"Examiner. You're really okay, right? If your body feels uncomfortable at all, immediately..."

"Um, you know that's the hundredth time you've said that to the examiner, right?"

Lee Hyunwoo, you were counting all of that individually too? Amazing. Anyway, just as he said, Suhyeon's worrying was stubbornly continuing.

She definitely kept coming for hospital visits and roughly knew my physical condition. Having rested for over a week, there should be absolutely no problem moving now. Anyone watching would think I'm a one or two-year-old child.

"Right, Suhyeon. I'm really fine, so stop now. If you keep doing that, it puts Hana in an awkward position."

It wasn't empty talk. Actually, Kang Hana had been watching this side continuously since before taking the portal. If Suhyeon keeps this up, she might even apologize profusely saying "Sorry!"

It's not even the Academy and not even a weekday, so why are we suddenly doing this? Why is Suhyeon constantly worrying about me and Kang Hana watching nervously? The reason was none other than Magic Tower Clan-related work.

"I'm really sorry about this, Examiner Baek Seojin. But since becoming a clan-affiliated team, there hasn't been any notable activity, so there was no choice. Please help with just one dungeon this weekend. I hope you'll understand."

Shortly after ending my long hospital life and returning to the Academy. Magic Tower Clan's master, Kang Inbeom, came to me with a face full of apologetic feelings and said that. It seemed he was quite bothered by pushing clan work immediately after my return.

Actually, this side didn't mind that request at all. Rather, I felt sorry for not paying attention after joining the clan.

About a month had passed since I joined Magic Tower Clan and the team was decided. But for various reasons, I hadn't done any clan activities.

Academy examinations, Gate incidents and monster upheavals. Now even fighting Elders - honestly, it couldn't be helped.

"Especially with the Gate incident and monster upheaval, the government is pressing all clans to increase dungeon clearing activities much more..."

To meet the government-designated quota, all teams must be mobilized. Not just our team, but all other off-duty personnel must be deployed too. Given the situation, please understand - that was Kang Inbeom's explanation.

What could I say there? Could I refuse? I'm a Magic Tower Clan member. When the clan master comes not with orders but requests, saying "I don't want to" makes you crazy. Or else it's Irina's madness... no. Even that Irina said she works as much as she receives, right?

"So I picked the easiest dungeon to clear. In Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province..."

"No, Clan Master."

I'm always grateful for the consideration for my convenience. It's natural to care whether my body might still not be normal.

But the current situation isn't that leisurely. If you lie in the infirmary saying you're a bit scraped, you're heading straight to a coffin. You could say it's time to move even if you bleed a bit and get scraped.

"If we're going to do clan activities anyway, I'd prefer a somewhat difficult dungeon rather than an easy place. Preferably a B-rank dungeon."

"B-rank? These days B-rank isn't really B-rank, will you really be okay?"

At Kang Inbeom's words, I nodded meaning of course. First, Kang Hana, who's responsible for the team's firepower, is a decent B-rank ability user. Plus Yoo Dasom also has quite a bit of practical experience, so we should be able to handle it.

But Kang Inbeom's worry was elsewhere.

"Well, I heard that Lee Hyunwoo student is still Bronze by Academy standards."

"If you put it that way, Yoo Dasom is also Bronze."

"But Yoo Dasom was originally Gold rank and dropped by choice."

"You don't need to worry. I'll guarantee Lee Hyunwoo's skills."

When someone who fights toe-to-toe with Elders says he'll guarantee it, Kang Inbeom also immediately closed his mouth. Rather, since I even gave a guarantee, he seemed to show curiosity about Lee Hyunwoo.

"...I understand. Then, hmm. There was news of a B-rank dungeon occurring in Changwon. This Saturday, going there and clearing it should work."

That's how we came out to use the portal this Saturday morning. After meeting with team members and brief greetings, we immediately took the portal to Gyeongnam.

*

"Welcome, everyone. We've been waiting."

As we stepped outside, a Magic Tower Clan dispatcher who had been waiting greeted us. Next to him stood two people in slightly different attire, who appeared to be government-affiliated ability users. Probably people to confirm and report on our dungeon clearing.

"Since you said time is tight, let's move immediately. You requested a B-rank dungeon, correct?"

When I nodded, the dispatcher confirmed and wrote something on documents. It seemed they had already been briefed about our personnel, as there were no questions.

"Confirmed. Please follow me. It takes about 30 minutes by vehicle to near the dungeon."

