Kiyuhyun wore a plain overcoat without the guild mark this time, dressed to avoid standing out, and he was alone.
Seeing his attire, a suspicion crossed my mind.
Could he be ditching work again?
"Are you ditching work again?"
Ah, I ended up saying it out loud.
"Well, something like that."
"It would be better to go somewhere else. They said a VVIP is coming and everyone has been asked to leave."
I could see a <Hunter Market> employee looking this way over Kiyuhyun's shoulder.
He seemed restless but couldn't easily approach. His attitude was very different from the intimidating presence he had earlier. Why is he acting like this?
Well, it's none of my business. I turned my gaze away.
"…Then."
I hope you manage to ditch work successfully.
I bowed and tried to step aside, but Kiyuhyun blocked my way.
I turned to the opposite side, but Kiyuhyun also moved to the opposite side to follow me.
"Do you have something to say to me?"
"You bought a good item."
"Huh?"
Could he be talking about this seedling spade and the set of miscellaneous items?
However, Kiyuhyun pointed to the ring he had just received from the grandmother.
"Would you like to hear a secret?"
"…No."
I don't remember ever being in a position to share secrets with this man. Moreover, the prospect of hearing a secret right off the bat felt troublesome.
I won't tell you my secrets, and I'm not interested in yours, so I'd rather just go my way.
But Kiyuhyun continued speaking, apparently someone who doesn't listen to others well.
"The VVIP expected to visit today is a Master Hunter, Kim Deok, a Class A crafter. This is his first appearance in ten years after going into seclusion for skill training. The purchasing departments of various guilds are fiercely competing to buy the items the master will bring to the market, as his items are worth their weight in gold."
"…Oh."
"I came here upon hearing that the master would visit today, but it seems I'm too late."
Kiyuhyun slightly slumped his shoulders, looking disappointed.
Too late? While I was arguing at the consignment shop, he must have come and gone.
"Ah, one more thing. There's a rumor that the items the master is bringing this time are unique, one-of-a-kind items."
It was an interesting story, but that was it.
A unique item made by a master who has been in seclusion for ten years—though I would like to see it, it would likely be priced beyond my means at 50 rubies. It felt like a story from another world. I doubt I'll ever get to see the master's items.
With my business done, I decided to leave the <Hunter Market> and return to the shop.
But Kiyuhyun kept following me. He walked five steps behind me, and it was impossible not to notice.
I sighed and turned around.
"Why are you following me?"
"…Oh."
Kiyuhyun's eyes widened.
Did he really think I wouldn't notice him following so obviously? It was ridiculous.
"I don't have any ulterior motives. I… I also have some business near the dungeon gate…"
"Ah, I see…"
When I turned and started walking again, Kiyuhyun quickly followed and spoke.
"By the way, Lee, you're an Awakened, right?"
Only registered Awakened can enter the <Hunter Market>. I hesitated for a moment before giving a casual response.
"Well, something like that."
"Then, are you going to participate in the tutorial dungeon?"
"Well, something like that."
I nodded, though I had no real intention of going.
Kiyuhyun, undeterred by my casual attitude, continued speaking.
"I was just about to participate in the tutorial dungeon. Would you like to go together?"
I looked at Kiyuhyun, who had moved to stand beside me.
His large eyes and slender build made him look weak.
I recalled the cold party recruitment posts on the Hunter channel. Had this man been repeatedly rejected while trying to form a party?
"Kiyuhyun, you're part of the <Cheongra Guild>. Isn't there anyone in your guild who can go with you?"
"Ahahaha… They're all busy, so no one can go."
How heartless.
Normally, guild members form parties together, but even though Kiyuhyun looked weak, they wouldn't even form a party with him. The Big 3 guilds may be great, but they're too heartless to their own members.
Apart from being an Awakened, I hadn't told this man anything about my rank or class. It seemed he was in a desperate situation to grab onto someone like me.
"So… If it's okay with you, Lee, I'd like to form a party with you."
"But I'm a non-combat type, so I won't be much help."
"It doesn't matter. As long as you come with me."
"I might leave in the middle."
"That's fine."
Kiyuhyun tried to persuade me, saying he would do his best to accommodate me.
It turned out he had applied to join a two-person party, but the hunter he was supposed to go with had canceled.
"You can cancel and apply again."
"That's… Ha ha, the fee is quite steep…"
Oh…
Moved by Kiyuhyun's pleading eyes, I nodded without realizing it.
It was a bit suspicious, but…
Since I couldn't buy the stealth cloak I wanted, I was in a difficult situation myself, and having a party member would be helpful.
"…Alright, let's go together."
"Really? Thank you!"
Kiyuhyun smiled brightly. He looked genuinely happy.
"And I have one more request."
"What is it?"
"I'd like to have the coffee you gave me again. It was really delicious."
"It's all gone."
