Dungeon & Commander (234)
“Why would Go Cheolmin come here? Not Choi Muhyun?”
“Well… I dunno.”
“Go Cheolmin didn’t want to come. Someone sent him. Who’s the guild master of Uramata right now?”
“No way… Yoo Wan-seop sent Go Cheolmin?”
Seo Sang-cheol’s eyes widened round as saucers.
“Go Cheolmin’s on the outs in Uramata these days. A former guild master returning as an active raider is rare enough, but dropping to a regular team member under a carrier-turned-team-leader? As a second tanker? You think you could tank under Kim Jun?”
“What do you take me for, Master? Why the hell would I raid under a punk like Kim Jun?”
Seo Sang-cheol even raised his voice.
“If we make a good impression in this raid, don’t you think Go Cheolmin—who’s gotta be fuming at Uramata’s antics—might stick around as Blue Lightning’s team leader? Imagine Go Cheolmin leading Blue Lightning. Raid profits would naturally skyrocket, and you’d learn a ton just watching from the sidelines, right?”
“Ah!”
A sly smile crept across Seo Sang-cheol’s face as realization dawned.
“Tell the team. Give Go Cheolmin a hot welcome when he arrives. Play it right, and this could revive not just Blue Lightning, but the whole Cheonroe Society.”
“Got it, Master.”
Seo Sang-cheol practically skipped out of the master room, grinning ear to ear.
Blue Lightning’s mood no longer mattered. The real issue… was old grudges.
His phone rang.
Song Siheon picked up immediately.
It was from building management. The car with the plate number he’d given them had just pulled in.
Go Cheolmin had arrived.
In five minutes, ten at most, he’d walk into this master room.
He had to convince him somehow.
For Cheonroe Society’s survival.
As he poured his prized tea, Go Cheolmin barged in without knocking.
“Long time no see. Have a seat.”
“Sure.”
Go Cheolmin flopped onto the sofa and propped his feet on the table.
Normally, that would’ve set Song Siheon off, but the rudeness actually pleased him. How pissed must Go Cheolmin be for the usually dignified man to look like a thug?
Song Siheon set the tea in front of him. That’s when the booze stench hit hard.
“Hit the bottle pretty good, huh?”
“A bit. No law against it, right?”
“Of course not. Hard to find drinking buddies these days—hit me up sometime.”
“So you can offer instructor again?”
Go Cheolmin hadn’t forgotten.
During the Incheon Dungeon raid, Song Siheon had been dead sure Uramata was crumbling and pushed hard to recruit Go Cheolmin as Cheonroe Society’s instructor.
Of course, things hadn’t panned out. Uramata was still kicking.
“Haha, no way. You’re back in active duty—instructor talk’s off the table. Chief team leader? Maybe.”
Song Siheon dangled the bait subtly.
Go Cheolmin flinched, eyes lighting up just as expected.
“Chief team leader? You’re joking.”
“No reason it couldn’t happen. With your skills, you’d get that treatment anywhere.”
“Forget it! I’m here to raid with Blue Lightning—introduce me to the team. Oh, and… Guild Master sent this. Do what you want.”
Go Cheolmin shoved over a package.
Inside… a Yeonhyangcho set. Pricey stuff. Almost certainly from Yoo Wan-seop.
Song Siheon grabbed the set and chucked it in the trash.
Go Cheolmin’s eyes bugged out.
“No matter the skill or fame, I don’t take gifts from the faithless. More importantly, I’d like you to lead Blue Lightning as temporary team leader. What do you say?”
“Faithless” meant Yoo Wan-seop, plain and simple.
Go Cheolmin’s eyes shone with emotion.
“Me? I’m an outsider… Think the team’ll follow?”
“Haha, they all know you. ‘Main Battle Tank Go Cheolmin,’ ‘Iron Wall Go Cheolmin.’”
“No way.”
His face lit up despite the words.
“Let’s go. They’re waiting for you.”
“Alright.”
“Even if temporary, knowing you’re leading Blue Lightning puts my mind at ease. Thanks.”
“I should be thanking you. Normally, outsiders don’t get team leader spots, unwritten rule.”
“Hahaha, we go way back—you’re no outsider.”
“Haha, true enough.”
Song Siheon was 50% sure he’d hooked him. A little more sweet-talk, and Go Cheolmin would restart as Blue Lightning’s team leader.
What about Do Jin-yong?
He’d either settle for team member or leave. His call.
“Come in.”
Guild Master Gu Gil-won, leading with his usual affable smile, said. Yoo Min-jeong forced down her discomfort and sipped her tea.
She nearly spat it out.
Damp manure flavor…
How could anyone drink this smiling? Moldy tea from some humid dump.
Is this even tea?
It tasted like water squeezed from old compost. In that moment, Yoo Min-jeong realized it.
Gu Gil-won had never tasted real pu-erh. That’s why he served this crap to a guest.
Yoo Min-jeong didn’t love tea anyway. But thanks to her tea-obsessed father, she’d tried various kinds—including real pu-erh a few times.
Part of her wanted to school him, but the trip’s purpose was too critical. She swallowed the urge.
When Kim Jun gave her the “orders,” Yoo Min-jeong had nearly exploded. Kicking out existing members to slot in Pink Team leaders?
But hearing why… it hit like a brick to the back of the head.
Kim Jun’s foresight.
How far ahead was he seeing?
“How’s your father?”
“Doing great.”
“We raided Gwanghwamun Dungeon together once. Good times.”
“Master asked me to give you this.”
Yoo Min-jeong placed the Yeonhyangcho set on the table.
Gu Gil-won’s jaw dropped. He couldn’t believe it was from Yoo Wan-seop—stunned silent for five full seconds.
