All Safety Rules Are Written in Blood
The information from the Administration was accurate.
“Yes, the field is inside a mountain.”
The hunters who had entered the dungeon formed orderly ranks. Their sharp eyes scanned the surroundings. The dungeon’s energy level they had confirmed right before entry was around C-rank. Yet they had decided to treat it as an S-rank dungeon and proceed with the raid. They stayed on high alert, ready for any threat that might spring out at any moment.
It was then that the dungeon’s mana concentration suddenly spiked.
“!!”
“Ugh…”
A few hunters whose ranks were ambiguous covered their mouths, fighting back nausea. The ferocious wave of mana that surged in—as if welcoming their entry—had triggered a bout of mana sickness in an instant.
“Gueeeh—”
Some deliberately vomited to empty their stomachs. Only then did a bit of color return to their faces. When it became too hard to endure, the veterans’ way was to simply purge it out.
“Everyone alright?”
“…Yes sir! We’ll adapt right away!”
At the confirmation from their leader and S-rank tanker Kang Cheol-ung, the hunters who had faltered wiped their lips and straightened their postures.
Not every member of an elite hunter team was S-rank. S-ranks were extremely rare. That was why they filled the roster with as many A-ranks as possible, supplementing with B-ranks when needed. Only those who could endure and resist dense mana concentrations could become stronger hunters. So the team waited for the B-ranks to adapt before resuming their advance.
Whether fortunate or not, the thick mana density thinned out again midway. It grew so faint it was almost nonexistent.
“As expected. No wonder the mana stability is under five percent.”
“It’s completely unpredictable. Nothing that happens from here on would surprise me.”
“Hoo… You can say that again.”
The brief exchange died out. A little later, one team member, perhaps wanting to ease the tension, brought up a rumor.
“Ah, by the way, have you heard?”
“Heard what?”
“About the boss here. I have a friend in the advance scouting party, and he says the boss might actually be a beautiful young lady.”
“A young lady? Even if that’s true, it’s probably just a monster wearing a pretty face. Don’t you remember that incident in Southeast Asia?”
“Ah…”
The team member who had been imagining a beauty let out a low groan. The incident the vice-leader mentioned was a famous story every hunter knew.
Extremely rare cases existed where intelligent beings who crossed over through gates coexisted with humanity. They generally fell into two categories: friendly and beneficial ones who shared otherworldly technology and magical knowledge, or those who used overwhelming power to eventually cause harm to human society. Among them, the worst example was precisely the one the vice-leader had referenced.
A national overthrow caused by an otherworldly immigrant. An unprecedented event where a country’s leadership had been forcibly mind-controlled. By the time the World Hunter Association belatedly grasped the situation and led a subjugation force to barely succeed, it was revealed that the being had been a grotesque creature wearing a stolen skin. The horror of the atrocities it had committed while disguised sent shockwaves across the world.
After that, procedures and handling methods for immigrants became extremely strict. Laws varied by country, but in extreme cases they were never permitted entry and were even executed on sight. The theory that gates were an alien invasion gained traction at that time.
While the conversation shifted back and forth on the topic of immigrants for a while, they were about to refocus on vigilance and movement when a clear, beautiful voice cut in.
“How does Korea handle them?”
“Our country? Hmm. I’m not really interested in that side, so I don’t know much.”
“Still, you must know something, even if it’s vague, right?”
“Enough chatter. Keep your eyes forward.”
The vice-leader turned his head irritably. The female hunter who had been in that direction tilted her head. “Yes?”
“…??”
“???”
Hadn’t they just been talking right next to each other? The vice-leader’s expression flickered with confusion as he confirmed the slight distance between them. What was that just now?
‘They really are Korean!’
Ari, who had been completely erasing her presence, couldn’t help but bounce with excitement. She had hoped, just maybe, but it was true! Something about Earth’s condition seemed off, but it still looked livable. The humans right in front of her didn’t appear worn down by hardship; they looked well-fed and prosperous.
‘There is a bit of a nasty smell coming from some mouths, though.’
Still, it was only a portion of them. Ari flitted playfully between the hunters, picking out those who didn’t stink and striking up conversation. Her perfect stealth, which could even fool a god, went completely unnoticed by anyone.
“How’s Korea these days? Is it livable?”
“It’s alright, I guess. Why are you suddenly asking something like that?”
“Aha. What year is it now?”
“Twenty thirty…”
The man who kept asking why she was inquiring such things turned his head and his eyes widened into perfect circles.
“……?”
He blinked blankly. Because there was no female team member in the direction of his gaze.
‘Oops. Next person.’
