Dungeon & Commander (130)
“A cheating paper with math formulas was found during the exam, and Kim Jun admitted it was in his handwriting.”
“Did he cheat?”
“He claims he didn’t bring it in himself, but the exam supervisory committee disagrees. He’s likely to lose his eligibility.”
“What do you think?”
“It’s an elaborate trap set by the proctor, Jang Man-ho.”
Ever since becoming the patriarch’s client, Yeon Myeong-deok had thoroughly investigated Kim Jun. He hadn’t missed even the smallest details about his personality, weaknesses, and habits.
Knowing Kim Jun well, Yeon Myeong-deok concluded that cheating wasn’t his style.
“I haven’t heard anything about a break-in at Kim Jun’s house.”
“There hasn’t been one.”
“Hmm.”
Yeon Un-jae closed his eyes, lost in thought.
Various scenarios formed and crumbled in his mind. The Cheonchal Pavilion leader, well-versed in the patriarch’s ways, waited patiently.
Finally, Yeon Un-jae spoke.
“From now on, find me a private investigation firm that’ll handle anything for the right price. One that’s suddenly flush with cash would be ideal.”
“Do you think a firm is involved in this?”
“The style screams Association pen-pushers. Cheating on a written exam? So childish. If it were me, I’d have ended him in the practical. Tsk tsk. Those Association fools think they’re untouchable. They wouldn’t have gotten their hands on some note Kim Jun scribbled and tossed themselves—they’d delegate to some underling or pawn. Who’d do their dirty work? A private firm’s the prime suspect right now.”
“I’ll look into it immediately.”
The Cheonchal Pavilion leader hurried off.
Alone in the Daechunjae, the patriarch reached out and caressed an orchid that had lost a leaf.
As he meticulously wiped the other leaves with a cloth, Association regulations came to mind.
If he couldn’t escape this cheating trap?
The awakening test would be off the table.
What a hassle.
Then, another leaf snapped off.
Yeon Un-jae frowned.
“You and I have no affinity, it seems.”
Magical flames erupted from his hand, engulfing not just the orchid but the pot as well.
Go Cheolmin paced in front of the sofa in the master room, TV droning in the background.
The screen blared Queen & King, a program boasting insane ratings.
It crowned the top scorers of the awakening test as Raider King and Raider Queen, speculating wildly on the winners. Pure entertainment gold.
Go Cheolmin checked his watch.
11:30 a.m.
The written exam would end soon.
No issues there for Kim Jun. The guy who aced the college entrance exam wouldn’t have lost his edge.
Still, Go Cheolmin couldn’t sit and watch casually.
Skyla appeared on screen.
Her usual wild curls were neatly swept back, jeans swapped for a crisp suit. She sat like a proper lady, answering the MC’s questions demurely.
Whenever the camera lingered on her, subtitles popped up below.
Nice free promo. Go Cheolmin loved seeing “Uramata Guild member” flash across the screen. Convincing her to appear had been a stroke of genius.
His phone buzzed.
Go Cheolmin picked it up from the table and tilted his head.
Why’s this guy calling out of the blue?
Mun Bong-ho was a section chief in the Dungeon Association’s Education Division, a close friend.
He’d failed the awakening test and settled for a normal life, but shocked everyone by passing the notoriously tough Dungeon Civil Service Exam in just a year.
“Thought we’d only chat at year-end. What’s the wind blowing your way? Don’t tell me you fought with your wife again?”
―Kim Jun’s in trouble.
“...What?”
―I overheard by chance. Looks like he got caught cheating. It’s blowing up right now.
“Tell me everything!”
Go Cheolmin bellowed.
―I’m digging, but security’s tight. Not my department, you know.
“Sorry for yelling. Call me the second you learn anything.”
He hung up and punched in Choi Min-su’s number.
The line connected after a few rings.
―Busy right now, call back la—
“Kim Jun’s been accused of cheating.”
―What’d you say?
Go Cheolmin could picture Choi Min-su’s fierce scowl from that voice alone.
“Friend at the Association tipped me off.”
―What kind of cheating?
“He doesn’t know the details.”
―Hmm.
Choi Min-su relayed what Yeon Ga’s surveillance had uncovered: Proctor Jang Man-ho meeting Guild Management Division 1’s Section Chief Park Myeong-seop. Highly suspicious.
“I need to head to Association HQ now!”
―No evidence on our end. Won’t do any good. Info’s what matters. Figure out how he got trapped, then we counter. I’ll poke around too—call if you snag even a scrap.
“Got it.”
Go Cheolmin scrolled through his contacts, hunting for leads.
Kim Jun’s face filled the massive screen.
His gaze, fixed on the target like a tiger’s, burned fierce. Sweat beaded on his forehead, flung off by his sprinting speed—beautiful in motion.
Kim Jun charging ahead.
Monsters in pursuit.
The video every Korean had seen at least once—the one Skyla leaked, the raid footage that made Kim Jun famous.
“I’ve watched it dozens of times. Never gets old. Still fires me up when I’m beat.”
