Virtual Hunt and Sudden Betrayal
Choi Muhyun and Yeom Sang-taek glared at Yoo Min-jeong, their eyes screaming why are you only telling us this now?
At that moment, the eyes of the test participants turned toward the stage. A middle-aged man had walked out onto it.
"I'm Lee Wan-yeol, in charge of the Dungeon Association's Guild Management Department. It's an honor to meet you all, who are about to venture into that perilous place on behalf of all humanity."
He bowed his head, revealing his sparsely haired, gleaming scalp.
Laughter erupted among the relatively young raiders. Someone even shouted, "Baldy!"
"Haha, if you enter the dungeon, please find some medicine to cure baldness. Ah, of course, it grows back quickly with Lyrium, but for a salaried worker like me, it's way too expensive to even dream of. Anyway, let's get into the details of the test."
The room fell silent at the mention of the test. Lee Wan-yeol scanned them before continuing.
"This test will consist of three rounds."
Reactions exploded immediately.
"Ugh!"
"Three times? That's gonna take forever."
"Why so many? Just do it all at once."
Lee Wan-yeol raised his hand and waited for the complaints to die down.
Most of the raiders before him were hot-blooded rookies who struggled with emotional control.
In his eyes, forged from years of working closely with guilds, even seasoned raiders well into their forties were essentially kids obsessed with toys at heart.
Silence gradually overtook the chatter.
As the auditorium quieted, Lee Wan-yeol's voice boomed through the microphone.
"Thirty-two teams are participating, and only sixteen will advance from the first round. First, about the initial test: A large-scale dungeon has been prepared. It contains 48 monsters, meaning 48 cores. To pass the first round, secure three cores—hunt monsters that appear in the dungeon and exit the gate with at least three. Of course, the more cores you have, the better your position for the second round."
The explanation ended.
Raiders here and there raised hands with questions.
Yoo Min-jeong quietly listened to the Q&A.
These raiders had received special training since childhood and varied experiences. No need for her to jump in—their questions covered everything she wondered about.
Yeom Sang-taek whispered to Kim Jun beside him.
"Half get eliminated. Think we can make it?"
"We have to."
Kim Jun's calm reply somehow eased Yeom Sang-taek's excitement, but one worry lingered.
His abysmal magic success rate as a buffer in simulator training stemmed from the setup.
Thanks to Kim Jun, he could perform at full potential in the Uramata Guildhouse, but the Dungeon Association's simulators would be different.
Lee Wan-yeol's voice continued.
"Teams securing three or more cores in the first round must return to the starting gate. Passing through confirms advancement to the second round. And as you know, disconnection is impossible except by death. We'll begin the draw in 30 minutes of rest."
Lee Wan-yeol exited stage left.
The draw decided which of hundreds of machines in the simulation room to use—a procedure designed to prevent corruption and foul play.
Even formally awakened raiders couldn't hold their tension, rushing to the bathrooms.
Some donned headphones for music, others chatted with teammates, a few meditated with eyes closed—each handled nerves differently.
The draw began.
The team leader pressed a button, and one ball spinning in a transparent glass sphere emerged through a long tube, marked with a simulator number.
Yoo Min-jeong drew number 32.
Once the draw ended, the simulation room opened.
The double doors swung wide, revealing a space larger than a soccer field.
Dubbed the "small gym," this simulation room housed three hundred machines. The "big gym" could train a thousand at once.
Yoo Min-jeong headed to the back with her team. Checking the simulator nearly made her curse.
"What's wrong?"
"The front ones are DXS version 7. This is 6."
Yoo Min-jeong sought out Lee Wan-yeol overseeing the test.
"Devils Day hit the Dungeon Association hard too. Equipment upgrades got delayed. My deepest apologies."
His shiny scalp gleamed again.
Yoo Min-jeong could see her reflection in it, almost bursting into laughter. The man had a talent for loosening tense atmospheres.
"Version 7 excels in reaction speed, fine control, and more. This test isn't fair—"
Lee Wan-yeol cut her off without changing expression.
