The pajama-wearing figure in the white baseball cap froze in place. However, the hiker and the tall young man didn’t stop—in fact, their pace quickened. What gave them this confidence? Lee Minhoon, the guard, quickly retrieved a stun gun from his inventory and placed his hand on the emergency call button as he issued another warning.

“Take one more step, and—”

But before he could finish, the hiker suddenly raised his trekking pole.

“Sic ‘em!”

“Coo-oo!”

At the sharp cry of a chicken, Minhoon reflexively turned around in confusion.

*Smack!*

“Ow!”

Something smooth, round, and heavy hit Minhoon square in the face, knocking him out cold. As he collapsed onto his chair with a groan, the round object that had struck him hopped onto his chest and then onto the desk, where it pecked at the microphone and proudly announced its victory.

“Coo.”

Hong Yeseong, the hiker, raised his fist triumphantly.

“Well done, Kokko!”

Tucking the trekking pole under his arm, Hong Yeseong pulled out a round device and pressed a button. The sphere split in half, releasing a wave of blue electricity that crackled through the air. The heads of the three intruders buzzed slightly as sparks flew from the machines inside the guard office, plunging the building into darkness.

He rubbed his hands together with a wicked grin.

“This is exactly why I made this equipment. Always wanted to try it out at least once.”

Hong Yeseong laughed heartily, throwing his head back in satisfaction. Meanwhile, Gaeul sidled up to Uijae and murmured,

“…Are we really supposed to be doing this? What if the Wave Guild contacts us later?”

Uijae responded with an empty stare.

“Well… I kind of expected something like this the moment I brought him along.”

This was the same man who had terrorized people with black powder and kidnapped him during the Artisan Exhibition, even with countless guards and high-ranking Hunters around. So, in a place like this with no one watching? Of course, he'd be ecstatic. And he was—literally bouncing around.

Hong Yeseong was a pain when he was an enemy, and an efficient but still troublesome ally. Uijae closed his eyes, watching the hiker prance about with glee.

Yoon Gaeul had certainly learned how to handle Hong Yeseong from Jung Bin. The master craftsman, who had been suspiciously watching from under his silver mat, was coaxed out by Gaeul’s words of praise and charm.

“Master craftsman!”

“Genius!”

“The greatest potter!”

Each compliment caused Hong Yeseong to visibly melt, his smile broadening under his mask. The more Gaeul buttered him up, the more enthusiastic he became, clearly eager to participate in their little stealth mission.

Listening intently to Gaeul's explanations, Hong Yeseong had mumbled with a soft smile,

“My favorite movies are the 007 series and Mission: Impossible.”

Gaeul had responded quickly.

“If you come with us, you can be Tom Cruise, Mr. Hong Yeseong.”

*Yeah, you too can be Tom Cruise.* That had sealed the deal. Already tempted by the thrill of mischief, Hong Yeseong enthusiastically agreed to join. Thanks to recruiting the "best Doraemon," they didn't have to wait for the first subway or call a taxi—they had arrived at Jongno 3-ga in no time thanks to Hong Yeseong’s emergency escape device.

“…In the end, it worked out well for me.”

Had Uijae come alone, he would have spent ages taking out all the security cameras one by one. Maybe this was why protagonists always had companions with them. As he pondered this strange new feeling, Kokko casually returned, holding an ID card in its beak. It was the guard’s ID.

The passage leading to the underground dungeon in Jongno 3-ga was sealed by a massive, thick iron door. Gaeul swiped the ID card through the machine next to the door, and with a deep groan, the door slowly slid open.

At the end of the dark tunnel, a blue glow flickered at the entrance of the dungeon. Gaeul took a deep breath.

“We’ll just take a look around the entrance where the erosion is happening and then come right out, okay?”

“Got it.”

“Let’s go! I’ve been dying to see an eroded dungeon with my own eyes!”

While Hong Yeseong was visibly excited, Gaeul was clearly anxious. She kept rubbing her sweaty palms against her clothes. As Uijae stared into the swirling entrance of the dungeon, he asked quietly,

“Is this your first time entering a dungeon?”

“Huh? Oh, no. I went inside once during training with the Rift Bureau. …But this is my first time going in for something this serious.”

Gaeul rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly.

“Uncle Jung Bin and the others really wanted me to focus on my studies. They said dungeons could wait until I was an adult. Even told me not to reveal my S-rank status until after I turned eighteen.”

Hong Yeseong, with Kokko perched on his head, nodded seriously.

“Exactly. Why would a kid be going into dungeons? At that age, they should be busy playing.”

“…”

“A kid shouldn’t be fighting.”

Somehow, the conversation left Uijae with a strange, unsettled feeling. A world where it was normal for minors to be protected… yeah, the world had changed. He rubbed his face roughly. Meanwhile, Hong Yeseong continued rambling.

“Are there going to be monsters inside?”

“Most likely.”

“Oh, should we get ready to run then?”

