Before he could even grasp the intent behind the question, Gong Siyoung stepped forward. Without a shred of hesitation, he wrapped a lie in perfect composure.
“I didn’t know.”
Choi Jaeguk’s brow lifted.
“That can’t be. Didn’t Hunter Gong Siyoung report it personally?”
“I just tried it.”
“…Excuse me?”
Even after giving an answer anyone would find suspicious, Gong Siyoung only narrowed his eyes as if to say, what’s the problem?
“I didn’t think anything would actually happen. It just felt off, so I contacted you. Just in case. Things have been chaotic lately, so I figured being a little sensitive about dungeons wouldn’t hurt.”
“A feeling… you say.”
Choi Jaeguk stared at him. He didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t press further either.
It wasn’t that he backed off—more like he was waiting for an opening. His gaze shifted, pointing at Yurian standing beside Gong Siyoung.
“And this person… your name? I don’t believe I’ve seen you before.”
Yurian parted his lips to answer.
But Gong Siyoung moved faster.
He stepped in front of him, naturally blocking the line of sight.
“A rookie. He doesn’t know anything yet.”
“For someone like that, you seem to keep him awfully close. Just the two of you—an S-rank hunter and a rookie.”
Neither side gave an inch. Their gazes clashed in a silent standoff.
Caught between them, Yurian scratched his head awkwardly.
Right then, one of Choi Jaeguk’s subordinates approached and spoke while glancing at Gong Siyoung.
“Team Leader, Rapture Guild has arrived. Shall we proceed with gate entry?”
From the stopped vehicles, the hunters of Rapture Guild—including Park Ildo—stepped out.
Recognizing them, Choi Jaeguk clicked his tongue.
“…Very well. We’ll relay any further matters through the guild, so Hunter Gong Siyoung, you may go. I’d hate to keep a busy man any longer.”
“Then I’ll be on my way.”
Gong Siyoung turned sharply without hesitation.
As Yurian gave a small nod, Choi Jaeguk waved at him. The way he stared—piercing, deliberate—felt strangely loaded.
“Don’t make eye contact. That man’s sharp enough as it is.”
Gong Siyoung muttered while looking ahead.
When Yurian turned his head, he added under his breath,
“Of all people to run into…”
“Who is he?”
“Someone who picks a fight every time he sees our guild. If word gets out that you’ve been going in and out of gates without a hunter license, nothing good will come of it. So keep your mouth shut for now.”
Choi Jaeguk was one of the leading advocates for the stance that all hunters should belong to the state. He himself was affiliated with the Hunter Management Bureau.
He’d never been on good terms with Rapture Guild, and recently things had only gotten worse.
Gong Siyoung fundamentally distrusted the Bureau. They were already trying to pressure the guild at every turn—there was no reason to give them any more leverage.
If Choi Jaeguk were to notice Yurian’s abilities?
He’d come charging in without hesitation.
They’d competed like this before—fighting the Bureau over recruiting hunters. There was no room for carelessness.
If sudden dungeons could be predicted, everything would change.
Lives that were meant to be lost could be saved. Hunters entering dungeons would be far safer.
And more innocent people could be protected.
He didn’t want to turn that into a pointless competition with the Bureau.
That would be the real waste.
“So what kind of trouble did you cause this time, huh?”
Having spotted the two, Park Ildo strode over immediately. Irritation showed clearly in the way he brushed back his messy hair.
His phone buzzed nonstop. He checked it, then irritably hit the end button.
Tracking Choi Jaeguk in the distance with his eyes, he muttered a curse.
“That bastard showed up again.”
His voice was low and controlled, like ventriloquism—but sharp all the same.
Gong Siyoung silently agreed.
“Bad luck. I called the hotline, but I didn’t expect him to be the one dispatched.”
“Yeah, well… putting that aside—this is real? You found a sudden dungeon?”
It was less a question than confirmation.
Beyond the restricted line, the writhing gate was visible even to Park Ildo. He let out a breath.
“At this point, I’ve got no choice but to believe it. That you came from… somewhere else.”
