They didn't stop running until they were outside the dungeon entrance, gasping for breath in the relatively fresh air. The sky was a bruised purple, hinting at an approaching storm. Tae-hyun leaned against a nearby tree, his legs trembling. The adrenaline was wearing off, leaving him with a bone-deep exhaustion.
"What... what was that thing?" Kim Sang-shik stammered, his face pale. "That roar... it sounded like something out of a nightmare."
Tae-hyun didn't answer. He was too busy berating himself. He had been so focused on copying Kim Sang-shik's ability that he had ignored the obvious warning signs. He had let his curiosity and greed cloud his judgment. Now, they were both in serious trouble.
"We need to report this," Kim Sang-shik said, his voice regaining some of its authority. "To the Association. They need to know about the hidden dungeon."
"And tell them what?" Tae-hyun retorted, pushing himself off the tree. "That we stumbled upon a high-level dungeon while trying to clear a C-Rank goblin den? That we ran away screaming like little girls?" He knew he was being harsh, but he was projecting his own self-loathing onto Kim Sang-shik.
"We don't have a choice," Kim Sang-shik insisted. "This is bigger than us. People could get hurt."
Tae-hyun sighed. He knew Kim Sang-shik was right. But he dreaded the inevitable investigation, the endless questioning, the scrutiny of his meager abilities. He preferred to remain invisible, a ghost in the shadows of the Awakened world.
"Fine," he said, relenting. "But we tell them everything. No holding back. And we emphasize the fact that we immediately retreated upon discovering the hidden dungeon."
They drove back to Seoul in tense silence, the oppressive atmosphere in the car mirroring the storm brewing outside. Kim Sang-shik dropped Tae-hyun off near his apartment building, a dilapidated structure in a less-than-desirable neighborhood.
"I'll call the Association," Kim Sang-shik said, his voice subdued. "Try to get some rest, Tae-hyun. You look like you've seen a ghost."
Tae-hyun nodded, offering a curt farewell. He watched as Kim Sang-shik's car disappeared down the street before turning and heading inside.
His apartment was small and sparsely furnished, reflecting his minimalist lifestyle. A futon on the floor served as his bed, a rickety table as his desk, and a small kitchenette held the bare necessities. He tossed his bag onto the futon and collapsed onto a chair, running a hand through his messy hair.
He needed to think. To plan. He knew that the discovery of the hidden dungeon would have far-reaching consequences. The Association would mobilize, sending in high-ranked Hunters to investigate. And if they found anything truly dangerous... well, things could get ugly.
He pulled out his phone and scrolled through his contacts. He didn't have many friends, and even fewer that he trusted. But there was one person he could confide in, one person who always seemed to see through his cynical exterior.
Sung Jin-Ah.
He met her a few months ago at a small café near his apartment. He had been working on deciphering his system's requirements, scribbling notes in a worn notebook, when she had approached him, drawn by his unusual intensity. They had struck up a conversation, and despite his initial reservations, he found himself drawn to her bright personality and genuine empathy.
He knew that Sung Jin-Woo, her older brother, was also a hunter. An E-Rank at that, so he knew that they came from similar backgrounds. That was what made him feel safe around her, which was rare for Tae-hyun.
He hesitated for a moment before tapping her number. He rarely called her, preferring to communicate through text messages. He didn't want to burden her with his problems. But he needed someone to talk to.
The phone rang twice before she answered.
"Tae-hyun-ssi? Is that you? What's wrong? You never call." Her voice was filled with concern.
Tae-hyun winced. He hadn't meant to alarm her. "Hey, Jin-Ah. Sorry to bother you. I just... I had a rough day. Needed to talk to someone."
"Of course," she said, her voice softening. "What happened?"
He hesitated again, unsure of how much to tell her. He didn't want to involve her in the dangerous world of Hunters. But he trusted her. He had to.
He took a deep breath and started to explain, carefully omitting the details about his system and the abilities he had copied. He told her about the dungeon raid, the hidden passage, the monstrous roar.
As he spoke, he could feel her worry growing. "Tae-hyun-ssi, that sounds terrifying. Are you okay? Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine," he assured her. "Just shaken up. But... I'm worried about what's going to happen next. The Association will send Hunters in there, and... I don't know. It feels like something bad is about to happen."
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line. Then, Jin-Ah spoke, her voice firm and reassuring. "Don't worry, Tae-hyun-ssi. You're not alone. I'm here for you. And... I'll talk to my brother. Maybe he can help."
Tae-hyun's heart sank. He didn't want to involve Sung Jin-Woo. He knew the guy was a weak E-Rank Hunter, barely able to survive a goblin raid. He didn't want him getting caught up in something dangerous.
"No, Jin-Ah," he said quickly. "Don't. It's too dangerous. I don't want you or your brother getting involved."
"But Tae-hyun-ssi..."
"Please, Jin-Ah. Just... just be careful. And stay safe."
He ended the call abruptly, before she could argue further. He knew he was being irrational, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something terrible was about to happen. And he didn't want anyone he cared about to get hurt.
He stood up and walked over to the window, gazing out at the stormy sky. The rain was starting to fall, a steady, relentless downpour that mirrored the turmoil in his mind.
Suddenly, his system chimed, pulling him from his thoughts.
New Candidate Ability: 'Unwavering Support'
Ability Copy Requirements:
• Witness the user offer genuine support despite personal risk.
• Experience a surge of protective instinct towards the user.
• Repair an item belonging to the user that holds significant sentimental value.
Tae-hyun stared at the system message, his mind reeling. 'Unwavering Support'? What kind of ability was that? And repair an item? What item? He barely knew Jin-Ah.
He knew one thing: he needed to protect her. He couldn't let her get involved in this mess. He had to find a way to keep her safe, even if it meant sacrificing his own well-being.
A fierce determination hardened his features. He wouldn't let the hidden dungeon claim another victim. He would do whatever it took to protect Sung Jin-Ah, even if it meant facing his deepest fears and confronting the darkness that lurked within the depths of the dungeon.
The storm raged outside, but inside Tae-hyun's apartment, a different kind of storm was brewing. A storm of resolve, of determination, and of a growing protectiveness towards the kind-hearted girl who had managed to break through his cynical shell. And maybe, just maybe, he would learn to trust someone, even in a world as treacherous as this.