After the meal, in the hollow of the tree.

"I thought you were kidding when you said you had no intention of eating bad food."

"Why should I have to eat bad food?"

After finishing up with the ingredients, Seo Jio put on a serious face.

"As long as I am in charge of this team's cooking, there will be no such thing as a terrible meal."

"I didn't know you looked scary when you weren't smiling, Hunter Seo Jio."

"That is why I go around smiling so much, is it not?"

"I didn't know you were that much of a big eater, either. No wonder you took out a pot the size of a person's torso."

"Now, who was it that scraped that huge pot clean?"

"I wanted to say it was incredibly delicious. Thank you so much."

"I am glad you enjoyed the meal, at least."

Jio looked beyond the entrance covered in vines.

"By the way, morning has come again."

"It was evening right up until we ate..."

When Hunter Sanarae grew irritated at the fickle environment, which was exactly as they had heard, healer Jeong Youngwon, who had been helping clean up the hollow, added her own comment.

"They said fake suns and moons rose here at all hours, and it was true."

"You were observing it the whole time we were eating. Did you learn anything?"

"Only that the sun seems to stay up for much longer than the moon."

"And didn't the temperature really drop sharply in the evening, when the moon was up?"

"It is hard to call it a daily temperature range, but the considerable difference between day and night temperatures is also a feature of this dungeon."

"Someone with a weak constitution would catch a cold easily."

"I suppose so."

Of course, someone with a weak constitution would not have been able to enter a dungeon in the first place.

'... That truly cannot be called a human way of thinking. It is so absurd that it is actually unsettling.'

It was merely nonsense from an old-era human who did not know to fear dungeons, but as a Gardener, she could not think that far.

After finishing all the cleanup, Jeong Youngwon gathered everyone together.

"Using what we briefly saw while looking around this area before the meal, and with Honey's help in exploring on our behalf throughout the meal, I have organized the information. Most of it was information that could be found in the Sun Cult's previous raid materials."

The most representative example was the dungeon monsters' characteristics.

"The monsters that move when the sun is up and the monsters that move when the moon is up are divided. The monsters active during the day fall into a fainted state once evening comes, and the monsters active in the evening are somewhat docile during the day, then become ferocious in the evening."

"I believe that part was confirmed in the materials distributed by the cult."

"Yes, and from here on is the additional information we have learned. The daytime monsters never gather together and are each busily searching for something on their own. In contrast, once it grows dark, the evening monsters gather into one group and head somewhere..."

Jeong Youngwon pointed to Honey, who was proudly puffing out its chest.

"Honey found that out for us. And Mr. Seo Jio interpreted it."

"Coooorrrrr."

"I think that means it wants praise. Everyone, please clap."

"Coo."

CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP...

An uncertain, half-hearted round of applause passed.

"Then does Hunter Seo Jio understand the language of monsters? I have heard that some experienced trainers have that ability, so if you interpreted the information that waterbird brought back..."

"We communicate through the heart. Like a married couple at a restaurant asking for napkins with a glance."

"Ah, so it is a bond. I had only heard about trainers, so seeing one in person like this is surprising in many ways. I also had no idea such an adorable monster actually existed."

"Our Honey is indeed cute."

After a little small talk, Jeong Youngwon continued her explanation.

"Honey is truly capable. I was worried about how far a monster with such a small body could operate, but that was a completely needless concern. Somehow, it figured out where the night monsters were moving. I think we should check that area first as well."

"Ah, they were moving toward one specific point?"

"For now, that is what we have determined. This certainly would have been difficult without a bird that can fly freely through the complicated vegetation. It is fortunate that Mr. Seo Jio trained a small flying-type monster, because their movements do not seem perfectly clear... It would have been difficult for humans alone to figure out."

Jeong Youngwon looked at Hunter Garasani, the oldest among them.

"Should we pass this news on to the other teams?"

"It would be best to pass along only the news, while our team alone takes action."

