'Release.'

As the skill deactivated, she regained her senses.

"You okay?"

"What was that just now?"

"Ah, I was just experimenting with something... I picked up a new trick today."

"A new one? So that was you?"

"Yeah. Did it feel uncomfortable? Any injuries?"

"Hmm. My body's fine, I think? Suddenly everything went pitch black, and it felt like someone grabbed me—scared the hell out of me."

"Sorry. I didn't think it through. Anyway, what brings you here this late?"

"You've been so busy lately, I hardly see you. Got curious what you're up to."

At her words, Taemin cracked open one eye and murmured.

"So you missed me, huh."

"Yeah..."

"C'mere. Up you go."

"Eek!"

Taemin scooped up the bashfully nodding Yoon Ji-young in his arms.

"What're you—?"

Stunned by his sudden move, she blinked down at him wide-eyed.

"Let's do it today."

"Do what?"

"Some intense loving."

"That's embarrassing."

"Pfft, embarrassing my ass."

Their figures vanished into the blankets.

The next day, after eating the breakfast Yoon Ji-young had prepared, Taemin headed to the ruins site and dove back into experimenting with Chaos Trap. A massive Stone Golem was caught in the trap, frozen in place, as he activated his Insight.

"Just as I thought. Defense reduction, plus bind and smoke screen."

Confirming the effects, he opened his skill window and dumped points into Chaos Trap and Weapon Mastery.

"Perfect. If I use this trap right, even upper dungeons might be doable."

Chaos Trap was one of the most crucial skills for Taemin, who was eyeing upper dungeons. It halved enemy defense, bound them, and shrouded them in smoke—all at once. Just lay it down, and enemies turned into sitting ducks, glued in place for half the fight.

'Alright. Now just need attribute gear.'

Two weeks after acquiring the trap, Taemin finally gathered all the attribute items he needed for hunting. He and his shadow headed straight to guild HQ's HR department—for his rank assessment.

Sin Dong-hyun, who was waiting, guided him to a seat.

"You want to raise your rank."

"Yes. I'm level 64 now. Possible?"

"Hmm. I'll need to check, but is there a pressing reason for the assessment right now? You're already getting top-rank perks anyway."

"Sure, but what if I get denied entry again like last time?"

"The ruins site?"

"No. Thinking of hitting Death Land."

"Pardon? Death Land?"

Sin Dong-hyun's eyes widened in shock. Death Land was an upper dungeon.

"Yeah. EXP's drying up ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠past 60."

"Hmmm. I don't doubt your skills, Taemin-ssi, but isn't an upper dungeon a bit early? It's real hell in there... At your level, the plateau should still be plenty for growth..."

"No. Too slow. I was leveling once a day up to 60. Now it's once every four days. Even cleared the ruins solo yesterday—barely 30% EXP."

Sin Dong-hyun couldn't hide his stupefaction at Taemin's casual bombshell. Average hunters took at least six months to climb from C to B rank. Even with lucky wave teams halving that, daily levels were impossible.

"Once every four days is still insanely fast..."

"Feels sluggish to me. Please process it by the book."

With Taemin's firm resolve, he nodded reluctantly.

"I'll report ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠up and get your entry permit. But rank assessment might take longer. Other classes have level-based skill charts for easy eval, but Il-sala-ja is just you, so HQ's debating how to measure it."

"Fine. As long as the dungeon permit comes through—the rank was just for entry anyway."

Back at his dorm, Taemin fired up his computer to scour Death Land info. Leaning back in his chair, he muttered to himself.

"Hope the permit drops soon. It's gotta be me, right?"

A few days later, word from Sin Dong-hyun.

"A slight issue popped up."

"Issue?"

"Yes. They want proof of ability."

"Proof. Details?"

"Basically, join a team we assign and get evaluated by them. Test if you're upper-dungeon ready. Pass, and you'll get the promotion plus permit."

Taemin frowned slightly at the explanation.

'Sounds complicated.'

"Nothing complicated. Just hunt with a regular team. It's partly safety concerns—unique class like yours, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠guild wants protection. Don't take it personal."

"Nah, not offended... When do we go? I wanna test ASAP."

"Eval site's Death Land. Lucky timing—a team's heading there in two days. You can ship out with the evaluators the day after."

The next day, he headed to the meeting room for the hunter briefing. As he pushed open the door to greet everyone, familiar faces and voices greeted him.

"Welcome."

"Fancy seeing you here."

"Oh, Taemin-ssi."

It was Yoo Hyuk's team, fresh off graduating the ruins site. Just two weeks since he'd gone solo, and here they were again—couldn't help a wry smile.

Taemin sat with an awkward grin, scanning the group. Most faces he knew. No evaluators yet; they chatted excitedly about the new dungeon.

After a bit, two unfamiliar hunters entered side by side.

"Hello. Combat Division Warrior Kim Dae-san here. Somehow ended up leading this hunt—nice to meet you."

"Pleased to meet you. Combat Division Wizard Im Chi-bin."

With intros done, the real briefing kicked off.

"First off, everyone except me and Chi-bin here has zero Death Land experience. I've only been a few times myself, so not an expert, but combat style's similar to prior dungeons. Death Land splits into field and mausoleum. Field's got weak mobs, so no big formation—just mobile hunting. Difficulty's a notch below or equal to ruins, not too crowded. Mausoleum's the real deal—true dungeon starts there."

Mausoleum. A colossal graveyard at Death Land's heart, pyramid-scale like the desert dungeon's. Inside lurked the boss Shraider and swarms of brutal monsters—a dungeon within the dungeon.

"In the mausoleum, stick to my orders. Check the files I handed out—situation signals and formations detailed. We'll drill after, so memorize later. For now, hear me out."

Kim Dae-san's briefing rolled on.

"Deep in the mausoleum's a chamber called the tomb room. Shraider bosses there. Tougher than stone knights, but doable for this crew. But killing it ain't easy. Tomb room's guarded by respawning monsters—real pains."

"Respawn endlessly? How to beat?"

"No weak point—just kill their boss Shraider. Alright, formation drill time."

Hunt tomorrow, so they skipped lunch for practice. By early evening, after syncing formations, they dispersed—leaving just Yoo Hyuk, Taemin, and Kim Dae-san in the lot.

"Yoo Hyuk-ssi, you're the real leader here—cover what I miss. All rookies, variables unknown. And Taemin-ssi... dinner after, meet me quick."

Once Kim Dae-san left, Yoo Hyuk shot Taemin a slightly hurt look.

"Taemin-ssi, ditching us felt a bit off."

Taemin looked genuinely troubled.

"Yeah... things just snowballed."

Yoo Hyuk chuckled, easing up.

"Kidding. Hunt to your level—you'd do the same. Soloing Death Land? Class monster. Good luck on the test."

After parting with Yoo Hyuk and grabbing dinner back at the dorm, Taemin answered Kim Dae-san's summons at the meeting room.

"Sit."

Taemin sat, curious.

"So, what's up?"

"Honestly shocked. Level 60s hitting Death Land? Doubted my eyes on the mission."

"Well..."

"Heard about your feats from the others. But Death Land's upper-tier, different from ruins. Admire the guts personally, but as evaluators, we'll be strict."

"Of course. Cut me if I don't measure up."

Kim Dae-san blinked, surprised.

"Was worried with Chief of Staff as backup, but seems I fretted needlessly. See you tomorrow."