Quest Clear! Pet Brisong Acquired

With the quest clear message, the hidden reward opened up. Han Ji-woo scooped up the little wolf Brisong, who had fallen asleep at his feet. Only then was he finally able to escape from Brisong's memories.

The moment he returned to the Hidden Space, his pets were there to greet him, as always. The bunch, who had been baffled by their owner's sudden disappearance, all rushed over at once.

True to form, Lucy and the plump one rubbed up against him shamelessly, ignoring everyone else, lost in their displays of affection. The others hung back a step, eyeing Han Ji-woo's condition.

"Boss! Where'd you run off to this time?"

"Suddenly gone, everyone worried. Quiik!"

"Looks like you came back in one piece, so probably nothing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠major."

"Princess Lucy kept crying for Master! I was so shocked too, sir!"

"Yo-ho-ho! You're getting all the love from the pets! I was worried about you too, Ji-woo sir~ But what's that puppy you're holding?"

As the pets chimed in one by one, Toryong asked that.

Only then did everyone's eyes turn to Brisong in Han Ji-woo's arms.

"This one's, uh... a pet I tamed during the quest clear. Just think of him as a wolf."

No point explaining he was from the Logaku tribe—they wouldn't get it anyway. That's when the system message appeared.

"Check out this guy's stats?"

Logaku or not, he was just over a month old. Yet his stats were impressively high. And the skills were solid too. Poison Fang would be super useful in fights. The issue was Dimensional Gate.

"Opens a gate to another dimension?"

Couldn't he just use it to open a gate back to Earth right now? But he knew by now that wouldn't solve anything.

'If the dungeon survival game isn't cleared in 100 rounds, Earth gets destroyed.'

Bryunak Continent had met that fate. So whether he ended up as the meal or the eater, he had to stick it out here and clear the dungeon with everything he had.

Plus, looking closer, he couldn't even use Dimensional Gate right now. It needed 300 MP, but Brisong's max was 200.

'What a bittersweet skill.'

Brisong's max MP would grow as he did, sure. But whether it'd ever actually get used was questionable.

'Worry about that later.'

More importantly, there was something else right now. Han Ji-woo's gaze shifted to the Dungeon Tree sapling. More precisely, the growth percentage above it.

After clearing all four quests, the Dungeon Tree was finally about to grow from sapling to young tree.

"From sprout to sapling took another 12 hours over there."

During that countdown, the sprout had gradually taken on the form of a sapling. This time would be the same.

But Han Ji-woo decided to slash that wait time dramatically.

"Everyone! Pick fruits and veggies and scatter 'em around the Dungeon Tree. Go!"

* * *

Ingredients equipped with the base option to boost Dungeon Tree growth speed were absorbed, rapidly shortening the time. The pets worked diligently without slacking, hauling produce to the tree.

Han Ji-woo watched them proudly—until a low whine came from his arms. Brisong, rousing from his nap, slowly opened his eyes.

"Finally up, huh? You're one laid-back pup."

Swish swish.

Already recognizing Han Ji-woo as his master, Brisong wagged his tail just from the voice.

Kwaaaang—!

With a massive yawn, Brisong fully woke and locked eyes with the master holding him. Han Ji-woo inspected him closely. His fluffy silver face fur was gorgeous, and though wolf-like, he was still so young—more adorable than fierce. That moist black nose, those innocent sparkling eyes, the way his triangular ears kept flopping back... total heart-melters.

Then.

Hah hah hah—

Brisong, tail wagging furiously, stuck out his tongue and panted.

Thud!

"Ack."

Han Ji-woo was done in by that pink tongue peeking out. But Brisong's assault didn't stop there. The pup started licking his face all over.

Game over.

Han Ji-woo was utterly smitten with Brisong's cuteness.

"Driving me nuts. What wolf? You're a total doggo."

A country mutt who wagged for anyone, tail going wild. Up close, those slightly droopy eyes made him look even more harmless—like a village stray.

