Shall We Go to Our Dungeon?
"What do you think? I believe you can handle it."
I looked at him, pondering. Can I really do it?
Naturally, my mind drifted to the Talent skill that had been granted to me from the start in my status window.
Is that Talent skill really just about copying other skills? Sure, that's incredible on its own, but a Legendary-grade skill has to have something deeper to it.
Like Professor Kim Tae-min said, if S-rank skills are systematic techniques created by exceptional individuals in a world where mana is the source of power, then maybe L-rank skills can only be crafted by transcendent beings beyond humanity?
In that case, the remnants of the creator would linger even more intensely in an L-rank skill.
That realization hit me, and I suddenly saw how I'd been like a frog in a well, unconsciously limiting my own thinking.
In that instant, something flashed in my mind, and my frame of thought expanded in a heartbeat.
"I think I can do it."
"Excellent."
He flashed a satisfied smile, clearly pleased with my answer.
This world held far more mysteries than I knew. Back when I was scraping by as a C-rank hunter, what I'd learned wasn't the whole picture—not by a long shot.
"But... why tell me all this? It doesn't seem like it's just because we share the same skill..."
"Suspicious?"
He chuckled softly as I trailed off cautiously.
I waved my hands frantically. "No, no, that's not it. It just feels like there's more to it."
I glanced at him carefully, gauging his reaction. For some reason, it felt like opening Pandora's box.
Still, I wanted to know. It felt like this was somehow tied to my fate.
"What do you think brought about the sudden appearance of the original seven?"
"Uh... no idea?"
Honestly, I'd never given it a thought. I'd just accepted that the original seven showed up and saved humanity from crisis—no questions asked.
Why hadn't I ever wondered about it?
Come to think of it, I'd never heard anyone else question it either. This was a world rife with conspiracy theories even before dungeons appeared. Yet no one batted an eye at their sudden emergence?
A chill ran down my spine.
"Heh heh heh. You never wondered, did you? You couldn't have. It was Mart Miller's doing—that old friend's handiwork."
"Mart Miller? You mean the 'M'?"
"Yes, his nickname was 'M'."
"Whoa!"
The ability user known as 'M' among the original seven was shrouded in mystery—even their real name was unknown. The moniker 'M' came from Mystery.
"What did he...?"
I asked cautiously, and Professor Kim Tae-min shrugged.
"A collective hypnosis on all of humanity."
"Gasp! W-what? Like brainwashing?"
Is there a bug in my head or something? Have I already been gotten to without knowing?
I panicked, running a hand through my hair. Mental-type awakeners weren't unheard of, but their danger level was so high that nations kept them under strict control.
A collective hypnosis on all humanity? The scale was insane.
"Nothing that dramatic. It just kept people from harboring unnecessary doubts about us seven. He called it a trade secret and wouldn't spill the details, but he assured us it had no other effects. No need to worry."
"Ah, got it. Whew~"
Only then did I relax. The thought of unknowingly dancing to someone's tune had choked me up.
"We original seven were the first awakeners created by our master."
Thud.
Something heavy seemed to settle in my chest. It felt like I'd learned something I wasn't supposed to know.
"Your master?"
"Yes. He called himself a transcendent from another dimension. Or Pathfinder, in other words."
"..."
The original seven were already legendary, but they had a master? From another dimension, no less. The scale exploded, leaving my brain grinding to a halt like it was overloaded.
Was this what they called a mental breakdown?
He chuckled at my dumbfounded expression. "I made the same face when I first met Master. We all did, as I recall."
He stared into space, lost in memory—not the here and now, but the past.
"We seven were granted abilities suited to our talents and sent to save this unprepared world."
"So that's why you suddenly appeared to fight the monsters?"
"Exactly."
"And that... master of yours?"
The transcendent who birthed the original seven. The one who called himself Pathfinder. I was dying to know who he was—maybe even meet him and grill him on things like that demon bastard's true nature, or why I got to regress after dying.
"He vanished right after sending us off. He grumbled about too many worlds left to check, so I assume he went elsewhere."
"I... see."
Like the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland? From the name Pathfinder, he seemed like some interdimensional guide awakening hunters across realms. A self-proclaimed transcendent? Yeah, that tracked.
Maybe the creators of L-rank skills are beings like that master?
I nodded slowly, convinced it was possible. For reasons I couldn't quite pin down, I felt sure the maker of my L-rank Talent skill was another transcendent like him.
Suddenly, the Legendary-grade Talent skill dominating my skill window felt even more profound.
This could be a trace left by another transcendent. From some genius among geniuses overflowing with talent.
Did that mean I could become a transcendent someday?
Professor Kim Tae-min, watching me with a gentle gaze, refilled my empty teacup.
"Twice a week."
"Pardon?"
"I'll help with your training."
"..."
I blinked blankly before his meaning sank in, my eyes sharpening warily.
This wasn't some fairy godfather randomly offering to chat and train me. Something felt off.
"They say there's no such thing as a free lunch, right?"
"True enough."
