Chapter 32: The Noisy Neighbor (1)

Outside the Dungeon, Container House.

Inside the temporary lounge, Suho and Kim Jinseong sat side by side.

Kim Jinseong’s eyes blazed with competitive spirit as he said, “Next time! I’ll win in a Second-Rank Dungeon, hyung.”

How does one decide who wins or loses?

But suddenly calling me hyung?

‘Is this some kind of show of closeness?’

His words lacked any sense of urgency, making Suho chuckle.

Managing his expression, Suho replied, “Ah, yes. Speak comfortably. But next time, I’ll truly win.”

This… somehow felt like there wasn’t a single character around them worth contesting with.

“Oh, really?”

“By the way, are you a Fire Mage, hyung?”

“No, I’m not.”

“Considering your close combat skills, it’s hard to understand how you could wield such incredible flame magic.”

Instead of a reply, Suho glanced sideways at Balryong.

Balryong was sprawled on the lounge sofa, transparent as ever.

‘That guy. He created a dark history for Nam and is just lying around comfortably?’

We’ll see about that.

As Suho brewed his revenge, the lounge door opened.

Yun Mirae entered.

She was here to report what happened inside the dungeon.

“We’re all going to talk about it anyway, so why bother separating questions… Right, mister?”

Another peculiar character joined the room.

“Yeah.”

“But mister, I have one question. Will you answer if I ask?”

“No.”

“Mister, never mind.”

“Why did you stop your question midway?”

“Because I felt like I shouldn’t ask. Your preferences deserve respect.”

Flame of the Abyss—phew—

Yun Mirae stopped herself from bursting into laughter.

Suho, struggling not to feel embarrassed, multiplied his resentment.

“But mister, you really do run a store, don’t you?”

Yun Mirae shifted the topic quietly.

“Yes, I operate an item store.”

“Really? Then do you sell things at that Watermelon Juice Store? I want to buy something there.”

“It’s not watermelon juice. It’s an energy drink.”

“Whatever it is, how much for one bottle?”

“300,000 won.”

“Oh—good value! I should buy about 100 bottles to store and drink.”

“One can only buy up to 10 bottles per day.”

“Why?”

“Otherwise, it quickly runs out. The stock is limited.”

“Can’t you make an exception for me? Between us?”

“I don’t think we’re that close.”

“Wow—after fighting together, this is how you treat your comrade! That’s harsh, mister!”

While the playful banter went on, the door opened again, and Shin Sunghyun entered.

“I apologize for detaining those who took the lead in dangerous situations. It was a necessary procedure, so please understand.”

Bowing his head, Shin Sunghyun continued.

“I will provide further explanation within your guild, but please do not disclose what happened inside the dungeon to outsiders. You may leave now.”

Kim Jinseong and Yun Mirae stood up.

“Next time, I’ll win, hyung.”

“Mister, I’ll come visit the store!”

The two Hunters left.

Suho didn’t head outside.

“I have to receive what’s due.”

Through this incident, Suho had two things to claim from the Association.

Just as expected, Shin Sunghyun spoke up.

“Won Suho Hunter, would you like to come to the Association with me?”

“Sure. Since my home is near the Association, I’ll just park the car and head straight there.”

“Yes, I’ll wait.”

***

Leaving Balryong at home, Suho headed to the Association.

Soon, he met with Baek Mujin, the Association President.

“This matter was recommended to you because I thought it would help. For a First-Rank Dungeon or higher, difficulties can arise, but I assumed you wouldn’t be left behind.”

Baek Mujin paused to catch his breath before continuing.

“But I didn’t expect something like that to intervene. I’m truly sorry as the Association President and as the senior Hunter who recommended you for this mission. Please accept my sincere apologies.”

After finishing, Baek Mujin stood up and bowed deeply.

“President! That’s too much.”

Even as a living legend in the history of Korean Hunters, Baek Mujin bowing to a rookie Hunter was shocking to the nearby Shin Sunghyun.

However, Baek Mujin waved his hand and stopped Shin Sunghyun.

Suho looked at Baek Mujin silently.

‘Of the two things I was supposed to receive, I got the more difficult one first.’

An apology and compensation.

Among those, the apology seemed the harder to accept.

But Baek Mujin appeared to mean it sincerely.

Suho didn’t bother sharpening his tone.

“I will accept the apology. Honestly, my curiosity is greater than the apology. Why did that person become like that? And what was that ominous aura?”

