After the meal, inside the hollow of the tree.
"You weren't joking when you said you wouldn't eat bad food."
"Why should I eat bad food?"
Having just finished organizing the ingredients, Sergio responded with a serious tone.
"As long as I'm in charge of this team's meals, there will be no such thing as a lousy dish."
"You're kind of scary when you don't smile, Sergio Hunter. I didn't realize."
"That's why I smile a lot, isn't it?"
"I also didn't expect you to be such a big eater. I mean, you pulled out a pot the size of a person's torso."
"And who was it that scraped the bottom of that pot clean?"
"I meant to say it was amazing. Really, thank you."
"I'm just glad you enjoyed the meal."
Gio looked past the vine-covered entrance.
"Anyway, looks like morning came again."
"It was evening when we were eating..."
Just as the rumors said, the dungeon's environment was erratic. As Sanarae complained, Healer Jeong Yeong-Won added while cleaning the hollow.
"They really weren't kidding about the fake sun and moon appearing randomly."
"You were observing even while we were eating. Did you figure anything out?"
"It seems the daylight period is significantly longer than the moonlight period."
"And when the moon comes out at night, the temperature drops a lot, right?"
"It's not exactly a typical day-night difference, but yes, the temperature swings are extreme in this dungeon."
"Weak people would catch a cold in here."
"Likely, yes."
Though, a weak person wouldn't be in a dungeon to begin with.
'...His way of thinking is definitely not human. Too strange—it's almost eerie.'
It was just some outdated nonsense from someone who didn't fear dungeons, but as a gardener, she didn't think that far. After finishing all the cleaning, Jeong Yeong-Won called everyone over.
"Using what I observed briefly before the meal and what Honey scouted during our meal, I've organized the information. Most of it aligns with what was in the Temple of the Sun's previous raid data."
One key example was the behavior of dungeon monsters.
"There are monsters that move under the sun and those that move under the moon. Monsters active during the day fall into a dazed state at night, and vice versa—those active at night grow violent once it's dark."
"I think I saw that in the materials the temple distributed."
"Yes. But here's what we additionally discovered. Day monsters never group up. They each wander around busily, searching for something. On the other hand, night monsters—once it gets dark—they gather and move as a group toward a specific location..."
She pointed proudly to Honey, who puffed up with pride.
"Honey found that for us. And Sergio helped interpret it."
"Kurrururururur."
"I think he's asking for praise. Let's give him a hand, everyone."
"Kuuuk."
Clap clap clap clap...
A half-hearted round of applause followed.
"So, Sergio Hunter, can you understand the language of monsters? I've heard some veteran tamers can do that. If you interpreted what that waterbird brought back..."
"We communicate. Like a couple at a restaurant exchanging glances to ask for a napkin."
"Ah, so it's a bond. I've only heard about tamers before—seeing it in person is quite the experience. And I didn't expect such a cute monster to actually exist."
"Our Honey is indeed adorable."
After a bit of small talk, Jeong Yeong-Won continued.
"Honey is impressively capable. I was worried due to his small size, but that turned out to be unnecessary. He managed to track where the night monsters were heading. I think we should investigate that location first."
"Oh, so they were heading to a specific spot?"
"That's what it looks like so far. And in a place like this, with dense vegetation, only a small flying monster could really track them. With Sergio's help, it worked out. But for ordinary humans, it would've been near impossible."
She turned to Garasani, the eldest among them.
"Should we inform the other teams about this?"
"We should deliver the information, but have our team act alone."
"If whatever it is is sensitive to human numbers, bringing a crowd would only backfire."
"On that note, maybe we shouldn't inform Haryeong at all."
Sanarae, from Haryeong, grinned.
"Ouch. That's discrimination, huh? Just because you're the big corps, now you're flexing your power?"
"Haryeong members tend to charge in the moment they think a good fight's available. If they assume there's a dangerous monster, someone might act rashly."
"We're not that much of a wrecking crew. That's a pretty narrow view."
"It may be narrow, but Haryeong has given us plenty of reasons to think so. Still, I agree it's not entirely fair, so I'll leave the decision to you, since you're from Haryeong."
"Well now, how am I supposed to raid in this oppressive atmosphere?"
Sanarae turned to Sergio.
"What do you think?"
"Telling them might be fun."
"...Fun, huh?"
"Give it a try."
"..."
"Go on, try it."
After hesitating, Sanarae averted his gaze.
"I'll pass."
"That's your decision, Sanarae Hunter."
Gio smiled.
"I plan to follow Garasani's judgment completely."
"Why, that's an honor,"
Garasani replied with a soft laugh, like a grandpa hearing his grandchild say they're the best in the world.
"We don't know when the sun will vanish again. When night falls, the poisonous plants become harder to avoid. And while the number of monsters decreases, they become far more aggressive. We should move to the location Honey confirmed while visibility is still good."
Thus, the proper exploration began.
***
The A-rank dungeon Quadrupedal Underground Rainforest showed surprising signs of human presence.
"Is that... a villa?"
"More like a mansion, maybe?"
"I guess this was a dimension that collapsed, too."
Jeong Yeong-Won muttered,
"Well, I suppose just because a dimension collapsed doesn't mean humans had to be here..."
"I don't think this was in any of the documentation."
"You'd have to look really hard to even find this place."
"Thick trees and vines make it feel like it's hidden deep inside."
"And it's in such ruins that it's hard to recognize the original shape."
One teammate asked,
"Should we go take a look?"
"It's better to move faster while it's still daylight..."
"If humans lived here, there might be useful items."
"Good point."
Hunters always kept an eye out for loot. Sure, you could sell monster parts, but you could make real money by scavenging relics or gear from other dimensions.
"Let's just hope there aren't traps or curses."
Their main healer, Jeong Yeong-Won, said with her typical porcelain-doll expression.
"Poison, you can flush out of the body. But curses often cling to the soul, so they're more troublesome. Be cautious—night could fall at any moment."
"Don't worry. You know our guild. Daecheong likes safe paths."
"If anyone was poisoned during the approach, please let me know now. You all said you were fine earlier, but some poisons have delayed effects."
"So far, so good. Though I'm a bit thirsty..."
"Alright, then let's carefully go in. It's heavily damaged and unstable. And something dangerous might be lurking."
As her sentence trailed off, Gio sent Honey ahead.
"Honey."
"Kurruk!"
The small-bodied Honey slipped inside the ruin and returned quickly. Flapping his tail feathers, he signaled everything was clear.
"No traps, it seems."
"What about toxic plants?"
"There are weeds and trees growing through the cracks, but that's unavoidable."
"That's manageable. Let's head in."
The ruins, estimated to have been five stories tall at one point, clearly belonged to someone wealthy. Among the vegetation, gold and gems peeked out. The team scavenged bit by bit while exploring.
"Most of it's collapsed. Only the first and third floors are accessible. Second floor has totally caved in, and the third looks ready to crumble too... Are we really going up there?"
At that, Sanarae wrinkled his nose.
"Why does it smell so awful here?"
"Huh? Are you okay, Sanarae Hunter?"
"It's stinging my nose..."
"Wait—do you think it's poison?"
"Doesn't smell like it... Probably just a lot of dust."
"Might not be a bad idea to step out."
One member suggested,
"Let's send only a few lightweight people up."
"Lightweight, huh..."
Sanarae looked at Jeong Yeong-Won.
