Dungeon & Commander (36)
It was the same Korean restaurant as last time.
Go Cheolmin crossed the backyard lawn with a resolute expression and waited. When Jang Geon-ho opened the door, he took a deep breath and stepped inside.
His eyes widened.
The people who should have been at the buffet were sitting here.
Yang Hee-seon spoke.
"Sit."
"Yes, ma'am."
Go Cheolmin sat between Yang Hee-seon and Kim Jun, across from her. He didn't even glance at the guild members. He stared only at Yang Hee-seon to maintain his focus.
"Are your eyes hurting?"
"The Dungeon Association planned from the start for no team to pass the second test."
"What are you talking about? I asked if your eyes hurt, so why bring up the Dungeon Association?"
"N-no, my eyes are fine."
Go Cheolmin panicked.
"Then relax. Staring like that will give you eye strain."
"Ma'am."
Go Cheolmin tried not to get caught in her sly, fox-like rhetoric. Even a small mistake could lead to irreversible consequences. He couldn't let that happen.
Yang Hee-seon turned to look at Yeom Sang-taek.
"Why are you so rude?"
"...Pardon?"
Yeom Sang-taek's face drained of color.
"When do you plan on doing the three full prostrations?"
"......"
Yeom Sang-taek racked his brain for what "three full prostrations" meant, but nothing came to mind. He'd been summoned here without explanation. He had no idea why Go Cheolmin looked so stiff and intimidating.
Yeom Sang-taek was just scared.
He'd run if he could.
The quick-witted Yoo Min-jeong stepped in.
"Bow three times. Hurry. The teacher has acknowledged you as her client."
At Yoo Min-jeong's whisper, Yeom Sang-taek's mouth fell open. He shot to his feet and bowed three times toward Yang Hee-seon. On the last bow, his legs gave out, nearly toppling him over.
"Let's do well from now on."
"...Y-yes, ma'am."
Yeom Sang-taek was on the verge of fainting.
Now Yang Hee-seon turned to Go Cheolmin, who was just blinking in shock.
"It doesn't matter what the Dungeon Association says. In my eyes, you passed."
"Ma'am!"
Go Cheolmin dropped to his knees. He finally understood her intent.
"Geon-ho, tell them to bring the food."
"Yes."
Jang Geon-ho went outside, shouted loudly that he was hungry, and came back in.
Soon, the dishes arrived.
The table filled quickly with food. Since they'd left the buffet without eating much, everyone's eyes widened at the unique yet neat dishes.
"Jun."
Yang Hee-seon said.
"Yes, Granny."
Kim Jun, eyeing the mouthwatering braised short ribs, turned his head toward the Crazy Buffer with effort.
"Luring the Wilexi Rex to fight the Wilexi-saurus pack was a brilliant idea. But how did you know the Wilexi-sauruses were there?"
Yang Hee-seon's question was sharp. It was something Yoo Min-jeong had wanted to ask Kim Jun too.
"The Wilexi Rex had wounds on its legs. Claw marks, fresh ones. So I figured monsters that attacked it were somewhere in the darkness beyond, and I asked Sang-taek to check."
"Haha."
Yang Hee-seon laughed. She'd watched the footage Lee Wan-yeol brought himself, yet hadn't noticed that detail.
Yoo Min-jeong understood only after hearing the explanation.
They'd been in the same place.
Shared the same experience.
Yet only Kim Jun had spotted the wound and wondered why. That's what got them through the second test.
Thinking back, it was like how he'd seen through the dealer faking injury to get carried—he didn't overlook the little things, and that changed the test's outcome.
I'll use that ability. I'm the team leader, after all.
Yoo Min-jeong recalled Go Cheolmin's advice. A team leader isn't superior to their members. They make the best use of them.
"Granny."
Kim Jun said seriously.
"Speak."
"Can we eat now?"
Kim Jun meant it. His stomach was practically glued to his spine.
Yang Hee-seon burst into laughter, Jang Geon-ho cheered, and the others joined in.
Kim Jun glanced around before reaching for the braised short ribs.
Kim Jun woke just before his alarm.
As he reached out, the desk clock blared. He hit the button, and silence fell like a blanket of snow.
Kim Jun stretched.
He hadn't passed the second test. His Dungeon License rank remained the same.
But Yeom Sang-taek had found a new patroness. Uramata Guild could enter the upcoming dungeon without issue.
"That's what matters."
Heading to the living room, Kim Jun spotted the wooden coffin made of zelkova. The framed Corona Kiwi-ka hung on the wall, warming his heart every time he saw it.
Helping a comrade gave a far greater, incomparable thrill than hunting monsters with the team. Not that he planned to give up the latter.
He washed up in the bathroom and came out.
On the table: soybean paste stew, rolled omelet, roasted seaweed, and garlic chive jeotgal.
"Garlic chive jeotgal!"
Kim Jun sat at the table without properly drying his hair and grabbed a spoon.
"Oppa, you've always lost it over garlic chive jeotgal. Is it that good?"
His younger sister Kim Ji-hyun shuffled over, rubbing her eyes. Her hair was a bird's nest.
"It's delicious."
He mixed the pungent garlic chives into steaming rice and took a big bite, the bitter tang filling his mouth. Adding a spoonful of rich soybean paste stew made him grin involuntarily.
Couldn't ignore the rolled omelet and roasted seaweed either.
After devouring two bowls of rice, Kim Jun prepared for his jog. He dressed light, packed sneakers, and stuffed spare underwear for the guildhouse into his bag.
"Jun."
It was Mom.
Sensing something different, he looked up at her.
"Come out for a sec?"