Magic.

The power wielded by the Demon Tribe who inhabit the Demon Realm.

Tarunga defined it that way.

Yet on Earth.

Even an Association-affiliated Hunter carried magic.

This had to be investigated.

‘Why exactly is magic present on Earth? How much do the Association and the high-ranking Hunters know about magic, and what do they think of it…?’

Suho’s eyes flashed.

Baek Mujin looked at Suho with a heavy expression.

‘How much should I tell you? It’s still early…’

Knowing too much might invite trouble.

Baek Mujin hesitated.

But the conclusion was already decided.

Because the point of contact had already occurred.

Baek Mujin began to reveal the hidden story.

“Since Dungeons appeared, humanity’s enemy isn’t just Monsters.”

“…..”

“The start is unclear, but at some point, that black aura you saw emerged. That aura infects human bodies, turning them into monsters. We call that aura Magic. The beings infected by Magic and transformed into monsters are called ‘Mainira.’”

It was indeed Magic.

And even the name was the same.

Baek Mujin’s voice continued.

“As you saw, Mainira hate humans. They harbor infinite murderous intent toward humans.”

“Yes, Hunter Seo Hyunseok suddenly attacked me as if he’d lost his mind.”

“There are various types of Mainira. Some can’t control the Magic and rampage wildly. Others appear vacant on the surface. The latter are actually much more dangerous.”

While Suho listened silently, Baek Mujin’s voice went on.

“However, among the Mainira, some perfectly control Magic and possess great power. They have gathered several Mainira into organizations. Each operates in different territories, but their goal is one: the annihilation of humanity.”

“Annihilation of humanity? What do they gain from that?”

“Because they are soaked in Magic. It has become their innate nature.”

Controlling his heavy heart, Suho asked.

“Then why did Hunter Seo Hyunseok become a Mainira? And is there no way to stop the movement of Magic?”

“Seo Hyunseok is presumed to have been infected by a Hunter who died after being resurrected in the Dungeon. What you saw was only one of the ways Magic spreads. Even if not consumed by the black mass, there are multiple ways to become a Mainira. For example…”

Baek Mujin explained several methods.

Adding that rooting them out was difficult.

“I see. Then, am I safe?”

“Mainira activity in Korea has been scarce for about ten years now. The number of Mainira is small. They probably won’t target you directly.”

“Are you certain?”

“Think carefully. How grand is their goal? Would they bother singling you out? Even if they harbor grudges this time, you weren’t the only one involved. In fact…”

Baek Mujin’s expression turned worried.

“The Association will be their target. After all, the Association is the main body behind this incident. It almost seems like the whole thing was set up targeting the Association from the start.”

“I see.”

Suho was somewhat convinced.

He was a rookie Hunter.

At least on the surface.

As long as Suho’s secret remained hidden, no one had reason to target him.

Noticing that Suho still carried unease, Baek Mujin added.

“The Blink Scroll I gave you last time—if any trouble arises, use it. It can help you avoid danger once. Come straight to the Association afterward. I will take responsibility and protect you. If you still feel unsafe, I can assign a bodyguard for you.”

A bodyguard? Impossible.

“I don’t need a bodyguard. Then…”

Unable to ask about the Dwarf World or other matters, it was enough for now.

“I want to receive what was promised.”

“All right. There was something I was to give you. Let’s go.”

Baek Mujin stood.

Suho gladly followed.

It was time to receive the Skill Rune.

***

Association Warehouse.

A secluded space deep inside.

There, Suho and Baek Mujin entered.

“You know, there’s no official grade for Skill Runes regulated by the System. They’re all just Skill Runes.”

“Yes, I know.”

“But not all skills have equal value. So Hunters assign value arbitrarily. One rule is that the higher the dungeon rank the skill came from, the stronger its power.”

“Also hard to obtain.”

“Right. Unfortunately, among the Skill Runes stored at the Association, there aren’t any from Fourth-Rank Dungeons or higher. They rarely appear, and when they do, Hunters use them immediately.”

“…I see.”

“Still, there are some from Third-Rank Dungeons. Among them is a skill that suits you well. In fact, that’s why I asked you to take on this mission in the first place.”

Baek Mujin opened a golden box.

Three Skill Runes revealed themselves.

“Pick one.”

Suho quickly stepped forward and checked the skill options.

At that moment, he was certain.

“That’s it! That’s the skill the Association President mentioned!”

