The massive doors of the guild headquarters slid open.
Kael stepped inside.
His gaze was calm… almost indifferent—yet it carried a quiet weight that drew attention without effort.
"Hello, Kael. You're finally here. We've all been waiting for you."
Rieko's voice was sweet, almost melodic.
Kael glanced at her, expression unchanged.
"What's the matter?"
He walked forward, hands in his pockets—his presence alone enough to turn heads. Conversations softened. Eyes lingered. Even seasoned hunters weren't immune.
A man nearby stared, mouth slightly open.
"…Isn't this guy insanely hot?" he muttered with shameless admiration.
Kaito shot him a flat look as he passed.
"You're a man, right?"
Then he walked off toward his office without another word.
Rieko clapped energetically—her excitement almost contagious.
"You know today is the mission selection day!"
Kael rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"No one thought to inform me?"
Rieko laughed softly and patted his back.
"It's just a training dungeon mission. But the hunters selected today will also qualify for the main mission later."
Kael's lips curved faintly.
"…That makes things interesting."
Boots echoed sharply across the guild hall.
Yumiko entered.
Her tight red suit accentuated every movement, her presence commanding silence as she crossed her arms.
"I assume everyone is here."
"Yes, ma'am."
The response came in unison.
Kael scanned the room.
"…Feels like I'm standing in front of an army."
Yumiko nodded slightly.
"For this mission, I've already selected the team. Five members—including myself."
A pause.
"Rieko Yasumi. Mio Izumi. Ren Kuroshawa… and Kael Draven."
Rieko clapped again, practically glowing.
"This is going to be amazing!"
Kael tilted his head slightly, voice calm but deliberate.
"Three women and two men… That's potentially dangerous."
Silence fell.
Yumiko's gaze sharpened instantly.
"…Are you implying women can't fight?"
Whispers spread among the others.
"He's harsh…"
Kael met her eyes without hesitation.
"I'm not questioning capability. I'm stating biological reality."
He stepped closer.
"Men produce higher levels of pain-suppressing chemicals—beta endorphins. In prolonged combat, that matters. We won't have time to bandage wounds after every hit."
Yumiko adjusted her glasses, unshaken.
"And why assume only women get injured?"
Kael smiled faintly.
"In high-risk combat, hesitation kills. Women, statistically, are more likely to react emotionally in life-or-death situations. And if we hesitate for the fallen…"
His tone dropped.
"…we join them."
The air grew heavy.
Yumiko held his gaze… then smiled faintly.
"…We'll test that theory in battle."
She turned and walked out of the guild.
Rieko leaned toward Kael, eyes sparkling.
"You're terrifyingly smart."
Kael said nothing—only followed.
Outside the dungeon, a towering gate loomed—dark, humming with unstable energy.
Four of them stood waiting.
"Where's the last member?" Izumi asked, confused.
Yumiko checked her watch, irritation flickering.
"He's always late."
Kael's eyes drifted across the street—to a small shop.
"…Inform me when he arrives."
He walked off.
Izumi's eyes lit up instantly.
"Wait—Kael-sama! I'm coming!"
At the shop, the air carried the scent of fresh food.
"Sir, what would you like?" the shopkeeper asked.
Kael paused, thinking.
"Something… crispy. Light, but satisfying…"
Izumi clapped excitedly.
"Onigiri!"
Kael nodded.
"Two."
Moments later, he handed one to her.
"…Yours."
Izumi smiled brightly.
"Thank you, Kael-sama!"
They ate in silence.
Kael checked his phone.
"…Already noon."
Back at the dungeon, a car screeched to a halt.
A boy stepped out—medium height, brown hair, sharp eyes.
"…Looks like I'm late."
Yumiko's aura flared dangerously.
"You are late."
Ren scratched his head awkwardly.
"I overslept…"
Kael returned, calm as ever.
"…Then we're all here."
Izumi followed closely, almost glued to him.
She peeked at Ren.
"…Why does he look like a beast?"
Ren frowned.
"Excuse me?!"
She immediately hid behind Kael.
Rieko sighed.
"Can we not do this right now?"
Yumiko stepped forward.
"Move."
The moment they entered the dungeon, the atmosphere shifted.
Heavy. Suffocating.
"I hope everything goes smoothly…" Rieko whispered.
Yumiko scanned the surroundings carefully.
"A-rank dungeon. One mistake… and we die."
Izumi grabbed Kael's hand tightly.
"…Let's make it out alive."
Ren scoffed.
"Why is she even here?"
Yumiko replied without turning.
"She cleared a B-rank dungeon alone. Don't underestimate her."
Izumi's expression shifted instantly—cold, sharp.
Kael spoke quietly.
"Stay alert."
Ren shrugged.
"Relax. I'm here."
Then—
A massive door appeared before them.
Out of nowhere.
"…Where did that come from?" Rieko whispered.
Kael narrowed his eyes.
"…This might be—"
Yumiko pushed the door open.
Rain poured.
A vast forest stretched endlessly beyond.
Her eyes widened.
"…Dungeon Collision."
Silence.
Kael stepped forward slowly.
"An A-rank collision… Survival rate drops below forty percent."
He walked in.
Without hesitation.
The door vanished behind them.
Now—
They stood in the middle of a rain-soaked forest. Thunder rumbled above. The air reeked of danger.
Yumiko's voice cut through the storm.
"If we want to see the outside world again…"
"…we survive."
Izumi released Kael's hand—her fear gone, replaced by focus.
"Stay together."
Rieko nodded, swallowing her anxiety.
