Rather than fear, it was the cold that made my body shiver uncontrollably. It was my first time facing such fierce wind with my whole body.
“Yes, but…”
As we rose above the cliffs, a dense forest filled my view. Feeling the sky so close, it was as if my heart had been unburdened.
Among the clouds that clustered like cotton candy, winged monsters flew vigorously. It felt like I had grown wings too, free and unrestrained.
Reaching higher, the true appearance of the dungeon, hidden behind the cliffs, was revealed. Giants, towering well over 5 meters, wandered through the forest.
Beyond the horizon, towering mountain peaks could be seen, surrounded by thick mist.
“What’s that over there?”
“That’s the Dragon’s Nest. The area inhabited by the third mid-boss. No one has defeated it yet.”
The Dragon area is a notorious zone. It’s a dangerous area, so one must not enter recklessly.
“Would you like to go closer?”
“No, thank you! Seeing it from afar is enough for me.”
It was satisfying enough to secretly glimpse something ordinary people would never see in their lifetime.
After a while, the shadow griffin descended to the ground. Chae Donghwa, who got off first, extended his hand to help me.
“Thank you.”
With his assistance, I got off the griffin. My legs trembled with relief.
Before us lay a majestic rocky mountain, endlessly stretching. The mountain was dotted with holes, resembling an apartment building, at various levels.
A spiral path led up to the top. The entrances to the caves varied in size, from those only as large as a person to those big enough for a giant to enter.
“In a jungle-type dungeon, dark attribute monsters are rare. They mostly appear in caves, but even then, it’s lucky to encounter one.”
So, we came to a place with many caves in hopes of finding one.
“What kind of dark attribute monsters are in these caves?”
“Ghosts, vampire bats, gargoyles, gremlins, skeleton soldiers, and more.”
“Ghosts… like spirits?”
“Yes. Vampire bats are slightly weaker than ghosts, which are B-grade. Though lower in grade, dark attribute monsters are tricky to deal with because they use curse skills.”
‘If one jumps out, I’ll swing my hammer at it.’
The first strike is key. If I can bind them, they won’t be able to attack.
I took out my crafting hammer.
“Shall we go in?”
“Yes.”
Chae Donghwa led the way. My hand, gripping the hammer, was damp with sweat.
We stepped into the pitch-dark cave, reminiscent of a moonless night.
Han Ryeo-un.
Four years ago, he awakened as an A-grade hunter and immediately enrolled in the Daehan Awakening Academy, operated by the nation.
While most new hunters gather information about guilds at the academy, deciding where to join and what conditions are best, Ryeo-un did not.
His sole aim, starting with graduating as valedictorian from the academy, was clear.
The best guild, the highest salary!
Not just any decent place for a newbie hunter, but the top-paying opportunity.
As planned, he received high evaluations upon graduation, and numerous guilds offered him attractive recruitment proposals.
‘I guess Cheongun is still the top guild? Lately, Hwarang is on the rise…’
He had shortlisted candidates since awakening, but choosing where to go was still a dilemma.
‘Just go for the money. Choose the place that pays the most.’
His brief contemplation led to a simple conclusion. The primary goal was the highest salary, although being in the top guild was also a factor.
He had substantial debts left by his parents and three younger siblings to care for.
But a few days later…
Bang, bang, bang!
“Who is it?”
Someone came to his house. Opening the door, men in black suits entered in a line.
“What’s this? Who are you?”
“Are you Hunter Han Ryeo-un?”
“Yes. But who are you to barge in like this?”
Confused by this sudden onslaught, I was startled as a burly man made his way through the suited men. His fingers, wrists, shoulders, and neck were adorned with accessories embedded with expensive-looking magic stones.
‘How much does all that cost…’
“I can pay off the debts soon! Just wait a little longer! As soon as I join a guild, I’ll be able to…”
Initially, I thought debt collectors had come, given the oppressive atmosphere.
“Debt? Do you have a lot of debt?”
“Excuse me?”
But the middle-aged man’s lips curled up at the news of my debt, seemingly pleased by the revelation.
“I’m not sure how much it is, but…”
Thud!
One of the suited men placed a heavy bag on the table. With a click, the bag opened.
“What’s this…”
Inside the bag was an amount of money I had never seen before.
“I believe I can pay off all of Han Ryeo-un Hunter’s debts.”
What’s this? Are they from a guild?
Do top guilds usually offer such signing bonuses?
This wasn’t mentioned in the community forums I checked.
“Which guild are you from?”
My eyes had already been dazzled by the sight of the money, ready to sign any contract.
“Korea Awakening Association.”
“Excuse me?”
After Being Cheated On, She Picked Up a Treasure (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The husband I married on a whim had been secretly in love with me for a long time.
On the day when Jun Shao finally obtained the imperial decree for her marriage, Lan Qu, the person she had admired for six years, defied the decree and ran away.
Her gentleness and devotion, her promise of a lifetime together, were all disregarded by him. Instead, he dreamed of entering the palace to serve the Emperor’s sister as a sixth-rank attendant.
News of this incident spread throughout the capital, and the alleys in front of and behind the Lan mansion were crowded with people who came to watch the commotion.
Jun Shao should have been embarrassed and angry.
But someone stepped in to protect her dignity.
The figure was in a miserable state, yet still possessed an undeniable elegance and handsomeness.
The young lord struggled to climb the wall of the Lan mansion and shouted to her, “If he won’t marry you, I will!”
So, Jun Shao took advantage of the situation and married the person.
She thought the young lord did it to save the Lan family from the crime of defying the imperial decree, but never imagined that from beginning to end, what he coveted was her.
*
After the wedding, Jun Shao felt like she was living in a dream.
Her Wife-master was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, skilled in the six arts, well-versed in poetry and literature, capable of being gentle and attentive, and also grand and dignified. Most importantly, she was the only one in his heart and eyes.
Jun Shao didn’t know how Lan Shiwu, as a illegitimate son without a father and blessed with beauty, had managed to preserve his purity, recklessly escape, and use his last ounce of strength to ruin his own reputation, all because of his love for her, just to stand before her.
She could only see him gazing at her with eyes full of love, and when she bestowed a name upon him, his eyes shone like stars.
“You have come to me like a weary bird perching on a branch. I shall call you A Qi.”
