We kindly ask for your understanding regarding the inconsistency of character pronouns, particularly for the Entities (ex. The Greedy Predator). In Korean, pronouns are rarely used, making it challenging to ascertain a character's gender or identity until later narratives unfold. Update twice a week [SUN] & [THURS] starting August 2024! Also please check out our new Hunter series!
Despite being suddenly trapped in the dungeon, the child remained remarkably composed.
‘Kanghan Elementary, huh? Does that school raise children to be so strong?’
Seora wondered if all the students attending that elementary school were as remarkable.
“I’m Yun Seora from the association’s management office.”
“I know. My dad said you’re an amazing person. You’re the Headbang, right?”
“Y-yes, that’s me.”
“Thank you for saving me.” Joo Si-eun held her hands against her belly and bowed slightly. She was brave, not shedding a tear and showing great courage.
“Where are your parents? Are they also stuck at the train station?”
“My dad isn’t here, and my mom went to buy snacks and got separated from me because a monster suddenly appeared. So, I immediately ran to a less noticeable place. My mom told me what to do in situations like this.”Seora recalled the layout of Busan Station. The convenience store was in the opposite direction from where they were now. There were no signs of anyone looking for the child during her journey. She could have either escaped or been searching inside for the child.
‘Either way, it’s dangerous.’
Seora decided to carry the child for now. “I’ll take you outside to the exit first.”
Although it would take some time to reach the exit, it couldn’t be helped, given the distance. Although she wasn’t so weak that she was unable to protect a single child, she was worried it would cause trauma to the child.
‘But I can’t ask the administrator to escort the child.’
【Administrator: (¬_¬)】
As expected, the administrator had a perplexed expression on his face.
Given the few months they had spent together, she already knew that he was indifferent to anyone else besides his contractee. He would never leave Seora behind for anyone else, even for a child.
Except for one thing, as long as it didn’t directly endanger Seora’s life.
Knowing this well, she didn’t even consider asking him for a favor.
While pondering this, the child took the initiative. “Would I be a hindrance?”
“No, you wouldn’t.”
“Then you can take me with you. I’ll be quiet.”
“You might see a lot of monsters on the way.”
“It’s okay if I see a lot of monsters. If you’re worried, I’ll close my eyes.” Joo Si-eun covered her eyes with both hands. Seora, who had been contemplating for a moment, finally decided.
“Okay, let’s go. Don’t be startled even if there’s some noise.”
Seora swiftly switched her sniper rifle to a pistol with a suppressor, holding the child in one arm as she ran. The second floor was somewhat cleared, so now she had the third floor remaining. As she moved, any presence of the monsters caught in the cube was mercilessly eliminated.
<Ah! Aaah!>
It was a child’s voice. However, this was an imitation by the monsters. Seora glanced at Joo Si-eun she was holding as she pulled the trigger. Despite the potential nerves, the child, with tightly closed eyes, showed no signs of agitation.
“You hear a baby’s voice, right? Are you okay?”
“That’s a monster, right? I know. Even when I’m alone, it keeps crying and asking for help.”
“But you’re okay with that?”
“I didn’t go to help. Logically, in a situation like this, would you ask an adult to save you; or would you ask someone like me?”
“…”
What’s this? Her judgment skills were extraordinary. If she continued to grow like this, she could become an incredible talent. Seora coveted her.
“Do you have any thoughts about joining the association when you grow up? If I strongly recommend you to the association’s leader, you can join through a special recruitment.”
“I know about that, too. It’s called scouting, right? I heard they only do that for really outstanding individuals. Thank you. Still, since it’s related to my future, I’ll think about it.”
A laugh escaped Seora at the little girl’s response. Oh, she indeed was an impressive young lady.
“Help! P-please save me!”
An adult’s voice. This was a human. Seora aimed her orb at the approaching face of the Gwisin-dae. After kicking the screaming creature away and firing her gun, she ran towards the gathered group of people.
“I’m from the association!”
“Reinforcements! They have light!”
“Over here! The Gwisin-dae are gathering this way! Shine the light here, please!”
As she had sensed on the second floor, the Hunters who had entered earlier were protecting dozens of civilians. Dealing with monsters with shadow attributes was challenging for those who weren’t spatial manipulators like Seora.
Seora tapped the light orb, illuminating the area brightly.
“Now’s the time! Kill them!”
There were quite a number of Gwisin-dae on this side, likely due to the concentration of people. Seora entrusted the child she was holding to the citizens and joined the fight.
Thanks to the weakness of the Gwisin-dae being light and Seora’s support, the battle was quickly concluded.
“Whew, thank you. Your timely arrival made it possible for us to handle this.”
“Healers! Treat the injured! About ten are injured here!”
“We have one in critical condition! Lost a leg! I can’t treat it with my abilities. We need to transport them outside immediately!”
“Apply pressure! Potions! Does anyone have extra potions?”
“Here.” Seora handed over the potion she had. The Healer treating the injured expressed gratitude with a bright face.
“Ah! Thank yo… huh? Wha-what?”
As he accepted the potion, he belatedly examined Seora’s face. Black hair, a still youthful appearance, and there it was, a red left iris…?
“Wh-what? He-Headbang!”