"If you're dissatisfied, raise an objection after the test."
"So only team 32—us—tests on version 6?"
Yoo Min-jeong was dumbfounded.
"The draw was strictly random. Anyone could have gotten 32. Plus, the schedule's tight; we can't delay. Otherwise, none of these teams would raid. You're Yoo Wan-seop's daughter, the top raider. I trust you can overcome a minor difference. Honestly, I'm relieved another team didn't draw 32."
"...Fine, for now."
Mention of her father made Yoo Min-jeong back down.
"What'd he say?"
Yeom Sang-taek asked as she returned.
"Just get ready."
"...Should I call Master?"
Choi Muhyun asked cautiously.
"Won't help. Better to contact after passing."
The team nodded and stripped down. Already in skin-tight suits, they mounted the simulators instantly.
Nearly two hundred participants entered virtual space simultaneously.
* * *
Kim Jun grabbed a handful of dirt from the ground.
As he stood and opened his fingers, soil and sand trickled down. He meticulously observed the fall speed and spread, inwardly marveling.
As expected from the Dungeon Association. Leagues beyond the guildhouse simulators. Hardware's similar, but the software inside? Totally different. Realistic enough to call it reality.
Usually, simulators dropped you straight into a dungeon.
Not here.
Participants gathered at the dungeon entrance—the gate. Even entering was part of the simulation.
Equipment was uniform: tough leather armor like association-issued gear, belt with a dagger, versatile boots.
Carriers carried storebacks equipped with diggers.
"Commencing the first test. Good luck."
Lee Wan-yeol's voice thundered from the sky.
Then, the gate opened.
Darkness yawned within.
Team 1 dashed in first.
32's turn was far off. Old machine and late slot—starting at a disadvantage.
"Snake."
Yoo Min-jeong called.
The team shifted to an S-shaped formation to speed past others upon entry.
"Go!"
Trusting her team, Yoo Min-jeong sprinted like a sprinter.
Brushing past team 31 just inside, their leader's startled curse rang out.
Yoo Min-jeong ignored it, overtaking 30, 29, 28 in a flash.
"11 o'clock."
Snake veered slightly left.
The dungeon interior was vast. Spreading out beat clumping for easier hunts.
Buffer Yeom Sang-taek fired light upward. A 15-meter radius brightened, but outer darkness deepened.
"Diamond."
The team reformed to basic diamond.
Choi Muhyun fronted the advance, Yoo Min-jeong and Yeom Sang-taek flanked behind, carrier Kim Jun tailed.
Tedious advance began.
Blind sprinting risked becoming prey instead of hunter.
Then, distant screams.
Heads knew it was simulation, but bodies adjusted to this hyper-real space.
Bitten by dinosaur-like monster, arm torn? Instinct overrode reason, unleashing screams.
Pain option was on— not full agony, but convincing enough.
"Raider team approaching from 5 o'clock, 50 meters."
Yeom Sang-taek.
"Ah! And Pyro-saurus, two at 12 o'clock, 45 meters."
Raiders behind, monsters ahead—Yoo Min-jeong frowned.
"Evade. Left turn."
Team veered left.
Darkness parted briefly; crimson flames flickered. Screams pierced silence.
"One Pyro-saurus heading here."
No need for words—heavy footsteps announced it.
"Reverse triangle."
Battle formation!
Yeom Sang-taek beside Choi Muhyun deployed help. Magic succeeded smoothly, defying fears.
Choi Muhyun poured surging power into Geumgangbyeok. A golden wall formed.
Charging Pyro-saurus spewed fire. The wall blocked effectively.
Yoo Min-jeong seized the moment, crafting a fire arrow at its chest.
Pre-existing wound; arrow burrowed, incinerating innards. Pyro-saurus collapsed in agony.
Yeom Sang-taek doused flames; Kim Jun extracted the core. In four minutes, it entered the storeback.
Team exchanged looks.
Satisfaction shone. One core down—two more for first-round pass.
"...That team earlier's hurt. Not moving. Pyro-saurus circling them."
