EFME 99

Muyoung swallowed a sigh and stepped forward in front of the Hunters.

“We enter the dungeon at 13:00. Each group leader, check your team members’ numbers and status, and prepare for entry.”

Sunyul slunk over to Muyoung’s side.

“What group am I in?”

“You and I are without a group; we’ll provide support as needed.”

Sunyul looked at the group leaders and members with eyes that were subtly full of envy. In the midst of that, he spotted Saebyeok. Seeing Saebyeok offering a greeting, his eyes went wide for a moment before he quickly pretended not to notice.

“While clearing the dungeon this time, think about how you want to move in the future too.”

At Muyoung’s words from beside him, Sunyul tilted his head to the side.

“In the future?”

“Whether you want to form a fixed team to go into dungeons, or if you want to go as support for fixed teams.”

“Fixed… Uh, but the required number of people is different for every dungeon, so how do you choose team members?”

“Since dungeons that require 8 or more people are the most common, people usually form teams of eight. Any missing personnel are recruited as needed. When it’s a multiple of 8, they gather by merging with other teams.”

“I see……. Then which is better, fixed or support?”

“It probably depends on the person.”

“From the guild’s perspective, which is better?”

“Since we already have support members, it’s better to form a team.”

Muyoung pondered for a moment before giving an honest answer.

“Who is it? The support member.”

“Kim Jaehoon.”

“Aha.”

“Anyway, even if you form a team, as long as you’re S-class, you’re bound to go as support. An S-class dungeon requires at least two or more S-class Hunters to enter.”

Speaking of teams, there were people who came to mind.

In the past, Sunyul had a team back when he was an ability user.

He had actually received calls from those team members. Though it ended with nothing more than awkward phone conversations.

Sunyul felt sorry toward them, whom he couldn’t remember at all. He felt strangely uneasy, feeling as if he had abandoned them.

He didn’t want to form a new team without reaching a proper conclusion with them.

Muyoung knew that Sunyul was lost in thought, but he didn’t bother asking. It was because he believed that Sunyul could organize his thoughts on his own.

And fortunately, Sunyul finished his deliberations before entering the dungeon.

“……I think I want to do support.”

“Then do that.”

Finally, 13:00.

The attack force entered the dungeon. Sunyul moved his steps into the dungeon while being tightly tensed up.

[The trait ‘Stray of Dimensions’ is activated.]

[You fall into a state of confusion due to the effect of the ‘Stray of Dimensions’ trait. Instead, all stats increase by one level.]

Just when he thought he was okay, that dizzying sensation washed over Sunyul once again. Sunyul struggled to find himself within the nauseating sensation.

But at that moment, he saw something strange.

It was… something slimy.

He could only describe it as “something.” Because he couldn’t define it with an exact word.

It was constantly flowing down… and after flowing down to a certain extent, it returned to where it originally was. It was barely maintaining some kind of shape in that manner.

It was like a balloon doll. The kind made to sway by putting air inside, with only arms on a torso.

It opened its mouth.

─Sun… yul… ah…….

A small voice that rose and fell eerily. The voice, mixed with a noise like something sharp scratching, made his skin crawl.

─Sunyul… ah…….

“What is that…….”

─Let’s… be… together…….

Sunyul felt an instinctive repulsion, much like when one sees a swarming mass of insects.

─Be… with… me…….

“No!”

That thing was far too ominous. Sunyul fled in a hurry amidst his fear. He had no thought other than the need to escape somehow. He fled desperately, and at the end of his flight…….

The place where he opened his eyes, drenched in cold sweat, was within Muyoung’s arms.

“Ah.”

“Lim Sunyul.”

The moment he heard that low, solid, yet tender voice, his mind snapped back to clarity. The horrific sensation melted away. Sunyul blinked, becoming aware of reality.

Sunyul stood up wobbling and apologized to Muyoung.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s nothing. Are you okay?”

“I’m okay.”

Despite Sunyul’s words, Muyoung did not look relieved.

“Your complexion looks poor. Don’t overdo it.”

“……I’m really fine now.”

At the same time as his reply, Sunyul checked the system window.

You have entered an S-class dungeon.

Current personnel: 48 people (Capacity: 48 people)

The dungeon entrance will be closed in 5 minutes and 32 seconds.

Even if he generously excluded the time he spent talking to Muyoung, it meant he had been out of it for four minutes. He shouldn’t be like this every time.

More than that, what on earth was that thing from a moment ago? Sunyul couldn’t get a handle on it.

“Lim Sunyul.”

He wasn’t forcing himself to say it; he really felt better. Thanks to Muyoung. Of course, his hands, which had turned ice-cold, hadn’t warmed up yet… but his mind was clear.

“I’m really fine. Shall I do a mid-air somersault or something?”

“……That’s enough.”

Only then, seemingly convinced that he was okay, Muyoung took a step back.

“Then, since everyone is gathered, shall we get going? But first, use your skills.”

“Yes sir.”

Sunyul pulled out his staff and used his skills.

