Room of Blades

The next day, Park Taemin woke up to sunlight streaming through the window and immediately sorted out his status window.

"Phew. EXP's in the fifteen million range now. Even solo grinding's gonna take a while."

Wrinkling his nose at the EXP figure, Taemin opened his skill window to check the new ability.

"Hmm. What the hell's this for? 1.2 times weapon damage doesn't sound that impressive... Guess I should test it out."

Taemin activated the skill in the middle of his room and triggered it.

With the message, transparent sword-shaped objects materialized to his left and right. Taemin watched them with fascination, twisting and shaking his body this way and that. Each time he moved, the blades maintained a fixed distance, orbiting around him.

"This is supposed to protect me? Hmm. Need to run some tests... but first, food."

He hadn't eaten since breakfast yesterday and was starving. After raiding the fridge to fill his stomach, he threw his laundry in the dryer, changed clothes, and left the dorm.

On his way out, he headed toward the management office for his access pass but paused mid-step.

"It's just a test. Do I really need to go to a mid-level dungeon?"

Taemin turned around, exited the building, got in his car in the parking lot, and drove to the Desert Zone.

The scorching sun beat down on him as he entered—a familiar heat after so long.

"Man, it's been forever since I came here."

Leisurely taking in the scenery, he soon dashed toward the hill. Gazing at the horde of monsters below, he felt a strange mix of nostalgia and detachment.

"Have my standards gotten too high? Doesn't seem like that many now. They looked endless at first."

The sentiment didn't last. He plunged down toward them. As the distance closed, Taemin cast Room of Blades. Transparent blades formed around him, and his figure shot into the monster pack.

As he weaved through them, the monsters were drawn in, charging at him. To test the skill's utility, he deliberately dodged attacks, observing closely how it blocked enemy approaches.

When monsters entered the radius, the blades on either side began to dance. Moving with the flair of a master swordsman, they sliced through the charging foes ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in an instant.

He hadn't lifted a finger—the blades had done it all on their own.

This thing's pretty damn good.

He'd expected usefulness, but the effect exceeded his hopes. He decided to master it right then.

After a few more quick tests, he exited the portal and maxed the skill level.

"Perfect for when they swarm. Sucks that damage scales with weapon power... but whatever, I'll just buy better gear once I've saved up."

Satisfied, he eyed the skill window, hopped in his car, and headed to the Hunter Market.

The guild HQ had a trading post, but its buy rates were lower than the market's, so hardly anyone used it except in emergencies.

The material vendor lit up ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at the sight of Taemin, whom he hadn't seen in days.

"Welcome! Thought you'd forgotten about us."

"Been busy lately."

Taemin pulled out his materials. He hadn't filled his inventory, but each was high-value, netting him a hefty 400 million won.

Honestly, a few hundred million wasn't chump change anymore—not when the factories pulled in 100-200 million daily on their own.

After selling, he stocked up on potions at the potion shop and left the market. Next stop: a nearby flower shop.

"What flowers do women like? Something for a hospital room..."

He picked one the owner recommended, had it potted and wrapped, and returned to HQ.

Carrying the pot, he headed to the guild's hunter recovery ward in one corner of the headquarters. He scanned the nameplates on the doors until he found one.

Taemin knocked and entered. Yoon Ji-young was sitting up, reading a book. He bowed slightly.

"Hey... there."

"Oh? Taemin? What brings you here?"

"Had some business nearby, saw a flower shop, and these were so pretty—they reminded me of you. Thought they'd brighten up this stuffy room."

"You didn't have to... Thank you."

"Haha, no big deal. How're you feeling?"

"Much better. The doc says two weeks and I'll be back to normal—no issues with daily life. Outta here soon."

"That's a relief."

"All thanks to you. If not for you, I..."

She was genuinely grateful. He'd charged into hellfire knowing the danger, to save her life. Anyone would be moved. And it was impossible without risking his own neck. Plus, his thoughtful actions from the cave to here stirred more than just thanks—rational affection, even.

"It's nothing, but when you get out, let me treat you to a nice dinner."

"No need for that. I just..."

"No, really. I want to do something, but I've got nothing to offer. Think of it as a bare minimum gesture."

"Alright, I'll hold you to it."

Taemin grinned, and she smiled back. They chatted about this and that until he said his goodbyes, wishing her a speedy recovery, and left.

Feeling good, he headed back to his dorm when a familiar face approached from the opposite direction.

"Hyung."

It was Seo Ji-hoon.

"Hey, Ji-hoon."

"Just came from HR, was heading to your room. You free tonight?"

"Tonight? Yeah, why? Something up?"

"Nah, not work... Let's grab beers. Haven't done a team afterparty since the raid—time to catch up. Meeting for dinner if you're free."

"Sure. Where?"

"Elise in Yeoksam-dong. By 8."

After getting the details, Taemin parted with Seo Ji-hoon and returned to his room. Plenty of time till then, so he booted up his computer and logged into the guild intranet.

True to its top-ten status in Korea, the internal community overflowed with info and data he'd never seen before.

He lost track of time browsing until it was nearly time. He got ready and headed out.

"Better leave the car."

He grabbed a taxi outside HQ and went to the pub. Familiar faces greeted him warmly as he entered Elise.

"Come on in."

He sat where Ha Jung-woo gestured and soon joined the group, pouring and drinking in turn.

Talk centered on Taemin. His reckless selflessness—risking life to save a comrade—had become legend among them.

As the mood warmed, a few women showed interest, flirting openly. His cave heroics fit the white-horse-prince fantasy perfectly, and learning he was single? They pounced.

"Never met a guy like you, Taemin. That moment was truly moving."

"Weekend plans? Beach?"

"I know this bar with killer night views..."

"Come over to my place sometime."

Varied approaches, all bold. Taemin was initially overwhelmed by the attention but soon relaxed and enjoyed it.

When else in my life does this happen?

As the party peaked, nature called. He headed to the bathroom. Finishing up, a woman stumbled right into ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠him.

"Wh-what the—"

He gently pushed her away, but she clung like glue. Finally, he pried her off and saw her face.

"Huh? Da-hee?"

It was Park Da-hee, from the support team in the raid.

"Taemin..."

Her slurred voice and glassy eyes screamed drunk.

"Taemin, no girlfriend, right? Wanna be mine?"

Caught off guard, he stammered.

"Pardon?"

"Why not? I'm popular, y'know."

"I don't quite follow..."

"Sigh. Shy guy, huh? Or you don't like me?"

"It's not that..."

"Then what?"

"You're wasted. Let me walk you back."

"Boo, you're no fun, Taemin."

As he tried to escort her, she spun away with a huff. He shook his head watching her wobble off.

Weird girl. The booze? She seemed fine hunting.

Back at the table, he glanced at Park Da-hee slumped across from him, then rejoined the drinks.

As night deepened, people started leaving.

"Gonna head out. Work tomorrow. Have ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fun."

"Us too... meeting."

"Hyung, I'm out first."

With folks trickling away, Taemin stood too. Lingering women tried to hold him, but he was buzzed enough to politely decline and return to HQ.

Lying in bed, tipsy, the ceiling spun. Great food and company after ages.

One day off. Back to hunting tomorrow.