“It seems so.”
Song Cha-hyun looked around and nodded her head. She was very nervous that there might be a huge and terrifying middle boss mob, however the outcome was disappointing. Then what was the reason that it wasn’t detected?
I tilted my head and looked around. Everyone seemed busy preparing to go to the next area.
After passing through that warp point, we randomly teleported to Area 3 or 4. The location after teleporting would change every time, so it seemed like it would take some time to prepare. For example, when we teleport to Area 3, we could be at the entrance to Area 3, in the middle of Area 3, or right before the middle boss mob in the second half of the dungeon.
Even though it was rare to fall right in front of a mid-boss, there was still a chance for such an outcome due to its randomness. Therefore, the Valkyrie members who were at the forefront of the battle, had already prepared with diving suits and items for them to suddenly fall into the water.
The support team that would be following in the rear hadn’t prepared to that extent yet, so I watched from the back, keeping an eye on the hero and heroine, who would soon find themselves alone in Area 4. Only Kang Yoo-hyun and Sung Yoo-bin would be separated by that warp portal. Since Sung Yoo-bin still had the cooldown of the skill remaining, I secretly planned to cast the skill to Kang Yoo-hyun.
Fortunately, my partner Kang Yoo-hyun was with me the whole time. Since it would be too obvious if I acted now, I planned to casually hold his hand right before going through the portal and apply the skill.
Perfect, this is a flawless plan. Secretly thinking about the perfect plan, I suppressed the corner of my mouth that kept rising, but Kang Yoo-hyun looked at me and asked—
“What’s wrong?”
“Huh? What?”“Are you nervous?”
“…?”
Am I nervous? Me? Did I look like that when I was trying to hold back my laughter? I looked at him with a puzzled expression and shook my head.
“No, I’m not nervous, though?”
“…”
Then Kang Yoo Hyun still looked at me with a serious look before opening his mouth again.
“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”
“…!”
I looked at Kang Yoo-hyun in surprise. His face was indifferent yet he spoke those exhilarating words out of the blue. That was also what Kang Yoo-hyun used to say to the heroines in novels. I got goosebumps.
Why is this bastard saying the things he usually says to heroines to me? As I stared at Kang Yoo-hyun in disbelief, I suddenly felt a weight on my back.
“Agh!”
“Yi-jin-ah, me too! I’ll protect you, too!”
“It’s heavy, you bastard!”
Suddenly, Eden hugged me from behind. As I struggled to free myself, Eden spoke and looked at me with a mischievous smile.
“I can’t believe you’re shy.”
“Fuck you.”
How on earth does this annoyed face look shy? I frowned, but somehow Eden’s smile deepened. It sucks, really.
I was thinking of kicking him in the shins, but then Song Cha-hyun’s voice resounded throughout the team.
[Ah ah, can you all hear me?]
It seemed to be a voice amplification item. Song Cha-hyun’s voice sounded louder than usual, and her voice continued to reverberate throughout the vast cave.
[We’re going to take the portal to the area where the middle boss monster is located. Please make sure each unit follows orders and passes through the portal in turn.]
“…”
The Valkyrie squad members stood at the front in preparation for the battle situation that would occur immediately after the warping, and were followed by the support team. I, Kang Yoo-hyun and Eden also waited with the support team members to enter the portal together.
I feel like I’m waiting for the rides in an amusement park. It’s a completely different situation, but maybe because I’m not so nervous. Anyway, I’ll probably be watching from the back in Area 3 too. Perhaps Kang Yoo-hyun and Sung Yoo-bin, who fell into Area 4 alone, will have a hard time, just like in the original story. I felt sorry for them and subconsciously glanced at Kang Yoo-hyun beside me.
“Why?”
“Um, it’s nothing.”
It’s inevitable since he was the protagonist. It was an episode where he reconciled with the heroine, so it was very important. I secretly cheered for Kang Yoo-hyun and Sung Yoo-bin in my heart. And while waiting for the portal, I started measuring the time for when to touch Kang Yoo-hyun.
I had to grab him right before he stepped through the portal, but could I do that? Considering that Kang Yoo-hyun was an SS-class hunter, he would have been keenly aware of something touching his body. Maybe it was better to do it as soon as he entered the portal… No, it would be too late. Then, should I pretend to stumble right before entering the portal?
As I moved along the line to enter the portal, imagining myself as the heroine of a dating sim game, someone’s hand suddenly appeared from the side and grabbed my waist.
“Yi Jin-ah, stick with me because it’s dangerous.”
“No…!”
Eden interrupted again, pulling me closer. For me, who only saw the opportunity to hold Kang Yoo-hyun’s hand, it was like an unexpected disaster. I glanced at Kang Yoo-hyun, who was now far away from me, and pushed Eden away.
“Hey, cut it out. Do you think I’m a kid?”
“Do you want me to treat you like a kid?”
“No!”
As I had a scuffle with Eden, I became a bit distant from Kang Yoo-hyun. Feeling nervous, I called out to him just before he entered the portal.
