Divine Cat Armor

Kwaaa! The incandescent fireball slammed into Lucy.

But then...

The fireball didn't explode massively. Instead, it vanished like smoke.

All eyes—Han Ji-woo's and the other pets' worried gazes—locked onto the spot where white smoke billowed up.

"...Lucy?"

As the smoke cleared, what emerged was Lucy clad in gleaming golden full-body armor.

Immediately, Lucy's status window appeared.

"...!"

Lucy's stats, which had barely topped 150 on average, had skyrocketed.

Han Ji-woo checked the skill info for Divine Cat Armor.

Han Ji-woo let out an incredulous voice after reading the description.

"So that means Ferrofero's base stats average over 700?"

He couldn't freely open Ferrofero's status window since the guy wasn't a pet. Han Ji-woo had assumed the knight was stronger than Lucy, but he never imagined monster-level stats like these. This blew plump little Seibier out of the water.

To think such a beast had joined their ranks! Suddenly, everything felt rock-solid secure.

"Guess you can't just be anyone to be a manager."

Buoyed by her inflated stats, Lucy stepped forward, blocking her master's path. With her tail held high, she exuded an unprecedented majesty. The golden armor encased her body perfectly, leaving no skin exposed. Only her facial features were open; everywhere else was tightly woven like dragon scales.

Esperona watched the sight with a displeased frown.

"That's the look you got trying to protect your princess?"

She was addressing Ferrofero. But the armored knight gave no reply.

"Wanna see this through to the end, huh?"

Esperona had planned to spare only Ferrofero and kill the rest. But now, to do that, she'd have to take him out too.

"...What a spiteful cat."

She spat the words bitterly, and a massive incandescent fireball—far larger than before—materialized before her.

This is bad!

That thing was unblockable. Even if everyone here charged it, they'd all turn to ash.

Could they dodge? The shockwave from its detonation would probably wipe them out anyway.

Esperona, dead set on killing them all, would've calculated that much. And the fireball was still growing.

Think. Think!

As Han Ji-woo desperately racked his brain for an escape from this do-or-die crisis—

"All of you, vanish."

Esperona's death sentence rang out!

"Pao! Dungeon Prison key!"

Han Ji-woo finally found the way out and shouted.

"Got it!"

Pao activated the Dungeon Prison key skill on the spot, and Han Ji-woo and Pao vanished.

Teleported to the Dungeon Prison, Han Ji-woo hurriedly summoned the other pets. They too abandoned the Hidden Space.

"...What now."

Esperona's irritated voice echoed as, uniquely, the non-pet Toryong burrowed deep underground, holding his breath.

"I'll hunt down where you scurried off to later."

For now, she'd made the fireball—might as well smash the Hidden Space itself. Once its facilities, food, lake, valley, and sea vanished, they'd disappear from the dungeon too.

Whoosh.

The blaze hot enough to melt steel was about to leave her hand—

"Huh?"

The force pushing back Esperona grew even stronger alongside the messages.

She'd barely managed to poke her head in against the Hidden Space's repulsion. But now, amplified several times over, she couldn't even do that.

"Can't... breathe."

With a deflated mutter, Esperona was shoved back through the dimensional rift. The fireball fizzled out on its own.

Sizzle—crackle—

The slightly open dimensional gap sparked and sealed shut as she was expelled.

As silence fell, Toryong cautiously poked his head out from underground.

"Oh? Oho? She gone? Is she gone?"

Glancing around, he confirmed Esperona's absence and bellowed triumphantly.

"I survived, yo ho ho~!"

* * *

Fleeing to the Dungeon Prison, Han Ji-woo swiftly summoned the other pets. Lucy, Pao, Turkan, Sasuri, Seibier, and even Brisong all appeared safe and sound by his side. Ferrofero, equipped on Lucy as armor despite not being a pet, came along too.

"Ughhh. Glad you're all okay."

Han Ji-woo's sigh of relief was short-lived.

"...Toryong!"

A beat late, he remembered Toryong and yelled.

But then, unexpected messages poured in.

"Yes!"

