Chapter 165

One day, one day left. Until the day they enter the EX-Rank dungeon. The Paehyeok Hunters decided to conserve their energy as much as possible in their respective homes. Cho-i Hyeon was no different. Nara Shim seemed troubled, and for once, Cho-i left her alone. But Nara Shim seemed even more anxious with Cho-i, who usually poked her, being quiet. She approached Cho-i first and said,

“Why are you being so quiet?”

“Do you think I’d bother you, Nara, in a situation like this?”

“Bother me!”

“Did you awaken to something strange…?”

As Cho-i Hyeon looked at her with a strange gaze, Nara Shim recoiled in horror and waved her hands.

“No, it’s not that, it’s just that when you casually say, ‘Ahaha, it’s okay, it’s okay!’ I feel a bit better. But why are you so quiet today!”

“It’s not good to seek your own stability from others.”

“Why do you only say the right things at times like this! Only at times like this!”

Nara Shim clutched her head. Cho-i Hyeon chuckled and poked her shoulder.

“Don’t rack your brain too much, it’s actually simple.”

“How is this simple?”

“It’s simple. It’s the Entity’s problem whether we live or die.”

“……”

“There are only two options. It’s simple.”

“Ugh!”

Nara Shim finally picked up a cushion from the sofa and hit Cho-i Hyeon. She casually dodged the cushion and stepped back. Nara Shim’s huffing was amusing. Cho-i sat on the sofa, crossed her legs, and patted the spot next to her as if telling her to stop and sit down. Nara Shim huffed to herself, but seeing Cho-i Hyeon maintain a calm demeanor, she eventually put the cushion down and sat.

“Nara Shim, you’ll be in the very back, won’t you?”

“Right?”

“Just in case, the advantage of being in the back is that it’s the easiest to escape.”

“Are you telling me to look at the situation and run away?”

“Huh? No?”

Cho-i Hyeon’s eyes widened.

“Since you’re in the back, be careful not to unconsciously run away. Anyway, even if you’re the only one to survive in that dungeon, there’s nothing you can do. It just means you’ll die.”

“…Understood.”

“Because you have a strong survival instinct. I’m just telling you, just in case.”

“I didn’t know you were worrying about me that much.”

“Should I call it worry? Yes, that’s right. It’s worry. Because if you die, my remaining life will be boring.”

“I don’t know if I should be grateful for that.”

“Don’t be too nervous. You’ll probably be nervous. But I think it’s better to go in with a relaxed mind since we’re going in anyway. If you’re too nervous, things that should work won’t.”

“But you shouldn’t be too relaxed either, you know?”

“That’s true.”

Cho-i readily admitted it. Nara Shim, having eased some of her tension by having a silly conversation with her, exhaled a puff of air and leaned back into the sofa.

“Let’s do well tomorrow.”

“You’re saying what I was going to say.”

“You’re at the very front. You have to do the best.”

“I’m good.”

“I envy that confidence.”

Cho-i Hyeon just smiled, as if she had nothing to say. Nara Shim chuckled at that seemingly thoughtless smile. Yeah, if she’s there, somehow it’ll work out.
So Cho-i Hyeon and Nara Shim had some more silly conversation, then headed to their respective rooms. Cho-i sat quietly on her bed and called out to the Entity that resided within her.

“Hey.”

It seemed like days had passed since the Entity’s voice went silent. Look now. Even when she called, there was no answer. Cho-i felt uneasy. Perhaps it was because she had recently talked with Taeyang Kang and Nara Shim about whether she would be affected by that dungeon.

“Is it better to have no news at all?”

She slowly closed and opened her eyes. And she spent time sitting on the bed. Sounds of cars and motorcycles passing by outside, the wind, and the chatter of people still lingering outdoors could be heard. Cho-i Hyeon had a thought that these peaceful sounds might disappear tomorrow. Ah, that’s why I’m entering the dungeon.
She didn’t have a grand sense of mission. Just doing what she could. Not avoiding what was in front of her. The Entity was the driving force that moved her.

“To savor being alive.”

She had died hundreds, thousands of times until now. That’s why she became even more obsessed with being alive. After all that hardship, I should live as I please. I should live as long as I want. The only one who can kill me is me, and others can never kill me. It shouldn’t be. Because they don’t know what kind of time she’s been through.
Cho-i slowly opened her eyes. And she looked out the window where the sun was rising. She thought it was a short reverie, but it seemed to be morning already. She pulled back the curtain a little. The morning sunlight shone directly above her eyes. Her white skin sparkled in the light, but her dark eyes were merely deeply sunken.
What is broken never returns. Cho-i Hyeon didn’t realize it, but she was like that. Like a crumpled piece of paper that couldn’t be smoothed out again after a long time. She stood in her place, distorted and crumpled.