"Are you light?"
"In actual mass, I'd weigh less than the rest of you."
She was small-framed and the only woman in the team.
"But I'm not exactly agile. I can protect myself, but climbing those unstable hallways is probably out of the question."
"Hm, I see."
"Sanarae Hunter, you're much more physically adept. I imagine you could go up and come back down without trouble."
"If I go up, the whole thing will come crashing down."
At his sulky expression, Gio smiled brightly.
"You're very talented at nonsense."
"Oh, you picking a fight?"
"That was pure admiration."
"People don't usually admire like that."
"People also don't usually lie as easily as they breathe."
"Why assume I'm lying?"
"I suppose you might not be. My apologies."
"...No, wait—"
"I'll go."
Gio stepped onto the broken staircase.
"I'm good at things like this."
And... there wasn't even a creak from the stairs.
"See?"
"...How did you do that? It's completely silent."
As the Daecheong hunter stared, another teammate muttered,
"He's probably using a skill."
"Ah, like some kind of lightweight passive."
"Sorry, he's new to the business."
"If I offended you—"
Gio waved his hand.
"It's fine. I'll check quickly and come right back."
"Yes, please do."
And soon, Sergio vanished from sight.
"..."
"..."
A strange quiet fell over the group.
"...There's not even a single sound."
"No presence at all."
It wasn't just the Daecheong hunters who felt that way.
"...?"
Sanarae wrinkled his nose.
'...No scent.'
He hadn't consciously noticed it before, but the cool, sweet scent he remembered from the hotel ballroom was gone.
Even with stealth skills, hiding a scent was odd.
'Especially so suddenly?'
Or... had his nose finally gone numb?
"..."
"...Hmm..."
Glancing at the unreadable faces of Garasani and Jeong Yeong-Won, Sanarae suddenly grinned.
"Guess I'll go up too."
"Didn't you say earlier you wouldn't?"
"Since Garasani Hunter put it that way, now I have to."
"That's quite the twisted mindset."
"I just don't like leaving a teammate alone."
Without waiting for a response, Sanarae climbed the stairs.
Creak.
"Whoop."
They really were badly decayed.
"Sorry, stairs are falling apart."
"Gah! Cough cough!"
"Watch the dust."
"You already kicked up all the dust!"
"Poor guy. Should've been more careful."
He waved lightly and soon reached the third floor.
'This area's in better shape than the stairs.'
The floor might still collapse with one wrong step, but it was better than those crumbly stairs.
He looked around.
'Where's Sergio Hunter...?'
And then—
"..."
A waterfall of blood.
"...Uh..."
"..."
"...?"
No—platinum hair.
And a picture frame behind the man's back.
"...Sergio Hunter?"
"You came."
He didn't turn to show his face.
"There's an interesting painting here. I was admiring it."
"Interesting painting?"
"Yes."
He turned, and what looked at him—
Smiled.
"There's a peaceful landscape painting, you see."
-x-X-x-
Controlling the body was easy enough.
'Because I still have memories from when I was Argio.'
But the abandoned house was in an extremely dilapidated state, and it looked as if it might collapse with the slightest pressure. In that case, it seemed better to ascend to the mansion in a way that wouldn't place any burden on it at all.
That was why Gio had used the portrait to arrive on the third floor.
"..."
"..."
Sanarae, who had been staring at Gio, asked with his signature smiling face.
"A landscape painting?"
"Yes, it's right here."
"A picture of the hut."
"Doesn't it look nice?"
"It does look nice."
"Is that so."
Giovanni, ever the master of social graces, managed his expression effortlessly.
"I didn't expect you to come up this quickly."
"You don't look particularly surprised though?"
"I sensed you coming up."
It wasn't a lie.
'I sensed it right as I stepped out of the frame, that's all.'
Knowing that Sanarae had a bit of a contrarian streak, Gio had considered the possibility that he might come up on his own if left alone. Still, he had come up faster than expected, and Gio missed the timing to remove the portrait.
'I needed a little time to manage my expression.'
That was why Gio had kept his gaze fixed on the portrait-turned-landscape painting instead of turning to Sanarae right away. In any case, it seemed he hadn't been caught—at least not as the portrait—and that was a relief.
Though if he had been found out, that would've led to its own kind of entertainment...
"Shall we take a look around the third floor together?"
"Mm, that was the plan."
"It would've been better if we'd come up together from the start."
"Well, Hunter Sergio was so quiet, I got worried."
"I have a fairly decent stealth skill."
"That's what everyone seems to think."
"Do you not think so, Hunter Sanarae?"
"No, I think so too."
With a smile, Sanarae pointed to the three or so rooms on the third floor.
"Haven't looked in here yet?"
"I just came up to the third floor myself."
"Then let's go together. Oh, how reassuring."
Maybe his claim that the dust in the mansion hurt his nose was true—Sanarae was surprisingly cooperative when it came to searching the ruins. On the third floor too, they mostly found gold and gemstones.
Hunter Sanarae looked a little disappointed.
"Would've been nice if there were actual items."
"Gold and jewels aren't enough for you?"
"Better to have gear that can actually be used, rather than pretty minerals."
"You're greedy."
"More like a liar."
"Hmm, Pinocchio?"
"Not exactly fond of that nickname..."
Clink.
A rusted metal jewelry box snapped shut.
"Just more jewels here too."
"Don't hunters like accessories like these? Jewels that only look pretty on the outside?"
"Hunters who've made it to an A-class dungeon don't usually care for basic loot like this."
"And why is that?"
"..."
Sanarae looked at Gio and continued.
"They're not worth much. Sure, they might be of some help to ordinary citizens, but we're fairly high-ranked hunters. After coming all this way, we want a real payday."
"I've heard glass is quite valuable."
"That's because it can be melted down and used to craft equipment or items. It takes a lot of work to make, and increasing the clarity costs a lot too. That's why, out of all jewels, glass is especially expensive."
"Don't these gemstones melt?"
The ones I painted do.
'Maybe because they're made of paint?'
Gio continued.
"As far as I know, gold and silver melt quite easily. Am I mistaken?"
"...Of course, you can make equipment from gold and silver too, but the upper limits are much lower than with glass. Their nature is too rigid, so they're not as flexible for diverse equipment."
"Thank you for the kind and detailed explanation."
"Especially since hunters' incomes can't be sustained on just gems or trinkets. If you want equipment that'll actually save your life, it costs a fortune. There are tons of hunters out there selling their land deeds or house deeds just to afford gear."
"Oh dear."
Gio let out a small exclamation and asked,
"Thank you for the detailed explanation. You're not getting irritated because I'm too much of a 'young master,' are you?"
"Well, are you actually a young master?"
"In some sense, you may have hit the nail on the head... but I wasn't exactly raised that delicately."
"Is that so? That's unexpected."
"Do you dislike me?"
Gio smiled.
"That's not it, is it?"
"It's a weird thing to say, but..."
With a flat expression that conveyed no emotion, Sanarae spoke in an everyday tone.
"Hunter Sergio, you seem older than you look."
"How old do I look to you?"
"Your profile says 29, doesn't it? Is that wrong?"
"It's correct."
"But you seem older than that."
"I didn't expect to be hit with such a painful comment just because I don't keep up with trends."
"...It happens."
They finished searching the abandoned house room by room, eventually arriving at the innermost room.
"This must've been the bedroom."
