Fabricated Victories
A bearded man soon entered and looked at Yoo Min-jeong.
"What is it?"
"From now on, wait here after raids are over. If you leave your post even once more, we'll file an official complaint with the Dungeon Association."
Yoo Min-jeong stood up and approached, placing the Cheonroegeom—wrapped tightly in cloth with gloved hands—and the Legio on the desk.
"Th-this is...?"
The man immediately recognized the Cheonroegeom.
"The owner of the Cheonroegeom is Choi Muhyun, tanker of Uramata Guild's Pink Team. And the Legio belongs to Pink Team leader Yoo Min-jeong."
Yoo Min-jeong hated having to lie, but she knew the Dungeon Association regulations all too well: revealing the truth would mean Kim Jun automatically lost both items the moment they were disclosed. She put in her best effort.
"Cheonroegeomand a Legio? You found these in an F-rank dungeon?"
"Register them."
Yoo Min-jeong stepped back, sat on the sofa, and crossed her legs while glaring at the man.
The man continued examining the Cheonroegeom and made a phone call somewhere. With such valuable items returned, he was calling in related staff for verification.
Yoo Min-jeong recalled Kim Jun leaving the team to tame the Haren Saurus. He'd returned safely, acquired these items, and even turned around Baek Seungtae's hatred toward him. In the end, it wasn't a bad outcome.
But the problem is Kim Jun's temperament.
Can I control him as team leader? Hmm, not sure yet. If he keeps pulling stunts like this, can I judge coldly and precisely as leader?
Yoo Min-jeong was aware of her feelings toward Kim Jun.
She also knew that if her position as leader became an obstacle, she had to remove it—no matter how painful.
Soon, the item registration office buzzed with activity beyond just Yoo Min-jeong; five staff members were now handling the work. They brought in various machines to precisely inspect the Cheonroegeom and Legio, gasps of admiration erupting here and there.
Finally, the registration was complete.
"The Cheonroegeom is registered to Choi Muhyun, tanker of Uramata Guild's Pink Team. This Legio is registered to Yoo Min-jeong, leader and dealer of Uramata Guild's Pink Team."
Yoo Min-jeong grabbed the Cheonroegeom and Legio without a backward glance and left the registration office.
Her destination was the conference room where the team leaders had gathered.
"Think this'll work?"
Choi Muhyun whispered as he slowly carried Kim Jun on his back toward the gate exit.
"It will."
Kim Jun, face pressed against his friend's broad back, replied. He turned his head slightly to glance at Yeom Sang-taek standing beside them.
"Gotta act good."
"...Honestly, no confidence."
"Stay quiet, and crap like today happens again. Someday, we'll—or rather, I'll—die in that darkness. If the three teams had teamed up from the start, we'd have been wiped out."
Kim Jun spoke the truth.
Yeom Sang-taek's eyes welled with tears.
"Let's go."
Kim Jun buried his face in Choi Muhyun's back and closed his eyes.
Choi Muhyun walked slowly but froze at the sight of reporters crowding the gate entrance. Camera flashes exploded nonstop. Reporters shouted questions like banshees.
"Who's the guy on your back?"
"Is carrier Kim Jun dead?"
"If not dead, how badly hurt?"
"Was it retaliation?"
Dungeon Management Office staff blocked the reporters from swarming.
Choi Muhyun walked through the path between reporters and staff, his face solemn and mournful.
Then, one reporter yelled.
"Blood!"
They'd spotted blood dripping from Kim Jun's limp hand in the air, splattering the floor.
Flashes targeted Kim Jun, and live cameras zoomed in dramatically.
Unlike Choi Muhyun's stoic demeanor, Yeom Sang-taek's shoulders shook with sobs. Reporters fought to capture him, thrusting mics forward to probe his feelings.
At the end of that path stood Go Cheolmin.
His eyes were moist as he approached his guild's raiders.
"Master?"
"...Good work."
Seeing Go Cheolmin's twitching cheek, Choi Muhyun realized even the master had been fooled.
He couldn't reveal the truth here.
"To the van."
"Y-yeah."
Go Cheolmin led the kids to the van and helped them in. Climbing into the back—not the driver's seat—to check Kim Jun's condition, he froze at the sight of Kim Jun grinning ear to ear.
"...You?"
