“Hmm.”

Zeke glanced at his wristwatch.

Five minutes to midnight.

It had been over seven hours since Nam Yein’s team entered the Dark Pit for their initiation trial.

In front of the dungeon’s massive, gaping entrance lay a campfire and a makeshift table of jagged stone and warped planks—both materials harvested from the demon realm.

On top of the table sat half-eaten food and drinks, originally prepared for the new recruits’ welcome feast.

When the four young novices had first descended into the dungeon, the guild had passed the time eating and laughing like it was an unexpected holiday. That lasted for three hours.

By the fourth hour, tension had crept in.

By the fifth, faces grew grim.

And now, thirty minutes before midnight, not a soul remained seated at the table. Every member of All Around stood behind Zeke, staring anxiously at the dungeon’s black maw.

“They couldn’t have been wiped out by monsters, could they?” someone muttered.

“Come on. Every academy teaches rookies the first rule—learn to gauge the difference between your ability and a monster’s. Kids who actually won HAUT wouldn’t be dumb enough to forget that.”

“But they’re from Gwangcheon Academy. That dump.”

At once, a chill swept through the gathered members.

Moments later, another spoke up.

“But if they don’t make it out… then tomorrow’s headlines will be…”

A shadow crossed several faces as the same thought surfaced in their minds:

[All Around Accused of Sending HAUT Champions to Their Deaths in Initiation Trial]

“…No, no. That can’t be it. Maybe they realized it was too much but don’t want to show weakness, so they’re just stalling for time.”

“Right. The Dark Pit is an independent dungeon. Once you clear monsters, they don’t respawn. That’s probably it.”

But that explanation only conjured an even darker headline:

[All Around Blamed for Trapping Young Recruits in Inescapable Dungeon]

“Don’t worry.”

It was Abel, who had been standing at the front, his gaze fixed on the entrance.

“They’re not dead.”

“And how can you be so sure, Abel?” asked one of the senior members.

Abel turned, flashing a grin.

“Because their levels are over fifty.”

A stunned silence followed.

“…Abel, are you sleep-deprived?”

“Level fifty? For hunter aspirants? Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Not everyone’s born gifted like you. Even you weren’t level forty when you were still a trainee.”

“You really can’t understand what you haven’t experienced, huh.” Abel only smiled wider.

“Remember the survival phase in the HAUT trials?”

“Of course.”

“What about it?”

“They lasted all the way to Zone 5.”

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

“And that’s not all. In sparring matches, they toyed with other academies’ students. Even the Crystal kids couldn’t touch them. And when Black Hound captured them? They came out unharmed. Sure, maybe Black Hound didn’t go all out—but you can’t survive that without high levels. And one more thing—” Abel’s grin sharpened.

“Among them, one kid has eyes and a brain as sharp as a professional hunter’s. He would’ve figured out the Dark Pit’s quirks and how to counter them in no time.”

“Let’s say you’re right.”

A short-haired woman crossed her arms.

“Then it makes even less sense. Why are they still inside?”

“My guess? They already collected the materials and decided to stay till midnight grinding monsters. Independent dungeon, full of rare mobs and resources. Hard to resist.”

“…What?”

“You can’t be serious.”

And then—

“There!!”

“They’re out!”

Cheers erupted as four young figures appeared at the rim of the pit.

“…11:59,” Zeke murmured, checking his watch again. His gaze locked on Nam Yein.

“…Yein. Are you all right?”

He hadn’t meant to ask, but the boy’s face alone betrayed a bone-deep fatigue.

“Yes… I’m just tired. My body’s fine.”

“Good. Then… did you bring what we asked?”

Without a word, Yein reached into his inventory.

Everyone leaned forward.

As the shimmering items solidified into their true forms, gasps broke out.

A smooth, pitch-black chunk of obsidian-like Black Quartz.

A vial of tar-thick Black Springwater.

And the twisted roots of Blackwater Root, often used to bind even awakened ones.

All three sat in Yein’s hands.

“Excellent.”

For the first time that night, Zeke’s stern face eased into a smile.

“With this, you four are true members of All Around. No one will dismiss you again for being too young or not yet graduated.”

He turned back to the crowd.

“Right?”

[Of course!!]

Every member’s voice rose in unison.

Zeke nodded, then addressed the recruits again.

“Nam Yein. Seo Yui. Chen Meiling. Lumina Cueva. Welcome to All Around.”

The declaration was met with thunderous applause and cheers.

“Now, it’s too late tonight, so let’s call it. If I had my way, I’d host a second round on my own dime—but dragging underage recruits to a drinking party until dawn isn’t exactly wise.”

“Guildmaster, maybe you’re just stingy!”

“Yeah, hand us your card and you can go home!”

“The two who just spoke—be at HQ by seven sharp tomorrow. I have a special quest for you.”

Laughter broke out among the guild members.

Moments later, Yein’s team climbed into Abel’s car.

“By the way, Yein.”

Abel glanced sideways from the driver’s seat.

“Yes, Senior Abel?”

“No judgment, and I won’t breathe a word to anyone else. But why did you only come out with a single minute to spare?”

“…Because I wanted to raise our levels.”

“…What?”

Abel blinked, stunned by the answer, his eyes fixed on Yein’s weary face.

