The dungeon gate shimmered—and closed.
Light flooded the assembly area as two figures stepped out.
Alive.
The surrounding Hunters Association staff straightened immediately. Clipboards lowered. Eyes widened.
"…Only two?" one of them muttered.
Jinwoo walked out first, expression neutral, clothes stained but posture steady.
Yoo Jinho followed half a step behind him, shoulders stiff, eyes lowered.
The gate sealed completely.
No one else came out.
A senior Association officer approached them, his gaze sharp and experienced.
"Where are the others?" he asked.
The air grew heavy.
Jinwoo remained silent.
Before the pause could stretch any longer, Yoo Jinho stepped forward.
His heart was pounding—but his voice didn't shake.
"Sir," Jinho said, bowing slightly, "they died while fighting the boss monster."
The officer's eyebrows knit together.
"Go on."
Jinho clenched his fists.
"They were seriously injured but managed to weaken the boss before they fell," he continued. "I… I was able to defeat it after that. But there was nothing I could do to save them."
He bowed deeply.
"I'm sorry."
Silence followed.
The officer studied Jinho for a long moment—then glanced at Jinwoo.
Jinwoo met his gaze calmly.
The officer exhaled slowly.
"…C-Rank dungeon casualties aren't unusual," he said at last. "You did what you could."
He turned to the staff behind him.
"File it as combat loss."
A few nods. Pens moved across paper.
No further questions.
No investigations.
The Association had seen too many gates to mourn every name.
"You're free to go," the officer said. "Rest up."
Jinho bowed again. "Thank you, sir."
Jinwoo inclined his head slightly and turned away.
As they walked down the street together, the noise of the city slowly returned—cars, voices, life continuing as if nothing had happened.
Jinho finally let out the breath he'd been holding.
"…That worked," he whispered.
Jinwoo didn't respond.
He walked calmly, hands in his pockets.
.....
The Association's processing center was crowded, as always.
Hunters lined up at the crystal exchange counter, mana stones glowing faintly inside reinforced cases. The air hummed with restrained excitement—the familiar aftermath of a cleared dungeon.
Jinwoo placed the mana crystals on the counter without ceremony.
The clerk's eyes widened slightly at their quality.
"High-grade," he muttered, quickly scanning them. "From a C-Rank… impressive."
Numbers flashed on the screen.
"Total exchange value: ₩84 million."
The clerk slid the receipt forward.
Jinwoo nodded once. "Transfer it."
As the transaction processed, Yoo Jinho stood quietly beside him, hands clasped behind his back. He waited until they stepped away from the counter before speaking.
"…Hyung."
Jinwoo glanced at him. "What is it?"
Jinho hesitated, then reached into his jacket.
He pulled out a thick envelope and held it out with both hands.
"This," he said quickly, "it's the cash we found inside the dungeon. From the others."
Jinwoo stopped walking.
Jinho bowed his head.
"I don't need it," he continued, voice earnest. "My family has money. This amount doesn't matter to me at all."
He pushed the envelope closer.
"But to you… it might."
Jinwoo stared at him.
The envelope was heavy. Thick.
"…Why?" Jinwoo asked.
Jinho swallowed.
"Because you saved me," he said simply. "Because you let me live. And because—"
He clenched his fists.
"I want to be useful to you."
Silence stretched between them.
Jinwoo looked at Jinho for a moment.
Then took the envelope.
Jinho's shoulders relaxed instantly, as if a massive weight had been lifted from him.
"…Thank you," Jinho said quietly, bowing again.
Jinwoo slipped the envelope into his coat.
"Don't misunderstand," he said. "that Money for saving your life."
Jinho nodded quickly. "I know."
Jinwoo continued walking.
After leaving the exchange center, Jinwoo and Yoo Jinho stopped at the corner of the street.
The city bustled around them—cars passing, people talking, life moving forward as if nothing had changed.
"This is where I go," Jinho said, bowing lightly.
Jinwoo nodded. "okay."
Jinho replied immediately. "And… thank you. For everything."
Jinwoo didn't respond. He simply turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd.
Jinho watched his back until he could no longer see him.
Only then did he straighten.
Meanwhile—
The atmosphere inside the Hunter Association Headquarters was heavy.
Oppressive.
A group of senior officials sat around a long conference table, faces dark, voices low. A single file lay open at the center.
[Deceased: Hwang Dongsuk]
Rank: C
Cause of Death: Dungeon Casualty
No one believed it was that simple.
One of the officials rubbed his temples. "Confirm it again."
"Multiple times," another replied grimly. "Only two survivors. Yoo Jinho and E rank ."
"…Sung Jinwoo," someone murmured.
Silence followed.
Another official leaned back in his chair. "The problem isn't the death."
"It's who he was related to," a woman said quietly.
The name was spoken reluctantly.
"Hwang Dongsoo."
The room grew colder.
An S-Rank hunter.
A man notorious even among monsters.
Currently overseas—Eagle County, affiliated with a foreign guild.
"If he finds out—" someone began.
"He'll come back," another finished. "And when he does, there will be blood."
One official clenched his fist. "Can we intervene?"
A bitter laugh answered him.
"Laws don't restrain S-Rank hunters," the woman said. "They are disasters given human form."
Another voice spoke softly. "If Dongsoo decides the survivors are responsible… we won't be able to stop him."
The room fell into silence again.
Finally, the chairman spoke.
"…Monitor hwang dongsoo ."
A few heads turned sharply.
"Quietly," he added. "No provocation."
"And them?" someone asked.
"they are just prey," the chairman replied flatly. "Whether we like it or not."
Outside the conference room, rain began to fall.
Somewhere across the sea, a monster slept—unaware his brother was dead.
And far away, walking home through the city streets, Sung Jinwoo felt a faint chill run down his spine.
He stopped for a moment.
Then continued walking.