Setting aside the difference in skill, a more fundamental cause was the problem.
"Wh-what did you say?!"
"Why is that?! What do you mean, only one person?!"
"If we do that, no matter who goes, those bastards will look down on us even more!"
No one could enter the dungeon.
"And why on earth is only Lee Gyeom-shin participating? Why is this guy the only one going alone as the guild's representative...."
"There is no change in my decision."
Because among them, there was not a single Hunter of Level 150 or higher except for Gyeom-shin and Yeon Da-hee.
"Only Vice Guild Master Lee Gyeom-shin will participate."
"Pardon...?! Why?!"
Since power-leveling during the previous exploration, Yeon Da-hee was still injured.
So in the end, Gyeom-shin had to go there all alone.
"The reason is... because that dungeon is an ultra-high-level dungeon that only Hunters of Level 150 or higher can enter."
"......?!"
Because otherwise, every ally who followed him inside would die.
Unless one was at least a B-Grade Hunter, their mind could not endure the dungeon, Hell.
"Th-then aside from the Guild Master, no one...."
"Yes, however, Mr. Gyeom-shin is able to enter. I confirmed it myself."
That was not the only reason.
"Are you saying that during the preliminary investigation at dawn, you actually went all the way inside the dungeon?"
There was a very decisive reason.
"Yes. Frankly speaking, that place was so dangerous that even I could not hold out for long."
That place was the venue where the bloody revenge drama Gyeom-shin had prepared would take place.
"Therefore, we are in a situation where we have no other choice."
In other words, no ally needed to go.
Because from now on, no one was scheduled to return alive from there except for Gyeom-shin.
"I am sorry to send only Mr. Gyeom-shin to such a dangerous place, but...."
Entry was forbidden for everyone.
"We must send at least him alone. For the sake of our revenge."
Except for those sworn enemies who had to die by Gyeom-shin's hands.
***
"Ah, over here!"
The atmosphere was quite different from last time.
"Hmm...?"
Upon arriving at the meeting place, someone approached Gyeom-shin with a kind, smiling expression.
Someone with a familiar face—though it was the first time in this life, it was not their first meeting.
"Hello. You are Vice Guild Master Lee Gyeom-shin of the Gladi Guild, correct?"
"...Yes, that is right."
"Aha, nice to meet you. We are the elite members sent from Phantom."
A young man with neat brown hair whose charming point was a narrow-eyed smile.
'That's right, it's definitely that bastard.'
It was none other than Yoon Chan-ho.
"You are that famous 'Yoon Chan-ho' of the Phantom Guild...?"
"Oh, I am still a rookie who lacks a lot, so thank you for recognizing me."
Just like when he had first met Gyeom-shin in the past, he approached with a good-natured impression.
"Not at all. Since you are famous."
In his past life, Gyeom-shin had been completely fooled as well.
"Even though it has not been long since you joined Phantom, I heard you are an elite Hunter with considerable skill."
"Oh my, you flatter me too much...."
He had not known that a wicked devil was hiding behind such an angelic, good-natured face.
However, now it was clearly visible.
"I am the one who has heard many rumors about you, Vice Guild Master Lee Gyeom-shin."
The hypocritically fabricated smile.
"That you are the rising star Hunter these days... I think you are someone far more amazing than I am."
"Not at all. Hearing praise from a genius Hunter makes me feel embarrassed instead."
"Ahaha, I look forward to working with you."
The fake kindness that pretended to be considerate of the other person.
'...As expected, the old saying that you shouldn't take in a black-haired beast was spot on.'
And the fact that a terrible ulterior motive was hidden behind his smile.
In this life, he could see it all.
"Now then, shall we get going?"
Unlike Gyeom-shin, he was a Hunter who had quickly stood out as a genius starting from this time.
Furthermore, if it was something profitable for his guild, he would grit his teeth and pull off even the impossible.
Therefore, it was actually even easier to lure him in.
"To that new Hidden Dungeon."
To his thoroughly prepared grave.
"Yes, let us set off, then."
***
Five Phantom Hunters, including Yoon Chan-ho, followed Gyeom-shin.
"Haha, what a relief. Mr. Chan-ho is here, and with Mr. Gyeom-shin with us too, how reassuring is this?"
"I heard you completely revived the Gladius Guild when it was on the verge of collapsing!"
