Dungeon & Commander (89) - Mission: Save Muhyun
Yeon Mujin carefully stacked his clothes into the bag. He had only a few books to take with him, and just two photo frames at most.
He had lived like a criminal for so long.
The reason was simple: his bloodline from Yeon Chung-jae.
His father had lived for one goal until he vanished in a dungeon. Retrieving the Cheonroegeom. Bringing back the sword his grandfather had lost had been his father's lifelong dream.
Yeon Mujin had staked his life on fulfilling that regret. After making a name for himself as a Raider, the reason he kept plunging into dungeons relentlessly was the Cheonroegeom.
Finally, that sword had appeared.
Though reluctant, Yeon Mujin had infiltrated the guildhouse for his family and stolen the Cheonroegeom.
"…This is the end."
Stepping into the hallway with his bag, Yeon Mujin leaned against the wall and spotted the family head watching him.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"I'm leaving Yeon Ga."
"Why?"
"…You know why."
"Trading the kidnapped brat for the Cheonroegeom feels like a humiliation to you, doesn't it?"
"Isn't it?"
Yeon Mujin's voice rose sharply.
"You're still young. At that age, everything seems clear-cut. You think you can distinguish right from wrong. But the truth reveals itself later."
"What truth?"
"Do you still believe Chung-jae got lost in a dungeon and died wandering?"
"…What are you saying?"
"Chung-jae was murdered."
"……."
Yeon Mujin's eyes widened as if they might pop out.
"From what I know, Nam Eung-ryeol killed him. Nam Eung-ryeol hated Chung-jae intensely. He never acknowledged the talents of that natural genius."
"S-So you're saying he killed Grandfather?"
"Nam Eung-ryeol alone couldn't have touched Chung-jae, let alone killed him. Those who tacitly aided him share the blame for Chung-jae's death."
"Who?"
His eyes blazed fiercely.
Yeon Un-jae subtly dodged the question.
"Do you know Choi Min-su was Nam Eung-ryeol's disciple?"
"…First time hearing it."
"Uramata's guild master, Go Cheolmin, learned Mukhon Gong from Nam Eung-ryeol too. Countless other Raiders stand with him. A force not to be underestimated. That's the fruit Nam Eung-ryeol reaped by killing Chung-jae."
"But didn't Nam Eung-ryeol get expelled from the Dungeon Association?"
"Yes. But it was a ruse. He preempted any revenge from those who knew the truth."
"Ah!"
"I'd do anything to reclaim the Cheonroegeom, but I don't want anyone hurt. Why else would I come to you instead of sending Jong-ho? I trust you can recover it without spilling a drop of blood.
I planned to tell you once the Cheonroegeom returned, but it seems now's the time. The sword's true master is you. With Chung-jae's blood in your veins, you must become this generation's Cheonroegeom Lord. As its wielder, you'll aid our lacking young heir and solidify the family. That's my will—and why I sent you to Uramata's guildhouse."
"Family head!"
Yeon Mujin's chest swelled with emotion.
The family head reached out, snatching the bag lightly and tossing it back into the room. He fixed his gaze on Yeon Mujin.
"Carry out your orders."
"Yes."
Yeon Mujin nodded.
In the Dungeon Association's third-floor audiovisual room, Choi Min-su watched the raid footage, clenching his fist without realizing it.
The version released to the public via news was very short.
The full version now playing on the 100-inch screen was what Choi Min-su was scanning, skipping the boring parts. The aggro sections exceeded expectations.
"Pulling this off in his first dungeon raid? The guy's insane."
Exporting the footage violated regulations.
The vivid action was too good to watch just once. Choi Min-su replayed the Dungeon Association test footage.
Not only had he gambled with Awacum powder, but when Choi Muhyun and Yoo Min-jeong got caught, he'd grabbed the core alone, escaped the gate, and passed the first test.
The second test was even more astonishing.
It wasn't an exaggeration to say he'd taken down the Wirex Rex single-handedly.
"Definitely a style that wasn't there before. Bold yet detailed. He subtly claimed the leader role. Yoo Min-jeong's the official team leader, but he's the one really steering the team.
Heh, now I see why that bastard Go Cheolmin keeps yapping about a commander. But carrier's the problem. If he were a Raider, I'd help out. Can't become one with contamination. Who knows when he'll vanish."
His phone rang.
It was Hwang In-tae.
―Team leader, I've called Muhyun's phone dozens of times, but it's still off.
"Got it."
―Nothing serious happened to Muhyun, right?
"Don't worry."
Hanging up, Choi Min-su left the audiovisual room and headed to the parking lot. He climbed into his Hummer parked to the side and hit the road. He'd called three times already, and as Hwang In-tae said, his son's phone was off.
Worry started creeping in.
A familiar ringtone. He knew who it was just from the sound.
Choi Min-su pressed the button.
―Do you know where Muhyun is?
His wife's voice, laced with concern for their son.
"No."
―His phone's been off all day.
"I'll look into it."
If something happened to their son, his wife would lose it. Even a demure woman couldn't stay calm when it came to her child.