"Well, if there is something sensitive to the number of humans, then having a crowd come over would only get us into trouble."

"In that same sense, how about not telling Haeryeong?"

At that, Sanarae, who belonged to Haeryeong, smiled brightly.

"That hurts so much. Isn't this discrimination? Are you abusing your power because you're a major corporation?"

"Haeryeong guild members go wild wanting to fight the moment they think a decent stage has been set. A guild member who jumps to the conclusion that there is a dangerous monster might act unpredictably."

"Our guild does not behave like that much of a bunch of ruffians. That is a very narrow-minded view."

"Haeryeong Guild has shown us far too much for that to be called merely a narrow-minded view. Of course, I acknowledge that this would be unfair treatment, so I will leave it up to you, as a member of Haeryeong, whether to pass on this news or not."

"How am I supposed to raid anything when you're this scary?"

Sanarae looked back at Seo Jio.

"What should I do?"

"It would be interesting if you passed it on."

"... Interesting?"

"Try it."

"..."

"I said try it."

Sanarae, who had been hesitating, subtly averted his gaze.

"I won't."

"That, too, is Hunter Sanarae's choice."

Jio said with a smile.

"I intend to follow Mr. Garasani's words completely."

"That is another thing I am grateful to hear. It is an honor."

Curator Garasani, who smiled gently like an old man who had just heard his grandson say, "Grandpa, I like you best in the world," continued speaking again.

"We do not know when the sun will set again. Once it grows dark, avoiding the poisonous plants will become difficult, and while the number of monsters decreases a little, they become far more ferocious instead. I think it would be best to move to the point Honey confirmed while visibility is secured."

And so, their exploration began in earnest.

The A-class dungeon, Underground Four-Legged Rainforest, unexpectedly showed traces of humans.

"Is that a villa?"

"Wouldn't mansion be a better word than villa...?"

"In the end, this must also be a dimension that was destroyed."

Jeong Youngwon murmured.

"Well, just because it was a destroyed dimension does not necessarily mean humans had to have inhabited it..."

"I don't think there was anything like this in the materials."

"It is in a location that would be hard to find unless you searched with your eyes wide open."

"It feels even more hidden farther inside because the trees and vines are so thick."

"And probably because it is so damaged that it is hard to find anything close to its original form."

A team member asked.

"Should we go take a look?"

"I think it would be better to move faster while it is bright..."

"If this was a dimension where humans lived, there may be useful items in there."

"That is true."

A Hunter's wallet only stayed full if they carefully gathered a dungeon's spoils.

They could hunt monsters and sell off their by-products, but they could also make a tidy profit by collecting equipment or items from an unfamiliar dimension like this.

"I would just like us to be careful of traps and curses."

Jeong Youngwon, the main healer of this team, spoke with her usual expressionless face like a porcelain doll.

"Poison can be expelled from the body, but curses are often placed on the soul, so there are many things to be mindful of. We do not know when it will grow dark, so I advise you to examine the place carefully."

"Do not worry. You know our guild. Daecheong likes safe paths."

"If anyone was poisoned on the way here, please tell me in advance. When I asked earlier, everyone said they were fine, but it could be a poison that deals damage after a delay."

"So far, I think I am fine. I am a little thirsty, though..."

"Then let us enter carefully. It is very old and collapsed, so I think it would be best to go in with caution. And there may be some dangerous element guarding it..."

As Jeong Youngwon trailed off, Jio sent Honey flying.

"Honey."

"Coo!"

Small-bodied Honey slipped into the ruins, then popped back out at high speed not long after.

Honey fluttered its tail feathers and insisted to Jio that there was no problem.

"It seems there are no dangerous traps or anything like that."

"What about poisonous plants?"

"There are grasses and trees growing through the collapsed gaps, so it seems there is no helping that much."

"That level is not a problem. Everyone, let us enter."

The ruins, which were presumed to have been around five stories tall when built, seemed to have once belonged to a wealthy human, for gold ornaments and jewels were hidden among the plants.

