"Since there's no way I can't go, please adjust the schedule for the Russian dungeon support right away. So we can leave tomorrow."
"Do you think we can go without preparing?"
"The later we go, the worse it gets. There's not much to prepare for anyway."
Delaying by a day or two wouldn't suddenly present a brilliant solution. If the creature from this dungeon was gathering sacrifices for Gula's resurrection like Decuminus, the later we go, the more victims there would be. And that phenomenon would lead to Gula's reincarnation later on.
A dire future had to be cut off from the present.
Rushing to the dungeon now seemed better than risking our lives to catch Gula later.
"So please arrange the schedule quickly. Don't worry too much. I'll come back alive."
As I slightly raised the corners of my mouth in reassurance, Hahyuk tapped on the table. His expression seemed to doubt my promise of not dying.
"People always say that and end up not coming back."
"Ah, did I just jinx it?"
"What?"
"Never mind."
It seems I've set a flag. Then, I'll retract what I just said, I added, causing Hahyuk to look baffled. It was as if he wondered if words could be taken back, but Sihyun was unapologetic.
Flags don't count if you take them back.
"I'm not going alone, right? The association warned us, so we can't send Sihyun alone."
"Of course, I wasn't planning to go alone. But…"
"But?"
As Sihyun trailed off, Hahyuk cocked his head, prompting a continuation. Sihyun checked for any signs of eavesdropping near the guild leader's office. There were none. If there had been, Hahyuk would have already caught them.
With less worry about the story being twisted and misinterpreted, it became possible to talk without worrying about the children who would be returning from the battlefield by now.
"I wasn't planning to take the kids this time."
"Hm?"
Hahyuk looked surprised. Judging by his slightly widened eyes, he seemed reluctant but had considered teaming up A-class members and me for my sake or the children's. Sihyun thought of Haewoon, who would be in the infirmary.
"Are you serious?"
"There's no reason to lie."
"There will be strong objections."
I knew the kids' stubbornness better than Hahyuk did. I was aware of how fierce the A-class kids could be when they were angry or felt let down by me, and how difficult they were to handle when they dug their heels in. Sihyun thought he heard Hamin's scream from somewhere. It kept sounding like "Who decided you could go alone?" Maybe it was Daun's voice.
No, maybe it was all the A-class kids' voices.
It seemed like Jihye's voice, Geonu's, and sometimes Seowoo's, pushing the hallucinations away as Sihyun rested his hand on the armrest of the sofa. His fingers unconsciously traced the patterns on the armrest.
"The creatures in the dungeon are stronger than disaster-class. They're rightly called Gula's offspring."
"..."
"To put it coldly, the kids can't even stand a moment's confrontation with their current skills. If the creature we're dealing with now is stronger than Decuminus, definitely."
The kids had talked about going together, and Sihyun had nodded to their words. His thoughts on the matter hadn't changed.
He had shed the compulsion to do it alone and decided to trust the kids a bit more. If he was to rely on someone, it would be Ruth, along with Hahyuk and the kids.
So, we will go together.
But the first step we take together will only start when the kids have gained the skill to at least protect themselves. No one wants to rely on a stick that's about to break. To take on any responsibility, one needs to be qualified for it.
"So, the kids need to build their skills first. Frankly, Jihye didn't stand out in the last dungeon. She was not a main member but just provided intermittent support as a secondary force and wasn't a big help. Haewoon also became a burden by being offered as a sacrifice, so with their current skills, they're nothing but a nuisance."
"You're being firm."
"Yes. If this dungeon is more difficult than the last, I don't want to think about the variables that lack of skill could cause. We're busy enough breaking the dungeon with the skills of the people we have."
I'd rather not deal with problems arising from someone being weak or lacking. I don't want to go into the next dungeon carrying someone again, so Sihyun spoke without hesitation or doubt, reminiscing about the kids laughing and talking in front of him. He wanted
to protect that scene. For that, they too needed to grow stronger.
As Gula's offspring gradually appeared, tightening the noose around the awakeners' necks, it was to ensure survival in this situation.
I painfully realized in this dungeon that merely holding them close was no help when faced with danger.
"The kids need to become much stronger. They need more experience and to fight in tougher battles."
"Well, I agree."
Hahyuk seemed to find no room to argue there. Instead, he added to Sihyun's words, acknowledging that they were indeed young and lacked experience. Noticing Hahyuk shared his sentiment, Sihyun glanced at him before bringing up a plan he had been considering since first hearing about the Russian dungeon.
"So, I have a favor to ask."
