I thought he was focusing on the conversation, but when did he observe the surroundings?

“It’s here.”

As I was wondering, the scenery finally stopped. In front of my eyes stood a magnificent tree as if sprinkled with stardust.

The tree’s circumference looked so thick that even 20 people holding hands wouldn’t be enough to encircle it.

A small hole was visible between the roots, brightly shining with an atmosphere that anyone could tell was an entrance.

“Should we enter through here?”

“Yes.”

I took out my machete and cleared away the small roots as I entered. Water droplets clinging to the roots fell with a pitter-patter.

The humid air clung to my skin. My heart pounded as if I was entering a gate for the first time.

Ga Young and Ryeo Un returned to the association with Dong Hwa. Myung Hyun, upon hearing the news, immediately summoned Ga Young.

“You saw the video, right? I thought you’d hear the news through the video before I arrived, so I watched a bit more before coming.”

“What are you talking about?”

Myung Hyun had intended to tell Ga Young about Bom’s news first. A Hwarang Guild member had filmed the campsite and uploaded a video, which became a big topic, and he had seen it too.

But Ga Young already knew about the video.

And what did she mean by watching? Hadn’t she gone to find Hunter Chae Dong Hwa to see if Bom had awakened as ordered?

“I ran into Bom by chance in the dungeon. Coincidentally, Hunter Chae Dong Hwa was also staying at the campsite. I heard about the video directly from Bom. By the time I left, I thought the video would have spread a lot, so I watched how Bom was doing for a few days before coming back.”

“You met by chance? Is that true?”

“Yes.”

“Tell me more in detail.”

“I also took pictures together, here.”

Ga Young sat down and calmly listed everything that had happened.

If Ga Young’s words were true, Bom was adapting to dungeon life much better than what was seen in the video. In the photos she brought, Bom looked bright.

“I wanted to help while I was there, but there was nothing to help with. Instead, I was well-fed. And it seems Bom had been going through some emotional struggles.”

Ga Young also relayed the conversation she had with Bom.

It seemed that their actions, which they thought were considerate, had been a burden to Bom, causing her to avoid them and keep quiet.

“But now she says she wants to be someone who gives, not just receives. I think we’ve been seeing Bom as too young. From now on, I’m going to trust her rather than just protect her.”

“Trust her, huh……”

Myung Hyun was engulfed in many thoughts upon hearing those words. If what Bom wanted was trust, not protection, he knew in his mind that he should follow her wishes.

But the image of Bom as a fragile being who always needed protection wasn’t easily erased. Especially now, when her safety was at risk more than ever.

At a time like this, he feared losing his only daughter if he acted carelessly under the guise of trust.

Even now, he only wanted to rush to Bom. Myung Hyun wanted to confirm with his own eyes that she was safe and feel with his own hands that she was alive.

But if he did that, their relationship might sour again because he entered the dungeon. Myung Hyun had been conflicted about this issue every day since learning Bom had fallen into the dungeon.

“If it weren’t for this situation, I could trust her anytime. But now, isn’t it a bit… Hah…”

Myung Hyun’s patience was gradually being depleted. Seeing Myung Hyun looking troubled, Ga Young explained in more detail about how Bom was living.

“Bom’s campsite is a shelter, so monsters can’t enter, and even if she encounters one, she has an invincibility skill and a stealth skill, so she can easily escape, right?”

“She has such skills at F-rank?”

“Yes. And the campsite business seems to be doing well, so she’s enjoying it. From what I saw, she looked more energetic in the dungeon.”

“That can’t be…”

“It’s true, I’m telling you! She wakes up at dawn without anyone waking her, chops firewood, and bustles around all day. Did you know Bom is good at cooking? I was really surprised this time.”

“……”

“She even said that thanks to this, she seems to have come to her senses.”

“That’s really nonsense.”

It was reassuring that the inside of the campsite was safe, and it was clearly a positive change that Bom was working and feeling a sense of fulfillment.

But he couldn’t empathize at all with the suggestion that this was somehow a good thing.

To Myung Hyun, who still didn’t look pleased, Ga Young immediately said she would go back into the campsite.

“So don’t worry. I’m planning to bring kimchi and a cell phone while I’m at it.”

“Ga Young, I’m really grateful to you. These are all things I should be doing…”

“Uncle, as I’ve said many times before, I take care of Bom because I want to. She’s like my own sister.”

“Yes… Still, I’m so thankful.”

Myung Hyun smiled sadly. He then pondered what Bom might need.

