Yong placed the leaf-wrapped skewers on the dining table.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Yoon-Hee asked.


    ¡°Pokopo skewers. They¡¯re pretty good.¡±


    Yoon-Hee and Karsiel each took a bite. There wasn¡¯t any fancy sauce on the skewers, just a simple sprinkling of salt.


    Still, with the first bite, a burst of savory juice flooded their mouths, melting away with rich flavor.


    ¡°This is delicious, Lord Izaas,¡± Karsiel murmured, visibly impressed.


    ¡°Got them on the first floor,¡± Yong-Yong said proudly.


    ¡°The first floor... You mean the Core?¡± Yoon-Hee asked, slightly surprised that they managed to go on such a big trip in the morning.


    ¡°Yup.¡±


    Do-Jun tidied up the pillows and blankets spread out on the living room floor, putting them away in the bedroom wardrobe.


    ¡°Now that I think about it, where¡¯s Hunter Min-Ji?¡± Yoon-Hee asked.


    ¡°She went home,¡± Do-Jun answered.


    ¡°It would¡¯ve been nice if we¡¯d had breakfast together...¡± Yoon-Hee mumbled wistfully.


    Do-Jun looked through the photos he¡¯d taken on his smartphone, and Yoon-Hee leaned in to look at the pictures of Yong-Yong and Byeol. There were snapshots of them strolling through the first-floor market, enjoying snacks together, playing by the lakeside, and posing with the Tree of Wisdom.


    ¡°Haha.¡±


    Then, a photo appeared showing Yong-Yong shaking off the water like a puppy near the lake. Yoon-Hee couldn¡¯t help but smile at the adorable sight.


    Suddenly, she sneezed. Sniffing, Yoon-Hee grabbed a tissue and dabbed at her nose.


    ¡°Ah!¡± With a gasp, Byeol dashed over in a hurry and said, ¡°Mommy needs bluey!¡±


    ¡°Huh...?¡± Yoon-Hee tilted her head, confused.


    ¡°You¡¯re right, Byeol.¡± Do-Jun chuckled softly as he muttered.

 Chapter 128

    Chapter 128Monday mornings, after a weekend of sweet rest, were often the hardest days of the week for workers.


    However, that wasn¡¯t the case for Do-Jun. He was always grateful for the chance to work and be part of society.


    Yoon-Hee adjusted Do-Jun¡¯s tie.


    This was a first, as usually, he would tie it himself. Over the weekend, Yoon-Hee and the kids visited a department store and bought a new tie for him. She had insisted that she be the one to tie it for him when he left for work, and he reluctantly agreed.


    ¡°What do you think? Do you like it?¡± Yoon-Hee asked, hopeful for a positive reaction.


    The tie was a simple navy blue, without any patterns. Looking at his reflection in the full-length mirror, Do-Jun smiled and said, ¡°It looks great.¡±


    When she saw that he liked it, Yoon-Hee beamed and clipped a small, straight pin onto the center of the tie.


    ¡°This came with the tie. It was costlier than I thought,¡± she said, recalling the price tag.


    Yoon-Hee had plenty of leftover allowance because she usually came straight home after school instead of hanging out with friends. She had saved up that money to buy the tie and pin set for 150,000 won at the department store.


    To her, it felt ridiculous that a tie and pin could cost that much, but she didn¡¯t feel it was a waste at all since it was a gift for Do-Jun, her father.


    ¡°Oh no, it¡¯s already 7:40...¡± Yoon-Hee said, checking the time.


    It took an hour by subway to get to school. If she didn¡¯t leave now, she would be late.


    ¡°Well then, I¡¯m off!¡± She bowed politely before heading out the door.


    Do-Jun waved at her with a smile. Then he opened the door to the bedroom to check on the sleeping kids. Two dragons lay curled up, fast asleep, and at the center of the bed was Byeol, softly breathing in her sleep.


    Actually, one of the dragons wasn¡¯t asleep¡ªjust pretending.


    Do-Jun closed the door gently and headed off to work.


    ***


    The moment Do-Jun left, Yong-Yong opened his eyes. He crawled out of bed, leaped up to the wardrobe handle, and opened it. He pulled out a small white cloak hanging in the corner.


    [Aduntath¡¯s Cloak of Invisibility]


    Category: Armor


    Grade: S


    Strength +50


    Special Effect: Activates invisibility when worn.


    Description: The cloak worn by Aduntath, the Assassin of the Deep Realm. His unseen presence struck fear into all.


    Yong-Yong draped the cloak over himself. It shrank to fit his small body, and his form became transparent as his presence vanished.


    He waved a paw in front of Karsiel and Byeol to ensure they were truly asleep. Then, following the sound of Do-Jun¡¯s footsteps, he quietly slipped outside.


    ***


    ¡°Morning, Do-Jun,¡± Cheol-Soo greeted him.


    Despite Do-Jun arriving early at 8:10 AM, Cheol-Soo was already at his desk.


    After a slight bow, Do-Jun sat down and turned on his computer. While the computer booted up, he went to the break room to make coffee. Debating between latte and black coffee, he opted for black and waited for the water to boil.


    While waiting, he focused his senses on a particular area. Though invisible, he sensed a faint presence lingering near the office entrance. He briefly deliberated on what he should do about it.


    Soon, the water finished boiling. He added three ice cubes to cool it slightly and returned to his desk.


    Hyuk-Soo stumbled as if he had tripped on something while entering the office.


    ¡°Woah!¡± he exclaimed, turning around to examine the floor, but found nothing and tilted his head in confusion.


    Seeing Do-Jun glance toward his location, Yong-Yong trembled slightly, wondering if he had been caught. However, Do-Jun quickly returned his gaze to his monitor, and Yong-Yong exhaled in relief.


    ¡°Good morning, Chief,¡± Hyuk-Soo said after finding his balance.


    ¡°Starting the week with your trademark clumsiness, are we?¡± Cheol-Soo said jokingly.


    ¡°I actually did trip on something! I swear...¡±


    ***


    Meanwhile, at home, Karsiel and Byeol were eating breakfast. Today¡¯s meal was leftover braised beef and potatoes from the previous night¡¯s dinner.


    ¡°Sieh, where is Yong-Yong?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Where could he have gone?¡±


    Judging by the fact that there was no trace of his qi, he was definitely not in the house. He must have wandered off somewhere. Hopefully, he wasn¡¯t skipping any meals.


    ***


    Monday¡¯s workloads were always heavier than usual.


    Processing the inquiries and complaints received over the weekend kept the morning flying by, and before anyone knew it, it was lunchtime.


    ¡°Let¡¯s continue after lunch,¡± Cheol-Soo said, patting Do-Jun on the shoulder.


    Reacting to the mention of food, a faint shift in energy came from the spot near Do-Jun¡¯s desk where Yong-Yong was hiding. Noticing this, Do-Jun decided to continue observing for now. He grabbed a loaf of bread from the break room, placed it on his desk, and headed to the cafeteria with his colleagues.


    ***


    ¡°Do-Jun, something on your mind?¡± Cheol-Soo asked, chewing on some pickled scallions.


    Pausing mid-bite, Do-Jun hummed as if deep in thought. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about how Senior Hyuk-Soo almost fell this morning.¡±


    ¡°Ha! Hyuk-Soo has a knack for comedy sometimes.¡±


    Embarrassed, Hyuk-Soo protested, ¡°Chief, I swear something was there!¡±


    ¡°Come on, it was probably just your foot hitting a desk leg,¡± Cheol-Soo teased.


    ¡°No! It felt like... like there was a cardboard box or something in the middle of the walkway!¡±


    Hyuk-Soo¡¯s face flushed red with embarrassment, a stark contrast to his usual composed demeanor, which Cheol-Soo found endlessly amusing.


    Though Do-Jun knew exactly what had caused Hyuk-Soo to trip¡ªthe invisible Yong-Yong¡ªhe chose to stay quiet.


    Is he wearing that cloak? Do-Jun wondered, thinking of the artifact he had acquired last month after defeating the Deep Realm Assassin Aduntath in an event Fissure. The cloak could render the user invisible and conceal their presence.


    But why would he do so much just to follow me?


    Though it was baffling, Do-Jun suddenly had an idea. Smiling faintly, he took out his smartphone and sent a message to Yoon-Hee.


    ***


    Do-Jun was on his way home after the end of the workday, but Yong-Yong still hadn¡¯t shown himself.


    However, when Do-Jun returned to the office after lunch, he found the bread bag he had left on his desk emptied, its remains discarded in the trash. Yong-Yong had likely eaten it and cleaned up afterward.


    The automated announcement rang out. ¡°The next station is Bangbae Station. The doors will open on the right.¡±


    The subway doors opened with a screeching sound, and Do-Jun exited. He tapped his credit card on the turnstile¡¯s reader and passed through.


    Behind him, there was a sudden clatter and a loud groan from Yong-Yong. It seemed he had accidentally bumped into the turnstile¡¯s arm.


    Yong-Yong thought it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if Do-Jun had noticed him by now.


    Meanwhile, Do-Jun wondered what Yong-Yong had been doing all day. Do-Jun had spent his entire day in the office, handling administrative tasks. There hadn¡¯t been any Fissure explorations.


    As such, Yong-Yong spent his time idly. Sometimes he sat quietly on Do-Jun¡¯s desk, while at other times, he roamed the office, climbed on Cheol-Soo¡¯s computer monitor, or wandered into the break room to drink water.


    Upon reaching his apartment door, Do-Jun punched in the pin for the lock and stepped inside. Yong-Yong slipped in swiftly behind him.


    ¡°Welcome home, Father.¡± Yoon-Hee came out of the kitchen, wearing her apron over her school uniform. As always, she greeted him with a smile and took his coat.


    Looking at her, Do-Jun commented, ¡°I don¡¯t see Yong-Yong.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I haven¡¯t seen him all day. Where could he have gone?¡±


    Yoon-Hee glanced down at the floor by Do-Jun¡¯s feet, then went to hang up his coat in the bedroom before returning to the kitchen.


    ¡°Daddy! Look here!¡± Byeol toddled over and grabbed onto Do-Jun¡¯s pant leg, pulling him toward the living room.


    On the floor were several neatly folded towels. Byeol carefully folded another towel and placed it into the storage compartment of the TV cabinet.


    ¡°Did you see that, Daddy?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I did. You are getting really good at housework,¡± Do-Jun praised her.


    ¡°Watch me do more!¡±


    Byeol returned to the pile of towels, folded another one, and tucked it into the cabinet. Do-Jun chuckled and patted Byeol¡¯s head.


    ¡°Dinner¡¯s ready,¡± Yoon-Hee called.


    ***


    Tonight¡¯s dinner featured Yong-Yong¡¯s favorite: braised short ribs. The glossy ribs, glazed in a sweet sauce, glistened temptingly.


    Yong-Yong decided to make his big reveal just before the family started eating.


    ¡°Ta-da!¡± He suddenly appeared, removing his cloak in the middle of the living room.


    ¡°This is dewicious!¡± Byeol exclaimed, completely ignoring Yong-Yong.


    But she wasn¡¯t the only one.


    ¡°Eat a lot, Byeol,¡± Yoon-Hee said with a smile.


    ¡°Young Master, your cooking is always wonderful,¡± Karsiel added.


    The atmosphere at the table was warm and lively.


    As she swallowed a bite, Yoon-Hee remarked, ¡°But where is Yong-Yong? I made his favorite short ribs, and he¡¯s not even here...¡±


    Yong-Yong approached her and said, ¡°I¡¯m right here!¡±


    However, Yoon-Hee didn¡¯t react, continuing her meal as if she hadn¡¯t heard him. Frowning, Yong-Yong grabbed his food bowl, marked ¡°?Yong-Yong?,¡± and carried it to Karsiel.


    ¡°Karsiel, can I have some short ribs too?¡± he asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s strange how Lord Izaas has been missing since morning,¡± Karsiel replied.


    ¡°What nonsense are you saying? I¡¯m right here!¡± Yong-Yong prodded Karsiel.


    ¡°Huh...? What¡¯s this? Something seems to be poking me,¡± Karsiel muttered, rubbing her thigh.


    Yong-Yong¡¯s expression hardened. He turned sharply toward Do-Jun, forcing a smile, and asked, ¡°M-Master, you can see me, right?¡±


    However, as usual, Do-Jun ate silently, not reacting to him. Yong-Yong¡¯s face started to show signs of panic.


    ¡°T-this isn¡¯t funny anymore,¡± he muttered, moving toward Byeol.


    Surely, Byeol would respond. Children wouldn¡¯t be able to pull off such an elaborate prank¡ªor so he thought.


    ¡°Byeol,¡± he called.


    But Byeol simply ate her rice topped with ribs Yoon-Hee had deboned for her with a contented smile across her face.


    ¡°Byeol, can I have a bite too?¡± Yong-Yong asked, swallowing hard.


    Without acknowledging Yong-Yong, Byeol remarked, ¡°Mommy, this meat is soooo yummy.¡±


    ¡°Make sure to chew it properly, okay, Byeol?¡± Yoon-Hee said.


    ¡°Okay! But weally, where is Yong-Yong?¡±


    Yong-Yong froze. Even Byeol? He started to get worried. Could they actually not see or hear him?


    At that moment, Do-Jun got up from his seat, walked to the sofa, and picked up Aduntath¡¯s Cloak of Invisibility.


    ¡°Why is this out here?¡± he muttered.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Yoon-Hee asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s a cloak that turns you invisible. Once you put it on, others will never be able to see you again.¡±


    ¡°F-forever?¡± at Yoon-Hee¡¯s question, Do-Jun nodded gravely.


    He continued, ¡°Not just your appearance. Your voice, too.¡±


    ¡°Could it be... that Yong-Yong put it on?¡± Yoon-Hee asked, sounding horrified.


    ¡°No way. If he did, that would be a big problem...¡± Do-Jun stroked his chin, feigning concern.


    With a loud clang, the bowl Yong-Yong held dropped to the floor as he muttered, ¡°W-what did you just say?¡±


    Do-Jun calmly folded the cloak and placed it deep in the closet before returning to the table.


    ¡°Anyway, make sure no one touches that again.¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Looking utterly defeated, Yong-Yong trudged toward the bedroom closet. Yoon-Hee stifled a laugh as she watched him go.


    ¡°So cute,¡± she whispered.


    When Yong-Yong returned to the living room, Yoon-Hee resumed her ¡°act.¡±


    ¡°My life is over,¡± Yong-Yong said, resigned, collapsing onto the floor.


    Then, he wailed and thumped the ground, yelling to himself, ¡°Why! Would you! Put something on! Without even knowing what it does! You idiot!¡±


    His tears fell to the floor like a waterfall.


    ¡°All I wanted... was to pull a harmless prank... on Master...¡±


    Seeing Yong-Yong¡¯s pitiful display, the others exchanged glances.


    ¡°Should we stop now?¡± Yoon-Hee asked.


    Do-Jun nodded, and Yoon-Hee grabbed Yong-Yong¡¯s bowl, filling it generously with short ribs. Sliding it toward the still-sobbing Yong-Yong, she said, ¡°Here you go.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Yong-Yong looked up at her, teary-eyed.


