Dungeon & Commander (94)
Grass blades brushed against his soles as they retreated behind him.
It felt like gliding across a plush, deep navy carpet.
Yoo Min-jeong stared ahead at Choi Min-su charging forward.
His angular profile was alive with lines like a marble statue—perfect, neither needing addition nor subtraction.
People lunging with swords tumbled into the underbrush at a casual flick of his hand.
One man's thrusting blade split in two against his palm. As his own sword shattered, the man's eyes wavered in disbelief.
Unstoppable charge.
Like a bulldozer reborn as a man.
"Is Wan-seop still up on Jirisan?"
"Yes."
"Must get lonely sometimes, all by himself."
"Maybe when he was a kid. He's used to it now."
"Thanks for coming."
Choi Min-su glanced at Yoo Min-jeong. She could see the sincerity in her father's face.
"I'm the team leader."
"Right, you are."
Choi Min-su smiled warmly.
The warehouse's outline peeled away from the darkness, sharpening into view.
"Min-jeong, what do you think of Kim Jun?"
"...Pardon?"
Yoo Min-jeong blinked in surprise.
"I know he's the owner of the Cheonroegeom. Heard it from the Uramata master. I just want to know how my team leader sees him."
She let out a sigh.
"Stubborn as hell, does whatever he wants—no telling where he'll bolt next. Impossible to control. But..."
"But?"
"Bravest guy I've ever seen. Quick, spot-on judgment, and he's got real drive."
"Interesting take."
"Well... honestly, he'd be exhausting as a team member. But I've thought it'd be nice to have a leader like that. Of course, he'd need to awaken first."
She added the last part to avoid misunderstanding.
"Got it."
Choi Min-su grinned.
Two figures stood before the warehouse. Too far to make out faces, but Yoo Min-jeong knew instantly: Kim Jun and Choi Muhyun.
Their stances, arm angles—familiar as her own.
"Kim Jun! Choi Muhyun!"
Yoo Min-jeong shouted.
"Over here, over here!"
Choi Muhyun waved frantically.
Just before entering the warehouse grounds, Choi Min-su abruptly slowed. Yoo Min-jeong nearly pitched forward; he gripped her hand tight, his face twisting in fury.
"...Why?"
The moment she looked at him, a mound of earth erupted right in front of them, red flames roaring skyward.
The explosion hammered the bluish barrier Choi Min-su conjured. Yoo Min-jeong felt crushing pressure like her skin might split.
Hundreds of bombs detonating at once.
Through the blaze, she glimpsed the warehouse shattering, fragments scattering into the air.
Roof riddled with holes flying left, snapped pillars right, crumpled frames upward... Kim Jun and Choi Muhyun caught in the middle.
"No, no!"
Her scream changed nothing.
Flames engulfed the entire grounds.
Go Cheolmin panted, scanning the clearing.
No room to step without tripping over fallen thugs. Unconscious or groaning in agony amid them stood Skyla, Yeom Sang-taek, and Yeon Mu-jin.
Go Cheolmin approached.
"Anyone hurt?"
Skyla was splattered in blood—face, neck, shoulders all red.
"Not mine. Got me all pumped up, but it's a shame it ended so quick."
Her bright smile felt eerie.
She doesn't care who she hits when she's mad. Gotta watch out.
Go Cheolmin stood before Yeom Sang-taek, who seemed a bit dazed. He snapped his fingers with a sharp crack; Yeom Sang-taek looked up.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, hanging in there... Feels better than I expected."
Yeom Sang-taek gave a thumbs-up.
This guy's off too. But no injuries, so fine.
Then, an explosion rocked the north—massive flames lighting the area.
Where Choi Min-su had gone.
Worry surged, but Go Cheolmin steadied himself.
Choi Min-su would've grabbed Choi Muhyun and bailed by now. If picking one Raider for a dungeon, Go Cheolmin wouldn't hesitate: Choi Min-su.
That much trust.
Besides, couldn't leave excited Skyla and odd Yeom Sang-taek alone.
He walked toward still-shaking Yeon Mu-jin, stepping over thugs without care.
Yeon Mu-jin met his gaze.
"...Sorry."
"Why apologize?"
"The Yeon Family orchestrated this, but I joined for my own greed. They'll pin even what I didn't do on me, but I'll tell everything—to police, in court. The truth comes out."
Resolve in his firm voice.
Go Cheolmin felt déjà vu.
Twelve years back.
Someone died in a raid due to Yeon Jong-ho's screw-up. Furious, the guy stepped up boldly for truth—then vanished. No body found.
"Think you can handle the family alone?"
"...Have to try."
"Sometimes retreat. Run now."
Yeon Mu-jin stared, stunned. How did he know the Yeon Family so well?
"Cast out, I got nowhere. Who'd take me?"
Go Cheolmin pulled a notepad, jotted name and number, tore the page, handed it over.
