Bang! Bang!

A loud pounding rattled the door.

“Hey! Nam Yein! Did you see outside!?”

It was Meiling’s voice.

When I opened the door, Meiling stood there with her face flushed in excitement, eyes gleaming.

“Yeah, I saw it.”

“That’s definitely a brand-new dungeon, isn’t it?”

I nodded.

At that moment, Lumina and Seo Yui stepped out of their rooms and gathered in front of mine. Both wore surprised expressions, though with varying intensity.

“A dungeon suddenly appearing like this… this is a first, isn’t it?” Seo Yui asked, looking at me.

“Yes. All existing dungeons appeared after their gates collapsed, and they’ve remained since. I’ve never heard of a brand-new dungeon suddenly appearing.”

“R-right. That’s what both the Academy and HAUT taught us,” Lumina added.

“Let’s go!”

Meiling had already pulled her magic wand from her inventory and raised it high.

“Let’s be the first ones inside the new dungeon!”

“You can’t.”

“Why not!?”

Meiling glared at me, eyes wide.

“Because it’s illegal.”

“What?”

“All dungeons must first be investigated by the city. If a hunter goes in before that, they can lose their license.”

“Wait, there’s a law like that?” Lumina asked, eyes round.

I nodded.

“You’ve seen the hunters who stand guard at dungeon entrances, right?”

“Ah, yeah.”

“These days their main job is to make sure unregistered Awakeners or civilians don’t slip in. But originally, their role was to monitor the dungeon itself. Since gates turned into dungeons, they thought the reverse might also be possible.”

“Ohh… they thought monsters might come out again.”

“Mhm…”

Lumina nodded in understanding, while Meiling crossed her arms.

“Back then, Awakeners hired by the city carried out dungeon investigations. Only later were they opened to licensed hunters. That was the start of hunters.”

Just then, the wail of sirens echoed.

Looking out the window, I saw cars speeding toward the portal of the newly appeared dungeon.

“See? The city’s already dispatched hunters. If we go now, we’ll just end up in custody, facing the Peacekeeping Force Division.”

“O-oh… I see…” Lumina murmured, staring out the window beside me.

“Then let’s do the investigation ourselves!” Meiling insisted.

“Then why don’t you call the mayor yourself and ask him to hand the job over to us?”

“……Hmph! Forget it!”

Meiling shoved her wand back into her inventory. I turned my gaze to the window again. Yellow tape was already being set up around the dungeon.

“The investigation will probably finish in a few days. After that, hunters and trainees will be allowed in.”

That’s how it went in the game.

“For now, let’s celebrate our freedom by getting some food.”

At the mention of food, Meiling’s sulky expression softened.

“Of course, at the soondae soup place.”

The moment I said soondae soup, Meiling’s lips twitched upward.

“Haahhh.”

Meiling set down the hot stone bowl, now empty, and smiled in satisfaction.

“This is on a whole different level compared to packed lunches.”

I agreed.

The bubbling hot broth, paired with delicious kimchi and an array of side dishes, brought a whole new kind of satisfaction.

“Really? I didn’t think the lunch boxes were that bad,” Seo Yui said.

Meiling scoffed.

“Please. Don’t compare incomparable things. You just don’t know flavor.”

“Wha—Me-Meiling… that’s no way to talk to a senior…” Lumina said, flustered.

“No, she’s right. Before I met you guys, I didn’t really have the chance to try much,” Seo Yui admitted with a wry smile.

Meiling’s face froze at that.

Even though we’d just devoured steaming hot soondae soup, the air around the table suddenly felt icy.

“Senior.”

I set down my spoon and addressed her.

“Mm?”

“How about we go for barbecue tonight?”

“Barbecue?” Seo Yui tilted her head.

“Yes. I went there recently with Chairman Crystal and Chairman Riyu. It was excellent.”

“I see… sure. I’d love that.”

“Lumina, Meiling, what about you? Since we’ve all been through a lot, dinner’s on me.”

“Yes! Let’s go!” Lumina answered with a smile, while Meiling gave the faintest nod.

After leaving the soondae soup shop, we headed back. Meiling drifted closer to my side.

“Nam Yein.”

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

“What is it?”

“Earlier… um…”

She hesitated, then spoke even softer.

“Thanks.”

I just nodded silently.

“Lumina? What’s wrong?” Seo Yui’s voice came from ahead.

I turned to look. Lumina was huddled in on herself, glancing nervously around.

“Ah, it’s just… I suddenly thought, what if the Forward group is still after us?”

“No way. They don’t have the bandwidth right now,” Meiling said with a snort.

Her expression was nothing like the shy gratitude she’d shown me moments earlier.

“What do you mean, bandwidth…?” Lumina asked, still uneasy.

“I mean they don’t have the energy to chase us. All their dirty deeds are coming to light. Their leader, Oh Sungcheon, is dead, Yang Len and Mackenzie are arrested, and even the world-class guild All Around is siding with the mayor. By now, their executives and associates are all scrambling to save themselves—pretending ignorance, claiming they had nothing to do with it. …What?”

Meiling stopped mid-sentence, staring at me.

“Why are you making that face?”

“Nothing. Just impressed at how clearly you understand the situation.”

“Are you mocking me?” Her eyes narrowed.

“No. I meant it sincerely.”

“Which means you usually think I’m clueless.”

…She wasn’t wrong. Time for a change of topic.

“Anyway, to add to Meiling’s point, even if Forward tried to capture us now, it wouldn’t benefit them.”

“Huh?” Lumina tilted her head.

“A few weeks ago, maybe. They could’ve forced us to retract our testimony about Black Hound’s kidnappings and threats. But that’s not the issue anymore.”

“I see,” Seo Yui said with a nod.

