The Dimensional Swordmaster C26

Chapter 26. The Fact That One Cannot Know (6)

Beneath the writhing gate, people had gathered in droves. The scene resembled a crowded marketplace so closely that Yurian’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Even on his first visit, and again on his second, it had never been this crowded. This time, temporary tents he had never seen before were erected here and there.

Clusters of people huddled around them. Some wore matching outfits, others did not.

Judging by their demeanor, most of them appeared to be hunters. The items they carried—each faintly flickering with mana—and the driven intensity in their posture made that obvious.

Since there was still time before entry, a yellow line had been set up near the gate. Beside it stood a whiteboard, with several sheets of paper pinned to it.

[ Briefing Time 12:30 → Changed to 13:30 → 14:40 (Only one representative per guild may attend) ]

[ Please ensure all names are recorded without omission before entry. ]

[ Guild entry order will be determined by lottery. ]

The papers fluttered weakly in the wind. The printed text had been corrected with handwritten notes.

Perhaps because of that, the whole operation felt strangely inconsistent—structured on the surface, yet somehow running in a haphazard manner.

“We’ll hold a meeting before entry.”

Myeong Haejin clapped his hands and gathered the group. They moved together toward the temporary tent marked Yeollak Guild.

Yurian followed alongside Gong Siyoung. After confirming that everyone was seated on the empty chairs, Haejin began speaking.

“We don’t have time, so we’ll skip introductions and greetings. As you all know, our objective this time is reconnaissance. Please refrain from acting independently and follow my lead as closely as possible.”

It sounded like a general statement, but the tail end of his gaze landed squarely on Gong Siyoung. He didn’t say it outright, but it was clearly meant for him.

And it wasn’t just now. From everything Yurian had observed, Myeong Haejin consistently needled Gong Siyoung like this—never outright picking a fight, but never showing goodwill either. An awkward, irritating middle ground.

Yurian had already noticed that Gong Siyoung disliked Haejin. Anyone would, if someone deliberately acted that grating.

Siyoung’s already sharp eyes turned nearly razor-like when fixed on Haejin.

Still, he said nothing, simply ignoring the provocation. That lukewarm response only made Yurian more curious.

Was it because Haejin was the leader? But Siyoung hadn’t hesitated to snap at Gong Sijin, the guild master himself.

“At the front will be myself and Hunter Woo Yujin. In the center, Hunter Gu Jayoung. At the rear, Hunter Yurian and Hunter Gong Siyoung. We’ll maintain this formation at all times.”

“Yes!” Woo Yujin replied energetically.

Haejin smiled in response and gestured toward the gate.

“We’ll be entering later, so keep your distance tight and don’t fall behind.”

“Yes!” Woo Yujin answered again.

After that, the discussion turned to tactics. Once skills and formations came up, Yurian immediately lost interest. He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, lightly swinging one foot.

Why were they so matter-of-fact about entering late? The notice on the board clearly stated that the entry order would be decided by lottery.

The question gnawed at him, and he couldn’t let it go. Yurian tapped Gong Siyoung’s arm beside him.

“Why are we entering late? Didn’t it say it’d be decided by drawing lots?”

Gong Siyoung, who had been sitting just as bored with his arms crossed, rolled his eyes. When their gazes met, he spoke quietly.

“Because everyone’s keeping an eye on our guild.”

Among the hunters participating, Gong Siyoung had the highest rank. That alone was enough to make others wary—let alone the fact that the dungeon had appeared in Yeollak Guild’s territory.

If Siyoung were to defeat the boss monster under these circumstances, it was obvious who would reap the greatest benefit. Those glaring hungrily at S-rank rewards would never sit back and accept that outcome.

“They’ll pretend to draw lots, but the order will already be decided. Most likely… the ones gathered over there will enter first.”

He pointed toward a group of men conversing near officials in the Management Bureau’s uniforms. On the backs of their glossy red jackets, the words Strong Man were emblazoned in massive letters.

Curious, Yurian leaned his head out of the tent for a closer look.

“Who are they?”

“The Gangnam Guild… Let’s just say they play dirty.”

Gong Siyoung trailed off, clearly uninterested in elaborating. Even without further explanation, Yurian could guess the type—people who wouldn’t hesitate to break the law if it meant profit.

He stared at the bold Strong Man lettering.

“Then why don’t we wear stuff like that? Everyone else seems to be matching.”

Not everyone, but several guilds—and even Management Bureau staff—were wearing coordinated outfits.