    ¡°Gotcha,¡± she said with a smile.


    Yong-Yong¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°You... can see me?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Yoon-Hee replied with a smile.


    ¡°And hear me?¡±


    ¡°Obviously.¡±


    Yong-Yong seemed utterly stunned. Then he slowly smiled, which turned into a wide grin.


    ¡°I knew it, haha! I was just playing along with your joke!¡±


    Watching him, Do-Jun muttered flatly, ¡°Yoon-Hee, why are you talking to yourself all of a sudden?¡±


    Yong-Yong ran to Do-Jun, once again tearful. ¡°Master, this isn¡¯t funny anymore!¡±


    Do-Jun chuckled softly.


    ***


    Meanwhile, on the third floor of the Deep Realm.


    A man grinned as he crushed the neck of an adventurer in his hand.


    ¡°So pathetically weak.¡±

 Chapter 129

    Chapter 129The Transcendents were seven god-like entities who existed at the far edges of the Core and the Deep Realm.


    Initially, they were adventurers exploring the Core like anyone else. However, unlike the others, they displayed exceptional prowess, breaking through the layers of the Core and ultimately settling and adapting in the Deep Realm.


    Unlike other adventurers, the Transcendents, blessed with the Blessing of the Deep Realm, could utilize the highest-grade Status Windows from every floor. They were calamities beyond what any normal adventurer could contend with.


    Moreover, the Transcendents were exempt from the rule that restricted adventurers from returning to the previous floor, allowing them to roam freely within the Core. Boredom often drove them to massacre adventurers.


    ¡°Guh!¡± an adventurer groaned.


    Ranked seventh among the Transcendents, Tang Gak, the Poison King, laughed wickedly at the adventurer¡¯s miserable state. From within his robes, he drew multiple daggers and flung them at the adventurers. The rain of daggers poured down from every direction.


    This was Ten Thousand Flowers in Rain¡ªthe pinnacle hidden technique of the Sichuan Tang Clan, passed down exclusively to the clan masters.


    ¡°Why... why are you doing this?¡± An adventurer gasped for breath and raised his head to face Tang Gak, even as blood gushed from his stomach wound.


    Already, twenty percent of the adventurers on the third floor of the Core had fallen to Tang Gak.


    ¡°What do you gain... from this slaughter?¡±


    Tang Gak grinned at the dying adventurer¡¯s question, his smile more sinister than ever.


    ***


    A clear, melodic automated voice echoed as Do-Jun opened his SpacePad and started recording his surroundings.


    [Welcome to the Fissure Management System.]


    A massive floating island drifted in the sky.


    ¡°Master, I smell blood,¡± Karsiel said.


    The dried-up grass around them had lost its vitality. Karsiel scanned the area, visibly tense. Acknowledging the danger, Do-Jun nodded and strode forward.


    ¡°By the way, you grow horns whenever we enter the Core,¡± he remarked.


    Karsiel, in her polymorphed form, now had curled horns resembling those of a ram, something she didn¡¯t have on Earth. The horns radiated immense magical power, likely connected to the fact that dragons originally came from the Core.


    ¡°P-please don¡¯t stare so intently¡ªit¡¯s embarrassing,¡± Karsiel requested with a stammer.


    Do-Jun smirked and activated the Core forum, learning that anonymous adventurers referred to this place as the Sky Island. What stood out was that the further one ventured toward the center of the island, the lower the terrain descended.


    Another key point mentioned in the forum was about a towering stone statue resembling a Joseon-era constable, which guarded a swaying suspension bridge that led downward.


    ¡°Halt, adventurer,¡± the statue said, blocking their path. ¡°To cross this bridge, you must prove your worth.¡±


    Do-Jun recalled the information he had seen on the forum. To gain passage from the gatekeeper, one needed at least ten percent mastery of the yellow Status Window. Additionally, the Sky Island was divided into two concentric circular sections, and to reach the central island, adventurers had to complete a trial.


    It seemed the Core had measures in place to protect new arrivals from being slaughtered by veteran adventurers.


    Do-Jun¡¯s bracelet transformed into a small snake, screeching as its scales turned black.


    [Status Window Snake (The One Who Swallowed Ouroboros)]


    Category: Creature / System


    Currently Available Status Window: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Navy, Purple, Black


    Special Effect 1: 100% mastery in all Status Windows except Black


    Special Effect 2: Black Status Window can be used on any floor


    Special Effect 3: (Locked)


    A dark qi surged from Do-Jun¡¯s body as the ground beneath his feet quaked violently. The guard stumbled backward, gripping his spear to steady himself.


    ¡°You... what are you?¡± the guard stammered, his voice trembling.


    ***


    Rumble!


    The atmosphere grew heavy, and the Sky Island shook violently as if it were struck by an earthquake. Adventurers lost their balance, staggering momentarily. Then, as quickly as it started, the island returned to stillness. Birds flying in the sky dipped low, scattering in fear.


    The source of the qi was at the island¡¯s edge.


    In the distance, a massive creature appeared¡ªa colossal being with light brown scales, immense wings that seemed to blot out the sky, and two horns atop its head.


    The sight of this creature threw the adventurers into chaos.


    ¡°W-what the hell is that?¡±


    ¡°No way... that¡¯s a...¡±


    A dragon, the legendary creature that adventurers had once dismissed as a mere myth, was now before them. Dragons were the dominant species of the past, having once ruled the Deep Realm as the mightiest monsters.


    ¡°What are you even saying? Why would a dragon show up here?¡±


    ¡°But... the forum said it was just a legend.¡±


    Grinding his teeth, an adventurer muttered, ¡°First the Transcendent, and now a dragon?¡±


    He shouldn¡¯t have left the second floor. The adventurers, fleeing from the Transcendent, were now stuck in an impossible situation.


    Whoosh!


    The dragon passed overhead, its enormous wings momentarily plunging the surroundings into darkness, like a total solar eclipse.


    ¡°What the fuck is going on...?¡±


    ***


    Tang Gak halted his steps and turned his gaze skyward, where a massive flying monster traversed the heavens. The oppressive energy he had felt earlier must have come from that creature.


    Tang Gak closed his eyes and calmed his trembling body.


    Once, there existed a being who made Solomon¡¯s seventy-two demons, countless kings and Monarchs, and the god-like Transcendents all kneel before him. This was Izaas the Dragon Lord, the one who ruled from the deepest depths of the Deep Realm.


    His only appearance was during the Great War, where he unified the world with his unmatched power, earning the title Overlord before he vanished into legend. And with him, the dragon species disappeared altogether.


    ¡°To think I¡¯d see one here...¡±


    Focusing his mana to enhance his vision, Tang Gak identified the dragon from the engraved number ¡°9¡± on its forehead.


    That must be Karsiel the Ninth Dragon.


    Karsiel pierced through thick clouds, flying to the center of the Sky Island. On the dragon¡¯s head stood a figure.


    ¡°An adventurer?¡± Tang Gak¡¯s expression hardened as he recalled the final lines of a book he once read in the Deep Realm, titled ¡°The Supreme Heavenly Demon.¡±


    ¡°Descending from the heavens in the Celestial Dragon Chariot, the Heavenly Demon was born to bring about the world¡¯s end.¡±


    ***


    Having polymorphed back into her human form, Karsiel stood next to Do-Jun as he descended to the ground and looked at the entrance leading down to the fourth floor.


    He reached out and touched the two curled horns protruding from Karsiel¡¯s head. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Master?¡± she asked in confusion.


    ¡°Yong-Yong and you both... hm,¡± Do-Jun remarked, deep in thought.


    It seemed that dragons, as a species, lost much of their strength on Earth. Karsiel was noticeably at least five times stronger than usual.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Karsiel asked.


    ¡°Nothing. Let¡¯s head home.¡±


    Their intention was just to get an overall look at the third floor. He glanced at his wristwatch and noted it was already past 6 AM on Earth. He figured it was about time to head home and prepare for work.


    ¡°You must be tired from tagging along all night,¡± Do-Jun said to Karsiel.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. If anything, I was the one who asked to come with when you had planned to go alone.¡±


    Karsiel sensed an unnaturally powerful presence. Her gaze shifted toward a man, an adventurer, standing about two kilometers away, watching them intently. She went on high alert, sensing his strength to be comparable to hers.


    ¡°Master...¡±


    He was coming.


    ***


    A sharp dagger hurtled toward Do-Jun, who dodged it with a simple twist of his body.


    A man emerged from the bushes moments later, saying, ¡°You dodged that? You¡¯re no ordinary man, I see.¡±


    He was dressed in an elaborate martial robe, trimmed with gold at the cuffs, and a brownish-gray cloak.


    Do-Jun recognized the outfit immediately and commented, ¡°A member of the Sichuan Tang Clan.¡±


    The man¡¯s composed expression shifted. The Sichuan Tang Clan was where Tang Gak had belonged before arriving in the Core as a clan leader.


    He retorted, ¡°How do you know that?¡±


    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I?¡± Do-Jun replied cryptically.


    Tang Gak swallowed nervously, his right hand dangling at his side. Thick, sticky venom dripped from his fingertips, splattering onto the ground and vaporizing into the air. The surrounding area quickly grew murky, and the leaves on the trees began to wither and fall.


    This was the Acid of Thousand Deaths, once a source of terror in the Central Plains. It was one of the deadliest poisons¡ªlethal upon mere contact with the air containing it. It didn¡¯t discriminate between the weak and the strong. Even elite warriors would claw at their throats in agony before succumbing to death.


    ¡°Master!¡± Sensing the danger, Karsiel deployed her magic to create a barrier around Do-Jun.


    However, Do-Jun waved her off as if to say it wasn¡¯t necessary. He then moved toward Tang Gak, his movements slow and deliberate.


    The purple mist thickened, enveloping the area until visibility was almost entirely obscured. Karsiel¡¯s barrier shielded her from the poison, but Do-Jun had disappeared into the toxic haze.


    He melted away, huh? Tang Gak assumed.


    In the Central Plains, the Acid of Thousand Deaths could only cripple internal organs or paralyze nerves. However, in the Core, where Tang Gak acquired the powers of the Status Window, his poison arts had evolved to an unprecedented level. Now, the acid could even dissolve non-living matter.


    But suddenly, a hand shot out from the mist and grabbed Tang Gak by the throat with a crushing grip. The toxic mist began to dissipate, revealing Do-Jun¡¯s calm and composed face.


    Smiling faintly, Do-Jun said, ¡°If only you hadn¡¯t thrown a dagger...¡±


    Tang Gak choked under Do-Jun¡¯s grip. Do-Jun applied a little pressure, and Tang Gak¡¯s face turned pale, foam bubbling from his mouth.


    ¡°I might have spared you,¡± Do-Jun said, then released his grip, letting Tang Gak collapse to the ground, coughing violently.


    Tang Gak summoned all his energy and leaped toward the entrance to the second floor after realizing that he would never win.


    Am I dreaming? Tang Gak clenched his teeth so hard they felt like they might break.


    In the Core, he was among the top thirty in strength. Yet, the man he had just faced was on a completely different level. His power couldn¡¯t be measured by simply calling him ¡°strong.¡±


    Who the hell is this guy?!


    Tang Gak was sure that this was the adventurer rumored to have defeated Tarantuloso, a figure that had caused a stir on the Core forum.


    Fuck, fuck, fuuuuck!


    Tang Gak, who once ruled over the Core with the title of Transcendent and struck fear into adventurers¡¯ hearts, was now running for his life.


    Why do I have to run, fuck!


    The man shouldn¡¯t be able to chase him up to the second floor. Tang Gak glanced back, realizing that Do-Jun hadn¡¯t moved an inch.


    What¡¯s going on?


    If he wanted to give chase, he should have already done so. The entrance to the second floor was just steps away.


    Tang Gak smirked, throwing himself toward the shimmering portal. Or at least, he tried to.


    Slash!


    However, he failed because his body was split apart.


    ***


    The qi sword in Do-Jun¡¯s hand dissipated like a mirage.


    ¡°Let¡¯s head home.¡± He pulled out the Core talisman.


    ¡°Master...¡±


    ¡°Yeah?¡±


    ¡°W-what was that just now?¡±


    Initially, Karsiel couldn¡¯t understand why Do-Jun hadn¡¯t chased after Tang Gak, but she shivered as she recalled the events from moments ago. She saw a formless qi sword appear in Do-Jun¡¯s hand, which swung through the air.


    Then, Tang Gak¡¯s body was cleaved apart.


    ¡°That¡¯s just cheating, at this point...¡± she muttered, her body trembling.


    Now Karsiel fully understood: Do-Jun wasn¡¯t just strong. He was overwhelming, beyond comprehension.


    ¡°Karsiel.¡±


    ¡°Y-yes, Master!¡±


    Do-Jun patted her head with a smile.


    ¡°What should we have for breakfast?¡±

 Chapter 130

    Chapter 130Thursday, 7 AM.


    Do-Jun had the day off today. Although it wasn¡¯t an official holiday, he had taken a compensatory day off after his recent unending tasks.


    He looked at the children sleeping soundly, nestled against him, before closing his eyes again.


    Somehow, Byeol had climbed onto his chest, clinging to him tightly. Yoon-Hee hugged his left arm as a body pillow, occasionally mumbling in her sleep. Yong-Yong lay curled up in a ball by his feet, peacefully dozing. As for Karsiel, she had made a cozy bed out of the fluffy rug on the floor, sleeping soundly.


    Do-Jun considered just sleeping in a little longer like this since he didn¡¯t have work, but he quickly decided to get up. The biggest challenge was moving carefully as he didn¡¯t want to wake the children.


    He started with Yoon-Hee. Slowly, he moved his arm until he finally freed it. Though her brow furrowed momentarily, she didn¡¯t wake up. Next was Byeol¡¯s turn. He gently lifted her and placed her near Yoon-Hee. With this much done, the mission was practically complete.


    The final challenge was Yong-Yong, though this didn¡¯t require much effort. Do-Jun sat up, grabbed Yong-Yong by his feet, and casually tossed him aside.


    ***


    Do-Jun glanced at a blog post displayed on his smartphone screen. Today, he planned to make breakfast for everyone¡ªtomato and egg stir-fry, a dish a female coworker in his department had raved about as a quick and delicious meal for busy mornings.


    A soft hum resonated as internal energy flowed from Do-Jun¡¯s hands. Three tomatoes drifted out of the fridge, landing gently on the cutting board. He paused as he prepared to cut them into bite-sized pieces using his internal energy.


    His eyes darted to the phone screen, noticing a part of the blog post.


    ¡°A quick and simple meal for busy mornings.


    ¡°It might be my mother¡¯s touch, but my kids loved it.


    ¡°Cooking is all about the love in your hands~ ^^¡±


    Do-Jun withdrew his internal energy, opened a drawer, and pulled out a kitchen knife, opting to chop the tomatoes by hand. After dicing the tomatoes, he tossed them into a frying pan with olive oil and stir-fried them. Then, he cracked some eggs into the pan and mixed them together.


    When the stir-fry was done, he transferred it to a plate and placed it on the dining table.


    Turning to the kitchen corner, he saw Yong-Yong staring at the food. Even though the bedroom door had been closed, the enticing aroma had wafted inside.


