Justitia.

The number one guild in South Korea, famous for its commitment to justice. The guild master was Seo Seo-hee, one of the “Symbols of Eternity.” They had faced wicked incidents and horrifying disasters, both domestic and abroad.

“Guild Master, may I ask a question?”

“Sure, ask whatever you want.”

“Do you believe our guild should be participating in this incident?”

“Since when did Justitia ever weigh the severity of a case?”

Clack.

“And this time...”

As she finished gearing up, Guild Master Seo Seo-hee spoke.

“I believe this incident is quite significant—enough for a large guild like ours to step in.”

“...In terms of scale, yes, but you’re aware of it too.”

“What, that the suspect is being unreasonably docile?”

“Yes. The Moon Sect’s leader insists the culprit is an evil god, but there’s no solid proof.”

“You’re not trying to discredit the bishop of the so-called Tower of Wisdom, are you?”

“Not at all.”

“We’ll know whether that claim holds up at today’s meeting.”

Seo Seo-hee smiled and glanced at her colleague.

“You’re always so timid.”

“Someone has to be, especially since you’re not at all afraid.”

“I don’t recall ever recruiting timid people into my guild.”

“Even so, we can’t help but worry for you, Guild Master.”

“You’re still bothered by the fact that I’m personally attending this one, aren’t you?”

“I apologize if that was offensive.”

The vice-guild master bowed his head.

“It’s just... you seem unusually... not yourself this time.”

“What kind of ‘not myself’?”

“You seem a bit excited.”

“Oh, do I?”

Seo Seo-hee nodded.

“I suppose I might be.”

“...It started after you heard that Hunter Sergio would be attending this meeting.”

“So I was that obvious, huh. What about the others?”

“Not that obvious. Just a few of us—myself and the secretarial team—noticed.”

“Well, I’ve always wanted to speak with Hunter Sergio.”

Having fully equipped herself, the guild master turned and looked directly at her colleague.

“Didn’t you also look forward to meeting him?”

“I can’t say I wasn’t.”

Justitia pursued justice and order. A guild {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} of those who understood the value of goodness. Though he wasn’t officially a saint, Sergio was widely regarded as someone who embodied sacrifice and devotion with his entire being. His reputation within the guild was already high.

“In a way, he reminds me of you, Guild Master.”

“Me? In what way?”

“...I’ve heard he’s incredibly driven. He doesn’t ignore his own well-being, but he always puts it second. Just like you.”

“I think so too.”

He smiled as he always did.

“I hope we become good friends.”

“......”

The vice-guild master bowed his head again.

Seo Seo-hee’s main skill as Justitia’s guild master was called “Friend.”

It was a passive ability that activated whenever she considered someone a friend, allowing her to be influenced by them. She couldn’t turn it off or on at will.

‘...Hopefully it brings more good than bad.’

The vice-guild master was worried.

‘What if he ends up absorbing something strange instead?’

Her skill could be simply described as the ability to synchronize with “friends.” That influence could be positive or negative. He feared she might absorb more of Sergio’s self-sacrificial nature.

Seo Seo-hee chuckled at her subordinate’s concern.

“We don’t even know yet if we can be friends. Don’t worry so much.”

“If you decide you want to be friends, who could possibly refuse?”

“Oh, there are people. They exist everywhere.”

Not even she could befriend every person in the world.

“I might not want it, or the other person might not. I’m sociable, sure, but it’s not like I have some charm skill that brainwashes people.”

“You practically do, though...”

“That’s too generous. Though I suppose my skill does make me naturally good at befriending others.”

Seo Seo-hee glanced at the clock.

“Shall we get moving?”

“Yes, I’ll escort you.”

“Sorry for holding you up.”

“It’s unthinkable that I wouldn’t accompany you on a personal mission, Guild Master.”

“You don’t have to worry so much.”

He smiled again.

“As always, we’ll be the ones who win.”

That childish line—“Justice always wins.”

It was Justitia’s motto.

***

The meeting venue was none other than the Association’s party room.

As Justitia arrived at Association headquarters, the staff greeted them. They bowed deeply to the Symbol of Eternity and smoothly escorted them to the meeting hall.

“Oh my.”

Inside, Association President Dan Haera was already waiting for her friend.