There was a broken bed frame in such poor condition it was hard to recognize, and a large portrait of a woman. Even that was so decayed that it was barely recognizable as female—rotting and crumbling just like the mansion itself.
A haunted portrait... one that evoked an odd sense of kinship.
'Oh, another portrait.'
Hello there, fellow painting.
'...They say all kinds of crazy things happen in dungeons, but I've yet to see another haunted painting like me. This one just looks like a regular old ruined portrait. Poor thing.'
Gio, who loved painting and was a painting himself, felt a very human sense of pity.
'How sad.'
It looked like it might be restorable with some effort.
"..."
"Hunter Sergio?"
"Yes, go ahead."
"Is there something about that portrait?"
"Nothing in particular."
"Then why do you keep staring at it?"
"Is that not allowed?"
"Talk to me, would you?"
"Yes."
Only then did Gio shift his gaze toward Sanarae.
"What is it?"
"..."
Sanarae only smiled gently.
"..."
Around that time, the sunset spilled in, and with the pressure in the air and the fittingly eerie atmosphere, Gio grew nervous.
He felt like he was standing in front of some lunatic—someone who'd be joking one second and start a shooting rampage the next. The sun set quickly and the house went dark, doubling the fear.
'...What did I do wrong?'
He instinctively realized something was off. That kind of stare meant one of two things: flirtation or war. And this was clearly the latter.
And then Gio realized—
'Ah, this.'
This was the same atmosphere as when Yoo Seong-Woon and Joo-Hyun scolded him.
"...Did I do something weird?"
"Who knows?"
"Did I scare you?"
"Not sure."
"Then I'll apologize for everything."
Flustered, Gio asked,
"Would you like something sweet?"
"..."
"Doesn't seem like you're a fan."
He had offered sweets at this odd moment hoping the absurdity might lighten the mood, but didn't get much of a reaction.
Gio patted the sweet chocolate cookie he always kept with him.
'You're a good cookie.'
It wasn't the cookie's fault. It had simply ended up with the wrong owner.
"..."
"..."
And then he felt a little wronged.
"Don't people normally admire portraits?"
"They do."
"Then why are you glaring at me like that?"
"...'Glaring'? You really use the strangest expressions."
"Was that weird?"
"You just keep using everyday words, even in this kind of situation."
Sanarae smiled that familiar smile.
"You're scary."
"Am I?"
Is he teasing me again?
"Then tell me why."
"You'd fix it if I did?"
"So I won't repeat the same mistake."
"Eh, I don't feel like it. I think Hunter Sergio could afford a few more mistakes."
"I don't like this kind of atmosphere. I want to do better."
"That's why I think it's okay if you don't."
"I don't understand why you're saying that."
So what mistake did I make this time?
'Can't I even look at a portrait now?'
He felt so wronged he wanted to start hand-writing a formal complaint. Everyone else could do this kind of thing just fine, so why was it terrifying only when he did it?
"You're making fun of me. You're a cruel one."
"I know you're not saying that out of anger."
Sanarae added,
"I just thought that was the most fitting thing to say, don't you?"
At that, Gio thought,
'Humans are supposed to run their words through a filter in the brain first.'
But he knew Sanarae hadn't said that out of thoughtlessness. Gio realized the real issue with the current situation—it was something that had followed him all his life.
"I know I give off a frightening impression. People often misunderstand me."
He'd met more than a few people who acted like they'd seen a ghost whenever he spoke.
"That's why I made an effort to smile, but... it wasn't effective, was it?"
"It probably works well for most people."
"Then what is it you're trying to say, Hunter Sanarae?"
"That the more I learn, the more scared I get."
Gio was baffled.
"What do you know, Hunter Sanarae?"
What do you know about me?
'How long have you even seen my face, and you already "know" so much?'
Even Yoo Seong-Woon, the first friend Gio made after becoming a haunted painting, had never said that.
"I don't think we're that close..."
"So only close people are allowed to know things?"
"In most relationships, yes."
"Were you offended?"
"What exactly are you afraid of?"
Pretending to be calm, but clearly nervous. Gio couldn't understand how things had gotten to this point. If this continued, he'd have to either get a new face or live with a metal mask.
'But even then, the world would still find me scary.'
It was a hard time to live in, being someone with a scary face.
"You shouldn't treat a perfectly normal person like a ghost, Hunter Sanarae."
"Then why were you staring at that portrait for so long?"
"I felt sorry for it."
"..."
Sanarae looked like he had more to say, then smiled again—his eyes curved into crescent moons.
"What do you like, Hunter Sergio?"
It was a bizarrely out-of-context question, but Gio understood. Crazy people often changed topics out of nowhere. And Giovanni, the ever-kind priest of the people, respected the diversity of human conversation.
"I like food that's delicious and filling."
"Were you a starving ghost...?"
"I don't think I've ever been possessed."
"Nothing else?"
"I like kind people."
"Oh, this is bad."
Gio had been right.
"I'm not about to get eaten or anything, am I?"
"As I've said before, human flesh probably tastes awful."
"See, that's not exactly comforting..."
Sanarae had been scared.
For quite a while now.
***
By the time the two left the mansion, the sun had risen again.
"You're back. Any noteworthy findings?"
"Mostly accessories."
"No special effects, I see. Understood."
Garasani, who had been waiting for Gio, continued.
"There was a message while you two were upstairs."
"From another team?"
"Yes. They're asking for any available healers to gather."
This team had two healers: Jeong Yeong-Won and Sergio. Garasani checked the tracking equipment and said,
"Fortunately, they're quite nearby."
"Is it injuries? Poison?"
"I heard they ran into a swarm of monsters."
"Likely both, then."
Gio smiled. He could tell what Garasani wanted to say. Maybe this was why his attempt to make dried fruit had failed earlier.
"I believe I can be of help."
Have you ever heard of a blood dumpling crafted by three suns?
-x-X-x-
Joo-Hyun used to say:
"If you want to convincingly imitate a human being—"
"Imitate? Do you want to see a crying portrait? It'd be your first time, right?"
"Don't start sobbing just yet, Mr. Gio. I'm not done talking."
He was worried this scatterbrained portrait might return as a half-baked god beyond human reckoning. Anyone who's seen what so-called evil gods do for fun would get a rough idea of where it leads.
"Instead of taking action yourself, use items."
Joo-Hyun truly worried about Gio.
"Don't get frustrated and jump in, only to create some weird fanatic. Just listen to me."
"I am a pure sun that does not deal in fanaticism."
"You're not filled with just the sun, are you? Right? I have more experience in life than you do, Mr. Gio."
"If we count everything, I've lived longer."
"Okay, I said that wrong. At the very least, I understand what counts as 'normal' better than you do."
"Can't argue with that."
Gio gave a double thumbs-up.
"I lack social awareness."
"I don't think it's just that. Yoo Seong-Woon told me some things."
Joo-Hyun asked, full of concern.
"You once carved out a sea tunnel in a dungeon called 'The Nation of the Deep,' right?"
"I was told it wasn't illegal. I stand falsely accused."
"I'm not scolding you. So keep listening. They say you made stairs instead of a slide—is that true?"
"Well, of course I made stairs. Think about it, Miss Joo-Hyun. If I made a slide with that kind of insane depth, the acceleration would kill someone."
"I appreciate your concern for human life, but humans don't carve stairways through the sea just because they don't want to die. Especially not in dungeons."
