Dungeon & Commander (134)
Everyone was staring at the entrance. Sa Yeonggyo slowly turned her head.
'That carrier.'
Kim Jun walked in with an attitude that couldn't care less about the stares, set his bag down next to the empty spot beside Sa Yeonggyo, and plopped down. Dressed in plain training clothes, he tilted his head, then just lay down flat.
A few quick-witted examinees spread the word that Kim Jun's violation had been a mistake.
Sa Yeonggyo picked up on it thanks to her sharp hearing.
'A mistake... Probably some bloody power struggle went down.'
Unlike the other examinees practicing attack forms or casting buff spells, Kim Jun just kept lying there.
The examinees interpreted his attitude however they wanted.
Whispers of "Let's take that guy down!" and "We can't lose to some carrier!" rippled through the crowd, full of resolve.
Sa Yeonggyo stretched until she felt a faint heat in her joints and muscles, then glanced at Kim Jun.
'Is he an idiot? Or just stupid? No way. A guy who sensed my metal whip wouldn't act like that. Is he provoking on purpose? Confident in his skills, huh? Heh, I kinda want to fight him too. This test might not be so boring after all. That tall guy over there, the pale-faced one, and Kim Jun. If I could face those three...'
Sa Yeonggyo stood up.
It was to leverage her position as the Association President's granddaughter. As she approached the supervisor, his eyes changed. He'd recognized who she was.
"I have a request."
"I'm listening."
His tone was clipped.
"I want to fight specific opponents."
Sa Yeonggyo pointed at the three in the back training area.
"Don't you know it's random?"
"I do. But there are exceptions, right? Isn't there?"
Sa Yeonggyo had a feeling this stone-faced supervisor wouldn't budge even for the Association President's granddaughter. She added a hint of charm, but that wasn't her strong suit.
"Pretend I didn't hear that."
"...Too bad."
Sa Yeonggyo checked the name tag on the supervisor's chest.
Jang Man-ho.
A man who shut down her request flat-out. He seemed decent enough—the kind her grandfather always hoped for.
Back at her spot, Sa Yeonggyo was floored.
Kim Jun... was asleep.
His chest rose and fell rhythmically, his head lolled limp, and he occasionally scratched his shoulder or belly. The surrounding examinees glared at him.
'This could get ugly if it blows up.'
She had no intention of stopping it.
If a storm of blood kicked off, at least the boredom would end.
Everyone held their breath, watching the supervisor's mouth.
"Sa Yeonggyo."
The supervisor called.
Sa Yeonggyo rose slowly and walked to the center of the training hall where the practical exam—sparring—would take place.
No one met her eyes. They just prayed their name wouldn't be called as her opponent.
Arms loose at her sides, she took deep breaths and hoped her opponent would be Kim Jun.
'How nice would it be to start with the juiciest one?'
She ran a mental simulation of fighting Kim Jun.
First, gauge his combat power with the metal whip.
Then shake him up with phantom walk.
Finish with metal spear.
Judging from the video of his movements, her win rate was 99.9%.
'Of course, he's probably grown since then. How much fun can he give me?'
Sa Yeonggyo's eyes gleamed like a predator stalking close to its prey.
"Sa Yeonggyo's opponent is..."
The examinees shot resentful glares at the supervisor dragging it out.
"Won So-hee."
The supervisor announced.
Sighs of relief erupted everywhere. Even Kang Hyeonseong, tipped as a Raider King contender, looked relieved not to face her.
Won So-hee stumbled forward.
Sa Yeonggyo's face twisted when she saw her opponent. She nearly went to complain to the supervisor.
It should've been Kim Jun!
If not him, the two-meter string bean or the corpse-pale South American guy would do. Even, say, Kang Hyeonseong or Gu Se-jun wouldn't be bad.
But a kid who didn't even look ten yet!
'Should I just forfeit?'
Sa Yeonggyo almost raised her hand.
The only reason she held back was Golemium. Her grandfather knew exactly what she wanted. Won So-hee mustered her courage, approached, and bowed cutely.
"I-it's been a while, sis. You remember me, right? You came to my birthday party."
Sa Yeonggyo furrowed her brow.
Come to think of it, that face looked familiar. Memories surfaced slowly.
A few years back, during a brief return from Japan, she'd been dragged to a party. Hosted by Brave Guild's sub-master Won Jong-seop, she'd learned too late it was his granddaughter's birthday.
This was that kid.
She'd grown since then, but not enough for dungeons.
Sa Yeonggyo knew why kids like this took the awakening test.
Passing young boosted their value.
A high score would draw media frenzy and contracts worth multiples of market rate.
Money wasn't everything, though.
The title "Awakened at 9" would follow her like a halo, benefiting Brave Guild too.
"How's Grandpa?"
"He's great. Super healthy. You'll go easy on me, right, sis?"
Dimples creased her cheeks.
Adorably huggable.
Sa Yeonggyo smiled thinly. Those who knew her would get the meaning, but Won So-hee just thought her charm worked.
"Begin."
The supervisor stepped back.
Before Won So-hee could even clench her tiny fist, Sa Yeonggyo whipped her metal whip around the girl's ankle.
