‘I Don’t Know What It Is, But I Don’t Need It….’
Seoya recoiled a step without thinking, appalled by Na Seonghyeon's declaration.
Ji Sein's nagging questions back home popped into her mind—didn't she want to take anything with her?
Why is everyone so desperate to shove gifts at me?
"Why are you making this weird…?"
Seoya shot a weary glance back and forth between Go Heejae and Na Seonghyeon. One had a dazed, dopey grin that made him look even crazier. The other had flipped completely from his previous arrogance, now spouting polite nonsense about acknowledgment and such—she couldn't fathom what had flipped the switch.
The other hunters seemed to find their behavior just as bizarre. The group huddled together, murmuring guesses about Seoya's identity.
"W-what? Is that Go Heejae the hunter on his knees over there?"
"No way, that can't be… Huh?"
"Have I finally lost it? Why does Go Heejae's gaze look so polite all of a sudden?"
"Polite? Go Heejae polite? I'm experiencing cognitive dissonance right now…."
"…Hey, why's our leader making that face…? Has he lost his mind?"
"Is that cloaked person some multi-billionaire capitalist or something…? Otherwise, our leader wouldn't act like this…."
Seoya made an awkward face and gestured for the two to get up already. No matter how she sliced it, grown adult men kneeling before her felt off. Wanting to escape the situation, she glanced around and asked,
"…Any survivors?"
"Looks like there aren't any in this dungeon. No good hiding spots."
"The clear window should pop up soon. Once the dungeon breaks and we exit, we'll know if there were any."
"The dead ones… they can't leave, right?"
"Correct. Unless you go looking, the bodies stay inside."
"Ah…."
People who died in dungeons, their bodies never even found. On Toda, corpses held little meaning, but Seoya knew Earth had funeral customs that treated them with grave importance. A somber mood settled over her, and she turned to gaze at the sea.
In the meantime, Go Heejae and Na Seonghyeon had started chatting between themselves.
"Go Heejae, you're talking to Seoya-nim too casually."
"…What?"
"If you've admitted she's above you, shouldn't you start with polite speech?"
"…But age."
"Hey~ You've been bantering casually with everyone regardless of age or rank, haven't you? Forgot I'm older than you?"
"Th-that's…."
"People let it slide before because you were rank 1, but Seoya-nim outranks you. Come on, give it a try."
"…I'm sorry for being rude last time…."
"Puhahaha! Wow, you really suck at polite speech!"
"Argh, just talk casually! No honorifics!"
Seoya had been lost in her own thoughts when their grating voices pulled her back. She snapped at them, especially revolted by Go Heejae trying polite speech—it sent chills down her spine. The watching hunters brushed goosebumps off their arms, making a fuss in shared disgust.
"Please, everyone just talk casually!"
Na Seonghyeon played shy and meek in front of Seoya, but turned into a whole different person teasing Go Heejae. She couldn't tell which was his real self.
"How could I dare speak casually to Seoya-nim…?"
He flashed a bashful smile, his demeanor shifting again.
"…Just don't talk to me."
They'd both been nuts from the start. Not eroded by mutants—just inherently a bit off. Seoya turned away from Na Seonghyeon with a disgusted look and stared back at the sea.
Ibin's dungeons and monsters on Earth had claimed countless lives.
What was Ibin unnie thinking?
She got that the System was made for her sake, but did it really require endangering so many innocents? She'd hear the answer after returning, but until then, Seoya had a job to do on Earth.
Until I build the Magic Amplifier and go home, I have to protect this world.
Shielding people from deadly dungeons and monsters—it was her duty. This danger had been created for her, after all.
"Go Heejae, blend in with the hunters and escort Seoya-nim out."
"Got it. I'll tell the others to surround us too."
"Yeah, interviews will just be me and our vice-guild master. We've synced up already."
Na Seonghyeon glanced at Seoya, staring far out at the sea, and recalled the earlier scene.
Gods don't grant wishes, but Seoya-nim fulfilled mine.
Amid the black monsters, she'd descended from the sky in pristine white, her cloak billowing in the wind, face shrouded in mystery, bold actions brimming with confidence in her power, a calm voice defying guesswork. It all painted her as something sacred and reverent.
And blue flames, like hellfire summoned forth, had engulfed everything around her but her.
It looked just like an absolute being judging the wicked and evil.
Seoya fresh from the heavens seemed utterly good and holy, but judging monsters, she was someone else entirely. Regardless, witnessing it sent shivers of epiphany through Na Seonghyeon.
Whether a god come from heaven to save me or one risen from hell to punish evil—it doesn't matter.
His life had been a brutal grind of competition and struggle to gain anything. He wasn't born with more than anyone else. To match them, he'd gritted his teeth, and even as a hunter, habit carried him into endless rivalry and accumulation. Without action and effort, nothing came free.
Anyway, Seoya-nim is the first to grant my wish without effort.
The first time. A miracle arrived unbidden. A savior appeared, taking nothing in return.
"So from now on, she's my god."
In his half-broken thought circuits, eroded by mutants, Na Seonghyeon smiled brighter than ever.
Dungeon Cleared
The dungeon began shaking violently. Na Seonghyeon recalled the script he'd prepped via chat with Neverending's guild master, Lee Gayeon. He'd have to handle interviews right away.
A rank 0 had appeared in this world. Only a rank 0 could solo-clear an S-rank dungeon, so he'd clear all emerging ones. No blaming teams that hadn't entered yet—all credit goes to rank 0. Finally, they'd absolutely obey the will of the rank 0 who saved a nation.
Hiding another hunter's identity means fines, but…
Whatever, pay the fines. They were all swimming in cash anyway. No need to worry about media or government targeting Seoya. Since monsters and dungeons appeared two and a half years ago, all power had funneled to hunters. Pedigree? Elite schools? Irrelevant. Celebs? YouTubers? Hunters drew more eyes. Conglomerates? Capital? Everyone chased dungeon development. Politicians? Courting top hunters for public favor.
If three of Korea's four top S-ranks—Go Heejae, Na Seonghyeon, Baek Yena—sided with world rank 0? Who'd dare attack them?
Any hunter would want to help Seoya-nim.
Top 10 rankers who'd meet her once would get it—the reverence, overwhelming presence, dominance, respect, loveliness Na Seonghyeon felt tenfold.
Pzzt—!
The dungeon shattered, revealing crowds instantly.
"A word, please!"
"Anyone see Go Heejae hunter?!"
"WithYou's guild master! Humanoid monsters?!"
"One word on world rank 0!"
"Who's Seoya?!"
Confirming Go Heejae slipping away with Seoya amid thrusting mics, Na Seonghyeon grinned. He'd vowed to heaven to offer her everything he had.
And what he had was one thing only.
Capital.
That solved most problems. Some said money can't buy happiness….
They just weren't rich enough.
What couldn't astronomical wealth handle?
"Ah, right."
Na Seonghyeon had no clue how to splash cash, but now he got it. Offer his god the biggest, best thing money could buy.
He'd gift her this country from now on.