Kiyuhyun looked visibly disappointed, but it wasn't a lie that it was delicious.
But I'm going to make Americano now.
"I'll make new coffee, so you can have it then."
* * *
The next day, I woke up before the alarm even rang. Although I went to bed early, it was a rare occurrence.
Feeling a bit regretful, I tried to burrow back under the covers, but once awake, my mind was fully alert.
I decided to get up early. I tiptoed to the first floor to avoid waking Meeum, who was snoring on the bed.
Through the large window on the first floor, I could see the appearance of 《Abyss》.
The dungeon, rising endlessly toward the sky, was a sight of overwhelming grandeur.
How many floors does it have?
Even now, various guilds are exploring it for item farming and training, but the true nature of the dungeon remains a mystery.
Rumors abound, from the presence of very strong monsters to the possibility of becoming a god upon completion, or even a connection to another world.
Today, I'm going there. The realization made me a bit nervous.
I quickly showered and changed. Although there was still plenty of time before meeting Kiyuhyun, I had something to do before leaving.
"What's all this?"
About two hours later, Meeum, who had just woken up, came down the stairs and asked.
"Whyoong, there's a strange smell."
"It's not a strange smell; it's the smell of sesame oil."
"Why is there a sesame oil smell here!"
Meeum, who disliked the nutty smell, bristled and shivered.
I ignored him and focused on what I was doing—making kimbap.
"Ah, it burst. What do I do?"
I had put too much filling, causing the kimbap to burst. I had no choice but to eat it for breakfast.
I laid out the seaweed, added rice, and placed the filling. This time, I managed to cut the kimbap into neat, appropriately sized pieces. I carefully arranged them in the lunch box.
"Meeum, do you want to eat kimbap?"
"Whyoong…"
His gaze was intense. Meeum looked at me as if I were doing something incredible.
But… the tutorial dungeon is said to take at least a day. Even if I return as quickly as possible, it will definitely be in the afternoon.
So, I need a lunch box, and kimbap is the rule for lunch boxes.
After filling my stomach with the burst kimbap, it was time to leave. I poured Meeum a generous amount of cereal and packed my bag.
There wasn't much to pack. I brought a 1-liter water bottle filled with ether water and a set of low-tier items from the <Hunter Market>.
I also brought the seedling spade, which might be useful, and wore a low-tier windbreaker for beginners. Even a defense of 2 is better than nothing.
With the kimbap packed, I felt a bit excited, as if I were going on a picnic.
"Then, Meeum, take care of the house."
"Whyoong…"
Meeum, who was eating his breakfast with his head in the bowl, nodded slightly. I locked the door and headed toward the dungeon.
It took about 3 minutes to reach the 《Abyss》 dungeon gate.
Although it was right in front of me, this was my first time at the dungeon gate. There was no reason to come here unless it was for a specific purpose.
In front of the large, tower-shaped dungeon, a blue, glowing disc was present.
The area around the disc was bustling with new hunters eager to enter the tutorial dungeon.
We were supposed to meet here…
I wandered around the dungeon gate, looking for Kiyuhyun. I should have gotten his contact information.
"Ah, here I am!"
Fortunately, I found Kiyuhyun easily. He was taller than the others.
I called out loudly, and Kiyuhyun quickly spotted me and approached.
"Lee, hello."
Kiyuhyun was dressed casually in a black coat, a stark contrast to the other hunters, who were decked out in flashy, high-end gear. The only accessory he wore was a silver watch.
"Do you not have a weapon?"
"Ahahaha… My usual weapon is broken."
This is making me feel uneasy…
Well, it's just a tutorial, so it should be fine.
[Party formed.
Party members: Lee, Kiyuhyun
Experience distribution: Equal distribution.]
When I received the party formation scroll from Kiyuhyun, a system notification appeared before my eyes. It stated that experience points would be distributed equally among party members when monsters were defeated.
"Shall we go?"
There was no reason to linger at the entrance. Kiyuhyun and I joined the line in front of the dungeon gate. Fortunately, the line moved quickly, and it was soon our turn.
"Lee, Kiyuhyun, is this your party?"
"Yes."
"Here, take the tutorial bracelet."
A public official guarding the dungeon gate put a paper bracelet on our wrists. It looked like a concert wristband.
"If you're in danger, tear this bracelet. A hunter waiting inside the dungeon will come to your aid. Use it immediately if you feel threatened."
The official continued explaining with a tired expression.
The tutorial dungeon is a quest dungeon designed for new hunters, with the difficulty of the internal monsters adjusted to the hunters' abilities.
So, dangerous situations are unlikely, but you should request help if something unexpected happens.
The official was almost done explaining how to find your way and clear the dungeon when a loud voice came from behind.
"Hurry up. I'm going to die of impatience. Such explanations are only for beginners, aren't they?"
Turning around, I saw a hunter standing with a slanted posture and a flashy outfit.