"What is it?"
"The massive rift that appeared in Russia, it's still ongoing, right?"
Asking cautiously with a slightly lowered voice, as if not allowing any gap, Hahyuk blinked and nodded.
"It hasn't been cleared yet. Ah, don't tell me…"
As Hahyuk explained the situation with the rift, he seemed to catch on to something and let out a short exclamation. Sihyun felt that his guess wasn't far off from his plan and affirmed it.
"You guessed right. I'd like the A-class kids to support the massive rift in Russia."
Thunk. The habitual tapping of Hahyuk's hand on the table stopped. That could mean he had given up on thinking or had stepped out of his current thought process. His gaze became sharper, as if asking for more explanation, and Sihyun felt thirsty after talking so much and swallowed.
"Just a moment."
Noticing Sihyun's condition, Hahyuk got up and brought two glasses of water. It was usually tea or juice, but this time it was just plain water.
"Drink and then talk."
"Thank you."
Thanks to his consideration, Sihyun was able to moisten his throat and took about half of the water in the cup before exhaling. Talking became much easier.
"Even if I go to this dungeon alone, I'd like to go together in the next dungeon or the one after that. I can't deny that having the kids around gives me psychological stability. And after working together for so long, there's no one who fits better with me than those kids."
"I understand."
"So, I want the kids to experience many dangerous battles in this massive rift. Not under safe protection, but directly exposed to danger and experiencing crises a few times. If they can accumulate experience and successfully resolve three consecutive massive rifts. If the kids return from those rifts without major injuries. Then, I'd like to go together."
The ability to return unscathed from three consecutive massive battles, along with the mental and willpower to endure them, was the minimum qualification for dungeon entry Sihyun had in mind. So, after finishing his explanation, Sihyun waited for Hahyuk's response, knowing his standards might differ and seeking his opinion.
"Hmm."
Hahyuk began moving his fingers again. Tap, tap, tap. Following the intermittent tapping sounds on the table, Sihyun took another sip of water, nearly emptying the remaining water before Hahyuk finally spoke.
"When that time comes, will you take all the kids into the rift?"
"No. I'm not planning to take many at once. Just one at a time. That way, we rotate. Even if the kids improve their skills, those with more years of experience as awakened individuals would still be better in terms of experience."
Of course, except for Jihye and Haewoon who participated in the last dungeon.
I didn't want to take those two back into a dungeon again. Especially not Haewoon.
How could I bring him back into a dungeon after he lost his life there? The same goes for Jihye. How could I lead her back into a dungeon after she witnessed the death of a friend there?
In Haewoon's room, Jihye talked calmly, but no one knew her inner state. Possibly maintaining a calm façade despite being utterly shaken, Sihyun sighed and finally received Hahyuk's permission to proceed.
The end of the conversation was in sight.
"Please keep medical staff on standby for Haewoon in case he wakes up alone while I'm in Russia."
"I was planning to do that anyway."
"And please know that this wasn't ordered by the guild leader, but it was my stubbornness."
"…Hmm?"
Hahyuk stiffened at the hastily added comment. Sihyun, feeling a sharper gaze, continued to explain.
"Of course, it's not that the guild leader was overpowered by my stubbornness. It's just that if he hadn't agreed, I might have secretly gone alone, causing a fuss. So, it was to prevent that from happening, that's all."
"What do you mean?"
"This
was my choice."
"……"
"It means I'm doing this by my will, not because the guild leader pushed me into it."
Whether something happens in Russia or not, it wouldn't be Hahyuk's fault. He always tried to protect his guild members to the best of his ability within a manageable scope. It was the same with Karis and Titan.
Such a contrast to his appearance.
When I first saw Hahyuk, I thought he was chilling and difficult to approach, but after spending over a year getting to know him, I've roughly figured out what kind of person he is.
He seemed to lack affection, but he was actually quite emotional and responsible without realizing it himself. I thought he was a crazy guild leader, but it turned out he was just a young man living earnestly. I couldn't help but shake my head unwittingly, and laughter followed soon after.
"Sihyun, you really don't seem your age."
"……"
"Sometimes, it feels like someone over twenty-four is inside that body."
You're one to talk.
Muttering to myself, Sihyun smiled awkwardly and finished the last bit of water in his cup.
To correct myself.
Hahyuk was not only a responsible and diligent young man but also sharp and cool. Feeling an inexplicable chill, Sihyun discreetly rubbed his arms and laughed, "Ha ha."
That concluded the negotiation with Hahyuk.
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