Following the dispatcher away from the portal. Coming outside, I saw a tremendous number of people around. At first glance, it feels like this is some kind of airport.

"There are so many people."

Lee Hyunwoo, walking behind, exclaims and says that. Then Kang Hana, who was saying it's natural, also goes "Huh?" and tilts her head.

"Were there this many portal users? It seems excessively many."

"Ah. About that."

The answer was given by the Magic Tower Clan dispatcher walking ahead.

"Wasn't there chaos with the Gate incident recently? After that, monster upheaval overlapped too. The anxiety that dungeons might also become chaotic if we don't keep clearing them has grown."

"Hasn't there been no reports of problems with dungeons themselves yet?"

"That's true, but human psychology can't be helped. People always assume the worst. And that naturally affects the government too."

And that government told all clans to mobilize as many personnel as possible to organize dungeons. If they don't process them immediately as they appear, they'll impose penalties. Since those in crisis consciousness came out like that, clans had no choice - that was the conclusion.

"Then all those people over there are..."

"Yes. They're ability users dispatched from various other clans. Most will probably enter dungeon subjugation."

So it wasn't just us mobilized on weekends. Given the situation, it feels like they declared a near-emergency mobilization order. Thanks to that, my condition, which was slightly negative about weekend work, completely improved.

If it's suffering I'm doing alone, I'd be resentful with hands and feet trembling with tears. But if that suffering turns out to be something everyone else is doing too? I'd immediately smile and say let's all suffer together with fighting spirit.

"Even though so many come, the actual dungeon subjugation scale is similar to before."

"Yes? Why?"

"Don't you know? After the monster upheaval, organizing at least twice the previous operational numbers has become standard. There are many people, but it's actually similar."

Is it because they can't quickly raise the level yet, so they're urgently pushing with numbers? It's not a wrong method. However, this can't be called a perfect solution.

A stopgap measure. Yeah, it's exactly that level.

Pushing with numbers has limits. Human resources are the most precious thing in the world. If this gets a bit more serious, there will be numerous casualties.

"The vehicle is coming over there."

As expected, a vehicle prepared by Magic Tower Clan stops in front of us. We got in and headed to the location with today's activity venue dungeon.

"Today's dungeon, as you know, is B-rank and the internal environment has nothing special. However, most monsters inside are Dire Wolves, and the boss is the same creature."

"Dire Wolves are very troublesome monsters."

Yoo Dasom agrees with Kang Hana's words by nodding.

"Dire Wolves are those big wolf monsters, right?"

"Yes, that's right. Junior."

"But what does very troublesome mean?"

"Um, junior? Didn't you attend lectures? Dire Wolves should have appeared in lectures at least once."

Then Lee Hyunwoo laughs "haha!" and avoids answering.

Understandable. He probably just sat there without concentrating on lectures. I heard he's the type who focuses only on physical work and has no interest in theory.

Hard-working protagonist types are always one of two: strong in theory too, or weak in theory.

"They're pack-active creatures with amazing cohesion. Each individual's strength isn't that great, but moving as a pack makes them very dangerous. Think of them as well-coordinated gears."

"Plus the boss is cunning, so it's among the troublesome ones in B-rank monsters."

"I've heard that too. The danger level of a single creature is low, but high as a whole."

What? Even Suhyeon knows well, but only Lee Hyunwoo really didn't know. Hey you. No matter how strong you are in practicals, being terrible at theory makes you bottom-tier at the Academy. I think I need to make him study when we get back.

I glanced outside. An extremely ordinary landscape entered my view. Above it, I could see the phrase "Welcome to Changwon."

"..."

What is this. This sudden ominous feeling. Strangely, I have a bad feeling. Sad premonitions are never wrong.

'Is something going to happen in the dungeon?'

I should definitely focus more and observe the situation when we enter the dungeon. Telling myself that, I lightly clenched my fist.

Tap—

At that moment, something lightly bumps into my hand and passes by. Looking back, one pure white hand is positioned next to my hand.

"Suhyeon?"

"Your expression looked bad. Is something wrong?"

"No. Nothing at all."

"If you say so, that's a relief."

Um, Suhyeon. You're subtly holding my hand while saying that.

I thought about mentioning that part but decided to let it go. Thanks to the warmth felt from her hand, the ominous feeling subsided a little.

The warmth transmitted from Suhyeon wasn't too bad.