    ¡°Tis a pleasant morning, Master,¡± Yong-Yong greeted.


    Do-Jun chuckled and gestured toward the bedroom, saying, ¡°Wake Yoon-Hee. She needs to get ready for school.¡±


    Yong-Yong tilted his head, puzzled. Preparing breakfast had always been Yoon-Hee¡¯s job.


    As he processed Do-Jun¡¯s words¡ªget ready for school¡ªa sly grin spread across Yong-Yong¡¯s face.


    ¡°Yippee!¡± With that, he dashed toward the bedroom.


    ¡°Why is he excited...?¡± Do-Jun muttered as he started preparing a fruit smoothie to accompany the stir-fry.


    ¡°Wake up!¡± Yong-Yong climbed onto Yoon-Hee¡¯s stomach and shook her awake.


    The weight pressing on her stomach caused her to stir and slowly open her eyes. She reached for her smartphone to check the time¡ªit was ten minutes before her alarm was set to go off.


    ¡°Yong-Yong, you¡¯re up unusually early. What¡¯s going on?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Master said to wake you up.¡±


    ¡°Father did?¡±


    Come to think of it, her father was nowhere to be seen. He should have been sleeping beside her.


    ¡°Yeah. He said we¡¯re going to school together.¡±


    ¡°Together?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what he said,¡± Yong-Yong said happily.


    Yoon-Hee wondered if Yong-Yong had misheard. Today was Thursday¡ªa workday for Do-Jun. Besides, he hadn¡¯t mentioned anything last night.


    She heard the sound of the blender coming from the kitchen. Do-Jun was blending bananas, milk, and honey to make a banana smoothie, something he occasionally prepared for Byeol.


    Seeing the breakfast spread on the table, Yoon-Hee¡¯s eyes widened in surprise.


    ¡°Father, what¡¯s all this?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re up? Eat and get ready for school.¡±


    She sat down at the table, drawn by the aroma of the food. Taking a bite with her fork, she looked up at him in amazement.


    ¡°This is good!¡± she exclaimed.


    ¡°Glad you like it.¡±


    ¡°By the way, are you actually coming to school with me?¡±


    As Do-Jun was about to say ¡°No,¡± he noticed Yong-Yong excitedly wagging his tail with a broad smile on his face. Even Yoon-Hee had a faint smile on her lips.


    Do-Jun sighed. At this point, it felt awkward to deny it.


    I guess I could drop by for the morning, he thought, planning to return home by the time Karsiel and Byeol woke up.


    ***


    The National Hunter Academy grounds were larger than most universities, spanning over a whopping eighty-two acres. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Do-Jun waved as Yoon-Hee entered the freshman annex building.


    ¡°Have a good day in class,¡± he said.


    ¡°Okay! What are your plans, Father?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll just look around.¡±


    A short while later, he got off a shuttle bus that operated within the campus. The academy grounds, being overly vast, had a free transportation service. He and Yong-Yong disembarked in front of the main athletic field.


    ¡°One Americano, please,¡± Do-Jun ordered from a nearby caf¨¦.


    The academy had everything: coffee shops, banks, restaurants, bookstores, and even a grocery store for dorm residents to buy necessities.


    ¡°You want something too?¡± Do-Jun asked Yong-Yong.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have what you¡¯re having, Master!¡±


    ¡°You sure about that?¡±


    Do-Jun chuckled as Yong-Yong tilted his head before enthusiastically nodding.


    Even though he had no idea what this ¡°Americano¡± was, he thought that it would be just like any other drink he enjoyed. Receiving his Americano, Yong-Yong eagerly took a sip, hoping it would be a sugary drink.


    ¡°Blegh!¡±


    Do-Jun stifled a laugh, having expected this reaction.


    ***


    A practical training session was underway at the athletic field.


    Interestingly, the class was small, with fewer than ten students, each accompanied by a monster. Every student had a white bracelet on their wrist¡ªan artifact Do-Jun recognized as ¡°Control Bracelets,¡± essential for taming-type Hunters to manage their monsters.


    He recalled that each bracelet cost over 500 million won.


    Do-Jun sat on a bench shaded by a tree. Although he wasn¡¯t particularly affected by the heat, there was no need to expose himself to direct sunlight unnecessarily.


    The instructor, standing before the students, suddenly focused his gaze on Do-Jun. Their eyes met and held for an unusually long time. Then, the instructor raised his hand, gesturing for Do-Jun to come over.


    Is he waving at... me? Do-Jun stayed seated, ignoring the gesture.


    The instructor approached, prompting Yong-Yong to rise from the bench and growl softly.


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry. I thought you were one of my students,¡± he apologized, realizing that he had mistaken Do-Jun for a student.


    Instructor Choi Ik-Hyun bowed slightly. An active A-rank Hunter until last year and one of the top-ranked Tamers, he now worked as an instructor at the Academy. Noticing Yong-Yong eyeing him warily, Choi Ik-Hyun glanced at Do-Jun¡¯s wrist to confirm he wasn¡¯t wearing a Control Bracelet.


    ¡°Are you a Hunter?¡± Choi Ik-Hyun asked.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m a civil servant.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Then, this monster...¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s my pet.¡±


    Setting aside the question of why a civil servant was at the Academy during work hours, Choi Ik-Hyun was puzzled by the idea of an Awakened individual working as a civil servant while looking at Yong-Yong curiously.


    Yong-Yong growled again.


    ¡°Quiet,¡± Do-Jun said with a stern look, taking a sip of his Americano, casually silencing Yong-Yong.


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡± Yong-Yong also obediently complied. Defying Do-Jun was simply unthinkable for him.


    ¡°W-wait, this monster just talked. Do you have an interpretation skill?¡± Choi Ik-Hyun asked, shocked.


    A Tamer¡¯s interpretation skill was considered a rare ¡°blessing¡± among awakened skills.


    ¡°What¡¯s he on about?¡± Yong-Yong muttered.


    Choi Ik-Hyun was stunned again. It wasn¡¯t just the talking¡ªit was the precision of Yong-Yong¡¯s speech. Even with an interpretation skill, such fluency was nearly impossible.


    ¡°W-what kind of monster is this?¡± he asked, his voice trembling slightly.


    ***


    After a brief commotion, Choi Ik-Hyun returned to his class and resumed the lesson.


    He glanced at Do-Jun, who was lying on a bench, napping. Then, his gaze shifted to the mysterious creature called ¡°Yong-Yong,¡± which was staring at him and wagging its tail, observing the scene unfold while nestled between the students and monsters.


    He can keep it under control even while sleeping...? Choi Ik-Hyun marvelled inwardly.


    It was truly remarkable. Normally, when a Hunter tamed a monster, they had to constantly interact with it to maintain their influence over it. If the interaction ceased, the monster would regain its natural temperament and revert to its wild instincts. Naturally, Choi Ik-Hyun assumed that Do-Jun was keeping Yong-Yong ¡°under control.¡±


    Choi Ik-Hyun began the lesson. ¡°Alright. As I mentioned earlier, today we¡¯ll be checking the skills of the monsters you¡¯re taming. We¡¯ll determine if they have skills, how many, and their ranks. If you want to know the exact effects of the skills, you¡¯ll need to visit the Hunter¡¯s Bureau for further analysis.¡±


    First up was a second-year student from Class C who was taming an Orc Warrior, a C-rank monster. However, it was larger than a typical Orc Warrior, and its equipment was noticeably high-end, thanks to the student¡¯s efforts to level it up and upgrade its gear.


    Choi Ik-Hyun held a portable measuring device up to the Orc Warrior. The screen displayed ¡°Analyzing...¡± for about five minutes before the results appeared.


    [Measurement Results]


    E: 2


    D: 1


    ¡°Wow!¡± The student cheered at the result. A new D-rank skill had been unlocked. Other students around them expressed their envy and congratulated the student.


    And so, after an hour, the measurements for all the students¡¯ monsters were completed. Forty percent of the monsters had unlocked new skills, a testament to the students¡¯ efforts over the past few months.


    As Yong-Yong watched from the corner, he couldn''t help but let out a bored yawn.


    Choi Ik-Hyun approached him with a grin, holding out the measuring device. ¡°Do you want to give it a try?¡±


    The students¡¯ attention immediately shifted to Yong-Yong. After all, it wasn¡¯t every day they encountered a fascinating talking monster.


    ¡°Why not?¡± Yong-Yong said.


    With a beeping sound, the device started analyzing his skills.


    As the results were being processed, Yong-Yong turned toward the bench. Having rested enough, Do-Jun was signaling to Yong-Yong from the ground¡¯s exit, gesturing that he wanted to leave.


    ¡°Gotta go.¡± With that, Yong-Yong ran toward Do-Jun without even glancing at the measuring device, completely uninterested in the results.


    ¡°Ah, w-wait a moment...¡± Choi Ik-Hyun tried to stop them as the result was being printed on the screen.


    He scratched his head as he watched Yong-Yong and Do-Jun disappear into the distance. ¡°I guess they don¡¯t really care about the result.¡±


    Then, as he stared at the measurement results, his eyes widened in disbelief.


    ¡°W-what is this?¡±


    ***


    Back home, even though it was past eleven in the morning, Do-Jun found Karsiel and Byeol still fast asleep on the bed, probably because they had read storybooks late into the night.


    ¡°Hm, what should I make for lunch?¡±


    He walked to the kitchen, feeling a bit lazy at the thought of cooking again. That¡¯s when his eyes fell on the delivery menu stickers stuck to the fridge. They were from the restaurants his past self frequently ordered from before going to the Central Plains.


    ¡°Should I just order in?¡±


    Since returning from the Central Plains, this would be the first time he had food delivered to his home. Yong-Yong had likely never experienced it either.


    ¡°Masteeeer!¡± Yong-Yong came running with something in his mouth. It was a coupon from a chicken restaurant. Not just one, but nine of them. ¡°Please consider ordering from this place.¡±


    Do-Jun glanced at Yong-Yong and then at the coupon, which read, ¡°Collect ten coupons to receive one free chicken.¡±

 Chapter 131

    Chapter 131Byeol had been exceptionally well-behaved recently. After finishing her meals, she would put her bowl in the sink without being told, and she also neatly put away her sketchbook and crayons after drawing.


    Watching her, Do-Jun felt proud and decided to reward her.


    ¡°Here,¡± he said, handing her a thousand-won bill with Toegye Yi Hwang¡¯s face printed on it.


    Byeol typically received her allowance from Yoon-Hee in the form of hundred-won coins given to her one at a time. This was the first time Do-Jun had ever given her money.


    Byeol held the bill, turning it over and examining it closely. It was her first time handling paper money, yet she didn¡¯t seem particularly happy about it.


    Why could that be?


    ***


    While folding the laundry with Karsiel, Byeol decided to ask her about the thousand-won bill.


    ¡°What¡¯s this, Sieh?¡± she asked while holding the bill.


    Karsiel looked at the piece of paper with the number ¡°1,000¡± on it, along with a picture of an old man in a hat.


    She smiled and replied, ¡°Byeol, that¡¯s money.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    Seeing Byeol¡¯s dry response, Karsiel added, ¡°It¡¯s worth the same as ten one-hundred-won coins.¡±


    Byeol froze while casually putting the bill into her coin purse. Her hand holding the bill began to tremble, and she looked up at Karsiel with a worried expression.


    ¡°O-oh no, Daddy¡¯s bwoke now!¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Daddy gave me all his money. Now he has none left! I have to gib it back!¡±


    Listening to their conversation, Yoon-Hee couldn¡¯t help but burst out laughing.


    It took Karsiel ten minutes to explain to Byeol that a thousand won wasn¡¯t a significant amount of money for Do-Jun. Even so, Byeol seemed overwhelmed by what she considered an enormous sum, as if her brain had short-circuited.


    ¡°Oh!¡± Suddenly, Byeol¡¯s face lit up as she realized something. ¡°I can buy taiyaki[1] with this!¡±


    The nearby street food vendor sold three taiyakis for a thousand won. Byeol couldn¡¯t forget the taste of the taiyaki she had tried a month ago.


    ***


    Meanwhile, Yong-Yong visited Hakase¡¯s nest for the first time in a while. Watching Hakase always surrounded by mechanical parts and working on something, Yong-Yong thought that he led quite a busy life.


    Hakase spoke after a brief contemplation. ¡°I don¡¯t understand, Lord Izaas.¡±


    ¡°Hm? What don¡¯t you understand?¡±


    Hakase paused his work and looked seriously at Yong-Yong. The fearsome Dragon Lord Izaas, whom he remembered, was truly formidable with a striking appearance¡ªbrilliant red hair, sharp, piercing eyes, and thick eyebrows. His mere gaze was enough to make one¡¯s knees tremble.


    However, the Izaas standing before him now was unrecognizable¡ªhis large, round eyes and soft, dog-like features with reddish skin were a far cry from his formerly cold and ruthless demeanor.


    ¡°Lord Izaas, how long do you plan to stay in that form?¡± Hakase asked.


    ¡°As long as I¡¯m living under Master¡¯s roof,¡± Yong-Yong answered as he recalled his first meeting with Do-Jun.


    He had been ordered to act cute. At first, transforming into this form had been humiliating, a choice made purely for survival. However, after months of living on Earth, it had become second nature, even comfortable.


    ¡°You call him ¡®Master.¡¯ Do you really think it makes sense that you¡¯re serving a mere human?¡±


    Yong-Yong smirked as if he had heard something bizarre.


    A mere human? He felt relieved that Do-Jun hadn¡¯t heard those words. At the same time, Yong-Yong thought Hakase could use a bit of discipline. Calling his master a ¡°mere human¡± was unacceptable.


    ¡°I¡¯ll prove it to you,¡± Hakase said with a serious look.


    ¡°Prove what?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t stand by and watch a human mocking a dragon any longer.¡±


    ¡°W-wait, what are you thinking?¡±


    With a Crackle! a Fissure to Earth opened, and Hakase stepped through, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll settle this once and for all. I¡¯ll show him who the real superior kind is.¡±


    ¡°H-hey, d-don¡¯t do it!¡±


    The Fissure closed, and Yong-Yong swept a paw over his face, muttering, ¡°I tried.¡±


    ***


    After 9 PM, the streets had grown dark in sharp contrast to the bright daytime. Thankfully, the streetlights illuminated the roads enough to make the walk comfortable.


    Do-Jun walked along the path near their home with Byeol.


    ¡°Almost there,¡± she said.


    ¡°Right.¡± Do-Jun chuckled softly, following her.


    Byeol was in a great mood, thinking about buying taiyaki with the thousand won she received as allowance. Especially since it was just the two of them enjoying their father-daughter time, she couldn¡¯t have been happier.


    ¡°We¡¯re here!¡± Byeol stopped in front of the taiyaki stall.


    However, the taiyaki machine was gone, replaced by an empty stall covered with a tarp labeled ¡°3 taiyaki for 1,000 won.¡± There was no one in sight. Just as they thought the vendor might have closed for the day, they noticed another note taped to the tarp.


    Byeol read it carefully. ¡°We are closed during the summer season. Thank you for your support over the winter.


    ¡°But I... bwought money...¡± Her shoulders drooped, and her face clouded with disappointment. She had been so excited to eat taiyaki with her dad, but now her hopes were dashed.


