Dungeon & Commander (203)
120 kilometers per hour.
140 kilometers per hour.
She eased off the throttle as she rounded the corner. Up ahead, dozens of motorcycles were roaring along.
Yoo Min-jeong floored it in one burst, slipping effortlessly through the gaps between the bikes and overtaking them all.
The biker gang, their pride stung by being passed by a woman in a sports car, gave chase. A high-speed pursuit unfolded right in the heart of Seoul.
If she ignored traffic lights, she could shake them off in no time—but that might cause a massive accident... and bring trouble to the guild.
Yoo Min-jeong came to a stop at a red light.
The bikers surrounded the Ferrari. Some gestured for her to roll down the window, glaring menacingly.
She obliged, then channeled her mana into a fireball and lobbed it at them with a grin.
The bikers yelped in panic, toppling over with their bikes in a heap—they couldn't even flee.
The light turned green.
Yoo Min-jeong dispelled the fireball mid-air and sped off with a laugh.
By the time she pulled up at the guildhouse with the fried chicken, the parking lot held only Kim Jun's car. She parked her Ferrari beside it and reminisced about earlier that day.
Sa Yeonggyo, decked out in a Milan suit, had blatantly flirted with Kim Jun right in front of her. The reason the Association President's granddaughter had joined Uramata Guild—and Pink Team specifically—was obvious.
Kim Jun's hand roaming Sa Yeonggyo's waist.
At first, she'd misunderstood. She'd thought Kim Jun was just like any other guy.
But then she overheard him suggesting to Go Cheolmin that they adopt Milan suits as training gear, and Go saying he'd consider it despite tight finances. Without that, her suspicions might never have cleared.
The moment she saw his serious expression and intense gaze, Yoo Min-jeong realized he'd been touching the suit, not Sa Yeonggyo's body.
Her frozen heart thawed, replaced by amusement. Sa Yeonggyo must have realized her perfect figure didn't work on him either.
She stepped out of the Ferrari and headed inside.
"Jun! Got chicken!"
She glanced around, but Kim Jun was nowhere. Bathroom? No answer even when she called out there.
Then she spotted the simulator humming to life—late activation.
The update was done.
Kim Jun, calm as ever but unable to resist curiosity, must have jumped in immediately to check out the Sokcho Dungeon relic firsthand.
"Huh?"
Two simulators were running.
Why two?
That meant two people.
Yoo Min-jeong's face soured.
Sa Yeonggyo!
Irritated, she nearly yanked the power on the other simulator next to the team leader's exclusive one. Knowing how petty that would be, she barely restrained her rising anger.
Raiders must maintain dignity.
I'm Yoo Wan-seop's daughter.
When Sa Yeonggyo first joined Pink Team as second buffer, she'd been thrilled. Buffers were their weak spot, and they'd been mulling over recruiting another. Sa Yeonggyo seemed perfect for the role.
Now?
If she could, she'd kick Sa Yeonggyo out of Pink Team—and Uramata Guild.
Yoo Min-jeong fired up another simulator to see what those two were up to.
Kim Jun was the team leader now, but her old account as former leader still worked. She slipped into their simulation without permission.
Her eyes adjusted to the dark, revealing a massive gate. The Association's raid sim data felt incredibly immersive.
She summoned an orb of light as she passed through.
"Ah!"
A relic resembling the Parthenon atop Athens' hills gleamed like the aurora.
Towering marble columns.
Cascades of light draped between them like curtains.
Up ahead, grunts echoed loudly.
"Yah!"
A sharp female voice—not Sa Yeonggyo, but Skyla.
Yoo Min-jeong's cheeks flushed. If she'd shut it down without checking, and Skyla had popped out demanding answers... she'd have wanted to crawl into a hole.
Stay calm, always.
She approached. Kim Jun and Skyla were battling two Geludiosaurs. Skyla dealing damage, Kim Jun unexpectedly tanking.
One Geludiosaur charged at Yoo Min-jeong.
In a flash, Kim Jun dove between its legs, grabbing the ankle. Bzzt-crack! Lightning from his Po-noe Strike surged up its body, toppling the monster.
He drew the Cheonroegeom and plunged it deep into the beast's skull.
"Aaahk!"
A scream from behind.
With Kim Jun lunging to save Yoo Min-jeong, the remaining Geludiosaur snatched lone Skyla and vanished into the shadows.
The scream cut off abruptly.
"Damn."
Kim Jun scratched his head.
A sweet thrill washed over Yoo Min-jeong. Even in sim, he'd abandoned Skyla to rescue her—an instant decision, no hesitation.
It felt like peeking into his true heart.
"What happened?"
"Told you the update was running late."
She'd called an hour ago to check. Knowing he was alone, that's when she'd decided to grab chicken.
"You came to see the relic too, huh."
"Yeah."
Yoo Min-jeong smiled brightly.
"It's incredible."
Kim Jun turned, gazing up at the relic—far grander than the real Parthenon he'd seen years ago. The marble columns alone seemed 50 meters tall.
