Kang Sang-goo’s eyes widened in shock.

“Whoa? Is that for real?”

What popped out of the inventory wasn’t an item of this system.

“A fire extinguisher?”

Indeed, what Kim Hyuk-jin held in his hand was a fire extinguisher, a spray-type one that could be used simply and conveniently. He’d seen it once in an Internet ad. Supposedly, it extinguishes fires way better than regular extinguishers.

“Huh?”

But what surprised Kang Sang-goo even more was the fact that not only Kim Hyuk-jin but also Kim Seon-hwa had pulled out fire extinguishers from their inventories. And not just one—two each!

That’s why he was shocked.

“Hey! Why don’t I have one?”

Looking at them now, it seemed like those two had planned this in advance. A coordinated strategy.

Sssshhhh!

With that sound, the flames engulfing the Blaze Demon were dying out.

Screeeeech!

The Blaze Demon screeched, an indistinguishable sound between a scream and a cry, flailing about haphazardly.

“Why am I the only one left out?”

Should I join in and pee on it or something? Kang Sang-goo mumbled to himself, creating some distance. Although he grumbled about being left out, the main actors of the raid right now were Kim Hyuk-jin and Kim Seon-hwa, each wielding two extinguishers. The four fire extinguishers were indeed doing their job.

‘Where this guy walks, flames always follow…’

That had turned into an extremely annoying trap. But now, it’s disappearing. The flames were nearly gone.

‘If it was going to be like this, why didn’t they use the fire extinguishers from the start?’

No, that’s not right.

‘If they had used them at first, it probably wouldn’t have worked.’

Kim Hyuk-jin seemed to have timed the use of the fire extinguisher perfectly, waiting for the right moment. He chose the time when the item(?) called a fire extinguisher could shine the brightest.

‘It looks like the fire’s mostly out.’

Kim Hyuk-jin’s figure, not falling off the brightly glowing horse, seemed somewhat miraculous. Did he learn some sort of horse-riding technique? It couldn’t be just his leg strength holding him on.

He crept closer.

[Skill ‘Deadly Flame’ activated.]

Kang Sang-goo, having approached closely, enveloped his fist in flames and struck the Blaze Demon’s side.

Whack!

A loud noise rang out. Simultaneously, Kim Hyuk-jin pulled out the sword he’d plunged into the back of the Blaze Demon’s neck.

Whoosh!

He slashed horizontally.

The Blaze Demon’s head was severed. It fell to the ground with a thud.

[You have hunted the Blaze Demon.]

[Experience points have increased.]

[22COIN obtained.]

Kim Hyuk-jin leaped off the collapsing horse and smirked at Kang Sang-goo.

“You came back at just the right time.”

Kang Sang-goo’s punch had come at a perfect moment, making it much easier to sever the neck.

“No, um, my mood is very bad right now, so don’t talk to me.”

──────────

Status: Joy/Elation/Enjoyment

──────────

“Why only pick on me? I can spray fire extinguishers well too. Squeak squeak. I dreamed of being a firefighter when I was young.”

Kim Hyuk-jin couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity. Despite the complaints, it seemed he was happy to have captured the troublesome Blaze Demon.

Seon-hwa spoke up.

“Brother. An item dropped!”

“Item?”

Kim Hyuk-jin examined the item. Its name was ‘Essence of Flames’.

‘What?’

This was strange, having a ‘Blaze Demon’ in this place, but even stranger was that it dropped the ‘Essence of Flames’.

‘Why would the Essence of Flames come from a Blaze Demon?’

The Essence of Flames wasn’t an item that should appear in beginner zones. It’s famously dropped in the Philippines.

At ‘Boracay’ island, within the ‘White Beach Dungeon’.

‘You’d need at least 10 players over level 50 to clear that.’

It’s certainly not an item for the beginner rank.

‘Why is it here?’

Kim Hyuk-jin picked up the brightly glowing yellow ‘Essence of Flames’ that had fallen to the ground.

