That Paladin… I stared at him, my eyelids seemingly forgetting how to blink. It was insane how much power Ryn Valen had gained since joining the Elysian Wardens. He moved like the wind, struck fast and mercilessly like a mantis, and was strong beyond human limits. I hated to admit it, but I would’ve bet my entire reward that I couldn't even lift the epic Sword of Justice strapped to his back.

  Yet, he seemed to have nothing but contempt for me.

  "What’s wrong with you, Takuya?" he said, his words cutting like a dagger straight to my heart. "Seriously, you’re getting wrecked by a trash mob? Even your scrawny little friend put up more of a fight than you. He actually took one of those beasts down."

  I fumbled nervously with my taped-up, broken glasses. One more cruel word from him, and I’d probably start tearing up. I was already a nobody in high school. This was supposed to be my dream... my life as a Monster Hunter. But reality was catching up fast. Turns out, I wasn’t just the biggest loser in high school, I was also the biggest loser in this dungeon.

  "We’re here to kill Nihilith, the final boss. I need to be able to rely on every single one of you."

  "You can rely on me," I finally said, brushing the dirt off my shoulder. Maybe it was my way of shaking off the frustration. But the feeling of failure clung to me like a curse, and I was already itching for the next monster attack, desperate for a chance to prove myself.

  The rest of the squad seemed fine, but Ryn Valen still ordered a quick status check.

  "All good here," Hye-Rin said.

  "Just a few scratches," Dae-Won added. "Not worth wasting mana on."

  "Yeah, that’s an important factor," Ryn Valen said. "This dungeon has a debuff on me. My mana regen's completely blocked. I lost a lot with that AoE cast, and on top of that, I keep having to heal you two from your injuries. Honestly, I didn’t even think I’d need a potion. But this… this is my only one. And I’ll need it before the first boss fight. You’d better watch yourselves."

  With that, he uncorked a round, heavy bottle, the shimmering blue liquid inside swaying like captured moonlight. I should’ve felt bad. Guilty, even. But instead, his words made me pause.

  A Holy Pala… running out of mana?

  I adjusted my glasses and cleared my throat. "Holy Paladins have built-in mana sustain," I blurted out. "Like, several ways to get mana back. Sanctified Will restores a chunk of mana every time you take direct damage. Divine Flow converts overhealing into mana regen. And if you’re really desperate, Sacred Vow lets you trade HP for mana. You’re telling us none of those are working?"

  Fuck. My brain was screaming at me to not argue with a level 50 Paladin who could probably one-shot me if he wanted to. But my inner nerd just wouldn’t shut up.

  Ryn’s expression didn’t change. Not immediately. But for the briefest moment, I swore I saw something flicker in his eyes. And for the first time, I wondered if Ryn Valen wasn’t just hiding something... but lying.

  We kept walking in silence. Every now and then, the undergrowth around us grew so thick we had to crouch to push through. The forest air was damp and earthy, but something foul lurked beneath it. The stench of death and decay. Or maybe it wasn’t a smell at all. Maybe it was the presence of Nihilith itself, seeping into the atmosphere like a dark fog, pressing against our very souls.

  Then someone struck my shoulder.

  I nearly jumped out of my skin. PTSD kicking in from years of bullying. My whole body locked up in sheer terror, bracing for a beating… or for demons to tear me apart. My heart pounded.

  But it was just Hye-Rin. She had caught up to me, winking as she held out a small vial filled with a green, shimmering liquid.

  "Drink this, or you’ll pass out before the boss fight even starts."

  It kind of looked like poison. Thanks to my daily dose of school-induced paranoia, I always expected the worst from people. Gifts? Yeah, not so much.

  "Go on, take it." She chuckled. "It’s just a little strength buff. Maybe it'll help you stop looking so scared."

  I hesitated before taking the vial from her hand. The cork popped off with a soft plop!, and I downed the entire thing in one gulp.

  It tasted like... lightning?

  A rush of warmth spread through my muscles. My posture straightened almost instantly, like my weak, noodle-like limbs had just been upgraded with reinforced steel.

  "Wow, thanks. Didn’t think you’d be the caring type, Hye-Rin."

  Wait.

  Did I just say that out loud?

  Instant regret. Embarrassment hit me like a critical strike. Had I just insulted her? What was I even thinking?!

  God, whenever I talked to women, my brain short-circuited. And the more I thought about it, the worse it got. Overthinking was my ultimate debuff.

  A short pause settled between us, like always. I sucked at this. At life. At dungeons. And at talking to girls.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Hye-Rin’s expression grew serious. She glanced at the others before turning back to me.

  "Seriously… you’ve got that look on your face. The whole Why am I such a damn noob? thing."

  "Oh… yeah… can you blame me?"

  "Actually, I can." She sighed. "Back at the start of the dungeon... did you even notice? You were the only one who ran to help the lady at the ticket booth without hesitation. The only one of us who actually cared."

  "You… saw that?"

  Hye-Rin met my eyes, holding my gaze. "Maybe you’re weak. Maybe you’re scared. But you’ve got a good heart. And that’s exactly what people need if we want to stand a chance at stopping the end of the world. Your weakness? You can train that away. Your fear? That fades with experience. Let me tell you something: I used to be just like you."

  My eyes widened. Just like me?

  "I can’t imagine you were ever as much of a noob as I am."

  Hye-Rin tilted her head back, gazing at the dark, demon-lit sky flickering above the dungeon. "I was worse," she said. "My first mission with ROKA? I nearly pissed myself. My sergeant called me Panic-Rin for a whole damn week because I freaked out at every single noise."

  I let out a surprised laugh. "No way. Seriously?"

