Chapter 15

In the end, lunch was settled with the jerky that had been tucked away in Shin Jae-heon’s dungeon inventory.

“Who would’ve thought we’d be tearing into this not in the middle of a dungeon, but right here in the mansion.”

“Even if it’s inside the house, it’s no different from a dungeon when there are monster-like things around.”

Shin Jae-heon replied flatly. He was clearly talking about the poisoner. The words sounded chilling at first.

But when I glanced back, all the tension melted away at the sight of palm-sized Shin Jae-heon gnawing on jerky.

Still, being A-rank jerky, the taste was out of this world.

Mm, chewy, chewy… tastes great.

Plus, since Shin Jae-heon had unintentionally shrunk, I ended up eating most of it, while he only managed a tiny morsel before flopping over.

“…I’ll give you that it’s good value.”

He mumbled it sprawled out after his bite. His reluctant expression was so cute I burst out laughing.

“But seriously, you don’t need to head back?”

I pointed outside. We’d spent the time munching jerky through dinner and chatting away, and now it was already night.

“Aren’t you going to the palace to see His Imperial Majesty?”

At my words, Shin Jae-heon rolled up my handkerchief into a pillow and flopped onto his side.

Under his thinly parted black lashes, deep blue eyes turned toward me.

“Tell them to come find me. If they want their heads to roll.”

The tiny tyrant said. No doubt he meant every word.

With that Imperial Authority Reinforcement Quest hanging over him, like it or not, he had to make an example of anyone who defied him.

…But hearing it from something the size of my palm just made me chuckle.

“Got it. Don’t roll off the table while you’re sleeping.”

I dragged a large flowerpot over next to him.

The idea was to block the view just enough so he wouldn’t be spotted right away if someone opened the door.

Thanks to that, Shin Jae-heon ended up lying there facing my bed, the pot at his back.

“I won’t fall.”

He replied casually. I shot him a glance.

“Your sleeping position gets uncomfortable, your habits kick in bad. You’ll thrash around and split the table.”

This was a real crisis.

The terminally ill young lady whose neck had been dangling just days ago suddenly smashing a table in half?

Plausibility breach—straight to RP dungeon penalty.

I eyed that direction with worry before flicking off the light. Then came a low voice.

“…Not uncomfortable. It’s fine.”

Really? I turned toward the table where he’d be sleeping.

Normal eyes hadn’t adjusted to the dark yet—couldn’t make him out.

But no doubt he was lying there with my handkerchief as a blanket and a paper pillow.

“Live long enough, and even mini Shin Jae-heon is a first.”

The image made me laugh again.

We’d cleared all sorts of dungeons together, but a pint-sized Shin Jae-heon? Total first.

Shin Jae-heon’s chuckle followed. Just his voice, you wouldn’t guess he was shrunk.

“Civilian Shin Yuri’s a first in ten years too.”

“True.”

I’d awakened straight to S-rank the moment the gates blew open, so yeah, it’d been ages.

I headed to bed and lay down.

“What a weird day.”

Truly bizarre and strange night. And reassuring, too.

Shin Jae-heon—friend, teammate, hunter I’d been with nonstop since the gates ripped open.

I’d bragged we’d thrive even on a deserted island together, and boom, here we were on what felt like one.

Separated far apart, with only hunter chat linking us.

It felt like we’d been dropped in completely different spots.

First time apart from Shin Jae-heon this long since the gates. Dreamlike.

Only meeting him brought a sense of reality.

—Snooore.

A tiny breathing sound. Guess he felt it too.

Bed changed, but he slept soundly without a single toss.

I tried matching his rhythm, breathing soft and steady.

Soon, I was out.

“Miss, time to wake up! Don’t worry, I tidied the handkerchief!”

It wasn’t Shin Jae-heon who woke me, but the high-energy maid’s voice.

My eyes snapped open.

Handkerchief? Tidied?

“And… uh…”

…where’d you put the guy on top of it?

Of course, I couldn’t ask that outright, so I switched gears fast.

“Thanks.”

Now get out quick. I gestured, and she flashed a huge grin.

“I’ll grab a light breakfast right away!”

Then whoosh—gone. High-energy maid through and through.

Just don’t bring poisoned food again.

—Bang!

Door slammed—thanks to my boosted stats, no stamina hit.

I ignored the maid and pulled up the hunter chat instead.

“Uh,”

I’d slipped into casual speech without thinking. Last night’s vibe lingered.

Covered my mouth, but the sent chat couldn’t be unsent.

Shin Jae-heon’s reply popped up instantly. Then So Yeri the hunter chimed in.

So sightseeing was the goal after all! That jerk!

My fist clenched tight.

Words he hadn’t said yesterday. But oddly familiar.

‘You’ll smash S-rank soon!’

What I’d told him back when he was C-rank.

By then, word was out: innate hunter ranks were tough to budge.