──────────

[Essence of Flames]

An awakening agent that enhances fire attribute magical power. When players with fire affinity consume it, all fire attribute abilities are amplified.

Level Restriction: 20

Consumption Condition: Special Guardian’s Pact

──────────

After scrutinizing the item, Kim Hyuk-jin could be certain.

‘The Short Table Dungeon was prepared by the Giant of the Sunset to awaken Kang Sang-goo.’

Normally, the level restriction for ‘Essence of Flames’ is 40. It may vary depending on the grade, but usually around 40.

‘With a level limit of 20 and a newly added special consumption condition…’

There’s no consumption condition normally. If a player without fire affinity consumes it, their other abilities weaken as a side effect. In other words, only people with matching constitution can consume the ‘Essence of Flames.’ It’s not such a great item for someone without a specific affinity, like Kim Hyuk-jin.

He remembered the notification he’d heard earlier.

[‘The Giant of the Sunset’ exercises its unique powers.]

[You cannot perceive ‘Kang Sang-goo’ within your senses.]

This place, where the Giant of the Sunset is so openly helping out. A place prepared and arranged for Kang Sang-goo.

‘If I consume it here…’

I’d turn the Giant of the Sunset into an outright enemy. Not a desirable development.

Kang Sang-goo asked.

“By the way, what was that item you just consumed?”

“Essence of Flames. An awakening agent that amplifies the abilities for players with fire attribute affinity.”

“Ah? I’m the perfect player for fire attribute affinity.”

He chuckled, looking like he was saying, ‘That’s totally mine!’ Kim Hyuk-jin said,

“It seems like it would fetch a good price if we sold it. How about we divide the proceeds later, after we sell it?”

“…”

Kang Sang-goo’s body twitched.

“R-right? We could actually sell it.”

That sounded fair. After all, there’s only one item. It couldn’t be split. Kim Hyuk-jin continued to observe Kang Sang-goo, who apparently hadn’t received any particular notifications from the guardians, especially from the Giant of the Sunset.

‘Kang Sang-goo will come out after clearing this place on his own later.’

In the past, he would have absorbed the Essence of Flames here with a very high probability.

‘The fact that there’s a Blaze Demon at the second gateway means stronger ones might exist in the next.’

If that’s the case, Kang Sang-goo’s role, who is directly protected by the Giant of the Sunset, might become more prominent.

“However, I think it would be better if you consume it now, Sang-goo.”

Kang Sang-goo accepted the item with a grin, as if shouting, ‘Yay. This is mine!’ Despite his cheerful demeanor, he seemed to feel a heavy burden internally.

“Really, I eat this?”

Until just now, he seemed ready to gulp it down. But when confronted with the situation, he hesitated.

“You seem the most like a fire affinity player to me.”

“Really, I eat it?”

“Yes.”

Kang Sang-goo wavered several times. They had struggled together, sharing the reward seemed only right.

“But why give it to me? Hyuk-jin, you could eat it. You’re the one with the most influence in the raid, after all.”

Kim Hyuk-jin momentarily hesitated. At this moment. The Giant of the Sunset must be watching.

“Read the item description. Once.”

“Name: Essence of Flames. Awakens fire(火) attribute magical power….”

The ensuing item description.

──────────

Consumption condition: ‘Giant of the Sunset’s Protection’

──────────

“…Giant of the Sunset’s protection.”

Kim Hyuk-jin almost laughed, unable to believe it.

‘The description has changed since I had it?’

When Kim Hyuk-jin had it, it was clearly ‘Special Guardian’s Pact,’ but when the ownership transferred to Kang Sang-goo, it specifically stated ‘Giant of the Sunset’s Protection.’

‘It’s confirmed then.’

This place is a dungeon for Kang Sang-goo, by Kang Sang-goo, and of Kang Sang-goo. The ‘Giant of the Sunset’ exerted so much power. Probably an enormous amount of COIN was invested. Sometimes there are those extremely rare instances. Guardians obsessed with a player, who pour everything into their avatars or incarnations.

