The transport truck gradually slowed to a stop in front of a massive stone tower that stretched high into the sky.
A secured perimeter surrounded the structure, marked by metal fences, yellow caution tape, and several red warning signs.
"DANGER - ACTIVE DUNGEON."
"NO ENTRY FOR UNAUTHORIZED PERSONNEL."
A small group of employees from the Hunter Association guarded the entrance, checking the hunter IDs of everyone entering.
Logan was the first to step out of the truck.
The others followed behind him.
Liam climbed down next, stretching his arms to shake off the stiffness from the ride.
Beside him, Lydia stepped out wearing a smile she couldn’t hide.
Her eyes wandered across the enormous tower, sparkling with excitement.
Liam couldn’t help watching her for a few moments.
’Things really have changed...’
He remembered perfectly the first time they’d talked about becoming hunters.
Lydia had been the one trying hardest to convince him not to do it.
And now...
Now she was staring at the towering structure like a little girl visiting an amusement park.
She smiled, tucked a strand of black hair behind her ear as she admired every detail, and looked eager to step inside.
’She’s gotten used to it...’
A warm feeling spread through Liam’s chest.
’She’s gotten used to her powers.’
She no longer looked uncomfortable using her slime abilities.
She used them naturally now.
She even enjoyed discovering new ways to make use of them.
Liam smiled without realizing it.
Lydia noticed him looking.
"What?"
"Nothing."
He shook his head.
"I just like seeing you this happy."
Her smile grew even wider.
"It’s just..."
She looked back at the tower.
"It’s still hard to believe that just a few days ago I was a little slime ball."
Liam laughed.
"And now you want to explore every dungeon you can find."
"A little."
◇◆◇
While most of the rookie hunters stared at the enormous tower in open amazement, comments started popping up all around them.
"It’s even bigger up close..."
"I thought people were exaggerating when they talked about dungeons."
One of the boys craned his neck, trying to spot the top of the structure.
"It looks endless..."
Logan cleared his throat loudly, and everyone immediately fell silent.
"All right."
He folded his arms.
"Get ready to enter."
His gaze swept across the group.
"Maintain your positions."
He pointed toward the front-line fighters.
"Tanks in front."
Then toward the ranged attackers.
"Everyone else stays behind."
Finally, he spoke in an authoritative tone.
"Don’t break formation, and everything will go smoothly."
Lydia sighed.
Liam caught her muttering under her breath.
"He really has a way of talking..."
Liam simply smiled.
He wasn’t planning to pay much attention to it.
As long as they completed the expedition safely, he didn’t really care whether Logan was friendly or not.
The man walked toward the tower’s massive stone doors.
He placed both hands against them.
With a deep grinding rumble...
The entrance slowly swung open.
A wave of icy air drifted out from inside.
Logan turned back toward the group.
"All right."
A faint smile crossed his face.
"Who wants to go in first?"
Everyone exchanged glances, but no one stepped forward.
Liam raised a hand.
"If nobody wants to..."
Everyone looked at him.
"...I can go first."
He scratched the back of his neck.
"Although I was told to stay in the back."
Logan burst into laughter.
"I was joking."
Several of the rookies sighed in relief.
"I always ask the newbies that."
He tapped his own chest.
"I’m one of the tanks."
He smiled confidently.
"I lead the way."
Liam lowered his hand.
"After you."
Logan was the first to cross the threshold.
The others followed according to the planned formation.
Liam waited until everyone had entered.
Lydia remained beside him.
"Let’s go."
She nodded, and together they stepped into the dungeon.
◇◆◇
Liam’s eyes widened in surprise.
Before him stretched a vast landscape completely blanketed in snow.
A cold breeze drifted gently across the frozen ground, while small white trees poked up through the snow.
The sky was entirely gray, yet it didn’t feel threatening.
If anything...
The place felt strangely peaceful.
"So beautiful..."
one of the female hunters whispered.
Another young man slowly turned in place, admiring the scenery.
"It feels like another world."
Liam couldn’t have agreed more.
He looked back toward where the entrance should have been...
But now there was only a rocky mountainside.
Running along one side were enormous veins of glowing blue ore.
Lydia noticed them too.
"They’re beautiful."
Several of the rookies looked around in complete wonder.
One short-haired girl even pulled her phone out of her pocket.
"Wait!"
she said excitedly.
"I want to take a picture."
She raised her phone.
Before she could even aim it...
A hand suddenly appeared.
Logan snatched the phone from her.
The girl jumped in surprise.
"Huh?"
He looked at her with obvious disapproval.
"When they gave you your hunter license..."
He held the phone up in front of her.
"...didn’t they tell you that taking photos or videos inside a dungeon is prohibited?"
The young woman opened her eyes wide.
"It’s forbidden?"
She lowered her head.
"I’m sorry..."
She shook it quickly.
"I didn’t know."
Liam listened to the entire exchange.
At that moment, Lydia stepped a little closer and lowered her voice.
"They never told us that either."
Liam thought for a moment.
"I guess it can’t be that important."
She looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
He smiled.
"I’d like to take pictures."
"Here?"
"Of course."
He looked across the snowy landscape.
"Just imagine it."
He smiled.
"An album filled with every dungeon we clear together."
Lydia gazed across the frozen scenery.
It really was beautiful.
"But..."
She glanced discreetly toward Logan.
"He said it’s forbidden."
Liam shrugged.
"We’re not going to post them anywhere."
He smiled at her.
"They’d just be memories for us."
Lydia smiled too.
"I like that idea."
◇◆◇
Meanwhile, Logan was still standing in front of the young hunter.
His expression had completely changed.
Now he was smiling.
"Don’t worry."
His voice sounded kind.
"Since you’re new..."
He held out her phone.
"...I’m sure it won’t happen again."
The girl let out a relieved sigh.
"Thank you very much."
She reached out to take her phone back.
But just as Logan was about to hand it over...
His grip slipped.
Or at least, that’s how it looked.
The phone fell only a few inches.
Before the girl could catch it...
Logan grabbed it again.
Then, with a completely unnecessary motion...
He squeezed the device with both hands.
Crack!
The plastic casing split apart.
The screen shattered into dozens of fractures.
The phone itself bent nearly in half.
Logan opened his eyes dramatically.
"Oops..."
He looked at the broken remains.
"How clumsy of me."
He scratched the back of his head as though it had been a genuine accident.
"I broke it."
The young woman stared at the ruined pieces in disbelief.
"...T-That was my only phone..."
Her voice trembled.
Logan gave her a couple of friendly pats on the shoulder.
"Well..."
He handed her the completely useless remains.
"At least now you won’t be taking any pictures."
Several members of the party frowned, but no one spoke up.
Liam clenched his jaw.
That wasn’t just arrogance anymore.
It had been completely unnecessary.
Lydia took a small step closer to him.
The kindness had vanished from her expression.
A message immediately appeared before Liam’s eyes.
[Lydia: I don’t just dislike him anymore.]
[Lydia: I absolutely can’t stand him now.]