The dungeon run should have ended like any other.
Simple. Clean. Forgettable.
But not everyone saw it that way.
Near the outer edge of the Slime Marsh gate, a figure stood quietly, watching the hunters as they exited one by one. Most of them looked relieved, some even satisfied, talking among themselves about the run and the rewards.
Her eyes, however, weren't on them.
They were on one person.
Suho.
He walked past the others without saying much, his expression calm, his steps steady. Nothing about him stood out at first glance. No special gear, no visible aura, nothing that would draw attention.
And yet—
"…Strange."
She muttered the word under her breath.
She had been inside that dungeon too.
Not in his party, but close enough to observe.
Close enough to feel it.
Something had changed during the fight.
Not the monsters.
Not the environment.
The flow.
Subtle. Almost impossible to notice unless you were paying attention.
And she always paid attention.
She pushed herself off the wall and followed.
Not too close.
Not too obvious.
Just enough to keep him in sight.
---
Suho stopped.
Not abruptly.
Just enough.
"Are you going to keep following me?"
His voice was calm, but direct.
The girl didn't flinch.
Instead, she stepped forward, closing the distance between them without hesitation.
"So you noticed."
She looked around his age, maybe slightly younger. Her hair was tied back loosely, her posture relaxed but controlled. There was a sharpness in her eyes that didn't match her casual appearance.
"You're not as average as you look," she added.
Suho turned slightly, meeting her gaze.
"I don't know what you mean."
"Maybe," she said. "Or maybe you're just good at pretending."
There was a brief silence.
Neither of them looked away.
Then she smiled slightly.
"Don't worry. I'm not here to expose you."
"…I'm not hiding anything."
"Sure."
Her tone said she didn't believe that.
Suho didn't respond.
He simply waited.
After a moment, she sighed.
"Fine, I'll say it directly. I want to party with you."
That wasn't what he expected.
"…Why?"
"Because you're efficient," she replied immediately. "You don't waste movement, your timing is too clean for a beginner, and during the boss fight…" she paused briefly, her eyes narrowing just a little, "…something felt off."
Suho's expression didn't change.
But he understood.
She noticed.
Not everything.
But enough.
"You're overthinking it," he said.
"Maybe," she admitted. "But I trust my instincts."
She crossed her arms lightly.
"And right now, they're telling me that sticking with you is a good idea."
Suho studied her for a moment.
"…What's your name?"
A small smile appeared on her face.
"Kang Sera."
She extended her hand slightly, not forcing it.
"Archer type. B-Rank skill."
Suho glanced at her hand briefly before looking back at her.
"…Suho."
"I know."
Of course she did.
She had been watching him.
Sera tilted her head slightly. "So? What do you think?"
Suho didn't answer immediately.
He looked past her, toward the distant gates, the hunters moving in and out, the system of this world continuing as it always had.
Then back at her.
"…I don't do permanent parties."
"I'm not asking for one," she replied quickly. "Just temporary runs. We clear gates, split rewards, go our separate ways. Simple."
She paused, then added,
"Unless you're worried I'll slow you down."
There was a hint of challenge in her voice.
Suho noticed it.
"…You won't," he said.
"Good."
Another short silence passed.
Then Suho sighed lightly.
"…One condition."
Sera raised a brow. "I'm listening."
"You don't ask unnecessary questions."
She held his gaze for a second.
Then smiled.
"…Deal."
---
The next gate stood a few streets away.
Slightly higher rank.
More active.
More dangerous.
As they approached, Sera glanced at him.
"So, Warrior type, right?"
"That's what it says."
"'What it says,'" she repeated, amused. "You're really sticking to that, huh?"
Suho didn't respond.
Sera let out a small laugh.
"Fine. I won't push."
They stopped in front of the gate.
The air around it felt heavier than the previous one.
More unstable.
More real.
Sera adjusted her grip on her bow.
"Let's see what you can really do," she said quietly.
Suho looked at the gate.
Then stepped forward.
"…You'll see enough."
Not everything.
But enough.
---
As they entered together, neither of them realized—
This was the beginning of something neither of them would be able to walk away from.
Not easily.