“Gasp!”

 

“Where… where is this?”

 

“Why suddenly…?”

 

Confused people anxiously looked around. Buildings with corroded steel bars sticking out, terribly crushed cars, and asphalt roads with traces resembling dinosaur footprints.

 

“Damn, this is a popup dungeon!”

 

Someone screamed in a voice that sounded like a shriek.

 

Popup dungeon. It was a peculiar phenomenon that suddenly appeared without any precursor and overlaid the surrounding environment with a dungeon ecosystem. In the original work, the same phenomenon occurred while Choi Gang-hu was measuring the grade with a magic power meter.

 

Ordinary dungeons appear in the form of accessible gates. If not conquered within a certain time, a dungeon break phenomenon occurs where monsters pour out.

 

On the other hand, popup dungeons opened immediately without a waiting period for conquest. Although the occurrence was rare worldwide, whenever it happened, it always created enormous casualties.

 

“What? This is bullshit!”

 

“What should we do… sob…”

 

It was understandable for people suddenly caught up in this to react intensely. The overlapped space wasn’t small enough to grasp at a glance, though its full extent was unknown.

 

“Everyone, we need to lower our voices.”

 

Ryu Seo-ha, who had quickly scanned the surroundings, warned in a quiet but clear voice. The attention of those murmuring on the road, which was cracked as if scratched by car-sized claws, focused on him.

 

“We shouldn’t provoke nearby monsters. Let’s lower our voices and find a place to hide first.”

 

At this moment when everyone was confused and hopeless, not knowing what to do in this desperate situation, Ryu Seo-ha’s strangely calm attitude easily stimulated people’s avoidant psychology of wanting to depend on something.

 

“Wh-where to?”

 

“The building! Let’s go inside the building!”

 

Some immediately agreed and stepped forward. Among them, some people, seemingly in a hurry, quickly stepped towards the nearest building.

 

“High-rise buildings are not good.”

 

At Ryu Seo-ha’s restraint, the person who had been in charge of guidance from the VIP waiting room made an expression of incomprehension.

 

“There might be monsters inside too. It’s better to avoid places that are hard to survey thoroughly.”

 

While cautioning like this, Ryu Seo-ha, who hadn’t let his guard down around the surroundings, met eyes with Choi Gang-hu, who was looking at him with interest. Whatever happens here, whatever monsters appear, it probably wouldn’t matter to him.

 

What would be frightening for a man who had reigned as the strongest even in the Abyss where S-class monsters swarmed? He would likely protect Ryu Seo-ha safely too. As long as his inexplicable interest didn’t fade quickly.

 

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

 

Choi Gang-hu asked calmly. Even showing a leisurely smile that didn’t fit the situation.

 

He wanted to ask, “Please help us get out of here. It must be easier than eating cold rice for you.” But he couldn’t bring himself to say it. He shouldn’t show that he knows about him deeply. It might turn his favorable interest into suspicious wariness, or even clear hostility.

 

Publicly, Choi Gang-hu was still an unregistered awakened person who hadn’t even been assigned a grade. So he couldn’t readily ask for help. As always, he had to survive on his own. Shaking his head slightly, Ryu Seo-ha pointed to a building about 30 meters away.

 

“Let’s go in there.”

 

“No, that’s a hotel. You said big buildings are no good.”

 

The same employee from earlier grumbled with a dissatisfied expression. Whether it should be called logical criticism or a lack of sense of crisis.

 

“There’s a unique yellow mark on the coil mat at the entrance. It’s a trace of a Flame Skunk spraying its scent.”

 

Judging that there was no more time to waste, Ryu Seo-ha explained in a quick tone and stepped towards that direction. Careful not to make loud noises.

 

“So there’s a monster…”

 

“Flame Skunks are one of those rare non-aggressive monsters. The stench it smears all over its nest will also keep other monsters away.”

 

Whether they found it convincing, or realized there wasn’t time to argue at length, or thought there were no other options, people started to follow behind him en masse. Even the employee who had protested earlier.

 

Was it due to the extremely sharp tension he hadn’t felt in a long time, or his damn constitution? Suddenly breathing became difficult. It felt like the distance was 3km subjectively. Ryu Seo-ha, who arrived at the entrance of the 10-story hotel with dogged determination, suppressed his rapid breathing as much as possible and stopped, leaning against the entrance wall.

 

“Ugh.”

 

The people who followed right behind covered their noses at the terrible stench they had never smelled before.

 

“Blech.”

 

Some couldn’t hold back their dry heaving. He saw the backs of people hurriedly entering the hotel as if escaping from the stench. Choi Gang-hu showed no change in expression, as if this level of smell was nothing to him.

 

“Are you alright?”

 

He only calmly checked on Ryu Seo-ha’s well-being. Maybe he thinks I just have a weak stomach. When he nodded with difficulty, a bottle of water was abruptly handed over. It was probably water taken out from his [Subspace] skill. Choi Gang-hu could use skills regardless of their type. Showing a rare spatial skill might restrict his freedom of movement later.

 

“Thank you…”

 

He tried to pretend not to know and receive it. But his fingertips ridiculously sliced through the air. The world slowly tilting sideways brushed against his retina. Soon after, he felt the sensation of a firm arm supporting his waist.

 

“Tell the people… not to light fires…”

 

With that as the last, everything went dark before his eyes.

 

❖ ❖ ❖

 

“Why can’t we light fires? It’s freezing cold.”

 

“Isn’t it because this is the Flame Skunk’s territory?”

 

“Why?”

 

“I don’t know either. Just because it has ‘flame’ in the name…?”

 

The sound of whispered conversations woke him up.

 

“But why should we listen to such a kid?”

 

“Right. How can we trust a Chinatown survivor? Let’s just light a fire.”