    Do-Jun didn¡¯t feel too great watching Byeol so dejected.


    ¡°How about ice cream instead?¡± he suggested.


    ¡°Okay...¡± Byeol replied with a small nod.


    ***


    Within the Changshin Villa complex, a man in a white coat hid in a shadowy corner of an alley, carefully observing someone. Of course, the man was none other than Hakase, the fifth dragon.


    Is that him? Hakase thought, watching Do-Jun enter a store.


    To Hakase¡¯s eyes, Do-Jun looked like any other ordinary human, with no unique energy radiating from him. According to Karsiel, Do-Jun rarely revealed his strength on Earth.


    He¡¯s out.


    Do-Jun exited the store carrying a plastic bag filled with ice cream, snacks, and drinks. Following closely behind him was a child, licking a popsicle as she trailed him.


    That must be the resident of the Core, Byeol... she really is adorable.


    Karsiel had sung endless praises of Byeol¡¯s cuteness, but seeing her in person exceeded all expectations.


    ¡°Byeol, do you want to take this upstairs first?¡± Do-Jun said, handing her the plastic bag.


    ¡°What about you, Daddy?¡±


    ¡°Daddy has a visitor, so I have to see them for a second. Can you go up by yourself?¡±


    ¡°Yes! I can take the elevator awone now.¡±


    Hakase overheard their conversation. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Byeol took the bag from Do-Jun and headed inside, taking the elevator up to their apartment.


    Do-Jun watched her with a satisfied smile, then turned and said, ¡°Can I help you?¡±


    It seemed Hakase had been caught.


    ***


    Hakase led Do-Jun into a temporary Fissure¡ªbarren, with not even a single blade of grass in sight.


    Do-Jun had a vague idea of who had been tailing him. The man wore a white lab coat over a faded blue T-shirt with a loose collar. The number ¡°5¡± was clearly visible on his collarbone.


    Hakase, was it? He recalled Karsiel mentioning a dragon who was skilled with machines.


    The moment they stepped into the Fissure, Hakase¡¯s power became far stronger than it had been on Earth. This place appeared to be connected to some part of the Core.


    ¡°Now is your only chance to beg for forgiveness, human,¡± Hakase said as a dense killing intent filled the air. His threat was anything but subtle. The qi radiating from his entire body seemed ready to explode.


    Do-Jun sighed, finding the sudden hostility and demand for forgiveness absurd.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± he replied to Hakase.


    ¡°You insulted a dragon.¡±


    ¡°I did?¡±


    ¡°You dared to treat Lord Izaas like a mere servant. That is an insult to all dragons!¡± Hakase roared, his voice echoing, and Do-Jun nodded slightly in understanding.


    The dragon in front of him seemed outraged at the way their Dragon Lord had been treated so casually.


    ¡°If you apologize now, I¡¯ll spare your pitiful life.¡±


    Do-Jun rubbed his chin in thought. Then, as if struck by a good idea, he smiled and said, ¡°How about this? If I win, you gotta do something for me.¡±


    ¡°Hah! Ridiculous. There isn¡¯t even the slightest chance that you¡¯ll win.¡±


    Hakase had heard Izaas refer to Do-Jun as ¡°Master,¡± so he had wondered if the human might possess some extraordinary power. However, his senses told him that Do-Jun was utterly ordinary.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re insisting on going through with this, huh... Fine. I¡¯ll give you three moves,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°What?¡± Hakase asked in confusion.


    ¡°I¡¯ll let you attack me three times before I do anything.¡±


    Do-Jun¡¯s words reflected an old habit from his days in the Central Plains, where he often gave his opponent a chance during duels.


    Hakase¡¯s eyebrow twitched in irritation. ¡°You truly wish for death, human.¡±


    A long spear of light formed in Hakase¡¯s hand. It was the Dragon Spear, a skill exclusive to dragons. Using such a skill against a human felt somewhat humiliating, yet it also demonstrated just how angry he was.


    The Dragon Spear flew toward Do-Jun, exploding on impact. The ground caved in, and clouds of dust billowed into the air. Without even confirming the outcome, Hakase turned his back.


    No living creature had ever survived being struck by a Dragon Spear.


    But just as he was about to walk away, he heard Do-Jun say, ¡°That¡¯s one.¡±


    Whipping around, he stared at Do-Jun, who emerged from the dust cloud without so much as a scratch.


    How could this be possible?


    Hakase blinked, struggling to comprehend.


    Moments later, Hakase was panting from exhaustion and utter incredulity. Even after unleashing the dragon¡¯s ultimate skill, Dragon Breath, twice in a row, Do-Jun stood completely unscathed.


    ¡°T-this can¡¯t be real! Tell me I¡¯m dreaming.¡± Hakase¡¯s face turned pale.


    That¡¯s when Do-Jun took a single step forward, slowly drawing internal energy from his dantian.


    ***


    Pancake batter sizzled as it was poured into the fish-shaped mold, spreading evenly. A spoonful of red bean paste was added before more batter was poured on top.


    ¡°You¡¯re still selling taiyaki? Can I get three, please?¡± a woman in her forties said as she handed over a bill.


    Hakase placed three taiyaki in a paper bag and handed it to her.


    ¡°Thank you. Sell lots!¡± the woman said before departing.


    The cash box was steadily filling, now holding over 40,000 won.


    ¡°To think I, the great Hakase, am selling taiyaki out of a taiyaki machine I made myself...¡±


    It was absurd. Even more infuriating was the fact that he had sold over forty thousand won¡¯s worth.


    ¡°Why are they even eating this? It¡¯s summer!¡± Hakase cried.


    It was the time of the year when even standing still made one sweat buckets. Of course, dragons were unaffected by seasons, but humans were far more sensitive to such things.


    Small, hurried footsteps approached the stall.


    ¡°Wow! It¡¯s weally here!¡±


    A child with long black hair cascading to her waist¡ªso cute she could be mistaken for an angel¡ªcame running excitedly. It was, of course, Byeol.


    ¡°Daddy! It¡¯s the taiyaki guy! He¡¯s here!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Do-Jun walked up casually, feigning curiosity.


    ¡°Ah, w-welcome...¡± Hakase stuttered.


    Do-Jun glanced at the cash box, overflowing with money, and smiled.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been busy.¡±


    1. Taiyaki is a Japanese fish-shaped cake, often served as a street food. It¡¯s typically filled with red bean paste, but other fillings like custard, chocolate, or even savory ingredients are available. The batter is similar to pancake or waffle batter and is cooked in fish-shaped moulds. ?

 Chapter 132

    Chapter 132As usual, Yong-Yong sat on the sofa watching TV.


    ?This week¡¯s winning numbers are 2, 10, 11, 15, 29, 42! The bonus number is 33.?


    ?The estimated prize for first place is around 1.8 billion won. I hope I get to win first place someday, too. Congratulations to all the winners, and we¡¯ll see you again next week!?


    Yong-Yong dropped the TV remote he was holding in disbelief. His mouth hung open in shock, unable to close, eyes wider than ever. He darted toward Yoon-Hee, who was busy washing the dishes.


    Leaping onto the sink, he started making a fuss. Yong-Yong was so overwhelmed by the 1.8 billion won prize that he couldn¡¯t even form his words properly.


    ¡°One... 1.8 billion! They said! Billion!¡±


    ¡°You mean that¡¯s the prize for first place?¡± Yoon-Hee asked.


    Yong-Yong nodded vigorously.


    One point eight billion won. With that much money, they could eat fried chicken every day, go to the store to buy snacks daily, and still have plenty left over. If he gave that money to Yoon-Hee, she might even cook braised short ribs for him every day.


    However, for some reason, Yoon-Hee¡¯s reaction was rather lukewarm. She said, ¡°Whoever wins must be really lucky, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    Her voice made it clear that she was unfazed by the astronomical prize.


    ¡°Let¡¯s buy a ticket!¡± Yong-Yong suggested enthusiastically.


    ¡°We can¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s 1.8 billion won!¡± Yong-Yong¡¯s expression was filled with disbelief.


    Yoon-Hee wiped her wet hands on her apron, picked up Yong-Yong from the sink, and set him down on the floor.


    ¡°Lottery tickets are for adults only. Since neither of us is an adult, we can¡¯t buy one.¡±


    She hung her apron on the magnet hook on the fridge.


    Yong-Yong looked dejected at the news that they couldn¡¯t buy a ticket.


    After a moment of thought, Yoon-Hee leaned in and whispered into his ear, ¡°Try asking Father. Do it nicely.¡±


    ***


    Do-Jun was in the bedroom, reading the newspaper he¡¯d subscribed to for over four months now. Though smartphones had largely replaced physical newspapers, he enjoyed the scent of the ink and the act of flipping through the pages.


    Yong-Yong bounced in. ¡°Master, I have a favor to ask.¡±


    Of course, Do-Jun already knew what Yong-Yong¡¯s request would be: to help him buy a lottery ticket.


    ¡°Have you picked the numbers?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Pardon me?¡± It seemed like Yong-Yong wasn¡¯t actually familiar with the rules, so Do-Jun explained how the lottery worked.


    ¡°You could either pick the numbers yourself or let the machine select them automatically.¡±


    If they chose the automatic option, he could simply buy a ticket on his way home from work.


    ***


    Monday, 2 PM, in the office of the Seoul City Hall Fissure Management Division.


    The sound of nonstop typing filled the office. The background noise was suddenly interrupted when Cheol-Soo slammed his hands on his desk and stood up abruptly.


    With a mix of frustration and disappointment, he looked at Do-Jun and Hyuk-Soo and said, ¡°Welp, I guess I¡¯ll have to see you both for another week.¡±


    ¡°What place did you get this time?¡± Hyuk-Soo asked with a grin.


    ¡°Not even fifth.¡±


    Hyuk-Soo chuckled.


    Every week, Cheol-Soo spent 5,000 won on lottery tickets, always dreaming of hitting the jackpot so he could quit his tedious government job. His best result so far had been fourth place.


    ¡°You buy those lottery tickets just for fun, anyway, right? Don¡¯t you agree, Do-Jun?¡± Hyuk-Soo said.


    The odds of winning first place were one in eight million. Despite these daunting odds, people bought tickets every week, chasing the dream of instant wealth. For many workers in Korea, where the average salary was around 30 million won, winning over one billion won in the lottery represented the ultimate fantasy.


    ¡°It¡¯s better not to expect too much,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°I know, but I really thought this week was my turn. Do-Jun, you don¡¯t buy tickets?¡±


    ¡°I...¡± He trailed off.


    Honestly, he didn¡¯t need to. If he wanted to, earning tens or even hundreds of billions of won would be no challenge at all. While 1.8 billion won wasn¡¯t a small amount, considering the average price of an A-grade mana stone was 200 million won, the lottery jackpot didn¡¯t feel particularly significant to Do-Jun.


    ¡°I... actually plan to buy one this week,¡± he said, remembering Yong-Yong¡¯s Saturday night plea.


    ***


    Meanwhile, Yong-Yong was meeting with Laghaim.


    The Spirit Queen resided in seclusion within the Fissure known as the Forest of Spirits.[1]


    Yong-Yong tapped the desk with a pen while staring at a lottery ticket. He needed to pick six numbers between one and forty-five, but he hadn¡¯t chosen a single one yet.


    ¡°Give me a number between one and forty-five,¡± he said to Laghaim.


    ¡°A number? Why all of a sudden?¡±


    ¡°Just do it. I¡¯ll give you a hundred mil if we win first place.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need it,¡± Laghaim declined, sipping tea from her cup.


    She had no interest in Earth¡¯s money. Living entirely off the land, she rarely left the Fissure and didn¡¯t need to purchase anything. Even if she did, she could acquire the money for herself with ease.


    ¡°It¡¯s for Master. Come on, help us out.¡±


    ¡°For Master? What are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°If we win the lottery, it¡¯ll make Master¡¯s life easier.¡± And they could eat fried chicken every day, but Yong-Yong left that part out.


    ¡°I see.¡±


    Laghaim suddenly looked serious, deep in thought. A moment later, she smiled, as if struck by a great idea.


    ¡°Then... eight.¡±


    ¡°Why eight?¡± Yong-Yong asked, puzzled.


    ¡°Because I first met Master on the eighth.¡±


    ***


    Hakase was, as usual, selling taiyaki today.


    Because of the hot weather, he had started adding cold treats like ice cream and slushies to his menu. This seemed like a smart decision, as more customers had been stopping by lately¡ªor so he thought.


    ¡°Excuse me, three taiyaki and a slushie, please.¡± A high school girl handed over two thousand won with her order.


    Hakase enjoyed seeing people come by more than the money he was making. As much as he loved tinkering with machines in his nest, his solitary research made him crave interaction from time to time.


    ¡°Coming right up.¡±


    He cooked the taiyaki fresh on the spot and handed her the slushie as she waited. Yet, for some reason, the high school girl stared at his face intently.


    ¡°What is it, human?¡±


    ¡°Mister, you¡¯re really handsome.¡±


    Hakase stood over 1.9 meters tall, with a slender build, long limbs, and striking features that seemed like they belonged on a magazine cover.


    ¡°Here¡¯s your taiyaki,¡± he said and handed the bag to the high school girl, who smiled brightly with a piece of taiyaki already in her mouth.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be back, Mister!¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Hakase smiled faintly as he watched her walk off.


    Before long, a new group of customers arrived¡ªa group of four college girls. Hakase recognized them immediately.


    ¡°Weren¡¯t you girls here yesterday, too?¡±


    ¡°Hehe, but we wanted taiyaki again!¡±


    ***


    ¡°See? This is what you get for messing with Master.¡±


    Yong-Yong clicked his tongue as he watched Hakase grilling the fish-shaped buns late into the night.


    That day, Yong-Yong learned all the details of what had happened between Hakase and Do-Jun. In their one-on-one fight, Hakase had used Dragon Spear once and Dragon Breath twice. Even after taking both attacks head-on, Do-Jun hadn¡¯t suffered so much as a scratch.


    ¡°But hey, you¡¯re still alive. That¡¯s impressive,¡± Yong-Yong remarked. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Yes... I thought I was going to die for sure at the end, but he said he¡¯d spare my life. On the condition that I sell these buns for three months...¡±


    Hakase shuddered as he recalled the battle with Do-Jun. How could a human be that strong? It didn¡¯t seem possible. Still, he had seen it himself.


    ¡°What about you, Lord Izaas?¡±


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    ¡°How was your fight with Lee Do-Jun? I imagine you must have faced him at least once.¡±


    For some reason, Hakase seemed to be looking forward to Yong-Yong¡¯s response. The anticipation in his gaze made Yong-Yong feel a little pressured.


    ¡°Me? It was a very close match, of course!¡± Yong-Yong cautiously averted his gaze as he spoke.


