Finish Them Off
‘Finish them off?’
If it were that guy, he’d kill anyone who entered the dungeon in Kim Jun’s place.
An Seong-ho knew the reason all too well.
In truth, Uramata Guild had been deeply involved in the decline of Cheonroehoe Guild. And Kim Jun was a key figure in that affair.
Kim Jun had joined that raid last year only because the original carrier had gotten into a car accident. That was the sole reason a high schooler who hadn’t even graduated yet could step into the dungeon as a last-minute replacement.
The truth came out later.
Cheonroehoe had orchestrated the carrier’s accident to shake Uramata Guild. Once it was exposed, the Dungeon Association came down hard on them like a ton of bricks, and Cheonroehoe plummeted to third-rate status as a result.
Hmph, they brought it on themselves.
Of course, An Seong-ho was adept at hiding his true feelings.
“I heard from Seung-tae.”
An Seong-ho flinched at Im Seung-hyeon’s words. Did that mean Baek Seung-tae had met with Im Seung-hyeon?
“...What story?”
“That he got done in twice.”
“Oh, that?”
An Seong-ho barely suppressed the surge of irritation. Going to someone from another guild without saying a word to his team leader?
“You’re pissed, right? Seung-tae came to me and spilled all that, so I get why it wouldn’t sit well with you as team leader. But this isn’t just Hanmudan’s problem. It’s about the pride of us raiders.”
An Seong-ho stayed silent.
Opening his mouth felt like it would unleash words he’d regret.
“Those cocky Uramata bastards need a beating. The ones riding their daddies’ coattails.”
Spit flew from Do Jin-yong’s mouth.
He probably saw it as perfectly justified, but to An Seong-ho, it was just inferiority complex spilling over.
Yoo Min-jeong had left Jushin for the tiny Uramata Guild.
If she’d wanted to lean on her father’s influence, she never would’ve left Jushin in the first place.
Choi Muhyun had chosen Uramata over Cheonhondan too. It was his way of breaking free from his father’s shadow.
Right after the Dungeon Association’s awakening test, An Seong-ho had quietly looked into why Yoo Min-jeong left Jushin.
And he’d been pretty shocked.
It was Jushin’s top brass who’d ousted the strongest raider, Yoo Wan-seop. Once he lost an arm, the guys who’d been sidelined all that time stepped up. They pinned the blame for Devils Day entirely on him and kicked him out unilaterally.
Yoo Wan-seop hadn’t even offered a defense.
Yoo Min-jeong must not have been able to stomach the atmosphere.
“So what are you planning to do?”
An Seong-ho masked his contempt as best he could.
“If we team up, we can show those punks what a dungeon’s really like.”
Im Seung-hyeon’s slow drawl made the implication hit even harder.
Team up!
Three out of the four teams entering today’s F-rank gate combining forces would leave Uramata defenseless.
“How far are we taking this?”
“First off, we kill the carrier.”
Murderous glee gleamed in Do Jin-yong’s eyes.
“That’ll cause problems. The media’s swarming here because of him right now.”
An Seong-ho jerked his chin toward the hallway.
“So what? What can a bunch of reporter scum do about an accident in the dungeon? They’ll yap for a few days. That’s it.”
Do Jin-yong grinned wickedly.
“Just the carrier?”
“No.”
Im Seung-hyeon answered.
An Seong-ho shifted his gaze to him slowly, waiting for details.
“We break a limb or two on the tanker, dealer, and buffer too. Make sure they can’t raid for the rest of the year.”
“You know who’s backing those guys, right?”
“Yoo Min-jeong’s dad’s gone nuts up in the mountains. Choi Muhyun’s such a nobody even Cheonhondan won’t take him. Yeom Sang-taek? You know how many clients that Crazy Buffer has. No issues there.”
An Seong-ho was stunned by Im Seung-hyeon’s cocky assurance. Touching a carrier was one thing; injuring raiders was a whole different league.
Then his phone rang.
He checked who it was, excused himself, and answered.
“Master, it’s me.”