  Hye-Rin grinned, but then her expression turned thoughtful. "But eventually… it gets easier. Not because it becomes less dangerous, but because you learn to deal with it. You become yourself, no matter how much shit gets thrown your way. And once you do that? You’re already ahead of most people out there."

  She clapped me on the shoulder.

  This time, I didn’t flinch. Was it the strength buff? Or her words?

  I took a deep breath, gathering all my courage to ask something for once instead of just reacting. "Hye-Rin… how much more do you guys need before you have enough for the wedding?"

  She walked beside me in silence for a while. Then she said, "Not much. This run should get us there."

  "You only need 2,000 more K-Coins?"

  "10,000," Hye-Rin corrected.

  "But…"

  "Did you even check any updates before this run? Last night, shortly after 10 PM, the South Korean government issued an emergency quest due to the increased danger level of this dungeon. We monster hunters will receive 8,000 K-Coins for clearing it. Oh, Nooby."

  I froze. At that time, I had been lying in bed, exhausted but wide awake, anxiously imagining the torments my classmates were planning for my birthday. Yet even Sin-Joo didn’t seem to know about this. At least, he hadn't mentioned anything.

  Hye-Rin shared the quest.

  [EMERGENCY QUEST: DUNGEON CLEARANCE - EVERLAND]

  Issued by: South Korean Department of National Defense

  Date: February 4, 2030

  Objective: Eliminate all hostiles and secure the dungeon

  Due to an increased level of monster activity and escalating threats to public safety, this dungeon has been classified as a high-risk zone. In response, the South Korean government has authorized a special emergency quest for qualified hunters.

  Participants who successfully clear the dungeon will receive an official government bounty of 8,000 K-Coins.

  Conditions:

  - Minimum recommended Item Level: 31

  - Completion must be verified through official Dungeon Clearance Records

  Reward:

  - 8,000 K-Coins

  Notice:

  Should another full-party wipe occur, the Random Dungeon Finder for Everland will be temporarily suspended. Instead, an elite unit of certified Monster Hunters will be assembled to neutralize the threat.

  Warning: Participants enter at their own risk. The South Korean government is not liable for injuries, losses, or fatalities resulting from engagement with hostile entities. Proceed with caution.

  I accepted the quest, but not with excitement over the money... only with sheer terror. My body went hot and cold at the same time. The government recommended an item level of at least 31… that was the level of hunters clearing D-Rank dungeons.

  Just to be sure, I opened Dungeon Now and checked the official requirements for dungeon permits.

  Dungeon Ranks & Recommended Item Levels:

  A-Dungeon: Item Level 1-5 (Beginner level, low risk, ideal for newbies)

  B-Dungeon: Item Level 6-15 (Challenging for rookies, manageable with decent gear)

  C-Dungeon: Item Level 16-30 (Serious danger starts here. Only for experienced Monster Hunters)

  D-Dungeon: Item Level 31-50 (Lethal monsters, advanced mechanics. Only elite hunters make it through alive)

  E-Dungeon: Item Level 51-75 (Extremely high risk. Monster Hunters are unlikely to survive; at least one Paladin in your group is strongly advised)

  F-Dungeon: Item Level 76-100 (Nightmare conditions. Nearly impossible without perfect coordination and high-end gear. Only Paladins can survive. Non-magical hunters have no chance)

  G-Dungeon: Item Level 101+ (Beyond human capabilities. Few have entered… even fewer have returned.)

  The government’s emergency quest gave me plenty to think about. The further we walked, the quieter the group became, each of us lost in our own thoughts. The weight of what lay ahead was suffocating.

  Maybe that’s why I asked, just to break the tension. "And after the wedding? What comes next?"

  "Dae-Won and I have been raiding for over two years now. We’re not tired of it, but… we’re not twenty anymore, you know?"

  "You guys are like thirty, not eighty."

  Hye-Rin smirked. "Yeah, well… priorities shift. We still love the thrill, but at some point, you start thinking about what’s next."

  I wasn’t sure what to say to that. For me, dungeons weren’t just a job or an adrenaline rush. They were my only chance to prove myself. What was I supposed to do if I wasn’t fighting to get stronger?

  "So… you just want a normal life?"

  She let out a short laugh. "Define normal. We’re thinking about a baby."

  I blinked. "Oh, wow. Uh… congrats?"

  "Not yet." She chuckled. "But soon. Hopefully. Dae-Won and I made a promise to each other: We won’t end up like the others. The ones who get trapped in this endless cycle of fighting and dying. It’s a lot like poker. At some point… you have to know when to walk away. Yeah, it’s gambling, Takuya. Except instead of money, you’re betting your life. Some people make it big, but most lose everything. Some lose it all right from the start. Dae-Won and I… we’re not going to push our luck any further." She placed a hand on my shoulder, gentle this time, almost protective. "Good luck, Nooby. With whatever it is you’re chasing."

  I pressed my lips together. Why was she being so nice to me? People didn’t just do that. Not to me. I wasn’t sure how to respond, so I just nodded and kept walking. Hye-Rin picked up her pace, walking over to Dae-Won, who had been waiting for her. He took her hand, giving it a small squeeze. And while they weren’t looking, I turned my attention to Ryn Valen. I couldn’t help but wonder: He could’ve cleared this dungeon solo. No question. So why was he here? Why did he need us, when he was on an entirely different level?

  Ryn Valen belonged somewhere else. Somewhere deeper. He should’ve been exploring the Abyss, fighting alongside other Paladins in a G-rank dungeon, taking on the strongest elite monsters of this world and beyond.

  The answer hit me like a brick wall.

  I froze mid-step.

  Was this Ryn’s goal all along?

  Was he here… to enter a new Abyss?

  Something was off about him. I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was keeping something from us, something important.

  And as much as I admired him…

  The truth was, he was starting to scare me.