    Hakase¡¯s face lit up, and he gave Yong-Yong a thumbs-up. ¡°As expected of you, Lord Izaas! So, what happened in the end?¡±


    ¡°Well, don¡¯t you know how so kind-hearted I am?¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡±


    ¡°So... I let him win on purpose. If we¡¯d kept going, I would¡¯ve won for sure.¡±


    Hakase exclaimed in admiration, grabbing Yong-Yong¡¯s front paw. ¡°As expected of the great Izaas!¡±


    ¡°Uh, yeah... Haha...¡±


    Yong-Yong recalled his first encounter with Do-Jun. He would never admit it, but just before Do-Jun fired his mana gun, Yong-Yong had desperately called for a timeout to save his life.


    ¡°H-h-hold on a second!¡±


    Afterward, he had received... ¡°corrective measures¡± for it.


    ¡°Anyway,¡± Yong-Yong said, trying to forget that memory.


    ¡°Yes, Lord Izaas!¡±


    ¡°Pick a number for me.¡±


    Yong-Yong pulled out his lottery ticket.


    ***


    Yong-Yong was in front of the TV, watching the emcee as he drew this week¡¯s lottery numbers.


    ?Now, we¡¯ll begin this week¡¯s lottery draw. Match the numbers, regardless of the order they appear, to win. Proceeds from lottery sales go toward public welfare programs for low-income and marginalized groups. Let¡¯s begin.?


    Inside the lottery machine, forty-five numbered balls bounced around before the numbers began to be announced one by one.


    Sweat dripped down Yong-Yong¡¯s front paw as he clutched the ticket tightly.


    ?The first number is eight!?


    ¡°Yes!¡± Yong-Yong jumped up from the sofa.


    The number eight, just as Laghaim had mentioned. It was a good start.


    ?The second number is one!?


    ¡°Wow!¡±


    This number one was Yong-Yong¡¯s choice. As the number one Dragon Lord, he had felt compelled to include it.


    It seemed like a great decision.


    ?The third number is...?


    As the numbers were announced one after another, Yong-Yong¡¯s eyes grew wider and wider, almost popping out. In the end, the winning numbers were revealed to be: 1, 8, 10, 31, 33, 45.


    All six numbers matched. Yong-Yong rubbed his eyes, unable to believe it.


    ?Congratulations! The prize amount is 50 billion won!?


    ¡°F-fifty billion!¡±


    An astronomical sum!


    At that moment, the family members came rushing out of the bedroom.


    Karsiel was the first to react. ¡°That¡¯s incredible! I would expect no less from the great Lord Izaas!¡±


    Next was Byeol. ¡°Yong-Yong is weally amazing!¡±


    Finally, Yoon-Hee chimed in, ¡°Thank you, Yong-Yong, I¡¯ll make you braised short ribs every day!¡±


    Yong-Yong frantically looked around. Where was Master? Ah, there he was, sitting at the dining table reading the newspaper.


    Yong-Yong dashed over. ¡°Master! I won first place!¡±


    Do-Jun hugged Yong-Yong tightly and said, ¡°Good job, Yong-Yong. From now on, I¡¯ll call you Master.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha! This is great!¡±


    ***


    ?Congratulations to all the winners!?


    Do-Jun checked the winning numbers: 1, 4, 8, 10, 11, 12.


    He glanced at Yong-Yong, who had fallen asleep waiting for the lottery results. He grunted in his sleep, still clutching the lottery ticket in his paw, which he had held onto so desperately.


    Yoon-Hee placed a plate of freshly sliced fruit on the table in front of the sofa.


    Looking at the peacefully sleeping Yong-Yong, she remarked, ¡°He must be having a good dream. He looks so happy.¡±


    Do-Jun draped a blanket over Yong-Yong and smiled.


    ¡°Seems like it.¡±


    1. This is a new Fissure introduced in this chapter. We think it should be connected to the Core¡¯s second floor, as we believe that¡¯s where Laghaim resided last. You can refer to our previous notes on this in Chapters 104 and 117. ?

 Chapter 133

    Chapter 133Yoon-Hee patted Yong-Yong on the head with a smile.


    ¡°I¡¯m off! Take good care of the house while I¡¯m gone.¡± She waved goodbye and closed the door.


    Yong-Yong had gone to bed early the previous night and was already wide awake this morning.


    He jumped up and turned the doorknob. A clicking sound was heard, but the door didn¡¯t open, proof that the lock was functioning properly. He remembered seeing on TV that locking the door carefully was important when no adults were home.


    Karsiel and Byeol were fast asleep, hugging each other tightly. Byeol always wore panda pajamas to bed, and with the hood pulled over her head, she looked just like a baby panda.


    With Do-Jun at work, Yong-Yong had truly become the master of the nest.


    And what does a nest¡¯s master do?


    After pondering deeply, Yong-Yong got an idea. He opened a drawer and pulled something out.


    ***


    The low hum of the fan motor and compressor echoed as the refrigerator door opened. The refrigerator light cast a soft glow inside, illuminating the containers of side dishes and today¡¯s lunch¡ªgrilled mackerel.


    ¡°This is bad...¡± Yong-Yong sighed.


    Yoon-Hee didn¡¯t know this, but Byeol wasn¡¯t particularly fond of grilled fish. At her pickiest, she wouldn¡¯t even touch it.


    ¡°Should I use the coupon?¡±


    Last week, Yong-Yong finally collected ten fried chicken coupons. With ten coupons, the chicken shop would deliver a free whole fried chicken. However, wanting to save the chicken for a special occasion, Yong-Yong shook his head and took out the plastic-wrapped grilled mackerel instead.


    He placed the mackerel in the microwave to heat it up. After laying out various side dishes on the table, he scooped rice into a bowl.


    That¡¯s when Byeol walked into the kitchen with clear, wide eyes, fully awake.


    She gasped as soon as she sniffed the strong fishy smell.


    Byeol glanced nervously at Yong-Yong, then placed a hand on her forehead and dramatically declared, ¡°My fohed hot. Byeol is sick. I need more sweep.¡±


    With that, she scurried back under the blanket.


    Dragons were known for their incredibly sensitive hearing, capable of catching even the faintest sounds. As such, Yong-Yong could clearly hear Byeol muttering under the covers, ¡°S-Sieh... F-fish...¡±


    Yong-Yong immediately pulled out a notebook labeled ¡°Nest Management Log.¡± He opened to the first page and began to write.


    ¡°Byeol pritended to be sik to aboid eating fish.¡±


    ***


    Do-Jun¡¯s days had been unusually peaceful lately.


    Most of his time was spent processing administrative tasks, exploring Fissures, or conducting regular patrols with Ye-Ji. There wasn¡¯t much else to disrupt his routine.


    Do-Jun opened a drawer and saw that it was crammed with documents. Since he had some free time today, he decided to sort and organize them.


    The majority were printed reports from Fissure explorations or records of complaints submitted by citizens.


    Amidst the papers, he spotted a golden business card that read ¡°Treasure Goblin Company Pass¡± and was reminded of the Treasure Goblin he had encountered when giving a Fissure presentation to the Academy students at Dongguk University.


    He recalled what the goblin had said. ¡°If you visit us sometime, I¡¯ll give you a proper reception.¡±


    Resting his chin on his hand, Do-Jun examined the card closely.


    [Treasure Goblin Company Pass]


    Grade: S


    Effect: Teleports the user to the ¡°Treasure Goblin Company.¡± (Single-use)


    He didn¡¯t know much about the Treasure Goblin Company, but it seemed worth visiting at least once. Besides, the card had been sitting unused in his drawer for quite some time.


    Maybe I should pay him a quick visit, he thought. He felt that he might never go at all if he didn¡¯t go now.


    ***


    Treasure Goblin Maxim immediately knew that Do-Jun had arrived at the Company. The access pass Do-Jun used was enchanted with special magic that allowed the goblins to identify the visitor.


    Maxim quickly ran to the entrance of the Company, where Do-Jun was.


    ¡°Thank you for coming all the way here!¡± he greeted Do-Jun with a broad smile.


    The Company was vast, with many things to watch out for, so a guide was essential.


    ¡°The Skillbook was really handy, thank you,¡± Do-Jun said. The A-rank skill, Binding Chains, had been passed on to Yoon-Hee.


    Perhaps because of the gratitude, Maxim scratched his head and laughed sheepishly.


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s nothing! We can provide those as complimentary gifts anytime. Anyway, I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re fully satisfied with your tour of the Treasure Goblin Company today.¡±


    With that, Maxim handed Do-Jun a card.


    Before Do-Jun could even wonder what the card was for, Maxim explained, ¡°It¡¯s a wallet for holding mastery stones, which are used to purchase items here at the Company.¡±


    ¡°Mastery stones, huh. So this place really is part of the Core,¡± Do-Jun muttered.


    ¡°Ah, you¡¯re well-informed,¡± Maxim said, looking slightly impressed.


    With that, he guided Do-Jun through the Company.


    ***


    The structure of the Treasure Goblin Company was simpler than expected.


    It spanned from the first basement floor to the eighth, with each floor dedicated to the sale or purchase of artifacts. The lower the floor, the higher the grade of artifacts they dealt with, much like the system in the Core.


    ¡°I see you have adventurers here as well,¡± Do-Jun commented.


    ¡°Indeed, sir. We¡¯ve heard that adventurers below the fourth floor of the Core can enter our company without a pass.¡±


    The adventurers, familiar with the setting, casually browsed for artifacts that they needed or sparked their curiosity. Transactions were made using the mastery stones stored on their cards as currency.


    Despite the cutting-edge facilities, the place was lively and had the atmosphere of a bustling local market.


    ¡°If there¡¯s any artifact you¡¯re looking for, please let me know. Of course, there are limits to what I can offer, but if it¡¯s within my means, I¡¯ll gladly assist,¡± Maxim said.


    ¡°I¡¯ll let you know if I see anything.¡±


    Do-Jun glanced over the artifacts, but nothing caught his eye. Besides, for someone of Do-Jun¡¯s caliber, artifacts were unnecessary luxuries.


    He already wielded the Heavenly Demon Sword, a blade that made the world tremble in fear. There was unlikely to be any weapon that could surpass it.


    Just then, a carriage approached from a distance¡ªor rather, flew toward them.


    [The Jade-Faced Noble arrives!]


    [Show your respect!]


    Horses galloped through the air as the carriage made its way closer. Finally, it landed on the ground.


    Everyone present¡ªTreasure Goblins and adventurers alike¡ªfell to their knees and bowed deeply.


    ¡°S-sir, please do what I¡¯m doing,¡± Maxim muttered to Do-Jun as he lowered himself like the others.


    The Jade-Faced Noble was a figure of overwhelming power, a Transcendent ranked third among the strongest beings of the Deep Realm. Although his title spoke of elegance, his methods were notoriously brutal. He occasionally visited the Treasure Goblin Company to browse or purchase artifacts.


    Of all days, today had to be one of those days.


    ¡°Sir!¡± Maxim urged Do-Jun.


    However, Do-Jun neither knelt nor bowed. He didn¡¯t even lower his gaze. He merely looked at the man stepping out of the carriage.


    Panicking, Maxim grabbed the hem of Do-Jun¡¯s pants, urging him to bow. ¡°Sir!!!¡±


    Maxim was on the verge of tears as he clung desperately to Do-Jun.


    At that moment, the Jade-Faced Noble locked eyes with Do-Jun. The air grew chillingly cold, the tension palpable. It felt as though the slightest movement could ignite a deadly battle.


    Wei Zhongqi, known in the Core as the Jade-Faced Noble, visibly trembled as if he had seen a ghost. Do-Jun¡¯s icy gaze bore into him, and the blood drained from Wei Zhongqi¡¯s face.


    And then, to everyone¡¯s utter shock, Wei Zhongqi fell to his knees before Do-Jun. The onlookers gasped in shock, their mouths agape.


    ¡°I see you recognize me,¡± Do-Jun said.


    ¡°Wei Zhongqi of the Shadowless Squad humbly greets the Heavenly Demon.¡±


    The Jade-Faced Noble, one of the Deep Realm¡¯s most feared figures, had once been a disciple of Heavenly Demonism. At the age of fifteen, he joined the sect and barely graduated from its Black Assassination Academy, finishing at the very bottom. He was then assigned to the Shadowless Squad, the sect¡¯s secret investigative unit.


    Do-Jun remembered him well.


    ¡°You were always a late student.¡±


    Wei Zhongqi had always been slow to learn and was frequently outpaced by peers and juniors in receiving assignments. Do-Jun had often lent a helping hand, and Wei Zhongqi was fully aware of this.


    ¡°It is an honor that you remember me.¡±


    Wei Zhongqi slowly lifted his head to meet Do-Jun¡¯s gaze.


    Though his demeanor had somewhat changed since their time in the Central Plains, there was no mistaking it¡ªthis was the Heavenly Demon, the leader who once ruled over the world.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a while. It¡¯s nice to see you,¡± Do-Jun said with a faint smile.


    Wei Zhongqi blinked, unsure if he had seen it correctly. The Heavenly Demon he remembered was always cold, emotionless, and detached. He never openly displayed sadness, joy, or anger.


    Did he... just smile?


    ***


    Bubbling noises filled the air as dinner was being prepared.


    Having finished his shower, Do-Jun sat on the sofa, drying his damp hair with a towel. Yong-Yong poked his head out from under the table, watching Do-Jun intently. He then crawled over and began patting Do-Jun¡¯s shoulders.


    ¡°Master, you¡¯ve worked so hard.¡±


    Suspicious, Do-Jun scanned the room, wondering if Yong-Yong had caused some mischief. He even checked behind the TV to see if it had been broken like last time, but everything seemed normal.


    Noticing Do-Jun was done with his shower, Byeol emerged from the bedroom.


    ¡°Daddy! Byeol ate fish.¡±


    ¡°Did you? Was it tasty?¡±


    ¡°Fish... not good, but I still ate it!¡±


    Do-Jun tilted his head, trying to figure out where Byeol was going with this.


    ¡°And I also read a book!¡±


    ¡°Wow, you even read a book? Good job, Byeol.¡±


    ¡°Mhm.¡±


    Byeol stared at Do-Jun expectantly, her eyes shining with anticipation, but Do-Jun just looked puzzled.


    ¡°Oh... Yong-Yong twicked me...¡± Byeol hung her head low, sighed dramatically, and trudged back to the bedroom with drooping shoulders. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That¡¯s when Do-Jun saw a book lying on the table. Curious, he opened it to check its contents.


    ¡°Nest Management Log¡±


    ¡°Byeol pritended to be sik to aboid eating fish. Told her Master wood give her a kiss if she ate it.¡±


    ¡°Karsiel tryd to read a book to Byeol, but she refewsed, saying it was boring. Told her Master wood give her a kiss if she read it.¡±


    .


    .


    .


    Reading the notes in the journal, Do-Jun looked at Yong-Yong in disbelief.


    In return, Yong-Yong gave him a thumbs-up and winked.

 Chapter 134

    Chapter 134Whoosh!


    The cold wind howled on the Cliff of the Dead where two figures sat at the edge. Below the cliff lay a mountain of corpses, piled high.


    ¡°I¡¯ve made my decision,¡± Kiriel said, standing abruptly.


    He carried a massive bow on his back, nearly as tall as he was. The sixth-ranked Transcendent, known as the Divine Archer, had a resolute expression, as though he had resolved to do something.


    ¡°What decision...?¡± Wei Zhongqi asked.


    ¡°I will be the head of a snake, not the tail of a dragon.¡±


    What was he talking about?


