Chapter 71:
He jumped to his feet, thanking them profusely.
“Thank you, thank you! I won’t be a burden! I’ll work hard to live up to Haeil’s name!”
“You don’t have to worry about that, as you’re not a member of Haeil.”
He flinched slightly at Kim Yoo-sung’s blunt words.
“Do you have any experience participating in dungeon subjugations?”
“Yes! One Rank 5, four Rank 4s, and one Rank 3.”
“Then I don’t need to explain much. I’ll tell you the ranks and abilities of the Guild members, so memorize them.”
Kim Yoo-sung briefly explained each Guild member. Guides had to be familiar with the Espers they were Guiding, so they had to memorize this information before entering a dungeon.
“Did you memorize everything?”
“Yes.”
“If you’re unsure about anything, ask Guide Kwon Ye-na or Guide Noh Kang-woo.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Then let’s enter the dungeon.”
After the briefing, the eleven Awakened individuals entered the dungeon one by one.
The air and environment changed instantly as they crossed the gate. Seo Jae-yi, the last to enter, looked around, taking in the unfamiliar sensations.
She had expected it to be similar to the Fixed dungeon she had been stuck in for six months, as it was a forest dungeon, but it felt completely different.
That dungeon had been like an untamed Amazon, untouched by human hands, but this place…
“It’s like a garden.”
It felt artificial. A lush green meadow stretched out under the blue sky. The well-maintained paths and neatly trimmed grass made it seem like a carefully cultivated garden.
“There’s no poisonous energy.”
Kim Yoo-sung, with his Life Force ability, assessed the air quality of the dungeon first. It seemed like there would be no danger to the Guides.
“I don’t sense any monsters.”
“I’ll go up and take a look from the sky.”
Moon Soo-hyun used her telekinesis to fly up into the air. After scouting for a while, she came back down.
“I don’t see any traces of monsters as far as the eye can see. It’s all just plants. No tall ones, they’re all short.”
“Must be plant monsters inhabiting the dungeon.”
“Yes, plants…”
Kim Yoo-sung and Moon Soo-hyun glanced back. Seo Jae-yi’s eyes were sparkling, as if she had heard their conversation despite standing at the very back.
Moon Soo-hyun had seen that look before. Seo Jae-yi had made the same expression during Baek Joo-won’s dungeon practice run.
And she had brought back the Greenroll’s parasitic grass.
“All the plants are going to get plucked and die today.”
“Plucked and replanted in my greenhouse, nurtured by my ability…”
“…Stay strong.”
Moon Soo-hyun consoled Kim Yoo-sung, who looked depressed.
After confirming that there was no immediate danger using his ability, Kim Yoo-sung entered the dungeon with the other Guild members.
Although the well-maintained garden was calming, no one let their guard down. Places like this, where the nature of the monsters was unknown, were the most dangerous.
Seo Jae-yi, scanning the surroundings from the back, sighed after a while.
“Gong Ju-hyun, focus on the raid team, not me.”
Gong Ju-hyun, who had been subtly trying to get closer to her, flinched.
“You have to separate work and personal matters.”
A Guide’s responsibility was to care for the Espers who were fighting monsters, not the porter.
She understood why he was here, but he had to prioritize his duty as a Guide over his personal feelings.
“…I’m sorry.”
Gong Ju-hyun quickly returned to the Guild members, assuming she was disappointed in him.
But Seo Jae-yi wasn’t disappointed. Or rather, she wasn’t interested enough in him to be disappointed.
Her entire focus was on Baek Joo-won. She had no attention to spare for Gong Ju-hyun.
“Logi.”
She tapped her bag and whispered softly, once they were a bit further away from the others.
“I’ll open the bag slightly, so get some air.”
She swung the bag behind her back, and Airok peeked out. He sniffed the air and spoke in a barely audible voice.
“There are many interesting things here, Master.”
“Are they good for me?”
“Very good. But the Espers are fine, the Guides should be careful. Tell them to wear the gas masks I brought.”
Seo Jae-yi immediately followed his advice.
“Guild Leader.”
“What?”
“The Guides should wear gas masks.”
Everyone looked at her strangely.
“Gas masks? I don’t sense any toxins.”
“The Guild Leader didn’t say anything either.”
