Chapter 45
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Boundary Duty
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The hunters assigned to the external team had finished evacuating the residents, and the internal and boundary teams had gathered in front of the gate.
"Ji-ui!"
"Ah, un... Ack!"
Ji-ho unnie came flying toward me, unleashing her Water Dragon skill, and hugged me fiercely. It was our first meeting since the Fight Club incident, so I was happy to see her, but her way of showing it was pretty rough.
"Pha!"
Once I wriggled free from her embrace, I finally got a good look at her face.
Hmm, no injuries. She looks fine.
"Have you been well?"
"Yeah, I've been good. You?"
"I just got back from a dispatch to Vietnam a few days ago. You know, that gate that popped up in Da Nang."
Ji-ho unnie shook her head as if the memory exhausted her.
"That must've been tiring."
"Once we wrap up this gate, I need to take some vacation time."
Come to think of it, one of the mobility hunters helping with the evacuation earlier was wearing clothes with the Indonesian flag on them. Hunters really do look out for each other.
"Are you on the internal team, unnie?"
"Yeah. You're on boundary?"
I nodded, and she gave me a slightly pitying look before speaking up quickly.
"I've never done boundary duty myself, so I can't really give you advice."
"Eh, it'll work out somehow."
"That's the spirit!"
"The internal team, please enter!"
At the staff member's shout, unnie glanced toward the gate and pulled me into another hug.
Thump, thump.
The heartbeat echoing in my ear and the faint scent of rain tickling my nose strangely eased my tension.
'Every time Ji-yu asked for a hug, I'd hold her just like this.'
As I got lost in the sentiment, unnie pulled away and her blue eyes sparkled.
"They say A-rank boundary isn't that dangerous. Don't worry too much!"
"Thanks. You be careful too, unnie!"
"Sure~"
Ji-ho unnie rejoined the internal team with her Water Dragon. The gate was wide open by now, and the internal team charged into the dungeon. Since it hadn't exploded yet, there was no visible boundary space—it connected straight to the interior.
"Boundary team, this way, sir~"
"Wah, you scared me!"
A sly voice pierced my right ear. I whipped around to see Ha Mi-jun Hunter grinning as he took off his sunglasses.
"You're on boundary team too, Ha Mi-jun Hunter?"
"Unfortunately, yeah. Cha Do-yun Hunter went internal, and Min-sook unnie and I joined boundary~"
"Min-sook... unnie?"
Wondering if it was the Kim Min-sook Hunter I knew, I headed toward the boundary team and spotted him with Doo-sim-i perched on his shoulder. Our eyes met, and he smiled brightly as he approached.
"Long time no see. Have you been well?"
"Ah, yes! But you two... know each other?"
Kim Min-sook Hunter and Ha Mi-jun Hunter exchanged glances. Kim Min-sook Hunter let out a deep sigh and chuckled.
"Somehow, we ended up that way."
"Heard we're cultural center buddies?"
"Cultural center?"
Like those classes they hold at department stores? There was one in the basement of the clothing store where I used to work.
"Min-sook unnie and I took a cooking class together."
"He's been clinging to me relentlessly ever since."
"Of course. If you weren't married, unnie, I would've made a move—Ow!!"
Kim Min-sook Hunter smacked Ha Mi-jun Hunter on the back, and he rubbed it dramatically while making a fuss. While Ha Mi-jun Hunter was carrying on, I turned to look at Doo-sim-i.
'Doo-sim-i looks as burly and cool as ever today.'
I couldn't tell if it remembered me or was just staring blankly, but it blinked at me vacantly.
"Ah, everyone's here now."
As Kim Min-sook Hunter and I were chatting, Choi Min Hunter and Se-bin joined us. They said it was mostly S-ranks, and sure enough, Kim Min-sook Hunter seemed to be the only A-rank.
"Boundary team, move out!"
"Sorry I'm lateee!"
Han Jin-woo Hunter came rushing in last, and we entered the gate.
Whoosh―
"A tiled-roof house?"
For a moment, it overlapped with the Namwon Dungeon in my mind, and I half-expected someone to burst into pansori. But inside, only the rustling of trees in the wind lingered.
A long dirt path led to a large hanok with a pretty garden that even had a small pond. If no monsters showed up, it would've made a great picnic spot.
"Is this a historical dungeon?"
"Yep. One of the few historical dungeons that hasn't been overrun by myth or fairy tale ones~"
"It's based on a 99-room yangban mansion. To clear it, you have to open every room and take out the monsters."
My jaw dropped at Kim Min-sook Hunter's explanation.
So that means at least 99 monsters?
Good thing this dungeon's set to vanish before we got dispatched here.
Bzzz.
Then my bracelet vibrated, and a familiar green beam shot out, leaping straight into my arms. A heavy weight settled in along with the cozy scent of cotton blankets wafting over my face.
Kyaaau! Auu―!"
"Nokdu!"
The moment we stepped into the dungeon, Nokdu popped out like it had been waiting.
"It's dangerous today, though..."
Au― Gulp! Ker, kerf!
