Something's Wrong

"Something's wrong."

It was the first thing Seoya said upon waking that morning, to the chirping of birds outside the window. Her body felt light as if it could float away, her mind refreshingly clear after a deep, sound sleep. She could chalk it up to crashing hard from exhaustion, seeing something weird in a dream that blurred into reality upon waking... but.

"It was definitely right there."

Seoya muttered, glaring at the empty air as if staring it down. Her memory wasn't wrong. A bizarre rift had torn open beyond her room, and she'd glimpsed something there—an overwhelming presence too much to bear. If that really was someone from the higher world....

'Just looking at a higher world being with the naked eye puts that much strain on the body?'

It would feel like her System's 'mental strength' taking a hit. Fainting just from a glimpse? Anxiety gnawed at her as she stared at the spot where the rift had vanished. She wasn't sure she could stand against the higher world after all.

Time flew by, and soon it was the day to depart for Greece. Worried about public unrest, the Dungeon Safety Bureau had only officially announced it to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the top 10 rankers—and among them, only Go Heejae knew. The very top of those elite hunters, Seoya, was now aboard a plane bound for Greece.

"Would you like a beverage?"

"......"

"...Orange juice would be great, thank you."

Park Haejun answered the flight attendant on behalf of Seoya, who was plastered to the window, peering down at the world below. They were aboard none other than Go Heejae's private jet. Concerned about Seoya's condition not fully recovering until the eve of departure, Lee Gayeon had decided to send Park Haejun along despite the strain on the rest of Neverending Guild.

The guild master herself couldn't leave, but Park Haejun, who mostly handled desk work, could be spared. Lacking their mental fortitude, he wouldn't enter the dungeon with them—instead, he'd assist Seoya during their stay in Greece.

"Whoa~ Go Heejae, I'm so jealous of your private jet! What's it like living with your own plane?"

Park Haejun sighed at Ji Sein teasing Go Heejae in her childish voice. Seoya was heading to Greece with Jeong Sira and Ji Sein, but Lee Gayeon hadn't liked leaving her solely in their hands—especially with thatGo Heejae tagging along. She'd added Park Haejun as a careful adult who could watch over Seoya while blending in. And it looked like the right call.

'Did we just pass through those clouds?'

While hyper Ji Sein acted like a kid, Seoya—on her first flight—kept her curious eyes glued to the window. Meanwhile, the 'antisocial' Go Heejae silently read his newspaper, per hunter gossip. Jeong Sira, faced with total strangers including top-10 elites she'd only heard rumors about, sat tense-lipped.

'Is this the relative sociability theory in action...?'

Park Haejun inwardly muttered in the stifling atmosphere, suddenly feeling like the most social person there.

The moment the plane touched down, they slipped out of the airport unnoticed, thanks to people Go Heejae had arranged.

"Whoa~ It's been forever since I felt sunlight like this!"

The extreme hikikomori Ji Sein cheered excitedly. Even shut-ins needed their photosynthesis....

"Phew... After such a long flight, shouldn't we rest at the lodging first?"

"Inefficient. Everyone rested plenty on the plane."

"The dungeon comes first."

In the speeding car, Park Haejun's eyes cooled at Go Heejae and Seoya's replies.

"You guys are all so impatient...."

Arriving at the dungeon with zero rest, he muttered as they stepped out.

"Wow."

Seoya's eyes sparkled at the sight: the Acropolis hill, and atop it, the Parthenon Temple. Though weathered ruins, not its full glory, the ancient aura seeped through. Beyond massive stone columns stretched a blue sky unlike Seoul's urban haze—a novelty for Seoya, feeling different air just from crossing countries on one planet.

"Greece must be in a bind."

Climbing the hill, Go Heejae remarked.

"Of all places, a gate pops up at one of their most vital heritage sites."

Indeed. The Parthenon Temple Dungeon had appeared right before the temple, forcing Greece to seal off the entire Acropolis hill to block access. They'd allowed these unrelated Korean hunters because anyone closing the dungeon would be a godsend.

"I heard other countries threw bigger fits than Greece—true?"

Jeong Sira asked softly, tension eased.

"Yes. Everyone knows this dungeon endangers lives... but it's important, and suddenly Korea wants in? They all got ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wary."

As Go Heejae said, especially Ethiopia (rank 2) and Russia (rank 4) protested hard. But when asked to join, sending top hunters into an unsafe dungeon was risky. Like Korea's elites, they anchored national stability—and unlike with familiar faces, they couldn't trust or risk lives with an unseen Seoya.

Such factors let Korea raid foreign dungeons without interstate drama.

"Ah, over there."

Jeong Sira pointed to yellow-glowing columns under the sun.

"Yeah, Greek officials?"

Ji Sein muttered at people around the blue gate before the temple—guarding it, or waiting?

"Yes, they were told we'd come."

"I'll handle the talking."

"Communication will be clear?"

"That's why no interpreter."

Jeong Sira replied to Go Heejae, then turned to check Seoya's cloak—and gaped.

"This is... super dramatic...."

"What is?"

"Ah, I get it."

Park Haejun glanced between the temple and cloaked Seoya. Greece's blazing sun hit her white cloak, reflecting holy light against the temple backdrop. She looked like she belonged—a divine messenger incarnate.

Jeong Sira, awed, chatted with the officials and gave the OK.

"We're good to enter."

"Right. Let's go."

Impatient Go Heejae pointed at the blue gate. Park Haejun looked worriedly at Seoya, Ji Sein, and Jeong Sira.

"Seoya, come back safe. Ji Sein Hunter, please look after her.... Or maybe Jeong Sira Hunter's better...."

"Haha, don't worry...."

Finally ready, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Seoya eyed the dungeon name closely.

"It's not telling us to run away, is it...?"

As Seoya voiced the ominous name aloud, Go Heejae stepped into the gate. Scared to lag, she hurried after.

Inside, vanguard Go Heejae and Seoya scanned around in sync.

"Did the dungeon you entered look like this?"

"No, kinda different...."

Her previous Cheongju Dungeon was a bustling NPC village. This field resembled one too, but a massive gray building dominated the center. Surrounding shacks felt tacked-on, lifeless. No NPCs anywhere—no lived-in vibe.

"Chat logs mentioned something weird, but nothing stands out."

"Same here."

"Head to the central building first. It looks key."

Seoya nodded, walking beside him.

"O~ This dungeon's so peaceful and nice~ Pretty views!"

Ji Sein, best-rested, bubbled energetically.

"Classic ancient Greek architecture...."

Jeong Sira followed uneasily.

"Ionian columns, caryatids, fluting.... But the scale's odd. Greeks didn't build oversized structures like...."

She trailed off, catching herself, then added sheepishly under Go Heejae's gaze.

"Ah, just nervous...."

"Focus now. We're here."

Go Heejae stared ahead solemnly. A ceiling twenty, no, a hundred times their height. Ancient Greek style, dustless ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠floor, exuding eerie aura—a colossal temple loomed before them.