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It had been about half a day since people entered the C-rank large dungeon.

Just after a battle had concluded.

The men of the Wings Guild were gasping for breath.

Everyone was gradually becoming exhausted.

In the meantime, Kang Do-joon approached the women who were standing a bit away from the battlefield again.

“Why isn’t Si-hyun participating in the battle? Is there a particular reason?”

“……”

No response came, but Kang Do-joon didn’t give up and spoke again.

“Could it be—your role is to guard the student beside you?”

“…Please mind your own business.”

After being nagged all day from beside her, Si-hyun finally opened her previously closed mouth.

Upon that, Kang Do-joon smirked and said,

“We could give you a ride, you know. Wanna go to the dungeon together next time?”

“…I don’t need it.”

“Why not? I’m stronger than all those other guys combined. I’m offering you a ride!”

He stubbornly clung to her.

But Si-hyun, instead of responding, took Ah-reum and walked towards the men of the Wings Guild.

After all, these were people she wouldn’t see again after today.

It was bothersome to expend any emotions on them.

Behind her, Kang Do-joon’s mocking voice followed.

“Well, it doesn’t matter how profits are divided among parties, but isn’t it a bit shameful for a D-rank woman to just ride along?”

Didn’t he just say he could give her a ride?

Now he’s talking about having no conscience.

Someone who doesn’t make sense like him isn’t worth conversing with.

Si-hyun shook her head, thinking she did well to ignore him.

“Hey, is it all just because you’re B-rank…?”

Ah-reum got angry on her behalf from the side.

Si-hyun chuckled softly, patted the student’s shoulder lightly, and addressed the men of the Wings Guild.

“Will you all be able to hold out till the end?”

“Of course!”

“You don’t need to worry!”

Even while tired, the men replied energetically.

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

While she had offered buffs or teachings in the meantime,

that was simply a supplemental aspect.

From now on, they should be able to clear the C-rank dungeon without her.

That’s why on the last day today, they were continuing the battle without buffs.

Despite being a large dungeon, they also had Ji-han, a promising member of the Wings Guild, with them.

Even though he was E-rank, Ah-reum used her skills after each battle.

Thanks to this, the Wings Guild party was steadily progressing through the dungeon.

“Huh, but now I understand why this large dungeon is an avoided one.”

“Right? Isn’t it too spacious?”

“Still, they said we were nearing the end, so let’s hang in there a bit longer!”

They exchanged words to encourage each other and advanced back into the dungeon with the Thief Party.

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

“Ladies.”

Si-hyun and Ah-reum looked at him.

“Are you seriously not thinking of joining our party? I can treat you well.”

“…Don’t repeat yourself.”

“Hmmm…”

Do-joon stroked his chin and continued.

“Being too proud isn’t good either. What if all those guys over there die? Can you say the same thing then?”

“……”

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

This time, Do-joon had crossed the line.

Si-hyun frowned and glared at Do-joon.

“Oh, you’re glaring at me? But what can you do? A D-rank doesn’t scare me at all!”

“Ha…”

As Kang Do-joon continued to provoke her, Si-hyun lightly sighed.

She hadn’t encountered this type of person recently.

It was truly irritating to meet him again after such a long time.

Si-hyun looked at him with a cold gaze.

In a deliberately mocking tone, she spoke.

“Hey, Kang Do-joon.”

“What, what is it?”

“Is it because your name has ‘Kang’ in it that you bother talking nonsense all the time?”

She snickered and continued.

“I wish you would know your place and just back off.”

“Ha… What? Know my place?”

Kang Do-joon frowned with displeasure.

Unable to hold back, he reached out a hand towards Si-hyun.

However.

“Damn it?”

Si-hyun swiftly wrapped her arms around Ah-reum, easily dodging his touch.

Then she scampered behind the men of the Wings Guild.

As he slowly lowered his clenched fist, veins throbbed on Kang Do-joon’s forehead.

Flaring his nostrils and gritting his teeth, he made up his mind.

He had to teach that impudent girl a lesson.

Rejoining his subordinates, he issued orders.

The thieves all nodded in agreement.

A moment of peace ensued.

However, as soon as they entered a large open space.

The thieves began to exhibit strange behavior.

“Yawn…”

“Yaaawwn…!”

They stood still, yawning, showing no will to engage monsters.

Ji-han, who had noticed this late, yelled out.

“Hey! What are you doing?!”

Seeing Ji-han’s angry demeanor, the thieves chuckled.

Do-joon, with a greasy smile, said, “Actually, we already know the boss room’s location. It’s nearby.”

“Then hurry and prepare for battle! Damn, what are you all doing?!”

“Why should we?”

Do-joon raised one corner of his mouth.

“It’s much better for us to just gather the rewards for ourselves, don’t you think?”

It was a sudden declaration of war.

The atmosphere thickened.

But the men of the Wings Guild couldn’t confront the thieves.

