The Dimensional Swordmaster C12

Chapter 12. The Whereabouts of the Sword (2)

When speaking of the nation’s major guilds, Yollak was a name that could not be excluded—yet in truth, they were a later contender.

Unlike the Myeongja Circle or Moran, who had risen amid the chaos of the Gate Wave, Yollak’s birth followed an entirely different trajectory.

It was only after the situation had somewhat stabilized—when people began to accept the existence of hunters—that Gong Sijin founded Yollak.

At its inception, Yollak had only two hunters: Gong Siyoung and Gong Sijin.

Many claimed the guild’s success was inevitable, given that the two founders were brothers and both S-rank hunters.

But without Gong Sijin’s ruthless, grinding dedication, Yollak would never have become what it was today.

While recruiting capable hunters, Sijin emphasized not only financial incentives but something else entirely—and unexpectedly, that strategy worked.

Hunters chose guilds based primarily on money: signing bonuses, annual pay.

Yet, when Sijin first established Yollak, the guild could not afford extravagant salaries.

Which was why he appealed to something hunters could not ignore: safety. Protection.

His founding slogan was:

[Our guild will never abandon you under any circumstances.]

A hunter of Yollak would be protected no matter what happened.

Even if they faced death inside a dungeon—even if their limbs were torn apart mid-raid—Yollak would find them.

Even if only as a corpse, they would be returned intact to their family.

Sijin called this familial loyalty.

To him, Yollak’s hunters were family—ones he vowed never to forsake.

The same applied outside dungeons.

Even when social issues or public controversy arose, Yollak stood unwaveringly behind its hunters.

Against public outrage and invasive curiosity, they did not waver.

They protected their own.

Critics mocked them as biased, insular, and blindly protective.

But Gong Sijin did not bend.

And in the end, that conviction earned Yollak its reputation.

They became the guild every hunter dreamed of joining.

Sijin felt immense pride watching his guild flourish.

Siyoung, however, did not. His thoughts had never changed—then or now.

Pathetic.

What use was pretending to be a family? They were not family—not truly.

No matter how one dressed it up, they were simply individuals cooperating for mutual gain.

Adding sentimental meaning to such a relationship was laughable.

But what Siyoung hated most was the flood of lunatics inspired by that sentiment.

People who insisted, “We live and die as family,” as though it were holy truth.

Those sorts always demanded equal affection in return for the affection they forced upon him.

And when that expectation crumbled, they whispered behind his back:

“S-rank hunters have no manners.”

“He only acts that way because his brother protects him.”

For Siyoung—who could not express warmth even to his real brother—it was suffocating. Violent.

After being burned repeatedly, he grew sick of it.

To those who called him rude, he became even ruder.

To those who accused him of leaning on his brother’s power, he leaned harder—shamelessly so.

By swatting people away like monsters, life became much easier.

Yet life always held new torments.

Even Siyoung, who had mastered the art of banishing troublesome humans, had a nemesis—those impossibly persistent pests who could not be driven off.

Like these idiots.

“Hunter Siyoung! Wow, how long has it been? You look great! You really do! Actually I wanted to talk to you ever since our briefing the other day, because I met this reporter and—”

The rapid-fire chatter was relentless.

The man’s name was Woo Yujin, an A-rank hunter and one of Yollak’s original six-year members—also one of the people Siyoung despised most.

“And I swear, I told him it’s not like that! But guess what he said? He said that’s just how the media works now! Like I didn’t know that already!”

Beside him, a woman’s leather-studded jacket glittered as she moved.

Gu Jayeong let out a dry sigh.

“So you put yourself out there again?”

“No! I wasn’t trying to show off! I was trying to help!”

“Which means you put yourself out there again.”

At her remark, Woo Yujin stamped his foot like a scolded puppy.

Siyoung rubbed his brow, already feeling a headache form.

Jayeong was no better.

Two people he hated most—together. His stress doubled.

His grip tightened around his phone.

He could practically feel the murderous intent brewing toward Gong Sijin for assembling this circus despite knowing his preferences.

He knew I hate them. He did this anyway?

Calm down. At least that guy isn’t here.

With that comforting thought, Siyoung managed to keep himself from exploding.

Just then—

“Also! The other day at the market, there were the tiniest watermelons! Like baby watermelons! Is it too early for watermelon season? Was it stunted growth or a mini breed? Anyway they were selling cider and kimchi jars next to them—marketing genius, right? Now I want watermelon punch.”

Jayeong tightened her shoelaces, barely listening.

“You want punch? Should I buy you one?”

“Yeah! After the raid?”

“Deal.”

Siyoung silently recited mantras for patience.

Before his sanity snapped, a Hunter Association staff member called out to them.

The atmosphere was different from before—just as Sijin had warned, something was wrong with this dungeon.

“At 4:00 AM, April 6th, an A-rank dungeon manifested. First clear was recorded at approximately 4:30 AM by Yollak’s Hunter Gong Siyoung. Correct?”

Arms crossed, Siyoung nodded.

“Following initial clear, re-spawn was detected. The dungeon appears to have reactivated. Estimated time until outbreak: 17 hours.”

Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

Even Siyoung had never heard of an A-rank dungeon regenerating this fast.

Too fast.

Normally, the shortest known reset period was a week—never one day.

And A-rank dungeons took time to clear.

Now they were expected to do it again within twenty-four hours? A migraine brewed behind his eyes.

“If confirmed as a new pattern, future raids will be conducted under Association oversight, irrespective of prior ownership…”

The briefing droned on pointlessly.

In front, the official spoke; behind him, Yujin and Jayeong never shut up.

He regretted not bringing noise-canceling headphones.

He glared resentfully toward where his car was parked.

“April 7th, 13:30—entry into the A-rank dungeon begins. Yollak Guild’s Gong Siyoung, Woo Yujin, Gu Jayeong—proceed.”

Finally, blessed silence.

Yujin bounced over, with Jayeong following lazily.

Siyoung marched ahead without looking back.

A familiar sensation washed over him as he crossed the gate.

[System Notification]

→ Entered B-rank Dungeon

→ Attribute: Ice / Frozen Zone

→ Overflow in 234 hours

→ Party Size: 3

+

“Huh? Weren’t we told this was A-rank?”

Yujin blinked. The briefing had specified fire-type.

Yet they were surrounded by a frigid mountain of snow.

Jayeong summoned flames into the air for light; Siyoung’s lips twisted.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

In just a day, everything had changed—

Rank, terrain, everything.

The dungeon was completely different.