"This should bury this morning's articles, right? 'Rising Hope Carrier Hits His Limits!' Stuff like that—articles'll flood out."
"So it was all an act?"
"Sang-taek did amazing. Fooled everyone with those tears."
Yeom Sang-taek scratched his head with a laugh.
Go Cheolmin was thrilled that three of the four participating teams had returned safely despite allying. He'd heard via the Dungeon Management Office situation room, but seeing Kim Jun on Choi Muhyun's back... he'd imagined the worst.
But his heart soon grew heavy.
"Headlines'll scream 'Retaliation in the Dungeon.'"
Go Cheolmin said.
"If people read that, won't other raiders be more cautious?"
"True enough. Got it. And Choi Muhyun—what the hell's with the Cheonroegeom?"
Choi Muhyun glanced at Kim Jun.
Kim Jun had already dozed off, head nodding. After all that, collapsing was no surprise.
Choi Muhyun explained on his behalf: how the Cheonroegeom and Legio came into their possession, why it had to be registered under his name.
"Damn. Head to the guildhouse first."
Go Cheolmin got out, took the driver's seat, and soon the van left the dungeon.
Yoo Min-jeong entered the conference room to find three people sitting at a distance from each other.
Do Jin-yong, An Seong-ho, and Im Seung-hyun.
Tension crackled between them. All three were writing reports for the Dungeon Association, but the papers on the table were blank.
Yoo Min-jeong pulled up a chair and sat, slowly scanning the three.
Different expressions.
Do Jin-yong fidgeted hesitantly. Knowing his mind already, Yoo Min-jeong slipped off her ring and tossed it to him.
"Used it well."
"...Ah, yeah."
Do Jin-yong sighed in relief upon catching the Domoto Ring.
Yoo Min-jeong looked at An Seong-ho.
Unlike usual, his face lacked its smile as he bowed to Yoo Min-jeong in thanks for saving him and his team in the dungeon.
"You betrayed us. Know that?"
Im Seung-hyun glared at Do Jin-yong and An Seong-ho.
"Betrayed? What betrayal?"
Do Jin-yong, pocketing the ring, tilted his head. The raid had failed. If you couldn't change the result, accept it fast. Knowing that, he planned to deny the alliance outright.
Plus, he had to grant Kim Jun's wish.
Never imagined he'd ask for that. Smart bastard.
"You!"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
An Seong-ho spoke up.
"Think the master'll let you off?"
Im Seung-hyun's shout echoed through the room.
"Truth comes out, you're screwed too."
Im Seung-hyun whipped his head around at Yoo Min-jeong's words.
"What?"
"You allied but ignored the other two teams' safety, just waiting for dungeon closure. Bet you were thrilled inside—rival guild teams vanishing is a golden opportunity. If that gets out, no one trusts you. Thoughts?"
A sly smile played on Yoo Min-jeong's lips as she poked the wound.
"Ridiculous!"
Im Seung-hyun paled.
"Only reason I'm here: craft a story everyone can live with."
"...Meaning?"
"Reveal everything that happened? All you leaders get hurt. Guild punishment, maybe step down as leader. Masters who ordered the alliance get heat too—probably shove blame on you leaders. Unless you trust your masters blindly."
Yoo Min-jeong knew they didn't trust their guild masters.
"Go on."
Even Im Seung-hyun showed interest.
No matter how angry, they couldn't watch their towers crumble.
"Kim Jun's badly hurt. Or rather, reporters saw him unconscious on a teammate's back. Guess the headlines?"
"...And?"
"We hunted separately. Three teams got unlucky, barely saw monsters; Pink Team struggled, carrier critically injured. Submit that report—nice packaging, right?"
An Seong-ho and Im Seung-hyun pondered the proposal.
Do Jin-yong already knew—it was Kim Jun's wish.
Misfortune isn't punishable. With this result, masters would buy it.
"I'm for it."
Do Jin-yong said as if waiting.
An Seong-ho eyed him. This simple brute agreeing so quick?
"Sounds good to me too."
An Seong-ho said.
Yoo Min-jeong looked at Im Seung-hyun. She knew he'd accept—just wanted to see his face confirm it.
"...Fine, for now. But don't think this ends it."
"Then agree on the report yourselves."
"You?"
"Not submitting to the Association myself."
Yoo Min-jeong sighed in the hallway.