"Go to Yeosu, call this guy. Say I sent you—he'll sort it."
"I..."
Yeon Mu-jin hesitated.
"Your choice now."
Go Cheolmin headed toward Skyla rifling thug pockets.
"What're you doing?"
"They trashed my baby—gotta collect. Don't stop me. Even you can't now, Master."
Skyla glared, pocketing cash and checks neatly.
Go Cheolmin raised hands, palms out, backed off.
Then, figures ghosted from the dark. Go Cheolmin recognized a couple.
Cheonmu Pavilion leader Yeon Sang-gon, Cheonma Pavilion leader Yeon Si-hwa.
Dozens behind: Yeon Family Raiders. Murderous intent thick enough to halt even half-crazed Skyla, drawing her to Go Cheolmin's side.
"What's this?"
"Here to execute the main house traitor."
Yeon Sang-gon stepped forward.
"Traitor?"
"Raider Yeon Mu-jin, once ours, broke house law trying to steal the Cheonroegeom, committed outrage kidnapping too. We're here for him. Where is he?"
Yeon Sang-gon demanded as if Go Cheolmin hid him.
Go Cheolmin glanced back.
Yeon Mu-jin gone. Made his choice, acted.
"Yeon Mu-jin? No idea. Sang-taek, seen a Yeon Mu-jin?"
"First time hearing it."
Yeom Sang-taek deadpanned.
"Reporter Seo know?"
"Met him early morning near Yeon Family. No clue why you'd hunt here."
Perfectly synced.
"Ignore main house, we exercise force."
Yeon Sang-gon gestured; Yeon Raiders in distinctive robes encircled them.
Go Cheolmin got it now. Traitor hunt excuse—cleaning up witnesses.
Smart. Thorough cleanup. Good lesson.
"No idea what 'force' means, but won't be easy."
Go Cheolmin taunted, scanning around.
"Where's that auntie? Lost again?"
SUVs and vans streamed into the clearing.
First out: Moon's buffer Mun Hyeo-rin.
The middle-aged woman rushed like wind; Cheonmu Raiders parted. Crossing twenty meters in a blink, she stopped by Go Cheolmin.
Cheonhondan Raiders supporting Choi Min-su poured from vehicles into the clearing.
"Sang-gon, long time."
Mun Hyeo-rin winked.
"......"
Yeon Sang-gon's face twisted.
"Atmosphere's tense—I'm seeing right? This kid's my precious little bro. His trouble's mine. Wanna go at it?"
Stroking Go Cheolmin's head, she stepped forward; Yeon Sang-gon recoiled like facing a mawless monster lunging.
Yeon Si-hwa intervened.
"Hehe, came on word of main house traitor here—misunderstanding."
"Si-hwa dear, such pretty words. But why do they sour my mood? Beats me. Cute face too. Surgery? Expression's off—unnatural. Where? Sue for refund. No conscience charging for that."
Yeon Si-hwa's smile froze at the venom.
Raiders behind—mostly magic dealers—tensed eyes.
Mun Hyeo-rin grinned.
"Kids here lack manners."
She extended a hand; ground slickened. Raiders slipped, flailed, toppled.
Ground normalized.
"Better. Si-hwa dear, teach 'em. Next time those eyes, gouge 'em. As Cheonhondan elder."
"...Understood."
Yeon Si-hwa knew better than to defy the fiery spinster.
She might actually gouge—or blind subtly.
"What? More business? Wanna play?"
Sour-faced Yeon Sang-gon and Yeon Si-hwa ordered Raiders to disperse, hunt Yeon Mu-jin.
Go Cheolmin sidled to Mun Hyeo-rin.
"Why so late?"
"I'm early. Where's Min-su?"
"Rescuing Muhyun."
Go Cheolmin pointed north, still aflame.
"That cool tanker's all-in for his son. Knew it—wish I'd had kids young."
Mun Hyeo-rin plopped on a fallen thug.
He groaned; she ignored.
Sending Hwang In-tae and Choi Min-su loyalists north, she fixed serious eyes on Go Cheolmin.
"Explain."
Playfulness gone.
Tense, Go Cheolmin wiped sweaty palms, recounted from meeting Choi Min-su—more detail.
Cool mountain wind soothed his burning face.
Fallen leaves rustled in the breeze.
Choi Muhyun gazed at starry sky through branches, unsure dream or reality. Waking from nightmare in soft bed possible.
Not that.
He knew better.
Last memory: Warehouse grounds exploded. Like fountain show spewing fire, not water.
Boom! Boom!
Deafening blasts as soundtrack.
Explosion rushed warehouse like burning fuse. Death imminent.
Choi Muhyun unleashed Geumgangbyeok with all might. Golden barrier couldn't shield them fully.
Then Kim Jun stepped front, plunged Cheonroegeom into earth.
Sparks from blade formed hemisphere around them, but underground fire-earth blasts pierced somewhat.