"Too bad there's no interior data."
"B Group must have it."
Yoo Min-jeong had figured as much.
"Guess we need to get our hands on that data."
Kim Jun's eyes sparkled.
She watched him, mesmerized. A man focused on one thing is so beautiful! In that moment, she understood why Sa Yeonggyo had come to Uramata.
She no longer resented Sa Yeonggyo. No urge to boot her out.
Sa Yeonggyo had the eye to recognize a living gem's worth.
Fat lot of good it'll do her.
He's already spoken for.
Gathering courage, Yoo Min-jeong took Kim Jun's hand.
He looked at her, startled.
"Brought chicken."
"For real?"
"Let's go."
They logged out together.
At that instant, Skyla burst through the gate toward the relic, yelling.
"Kim Jun! I'm disappointed in you!"
Waiting in the shadows: a Geludiosaur.
Annoyed, Skyla tried to log out, but combat mode locked her in. She had to fight.
"Kim Jun!"
* * *
Sa Yeonggyo stopped at the light near the guildhouse and checked her watch.
6:30 a.m.
"Heh."
She was sure she'd arrived earlier than anyone today.
"Huh?"
Two cars in the lot: Kim Jun's and the red Ferrari—Yoo Min-jeong's.
Already here?
Inside, a mat on the floor piled with chicken bones, crumpled beer cans scattered.
No sign of Kim Jun or Yoo Min-jeong.
Then, a voice.
"Hey! Sa Yeonggyo!"
Startled, she headed to the master room upstairs.
Opening the door, Skyla mumbled in her sleep on the sofa.
"Think you're hot stuff? Association President's granddaughter means everything? Cocky bitch..."
Sa Yeonggyo's face twisted. She scanned the room—Skyla alone.
Did Kim Jun and Yoo Min-jeong leave their cars behind?
Why?
Head tilted, Sa Yeonggyo searched the guildhouse. She found them in the locker room.
Unbelievable.
Blankets and clothes spread on the floor; Yoo Min-jeong pillowed on Kim Jun's outstretched arm.
Just 10 centimeters between them. A slight shift, and their lips would meet.
Sa Yeonggyo stepped out.
She went to the parking lot, stood by her bike. She could ride off and never return.
She didn't.
Instead, she strode back in boldly and bellowed at the top of her lungs.
"What the hell is this? Chicken bones! If you're gonna eat, clean up properly! Who the fuck ate chicken here?"
She yelled extra loud, even deploying voice amplification magic. Her words boomed through the guildhouse like from a mic.
Moments later, Yoo Min-jeong emerged first.
Her hair neatly combed—not like someone who'd just woken from a man's arm.
Sneaky bitch.
Sa Yeonggyo glared, pointing at the bones.
"You eat this?"
"Ah, sorry."
"This is a shared space. Be more careful."
"Won't happen again."
Yoo Min-jeong started cleaning, her face glowing brighter than ever. Sa Yeonggyo knew no scolding could dim that bliss.
Sa Yeonggyo entered the locker room.
Kim Jun... still asleep. Even voice magic hadn't woken him.
She glared at the clothes and blanket over him—Yoo Min-jeong's doing.
"Hey!"
She gathered mana and roared. Echoes slammed off the walls.
Finally, Kim Jun rubbed his eyes and spotted her.
Sa Yeonggyo watched his reaction. If he'd slept here with Yoo Min-jeong, he'd be flustered looking up at her.
"You're here? Where's this? Oh, right—no going home 'cause of the sim update. See the relic? It's insane."
Sitting up, vitality returned to him. Talking raids, relics, martial arts—he radiated unmatched charm.
Sa Yeonggyo was certain then.
He'd slept alone; Yoo Min-jeong had snuck in and crashed beside him.
"Slept here? Must've been cold."
"Not at all. Huh? Did you cover me?"
Kim Jun eyed the blanket, then her.
Bingo. Nailed it.
Sa Yeonggyo gave an ambiguous smile and exited. Her eyes met Yoo Min-jeong's as she tidied.
She expected panic—Yoo had seen her leave the locker room with her own eyes. But Yoo finished cleaning more boldly than usual, grabbed water from the fridge, and drank with relish.
Sa Yeonggyo sidled up.
And whispered.
"I like Kim Jun."
Yoo Min-jeong glanced over.
No shock. She knew.
Sa Yeonggyo felt sour. Yoo Min-jeong didn't even seem mad.
Meeting her calm gaze, Yoo Min-jeong said.
"Me too."
It stung like a slap.
Loosened up, Yoo Min-jeong skipped onto the track. Kim Jun soon joined.
What really pissed her off? Even she could see those two matched perfectly.
Skyla yawned, approaching Sa Yeonggyo.
"Give up. Easier that way."
Sa Yeonggyo blinked at her. Skyla had liked Kim Jun too, only to yield to Yoo Min-jeong.
Her competitive fire ignited.
Quit? Not in my dictionary.
Sa Yeonggyo fell in beside Kim Jun and ran with him.