“I heard you were coming, but I didn’t expect you to actually show.”

“My friend, who’s so busy she might collapse from overwork, said she’d be here—how could I possibly relax in my office?”

“Your silver tongue’s gotten sharper. You get more eloquent every time I see you.”

Dan Haera smiled like a doll, just as always, and asked:

“So, what’s the real reason?”

“This isn’t like the mermaid incident.”

That time, it had been a national—no, global—catastrophe. Justitia’s manpower had been crucial. There’d been a clear enemy and clear countermeasures. Seo Seo-hee, as guild master, didn’t need to intervene directly.

But this time was different.

“It’s too abstract.”

The scale was ambiguous.

“I heard the side effects have already started appearing.”

“People are getting addicted to dreams. They’re trying to reach the dungeon itself.”

“Right. Apparently, the dream isn’t the dungeon. There’s a real dungeon beyond it.”

“That seems to have sparked people’s desire for conquest. They’ve become more aggressive.”

“If left unchecked, society could collapse.”

It was a society they and their friends had built through great effort. A flawed, still-improving world. There were right things, wrong things—but the bloodshed was undeniable.

“We can’t let that happen.”

“I agree.”

The immediate damage might be small, but the potential threat was too great.

From there, the conversation turned casual. Dan Haera still wore her mechanical smile, but Seo Seo-hee could tell her mood was better than usual.

‘She must’ve been exhausted.’

Seo Seo-hee knew what Dan Haera had sacrificed to build this world.

“...Seems like everyone’s arriving.”

“We agreed on 3 PM.”

“He’ll come too, right?”

“You mean Hunter Sergio?”

“Yeah.”

Seo Seo-hee observed her friend.

“......”

“......”

They both recognized that they’d sensed the same thing.

‘...Would seeing him in person make it clearer? I might not know, as a mere contractor, but Haera—the one who made the promise—would definitely recognize it.’

Dan Haera’s skill was called “Promise.”

A kind of contract that guaranteed destiny. She could promise something in exchange for an item or concept.

The best return she ever got was from trading memories and emotions. She and her friends had sacrificed those to build the current Korea. Which is why they were so interested in “Hunter Sergio.”

‘When I saw the photos and videos taken by reporters, the feeling... was strange.’

He might be tied to their “promise.”

‘But I still don’t know exactly which promise he’s bound to.’

Hunter Sergio was said to be 29. Considering that she and her peers were now in their fifties, he was likely the result of some abstract promise made long ago.

‘Which means... we might owe him.’

That’s why Seo Seo-hee looked forward to meeting Sergio. She was already fond of him personally, and now suspected he might be a comrade bound by their “promise.” That kind of excitement couldn’t be helped.

‘Well, he could also be part of a negative promise. But that’s something we’ll learn in time.’

The next to enter the meeting room were the Moon Sect’s leader and priests.

“We’ve been seeing each other a lot lately, haven’t we?”

“Indeed. A pity that these encounters are never under pleasant circumstances.”

“Please take a seat. The materials you sent in advance and those gathered by the Association are already prepared.”

“Thank you for the consideration.”

And then the Collector’s Guild arrived.

“Ah, such familiar faces all gathered!”

The first to enter was Bisa Beul.

“It’s been a while, everyone. I’ve been terribly neglectful, haven’t I?”

“Yes, long time no see, Guild Master Bisa Beul.”

The Association President, still smiling mechanically, gestured to his seat.

“Please proceed to the spot marked for the Collector’s Guild.”

“So cold as ever... It’s been so long since we met, can’t you at least smile a little more?”

“I offer the same smile to everyone.”

“That’s exactly what makes it so cold—but that’s fine. It’s good to see you. Thank you for the invitation.”

With an unusually cheerful attitude, Bisa Beul grinned and looked back at the Fifth Floor Director, Curator Garasani, who entered behind him.

“Now, where’s our dear Hunter Sergio?”

“He’s speaking briefly with one of the Moon Sect’s priests. He’ll be here shortly.”

“Then he’ll arrive soon.”

There were still five minutes left until 3 PM. He hadn’t broken the appointed time, so no one could accuse the Collector’s Guild of anything. Besides, there was no way the source himself—Hunter Sergio—would break a promise...