Yeom Sang-taek said.
"Let's go."
Yoo Min-jeong decided.
Diamond formation pierced darkness; cunning monster fled.
"Yoo Min-jeong?"
An Seong-ho's face lit like a castaway spotting lighthouse.
"What happened?"
"...Dealer got hit."
An Seong-ho pointed to the bandaged arm.
Raiders all vital, but dealers irreplaceable.
No dealer, no hunts. Injury meant raid over—best case, safe return.
Yoo Min-jeong felt uneasy.
Real dungeon? She'd never dump approaching monsters on another team. Real one, they'd team up and bag both.
"Team up?"
"...Huh?"
"Faster hunts that way."
"I'd love to."
"I give orders."
"Obviously. Thanks."
An Seong-ho nearly teared up.
Two teams merged.
Three tanks, two buffers and carriers, one dealer. Common in real dungeons.
Improvisation: team leader's top virtue.
Yoo Min-jeong tested formations.
Diamond solid, but wedge or crawl impossible.
Three tanks held against most attacks.
Raiders greeted by role: tanks, buffers, dealers.
Carriers too.
"Kim Jun."
"You look young."
"Graduated high school this year."
"...Quit carrier soon as you can."
Early-30s man's face mixed regret and despair—incomprehensible to fresh grad Kim Jun.
Injured dealer was his burden. 15kg storeback plus broken arm slowed the team.
"Need help?"
"Sure."
Gruff reply.
Initially, both carriers supported dealer, but pace lagged.
Kim Jun decided.
"I'll carry him."
"Not necessary, but..."
"Take my storeback."
"Got it."
Kim Jun shed his pack, hoisted dealer. Not heavy. Team moved fluidly now.
Ahead, Yeom Sang-taek flashed thumbs-up.
Tedious dark scouting.
Nearly 30 minutes of quiet movement.
Then, Yeom Sang-taek spoke.
"1 o'clock, three Goldisaurs, 50 meters."
Yoo Min-jeong ordered: reverse triangle. Defense-focused counter.
Three tanks shouldered forward. No buffer aid needed.
Battle joined.
Goldisaurs charged nimbly, headbutting with foreheads and bodies. Tanks' shields repelled them.
Yoo Min-jeong struck: two down instantly. One dodged fire arrow, fled to darkness.
"Advance."
Tanks crushed necks of fallen pair.
"Carrier."
Other carrier stepped up—Kim Jun busy with dealer.
30 minutes for two cores with digger. He stowed gold cores in Kim Jun's storeback.
"You helped us. Next ones ours?"
An Seong-ho.
"Of course."
Yoo Min-jeong's unease melted. Passing together? Nice bonus.
Next: Awakirus.
Tricky with shifting abilities, but this one body-slammed simply. Standard defend-counter worked.
Carrier took 20 minutes for core.
Then, An Seong-ho's hand lunged at Yoo Min-jeong's chest—blackened.
Simultaneously, other tank beside Choi Muhyun targeted dazed Yeom Sang-taek.
"Injured" dealer—feigned—reached for Kim Jun's throat with magic as Kim Jun piggybacked him. Kim Jun urgently hurled him forward.
Dealer slammed down, full weight.
Judo throw-like.
"Argh!"
Arm truly snapped now. Leg twisted grotesquely.
Meantime, enemy carrier grabbed Kim Jun's storeback, dashed to An Seong-ho.
An Seong-ho's strike missed.
Choi Muhyun barreled in, swatting it aside.
Still, grazed Yoo Min-jeong's left arm bled. She purged infiltrating poison with magic.
Yeom Sang-taek was unlucky.
Tank-powered fist to chest—dead instantly. Body faded. Real dungeon, corpse; here, virtual—fortunate.
"What the hell?"
Yoo Min-jeong retreated with Choi Muhyun, fire arrow forming on right hand.
"Useless."
An Seong-ho and tank erected shield. Carrier with storeback inside.
Kim Jun's "injured" dealer—failed ambush, broken limbs—abandoned.
Fire arrow flew—boom boom, just noise.