"Why?"
"Just come."
Kim Ji-hyun joined in.
Led by his mom and sister, Kim Jun went outside to the apartment parking lot. He spotted a shiny new mid-size sedan.
"No more running to the guildhouse. Roads are dangerous."
Mom held out the keys.
"...Mom?"
"Train at the guildhouse."
Touched, he stared at her.
Kim Ji-hyun grabbed her brother's hand and led him to the car. He got in the driver's seat; she took shotgun. Mom watched from the apartment entrance.
The test drive was short. One lap around the complex, then back home.
"Let's go to the beach in this sometime."
Kim Ji-hyun said.
"Sure."
Kim Jun was still dazed.
Was this a dream? Him with a car? Unimaginable. He'd gotten his license before Devils Day but never planned to drive.
Seeing Yoo Min-jeong's Ferrari or Choi Muhyun's Jeep hadn't sparked envy. He just needed to get faster, stronger as a carrier.
Grabbing his bag, Kim Jun looked at Mom.
"Thanks, Mom."
"Earn big, get something better."
She smiled.
"Before that, I'll buy us a better house."
"Hearing that is enough. Go on. Don't miss morning training."
"Got it."
Down in the lot, Kim Jun tossed his bag in the passenger seat and slid behind the wheel.
"Alright, let's go."
For the first time, he drove his own car out of the apartment and onto the road.
The parking lot was empty.
Kim Jun parked in the farthest spot and sighed in relief. His knuckles were white from gripping the wheel. His face was slick with sweat.
"Whew."
The road... was a warzone. As terrifying as a dungeon teeming with monsters.
He'd nearly crashed several times.
A split-second delay brought curses from all sides. Once he got a feel for the car's dimensions, driving eased up.
Stepping out, Kim Jun eyed his cheap domestic sedan—nothing like a Ferrari or Jeep—but it was his first, and it felt special.
He rarely arrived at the guildhouse this early. Entering the empty building, he felt the morning hush.
Changing in the locker room, Kim Jun started stretching. Loosening up improved training results and prevented injuries.
Muscles and joints warmed, he pondered today's regimen. Running first. The track here allowed precise distance and time measurement—better than roads.
Top marathoners run a 42km full course at 17-second 100m pace. National elites do half-marathons in just over an hour.
"Right, break the one-hour wall. Let's do it."
Kim Jun hit the track.
He upped his usual pace.
For endurance, train slow-twitch fibers. For speed, fast-twitch. He'd focused on slow-twitch so far. Now, fast-twitch too.
Soon, muscles groaned. Pain spiked, twisting sensations hit.
It'll start soon.
Chest bursting, he kicked up another gear.
Felt like dying.
Kept running.
Vision yellowed. Ears rang. Hot breaths poured out, acetone breath hit.
Body screamed to stop.
Kim Jun yelled, pushing forward.
Then, like swallowing painkillers, agony faded. Limbs lightened. Wind at his back.
"Aaaah!"
He shouted in ecstasy.
Longer strides. Faster speed. Ground seemed to retreat.
He craved that breakthrough high again. For it, he'd do anything.
Pushed harder. Pain surged. He drove to the limit. Breakthrough hit.
Felt like invisible wings. Even like shrinking steps.
Then, calf cramped, twisting.
Kim Jun lost balance, tumbling forward. He curled to brace but slammed into a steel pillar supporting the stairs.
Side throbbed.
He staggered up, tested limbs. No major damage, luckily.
Body trembled. Calf spasm gone, but twitches lingered. Overexertion's toll.
Stumbling to the bench, he sat. Recalling the fall, he realized surviving unscathed was a miracle. Could've shattered limbs.
Then Uramata couldn't raid for a while without a carrier.
Ragged breaths. Ten minutes later, still unsteady.
Then, an unfamiliar man entered the guildhouse.
Recognizing him instantly, Kim Jun stood. Winced from pain, but bearable.
"You alone?"
"Yes."
"Mind if I come in?"
"You're already in. Coffee?"
"Yeah, need one."
O Won-jin sat on the bench. Kim Jun poured hot water into a paper cup, stirred in coffee mix, and brought it over.
"About the disciplinary committee?"
"No, it's canceled. No idea why."
"Oh, good."
Kim Jun pictured Hong Mun-hak's face, caught red-handed. Probably canceled knowing Kim Jun would testify.
"More importantly, this."
O Won-jin held up an envelope.
"What's that?"
"Test results. Actually, I ran an awakening test using your blood, sweat, and data. Not officially recognized by the Association, but reliable."
"...For real?"
Kim Jun's heart pounded.
That weird phenomenon might be awakening's precursor. Awaken as a Raider, no more carrier life. Choose tanker, dealer, buffer—whatever suited.
O Won-jin pulled out the results.
"First test: 12th grade."
"Ah, okay."
Kim Jun deflated. 12th grade was fit civilian level. Raiders started at 9th minimum.
Reading his reaction, O Won-jin quickly showed the second.
"Second: 10th grade."
"...What?"
"Too early to be shocked."
"Final test: 7th grade."
"......"
Yoo Min-jeong was level 6. If accurate, he matched her.
"I was shocked too. First time like this. Grades change slowly—six months minimum, a year usually. Never jumped like this from one day's blood."
"...Bad sign?"
"Want to say no, but honestly, I don't know."
O Won-jin was frank.
Tests repeated, procedures double-checked. Even nurse doing full exam yielded same.
Then, Master Go Cheolmin entered.
"Who's this?"
Go Cheolmin said, spotting Kim Jun.
"Well......"
Kim Jun hesitated. No clue how to explain.