“The reason we can’t see them now is because the association has made a kind of agreement with the Lamiae tribe. The hunting periods have been divided by season, and spring and summer are the times when humans can subjugate dungeons. So you see those islands floating in the sky now? They live there.”

I had seen them before when I was flying on the back of a monster with Hunter Chae Dong Hwa. I glanced up at the sky and noticed the islands looked smaller than before.

I had only wondered to myself what those were, but it turned out the Lamiae tribe lived on those floating islands.

“Then when exactly do the Lamiae appear?”

“In autumn and winter. They’ll start showing up slowly after the rainy season passes.”

“So that’s soon, isn’t it?”

I had heard from Teddy that there was a rainy season in the dungeon too. Judging by the cloudy weather today, it seemed to have started yesterday.

“Yes. That’s why I came to convey Yu Bom’s situation to the natives. Recently, we’ve been maintaining friendly relations to the point of exchanging goods and culture.”

The natives communicated in their own language. Hunter Ju Cheongyeon seemed to be able to speak their language, as he was affiliated with the Dungeon Management Center.

“I came before autumn because sometimes young natives come down to the ground, and I thought I might be able to give them a heads up through them. That would be better than suddenly telling them in autumn.”

I quietly nodded. We had almost gotten into a fight with the natives.

That’s why Dad had sent Hunter Ju Cheongyeon here, concerned about that possibility.

“So you came here for that? Worried about a fight with the natives?”

“That’s right.”

Mo Gyeon, who had been silently listening to the conversation, suddenly interjected. He seemed to know about the existence of the natives too.

Hunter Ju Cheongyeon briefly fixed his gaze on my face before nodding lightly, and Mo Gyeon continued with a snort.

“What’s there to worry about when I’m here? If they come, I can take care of them, can’t I?”

“If there were only hunters like Hunter Seol Mo Gyeon who could handle the natives, it wouldn’t be a problem, but the agreement is made for the safety of all hunters. It would be troublesome if the campsite became a source of unnecessary conflict and the agreement was broken, wouldn’t it?”

I agreed with Hunter Ju Cheongyeon’s words. But strangely, the two seemed to know each other.

“Then if you can’t find the young natives, are you going to stick around the campsite until autumn?”

“I suppose that’s how it will be.”

“No way! Long-term stays aren’t allowed at the campsite. Right, Bom? Long-term stays aren’t allowed at Spring Campsite.”

I had used that excuse before to get the guild leaders out of the campsite.

That rule had continued since then, but in reality, long-term stays weren’t completely forbidden if there was a good reason.

Moreover, Hunter Ju Cheongyeon staying at the campsite for a while was for the sake of my future self.

“Well, it’s not that long-term stays are absolutely forbidden…”

When I didn’t take his side, Mo Gyeon’s eyes filled with disappointment. Hunter Ju Cheongyeon looked at us and said as if it was funny.

“From what I hear, it seems Hunter Seol Mo Gyeon is also at the campsite for some reason. Don’t do anything unnecessary out of pointless jealousy. I’m here for work.”

Even after hearing that, Mo Gyeon didn’t soften his triangular eyes. Hunter Ju Cheongyeon, regardless of that, finished his jajang rice and got up, saying he had enjoyed the meal.

After preparing in his tent, he left the campsite right away to look for young natives. He said he would return when his magic power was nearly depleted.

“Mo Gyeon. Do you dislike Hunter Ju Cheongyeon?”

I approached Mo Gyeon, who looked unhappy, and asked casually.

“I didn’t like him personally either, but seeing him smirking in front of you makes me dislike him even more.”

I found that smile uncomfortable too. He was a person whose thoughts were hard to read.

But somehow, it seemed like Mo Gyeon disliked that smile for a different reason.

“And that guy doesn’t like me either. More precisely, he doesn’t like high-rank hunters. It’s ridiculous since he’s A-rank himself.”

He grumbled as he walked towards the vegetable garden. The garden work had been taken over by Mo Gyeon for some time now.

‘But why does he really dislike high-rank hunters?’

Hunter Ju Cheongyeon was a person who raised many questions in various ways.

[This is the timeline separator]

Recently, I gained a fishing-related skill. It appeared at a somewhat unexpected timing while I was digging deeper water channels in the vegetable garden due to the continuing rain.

[The Smallfry Fishes for Time (C)

Though a smallfry, you can fish.

But it might take a long time?

− Effect: Fishing]

“Oh, come on…”

I was exasperated the moment the skill name appeared. Is this favoritism?

I knew the system looked down on me, but now it was openly treating me like a smallfry.

‘Still, it’s something that it gave me a fishing skill. Let’s endure it, I’m a system spoon. A system spoon!’

I suppressed my anger, trying hard to brainwash myself. The ‘The Smallfry Fishes for Time (C)’ skill was a conditional skill that required a lot of time.

