Chapter 159

[Argh!]

The magicians’ screams echoed as they somehow managed to dodge the tearing attack.

No need to flash the skill in the buff window and worry them.

He smiled silently and activated the skill from beneath the hidden status window.

Malletia’s sword, drawn from his inventory into his hand, burst into flames.

—Roar!

The painting blackened on contact with the fire, then ignited in an instant, crumbling to ash.

The RP dungeon penalty crisis window naturally vanished as well.

Of course it did. There was no one left outside who knew their ‘secret’ to spread it.

As he sheathed his sword, he thought.

Even swearing on the name Shin Jae-heon, they could break the promise anytime.

He had resolved long ago.

Better to be a lying survivor than to live truthfully and die.

You’ll like me alive, somehow.

Right?

—Click.

Shin Jae-heon opened the study door, thinking.

Shin Yuri might hate my changed self.

But that was fine.

I can be any version for the sake of staying by your side.

So show me what you like.

The whisper, unheard, echoed in the study.

—Thud.

The door closed.

Shin Jae-heon, 27 years old. Male. Hunter with 10 years of experience.

This guy had a habit of slacking off endlessly after clearing a dungeon.

Once the clear judgment popped up, the dungeon’s entities wouldn’t harm hunters, so it wasn’t a big issue.

He’d just give some absurd excuse when asked what he’d been doing, which was suspicious at best.

But this time was different.

The ‘Mansion’s Guest (SS)’ dungeon clear judgment hadn’t appeared yet.

It seemed like all party members needed to exit the mansion first…

“He’s probably painting a masterpiece, huh?”

I couldn’t hold back my impatience and blurted it out.

Was he late because he was creating the work of a lifetime?

Was the painter Madam invited actually Shin Jae-heon?

But Hunter So Yeri shook her head.

“He’ll come out soon. He’s just being cautious, the guy.”

She smiled gently.

Then, with an ah!, she scurried over to me.

I still couldn’t believe that sight.

She was really alive, right?

While I stared blankly, Hunter So Yeri suddenly thrust something at me.

“Here! This is Hunter Yuri’s, right?”

“Huh?”

What she held was none other than the ‘PE Teacher’s Wooden Sword (SS)’.

“Where’d you get this?”

Didn’t Ripen say she wouldn’t give it?

Did she change her mind while napping and hand it over?

“I found it where the music box was.”

Hunter So Yeri winked.

“It reminded me of you, Hunter Yuri! The deal-live-deal-die Yuri Hunter!”

She hugged me tight. Don’t die!

This hadn’t caused her extra trouble, had it?

“Thank you!”

I hugged her back.

I didn’t need the sword; Hunter So Yeri’s return was what mattered.

What good is a sword without the Hunter Team?

As I thought that, realization struck.

Ah.

The reason the sword vanished from my inventory.

It wasn’t because of its high rank. Or because I was a deal-obsessed dealer brain.

To protect the Hunter Team, I needed power. A weapon.

That was all.

Whether it was the PE Teacher’s wooden sword or a real blade, I didn’t care.

“Ah…”

The system window had pierced my subconscious I hadn’t even realized.

While I let out a short gasp of admiration.

Hunter So Yeri slipped from my arms and handed a notebook to Hunter Joo Yian.

“Ah… Thank you.”

I saw Hunter Joo Yian smile faintly as he took it. I poked my head between them.

“Isn’t this the one Hunter Shin Jae-heon drew before?”

Hunter Joo Yian quickly stowed the notebook in his inventory.

“We saw it even if you hide it~”

“Cherish us more than the drawings!”

As we shouted over each other, Joo Yian’s face flushed.

“Of course I cherish you two more.”

“Really?”

Hunter So Yeri and I exchanged glances like we’d rehearsed.

Of course, we hadn’t coordinated at all.

The only sync was our intent to tease Hunter Joo Yian.

“Then why didn’t we disappear when you took your most cherished one?”

“Don’t you like the drawings more than us?”

As we teased relentlessly, Hunter Joo Yian laughed awkwardly.

“That’s…”

Know why teasing Hunter Joo Yian is fun?

He knows it every time but plays along. That’s the charm.

“Don’t you know my heart?”

At that, Hunter So Yeri and I clasped hands.

“Hear that? Hear that?”

“Let’s tip off Joo Yian’s ASMR channel!”

