Hunters Return from the Dungeon

Hunters emerging from the dungeon conducted a simple headcount under Kim Dae-san's leadership.

"Is everyone out? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I'll call names once. Mr. Taemin's here, Jeong Yu-bin, Yoo Hyuk..."

While he was taking roll call, Taemin checked his status window.

'EXP at 200 million already... It's getting tougher the higher I go.'

Back at headquarters, after reporting their return, they dispersed to their quarters.

"Alright, time to check out the new skill."

Taemin opened his skill window to inspect the newly unlocked ability.

"Shield destruction, huh."

Having seen countless skills and gained experience, Taemin could now roughly guess their effects at a glance. Shield destruction probably meant breaking protective barriers and such.

"I'll leave it for now. Haven't run into anyone using that stuff yet."

The next day, Taemin headed to Sin Dong-hyun's private office after getting a call from the HR department. It was probably to inform him of yesterday's evaluation results.

With a few prior visits under his belt, he entered the office naturally.

Sin Dong-hyun, who had been reviewing reports, stood up with a welcoming smile at Taemin's arrival.

"You're here. Have a seat over there. Give me a moment—I've got a bit left to finish."

Sin Dong-hyun grabbed a canned coffee from the mini-fridge, handed it to Taemin, and returned to wrap up his work.

Moments later, he sat across from Taemin and slid over the newly issued hunter ID.

"Here you go—your updated hunter license."

Taemin took the hunter ID, glanced at it, and looked up at him with mild surprise.

"A-rank?"

"Yes. After compiling feedback from our evaluation team, your level's a bit short, but your abilities match A-rank standards, so that's the decision. We debated it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠quite a bit, but the evaluator brought back mirror image recordings. That sealed it."

Taemin didn't know, but Im Chi-bin, who had evaluated alongside Kim Dae-san, had activated mirror image throughout the fight to capture his actions. The recording started from him soloing four Doom Warriors and clearly showed the crypt battle. The committee had no choice but to award him A-rank after seeing that.

A guy wiping out everything solo—what more needed saying?

"I watched the combat footage after the eval too. It was incredible. I've never seen a hunter take down monsters like that. I was shocked. At that level, you'd fit right in with A-rankers who have unique gear."

"Is that so? By the way, where do those unique items even come from?"

With his interest in gear spiking lately, Taemin asked with curious eyes.

"Well, low chance from upper dungeon bosses, but drop rates are abysmal there, and for gear ignoring stat requirements, you'd need something like the Baekryong Barrier. I've never been myself, but I overhear guild leaders mentioning it during meals."

"Baekryong Barrier, huh. Whew, still a long way to go. Gotta work harder."

"At your pace, you'll make it by next year at latest. I figure by then you'll have leveled up and geared enough. Oh, could you fill this out?"

Sin Dong-hyun suddenly recalled and pulled a document from the table edge.

"What's this?"

"Personal info record. Same as the one you did at contracting. With new skills added and rank up, we need to update the details. Also, you've got a meeting with the chief of staff next Wednesday."

"A meeting?"

"Yes. Probably because of that combat footage you saw yesterday. Not sure on details, but I heard it turned the exec lounge upside down. Must've been a huge shock. Think about it—a level 60s hunter soloing upper dungeon monsters. And using skills no one's ever seen. Of course they'd take notice. Looks like good news, so go in relaxed."

As Sin Dong-hyun said, the execs watching the eval—and everyone who saw the footage post-meeting—were floored.

They knew the guild had a hunter with a unique class, but figured a low-level oddity, maybe slightly better than standard. Nothing to fuss over.

Then last night's footage hit like a bomb. Movement speed and maneuvers rivaling S-rank. Plus bizarre new skills that left viewers stunned.

"You free that day?"

"Of course. Next Wednesday, right?"

No reason to refuse the guild's second-in-command, a top-10 combat ranker. And if it was good news, even better.

"I'll text the exact time."

"Sure."

After some casual chat, Taemin diligently filled out the personal info sheet and left the office.

Back at his quarters, instead of lunch alone, he called Yoon Ji-young. Past noon, hunting felt off, and he craved intimate time with her after so long.

"Hey, it's me. On duty today? Oh, yeah? Wanna head out now? Been ages—let's grab food and chill. Yeah, yeah. Hurry up."

With plans set, he dressed sharp and headed outside.

After 30 minutes idling with the engine running, she appeared in a dress topped with a leather jacket.

"I was late, huh? Sorry, had to tidy up."

"Nah, I just stepped out too. But won't you be cold? Looks thin."

"I'm good. Not that chilly yet."

"Really? Mornings and evenings feel pretty crisp to me... Anyway, first dine-out in forever. What're you craving? Western? Japanese? Name it."

"Hmm... spiced short ribs? Saw it on TV recently—looked tasty."

"Spiced ribs? Done. Gotta go where my baby wants."

"Huh? Baby?"

She stared at him, eyes wide at the unfamiliar endearment.

"We've been dating a while—can't keep calling names forever. Doesn't feel close... Weird? Hate it?"

"No, just sudden... I like it."

"Then call me baby once."

"Huh? What? You can't just order me like that. Outta nowhere."

"What's wrong? You said you like it. C'mon. Ribs are waiting."

Prodded by Taemin, she shyly mumbled it.

"Fine. Ba... by?"

Beaming at her response, Taemin drove off.

At a famous rib joint in Mapo, they chatted casually over sizzling meat on the grill.

"I've been too busy lately. Should've made more time like this. Will from now on."

"It's fine. We see each other almost daily anyway."

"Still, better than cooped up inside. Fresh air, see how society's spinning... Y'know. Oh yeah, I hit A-rank today. I'm an A-rank hunter now."

"Already? Weren't you 64 the other day? How'd you jump to 80 in two days?"

"Nah, not that. Told you I went for rank eval. Was supposed to be B, but aced it so they bumped to A."

"For real? Wow... Congrats. That's awesome."

"Right? Oh, you're almost B-rank too, yeah?"

"Not yet... Team's scarce lately, so I'm taking it slow."

"What's your level?"

"57 still. Think I gained 3 after that group hunt with you?"

"Just 3? Hmm. No good. Party up with me from now on. Can't boost tons, but I'll get you to B."

"I'm okay. Slow pace works."

"I'm not okay with it. Higher rank means less duty hours. Let's cut those quick. Got a guildmate dongsaeng around your level too. You know him? Ji-hoon."

"Oh, that Ji-hoon from before? You know him?"

"Got close that day. Didn't before. Kid's solid, heard later. When we were gonna bail, he stepped up—'How can we leave people?' Felt right to repay by partying up. Yeah?"

"Hmm. Maybe? Feels like mooching though."

"Mooching? Settled then. Whoa! Meat's burning. Eat up. Here."

After eating, they strolled out for a date. As sunset turned to evening, wandering the streets, they paused before a motel.

"Baby, duty tomorrow?"

"No, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠off."

"Stay here tonight then."

"Huh?"

"C'mon."

Taking Yoon Ji-young's hand, he headed to the front desk, paid, and went up to their room.

Inside, key plugged in, he pulled her into a deep embrace and headed to bed with sticky kisses.

"Mmph. Wait, let's shower fir—mmph!"

"I showered before leaving home."

"Still, I shou—"

"Didn't do much today. Trust your oppa."

Overwhelmed by Taemin's bold affection, she gave in without showering, accepting his love.