The field stretched endlessly beneath a pale sky.
Wind rolled through the tall grass in slow waves, bending the landscape like the surface of a quiet sea. Scattered across the plains—
Massive creatures moved.
Heavy.
Deliberate.
Each step accompanied by a dull, grinding sound, like stone dragging against stone.
Rio exhaled slowly, tightening her grip on her blade.
"…There."
Ahead of them—
A herd.
Yakolith.
Creatures the size of small vehicles, their bulky, squat bodies covered in silver-gray strands that resembled a mix of moss and fibrous stone. Their backs rose into jagged ridges—like miniature mountain ranges fused into their flesh.
Instead of horns—
Two massive slabs of granite jutted from their skulls.
They grazed peacefully.
If "peaceful" could describe something that looked like it could crush a building.
Ryota adjusted his stance beside her.
"…Still weird seeing yaks made of rocks."
Rio didn't respond.
She stepped forward.
Her blade shifted—
A faint crimson glow began to gather along its edge.
The air around her changed.
Denser.
Heavier.
"Stay back," she said.
"…Got it."
The moment she moved—
The skill activated.
[Sword Skill: Moonlight Melody]
A technique born from the soul of the fallen Silver Werewolf.
Crimson energy surged into her blade—
Then—
Released.
A crescent-shaped shockwave erupted forward, cutting through the air with a sharp, resonating hum.
It tore through the herd.
Clean.
Precise.
The Yakolith didn't even have time to react.
The wave carved through their stone-like bodies, splitting through mineral flesh and jagged bone—
Then detonated behind them in a burst of crimson light.
Silence followed.
Then—
CRASH.
One by one—
The Yakolith collapsed.
Heavy bodies slamming into the ground, sending small tremors across the field.
Rio lowered her blade.
"…Next."
Three hours later—
The field looked… different.
Scattered remains of Yakolith lay across the grass, their massive forms reduced to fractured stone and fading particles of light.
Rio stood in the middle of it all.
Still.
Unmoving.
"…Four."
Ryota blinked.
"…Four?"
She turned her head slightly.
In her hand—
A small, glowing fragment pulsed faintly.
Cold.
Dense.
Heavy.
Yak Ore.
"…Four," she repeated.
A pause.
"…In three hours."
Ryota scratched his head.
"…Yeah… that drop rate is kinda—"
"Terrible."
Her answer was immediate.
Flat.
Unforgiving.
Ryota laughed awkwardly.
"…Yeah."
Rio closed her hand around the ore.
"…I need twenty."
"…Then we're gonna be here all day."
Rio didn't deny it.
"…Yes."
A Yakolith shifted nearby.
Rio moved instantly.
Her blade rose—
Crimson energy surged again.
[Sword Skill: Moonlight Melody]
The arc of red light tore through the field once more—
Precise.
Controlled.
Efficient.
The Yakolith fell.
Defeated.
And then—
A soft chime.
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
Inventory Full.
Rio froze.
"…What."
Ryota blinked.
"…Uh…"
Rio stared at the notification.
Unmoving.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
She opened her inventory.
Filled.
Completely.
Drops from hours of farming—
Materials.
Fragments.
Miscellaneous loot.
All of it… taking space.
She clicked her tongue.
"…I don't want to discard any of this."
Ryota tilted his head.
"…What about just buying more inventory space?"
Rio didn't even hesitate.
"…No."
"…It's like three copper coins."
"…No."
Her answer was sharper this time.
"…There's an event in a few weeks that gives expanded inventory for free."
Ryota blinked.
"…Seriously?"
Rio nodded.
"…And a system update after that introduces storage bags. Everyone gets one."
A pause.
Ryota stared at her.
"…Your knowledge is actually insane."
Rio opened her mouth—
Then stopped.
Something clicked.
Her expression shifted.
"…Wait."
Ryota noticed immediately.
"…What?"
Rio didn't answer.
Instead—
She started pacing.
Back and forth.
Slow at first.
Then faster.
"…No…"
"…That's a bad idea…"
"…But the inventory space…"
Ryota frowned.
"…Rio?"
She kept walking.
"…He'll make a big deal out of this…"
"…But it solves the problem…"
"…But I'll never hear the end of it…"
Ryota blinked.
"…Are you okay?"
No response.
Just pacing.
Thinking.
Debating.
Then—
She stopped.
Turned around.
Her face slightly red.
"…It's Ryota."
He froze.
"…Huh?"
"…I've never done this in my previous life…"
A pause.
"…But whatever."
Before he could react—
She opened her system.