―You’re with Im Seung-hyeon and Do Jin-yong, right?
“...Yes.”
―Team up with them.
“......”
―Hanmudan, Blue Lightning, and Gwanpo all agreed. Follow orders.
“...Understood.”
―But don’t take the lead. Keep it moderate. You get what I mean?
“Yes, Master.”
Hanging up, An Seong-ho read the looks on Im Seung-hyeon and Do Jin-yong’s faces. They’d known this call was coming.
Someone higher up had hatched the plan, and the three team leaders gathered here today were just pawns, clueless about the real motives or goals, forced to carry it out.
Maybe even without today’s Daily Raider article on Kim Jun, a similar order would’ve come down.
No choice. Can’t defy the master while I’m in Gwanpo.
Leaving the meeting room, An Seong-ho headed to the waiting room where his team waited, making a few calls along the way. To figure out who planned this and why.
The dungeon management office by the F-rank gate had raider waiting rooms, but not enough for a small outfit like Uramata Guild.
So Yoo Min-jeong, Choi Muhyun, Yeom Sang-taek, and Kim Jun—geared up—sat in the van, awaiting the assembly order.
Kim Jun and Yoo Min-jeong up front, Choi Muhyun and Yeom Sang-taek in the back.
“Man, that was really touch-and-go earlier.”
Yeom Sang-taek.
Kim Jun glanced back, knowing exactly what “earlier” meant.
Choi Muhyun, staring out the window, turned to look at Kim Jun.
“Even if Master told you to get out, you weren’t really gonna, right?”
“Of course not. I own like 51% of Uramata Guild.”
Kim Jun grinned.
“51%?”
Yoo Min-jeong cut in.
“I’m the guild’s MVP. In stock terms, that’s gotta be about 51% mine.”
“What about me?”
Choi Muhyun.
“You ditched the guild and ran, but you’re pulling your weight as tanker now, so maybe 7%.”
“Dude, that’s stingy.”
“Feelin’ generous. 10%!”
“Yeah, that’s more like it.”
Choi Muhyun beamed at Kim Jun.
“Me?”
Yeom Sang-taek.
“Hmm, you’re at 8%.”
“8%’s plenty for me.”
Even knowing it was silly banter, Yeom Sang-taek felt good. When Kim Jun and Master had been glaring each other down without backing off, it’d been downright terrifying—heart shrinking stuff.
Yoo Min-jeong smacked Kim Jun’s shoulder, prompting him about her share.
“You’re team leader, so 12%.”
“30%. Or I’m out.”
Choi Muhyun and Yeom Sang-taek’s faces changed at Yoo Min-jeong’s dead-serious tone. She wasn’t great at jokes.
“Fine, 30%. Special treatment.”
Yoo Min-jeong’s bright smile had Choi Muhyun and Yeom Sang-taek cracking up, exchanging glances.
Then Yeom Sang-taek’s eyes went wide, like he’d uncovered a profound truth.
“So Master’s at 3%?”
“3% is generous. Nearly tanked our precious Uramata Guild.”
Everyone burst out laughing at Kim Jun’s casual jab.
Yoo Min-jeong tilted her head, remembering something, and eyed Kim Jun.
“That homeless guy under the desk in the master room when I first came to Uramata and met you... the drunk bum... was that Master?”
“Bingo.”
“3%’s too much. Down to 1%.”
Yoo Min-jeong joined the fun.
The van shook with their laughter.
Then Go Cheolmin returned from checking raid info with the Dungeon Association staff and climbed in. Buzzing with pre-raid excitement, he looked almost drunk.
The laughter roared louder.
“What’s so funny? Let me in on it.”
“Says he owns over 51% of Uramata Guild, so no way he’s leaving.”
Yoo Min-jeong pointed at Kim Jun.
“Come back safe today, and it’s yours—51%.”
The laughter died instantly.
They stared at Master like they’d been slapped, sobering up. The raid’s danger hit home.
“Master.”
Kim Jun.
“Speak.”
“Guild’s in the red, right?”
“Yep.”
“So 51% means you’re dumping half the debt on me.”
