Kang Sejun and Seong Jarim are also like that. Is this how strong players talk?
âHow can you suddenly say something so important?â
âThereâs no need to be so surprised. Itâs just a simple scouting proposal.â
âThe scouting proposals from the Athena branch manager are always amazing!â
Even though this fact would upset the community multiple times when it became known, Jaeheon didnât seem to think much of it.
âYou know itâs not normal to recruit out an L-class, right? If something goes wrong, Auntie will come and beat you up.â
âOf course, I know. Iâm risking my life by asking.â
âDonât joke around!â
âIâm not kidding. Iâm serious. Look at this.â
Jaeheonâs cell phone displayed thick and short text.
Bring me Bang BrideâŠ
âItâs an order from my captain.â
âWhy does the overseas leader know that nickname?â
âSheâs a community addict.â
âYou mean she watches the Korean server too!?â
âHer hobby is subscribing to every server like a newspaper.â
Please donât say it so casuallyâŠ!
The first thing Seora learned about Ali, the mysterious mercenary leader, was that she was addicted to the community. Seora never wanted to know this.
âIn fact, even if it wasnât for this, I planned to take you there afterward. She allowed me to bring you because youâre the only family I have left. She was going to recruit you as an office worker.â
But Seora understood why.
âOf course, when it comes to my sister being Bang Bride⊠Ouch, stop it, stop it. The captain still doesnât know my sister is Headbang.â
âI donât like Headbang either, but⊠Anyway, sheâs amazing. How dare she proudly say sheâll bring an L-class from a foreign country.â Maybe it was because she herself was an L-class that she didnât hold back.
Seora thought of Ali, the leader of Athena, rumored to have bronze skin and white hair. They said she resembled the ruthless spear of the god Athena. To be honest, Seora wanted to see her at least once.
Even so, Seora didnât want to join Athena just to meet her.
âYou already know that Iâm not going, right?â
âI thought so. You would have considered it if you were an ordinary F-class.â
âAs expected, you know me well.â Seora smiled at Jaeheon. âLeaving Korea and going to Athena will be a huge blow to Aunt.â Song Hanna, who had stood by her side unwaveringly for 12 years after Seoraâs parents died, had as many enemies as she had supporters. Seora did not intend to betray the person who sacrificed so much for her family. âAs you can see, even though Iâm an L-class, I still look like an F-class. Thatâs why Iâll continue working as a low-level civil servant and make good use of this identity.â
âYes, do whatever you want.â
âBut what about you? Werenât you planning to return to Korea after seeking revenge?â
âI had intended to. But Iâve decided to stay at Athena. After being there for eight years and experiencing life and death together multiple times, Iâve developed a strong attachment.â
Oh. Seora had to make a constant effort to conceal her disappointment. Truthfully, after being separated from him for so long, she wanted to be together now. However, she didnât want to hinder Jaeheon, who had finally freed himself from revenge. Now, he had to walk his own path. He had lived solely for revenge for far too long.
Seora quietly let her unexpressed disappointment dissolve in the water.
âSeora, thereâs something you need to know, especially since youâre an L-class instead of an S-class.â
âWhat is it?â
âThe Labyrinth Dungeonâs raid.â Even bringing up the topic was difficult. Jaeheonâs expression hardened, as if he wasnât at ease.
The Labyrinth Dungeon. It was the most dangerous and unknown place among all the dungeons in the world.
It was also the first dungeon to appear in the world.
Twelve years ago, a new island emerged in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, as if it had fallen from the sky. The island was devoid of trees, grass, or any signs of life, except for a bright red door that led to the dungeon. Numerous scientists were sent to investigate the island, which soon turned into a tragedy.
On that empty island, devoid of trees, grass, or any signs of life, there stood a solitary bright red door leading to a dungeon.
As soon as the investigators set foot on the island, monsters straight out of novels or movies began pouring out of the door. It was the first dungeon breakout, an unprecedented event.
Modern firearms proved futile against these creatures. Many soldiers lost their lives on that island. Following the breakout, Awakened started appearing everywhere, and somehow the world managed to survive, but it could never return to how it was before the dungeons.
The second and third dungeons emerged soon after. While other dungeons disappeared once all the monsters were dealt with, the first dungeon in the Pacific Ocean remained.
