Is This a Team?
“Baeneya. What's wrong?”
“Peep. Peeep.”
Heungmi nodded at Baekya's cries after posing the question, then widened her eyes in surprise.
“Really? The dungeon's crying because it's hurting?”
“Peep! Pee. Pip pip.”
“Yeah. Yeah yeah.”
As the others voiced their doubts, Baekya flapped more vigorously and said something to Heungmi.
Heungmi, who had been nodding along with yeah, yeah, turned to look at Rune.
“Rune-nim, the dungeon says it needs help. There are too many things making it suffer.”
“……Really?”
Amelia's eyes widened in shock; it was the first time she'd heard of a dungeon with a will of its own.
Perdikion watched the situation impassively, but he seemed to know something.
Rune, tearing his gaze from Heungmi, looked intrigued.
Could a dungeon actually request help directly? No, this might work out even better.
Dullahan stared steadily at Rune, whose lips had curled up slightly.
The two quickly exchanged glances and opinions while the others weren't noticing.
As the vibrations faded, Rune cleared his throat with a hem.
“Let's rest up a bit first before we go.”
“U……yeah. Sounds good.”
The area was a mess from the battle.
As they tried to find spots to settle, Perdikion stood with his sword in hand.
“I'm good. I'll stand watch.”
Rune's eyes widened as he stopped Perdikion from leaving.
“What are you talking about, hyung? You fought on the front lines in a place full of water energy. For safety's sake, you need to recover properly.”
“That's right! Being reckless and being brave are different!”
“Peep!”
With Heungmi and Baekya chiming in, Perdikion reluctantly turned back.
“……Tch.”
Honestly, Rune had expected more stubbornness, but he gave in surprisingly easily.
Seizing the moment, Rune quickly pulled a picnic mat from his pocket, spread it out, and unpacked various foods and drinks.
“Apple juice! I was craving this!”
Heungmi's eyes sparkled.
Fresh vegetables and fruits, rare in a dungeon.
Seeing the sandwiches made everyone's stomachs growl.
As the group settled and ate, Rune munched on castella cake and milk before standing first.
“I'll go pick up some loot for Jed. Dullahan, come with me.”
Clank!
“Just the two of you?”
Perdikion's suspicious gaze clung persistently.
Rune replied calmly.
“Can't ask hyung-nim to pick up items. It's a request from one of my vassals anyway. Baekya and Dullahan will come with me instead.”
“Rune…… I, I want to he……lp too, so, l-let's go toge, ther.”
Heungmi stuffed bread into her mouth, puffing out her cheeks like a hamster, then clapped her hands after swallowing.
“Heungmi's ready too!”
“……”
He'd meant for them to eat comfortably, but no one would leave him alone.
Especially Perdikion's gaze—it felt like petty revenge for the earlier persuasion.
Rune chuckled and sat back down, thinking he'd treat them after this was over.
Heungmi finally chewed and swallowed the food she'd crammed in.
Perdikion, satisfied with getting back at the earlier intervention, crossed his arms smugly.
Since I stopped him, it's like he came right back.
Everyone's eyes were on Rune.
In the end, to match the mood, Rune popped a cookie into his mouth.
Only then did the others look away and sneak hands toward the snacks.
After a hearty meal and tidying up warmly, Rune glanced around and sidled up to Dullahan, calling the fairy.
“Hey. Make a path like I said.”
[A path? Why. Me.]
“Didn't it say there are way more monsters than in that room earlier?”
The fairy, hearing Rune's words, giggled with sparkling eyes.
[You'll disappear. You.]
It was advice laced with mockery for the fool.
Rune replied nonchalantly.
“Want me to shake the bead more?”
Crack!
A chilling sound came from inside the bead.
At that moment, Heungmi's ears perked up, and she whipped around toward the bead.
“That bead's weird!”
Before they knew it, red salamanders—fire spirits—had appeared all over Heungmi's body, glaring at the black pearl.
[Eek!]
Confirming the bead fairy had gone quiet in fear at the five pure fire spirits, Rune gave a meaningful look.
Oh. It fears spirits.
Born as a negative, corrupted being, it wasn't strange for it to dislike spirits born from pure nature.
Rune tested subtly to confirm.
“If you don't make the path right, I'll give you to Heungmi instead of Dullahan?”
[Hiii, don't!]
The huffing spirit's voice sounded horrified just imagining it.
Fearing even low-grade fire spirits this much proved it was inherently troubled by spirits.
In that case, what if it meets Gold Dragon Elder Christina, who wields light, and her light spirit Rai?
Rune's eyes gleamed.
He'd worried about unnecessary grudges, but there was someone perfect to send it to rest.
