Mission: Dungeon Open
The living room table groaned under platters of Chinese takeout, and the group sat around it like they were on a picnic, digging into lunch.
Choi Muhyun had lost a bet and was supposed to foot the bill, but Go Cheolmin insisted on paying.
"I can't let my guild's raiders drop that kind of cash," the master had grumbled stubbornly.
Skyla melted into the friendly vibe almost immediately—and that surprised even her.
At Daily Raiders, she was known as the outsider. She wasn't close with her fellow reporters. Instead, she'd knock back drinks with taxi drivers, security guards, bartenders, and even lowlifes—her various sources.
Of course, she'd only see them once, maybe every two weeks at most, a month usually.
This is nothing like the guilds I've covered before. They're not just pretending to be buddies. This is the real deal. Even raiders—dealers, tankers, buffers—are like sworn enemies most places... but not here. Makes sense, though. They eat with carriers like it's normal.
No matter the guild's size, carriers were treated like dirt.
Skyla had visited not just the Big Four but guilds big and small, and she'd never once seen a carrier eating with raiders.
The mastermind behind this heartwarming scene was undoubtedly Master Go Cheolmin.
Skyla recalled her research notes.
Go Cheolmin was the master who'd repeatedly pushed the Dungeon Association to raise carrier salaries, only to get shot down every time. He was the only one fighting a giant organization for carriers' rights—it wasn't an exaggeration.
If Kim Jun had joined any other guild, he'd never get this kind of respect.
Lunch wrapped up, and gear checks began.
The standard-issue Dungeon Association gear—specially coated clothes, gloves, belts, daggers, boots—was laid out.
Raiders could buy their own extras like rings or necklaces at personal expense. Those were basically items; a ring embedded with a core that boosted mana by an average of 5% went for over a billion won and was still hard to snag.
Carriers got unique gear: the digger for extracting cores from monster corpses and the storeback backpack for stashing them securely.
Kim Jun suited up fully and headed to the garden.
He twisted and turned, testing if the gloves stayed put, if the storeback straps weren't too loose, if the belt gripped his waist right, if the dagger's edge was sharp enough.
The cats trailed after their boss.
Yoo Min-jeong, Choi Muhyun, and Yeom Sang-taek joined him in the garden for their own checks. Any issues had to be fixed before entering the dungeon.
Skyla stood in the living room, arms crossed, and sidled up to Go Cheolmin, who watched the garden contentedly.
"I'd bench Kim Jun if I were you."
"Same here."
"...But he's Uramata's only carrier."
"That's why I made a call."
Go Cheolmin flashed Skyla a grin.
Right then, his phone rang.
He pulled it out and headed toward the garage.
Kang Jin-gu paced nervously until the garage door slid open on its own. He jumped back in surprise.
Go Cheolmin emerged.
"Chief, long time no see."
"Chief? Come on."
Kang Jin-gu clasped the hand Go Cheolmin offered.
Something felt off. The emptiness that kept him up at night unless he drowned it in booze now burned hot for some reason.
"It's dangerous. You don't have to do this."
"I've seen the news. He'd die in there in his current state. You know that, Master."
"...Of course."
Go Cheolmin knew from experience: even the meekest person turned feral in a dungeon.
"Jun's my lifesaver. An old man like me can't die ashamed of an unpaid debt."
"I've got something to say before we go in."
"Shoot."
Go Cheolmin filled Kang Jin-gu in on Skyla—the reporter who'd written about Kim Jun. As a carrier who knew the raider world inside out, Kang Jin-gu was speechless.
"That's our boy. Just like him."
"Caught me off guard too."
"That reporter's in for it now. Jun's got her hooked."
Go Cheolmin was stunned by Kang Jin-gu's reaction.
As fellow carriers—and fans of Kim Jun—it'd be hard to view Skyla favorably. Hate her, even.
But Kang Jin-gu saw it differently.
We need more folks like her in the guild. After this, I'll try convincing her again.
"Let's head in."
Go Cheolmin led the way.
Kang Jin-gu followed into the garage, feeling at ease, like he'd come home.
"Chief!"
Kim Jun spotted Kang Jin-gu in the living room and bolted over, hugging him tight.
The joy twisted and faded fast.
He realized why Kang Jin-gu was here.
He turned slowly toward the master, eyes cold and sunken.
"You're not going into the dungeon today."
"Master!"
"That's an order as your master!"
His voice boomed like thunder.
Discarding the neighborly uncle vibe, Go Cheolmin's true face emerged. It overwhelmed everyone like legs buckling before a starving wild bear—not just Kim Jun.
Kim Jun stripped off his gear right there.
He unslung the storeback and set it down, leaned the digger against it. Tossed the gloves at his feet. Kicked off the boots to stand barefoot. Unbuckled the dagger belt and laid it atop the boots.
"If I can't go in today, I'll leave Uramata Guild instead."
An invisible bomb detonated.
Kim Jun had set it off.
"...What?"
Go Cheolmin couldn't believe his ears.
He nearly yelled to get out. But that would mean losing Kim Jun forever. He bit his lip, glaring, forcing silence.
Even Yoo Min-jeong couldn't intervene.
Choi Muhyun and Yeom Sang-taek were mute as clams.
