Rosaline's office was closed on weekends, so she traded her business attire for a grey hoodie, dark jeans, and a black mask. She headed to Beethoven's mansion before leading the group onto a train, riding it all the way to the northernmost terminal.
Their destination was a dungeon in Area C, located within the desolate ruins of the Old City. The dungeon was a massive sinkhole that had opened in the heart of the city thirty years ago.
Its code name was 'The Nest'—a territory of the spider-type De-von. Inside, it was a labyrinth of silk, egg sacs, and stifling humidity. It spiraled so deep into the earth that even now, it remained partially unexplored. It was widely known as one of the more treacherous dungeons.
Despite the danger, the Hunter Association allowed trainees to enter floors 1 through 20, provided they were under the supervision of at least one High-Rank Hunter. Beyond those levels, only Mid and High-Rank Hunters were permitted to venture further.
Naturally, Rosaline could traverse every floor. Even though the media rarely shone a spotlight on her—since she was "just" a support with no flashy gear or weapons—she was a genuine High-Rank Hunter, a talent highly sought after by top guilds.
Whenever someone questioned her rank, she was ready to show her official Association badge... but since no one ever bothered to ask, she never actually got the chance to flaunt it.
"Haven't been here in a while," Beethoven remarked. Clad in shimmering gold armor that made him look like a radiant Paladin, he stared at the massive reinforced concrete wall encircling the pit. Beyond the yellow-and-black "Restricted Area" tape lay the mouth of the abyss.
Rosaline approached the guards and presented her High-Rank badge. The officer was new, a replacement for the previous guard who had resigned. At first, he looked skeptical of the woman in the simple hoodie, but after verifying her credentials in the system, his eyes widened in realization.
"Follow me, and stick to the rules we established. No exceptions," Rosaline commanded. "Recite them before we go in."
"Rule One: Strictly follow Big sis Hermit's orders," chirped Medina, the young girl clutching a staff of ancient wood, her dress woven from steel silk.
"Rule Two: Double-check all equipment before entry," said Jason, the light swordsman in leather armor with a buckler strapped to his arm.
"Rule Three: Never leave the group or wander off without permission," added Caleb, the boy who had given Rosaline the gift. He wore a grey hoodie similar to hers, being a trainee support hunter himself.
"Rule Four: Give it your all, but if anything happens, always run to you" Beethoven finished.
"Correct. Safety is the priority," Rosaline said, a small smile hidden beneath her mask. "Let's move."
They descended the spiral staircase into the first floor. As the sunlight faded, the dungeon's gloom took over. Dim, cold-light lamps lined the walls, illuminating thick patches of spider silk and winding paths. The air turned chilly and carried a foul, indescribable stench.
Before heading deeper, Rosaline ordered Caleb to cast a warming skill. Comparing this to their first time—when they were all shivering with nerves—she was impressed by how much they had toughened up over the past three months. Even though she had to come here every day, seeing their progress made every second worth it.
"Alright, Caleb. Cast 'Fortitude' and 'Ward' on everyone," Rosaline ordered.
"Y-yes!!" Caleb raised his hands.
"[Buff Skill: Endurance (Lv.1)]"
"[Buff Skill: Guard (Lv.1)]"
'Endurance' reduced physical exhaustion during movement, while 'Guard' created a faint, invisible barrier to mitigate damage. While they were both supported, their skills differed. Most skills were acquired by consuming crystals from De-vons, but some were innate, awakening only when a hunter reached a certain level.
Rosaline was Level 282, while these kids were still lingering between 10 and 15. She had made sure Caleb acquired these two fundamental skills to ensure the team's survival.
Caleb's green eyes flickered with anxiety. "H-how was that?"
Rosaline nodded. "Well done, Caleb. Much better than before. You've been practicing, haven't you?"
"Yes! I've been training with Beethoven," Caleb said, glancing at his heavily armored friend before looking back at Rosaline with sparkling eyes. "I want to be as strong as you, Big Sis Hermit"
Rosaline froze for a second, her mind processing how to respond. "Thank you. Being a hunter isn't easy, but you're doing great. Keep it up."
"After that summer break where we did nothing but run away... we've really grown, Big Sis" Jason added, gripping his blade. "We're going to show you exactly how much!"
Rosaline felt a tug of pride. She let out a soft "Hmph"—a sound that, to the kids, was a rare and precious sign of approval.
"Okay then. Let's see what you've got. Time to test those new skills," Rosaline said, crossing her arms.
She led them to the fifth floor to face the hatchlings.
[Vionet Hatchling Lv.16]
Purple spiders the size of dogs scurried toward them. These newborns were ravenous, driven by an instinct to grow. Their mother—according to reports—was rumored to reside hundreds of floors below.
"Don't help us yet!" Beethoven shouted, signaling the others to get into position.
Rosaline obliged, leaning against a wall with her arms crossed.
Beethoven slammed his massive dragon-etched shield into the ground. "[Tank Skill: Stand Firm!]"
The Vionet Hatchlings collided with the shield with a heavy thud, but Beethoven held his ground. When the spiders tried to spray webbing, a burst of flame erupted from Medina's staff, incinerating the silk instantly.
"[Skill: Fireball!]"
'Fireball' was a basic spell, but Medina's execution was leagues ahead of when she first started. Back then, she would burst into tears if she miscast a spell. Now, she stood her ground without fear.
