Audience with the East Sea Dragon King
“...Did you hear that just now?”
“Yeah. It was like someone was speaking right into my head.”
Gu Jin-uk furrowed his brow.
There were occasionally monsters that cast mental magic or curses.
High-rank hunters usually had one or two mental defenses equipped.
Their resistance was strong enough that they could shake off minor mental spells with sheer willpower.
Even so, if the voice came through this clearly and vividly...
-I harbor no hostility toward you all. If you're still uneasy, perhaps only a small group should come before this king. I apologize for causing the rift in the Golden Realm, but I need your help.
“Could you give us a moment?”
-Of course. I'll await your decision after deliberation.
Kim Sun-woo gave Gu Jin-uk a look, and the man followed with a reluctant expression.
“He's quick on the uptake for someone so young. My mind's gone completely blank on what to do.”
“He seems well-disposed toward us for now. Let's go back and discuss with the others.”
“...I'm curious what the rest will say.”
As the two who had gone ahead returned to the passage, the hunters looked at them curiously.
“What happened?”
“You were suddenly yelling by yourself.”
“...It's hard to believe, but...”
Gu Jin-uk explained the strange voice that had echoed in their minds.
The hunters frowned at first, then exchanged thoughtful glances.
“Since both of you heard it, it's probably not a hallucination...”
“It's still hard to buy easily.”
“So what should we do? He might act friendly on the surface but lure us into a trap.”
“We can't just not go either? Apparently, he caused the dungeon break because he needs human help.”
The hunters cautiously voiced their opinions.
Either way, to stop the monster surge, they needed to clear the dungeon or close the breaking portal.
If this monster calling itself the Donghae Yongwang truly meant them no harm, maybe they could resolve this without conflict.
“Though the odds are slim.”
“Let's do a majority vote.”
Everyone nodded at Chae Eun-seo's suggestion.
Those with voting rights were the four main assault team members, Kim Sun-woo, and Jin So-hui, the Crimson Tower successor—six in total.
Jin So-hui and Kim Han-young wanted to pull back for now, while the other three except Kim Sun-woo favored accepting the monster's invitation.
It would be a tie, or tip one way.
With the choice in his hands, Kim Sun-woo pondered briefly before siding with the latter.
“Alright, it's decided.”
“But only the B-rank assault team goes in. Including you, Sun-woo. Jin So-hui the mage, sorry, but could you stand by?”
“Got it. We need someone to hold the line here anyway.”
For Jin So-hui, who wielded fire magic, the deep-sea dungeon was a natural penalty.
Better to support from behind or plan for later than risk entering needlessly.
“One hour.”
Gu Jin-uk looked at Robert, the team leader.
“If no response in one hour, retreat immediately and call for backup. Gather the guild master and the rest of the main assault team, everyone.”
“Understood.”
“Be careful, oppa.”
Han Su-ah watched Kim Sun-woo with a worried face from the side.
She desperately wanted to follow, but with even B-rank hunters unable to guarantee safety, she couldn't throw a tantrum.
So, squeezing every drop of mana, she cast buffs to the limit on Kim Sun-woo and the assault team—that was her best effort.
...That she'd layered a few extra stacks just on Kim Sun-woo was her little secret.
“Alright, let's go.”
After farewells to those staying behind, the assault team and Kim Sun-woo moved toward the passage's end with tense expressions.
A monster's invitation.
It might be thrusting their heads into the tiger's jaws.
Now that it was clear this wasn't an ordinary B- or C-rank dungeon, no one could predict what lay ahead.
“Cover for us.”
“Got it.”
At Gu Jin-uk's words, Kim Sun-woo stepped forward and shouted into the air.
“We accept the invitation!”
-A wise choice.
The reply came instantly, as if it had been waiting.
As they glanced around wondering what next—
—KABOOM!!
Something massive dropped before them with earth-shaking force.
The ground trembled, thick smoke rising.
As they raised weapons for battle, a dolphin stood rigidly on the floor, looking down at the hunters.
“I am Jin Hae-don, sent by the Dragon King. Please follow me, guests.”
“...A dolphin?”
“Heh.”
The hunters couldn't hold back chuckles.
It looked exactly like a dolphin—no, it was a dolphin.
Amazing that it spoke human language with self-awareness, but its aura matched or exceeded any hunter present.
“...Jin Hae-don. That's the old term for dolphins, mammals of the Delphinidae family.”
“You know it.”
At Chae Eun-seo's mutter, Jin Hae-don, who had been holding a dignified pose, poked his head forward.
Dolphin or not, it was still a ferocious monster.
Chae Eun-seo recoiled in shock, but it nonchalantly flipped a flipper to rub its nose.