The set had seven candles, each a different scent, totaling 1.2 million won. About 170k each, but Kim Jun got it half-off as Yeon Ga’s client.
Via Go Cheolmin and Sa Yeonggyo, the sets had gone to Cheonroe Society and Best Guild masters too.
Yoo Min-jeong watched Gu Gil-won’s joy, wondering if Kim Jun’s “prophecy” would hold.
“Sending something like this! Totally unnecessary. Anyway, tell your father thanks.”
“Will do.”
“Alright, time for introductions. Follow me.”
Gu Gil-won led out of the master room.
Yoo Min-jeong scanned Gwanpo Guildhouse nooks and crannies as she followed.
Framed photos with famous raiders everywhere.
One corner: shelves crammed with meaningless trophies—Daily Raider’s Top 100 Guilds, viewer-voted Top 100, Top 10 New Guilds to Watch. Three full shelves.
Seemed decent at a glance.
But closer look: a showpiece, far from real training.
An Seong-ho team raiders waited in the briefing room.
Yoo Min-jeong recalled Kim Jang-woo (tanker), Lee Seung-jin (buffer)—photos, profiles, skills, last year’s records. They must be reeling from the surprise.
Kim Jang-woo and Lee Seung-jin stood.
“You all know her? She’s joining for this raid—watch and learn properly. Skills and rep-wise, Yoo Min-jeong should be temporary team leader. No complaints, right? It’s just recon and rear guard anyway—no real danger. Serve your temp leader well and nail the raid. Got it?”
Yoo Min-jeong blinked in shock.
Temporary team leader?
Kim Jun’s prophecy nailed it.
He’d bragged she’d land the spot just by showing up—or even acting arrogant.
Skeptical then, but it happened exactly.
“…Yes.”
Weak replies from the team.
“Blue Lightning joins this afternoon. You can steady the combined team, Yoo Team Leader. Ask them if you’ve got questions.”
Gu Gil-won hurried out—probably to call Uramata’s master about the Yeonhyangcho. Building ties for future favors.
Awkward silence filled the briefing room.
Yoo Min-jeong’s irritation boiled seeing the unmanly tanker and buffer.
Probably seething with inferiority and defeatism. Maybe hating her as a Jushin fire dealer, Yoo Wan-seop’s daughter.
That mindset kept them in a crumbling guild.
What would Kim Jun do here?
Stare straight, hit ’em with weird questions to throw off the temp leader.
Negative thoughts spiraled. Letting it fester would make this trip seem foolish.
Yoo Min-jeong exhaled long, breaking the cycle.
Her feelings didn’t matter now.
Theirs did.
She considered the two stealing glances. Sudden team leader swap—how disorienting? What fears gnawed at them?
She knew what to do.
“Must feel awkward, right? Fair enough—the rolling stone knocked out the cornerstone. Thanks for Guild Master’s words, but I don’t wanna pull shady moves. Honestly, Kim Jang-woo fits temp leader better than me.”
Yoo Min-jeong spoke softly.
Stunned, Kim Jang-woo met her eyes.
“…No. I’d prefer you as temp leader. For real.”
“But I’m new here today…”
“No. I don’t even know what a team leader does. Please.”
Yoo Min-jeong turned to Lee Seung-jin.
“Same here. Back then… you were amazing.”
Lee Seung-jin’s “back then” was the Incheon Dungeon raid.
She’d led Pink Team through Blue Lightning, An Seong-ho, North Face—out safe.
Probably unintentional, but Yoo Min-jeong felt a twinge of shame.
Team leaders demoted to members? Common.
But leading a team, then raiding as its member? Almost unheard of.
Handing team leader to Kim Jun? No regrets—anyone would agree he fit best.
Didn’t kill her desire to lead her own.
Lately, two urges clashed.
Strong pull to keep raiding with Kim Jun’s Pink Team.
But growing itch to build something stronger.
Not deciding today, though.
“Promise to help me, and I’ll take temp leader.”
“Promise.”
“We promise.”
Atmosphere lightened.
She’d snagged maybe 15% of their hearts. Through this raid, she aimed for 70—no, 80%+.
“Can I see the simulator?”
Kim Jang-woo and Lee Seung-jin stood at once, faces brighter.
Huh?
Not top premium line, but definitely Milano suits. Not just Kim Jun—Choi Muhyun, Yeom Sang-taek, even Skyla wore Milano training suits.
An Seong-ho was pretty shocked.
Most guilds issued training gear, but Milano? Mid-tier guilds and up—that was luxury consumable territory.
Suits could shred in ten days or two weeks depending on training. Luxury for cash-strapped Uramata.
“What’re you staring at?”
Skyla.
“…Nothing.”
An Seong-ho whipped his head away. Milano suits, especially women’s, hugged every curve—easy to look pervy.
He caught up to Choi Muhyun heading out of the locker room.
“Milano, huh?”
“Yeah.”
“When’d you switch to Milano training suits?”
“Today’s first. Better than expected. Super light. Try one.”
First time meant new guild master’s call. Classic Yoo Wan-seop. Ex-raider knew what raiders needed.
Bang Yun-a approached in red training gear.
An Seong-ho nearly burst laughing. She’d stormed off big-talking, but slunk back when Kim Jun didn’t bite. Spirit broken.
Not that she’d quit easy.
“Do Team Leader begged, so I had no choice.”
“Uh, sure.”
“For real. Anyway, shove me forward.”
“Shove?”
“For team leader.”
“Huh?”
“I’ve got the most experience, longest team leader stint. Makes sense I take it. Pink Team won’t run right otherwise. You’re not handing it to Kim Jun, are you?”
“We’ll see.”
An Seong-ho stayed vague.
How would Kim Jun react? No way he’d yield easily. But clashing with Bang Yun-a would sour team vibes.