# Chapter 43
A few weeks later.
Suhyun and Jiwon received notification from the Association that a Riska dungeon had appeared.
The dungeon’s location was on a coast in Jeju Island.
“……”
The two immediately traveled by chartered plane after receiving the information. By then, all people in the vicinity, including Espers, had already evacuated.
Thanks to this, the coast that would normally be packed with tourists was eerily quiet without a single person. The dungeon entrance in the middle looked extremely out of place.
“…Are you in a bad mood?”
Jiwon, who had been staring blankly at the sea while listening to the sound of waves, raised his head at Suhyun’s voice. Jiwon lowered his eyes briefly before answering with a smile.
“Well, I don’t think it’s something to be happy about….”
It would be strange to feel entirely good while standing in front of a dungeon.
“So you are in a bad mood?”
“……”
Jiwon closed his mouth. He’d been caught by the unexpectedly perceptive question that hit the mark.
In truth, Jiwon’s mood had plummeted the moment he heard the dungeon had appeared on Jeju Island.
Because it was where he had lived continuously until becoming a Guide. He never thought he would set foot again on this island that was overflowing with more bad memories than good ones.
‘I’ve always avoided Jeju Island until now.’
This dungeon was one he couldn’t avoid.
“I don’t really like the ocean.”
Jiwon answered with a vague excuse. In reality, Jiwon didn’t like the ocean. More accurately, he went beyond disliking it—he detested it.
“Is that so?”
Suhyun didn’t press further, and simultaneously an uncomfortable silence fell between them. Maybe Jiwon was the only one who felt that way. Fortunately, the silence didn’t last long. Just then, three Association vehicles arrived.
“Hello!”
As soon as the doors opened, a booming voice was heard as men dressed in black suits poured out. Two of them stood at each end and unfurled a banner with brilliant lettering.
[Welcome Esper Seo Suhyun and Guide Moon Jiwon!]
“What is this…?”
Jiwon chuckled in disbelief at the absurd development. Suhyun seemed equally flabbergasted.
“Oh, this… was prepared by the local residents. It’s a token of appreciation for the two of you who came to handle this personally. You have no idea how hard it was to stop them from giving you gifts….”
The man who had greeted them most loudly explained about the banner. Jiwon nodded as if he understood.
Jiwon was well aware that Suhyun’s popularity was soaring day by day as he personally entered problematic dungeons where Espers kept dying, and each time found clues. Suhyun’s face appeared whenever the TV was turned on, and the internet was even worse. He was being hailed as a hero.
Well, there was quite a bit of talk about Jiwon too, but he didn’t remember much since he wasn’t particularly interested.
Anyway, Jiwon thought Suhyun deserved the praise. In fact, he wished people would recognize his greatness even more.
Though the person himself seemed burdened by it.
“Haaa….”
Suhyun’s sigh was audible. Jiwon pressed his lips together firmly. It wasn’t easy to hold back his laughter seeing the Association employees’ eyes sparkling brightly.
“We’ll… take the banner.”
Jiwon barely managed to suppress his laughter as he spoke, but he felt a burning sensation on the back of his head. He tried hard to resist the urge to turn around.
“Would you really?”
“Yes. It would be nice to hang it at home.”
“Thank you!”
The fact that he would personally hang it at home seemed quite touching, as it earned an enthusiastic thank you.
“Um, is Esper Seo Suhyun okay right now?”
A curious question followed, taking advantage of the moment.
“He doesn’t… want to enter the dungeon, does he?”
“Why are you asking that! Can’t you see?”
“I’m just curious….”
“Aish, you punk. So impolite….”
“…It’s fine. I don’t particularly want to go in.”
The employees exchanged glances. Each one was filled with reverence toward Suhyun.
Jiwon clapped his hands to get their attention, making a clap sound.
“I understand how you feel, but why don’t you go back to your positions after doing what needs to be done? Esper Suhyun needs to rest too.”
“Ah, I apologize! Please wait just a moment!”
It wasn’t something to apologize for. What they needed to do was merely set up a tent for Suhyun and Jiwon to stay in until monsters emerged from the dungeon, place some amenities nearby, and stock up on food. Since it would take time for monsters to rush out, it wasn’t an urgent matter.
But the fact that he deliberately changed the atmosphere… it seemed like spite. Those sparkling gazes directed at Suhyun….
‘Why did I dislike it?’
Belatedly realizing something odd, Jiwon frowned. While he thought Suhyun should receive people’s fervent attention, he disliked seeing it continue?
Was it because they seemed to be playing around instead of doing their work? No… that certainly wasn’t it. It wasn’t even something that needed to be done quickly.
Then…
‘…Am I jealous right now?’
