Preparations for the Frozen Plateau Raid

After wrapping up the meeting, Park Taemin stepped out of the inner room ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠alongside Yoon Ji-young, heading straight to the first-floor shop to pick up cold-weather gear and other essentials.

The store was already packed to the brim with the same hunters he'd seen in the meeting room just moments ago. Every one of them clutched identical items—thermal underwear, just like the kind Ha Jung-woo had mentioned. Heating referred to a special technology that drew mana from mana stones and infused it into fibers. Clothes embedded with it had exceptional heat-generating properties, allowing the wearer to maintain normal body temperature even in the harshest cold. In extreme environments like high plateaus, it was an absolute necessity. The downside? It was pricey, and once opened, the effect wore off after just three days, turning it into ordinary underwear.

Taemin also tossed heated socks, warmers, and gloves into his cart. Once they'd grabbed all the essentials and checked out, they moved to the adjacent daily necessities section for sleeping bags and tents.

"Huh? They're all sold out?"

Yoon Ji-young muttered, staring at the empty tent display. The sleeping bag rack next to it was equally bare.

"Should we ask anyway?"

Taemin flagged down a staff member and inquired about any remaining stock.

"Sorry, what can we do? They just sold out... We've had five plateau teams come through this week alone."

"Ah, when will more come in?"

"Probably not until next week or the one after. As you know, these aren't exactly mandatory items..."

With that, Taemin and Yoon Ji-young left the shop empty-handed.

"Hmm, what now? Looks like we'll have to buy them outside. You got time?"

She nodded at his question.

"Yeah."

Stepping outside, Taemin headed toward the parking lot ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠where cars were parked, glancing at her.

"No need for two cars—we can take mine."

She shook her head at his offer.

"Hold on. I've got something better."

She stopped him in place and cast a spell right there. Moments later, a portal materialized in front of her—a multi-portal, perfect for mid-range travel.

"You don't mean we're taking this?"

"Yep. I set the coordinates to a nearby mart I go to often."

"Won't using magic out here get you in trouble?"

"The top ten guilds get a pass. As long as it doesn't harm anyone."

"Oh."

Taemin nodded at the new info and stepped through the portal with her.

After a quick shopping trip at the regular mart, they grabbed a simple meal at the food court and chatted idly before returning to headquarters via portal.

"See you the day after tomorrow, then."

Watching Yoon Ji-young head back to her quarters, Taemin returned to his own room. Sitting on the bed, he replayed the meeting details in his mind, lost in thought for a good while.

His first large-scale raid. Working toward a single goal with so many people felt strangely exciting to him. Like heading off on an overseas trip, maybe?

I'm looking forward to it.

The next morning, Taemin busied himself with last-minute prep for the raid tomorrow. He drove into the city, stopped by the Hunter Market, and picked up an attribute item. With 3 billion won from recent hunts sitting in his account, money was no object.

Back at the dorm for lunch, he received the raid roster from Ha Jung-woo around 3 p.m.

Scanning the hunters' stats, Taemin muttered under his breath.

"Levels are low, but their stats put them in the upper ranks? Nice. No need to feel intimidated."

Setting the roster aside, he racked his brain for anything else to prepare—and realized he'd overlooked the basics.

"Right, food. Can't keep mooching off them this time."

He headed to the first floor, grabbed some provisions, organized them, and stowed them in the bottom slot of his inventory. Then he lay down, buzzing with anticipation for the unknown dungeon.

Just one more day.

The next morning, he donned his pre-bought cold-weather gear and equipment, then headed to the open lot outside at the appointed time. Yoon Ji-young, who'd arrived early, greeted him warmly.

"I didn't keep you waiting, did I?"

"No, not everyone's here yet."

"This is gonna be exciting. Wonder what it'll be like..."

About thirty minutes after Taemin arrived, the full raid party assembled. Ha Jung-woo stepped forward to take charge.

"Alright, everyone's attention here. Looks like we're all set, so let's check formation. Line up by groups. Use my position as reference—keep about 20 meters between groups... A bit more spacing, yeah. Perfect. Memorize your spots—this is our field formation. Good. Hold there—spot on. Okay."

Surprised at how quickly it came together, Ha Jung-woo continued with a satisfied nod.

"Now for wave positioning. Healers and mages, hug this wall. Dealers and tanks, form a semicircle—let's check spacing. Don't spread too thin; think of a 3-meter radius around your position as your attack range. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Makes it easier. If someone goes down and opens a gap, neighbors shift over one step to cover. It's a tight formation, so there's room to maneuver. If you can't land hits, just hold—support's coming from the rear. Any questions? None? Let's move out."

No hands went up, so Ha Jung-woo approached Yoon Ji-young.

"Ji-young, portal please."

"Got it."

As she opened the multi-portal, the group filed in one by one. Taemin slipped in among them.

Emerging on the other side, they exchanged greetings with the hunters managing the mid-level dungeon.

"Heading out on a raid?"

"Yeah. Here's our entry permit."

"Checks out. You know about that incident last time—seven dead? Keep lone wolves in check. Happened because someone went solo."

"Appreciate the advice. Stay safe."

After logging their entry, Ha Jung-woo turned to the group.

"We're off. Once inside, stay put until everyone's through—cluster up in one spot. Single file."

Following orders, they entered one by one. Taemin stepped forward, heart pounding with excitement.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Whoooosh—!

The first thing to greet him in the dungeon was the bone-chilling cold of minus 30 degrees. Even fully geared in cold-weather protection—with his face exposed—he could gauge just how brutal it was.

Next came the landscape. The world drowned in snow: a vast white expanse whipped by blizzards. The faint silhouette of the distant plateau felt like being dropped in the heart of the Himalayas.

Whoa, this is the real deal.

As Taemin marveled at the scenery, the others shared his awe. Most were new to this, and the novelty was impossible to ignore.

"Whoa, it's all snow."

"Always jungles before—never thought I'd see a place like this."

"I'd only heard about it..."

"Alright, eyes up."

Ha Jung-woo clapped to quiet the murmurs.

"Plenty of time to gawk on the way—you'll see it nonstop. See that mountain-like shadow? Blizzard's hiding it, but that's our plateau target. We'll run there, but monsters will aggro. Pick off one or two en route; if it's a swarm, I'll signal. Hold formation like we practiced. Last questions? None? Let's roll. Mages, haste up. First squad leads—everyone match their pace."

Sorcerers cast Haste on the group, followed by healers' blessings. Then, they kicked off into the snowfield.