Higher
"What the hell is this?"
Having finally read through all the chat logs, Seoya wore a rare look of bewilderment. Just skimming the words they'd sent seemed to transmit the terror and chaos they'd felt.
"Our guild has no idea either. That's why we're asking for your help."
"Didn't you send in a rescue team or something?"
"We lost four A-rank hunters already. The ones still inside are definitely dead. Sending more in now wouldn't gain us anything—what's the point in taking the loss?"
There wasn't a shred of sympathy for the dead hunters on Kwon Yooseok's face as he said it. Feeling a spark of defiance, Seoya replied in a slightly sullen tone.
"They're your comrades."
"Business partners, for our guild."
"Still... shouldn't you try to help when people die?"
"Hmm~ Guess we just have different personalities, huh~?"
Seoya realized that no matter what she said, she'd never convince him. Their worldviews were fundamentally different from the start—they probably wouldn't understand each other for the rest of their lives.
"If sending in a rescue team is a loss for your guild, you could always request help from outside guilds."
"Ah~ The more I explain, the worse I look...."
Kwon Yooseok met Seoya's indigo eyes and curved his lips into a grin.
"We bid and got allocated this dungeon because we wanted it. Asking for help after failing to clear it ourselves? That doesn't fly~."
As Seoya shot him a reproachful glare, Kwon Yooseok adopted a explanatory tone.
"Four of the dead hunters were inside world ranking 100. If word gets out, it'll cause massive chaos~ Better to bury it quietly than stir up trouble."
It was a angle Seoya hadn't considered. She always focused on the immediate moment.
"It's not a time-limited dungeon anyway, so maybe leaving this dangerous one sealed forever benefits everyone."
"But you're telling me about it right now?"
"Yeah, because you're the only one I trust."
Still, Seoya couldn't figure out why Kwon Yooseok was asking her to handle this dungeon. He seemed to act purely on profit and advantage— even if she cleared it, what did BlackPen gain? They couldn't save the dead or loot items anymore.
"Why ask me for help? There's no benefit for BlackPen."
It was the kind of deduction that would make Ibin crow, 'My baby's finally using her head!' Seoya stared at Kwon Yooseok.
"Who knows~? Maybe hanging out with you has rubbed off on me with all that righteousness? At least to recover the bodies?"
"No way."
At Seoya's firm denial, Kwon Yooseok—looking scheming as ever—flashed a bright smile.
"Haha, truth is, if you help out, it gives me a bit more connection to you?"
Seoya made a face like she'd eaten something sour. No matter how she spun it, she felt tangled up with the wrong guy.
"...So, you want Seoya's help, is that it?"
The very next day, Kwon Yooseok visited the Neverending Guild building, maintaining his sly grin under everyone's sharp glares. Seoya fidgeted awkwardly between the stern-faced Lee Gayeon, Park Haejun, and Baek Yena.
"By the way, where's your guild master, Pyeon Sihu Hunter? Why are you the one standing here?"
Lee Gayeon spoke in a clipped tone, and Kwon Yooseok fired right back.
"Seems like he's taking it easy these days~. Same as your guild's Ji Sein Hunter, right?"
Lee Gayeon nearly clutched her neck but barely kept her composure, picturing Ji Sein rolling around at home. One loss already today thanks to these immature idiots. Still, she pressed Kwon Yooseok without mercy.
"From what I've heard, that dungeon's a serious mess. Why didn't you report the hunter deaths sooner? We could file a violation report."
"If you wanna report it, Guild Master, go ahead! Though we have no idea what 'severe' sanctions might hit us~."
Baek Yena scowled fiercely at his infuriating tone. With hunters holding the world's power, guilds like BlackPen exploited the light punishments ruthlessly.
"Hey, shut your mouth."
"If that's what you want."
Kwon Yooseok grinned shamelessly, as if no conflict had occurred. Knowing he treated people differently by rank, Baek Yena fixed him with a piercing glare. Undeterred, he spoke casually.