It was natural for them to trust Kim Yoo-sung, who had the Life Force ability, more than her.
But Kim Yoo-sung glanced at her bag instead of objecting.
“…Are the Espers okay?”
“Yes, for now.”
“Alright. Let’s do as you say. The three Guides, put on your gas masks immediately.”
The two Guides, confused by the Guild Leader’s decision, didn’t question it and immediately put on their masks. Gong Ju-hyun also fumbled with his mask, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Seo Jae-yi.
“Anything else we should be careful of?”
“It’s not dangerous, but be cautious. Especially the Guides’ safety.”
“Did you hear that? Don’t let your guard down. Especially the Guide protectors.”
The two protectors, whose primary role was to protect the Guides, nodded. They wouldn’t leave the three Guides’ side unless something unexpected happened.
They resumed their march, everyone’s vigilance heightened after Seo Jae-yi’s warning.
Of course, there was always an exception.
“Gasp, you’re saying this is edible? And it tastes good?”
Seo Jae-yi, muttering to herself, took out a trowel and started digging up an unknown dungeon plant.
Ehehe, ehe. Her creepy laughter echoed through the air.
“I-isn’t it dangerous? Should we stop her…?”
Gong Ju-hyun, worried, looked at the other Guild members. But they just looked uncomfortable, no one actively trying to stop her.
First, Seo Jae-yi, a veteran Esper, wouldn’t do anything truly dangerous.
And more importantly…
“It’s only dangerous if it’s a threat…”
Everyone, except for Gong Ju-hyun, nodded at Moon Soo-hyun’s mutterings.
“Huh? Ah, you want to come too? Alright, alright.”
A dungeon plant at her feet wrapped around her ankle angrily. But it was easily plucked and stuffed into her pouch, not even scratching her skin.
“Aaargh! It’s on fire!”
It was even set on fire for the mere crime of touching her. They almost felt sorry for the dungeon plant and wanted to stop Seo Jae-yi for its sake.
“She seems to enjoy this as much as fighting monsters. We can’t stop her.”
“Let her be if she’s happy.”
The Guild members shook their heads.
“What… What is that…?”
Only Gong Ju-hyun, who couldn’t understand the situation, looked bewildered.
It was understandable for him to be shocked, seeing the true nature of the person he had admired for eight years.
Kwon Ye-na patted his shoulder.
“It’s nothing strange. She’s always like this. So accept it, this reality.”
Was that what she meant before they entered the dungeon…?
The Guild members stared at Kwon Ye-na with dazed expressions.
Ignoring their gazes, Kwon Ye-na continued, looking only at Gong Ju-hyun.
“Not everyone can handle Seo Jae-yi.”
She was telling him he wasn’t enough for Seo Jae-yi.
“…It’s okay. I was a bit surprised, but that’s fine. Everyone has their own hobbies, and this is just one of hers.”
Gong Ju-hyun forced a smile, understanding her meaning.
“Yes, that’s right.”
Kwon Ye-na nodded, a strange smile on her lips.
“I’m done digging!”
Seo Jae-yi ran towards them, holding a dirt-covered trowel in one hand and a spatial pouch in the other.
“Are you satisfied now?”
Kim Yoo-sung asked with a sigh, and Seo Jae-yi nodded brightly. Gong Ju-hyun couldn’t take his eyes off her.
“How long are you going to keep doing that?”
“I’m done for now. This is the safe zone. It might be dangerous beyond this point, so we need to be careful.”
Kim Yoo-sung straightened his posture as Seo Jae-yi turned to face forward.
“Really?”
“Yes. It seems like we’re entering the territory of the monsters inhabiting this dungeon.”
“Did you all hear that? Stay alert and don’t let your guard down.”
The others, who had relaxed, seeing Seo Jae-yi’s carefree behavior, checked their equipment with serious expressions.
Seo Jae-yi also checked her firearms, secured in her harness, and tapped her bag. Airok had told her everything.
Perhaps because he was a monster, even though he was a dragon, he had sensed it much faster than the Espers.
Something happened as they ventured deeper.
“Stop.”
Everyone took combat stances as Kim Yoo-sung, who had sensed it first, called out a halt.
But the enemy had already launched its attack.
Kim Yoo-sung covered his nose and shouted,
“Sleeping powder!”