Good. If I take it to the lair, the rest is Christina's job.
Feeling pleased, he hid his scheme and gathered materials with the others.
With everyone together, not just materials but curiosities went into his pockets too.
Once sorted, they followed the single path out.
“Two paths here.”
“No issue, right? We just pick one and go together. Wrong one, we backtrack.”
Rune shook his head at Perdikion's words.
“Wish it were that simple, but the guide fairy says we have to split up for both paths.”
Of course, Rune had ordered the fairy to say that.
But he played innocent and continued.
“Monsters respawn in the un-cleared path if we only do one. We have to hunt both sides. Whichever path we take to the end, we'll meet the other team.”
“That weird fairy's story?”
“Yeah.”
Perdikion snorted in dissatisfaction and glared at Dullahan—more precisely, the direction the fairy might be.
His stare already chanted I'll kill you.
In the end, the group agreed to split.
But when Rune suggested team compositions, complaints erupted immediately.
“You're serious? Is this a team?”
“I-is there…… ano, ther way?”
Perdikion, teamed with Amelia, crossed his arms unhappily, and Amelia rarely showed reluctance too.
Leaders Perdikion and Rune was fine.
The problem was the members: Perdikion, Amelia, Heungmi together.
Rune calmly explained as he watched the uncomfortable pair.
“Best combo, I think? Hyung with most dungeon experience as leader. Handles water best here, has the dolphin spirit Ramel for support, Amelia for backup. And Heungmi synergizes well with hyung.”
Above all, sending those two without Heungmi might spark needless conflict.
Perdikion furrowed his brow, unable to voice harsh words.
The guide fairy didn't want to leave Dullahan, and only Rune could control it.
Plus, with water and darkness as the dungeon's main attributes under his command, Rune, Dullahan, and Baekya naturally teamed up.
And his vassal Heungmi could rack up Rune's contribution even on Perdikion's side.
Efficient for his goals.
“If it gets really dangerous, I'll summon Heungmi back. Just hold till then.”
Of course, no intention to.
This was just an excuse to ease worries about Rune's safety.
Perdikion glared once more at the innocent fairy.
“……Got it.”
After twists and turns, the two teams stood at the fork.
Perdikion and Amelia urged solemnly.
“We'll clear fast as possible and come help. Be careful, Rune.”
“D-don't push…… your, self.”
“See you soon, Rune-nim! Dullahan, do your best!”
With a bright farewell, they headed down their path.
Rune waved lazily, then stepped lightly onto his path.
Just as planned. Their path takes at least three hours. This one to the boss room? Thirty minutes.
Theirs was longer but easier monsters.
This short path had brutally tough ones.
Each one's mid-boss level or higher.
A thrill built before battle.
He heard the fairy cackling and cursing from the black pearl, but Rune indifferently faced seven giant zombie jellyfish. 'Evil Zombie Jellyfish'.
Feels…… kinda fun.
The reason for splitting was for just Rune and Dullahan to tackle this monster-infested short path.
“Stay back, Baekya.”
“Peep!”
The bird understood perfectly and flapped away swiftly.
Squish.
The zombie jellyfish wrapped dungeon rock in tentacles, corroding and smashing it, freely swimming its over-five-meter body.
Then it whipped another tentacle at Rune at high speed.
Ting!
Suddenly, Rune held the artisan contest prize, the 'Shield That Blocks Anything', deflecting the tentacle.
“Dullahan, time's gold. Let's end it quick.”
Clank!
Dullahan rushed forward in a boxing stance, and Rune coated his shield in pitch-black power, levitating into the air.
Been a while since I didn't have to hide my power. This'll be fun.
Dozens, hundreds of jellyfish tentacles flew at Rune, but he dodged every one by a hair.
Faster.
Bam!
The shield he threw spun vertically, slicing the jellyfish's head.
A water balloon popped, tentacles flailed, and it slumped gooily.
Even faster.
He hurled the boomeranging shield again, faster with more spin.
Whiiish!
Splat! Thud!
Like alive, the shield evaded all tentacle attacks, slashing nape and body.
Soft flesh sprayed; the jellyfish shrieked ear-piercing ultrasonics.
- Kiiii! Kichichik!
Seeing gushing liquid instead of blood, Rune emotionlessly flicked his hand.
Dullahan instantly dashed, catching the incoming shield.
Boom!
The loyal knight body-slammed tentacles with his whole frame, drawing attention.
Armor should've melted from corrosion and acid on touch, but the shield was unscratched.
“Dullahan. Send that one here.”
At Rune's command, Dullahan scanned, then thwack! shoved a spewing jellyfish with the shield.
Exactly where Rune wanted.