VSP 104

“Hey.”

Even though he’d been speaking politely so far, he suddenly threw that out the window. The staff member watching Lee Dohun’s body-cam monitor flinched at the abrupt informal speech.

“Y-yes?”

“If you guys sell this to a broadcasting station again and put it on live air, I’ll kill you.”

“Y-yes sir!”

The poor staff member looked like he was about to cry at the brutal threat.

The body-cams hunters wore were meant for delivering on-site information so people outside could understand what was happening, not for broadcasting.

It obviously shouldn’t happen, but like Dohun said, there had already been several instances where body-cam footage was sold to TV stations and streamed live. His warning wasn’t baseless.

No hunter liked the idea of the dungeon they risked their life entering becoming entertainment.

Son Wontae answered with a serious face.

“That won’t happen.”

There was no time to argue over whether they believed that or not. The three hunters strapped on their body-cams, confirmed they were working properly, and without hesitating moved closer to the department store.

The entry had finally begun.

Right before going in, Son Wontae suddenly looked at Seo Sejun. He didn’t know why. Maybe because his gaze kept looking for him for some reason? Even at the last moment, his gaze went not to the other hunters but to Seo Sejun.

Seo Sejun was staring at his own hand. His right hand. More specifically… at the ring on the fourth finger of that right hand.

…A ring?

But Wontae had no way to check if he’d really seen it right. Seo Sejun slipped that hand back into the pocket of his tracksuit.

“Uh, p-please come back safe!”

It felt weird to keep staring at their backs, so Wontae said that, but none of the three hunters replied.

The three hunters walked toward the department store and disappeared without a sound, accompanied only by a soft humming noise. Wontae swallowed a breath and finally relaxed a little, turning to the junior staff next to him.

“At least the raid started.”

“Really. Good work.”

“I didn’t do anything… Now we just need the Association President to arrive.”

He flapped his clothes, already drenched in cold sweat. He realized it still wasn’t time to relax and sighed.

“I’ll go calm down the reporters now that the hunters entered. You stay here and monitor.”

“Yes, sir! Leave it to me!”

Wontae glanced once at the monitors linked to the hunters’ body-cams, then quickly walked toward the reporters who had been bothering the staff since earlier.

“……”

The staff member who had been watching Wontae’s retreating back quickly noticed that everyone around him was too busy to pay attention to him. He quietly picked up his phone.

“Ah, PD Kim, how have you been? Haha, yes. Of course. I’m calling because of that thing we talked about…”

His voice was low, but his eyes sparkled strangely as he stole glances at the dungeon footage on the monitors.

•••

The moment they approached the department store, that same nauseating twist hit them like when entering a dungeon. When they came to their senses, they were already inside the store.

On the first floor of Taeseong Department Store was a large golden tree called the Meeting Square. There were several benches around it, and when people arranged to meet, they usually met at this square.

Promotional posters for restaurants on other floors, SALE signs, stores with their doors wide open, lights that were still perfectly on… all of it made the place look like it was still operating normally. But it was far too quiet for a space usually crowded with people.

“Ah, this is creepy.”

Choi Hangyeol rubbed his arms nonstop the moment they stepped inside and immediately began scanning the dungeon interior.

He closed his eyes to focus, but he opened them almost right away. It wasn’t because the scan was complete.

He shook his head.

“My sense isn’t working right.”

“How bad?”

“It works up to this general area. Beyond that, completely impossible.”

It was bad news. With only three of them responsible for such a huge space, Choi Hangyeol’s ability was their only hope.

“Shit, so this really is an S-grade dungeon.”

Lee Dohun looked around and muttered in a low voice. He nervously clenched and unclenched his fist.

There wasn’t a single direct threat in sight, but a space where anything could jump out from anywhere was more dangerous.

If the place looked peaceful on the surface but even S-rank hunter Choi Hangyeol’s sensing barely worked…

“This won’t be easy.”

Just like Lee Dohun said, this wouldn’t be easy.

If sensing didn’t work, there was only one option left. They had to move their bodies and search directly.

And the logical choice was for the three of them to split up.

“Sejun-hyung, if something happens, shout. I’ll run right over.”

Since they decided to split up, Hangyeol said that to Sejun. He said it with a grin, but his eyes were serious.

Was he trying to reassure him or was he teasing him? Sejun couldn’t tell, so his expression turned sour. Seeing that, Lee Dohun clicked his tongue.

“What are you even running over for, with that weak mental-type ability of yours.”

His arms were crossed as he mocked Hangyeol, but his gaze was fixed on Sejun.

“Oh? You’re looking down on mental-types now?”

“Yeah. I am.”

If mental-type hunters around the country heard this, they’d riot, but Lee Dohun didn’t care. Then he looked at Sejun from the corner of his eye and added:

“Someone like me with physical enhancement running over is better.”

The moment he said that, the atmosphere froze.

That was a serious statement. In a way, it was even worse than looking down on mental-type hunters.

Choi Hangyeol’s eyes widened.

“You…? You’re saying you’d run if Sejun-hyung is in danger?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

Lee Dohun retorted like Hangyeol was overreacting, but this was definitely something worth reacting to.

Lee Dohun? Running to help Seo Sejun when he’s in danger? If he were rushing in to steal the final blow, maybe. But willingly helping?

Sejun and Hangyeol stared at him, both full of suspicion. They stared so hard that Dohun, who had a famously low boiling point, immediately got annoyed.

“Choi Hangyeol, stop staring like that. Seo Sejun, what are you staring at again?”

Judging by his tone, it was definitely the same Dohun as always. Sejun watched Dohun’s irritated face quietly, then slowly spoke.

“You… said sorry earlier.”

As if it were some kind of magic phrase, Lee Dohun immediately shut his mouth. It seemed he hadn’t meant that apology as an empty lie, because he immediately closed his mouth when Sejun brought it up. Surprised, Sejun added one more line.

“Then talk to me a little nicer.”

“…you’re annoying.”

Dohun complained like usual, but it didn’t sound like his normal harsh tone filled with real irritation. His voice grew quieter as he looked away.

Sejun leaned his head toward Dohun’s face as he turned away. If Dohun avoided him, Sejun followed.

“You get it?”

“…I get it!”

It felt like making a grumpy kid promise to behave. Sejun blinked in disbelief. Dohun apologizing to him, then grumbling but agreeing to speak nicely when asked…

He still didn’t feel like forgiving him even one bit, but he couldn’t stop he couldn’t help feeling a little strange. One side of his heart felt weirdly ticklish. It wasn’t just the satisfaction of making the guy who always bullied him back down.

Hangyeol, who was watching them, let out a soft, amazed whistle.

“I think it’s time for me to get my eyes checked. Even Dohun looks cute now.”

“Shut up, Choi Hangyeol!”

Dohun yelled and glared at Hangyeol, but Hangyeol didn’t seem threatened at all. He ignored Dohun’s reaction and looked at Sejun instead.

He was still grinning, like someone watching something extremely entertaining.

“Sejun-hyung, but I’m not that weak either, okay?”

“What?”

“I can run over too, so just call me. You can send your spirit, right?”

Hangyeol said that and took out his weapon. A few swift swings, and the short rod stretched instantly until it turned into something like a sword. The silver blade reflected a dim light.

Hangyeol was a mental-type hunter, yes, but he was also an S-rank hunter with a strong body. With a good weapon, he could fight like any A-rank without trouble.

He probably meant well, but having all of them suddenly act like this—when none of them ever had before—was not something he could easily get used to.