"On top of that, you rescued all the Hunters of the Kaiser Guild last time too, right? To hunt together with someone like you—it is an honor."
First, they praised Gyeom-shin until their mouths went dry.
"...No, well, it is nothing special."
Unlike back with the Kaiser Guild, Gyeom-shin also treated them politely.
He was used to this kind of social tact.
"...I simply had good luck, that is all."
However, looking at Yoon Chan-ho's face was enough to make him feel nauseous.
Human relationships of honey on the lips and a sword in the belly—smiling to one's face while pointing a sword behind their back.
"Aha, then let us take a look as well."
"We would like to see it too. That good luck of yours, Mr. Gyeom-shin."
"We will find out soon enough. Whether those words are modesty, or truly just luck."
Trudge, trudge.
It happened when Gyeom-shin was walking in the lead, chatting like that, and a bit of distance opened up between him and them.
"......."
Whisper, whisper.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Yoon Chan-ho and his subordinates whispering among themselves.
Of course, it was at a level where eavesdropping with human ears was impossible.
Ding!
[The Demonic Sword, Ades, wishes to relay information it has heard to you.]
However, for the Demonic Sword, that was possible.
[Accept? Y/N]
"...Yes."
When he softly conveyed his intention to the question on the Status Window that had popped up, it unfolded.
Shaaaa!
The contents of their whispered conversation appeared in a message window that only Gyeom-shin could see.
『Shin Ji-ho: The moment we step into the boss zone, let us dispose of him as planned.
Heo Il-kwon: That is right, that bastard does not seem like an ordinary guy. We must kill him here without fail, Mr. Yoon Chan-ho.』
'Oh-ho...?'
Shaaaaaa!
『Yoon Chan-ho: ...Right.』
Before long, their messages turned into even darker blood-colored red letters....
『Yoon Chan-ho: We dispose of him as planned.』
And even their voices could be heard directly, as though he were listening right next to them.
『Yoon Chan-ho: We kill the bastard.』
The one who betrayed Gyeom-shin was not the current Yoon Chan-ho, but his future self.
So it was true that it had bothered him somewhat.
However, now Gyeom-shin did not need even a shred of hesitation.
'So you bastard really did come here intending to kill me too.'
At this moment, it was decided.
'Thanks, Chan-ho. That you're....'
That all of them would be executed.
'A villain from beginning to end.'
***
Gyeom-shin's existence was a hindrance.
'I will kill this bastard right here.'
To Yoon Chan-ho, who had planned to absorb the Gladius Guild.
And go even further to swallow up the Kaiser Guild as well.
Glancing sidelong at Gyeom-shin, he wore a sinister smile.
'Because there is no need for two standout bastards in a single generation.'
It was not the first time.
Whenever someone was an obstacle to him, Yoon Chan-ho had disposed of them without even rats or birds knowing.
'Yes, to disguise it as an accidental death, we must cut off the bastard's breath in a single stroke....'
Therefore, it did not exist in his dictionary.
A case where he himself would conversely fall into a trap.
"Now then, let us go this way."
"......?"
However, the feeling was strange.
"This place is...?"
He instinctively felt an inexplicable sense of incongruity lingering in the surrounding air.
It was clearly different from everything up until now.
"Since our destination is the boss zone, this place is a shortcut."
"Aaah...."
It felt as though Gyeom-shin were seeing right through his mind.
"...Hey, was it discussed with the Gladi Guild which area we would hunt in?"
"N-no, sir. Not to that extent yet."
"......."
Usually, when entering an unknown dungeon, the general rule was to advance only as far as was safely possible.
'Could it be, this punk...?'
However, Gyeom-shin was different.
Gyeom-shin already knew even about the hidden mission that had been secretly ordered to Yoon Chan-ho from within the Phantom Guild.
'Did he overhear our conversation just now...?'
Yoon Chan-ho also considered the possibility of eavesdropping.
However, it had not been long since they met, and it was a distance impossible for human ears.
'...No, from now on, even exchanging whispers with my subordinates like this is dangerous.'
Having sharp intuition, Yoon Chan-ho guarded against Gyeom-shin with fierce eyes.
To avoid needless suspicion, he even stopped whispering.
"Ah, I did not mention it in advance."