"Medina! Show her our finishing move!" Jason yelled.
"Right! Jason! [Synergy Skill : Fireblade!]" Medina chanted, coating Jason's sword in dancing embers.
'A magic sword enchantment... they're learning to synchronize well,' Rosaline thought as Jason swung his blade, turning the hatchlings into ash.
The four of them turned to Rosaline simultaneously, beaming with pride.
"Excellent. You're starting to look like real trainee hunters," Rosaline praised.
"YEAH!" they cheered in unison.
Rosaline watched them, remembering the start of the summer. Most tutors had quit within days.
'Are you really a High-Rank Hunter? You look more like a beggar,' Beethoven had sneered on day one, tossing a stack of cash at her feet. 'Take the money and get out.'
Rosaline had been furious. She almost took the money and left, but her pride wouldn't allow it. She had leaned in, her voice cold enough to chill their bones: 'You want to be hunters... so I am here to make you hunters. Don't you dare insult me with your money... you brats.'
Their parents were wealthy socialites who gave them money instead of affection. The kids had become cynical, used to tutors who just wanted their parents' gold. Until Rosaline. She gave them the one thing they lacked: genuine care and attention.
"Big Sis Hermit, I'm so happy!" Medina ran up and hugged Rosaline, catching her off guard.
"Did you level up?" Rosaline asked.
"One level each!" Beethoven grinned.
"Alright. Now that the hatchlings are cleared, let's see what they dropped," Rosaline instructed. They all pulled on black rubber gloves, knowing the drill.
Rosaline inspected the charred remains. There were fluids and parts that could be salvaged for low-grade medicines.
"Since they're just hatchlings, there are no crystals. But these silk glands and legs are enough. In the future, try not to use fire or acid if you want to keep the materials intact, but for now, just surviving and winning is enough," Rosaline said, sealing the parts into bags.
Suddenly, a cold shiver ran down her spine. She snapped her head up, scanning the shadows. Nothing.
'This pressure... is it coming from below?' After a tense silence, Rosaline spoke. "We're leaving. That's enough for today."
"Why?" Beethoven asked, confused.
"We shouldn't stay here any longer. I'll explain later," Rosaline said urgently. "Hurry, pack your things."
They didn't argue. They trusted her implicitly. Rosaline led them back, staying at the rear to guard their backs. But as they neared the exit, she saw a group of figures approaching.
A squad of about twenty-five hunters, fully geared for war, descended toward them. When Rosaline saw the man leading the pack, her expression soured instantly.
'Regen Humour! Why him?!'
Regen was a man with piercing bicolored eyes—one black, one deep blue. He wore a long black cloak with a massive obsidian greatsword strapped to his back. He stopped, casting a gaze as cold as ice toward Rosaline, before walking past without a single word.
'If Regen is here, something catastrophic is about to happen. But will his team survive? That man doesn't care about his comrades' lives as long as he hits the objective,' Rosaline thought, recalling their time as colleagues.
Regen Humour, the High-Rank Hunter known as 'Blade.' His mission success rate was 100%, but his path was paved with the sacrifices of those who stood beside him.
'We broke apart because I chose to save lives over the mission. He succeeded, but people died or were crippled for life. As a support, I couldn't stomach it.'
"Hermit! I didn't expect to see you here! I missed you!" a gentle voice called out from the group.
Rosaline blinked, recognizing a face she hadn't seen in years. It was Liese, an old friend from her former guild. Liese was also a support hunter, and the two had shared a deep bond.
"Liese?" Rosaline gasped. "Why are you..."
"Emergency mission. Floor 120," Liese whispered, her voice laced with worry. "We had no choice."
"Because of the pressure from below?" Rosaline whispered back.
Liese nodded. "There's a massive spider surge coming. We have to intercept it."
"But it shouldn't be Regen leading you," Rosaline said urgently.
"The Association wants results, Rosaline. They want this ended quickly," Liese said, her anxiety clear.
'Something strange is coming up from the depths...' Rosaline realized. "I understand. Good luck, Liese."
"You too," Liese said, waving as she followed the squad.
By the time they reached Floor 2, Beethoven spoke up. "Big Sis... aren't you going with them?"
"My duty is to protect you right now," Rosaline replied. "I'm not on an Association contract."
"But... you look worried," Beethoven noted. "Is it okay to just let them go?"
"Let's just get out of here first," Rosaline cut him off. Suddenly, the ground shook violently. "RUN! GO!"
They sprinted for the exit, scrambling up the spiral stairs. As they cleared the wall, chaos was already breaking out among the staff.
'Liese!' Rosaline's mind raced back to her friend, but she couldn't leave the kids.
"Big Sis, go!" Beethoven said as the tremors subsided.
"But... my job is to look after you."
"We can get home on our own. Just go! I don't know the details, but a good friend is worth saving!" Beethoven urged. Caleb, Medina, and Jason all nodded in support.
Rosaline hesitated, but she knew that if Liese stayed with Regen Humour...
"Understood," Rosaline said.
"We'll handle the parents. Just go!" Beethoven yelled. "And come back safe!"
"I will." Rosaline nodded. In a blur of motion, she vanished.
Moving like a shadow, she darted back toward the mouth of the dungeon. Without a second's hesitation, she plunged into the abyss.
'I'm coming. Don't you dare die on me... Liese!