It was the same pattern as the gate he had entered before. Since he had seen it once, he was certain.
A writhing vortex of mana flared up like flames. The fire flickered, its energy stretching outward in all directions like a serpent’s tongue.
“At this rate… an hour at most?”
In an hour, a gate leading to a dungeon would open.
Yurian’s gaze lingered on the butterfly drawn beside the sign that read “Butterfly Dream Daycare.”
He didn’t really want to get involved, but given the location, he couldn’t just ignore it. This world probably had its own countermeasures, but he didn’t want innocent children getting caught up in it for no reason.
“…So you’re saying you can see a spontaneous dungeon right now?”
“If that’s what you call that, then yeah. I can see it even now.”
Honk! Honk!
The car behind them blasted its horn. Gong Siyoung cursed and switched on the hazard lights.
He pulled the car over to the edge of the road. Silence settled inside the stopped vehicle.
People who knew nothing walked peacefully along the sidewalk.
“I don’t know whether what you’re saying is true or not… but if there’s even a chance it is, we need to check. Get out.”
He unfastened his seatbelt and stepped out first. Gong Siyoung tapped on the window as if asking what Yurian was waiting for. Yurian followed and opened the door.
A humid breeze and the blazing afternoon sunlight washed over them. While fanning himself with his hand, Yurian watched as Gong Siyoung pulled out his phone.
After a brief hesitation, he made a call. A moment of silence, then the other side picked up.
“Hello? Yes, this is Gong Siyoung. I’d like to request emergency support. Yes, a spontaneous case. Should I give you the address?”
Leaving Gong Siyoung on the call, Yurian looked behind him.
A neat street lined with green trees stretched out. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, shimmering softly. The calm midday scenery extended all the way to the daycare.
Beyond the low wall, a well-maintained playground could be seen. Yurian’s gaze settled there.
Above the slide, a lump of mana floated, constantly shifting. At times it looked like tangled yarn; at others, like poorly kneaded dough. As time passed, it grew larger and more defined.
No one else could see this?
It was so obvious. The fact that no one noticed felt strange.
Yurian reached a hand over the wall.
Just as his fingers were about to touch the stray thread of mana—
someone grabbed him from behind.
“Yes. Then I’ll request cooperation from the daycare.”
A firm grip seized the back of his neck. Gong Siyoung, phone wedged between his shoulder and ear, glared at him. Caught in place, Yurian quietly lowered his hand.
By the time the call ended, Gong Siyoung pulled him in closer by the collar.
Their bodies drew near. His voice brushed against Yurian’s ear.
“If you even think about saying this was a joke, or a prank, or a misunderstanding, or a mistake—anything like that—”
He clenched his fist and shook it in the air. His tone was just as firm as the gesture.
“Anyone who lies about dungeons or gates—I don’t consider them human.”
“I’m not lying.”
Maybe he’d gotten a bit carried away. He did regret that slightly.
But he hadn’t made anything up.
There was no reason to lie about something like this.
Yurian had always wanted to live quietly, keeping his head down. He had no interest in standing out or playing the hero.
Though, thinking about it, he’d already done quite a lot to stand out…
“Don’t wander off. Stay next to me until someone from the Bureau arrives.”
Without repeating himself, Gong Siyoung stepped forward. Only after confirming Yurian stayed beside him did he press the doorbell next to the daycare entrance.
After a moment, the door opened, and a middle-aged woman peeked out. Recognizing Gong Siyoung, she stammered in surprise.
“H-Hunter Gong Siyoung? It really is you? Oh my—!”
“Excuse me. Could we talk for a moment?”
The woman nodded.
While the two spoke, several black vehicles pulled up around the daycare.
Yurian read the lettering on them under his breath.
“Hunter Management Bureau?”
Soon, men in matching uniforms stepped out of the cars. The same logo was printed both on the vehicles and their clothing.
At the center of the words “Hunter Management Bureau” was the face of a tiger—everything black, with only the tiger in vivid red, drawing the eye immediately.
The man at the front spotted Gong Siyoung and approached. Giving a slight nod, he looked between Gong Siyoung and Yurian.
“We received the report. Gate Investigation Team 1, Team Leader Choi Jaeguk.”
Choi Jaeguk extended his hand. Gong Siyoung took it after a brief pause.
As they greeted each other, people began appearing from inside the daycare. Women in aprons whispered among themselves, clearly shaken by the sudden situation.
Yurian observed everything from a distance, as if it had nothing to do with him. There was no reason for him to step in, and no one was paying him any attention anyway.
As he monitored the mana like a sentry, Choi Jaeguk entered the daycare. Gong Siyoung glanced around, then found Yurian and gestured.
“Don’t go anywhere. Stay next to me.”
He grabbed Yurian’s arm, firm and unyielding, like restraining a troublesome child.
“I didn’t have anywhere to go anyway. More importantly, did it work out?”
“More or less. But are you sure a dungeon is really going to form here?”
Gong Siyoung rubbed his chin. To him, it looked like nothing more than an ordinary daycare. The disturbance came not from a gate, but from the sudden arrival of the investigation team.
“I’ve already contacted the guild. A response team will be here soon. If a gate really opens here like you said—”
He stopped mid-sentence, lips pressing together. His gaze, fixed on the evacuating children, grew serious.
Even without further explanation, Yurian understood.
Whatever a “spontaneous dungeon” was, it was clearly a serious matter. That’s why so many people had gathered so quickly.
The children, teary-eyed, were led away by their teachers. Their small figures moving together looked like chicks following their hen.
If Yurian hadn’t passed by here by chance—
If he hadn’t spoken up—
Just those small differences could have changed everything.
“Things like this… are always strange.”
He stared at the empty air above the slide. More and more mana gathered there. The writhing, swirling energy sent a chill down his spine.
Without hesitation, Yurian drew his sword.
“The ones who live… always end up living somehow.”
At that moment—
Sparks burst from empty air.
The space split open, and a pitch-black hole appeared in the sky.
A dark, endless world pushed its way out, forcing itself through. Screams and shouts erupted behind him.
Yurian didn’t take his eyes off the black void for even a second.
The space tore wider. Darkness poured out. For that brief moment, it was impossible to tell whether it was pulling things in—or something was trying to come out.
His senses sharpened to their limit.
It felt like the gate was calling to him.
The overflowing mana brushed across his body.
Like someone only realizing their thirst after drinking, Yurian steadied himself and raised his sword toward the gate.
At that moment, Gong Siyoung grabbed him tightly by the waist.
Yurian froze mid-motion, just about to step into the gate.
“We are not going in there. That’s why I called the response team! They’ll handle it!”
“Not going in?”
That was unexpected.
Gong Siyoung had been the one reacting most sharply to the idea of a gate opening. Yurian had assumed he’d be the first to enter.
“We can’t go right now. Who knows how long it’ll take to clear? We have to enter the layered dungeon in a few hours. And the Guild Master hasn’t approved it.”
Yurian relaxed.
“Oh. I thought we had to go in no matter what.”
Now the gate had fully taken shape.
The surroundings grew more chaotic. The investigation team set up yellow lines around the area.
Avoiding the growing commotion, Gong Siyoung pulled Yurian back.
Watching the children evacuate, Yurian scratched his head. The now-empty daycare felt eerily hollow.
Choi Jaeguk approached them.
“There are a few things I’d like to ask. Do you have a moment?”
It was phrased politely, but there was an unmistakable edge to it.
Without pause, he continued—
“How did you know a spontaneous dungeon would appear?”