They had to face the horde of skeletons charging at them.

In the meantime, the other thieves, excluding Do-joon, suddenly vanished.

Do-joon leisurely approached the women.

He watched as Si-hyun pulled Ah-reum back.

“If you beg me now, I could save you ladies.”

“Save… us?”

Ah-reum, who had only slightly poked her head out, asked, to which Do-joon exaggeratedly expressed his regret.

“My guys just went to gather the monsters.”

“…Y-yeah?”

“They’re leading the skeletons from another place here. So, what do you think will happen?”

“W-wait, then….”

Ah-reum’s face turned pale.

Do-joon savored that reaction and continued speaking.

“We’ll hide in stealth and wait for you all to die. After that, we’ll take what we need and head to the boss room. You’ll be done for here! Hahaha! How do you feel right now?”

Do-joon looked back and forth between the trembling Ah-reum and the expressionless Si-hyun.

Remembering recent events, he wore a smug smile.

* * *

Not long ago, when they first entered this large dungeon.

The Thief Party encountered a party consisting of one B-rank magic hunter and several C-rank melee hunters.

They proceeded to explore the dungeon together in cooperation.

After a smooth schedule, they discovered the boss room.

“Guys, don’t they have good gear?”

“Especially that B-rank guy’s gear looks good, right?”

“It’s probably worth a lot, bro.”

While taking a short break, the thieves chatted as usual.

They always selected hunters who posed no risk for their operation.

In a large dungeon, they would disguised a death as an accident to steal gear from other hunter parties.

Miraculously, their profits would multiply several times.

The Thief Party had already gotten hooked on the thrill of easy money.

Having made their decision, they quickly put it into action.

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

“Gack—!”

“W-what is this?!”

“What are you doing?!”

It was a surprise attack that maximized the Thief’s characteristics of being strong in person fights.

The magic hunter’s life was taken in an instant.

Laughing at the startled melee hunters, Do-joon vanished into stealth.

And shortly after.

The thieves who had been absent during Do-joon’s assassination returned, leading a swarm of monsters into the clearing.

The Thief Party concealed themselves using stealth.

The remaining melee hunters had to engage in the battle with the incoming horde of monsters.

The B-rank hunter leading them was already a corpse.

In the end, the party couldn’t endure and was wiped out.

The thieves waited for the monsters to disperse again throughout the dungeon.

They then tidied up the monsters left in the clearing and took the expensive gear.

“I memorized the boss room’s location too. Shall we each take another look?”

“Hehehe. Should we, bro?”

If it’s a dangerous or unappetizing party, they would normally proceed to clear the dungeon.

When there’s a sweet scent, they disguise it as an accident and steal it, clearing the dungeon.

It was their frequent method.

They utilized stealth as much as possible, leaving the boss room behind and exiting the dungeon.

Since it was an occurrence inside the dungeon, the management office couldn’t know about it.

* * *

Kang Do-joon briefly glanced at the men of the Wings Guild engaged in battle with the skeleton horde.

The gear of the two C-rank hunters wielding swords was quite high quality.

With a sly smile, he looked back at Si-hyun and Ah-reum.

“I told them to lure you to a path, not here.”

The women didn’t reply.

Do-joon, not caring, continued speaking.

“If you can tempt me right now, I’ll spare you. How’s that for my mercy? Hahaha!”

This was his favorite moment.

Kang Do-joon relished the reactions of his opponent.

But there was a bit of disappointment.

Unlike the students, the woman named Si-hyun wasn’t trembling at all.

‘What’s making her so calm?’

Snickering, Do-joon mocked Si-hyun’s demeanor.

The men of the Wings Guild were struggling hard to defeat the skeletons.

They returned to the women looking thoroughly exhausted.

At that moment, the thieves gathered back around Do-joon.

“Did you do well as I instructed?”

“Of course, bro!”

While the thieves conversed, the men of the Wings Guild also grasped the situation.

“Haah, haah… Did you say the way back is filled with monsters?”

“Phew, it was bound to happen since it’s an undead dungeon.”

Everyone glared at the thieves.

“Isn’t it just about defeating those guys?”

Ji-han boldly declared.

The thieves responded with chuckles.

“Do you even know your state when you say that?”

“Even without monsters, your bro could handle them all! Hahaha!”

“So what? Should we play around a bit then?”

“That sounds fun, bro! Hahaha!”

Kang Do-joon licked his lips.

While it would be easier to bring the monsters here and go into stealth like the previous party,

killing all the pathetic men and intimidating the women would set up the perfect scenario for enjoyment.

Just imagining it brought a thrill to Do-joon.

Thus, while the thieves laughed loudly,

Si-hyun muttered quietly.

“…Trash worse than beasts keep crossing the line.”

Since it was a small voice, only Ah-reum, who was right beside her, heard it.

Following that, a tiny voice saying ‘time for repentance’ tickled her ear.