Dungeon Team 2

Kim Hye-mi continued to play dumb with clumsy acting, pretending she didn't know anything. She suspected the Hero Association might have caught wind of something and was approaching her. Only when Kang-jun smiled and revealed his true identity did she sigh in relief and admit she'd been right.

"Do you have a minute to talk?"

"Talk…?"

She checked the time. 6:03 PM. Her evening part-time job didn't start until 7:30, so she still had some slack.

"Sure."

"How about we go to a cafe?"

Kang-jun pointed at a cafe within sight. The two walked side by side inside. He offered to buy her coffee. She politely declined once, saying there was no need.

"I kind of startled you, didn't I? I'm sorry about that."

No, it's fine… she thought, holding back her words while considering her own finances. Things had been tight lately, and she'd been wondering whether she should pick up another weekend job. A cup of coffee wasn't exactly a burden, but it wasn't nothing either.

They soon returned to their seats with a cup each. Watching Kang-jun take a sip of coffee, she was struck by a delusion that she was looking at a magazine spread. He was genuinely, undeniably handsome. And he was a player, just like her. It was the kind of scene you'd only see in a drama. She even let herself imagine being the female lead in that drama.

"You're a healer, right, Hye-mi-ssi?"

"…Oh, yes. How did you know?"

"Ah, a friend of mine knows the chief of Zone 31. He asked if there was a good healer available, and your name came up."

Kang-jun spun a lie without even wetting his lips. …Though it wasn't entirely a lie. His friend was Park Hae-su, and it was true she knew the chief of Zone 31.

Kim Hye-mi ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠blushed and waved her hands in denial.

"No, no! I'm still a rookie. …My stats are low, too."

Of course, Kang-jun had already checked her status window with his information detection skill earlier.

By any measure, she was a woman who could only be a healer. And for a newbie of just a few months, an Intelligence of 14 meant she had considerable talent in that area. Her Magic Power was also on the high side. The rest of her stats, however, were practically decimated.

If she was going to be a healer, she wasn't bad. Of course, Kang-jun also planned to use her solely as a healer. Though not in her current state — she'd need to be worked over quite a bit. …She was about to enter some rather grueling days.

"But you said you had something to talk about…"

"Right. Earlier, I mentioned I needed a healer. I'm putting together a team right now."

"A team?"

"Yes. The Labyrinth Team. So, I've been keeping an eye on you, Hye-mi-ssi. If that made you uncomfortable, I'm sorry. I had no intention of spying on you."

"No, it's fine!"

She'd been worried when he said he was looking for a healer, but the name "Labyrinth Team" actually came up. Kim Hye-mi got a little excited. She was the type who couldn't quite hide her emotions.

"But, I'm still very inexperienced. I'm a healer, but I've never properly used a skill… I've only treated minor injuries, that's all."

"Well, nobody starts with experience. Everyone learns by doing, right?"

"Ah, yes…"

Kim Hye-mi held her cup with both hands and gulped down two sips of coffee. She seemed parched. Kang-jun's lips curled slightly at the corners.

"You've given it some thought, haven't you?"

"It's an honor, of course… but I'm worried I'll just be a burden."

"A burden? I'm the one asking, what are you talking about."

Of course, she didn't answer easily. She was innocent, but she wasn't the type to accept blindly without thinking things through.

"Could you give me a little time?"

"Then I'd like to hear your answer by tomorrow."

"Yes, I will."

"Oh, and your number…"

Oh no, Kim Hye-mi quickly held out her phone. Kang-jun tapped his number into it and handed it back.

"I'll definitely contact you, sunbae-nim."

She soon announced it was time for her shift. Kang-jun said they should head out and cleared his seat. The night air was thick.

"I'll be waiting for good news."

"Yes, I'll be going now."

Kim Hye-mi disappeared in quick steps. Kang-jun watched her back for a moment. She glanced back briefly, and when their eyes met, she startled and hurried away.

The chat window was, of course, going wild with suggestions to devour the healer girl. Kang-jun, who had expected this, quickly typed back.

