The Dimensional Swordmaster C22

Chapter 22. The Unknown Means (2)

The intent behind the question had not yet even been grasped when Gong Siyoung stepped forward. With shameless composure, he wove a blatant lie.

“I had no idea.”

Choi Jaeguk’s eyebrows shot upward.

“That makes no sense. Hunter Gong Siyoung, weren’t you the one who reported it yourself?”

“I just tried it on a whim.”

“…Excuse me?”

Even though anyone could hear how suspicious that answer sounded, Gong Siyoung lifted his eyes as though nothing were wrong.

“I didn’t think anything would come of it. I just felt something off, so I contacted you. Just in case, you know? Things have been so chaotic lately that I figured being a bit sensitive about dungeons was acceptable.”

“Your… intuition, you mean.”

Choi Jaeguk stared at him. It was not a look of understanding, yet he did not push the matter further.

It didn’t feel like he had backed down—it felt more like he was waiting for an opening. He gestured toward Yurian, standing beside Gong Siyoung.

“And this gentleman? I don’t believe I’ve seen him before. May I have your name…?”

Yurian parted his lips to answer, but Gong Siyoung moved faster. He smoothly stepped in front of Yurian, blocking him from view.

“A newcomer. Still clueless about everything.”

“For someone so clueless, he seems to stick quite close to you. An S-rank hunter and a rookie wandering around alone together?”

Their stares collided without either of them yielding an inch. Caught awkwardly between them, Yurian scratched his head.

Just then, one of Choi Jaeguk’s subordinates approached. He shot Gong Siyoung a sideways glance before reporting:

“Team Leader, the Yeollak Guild has arrived. Proceed with gate entry?”

From the stopped car emerged Park Ildo and the Yeollak Guild hunters. Recognizing him, Choi Jaeguk clicked his tongue.

“…Very well. I’ll pass along what needs to be conveyed through the guild, so Hunter Gong Siyoung, you may go. I’m keeping a busy man tied up—feels like a waste of time.”

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

Gong Siyoung turned with sharp efficiency. Choi Jaeguk waved at Yurian, who bowed his head politely. The stare fixed on him was oddly meaningful—unsettling, even.

“Don’t look him in the eyes. He’s sharp enough already.”

Facing straight ahead, Gong Siyoung muttered. When Yurian tilted his head toward him, he added like a sigh:

“Of all people to run into…”

“Who is he?”

“A man who picks fights with our guild every chance he gets. And nothing good will come from people finding out you’ve been passing through gates without a hunter license, so keep your mouth shut for now.”

Choi Jaeguk was a leading advocate of the belief that all hunters must belong to the state. He himself was a hunter affiliated with the Management Bureau.

Relations with the Yeollak Guild had long been poor—and had worsened recently.

Gong Siyoung fundamentally distrusted the Hunter Management Bureau. They were already itching to crack down on the guild; he had no intention of giving them more power.

If Choi Jaeguk discovered Yurian’s abilities? He’d lose his mind. Having experienced recruitment battles with the Management Bureau before, Gong Siyoung knew better than to let his guard down.

If sudden dungeons could be predicted, then countless things would change. Lives otherwise doomed could be saved; hunters entering dungeons would be far safer.

They could protect far more innocent people.

He refused to turn that chance into another pointless power struggle with the Bureau.

“What trouble did you two cause this time, huh?”

Spotting them, Park Ildo approached immediately. He swept back his disheveled bangs with fingers full of annoyance.

His phone vibrated nonstop. Glancing at the screen, Park Ildo hit the end button with irritation and murmured curses under his breath, eyes flicking toward the distant Choi Jaeguk.

“That bastard’s here again.”

His voice was calm like ventriloquism, yet every word was sharpened. Gong Siyoung agreed wholeheartedly.

“Just bad luck. I called the hotline, but I didn’t think he would be dispatched.”

“Well, whatever… That aside—it’s true? That you found a sudden dungeon?”

It was less a question and more a confirmation. Even from beyond the restriction line, the writhing gate was visible to Park Ildo. He sighed.