‘If I had consumed it, it would have been a disaster.’

Because I wouldn’t have met the actual conditions, I’d have suffered from significant side effects.

“I have never heard the name Giant of the Sunset before.”

“Is that so? I hear about it every day.”

“Then it means the guardian has chosen you. Don’t go against their will, just consume it.”

Kang Sang-goo scratched his head, seeming uneasy.

Kim Hyuk-jin smirked.

“Don’t worry so much. How about this? From now on, we’ll have the first claim to any rewards. Of course, I’m not saying we’ll definitely consume anything without proper discussion. Okay?”

Finally, Kang Sang-goo nodded.

“That would ease my mind. So, I really eat this?”

Kim Hyuk-jin nodded again, satisfied with the arrangement. This place was an incubator created by the Giant of the Sunset, who had invested a huge amount of coins to awaken Kang Sang-goo. Who knows what other good things were hidden here.

The words Kim Hyuk-jin just spoke were actually addressed to the Giant of the Sunset, not Kang Sang-goo. Having said this in advance, Kim Hyuk-jin had established a justifiable position.

‘He clearly conceded ownership with his own words.’

Now the Giant of the Sunset would have nothing left to object to. Kim Hyuk-jin had secured a clear position in about five minutes.

[‘The Whispering Devil’ takes pleasure in your play.]

* * *

Kang Sang-goo consumed the ‘Essence of Flames’. Apart from the flames that erupted from his body for a moment, there were no significant changes. Kim Hyuk-jin’s party moved on, discovering a ‘Portal’ in one corner of the meadow. A circular shaped magic circle. A gateway to another place.

They could move to the next gateway through the portal.

[Entering the ‘Short Table Dungeon’ at the ‘Third Gateway’.]

[Entered the ‘Valley of Fire’.]

In the distance, a valley was visible. It lived up to its name. A valley where fire flowed instead of water, almost as if lava were streaming.

Intense heat could be felt. Sweat began to bead on Kim Hyuk-jin’s forehead.

‘Hot.’

It wasn’t just hot. It was burning. The valley where fire flowed emitted an immense amount of ‘heat.’

The valley was about 7 meters wide. To get across, one had to pass through those flames, as there was no bridge in sight.

Kim Seon-hwa said,

“Brother. The portal is disappearing.”

[Please meet the clearance conditions of the ‘Valley of Fire’ at the Third Gateway.]

[If you do not meet the clearance conditions, you cannot escape.]

Kim Hyuk-jin frowned for a moment.

‘Clearance?’

A system quest was delivered.

──────────

[Cross the Valley of Fire]

Beyond the Valley of Fire. The land of milk and honey, ‘Kuntan,’ is said to exist. Cross the Valley of Fire.

──────────

Kang Sang-goo looked serious.

“I think I can cross.”

That made sense. A player with fire affinity, who had just consumed the ‘Essence of Flames’ and whom the ‘Giant of the Sunset’—sure to have designed this dungeon—was protecting.

“I have a feeling. I can definitely cross it.”

Sure enough. Kim Hyuk-jin did not refute Kang Sang-goo’s words. He assumed the ‘Valley of Fire’ was made so Kang Sang-goo could absorb that immense ‘heat.’

Kang Sang-goo asked,

“Can you make it across?”

“I’m not sure.”

It wasn’t going to be easy. A width of 7 meters and a depth of about 70cm. One would definitely die just entering it.

‘The Giant of the Sunset… doesn’t want any survivors besides Kang Sang-goo.’

This place was meant only for Kang Sang-goo. That was Kim Hyuk-jin’s judgement.

‘At this level of difficulty, it looks like it’s been raised to the maximum possible within the beginner rank.’

No matter how many coins were spent, the difficulty could not be raised any further.

‘In other words, this is the highest difficulty section of the dungeon.’

How to get through this highest difficulty section was the challenge before them. And Kim Hyuk-jin knew a solution to this challenge.

But then, Kang Sang-goo unexpectedly said something.

“Ah but, you know.”