Inside the dungeon, Han Jinhyuk leaned against the trunk of a tree with his arms crossed, quietly watching as the rest of his party dealt with the monsters.
Normally, hunters fought side by side. A dungeon was a place where a single mistake could cost someone their life, so trusting your teammates was a necessity rather than a choice.
But Han Jinhyuk was an exception.
If he chose not to participate, no one dared complain.
In fact, most of them preferred it that way. The way he fought was too overwhelming, too ruthless. Trying to keep up with him usually did more harm than good, and he wasn't exactly the type to coordinate with others either. Whether in battle or in conversation, teamwork simply wasn't something he excelled at.
None of that mattered to him, however.
His thoughts were somewhere else entirely.
Lowering his gaze, he opened his palm. Two tiny figures made of fire were crossing swords atop his hand, their movements surprisingly intricate as they clashed and parried one another like skilled duelists.
It was a ridiculous sight.
He had never learned to manipulate flames with such precision. In fact, he didn't even possess a fire affinity.
Yet somehow...
Ever since the dungeon had appeared inside his home a month ago, strange things had begun happening around him.
The first discovery was that he somehow owned an inactive dungeon.
Whenever the dungeon trembled, the stone pedestal at its center would produce a single treasure. Not an ordinary artifact, but something worth billions of won, the kind of relic that entire nations would fight over.
Naturally, Jinhyuk found it suspicious.
Where were these treasures coming from? Why did the dungeon belong to him in the first place?
Still, unanswered questions didn't change reality.
A treasure was a treasure.
But there was one thing that continued to bother him.
Over the past month, he had been testing the limits of this newfound power whenever he had the opportunity. At first, he thought it would have a clear limit, something that would eventually stop working once enough mana had been consumed.
It never did.
The more he experimented, the more impossible it seemed. The possibilities this power offered were so vast that he couldn't even begin to define its boundaries.
But that wasn't the only thing bothering him.
Over the past month, dungeon appearances had increased at an alarming rate. Gates were opening across the world, and entirely new species of monsters had begun emerging from them. Worse, many of those dungeons were high-ranking, forcing him to move from one subjugation to the next without a moment to breathe.
Which was exactly why he found himself accompanying another raid today.
...Is it connected to this power?
The thought had crossed his mind more than once.
If he wanted an answer, simply creating harmless toys out of fire wasn't enough. He had to push this power further and discover exactly what it was capable of.
The problem was that he had no idea where to begin.
After giving it some thought, only one person came to mind who might be able to offer a different perspective.
Once the dungeon had been cleared and the necessary reports were submitted, Jinhyuk returned home and gave Minwoo a call.
About two hours later...
"Hyung, it's rare for you to call me over." Minwoo placed a box of fried chicken and several cans of beer onto the table before flashing him a grin. "What's the special occasion?"
"I can control fire now."
Jinhyuk's voice was as flat as ever, as though he had just commented on the weather.
Minwoo stared at him for a moment before letting out a laugh.
"Hyung... that's a lame joke."
"I'm serious."
"You don't even have a fire affinity."
"I know."
"...Right?"
Minwoo nodded solemnly before cracking open a can of beer.
"You almost got me there."
Jinhyuk silently raised a finger.
A tiny flame flickered to life above it before splitting into two miniature figures no bigger than his thumb. The little fire soldiers drew swords and immediately began dueling each other atop his palm.
Minwoo blinked.
"...That's a really good illusion."
"It's real."
"Hyung, please. If you're going to lie, at least make it believable."
Jinhyuk didn't bother arguing.
"There's also a dungeon inside that room."
Minwoo snorted.
"Okay, now you're overdoing it."
"I'm not."
"Let me guess." Minwoo pointed toward the closed door. "Inside that room is a hidden S-rank dungeon, and there's some crazy treasure in there?"
"Correct, but I already took the artifact that was in there."
"...Hyung."
"What?"
"When people joke around, you're supposed to build up to the punchline." Minwoo let out a sigh as he popped open a can of beer. "You can't just keep throwing ridiculous things at me one after another. And what was that fire anyway? Some kind of illusion tool?"