Cha Yeong-woo said.
“That video’s manipulated.”
Critic Do Hak-seong cut in abruptly.
“...Every video analysis expert ruled out tampering.”
The MC spoke cautiously.
“I trust my eyes over those ‘experts.’ A carrier pulling aggro like that on his first dungeon? Common sense says no. My take: Association and guilds staged the whole show.”
Before Do Hak-seong could spin wilder tales, Cha Yeong-woo smoothly pivoted.
“Skyla, you entered that dungeon with Kim Jun. What do you think? You came out with a rare Formium core—did he shine in there?”
Skyla’s mouth itched to spill.
She wanted to detail how Kim Jun slew the Formicanthus in Changwon Dungeon, escaped the ant pit—everything.
Then everyone would know the real him.
Sure, it’d cause a storm.
“I wrote all about it. Check my site—put the URL in the subtitles, yeah?”
Skyla flashed a coy smile.
“Sounds like you’re here to plug your serialization site.”
Lee Ha-yoon jumped in.
“Was it that obvious? Not my intent.”
“I see issues in your writing. Too much imagination.”
“Which parts, specifically?”
“You say he killed a Formicanthus for the Formium, but second raid ever? F-rank dungeon? Absurd. Looks like he lucked into the core and dressed it up as a hunt. Right?”
Lee Ha-yoon wove assertions and speculation masterfully, pressing hard.
Skyla frowned. Explaining fully would expose Kim Jun’s secrets. Staying silent risked painting her a liar.
Then, a PD behind the cameras waved frantically.
What’s going on?
A young staffer held up a sketchpad.
Breaking News—Kim Jun Disqualified for Cheating!
Skyla shot to her feet and marched over. The PD gestured wildly, ignored.
“This real?”
“...They just announced it.”
The woman wilted under Skyla’s intensity.
Skyla left the stunned PD amid the broadcast chaos and stormed out of the station.
A clipped nail flew, clattering to the floor.
Section Chief Park Myeong-seop scooped it up and tossed it in the trash.
With his left pinky nail finally trimmed, Lee Wan-yeol eyed Park.
“Turn on the TV.”
“Yes, Director.”
Park grabbed the remote and flicked it on.
No channel surfing needed. Breaking news: Kim Jun out for cheating. Even dramas and variety shows scrolled the headline in subtitles.
“Heh, such a promising kid—why cheat? Any guesses?”
“Not a clue, sir.”
The two burst into laughter.
Lee Wan-yeol pulled a corporate card from his wallet.
“Lunch on me today. Hell, let’s do an early team dinner. Skip the afternoon.”
“They’ll love it.”
Park snatched the card like a triumphant general and strode out.
Cheers erupted moments later.
Lee Wan-yeol gazed out the window at the city.
Relief washed over him, like a bad tooth pulled. Kim Jun had lost his shot at the test entirely. Clear rules violation—even Choi Min-su or Yeon Un-jae couldn’t save him now.
“It’s over.”
Giggles escaped.
Kim Jun remained locked in the interrogation room.
Leaning against the wall, he mulled it over.
Last time at the disciplinary committee, he’d skimmed the regulations. There was definitely a clause on cheating in the awakening test rules.
If ruled cheating... I can never take the test again.
His burning dream, shattered like this.
Rage surged toward those behind it. Kim Jun breathed deep, shoving aside despair, frustration, fury. Not the time for emotions.
Find a way.
How to prove that paper wasn’t cheating evidence?
A few ideas surfaced, all inadequate.
The evidence was ironclad; no escape hatched despite racking his brains.
Nothing he could do here, anyway.
Kim Jun moved on.
Hard to shake the cheating charge now. But I know the proctor’s behind it—dig into him, his motives, who ordered it. Uncover the truth, and even if this test’s ruined, I can take the next one.
Irritation flared.
He didn’t want to waste a year waiting till next February.
Phone surrendered before the exam—no way to reach the guild master, Choi Min-su, or Yeon Un-jae. No clue what was happening outside.
Sitting idle choked him.
Hate wasting time.
Kim Jun stood, shoved the rectangular table against the left wall to clear space.
Scattered chairs around it.
“This’ll do.”
The rectangular room stretched about 15 meters long, ten chairs placed. Perfect for drilling Mokhonbo’s “Dang” principle.
Focus on training, banish idle worries.
He assumed position.
Tan and Po together. But Po weakens subtly, then strengthens to trace the circle.
First, Tan.
Kim Jun sprang forward like a sprinter.
Po to pivot—body veered right naturally. He pictured waterskiing for the first time. Skis underfoot.
Adjust angle to water flow, direction sets itself.
Passing a chair, he twisted his foot opposite, unleashing Po.
Bam!
Timing off—he slammed into the chair face-first. A leg snapped; Kim Jun tumbled over.
Knee throbbed.
Faster.
He rose, shoved the wrecked chair aside, fetched another.
Back at the wall, Kim Jun unleashed Dang again.