Some hunters carried swords, bows, and various other equipment. From the mana they emitted, they were clearly items. Everyone looked tightly wound, brimming with determination.

Yurian shifted his gaze back to the Yeollak Guild team gathered inside the tent.

How should he put it…? There wasn’t a shred of ferocity to be found. Forget weapons—at a glance, everyone looked dressed however they pleased.

Myeong Haejin wore a plain white long-sleeved shirt with training pants. Woo Yujin was similarly dressed for mobility.

Gu Jayoung alone stood out, clad in a jet-black leather jacket studded with sharp metal spikes. Yurian couldn’t take his eyes off it for quite some time. Whatever its function, it certainly looked cool.

He glanced down at his own clothes: a black hoodie with the Yeollak Guild logo, paired with pants Gong Siyoung had prepared for him.

It was ordinary—perfectly normal. But compared to Gu Jayoung’s gleaming leather jacket, it felt pitifully plain.

Was it really okay to go fight monsters dressed like this? It didn’t look strong at all.

“How do people walk around wearing that garbage without shame?” Gong Siyoung muttered, glaring at the Strong Man jackets like they were cursed.

If someone ever told him to wear one, he’d sooner quit being a hunter altogether.

“But it looks kind of cool, doesn’t it? It makes them look strong.”

At Yurian’s otherworldly sense of aesthetics, Gong Siyoung averted his gaze and told him to listen instead of saying anything stranger.

Just then, Myeong Haejin addressed Yurian.

“For this raid, Hunter Yurian, please do your absolute best to do nothing. There’s no need to expose your identity to other guilds.”

Being told to fight with everything he had was one thing—but being told the opposite was a first.

“Do nothing? Seriously?”

“Yes. If there’s a monster you recognize, or anything you know, just tell us verbally. This raid will be conducted conservatively. You’re here to share information, not to step in and fight. Ah—and take this as well.”

Myeong Haejin handed him a body cam. Yurian accepted it and, with practiced ease, clipped it to his chest.

Last time, he hadn’t known its purpose. This time was different—they had reviewed the recorded footage together. He tapped the camera lightly.

“Alright, shall we get going?”

Entry time was approaching. Yurian followed the group toward the gate.

Before leaving to submit the roster, Myeong Haejin draped something over Yurian’s head.

“Wear this when we enter, hyung. It doesn’t hurt to be cautious.”

As he pulled the cap low, Yurian’s vision was partially obscured. Watching Haejin disappear after saying his piece, Gong Siyoung muttered under his breath.

“Ridiculous.”

The snide remark popped out like a preset response, and Yurian burst into laughter. Siyoung shot him a sharp look, and Yurian waved his hand.

“No, it’s just… you really don’t like him, do you?”

“…It’s not like that.”

“For ‘not like that,’ your face is pretty openly hostile.”

Even the most oblivious person could tell how Gong Siyoung felt about Myeong Haejin. When Yurian pointed it out, Siyoung stiffened.

“…It’s not dislike. I’m disappointed.”

Yurian waited for him to continue—but no explanation followed. He tilted his head.

Disappointment implied expectation. It almost sounded like they’d once been close.

The comment didn’t feel like a casual deflection, which made it all the more puzzling.

Did they break up on bad terms or something?

With the impartial curiosity of someone from another world, Yurian observed the two of them.

Gong Siyoung had panicked when asked if he’d ever had a lover. Maybe he’d been hurt before—and if Myeong Haejin was involved, that might explain his sensitivity.

“Well… relationships are always the hardest. Nothing ever goes the way you want.”

He patted Gong Siyoung’s shoulder. Siyoung brushed his arm away, clearly confused.

Ignoring the rejection, Yurian cheerfully encouraged him.

“Hang in there.”

Before Siyoung could protest the baffling remark, the entry announcement sounded.

Amid the bustle of moving hunters, Gong Siyoung began loosening up. From afar, Myeong Haejin waved and approached.

“Alright, let’s head in.”

Following the Management Bureau’s instructions, entry began in sequence. With so many participants, individual callouts weren’t made.

That worked in Yurian’s favor. Since he hadn’t yet undergone rank evaluation, he didn’t possess a hunter registration card. Thanks to the chaos, no one questioned his credentials.

As expected, the Yeollak Guild entered last. Passing through the gate third from the end, Yurian drew in a quiet breath.

As the nauseating sensation faded and he opened his eyes, a dungeon entirely different from the last greeted him.

Instead of a snow-covered wasteland, a lush green plain now stretched out before him.