"Right…"
Ren groaned, dragging a hand down his face.
"…Why does this always happen to me?"
Kael stepped ahead, rain sliding down his face—his eyes cold, unwavering.
"…Simple."
A faint smile formed.
"We find the Dungeon Master…"
His voice dropped into something darker.
"…and kill it."
Yumiko stared at the rain-drenched ground, water rippling under every falling drop.
"In this rain, battle will be difficult for us," she said, her tone sharp and calculated.
Izumi nodded, her expression unusually heavy.
"We don't have any other choice."
Kael stepped forward, entering the shadowed forest without hesitation. The canopy swallowed the last traces of light as rain whispered against the leaves.
"Move. We don't have time," he said calmly.
The others followed.
The sound of water dripping echoed around them—steady, almost suffocating. Every step felt louder than it should.
"We have to find them," Ren said, his voice firm, eyes scanning the darkness.
Kael glanced around, his gaze precise.
"We stay together. No one separates. If someone gets lost… it only makes it easier for them to kill us."
A brief silence.
Yumiko nodded once.
"That's right."
Hours passed.
The rain finally stopped, leaving behind a heavy, damp silence. The forest smelled of wet earth and decay.
The five of them stood in the same place—unchanged.
"I don't think there's any monster or beast left here!" Ren suddenly shouted, frustration exploding out of him.
"Stay silent," Yumiko snapped immediately, her voice cutting through the air like a blade.
Ren shut up.
Kael rubbed his chin, thinking.
"It's possible we'll have to stay here for a day. Until we kill the dungeon masters… we can't leave."
Rieko blinked in disbelief.
"A whole day? And how exactly are we supposed to survive without food or water?!"
Izumi pouted dramatically, crossing her arms.
"I refuse. I had multiple romantic novel chapters planned for today. This is a violation of my personal happiness."
Kael glanced at her, then back at the forest.
"Everyone stay here. I'll find food and water."
He turned and began walking away.
Ren stepped forward immediately.
"You can't go alone. What if you're attacked? I'll come with you."
Kael stopped, then looked back—calm, unbothered.
"You stay. Protect them."
A pause.
"I'm not alone."
Rieko frowned, concern flickering in her eyes.
"What do you mean?"
Kael gave a faint smile.
"Manifest."
The air shuddered.
A thick, crimson aura erupted around him—dense, suffocating, almost alive. It coiled like smoke, then split—
And from it, a figure stepped out.
Armor gleamed. A sword shimmered with deadly precision.
Xion.
He walked forward, then dropped to one knee before Kael, head bowed.
"On your command, my Lord."
Izumi's jaw dropped.
"That's AMAZING—he's like a knight!"
Kael turned and continued walking into the forest.
"Follow me, Xion."
"At once, my Lord."
Xion rose instantly and followed, silent and unwavering.
Ren watched them disappear between the trees, confusion written all over his face.
"…Are we sure he's D-rank?"
Yumiko adjusted her glasses, her gaze unreadable.
"According to his documents… yes."
She paused.
"Stay alert."
Deeper in the forest—
Kael walked with exaggerated disappointment, kicking a small rock.
"Maybe there's nothing here… no food, no water… just suffering."
Xion walked beside him, perfectly composed.
"You should not be saddened, my Lord. Flesh and transparent liquid are not worthy of affecting your emotions."
Kael slowly turned his head toward him.
"…You're saying that after eating all the pancakes… and sushi… and ramen this morning?"
Xion froze for half a second.
Then coughed.
"…I understand your concern, my Lord."
He immediately turned away and began scanning the area with intense focus, as if searching for redemption.
Suddenly—
A faint sound.
Water.
Xion's eyes sharpened.
"That is the sound of a water source, my Lord."
Kael smiled slightly.
"Good. Let's go."
At the riverside—
Clear water flowed gently, reflecting the dim light through the trees.
Kael's eyes lit up.
"We've got water… and fish."
He looked proud.
Xion looked at him.
"My Lord… you are vegetarian."
Kael clapped his hands instantly.
"Let's focus on the water."
Xion gave him a long, deadpan stare… then silently walked off.
Moments later, he returned, holding berries and wild mangoes.
"I have secured vegetarian options, my Lord."
Kael nodded approvingly.
"Perfect. Now we have both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food."
Xion glanced down at the fish again.
"I can still catch them."
"…We'll keep that as emotional support."
Kael raised his hand again.
"Manifest."
The air shimmered—
Two figures appeared.
Aurelia instantly wrapped her arms around him from behind.
"My Lord~ did you call me?"
Kael nodded.
"Yes. We have work to do."
Talus stood beside them, holding mangoes.
"Crush… crush…" he muttered enthusiastically.
Kael looked at him.
"You don't need to crush them."
Talus paused.
"…Crush… later."
A while later—
Back at the group—
"I'm back," Kael said calmly.
Aurelia stepped forward, arms full of berries.
"We brought food!"
Talus followed, still gripping mangoes like they were enemies.
"Crush… ready."
Rieko's eyes sparkled.
"Kael, your power is amazing!"
Izumi rushed forward, staring at everything.
"This is incredible! You literally went shopping in a death forest!"
Yumiko adjusted her glasses again, her tone softer now.
"That was… very efficient. Thank you, Kael."
Ren just stared.
"…Yeah, he's definitely not normal."
Aurelia clapped her hands cheerfully.
"Alright! Let's eat!"
Kael looked at the group, calm as ever.
And for the first time since entering the dungeon—
Things felt… under control.