Chapter 12

"What kind of trouble?" Tae-un asked.

"Usually, he just lies around and sleeps, so it's not a big deal, but once in a while, he sets off a huge bomb, you know? Ah, what should I call it? It's refreshing, but sometimes it feels like he's taking on everything by himself. When Soram oppa is like that, I get nervous that he might end up in the guard floor," Ayoung explained.

Lying around and sleeping... huge bomb...? From Tae-un's perspective, those were somewhat intense words to describe the team's chief, but to Ayoung, it seemed so commonplace that it didn't feel like tattling or gossip.

Tae-un recalled the words Soram had poured out to the local police station chief when he visited Guncheon-gun. Hmm, it was refreshing, but it was also true that it crossed the line of danger.

"What's the guard floor?"

"Ah, it's a prison where they take hunters who have done something wrong. They say it's on the 10th basement floor here. I heard it looks similar to the prisons you see in movies. There are even iron bars. But I've only heard about it through explanations..."

"It's a place where the Rift Phenomenon Management Headquarters internally disciplines hunters who have caused trouble. It's similar to a military detention center. They lock them up, give them poor meals and a hard bed for a few days, and make them reflect on their actions while suffering," Soram explained, having approached the table at some point. He was looking at the two with a pleased expression.

"...Why are you smiling like that? You look like a grandmother watching her grandchildren."

"No, I thought you two would just be eating, but it's nice to see you chatting away."

"What's so special about that? The topic was about the guard floor, what's with the 'chatting away'?"

Soram returned to his seat and rested his chin on his hand.

"Han Tae-un ssi, do you have any other questions? Ask away."

"Jin Soram ssi, have you ever been to the guard floor?"

"...Me? Are you asking if I've been there?"

Soram made a face as if to say, 'What kind of question is that?' Ah, it was a rude question since it's a place that serves as a prison. Tae-un felt a little regretful inside, Ayoung tilted her head with furrowed brows, and Soram clicked his tongue.

"I go in there once every quarter. If I suddenly disappear one day and can't be reached, you can assume I've gone to the guard floor. They confiscate things like cell phones when you go in there."

"..."

"I told you. Soram oppa causes a lot of trouble."

"But I'm trying these days. Now, I feel like I'll die if I can't smoke for three or four days."

"Ugh, ugh. He's bragging to the new team member who joined today."

It was quite a novel sight for Tae-un to see an adult man in a suit being scolded for his conduct by a student in a school uniform. After receiving all the reprimands, Soram pulled his shoulders back with a dejected face and spoke.

"Han Tae-un ssi. After you finish eating, come with me on a dispatch."

"We're going on a dispatch? What's the matter?"

"They say a dungeon has appeared near Guri City. Team 4 requested to hand it over, saying they absolutely can't handle it. If it's approved, we can leave right away."

"...A dungeon?"

"I heard Han Tae-un ssi has some experience eliminating rifts... but this is your first dungeon, right?"

"Yes."

"Since it's a dungeon that formed inside a building, the mutants are trapped inside, and the grade isn't high, so it's not a serious situation. Ayoung, if you have time, let's go together. We can also check the abilities of the new team member."

"Hmm... Okay. I think it should be fine for today."

Ayoung agreed to accompany them. Thus, Team 7's first joint operation was set in motion.

As the three were leaving the cafeteria, Soram checked a message that arrived on his wrist communicator.

"Ah, the helicopter has been approved."

"Helicopter? Then it's not a grade 2 or higher dungeon? But I didn't receive any emergency contact?"

"No. It's a grade 4 dungeon. But..."

Soram scratched his forehead.

"It occurred at a school. Inside the school grounds."

"Ah..."

"Then shouldn't we hurry?"

Tae-un asked in a slightly faster voice than before. There was a sense of urgency even on his usually expressionless face. And for a moment, Soram felt a chilling sensation from him again.

"...Now that it's approved, we can depart. Hunters don't go immediately when a dungeon appears. We have to check if there are people to rescue and if a request for perimeter control has been made before going."

"Ah..."

"Even after it's approved. We can't just rush in recklessly. We need to assess if it matches our compatibility and the level of danger before going, so we can resolve it quickly. Who, what are you so eager to save that your heart is impatient?"

The gazes of the two people, slightly surprised, turned to Soram, who had poured out those words.

"I apologize."

"Of course, it would be the students, right? Wow, Han Tae-un ssi is already overflowing with the qualities of a cool hero. Don't worry. I heard all the personnel inside the school have already been evacuated. It's fortunate that it's the day of the entrance ceremony. Now, let's go quickly."

As if the atmosphere from a moment ago had been a lie, Soram smiled brightly and walked out, brushing past the two. Ayoung followed behind him, saying, "Did you not get enough sleep? Why are you talking nonsense again today?"

The three took the elevator to the rooftop and boarded the helicopter that was already waiting. The propellers spun with a loud tu-da-da-da sound.

"Chief Jin, it's been a while. I heard it's a dungeon?" The pilot greeted them.

"Yes. There seems to be someone here whose heart is in a hurry, so please take us there quickly."

"Understood."