“At this rate, I have no choice but to believe it. That you came from… somewhere else.”

He glanced toward Yurian. His eyes tangled with a storm of complicated thoughts.

Gong Siyoung felt the same. Yurian, who had suddenly popped out of a dungeon one day, was chaos made flesh.

The way he acted harmless while being rude, the way he poked at people’s nerves without trying—Gong Siyoung liked none of it.

Yet Yurian’s abilities kept revealing themselves as though mocking Gong Siyoung’s irritation. And if he wasn’t insane but really was from another world…

Then Yurian’s abilities were invaluable—too valuable to dismiss.

Knowing a monster’s attribute guaranteed an advantage in battle. Gong Siyoung understood exactly why Gong Sijin wanted to claim him.

If Yurian could predict sudden dungeons too?

Gong Sijin’s joyous grin was easy to imagine. He’d probably tell Yurian to marry into the family first just to keep him from running away. Gong Sijin had long sold his soul for the guild’s success; he would absolutely do it.

“I’ll take care of this gate, so Hunter Siyoung, take that Yuri-whatever and go. The Guild Master just entered a meeting—won’t answer calls.”

“Understood.”

Park Ildo pulled out a cigarette. The lighter clicked, a spark flared, and he took a drag. As smoke curled from his lips, he noticed Yurian staring at him and raised a brow.

“…What? Why are you looking at me like that? You’re burning holes through me.”

Following Gong Siyoung toward the parked car, Yurian answered belatedly.

“You look tasty.”

“This?”

Park Ildo wiggled the cigarette pinched between his fingers.

“It’s a mast.”

The cigarette had already burned halfway down, yet Yurian swallowed like he was tempted. Watching this from behind, Gong Siyoung frowned deeply.

He never cared what Yurian did—but this? Staring at someone like they were food over a cigarette?

“Do you usually smoke?”

“Me? I like both booze and cigarettes.”

“Oh? That’s unexpected.”

Park Ildo, who also liked both, let out a whistle. After a brief pause, he extended the cigarette toward Yurian.

“Want what’s left of this?”

Yurian’s eyes lit up. Grasping Park Ildo’s wrist, he bent down and placed the filter between his lips. Sss—, he inhaled.

The ember flared bright, almost as red as his lips. As smoke flowed from his mouth, a satisfied smile softened his face.

“Delicious.”

Park Ildo let out a stunned laugh. Promising to give him a proper one next time, he handed the cigarette over. Yurian reached out without hesitation.

Just before the filter touched Yurian’s lips again, Gong Siyoung snatched it away. Ice crystallized over the butt with a crack.

“Don’t smoke in front of a daycare.”

The frozen stub crumbled to dust. Park Ildo immediately sidestepped away, heading toward the gate with frantic energy.

Left behind, Yurian protested, wounded.

“I only took one drag…”

“One or two, doesn’t matter. Absolutely not. And especially not something someone else already smoked. What if you catch something? Ever heard of pandemics? You seriously don’t understand how important hygiene is?”

Gong Siyoung scolded Yurian like he was exterminating a pest. His expression left no room for negotiation—absolutely no smoking or drinking allowed.

He really had only taken one drag. To be bombarded with criticism over a single breath felt unfair.

Meanwhile, Park Ildo—the one who had happily been smoking—had already run off.

Had he known this would happen, he would’ve taken two drags. He felt robbed considering the scolding he got.

Yurian pitifully stared at Park Ildo’s disappearing back.

“Drinking and smoking ruin your body. They just make you age faster. Don’t even think about doing that in front of me—or in my house. That’s your warning.”

“Mmhm, got it. Fully understood.”

The nagging continued for a long while. Climbing into the parked car after him, Yurian made a quiet resolution:

He would just smoke when Gong Siyoung wasn’t around. Cigarettes were tastier when smoked in secret anyway. “I won’t do it” wasn’t even on the table.

Keeping a perfectly innocent expression, Yurian feigned ignorance. As Gong Siyoung drove, he casually shifted the topic.

“So what’s going to happen to that gate now?”