He glanced at Yurian.
His gaze was as complicated as his thoughts.
Gong Siyoung felt the same.
Yurian, who had suddenly popped out of a dungeon one day, was chaos in human form.
The way he acted rude while pretending to be harmless, the subtle way he got on people’s nerves—it was all irritating.
And yet, as if mocking those thoughts, Yurian’s abilities kept revealing themselves one by one.
If he really wasn’t insane—if he truly came from another world…
Then everything he had was too valuable to ignore.
Knowing a monster’s attributes gave an overwhelming advantage in battle.
Gong Siyoung understood perfectly why Gong Sijin wanted him.
The man had already been willing to sell out his own brother just for monster compendium experience—so if Yurian could even predict sudden dungeons?
He could already picture that wide, delighted grin.
If it were Gong Sijin, he might even start pushing marriage first, just to lock him in place before Yurian could say anything else.
A man who had sold his soul to the guild’s success would absolutely go that far.
“I’ll handle this gate here, so Hunter Siyoung, take… Yurial or whatever his name was, and head back first. The Master just went into a meeting, so you won’t be able to reach him.”
“Understood.”
Park Ildo pulled a cigarette from his pocket. The lighter clicked, a flame flickering to life.
He took a drag—then noticed Yurian staring at him.
“…What? Why are you looking at me like that? You’re burning a hole through me.”
Following Gong Siyoung toward the parked car, Yurian answered a beat late.
“Looks tasty.”
“This?”
The cigarette dangling between his fingers swayed slightly.
“It’s a cigarette.”
Half of it had already burned away, but Yurian licked his lips.
Watching from behind, Gong Siyoung frowned.
Yurian had always been the type to just shrug things off—do whatever, couldn’t care less.
So why was he staring at a cigarette like he was possessed?
“Do you usually smoke?”
“Me? I like both drinking and smoking.”
“Oh, that’s a bit unexpected.”
Park Ildo, who shared the same tastes, let out a whistle.
After a moment of thought, he casually held out the cigarette.
“Well? Want a try?”
Yurian’s face lit up.
Grabbing Park Ildo’s wrist, he leaned in and took the filter between his lips.
He inhaled.
The ember flared fiercely, red as his lips.
As he exhaled, smoke drifted out, filling his lungs.
A satisfied smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
“Nice.”
Park Ildo let out a short laugh. Promising to give him a proper one next time, he extended the cigarette again.
Yurian reached out without hesitation.
Just before the filter touched his lips again—
Gong Siyoung snatched it away.
The tip froze instantly.
“Don’t smoke in front of a daycare.”
The frozen butt crumbled to dust.
Park Ildo casually stepped aside, then hurried off toward the gate.
Left alone, Yurian protested with clear injustice.
“Hey, I only took one drag—”
“One drag or two, it doesn’t matter. No means no. And definitely not something someone else already had in their mouth. What if you catch something? Have you never heard of a pandemic? Do you seriously not understand how important hygiene is?”
Gong Siyoung tore into him without mercy.
His expression made it clear—neither alcohol nor cigarettes would be tolerated.
He really had only taken one drag.
And yet here he was, getting scolded like he’d committed some grave offense.
Meanwhile, Park Ildo—who had been happily smoking away—had already escaped.
If it was going to be like this, he should’ve taken two drags at least.
Compared to the amount of scolding he got, it felt like a loss.
Yurian cast a longing look at Park Ildo’s retreating back.
“Stuff like alcohol and cigarettes just wreck your body. All they do is age you faster. Don’t even think about doing that in front of me—or in my house. I’m warning you.”
“Yeah, yeah. Got it. Completely understood.”
The lecture dragged on.
Climbing into the parked car behind Gong Siyoung, Yurian made a decision.
He’d just smoke in secret.
Cigarettes always tasted better that way anyway.
The option of “not doing it” never even crossed his mind.
Putting on a completely innocent face, Yurian casually changed the subject while Gong Siyoung drove.
“So what happens to that gate now?”