Chapter 50

It’s been roughly half a day since people entered the C-rank Large Dungeon.

Right after one round of battle concluded.

The male members of Wings Guild were heaving heavy breaths.

Because their bodies and minds were gradually growing weary.

During that time, Kang Do-joon approached the women who had kept their distance from the battlefield once again.

“Why aren’t you participating in the fight, Si-hyun? Is there some special reason?”

“…”

With no response forthcoming, Kang Do-joon didn’t give up and spoke again.

“Could it be…? You’re playing bodyguard for the student next to you?”

“…Shut up.”

After being persistently pestered all day, Si-hyun finally opened her previously sealed lips.

To which Kang Do-joon smirked and said,

“We can offer you a ride too, you know. Want to join us on the next dungeon run?”

“…No thanks.”

“Why? I’m stronger than all those guys combined. And I offered you a ride?”

He clung on relentlessly.

But instead of responding, Si-hyun took Ah-reum and moved towards the male members of Wings Guild.

Since she wouldn’t be seeing him after today anyway,

it was simply too bothersome to waste any more emotional energy.

From behind, Kang Do-joon’s mocking voice followed,

“Well, since profits are divided by party anyway, it doesn’t matter much. But is it really right for a D-rank woman to just hitch rides?”

That guy who had offered her a ride earlier…

now accused her of having no integrity.

Anyone so illogical and inconsistent wasn’t worth conversing with.

Si-hyun silently congratulated herself for ignoring him.

“Hmph, so what if you’re B-rank…?”

From the side, Ah-reum snapped on her behalf.

Si-hyun smiled faintly, lightly tapped the student on the shoulder, then addressed the males of Wings Guild.

“Can everyone last until the end?”

“Of course!”

“Don’t worry about us!”

Even though they were exhausted, the men replied with vigor.

Si-hyun’s role was solely to ensure their safety while they adapted to the dungeon.

While she had provided buffs and teachings as additional help during this time,

those were merely supplementary elements.

In the future, even without her, they should be able to clear C-rank dungeons on their own.

That’s why today, the final day, they were continuing combat without buffs.

Despite being a large dungeon, Ji-han, the promising heir of Wings Guild, was also present.

And although only E-rank, Ah-reum used her skills after every battle.

Thanks to that, the Wings Guild party was progressing smoothly.

“Phew, now I get why large dungeons are avoided.”

“Yeah, tell me about it. Isn’t it way too vast?”

“But since we’re almost done, let’s push through a bit more!”

They exchanged words to boost each other’s morale and advanced further into the dungeon with the Thief Party.

Meanwhile, Kang Do-joon subtly approached Si-hyun and Ah-reum yet again.

“Ladies.”

Si-hyun and Ah-reum looked at him.

“Still no thoughts of joining our party? We’ll treat you well.”

“…Stop repeating yourself.”

“Hmm…”

Do-joon stroked his chin and continued,

“You’re too arrogant for your own good. What will you do if those men all die? Will you still say the same thing then?”

“…”

“When that happens, will you beg me to save you?”

This time, Do-joon crossed a line.

Furrowing her brows, Si-hyun glared at him.

“Oh, glaring at me? But what can a D-rank person like you do? Not scary at all.”

“Haa…”

Continued provocation from Kang Do-joon prompted Si-hyun to let out a light sigh.

I haven’t encountered someone like this recently.

Meeting one after such a long time was truly annoying.

Si-hyun gave him a cold stare.

Then deliberately mocked,

“Hey, Mr. Kang.”

“What, what is it?”

“Is it because ‘theft’ is in your name that you keep spouting nonsense?”

She chuckled as she continued,

“Know your place and just go away, will ya?”

“Huh? What? Know my place?”

Kang Do-joon scowled in irritation, then lunged toward Si-hyun.

However…

“What the hell?”

Quickly wrapping her arms around Ah-reum, Si-hyun easily dodged his grab.

Then briskly retreated to stay close behind the male members of Wings Guild.

As he slowly lowered his fist clutching empty air,

prominent veins bulged on Kang Do-joon’s forehead.

His nostrils flared and teeth gritted as he solidified his resolve:

to teach that arrogant woman a lesson.

After rejoining his subordinates, he issued orders.

The thieves nodded in agreement.

A brief period of peace ensued.

However, upon entering a large open space,

the thieves began behaving strangely.

“Yawn…”

“Aaaaahhh…”

They stopped in place, yawned repeatedly, showing no intention to fight monsters.

Realizing this late, Ji-han shouted furiously,

“Hey! What are you doing!”

Amused grins appeared on the thieves’ faces at Ji-han’s angry expression.

Do-joon smirked and said,

“We already know the boss room’s location. We’re pretty close now.”

“Then we should prepare for battle immediately! Damn it, what are you doing!”

“Why should we?”

Do-joon raised one corner of his mouth.

“It’d be much better if we took all the rewards ourselves, don’t you think?”