"It's faster if I show you."
Jinhyuk stood and walked toward the hallway.
Minwoo blinked before following with an amused grin.
"You're seriously committing to the bit?" He shook his head. "This is exactly why I'm your only friend. My Hyein would be proud of me for all this charity work."
Jinhyuk shot him a warning glance.
"...Sorry."
Minwoo immediately straightened his back.
Scary.
Honestly, he had no idea what his hyung was trying to accomplish, but if humoring him for a few minutes was all it took, then so be it. People who spent too much time alone tended to become a little... eccentric.
Jinhyuk stopped in front of a bedroom door and quietly turned the knob.
The moment the door swung open, Minwoo's casual expression disappeared.
"...Huh?"
Beyond the doorway wasn't a bedroom.
It was a cave. A seemingly endless stone corridor.
Sparse patches of bioluminescent moss clung to the rock like scattered stars, casting a ghostly blue glow that barely revealed the path ahead
To an ordinary person, it would have been far too dark to make out anything beyond a few meters. Bu to hunters, it was as clear as day, that this was a dungeon.
"Hyung, tell me what's going."
"Sit down. It's a long story."
Jinhyuk spent a while explaining everything from the beginning. How the Great Dungeon had nearly wiped out all of existence, how the world had changed since then, and how he'd met a woman along the way. He told Minwoo about the monsters, the dungeons, and the powers and abilities he'd gained.
By the time he finished, Minwoo sat in silence, utterly speechless.
Jinhyuk had no reason to lie about something like this, and he certainly wasn't the type to make up stories for fun. Which left Minwoo with little choice but to believe him.
"Don't you find it strange?" Minwoo finally asked.
Jinhyuk glanced at him. "What?"
"You don't care about anything. Someone could stab you with a sword, and you'd probably pull it out and keep walking like nothing happened." Minwoo paused, studying his face. "I've never seen you get attached to anyone or anything. Not once."
Jinhyuk frowned slightly.
"...So?"
"So, how does a woman you've only known for a short time manage to get under your skin like this?" Minwoo leaned back in his seat. "You even dream about her. Actually, is she even real..?"
"...What are you trying to say?"
Minwoo rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"I've watched enough dramas to know this kind of setup. You know how there's always some ridiculous plot twist? Long-lost siblings. Childhood promises. Secret identities. Ever since hunters appeared, they've even started making dramas about regressors."
Jinhyuk let out an impatient sigh.
"Get to the point."
"Fine." Minwoo leaned forward with a grin. "What if there's some kind of hidden connection between you and that noona? What if she's your long lost enemy turned lover? That, or you're just sick in the head, hyung."
Jinhyuk narrowed his eyes.
"What nonsense are you spouting...Have you finally lost your mind?" Jinhyuk stared at him flatly before grabbing him and throwing him out of the door. "Get out of here."
"Wait, hyung! At least give me my chicken back!" Minwoo shouted, but the door slammed shut before he could get an answer.
"Tch. Fine! I'll just go buy Hyein a cake instead." He huffed, sulking to himself. "How heartless."
·•—–٠✤٠—–•·
Standing atop a tall building, Han Jinhyuk gazed over the city below.
Ever since gaining this new ability, he had been trying to understand it better.
If he concentrated hard enough, countless unfamiliar symbols drifted endlessly through the air. They intertwined with one another, constantly changing as though they were writing the world itself.
Just what are these symbols...?
What do they represent?
He narrowed his eyes, attempting to follow their movements, but the more he watched, the more incomprehensible they became. It felt like staring at a language that existed beyond human understanding.
Just then, the vibration of his phone pulled him from his thoughts.
Jinhyuk rarely answered calls. There were only a handful of people who had his number, and speaking to any of them was usually more trouble than it was worth.
But when he glanced at the screen, his expression shifted slightly.
Kindergarten Teacher.
He answered without much hesitation.
"Yes?"
"Ah, is this Mr. Han Jinhyuk?" the woman asked cautiously.
"Yes."
"I apologize for calling so suddenly, but... it's about Siwoo."
His brows knit together.