“Shall we go?”

Cho-i Hyeon smiled, looking out the window where the light shone. Her teeth were bared. Her smile, revealing sharp fangs, was like a growling beast.

***

In front of the EX-Rank dungeon, numerous hunters gathered from the morning. They were gathered in small groups, loudly strategizing among themselves, making it sound like a bustling marketplace. Cho-i, who had come out unusually early, had Nara Shim, who seemed to have barely slept due to tension, tucked under her arm. It’s fine not to have slept. If you’re A-Rank, it’s okay to skip sleep for about a week. And Cho-i Hyeon, who hadn’t slept at all, actually looked refreshed.

“You’re here?”

Yeonhan Kim, who had arrived first, greeted Cho-i Hyeon. As Taehyeok Sa’s aide, she naturally had to arrive earlier than other Hunters. And right beside her, of course, was Dongju Kim. There wasn’t much for him to do, but it was highly likely she dragged him along because she felt it was unfair to come out alone so early.

“Where are the other Nara Hunters?”

“They’re slowly gathering.”

“Well, there’s nowhere to run away to, anyway.”

“These are people who came to live up to their names, they won’t run away.”

“Ahaha, I hope they stay that way until the end.”

As Yeonhan Kim and she talked, the Paehyeok Hunters also began to gather. Taeyang Kang stood next to Cho-i Hyeon as soon as he arrived, followed by Myeongok Shin. Suui Kim was the last to arrive, taking her time. Cho-i Hyeon approached Suui Kim and said.

“You’re out of your mind!”

“How did it come to that?”

“Because you’re the latest!”

“I also need time to mentally prepare.”

At that, Cho-i chuckled and jabbed him in the side with her elbow.

“So, are you fully prepared?”

He nodded.

“Yes.”

“That’s a relief.”

Cho-i Hyeon looked around. All the Paehyeok Hunters had calm expressions. It seemed they had already been prepared for a long time. She soon pulled out her equipment. It was almost time to go in. And at the very last moment, a car screeched to a halt, cutting through the Hunters. Cho-i Hyeon scowled at the car.

“Taehyeok Sa.”

“Looks like everyone’s here now.”

“You rude bastard.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Taehyeok Sa closed the car door and looked at Yeonhan Kim. Yeonhan Kim nodded and began to report the current situation.

“The dungeon conditions have all been confirmed. We’ve been advised that it’s somewhat unstable, so it would be best to complete the raid as quickly as possible.”

“As quickly as possible, you say, but we don’t know how long it will take, so we’ll have to put in some effort.”

“It seems so.”

Yeonhan Kim and Taehyeok Sa looked up at the colossal dungeon. And they saw the open entrance before it. The entrance, which looked as if one could never return once inside, shimmered bright blue in the light, like a water’s surface.

“Time to go!”

Just then, one of the dungeon management team members shouted to the Hunters. At the sound, all the hunters firmly gripped their equipment and lined up. It was a magnificent sight. Dozens of hunters standing in line before the dungeon looked like an army going to prevent the end of the world. Well, it wasn’t wrong. If they failed this dungeon raid, everyone would die. If the raid failed and a dungeon break occurred, Korea would be doomed. And if only Korea were doomed, it would be a blessing; the world could be destroyed.

“Let’s go!”

As everyone tensed and swallowed dryly, a bright voice pierced their ears. Clang, clang, clang! Cho-i Hyeon was making noise by clashing her shield and sword. Her face was as clear as a cloudless sky. A refreshing smile played on her lips.

“I’m going first!”

“Stop rushing ahead on your own!”

It was Suui Kim’s voice. But Cho-i Hyeon had already entered the EX-Rank dungeon alone. Everyone sighed or clicked their tongues and followed after her. That’s how countless Hunters, led by Paehyeok, slowly began to enter the EX-Rank dungeon. Hwayeon and Geumsin were among them. Zhixuan, who was inhabiting Geumsin’s body, looked up at the dungeon once.

‘I have no idea what lies ahead.’

His eyes were more serious than ever. Among the Hunters gathered before the dungeon, some were afraid, but none said they would turn back. We are the first and last line of defense. They knew that fact well. And so, everyone took a step into the EX-Rank dungeon.