"Eek!"
The girl's scream shot up nearly five meters.
Sa Yeonggyo hurled her at the wall with full force.
The coiling whip amplified the power, sending Won So-hee flying at tremendous speed.
Just before impact, her speed visibly slowed.
Thud.
Won So-hee fell, hurt but not dead. The pitying stares from the crowd stung worse—something she'd never felt before.
"Waaah!"
She burst into tears.
The assistant supervisor tried to console her, but she wouldn't stop.
"Grandpa! Grandpa!"
Everyone glanced between Won So-hee and Sa Yeonggyo. The crying in a practical exam was shocking, but so was Sa Yeonggyo's brutality against a nine-year-old.
"Supervisor."
Sa Yeonggyo said.
"Ah, Sa Yeonggyo wins."
The supervisor declared late.
Returning to her spot, Sa Yeonggyo spotted Kim Jun finally awake—but still yawning lazily, sleep not fully gone.
'I should've gotten to fight that guy.'
Irritated, she muttered Golemium under her breath.
"Well done."
A low voice.
Sa Yeonggyo thought she'd misheard and glanced sideways. Kim Jun was looking at her.
"What'd I do well?"
"That match just now."
"...What?"
Her face crumpled.
Others whispered she was too harsh on the little girl.
She overheard jabs about the Association President's granddaughter being arrogant. But they'd bow or look away if eyes met.
'People who can't even speak up.'
But this guy? What was he saying?
'Mocking me?'
Sa Yeonggyo gripped her belt. A metal whip formed in an instant. She didn't care about penalties—she couldn't leave this cocky carrier alone.
"Going into a dungeon with that mindset won't last long. Or it'll drag others down. Better to teach a harsh lesson before that happens."
Kim Jun said calmly.
Sa Yeonggyo blinked in surprise.
'What? That's exactly my thinking. Everyone here calls me arrogant. How does a carrier...? Right, he doesn't know me. Doesn't know I'm the Association President's granddaughter. He just guessed right by accident.'
"Shut up."
She said coldly. No way she'd take comfort from a carrier.
Kim Jun shrugged at her glance.
As if to say whatever. She hated that indifferent attitude. She didn't know why. She just wanted to shatter his nonchalance.
She didn't know how yet.
"You can sense auras, right?"
She probed for an opening, curious about his answer too.
Kim Jun looked at her.
"Shut up."
"...!"
He mimicked her! Sa Yeonggyo was speechless.
More absurd than angry. Shut up? A carrier telling me to shut up? No one's ever said that to me.
No one could.
Not even her grandfather spoke to his tomboy granddaughter that way. Nor her parents, nor her childhood teachers.
She'd already forgotten she'd said it first.
Oddly, her hand didn't go to her belt this time.
Anger faded fast. Instead, an inexplicable coolness welled from her chest, spreading through her body—like sipping cold spring water.
She realized why soon enough.
It felt like fair judgment.
That's why she'd gone to Africa—her grandfather and parents' influence followed everywhere. The family halo meant she never got unbiased evaluation of her efforts. Rewards came regardless.
A rare few saw past it, but few.
Choi Min-su came to mind. He'd spanked her arrogant younger self.
'This cocky carrier... Damn. Am I getting validation from a mere carrier?'
Next match: Kang Hyeonseong versus Jeon Su-kyeong.
They went forward, got brief instructions, and took stances.
Sa Yeonggyo instantly knew who'd win and when. Turning as if she hadn't heard "shut up," she said,
"Who do you think wins?"
Kim Jun stared blankly.
She tensed, fearing another "shut up." Fortunately, he pointed at Kang Hyeonseong.
"Why?"
He shrugged.
Kang Hyeonseong grinned and chatted lightly with acquaintances, while Jeon Su-kyeong was stiff with tension. Obvious winner.
"Yeah, obvious. How long till it ends? I say 9 minutes 30."
Kim Jun's eyes widened slightly.
"Wanna bet? On when it finishes?"
Sa Yeonggyo proposed.
"Nah."
Flat refusal.
"...Nah? Why?"
She tamped down excitement. One of her weaknesses exposed: I'm not used to rejection!
"You want something from me. I don't from you."
Whoa.
Sa Yeonggyo nearly laughed in disbelief.
Why wouldn't you want something? You should be sucking up. What kind of carrier is this? Getting annoyed or rattled means I lose.
She composed herself.
Fine, accept it. He wants nothing from me. So make him want something.
"Don't you want to know Kang Hyeonseong's skills?"
"Aasicl Bolt, Angus, Kellin."
Sa Yeonggyo shut her mouth. She realized late he was a normal examinee too. Research on opponents was basic.
'But how doesn't he know me? Did he fool me from the start?'
The match began.
Kang Hyeonseong, still smiling, pressured Jeon Su-kyeong with light, agile footwork.
Occasionally, he'd unleash icicle bolts like white saliva, making her flinch and dodge sideways.
His superiority was clear.
He dragged it out on purpose, circling like a cat toying with a mouse, stabbing at openings. Suddenly, Jeon Su-kyeong lunged, her right foot arcing through the air.
Her toe grazed Kang Hyeonseong's jaw as he closed in.