Didn't expect her first raid as leader to be this grueling. Raids had variables, sure—but the post-raid paperwork and procedures were exhausting.
Outside the gate, it was empty.
Reporters who'd gotten their scoops had moved on to newsrooms or other spots.
"Over here."
Someone waved.
"Ah."
Yoo Min-jeong recognized the ice dealer who'd joined Uramata yesterday.
"Everyone's at the guildhouse. I'll drive you."
Skyla opened the back door like a chauffeur—a courtesy for the weary leader.
"Thanks."
Sinking into the plush seat felt like melting.
"Rest. Wake you when we arrive."
Skyla drove smoothly out of the gate parking lot.
Slap.
Guild master Gu Gil-won's palm struck An Seong-ho team buffer Lee Seung-jin's cheek.
Lee Seung-jin, knocked back by the emotional blow, stood immediately.
"Talk! What happened in the dungeon!"
"...Team leader will explain to you, master. Can't say till then."
"I'm the master! Of Gwanpo Guild! Answer when I ask!"
"Sorry."
Lee Seung-jin bowed deeply.
Gu Gil-won glared at Kim Jang-woo nearby. Wanted to stomp him, but couldn't touch the injured tanker. Grinding his teeth, he passed Kim Jang-woo and stood before Baek Seungtae.
"You too? Nothing to say?"
"Yes."
Baek Seungtae felt odd.
He'd long feared this raging master. But now, somehow, the master's antics seemed ridiculous.
As Baek Seungtae's lip twitched upward, Gu Gil-won caught it.
"Smirking?"
Slap.
Baek Seungtae fell back.
His cheek burned; hot liquid filled his mouth—something burst, bleeding. Yet the master didn't scare him. Felt like floating on clouds.
Baek Seungtae rose slowly and stood by Kim Jang-woo.
The panting master now grilled carrier Joo Hyun-cheol.
What happened, why out after nearly 11 hours, how Uramata's Pink Team unscathed—but Joo Hyun-cheol, like the others, deferred to team leader An Seong-ho.
"You bastards! That's how it's gonna be? I'll fire you all. Blacklist you from every guild."
Gu Gil-won bellowed, eyes bulging.
"Uh, something to say."
Joo Hyun-cheol spoke.
Kim Jang-woo, Baek Seungtae, Lee Seung-jin glared.
"Yeah? Speak."
"Here, take this."
Joo Hyun-cheol offered a white envelope.
"What's this?"
"Resignation."
"Thanks for everything. Carriers are easy to replace—no big hit to the guild. Goodbye."
Bowing, Joo Hyun-cheol strode out confidently.
Gu Gil-won gaped, staring blankly at the retreating figure, speechless.
"That punk lost it? Daring to screw Gwanpo Guild? I'll call everyone— he'll never eat as a carrier again."
Kicking a chair in fury, Gu Gil-won spotted An Seong-ho returning after finishing his report. He stormed to the entrance.
Gu Gil-won's palm predictably slapped An Seong-ho's cheek.
An Seong-ho took it—he knew dodging would escalate things.
"What the hell? Why won't they talk?"
"I'll explain everything."
An Seong-ho recited the agreed story slowly.
Uramata's Pink Team entered first, so they missed out; waited but hunted Ulpen Saurus anyway, injuring tanker Kim Jang-woo.
Not just the master—teammates listened intently. They knew it was a lie but no one spoke truth.
"Ignored my orders to hunt? That it?"
"Sorry, master."
"Sigh, fine."
"One more thing."
"...What."
Gu Gil-won tensed, fearing An Seong-ho might quit like Joo Hyun-cheol.
"Dealer Baek Seungtae got an item."
An Seong-ho pulled out the registered Domoto Ring and tossed it to Baek Seungtae.
Baek Seungtae's mouth nearly split to his ears. Touching the glowing green ring, he understood why the slap felt good.
"...Domoto Ring?"
The master finally recognized it.
"Per Dungeon Association rules, ownership transferred to Baek Seungtae."
"R-right."
Gu Gil-won's eyes gleamed greedily at the green ring.
Sell it, solve finances instantly. Gwanpo Guild could rebound.
Then he spotted the handprint on Baek Seungtae's cheek—his own doing.
"Result's meh, but you raided— all tired. Rest up. Details tomorrow. And... Seungtae, stay back."