The three were dressed the same as when they went to eat. There was no need for the three 1st-grade hunters to arm themselves to go to a grade 4 dungeon. However, each of them had a sword strapped to a convenient location, such as their back or thigh. Soram tilted his head in front of Tae-un, who was sitting silently.

"Are you nervous?"

"Is it obvious?"

"No, it's just... you look different. Why are you looking at me like that?"

"It's nothing. It's the first time I've seen someone notice changes in my expression."

"Hmm? Is that so...?"

Come to think of it, why did he think something was different even though there wasn't a big change? Soram leaned closer to Tae-un. As the distance between their faces narrowed, cracks appeared on Tae-un's stoic face. And his gaze shifted slightly to an angle where it didn't meet Soram's directly.

Slightly... the feeling was different, but what was it?

"Hmm..."

"..."

"Oppa, stop bothering Tae-un oppa. Why are you like this from the first day?"

"When did I bother him?"

"You were being mean earlier, and you're doing it again now. I'm going to tell the director that you're bothering the new team member."

"Okay. I won't. I won't. I was just joking around a bit."

Soram sat back with a thud. But this time, Tae-un's gaze was directed at Soram.

"What is it?"

"Was it a joke?"

"In the hallway too?"

Hallway? Did he play a joke in the hallway? While Soram couldn't find the connection between the hallway and a joke, Tae-un, seeing his expression, let out a small sigh. Then he turned his head away.

"If you don't remember, never mind."

"Yeah, well... I'm usually a bit of a lighthearted person, so Han Tae-un ssi, please bear with it. Oh my, but you're studying even here."

"They say words are memorized better when you associate them with the scene in front of you in special situations."

Ayoung was diligently flipping through her vocabulary book in the midst of this. The dark period of being a high school senior was inescapable, whether you were a hunter or an ordinary person. Even Soram, who had dropped out at the age of 18, quietly let her study, saying, "Study, study."

The helicopter, which had flown with a loud noise, eventually stopped above the school.

"Chief Jin, there are many apartments around, so I can't lower the altitude any further than this."

"Yes. I'll take it from here. Turn off the engine."

"Understood. Oh, it's been a while since I've seen this too. Chief Jin's signature landing."

Soram grinned and placed his hand on the helicopter's body while looking out the door.

Then, the loudly spinning propellers stopped. However, the helicopter remained floating in the air, enveloped in a blue mist. Soram turned to see if Tae-un would make a surprised expression, but he just looked a little amazed, as if he had already seen Soram's ability on a broadcast.

Instead of crashing, the helicopter with its engine turned off descended very slowly. Soram's hair fluttered lightly as he used his special ability.

The reason the three high school students who had awakened during the 2nd Great Rift stood at the pinnacle of the current generation of hunters was that, in addition to their 1st-grade physiques, each of them possessed remarkable special abilities. Among them, this was Soram's ability.

The helicopter that had been floating in the air safely landed on the school's sports field. There were about fifteen or sixteen people standing on the field, including local police and evacuated school staff. And outside the field, a few students and residents who had come to see the school where the dungeon had appeared were pressed against the fence.

Soram was the first to step out of the helicopter.

"Hello."

He greeted the police officer who had run up to him. As the three of them got out, small commotions arose here and there.

"I think they're hunters. One of them is wearing a school uniform? ...Lee Ayoung?"

"This is crazy. Absolutely crazy. Oh, and isn't that Jin Soram? What, is it the Great Rift that appeared at our school? Why are two 1st-grade hunters here? Is Guri City doomed...?"

"Who's the one in the back? Do you know him?"

"No, I'm seeing him for the first time... He's really tall. Oh my god, he's so handsome."

Click, click. The sound of cameras went off intermittently. The police gauged Soram's reaction, but Soram, as if accustomed to it, asked him nonchalantly.

"It's true that everyone inside has come out, right?"

"Yes. While the hunter in charge was preventing the dungeonification, everyone was evacuated."

"Is the hunter in charge of this school here?"

"Ah, I, I am."

The one who appeared, fidgeting, in front of Soram from among the police officers was a female student around Ayoung's age. Soram's eyes met Ayoung's.

"You'd be better than me. Go and listen to the explanation."

"Okay."

Ayoung headed towards the student hunter, who was on the verge of tears. Soram stepped back to Tae-un's side and covered his mouth with his hand, whispering.

"Tsk. This is why dungeons appear."

Upon hearing those words, Tae-un lowered his gaze to Soram.

"Originally, all buildings with a density of 100 or more people should be regularly patrolled. But since it involves 3D scanning the building from the outside and entering hidden places, places with a lot to hide refuse patrols like this, claiming to have an awakener as their representative. Especially since this is a private school, they probably didn't want to be meddled with."

"Then that student..."

"They probably kept her as the person in charge, thinking it was fine since there was an awakener among the students. It's unfortunate."

The school avoids surveillance, and suddenly, a burden is dumped on the student. The student answered Ayoung's questions with an anxious face, constantly looking up at the school. Soon, Ayoung, who had obtained all the necessary information, nodded.

"Yes, you've worked hard. Don't worry too much. We'll take care of the dungeon, so please rest."

"Yes, yes..."

After finishing the conversation, Ayoung returned between the two.