“What’s been revealed is that they sacrificed Awakeners for research and mana stone development. That’s their biggest problem now.”

At those words, Lumina’s face darkened.

“That’s right. On top of that, the principal herself exposed Gwangcheon’s corruption. Compared to that, we really aren’t even a problem.”

With things as they were, even that deranged terrorist group Cosmos—who prided themselves on Awakener superiority—would turn their backs on Forward.

“That part really caught me off guard,” Meiling said.

“You mean the principal?”

“Yeah. When I saw the news, I honestly wondered if someone had used an ability to brainwash her.”

I felt my body stiffen slightly.

The moment she mentioned abilities and brainwashing, Choi Yuri’s face came to mind.

…She’ll be fine, right?

The truth was, I’d dumped Choi Yuri onto Lee Hanye. Just the thought of staying by her side made me feel like I’d either go insane or end up killing her.

Since she’s out of the safehouse now, I should probably give him a call.

[“Heecheol, brother. Please, come take this woman away.”]

“……”

Lee Hanye said the moment she picked up the phone.

Standing by the hotel window, I could only gape in silence.

[“She’s driving me crazy. Talks to me all day long. Not a conversation—just going on and on about herself. And she repeats the same stories over and over, even without drinking. Please save me. I think I was better off back when I was doing principal work at Gwangcheon.”]

“Well… I’ll have to tell her to tone it down when I see her.”

I kept my voice sympathetic, but inwardly I let out a sigh of relief.

[“Sure, she hasn’t interacted with people for ten years, but still. I’m going to lose my mind before we clear this game.”]

“Don’t just bottle it up. Blow up at her if you need to. Anyway, she can’t brainwash us. Without her hypnosis ability, Horima Latesai isn’t really a threat.”

[“…Easy for you to say.”]

I got it. I really did.

She was still a comrade we had to keep working with, and she was much older than her besides. But people don’t learn unless you tell them.

“We’ll all have to meet soon to discuss the future. I’ll say something to Choi Yuri then. Tell her to ease up.”

[…“Fine. Got it.”]

“By the way, Forward hasn’t sent anyone your way, have they?”

[“Nope. Nothing at all. I’ve got escorts from All Around, too.”]

“I see.”

Hearing “All Around” reminded me of the equipment they promised to craft in exchange for helping the city.

[“Who’s that? Who are you talking to for so long?”]

[“Ah—oh, um… sister…”]

“Well then, hang in there. Good luck.”

[“Wait! Heecheol, bro—”]

I hung up quickly.

Sorry. Endure it.

I looked down at the phone screen, now gone dark, and silently prayed for him.

Bzzzz.

The screen lit up again.

What? Don’t tell me it’s Choi Yuri…

Peering at it nervously, I sighed in relief when I saw it was Cheon Jiwon instead.

“Hello?”

[“Yein. How’s the hotel room?”]

“You booked too nice a place. I was honestly shocked.”

[“Consider it a token of gratitude. Don’t worry, I don’t intend to call it square with just a hotel stay. Hahaha!”]

Cheon Jiwon let out his hearty laugh before continuing.

[“Sorry to trouble you right after leaving the safehouse, but All Around contacted me. They’re asking when they can start sending materials.”]

“Ah, I see.”

I felt my lips curl up on their own.

“Anytime is fine. If you pass me the order sheet, the material list, and the inventory chest with the materials inside, I’ll get them to my friend.”

[“Hmm. Then would tomorrow morning work?”]

“Yes, of course.”

[“Good. Also, this Saturday, why don’t you and your companions come to my home? With everything going on, I realized I never got the chance to tell you about my comrades.”]

“Ah, yes. I’ll be there.”

[“By the way, can you see the new dungeon from there?”]

“Yes, I can.”

[“I figured as much. Don’t approach it, though. It’s not confirmed safe yet.”]

“Understood.”

[“Then I’ll see you Saturday.”]

The call ended, and I grinned.

With all the rare materials All Around would provide, raising my Craftsman skill level would be effortless.

Now that I’ve secured a way to strengthen myself, it’s the others’ turn.

For that, I needed to turn the meeting I’d discussed with Ahn Hyunggi and Riyu—the Demon’s Class—into reality.

If we’re going to have a group, we’ll need a base.

I fiddled with my phone, then held it to my ear again.

“Hello, Chairman Riyu. This is Nam Yein.”

[“Yes, I know it’s you, Nam Yein. What is it?”]

His reply was curt, but I knew by now that this was just his brand of humor, his way of lightening the mood. Whether it worked or not depended on who heard it.

“I left the safehouse today. So, I’d like to get started on matters concerning the Demon’s Class.”

[“Hmm. What are you planning?”]

“First, securing a base of operations.”

[“Planning to buy a building or something?”]

“If necessary.”

[“Hah! So you’re calling me because you’re underage and need help buying one?”]

“Exactly right.”

[“Then just use mine.”]

“…Pardon?”

[“I’ve got a building in Yongsan I usually lease out. The second floor used to be office space, but it’s empty now. Use that.”]

“Understood. Then the rent—”

[“Forget it. You really thought I’d take pocket change from you kids?”]

“In that case, I’ll gratefully use it as our base.”

[“That’s the spirit.”]

A chuckle rumbled over the line.

[“By the way, where are you all staying? You can’t be back at Gwangcheon yet.”]

“The mayor arranged a hotel for us.”

[“I see. Still, you should be able to return to the dorms by next week. Enjoy your autumn break in the meantime.”]

The call ended.

By next week we’ll be back at the dorms? How would Riyu know that?

Maybe, as the HAUT chairman, he was privy to how the academies were operating.

“Well then, next is…”

I scrolled to Eleanor’s number and made the call.

(End of Chapter)