Choi Jung-ho and Kim Songcheol were teleported onto a Stone Slab with a flash of light.

The Stone Slab was located on a sheer mountain mid-slope. It was a barren, rocky mountain. It would have been all too easy to tumble down.

“It’s a bit unfriendly now that we’ve moved up a stage.”

Kim Songcheol looked around and made a half-joke. Choi Jung-ho grinned at that.

“If you complain about this much, you can’t be a Hunter.”

For Kim Songcheol, it was a natural remark rather than a Teaset. Also, confidence was evident in his tone. Navigating Dungeons as a 5-Circle Mage was something only a tiny fraction of people on Earth could do.

Kim Songcheol didn’t mind Choi Jung-ho.

A moderate level of confidence and composure suited his position.

Kim Songcheol stood on the Stone Slab and looked down at the mountain. He saw various buildings clustered together on a wide plain.

It was Bluebell, the Base of the C-rank Dungeon.

Bluebell must have started as a small Camp. After pitching tents near the Stone Slab and using it as a temporary resting place, buildings gradually appeared, and numerous Hunters passed through, transforming it into the Bluebell of today.

As a result, the architectural styles of the buildings were all distinct. This was because the Hunters who built them constructed them in the style of their own worlds.

Though he hadn’t been there, many Bases would likely have this multicultural appearance.

Kim Songcheol narrowed his eyes as he looked down at Bluebell.

‘That’s definitely it.’

It was exactly the same as the place he had seen in his Vision.

He clearly remembered the broken appearance of that tall, winding building and the hole in the building with many roof tiles.

Currently, they all stood intact, but according to the Vision, it would turn into a horrific scene. As if buildings, Monsters, and Hunters had been put into a large blender, ground up, and then scattered around.

“Let’s go.”

“Oh, yes.”

Choi Jung-ho glided using Advanced Fly Magic, and Kim Songcheol rode his Board down the steep slope.

The two descended to the ground at the entrance of Bluebell. A large gate stood at the entrance.

It looked like the Arc de Triomphe of Rupture.

Judging by its condition, it seemed to have been built quite recently.

‘Hmm…’

Kim Songcheol looked up at the gate.

The word ‘Bluebell’ was written above the gate. Although it was in another world’s language, he could read it without difficulty inside the Dungeon.

Kim Songcheol passed through the gate and entered Bluebell.

Hunters freely moved along the main road that traversed the center of Bluebell.

Their attire was as varied as the architectural styles, and their weapons were also diverse.

“There are more Hunters than I expected.”

Kim Songcheol said,

“Yes, there are many people who just hang around here. It’s also bothersome to constantly come and go.”

“If there are so many Hunters, I imagine there must be a lot of ‘trouble.'”

Trouble, of course, would refer to acts classified as crimes on Earth. Ranging from petty theft to robbery and murder…

The Dungeon is a lawless world. To rely on individual conscience, when the worlds people are born and raised in are so different, perhaps the first thing to do is to question whether the word ‘conscience’ even exists.

“Sometimes people die fighting after getting into an argument. Disputes are commonplace. If you’re bored, just climb somewhere and look down, and time will fly by.”

Choi Jung-ho spoke as if it were nothing. Judging by his indifferent expression, it seemed he had seen it all and reached a state of enlightenment.

“Still, there are a few things that act as a deterrent. There are also foes who like to break up fights, and since they are basically foes with some strength, they are careful with each other. Also…”

Choi Jung-ho stopped talking and sharply scanned his surroundings. It was because the robed mages kept looking at them with strange gazes.

They were Arcadians.

Bluebell tends to have many Arcadians. It is because it is the base they officially manage.

‘Why are they like that?’

When he first saw one or two, he just tilted his head, but when every foe he encountered showed a strange reaction, he couldn’t help but pay attention.

Being startled was common, and some foes stared blankly as if dumbfounded.

Choi Jung-ho glanced at Kim Songcheol once. He must have seen the Arcadians’ reactions, but he said nothing.

Instead, he was only looking straight ahead, as if determined not to make eye contact with them.

“This way.”

Choi Jung-ho guided Kim Songcheol without explicitly mentioning it, but inwardly he couldn’t help but wonder about the reason.

‘Why? Is it because of the aura?’

Choi Jung-ho also knew about the Arcadians’ senses.

However, it was the first time Arcadians had shown such an extreme reaction to someone from another world.

Choi Jung-ho was quite a high-ranking noble in Arcadia, but he had never shown such a reaction.

‘How powerful is his aura… I should ask him about it.’

Anyway, he would soon introduce an Arcadian to Kim Songcheol.

Choi Jung-ho’s team was not composed solely of Earthlings.

“But there are quite a few other races too.”

Choi Jung-ho was pulled out of his thoughts by Kim Songcheol’s faint whisper.

In front of them were a white Wolf Hand Seal and a blue-skinned Yord, whom he occasionally saw.

“Ah, that’s a common non-human race.”

Choi Jung-ho spoke calmly, but the situation was turning quite hostile.

“Where did that hairy foe come from…”

“What did you say?”

As the Yord glared with red eyes, the Wolf Hand Seal immediately bared its teeth.

As non-humans among humans, one would expect them to get along, but it was completely the opposite.

“Blue frog…”

“You son of a bitch…”

Just as curses were mixed in the words exchanged.

Bang!

The Wolf Hand Seal swung its fist and struck the Yord. The Yord, hit unexpectedly, flew backward as if struck by a car.

It was exactly where Choi Jung-ho and Kim Songcheol were.

Kim Songcheol was casting a defensive spell when he felt Choi Jung-ho’s mana move, and subtly dispersed his own mana.

Rupture! Zap!