"I understand what you're worried about."
Gio nodded.
"But I've lived on Earth for 29 whole years. Please believe in me."
"You're in this state after 29 years, so how am I supposed to believe in you?"
"Shall I show you a crying portrait?"
"If you want to stop pretending to be human, feel free to keep saying things like that."
"..."
It wasn't exactly pretending, but there was a sting of truth to it. Gio quietly shut his mouth. Joo-Hyun nodded in appreciation and continued.
"But it's not like you're someone who can just sit by and ignore human affairs."
"What do you mean by that?"
"My trust in you hit rock bottom the moment I found out people called you the 'smiling tyrant of the seaside village.' Isn't that right, you mercy-bombing maniac?"
"Mercy-bombing?"
"I know you're not one to sit still, so let me offer one piece of advice."
Joo-Hyun said solemnly:
"Don't get directly involved."
"And use items instead?"
Gio looked disheartened.
"I'm broke. I don't have any items."
"Amazingly enough, your entire hut—down to the last drop of water—is made of items."
"Please don't belittle my peaceful and cozy hut."
"You know exactly what it is and are just playing dumb. So I'll keep talking. Use your items."
Joo-Hyun offered sincere advice.
"That way, you at least have some room to make excuses later. Remember, during the necromancy incident, the only reason you weren't treated like some divine figure was because Dana served as a buffer between you and everyone else."
"So what would I be explaining afterward?"
"That you're human. If you start throwing around miracles just because humans look amusing or pitiful to you again, don't. And if you absolutely must, at least make sure there are no witnesses."
"Are you suggesting I eliminate witnesses? That's... quite fascinating."
"Don't bring out Argio just for moments like this, Gio. I'm being serious. Even if the Collector's Guild is a corporate powerhouse, it's difficult to keep things under wraps when this many people are involved. Especially since this is an event hosted by the Church of the Sun."
"I'll behave."
And Joo-Hyun never once said he trusted him. He was a truly meticulous man.
***
But even a meticulous man like Joo-Hyun had overlooked something.
"Th-The bleeding stopped?"
"What? I... I feel warm again."
"...My organs are healing."
He should've placed a limit on the type and number of Gio's items as well.
Severed arms reattached, lost flesh and organs regenerated, cursed bleeding wounds were instantly sealed, and the half-dead regained body heat and tasted miracles akin to resurrection.
The culprit behind it all: Gio's blood dumplings.
"..."
About seven had been scattered.
"..."
"...Ngh..."
Gio saw, in the distance, Priest Kang Seodam covering his face with both hands, trying to stifle sobs.
"P-Priest, please don't cry! Everyone's recovered...!"
"I... I didn't expect Priest Kang Seodam to be so worried..."
"I didn't realize how deeply he cared..."
Despite the warm gratitude and comfort pouring in from the others, Gio felt like the sorrow radiating from Kang Seodam had only grown stronger. It wasn't just his imagination—the priest wasn't recovering well.
Even Gio, who normally ignored the stares of others, couldn't pretend not to notice this time. He slowly slid over to Garasani's side.
And whispered,
"I think I made a pretty big mistake."
"I'll say it was a Collector's item. Don't worry."
"Thank you."
Gio thought to himself,
'How do you write a self-reflection essay again...'
He was more used to receiving such things than writing them. But in the face of such a colossal mistake, things like pride or dignity were flung into the abyss of dark matter. Gio preemptively apologized to Joo-Hyun.
'I'll write and send him a letter when I have time later.'
It would be a pretty letter, one that the recipient wouldn't even read, but better to have something than nothing. Sensing people approaching, Gio looked up.
"U-Um, Priest...?"
"I'm not a priest."
"Ah, right. Hunter."
"You haven't fully recovered yet. Wouldn't it be better to lie down a bit longer?"
"No. After receiving such a precious gift... how could I just lie there...?"
The hunter, who had just come back from the brink of literal death, was teary-eyed with emotion. Gio wanted to bury his head inside a frame. It was overwhelmingly awkward.
"H-How could you give us such an elixir...?"
"Ah, that medicine..."
At that moment, Gio realized something.
'Saying it's a Collector's item won't cut it.'
He tried to bluff it, but the atmosphere didn't allow for it.
The Collector's Guild wasn't known for handing out valuable items as charity. And anyone could see that the owner of these blood dumplings was Sergio.
"..."
Giovanni decided to just trust in his holiness and go with a bold-faced lie.
"...I named the medicine 'Blood Dumpling.'"
"Blood Dumpling?"
"Yes. It's a dumpling crafted from medicinal herbs I found with the help of the god I serve. I was lucky enough to stumble upon an herb colony in a place the Sun guided me to, and I prepared it before coming to the dungeon."
"Unbelievable..."
"To be honest, I wasn't sure what effects it would have. But seeing the herbs, I thought they'd help with clotting and recovery, so I made it just in case. Never imagined I'd have to use it like this."
Gio drew a cross across his chest with a saintly expression.
"This too must be the Sun's will. The divine one I love and revere must have wished for this expedition's success. I merely followed the will of my god. So please, direct all gratitude—not to me—but to the Sun."
There were too many holes and questions in the story. But the sheer sincerity in Priest Giovanni's voice, paired with his melancholy appearance, made the hunters accept it.
"Come to think of it, the Collector's Guild only joined shortly before deployment..."
"So that's it. Hunter Sergio's divine power must've pushed him to participate."
"This expedition is being supported by two Suns!"
"Right. Without divine help, we wouldn't have survived this."
Too tired to think deeply, the people were easily swept up in emotion. Of course, there were still some with doubts—but even those soon faded as the crowd self-managed the story.
"Wait, wasn't Hunter Sergio a tamer?"
"Idiot, it's not just priests who can serve a god."
"Oh... didn't know that."
"Yeah, it's rare though."
"Even priests rarely get chosen by a god... but a tamer?"
"At this point, isn't he basically a saint? Must be super loved."
"But if he's not from the Church of the Sun... does that mean it's a different Sun?"
"Seoul's Church of the Sun is probably not thrilled."
Being battle-hardened hunters, they quickly became lively again after recovering. Gio watched the resilient humans, then leaned toward Garasani and whispered:
"How long do you think this will last?"
"If the Collector steps in, quite a while."
"I'll think of a more stable cover once we're back. But please, help me with this one."
"You don't even need to ask."
Technically speaking, Gio's excuse wasn't completely impossible. Just extremely rare—once-in-a-generation rare. People would question it once their reason returned.
But that only mattered if nothing else was done. If Giovanni kept calmly "educating" them with the truth, and if the mighty Collector provided "support" here and there, then the tale would become common knowledge.
So what. If we say it's true, then it is. What are you going to do about it?
"..."
Of course, there were still people that logic wouldn't work on.
"Sun God?"
"Yes."
"Sun... God..."
"Yes."
"..."
"..."
Sanarae looked at Gio with a face that had lost its usual smile. A subtle expression, hard to interpret—but Gio understood. It meant, 'That's a pretty weak excuse, don't you think?'
And Gio ignored it.
'It's not entirely a lie.'
His stepfather was the Sun God. Even if he was currently shaped like an adorable teddy bear, his divine majesty remained.
'He even lives at my place.'
Gio had devoted himself to the Sun in more ways than one. Saying he served the Sun wasn't a lie. Sure, it leaned more toward caregiving than worship, but still.
