Dungeon & Commander (28)
Yeom Sang-taek headed toward the cleanest building entrance in the neighborhood.
The entire seven-story structure was an academy.
The first-floor lobby was crowded with parents holding their children's hands.
They had come to the academy to test their kids' potential as Raiders.
To take the Awakening test at the Dungeon Association, one needed a recommendation from an existing Raider. If their talent was recognized here, they'd rush straight to the Daejeon branch of the Dungeon Association.
The walls were lined with framed photos of alumni who had Awakened. The more famous or higher-ranked they were, the larger the photo. In one corner hung a small picture of Yeom Sang-taek.
"Hey, that big brother's picture is here."
A girl who looked about seven or eight years old pointed at Yeom Sang-taek.
The parents all turned to stare at him.
Their eyes widened in recognition. They swarmed around him, pushing their sons or daughters forward.
Choi Mi-ja, the director of MJ Buff Academy, came to Yeom Sang-taek's rescue from his awkward predicament. She was the one who had spotted his talent and recommended him for the Dungeon Association test.
Leading him into the director's office, Choi Mi-ja smiled warmly.
"Want some coffee?"
The prodigal son who had run off on his own had returned.
He had bolted from the Daejeon meteor gathering and headed to Seoul, but in the end, he had come back down after realizing his own limits. He must be drowning in frustration and helplessness, so what he needed now was gentle comfort, not harsh scolding.
Choi Mi-ja hadn't forgotten that Yeom Sang-taek was an 8th-grade Raider recognized by the Dungeon Association, even if his practical skills as a Buffer were lacking. If she personally introduced him to a guild in Daejeon or the surrounding area, it would benefit both him and the academy.
Yeom Sang-taek had no idea what the director was thinking.
"Ah, yes. Thank you."
Choi Mi-ja went to the window, boiled water in an electric kettle, and prepared cups.
In the meantime, Yeom Sang-taek looked around. It was his first time back since they had built the new building, so everything felt fresh. But the director's office still had the same atmosphere as before.
"I heard you went up to Seoul?"
"...I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"I should've come sooner, but honestly, I was too embarrassed. None of the guilds in Daejeon would take me. And honestly, they had good reason not to."
"How was Seoul?"
Choi Mi-ja poured water into the cups and stirred with a spoon. The response she wanted was something like, 'I guess I had no choice,' or 'Seoul was just too tough after all.'
"I joined a guild."
"Really?"
Her expression was soft, but her eyes sharpened as she scrutinized Yeom Sang-taek.
"Uramata Guild. I even passed the first test hosted by the Dungeon Association."
"You're joking, right?"
Yeom Sang-taek didn't catch the director's inner hope that it had to be a joke.
"You know I can't joke like that."
"Oh, right. The coffee's getting cold. Drink up."
"Thank you."
Yeom Sang-taek took a sip of coffee, but he couldn't shake the feeling that coming here had been a mistake. Still, he had no choice—he needed to learn advanced magic to become a stronger Buffer.
"Has your buff success rate improved?"
"92%."
His voice brimmed with pride.
"......"
Choi Mi-ja stared at her former student in silence.
Was it true?
The director recalled Yeom Sang-taek from his academy days—a timid, fearful kid. He wasn't the type to lie so smoothly to her face.
Then... it must be true!
It would have been better if it were a lie.
Yeom Sang-taek's rapid growth would not only shatter the reputation of the guild meteor gathering but also that of MJ Buff Academy. The students—or even alumni Raiders—might flock to Seoul upon hearing the news.
Once a rumor spread, it was hard to contain. She needed to act fast.
The director's gaze on her old student turned ice-cold.
Yeom Sang-taek shivered without knowing why.
She could understand the reaction. Going from a mere 42% buff success rate to 92% in just a few months was a miracle.
Yeom Sang-taek hurriedly explained the reason.
Choi Mi-ja nodded at the story about how the simulator couldn't handle his unique mana, which had kept his success rate low all this time.
"So you messed with the simulator settings on your own."
"Th-that's..."
"I thought you were a pure kid, even if you were a bit slow."
"But..."
"Pretend I didn't hear that. Anyway, you're busy—what brings you here?"
Her voice had turned sharp.
Yeom Sang-taek hesitated. He wanted to tell her why he had come, but he knew exactly what the answer would be. Still, he couldn't just head back to Seoul without saying anything.