[Using the skill ‘Blooming Spring’.]

[Using the skill ‘Radiant Summer’.]

Sunyul’s buff skills had been famous for their high efficiency since a long time ago. Not only could they be cast on everyone in a designated area without a limit on the number of people, but the duration was long and the effects were good.

After his rank rose to EX-class, the effects became even better. In particular, the duration became nearly twice as long as before, providing a significant amount of help.

“Be careful, Guild Leader.”

“Right. You be careful too.”

From now on, the attack force would be split into two teams, and Sunyul was forced to separate from Muyoung. He couldn’t very well ask to stay with Muyoung, as they couldn’t stick the only two EX-class Hunters together with the S-class Hunters.

Waving his hand to Muyoung, Sunyul looked through the rest of the system window.

[Dungeon Attack Quest]

Clear Condition 1: Cook White-Tailed Fish, Red-Horned Fish, and Blue-Scaled Fish so they can be eaten at once, and offer the finished dish to the god Nahae of the coastal village.

Clear Condition 2: Cook Gold Conch, Silver Abalone, and Purple Seaweed so they can be eaten at once, and offer the finished dish to the god Jamnyeo of the seaside.

Clear Condition 3: Hunt the boss monster that appears after completing Clear Conditions 1 and 2.

He had heard about it in advance, but they were truly peculiar clear conditions.

While Red-Horned Fish and Blue-Scaled Fish can be caught normally, it is said that only the White-Tailed Fish is caught specifically through fishing. Because of that, they say this dungeon is a dream for Hunters who enjoy fishing, or something like that.

Sunyul was also quite interested in fishing. For that reason, he decided to go with the team that would be fishing.

Usually, the person with the highest rank takes the position of group leader, but since Sunyul was a first-timer and lacked dungeon experience, someone else took the role of leader. Instead, Sunyul followed at the tail end of the group, watching to see if any monsters were coming.

“……The sky is very overcast.”

Sunyul muttered to himself.

“They say this dungeon is originally like this. Until the clear conditions are met.”

Sunyul glared at Saebyeok, who approached him acting friendly. Saebyeok drew closer, unbothered.

“It took you a long time to come out of the gate.”

“You must have seen… it.”

He spoke quite comfortably when Saebyeok reached out to him as a Constellation, but he didn’t know how to speak to Saebyeok in person. Saebyeok laughed.

“Speak comfortably.”

“You saw it.”

“I did see it… but when I’m personally moving this body, I can’t see clearly from your perspective.”

Sunyul stared at Saebyeok’s body as if it were fascinating.

“……Are there times when you don’t move it personally?”

“Of course. It’s not like I can move back and forth easily, so right now, it’s hard for me to see from your viewpoint.”

“I see…….”

At any rate, while it seems like he can do everything, there are things that subtly don’t work. Regardless, the fact that he was a fascinating existence didn’t change.

“What on earth was that?”

“It’s better if you don’t know in detail. Because once you perceive it, it will fall upon you in a much clearer form.”

Sunyul trembled. He didn’t know if it was true, but Sunyul gave up on asking further.

In that manner, Sunyul’s group arrived at the point where they could catch fish, hunting monsters along the way. Along with a few other Hunters, Sunyul stepped forward enthusiastically.

“Mr. Sunyul, please don’t overdo it.”

The group leader, extremely worried about Sunyul, dabbed at his eyes with his fingertips. Sunyul thought it was an exaggeration, but tears really did come off on his fingertips.

“To think I have to send Mr. Sunyul into this cold sea……. These ignorant ones would have been enough…….”

“I-I’m fine. I’m sturdier, so…….”

“Sob, please be careful.”

Sunyul dove into the sea while receiving the group leader’s passionate farewell.

The inside of the sea was so dark it was hard to believe the water was shallow. Sunyul lit up the surroundings brightly with an item he had received in advance and searched for fish.

They said it was a fish that approaches light, but the fish was not easily seen. Even after searching for a long time, it was a wild goose chase.

He was debating whether he should go out once to check if anyone else had found it, when he saw a fish with its head buried near the bottom.

Sunyul approached the fish. When he had gotten somewhat close to the fish, a certain ominous premonition flashed down his spine.

Sunyul quickly backed away.

In the spot where Sunyul had been just a moment ago, something unpleasant had struck upward.

It was a monster.

Thinking that he was at a disadvantage in the water, Sunyul first came out of the water. Other guild members were also coming out of the water, as if they had discovered monsters as well.

“It’s a monster!”

Starting with someone’s shout, a battle began with a swarm of dozens of monsters that had been camouflaged.

They were monsters that looked extremely unpleasant. They were monsters that looked like long centipedes, but their head parts were crushed as if struck by something.

Furthermore, the middle of the crushed part was split open, and through that gap, a form that looked like a fish was poking out. It was the very fish that Sunyul had seen and been fooled by a moment ago.

The monster opened its mouth and shouted.

—I hear it…….

—It’s coming.

—We’re going out.

—Liberation…….

—It’ll be over soon.

—Once that thing comes.