Thankfully, Sanarae didn't press further.
"...You really are loved by the Sun, huh."
"Sharp eye, Hunter Sanarae. We're practically family."
"If that's the case, then you're basically a saint. Wonder how the Church of the Sun will react."
"Sounds ominous."
With a voice full of experience, Gio asked:
"Am I going to be branded a heretic and face trial, stoned by angry citizens?"
"Are you insane?"
"Or imprisoned without trial, locked in a tank with man-eating fish..."
"What are you even saying?"
"Being eaten alive isn't as thrilling as it sounds."
At that moment, Kang Seodam stepped in.
"Please don't see the Church of the Sun as such a primitive cult, Hunter Sergio."
"Oh. Was that primitive?"
"...There may be some religions like that, but we are not among them."
"My apologies."
"As Hunter Sanarae said, the Church may respond... but nothing hostile."
"What kind of response?"
"..."
After hesitating, Kang Seodam answered.
"...Let's say, at worst, they'll try to recruit you."
"But I serve a different divine entity altogether."
"If we cared about that, we wouldn't be Seoul's representative religion."
"That's... a surprising thing to hear. You've changed my perspective."
"...I'll do my best to protect you. I'll try my hardest... huuuh..."
Watching Kang Seodam—who sounded like he was crying—Sanarae glanced at Gio with a complicated expression.
"Say it."
"Mm. It's nothing..."
"Say it."
"It's really nothing."
"Say it."
"I was wrong."
With his hands clasped in apology, Sanarae quietly left—probably to greet the Haryeong Guild hunter teamed up with Kang Seodam. Left behind were Gio, Kang Seodam, and Garasani.
Surveying the chaotic surroundings, Garasani asked Kang Seodam:
"What happened here? Communications were down—I didn't get the full picture..."
"I believe I mentioned it: monsters appeared during the false moon's time."
"We know those creatures become especially aggressive at that hour."
"I believe the monsters we faced may be unfamiliar to your team."
Kang Seodam furrowed his brow, clearly troubled.
"They were undead."
"Undead?"
"Yes, rotten corpses. They vanished quickly after a light trigger, but..."
"..."
Garasani's silence prompted a nod from Kang Seodam.
"It was indeed a baffling situation."
Why would undead monsters inhabit this rainforest dungeon?
"I thought it was a standard plant-based dungeon, but clearly there's more going on."
"Then it's likely a narrative dungeon."
"And such dungeons are difficult to conquer without knowing the story."
"Were you able to identify the monsters?"
"It was dark, but as a priest of the Sun, I confirmed what I could."
"Thankfully, they weren't anyone you knew?"
"The clothing style didn't match Earth's, so it seems unlikely."
"They might've changed clothes. Did you see their faces?"
"They were too damaged to recognize. But I didn't sense any familiar presence... So I don't believe they were priests of the Sun."
The Church had previously failed an expedition in this dungeon. There were worries the undead might be former priests—but Kang Seodam shook his head.
"It's strange. Not a single trace of our brothers' remains."
"I believe the four-legged beasts here don't eat corpses."
"Even if the Church's info was wrong, there should've been leftover gear. But nothing."
"With a dungeon this vast, there must be many unsearched areas."
"Yes, but..."
Kang Seodam continued, hesitating.
"Our team found something."
"What a coincidence. So did we."
"We found drag marks—signs that something heavy like a body was moved."
"Our team saw monsters migrating toward a single location."
"...Then our course is clear."
Kang Seodam looked at Gio for a moment.
"..."
"How can I assist?"
"...No, this is..."
Biting his lip, Kang Seodam carefully asked:
"...If the expedition succeeds, would you attend the Church of the Sun's funeral mass?"
"Of course. Is there anything else you need?"
"No. Truly, we're immeasurably grateful for your mercy and kindness."
As Kang Seodam whispered quietly, making sure no one else heard, Gio thought:
'Why doesn't anyone ever ask me to help with funerals...?'
Who else was better suited for such things?
As Gio wondered if he wasn't seen as trustworthy enough to assist with death rites—unlike his father—and mused about whether he needed formal training in kingship, Kang Seodam called the surviving hunters together.
"After a short rest, we move."
Until now, it had been exploration. But with this many clues, everything changed. The real expedition was beginning. One of the hunters, checking his wounds, asked:
"Priest, where are we headed?"
"Deeper in."
Kang Seodam replied.
"We go where the monsters are gathering."
There was definitely something waiting there.
-x-X-x-
Before the official departure, they took time to rest.
"Still, it'd be better to get some sleep first."
"Seems like a lot of hunters relaxed too suddenly after recovering so fast."
"If we move now, people will definitely get hurt..."
"Yes, it's better to take a proper rest."
So the hunters each settled into their own spots.
"These damn weeds, no matter how much I cut them, they just grow back."
"Can someone start a fire here? Any fire-type hunters around?"
Watching this, a hunter from Daecheong spoke up, a little wistfully.
"That house we found would've been a much better place to rest."
"It'd be too hard to go all the way back there in this situation."
"I know. I was just saying... it feels like a waste."
"It was a good spot to turn into a base."
"Especially in a dungeon like this, filled with poisonous plants."
Even as they carved out resting space, the sun rose and set multiple times. The hunters all looked visibly fed up with the environment.
"I'm gonna die from exhaustion."
"Even when I sleep, it doesn't feel like I slept..."
A vast rainforest filled with humid heat and all sorts of toxic flora, and to top it off, the sunrise and sunset were wildly erratic. It was truly an awful place to try and get any real rest.
Still, they managed to set up a rough resting zone, and soon enough, hunters started calling for healers.
"Can I get a heal over here?"
"I got cut by a poisonous plant!"
"Damn, my arm's rotting! Heal me!"
In a dungeon thick with poisonous plants, not getting hurt while building a camp was harder. This time, the expedition had prepared above-average healers, and the results were paying off.
Among them, Gio was getting a steady stream of requests.
"Priest!"
"I am not a priest."
"Ah—uh, right. Tamer?"
"That is correct. Where are you hurt?"
"My hand... I got pricked by a thorn..."
"It's already started to discolor."
With a light touch, Gio cleansed the dark, venomous streaks climbing up the hunter's skin and veins. The process was so smooth and seamless that both the patient and nearby hunters were awestruck.
"Wow... How did you purify it that fast?"
"I figured it was better to do it quickly, since it must hurt."
"Still, this kind of thing isn't easy..."
They all assumed Hunter Sergio had high-tier healing skills. Asking for detailed skill windows was considered rude, so no one pressed him—but it was treated as an open secret.
"Was that medicine you gave us earlier also made with a skill?"
"No such skill exists."
"Wait, so... you made it on your own?"
"I didn't think a skill was needed to make medicine."
"That's impressive. Most people rely on skills."
"The ingredients were powerful on their own. I was lucky."
"You must really be serving a compassionate god."
"Yes, a truly gentle one."
From what they'd heard, Hunter Sergio seemed to be treated almost like a saint by his god. That must be why he had access to herbs so full of the Sun's power.
At that, one of the Sun's priests quietly asked Kang Seodam,
"It's a different dimension's Sun, but still a similar domain. Do you think he might dislike our Church?"
"Don't twist a good thing into something ugly. Let go of your greed. He is the son of another divine being."
