~ Chapter : 04 ~
In front of a B-rank dungeon that appeared in a quiet park last night.
Since it was considered a high-level dungeon, quite a lot of reporters had gathered to interview Hunters.
“The A-rank dungeon area is already packed. There’s not even space to stick a microphone in.”
“Exactly. People somehow always know when a gate opens.”
“I heard the Hae-yeon Guild took the A-rank one?”
“Yeah. That’s probably why Rifle Guild came for this B-rank dungeon. Those two guilds are always competing.”
Even with the reporters chatting around her, Hyoji’s mind was elsewhere.
‘How am I supposed to get in here?’
Security around the dungeon was extremely tight.
Even reporters couldn’t cross the designated line.
‘There’s no way I can get through…’
The system, completely unaware of her situation, cruelly displayed a message.
[Collect a special plant suitable for your level!]
‘I want to collect it too!’
She even considered pretending to be part of a guild and sneaking in, but it was impossible.
The guards were carefully checking everyone’s identity.
“Hmm… what should I do…”
“What do you mean what should you do?”
“Ahh!”
Startled by the sudden voice, Hyoji bumped her forehead against the wall.
“Ow…”
“Are you okay?”
The person behind her was a man she had never seen before.
“I’m sorry… I startled you.”
“No, it’s okay.”
But… isn’t he standing too close?
Thinking that, Hyoji quietly took a step back.
‘Who is this guy?’
The man lowered his eyes slightly, looking apologetic.
He looked to be in his late twenties, and he was quite handsome. His light-colored eyes and bright brown hair suited him very well.
“You’ve got a bump on your forehead…”
“Really?!”
Startled, she quickly took out her phone from her pocket. No wonder her forehead was throbbing.
“Pfft!”
“……”
“Ahem. Sorry. I was joking.”
Her forehead was completely fine.
‘What kind of weirdo is this?’
Hyoji rubbed her forehead and glared at him.
“Even if there’s no bump, it’s still my fault you hit the wall, so I’ll compensate you. I have something to do right now… please contact me here.”
The man handed her a business card.
‘Rifle Guild – Lee Chanyoung.’
“…Are you a Hunter?”
“Yes. As you can see.”
A spark flashed in Hyoji’s eyes.
If he’s a Hunter, maybe he can help. And he’s from the Rifle Guild that cleared this dungeon!
As her eyes lit up, the man took a small step back.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Anyone could tell she was about to ask for a favor.
“You feel sorry for me, right?”
“…Yes.”
“Then can you grant me just one request?”
“What kind of request?”
“Promise me you’ll do it. You feel really sorry for me, don’t you?”
Hyoji said firmly, even holding out her pinky finger.
“Right?”
Without thinking, the man hooked his pinky with hers.
“Please let me enter this dungeon as a cleaner!”
The man’s face turned shocked.
“Here? This is a B-rank dungeon. It’s dangerous.”
“There’s a reason I absolutely have to clean this dungeon. Please don’t ask more and just help me.”
This man was her last hope to get inside.
“From B-rank dungeons onward, only cleaners belonging to a guild can enter.”
Chanyoung glanced at her.
Even if she said she was a cleaner, he couldn’t risk letting her get into danger by breaking rules.
Especially now, when rumors were spreading about a hidden monster appearing in a recently cleared D-rank dungeon.
“…I don’t think I can. It’s too dangerous.”
He tried to refuse.
He definitely meant to.
“Please, just this once. Okay?”
Is this… charm?
Hyoji, who was much shorter than him, looked up at him pleadingly. Her big, clear eyes almost looked like they were filled with tears.
“…Entering a B-rank dungeon is dangerous. I don’t know your reason, but let’s pretend this never happened.”
“Hunter, please…”
Her thin fingers tightly grabbed his collar. Just that slight touch made his face heat up.
“I’m begging you like this.”
Chanyoung turned his flushed face away.
“Please? Just once.”
“A-alright. First, let go of this…”
“Really? You mean it? Thank you! I won’t forget this!”
What a relief.
If she hadn’t met him, she would never have entered the dungeon today.
“But did you clear this dungeon, Hunter?”
“No. Another team cleared it.”
“I see… I wonder what it feels like to be a Hunter.”