Among the three runes, one looked perfectly suited for Suho.

***

On the way home from the Association.

“This is exactly what I needed right now.”

Suho examined the newly acquired skill.

[Haste]

• Increases all caster’s movement speed by 100% for 30 seconds. Cooldown 60 minutes.

The other Skill Runes didn’t even catch his eye as they paled in comparison.

It was [Haste].

“It’s going to mesh perfectly with my Sensory Boost threads.”

His Sensory Boost had increased significantly as he leveled up.

The information he could grasp grew vast and detailed.

He hadn’t yet fully utilized the information gained.

“That’s because my body wasn’t fast enough to respond as I wanted.”

Physical ability.

Especially lacking speed.

‘If I use Haste, I’ll be able to perfectly handle the information from Sensory Boost threads.’

Confidence welled up.

Expectations as well.

Suho’s steps quickened.

Soon he arrived home.

Passing through the store, he headed straight to the back room.

“Ah, finally back. I’m starving for chicken.”

“As soon as I arrive, it’s chicken for the feast, huh.”

Ah, come to think of it, I need to deal with that mutt.

The mutt that made me spit out a chuunibyo line.

‘Time for revenge.’

As Suho narrowed his eyes with a grim look, Balryong unexpectedly spoke.

“Bring the chicken at once. I must watch the fight. The fight of insignificant creatures is the best entertainment.”

“What? A fight?”

Suho’s eyes followed Balryong’s gaze.

The dwarf was rummaging inside a suitcase.

A bad feeling arose.

As Suho thought so—

[Emergency Mission Occurred!]

[Emergency Mission Occurred!]

[Dimensional Mission: Beast Invasion acquired.]

[Please hurry and check the mission details!]

“Damn it! Hurry!”

There was no time to waste.

With resolve, Suho naturally activated his skill.

‘Haste!’

In an instant, Suho was enveloped by a strange sensation he had never felt before.

‘Did the world stop?’

The information from Sensory Boost threads arrived rapidly.

The accelerated Suho analyzed each piece of data.

Thanks to this, he could monitor the surroundings as if the world had frozen.

Just as expected, an amazing synergy.

But—

‘I have to hurry!’

There was no time to enjoy this miraculous feeling.

Boom—

Kicking off the wooden floor, Suho sprinted.

In the blink of an eye, he reached the suitcase.

He looked inside.

There was a beast.

‘A bear!’

A massive bear about ten times the size of Bobby.

It was wading across the river heading toward Bobby’s house.

Bobby was fighting it.

Either Bobby had thrown it or something.

An Iron Wood Fragment was lodged in the distant bear’s shoulder.

‘The bear is about to do something!’

It wasn’t a normal bear; a faint magical power began emanating from it.

Without hesitation, Suho drew his Flame Thorn Magic Sword.

Grrrrr—!

The bear roared.

Its fur bristled.

Pfu-kak-kak-kak—

Fur arrows shot out sharply, filling the sky.

Bobby shut his eyes tight.

“Dying like this is the worst. What about our babies?”

He couldn’t leave the baby Vivianis alone.

They had to survive.

But there was no way.

Memories of life flashed through Bobby’s mind like a shadow lantern.

Bobby recalled the giant but warm and thankful hand from his memories.

“Suho, please protect the babies.”

Remembering the baby Vivianis he had evacuated to the riverbank, Bobby prepared for the end.

Then—

Titi-titing—

The bear’s fur arrows were intercepted and deflected by a large blade.

“No!”

Startled, Bobby opened his eyes just as a voice rang out.

“Bobby, go take care of the babies first. Leave this to me.”

Wiping tears with river water, Bobby shouted back.

“Thank you! I’ll leave them to you!”

Splash—

As Bobby plunged into the river, Suho mercilessly swung his sword.

“I don’t know if you’re a monster or what…”

Slash—

The blade plunged into the bear’s body.

“If you touch my family, I won’t stay still!”

With a powerful strike, Suho slammed his sword down on the riverbank.

Crack—!

The bear, skewered like a spear, collapsed.

Fsssh—

The bear’s corpse dissipated like smoke and disappeared.

“Huh? Disappeared?”

Suho was puzzled when a message appeared.

[Dimensional Mission: Beast Invasion complete.]

[Unique Skill [Dimensional Sight (Lower)] acquired.]

[Dimensional Mission: Beast Invasion linked to [The Noisy Neighbor].]