And just like that, exactly ten seconds before 3 PM, two more people entered the room.

“Apologies for the slight delay.”

“No worries. Please, take your seats.”

“Well then...”

The priest hesitantly took their seat, and Hunter Sergio, who had entered with them, settled in the Collector’s Guild section. Dan Haera and Seo Seo-hee both watched him closely.

A warm divinity reminiscent of the Sun God and the gentle energy unique to priests flowed around him. His demeanor was elegant and upright. The smile on his lips had a faint resemblance to Dan Haera’s own.

“......”

“......”

...But beyond that, they sensed nothing unusual.

‘...Maybe a conversation will reveal more.’

Seo Seo-hee thought as she glanced at the Association President.

‘Ah.’

And in that brief moment, she understood.

Whatever she had seen, the look in Dan Haera’s eyes said, “Let’s talk later.” She’d noticed something. So Seo Seo-hee opened her mouth to move things along smoothly.

“Looks like everyone’s here now?”

“I believe so too.”

Dan Haera nodded.

“Let’s begin the meeting.”

They had gathered to discuss how to respond to the new S-class dungeon—“Dream Amusement Park.”

***

The meeting didn’t last long.

“The Saintess of the Moon Sect has been taken by the evil god of dreams.”

There was already a clear victim.

“What more proof do we need?”

“I agree with the bishop’s statement,” said the Association President.

“The Moon Sect has been thorough in answering our requests. Thanks to them, we’ve confirmed dungeon records pertaining to the evil god.”

If one passed beyond the lucid dream surface and delved deeper, they reached the Dream Amusement Park. The Moon Sect and Association staff obtained information on the evil god there.

“He’s referred to as the evil god of blood and rage. He’s also associated with pleasure, fear, and war. Within the dungeon, he’s treated as a very old divine being... and it seems he’s awakened again.”

“Why Earth, though?”

“We assume Earth is currently in the perfect condition for the Dream Amusement Park to thrive. Out of many possible places, we were the ‘lucky’ ones selected. Further investigation is needed.”

“He must’ve evolved during his time sealed away. He’s no longer just ruling with blood and terror—he’s using highly intelligent methods. He’s tapping into humanity’s greatest desires.”

“It may not compare to the direct harm suffered by the Saintess, but we already have other clear victims. Several people nearly died from sleeping pill overdoses.”

“The odd thing is, no one has actually died. If the god didn’t intervene directly, how did this happen? Whoever’s toying with us understands human nature very well.”

“Indeed. With no major visible casualties, the public is gradually losing self-restraint. I believe this evil god’s goal may not just be chaos, but expansion. He may be trying to colonize the entire planet.”

“If things continue like this, Earth might be consumed before we even realize it. Of all things... it’s a divine being. Too difficult to seal, with no other known countermeasures.”

The Justitia guild master spoke up.

“There have been countless cases like this before.”

“Guild Master Seo Seo-hee is right. It’s simply another crisis we must overcome.”

“Then it seems the conclusion of this meeting is clear.”

Eradication was needed.

“We must shut down the ‘Dream Amusement Park.’ Seal off the mystical passage to prevent any further interference, and prepare measures so the public can focus on reality again.”

“We trust that the Association and government will handle those addicted to dreams or showing signs of addiction. In that case, we now know what we must do.”

A virtual dungeon with no entrance. Humanity’s enemy wasn’t a divine being that couldn’t be killed, but their own desires and thirst. Their foe was exploiting a tragically precise weakness.

“This concludes the first meeting. Before the next one, we ask each leader to present a clear plan on how they will approach and respond to the ‘Dream Amusement Park.’ In the meantime, the Association will work with the government on citizen relief policies.”

The direction was clear. Now it was time to act.

***

After the meeting—

“Hunter Sergio?”

Justitia’s Guild Master Seo Seo-hee called out to him.

“Since we’ve met like this, would you be willing to chat for a moment?”

“You’re quite the extrovert, Guild Master Seo Seo-hee.”

“Oh, I hear that a lot.”

“Do you?”

Gio smiled.

“That’s unexpected.”

Once, he didn’t even know how to smile.

Thinking that, Gio accepted the invitation to talk.