The special medication was handed out to Moon Roi, Ian, and a few other Espers, and that was the end of it. Just because the supplies belonged to Seo-ha didn’t mean anyone could refuse to use them—especially not inside a dungeon. That was one of the unspoken rules. No one was foolish enough to gamble with their life just to protect their pride. Still, no one offered any heartfelt thanks. A few clicked their tongues in disbelief at the foresight of packing something they hadn’t even thought of, while others dismissed it as a lucky coincidence that happened to come in handy.
When Ian raised his fist beside his face, everyone stopped in place.
“There’s a swamp ahead. We don’t know how deep it is, and there might be monsters in it. I suggest we turn back and find another route.”
Seo-ha, who had been quietly listening, turned his head. The viscous rain kept pouring, and the dense trees around them blocked their view in every direction.
‘This isn’t good.’
A Gate’s rank wasn’t determined by its natural terrain. But for Espers, once inside a dungeon, the environment could be more critical than anything else.
Battling monsters while your feet were sinking into sand or swamp was a nightmare. Rain or snow didn’t make things any easier. Monsters didn’t adjust their attacks based on the weather—Espers had to shoulder that burden entirely.
‘My body temperature is still dropping.’
Even under an umbrella, the cold was seeping into his bones—his hands had gone numb. Seo-ha pulled a mini heat pack from his bag and tucked it into Han Ju-oh’s pocket.
“Keep this on you. You need to be able to move at any moment, so don’t let your body stiffen up.”
At Seo-ha’s firm words, Han Ju-oh nodded, feeling the growing warmth in his pocket.
After walking for a while longer, they settled in an area with sparse trees and a sheer cliff at their backs.
“Looks like we won’t be escaping the rain.”
They had checked several caves, but most had swampy floors or were teeming with bugs. In the end, they gave up on shelter and chose a clearing instead.
“We’ll establish base here and divide into teams. For recon…”
As the strategy meeting began, led by Ian, it dragged on—and the first to lose focus were the Guides. This wasn’t some casual walk through open terrain; their stamina had been drained quickly, and all they wanted now was rest. The setting wasn’t exactly comfortable, but their trembling legs made simply standing a struggle.
“Let’s move.”
At last, the meeting ended, and the Espers split into three teams, each heading to their designated areas. That finally gave the Guides—Seo-ha among them—a chance to rest.
“I’m dead tired.”
“No way… It’s only been four hours since we got in here?”
“If someone tried to kidnap me right now, I couldn’t even resist.”
The ground was sticky and soaked from the rain, but the Guides didn’t care and collapsed onto it. They already knew it wasn’t harmful to their bodies, and they were drenched anyway—there was nothing left to fuss over. Umbrellas balanced against their shoulders, they exhaled deeply and turned to watch the two Guides who were still moving.
Baek Seo-ha and Moon Roi.
Seo-ha first checked for the flattest spot, then set up the tent he’d brought. Moon Roi pitched his right beside it, and when Seo-ha saw it, he burst out laughing.
“What the—why is yours so big?”
It wasn’t outrageously oversized—Moon Roi still had other gear to carry—but it was definitely bigger than Seo-ha’s. Bracing the tent so it wouldn’t collapse, Moon Roi answered casually,
“I’m not sleeping in it alone. Ian’s even bigger than I am.”
“Wow… Now that I imagine the two of you crammed in there, it actually looks small.”
At Seo-ha’s teasing, Moon Roi scoffed and glanced at the tent.
“As if yours is any better. You and that giant Han Ju-oh aren’t exactly a pair of twigs.”
Honestly, Han Ju-oh’s frame was no joke, and Seo-ha wasn’t exactly tiny either—there wasn’t much room for rebuttal.
“Let’s just wrap this up quickly.”
Seo-ha changed the subject, and Moon Roi didn’t push further, quickly getting back to work. The two of them moved efficiently through the rain, not even bothering with umbrellas. The downpour made it hard to keep their eyes open, yet their movements were so smooth and synchronized that even the resting Guides stared in a daze.
They weren’t inexperienced. But their priorities were different. For most Guides, their top duty was guiding. Instead of burning energy pitching tents, it made more sense to conserve strength and rest until their assigned Espers returned.
It wasn’t that the other Guides were lazy—Seo-ha was simply built differently. And now that Moon Roi had spent enough time around him, he’d become the same.