"But this sort of thing has happened before. There are plenty of gods who became family with ours. If we just try to convince him—"
"What exactly are you hoping to achieve? I understand what you're aiming for, but show some humility."
Kang Seodam was growing visibly tired of the itch-like irritation.
At least the older priests knew to hide their greed and act humble, but the younger ones often relied on the Church of the Sun's stature and became reekingly arrogant.
'Honestly, I'd rather deal with the Moon Church's slyness than this blatant stupidity. Still, it's no less annoying. I doubt this kid even knows who he's talking about.'
As one of the top two major religious institutions in Seoul, the Church of the Sun trained priests from a young age. By 14, they were formally ordained; by 17, they began active service.
Drunk on their reputation, the Sun's priests often carried themselves with this sort of entitlement—believing that any offer from them would be accepted with gratitude.
"Do you want Sergio's fame that badly? His skills look useful, huh? Sure, unlike the Moon Church, we don't have a saint yet, so a candidate like Sergio must look appealing. But evaluating the son of another god like you're choosing produce? That's really something."
"N-no, I was just—"
"Drop the arrogance. What does Sergio lack? He's satisfied with his life. He grows in the embrace of his divine patron. We should feel honored if he approaches us, not the other way around."
After spitting it out, Kang Seodam ran a hand down his face and sighed.
"I'm already worried."
And it wasn't just this young priest's desire—once they escaped the information-locked dungeon, the story would reach the church.
'Then the elders will go wild again.'
The older they got, the more polished their masks became, and the stronger their pride in the Sun Church. They'd come at Sergio with all the subtle, experienced methods they had.
'Filthy worms.'
It couldn't get more disgusting than that.
"..."
"I—I'm sorry."
"...Reflect on this."
Unfortunately, the situation had all the worst optics.
'The mermaids in the Deep said their teacher had been taken by their dimension's Church of the Sun...'
Kang Seodam had entered the "Nation of the Deep" dungeon with Hunter Sergio. He knew its story well. And the situation unfolding now looked far too similar.
'If the mermaids get angry again, what then?'
In religious circles, those who hosted divine power were always seen as something greater. Among the Sun Church's priest trainees, Choi I-Sol and Iru Da had the most potential. The Moon Church had its own "Saintess."
The Church of the Sun and the Moon Church were locked in a relationship of coexistence and rivalry. And while the Moon Church had a living saint, the Sun Church did not.
Worse, last year's dungeon break had hit the Sun Church hard—they were still reeling.
"..."
As Kang Seodam stood alone, holding in a heavy sigh, Gio approached.
"Is something wrong?"
"...Apolog—no, I'm sorry."
It was a fair distance, but there was no way 'Hunter Sergio' hadn't heard the conversation. Kang Seodam apologized in clear anxiety.
Fortunately, Sergio didn't get angry.
"I understand."
"Your mercy is as vast as the sky."
"I like the Sun."
"...Yes, I know."
"Wouldn't it be nice if we were friends?"
"..."
Kang Seodam nodded with a heavy face.
"I'll... be careful."
He had no intention of provoking the still-angry mermaids again.
"I'll smooth things over. I have some influence within the Church—my brothers should listen to me."
"There's no need to overthink it."
"I'm just ashamed of our greed and pettiness. I'll do my best to prevent any trouble. Thank you for your compassion."
"..."
To that, Gio thought:
'Do I speak strangely or something?'
He'd just made a simple offer of friendship, yet Kang Seodam had taken it and run in circles with it. Seemed like Kang Seodam lived life a bit too seriously.
'Still, if he's doing the worrying for me, that's helpful.'
And entertaining, too—so that was fine.
"I'll return to my team now."
"Of course. I'll see you later."
"May peace be with you, brother."
Gio was rather fond of his own clear-headed mind.
***
And yet... no one truly saw Hunter Sergio for what he was.
"..."
Especially not Hunter Sanarae.
"Captain? What's up?"
"Haha."
"What the—why're you laughing?"
"Just doing some life reflection."
"Whoa, seriously? You do that? That's wild."
"Is it?"
He thought his teammate was more impressive than himself.
"Stay safe out there."
"That doesn't suit you at all."
"Hahaha."
Sanarae waved and casually wandered off. He returned to where his team was resting and sat down. He glanced around the group huddled around the fire.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Exchanging glances—Sanarae, Jeong Yeong-Won, and Garasani.
Interlocking his fingers, Sanarae asked,
"Is this really okay?"
"What do you mean?"
Garasani, with his cold expression, responded innocently. Sanarae smiled that trademark smile.
"Isn't this, like, way too shameless?"
"If you provide the subject and object, it'd greatly aid my understanding."
"In this camp? With everyone listening? Are you trying to get me killed?"
Sanarae, despite appearances, was the type who valued his own life.
People would scoff—"You? Really?"—but it was true. He simply enjoyed battles near death's edge in a hazy state of mind, but he always secured an escape route before diving in.
Well, he'd taken his risks coming here, too. That's why, even after hearing 'Hunter Sergio' would be joining the expedition, he didn't back out. In that same spirit, this wasn't all bad, either...
"Haha."
Sanarae chuckled again.
'I'm losing my damn mind.'
At that moment, Sergio arrived after greeting the other hunters.
"Is anyone getting hungry yet?"
"Hunter Sergio really is a wicked old witch."
"I may look it, but I promise I don't eat people. Please rest easy."
"Still not totally reassuring, honestly..."
If you can't avoid it, enjoy it, they say.
"What're you offering?"
"Do you like dried fruit?"
"Ooh, I do."
Sanarae obediently took a round piece of dried fruit. Smoother and deeper yellow than a raisin, it had a clean, sweet flavor that was excellent.
"How is it?"
"This is seriously good."
Are you planning to fatten us up before eating us?
Even this little snack tasting so good was maddeningly unfair—it made him laugh.
"..."
Sanarae was a hunter who knew how to use his body.
His sight was like a raptor's from the sky. His sense of smell like a tiger's. His danger instincts as sharp as a prey animal's. There were things he couldn't help but notice.
Like a scent that changed three times in one body.
"...Give me one more."
"How wonderful it is to see someone eat so well."
"Don't go overboard with this."
"If it overflows, the dungeon ants will eat it."
"Think there are ants here?"
"Then a monster will eat it."
"Ooh, monsters..."
The tone and rhythm of the voice in his ears.
"So compassionate."
That embalmed-like smile and every gesture—each hinted at something, whether you wanted to know or not.
"How far does your mercy go, Hunter Sergio?"
"With a pushover like me beside you, the feast will be luxurious that day."
"Uh... yeah. Yeah, I guess it would be."
For now, he chose to laugh it off.
Hunter Sergio didn't seem the type to get angry.
***
"Meow."
In the darkness, a cat cried out.
"Meow."
Again, until someone responded.
"Meow."
Dana was waiting.
There was a soul here that needed to return home.
"..."
"Meow."
"..."
Sanarae covered his ears.
-x-X-x-
On a night where nothing could be seen, an anomaly occurred.
"Huh? What is that?"
"Undead... aren't those undead?"
"...Hold on."
A hunter scanning the surroundings widened his eyes.
"There's so many of them."
It was a monster frenzy.
"Wake up! It's a frenzy!!"
"There's a frenzy occurring! Everyone, grab your gear!!"
"Undead! They'll reach here soon!!"
