The next morning, Jinwoo woke slowly.
Warmth lingered at his side.
He turned his head and saw Jin-ah sleeping peacefully beside him, her face relaxed, lips slightly parted as she breathed evenly. Sunlight filtered through the curtains, painting her features in soft gold.
She looked… happy.
Jinwoo smiled faintly.
Since it was his sunday , he decided not to wake her. Because She didn't sleep much last night.
Carefully, he slipped out from beside her, moving as quietly as possible. Jin-ah stirred slightly, then settled back into sleep.
Jinwoo headed to the kitchen.
He prepared breakfast with unhurried hands—rice, eggs, soup, and a small plate of fruit. Simple, but warm. Familiar.
Once everything was ready, he carried his cup of coffee to the sofa and turned on the TV.
Morning news filled the room.
Reports about minor dungeon activity.
Weather updates.
Buzz.
His phone vibrated.
Jinwoo glanced at the screen.
Yoo Jinho
He answered.
"Yeah."
"Hyung!" Jinho's voice came through immediately, bright but nervous. "Are you free today? I… I was hoping we could meet."
Jinwoo leaned back against the sofa.
"why," he said calmly.
There was a pause, then a relieved laugh. "actually I need your help?"
"ok tell me what you want to help with" Jinwoo replied.
"…Then," Jinho said carefully, "can I come to you? Or—"
"Send me the location," Jinwoo said. "I'll come."
"Thank you, hyung!"
The call ended.
Jinwoo lowered the phone just as he heard movement behind him.
He turned.
Jin-ah stood at the bedroom doorway, rubbing her eyes sleepily.
"Oppa…?" she murmured. "Good morning."
"Morning," Jinwoo said softly.
He walked over, placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, and smiled.
"Breakfast is ready. Eat while it's warm."
She blinked, then smiled. "You made it again?"
"yes ," he replied lightly.
"I'm heading out for work for a bit," Jinwoo added. "I'll be back later."
Jin-ah nodded "Okay. Be careful."
"I will."
He picked up his jacket, gave her one last glance, and stepped outside.
The door closed softly behind him.
As Jinwoo walked down the stairs, his expression shifted .
...
Jinwoo arrived at the café Yoo Jinho had sent him the location for.
It was quiet. Private. The kind of place where no one listened too closely.
Jinho was already there.
He stood up the moment Jinwoo entered and bowed deeply. "Hyung."
Jinwoo gestured casually. "Sit."
Jinho obeyed immediately.
For a moment, neither spoke. Jinho looked nervous—hands clasped tightly, eyes flicking up and down as if rehearsing his words.
Finally, he took a deep breath.
"Hyung," Jinho began, voice steady but tense, "I want to raid dungeons with you."
Jinwoo didn't react.
"I want you to raid nineteen more C-Rank dungeons with me," Jinho continued. "All under my name."
Jinwoo lifted an eyebrow slightly. "Nineteen?"
Jinho nodded. "Yes. I need dungeon-clear records. Clean ones because I want to guild master."
Jinwoo leaned back in his chair.
"And what do I get?"
Jinho swallowed and slid a folder across the table.
"This "
Jinwoo opened it.
His eyes moved calmly across the pages.
Then—
He paused.
"…Five billion won?" Jinwoo asked.
"Yes," Jinho said quickly. "Minimum. Paid regardless of dungeon results."
Jinwoo looked at him.
"Are you sure" Jinwoo said flatly.
Jinho shook his head. "yes I am sure"
Silence.
Then Jinho bowed deeply again.
"I know what I saw in that dungeon," he said. "And I know I'll never be like that. But if I stay near you… I can survive ."
Jinwoo closed the folder.
"I'll accept," he said.
Jinho's eyes widened with relief—
"But," Jinwoo added, voice firm, "I have conditions."
Jinho straightened immediately. "Anything."
"Only the two of us enter the dungeon," Jinwoo said. "No extra hunters."
Jinho froze.
"…Only us?"
"You trust me," Jinwoo said calmly. "Or you don't."
Jinho hesitated.
Nineteen dungeons.
Only two people.
If something went wrong—
He thought of the dungeon.
Remembering the scene , he nodded.
"ok I trust you," Jinho said firmly.
Jinwoo continued.
"I take the lead. You don't interfere. You follow my instructions exactly."
"Yes."
"And if you break the contract—"
Jinwoo's eyes sharpened.
"You won't get a second warning."
Jinho nodded without hesitation. "Understood."
Jinwoo slid the contract back.
"Then we have a deal."
Jinho picked up the pen with shaking fingers and signed.
Jinwoo signed next.
The moment the ink dried, Jinho exhaled as if he'd been holding his breath for years.
"…Thank you, hyung."
Jinwoo stood.
"This benefits both of us," he said. "Don't mistake it for kindness."
Jinho smiled faintly. "I won't."
After leaving the café, Jinwoo walked through the city streets.
On the way home, he stopped by a convenience store and bought bags of Jin-ah's favorite snacks—sweet buns, chocolate sticks, juice she liked but never bought for herself.
When he reached home, the familiar door greeted him.
As he stepped inside, he felt it again.
A reason.
Strength wasn't just for killing monsters anymore.
It was for protecting his loved one.
And soon—
He would become strong enough that nothing could ever threaten it again.