"...I want to learn the next stage of buff magic."
"Ha!"
Choi Mi-ja shook her head, raising both hands like a foreigner in exasperation.
"Director, please."
Yeom Sang-taek was desperate.
According to Dungeon Association regulations, the person recommending someone for the Awakening test was called a guardian or patroness. The recommended person was the ward or client.
The moment the Awakening test was passed, a new relationship formed.
The guardian became the ward's parent and mentor. The ward learned the basics from the guardian and made connections through them.
Yeom Sang-taek needed help from his patroness, Choi Mi-ja. Without her permission—her consent, her recommendation letter—he couldn't even access advanced magic.
"I must have misjudged you."
"Director!"
"Leave. Before I kick you out."
Yeom Sang-taek fled the academy.
From across the street, he saw the furious director ordering a staff member to remove his photo from the wall.
Tears welled up in his eyes.
He had come all this way to become the Buffer his team needed, only for his relationship with his patroness to end. Choi Mi-ja wouldn't say anything good about him now, so he'd have to get by with the magic he already knew for the rest of his life.
"...I'm done for."
Yeom Sang-taek started walking with slumped shoulders.
A savory aroma wafted from the chicken boxes in both hands. Thinking of Choi Muhyun, who would die for chicken, Kim Jun entered the guildhouse.
The space was empty.
He could faintly hear the pitching machine firing balls. Kim Jun set the chicken boxes on a bench and headed to the training room.
Choi Muhyun stood like a mountain, catching or deflecting the incoming balls. Unlike usual, no golden light emanated from his body.
He was training barehanded, without using his martial arts.
That explained why his training clothes were torn in places.
There was a scrape on his cheek, and the blood had crusted over.
Kim Jun stood there, watching the training session.
Choi Muhyun, giving his all for his goal.
Today, the guy looked pretty cool.
Finishing his session, Choi Muhyun spotted Kim Jun.
"Hey!"
Choi Muhyun stepped out of the training area, his face caked with dried sweat and salt.
"You're working hard."
"Of course. Why are you so late? Nothing went wrong, right?"
"Just a few extra tests."
"Ah! That smell!"
Choi Muhyun strode to the bench. Seeing the chicken boxes, his mouth stretched ear to ear.
"Where's Sang-taek?"
"He went down to Daejeon."
Choi Muhyun, munching on a drumstick, answered.
"Daejeon? Why?"
"Guess he missed his mom."
Settling on the floor to eat, Choi Muhyun showed zero interest in why Yeom Sang-taek had gone to Daejeon.
Kim Jun shook his head and grabbed beer cans from the fridge—a six-pack.
"Where's the team leader?"
"Over there."
Choi Muhyun nodded toward the simulation room, meaning she was training there.
At that moment, the simulator hatch opened.
Yoo Min-jeong climbed out.
Spotting Kim Jun, she startled but quickly reverted to her usual 'Ice Princess' demeanor.
"Your checkup should've ended early."
The question carried certainty.
"Had some other business."
"So you were slacking off?"
"Your body's seriously amazing. Like a Barbie doll."
Kim Jun, beer in hand, smoothly changed the subject.
Only then did Yoo Min-jeong blush and dash to the locker room.
Choi Muhyun, already on his second drumstick, took a swig of beer and eyed his friend.
He seemed about to say something but let out a sigh instead.
Kim Jun picked up on the vibe but planned to stay quiet until Choi Muhyun spoke first. He just figured it wasn't something minor.
Yoo Min-jeong returned after showering, in shorts, canvas shoes, and a comfy T-shirt.
"Starting without the team leader?"
Sitting between Choi Muhyun—who had just finished his first beer—and Kim Jun, Yoo Min-jeong snatched the second can he was about to open.
"What about Master?"
"He called earlier. Coming tomorrow morning."
Choi Muhyun answered Kim Jun's question.
"Where'd you go after the checkup?"
Yoo Min-jeong asked.
"You won't believe it."
Kim Jun grinned.
"No way?"
Choi Muhyun set down his beer can.
"No way what?"
Yoo Min-jeong, glancing at Kim Jun, shifted her gaze.
"This guy's a notorious brawler. As a freshman, he one-shotted a senior and became top dog. Then he conquered the neighboring schools one by one. You didn't know?"
"For real?"