His attention was focused on Seora, who was taking care of Joo Si-eun. People who had been sighing, and even the Hunters preoccupied with post-battle, were now looking at Seora, motionless.
“Wow, ho-how did you end up in Busan…?”
“Come to think of it, I saw an article earlier. Said she boarded a train to Busan with Kang Sejun.”
“Oh, so she came after hearing about the dungeon during her date? That’s amazing…”
‘No!’
Seora struggled to hold back her scream. Kang Sejun and her had a date? It was utter nonsense.
【Administrator: (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻】
Even the administrator flipped the table in exasperation. Her head was throbbing.
“I had some business and happened to be in Busan. I stumbled upon the dungeon by chance. Since there are seriously injured individuals, let’s evacuate outside quickly. I’ll clear the way.”
It seemed like she would soon hear comments like, ‘Even during a date, Headbang rushes out when a dungeon appears.’ In a hurry, Seora carried Joo Si-eun and moved her steps. Finally, the Hunters started to stabilize the injured and guide the citizens.
“Headbang-nim, are you really dating Hunter Kang Sejun?” Joo Si-eun, who was staring at Seora, asked bluntly. The attention of the people was once again focused. Murmurs of ‘Nice’ were heard from somewhere. This was getting crazy.
“Please call me Yun Seora. And I’m just friends with Kang Sejun. We were planning to come to Busan with Seong Jarim, but due to the circumstances, only the two of us came.”
When she mentioned Seong Jarim’s name, interest quickly faded. Of course, there were still those who continued to send suspicious glances. Anyway, when it comes to Koreans, they go crazy over anything related to dating.
“More importantly, Joo Si-eun-ssi, is your mother not here among the survivors?”
“No. I looked for her, but she was not there. She might be outside. My mom is non-Awakened.”
“Then we should check outside.”
While heading towards the exit, they defeated a few more Gwisin-dae, but the Boss Monster didn’t appear. In that case, the probability of it being where Kang Sejun was seemed high.
“Are there any Hunters who have gone down to the first floor?”
An official from the Busan branch of the association hastily answered, “Any Hunters not here are likely on the second or first floor.”
The association official prioritized evacuating the people from the second floor to the exit. They then divided into groups to move to the first and third floors. Those seen by Seora on the second floor seemed to have been chased there by the Gwisin-dae.
“Hunter Kang Sejun is in charge of the first floor, so we’ll proceed to evacuate.”
The relieved citizens who safely made it outside shed tears. The waiting Healers swiftly treated the severely injured, starting with the one who had lost a leg.
The reporters who had gathered on the scene suddenly focused their camera shutters on Seora, who was holding Si-eun. Worried about the child’s face being exposed, Seora took off her jacket and covered the child.
“Excuse me, has anyone lost their daughter?”
“Oh, well…”
When Seora asked a Busan Association staff member guiding the evacuees, he turned his head. Upon seeing Si-eun, who was blinking, he was surprised. “Oh? This child is…”
“Si-eun!”
Right on cue, someone ran over, calling Joo Si-eun’s name. Judging by how the child waved her hand, it seemed to be her father.
“Huh?”
Seora’s eyes widened as she looked at the child’s father. Approaching with a pale face, the person was none other than Eternal Guildamster Joo Eun.
“Si-eun!”
Joo Eun rushed over and knelt, tightly embracing Si-eun. His arms were trembling. “Are you hurt, are you hurt anywhere?” He hastily checked Si-eun all over. Seeing this, Seora couldn’t help but be impressed internally.
‘I can’t believe Si-eun is Guildmaster Joo Eun’s daughter.’
It had never crossed her mind. Perhaps it was because Si-eun’s sassy and straightforward nature didn’t resemble the gentle Joo Eun.
‘But seriously, this child seems to have been born under an unlucky star. After all the trouble with the Phantom in Japan, now there’s a Rift Dungeon.’
Seora looked at Si-eun, who was comforting her father, with a mixture of sympathy and concern.
According to Kang Sejun, Joo Eun’s family had suffered greatly or even perished due to a past incident involving a dungeon break in Japan. However, this time, they had cleanly finished the conquest even before that incident occurred in Japan, so she thought there would be no danger.
‘It’s fortunate that we saved her.’
Kang Sejun, too, couldn’t have imagined that Joo Eun’s family would be caught up in the Rift Dungeon. In the end, his judgment saved them once again. When they got back, she should praise him for making the right call.
“I’m not hurt. Hunter Yun Seora over there saved me.”
“Yun, who? Who is it? Hunter Yun Seora?”
Si-eun, cuddling her father, pointed at Seora beside her. Surprised, Joo Eun raised his head abruptly. When their eyes met, Seora finally greeted him. “Hello, Guildmaster Joo Eun. It’s been a while.”
“Yun Seora-ssi? It really is you? You saved my daughter Si-eun?”
“I came to Busan on vacation and happened to discover the Rift Dungeon.”
It was certainly no coincidence, but she couldn’t explain the details. Still, it was enough for now. Joo Eun bowed his head towards Seora while still kneeling. “Thank you, thank you. If it wasn’t for you, my daughter…”
“Um, this is very uncomfortable, so please get up for now. And I’m not sure where your wife is.”
“What did you say…?”
Joo Eun, who had been relieved after seeing Si-eun, paled again.
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