    At that moment, Kiriel pulled the Book of Transfer from his bag. As one of the relics of the Deep Realm and a Hidden Piece of the Core, the Book of Transfer allowed its user to teleport to any desired location. What did he intend to do with it?


    ¡°I will become the king of Earth.¡±


    At those words, Wei Zhongqi closed his eyes.


    The king of Earth? So that¡¯s what he meant by being the head of a snake.


    Wei Zhongqi sighed and held out a page of his own Book of Transfer. ¡°Take another one with you, just in case.¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t need it. I¡¯ll be reigning on Earth for a while. Once the Encroachment is complete, all the humans of Earth will be transferred to the Core¡¯s Tutorial Zone anyway. I¡¯ll just return to the Deep Realm then.¡±


    ¡°You know, about that Encroachment... You do know the hourglass is frozen, right?¡± Wei Zhongqi asked him.


    The Usurper¡¯s Hourglass¡ªone of the many relics at the farthest edge of the Deep Realm¡ªmeasured the progress of the Encroachment on planets connected to the Core.


    Recently, however, it had stopped.


    ¡°I heard. Apparently, Earth¡¯s humans, the ones they call Hunters, have the power to kill monsters. I¡¯ll start by wiping out those Hunters. That should restart the Encroachment. Until then, I¡¯ll just stay and play king.¡±


    Wei Zhongqi scratched his head. The Heavenly Demon Lee Do-Jun was on Earth. When he briefly encountered him a few days ago at the Treasure Goblin Company, he was shocked, to say the least.


    Recalling that moment, Wei Zhongqi gulped dryly and advised, ¡°Take another page. I¡¯m serious¡ªyou¡¯ll need it.¡±


    The Book of Transfer was a one-time-use item. To return to the Deep Realm from Earth, Kiriel would undoubtedly need it. Seeing Wei Zhongqi¡¯s grave expression and insistence, Kiriel finally decided to take it.


    Crackle!


    The Book of Transfer activated, opening a dimensional portal to Earth.


    Kiriel stepped into the shimmering portal.


    ¡°I wonder if he¡¯ll be back by tonight,¡± Wei Zhongqi murmured.


    ***


    It was finally Saturday.


    For most people, Saturday was a truly wonderful day. It was the weekend, a chance to recover from the weekday grind.


    Everyone had their own ways of shaking off the week¡¯s fatigue.


    Byeol was watching ¡°Food Expedition,¡± a show featuring specialty restaurants that processed and served monster-based dishes.


    ?Cockatrice wings are a delicacy. You can fry them, grill them, or make them into stew. Dipping them in the special sauce sold on the market turns them into an unbeatable dish.?


    ?I¡¯ve had them a few times, and they¡¯re indeed amazing! The price is steep, so I can¡¯t eat them often, but I¡¯m so glad to taste them again on this show. What other menu items do you recommend, sir??


    Do-Jun sipped his tea and read the morning newspaper, thinking it was unusual for Byeol to wake up this early.


    ¡°Hunter¡¯s Bureau Task Force Successfully Clears S-rank Fissure in Goyang...¡±


    ¡°Thankfully, the boss monster was subdued before a Breakout occurred...¡±


    ¡°President Kim Dong-Sik to Present Task Force with Honorary Plaque and Medal for Their Efforts.¡±


    An S-rank Fissure had appeared two days ago. Once the boss monster was detected, the surrounding area was locked down, and the Hunter¡¯s Bureau had the Task Force move swiftly to subdue it.


    The team, led by Kang-Hyun, succeeded after thirty-seven hours of fierce combat.


    The S-rank Hunters, including Kang-Hyun, had ensured that Do-Jun didn¡¯t need to intervene unnecessarily. They had assured him that they would handle everything they could.


    However, they had agreed on one exception: if dragons like those in the Masalis Incident appeared or monsters with overwhelmingly high readings emerged, they would call for his help. Do-Jun had agreed to this arrangement.


    As he was engrossed in the newspaper, Byeol skipped over. Do-Jun put down the newspaper, picked her up, and placed her on his lap.


    ¡°You want Cockatrice, don¡¯t you?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Daddy, are you a god? How did you know?¡± Byeol looked up at him with wide eyes as if she had just witnessed magic.


    Do-Jun smiled at her startled expression, unable to hold back a chuckle.


    ¡°It¡¯s a big chicken,¡± Byeol said, describing what she saw on TV. ¡°You can fwy their wings first and then eat that. And...¡±


    ¡°And?¡± Do-Jun prompted her.


    ¡°And then you gwill it.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    ¡°And then finally, you make stew!¡±


    Byeol recalled what the TV show host had said, and gasped as if she had remembered a critical detail.


    ¡°And then weally finally, you eat it with sauce!¡± she said with a bright smile.


    However, her excitement faded, and her expression turned glum.


    ¡°But big chicken is so expensive...¡± she muttered, discouraged.


    ¡°How expensive?¡± Do-Jun asked, trying to hold in his laugh.


    ¡°More than one thousand won...¡± Byeol muttered, hanging her head.


    ¡°Oh, wow. It really is expensive, huh?¡±


    Byeol nodded without a word. With that, Do-Jun stood, readying himself to head out.


    ***


    The D-rank Fissure known as the Cockatrice¡¯s Nest was located on Bukhansan Mountain in Eunpyeong-gu. It was a place Do-Jun had visited once before with Karsiel.


    Standing before the elongated Fissure in the air, Yong-Yong swallowed hard and muttered, ¡°Everyone¡¯s getting a chicken to themselves tonight.¡±


    He recalled the one time he had tasted Cockatrice fried chicken. Golden, crispy batter gave way to juicy, flavorful meat with every bite. It was far better than any chicken sold commercially.


    From inside the Fissure, Do-Jun sensed a presence that couldn¡¯t possibly belong to a D-rank monster. It was unique, unlike anything typical, and his sense was soon confirmed.


    A Hunter¡¯s Bureau staff member blocked the Fissure entrance, stopping the crowd of Hunters and tourists who had gathered.


    ¡°Everyone, please take a step back!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°Apparently, there is a PK inside.¡±


    ¡°D-does that mean someone died?¡±


    ¡°No deaths, but according to what some Hunters are saying...¡±


    Yellow tape with ¡°Keep Out¡± written on it was strung around the area.


    While Yong-Yong didn¡¯t fully understand the meaning, one thing was clear: no one was supposed to enter the Fissure, presumably because of a massive presence that he could also feel.


    Sighing, Yong-Yong rubbed his face with his paw. He muttered, ¡°Another pest climbing up here again?¡±


    ***


    Gungnir, the bow Kiriel held, radiated magical energy that swirled around it. It was a relic-grade artifact from the Deep Realm and the very weapon that helped Kiriel earn the title ¡°Divine Archer.¡± It was a so-called Hidden Piece, a weapon said to be left behind by a god.


    Thwip!


    An arrow flew toward a flock of dozens of Cockatrices fleeing from him. As if equipped with a homing function, the arrow chased and pierced through the Cockatrices one by one with an unrestricted trajectory. Each Cockatrice hit by the arrow vanished without a trace.


    A kilometer away stood the entrance to the Fissure that led to Earth, the same one Kiriel had entered through using the Book of Transfer.


    The monsters inside this Fissure were far weaker than the lowest-tier monsters dwelling on the first floor of the Core, and Kiriel found it hard to believe that the so-called powerful ¡°Hunters¡± on Earth struggled with such monsters.


    A cold sneer spread across his lips.


    Rumble!


    Suddenly, the entrance to the Fissure wavered, and a human, accompanied by a small dog, stepped inside.


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    However, this creature didn¡¯t seem like an ordinary dog with two horns protruding from its head and small wings extending from its shoulder blades. More notably, it seemed rather angry.


    ¡°What am I... looking at?¡± Kiriel uttered in disbelief.


    The dog lifted its forepaw. ¡°I¡¯ll give you five seconds.¡±


    Even from a kilometer away, its voice rang out clearly.


    ¡°Come.¡±


    ***


    Kiriel was in a plank position, trembling vigorously. Yong-Yong was perched on his back, exerting an oppressive weight augmented by magical power. Gritting his teeth in pain, Kiriel groaned and tried to endure it.


    ¡°Buddy, are you out of your mind?¡± Yong-Yong said to Kiriel.


    ¡°I-I¡¯m not sure w-what you¡¯re talking about.¡± Kiriel gasped.


    To Kiriel¡¯s astonishment, the ¡°dog¡± turned out to be none other than an Overlord, once the ruler of the Deep Realm, a dragon lord who had vanished without a trace after the Great War. Why such an Overlord was on Earth was beyond comprehension, but that wasn¡¯t important.


    ¡°What the hell made you think it was a good idea to come to Earth?¡± Yong-Yong asked with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.


    ¡°W-well, that¡¯s...¡±


    Yong-Yong smacked Kiriel on the head and shouted, ¡°Answer my question, you punk! Do you think Earth is some kind of toy you can play with? Huh? Do you think Earth is a joke?!¡±


    Do-Jun sighed as he surveyed the surroundings. Whatever had happened, all the Cockatrices had been wiped out, and the Cockatrice¡¯s Nest was in shambles.


    ¡°Master, let¡¯s make this guy bite the curb,¡± Yong-Yong suggested.


    Bite the curb? Where did Yong-Yong even learn expressions like that?


    Do-Jun looked at Kiriel. He hadn¡¯t killed or harmed anyone.


    As Do-Jun contemplated what to do, his eyes landed on the bow Kiriel was holding.


    ***


    A portal opened on the Cliff of the Dead in the Deep Realm, and through it, Kiriel stumbled out, collapsing onto the ground as he gasped for air.


    Watching him was Wei Zhongqi. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Kiriel,¡± he called out.


    All Kiriel could do was breathe laboriously.


    ¡°Quick trip, huh?¡±


    Kiriel¡¯s head shot up, glaring at Wei Zhongqi, who smirked with amusement.


    What was that smirk? Why did it feel like Wei Zhongqi was already expecting him?


    ¡°It¡¯s a good thing I gave you an extra page from the Book of Transfer, isn¡¯t it?¡± Wei Zhongqi said with a wide grin on his face. ¡°But...¡±


    Something was missing. Gungnir, his most prized possession, was nowhere to be seen.


    ¡°Where¡¯s your bow?¡± Wei Zhongqi asked.


    ¡°He took it.¡± Grinding his teeth, Kiriel clenched his fists and slammed them into the ground.


    The earth trembled with a deafening crash.


    ¡°Wei Zhongqi, just who is that bastard?!¡± he asked, still visibly in shock.


    Izaas was a Dragon Lord and the Core¡¯s Overlord. Still, such a creature referred to a mysterious human as ¡°Master.¡± Without even getting a chance to use Gungnir, his flow of energy was completely cut off by just a simple gesture from the man called Do-Jun.


    ¡°Is he... the king of Earth?!¡±


    The difference in power was simply insurmountable.

 Chapter 135

    Chapter 135The TV was tuned to a shopping channel promoting various merchandise.


    ?The ceramic-coated exterior makes cleanup after cooking incredibly easy. Plus, there''s no need for cooking oil, making various cooking methods¡ªlike frying eggs¡ªespecially convenient.?


    A set of branded cookware, including pots, pans, and other kitchen tools, was being promoted. Yoon-Hee rested her chin on one hand, watching the advertised products intently. Her current cookware was a bit old, and the idea of buying a new set sounded appealing.


    ?This entire set can be yours for just 550,000 won.?


    The problem was the price. It was a premium brand, so it wasn¡¯t surprising how expensive it was, but that amount was overwhelming for her. Technically, she had the money, but her current cookware, while slightly worn, was still usable, which made her hesitant to spend that much.


    She still couldn¡¯t stop thinking of it.


    ¡°I want it...¡± she muttered softly.


    ***


    The next day, Byeol found herself in a dilemma.


    Last night, Yoon-Hee had casually mentioned wanting the cookware set she saw on the shopping channel. It had been stuck in Byeol¡¯s mind ever since, but the problem was the price.


    She opened her chick-patterned coin purse and spilled its contents onto the table.


    ¡°Yong-Yong, look.¡± She held up a hundred-won coin for Yong-Yong to see, explaining, ¡°This is one hundred. I have seven of them.¡±


    ¡°Yep,¡± Yong-Yong replied.


    Next, she held up a five-hundred-won coin¡ªa massive treasure worth five good deeds.


    ¡°And these? Two of them.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    ¡°So, how much do I have?¡±


    ¡°You have seventeen hundred won.¡±


    Hearing Yong-Yong¡¯s answer, Byeol¡¯s face fell. Although she wasn¡¯t great at math, she could tell that 1,700 wasn¡¯t even close to 550,000. She carefully put her coins back into her purse, zipped it shut, and sighed.


    ***


    Yong-Yong and Byeol were out for a walk in the neighborhood, but Byeol wasn¡¯t exactly in a great mood. That¡¯s when she spotted a poster taped to the wall outside the Bangbae 3-dong Community Center.


    Byeol walked up to the poster and slowly read the words aloud, ¡°Take pictures of our neighborhood and win amazing pwizes...!¡±


    The prize list was shown alongside some photos.


    Her eyes widened when she saw the second-place prize¡ªit was the exact cookware set that Yoon-Hee wanted.


    Yong-Yong approached and read the poster over her shoulder, ¡°T-this is...!¡±


    The consolation prize was a kilogram of braised short ribs.


    ***


    Getting a camera wasn¡¯t difficult, since smartphones came with built-in cameras. Although neither Byeol nor Yong-Yong had a smartphone, they decided to use the SpacePad instead.


    Yong-Yong explained how the camera function was used. ¡°Watch this. Tap here, and you can take a photo.¡±


    He opened the camera app on the SpacePad and snapped a photo of Do-Jun reading the newspaper.


    ¡°Easy, right?¡±


    Byeol marveled at the image displayed on the screen and replied, ¡°Okie.¡±


    Sensing the commotion, Do-Jun looked up from his newspaper and watched the two children fiddling with the SpacePad. Hearing words like ¡°second place,¡± ¡°cookware,¡± and ¡°short ribs,¡± he quickly realized what they were up to as he recalled a poster he had seen on the bulletin board outside the Community Center.


    It was a local photo contest hosted by the Resident Autonomy Committee. It couldn¡¯t be anything else, considering that the prize list for the contest included a cookware set for second place and short ribs for the consolation prize.


    ***


    Choi Chil-Hyun, a first-year administrative civil servant, was on duty at the Bangbae 3-dong Community Center. His role was primarily clerical, managing general office tasks and coordinating with the Resident Autonomy Committee and the neighborhood leaders¡¯ group.


    The photo contest, ¡°Please capture our neighborhood!¡± had been suggested at a Resident Autonomy Committee meeting two weeks ago. It aimed to promote the neighborhood¡¯s development, funded by activity subsidies and self-raised funds. The grand prize¡ªa high-end refrigerator worth over two million won¡ªdrew a lot of interest.


    ¡°Chil-Hyun, someone¡¯s here to submit an entry!¡± called out one of the front desk staff members, responsible for assisting visitors.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    The administrative clerks provided the appropriate forms for the visitors.


