6. Dungeon Agales
The next morning in Dungeon Agales, Cheong-ah and I finished our preparations and stepped out of our room. Before heading down to the first floor, we knocked on the door of the room next to ours.
Thud—thud thud.
"Hey, do you know what time it is? Still sleeping? Get up."
The door creaked open with a groan. There stood Bella, leaning against the frame, looking utterly wrecked. She was pressing her fingers into her temples like her head was throbbing.
"Ughhh... What? What's going on?"
"Well, well. What do you think?"
A faint whiff of alcohol wafted from her mouth, screaming, Ah, so that's why she went to bed early last night—she got plastered! Even without the smell, the empty bottles rolling around the floor were proof enough.
"Uh... Heading to the guild?"
"You got smashed again, didn't you?"
I stared at her pitifully, and she nodded—then winced, scrunching her brow as her hangover hit again.
"Yeah, pretty much... Ow, my head."
"How much did you drink?"
"Ugh, quit nagging. You're too loud."
"...Crazy bitch."
"So, yeah, guild run?"
"Yep."
"Then grab the quest for us, yeah? I'll sleep more. Wake me when you go."
With that, she slammed the door shut. Cheong-ah and I exchanged dumbfounded looks.
"...Hah. Unbelievable."
"Don't worry about her, dear husband. Let's just head to the guild."
"Yeah... okay."
At the Adventurer's Guild, it was packed even in the morning. Long lines snaked toward the reception desk. People sat at nearby tables waiting for their party members to snag quests, or called out for recruits, or hunted for groups to join. The guild's mornings were always buzzing with folks chasing all sorts of goals.
Just a short while ago, I'd been in those lines—or lurking around, eyes darting, hoping someone might take pity and let me join. Now, with Cheong-ah at my side, I strode forward confidently.
Those who recognized us stepped aside; the rest followed suit through sheer crowd psychology. This was the halo effect in action. Riding on the prestige of a Platinum-rank adventurer like Cheong-ah, I basked in her glory. Cutting ahead like it was nothing.
Technically, it wasn't cutting—this was one of the Platinum perks: priority access to quests anytime.
As we neared the desk, murmurs rippled around us.
"Who the hell's that guy?"
"Shut up. You see the woman behind him?"
"No, who's she?"
"Hah, you clueless fuck. Didn't you hear? We got a Platinum-rank in our branch recently."
"Yeah, I heard... So?"
"That's her, dumbass. The guy leading's her leech partner, Ian."
"Oh, that lucky bastard?"
Ouch. Leech? Who the fuck called me that? Fine, the "incompetent" label didn't sting anymore. Nobody knew my real abilities—not even Bella, whom I was still keeping it from. Everyone except Cheong-ah was in the dark. Incompetent? Whatever—I'd outgrown that shit. I could laugh it off.
But leech? That burned. I wanted to see the asshole's face. My cheeks flushed hot—then Cheong-ah gently took my hand. Glancing over, I saw her smiling faintly, shaking her head: Don't sweat it.
"No need to mind every little thing, dear husband. They're just jealous now."
Her beautiful smile melted my rising anger away.
"...Yeah."
What was the point of getting worked up? Starting a fight would just be a hassle. I shook it off and kept walking. Some guy's yelp echoed behind us—probably another scuffle. Whatever.
At the counter, receptionist Lena greeted us warmly.
"Lena, you're swamped as ever."
"Ah, Ian! Cheong-ah! Perfect timing—I was waiting for you. Early birds today!"
Waiting for us? Receptionists didn't greet like that unless it was quest-related or some big issue. Her enthusiasm screamed the former.
"Something up? A quest for us?"
She immediately pulled a quest sheet from her desk corner.
"This. You heard about the new dungeon that popped up near the city?"
"Ah... A dungeon?"
"Yes. You know what a dungeon is, right?"
"Roughly, yeah. Not the details."
Never been in one, but sure.
I nodded, and Cheong-ah whispered in my ear.
"Dear, what's a dungeon?"
"Basically, it's a maze-like place—caves, traps, monsters everywhere, and a boss at the end."
The origins? Mages and temples studied it, but nobody really knew. Dungeons were adventurer goldmines, though. Monsters there dropped magic stones way more often than wild ones—especially bosses, with huge, pure ones guaranteed. Word of a new dungeon, and skilled adventurers swarmed like flies.
Incompetent me? I'd get sneered at just for spectating. Buncha dirty pricks. Skipping the humiliation flashback, I summed it up, and Cheong-ah nodded.
"Hm? So, it's a money pit?"
"Yeah, if you've got the skills."
I shrugged and turned back to Lena.
"So, what's the deal with this dungeon?"
"Guild finished scouting it. The monsters... they're too strong. Gold-badge parties minimum—or higher."
Ah, that explained the welcome. A dungeon needing Gold-badge teams meant the boss was leagues beyond. I got it now.
"Dungeons aren't just about magic stones, Ian. Leave 'em too long, and the boss's stone draws in mana. It builds up, goes critical—dungeon break. Monsters multiply and spill out."
"Whoa... Didn't know that."
"Oh, right. Let me explain more."
Her history lesson followed: first break, how it united continents to form the guild, etc. Endless. Plus, prickly stares from the line behind us. Bad vibes—I cut her off.
"Hey, Lena."
"Yes?"
"Thanks for the rundown, but wrap it up. Line's getting long."
I thumbed the queue. Her eyes widened; she covered her mouth in shock.
"...Oh."
"Anyway, this dungeon quest's for us?"
"Yes. Here."
She handed over the sheet and continued.
"Monsters are honkrodiles—bipedal crocodiles with horns. Gold-badge difficulty."
"Got it. Let me check."
The sheet showed a sketch: horned, croc-like, lizardman-adjacent but more gator. Reminded me of something from a game—whatever. Completion: slay the boss or ID it and escape. Terrain: swamp cave. Rewards: all magic stones from dungeon monsters, boss stone ownership, 10 gold coins.
Ten gold seemed low for a full clear, but stones made up for it. One issue: swamp floor. Marshy terrain... hope that's not a problem.
I asked Cheong-ah.
"Swamp terrain—cool with that?"
"Swamp? No big deal for me... but Bella?"
"Her? She'd wade through shit without blinking."
"True enough."
Tucking the sheet away, I told Lena.
"We're taking it."