He continued, as if he'd expected my reaction. "Of those who once shared our cause, one went missing, one joined the government, two others aligned elsewhere, and the remaining three... changed."
"Changed? You mean three of the original seven?"
"Yes. They started defying Master's will, pursuing their own paths."
"Their own paths?"
Whatever it was, it didn't sound good. The original seven were national treasures on their own—three going rogue spelled trouble.
"Sadly, those three have banded together, plotting to upend the world using dungeons. The recent issue in the school basement dungeon? That's part of it."
"Whoa..."
No wonder my gut felt off.
I realized I'd already stepped into their game. Whatever they were after, I'd thoroughly wrecked it.
Probably that golden goblin, right?
I recalled the golden goblin that had granted me my first L-rank skill. If it hadn't died—if it'd stayed alive—things might've gone differently. Or maybe they were after it themselves.
My thoughts were cut short by Professor Kim Tae-min's next words.
"Personally, I think you'll be a huge asset against them. Consider this an investment in the future."
He smiled softly at me.
"Wait—then the missing one...?"
"That's me. Not exactly missing—more like retired. But I've ended up as the wildcard."
"..."
On the surface, it was a 3:3 stalemate. Add Professor Kim Tae-min, and the balance tipped. He probably saw me as the sharp blade to strike their vital point.
A hidden knife was scarier than an open enemy.
So that's why he was so nice. He wanted my help against those shadowy three.
Better this way.
If he'd claimed it was just for my sake or some heartfelt reason, I'd have turned him down flat. But knowing he had an agenda made it easier—more straightforward.
Since I'd already raided their dungeon and offed the golden goblin, it was only a matter of time before I pinged on their radar.
Better to prepare properly than sit and wait.
I made up my mind and grinned at Professor Kim Tae-min. "Looking forward to working with you, Professor."
"Good choice."
I clasped his outstretched hand, giving it a firm shake. Naturally, I activated my skill.
Information Viewing
As Kang Min-ho closed the door behind him, Kim Cheon-wook emerged from the empty space.
"Master, as you instructed, I've moved Kang Min-ho and Lee Jae-wook to Class B."
"Mm, well done."
"..."
Professor Kim Tae-min tilted his teacup for the last sip, then turned. Kim Cheon-wook still had more to say.
Meeting his gaze, Kim Cheon-wook spoke cautiously. "Why show such interest in him?"
"Jealous?"
"N-no, of course not. I wouldn't dare. It's just..."
"Just?"
"You know what happened with Eldest Senior Brother..."
Kim Tae-min eyed his disciple, who winced at dredging up old wounds, his gaze warm with affection.
"Cheon-wook."
He flinched.
"Yes, Master."
He'd braced for a scolding, but the voice was unexpectedly gentle. Peeking open his eyes, he looked at his master—his lifelong pride, his heroic idol, a true giant.
"The reason I take interest in him is that I believe he can endure it."
Unlike that dimwitted eldest who got consumed by the skill.
He swallowed the unspoken thought and patted his youngest disciple's shoulder.
"Besides, it's no ordinary feat for an F-rank awakener of mere months to master an S-rank skill without repercussion. That alone proves his extraordinary nature."
"Yes, Master."
As his master said, the growth he'd witnessed was staggeringly abnormal.
"Watch him closely. Follow with all your might—it'll pave your path too."
"I'll keep that in mind, Master."
His bowed head held no more worry, replaced by fierce rivalry.
I won't fall behind!
Professor Kim Tae-min's eyes crinkled in a soft smile.
I scowled, recalling Professor Kim Tae-min's status window from moments ago.
What the hell?
On the way back to the dorm, no matter how I turned it over, the ??? on his skills seemed to mean he'd discarded them to forge his own path.
Nothing else explained it.
That's why the Seeker of the Path title?
The Third Pillar Planted by the Pathfinder clearly referred to being one of the original seven.
And that master really is the Pathfinder. Not just talk.
Meeting him might unravel all my questions. And somehow, I felt I would.
If it's fate, I'll cross paths whether I like it or not.
Shaking off the thought, I opened the dorm door.
"Huh? Who're you?"
Inside, Jae-wook stood with a face like he was about to burst into tears.
"M-Min-ho."
"Whoa, what's up? Something happen?"
"Don't freak out. I ranked up. And they said we're both moving to Class B."
"You ranked up?"
What the hell happened while I was gone? And Class B out of nowhere? That's all B-ranks.
Even if Jae-wook ranked up, he'd still be C like me.
Wait—Class B means mostly B-rank skills, right?
Perplexed for a moment, my lips slowly curled into a grin.
This was a golden opportunity for me right now.
It felt like some invisible hand shoving me toward the roulette.
I threw an arm around Jae-wook's trembling shoulders.
"Jae-wook, wanna hit the dungeon?"
"Huh? At this hour?"
"Yeah."
I nodded eagerly, eyes sparkling.
First off, there's a skill from you I need to snag.
Jae-wook instinctively stepped back, thinking Min-ho's gaze was like a predator eyeing prey.