“Hey, Kang Yoo-hyun!”
It seemed that he didn’t enter the portal, but just stood there with his eyes glaring at Eden.
Kang Yoo-hyun reached out his hand as I approached. What’s wrong with him? I seized the opportunity and grabbed his hand.
“…Oh?”
I tried to use the skill quickly, but strangely, the skill was not activated. I tilted my head while holding Kang Yoo-hyun’s hand, and Kang Yoo-hyun, who was in an unpleasant mood earlier, now seemed to soften, and he spoke in a more relaxed tone.
“Come quickly.”
“Ah, yes…”
Catnip! Damn catnip skill! Activate quickly! We’re going through the portal now!
“Damn it.”
I let out a small curse at the approaching blue light.
***
“Is everyone here?”
“I’m checking the number of people.”
Song Yul answered Song Cha-hyun’s question in a calm voice. Soon her eyes were fixed on Sung Yoo-bin, who was next to her.
“Are all members of the Valkyrie squad present?”
“Yes, everyone is here.”
“And the support team?”
“The support team is…”
Sung Yoo-bin turned her head to look at the team leader from the support team. She just finished checking her personnel and was rushing over.
“That… big trouble!”
“What happened?”
The support team leader, who had been catching her breath, opened her mouth again with a pale face.
“I don’t see Hunter Kang Yoo-Hyun and Hunter Han Yi-jin!”
“…What?”
Song Cha-hyun’s face hardened at the support team leader’s report. She asked again with a face of disbelief.
“Did you double-check?”
“Yes, I even waited, thinking they might not have come out of the portal. But both of them are nowhere to be seen.”
The head of the support team, who answered with a flustered face, bowed her head.
Song Cha-hyun stared at Hae Song-ha with a stern face.
“Are you done detecting?”
“Yes.”
As Hae Song Ha nodded, a squirrel-like summon, Lati, popped out of his shoulder and sniffed hard.
“This is Area 3, the Mermaid’s territory. And it looks like we’re somewhere in the middle of Area 3. If we keep going, we will enter an underwater area where a mid-boss monster is located.”
“Ha, this is a good location.”
But the problem is the two hunters are missing. With their key personnel missing, they were in trouble.
“Shall we wait a little longer?”
“…”
Song Cha-hyun’s gaze shifted towards the inactive warp portal. As she observed it, she turned her attention back to Hae Song-ha.
“By any chance, are you able to detect Hunter Kang Yoo-hyun and Hunter Han Yi-jin?”
“Oh… I’ll look for Hunter Kang Soo-hyun.”
Hae Song-ha, who was still unable to detect a wide area due to his low rank, turned around and headed towards Kang Soo-hyun. Kang Soo Hyun, who was detecting with a serious face, nodded at Hae Song-ha’s words.
Kang Soo-hyun, who had just become S-class, had low level skill proficiency. However, if he received Hae Song-ha’s empathy skill, he could temporarily use the ability equal to Hae Song-ha’s skill level. But not long after, Hae Song-ha returned to Song Cha-hyun with a somber expression on his face.
“I don’t think both of them are in Area 3. We can’t detect them at all.”
“Haa…”
Sometimes the warp portal in a dungeon can malfunction. It was unfortunate that such a problem occurred during the exploration of this dungeon. A troubled expression crossed Song Cha-hyun’s face.
“Should we proceed without Hunter Kang Yoo-hyun and Hunter Han Yi-jin?”
Song Yul spoke with a composed face, but Song Cha-hyun’s firm expression did not loosen up easily.
“Of course, I’m concerned about the safety of the team, but if the two of them accidentally teleported to the 4th or 5th area…”
“…”
Hearing Song Cha-hyun’s muttering, Song Yul also realized the seriousness of the situation. Area 4 with the mid-boss monster, and Area 5 with the main boss monster of the Sæ dungeon. Even if Kang Yoo-hyun was an SS-rank hunter, and Han Yi-jin had an S-grade auxiliary skill, they were not opponents that they could defeat alone.
No, Kang Yoo-hyun might be able to defeat a mid-boss monster or even a boss monster by himself. But there was another bigger problem. Han Yi Jin would be left alone while Kang Yoo Hyun defeated the boss monster, leaving him completely vulnerable. As a B-rank hunter who couldn’t protect himself would be crushed by other monsters, even if it wasn’t a boss monster.
“Hurry up and let’s get rid of the mid-boss monster and find those two.”
“Understood, let’s speed up our progress.”
Just as Song Yul turned her head to give instructions to the Valkyrie members in the vanguard, a growl that resembled a wild beast echoed through the cave from somewhere.
“Krrrr…”
“…What is that?”
Song Cha-hyun thought they had warped into a neutral zone, but a monster appeared? Startled by the rumbling roar that shook the cave, the hunters turned their heads in panic.
“Is that…?”
Song Cha-hyun’s eyes widened at the huge presence that filled the cave, its violet eyes glinted as they met hers.
“Roarrrr!”
The ferocious and towering venomous dragon let out a mighty roar.
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