'Where the hell are you, kid? Guess I need to head to Uramata first.'
Choi Min-su spotted a gap in traffic and U-turned.
Then his phone rang again.
Glancing at the screen by tilting his head, Choi Min-su saw an unexpected name.
He pulled the Hummer to the roadside and answered.
"You're calling yourself. What's up?"
―I've got your son.
Choi Min-su closed his eyes.
If picking one teammate from Yeon Ga, he'd choose this man without hesitation—he trusted him that much.
But he strongly sensed Yeon Un-jae pulling the strings through Yeon Mujin.
"No wonder the phone's off. What do you want?"
―The Cheonroegeom.
"What if I say no?"
―You won't see your son again.
"Then you're dead."
―I know. I hope it doesn't come to that.
"Family head's orders?"
―My decision.
"Tell me the location and time."
―I'll contact you soon. As you know, don't tell the police… or anyone… about this.
The call ended.
Slamming the wheel, Choi Min-su stepped out and punched a roadside ginkgo tree. Unable to withstand the force, it snapped and blocked the sidewalk.
Passersby eyed Choi Min-su warily and gave him space.
Back in the Hummer, he floored it, the vehicle surging forward like a rocket on full throttle.
The 'second shadow' in the passenger seat, Lee Young, glanced at the side mirror.
Beyond the darkness, a single light kept tailing them.
"We've got a tail."
"I know."
Il Young replied.
"I'll handle it."
Lee Young unbuckled his seatbelt.
"Make it clean."
"Of course."
Lee Young opened the passenger door and leaped out lightly. Tilting his body, he executed a natural roll as he hit the asphalt.
Rolling to a stop, Lee Young waited for the motorcycle.
Kim Jun hit the brakes upon spotting the man standing in the middle of the darkened road.
Screeching, the motorcycle skidded.
The man reached into the worn leather pouch at his waist, pulled something out, and hurled it at the bike.
Two thumb-sized yellowish-brown lumps. One stuck to the front wheel, the other to the headlight.
The moment Kim Jun caught the faint smirk on the man's face, he planted his foot on the peg and vaulted onto the seat. He launched himself toward the tree branches arching over the road.
Barely grabbing two leafy branches, Kim Jun watched as the bike's wheel shredded and exploded, the blast shattering the headlight and spreading to the engine and fuel tank.
A second slower, and he'd have been engulfed in the flames like the bike.
Snap—the branch broke under his weight.
Falling, Kim Jun rolled forward to absorb the impact.
"Who the hell are you?"
The approaching man demanded.
Only then did Kim Jun realize he was still wearing his helmet.
"I…"
In that instant, the man flung something with his gloved hand.
Dozens of needles glinted under the dim streetlight, flying fast.
Dodging while scrutinizing the man's face, Kim Jun switched from his initial evasion path and charged straight at him.
Boom!
The clay-like bomb the man threw exploded exactly where Kim Jun had planned to dodge. The needles had herded him there.
As the man reached into his leather pouch again, Kim Jun backed away. Both the small bombs and needles had come from that pouch.
Breathing heavily, Kim Jun eyed the burning motorcycle.
'It's toast… Sorry about this, delivery guy. Gotta buy you a nice new one.'
Slowly shifting his gaze, Kim Jun glared at the man.
Was tailing him reason enough for murder?
Apparently, for this guy, it was.
Against someone like that, no need for courtesy. Treat it like encountering a monster in a pitch-black dungeon.
Kim Jun's eyes turned ice-cold.
"Why are you following?"
"Took you long enough to ask."
"Take off the helmet."
"Nah."
"Bastard."
The man removed his glove, stuffed it into the pouch, and advanced.
Kim Jun read his intent immediately.
'Figured he can't take me at range. Or maybe there's a special skill he can only use bare-handed. Watch and learn what he's capable of.'
To win, know your enemy. The more you know, the easier to spot weaknesses and gaps.
Whoosh.
A fist flew. Kim Jun sidestepped, but the clenched fist unclenched to grab his clothes. A split-second slower, and his shoulder would be caught.
'Not his first or second fight.'
The man's left shoulder twitched back.
Anticipating a left punch, Kim Jun reacted—only for the man to target his knee with a right kick instead. Caught in the feint, Kim Jun dove sideways, barely evading the kick.
After dodging several attacks by a hair, Kim Jun eyed the man suspiciously.
'Master of feints. Definitely not a Raider style.'
The aura from him felt off too.
He vaguely sensed fire mana, but that might be from the bombs' components.
What stood out: vibrant light mana only around his right hand.
That mana surged.
Kim Jun retreated swiftly.
The man closed in, thrusting his palm forward.
A palm blazing like a flash.
Kim Jun dodged back.
Sparks from the palm branched like lightning, racing toward him at blinding speed.
Reaching the road's edge, Kim Jun kicked the asphalt, leaped up, grabbed a branch, and hung there.
The sparks below incinerated the overgrown grass white-hot.
'Good thing I was ready.'
Breathing raggedly, Lee Young stared at Kim Jun in shock.
'H-How…?'