Pressed a few buttons.
A notification appeared.
On his screen.
[Player: Rio has requested a Marriage Bond]
Ryota froze.
"…What?"
Slowly—
Very slowly—
He turned toward her.
Rio had already turned away.
Completely.
Her face hidden.
"…It doesn't mean anything."
Her voice was fast.
Defensive.
"…I just want the shared inventory space."
Ryota stared.
"…Shared… what?"
Rio crossed her arms.
"…Married players get 50% increased personal inventory."
She continued—
Faster.
"…We can see each other's inventory—"
"…And we get shared inventory."
A pause.
"…One hundred extra slots."
Silence.
Wind passed through the field.
Ryota blinked.
"…So you're proposing to me… for storage?"
"…YES."
She snapped.
Then immediately—
"…No—wait—"
She took a breath.
"…That's not—"
"…You know what I mean."
Ryota stared at her.
Then—
He laughed.
"Sure. Sure."
Her eye twitched.
"…Don't 'sure' me."
Ryota looked back at the screen.
[Player Bond Level: 10]
Would you like to accept the Marriage Bond?
[YES] [NO]
He didn't hesitate.
Click.
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
Marriage Bond Established.
Rio's screen lit up.
[Congratulations! You are now bonded with Player: Ryota]
She immediately deleted it.
"…Thank you, inventory slots."
Ryota snorted.
"…Wow."
Then—
The sky flickered.
A sudden chime echoed across the entire world.
Louder than before.
Clear.
Unavoidable.
[GLOBAL ANNOUNCEMENT]
The first players have formed a Marriage Bond.
Hidden Dungeon Unlocked:
Love Fest
Silence.
The wind stopped.
The field felt—
Different.
Ryota slowly turned.
"…We did what?"
Rio stood completely still.
"…No."
Another system chime.
Players across the field froze.
Distant voices erupted.
Confusion.
Shock.
Excitement.
Rio's face slowly turned red.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
Ryota looked at her.
Then—
Grinned.
"…So… married, huh?"
Rio snapped instantly.
"IT'S FOR THE INVENTORY!"
Her voice echoed across the empty field.
Somewhere in the distance—
A Yakolith slowly turned its massive head.
Unbothered.
Unaware.
But for Rio and Ryota—
Things had just gotten…
Complicated.
The announcement didn't just echo—
It shook the world.
Across fields, forests, dungeons, and cities—
Every player froze.
The Plains — Beginner Zones
A party of low-level players stood mid-combat, weapons raised against a group of monsters.
Then—
[GLOBAL ANNOUNCEMENT]
The first players have formed a Marriage Bond.Hidden Dungeon Unlocked: Love Fest
Silence.
"…Wait."
"…Did it just say hidden dungeon?"
"…First players?"
One of them dropped his weapon.
"…There are already married players?!"
Another immediately opened his menu.
"Forget that—HIDDEN DUNGEON?!"
Panic spread instantly.
"Search the area!"
"Split up!"
"Check every corner!"
"What if it's nearby?!"
Their formation collapsed within seconds as they scattered in different directions.
In the Mid-Level Hunting Grounds
A more organized party stood in formation, their armor polished, movements precise.
The moment the announcement hit—
Their leader didn't hesitate.
"Everyone regroup."
Weapons lowered.
Eyes sharpened.
"…We move."
"Leader, you think it's in this zone?"
"Doesn't matter."
His voice was calm.
Commanding.
"We search everything."
A pause.
"…Hidden dungeons don't trigger without reason."
Another player muttered—
"…Which means someone already found the trigger condition."
The leader's eyes narrowed.
"…Then we're already behind."
Guild Territory — War Camp
A massive encampment filled with banners and armored players fell into chaos.
Voices overlapped.
Orders clashed.
"Hidden dungeon confirmed!"
"Mobilize all scouting units!"
"Send information to allied guilds!"
A heavily armored man stepped forward.
"Silence."
The noise died instantly.
His voice carried authority.
"…All divisions deploy."
A pause.
"…We are not losing this."
The City — Trade District
The streets erupted.
Players shouting.
Merchants panicking.
Information spreading faster than fire.
"Hidden dungeon!"
"First clear bonus maybe?!"
"Legendary drops—this is huge!"
"Find the couple!"
"WHO GOT MARRIED?!"
The name didn't exist.
No identity.
Just—
Mystery.
And opportunity.
The announcement rippled through the city like a shockwave.
Players flooded the streets, voices clashing, information spreading faster than anyone could control.
But inside the Eleo Guild Hall—
There was order.