Once her back disappeared, Kang-jun immediately turned around and trudged back to the station. Normally, team members would ask who else was on the team, or what the future plans were, and ask all sorts of questions — but perhaps because she was still a rookie, she skipped all of that. …Or maybe she was too embarrassed to ask outright. There was still plenty of chance someone would ask those kinds of questions later.

In truth, Kang-jun's team was pitifully small. Even she would hesitate to join a team with only two members. It was probably a good thing she hadn't asked outright.

Anyway, Kang-jun returned to his basement room satisfied with the day's results. Ogeunam had already eaten his fill of meat and was asleep. Kang-jun cleaned up and lay down, but a message had come in.

Of course. If she was a sensible person, she couldn't help but ask this question. It would be unsettling to accept so quickly without knowing anything.

The two confirmed members were Kang-jun and Ogeunam, and the remaining four he just inflated with a reasonable number. No reply came right away. She was probably still at work. The earlier message had likely been sent during a break.

Kang-jun watched some videos and dozed off, yawning wide — and right then, another message arrived.

Of course she should be worried.

This time, the reply came immediately.

Yes. Kang-jun sat bolt upright.

The message exchange ended with an emoji of "please take care of me." She had no idea she'd already bitten the bait.

Well, it's not a loss. I'm the one who's going to raise her.

Kang-jun smiled wickedly and flopped back down. How should I cook this girl this time? he wondered, closing his eyes with pleasant anticipation.

The next day, Kang-jun woke early and calmly settled his mind, performing the Heavenly Demon Mind Method several times. Even with the same Magic Power value, the gap between first and second class was by no means small. Since his mana pathways had nearly doubled, the amount of mana flowing through them had doubled as well. Naturally, this produced overwhelming power in terms of speed and efficiency.

Still, when he had awakened, the pathways had been forcibly widened, leaving the walls rather rough. Of course, those rough protrusions would obstruct the flow, so he needed to keep circulating mana to grind them down. And in the process, his Magic Power would naturally rise as well.

After completing exactly four cycles, he opened his eyes. It was 11 AM. Kang-jun quickly got up, threw on his clothes, and left the house. He rode the subway, letting his body sway with the rumbling vibrations. Clack, clack — his body rocked forward and back with every joint in the tracks.

He arrived in Zone 31 a little past 12 and headed to the cafe where Kim Hye-mi worked. The greeting voice sounded oddly cheerful. Kang-jun grinned at her across the counter.

He took a cup of cafe latte to his seat. This time, he hadn't brought a book. He'd just scroll through his phone and 1 PM would come around quickly enough.

Soon, Kim Hye-mi finished her shift and approached him.

"I'm done, sunbae-nim."

"Ah, then let's go."

The two left the cafe. After walking a short distance, she tentatively spoke up.

"And you don't have to use honorifics. You're my sunbae…"

"Really, it's fine?"

"Of course!"

"Alright. You drop the honorifics too. I'd rather we keep things as informal as possible among teammates."

"I'll do that a little later."

"Sure, do as you like."

The two trudged along the autumn streets. She had quite a few questions. Kang-jun answered each one kindly and in detail.

"Our top priority is to get into a labyrinth as soon as possible. You know the situation roughly — nobody's in a comfortable position. Killing monsters earns money, after all."

She seemed to painfully agree. She'd found organizational life so suffocating that she'd ultimately gone independent, but now that she was out on her own, the money problem was piling up. Of course, she'd been financially strained during her time in the organization too, but she hadn't expected it to be this tight.

"I'd like to get going soon too. …Honestly, I can't even afford to buy a new set of clothes right now."

If only there weren't a monthly fee, she could at least save up some lump sum — but that wasn't easy either. And she couldn't just skip it.

"So I'm trying to get in soon. To build up some team capital too."

"Soon?"

"If you're up for it, we'll try going in with just three of us — me, one guard, and you. It's not some amazing place. A grade-3 labyrinth. You know the one in Zone 37."