Blissfully unaware, Nokdu barked and rubbed its face all over my shoulder. Every swish of its now-longer tail stirred up a gentle breeze.
"Haha, if it fights alongside us, this cute little guy will grow faster too."
Kim Min-sook Hunter approached and gently petted Nokdu, who alternated glances between us before slowly closing its eyes to enjoy the touch.
Thud.
"Hey, grab your supplies."
A gruff voice came from the gate. I turned to see Mi-rae-ssi dumping a large box onto the ground. Baggy training pants with knee pads, a loose short-sleeved tee, and her arms covered in mysterious tattoos.
Without her usual lab coat, she looks totally like a bum.
"Supplies? Got food in there?"
"Quit yapping. Stamina potions, anesthetics, energy bars, water. That's it."
"So there is food."
Mi-rae-ssi lit her cigarette, furrowed her brow, and took a deep drag.
"First explosion and you're on boundary? Talk about bad luck."
"Is it that tough?"
She exhaled a thin plume of smoke.
"Got a strong mind?"
'Out of nowhere?'
"Not... weak, I think."
After a brief pause, I answered, and she smirked with one corner of her mouth.
"Then you'll break this time."
"Ugh, don't jinx it..."
Mi-rae-ssi leaned against the gate and flicked her ash onto the ground.
"The boundary itself is outside common sense."
Someone slipped in behind me and reached into the box.
It was Choi Min Hunter.
She silently stowed her share in her inventory, then turned to me.
"Boundary monsters talk to people and mess with your status window at will."
"Mess with the status window? Is that even possible?"
"It's the boundary."
Outside common sense. Dungeons aren't exactly normal spaces either, but this one's even weirder?
And it can interfere with your personal status window? Clearly a place where the world's rules don't apply.
"When the gate explodes, the boundary will speak to people. Don't panic—just take out the monsters."
"...Thanks for the heads-up."
Choi Min Hunter walked away after that.
'What exactly is she doing as the Apostle of the Harmonizer?'
I can't read Choi Min Hunter at all. She doesn't seem driven by self-interest; she just acts on what she thinks is right in the moment.
"What exactly am I to you?"
I'm really curious what our connection is too...
As I stared at her retreating back, Ha Mi-jun Hunter approached the supply box.
"They still haven't changed the flavor on these?"
"Why bother? It's just injected straight into your gut anyway."
"Still, the taste on your tongue sucks~"
Ha Mi-jun Hunter reluctantly grabbed a stamina potion that tasted awful.
Guess I'll have to drink one later too? My tongue's already sorry.
"Ah, Mi-rae-ssi! Long time no see."
Se-bin-i landed lightly in front of the box. Kim Min-sook Hunter only took energy bars and water for her inventory, then fed Doo-sim-i some monster meat before the fight.
Mi-rae-ssi glanced around with a scowl.
"Where's Han Jin-woo?"
"You know why. He's hiding 'cause he's embarrassed you're here."
'Wow, straight shooter.'
Mi-rae-ssi furrowed her brow even deeper at Ha Mi-jun Hunter's response.
"Embarrassed why? What a weirdo."
"Ha~ That heartless woman who doesn't get a man's delicate feelings~"
Ha Mi-jun Hunter spouted lines straight out of a morning drama. Seeing him say that, it seemed Han Jin-woo Hunter really had an unrequited crush.
Mi-rae-ssi scratched her head furiously and turned toward the gate.
"Anyway, I'm out. Tell Han Jin-woo not to die too."
She stubbed out her cigarette with her foot and left the dungeon.
'How'd Han Jin-woo fall for someone like her...? Unique taste.'
"Han Jin-woo Hunter~ Mi-rae left!"
"Really?"
Han Jin-woo Hunter, who had been hiding behind a hanok wall, poked his head out, scanned around, and hurried to the supply box.
"Mi-rae said not to die."
"R-Really?! She said it all worried-like? What about me otherwise?"
"Haha. Who knows~?"
Ha Mi-jun Hunter brushed it off and left the supply area, with Han Jin-woo Hunter chasing after him in a frenzy. Kim Min-sook Hunter, Se-bin-i, and I were left standing there, exchanging looks.
"Shall we find our positions then?"
"Have you done boundary duty before, Kim Min-sook Hunter?"
"Yes. Back when there weren't many S-ranks like now, all us veteran A-ranks handled boundary."
Kim Min-sook Hunter sent Doo-sim-i into the sky, then raised her gloved hand high.
Whoosh―
Wind gathered at her fingertips and swirled around her. It felt like watching a solemn ritual.
Rumble.
Suddenly, the ground shook violently. I dropped to one knee, gripping Ego tightly, and silently watched the dungeon interior warp.
'Something's starting.'
The nearby hanok stretched out like someone had forcibly pulled it longer, and the clear blue sky turned pitch black.
Slice.
The sun high in the sky split in half, and lava-like liquid poured from within.
I didn't need anyone to tell me.
[Space of Distortion, Disorder, Chaos]
[You have entered the Boundary.]
I was in the boundary now.