It was an unexpected declaration of war.

The atmosphere grew heavy.

However, the male members of Wings Guild couldn’t confront the thieves.

They had to deal with the skeletons charging at them.

Meanwhile, all the thieves except Do-joon suddenly disappeared from sight.

Do-joon leisurely walked towards the women.

Watching as Si-hyun positioned Ah-reum further back.

“Still time to beg and we might save you ladies?”

“Just what do you mean by ‘save’?” Ah-reum asked hesitantly.

“Our guys are herding mobs right now,” Do-joon exaggeratedly expressed regret as he explained.

“…W-What?!”

“They’re bringing skeletons from other areas here. So, what do you think will happen?”

“If… If that happens…”

Ah-reum’s face turned pale.

Do-joon enjoyed her reaction and continued,

“We’ll hide using stealth and wait for all of you to die. Then we’ll collect what we want and head to the boss room. You’ll end here! Hahaha! How does that make you feel?”

Do-joon alternated his gaze between trembling Ah-reum and expressionless Si-hyun.

Smirking arrogantly, recalling something from before.

* * *

Some time ago, when they first entered this large dungeon.

The thief party met another group consisting of one B-rank magic-type hunter and several C-rank melee hunters.

They proceeded to jointly explore the dungeon without issues.

Upon discovering the boss room,

“Hey, don’t their gears look nice?”

“Especially that B-rank guy’s gear looks great.”

“It’ll fetch a good price, sir.”

During a short rest, the thieves casually discussed among themselves.

They always targeted hunters who wouldn’t cause trouble afterward.

Inside the large dungeon, they staged accidents to kill other hunter parties and steal their gears.

Easily multiplying their profits several times over.

The thief party had become addicted to this easy money-making scheme.

After making the decision, they immediately acted.

First, Kang Do-joon assassinated the most troublesome B-rank magic-type hunter.

“Gagghh—!”

“What, what is this!”

“What are you doing?!”

It was a surprise attack utilizing the strengths of thieves in direct combat.

The magic-type hunter was killed instantly.

Laughing at the shocked melee hunters, Do-joon disappeared using stealth.

And shortly after,

Thieves who had left their positions earlier returned, driving a horde of monsters onto the clearing.

All the thieves remained hidden using stealth.

The remaining melee hunters had no choice but to engage the incoming monsters.

Their leader, the B-rank hunter, was already dead.

Eventually, the entire party was wiped out.

The thieves waited for the monsters to disperse back into the dungeon.

Then cleared the remaining monsters in the clearing and collected valuable gears.

“Since we know the boss room’s location, how about we check it out one more time?”

“Heheh. Shall we, sir?”

For dangerous or unprofitable parties, they would normally explore the dungeon conventionally.

But for tempting targets, they would stage accidental deaths and steal everything.

This was their frequently used method.

Using stealth to maximum effect, they bypassed the boss room and exited the dungeon.

Since it happened inside the dungeon, the administration had no way of knowing.

* * *

Kang Do-joon briefly glanced at the male members of Wings Guild battling skeletons.

The equipment of two C-rank sword-using hunters caught his eye – they were quite high-quality.

Smirking wickedly, he turned his gaze back to the women.

“This time, I told them to only lure you to the pass.”

The women didn’t respond.

Unbothered, Do-joon continued,

“You could seduce me now and I might spare you. How’s that for mercy? Hahaha!”

This was the most enjoyable moment for him.

He fully savored the reactions of his opponents.

But he felt a little disappointed.

Unlike the student, Si-hyun showed no signs of fear.

‘What makes her so calm?’

Could she be relying on her party members?

Do-joon sneered at Si-hyun’s attitude.

The male members of Wings Guild barely defeated the skeletons.

Returning to the women, looking completely exhausted.

At that moment, the thieves also regrouped around Do-joon.

“Did you follow my orders properly?”

“Of course, sir!”

While the thieves conversed,

the men of Wings Guild figured out the situation.

“Haa, haa… The way back is packed with monsters?”

“Anyway, we expected this in an undead dungeon.”

Everyone glared at the thieves.

“We just need to defeat them, right?”

Ji-han declared confidently.

To which the thieves responded with snickers.

“Do you even know your current state?”

“The monsters won’t stand a chance against sir alone! Hahaha!”

“That’s right. Why don’t we play with them a bit?”

“That sounds fun, sir! Hehehe!”

Kang Do-joon licked his lips.

Though it would be easier to bring mobs here and hide using stealth like before.

But if he kills all these useless men and intimidates the women,

wouldn’t that create the most enjoyable scenario?

Just imagining it made Do-joon shiver with excitement.

While the thieves laughed raucously,

Si-hyun muttered softly.

“…These trash keep crossing lines worse than beasts.”

Her voice was so quiet that only Ah-reum beside her heard it.

Following that, a small sound of “Time of Repentance” tickled her ears.