The Thrill of Defiance
Still, he had to be careful. His opponent was... a Level 4 Raider, and the captain of the Brave Guild at that. One wrong move, and he'd be the one taking the hit.
—I have a few questions. Could we meet for a bit?
"Well... I'm pretty busy."
Baek Seung-tae played it coy. A shiver of exhilaration raced down his spine.
This feeling... I want to hold onto it forever.
—It's important.
"Alright, then. I'll make some time."
—In two hours...
Baek Seung-tae cut him off sharp.
"I'll check my schedule and get back to you."
Then he hung up first.
"Kekeke, kuahaha, hahaha, hahahaha!"
Baek Seung-tae laughed like a madman. Passersby on the sidewalk shot him sidelong glances, but he didn't care.
This wild joy had to be shared.
It was too good to savor alone.
An Seong-ho sat in the yard.
In a meditative posture on the bare earth, he could feel the energy of the land flowing through his entire body. He even sensed the occasional wriggle of insects or earthworms.
An earthworm was rubbing through the soil, climbing up from a point fifteen centimeters below his tailbone. He didn't shift his position. He didn't want to break the communion with the earth that had taken him an hour to achieve.
The persimmons on the persimmon tree were ripening quickly. Gazing up at them impassively, An Seong-ho felt better than he had in ages.
I feel like I own the world.
Of course, this house nestled at the foot of Bukhansan Mountain was far from anything to boast about.
You had to climb 108 steps to reach the rusted front gate, fling open the creaking gate to reveal the dirt-scented yard, and beyond that, a modest house tucked away.
The single-story home was so rundown it needed repairs before winter set in.
The boiler had to be fixed first—it'd been broken for three months, but it wasn't too inconvenient, so he'd put it off. The roof leaked when it rained, too; he'd have to call someone soon. Lately, though, everything felt like too much trouble.
Yi Hwan had returned.
For the stray cat that drew eyes with its cheeky strut, An Seong-ho had named it after the Raider who represented the Brave Guild.
"Yi Hwan! Where the hell you been, you rascal?"
An Seong-ho extended his hand, and Yi Hwan sniffed cautiously before approaching slowly.
Soft downy fur.
Squinted eyes in a delighted expression.
An Seong-ho reached toward the kitchen. Thanks to his precise control, the fridge door swung open, and the chicken breast he'd stored recently floated up and flew over.
Yi Hwan leaped into the air, snatched the chicken breast, and vanished into the bushes.
"Cold-hearted bastard. Then again, that's his charm."
An Seong-ho summoned a spirit.
A dark brown puppy emerged from the ground a meter ahead. Formed of mana and earth, its true nature was the earth spirit Dust Dog.
The Dust Dog, scampering around, stepped on a dry twig and tumbled over. An Seong-ho burst out laughing despite himself. In the dungeons, this guy tracked and tore into monsters with the bulk of a calf, but here in reality, he was like a friend easing his loneliness.
The sunlight was thinning.
Dusk was falling.
Those words came back to him.
That's a shame.
Kim Jun's parting words clung to him all day like a mosquito buzzing relentlessly.
Damn mosquito had sunk its proboscis right into his pride.
He wanted to dismiss it as bravado from a newbie team leader, but knowing the path Kim Jun had taken to become a Raider... to become a team leader... he could guess it wasn't just empty talk.
Right now, Kim Jun was probably busting his ass to turn what most people would call a delusion into reality.
Even more astonishing was that the people around him were actively joining in on the madness.
Yoo Min-jeong, Choi Muhyun, and Skyla weren't fools by any stretch.
What the hell were they planning?
Kim Jun wouldn't just swallow the raid schedule set by expedition leader Jeong Myeong-ho.
Then, he heard footsteps on the stairs.
Clack-clack.
An irritating sound.
An Seong-ho rose and pointed at the ground. The soft soil gathered and rose, plugging his ears like earbuds.
The rustle of falling leaves in the wind, distant dog barks, even the click of high heels on the stairs—all vanished.
An Seong-ho went inside.
Loud knocks on the rusted door echoed, but he couldn't hear them. The stray cat Yi Hwan, basking on the roof, startled at the kick from those expensive shoes, but thankfully it didn't rile An Seong-ho.
Neighbors peeked out at his mother's harsh cursing, but An Seong-ho could prepare dinner in silence.
As he opened the fridge for a rare chicken breast pesto cheese steak, he sensed a presence. Even with his ears blocked, his body could feel it.
An Seong-ho turned slowly.
His huffing mother stood at the kitchen entrance. She was yelling her head off, but he couldn't hear. She'd crossed the rusted door unlike usual, so something must have blown up.
Looked like dinner's peace was shattered.
An Seong-ho gestured, and the earth plugs fell from his ears.
"...You can't hear me? My words don't mean shit to you?"
"You came?"
"I came? I came? You call that a response? Do you know how long I called for you? Are you ignoring your mom now? Raider status gone to your head, huh?"
His mother revving up.
She had a real talent for it. Getting herself riled up, fuming on her own, then exploding—no one in Korea could match that.
"What is it?"
Her assault paused at his question. She had a reason for coming.
"You eating okay these days?"
Such affectionate concern meant... she needed a hefty sum.
"How much?"
"See, I told you last time? I'm pouring money into private loans. But that bitch ran off with it. That dog of a club owner. Now I've got defaults everywhere, and Mom's suffering bad. I tried handling it without bugging you, but I can't anymore."
