Dungeon & Commander (158)
Jo Beom-gu was thrilled.
Kim Jun was a celebrity everyone recognized. And now he'd passed the awakening test, making him as good as an official Raider. For a guy like that to call him "hyung"!
"Tell me about Kim Se-wi. Why's a Ju Shin Raider throwing his weight around at the Association?"
Jo Beom-gu liked the phrase "throwing his weight around."
That's exactly what he'd thought every time he heard the name Kim Se-wi. But he was cautious. He wasn't sure yet if he could fully open up to Kim Jun.
"Why do you wanna know?"
"The way he looked at me wasn't normal. I'm not some Raider like Kim Se-wi. Even if I passed the awakening test, a guy like me wouldn't get treated the same. You know that better than anyone, hyung."
"You're already getting eyed with suspicion. Makes sense—that bastard would do it. Word is, he's the one actually commanding the security brigade right now."
"How's that even possible?"
Kim Jun was stunned.
"Beats me. It's decided from higher up. Something like special executor."
"Higher up where?"
"Security section chief. Maybe the director, or even the bureau chief."
While prepping for the written exam, he'd studied the Association's structure too.
The Association had departments like Dungeon Management Bureau, Equipment Bureau, General Affairs Bureau, Education Bureau, Foreign Affairs Bureau, Intelligence Bureau, Core Bureau, Investigation Bureau, and more. The Investigation Bureau split into Investigation Division and Security Division. While the Investigation Division handled crimes involving Raiders, the Security Division protected Association buildings and dungeon gates.
If Jo Beom-gu was right, Ju Shin's Kim Se-wi was pulling the strings on the Association's security division—the very people responsible for safety here.
This is bad!
Kim Jun's eyes sharpened.
Siuba had revealed that Ju Shin was behind hiring him.
Ju Shin's goal was to derail the carrier challenge. Now that he'd passed the awakening test, would they give up? He desperately hoped so, but Kim Se-wi's attitude and actions suggested otherwise—the opposite was far more likely.
What would Ju Shin do next?
He was safe here in the Honor Hall with the examinees for now, but after?
That's when he sensed footsteps.
Kim Jun turned on the faucet, pretending to wash his hands.
A security guard entering the bathroom glanced back and forth between Jo Beom-gu and Kim Jun. His gaze lingered especially on Kim Jun.
Jo Beom-gu gave a subtle nod.
Kim Jun slipped out quickly.
Jo Beom-gu caught up beside him and whispered.
"Keep this between us. Interrogations are about to start. Investigators will grill everyone on why the villains broke in today and how they got in. Looks like they'll check for ties to the awakening test examinees too."
"You think there's a connection?"
"Investigation Division suspects everything first. Probably nothing."
"Any way to contact the guild master?"
"Not right now, even for me. Networks reconnect once lockdown lifts. Only bureau-chief level can make calls freely during lockdown."
Kim Jun clamped his mouth shut.
"Can't do much, but if you need help, call anytime."
Jo Beom-gu slipped him a business card, away from prying eyes.
"Thanks, hyung."
Kim Jun pocketed it after a glance.
* * *
Gong Yunju snapped her wooden chopsticks in two and peeled the lid off her cup ramen completely. She stirred the noodles once, steam rising in curls. Slurping up a big bite, she pointed her chopsticks at the Cheonroegeom leaning against the bed.
"How much would that sell for?"
Lee Taeseop, Sa Yeonggyo, and Kang Hyeonseong, mid-bite on their own ramen, stared at her in disbelief.
"Just curious. I'm not saying I'd steal it."
"Steal it if you want—as long as you dodge Cheonhondan's trackers. Even Yeonmu's Seven would snag you in a day."
Lee Taeseop mumbled around a mouthful of kimchi and noodles.
"I said no!"
"You'd get at least ten billion. It's an artifact to start with. Bidding war? Could hit fifty."
Sa Yeonggyo chimed in bluntly, glancing at the entrance. Why was Kim Jun taking so long in the bathroom? She'd just poured water into one cup.
"Fifty billion?"
Gong Yunju's eyes went wide.
"No need to be jealous. Can't sell Cheonroegeom anyway. Everyone knows it's Yeon Ga's treasure. Plus, not just anyone can wield it. Get greedy, you might drop dead."
Lee Taeseop showed his bandaged finger—the one that touched the Cheonroegeom.
"Been wondering since earlier. How's a carrier pulling off martial arts? That agility—it looked like Mokhonbo to me... right?"
Kang Hyeonseong spoke up.
Lee Taeseop and Sa Yeonggyo stayed silent. They were curious too but hadn't pieced it together.
"I know."
Gong Yunju whispered.
Lee Taeseop and Sa Yeonggyo whipped their heads around.
"Kim Jun oppa definitely met a hidden master. Lost in the mountains, slipped off a cliff into a cave. Woke up to a white-bearded old man beside him. Sensed he wasn't ordinary, knelt and begged to be his disciple. The old man saw his sincerity and taught him martial arts."
"Wanna die?"
Her voice flat, almost eerie. With her cold glare, Sa Yeonggyo looked genuinely pissed.
Frozen, Gong Yunju finally squeaked.
"S-sis, joke! Just a joke."
"Me too."
Sa Yeonggyo smirked.
"Sis! That scared me for real!"