Ari pretended not to notice and quickly moved on. But she couldn’t gather much information. The first human she had spoken to issued an order, and the others suddenly raised their guard and clamped their mouths shut.
‘They noticed already.’
They must have quickly sensed the unease. Of course, they hadn’t fully identified her yet.
“There’s no detectable mana at all. Is it a dungeon anomaly rather than a monster?”
“Ugh, please. I really hate themes like that…”
“For now, everyone avoid engaging with any strange conversations. We don’t know what might happen.”
They muttered among themselves. At the same time, they quickened their pace.
That was how they arrived at the barren field. The humans stopped in front of a small flower bed that felt strangely out of place with the landscape.
“A signpost?”
“This is…”
They looked back and forth between the flower bed and the signpost. Questions flooded the hunters’ minds.
‘The letters look like they’re written in blood?’
‘It’s genuinely creepy…’
Those who secretly disliked this kind of theme unconsciously rubbed their arms. At the same time, they steeled themselves, preparing to face any hideous monstrosity without panic.
Ari, unaware of those feelings, smiled contentedly with her arms folded beneath her chest as she observed their reactions. She hoped the grim atmosphere the humans had carried since first discovering the place would ease a little upon seeing the pretty flower bed. After all, people needed some mental leeway before calm conversation became possible. Right now, if she revealed herself, they would probably attack first.
However, her kind consideration proved futile.
“Ignore the flower bed. First, we’ll investigate inside the cave. Perimeter team, secure the surroundings.”
“Yes, understood!”
Far from having any effect, it only scheduled an intrusion into her residence.
‘Tsk.’
Did everyone’s lives have to be so harsh? At the sight of such dried-up hearts, Ari clicked her tongue lightly. Just then, the female hunter holding a staff beside her stopped, as if deeply sympathetic, and gazed down at the flower bed. After seeming to ponder something, she continued walking with a look of endurance. For some reason, a sudden sense of inner closeness welled up.
Maybe with this person, words would get through?
“How about we talk first?”
‘They said there are precedents for immigrants or whatever, right?’
Thinking that, she waited for a reply.
“……”
The woman looked around quickly. She suddenly raised her mana, then let out a deep sigh.
“I’m not the boss you people are talking about. I won’t hurt you.”
“……”
But she was ignored. Ari tried speaking several more times, yet the result was the same. What stubborn people.
“Y-you cannot enter the cave!”
“Some bizarre mana wave is interfering…”
At the voices that reached her, Ari turned her head.
‘Please stop obsessing over the cave.’
One shouldn’t carelessly show outsiders their personal corner, after all. That was why, instead of a signpost at the cave entrance, she had crudely infused her will into the mana to block it. In truth it wasn’t anything impressive, so their flustered reactions were rather amusing. It was simply part of her power control practice.
Wondering how long they would keep up that rigid attitude, she watched quietly when—
“It’s strange, but the mana composing it isn’t that strong. Should we destroy it?”
How barbaric.
“Wait. It could be a dungeon gimmick or trap, so let’s stay calm.”
So destruction was already decided. Typical of Koreans—always in such a hurry. The decision to invade someone else’s home was made in the blink of an eye. Perhaps she should have fortified it so powerfully that it could never be challenged.
It seemed she had been too lenient in her friendly approach.
Whoosh—
BOOM!
They launched magic without hesitation. The cave entrance was engulfed in brilliant flames. The barrier blocking the entrance shattered instantly. The flickering blaze reflected in Ari’s golden eyes. Her brows narrowed sharply.
“……”
She had tried to refrain from destructive behavior unbefitting a fairy as much as possible, but—
‘This won’t do. I don’t want to hold back anymore.’
You people aren’t ready to communicate yet. She hadn’t even expected respect, but having her house set on fire right in front of her was by no means a pleasant sight.
Spreading both palms forward, she moved them with clear intent. Mana responded to the precise gesture. It manifested as a miracle.
Rumble rumble rumble———
“Wh-what is that?!”
“It’s the boss! Everyone prepare!”
The hunters quickly scanned their surroundings. A violent tremor swept across the field as if the space itself trembled in fear. The ground split open with cracking sounds, sending stone fragments flying. Rough clouds of dust rose.
Ari, staring straight ahead, forcefully clapped her palms together.
Clap!
At that exact moment!
“Kyaaaaaaaagh!”
“Fuck, what the hell is this!”
Rumble!
The earth shifted, turning the area into pandemonium. A scene akin to a natural disaster unfolded. Even amid the chaos, some responded calmly.
“Left side! An amorphous monster has appeared on the left!”
“It was outside! All units, engage in combat!”