Hwarang Guild Headquarters
Vice Chief of Staff Shim Won-seop, who had launched a re-invasion of Wolfsrein, had no choice but to return empty-handed.
"Was there something like that?"
"Yes. I was about to report it right away, but I held off so as not to cause unnecessary worry."
"Hmm... How many people disappeared?"
"We're estimating around three hundred. Based on the info pulled from the Image Mirror, wanted posters are being distributed across Seoul and the entire Gyeonggi region."
"What's the chance they fled to the provinces?"
"We've already set up blockades at regional borders and deployed forces in anticipation of that."
"I see. From what I heard earlier, there's one particularly unusual guy mixed in..."
"Yes. He uses invisibility techniques, but since no one saw him directly, we'll need more investigation."
"Hmph. A hunter who uses invisibility... A mutant? Just in case, inform all guild members about him and prepare combat countermeasures. Let the allied guilds know too. Oh, and when issuing the warrants, include the Blue Moon defectors as well. Keep tracking those guys' whereabouts."
"Understood, Captain."
It had already been three days since Wolfsrein had entered the Beginner Dungeon and staked their claim.
In that time, they had reorganized personnel across departments and worked to create living quarters in preparation for a prolonged siege.
With reorganization complete, they couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of despair at their pitiful forces.
Combat-related departments had been drastically cut, and most of the divisions they belonged to had vanished.
At this point, it was embarrassing even to call it a guild.
"Ahem. Well, this is... Not even half of half. How did mighty Wolfsrein end up like this..."
Kim Hwan muttered bleakly as he stared at the final roster.
One of Korea's strongest guilds had fallen to the level of a no-name mid-tier group—who could bear that?
But they couldn't wallow in disappointment forever.
For the guild members who had died unjustly, they had to survive to the end.
"Alright, reorganization seems done. Let's discuss real business. What we need most right now is food supplies. And securing this place. First, Attack Captain, pull people from each department and set up alarm magic from the entrance to here. Plant Image Mirrors if possible. Get it done now."
"Yes, sir."
At his order, Yoo Hyuk, seated to his right, bowed and exited the temporary command post.
"Now, food is an issue... Who should go?"
No sooner had he spoken than Taemin raised his hand.
"I'll go."
"Supreme Commander Park Taemin himself?"
"We don't know the outside situation. I'm best suited. I can at least hide from enemy eyes."
"Alone? Isn't that dangerous?"
"I'll scout roughly first, then bring in manpower. My inventory has plenty of space, so I can handle immediate food needs solo."
"Hmm. Then you'll have to tough it out, Commander."
"Yes."
"That solves our two biggest issues, right?"
At his words, Manager Sin Dong-hyun offered his input.
"Chief of Staff, food is vital, but daily necessities are urgent too. Since we're settling in long-term, we need living quarters."
"I agree, but we're not architects—how do we build? Inventory-wise, we'd only fit cement or bricks. Materials are hard to procure."
"I don't mean full buildings. But we need basic living setups. Tents for shelters, daily goods bit by bit. Toilets, showers too. More critically, our potions are nearly gone. No potions, no hunting."
"Hmm... You're right—we overlooked the basics. Let's discuss after Commander Park scouts outside. For quarters, consult Integrated Management and draft realistic plans."
"Yes."
The meeting ended, and they bustled off to their tasks.
Taemin got potions from the attack team and promptly left the dungeon.
First, check things out—head to a big mart.
He descended the mountain swiftly and asked around for the city's largest mart.
Even with warrants out, it took time to memorize faces—no one recognized him, and he entered smoothly.
As he headed to the first floor, a massive poster halted him.
Public wanted notice? Already up?
It listed missing Wolfsrein members' faces and descriptions—including Taemin's. Plus over a hundred Blue Moon defectors and key hunters from minor guilds opposing Hwarang.
Blue Moon didn't fully collapse. Could ally later for help.
Taemin ignored the poster and entered.
Grabbing a cart, he loaded basics like rice in the food aisle.
With over three hundred mouths, one cart wasn't enough.
He filled it to his height, parked at the entrance, grabbed another, and continued.
After pre-paying for four carts' worth, he stowed the rice neatly in his inventory.
Perhaps since the posters were fresh, staff ignored his face.
With nearly three hundred listed, it was hard to spot without scrutiny.
After rice, he swept veggies, meats, spices.
Parked the full cart, grabbed a new one for daily goods.
Food's covered—now cooking tools.
He targeted cookware, pots, utensils, bowls.
With inventory filling, he picked only essentials for the rest.
The clerk gawked at his bulk buy.
"You could open a store. Seriously."
Taemin grinned sheepishly at the tongue-clicking auntie.
"Running a restaurant."
He activated his map and rushed back to base.
Fresh ingredients demanded speed.
Using Arrainba, he scaled the mountain like lightning and vanished into the portal.
Reaching the lakeside without pause, he entered the tent amid cheers and reported.
"Oh, back?"
"Yes."
"Good work. Sit."
"Need to unload first. Meat spoils."
"Right. Yoon Ji-young outside will guide you. Come back once sorted."
"Yes."
Taemin found Ji-young outside.
"Ji-young."
"Yeah? Back safe?"
"Just now. Freezer progress? Done?"
"Made one, but tweaking needed. First time for everyone."
"Let's see. Where?"
"Follow. Back there."
About two hundred meters from tents: a small ice warehouse under a massive stump.
Taemin thumbs-upped the solid freezer.
"Whoa, how? Awesome. Your brain's genius."
Ji-young's idea from the meeting: storage essential for bulk food.
No way to bring fridges—inventory incompatible, conspicuous, no power.
She suggested water/ice magic—now reality.
Blushing at praise, she mumbled.
"Really? I did nothing—team effort."
"Still, the idea's gold. Great thinking. Anyway, unload quick—I gotta report."
He unpacked ingredients inside, stacking neatly.
Done, he eyed the piles proudly.
"This'll last a bit, right?"
"Mm... Probably?"
"Where for the rest? No warehouse yet?"
"Yeah. Stack by the tree for now—move later."
"Got it. Heading out—report time. See ya."
"Yeah... Honey."
He whipped around.
"Huh?"
"Love you."
"Sudden?"
She flushed at his query.
He stepped close, kissed her forehead.
"Love you too. Later."
Happy as he left, Ji-young noticed stares and composed herself.
"Ooh, Ji-young. Love you too—muah. Sweet. So sweet."
"Explains your glow, Manager."
"Aigoo. When's my turn?"
Flushing anew at theatrics, she whispered.
"Uh, let's... work."
"Sure, finish quick to see Commander."
"Not what I—"
"Pfft. Kidding, Manager. We tease 'cause you react cute. Enough—work. Overdo jokes, they're not jokes."
"Right. Where to move this, Manager? Tree base easiest?"
"Yes, there..."
At her orders, members moved orderly.
Thus passed an ordinary-yet-not afternoon in their routine.