Six or seven shields appeared in front, blocking the Jordian.

Two shields broke, but the rest were fine.

‘Indeed… he’s quite good.’

His casting speed, and the durability of the shields, were beyond words.

Kim Songcheol was genuinely impressed. Choi Jung-ho’s skill was exceptional, clearly evident even with just one spell.

Mages on Earth tend to become exponentially stronger as their circle increases.

Achieving such a level in a relatively short time in a mana barren land means that his talent is far from ordinary.

If compared to an Arcadian of the same circle, over 90 percent would predict a victory for the Korean Hunter.

While Kim Songcheol was admiring, the Jordian suddenly stood up.

“I’ll kill you…”

Already, a reddish aura was rising in wisps all over his body.

There was no predicting how he would fight.

Kim Songcheol waited for the next clash between the Wolf Hand Seals and the Jordian, feeling like an onlooker watching a fire from across the river.

However, the atmosphere changed abruptly with the appearance of a Mage in a white robe.

Perhaps he was nearby, he walked out of the alley and stood firmly between the Wolf Hand Seals and the Jordian.

He immediately raised both hands towards the two different species.

It was clearly a gesture of restraint.

“Please take your sparring outside the base.”

The content was polite, but the tone was overbearing. One could feel his will that he would absolutely not tolerate any more commotion.

“Damn it… follow me, you bastard.”

“Who’s afraid, Blue Frog?”

Surprisingly, the two bipedal species didn’t even argue with the Mage in the white robe.

They quietly left the base.

The Mage in the white robe watched their retreating figures, then soared into the sky and disappeared.

“As you can see, law and order are maintained. Because this is a place officially managed by Arcadia. More precisely, Arcadia’s Bormil Empire. It’s not good for Bormil if things get chaotic unnecessarily.”

Once the situation concluded, Choi Jung-ho added a few words.

“I see.”

Kim Songcheol nodded, looking in the direction where the Mage in the white robe had disappeared.

‘I’m not sure I can guarantee a win if I just fight him?’

His instincts were telling him that.

The Mage in the white robe was strong.

Even though he was merely in charge of maintaining order.

It was a moment that made him feel thrilled to have entered a C-grade Dungeon.

***

“Bring out the black noodle dish, quickly.”

The robed Mage banged the table with a fork and knife in hand.

What he wanted was Black Bean Noodles.

Joo Sangwon, who was on Meal Duty, was being slow.

“Oh, is there a ghost of someone who couldn’t eat Black Bean Noodles attached to Nothingness? Only eat it when it’s your Meal Duty, please.”

“You talk too much for someone on Meal Duty.”

The Mage urging Joo Sangwon was named Galen. He was a 29-year-old male staff member and a noble Mage from Arcadia.

Galen originally had a lot of Official Position in other worlds, and had been in contact with Choi Jung-ho for a long time.

When Choi Jung-ho’s team Mage died, he naturally joined the team.

The place they were currently using as their lodging was also rented under Galen’s name.

Before that, he had no place to lay his head in Bluebell, but thanks to Galen, he managed to get a room.

He was someone who could easily cook Thread Black Bean Noodles, and since they had been together for over a year, they were very comfortable with each other.

“Here, eat. Eat it all. Eat as much as you want.”

Joo Sangwon roughly mixed the Black Bean Noodles and served them into a bowl.

“Hey, let’s eat.”

When he shouted, Seo Munyeong, who was lying in her room, rubbed her eyes and walked out.

“Black Bean Noodles again?”

She wiped her nose as if she was tired of even smelling it.

“He wants to eat them. You just eat it quickly too.”

“Let’s stop eating Black Bean Noodles, seriously, Galen.”

Seo Munyeong reluctantly sat at the table, and Galen, seemingly not listening, made another demand to Joo Sangwon.

“Do you have any Hawk cabbage pickles?”

“Wait, I’ll give you some.”

It was then.

Click, creak…

Soon, the Nothingness door opened, and Choi Jung-ho and Kim Songcheol appeared.

Galen’s hand, which was just lifting Black Bean Noodles with a fork, stopped.

It was the moment he saw Kim Songcheol.

A sensation as if his whole body was being squeezed.

He had never felt such an intense Sanggis since he was born.

It felt as if a giant was clenching his entire body tightly.

‘What, what is this…?’

Galen involuntarily jumped up from his seat.

Because he simply couldn’t remain seated.

“What’s wrong? Is it Nothingness delicious?”

Seo Munyeong said from beside him. She had seen Galen’s Black Bean Noodles reactions so many times that his sudden stand wasn’t surprising at all.

She got up from her seat a moment later and greeted the guests.

“Hello. You must be Kim Songcheol, right? Have you eaten?”

She already knew that Kim Songcheol was coming. His appearance wasn’t surprising to her.

“Yes, hello. It seems you were in the middle of a meal.”

Kim Songcheol politely returned the greeting and quickly looked around the room.

The interior was a bit exotic, but it was otherwise an ordinary sight.

Except for the one Mage staring at him with wide eyes.

“G-g-guests were coming, and th-th-this person…?”

“Yes, hello. I’m Kim Songcheol.”

Kim Songcheol naturally greeted him, but Galen couldn’t reply.

He was overwhelmed by the intense vital force and fell into a state of mental weakness.

Even though he knew it wasn’t true, he impulsively asked a question. His demeanor was quite polite and cautious.

“A-are you perhaps His Imperial Majesty the Emperor…?”

“…That’s new.”

Kim Songcheol continued, as if resigned.

“You know that can’t be, right?”

“W-well, yes, but I’m also flustered… H-how am I supposed to take this…?”

Galen was experiencing cognitive dissonance.