Yoo Min-jeong looked back and forth between Kim Jun and Choi Muhyun. Neither showed any sign it was a joke.
"Ancient history. Ancient history. And I never started a fight first."
Kim Jun shot Choi Muhyun a glare.
Yoo Min-jeong almost burst out laughing.
To her, Kim Jun was the model student Carrier who trained every day.
The guy who believed training was his only joy, with zero fun in life.
For that Kim Jun to have been a delinquent who ruled nearby schools with his fists? His body was solid muscle, but not as intimidatingly huge as Choi Muhyun's.
Impossible to believe.
"What do you mean ancient history?"
Yeom Sang-taek stood behind them, hands full of late-night snacks.
Choi Muhyun swiftly unpacked the blood sausage, tteokbokki, fish cakes, and more from the bags, setting them beside the chicken.
He was lightning-fast at this stuff.
Yeom Sang-taek sat across from Yoo Min-jeong.
"From now on, let the team leader know in advance if you're going anywhere."
"Ah, sorry."
"Anyway. What happened?"
Yoo Min-jeong eyed Kim Jun.
Kim Jun shrugged and calmly recounted the hospital incident.
The sleazy doctor in the elevator and the endless treadmill endurance test got Choi Muhyun, Yeom Sang-taek, and even Yoo Min-jeong fired up.
"What kind of doctor's like that?"
"We should file a complaint!"
"As team leader, I can't just let this slide!"
Their reactions amused Kim Jun.
He never imagined a day like this when he first met Yoo Min-jeong and Yeom Sang-taek.
After a pause, Kim Jun described what he saw on his way back from the hospital to the guildhouse.
All three gaped at him, waiting for the rest.
"I jumped off the bus right away, grabbed a taxi, and tailed them. Guess what I said to the driver?"
"What?"
Choi Muhyun and Yeom Sang-taek asked.
"Stop interrupting and just spill it."
Yoo Min-jeong was half-irritated.
"Follow that Benz. I think my dad's cheating."
Choi Muhyun and Yeom Sang-taek cracked up. Yoo Min-jeong even clapped.
"So? What happened?"
Yoo Min-jeong urged.
"I thought about finding their home number and telling her what I saw, but I didn't want to go that far. So I pretended it was a coincidence, walked up like I knew them. The doctor's face when he recognized me? Priceless. I humbly told the young woman with him, 'Ma'am, you're so beautiful.' She smiled, but the doctor looked like he was chewing shit."
Laughter erupted again.
But Yeom Sang-taek's mirth was short-lived.
Fear and despair quickly clouded his face. He forced a smile, but Kim Jun caught the real expression.
"Sang-taek."
"...Yeah?"
"Something wrong?"
"......"
The concern in Kim Jun's voice made Yeom Sang-taek break into tears.
Choi Muhyun and Yoo Min-jeong startled.
Yeom Sang-taek explained why he had gone to Daejeon—to become a better Buffer.
He recounted the academy incident. No chance of advancing further now.
Heavy shadows fell over Choi Muhyun and Yoo Min-jeong's faces. Kim Jun, however, couldn't grasp the mood.
"There are other academies, right?"
Kim Jun said cautiously.
"You wouldn't get it since you're not a Raider."
Yoo Min-jeong spoke up.
"That director is Sang-taek's patroness. Without her recommendation, he can't learn anywhere, anything. No one teaches an Awakener without a recommendation letter."
Choi Muhyun looked dejected.
Kim Jun stayed silent.
Patroness and client. He'd heard the terms, but not how serious they were. He couldn't comfort Yeom Sang-taek, who was sobbing with heaving shoulders, because he didn't understand.
"Couldn't Master do something?"
Choi Muhyun glanced at Yoo Min-jeong.
"No, even Master can't fix this. The guardian-ward relationship is special. A third party interfering would just draw criticism."
Yoo Min-jeong stated firmly.
Choi Muhyun and Yoo Min-jeong genuinely empathized with and worried for Yeom Sang-taek. They knew exactly what being cast out by a patroness meant.
Kim Jun just listened.
When you don't know something well, the best move is to shut the hell up.
He felt bad for Sang-taek, but blindly trying to comfort him might cause more harm.
Choi Muhyun and Yoo Min-jeong patted Yeom Sang-taek's back, insisting there had to be a way.
Kim Jun felt a twinge of loneliness.