At the shouted alerts of those standing night watch, sleeping hunters, those checking their equipment, even those still tending to the wounded—all jumped to their feet. The hunters handpicked by the Church of the Sun moved in perfect sync, even amid the chaos.
Gio, who hadn't been asleep to begin with, murmured softly.
"A frenzy?"
"It refers to monsters going berserk, just as it sounds."
"Ah, another hunter term?"
"Yes. It happens more often than one would hope."
Garasani explained as he organized his firearms, continuing in a calm tone.
"Still, it's not exactly a common occurrence either."
He turned to Kang Seodam, the priest who was organizing their team.
"What do you think caused it?"
"I'm not sure."
Though he seemed about to leave it at that, when Sergio's eyes met his, Kang Seodam hesitated, lips twitching. Groaning, he eventually forced out an answer.
"...At least from our side, I don't think we triggered anything. There's no record of this kind of phenomenon in the Church of the Sun's data, and with so many participants in this raid, it's more likely someone from another team set off a trigger. Of course, I can't say for certain."
Monster frenzies could either be caused by the dungeon's own cycle or by hunters activating a powerful trigger. The former was extremely rare. So for now, they had to consider the latter.
"Now that it's come to this, we should hold out here until the frenzy subsides."
"It's good we secured the area in advance. I'll relay that to my team as well."
With that, Garasani departed. Sergio turned to Kang Seodam.
"Shall I send Honey?"
"...Please do."
"Do you need light?"
"It might provoke the monsters."
"But it's too dark to see anything clearly."
"Too broad a light source could be..."
"I can adjust it."
"Then, please handle that too."
"No problem."
Gio reached toward his neck, and from the depths of his hood, Honey climbed onto his hand. With a gentle flick, Gio sent Honey flying through the air. The small figure quickly disappeared into the darkness.
After sending Honey to assist in scouting and rescue, Gio lifted the edge of his cloak.
"Dana."
From the cloak's black shadow, a gemstone-colored cat rose—its fur the color of the night sky.
"Meow."
"Help your brother."
"Meow."
The large-bodied cat immediately darted off into the brush. A hunter, hurriedly fixing her gear, flinched in surprise. Filled with concern, she asked Gio:
"Will you be alright? The monsters are going to swarm in soon. Without a tamer to protect you, it'll be hard to hold out. We'll do our best to defend, so if you could stay inside the formation and provide heals..."
Gio shook his head.
"I'll be fine."
"Pardon? But...!"
"That's prejudice."
Thup!!
Gio caught a flying sphere.
"That healers or tamers are weak."
Crunch—!!
Fragments flew everywhere.
Smiling, Gio crushed something inside the sphere.
"..."
"Interesting shape."
"Uh..."
"It's small, brown, has a pair of wings as big as its body."
"O-oh."
"A silent flying monster."
Thud, pat...
With a flick of his wrist, the monster's remains scattered.
"The monsters have arrived."
"...Right."
"See you later."
As the flustered hunter rushed away, Gio let droplets of black blood drip from his hand and went looking for Garasani. He had a question—one asked out of consideration. Pulling his hood over his head, Gio asked:
"Mr. Garasani."
"Yes, Hunter Sergio?"
"If I suddenly turn red, will people be startled?"
"They might be a bit surprised. But it's fortunate."
Garasani, holding firearms in both hands, added calmly.
"The night is dark."
"Ah."
Like blood soaking in, Argio's hair turned red.
"Indeed."
A wicked divinity grinned in excitement.
***
Jeong Yeong-Won was a textbook healer.
"Guard me right now."
"Yes, ma'am...!"
Meaning she was a fragile and precious asset.
"Healer-nim, please stay right here!"
"We'll protect you!"
"But could you also give us a bit of healing...?"
In the midst of the noise, Jeong Yeong-Won nodded solemnly.
"If you stay within five meters of me, you won't die."
The hunters were overwhelmed.
"Thank you, healer-nim...!!"
"Protect Hunter Jeong Yeong-Won! If the healer dies, we all die!!"
Healers were fundamentally rare. Not so rare that you'd never meet one in your life—but rare enough that many teams never had the chance to recruit one. As such, they were regarded as high-class professionals.
And healers like Jeong Yeong-Won, who could provide area-of-effect healing, were even rarer.
"Three undead up front!!"
"Healer behind us! Shut up and block them with your bodies!!"
"We're counting on you, healer-nim...!!"
Though she cursed their recklessness, Jeong Yeong-Won kept the hunters alive without fail.
"You brain-dead morons, if you don't wanna die, take better care of yourselves!!"
One reason healers were rare was because learning and using healing skills was exceptionally difficult.
Just because you learned the skill didn't mean it would pop out like a frozen meal from a microwave.
There were methods to forcibly restore the human body, and people like her knew them—but actual healing demanded intricate and delicate work. Very few could perform wide-area healing like Jeong Yeong-Won.
"Seriously, stop getting hurt!!"
"Ah, it's so reassuring having a healer with us!!"
"You featherbrained chickens—!!"
Suddenly, Jeong Yeong-Won felt something fast approaching from above.
"Ah, shit! Above us! Flying monster...!!"
Just as one of the hunters raised their weapon in panic—
CRACK!!
"...Huh?"
KRR-ACKK!!
Something massive snatched the monster and slammed it into a tree.
"..."
"W-who...?"
"Oh dear."
Covered in black blood, someone was smiling with claws dug into the tree like a beast.
"Gotta be careful."
A voice like someone soothing a small, weak creature.
"Monsters are flying from the sky."
"..."
"You should protect yourself."
Golden eyes glinting like a predator's.
"Wouldn't you agree?"
From her place behind the hunters, Jeong Yeong-Won recognized him.
"...Hunter Sergio."
"See you later."
Crunch, crack—!!
Climbing the tree like an animal, he disappeared from sight.
"..."
Jeong Yeong-Won thought she heard the joyful growl of a beast.
And indeed, Argio was in an excellent mood.
Hunting mindless, rampaging beasts—it had been a long time since something so pure delighted him.
They were so clueless, he could barely resist crushing them with both hands.
'...Nice.'
Squelch—!!
One kick drove into a skull, bursting it apart.
'Very nice.'
Crack!!
He pierced with his claws, causing dead veins to pop like balloons, and flesh like tree bark to peel off in chunks.
'I especially like the ones up top.'
There were so many beasts in these trees.
Despite his large frame, he moved silently through the dark, towering forest. His bare feet, freed from tight shoes, landed on branches without so much as a creak. His massive figure moved with a speed and grace that made him seem winged.
These jungle trees were no different from Argio's homeland.
With trees this high, sky-gliding monsters were nothing but easy prey.
He bounded from tree to tree, smashing the airborne monsters out of the sky.
And watching that scene—was Sanarae.
"..."
Even as he crushed incoming monsters to pulp, his gaze stayed fixed on the man in the sky.
'...He's not actually flying... right?'
But the way he ran, climbed, and leapt between trees—barehanded and barefoot—made him seem as if he had wings.
Though he was far from small, his spring-loaded movements gave the illusion of weightlessness.
A monster landed in his large palm. He squeezed gently—and it burst like a water balloon.
Even as black blood splattered across his face, hair, and clothes, he smiled as if nothing delighted him more.
His gleaming golden eyes brimmed with a childish, terrifying joy.
"Hunter Sanarae, don't lose focus!!"
"Ah, sorry."
Crunch, thud—!!
While fending off monsters, Sanarae replied vaguely.