I saw Hunter Joo Yian press his forehead.

We burst into laughter without missing a beat.

Hunter So Yeri laughing looked so joyful. The warmth from our clasped hands felt real.

She really came back, right?

“So, what happened to you, Hunter So Yeri?”

Then Hunter Joo Yian asked. I was curious too, but hadn’t dared.

She might vanish like a bubble.

Her sudden plunge underground was still vivid.

I held my breath, staring at Hunter So Yeri.

“…”

I’d truly thought she died.

No death judgment window comforted me, but anxiety lingered.

Dungeon variables sometimes skipped death notices.

It wasn’t her lingering spirit or something, right?

No classic ‘We can’t leave together now…’ with a wistful look?

“…”

Then Hunter So Yeri’s expression turned wistful.

Wait, wait.

I froze.

No way?

“You’re okay, right? Alive?”

I gripped her shoulders tight. Don’t go anywhere!

As I asked, Hunter Joo Yian checked the party window repeatedly. He felt the same anxiety.

“Well, actually…”

Hunter So Yeri opened cautiously.

Actually? Actually???

Don’t make that wistful face so ominously!

I stared unblinking, and she burst laughing.

What the—?

“I’m really alive. I was teasing, but you’re too worried.”

She giggled.

“Remember my Underground Exploration skill?”

Un…der…ground… Ex…plo…ra…tion?

Hunter So Yeri had so many skills, she stuck to mains.

Meaning plenty unused.

But Underground Exploration… I’d heard it recently?

Oh, during the wild boar encounter!

The one Shin Jae-heon and Hunter Joo Yian said buried them for 30 minutes?

“…”

My stiffened face twisted slightly.

Heart dropping at her wistful look was brief; now betrayal brewed.

“Then why’d you vanish with that wistful face!?”

I shook her shoulders.

You vanished like you were off to die! Don’t joke about dying!

Her loosened red hair floated up and settled.

Hunter So Yeri was in a rare spot: silently reproachful stares from Hunter Joo Yian.

No ‘I was worried’ or sigh—just that wistful gaze no one could match.

“Ahem, well…”

Finally, she spoke.

Yeah, defend yourself!

“I couldn’t use it right after teleporting.”

She spread her hand.

After her explanation, Hunter Joo Yian and I relaxed.

Long story short: she hadn’t expected to survive either.

“So that’s why you let your hair down.”

Our eyes met; realizing, she gathered her hair to tie.

But pinning it high, she rummaged her pocket, then looked dismayed.

No hair tie.

“Tie it for me?”

I often tied and untied mine, but she always wore it up— it’d be uncomfortable down.

As I reached for mine.

Hunter So Yeri asked abruptly.

“…How’s it down?”

She shook her red locks lightly.

Hunter Joo Yian replied instantly.

“Pretty.”

She shot back equally fast.

“Put some soul into it.”

Hunter Joo Yian’s face turned serious.

“Pretty.”

His soul shows in his expression, huh.

Enlightened, Hunter So Yeri and I locked eyes.

She stared earnestly, wanting a real answer.

Up or down, she’s just… Hunter So Yeri.

I nearly said pretty but canceled—’soul’ warning.

I answered eventually.

“…Just you, Hunter So Yeri?”

She blinked at my words.

Not the answer she wanted?

Too casual for a near-death survivor?

But what else? Pretty got shot down. Do I need soul on my face too?

How do you infuse soul? I always speak with mine!

Brain in overdrive, she smiled prettily.

“Guess I’ll wear it down more often.”

She looked relieved.

“?”

Hunter Joo Yian and I exchanged glances.

Relieved why?

Dunno.

Regardless, she hugged us tight.

Then.

—Creak.

The mansion gate, visible but distant, swung open.

Shin Jae-heon strolled out leisurely.

That jerk!

“Did Madam offer tea before leaving?”

Finish and come quick—why saunter?

He scratched his cheek at my words.

“No, just burned my artistic soul a bit.”

Madam’s standards that picky?

Nearly believed— then he glanced at Hunter So Yeri.

“Good the hair tie had a skill enchanted.”

Talking about her Underground Exploration…

Wait.

“You were listening?!”

I snapped, forgetting respect. Then the system popped.

I’ll beat him after this.

Our quartet froze.

What rewards from this damn SS dungeon?