    Choi Chil-Hyun walked over, only to see a little girl who looked no older than three or four.


    ¡°Wait, sorry, who¡¯s submitting the entry?¡± he asked the front desk staff member who called out to him.


    ¡°That adorable little lady over there,¡± the staff member said, pointing to the little girl. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Sorry?¡± Rubbing his eyes, Choi Chil-Hyun looked around. No adult was in sight, just the girl and a small dog.


    ¡°Hello, little lady, are you here to submit an entry?¡±


    ¡°Yup.¡±


    ¡°Where are your parents?¡±


    ¡°Daddy went to work. Mommy went to school.¡±


    Was it okay for such a young child to wander around alone? Choi Chil-Hyun scratched his head, wondering if she might be a lost child.


    Then, he heard another voice. ¡°Mister.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Where was it coming from?


    ¡°Hurry up and give us the entry form, please.¡±


    Looking down, he realized that it was the dog speaking.


    ¡°Man, I even skipped breakfast for this,¡± the dog muttered in a slightly annoyed tone for some reason.


    ¡°Y-you can talk?!¡± Choi Chil-Hyun asked in shock as he handed over the entry form to Byeol.


    The form required basic personal details and a photo submission. Byeol stared blankly at the spaces for name, address, and date of birth.


    ¡°Yong-Yong... help me...¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t even fill out a form? Give it here.¡±


    A few moments later, Yong-Yong returned the completed form to Choi Chil-Hyun. ¡°Here you go.¡±


    ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll be back with our pictures.¡± With that, Yong-Yong and Byeol walked out through the automatic sliding doors.


    Chil-Hyun glanced at the entry form Yong-Yong had submitted.


    ¡°Eight thousand years old...?¡±


    He sighed deeply.


    ***


    As Yong-Yong and Byeol walked down the street, a picture was taken every three seconds, only briefly pausing to review their work. Only one photo would be submitted to the contest, so the plan was to take as many as possible and choose the best one later.


    Deciding to take a quick snack break, Yong-Yong bought ice cream for Byeol, which she licked happily with a bright smile.


    ¡°Byeol, who do you like more, Mommy or Daddy?¡± Yong-Yong asked.


    ¡°I like both!¡±


    ¡°You have to pick just one.¡±


    Byeol froze as if her brain had shut down. She stopped eating her ice cream and thought deeply.


    ¡°Daddy,¡± she finally said.


    It was Do-Jun who brought her to Earth. Without him, she wouldn¡¯t have met Yoon-Hee, Yong-Yong, or Karsiel. She wouldn¡¯t have even tasted something as wonderful as taiyaki.


    A man nearly two meters tall, with strikingly good looks and wearing a white coat in the middle of summer, caught their attention. As he walked by, heads turned to follow him.


    ¡°Hakase.¡±


    Hearing Yong-Yong call, Hakase turned around. In each hand, he held a large plastic bag filled with red bean paste and flour¡ªingredients for making taiyaki. Every morning, he bought just enough for the day¡¯s sales.


    With a click, Yong-Yong captured a photo of Hakase turning to look back.


    ¡°Lord Izaas? What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°You look great. Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Yong-Yong answered.


    ¡°What is that in your hands?¡± Hakase asked, pointing at the SpacePad.


    ¡°Oh, this? It¡¯s braised short rib.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    Hakase tilted his head, not understanding Yong-Yong''s cryptic response.


    ***


    The following week, Choi Chil-Hyun reviewed the photos submitted for the contest. Although the contest was limited to residents of Bangbae 3-dong, a few photos stood out for their exceptional quality. Perhaps there were professional photographers among the residents.


    He was genuinely impressed by the level of skill on display.


    ¡°Wow, this one¡¯s amazing too.¡±


    The photo captured Bangbae Station¡¯s main intersection, bustling with office workers sporting their employee ID badges¡ªlikely during lunch hour. However, the focus was on one individual: a striking, foreign-looking young man holding grocery bags in both hands, seemingly just back from the store.


    The image contrasted the distinctively Korean street with the foreigner, who seemed perfectly integrated into the Korean urban setting.


    ¡°This one was the honorable mention, I see.¡±


    The winners were chosen through a vote by the local community council, the neighborhood chief, and staff.


    ¡°Hold on... Ah, that¡¯s a shame.¡±


    Only residents registered in Bangbae 3-dong were eligible for prizes, but the little girl and her dog, who had entered the contest with this picture, hadn¡¯t filled in their personal information properly, nor was there a contact number.


    ¡°Nothing I can do¡ªthey¡¯re disqualified,¡± Choi Chil-Hyun said.


    But he paused when he moved to the next photo.


    ¡°This one¡¯s the second place, huh?¡±


    It was a photo competing for the grand prize against works by professional photographers. Looking at it, Choi Chil-Hyun let out a small laugh.


    ¡°That¡¯s pretty funny.¡±


    ***


    Yoon-Hee was ecstatic.


    The cookware set she had seen advertised on the shopping channel a week ago was sitting on the kitchen counter. Even better, the cookware came as a prize for second place in the ¡°Please capture our neighborhood!¡± photo contest hosted by the Bangbae 3-dong Community Center.


    In other words, it was free.


    ¡°Seriously, you two are so... so...¡± Words failed Yoon-Hee as she hugged Yong-Yong and Byeol tightly.


    It wasn¡¯t just about winning the cookware. What touched her most was how much effort they had put in for her.


    ¡°M-Mommy, I can¡¯t bweathe...¡±


    ¡°Argh! Let go!¡±


    Just then, Do-Jun came home.


    Karsiel hurried out to greet him. ¡°Welcome home, Master.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s in your hand...?¡±


    Do-Jun was holding a box of braised short ribs. The aroma hit Yong-Yong, who wriggled out of Yoon-Hee¡¯s arms and dashed toward him.


    ¡°Oooooohhhh myyyyy gooooood!¡±


    Yong-Yong wagged his tail excitedly and grinned from ear to ear.


    ¡°Huff, huff. Welcome home, Master!¡±


    ***


    The following day, photos from the ¡°Please capture our neighborhood!¡± contest were displayed on the Bangbae 3-dong Community Center bulletin board. In addition to the first, second, and honorable mention awards, many other submissions were featured.


    As usual, Hakase had gone out to buy taiyaki ingredients for the day¡¯s business. He paused when he saw a crowd around the bulletin board and pushed through to take a look.


    ¡°Ugh. That¡¯s me.¡±


    The photo featured him holding black plastic bags in both hands, looking back at someone.


    The source of the photo was, of course, Yong-Yong.


    ¡°Looks like he didn¡¯t win,¡± Hakase murmured, recalling Yong-Yong¡¯s cryptic mention of braised short ribs.


    Then, his eyes landed on the second-place entry, which made him laugh involuntarily.


    The photo showed Yong-Yong holding the SpacePad and taking pictures while Byeol stood next to him.


    ¡°When did he even take this?¡±


    The name of the photographer was Lee Do-Jun.

 Chapter 136

    Chapter 136The Hunter¡¯s Bureau Special Training Room was an all-white space resembling a psychiatric unit and was slightly smaller than a school athletic field.


    At the center of the training room stood a man who was steadying his breathing. With sharp eyes, thick eyebrows, and distinct features, he had an appearance striking enough to rival that of a top movie star. This man was none other than Kang-Hyun.


    A robotic voice echoed from the speakers.


    [Commencing training.]


    Dressed in a simple blue training suit, Kang-Hyun slowly opened his eyes, bracing himself for the incoming assault. With a bang, a mana bullet was fired from an empty wall at a speed too fast to perceive with the naked eye.


    As he wore only a standard-issue suit instead of his usual S-rank gear, a direct hit would result in a fatal injury.


    With agile footwork, Kang-Hyun dodged the bullet effortlessly. By applying Release, he directed his mana beneath his feet, shifting his weight downward. He bent at precarious angles, almost falling but never toppling over, before springing into motion. This was his unique technique, Bending Tread.


    However, it wasn¡¯t just one bullet.


    Bang! Bang! Bang!


    The mana bullets poured out relentlessly, growing faster and stronger with each round.


    Young-Chul watched Kang-Hyun¡¯s movements intently through the transparent glass partition, accompanied by a team of twenty researchers specifically assigned to Kang-Hyun, who recorded real-time data and monitored the training session''s results.


    ¡°This is insane... He might clear the fiftieth stage,¡± murmured one researcher in awe.


    This training program, designed solely for Kang-Hyun, had started with just a single stage. Gradually, the number of bullets increased, as did their speed and power. By now, each bullet was equivalent to one fired from an S-rank Hunter¡¯s mana gun.


    ¡°He¡¯s dodging everything...¡± another researcher murmured.


    That wasn¡¯t all. At Kang-Hyun¡¯s request, they had added simulated S-rank monsters. Even while dodging the mana bullets, he defended against the monsters¡¯ attacks with his sword.


    The sight of him effortlessly countering strikes and slicing through enemies left the observers in shock.


    ¡°As expected, you don¡¯t become the best for no reason.¡±


    For ten years, Kang-Hyun had never relinquished his spot as the top-ranked Hunter. This ranking wasn¡¯t limited to Korea; it was globally recognized.


    He had surpassed athletes, actors, and celebrities to become a global superstar at the height of his fame.


    [Training complete.]


    Finally, the twenty-minute training session came to an end.


    Kang-Hyun wiped the sweat pouring from his face and exited the training room. Young-Chul handed him a dry towel, his gaze reflecting both gratitude and admiration.


    ¡°Good work, Kang-Hyun.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, sir.¡±


    For ten years, Kang-Hyun had never shown laziness or complacency, and Young-Chul knew very well the reason behind his relentless dedication.


    ¡°You still haven¡¯t overcome the trauma, have you?¡± he asked.


    At the mention of trauma, Kang-Hyun smiled bitterly.


    Three years ago, the most horrifying event in Hunter history occurred in Busan¡ªthe appearance of Masalis, the Dragon. At that time, Kang-Hyun was the commander leading the raid on Masalis.


    ¡°I¡¯m working on it, but I¡¯ll never forget,¡± Kang-Hyun said.


    He wasn¡¯t talking about being angry at the dragon, but at his own weakness that led three S-rank Hunters to perish under Masalis¡¯ Breath. Even now, no one knew when another dragon would appear. If that day were to come, Kang-Hyun was determined to protect those he held dear and to ensure such a tragedy would never happen again.


    ¡°I heard that two dragons appeared recently. Any news on their whereabouts?¡± he asked Young-Chul.


    ¡°They haven¡¯t been spotted since, which is very good for us.¡±


    Kang-Hyun was referring to the incident from several months ago, during the raid of the S-rank Fissure at Umyeonsan Mountain. Two dragons had suddenly appeared in Bangbae-dong and fought each other before disappearing back into the Fissure.


    Since then, there had been no further sightings.[1]


    ¡°Sir, Masalis was number ten,¡± Kang-Hyun said thoughtfully.


    The number ¡°10¡± etched into its head was unforgettable. The dragon was ferocious, monstrous, and immensely powerful.


    ¡°The two dragons in Bangbae-dong were numbers one and nine.¡±


    Analyzing the footage revealed that the lower the number, the greater the power of the dragon. While Masalis¡¯ wave level was under three thousand, the dragons in Bangbae-dong couldn¡¯t even be measured.


    ¡°Honestly, sir... I don¡¯t think I can beat them.¡± Kang-Hyun gritted his teeth.


    Despite all his training and growth, the power of the numbers one and nine was unimaginable, far beyond his reach. Although the difference between their numbers may have seemed small, the gap in power was overwhelming.


    ¡°Right. If those two appear together, even Supervisor Lee wouldn¡¯t be able to do much.¡±


    Kang-Hyun nodded deeply, agreeing.


    ***


    The next day, a neatly-dressed Kang-Hyun made his way to Do-Jun¡¯s house.


    Behemoth had just finished clearing the first floor of the Core and was preparing to advance to the second floor. Before proceeding, Do-Jun called him over to provide a strategy guide and share some key precautions.


    Kang-Hyun was surprised when he spotted a Western man selling taiyaki on the street despite the sweltering summer heat. Not only taiyaki, but also slushies to cool off. It felt strange that there would be a taiyaki stand in the hot summer, yet there were quite a few customers.


    ¡°Must be really good,¡± Kang-Hyun muttered.


    Feeling nostalgic, he decided to buy some and approached the vendor. As he got closer, he was surprised by how striking he appeared. The man was tall, towering at least ten centimeters above Kang-Hyun, who, by the way, wasn¡¯t a short person by any means.


    ¡°Hello,¡± he greeted the vendor.


    ¡°How many do you want?¡± Hakase asked, casually grabbing a fish bun with his gloved hand.


    Though taken aback by the informal tone, Kang-Hyun chalked it up to the man being a foreigner.


    ¡°Nine, please.¡±


    ¡°Three thousand won. Cash only.¡±


    ¡°Ah, okay...¡±


    Kang-Hyun handed over the money and received a paper bag filled with steaming taiyaki.


    He figured it would be polite to bring snacks when visiting someone¡¯s home, and hot taiyaki being sold in summer was certainly unique.


    ¡°Thank you, I hope you sell lots.¡±


    ¡°Come back for more if you like them,¡± Hakase said with a big yawn as he removed his gloves and fanned himself, revealing the number five etched on his collarbone. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ***


    This was Kang-Hyun¡¯s first visit to Do-Jun¡¯s home¡ªunit 301 of Changshin Villa.


    What kind of atmosphere would it have? With a mix of curiosity and excitement, he knocked on the door cautiously. Surely, Do-Jun would answer the door in a moment.


    He had heard from Young-Chul, who had visited once before, that it was a simple and ordinary home, but he still wanted to see for himself.


    Finally, the door to Do-Jun¡¯s home opened.


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    But the one greeting Kang-Hyun wasn¡¯t Do-Jun. Nor was it his daughter, Yoon-Hee.


    Instead, it was... a dog?


    No, it definitely wasn¡¯t a dog. This was some kind of monster. Even with his ten years of experience in Fissures, Kang-Hyun couldn¡¯t determine exactly what type of monster it was.


    Kang-Hyun wondered if it was a Mad Dog but immediately dismissed the idea. Mad Dogs didn¡¯t have wings. Moreover, they had a single horn on their heads, but this red-skinned creature had two.


    ¡°Sorry, Mister. We already have our paper guy,¡± the monster spoke in fluent Korean.


    Kang-Hyun instinctively held his breath, wondering if he was dreaming, but he quickly reminded himself that what mattered now was his plan with Do-Jun.


    ¡°I¡¯m not a paperboy. I¡¯m Lee Kang-Hyun from Behemoth Guild. I was invited by Supervisor Lee Do-Jun. Is he in?¡±


    ¡°Hmm... that sounds a bit suspicious¡ª¡± Yong-Yong stopped abruptly as he caught sight of the bag of taiyaki in Kang-Hyun¡¯s hand.


    ***


    Karsiel filled a glass with iced tea powder and hot water, stirring it well before adding some ice. She placed the glass in front of Kang-Hyun, offering it as a gesture of hospitality. After all, he was Do-Jun¡¯s guest.