The team members examined the ruins while gathering those things one by one.

"It has almost all collapsed, so the only places we can more or less check are the first floor and the third floor. The second floor has completely collapsed through. Especially the third floor looks so precarious that it might break apart the moment we go up... Will it be all right?"

At the Daecheong employee's question, Sanarae, who was holding his nose, frowned.

"Why does it stink so badly in here?"

"Pardon? Hunter Sanarae, are you all right?"

"My nose feels prickly."

"Huh, could it be poison?"

"It doesn't seem like poison... I guess there's a lot of dust."

"It does look like there is no harm in getting out quickly."

A team member said.

"Then only a few people with light bodies should go up."

"Light bodies..."

Hunter Sanarae looked at Jeong Youngwon.

"Are you on the lighter side?"

"In terms of actual weight, I would weigh less than all of you."

As the sole woman among them, she was on the petite side.

"But if you ask whether I can use my body nimbly, that is another matter. I can protect myself, but I do not think I can climb a corridor that looks as if it would collapse if someone so much as touched it."

"Hmm, is that so?"

"In that regard, I understand that Hunter Sanarae would be better instead. I know you are extremely good at using your body, so could you not go up and come back without much difficulty?"

"If I go up, it will come crashing down."

At Sanarae's tearful face, Jio smiled brightly.

"You have a great talent for talking nonsense."

"Oh, are you picking a fight?"

"It was pure admiration."

"People don't usually admire someone like that."

"Most people do not lie as easily as they eat, either."

"Why do you assume it is a lie?"

"Of course, it may not be. That was rude of me."

"No..."

"Then I will go."

Jio set his foot on the ruined stairs.

"I am confident in this sort of thing."

And the stairs did not make so much as the common creak.

"See?"

"... How did you do that? I cannot believe it can be this silent."

At the Daecheong Hunter's admiration, another team member snapped at him.

"He must have a skill."

"Ah, something like a weight-reduction skill?"

"I apologize. This guy has not been in the field for long."

"Um... I am sorry if that offended you."

Jio waved his hand.

"It is fine. I will just check quickly and come back."

"Yes, please."

And soon, Hunter Seo Jio vanished from their sight.

"..."

They fell into a strange sort of feeling.

"... He really isn't making any sound at all."

"I can't sense his presence whatsoever."

It was not a reaction unique to the Daecheong Hunters.

"...?"

Hunter Sanarae outright wrinkled the bridge of his nose.

'... There is no scent.'

He had not been particularly conscious of it, but he could no longer smell that sweet, cool scent he had smelled in the hotel's event room.

It was possible to hide one's presence with a stealth skill, but it was a little strange for one's body scent to vanish.

'And this suddenly?'

Or had his nose finally gone numb?

"..."

"... Hmm..."

Sanarae looked toward Garasani and Jeong Youngwon, who, in particular, showed no reaction at all, then soon smiled brightly.

"Then I should go take a look too."

"Did you not say you would not go earlier?"

"Now that you say it like that, Hunter Garasani, I really want to go."

"What a remarkable disposition."

"I am just so worried about sending a companion alone."

Sanarae stopped listening and climbed the stairs.

CREAK.

"Oops."

As expected, it was badly corroded.

"Sorry, the stairs are breaking."

"Gack, cough, cough...!"

"Watch out for the dust."

"You've already dumped every speck of dust there is...!"

"Poor thing. You should have been careful."

Sanarae lightly waved his hand and soon arrived on the third floor.

'This place is in better shape than the stairs.'

It was still a floor that would come crumbling down if he so much as stomped once, but it seemed better than the stairs, which had broken apart with a clatter just from setting foot on them.

He looked around.

'Where is Hunter Seo Jio?'

And what entered his eyes was...

"..."

A waterfall that resembled blood.

"... Uh..."

"..."

"...?"

No, platinum-blond hair.

And a framed picture beyond the man's back.

"... Hunter Seo Jio?"

"You came."