Still, I’d cheered him on.

He was dead set on S-rank.

Public opinion? Not so much.

To everyone, Shin Jae-heon was just deadweight C-rank baggage trailing an S-rank hunter.

Stuff like that was circulating.

Everyone trashed him, but Shin Jae-heon didn’t give a damn.

‘Least if I’m by your side, I can take a hit for you.’

His calm words still rang clear in my ears.

I was grateful he’d stick around despite the crap.

So I rooted for him, helped him. And he delivered, skyrocketing to S-rank overnight.

His drive? No clue.

The haters slunk away with tails between legs—even that big-shot reporter got blacklisted from media.

So Yeri’s words, then Shin Jae-heon followed up.

He was certain.

Just like I’d been for C-rank Shin Jae-heon.

“So that’s how you felt back then.”

I muttered.

Honestly, I’d figured rank-ups would be brutal in this RP dungeon.

Shin Jae-heon was a freak case—global rank-up examples were rare as hell.

But having someone believe in you? Game-changer. I had to nail this.

“Yeah, can’t pull a Shin-troll. Time to grind.”

I shot up from my seat.

“Gonna head to the dining hall and eat.”

Too sketched for high-energy maid chow.

Better forage something legit.

“But is Joo Yian busy?”

He’d stayed silent the whole chat marathon.

Had to see the pings.

I tilted my head and headed to the dining hall.

Over those quiet days from Joo Yian, I’d gotten tight with So Yeri—no, Clona Eisen—and made my announcement at the family dinner table.

“I’m heading out for training a few days.”

Kikal paused mid-chew on his steak, the baroness dropped her knife, the baron fumbled his glass.

Only the second brother—name slipping my mind—watched with interest.

“…Senia, your body’s still too frail.”

The Baroness de Forlang eyed me worriedly.

The baron nodded.

“I get the eager heart. But you know—body and mind in sync is when training pays off.”

As an S-rank who’d grinded skills, I had to nod to that.

But holing up here wouldn’t hit even C-rank.

Especially not with poison roulette in my mouth anytime—how stay cooped in this mansion?

“I know. But this body’s been through long training before, so it’ll be different.”

I said it clear and steady.

Truth was, I had cards up my sleeve.

Team backup, my S-rank roots making lower ranks easier climb—plus one more.

This borrowed body, Senia de Forlang? Originally a high A-rank powerhouse.

Meaning her frame was primed for power.

Just poison locked her stamina away.

Unlock that, and high A-rank was back on the table.

‘She’ll do it. And more.’

Like Shin Jae-heon said.

I stared down the Forlang family straight.

“If that’s your will…”

Baron de Forlang groaned like it pained him, then nodded.

Seems Senia was stubborn as hell about training.

If she’d been a total pushover, RP dungeon penalty city.

Glad her natural vibe was chill.

Nice! Big sis’ll forge you into S-rank!

Dungeon clear, then S-rank bod to stomp Kikal—live your best life!

“What if you take an escort knight, dear?”

The baroness suggested.

Solid idea, but Shin Yuri me? Hard pass.

Can’t chill-hunt with So Yeri hunter then.

Moment like this!

“…That…”

Troubled face, lips pursed tight.

Swept a glance at the room’s swords, the knights, then ducked my head.

Get the hint, folks?

“…Right. You don’t want to show weakness to the knights.”

Bingo!

I cheered silently.

Quick-witted Baron de Forlang FTW!

But the baroness looked unconvinced.

“Still, safety first—can’t just send you out alone.”

She fretted.

Not solo. Mage tower lord’s tagging. Worst case, emperor and pope roll up.

Couldn’t say it, so her worry deepened.

“A knight’s pride.”

Then Kikal piped up. He turned to the baroness.

“Senia’s a Forlang knight too, Mother. Having the ones she trained under babysit her at the training grounds? That’d wound her.”

This guy helping out of nowhere?

I flashed him a genuine smile. Saw right through his black heart, though.

Praying I croak to some beast out there?

We’ll see, punk.

“…Senia. Stick to safe spots only. Got it?”

In the end, the baron couple traded looks and greenlit my training.

Worried gazes lingered.

Staring at them, a thought hit. Last night, poisoned Shin Jae-heon’s words replayed.

‘Dropped in the palace, huh. So I’ve unwillingly sampled a ton of poison.’

‘What?’

Ignoring my shock, he’d eyed me steady.

‘Rare, sneaky stuff. Even S-rank caliber. No way a mere family heir scores it on the sly.’

‘Someone inside helped. Higher than Kikal de Forlang. Like the family head… or that lady.’

That’s what he’d said.

‘Or at least turned a blind eye while the punk sourced it.’

Even crazier household than I thought.

I mumbled vague assurances to the near-panicked baron couple while pondering.

At least one of them—maybe both—complicit bystanders.

Who let Senia get poisoned.

Meaning this dump had more than one enemy.