Just then, breaking the heavy atmosphere, Gyeom-shin answered first with a smile.
"Actually, a few days ago, our guild conducted a preliminary exploration of this place first."
"...Ah, so that is how you know the way?"
"Yes, though because the monsters were strong, all we did was barely memorize the map and flee."
In Yoon Chan-ho's eyes, Gyeom-shin looked like nothing more than an easy mark to use.
A sloppy figure who had good abilities, but did not know how to suspect people.
"So I even know the shortcut."
"...So that is why you decided on this place. To borrow our strength."
That was the first impression with which Yoon Chan-ho had evaluated Gyeom-shin.
"Yes, that is right. Because I figured someone of Mr. Yoon Chan-ho's caliber from the Phantom Guild would surely aim all the way for the boss zone."
"Ah... is that so...?"
However, he had no idea whatsoever.
"You have great intuition, Mr. Gyeom-shin."
Unlike his past life, where he had truly fooled him completely.
"...That is correct. You saw right through it. Our goal is the boss zone."
That the person before him was currently on his second playthrough of life.
So with a smiling face, Yoon Chan-ho tried to lower the other man's guard and use him.
"If you have been here before, I am sorry to trouble you, but allow me to ask you to guide the way."
Gyeom-shin had revealed that he knew the information about this dungeon.
With that alone, his value as a tool was sufficient.
"Yes, this way, then."
Unlike usual, an uneasy feeling crept over him, but it did not matter.
He considered it merely a trick of his imagination.
"W-will this really be all right, Mr. Yoon Chan-ho?"
"Yes, it does not matter. His skill as a Hunter seems good, but he is sloppy."
Conquering the Hidden Dungeon and simultaneously eliminating the rival who had been a thorn in his eye.
"The bastard has plenty of value to be used."
He chalked it up to mere tension ahead of a massive achievement.
"And from here on, do not speak to me. It will invite needless suspicion."
"Aaah, yes, understood."
He did not suspect in the slightest that this uneasiness was because of Gyeom-shin, who was currently walking defenselessly in the lead.
Trudge, trudge.
"......."
It happened while he was walking like that, aiming only for the moment to sever Gyeom-shin's neck.
"W-wait a second... this place is...?"
"Dammit...!"
The ones who began to be shaken first were Yoon Chan-ho's subordinates.
Because the subordinates he had brought were specialists in detection rather than combat.
"Why are you...? What is...?"
Right after, that spine-chilling demonic energy was transmitted to Yoon Chan-ho as well.
'Aaagh...?!'
A ghastly dread, as though some colossal entity were clutching his heart with one hand.
That chill spread through his entire body.
It was absurdly horrific.
Tremble.
It was strange.
He had heard from the Gladi Guild that this dungeon was at most a mid-grade dungeon.
'...N-no way. Am I trembling...?'
However, all ten of his fingers were trembling uncontrollably.
No matter what high-difficulty dungeon he had explored up until now, something like this had never happened at all.
'Me...? The great Yoon Chan-ho...?'
This was the first time he had completely lost his will to fight before even encountering a monster.
"M-Mr. Chan-ho! Up there...!"
"Aaagh...?!"
Before long, they appeared.
GRRRRRRR...!
Dozens of Hell Hounds, the hounds of hell that were difficult to encounter even in high-grade dungeons.
No wonder it had been strange that not a single monster was visible from the dungeon entrance all the way to this place.
However, it was already too late.
'Ah... I have been had...!'
He realized his mistake too late.
As though he had been struck hard in the back of the head with a hammer.
Only now did the thought that he had been played hit his mind first.
"Th-this crazy...!"
The other guild's side had deliberately misinformed them of the difficulty level.
Looking at the combat power of the monsters that had appeared, this Hidden Dungeon was at least high-grade.
No, if it were only at that level, it would actually be fortunate.
"Everyone, prepare for battle!"
Since it was the other side's trap, there was even a possibility that it was an unannounced top-grade dungeon.
"Form a defensive stance centered around me!"
"Yes, sir!"
He reorganized their scattered battle line first.
Then, with a fierce gaze, he searched for Lee Gyeom-shin's location first and foremost.
"Dammit...!"
However, he was nowhere to be seen.
Anywhere on this battlefield.
"That goddamn son of a bitch...!"