Skyla, a reporter who could talk circles around anyone, just watched quietly. She knew it wasn't her place.
Tension flooded the living room like a raging current.
Kang Jin-gu stepped up beside Kim Jun.
"Is there a reason you have to go in today?"
His gentle question eased the razor edge.
"Three reasons."
Kim Jun stared at the master, not Kang Jin-gu. This was for him.
"Let's hear 'em."
Kang Jin-gu relayed it to Go Cheolmin, whose lips were pressed tight in fury.
"First, skipping today doesn't fix anything. It won't magically change for the next raid. Raiders don't forget."
"Aigoo, standing's killing my legs and back. Everyone, sit and listen."
At Kang Jin-gu's words, Go Cheolmin, Kim Jun... everyone sat. Tension visibly eased.
Skyla's eyes sparkled.
"Second?"
Kang Jin-gu eyed Kim Jun.
"You've been out of the field a long time, Chief. Stamina, surprises... If you go in my place... you'd be in danger."
Kim Jun's voice cracked, half-sobbing.
Kang Jin-gu patted his head with a smile, then spoke.
"Last one?"
"I know I'll come back alive."
"Got proof?"
"Master knows."
Kim Jun tossed it to Go Cheolmin.
All eyes turned to him. He felt it but only saw Kim Jun.
"You mean the contamination?"
Go Cheolmin asked.
"Yes."
Kim Jun answered.
"Lyposaurus regen only works if you're alive. Dead's dead—even its grandpa couldn't fix that."
"Master, you know how I survived down south. I don't die easy."
Go Cheolmin pictured Kim Jun scaling sheer cliffs, forging through waves.
Back then, he could help. As master, jump in and save him from the water.
Now he got it—why he wanted Kim Jun benched.
I can't help him myself. I... can't enter dungeons.
"Master, I've got teammates."
The words hit Go Cheolmin hard. Why'd he think he had to babysit?
Because Kim Jun was an unacknowledged carrier?
But Yoo Min-jeong, Choi Muhyun, Yeom Sang-taek—they saw him as a teammate, more than a friend.
"It's like when your precious daughter brings home a toad and says she's marrying it. That's the face you're making, Master. Us grown-ups sit this one out."
Kang Jin-gu said.
Go Cheolmin could only nod slowly.
These kids had changed. Grown. Not greenhorns anymore. Time to trust and expect more.
That was a master's duty.
He checked his watch.
"One hour, then to the gate. Double-check everything."
"Yes, sir!"
Yoo Min-jeong, Choi Muhyun, Yeom Sang-taek, and Kim Jun replied.
"Skyla, a word."
She approached Go Cheolmin.
"Got a favor to ask."
"Name it."
"A tough one."
"Tougher means I wanna try."
"Go to Kim Jun's house."
"...Pardon?"
It felt like a punch to the solar plexus.
"Reporters are probably still camped out. I'll call ahead—head there, talk to his mom and sister. Teach 'em how to handle the press."
"......"
The unexpected request left Skyla speechless, chest tight.
"Tough ask, right?"
"Still mine to do. I'm on it."
"Thanks."
Go Cheolmin left to prep for the raid. Kang Jin-gu approached Skyla.
"If it's too much alone, I could tag along. Whatever, if you don't want."
"...No, no. Thank you so much."
An hour later, Go Cheolmin led the team to the gate. Skyla and Kang Jin-gu headed to Kim Jun's house.
An Seong-ho wrinkled his nose leaving the waiting room.
Reporters swarmed the hallway.
"You took the Dungeon Association's second test with carrier Kim Jun—why'd you quit first? Regretting it now?"
"What were you doing when Kim Jun took down Wirex Rex?"
"Doesn't it hurt your pride as a raider?"
One irritating question after another.
An Seong-ho ignored them completely. Any answer, and they'd twist it.
Luckily, Dungeon Management Office staff held them back. He reached the promised meeting room.
He spotted the two right away.
"Hey, long time."
It was Im Seung-hyun, leader of Hanmudan's North Face team.
Always smiling, but his slow speech and cold eyes gave off an unapproachable chill.
Im Seung-hyun was also An Seong-ho's senior from Cheongmyeong Academy.
When An Seong-ho got in on talent, Im Seung-hyun had passed the association's awakening test and was training, shopping guilds.
"Yeah."
An Seong-ho nodded lightly and eyed the guy across from him.
Do Jin-yong, Blue Lightning team leader from Cheonroehoe, sported a sporty buzz cut. He lounged with his back against the chair, feet propped on the table.
Screaming, I'm above you losers.
Blue Lightning, once hitting D- and E-ranks, had dropped to F after repeated fails.
"You know why you're here?"
Im Seung-hyun eyed An Seong-ho.
An Seong-ho nodded slowly, pulled out a chair, sat, and answered.
"He won't join."
"Sure?"
Do Jin-yong growled.
"Probably. If Uramata's master has any sense, he won't throw in an obvious target like that carrier."
An Seong-ho swallowed his rising anger at the rough tone and casual speech. For now.
"Doesn't matter. Just take out whatever carrier replaces him."
Do Jin-yong's lip curled.
An Seong-ho stared. Too much killing intent. Far too much.