“It was only for less than ten seconds, but back when Yang Len captured us, I fought him directly. That moment made it painfully clear. Against a true powerhouse, we’re nothing but insects. That’s why, even after collecting the materials, I couldn’t just leave the dungeon. I wanted—even if only a little—to get stronger, faster. I’m sorry. I forgot so many people were waiting outside.”

“…I see. All right. I understand.”

Abel smiled.

“Let’s go together next time. I’ll show you dungeons that are perfect for leveling up.”

He started the engine as he spoke.

“Thank you so much.”

“Of course.”

As he drove, Abel thought to himself:

With kids like these, they’ll soon be standing at the same line as me. I’ll need to keep running so I don’t fall behind and become the one mocked.

A surge of motivation swelled in his chest, and he began planning which dungeons he’d take his juniors to.

[Wow. Abel! This is my first time seeing him in person. He’s seriously handsome.]

The voice echoing in my head made me clench my jaw.

If I relaxed for even a moment, I’d scowl.

Ever since meeting Choi Yuri in the dungeon, I’d been stuck listening to this nonstop chatter.

Normally, if someone’s ignored, they shut up. Not her. Whether I responded or not, she kept rambling for hours.

In a way, I was proud of myself.

Despite having this living noise-pollution generator stuck to me—whether beside me or hovering overhead, I couldn’t tell since she was invisible—I still fought through six hours in the dungeon.

Impressive. Truly impressive.

My mental strength.

When I meet Lee Hanye, I’m dumping her on her no matter what.

If I keep her around, I’ll die of stress before I ever find a way back to my world.

“You’re late.”

At All Around’s base.

The one waiting to escort us back to the safehouse was Captain Lee Sun.

“What kept you this late?”

“We stayed in the dungeon to hunt.”

“I heard today was supposed to be your welcome party.”

“Yes. The party included the initiation trial inside the dungeon.”

“…Even All Around does that?”

He looked like he’d just remembered something absurd.

“It wasn’t hazing. We just had to go in and gather materials as a team.”

“And did you succeed?”

Every conversation with Lee Sun felt like an interrogation.

Maybe it was the job.

“Yes.”

“I see. Next time, if you expect to be this late, call sooner. The longer you’re unaccounted for, the greater the risk you’re in danger. Don’t let your guard down just because All Around is nearby.”

And what exactly could the Peacekeeping forces do that All Around couldn’t?

The words rose to my throat but I swallowed them back.

As much as I hated to admit it, to the Mayor and the peacekeeping forces, our team—and especially me—were now vital assets.

Good thing I never shared the method of making spirit stones.

Now that the offensive against Forward had begun, I was someone they absolutely couldn’t afford to lose.

After that, Lee Sun dropped us at the safehouse and immediately left.

The first thing I did upon returning was head straight to my private room.

“Choi Yuri.”

At my call, the woman appeared before me.

“I’ll ask again—what the hell is this place? I’ve never seen it in the game. And that man earlier—I’ve never seen him either. Which scenario branch shows that?”

“First, shut your mouth. They’ll hear outside.”

“……”

Her tone had dropped low. She must’ve sensed how foul my mood was, because she actually fell silent—until she suddenly opened the door and stepped out.

“What? Hey—!”

I rushed after her.

“Wh-who are you!?”

That was Lumina’s voice.

“What the—an intruder!?”

Meiling and Jodie shouted next.

By the time I reached the living room, even Seo Yui and Kim Sang-sik were there.

A dizzy spell hit me just as Choi Yuri’s voice rang out:

“All of you, sit down on the sofa.”

Their faces went slack. One by one, everyone but me and Choi Yuri shuffled over and sat.

“From now until I come back to talk again, this house doesn’t have me or him in it. You can’t see us, can’t hear us. Got it?”

Five heads nodded in eerie unison.

Chills raced up my spine.

“There. Now we can talk freely.”

Choi Yuri turned to me with a bright smile.

“When you met the young Nam Yein before—did you brainwash him like this too?”

“Yeah. Right after I escaped from the demon realm, the first person I ran into wasn’t you, but a silver-haired boy. Since he was awakened, I tested whether my power worked on him and how far it could go.”

“And the result was… making him perceive you as Nam Yein’s family?”

“Exactly. There’s no safer cover than that kind of relationship.”

“Why didn’t you undo it after the experiment?”

“Huh? Why would I? He was just an NPC. Didn’t matter.”

“……”

“What?”

“…Nothing.”

For now, I let it drop.

Latessai's power was terrifyingly strong.

Choi Yuri wasn’t just valuable—she was indispensable.

Whatever irritation I felt, I shoved it aside.

“No matter how invisible we are, let’s head back to the room. Feels weird out here.”

“Sure.”

Back in the room, I asked the question that had been nagging me:

“Why am I free from your ability? At some point, I realized your existence itself was false. The photos and calls went back to normal.”

“…I don’t know.”

“What?”

“Maybe because you’re a transmigrant? My Latessai powers don’t seem to work well on you.”

“!!”

That was critical information.

For better or worse.

So when she first met me, she tried to brainwash me too.

I stared at Choi Yuri.

She looked back as if asking why I was giving her that look.

(End of Chapter)