We kindly ask for your understanding regarding the inconsistency of character pronouns, particularly for the Entities (ex. The Greedy Predator). In Korean, pronouns are rarely used, making it challenging to ascertain a character's gender or identity until later narratives unfold. Update twice a week [SUN] & [THURS] starting August 2024! Also please check out our new Hunter series!
“Why am I the only one going out? We should go together! Let’s go together. After reporting, we can return here together.”
“What’s that plan? I could use that time to find a way to break through the dungeon.”
“How can I leave you alone?!” Despair crossed Jaeheon’s face. He knew she was stronger than him. But that didn’t mean he had a reason to leave his sister here.
How can I endanger my sister with my own hands? She came all the way here to save me.
“Snap out of it. You’re a mercenary on a mission, Brother. Finish your mission. You’re proud to be part of Athena, right? You should think about saving your captain and comrades trapped here.”
“But you! You’re just my younger sister who came to save me. Why do you volunteer for danger? I’d rather be the one staying behind. You go out. If there’s a way to find the exit, you should be the one to go!”
“Well, it’s been too long since you entered here, Brother. Have you forgotten?” As she said that, the forest attacked Jaeheon, and Seora activated a cube to block it. In the hazy darkness, her left pupil emitted a red light. “Without me, you won’t last here much longer, Brother. On the contrary, I can. So, who should go out and report?”
“You…!”
Now, Seora grabbed Jaeheon’s arm and shook him. “The person with a higher survival rate should stay. I absolutely can’t stand seeing your in danger. So, go out.”As Seora waved her hand, the cube suddenly shrank, trapping Jaeheon. He punched it in surprise, but it didn’t break.
Outside the cube, Seora smiled. “You know that breaking it affects me, right?”
Jaeheon’s arm immediately stopped. His face twisted in despair, and he looked like he might burst into tears any moment.
“Sorry for being such a stubborn younger sister. But since you’re stubborn too, I have to be even more stubborn to prevail.” Seora rested her forehead against the cube. The energy from Jaeheon conveyed through the cube eased her mind.
He’s still alive.
“Don’t worry. I have no intention of dying, especially now that I have a new wish. I won’t die until it comes true. I will definitely survive to fulfill my wish.”
Her gaze turned towards the nine-tailed fox next to her and the administrator beyond. She would surely live until she met him in person and heard his story.
‘I beg you, Administrator. Please take my brother to the exit.’
The nine-tailed fox looked at her without responding.
‘Please, I’m begging you.’
〖”To me, you are more precious than Yun Jaeheon, even if he is the son of Hyeon Jaehui. I care for you not because you’re her daughter.”〗
Under normal circumstances, she would have been delighted by his words. But now, Jaeheon’s safety was more important than anything.
‘Do it not for my brother’s sake, but for me instead. If I stay with my brother, I’ll keep using the cube, and that will tire me out faster. Right?’
The nine-tailed fox frowned. While her words were correct, his expression showed reluctance. How could he leave her alone and go by himself?
‘So, Administrator-nim, throw my brother outside the exit and come back soon. Even if the summon is separated from me, your will is still with me, right?’
〖”You have completely mastered how to control me now.”〗
The administrator’s deep sigh tickled her ears. Smiling at the sound of suppressed anger, Seora apologized.
‘I’m sorry.’
〖”How could I not know that you cherish Yun Jaeheon? So, just this once. Remember, you’re more important to me than Yun Jaeheon and Hyeon Jaehui.”〗
Without saying a word, Seora tightly embraced the fox’s neck, even though it wasn’t the right time. Despite the situation, her heart couldn’t help but flutter at the affectionate words. Ŗ𝘼₦ŎʙĚŝ
Seora’s lips touched the fox’s nose.
“Brother, don’t worry. I will be safe.”
“Yun Seora!”
“Then, please.”
As Seora stroked the fox’s back, he glared at Jaeheon and immediately started running. The cube responded to his movements and followed as he shared the same summoning skill with Seora.
Inside the cube, the bewildered Yun Jaeheon alternately looked at Seora, who was getting farther away, and the nine-tailed fox.
“Yun Seora!”
“Trust him. He’s the only one who can find the exit in this dungeon. See you later, Brother.” Seora waved toward the disheartened Jaeheon. Even as she left her desperate brother behind, her brightly smiling face remained clear.
As the fox and the cube emitting a red light leaped over the tall grass and disappeared into the mist, she was left alone. However, far from feeling anxious, she felt a great sense of relief.
Yun Jaeheon is safe now. That’s all that matters.
