Ancient Dungeon Discovered
It was when the search progress hit 91%.
"Hah, found it."
"Huh? Found what?"
"The dungeon! I found the damn dungeon!"
Mu-hyuk quickly scanned the surroundings. Fortunately, no other users had heard Sung Min-woo's shout.
He let out a sigh of relief and shot Sung Min-woo a look, his expression screaming skepticism.
"Dungeon?"
"Yeah, a dungeon! A real one!"
"For real?"
"I'm telling you, it's real! You don't believe me?"
"Eh, a bit."
"Argh, forget it. Just follow me!"
Sung Min-woo took the lead, picking up the pace. Mu-hyuk trailed behind, eyeing his friend's back with a playful glint.
Finding a dungeon wasn't easy. You could mistake any empty space for one.
Still, Mu-hyuk held some expectation. Sung Min-woo might be his usual flaky self, but that face was buzzing with genuine excitement.
No one got that worked up without solid certainty. But he tamped down his rising hopes—big expectations meant big letdowns.
"Where is it?"
"Almost there."
How far had they gone?
Sung Min-woo stopped.
"Right here."
A spirit floated ahead. Mu-hyuk and Sung Min-woo peered past it at the massive tree pillar behind.
It looked utterly ordinary at a glance, but Sung Min-woo, already onto its secret, strode forward without hesitation.
"What're you doing?"
"Watch closely."
He was inches from the pillar now. He didn't stop—and collided right into it.
Or so it seemed. In that instant, Sung Min-woo's body vanished.
"Whoa?"
That's when it clicked for Mu-hyuk.
"Holy shit, that's how it works?"
Sung Min-woo reappeared, fully intact.
"Ta-da! What do ya think?"
"Yeah, definitely looks like a dungeon entrance."
"Told ya!"
"But how'd you find it?"
"Eh, I was zoning in on the spirit's vision, and my focus slipped for a sec. Snapped out of it and boom—the spirit was inside some cave-like spot."
Pure luck, in other words.
"Let's check it out."
"Roger that."
Sung Min-woo went first, and Mu-hyuk followed to the pillar. He felt himself sucked in, and the dungeon interior filled his view.
No message yet.
Deeper in?
A small door loomed ahead.
They exchanged glances and reached for it together. A message blocked their vision.
You have discovered an Ancient Dungeon.
Time seemed to freeze. Mu-hyuk's every movement halted.
What the hell did I just see?
He blinked slowly and checked again. Same message.
"Ancient... dungeon?"
A name no one uttered lightly.
"Th-this can't be glitched, right?"
"Might be."
"R-really?"
"What'd yours say?"
"M-mine said Ancient Dungeon?"
"Same."
"……."
Their pupils quivered.
Alone, it might've been a glitch. But both saw it clear as day: Ancient Dungeon.
"So it's real...?"
"Holy crap."
The sudden reality left them reeling.
No, hold up.
Too early to celebrate.
"Whew, don't get too hyped."
"Huh? Why not?"
"If the level cap's low, it's pointless."
"Oh, right."
The final hurdle remained: level restriction.
Pass or fail.
"High is fine."
"Nah, it has to be high. If it matches or undercuts either of us, total buzzkill."
The dungeon level had to exceed both theirs—only then could they sync up and enter together later.
Praying it would, they passed through the open door. A massive iron gate loomed far ahead.
That must be the true entrance.
Beyond it, wonders befitting an ancient dungeon.
Would they get to see them?
His heart pounded.
Please.
They were upon it.
Mu-hyuk and Sung Min-woo took deep breaths and reached out.
A chill surged through.
You have not reached the entry level (150).
The wild heartbeat consumed him.
"Ha, haha."
Level 150 ancient dungeon.
That fortune had found them.
*
After dazedly laughing for a while, they pulled themselves together.
"We both hit 150, no exceptions."
"Damn right."
"Till then, only hunting gigs from top-tier requests."
"Levels first, got it?"
"Yep."
"Cool."
"Search requests end here."
They memorized the exact spot, rushed back to the Hemil Empire, and completed the search quest.
A large amount of Contribution Points has increased.
You have acquired a massive amount of experience.
You have acquired a massive amount of gold.
They immediately checked the next requests.
"I'll take this one."
"This too."
Selections done.
"Top-tier requests, specifically hunting ones. Confirm?"
"Yes."
"Approved."
Quest accepted, they headed straight to the hunting grounds.
Four days later, both hunting quests cleared.
Back to the Hemil Empire mercenary guild, turned in for massive experience.
"These two."
"Got it."
More requests, more hunting.
Mu-hyuk at level 123.
Sung Min-woo at 121.