'What the hell is he really?'
The man slipped through hunter blind spots with uncanny precision, moving with feline grace like a cat stretching after sleep.
'He's drenched in blood...'
Running through treetops, sometimes dropping to the ground to stomp monsters flat—gently luring them with his fingers, then darting past hordes to crush their heads, necks, hearts, and limbs.
'At this rate...'
It looked almost like a joyful dance.
That smiling face, full of delight, stuck vividly in Sanarae's mind.
***
"Kyaaa!!!"
The moment the frenzy ended, a hunter screamed.
"Se-Se-Se-Seo Seoji–Hunter Sergio!! No, healer!! Healer!!"
"I'm not hurt."
"Heal...!! Ah, wait, what? You're not... hurt?"
"This isn't my blood."
Covered in dark crimson blood, Gio turned to Garasani.
"My clothes are dirty."
"Oh dear. We don't have any spares."
Garasani smiled gently and asked,
"Would you like to use this fellow's?"
"What the hell is this, what kind of abuse is this, Team Leader?!"
"Yoo Ji-Na, you need to learn the joy of sharing."
"This isn't sharing, it's mugging."
Passing by, Yoo Ji-Na glanced at Gio.
"But if you really need my clothes, I don't mind."
"No, it likely wouldn't fit me anyway, so I'll decline."
"I was only offering the cloak anyway...?"
Yoo Ji-Na grabbed a nearby field staff member from the Collector's Guild.
"I think we can give him this guy's clothes. Isn't your build kind of similar?"
"Why me again?"
"You can't even give a shirt for our dear Sergio?"
"I can give it, but isn't this, like, coercion?"
"It's only coercion if you complain."
Gio was touched by the Collector staff's warm generosity.
"I appreciate the kindness, but I'm truly fine."
He didn't particularly want to wear someone else's clothes.
"I was just wondering if I could throw away the soaked cloak."
"Feel free to toss it. Even if it weren't soaked in blood, you could still discard it if you wanted."
"I'm not the type to be wasteful."
"Ah, what a shame. I was going to pick it up and treasure it like a relic."
"No. Don't do that."
"But you really do need to wash up. You must feel pretty grimy like that."
"I'm not sure if that's even possible right now."
At that moment, Honey—who had been flying around for some time—landed on Gio's shoulder.
"Grrrk."
"Did you have a good look around, Honey?"
"Grrrrrr..."
Honey blinked as he looked at his dad.
"..."
"Honey?"
"GRRRRGRRRRGRRRRR!!!"
Seeing his dad drenched in blood and muck, Honey exploded with outrage.
"GRRGRRGRR!!! GRRRRGRRRRGRRRR!!!"
"W-why is Honey acting like this?"
"Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrk...!!"
GULP—!
Honey, now massive, swallowed Gio whole.
"HONEYYYYYYYY!!!"
"Kyaaaaah!!!"
"Mr. Giooooo!!!"
Regardless of the hunters' cries of horror, Honey immediately spat Gio back out.
"Ah."
"Grrrk."
"Honey, don't spit Daddy out so roughly."
"Grr."
"I collapsed in such a tragically delicate pose, too..."
Like a princess drained of all strength, Gio had tumbled into a graceful heap. Now, he stood up, dusting off his clothes.
"Did I startle anyone?"
"H-Honey just...!! Honey just now...!!"
"It's fine. He was washing me."
Thanks to Honey, all the blackened blood staining Gio's face and body was now gone, and he looked as clean as he had at the start.
From Honey's enlarged body, the blood sucked from Gio gathered together.
"Grrrk."
Clink.
Inside Honey's body, the monster blood began condensing into gem-like formations and dropped to the ground. Mixed with the many jewels Honey had been collecting day and night, it was hard to tell which had once been blood.
Only now did the hunters begin to grasp what had just happened, their faces frozen in confusion.
"Ah, so, that was... a cleansing. Got it."
"For a second I thought he got eaten..."
"...Why did it turn into a gem?"
Giovanni flashed his signature radiant smile.
"Because Honey likes gems."
"Still, normally, that doesn't mean they form inside your body..."
It didn't really make sense—but at least everyone confirmed there was no danger, and a few hunters sighed in relief.
Now that things had calmed down, those who had seen Gio during the frenzy began speaking to him.
"You were the one on the trees, right? Taking down the monsters... Hunter Sergio?"
"There weren't many active in the treetops, so that was probably me."
"W-Wow... Wow..."
One of the hunters who had been guarding Jeong Yeong-Won spoke, still pale.
"I thought I was gonna be eaten."
"I don't eat people."
"No, it's just, your eyes were, like... something... something like..."
"What do you mean, 'your eyes were like something something' exactly?"
"You know. You know the feeling, right?"
"I do not?"
Feigning ignorance was Giovanni's specialty.
"But how are you that agile when you're a healer?"
"That's a prejudice."
"And you're a tamer too, but you sent all your beasts away..."
"That too is a prejudice."
Gio nodded seriously.
"Tamers and healers can fight too."
"But normally, when the tamer and healer are at the frontlines, it means the whole raid has failed."
If a tamer or healer was fighting head-on, it typically meant the rest of the team was already dead. That's how far back they usually stayed. Their studies in taming and healing were grueling enough—few had time to develop combat skills.
Gio smiled as he replied.
"I've grown rather used to combat."
"..."
The hunters turned their eyes to Garasani, the senior guild member from the Collector's Guild.
"...What kind of training did you put him through...?"
"I didn't think Collectors were like this..."
"Didn't the Collector's Guild say they treasure their members?"
Garasani simply laughed.
"Hoho."
Like he cared.
***
"It seems Team 6 was the cause."
Holding a dungeon-specialized communication crystal, Kang Seodam continued.
"I've made contact. Apparently, this all started because someone touched a small tree."
"What kind of tree, exactly?"
"They said it was less than a meter tall. Its leaves and branches glowed pale violet..."
"That's... anomalous."
"Especially in a place filled only with these massive trees."
This dungeon was lined with colossal trees—each with a circumference requiring dozens of adult men to embrace, their height so immense the tops were invisible. Amidst that, a small violet-glowing tree might have seemed like the key—but there was no helping it.
"So they attacked the tree, but it only got scratched—it didn't break. And the moment they tried something more, a frenzy spread to all monsters in the dungeon."
Even monsters never seen before had appeared.
"Those floating, sphere-shaped monsters in the sky... we're not sure what they were. They didn't show up in the Church's previous raid reports, and it was too dark to identify them properly."
"I know what they looked like."
"Thank you, Hunter Sergio. Those creatures seem to have only emerged in response to the violet tree being attacked. We handled it well enough to avoid deaths, but..."
"Did other teams suffer losses?"
"Yes. Thankfully, there were many healers to care for the wounded—but still, the number of hunter casualties wasn't small. Apparently, those monsters self-destruct when approached, releasing heat and poison to deal with intruders."
The heat and poison must have been intense. Despite entering with plenty of healers and items, several hunters had died. Now, most teams were focused on treating the wounded.
"That's why we need to verify things on our end, thoroughly."
As Kang Seodam said this, he came to a stop.
"...There it is."
"Good."
Gio nodded.
"Looks like we've found a solid lead."
Delicate branches. Fluffy leaves like cotton.
What they found was, indeed, the small pale-violet tree they had been discussing moments earlier.
-x-X-x-