“Well, shall we go break this dungeon now?” With her sniper rifle slung over her shoulder, Seora began to push through the dense vegetation. “Dare to hurt Yun Jaeheon? Damn dungeon. I won’t let you get away with it.”
In the mist, Seora’s left pupil, tinged red, grew fiery with determination.
***
Inside the cube, Jaeheon crouched, immersed in frustration. He couldn’t break the cube with his own strength, and even if it were possible, he had no intention of doing so. Breaking it would turn everything into blades that could harm his sister.
All he could do was immediately exit and request support. Oh, why was he so powerless? Why didn’t he have the strength to save his sister despite all his efforts to become stronger?
Seora had said she would protect him now that she had gained strength. Jaeheon, as her brother, was willing to receive the protection of his stronger sister. However, leaving only his sister behind and running away alone was something he had never considered.
“…Ah.”
How long had they been running? In front of him, a shimmering blue door appeared–the exit gate. Seora’s summon had indeed found the exit. How could a summon achieve what even Hunters couldn’t?
“Who the heck are you?”
However, the fox remained silent. Biting his lips tightly, Jaeheon pressed his forehead against the cube.
“No, it doesn’t matter who you are. Whoever you are, it doesn’t matter. So please… Please protect Seora. Please, protect my sister.” Jaeheon crouched, tears streaming down. The blood-soaked uniform absorbed the tears once again.
But there was no response.
Thunk! The world turned white with a thunderous footstep. As Jaeheon, drenched in tears, raised his head, a dense forest different from the misty grassland came into view. It was the very forest where the dungeon gate had appeared.
“There!”
“There’s a survivor!”
“It’s the branch manager! Quick, check it out!”
In front of him, familiar faces were rushing towards him—his direct subordinates, each bearing the Athena emblem on their arms. Seeing them, tears welled up once again.
The nine-tailed fox, who had pulled him out of the cube, threw him to the ground without hesitation.
“Ugh!”
Jaeheon, with his shoulders cushioning the impact against the ground, lifted his head. The icy eyes that met his were entirely different from when they playfully begged Seora. Ah, yes. The temperamental fox, so disobedient that it would scratch the face of Garcia and Kang Sejun, obeyed only Yun Seora. It protected her safety and loved only her.
If Seora hadn’t personally requested it, it probably wouldn’t have brought Jaeheon all the way here, leaving Seora in the dungeon.
In a different sense than Song Hanna and himself, this fox cherished Seora. So, there was no need to ask it to protect Seora explicitly.
The fox would dedicate its life to safeguarding her.
After silently watching as Jaeheon collapsed on the ground, the fox entered the gate again as if to say it was done. Jaeheon lowered his head deeply and clenched his fist.
What he couldn’t do, that fox would do in his stead. It didn’t matter who or what it was. Anything was fine as long as it protected Seora.
“Branch Manager! Are you okay?!”
Rani Sharma, who had rushed over, examined his body. Confirming that he was in decent condition despite the blood-soaked and torn uniform, she immediately turned her gaze towards the gate where the fox had disappeared.
“That fox just now… You must have met your sister, right?”
At Rani’s question, Jaeheon closed his eyes tightly. Since the fox had left, the way to return to his sister had also vanished. In that case, he would do what he could from the outside.
“Where are the WDO staff? Call them right away.”
Yun Jaeheon wiped his tears and rose gloomily. Recognizing the seriousness of the situation from his stern expression, Rani immediately brought a WDO staff member along.
“Tell Director Rodrick to contact China immediately. It’s urgent.”
“What have you discovered?”
“It is speculated that this dungeon is connected to the Maze Dungeon that occurred in China seven years ago and was eventually locked with a Lock. Currently, Captain Ali and Headbang are jointly attacking inside the dungeon, so we urgently request China to unlock the Lock and participate.”
Everyone in the vicinity, including the WDO staff, held their breath.
This dungeon is connected to China’s Locked dungeon, the one that happened seven years ago? What on earth is this absurd talk?
“This information is confirmed under the names of Athena’s Yun Jaeheon and Korea’s L-class Headbang Yun Seora.”
However, when Jaeheon presented several Chinese Hunters’ licenses he found in the dungeon, there was no longer room for doubt.
“I will contact the director immediately and request support from the Chinese side. Meanwhile, Hunter Yun Jaeheon, please provide detailed information about the situation inside the dungeon.”
“How much time has passed since I entered?”
“Exactly 78 days.”
When Seora entered, it had been a little over two months, and in the meantime, more than a fortnight had passed. Jaeheon bit his lip.
“Let’s go.”
There was no time to waste. While another staff member contacted the director, Jaeheon explained everything he had seen inside the dungeon.
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