Oh… Kim Hye-mi hadn't expected them to enter a labyrinth this quickly, and she hesitated. She wasn't completely ignorant about labyrinths either — the organization taught you things.

The minimum recommended level there was 120. For her, at barely level 60, going in was practically suicide. Of course, even if she only had to heal from behind, there was no guarantee what would happen inside a labyrinth.

"Don't worry. We're both elites. I've already completed my first awakening, and he's right on the verge of doing it."

"Already?!"

"Why does it sound like a lie?"

"No, I didn't mean it that way…"

The difference in their batch numbers was only two. And he'd already completed his first awakening? Was that even possible?

Hye-mi remembered a senior from a much earlier batch sighing during her organizational days that he still had a long way to go before his first awakening. He'd said geniuses took two years, prodigies three, and everyone else — ordinary talents and below — needed four years or more. Occasionally, exceptional races could awaken faster, but generally that was how it went.

So she couldn't fully believe Kang-jun's words. She'd raised her own stats, after all ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠— she knew what it meant. Hitting 20 on three out of six stats was something she couldn't even imagine. And he'd done it in just a few months? …Doubt was inevitable. No matter how innocent she was, there had to be reasonable limits.

"Why would I tell you a lie that would blow up in my face? You'll see everything once we get to the labyrinth."

That was true. If he was weak, he'd die inside the labyrinth — why would he lie about his level and risk his life?

But this was a matter of life and death. Without seeing it with her own eyes, it was hard to accept readily.

"Of course, I know you can't easily believe me. That's why I'm saying — let's go. Let me prove it."

So the two headed to a nearby training ground. Each one had stat measurement machines. Strength, agility, and magic power could all be roughly measured through simple observation.

"I'm sorry, it's not that I don't trust you, it's just…"

"No, it's not strange to doubt. That's normal. I understand, of course."

Kim Hye-mi chewed on her lower lip. Kang-jun thought it was actually a good thing. Given her personality, there was plenty of room for her to feel indebted to him over this.

Kang-jun stepped in front of the specially equipped machine. With a clack, the mechanical arm rose. He cracked his neck left and right.

"Watch closely."

His strength, even counting bonus values, far exceeded 20, so even without showing his vitality, he had no shortage of first-awakening conditions. He could just vaguely brush it off.

Kang-jun threw a punch with all his might at the target. Wham! The mechanical arm slammed hard against its head and collapsed.

The numbers ticked up rapidly. It easily passed 10, then slowed from 17. It climbed through 18, 19, 20, and stopped exactly at 21. A female trainer watching clapped, exclaiming "Wow!"

Of course, Kim Hye-mi had no choice but to be shocked. The number had genuinely exceeded 20. She began to think his words might actually be true.

"I-I'll believe you now, sunbae. Let's go quickly."

"No, I need to show you more. Since we've started."

Kang-jun had no intention of stopping. More onlookers had gathered. He stood in front of several cameras and pressed the measurement button. This time, he planned to use some magic power.

Let me show her something on a completely different level.

His magic power value filled up to the agility limit. Agility maxed at 40, plus an additional 4 bonus. Kang-jun swung his arm rapidly.

It was truly lightning-fast. Nobody could see him swing his arm. In fact, in this world, there weren't many who could even perceive speed that exceeded the second-class limit.

The arm swing alone generated tremendous wind pressure. Windows rattled as if hit by a typhoon. Women's hair flew wildly.

Everyone's eyes turned to the measurement board. The numbers climbed crazily.

"Insane!"

It had long passed 20. It kept climbing past 30 without stopping, and halted exactly at 40. It was originally 44, but the machine could only measure up to 40.

By now, everyone in the training ground had gathered. They were witnessing with their own eyes a number they'd only heard about. Even the trainers, who could barely exceed 30 by pouring all their magic power into it, couldn't help but be stunned.

Kim Hye-mi's mouth hung open. She'd doubted someone she absolutely shouldn't have, and now ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠panic was setting in. Kang-jun grinned and led the half-panicked girl out. The magic power measurement had probably been overkill.

As if taking revenge for the doubt, Kang-jun whispered into her ear.