“If we can, yeah.”

Listening to Hong Yeseong’s nonsense made the strange feeling in Uijae’s chest dissipate. Right. Fighting would be his job. Maybe it would have been better to come alone.

As he alternated glances between Gaeul’s tense expression and Hong Yeseong’s completely nonchalant one, Uijae took a deep breath. Just then, Hong Yeseong, who seemed to be pondering something, turned to Uijae.

“Hey, Secretary, are you good in a fight?”

“…I can handle myself.”

“Ooh, what weapon do you use? A sword?”

He usually used a spear… but he couldn’t reveal that. Besides, he used all sorts of things, not just spears. He even used green onions as weapons. Uijae answered casually.

“Anything.”

Hong Yeseong pouted, ready to complain, so Uijae quickly clarified.

“I use whatever’s handy. It really doesn’t matter.”

“Hmm, I see… I actually like that.”

Rubbing his chin, Hong Yeseong began pulling out weapons from his inventory. With loud thuds, a variety of rare weapons clattered onto the concrete floor. Gaeul looked horrified.

“Is it really okay to just throw those on the ground?”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. A quick polish with a whetstone and they’ll be good as new. Take your pick, Secretary. Anything you like?”

Just a quick glance revealed that any of these weapons were high-quality enough to make any Hunter envious. Uijae wondered why none of them had been displayed at the Artisan Exhibition. He ignored the flashy hammer, oversized sword, and bow, and instead grabbed a long, sleek staff.

“This will do.”

“Huh? But there are better options.”

“This one feels the most comfortable. By the way, Mr. Hong Yeseong, can you fight?”

“Huh? I’ve got Kokko, don’t I?”

“Coo!”

Kokko chirped, raising one of its wings. Was he really planning to leave the fighting to that tiny, unfinished-looking chicken while he hid behind it? Seeing Uijae’s doubtful expression, Hong Yeseong squinted.

“What’s that look for? You don’t believe me? I’ll show you how well Kokko can fight.”

“…Okay.”

“Show ‘em, Kokko!”

Hong Yeseong, now wearing his sunglasses again, pointed ahead dramatically.

“Kokko, fire!”

“Coo, coo, coo…”

Kokko opened its beak wide and let out a triumphant cry.

“Coo-oooo!”

*Fwoosh!* A bright blue flame shot out of Kokko’s beak, igniting the air. Kokko puffed out its chest proudly, as if it had grown larger. It hadn’t, but it tried.

Standing nearby, Gaeul muttered,

“It’s a fire chicken…”

With a dry expression, Uijae finished preparing to enter the dungeon. Now, in addition to Gaeul, he had to protect Hong Yeseong as well. Check.

At that moment, a white system window suddenly popped up in front of him. Uijae’s eyes widened in surprise.

---

**[You have unlocked the title conditions.]**

**[Condition achieved: Re-enter ■■.]**

**[The locked title has been unlocked.]**

**[Title: ■■■ ■■■]**

---

*Rumble!* The ground beneath their feet shook. As the floor trembled, Uijae instinctively grabbed Gaeul and Hong Yeseong to keep them steady. Around them, the crumbling earth began to rise, and broken buildings emerged from the ground. Cracks began to form in the white sky. And then—

---

**[Congratulations on unlocking your title, J!]**

**[Your title is *Conqueror of Solitude*.]**

**[The dungeon is responding to the title!]**

**[The dungeon is being restructured!]**

---

*Crash!*

A massive bolt of lightning struck, blinding him in a flash of white. Uijae felt the arms he had been holding slip from his grasp as everything faded away into blinding emptiness.

*Ssshhhh...*

White ash swirled gently in the slow breeze. A man, prodding through the rubble with a long stick, shook his head roughly. Above him, the pale sky churned with a swirling white void. Unlike the black hole that had become commonplace in the skies of rifts and dungeons since the Day of the Rift, this was something different.

So, what was that thing hovering in the sky?

The sound of steady footsteps approached. Jung Bin was walking toward him, brushing off the white ash that had settled on his shoulders.

"Did you find anything, Guild Leader Lee Sayoung?"

"No."

Sayoung replied indifferently, his sharp gaze scanning the surroundings. Jung Bin nodded and opened his mouth to speak when Sayoung suddenly whipped his head around, staring back toward the entrance they had come through. Jung Bin followed his gaze with a puzzled expression.

"What is it?"

"...Jung Bin."

"Yes, sir?"

"Did you call for backup?"

"No, sir. This investigation into the eroded dungeon is being conducted by you and me alone."

Sayoung’s violet eyes narrowed, focused on something in the distance. His lips moved.

"...Someone's here."

Jung Bin’s expression shifted. And as if to confirm Sayoung’s words, the ground beneath them began to rumble.

*Rumble...*

 

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TL NOTE: Please don't skimp on the stars for the translation - it inspires me and gives me the strength to write more. Thank you~!