Comforting Gong Yunju with pats, Sa Yeonggyo checked the entrance again. Kim Jun was just coming in, face dark—left arm looked off.
"Sit."
Sa Yeonggyo peeled the lid off a nearby cup ramen and set it before Kim Jun.
"Thanks. What were you talking about?"
Kim Jun grinned brightly.
"Martial arts."
Lee Taeseop said.
Feeling their stares, Kim Jun got it.
"Learned Mokhonbo, huh?"
Sa Yeonggyo asked casually.
As he slurped exploding noodles, Kim Jun nodded.
"Normal people can't even cultivate inner power. How'd you get it?"
Lee Taeseop hit the nail on the head.
Kim Jun coughed, thumping his chest. Sa Yeonggyo twisted open a water bottle and handed it over.
He chugged half, then eyed Lee Taeseop, Sa Yeonggyo, Gong Yunju, and Kang Hyeonseong.
"You all wondering that?"
"Any Raider would wanna know."
Sa Yeonggyo said.
"Contamination."
No one spoke at Kim Jun's answer.
Finishing the water, he continued.
"On Devils Day, went into a dungeon, nearly died, but miraculously survived. Didn't know then. I was contaminated. Changes started slow. Honestly, I loved it. Fatigue gone quick, wounds healed fast. Master thought it weird, made me get checked. That's when I learned the truth. Shocked, sure, but contamination got me here. Maybe the dungeon gods' gift. Nah, I'm sure it's a gift."
Contamination's aftereffects could hit anytime, so they just stared silently.
Lee Taeseop especially bit his lip hard. His uncle suffered from contamination and died last year—he'd watched the end.
"So treat me nice. Might drop dead anytime."
Kim Jun slurped ramen casually.
"...I had no idea."
Gong Yunju bit her lower lip, eyes tearing up. One touch and she'd bawl.
"Heh heh, hee hee heh."
Kim Jun chuckled, head down.
"Hey, you're lying, right?"
Sa Yeonggyo frowned.
"Haha, hahahahaha!"
Kim Jun cracked up.
"...What?"
Lee Taeseop said.
"Do people know Raider King and Queen are this naive and kind-hearted?"
Kim Jun munched stir-fried kimchi.
Sa Yeonggyo raised her hand; Kim Jun's ramen cup floated up three meters, shifted by her transparent whip.
"Contaminated by Lyposaurus?"
Lee Taeseop asked.
Kim Jun, staring up at his floating ramen, looked at him.
"How'd you know?"
"Just rumors, but it's true. Never imagined. That was you."
"What're you talking about?"
Sa Yeonggyo said.
As Lee Taeseop explained the rumor about the Raider team surviving Nuclataurus's explosion thanks to meeting a Lyposaurus, Kim Jun reached out, snagged Sa Yeonggyo's ramen, and started eating.
"True?"
Sa Yeonggyo eyed him.
"Bit exaggerated, but close."
"So, nuclear blast and you walked out fine?"
"Lyposaurus recovery power."
"Insane. Never seen one."
Sa Yeonggyo was genuinely envious.
Africa had plenty of high-rank dungeons where Nuclataurus popped up. She'd race to any two hours away when one appeared.
But luck evaded her—she'd only seen that tiny... deadly monster in Raider footage.
"Then that rumor too."
Lee Taeseop eyed ramen-munching Kim Jun sharply.
"What rumor?"
Sa Yeonggyo said.
Lee Taeseop stared Kim Jun down.
"The day Daily Raider dropped that aggro video. What happened in the dungeon. Everyone thought a carrier like you had zero chance of surviving. Or you'd be abandoned inside at best. But you rode out on tanker Choi Muhyun's back."
"That's not a rumor."
Kim Jun just grinned.
"Yeah, fact. The rumor is separate. Thought it was bullshit from crazies at first. Didn't make sense."
"Spit it out already."
Sa Yeonggyo's whip wrapped Lee Taeseop's neck. She tugged; he had to turn.
He choked, gasping.
"Talk. Or see hell."
She released, but warned: ignore me again, it'll tighten hard.
"I wanna hear too."
Gong Yunju clasped her hands prayer-style.
"Rumor has it three teams excluding Pink Team teamed up. Allied to... teach Pink Team—Kim Jun—a lesson. 'Teach' is soft—they meant kill."
"Cowardly. 3-on-1. How'd you get out? Pink Team that strong?"
"Nah. Skills even. But Pink Team captured or broke through Hanmudan's North Face Team, Gwanpo's An Seong-ho Team, Cheonroehoe's Blue Lightning Team—in order. Escaped the gate safe. Per rumor."
"Impossible. Total bullshit."
Sa Yeonggyo scooped some rice into her mouth.
"Fun story."
Kim Jun finished his noodles; Sa Yeonggyo mixed rice in. He dug in happily with a plastic spoon.
"Knowing who told me would change your mind."
Lee Taeseop pushed his ramen aside, hands on knees, leaning forward.
"Who?"
"Baek Seungtae."
"......"
Kim Jun stared silently at Lee Taeseop, then picked up kimchi with chopsticks.
"Heard you tamed a Haren Saurus in the dungeon too."
"What?"
Sa Yeonggyo reacted.
Lee Taeseop ignored her, Gong Yunju, Kang Hyeonseong. Eyes only on Kim Jun, hunting for any tell confirming the tales.