Stillness.
Control.
Rows of players stood in formation beneath the banner of the Eternal Lions, a golden emblem carved into black stone looming above them.
At the center—
A man stood with quiet authority.
Elias.
Guild Leader of Eleo.
His presence alone held the room together.
Even after the announcement.
Even with the chaos outside.
"…You've all heard it."
His voice was calm.
Measured.
But carried weight.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
"A hidden dungeon."
A pause.
"Unlocked by unknown players."
His eyes swept across the room.
Sharp.
Calculating.
"…Which means we are already late."
A subtle shift passed through the guild members.
Not panic.
Not fear.
Just—
Focus.
Elias raised his hand slightly.
"Listen carefully."
Silence deepened.
"All units will deploy immediately."
He began walking slowly across the front of the room.
"Scouting teams—expand outward from the city."
"Check beginner zones first. Hidden triggers are often tied to early progression."
"Information units—monitor trade, chat, and movement patterns."
Another step.
"…We are not chasing rumors."
His gaze hardened.
"…We are hunting facts."
The guild moved.
Clean.
Efficient.
Orders being carried out without hesitation.
But then—
A voice cut through the order.
"…Or we could just find the idiots who triggered it."
Not loud.
But enough.
Enough to break the rhythm.
Elias didn't turn immediately.
He didn't need to.
"…Fayzan."
At the back of the room—
A man leaned lazily against a pillar.
Arms crossed.
Expression bored.
Fayzan.
[Rank 4: Guild Officer]
His eyes held none of the discipline the others showed.
Instead—
There was amusement.
"…What?"
He shrugged.
"…I'm just saying."
He pushed himself off the wall.
"…You're making this complicated."
A few members shifted uncomfortably.
No one dared interrupt.
Not them.
Not when it was these two.
Elias finally turned.
Their eyes met.
Similar.
But not the same.
Where Elias was controlled—
Fayzan was unpredictable.
"…Explain."
Fayzan smirked slightly.
"…Hidden dungeon gets unlocked?"
He tilted his head.
"…That means two things."
He raised a finger.
"Someone met a condition."
Another.
"…And the system made a big deal out of it."
He stepped forward slowly.
"…Which means they're not normal players."
A pause.
"…So instead of searching the entire map…"
His grin widened slightly.
"…We find them."
Silence filled the hall.
Some of the guild members exchanged glances.
Elias studied him.
"…And how do you propose we do that?"
Fayzan shrugged.
"…Easy."
He pointed toward the doors.
"…We go where information is loudest."
A beat.
"…The city."
Elias didn't respond immediately.
He thought.
Measured.
Then—
"…You're not wrong."
A small shift in the room.
Acknowledgment.
Not approval.
But not rejection either.
Elias turned slightly.
"…Adjustments."
The guild stilled again.
"Primary scouting continues as planned."
A pause.
"…But we add a secondary objective."
His gaze sharpened.
"…Information tracing."
"Track unusual player activity."
"Focus on new parties. Low-level players with sudden influence spikes."
Another pause.
"…And any mention of a 'marriage bond.'"
That alone drew reactions.
Even within Eleo—
That phrase felt absurd.
Fayzan snorted quietly.
"…Yeah, good luck finding that."
Elias ignored him.
"…Fayzan."
This time—
His tone changed.
Slightly heavier.
"…You will lead the city investigation."
A few heads turned.
Fayzan raised an eyebrow.
"…Oh?"
Elias stepped closer.
"…Don't make this a game."
A pause.
Their eyes locked again.
"…Bring me results."
Silence.
Then—
Fayzan smirked.
"…Fine."
He turned, already walking toward the exit.
"…I'll go find your 'hidden dungeon couple.'"
Before leaving—
He glanced over his shoulder.
"…Try not to fall behind, elder brother."
The doors opened.
Light spilled in.
And chaos greeted him.
Elias watched him go.
Unmoving.
Then—
"…You two."
Two female players stepped forward from the side.
One calm.
Composed.
Purple hair resting neatly behind her shoulders.
The other—
Sharper.
Restless.
Eyes constantly moving.
"…You will accompany him."
The restless one frowned slightly.
"…Are you sure that's a good idea?"
A small pause.
Elias didn't smile.
"…No."
Then—
"…But it's necessary."
The purple-haired girl nodded quietly.
"…Understood."
They turned.
Following Fayzan out into the city.
As the doors closed behind them—
Elias looked back at the guild.
"…Move."
And just like that—
The Eternal Lions spread across Evermount.
Not chasing chaos—
But hunting the ones who created it