And Brisong for that face? Didn't fit. Look at this innocent mug. Village dogs needed hick names.

"Can't rename pets, huh?"

Han Ji-woo muttered wistfully, and a message answered.

"Oh! Hell yeah!"

What name? Han Ji-woo pondered.

"Hmm. Something country-bumpkin, harmless, radiating village mutt vibes..."

Eyes closed in thought, two syllables popped into his head.

"...Shik. Chunsik. Chunsik!"

Chunsik! Calling Brisong that suited his dopey-cute face perfectly. And the rustic ring? Spot on.

"Yep."

Han Ji-woo opened Chunsik's status window. The name had switched from 'Brisong' to 'Chunsik'.

"Kuh, my naming sense is killer. From now on, you're Chunsik~ Like it?"

Hah hah hah!

Chunsik wagged his tail innocently. Han Ji-woo set him down, and like a fish to water, the pup bounded around excitedly.

Hah hah hah—!

Seibier, hauling fruit to the Dungeon Tree, spotted Chunsik and his eyes lit up.

Kyurruk?

He bolted straight for Chunsik. The two sniffed each other curiously, then started chasing and playing wildly. Soon Lucy joined in, and the trio romped together.

Toryong sidled up to Han Ji-woo, admiring the scene and chattering away.

"Yo-ho~ That wolf's full of energy! Looks like a total softie, great personality! Anyway, the Dungeon Tree's grown a ton already?"

Sure enough. The tree's overall size was now ten times bigger than before—practically a full-grown mature tree.

"27 minutes left?"

Han Ji-woo whistled. Thanks to the pets' hard work, the 12-hour timer had shrunk to under 30 minutes. The countdown ticked below a minute, and finally, the sapling became a young tree.

Mature tree next. After that, full-grown.

Han Ji-woo gazed at the Dungeon Tree, face full of emotion—

—when rumble rumble! The outer walls collapsed.

Gulp!

Wondering what the space would become now, Han Ji-woo swallowed dryly in anticipation and looked around. But the pets freaking out caught his eye first.

Lucy, Seibier, and Chunsik—who'd been chasing each other—huddled together, alert to their surroundings. Turkan and Pao drew swords; Sasuri sharpened his claws and took flight.

"Wh-what's happening, sir! Did Esperona find us?!"

Ferrofero paled and dashed to Lucy, shielding her with a vigilant stance.

Toryong alone stayed chill, excitedly scouting around like he had no fear.

Clap clap!

Han Ji-woo clapped to get their attention.

"The Dungeon Tree grew, so the Hidden Space expanded. No need to freak. Lucy, Pao—you've seen this before, so why the panic?"

The pets relaxed, then poked around the expanded area curiously, fear replaced by wonder.

Han Ji-woo took a slow look too. The Hidden Space had at least doubled, maybe more.

"Around 3,000 square feet now?"

That's like a small ball field. What jumped out first was the waterfall. Before, it poured straight from the wall; now, a valley hill stretched beyond it.

Climbing up, he found a crystal-clear stream babbling beautifully. It flowed down to the waterfall, which fed into a broad lake.

"Nice, perfect. Gotta do a proper chicken stew by the stream."

He gulped, eyeing the horned chicken.

"Just need ginseng and garlic for that samgyetang."

Descending, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠he ran to the opposite side. A sandy beach had appeared, with shallow water pooling between it and the wall. But up close, the water rose and fell over the sand like ocean tides.

"...No way."

Han Ji-woo tasted a drop.

"...!"

Salty.

"Eureka! It's the sea—seawater!"

His arms shot up in triumph.

A sea in the Hidden Space. What did that mean?

"Squid, octopus, abalone, tuna, mackerel, baby octopus, grilled shellfish!"

Seafood galore ahead! The wall blocked deep ocean, but hope sprang eternal.

Buzzing with joy, he headed to the last spot. Where nothing had been stood a wooden shack.

"I remember this. I built it in the Logaku forest."

A Logaku house. Why here now? Then another change hit.