They'd keep this pace to 150.
*
Sunday. Mu-hyuk headed to Gangneung for a date with Yerin.
To close the level gap, Sung Min-woo hunted while Mu-hyuk rested.
Rest days meant Gangneung dates with Yerin. Decision made.
His mind at ease, he enjoyed her company fully.
"Y'know, it's kinda wild when you think about it."
"What is?"
"We met on some random quest, and now we're dating."
"Hehe, yeah, it's crazy. All those Warrior Guild, Archer Guild, Mage Guild exam passers were there. Outta everyone, the guy who grabbed my hand when I tripped was you. So lucky."
"Me too."
Sweet words flowed effortlessly, goosebumps be damned.
Evening rolled around.
"Oppa."
"Yeah?"
"Next time, let's hang with Sung Min-woo too."
"Min-woo?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"One of my friends is cool. Total singleton, so I wanna set her up."
"Ah, sure, why not."
"He's a good guy, right?"
"The best."
"Phew."
Silence fell briefly.
Mu-hyuk paused longer, then called her name.
"Yerin-ah."
"Yes?"
"Gotta head back today?"
Her cheeks flushed.
"I-I told my friends I'm sleeping over."
"For real?"
"Mhm."
"Then let's go."
"W-where?"
"Reserved a spot."
"Reserved? When?"
"Before coming here."
He took her hand and led her to the pre-booked Geoje Island resort. That night, in a gorgeously decked-out suite, they spent it together.
Hot and heavy.
Next day.
Parted from Yerin, Mu-hyuk returned home, logged into Illusion, and sought out Mist. The guy unleashed a torrent of curses on sight.
"You shoe-licking bastard! I'll snap your spine in half, chew it with my molars, yank your nails, and rub salt in the wounds...!"
"Yeah, yeah, do what you gotta."
Mu-hyuk brushed it off.
Click.
He unlocked the prison door.
Terror filled Mist's eyes.
"W-wait! L-let me talk...!"
"Talk? More curses?"
"N-not that...!"
Mu-hyuk chuckled and drew his sword.
Slash.
Each swing darkened Mist's face.
Sensing inevitable death.
"Y-you Siberian husky-lookin'...!"
How many strikes?
Mist's HP hit zero, body slumping.
Mu-hyuk checked the drop.
"Junk again today."
Till tomorrow, then. He left the prison.
Joined Sung Min-woo at the entrance, raced to the hunting grounds.
Skeleton warhorses slashed travel time. Quests faster, levels quicker.
One week later.
Viscount Kinber raised a hand mid-report. The man stopped.
"What was that criminal's name again?"
"Mist, sir."
"Time to release him already."
"Yes."
"Hm. And that other guy?"
"Which...?"
"Y'know, the arrogant outsider."
"The one acquainted with Duke Amur?"
"Yeah, him."
"Still visits."
"Daily?"
"Sometimes every two or three days."
Viscount Kinber pondered.
What to do?
Mist was due out, but that outsider nagged at him.
Duke Amur connection.
"Last visit?"
"This morning."
"I see."
"Orders?"
"That criminal..."
Decision made.
"Keep him locked longer."
"Safe?"
"Pfft, who cares? Anyone pressuring me?"
"No, but..."
"If it blows up later, call it a mistake. One crook won't topple a noble."
"Of course."
"Drop it, then."
"Understood."
Thanks to Mu-hyuk, Mist rotted longer than intended.
Meanwhile.
Mist's screams echoed through the prison.
"Why won't they let me out?!"
His PK spree gave him jail time savvy.
He knew the drill.
"What the hell?!"
But this was off.
Overdue, yet no release.
"Ugh, urgh...!"
Over ten items lost to Mu-hyuk already. All his top-gear gone at this rate.
No way. Never!
He reined in his rage.
Tomorrow, surely.
But next day, still caged.
"Bye."
"Ugh...!"
One more drop.
Real tomorrow.
Logged in expecting freedom—Mu-hyuk showed, killed.
Three days offline. Tried again—Mu-hyuk appeared.
Another drop.
"Goddamn it, when the fuck do I get out?!"
Illusion homepage inquiry: standard BS.
Even called.
"Hello?!"
(Yes, customer?)
"I'm stuck in prison right now..."
Same outcome.
"That motherfuc—!"
(This call is recorded. Please refrain from profanity.)
"Report me then, you shoe-lick—!"
Line dead.
"Hoo, haa."
No outlet for fury.
"Arrrghhh!"
Screamed it out, soothed his frayed nerves, logged back in.
Please, not today!
Mu-hyuk appeared like a ghost.
"Die."
Days blurred into torment.