Tears welling in her eyes.
An Seong-ho glanced at her earrings, clothes, bag, shoes. All new. Probably luxury buys from the last month.
He could corner her easily.
Pointless, though. She'd flop down sobbing, attacking with tears.
Truth was, he was past the age where her tears shook him. Maybe immune since puberty.
His divorced parents.
Both found their young son a burden. "Burden" didn't capture it—they'd ditched him like a dog they'd raised.
If Grandma hadn't pitied and taken him in, he'd have grown up in an orphanage.
Then the situation flipped dramatically.
Awakening signs appeared in An Seong-ho.
Suddenly, both parents fought to claim him. He wanted to stay with Grandma, but had no say.
Mom won.
The court sided with her.
An Seong-ho endured living with her until adulthood. Once he could stand on his own, he left and settled here at Bukhansan's foot... in this house with its fine yard.
Mom wouldn't let go. Probably never would.
To her, he was a living lottery ticket.
"So, how much?"
"Three sheets first."
Thirty million won.
"Got it. I'll send it tomorrow."
"Mom's always sorry for needing more. But you give me strength, son. You know how my friends envy me? Mom's alive thanks to you."
Her voice softened instantly.
An Seong-ho half-forcibly shooed her out when she suggested dinner together. Standing blankly in the yard, he just sighed. Even forcing positivity, today wasn't easy.
His phone buzzed.
He wanted to ignore the damn thing in his irritation, but knew he couldn't.
The 4,700 contacts saved there... were his greatest asset. The info they brought him was why a guy without connections became team leader.
Couldn't take a single one lightly.
To complete a thousand-piece puzzle, every piece mattered.
An Seong-ho checked the caller.
Dungeon Management Division 2 Section Chief Kwon Young-il. With a four-term assemblyman father, he was no ordinary Association employee. Loved money and women, bent rules without a second thought.
An Seong-ho answered immediately.
"Long time, Section Chief Kwon."
—Team Leader An, heading into Sokcho Dungeon, right?
"Yes."
An Seong-ho caught on. Trading relic info.
His mom's antics vanished from his mind. Like a beast before the hunt, he tensed up.
Heart pounding, body heating despite the chill.
He recalled what Kwon Young-il had always wanted.
Loved money, but from a rich family—not just greedy.
Women? Irrelevant to An Seong-ho. Kwon had endless chances without him.
—Team Leader An's got it good. Raiders are freelancers with time to spare. Me? Work kills any free time. My girl's singing FR card songs, and I can't even buy one— who gets a pathetic dad's plight?
An Seong-ho faltered slightly.
Kwon Young-il, Dungeon Association section chief, calling a Raider team leader for an FR card?
No matter how he spun it, this was mockery, not a request.
Sensing the mood, Kwon's voice quickened.
—Truth is, I could buy the FR card easy. Send a subordinate. Problem is, she wants an autograph. And a photo. With that Raider Kim Jun you went into Incheon Dungeon with. She's been crying for days.
An Seong-ho relaxed.
The target was Kim Jun.
Reason enough to call. But An Seong-ho figured the demands weren't over. He knew Kwon Young-il well.
"I can help with that. Pretty tight with Kim Jun."
An Seong-ho tweaked it his way: "Will be close soon," softened for the ear.
—Haha, that's Team Leader An. So straightforward—people can't help liking you. And listen...
Here came the real pitch.
"Go ahead."
—Weird rumors floating around. Mind verifying for me? Bit of a hassle, I know.
"Rumors?"
An Seong-ho perked up. No Raider was more rumor-sensitive than him. Rumors grew into facts, facts into reality.
—Word is Uramata's master's getting replaced.
"Replaced?"
An Seong-ho pictured the bearish, burly man. Lacked salesmanship as master, but trustworthy.
—Still just rumor, but check if it's true... and if so, who's next. Favor, yeah?
"Got it."
An Seong-ho hung up.
Didn't ask when or how for the relic data. Kwon was meticulous; it'd be solid.
Grant this, and Kwon would call easier next time. An Seong-ho could reach out naturally for Association intel.
A more reliable, valuable info exchange.
Deep in thought, An Seong-ho pulled up a contact to call—then his phone rang first.
Baek Seung-tae.
"Hey, long time."
—Come out.
"What?"
—Right outside your place. Come on. Lots to talk about.
"Alright."
An Seong-ho tilted his head, descended the narrow stairs. A gleaming Porsche waited. The man stepping out removed his sunglasses.
"Whoa."
"Get in."
"Sure."
Sliding into the passenger seat, the leather scent was divine.
Baek Seung-tae tossed him a bankbook casually as he pulled out. An Seong-ho gaped at it.
"Your treat tonight."
"Hahaha, name it. I'll buy anything."
"Hanwoo beef."
"Hanwoo? Hell yeah, let's go."
They hit a garden restaurant on the outskirts that looked mouthwatering.
Even sizzling the meat, An Seong-ho eyed Baek Seung-tae. Not just a happy mood visit.
"Jeong Myeong-ho called earlier."
Baek Seung-tae said.
"Jeong Myeong-ho? Who's that?"
"That Brave Guild pollock bastard."
Jeong Myeong-ho's nickname came from his looks. He hated it, naturally.
"Oh, the asshole who screwed you over? Why'd he call?"
"Asked if I really got the Domoto Ring, wanted to meet. Said I'd call back and hung up. You know this stuff. Why'd Jeong Myeong-ho call me?"