Han Ji-woo cheered at the messages.

Just moments ago, utter darkness had loomed. He'd fled to the Dungeon Prison to at least save the pets. Esperona wouldn't leave the Hidden Space alone, but there was no choice. Survival first, plans later.

But the moment they left, the Dungeon Tree he'd nurtured so carefully finally repaid the favor. As a sapling, it had just taken; now a ancient trunk, it pulled its weight.

"What a relief. Really."

Who knew the Dungeon Tree had that kind of power?

Catching his breath, Han Ji-woo pondered next steps.

"It said even Dungeon Guards can't enter here."

On the day Ferrofero joined the Hidden Space family, they'd talked late into the night. He'd learned even Dungeon Managers and Guards couldn't enter the Dungeon Prison.

"Kinda wanna hole up here forever."

Of course, he couldn't. He needed the Hidden Space to grow stronger.

As he debated returning immediately or staying a bit, Turkan made a suggestion.

"Master. Rest here. Quik! We'll serve you with all our hearts. Quiiik!"

Sasuri chimed in.

"That would be wise. You're exhausted, body and soul."

If Han Ji-woo returned to the Hidden Space now, he'd have to leave Turkan and Sasuri behind. Touched by their reluctance to part, he accepted.

"Yeah, good idea. Turkan, take us to your village."

"Yes! Quiiik!"

Turkan led the way, and Sasuri offered his back to Han Ji-woo.

"Hop on."

"What's this? You offering first?"

"......"

Sasuri's eyes still burned with the image of Han Ji-woo's sturdy back blocking Esperona. He ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hadn't dodged the fireball—not out of inability, but to protect the pets behind him. Sasuri was truly impressed but, hating anything itchy, showed it through actions instead of words.

Han Ji-woo caught on and grinned, climbing aboard.

Sasuri plodded forward on all fours with his master aboard.

Nyang!

Lucy stepped on Sasuri's rear and leaped into Han Ji-woo's arms.

Not to be outdone, Brisong flapped up and landed on Sasuri's back.

Myang!

He sat facing Han Ji-woo, wagging his tail.

Jealous of the pets hogging master's side, Seibier flapped toward Sasuri's back too.

"You lot!"

Irritated, Sasuri soared into the air.

Kyurruk~!

Thrilled, Seibier gave chase. A spontaneous aerial pursuit unfolded overhead.

Turkan watched with a warm smile, while Pao muttered enviously.

"Pao wanna fly too."

* * *

Back in her room, Esperona flopped onto the bed and flipped through the overhead surveillance channels.

No sign of Han Ji-woo's group anywhere in the dungeon.

Checking the Dungeon Prison on a hunch, there they were, all gathered.

"How the hell did they get there?"

Creating a Hidden Space somewhere ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in the dungeon was wild enough, but freely coming and going from the Dungeon Prison? It defied her common sense.

And even she couldn't casually enter the Dungeon Prison. For a human who could die with a flick of her wrist—and bringing all his pets? How?

Question marks piled up in her head.

She opened the Manager Shop. Amid the array of goods, her eyes locked on 'Creator's Authority 3-Minute Rental Ticket'.

She calculated: Could it get her back into the Hidden Space? Probably not. Ferrofero had used it before, but with the Dungeon Tree's added power, doubtful.

Not zero chance, though. Worth a shot?

Her hand reached slowly for the item—but halted just short.

"...Waste 50 years on something uncertain?"

The ticket cost 50 years of lifespan. As one who attained nirvana, she lived eternally. Still, she couldn't buy recklessly. Each expenditure weakened her spirit's power.

Not all nirvana-attainers were equal—depths of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠enlightenment varied. The Creator chose Dungeon Guards from those with profound, robust spirits.

If she splurged and weakened, she could be fired as Dungeon Guard.

"No can do."

She had reasons to keep the role.

Closing the shop, Esperona lay back and zoomed in on Lucy in the feed. Ferrofero remained equipped as her armor.

"...Not admitting anything to you. Just don't wanna waste lifespan."

She murmured words Ferrofero would never hear.