“The day all the Gates in the world vanish, I swear I’m going camping to celebrate. I’ll finally show off the tent-pitching skills I’ve perfected over the years.”
Inside the tent and out of the rain, Moon Roi wiped the sticky droplets off his face and muttered. He’d set up so many tents by now, he was thoroughly sick of it. Seo-ha, who had probably pitched three—no, more like ten—times as many tents, smiled gently.
“I’m never going camping again for the rest of my life.”
Even if the Gates disappeared and his life became unbearably dull, he was already fully committed to that decision. Moon Roi let out a short laugh.
“Let’s see if you actually stick to that.”
In this world, never was a tricky word. But Seo-ha still didn’t seem to get it.
“Ugh, whatever. Here, drink this.”
Seo-ha handed Moon Roi a cup of instant coffee dissolved in warm water.
“What’s this? Why’s there so little?”
“We’re splitting it. Gotta conserve water. Just making this much wore me out after setting up that tent, so don’t complain.”
“Wow, how generous of you.”
Moon Roi didn’t even try to hide how stingy he was being, sipping the coffee in slow, measured sips. He’d brought his own supply of warm water, yet had no intention whatsoever of offering it up.
Seo-ha let the shamelessness slide and drank his coffee without comment. In a place like this, instant mix coffee was practically a survival item. It replenished sugar, gave a jolt of caffeine to sharpen a foggy mind, and most of all, delivered a small but comforting sense of normalcy.
While taking a short break, Seo-ha’s gaze drifted toward the other Guides. Huddled under umbrellas, they looked utterly spent—too tired to even move. Unlike Seo-ha, who had built up his stamina through steady training and could function in even harsher environments, they were completely drained.
“Come over here. It won’t keep you completely dry, but it’ll help.”
Seo-ha called out, his voice cutting through the rain. The other Guides stirred, clearly tempted. Just yesterday, some of them had scoffed at him after hearing rumors about his past. But now, that tent he’d set up was starting to look like the most inviting place in the world.
When they hesitated, Seo-ha waved them over. The truth was, his English wasn’t good enough to explain phrases like “Come here,” “You won’t stay dry,” or “This will help,” so he resorted to body language.
Either way, the message got across. Once the Guides came over, Seo-ha split them between the two tents. Then, he handed lidded paper cups to the Espers keeping watch. It was the same mix coffee he’d shared with Moon Roi earlier—not a lot, but enough to go around.
It wasn’t charity. It was survival. They needed those Espers alert and on their side to stay safe from monsters.
Seo-ha approached Jay, who was still giving him a frosty look, and held out a cup. Jay eyed it with clear distaste.
Seo-ha offered just one sentence in return.
“We’re in a dungeon.”
And in here, we’re not enemies. We’re one team, and the only way we make it out is by having each other’s backs. Jay’s expression softened slightly. He accepted the cup from Seo-ha, felt the warmth against his fingers, let out a small cough, and turned away.
That small gesture was enough to start melting the tension between them—until Ian and Han Ju-oh, who had gone out on recon, came back seriously injured.
***
Guild Leader Kim Mi-yeon was traveling with Director Kim Beom-hak of the Guide Center.
“If you ever feel like merging with White Guild, just say the word.”
Kim Mi-yeon said from the passenger seat as Kim Beom-hak drove. They’d had to meet so often to discuss matters involving Han Ju-oh and Baek Seo-ha that she figured it was worth bringing up.
“Honestly, I don’t even mind the hassle.”
Kim Beom-hak answered with a shrug, but Kim Mi-yeon didn’t look amused.
“Of course you don’t. You dote on that Guide.”
“I brought him in. Raised him. Might as well call him my own.”
Kim Beom-hak had always considered Seo-ha like a son. That’s why he’d gone out of his way to find the right Esper for him—and why he had no hesitation fulfilling the recent request.
“I’m just grateful to the Guild Leader who helped Seo-ha meet someone like Han Ju-oh.”
“Stop saying stuff like that. You’re making me sound ridiculous for even suggesting a merger.”
Kim Mi-yeon grumbled, but Kim Beom-hak just smiled in response.
“We’re here.”
He unfastened his seatbelt and stepped out first. Kim Mi-yeon followed.
In front of them stood a charming countryside home, complete with a garden.
“Seo-ha picked this place out. Said he’s planning to propose. What do you think?”
Kim Mi-yeon gazed at the house for a moment, then gave a small nod.
“It’s beautiful.”
Just the right size for two people to live quietly and happily together.