Those who survived the initial assault returned with a revelation.
âThereâs another door there. A massive door that wonât open no matter how hard we try.â
With its countless mysteries, the fear among the people reached its peak. Fortunately, it didnât take long to discover that the door didnât open randomly. When it was time to open, a system message would be sent to all officials worldwide.
The Pacific Dungeon was the only location with multiple floors. Thus, it came to be known as the Labyrinth Dungeon.
âAs you know, L-classes are primarily responsible for targeting the Labyrinth. And of course, Iâve been there too.â
It was the only unmeasurable rank in the world. A place called the EX-class, surpassing even Level 1.
Thatâs why L-classes and the higher-ranking S-classes always undertook the raids in the Labyrinth at the right time. Just like with other dungeons, a Dungeon Break would occur if the raid couldnât be completed within a certain period.
âYou may have your turn to go there as well.â
It wasnât an obligation. No one would force an L-class to do anything. However, they had to endure silent criticism. But most L-classes had a carefree attitude, resembling whales, so they didnât really mind.
âActually, I hope you donât go there.â
Seora understood Jaeheonâs sincere words because they were each otherâs precious family.
âItâs not like the Labyrinth will open right away. Iâll think about it when the time comes.â
âDo you know something?â
âWhat?â
âWords, in essence, are like seeds.â
Seora felt a shiver down her spine at his serious words devoid of laughter. She playfully slapped him on the forearm.
âThat could be a seed!â
âOh, youâre right. Sorry.â
Do you think an apology is enough!? Lost in thought, Seora hastily contacted the administrator.
âLiza-nim? Liza-nim? Please tell me. Will the Labyrinth Dungeon open soon? It wonât, right? Right?â
ăAdministrator: (ÂŹ_ÂŹ);;;;ă
Oh no. Has anything good ever happened when they avoided eye contact?
Never! Not even once!
âNo, no, no! Close it! Donât let it open! You canât open it! Please!â
ăAdministrator: Δ=Δ=ïŸ( ÂŽĐ`)ïŸă
But instead of responding, they fled.
It was ominous. Too ominous!
After failing to quit her job, Seora feared that her peaceful daily life would vanish. She couldnât help but think that this was someoneâs conspiracy. It felt impossible for such misfortune to befall her without reason.
âBaek Huiwon, youuuuu!â
Was there really no such thing as bad luck? Seora wanted to transfer all her misfortune onto Baek Huiwon immediately. When she met her later, she would make her regret it.
***
It had been an incredibly long day.
Seora let out a sigh as she collapsed onto the bed, her body exhausted. With the major issues now resolved, she was scheduled to leave the hotel suite soon, along with Jarim.
âItâs such a shame. They clean the room, bring food if you order, and thereâs even a swimming pool and sauna in the gym. I just want to keep living here.â
It didnât have to be a suite, even a standard room would suffice. Should she just sell her house and live here permanently? She would make a lot of money if she sold the by-products obtained from clearing the dungeon.
ăAdministrator: o(*ÂŽïč`*)oă
Even the administrator agreed, considering it a good idea.
Seoraâs hand, which had been tapping the blanket, pointed at the floating emoticon in front of her.
âElizabeth-ssi.â
ăAdministrator : ( Ë á” Ë )??ă
âAdministrator-nim.â
ăAdministrator : ( Ë á” Ë )??ă
âWas the voice I heard after I defeated the Demonic Boss in Cheorwon yours?â
Less than a day had passed since she had slain that wretched beast. Seora concealed it well, but her heart was pounding louder than usual. The elation of exacting her revenge and the satisfaction of removing the rotten tooth that had been lodged in her heart were overshadowed by the excitement of finally hearing the administratorâs voice.
âA voice Iâve never heard beforeâŠâ
Unlike the polite and playful emoticons, the voice was akin to a gentle breeze. It held a tenderness and affection that moved her to tears when she heard it.
âThereâs no one around now. Can you let me hear it again?â
Seong Jarim, in the adjacent room, was snoring loudly enough to be heard. There were no obstacles in their way.
âOr will you say itâs not good if we do it too often?â
ăâYes, but I think youâll get angry if I refuse.âă
Startled by the sudden voice, Seora involuntarily jolted upright. Unconsciously, she rubbed her ears in response to the sweet sound that tickled them.