Chapter 131

If there had been a patience gauge hovering over my head, it would’ve been maxed out by now.

Oh, the lid’s about to blow off—blow off!

They invited us here, and now what’s this nonsense?

What, do we look like we lack manners?

I mean, I have a perfectly polite-looking face, don’t I?

That’s when Joo Yian stopped dead in his tracks.

I caught his brown eyes narrowing for a split second.

Dealers have an instinct for reading a healer’s emotional state.

Th-this guy’s pissed!

But since he’s not the type to smash things or curse when angry, I held my breath.

Shin Jae-heon and So Yeri did the same.

We all knew that someone who never gets mad is scarier when they do.

Then Joo Yian spoke up.

“Would the master of the house not invite guests befitting the maiden’s dignity?”

“…….”

A heavy silence hung in the air for a moment.

Soon, the butler’s face twisted like he’d bitten into something sour.

I nearly cheered out loud.

What Joo Yian meant was basically, ‘If you’re nitpicking our etiquette after inviting us, doesn’t that mean your master’s judgment is questionable? You okay with that?’

Only Joo Yian could deliver an insult that classy! Woo-hoo!

“……That wasn’t my intention. If it was presumptuous, I apologize.”

The butler finally admitted his mistake.

Joo Yian ignored him completely and strode right past.

Hmm, so that’s how you stick it to them till the end.

Whoosh!

I followed Joo Yian’s lead, pretending not to hear a word as I breezed by.

The four of us swept past, leaving the sour-faced butler behind.

Long live Joo Yian!

That night.

By the time we realized the second floor was off-limits, the exits were blocked, and the first floor had no traps or devices, the servants finally showed up.

They led us to the second floor at last, then shoved us into a remote corridor.

“This is the room for your stay tonight. It may seem modest, but we’ve prepared it thoughtfully, so please bear with us graciously.”

The location was bad enough, and it was lacking in more ways than one, but the real issue was this.

“Separate rooms?”

Shin Jae-heon said, eyes narrowed.

Of course it was.

Nobles wouldn’t dream of sharing rooms.

The problem was, that was noble logic. We were hunters who’d entered an SS-rank dungeon.

Separate rooms in an SS-rank dungeon???

“Please review the mansion rules once more and have a pleasant night.”

What rules?

The moment I thought that, it hit me.

The rule about not coming out at night.

So, stay in this room where who-knows-what might show up and just sleep?

In an SS-rank dungeon?

Ridiculous. And chat was blocked too!

That’s when Shin Jae-heon spoke.

“If anything happens, I’ll bust through the wall and come get you. Sleep away from the wall.”

Why are you so casually talking about smashing someone else’s wall?

His face was dead serious, though.

I poked him.

“Watch out for warnings, warnings.”

I didn’t know the exact criteria, but saying you’d smash a wall didn’t trigger a warning or damage.

Actually smashing it would definitely bring one, though.

“Well then…….”

In the meantime, the four of us were herded into the room. The maid was SS-rank strong; her push was no joke.

―Click.

The door shut, and we were instantly isolated.

I even saw the maid step in and close it behind her.

Not alone, but stuck with the maid?

The moment I thought it was insane, she said something even more absurd.

“Then, might you present the gift prepared for your arrival?”

“Pardon?”

Gift? Prepared? By me? What?

Should I have picked some weeds on the way?

I wondered who had yanked out those plant stems, and that was the guest etiquette?

My bewildered gaze met the maid’s.

“Hm, the master will surely be pleased.”

She gave me a sweet smile.

Pleased with what?

I wasn’t holding so much as a tissue scrap, let alone a gift.

“?”

As I blinked in confusion.

What?

Before I could react, my inventory flashed.

And then.

But it wasn’t just one item taken, despite saying only one.

Eh?

It said only one would vanish, but Shin Jae-heon’s Plated Necklace disappeared from my inventory too.

It’s his favorite item—is it okay for it to just vanish like this?

But why only take my weapon?

Did I cherish the Gym Teacher’s Wooden Sword that much?

It was an SS-rank weapon, so I cared a bit, but that was it, right?

As endless questions swirled and I raised an eyebrow.

“Then, please rest well.”

The maid left with utmost satisfaction, shutting the door behind her.

For real?

She just robbed us and told us to sleep tight?

“Like sleep’s gonna come now?”

The room was eerily quiet.

Since it got noticeably silent the moment we entered, soundproofing was clearly top-notch.

Which meant detecting anything suspicious outside would be tough.

No SS-rank dungeon trap would snag a B-rank, but still.

“Hm…….”

I narrowed my eyes.

Normally, guests visit one by one late at night in scenarios like this.

This was a special dungeon, second only to RP dungeons in bizarre traps.

No way they’d let us spend the night peacefully.

“Better to head out?”

Even one warning beat facing an SS-rank monster 1v1 in here, right?

Wider space outside is better for fighting, yeah?

“Nah.”

But I shook my head.

My next-door neighbor was Shin Jae-heon’s room.

As a B-rank, soundproofing hit me hard, but S-rank Shin Jae-heon might hear next door.

What if he heard me leaving?

I could see him bursting out and triggering a warning.

“Nope.”

I just plopped down where I was.

When chat’s blocked and we’re isolated?

I started toggling the skill on and off. My buffs in the party window began flashing.

No chat, but skills should show up, right?

This was our trick for nights like this, when we were too lazy even for hunter chat before bed.

We’d infer messages from skill names in the status window.

He got my signal—Shin Jae-heon’s skills flashed.

Even if it was an attack buff, no other skills popping up meant it was for communication(?).

Guardian. Probably meaning he’d keep watch.

The skill downgraded to B-rank caught my eye again.

Did everyone know his skill ranks dropped?

Then So Yeri’s skills flashed.

The meaning was crystal clear.

She’d stand night watch herself.

Shin Jae-heon’s skill shot up like lightning.

Seemed like he was saying he’d take it.

So Yeri fired back immediately.

Three Soundproof Barriers at once. The message was loud and clear.

‘Can’t hear, can’t hear, can’t hear.’

Meaning: Shut up and sleep.

Finally, Shin Jae-heon’s skill popped up.

That one cancels if you move.

In short: I’ll stay put and sleep.

“Yeah, sleep, sleep.”

Meanwhile, Joo Yian’s skill appeared.

He had no intention of sleeping either.

But even he started getting hammered by So Yeri’s relentless ‘Night Watch’ and ‘Soundproof Barrier’ spam.

After So Yeri stacked about seven Soundproof Barriers, one skill appeared in Joo Yian’s window.

Meaning: Calm down.

In the end, only So Yeri’s ‘Night Watch’ remained, and everyone’s skill windows went quiet.

So Yeri’s victory. I couldn’t help but burst out laughing.