A Strange Encounter in the Dungeon

Han Gureum nodded in response.

“I honestly thought you would have fainted by now, but you seem perfectly fine. Do you really think it makes sense for a civilian to withstand monster miasma this closely in a cave with no ventilation?”

Han Gureum, still harboring doubts, looked at Seo Dowoon with questioning eyes.

‘Indeed, his reaction is far from ordinary.’

While he hadn’t often encountered civilians caught in rifts, Seo Dowoon was the first he’d seen who was so quiet and composed. At first, he’d assumed Seo Dowoon was simply frozen in fear, but upon closer observation, that wasn’t the case. From the very beginning, he hadn’t been afraid at all; he’d merely been indifferent.

It was rare for a civilian to maintain their sanity in a dungeon teeming with monsters larger than humans. Most struggled with the monster miasma or succumbed to panic, sometimes even begging to be knocked unconscious rather than endure the ordeal consciously.

Moreover, as this was a cave dungeon, they were directly exposed to the monster miasma, yet Seo Dowoon remained remarkably unscathed.

“Could he be a latent Awakener?”

Han Gureum gave a short nod, as if agreeing with Kim Ajun’s words.

“Perhaps.”

If Kim Ajun felt he wasn’t just an ordinary civilian, it was likely true, as his intuition rarely failed him. Perhaps he was on the verge of awakening, or he had already awakened but his abilities were too minor to notice. That was the conclusion the two men reached.

Awakening paid no heed to age or gender, making its timing and manifestation unpredictable. Nevertheless, with the recent understanding of pre-awakening symptoms, many now visited Awakener Centers for self-testing.

‘Even if he is a latent Awakener, prolonged exposure to this miasma can’t be good for him.’

Han Gureum gradually began to worry about Seo Dowoon.

“We can’t just leave him like this. I told him to keep some distance, but he’s far too close right now.”

“That’s precisely what’s so strange. At this distance, a monster could easily detect us and charge. But Hayoon, why did she stick so close when I told her to keep her distance?”

When Kim Ajun loudly told them to back away, Park Hayoon finally realized they were too close. She then led Seo Dowoon a little further back.

“Once we get out, I should tell him to visit an Awakener Center.”

“Mind your own business.”

“Mind my own business? If he truly awakens properly, he could be a great asset to our guild, couldn’t he? Who knows? He might even become an S-rank Esper or an S-rank Guide.”

Han Gureum let out a small chuckle at Kim Ajun’s hopeful tone.

“If he were that caliber, he would have awakened long ago.”

“That’s true. Still, treating someone with potential kindly is akin to an investment in the future.”

As Kim Ajun continued to chatter, Yoon Dokyung approached Han Gureum, who was trying to distance himself, muttering, ‘Do as you please.’

“What are you two whispering about? You’re making me curious.”

“You heard everything, why are you asking?”

“Oh, come on. It’s not polite to let on that I heard you whispering.”

“It’s polite not to listen in the first place.”

“How can I *not* hear something that’s audible? If you wanted privacy, you should have soundproofed the area before speaking.”

Since Yoon Dokyung had a point, Han Gureum simply responded with a smile. Then, wondering if Seo Dowoon might have overheard, he turned his head to look at him, their eyes meeting instantly. He dismissed it as nothing, assuming Seo Dowoon was simply staring because he was the first Esper they’d encountered in the dungeon.

As they gradually approached the boss room, Han Gureum, who had been leading the way, stopped and turned around.

“Beomgyu, how much longer can you last?”

“Enough until the dungeon ends.”

“Are you sure you don’t need guiding?”

Lee Beomgyu glanced at Park Hayoon before answering.

“I’m fine for now!”

Everyone carried guiding medicine for emergencies, but due to potential side effects, its use was generally discouraged. This was precisely why Park Hayoon, as a Guide, was essential.

Once Han Gureum had confirmed, he resumed walking, with Lee Beomgyu pressing closely by his side.

“Hyung. Can’t I have one of those too?”

Lee Beomgyu asked, coveting the orb of light that floated in the air, illuminating their surroundings.

“Why?”

“Because I’m cold!”

“You’re not cold.”

“Yes, I am! I’m freezing!”

Lee Beomgyu, who had been whining about the cold, finally quieted down only after receiving an orb. At this sight, Seo Dowoon’s eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly.

Lee Beomgyu, clutching an orb of light even larger than the one in his own hand, seemed to displease him somehow. As he touched the orb in his grasp, the feeling intensified, and an urge to snatch away that orb surged within him.

‘He had never coveted another’s possession before…’

Both the earlier conversation with Kim Ajun, as they stood watching him, and now Lee Beomgyu walking beside him – seeing Han Gureum stirred strange, burgeoning emotions within Seo Dowoon.

‘What is this feeling?’

Even as he questioned himself, no answer came.

“Are your legs hurting?”

“No, I’m fine.”

Park Hayoon subtly struck up a conversation. Seo Dowoon’s face softened, as if he hadn’t been expressionless just moments before.

“We’ll reach the boss room in just a little while. Typically, cave dungeons like this have a similar number of rooms, so having come this far means we’re almost at the end.”