Additionally, a fishing-related quest also appeared.

[Quest

− Register the fish encyclopedia list. (0/50)

− Completion Reward: Rank Up]

This time too, the completion reward was a rank up.

I now knew that reward would raise my class rank. So it was a quest that needed to be completed necessarily.

Fortunately, there was a river flowing close to the campsite. It was the same river where Mo Gyeon had drifted and encountered a monster before.

However, to get close enough to fish, I had to leave the campsite premises.

Although spirit monsters mainly inhabited this area, just in case, I used the ‘Invincible Backpacker (S)’ skill and took Mo Gyeon with me.

That’s how I had been engrossed in fishing for several days.

“It keeps raining.”

The dungeon was in the midst of the rainy season. We made a canopy by overlapping several Rafnas leaves and sat under it with Mo Gyeon, fishing.

The fishing skill took a long time, making it good for enjoying a quiet atmosphere. On average, a fish would bite the float after about 2 hours.

“But then, in autumn and winter, are hunters completely forbidden from entering the Blue Starlight Valley?”

“That’s right. Though every year there are some who don’t listen and use stealth skills or sneak in secretly.”

“I see…”

We were having a conversation about the Lamiae tribe.

Even if Hunter Ju Cheongyeon found the natives and explained the situation, it wasn’t a situation where we could be completely at ease.

If hunters don’t come for six months, it would be difficult for me to make a living.

There are ways to earn coins by cultivating the vegetable garden or in other ways, but renting out tents was still the biggest source of income.

“Why? Are you worried?”

“Yeah. It might feel lonely being alone at the campsite.”

“If you’re okay with it, I can stay continuously.”

Mo Gyeon said in a rather calm tone. When I stared at him with an obvious look, he seemed a bit embarrassed and scratched the back of his neck.

“It’s fine for now. The Hwarang Guild won’t collapse just because I’m not there. Even if Ju Cheongyeon gives the natives a heads up, it could be dangerous if they suddenly invade since we can’t communicate.”

“That’s true.”

In fact, the biggest problem was that my safety wasn’t guaranteed for such reasons.

“But it’s okay. The association agreed to send someone. And with Teddy and Gold here, it shouldn’t be too dangerous.”

“Who?”

“A hunter named Moon Ga Young, from reconnaissance team 7. Hunter Ju Cheongyeon introduced her.”

“I see…?”

Mo Gyeon’s mouth twitched slightly, as if somewhat disappointed.

“But what’s the current state of your relationship?”

“Friends… Still in an unstable period.”

“That’s strange. I don’t feel uncomfortable or dislike you anymore.”

“…”

“Is it that you don’t like me much?”

“That’s not it.”

Mo Gyeon replied weakly. Whether it was because of the gloomy weather or he was thinking of something else, he looked a bit troubled.

Just then, an alert sound rang out, waking us up.

[‘Blue Starlight Rare Fish (A)’ has bitten the float.] [Use the fishing skill within 10 seconds to catch an undamaged fish.] [‘Yu Bom (D)’ has used ‘The Smallfry Fishes for Time (C)’.]

The fishing line was pulled taut and moved back and forth. The fishing skill only helped catch quality fish; actually catching it was entirely up to the individual.

I leaned back, shifting my center of gravity, and reeled in hard. A dark shadow under the water surface slowly approached me.

Soon, the Blue Starlight Rare Fish revealed itself, flapping about.

[‘Yu Bom (D)’ has caught a ‘Blue Starlight Rare Fish (A)’.]

“Yes!”

This time, I caught the fish after three hours. But this species was already registered in the encyclopedia.

“Ah, this isn’t easy.”

Still, the Blue Starlight Rare Fish was delicious whether grilled or steamed, so it was good for serving to guests. Putting aside my disappointment, I put it in my inventory.

[Quest

− Register the fish encyclopedia list. (28/50)

− Completion Reward: Rank Up]

The fish in the encyclopedia had already approached 30 species.

‘But how far does it intend to raise my class rank?’

At this point, I was starting to get a bit scared. It raised two ranks last time, so if it goes up two more ranks, I’d be B-rank.

If a similar quest occurs again, then S-rank…

‘So, the system might have awakened Tae Rim and Yu Bom to save Hunter Jo In Young.’

Why am I suddenly remembering what Hunter Ju Cheongyeon said? Even I was bewildered by the terrifying speed of growth.

But the fact that it’s hard to level up without completing quests, and the fact that I’m gradually catching the same fish over and over…

It felt like the system was once again urging me to go outside the dungeon.

‘I shouldn’t have listened to such strange words…’

I baited the hook with a worm monster again and cast the fishing rod. The float sank below the surface and then bobbed up with a plop.

Now it was time to wait. As I silently watched the float, something fell on my shoulder with a thud.

When I tilted my head to look, Mo Gyeon had leaned on my shoulder.

He had fallen asleep, breathing softly.