“Not a bad name, right? I'd used others before, but it's been 500 years since I took Jin Hae-don.”
“...500 years?”
“Yes.”
Jin Hae-don nodded at Kim Sun-woo's question.
“This Haesinjeon has stood in the East Sea since time immemorial. His Majesty the Dragon King settled here over a thousand years ago. Do you know of Silla? He exchanged words with its kings across generations. That's why Silla had so many turtle ornaments. He grieved deeply when it fell. Ah, this way, please.”
The dolphin Jin Hae-don chattered nonstop, guiding the hunters.
Gu Jin-uk, listening silently as they followed, said to Kim Sun-woo with a stiff face.
“Am I too old? I can't make heads or tails of this.”
“Haha...”
Kim Sun-woo was equally dumbfounded.
A dungeon over a thousand years old beneath the East Sea was shocking enough, but ties to ancient kingdoms?
He knew dungeons and abilities emerged from the singularity decades ago.
Did such things exist far earlier?
'Either way, reporting to the Association will turn the world upside down.'
Not just the Association—the nation, the world.
It upended hunter history as known.
“Please board up here.”
“...A clamshell?”
“Yes. The elevator to Haesinjeon. Straight to His Majesty's throne room.”
“Whoa...”
“Never thought I'd see something like this in my life.”
The hunters boarded the spacious clamshell, marveling but alert.
It floated lightly, soaring through the air.
Jin Hae-don swam alongside in the air.
Passing Haesinjeon's entrance, they saw more fish swimming midair like him.
Not all as strong as Jin Hae-don, but extraordinary auras everywhere.
“...”
Gu Jin-uk swallowed hard at the flopping fish.
Come to think of it, he liked sashimi.
But he wouldn't try eating a monster, right?
Swoosh.
The clamshell slowed, crossing Haesinjeon swiftly.
A massive door soon filled their view.
Likely the Dragon King's throne room.
But what drew their eyes was elsewhere.
“...That's.”
“An octopus? Or a kraken?”
“Either way, it's huge.”
Before the throne room door.
A colossal octopus writhed its countless tentacles imposingly.
“Ok Jang-gun. Guests of His Majesty the Dragon King.”
-Hm.
The octopus, armored on its head, glanced at the hunters at Jin Hae-don's words, then extended a tentacle to grip the door.
RUMBLE.
Ok Jang-gun seemed the gatekeeper.
Otherwise, no need for such a huge door.
Descending the clamshell, the hunters followed Jin Hae-don into the half-open throne room.
The interior outshone the rest of Haesinjeon in splendor.
Sunlight beaming from the ceiling, emerald waves, glittering jewels and pearls everywhere, and fish like from an aquarium or sashimi restaurant.
'I didn't order a sashimi platter.'
Kim Sun-woo eyed the lined-up fish dubiously.
Perhaps denoting rank, they wore historical drama robes unfit for fish.
And at their center.
On the highest seat.
“...A turtle?”
'A turtle.'
'Super old.'
'That looks like a Galápagos tortoise.'
An ancient turtle draped in golden robes sat human-like on a jade throne.
Per Jin Hae-don, a thousand-year-old beast active since Silla times.
Its aura was too profound to fathom.
“Your Majesty the Dragon King. As commanded, I have guided the visitors from the Golden Realm.”
Jin Hae-don bowed deeply before the Dragon King with utmost courtesy.
The unmoving Dragon King slowly turned its head to regard the hunters.
-...It's been ages since I faced humans. Wei Ying met a tragic end, severing the link. Fu was too immature to convey my words. In the end, Silla fell without recourse.
Wei Ying, Fu—likely Silla kings or figures.
-This king has ruled the East Sea for over a millennium, maintaining peace with humans and praying for tranquility.
“...Then why cause the rift in the Golden Realm and stir chaos now?”
Kim Sun-woo stepped forward, speaking for the group.
The aged giant turtle gazed down briefly, then nodded deeply and spoke slowly.
-As the Golden Realm grows, unprecedented peril approaches. Inevitable, perhaps. Yet as East Sea Dragon King, I upheld my duty to protect this place. Now, even Haesinjeon's power falters.
“Against what?”
Pop.
As if in answer, a screen materialized in the air.
It showed a dungeon interior.
Lascael massacring fish monsters—the one they'd encountered before.
-When the Golden Realm's season nears, drifters from dimensional rifts stir. They slaughter others to claim causal ties for intervention. The problem is the savage Wycon tribe—the most vicious—targeting Haesinjeon.
The Donghae Yongwang eyed Kim Sun-woo gravely.
-Using this place as a foothold to breach the Golden Realm.