    ¡°Please wait a moment. Master has stepped out briefly to visit the store,¡± she said.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Kang-Hyun replied, accepting the iced tea with a slightly puzzled tone.


    He thought Do-Jun lived alone with his daughter. Yet, it seemed there were more residents than he had expected.


    The tea was refreshingly sweet, especially in the hot weather. Still, something about the situation nagged at Kang-Hyun.


    However, what he witnessed next was something he could hardly believe.


    Karsiel shrank, and in just a matter of seconds, her human shape vanished as she transformed into a miniature dragon, similar to Yong-Yong. However, her scales were light brown, and her expression had a stern demeanor.


    She jumped onto the couch, curled up into a ball, and closed her eyes to nap. It seemed like she had only briefly gotten up to serve tea to the guest.


    Next to her, Yong-Yong was happily munching on the taiyaki. The crispy bread filled with sweet red bean paste seemed to be a treat he never got tired of.


    Suddenly, Yong-Yong¡¯s and Kang-Hyun¡¯s eyes met.


    Caught mid-bite with the third fish-shaped bun in his mouth, Yong-Yong paused and said, ¡°C-can I help you?¡±


    Under Kang-Hyun¡¯s intense gaze, Yong-Yong stopped eating and placed the taiyaki back into the bag.


    Was the man about to scold him for eating too much?


    To Yong-Yong¡¯s surprise, Kang-Hyun picked him up.


    ¡°Ahhh! Put me down! The only person allowed to pick me up is my master!¡± Yong-Yong struggled for a moment before sighing in resignation.


    Why did humans always feel the need to lift him?


    Kang-Hyun inspected the mark on Yong-Yong¡¯s forehead.


    One.


    Then he turned his gaze to Karsiel, asleep on the couch.


    Nine.


    ¡°No way...¡±


    He gasped, recalling the footage of two dragons that had appeared in Bangbae-dong.


    ***


    Do-Jun returned home from his short grocery run for coffee and dinner ingredients.


    ¡°Sorry, did I keep you waiting?¡± he asked, setting the bags on the kitchen counter.


    Kang-Hyun sat stiffly at the dining table. Do-Jun hadn¡¯t expected Kang-Hyun to arrive at his apartment in less than twenty minutes since his call.


    ¡°No, not at all. I¡¯m grateful to be invited to your home,¡± Kang-Hyun replied, bowing slightly.


    Do-Jun tilted his head slightly, noticing Kang-Hyun¡¯s unusually tense demeanor. Then, his gaze shifted to the couch, where the two miniature dragons were napping side by side.


    ¡°Um, Supervisor Lee...¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    Kang-Hyun¡¯s hands trembled as he pointed at Yong-Yong and Karsiel. ¡°T-they d-dragons...¡±


    Two dragons. Sleeping on the couch.


    ¡°Oh.¡± Finally, Do-Jun understood why Kang-Hyun seemed so alarmed.


    With a warm smile, he said, ¡°Aren¡¯t they cute?¡±


    1. We are not sure why they didn¡¯t mention the Busan Wyvern Lord incident when the same two dragons were sighted again. Maybe they are just talking about Seoul. ?

 Chapter 137

    Chapter 137It was a dull, rainy day.


    Byeol woke up slowly after 10 AM and was glued to the balcony window like a piece of gum, watching the scenery outside. On rainy days, the sky was dark, and the familiar buildings were hidden behind the fog. What mattered most to Byeol, though, was that she couldn¡¯t go out to play when it rained.


    ¡°I was supposed to go to the store today...¡± she said dejectedly.


    At her feet lay a coin purse in the shape of a chick. The chick¡¯s belly was full and bulged, thanks to the allowance she had diligently saved.


    But what was the use? It was raining outside.


    Byeol decided the gloomy sky was because the Sun hadn¡¯t risen, though in reality, it was merely obscured by the rain clouds.


    ¡°The Sun is sweeping in. If you work hard like the Sun, you need west.¡±


    Just then, her stomach let out a thunderous growl. To Byeol, this was a signal for rescue. She needed food, but Yong-Yong was still fast asleep.


    ¡°I¡¯m not hungwy. I am fine,¡± she said to herself, even as her stomach rumbled again, this time even louder.


    Perhaps she was thinking about food a bit too much. She gazed longingly at the store below. It had many delicious items, and images of snacks danced in her mind.


    She could no longer deny it.


    ¡°Actually... I am hungwy...¡±


    ***


    Yong-Yong scratched his head with a front paw, staring intently at the rice cooker in front of him.


    ¡°Man... How did this work again?¡±


    He opened the lid, pressed the cook button, and fiddled with it in various ways.


    Unfortunately, Karsiel had gone to the Academy with Yoon-Hee today. Why did it have to be today, of all days?


    There was no rice. No side dishes.


    ¡°Byeol, you must be really hungry. Just hold on a little longer,¡± Yong-Yong said.


    Byeol froze in terror as a vivid memory of Yong-Yong¡¯s kimchi jjigae flashed in her mind¡ªa dish so dreadful she never wanted to eat it again.


    ¡°Nope,¡± she said, shaking her head.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not hungwy at all. I ate a lot last night.¡±


    At that moment, another loud rumble echoed from Byeol¡¯s stomach. Flustered, she quickly covered her belly with both hands, but it did little to suppress the sound.


    Grrrrooowl!


    ¡°W-what¡¯s that sound? Where is it coming fwom?¡± she said casually, trying to cover up the betraying sounds.


    Yong-Yong chuckled as if thoroughly amused and turned back to inspect the rice cooker again. No matter how much he examined it, he couldn¡¯t remember how to cook rice.


    ¡°Hmmm.¡±


    At times like this, there was always the internet. The best option would have been to ask Yoon-Hee, but since she was likely in class, he didn¡¯t want to bother her.


    Grabbing the SpacePad, he typed ¡°how two use rise coker¡± into the search bar. Thanks to the convenience of modern technology, even his typos were corrected, and the search for ¡°how to use a rice cooker¡± began.


    Soon, Yong-Yong was reading a blog post with illustrations that guided users on the proper use of the rice cooker.


    ¡°Hey, everyone! Today, we¡¯ll be learning how to use a rice cooker.


    ¡°First, open the lid of the rice cooker.¡±


    Yong-Yong followed the steps and opened the lid as directed.


    ¡°Second, wash the amount of rice you¡¯ll need.¡±


    He unzipped the bag of rice.


    ¡°How much do I need?¡±


    Deciding more was better, he scooped enough to fill the rice cooker to the brim. After all, they were going to eat a lot.


    Following the pictures, he poured the rice into a basket and began rinsing it under running water. As the water turned cloudy, Yong-Yong smiled proudly.


    ¡°Yong-Yong¡¯s good at this!¡±


    Fascinated by the process, Byeol drew closer and watched intently. Watching Yong-Yong¡¯s method reminded her of how Yoon-Hee prepared rice, and a smile spread across her face.


    ¡°I am hungwy!¡±


    ¡°Delicious food coming right up, just give me two minutes!¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡±


    Clearly in a good mood, Byeol started humming a tune, mostly a theme song from a children¡¯s cartoon.


    ¡°After rinsing twice, pour the rice into the rice cooker.¡±


    Yong-Yong poured the rice into the cooker, filling it to the brim.


    ¡°Next, add an appropriate amount of water.


    ¡°The next steps are quite tricky, so this is when you call your mom. She¡¯ll take care of everything! Enjoy your meal.¡±


    Yong-Yong felt a deep sense of betrayal. No wonder the blog post had over eight hundred comments.


    Comments (812)


    ¦éCollegeKidInSinchon: What if my mom¡¯s in Busan?


    ¦éOP: Politely ask her to come over, haha.


    ¦éCollegeKidInSinchon: fml.


    Yong-Yong facepalmed with his paw and sighed deeply, typing furiously into the SpaceTab.


    ¦éxXSupremeYongYongXx: Don¡¯t liv like dat.


    After much thought, he tried to think of a ¡°mom¡± he could call. He recalled the several ¡°moms¡± Byeol had¡ªsurely all of them could cook. However, he couldn¡¯t call any of them since the only phone number he remembered was Yoon-Hee¡¯s.


    ¡°Ah!¡± He had an idea.


    ***


    A girl with short pink hair, dressed in a black maid uniform with white frills, appeared out of thin air. The number ¡°8¡± was visible on her thigh just above her knee-length skirt.


    She was the eighth dragon, Anne.


    Anne washed the rice that Yong-Yong had prepared with practiced ease, her movements nearly identical to Yoon-Hee¡¯s. She filled the rice cooker with only half of what Yong-Yong had taken out, spread her hand over the rice, and poured water until it just covered the back of her hand.


    ¡°Water should just slightly cover your hand,¡± she explained as she pressed the cook button.


    Yong-Yong clapped his tiny paws and said, ¡°You¡¯re worthy of being Byeol¡¯s mom!¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡± Anne tilted her head, confused.


    ¡°So, Lord Izaas, this is your new nest,¡± she commented.


    ¡°Yep. What do you think?¡±


    Anne looked around. It was much smaller than a typical dragon¡¯s nest, but the cozy atmosphere gave it a warm, homely feel.


    ¡°It feels... happy.¡±


    ¡°Right?¡± Yong-Yong nodded, satisfied.


    ¡°But this child...¡± Anne¡¯s gaze fell on Byeol, sensing an energy that wasn¡¯t human. It was the same energy as the Core.


    ¡°Byeol is my baby sister.¡±


    ¡°I see. Hello, I¡¯m Anne,¡± she said, smiling as she extended her hand to Byeol.


    ¡°Ang?¡± Byeol struggled with the pronunciation, but Anne didn¡¯t seem to mind.


    ¡°While the rice cooks, I¡¯ll find some side dishes,¡± she said.


    ¡°Do you have money?¡± Yong-Yong asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have any Earth currency, but I don¡¯t need any.¡±


    With a crackle, a Fissure to the Core opened before her.


    ***


    The Core¡¯s lake was situated at the lowest point of the first floor. Gentle ripples danced across the clear, serene water, allowing the bottom to be seen from the surface.


    Anne retrieved a fishing rod, infused it with mana, and soon after, a thin, translucent thread of mana formed at the tip of the rod. With practiced ease, she began to fish.


    ¡°Have you been here before?¡± Yong-Yong asked.


    ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve come here many times with you in the past.¡±


    ¡°Hm.¡±


    While conversing with Anne, Yong-Yong¡¯s gaze kept wandering toward Byeol.


    Since they arrived at the Core, the only thing Byeol kept saying was, ¡°Please don¡¯t make me eat fish. I beg of you.¡± She had been whining to Anne nonstop, but Anne remained unfazed and brought them to the lake to catch some fish.


    Seemingly given in, Byeol was staging a one-person roleplay in protest, constantly moving around to play the multiple parts.


    ¡°Oh, no! Fish is not something you eat!¡±


    Byeol stood up, moved to the other side, and sat down again. Then, an imaginary opponent countered, ¡°No, no. I think fish might be edible?¡±


    With furrowed brows, she sternly lectured the ¡°opponent.¡± ¡°Buddy, are you cwazy? How could you eat that? Idiot!¡±


    ¡°Hey! No need to call me names!¡±


    ¡°Y-you¡¯re right, I apowogise.¡±


    Watching Byeol¡¯s ¡°split personality¡± unfold, Yong-Yong nudged Anne¡¯s side with his paw. He was visibly uneasy and swallowed nervously.


    Yong-Yong cautiously made a suggestion. ¡°How about we change the menu? I think you might have broken Byeol.¡±


    Anne smiled and gestured for Byeol to come closer.


    ¡°Byeol, could you come here for a moment?¡±


    Startled, Byeol stopped her roleplay and approached Anne.


    ¡°You don¡¯t like fish?¡± Anne asked.


    ¡°I... don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    Byeol drooped her head and answered in a mosquito-like voice. ¡°It¡¯s not tasty...¡±


    ¡°If it tasted good, would you eat it?¡±


    ¡°Yes...¡±


    Anne smiled warmly and said, ¡°Then just leave it to me.¡±


    ***


    A sizzling sound filled the air as the fish, called Ilaio, fried to a crisp golden brown in the pan. Ilaio was a species of blue-backed fish, slightly larger than an adult man¡¯s palm, native to the lake on the first floor of the Core. Its savory yet tender texture made it a favorite among the first-floor residents.


    ¡°Alright, it¡¯s ready.¡±


    Anne laid out the meal: steaming white rice, a perfectly grilled Ilaio, and soy sauce. Although the side dishes were sparse, the aroma alone was enough to whet anyone¡¯s appetite.


    Well, almost anyone. Byeol remained reluctant.


    Anne deboned the fish, dipped the flesh lightly in soy sauce, and placed it on Yong-Yong¡¯s rice.


    ¡°Give it a try, Lord Izaas.¡±


    Yong-Yong took a bite of the fish and rice. The fluffy grains of rice rolled around in his mouth, blending with the savory richness of the fish and the salty tang of the soy sauce. His eyes widened, and he turned to Anne.


    ¡°Wow! You¡¯re an amazing cook!¡± he remarked.


    ¡°Eat as much as you like. I¡¯ll keep deboning it for you.¡±


    Byeol was intrigued as she watched Yong-Yong devour the meal. Noticing this, Anne smiled, scooped some rice, and placed a piece of fish on top. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Whoosh.¡± Anne mimicked the sound of an airplane as she guided the spoon toward Byeol¡¯s mouth.


    Byeol leaned back.


    ¡°You¡¯re not eating? Then I¡¯ll have to eat it myself.¡± Anne brought the spoon closer to her mouth.


    At this, Byeol flinched and blurted out, ¡°I want it!¡±


    Anne chuckled, then made the spoon ¡°fly¡± playfully back and forth before landing in Byeol¡¯s mouth.


    With each bite, a smile crept across Byeol¡¯s face.


    After swallowing, she exclaimed, ¡°It¡¯s tasty!¡±


    ***


    After finishing their meal, Do-Jun took the kids to the store across the street.


    It had been raining heavily earlier, so they shared a large umbrella, which he folded neatly and placed in a corner upon arrival.


    The store¡¯s elderly owner smiled warmly as Yong-Yong and Byeol entered. ¡°Hoho, I knew you would come. I¡¯m glad I waited.¡±


    For some reason, her day didn¡¯t feel complete without seeing the two of them.


    ¡°Yep! Today¡¯s my shopping day!¡±


    Byeol proudly showed off her chick-shaped coin purse to the owner.


    ¡°Did you bring a lot of money, Byeol?¡± the owner asked, though she was prepared to let Byeol have whatever she wanted, even if she didn¡¯t have enough money.


    Meanwhile, Yong-Yong cautiously approached the owner and whispered, ¡°Granny, what¡¯s my tab at?¡±


    Even without money, Yong-Yong occasionally visited the store and ran up a tab, something he kept a secret from Do-Jun.


    The owner glanced at Do-Jun before whispering back to Yong-Yong, ¡°It¡¯s all paid off. Someone cleared it yesterday.¡±


    ¡°What...?¡±


    While the kids picked out their snacks, Do-Jun took a moment to enjoy the scenery outside. The rain had stopped as if it had never fallen, and the dark clouds had drifted far away. Tomorrow, the sun will be back on duty right on schedule.