“Oh, really? That’s a relief.”

Seo Dowoon watched Han Gureum tenaciously, as if determined not to miss a single detail. He was beginning to understand why Han Gureum was an S-rank Esper.

Not only Han Gureum, but each member of the Chosik Guild possessed impeccably excellent abilities. Even in a dungeon filled with large monsters, they showed no fear or hesitation, instead engaging in combat with an almost joyful enthusiasm.

“Excuse me, Mr. Dowoon?”

“…”

“Seo Dowoon?”

“Yes?”

“Could you please move back a little? You’re too close right now. While monsters might not reach this far, they release poison upon death. I’ll be fine, but it could be dangerous for you, Mr. Dowoon.”

Park Hayoon stepped back first as she spoke. Judging by her subtle glance, it seemed she had unconsciously moved too close and only belatedly realized Seo Dowoon was beside her.

“Understood.”

He wanted to see Han Gureum up close, but no civilian would stubbornly put their life on the line by staying at the front.

Resigned, Seo Dowoon took a step back.

The dungeon was vast, with paths winding like an ant farm, making the journey to the boss room quite time-consuming.

Before entering, everyone began to ready their weapons. Lee Beomgyu, who had been forced to overexert his abilities, eventually received guiding. It was hand-guiding, and both of them furrowed their brows, suggesting neither particularly enjoyed the physical contact.

Seo Dowoon approached Han Gureum, who was wiping monster fluid from his shield.

“Is this the last one?”

“Yes. The room ahead is where the boss resides.”

“Are you uninjured?”

“Yes, I’m fine. What about you, Mr. Dowoon? Do you have a headache, or difficulty breathing? Anything like that?”

He should have kept Seo Dowoon further away during the battle, and now he felt a slight pang of worry, suspecting Seo Dowoon might have been exposed to the monster miasma.

“I’m perfectly fine too. If… if you don’t mind, could I perhaps touch your hair just once?”

“…Pardon?”

“Ah, specifically, your hair.”

Startled by the sudden request, Han Gureum looked up at Seo Dowoon with widened eyes.

‘Touch me? Why? And my hair, of all things…?’

Having just been in battle, his hair was messy, and he was about to refuse. Yet, the eyes gazing at him were so moist and earnest that he found himself unable to utter a refusal. It was truly strange.

“…Yes, go ahead.”

As he reluctantly granted permission, Seo Dowoon’s eyes curved beautifully like crescent moons.

“I’ve wanted to remove it since before.”

Seo Dowoon’s hand moved towards Han Gureum’s temple. Unaccustomed to such a situation, Han Gureum’s eyes darted around, unsure where to look, while Seo Dowoon, observing his every movement, deliberately and slowly removed the monster fluid clinging to his hair.

‘Is that perfume?’

Standing beside Han Gureum, the scent he’d noticed earlier grew stronger. It couldn’t be mere perfume, as it had a clarifying effect on his mind, so it must be an ability or his natural body scent. In truth, whether it was perfume or his natural aroma, it didn’t matter. He simply desired to inhale this scent for as long as possible.

The mind-clearing scent seemed to improve Seo Dowoon’s complexion, making him look better than before.

He gently brushed back the hair from which all the fluid had been removed, making it look as if it had been styled with wax. It seemed the monster fluid he’d been covered in earlier had seeped into every strand. The altered hairstyle suited Han Gureum remarkably well, bringing a deep smile to Seo Dowoon’s lips.

It had been so long since anyone had brushed back his hair like this that Han Gureum merely rolled his eyes, unsure how to react.

“Thank you for allowing me.”

Han Gureum, who had been a more dependable shield than anyone else during monster battles, now fidgeted nervously. While Seo Dowoon found this sight endearing and felt a surging desire to touch him more, he couldn’t prolong the moment. Reluctantly, he took a step back.

“I’m quite tired from all the walking. Since I can’t enter the boss room, may I sit over there and wait?”

“Yes, but this time you’ll need to stay even further back. Unlike regular monsters, the boss can launch wide-area attacks. Hayoon, please take Mr. Dowoon and keep as much distance as possible.”

When Han Gureum called her name, Park Hayoon shivered slightly, then nodded. Seo Dowoon’s actions had been so natural that she had stared blankly. Not just Park Hayoon, but the other guild members too had watched with strange expressions before quickly regaining their composure.

Standing before the boss room, Han Gureum spoke.

“I’ll open it once you two are far enough.”

“Go far, far away. If you’re too close, you’ll get caught in it.”

Yoon Dokyung gestured with both hands as he spoke, while Lee Beomgyu, despite having received guiding, still slumped his shoulders, claiming to be exhausted.

Seo Dowoon and Park Hayoon retreated even further than before. As they moved away, Seo Dowoon paused, about to wipe the monster fluid from his hand onto Han Gureum’s robe, then hesitated and instead rubbed it against the cave wall.

‘…’

He hadn’t asked to be touched; he had asked if he *could* touch. His own actions struck him as utterly absurd. He wondered if he had acted too impulsively, so unlike his usual self.