Hyoji muttered while looking at the dungeon entrance.
Even low-rank Hunters earned stable salaries if they joined a guild. At least they wouldn’t have to worry about starving.
“That’s not really true.”
“Huh?”
“Being a Hunter isn’t something pleasant.”
For a moment, Chanyoung’s smile looked bitter.
“Because it’s dangerous.”
But soon, he smiled brightly again.
“If anything happens, please call me. Even cleared dungeons are always dangerous.”
“Yes, I understand. Thank you so much!”
It was time for the cleaners to enter.
Chanyoung spoke to the manager, then gestured for Hyoji to come closer.
“Write your name and contact number and you can go in.”
“Yes!”
Hyoji entered her name and phone number into the device.
The manager then allowed her to enter the dungeon.
‘I’m nervous.’
Higher rank meant better loot.
‘It must be competitive here too.’
But she shouldn’t get greedy.
She wasn’t here to fight.
‘I’ll just quietly take the special plant and leave.’
She held her basket tightly.
Even though it was a B-rank dungeon, it didn’t seem very different.
‘It’s better than I expected.’
Since all monsters were already cleared, it was quiet.
Only limited people were allowed in, so there was no fighting over loot.
Everyone was peacefully sharing things.
“Alright, let’s clean quickly and get out. There’s a company dinner today.”
“Let’s do our best!”
Leaving the cleaners behind, Hyoji moved deeper inside.
There should be plants further in.
After doing this once, she had a rough idea.
She found a path that clearly led deeper into the dungeon.
“This is it.”
It looked suspicious at first glance.
She swallowed nervously and opened her skill window.
If she met a monster, she would run without looking back.
“It’s so dark…”
Just like before, it was hard to see anything.
As she walked along the wall—
At her words, the plants suddenly began to glow.
A soft yellow light illuminated the dungeon.
“Wow… is this a skill too?”
[Passive Activated! You can use dungeon plants!]
The system kindly answered her.
After walking for a while—
She found many new types of plants.
Even if they weren’t special, she put them in her basket.
Checking new plants had become a small hobby.
“This one would look nice in a pot.”
She carefully gathered plants without damaging their roots.
‘The special plant should appear soon.’
She had come quite deep.
Looking around carefully—
“Found it!”
Even without seeing it before, she could tell.
It was shining differently from the others.
This time, the special plant was thin and long grass.
“This looks really tasteless.”
It didn’t even look filling.
“Well, I’ll just eat it like before.”
She filled her basket with the glowing leaves.
[Special Plant: Dust Grass (Plant Guardian Only)]
A system message appeared again.
Then—
[Enhanced Dust Grass is nearby!]
“…Huh?”
[A hidden dungeon for Plant Guardian is now opening.]
What?
[A guide to the hidden dungeon will begin.]
“What are you talking about? I’m not going! I don’t need that!”
[Guide starting.]
The system ignored her.
Her legs began moving on their own.
“I’m not going! Stop moving!”
Tears almost came to her eyes.
She didn’t need any enhanced plant!
Her legs kept walking—
And soon, she reached the end of the dungeon.
A dead end.
‘The plant is here?’
There was nothing.
She tapped the wall.
“…Huh?”
This was bad.
“Why… is the wall moving?”
The wall slid open like a door.
Behind it—
A hidden dungeon.
Filled with monsters.
In the darkness, countless red eyes glowed.
Hyoji slowly stepped back.
“Hahaha…”
She laughed like she lost her mind.
‘When did I say I needed this?’
This stupid system.
“I don’t want this awakening. Give me my normal life back!”
“Grrrr…”
The red eyes moved closer.
Wolf-type monsters stepped out.
“U-uh…”
She had heard animal-type monsters were stronger than insect-type.
‘How many are there?!’
She quickly opened her skill window.
“Just run!”
[Plant Guardian Skill Activated!]
She ran without looking back.
The wolves chased her closely.
Then—
Her phone rang.
She barely answered it.
—Hello, this is Hunter Lee Chanyoung. Sorry for getting your number from the manager. I was worried. Are you okay?
“Hunter?! Aah!”
A wolf almost bit her.
—What’s wrong? Did a monster appear?
“I think so!”
At that moment—
Rumble—
A loud roar echoed through the dungeon.