"This is really Seoya's call anyway—isn't it weird for Neverending to butt in?"
"We're her guardians for now."
"Seoya seemed to think differently."
As all eyes turned to her at Kwon Yooseok's words, the awkward Seoya finally spoke.
"Uh.... I think if I can solve it, I should."
She'd rested plenty at home lately, and for a dungeon no one else could clear, it made sense for her to go.
"...Of course, we're not worried about the dungeon itself. You can solo clear S-rank ones, after all."
Lee Gayeon, somewhat composed now, turned back to Kwon Yooseok.
"Where'd you say the location was?"
"Seowon-gu, Cheongju-si, North Chungcheong Province."
"Frankly, we're not thrilled."
Lee Gayeon arched a brow.
"Feels like you're shoving Seoya into a dungeon your guild failed."
"Agreed. Plus, BlackPen might betray her."
As Lee Gayeon and Park Haejun spoke with unyielding resolve, Kwon Yooseok burst out laughing and waved his hands.
"I get it—you can't trust us not to stab you in the back.... How about this to make you believe?"
He stared straight at Seoya with his dark eyes.
"I'll go into that dungeon with her."
In the end, that's how Seoya ended up standing before the infamous Cheongju dungeon. Lee Gayeon, who'd driven her here herself, eyed the gate with clear displeasure, her hands loaded with gear.
Scenario dungeons could turn into long hauls, so they'd packed tons of food, water, spare clothes, and first-aid supplies.
"Ready to head in?"
Kwon Yooseok, already there with his own packed bag like Seoya's, tilted his head.
"Yeah, all set."
She answered the question Baek Yena had lobbed at her earlier with a snippy edge instead. The moment Kwon Yooseok said he'd join Seoya, every Neverending member in the room had shouted "No!" in unison.
In their hearts, Kwon Yooseok was practically a thief eyeing their mentally adopted daughter.... They weren't wary of BlackPen per se—they just worried about his intentions toward Seoya.
Of course, they couldn't stop her from entering. No one else could clear it. But leaving her alone with him? Absolutely not.
Discussions began on who should accompany them. Lee Gayeon volunteered first.
-I'll go. Who knows what trap BlackPen dug.
But her idea was shot down. A guild master couldn't vanish for long.
-Captain knows Kwon Yooseok treats people by rank. He'd subtly grate on you for sure.
Lee Gayeon, already plagued by stomach issues from handling crises, felt a headache coming on.
-Baek Yena Hunter's right. And seeing A-rank hunters lose their minds, we can't guarantee survival without Seoya-level mental strength.
-So I'll go.
Baek Yena declared with steely eyes.
-You, Baek Yena?
-That guy's decent around me—he watches his step.
Baek Yena shrugged lazily, tilting her head.
-...If someone's going with Seoya, sending Baek Yena Hunter makes sense. For sure survival in an A-rank, we need an S-rank.
And so, it was decided: Baek Yena would enter with Seoya. Kwon Yooseok, informed ahead by Neverending, flashed a natural smile at her.
"Yes, shall we head in now?"
Seoya read the name hovering over the gate aloud.
"A-rank Dungeon, and...."
She paused mid-read.
Seoya glared at the fractured dungeon name, but it didn't change.
Why?
Sometimes, system text glitched for others but not her. But that was always Ibin's way of sending her private messages—Seoya had never seen it herself.
Higher world interference?
Dubious, she asked Baek Yena.
"...You see the dungeon name?"
"Nah, it's glitched. Happens a lot lately."
Baek Yena shrugged casually, leaving Seoya even more puzzled. She stepped closer to the gate.
Attempt to read dungeon name?
Yes ◀ / No
Scanning object....
Accessible text for < 0 │ - │ Seoya >.
Higher
'Higher? As in, higher up?'
The slightly altered process ended with the familiar reveal. Seoya's expression turned grave.
"A-alright~ Shall we head in?"
"Y-yeah."
At Kwon Yooseok's urging, Seoya took the first step through the gate.