 

“What if something really happens?”

 

The unfamiliar smell tickling his nose and the unfamiliar touch on his fingertips made him nervous. The situation before losing consciousness quickly flashed through his mind.

 

“We should also be mindful of the Gangseong Group heir…”

 

“Tsk, why is he so protective?”

 

“The face is quite pretty. To be honest, where else can you find such a beauty?”

 

“Gasp, you don’t mean… Even though he’s a man…”

 

Opening his eyes wide and quickly scanning the surroundings, a space presumed to be a banquet hall came into view. Ryu Seo-ha was carefully laid on a queen-size bed placed in one corner of it.

 

‘Why is there a bed here?’

 

A wide space secured by pushing round tables and chairs to the opposite corner. About 20 people were sitting sparsely in their own groups. Choi Gang-hu was nowhere to be seen.

 

“Although it’s a bit creepy, shouldn’t we pay attention to what the Chinatown survivor says? He must be a survival expert in his own way.”

 

“What could he do to us? He must have survived selfishly.”

 

“That’s right. He’s even an S-class awakened. He’ll definitely run wild as he pleases.”

 

Given the Flame Skunk’s habits, it would have marked its territory all over the hotel it made its nest. That was likely the reason why people couldn’t rest scattered in guest rooms and were gathered in the banquet hall. Probably because it was almost the only place not smeared with the smell.

 

It was the right choice in conclusion. Unexpected variables tend to pop up when acting individually. It was better to gather in one place and set up guard shifts.

 

“You’re awake.”

 

A low voice moistened his ear like drizzling rain. Choi Gang-hu was quietly standing at the head of the bed, appearing out of nowhere. As he slowly raised his upper body to sit up, Choi Gang-hu put an opened bottle of water to his lips.

 

He awkwardly took it and swallowed a sip, feeling the mattress sink deeply to one side. It was because Choi Gang-hu sat on the edge of the bed. The excessively close distance was burdensome, so he slightly turned his head away.

 

“How long was I lying down?”

 

Although he could calculate based on the remaining lifespan by looking at the status window, he didn’t want to receive a confirmation shot unnecessarily.

 

“About 3 hours.”

 

Beyond Choi Gang-hu’s face kindly answering, people who had stopped chattering and were staring this way came into view. The eyes of those sitting on tablecloths spread on the bare floor revealed various emotions.

 

The person who moved the bed from the guest room to the banquet hall must have been Choi Gang-hu, judging from the circumstances. Since he would return to a social position that would be hard to even look at if he survives here, no one would have been able to express complaints.

 

Feeling embarrassed about using furniture that didn’t fit this space alone, Ryu Seo-ha lowered his legs from the bed and tried to get up. No, he was about to. If only Choi Gang-hu hadn’t gently pressed down on his shoulder.

 

Magic Power 120

 

As the long fingers lightly brushed against the pale white nape, the magic power stat rose without fail. But something felt a bit strange. The last number he saw was 88.

 

Magic Power 125

 

Seeing the number rise again as Choi Gang-hu’s hand swept across his forehead as if tidying up disheveled hair, the increase was clearly getting slightly lower each time. In other words, it means there was additional skinship while he was asleep.

 

‘Did he touch me like this while moving me to the bed?’

 

But could the stat rise by nearly 30 just from that? In the midst of wondering, Choi Gang-hu’s affectionate voice broke his thoughts.

 

“You can rest more.”

 

It was such a gentle tone that it made all the body hair stand on end. I don’t think there was this level of description even when recruiting useful talents in the original work.

 

“…I’m fine.”

 

He shook his head while rubbing his arm where goosebumps had formed. How could he keep lying down alone when all eyes in the banquet hall were focused on him? He also needed to devise countermeasures to get out of here.

 

It seemed like everyone would just waste time like this unless someone provided direction. Judging from how they were only expressing complaints instead of having productive discussions in this critical situation.

 

“Excuse me.”

 

As he put down the water bottle and stood up, he sensed someone approaching hesitantly. It was that employee who had been with him since the VIP waiting room.

 

“What do we do now?”

 

The employee who had awkwardly approached asked with a tense expression. Towards Choi Gang-hu, not Ryu Seo-ha.

 

“Why are you asking me that?”

 

At the icily cold answer, the employee made a bewildered expression. What did he expect? Choi Gang-hu was originally someone who didn’t care about people who weren’t necessary to him.

 

Ryu Seo-ha looked around at the people sitting scattered here and there. There was no trace of goodwill in the gazes directed at him. The top priority task seemed to be changing people’s perceptions.

 

Suddenly, the psychiatrist with a long cloth wrapped around his face caught his attention. The magic power meter fragment that had been stuck in his cheek was still bleeding through the cloth made from torn underwear, as it wasn’t enough to properly stop the bleeding.

 

“…What is it?”

 

As he approached with quick steps, the psychiatrist who had been crouching against the wall looked up at Ryu Seo-ha with wary eyes. Anyone watching would think I was the one who hurt him.

 

Despite the hostile attitude, he gave the most radiant and harmless smile he could manage. The doctor’s expression momentarily turned stupid as if hit by a hammer.

 

“Excuse me for a moment.”

 

Ryu Seo-ha bent his waist slightly and placed his hand on the doctor’s cheek wrapped in cloth. The doctor, who had been blankly staring at him, belatedly startled and tried to avoid the contact, but,

 

Skill ‘Light of Healing’ is cast.

 

Along with a short system message, a dazzling pure white light embraced the doctor’s wounded area. It was a radiance that felt even sacred. Like clear water seeping into sand, the light soon faded.

 

“Th-this…”

 

As if entranced by something, the doctor unwrapped the cloth covering his face and felt his cheek over and over. The cheek had healed without even a scar, let alone a wound.