“Smart kid.”
Master’s grin eased the tension. The kids felt not just the raid’s peril, but Master’s trust too. No way he’d joke like that if he didn’t believe in them.
“F-rank dungeon raids are strictly team-based. Requested Optitarakum from the Association, but no dice. Whatever happens inside... stays inside. No one outside can find out or expose it, no matter what. Everyone but you four is the enemy. Use any means necessary. Come back alive.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Let’s go.”
Go Cheolmin hopped out first, opening the door like a manager for idols.
Flashes exploded as Yoo Min-jeong emerged.
Choi Muhyun covered his eyes and got out.
Yeom Sang-taek stepped out, bewildered, caught on camera.
Kim Jun’s exit peaked the frenzy.
Under Go Cheolmin’s protection, they headed for the gate.
The F-rank gate was a metal archway. Sliding doors, 30 centimeters thick. When those sealed doors parted wide, an inky void would unfold—dark enough to swallow summer sunlight.
Dungeon Association staff flanked it, scanning the area with Secret Service-level tension.
The four teams lined up single-file, awaiting the gate’s opening.
Team leaders at the front, carriers at the rear.
Every team but Uramata had five members: two tankers, one dealer, one buffer, one carrier.
Raiders bookended Kim Jun. The stare from his right side burned especially—sure enough, Baek Seung-tae from An Seong-ho’s Gwanpo Guild team.
Beyond the photo line, dozens of reporters shouted questions and snapped shutters. Cameras with telephoto lenses zeroed in competitively on Kim Jun.
“Kim Jun-ssi, over here!”
“Give us a smile!”
“Rumors of retaliation in the dungeon—what’s your mindset right now?”
To ignore them, Kim Jun glared at the gate.
The hotter the reporters got, the fiercer Baek Seung-tae’s glare.
A helicopter buzzed overhead. Rare for an F-rank; usually reserved for E or D.
The management director approached the team leaders.
“Final roll call. Hanmudan’s North Face Team!”
“Here.”
Im Seung-hyeon raised a hand.
“Cheonroehoe’s Blue Lightning Team!”
“Here.”
Do Jin-yong barely nodded, hands in pockets. The director shot him a displeased look but moved on.
“Gwanpo Guild’s An Seong-ho Team!”
“Here.”
An Seong-ho smiled and raised his hand.
Reporters laughed. First team leader to name it after himself.
Im Seung-hyeon and Do Jin-yong frowned at him, apparently unaware.
Choi Muhyun leaned forward from behind Yoo Min-jeong and whispered.
“What’s our team name?”
Yoo Min-jeong pretended not to hear.
The director spoke.
“Uramata’s Pink Team!”
“Yes!”
Yoo Min-jeong raised her hand crisply.
Choi Muhyun and Yeom Sang-taek, blindsided, just gaped at her back.
Kim Jun had no bandwidth for it.
The director recited raid precautions, but no one listened. Basic rules anyone who valued their life would follow anyway.
“Team leaders, step forward.”
Gathering them to draw lots for entry order. They each picked and unfolded a slip from the director’s palm.
Uramata’s Pink Team first.
“Aw, crap.”
Do Jin-yong’s blatant disappointment; he didn’t even unfold his.
Back at her spot, Yoo Min-jeong whispered to Choi Muhyun.
“We’re first. Snake formation on entry—pass it on.”
“Got it.”
Choi Muhyun relayed to Yeom Sang-taek and Kim Jun.
The director checked his watch, nodded back. Two staff inserted custom keys into both doors and turned. The gate creaked open.
The black void rippled like mist.
Shutter clicks and flashes pierced the dark, but not enough to reveal inside.
Gate fully open.
Director stepped aside, raised his hand.
Kim Jun dropped into a low stance, ready for anything.
“Raid begins!”
As his hand slashed down, Yoo Min-jeong bolted forward. Choi Muhyun, Yeom Sang-taek, and Kim Jun followed. They vanished into the dark in under three seconds.
Stunned reporters finally erupted.
The other three teams entered at a leisurely pace.