Because only Suhyun’s popularity was soaring? Because they were only looking at Suhyun even though Jiwon also went into dungeons with him?
“Haha….”
The absurd conclusion made him laugh involuntarily. Jiwon rubbed the tip of his ear. It didn’t seem like the exact reason, but he couldn’t think of any other explanation.
Heat gradually rose in his ear as he rubbed it. The displeasure of coming to a place he didn’t want to visit faded, and only the embarrassment of harboring petty and childish jealousy intensified.
***
The relatively noisy day passed, and darkness descended. The tent that the Association employees had worked hard to set up was surprisingly good. It was more like a large house than a tent.
In the middle of the tent were an electric heater and a long sofa. In the left corner was a bed that could rival hotel bedding, and on one side there was a desk with reading materials, while on another was a refrigerator full of food, a dining table and chairs, and across from it was a bathroom with perfectly equipped shower facilities.
“Is this… normally called a tent?”
“…Not normally, no.”
Jiwon nodded. It was a nonsensical question to begin with.
“So this is what they meant by preparing with special care.”
He felt like taking a picture to send to Jo Wooyeon, to show how much care they had received. He would add that while he appreciated the thought, did they really need to spend so much money on something like this?
Well, it wasn’t Jo Wooyeon’s money anyway.
“This is pure luxury. I’d think we were here on vacation.”
If only the dungeon weren’t right in front of us.
The dungeon entrance was clearly visible through the deliberately open door. Jiwon sat on the sofa, quietly staring at it. The waves crashing beside him captured his gaze.
“It’s uncomfortable to think we’re here on vacation.”
Suhyun took a seat next to Jiwon. While this was the best spot to observe the dungeon, when Suhyun sat down, Jiwon felt some tension rise in his body. Jiwon clenched and unclenched his hands a couple of times as if something felt strange.
“I am a bit worried.”
“Because I might go in?”
“Because you might not let me follow you.”
“……”
“You still haven’t answered me.”
Jiwon had asked whether he could follow Suhyun into the dungeon if an unexpected situation arose, but Suhyun hadn’t given him an answer.
The matter had been left ambiguous, and now they were in front of the dungeon. Now Jiwon needed an answer. If Suhyun didn’t answer, Jiwon would follow his own will and go after him.
“…I—”
“Think about it again before you answer.”
“……”
“Like… ten more times?”
Well, more than half the reason Jiwon hadn’t received an answer until now was his own fault. He kept interrupting Suhyun, fearing he would tell him not to come. But now that tactic wouldn’t work anymore. Suhyun was about to speak, his lips already moving.
Jiwon looked at the dungeon entrance then turned his head away. A final appeal was necessary. That he absolutely had to follow Suhyun inside.
“You know what? I really hate that ocean.”
“……”
“But if you go into the dungeon, I’ll be left alone staring at the ocean I terribly hate, right?”
“……”
“I really hate that more than anything. Can’t we do something about it?”
“……”
“When I was young, I was abandoned here. Believing the promise that someone would come for me, I waited alone for two whole days, just staring at the sea…!”
Was it because he became desperate due to Suhyun’s continued silence?
Contrary to his intention to simply say that he hated and feared the ocean too much, Jiwon was suddenly spilling a shameful past he had never revealed to anyone and had no intention of revealing.
Was it because he knew Suhyun had a kind nature? Was it the subconscious thought that appealing to his sympathy would work? Because Suhyun wouldn’t be able to turn away if he heard something that sounded pitiful to others?
“…S-so take me with you.”
Jiwon’s eyes trembled unsteadily. Embarrassment and regret welled up simultaneously at having blurted out his most painful memory directly to Suhyun.
He didn’t want to tell anyone that such a day had existed. Because he didn’t want to appear weak. Yet here he was pretending to be weak just to enter a dungeon together. It was unlike him.
“…Nearby, where the ocean isn’t visible….”
Whatever the case, Jiwon’s words must have stirred Suhyun’s sympathy, as Suhyun, unable to find words of refusal, trailed off.
“We can’t go far. If that were possible, why would I have followed you here?”
The words were already out, and he couldn’t take them back. Jiwon decided to just brazenly push forward. Well, it worked anyway, so that was fine.
Jiwon rationalized that he had instinctively brought up a story that would make it easier to persuade the other person.
“Let me stay with you.”
Jiwon repeated. Suhyun, who had clearly been planning to refuse, sighed and frowned.
“We’ll be safer together.”
Jiwon truly believed that. He would protect Suhyun, and Suhyun would protect him. As long as they protected each other, they could only be safer.
For a while, Suhyun didn’t answer.
Only after the sound of waves had filled the silence for quite some time did he give a brief reply.
“…Being safer would be good.”
