Please Let It Be a Coincidence
The neighborhood residents who had come to the park for a stroll watched the two beastkin children with warm smiles. The sight of the kids playing so harmoniously was utterly adorable, leaving the onlookers too entranced to even chat—they just stared.
"Cluck cluck."
Winter shook her head back and forth, mimicking a chicken's call. Levi Nas pondered for a moment, then shot her hand up triumphantly.
"Correct! Cat!"
"No, this time it was a chicken."
"Huh...?"
It had definitely been a cat, right? She looked every bit like one. Levi Nas tilted her head in confusion.
"King, why can't we guess right?"
"This game must be harder than it looks..."
Winter felt wronged. This was already the fourth time she'd been sure it was a horn rabbit, but not a single one had appeared yet.
I thought she was mimicking a headbutt with her horns, so I figured horn rabbit. Who knew it'd be the 'mean sheep' card?
Overcome with injustice, Winter unwittingly stomped her feet on the park ground.
"King, wanna play something else?"
"Yeah... maybe?"
What should she play with Levi Nas? Glancing around absentmindedly, Winter spotted Sophia and Han Yeoreum sitting on a bench.
"Oh."
When had they been sitting there? Winter and Levi Nas bolted toward the bench like they were in a race.
"Correct! Shark!"
Levi Nas pointed at Sophia. Sophia just shrugged nonchalantly.
"Yeah, shark it is."
"Yay! Levi Nas got it right!"
Bouncing in place, Levi Nas turned to Han Yeoreum and started stroking her chin, imitating the animal detective from last night's cartoon—something everyone knew.
"Yeoreum's... kangaroo!"
"Kangaroo? Why am I a kangaroo, sis?"
"'Cause you take good care of Levi Nas!"
With that, Levi Nas clambered onto Han Yeoreum's lap. She wriggled into Han Yeoreum's top, peeking her face out near the collar like a baby kangaroo with just its head sticking out of the pouch.
"King, whaddya think? Kangaroo-like?"
"Yeah. Totally like a real kangaroo."
The pure, childlike antics brought smiles to everyone's faces—even the quiet onlookers chuckled softly.
"Aren't the little ones just the cutest?"
"Yeah. Total healing vibes."
Their voices brimmed with affection. Winter was glad people adored Levi Nas.
Levi Nas had a rough past too.
From now on, she hoped Levi Nas would soak up all the love around her and live happily. Winter silently wished for her friend's bright future.
"Winter, wanna try this too?"
"Try what?"
"This kangaroo game."
Han Yeoreum pointed at Levi Nas nestled in her clothes. But Winter shook her head firmly.
"I'm good, thanks."
"Okay."
She was still shy around people, that much was clear. Still, this was a huge improvement from the beginning. Han Yeoreum settled for petting Winter's head.
"But why'd you bring weapons?"
"Sis is hitting a dungeon today."
"A dungeon?"
"Yeah. A Level 6 one."
A Level 6 dungeon. As someone just starting out as an adventurer, Winter couldn't help but be intrigued.
"Can I come watch?"
"The dungeon? It'd be super dangerous for you."
"Not going inside—just wanna see the vibe nearby."
"Oh..."
She wanted to observe how top hunters prepped before entering. It'd definitely be educational for Winter. As long as she didn't go into the dungeon itself, there wasn't much risk. Han Yeoreum nodded at her.
"Sure, but you gotta listen to sis, okay?"
"Y-Yes..."
Getting to see top hunters' dungeon prep firsthand? Incredible luck. Winter's tail swished happily.
I rode with everyone to the dungeon in a 12-seater van. Strong and weak paired up for seating—to prepare for any surprises.
"Whoa! Road trip!"
Thrilled to be with the group, Levi Nas grabbed En Sia and Argo's tails with both hands. Argo's tail was insanely strong; even a twitch could hurt her. Knowing this, Argo grunted softly, focusing to keep it still.
"Levi Nas, this isn't a trip."
"It isn't?"
"Nope. Dungeon field trip."
"Isn't that the same as a trip...?"
Hmm... how to explain?
I looked up at Han Yeoreum beside me, silently asking her to take over.
"We're going to learn today. Playtime after?"
"Got it!"
She zipped her lips at "learn," looking all mature. Adorable, even while clutching those tails.
"Winter, dungeons are dangerous even nearby, so listen to sis, okay?"
"Yes. I'll be good."
"Hehe, then what'd sis say earlier? Repeat it."
Rules for near the dungeon. Simple stuff—I'd memorized them all.
"Don't go near the portal. Get sucked in, and you're done."
"Right. And?"
"If trouble, ask nearby adults for help."
"Whoa, Winter's so smart. Memorized it all?"
Han Yeoreum ruffled my hair gently. Praise for something so basic felt embarrassing. I changed the subject.
"Um, got a question."
"Shoot."
"Why do dungeons appear?"
Understanding dungeon origins might raise my odds of getting home. Tempting, but bittersweet—I'd miss this family.
"Lots of reasons."
"Lots?"
"Yeah. Mana twists, or reacts to emotions..."
"Emotions...?"
Dungeons from mere feelings? The world should be overrun then. I eyed Han Yeoreum skeptically.
"Not regular emotions. Strong grudges pooling together make 'em."
"So people with bad feelings can spawn dungeons at will?"
"Nah. Takes serious resentment."
"Like...?"
Han Yeoreum hesitated. The van fell silent.
"...Maybe four or five people tortured to death horribly for a slim shot at a Level 1 dungeon."
She pressed Levi Nas's ears shut from the front seat. Explained her pause.
"Emotions making dungeons must be super rare, huh?"
"Yeah. Even wars don't spawn 'em."
"Wars don't?"
"Wars are more mass hysteria than grudge..."
"Ah..."
Another emotion that doesn't count. Dungeons might prevent wars here—or not. Worlds are all the same. Uneasy, I gazed out the window.
Huh...?
The scenery looked familiar. Like I'd been here before. Where was this? Then it hit me—the landscape from when I first arrived in this world.
"Gotta walk from here. Dungeon's deep in the mountains."
Choi Jin-hyeok, at the wheel, addressed us. Everyone acknowledged, but I stayed quiet.
Memories of being buried here flooded back.
Steep mountain. Winter's good at climbing, but Levi Nas...?
Han Yeoreum glanced back to check on the kids—then Winter tugged her hem.
"Huh?"
Winter's hand trembled violently. Her face was ashen, eyes wide with fear.
What? Scared of the dungeon's aura? She was sensitive, so possible. Han Yeoreum knelt to comfort her.
"Winter, what's wrong?"
"H-Here... I, I..."
"Winter, sis is here. Calm down, tell me slowly?"
Han Yeoreum placed hands on her shoulders. Winter flinched but took a deep breath and spoke.
"This is where I was buried..."
"...What?"
Everyone froze mid-climb at her murmur—except Levi Nas, dozing on Choi Jin-hyeok's back.
"I was buried underground here..."
Winter looked ready to break down crying.
"...Yu-na, take Winter down? I'll clear the dungeon and be right back."
"O-Okay."
Han Yeoreum handed the terrified Winter to Jeong Yu-na, sending Levi Nas along too. With a friend, she'd feel safer.
What the...?
Han Yeoreum watched Winter leave, recalling their car chat—dungeons from "someone's emotions."
"......"
The mountain where Winter was buried. A sudden dungeon.
Really just coincidence?
Please let it be. Han Yeoreum prayed to a god she didn't believe in.
This Level 6 dungeon had appeared abruptly. When even the site of four or five horrific torture-murders only rarely birthed a Level 1.