"He's been acting rather strangely these past few days. He keeps insisting that he won't go home unless he sees you." Her voice became increasingly apologetic. "We've tried calming him down, but he refuses to listen. It's starting to worry the other children and staff. At this rate... we may have to transfer him to another school."
Jinhyuk let out a quiet sigh.
...What is that kid up to this time?
"Send me the school's address."
"O-of course! Thank you! Thank you so much, Mr. Han Jinhyuk."
·•—–٠✤٠—–•·
"Siwoo-ya, come here for a second."
The little boy shook his head vigorously and curled up tighter in the corner of the classroom.
The other children had already gone home, leaving only Siwoo behind.
The teacher let out another helpless sigh.
"Mr. Han Jinhyuk is here to see you."
The moment those words left her mouth, Siwoo's eyes lit up.
"Mister Hunter?"
He sprang to his feet and dashed out of the classroom. The moment he spotted Jinhyuk standing in the hallway, he threw himself at his leg, hugging it tightly.
The teacher smiled awkwardly before bowing her head.
"I'm so sorry for causing you trouble. There's a café nearby that he likes to visit whenever he refuses to go home. If it's alright with you... perhaps you could take him there?"
Jinhyuk gave a small nod.
"Alright."
"Mister Hunter!" Siwoo exclaimed excitedly. "I want to introduce you to the pretty lady! Let's go! Come on!"
Unable to refuse the child's enthusiasm, Jinhyuk bent down and picked him up. He had once looked up how to properly carry children, and although it still felt unfamiliar, Siwoo seemed perfectly comfortable resting against his shoulder.
The café was only a short walk away.
Contrary to what Jinhyuk had imagined, it wasn't some famous family café bustling with customers.
It was small.
A modest little shop tucked away on a street corner, with warm wooden furniture and the comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee lingering in the air. Only a few customers sat scattered around the room.
Behind the counter stood a woman wearing a simple brown apron. She was wiping down a cup while letting out a tired sigh.
"Welcome—"
She looked up.
"Oh, Siwoo? Did you bring your dad today?"
"No!" Siwoo puffed out his chest proudly. "This is the superhero I told you about! I'm going to become just like him when I grow up!"
The woman laughed softly.
"I see."
She brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear before offering Jinhyuk a gentle smile.
"It's nice to meet you. I'm the owner of this café, Seo Elena. Please make yourselves comfortable."
Han Jinhyuk didn't answer. He simply stared at her, his gaze lingering on her face as if he'd forgotten what he was supposed to say.
Seo Elena tilted her head, looking at him with mild curiosity.
"Is something wrong?"
Her voice brought him back to his senses. Jinhyuk blinked and quickly looked away.
"...No."
"I see." Elena gave him a polite smile. "Then please take your time. I'll come back in a moment to take your order..."
Crash—!
The sharp sound of shattering glass echoed throughout the café. Everyone instinctively turned toward the source.
A woman with long white hair stood frozen near the kitchen entrance, a broken glass lying in pieces at her feet. Her jewel-like pink eyes were locked onto Han Jinhyuk with unmistakable hostility.
"Y-you..." Her voice trembled as though she had just seen someone she should never have encountered.
"Diana unnie!" Seo Elena exclaimed, startled. "What happened? Be careful! Someone could get hurt. Please clean that up."
Diana didn't respond.
The white-haired woman reluctantly crouched down and began gathering the broken pieces of glass. Yet even as she picked them up, her gaze remained fixed on Han Jinhyuk.
Just then, two more employees emerged from the staff room, both wearing matching brown aprons.
One of them followed Diana's line of sight. After a brief silence, she murmured,
"...So they've finally met."
The other let out a quiet sigh.
"It seems fate always finds a way. No matter how much you try to resist it, some people are simply destined to cross paths."
Neither of them said anything more.
As though nothing out of the ordinary had happened, they returned to their work.
Meanwhile, Diana continued gathering the shattered glass in silence. Every few seconds, however, her eyes drifted back to Han Jinhyuk.
And Han Jinhyuk...
Never once took his eyes off Seo Elena.