The dungeon sleeping arrangements must be unsettling, wouldn’t it be better if he sent a doll?

The doll that Bom always hugged while sleeping was still at home. It was one of the things she left behind when she started living on her own.

“Oh, and Uncle. About Hunter Chae Dong Hwa.”

“Yes. Did Dong Hwa find something?”

“It’s not that…”

Ga Young’s expression suddenly became strange.

In fact, after hearing about Bom through the video, Myung Hyun hadn’t given a thought to Dong Hwa. Originally, he had sought out Dong Hwa because of Bom.

But what could have happened?

“The atmosphere between him and Bom is a bit strange.”

“Atmosphere?”

“Yes.”

“Didn’t you tell Dong Hwa that Bom is your sister?”

“That’s right. He knows that, but still, it’s a bit strange.”

“What do you mean by strange, exactly…”

Myung Hyun had a rough idea of what she meant, but asked hoping it wasn’t what he thought. Ga Young looked troubled, like someone debating whether to speak or not.

The longer her silence lasted, the more anxious Myung Hyun became.

“It’s okay. You can tell me everything.”

“Well… Hunter Chae Dong Hwa treats Bom exactly like he treats Yu Tae Rim.”

“Huh…?”

Myung Hyun couldn’t quite understand what that meant. If Dong Hwa treated Bom like he treated Tae Rim, did it mean he showed unconditional obedience? Or did he try to follow her everywhere like a duckling following its mother?

“No, Bom has such a cute image that makes you want to take care of her. But on top of that, he even feeds her—”

“Hunter Chae Dong Hwa fed Bom?!”

With those words, Myung Hyun jumped up from his seat.

“Um… No, I think it was Bom who fed Hunter Chae Dong Hwa?”

“Bom fed Hunter Chae Dong Hwa?!”

Ga Young corrected herself, but it was equally shocking.

‘What on earth does this mean?’

After hearing more details, Myung Hyun understood why Ga Young had mentioned Tae Rim. What Ga Young was referring to was the focus Dong Hwa showed exclusively towards Tae Rim.

Dong Hwa disliked even being spoken to. More precisely, he lacked interest in others and social skills, often ignoring people who tried to talk to him.

Yet, such a person showed extraordinary focus only towards Tae Rim. He always paid attention to what Tae Rim was doing, readily took care of anything he wanted. He listened, cherished, and cared for him.

Seeing only that side, no one would imagine Dong Hwa lacked social skills or was a brusque person. To Tae Rim alone, Chae Dong Hwa was kinder than anyone else in the world.

‘But to think he’s doing that to Bom!’

Because those two were of the same gender, their relationship could be dismissed as unusually close senior and junior. In fact, there was no subtle undercurrent visible between them.

But Ga Young clearly said the atmosphere between Dong Hwa and Bom was strange. That must surely mean the ticklish atmosphere felt between people of the opposite sex who have feelings for each other.

He had heard that Dong Hwa visited Bom’s campsite as the first guest and stayed for a long time.

‘Could it be that he stayed in the dungeon for so long without even regular reporting because of Bom?’

As that thought struck him, a scene of his daughter and a strange man feeding each other affectionately played in his mind. He felt a rush of heat and couldn’t calm down easily.

When he first heard about Dong Hwa being introduced to Bom through Tae Rim, he certainly didn’t feel this way.

At that time, Myung Hyun even thought that Dong Hwa might be okay.

But was it because this happened out of his sight? He felt strangely uncomfortable.

No, more than that, what was this Chae Dong Hwa doing? He had asked Tae Rim to introduce his sister, and now this?

Right now, Dong Hwa probably doesn’t know that Bom is Tae Rim’s sister. Then, did he ask Tae Rim to introduce his sister with such a light heart?

“Ga Young.”

“Yes, Center Director.”

“Call Hunter Chae Dong Hwa here.”

As that thought reached its conclusion, an uncontrollable anger welled up. As a father, Myung Hyun had a duty to thoroughly question what Dong Hwa was thinking.

Dong Hwa came up to the office long after receiving Myung Hyun’s summons. He must have showered in the dormitory and put on a new combat uniform, as a clean soap scent wafted in as soon as he entered.

‘He’s still handsome. Is that what Bom likes about his appearance? When she was young, she said I was the most handsome…’

In Young was also weak for looks. She even boldly said that the reason she married Myung Hyun was because of his appearance.

How surprised he was when In Young first said that. They say blood will tell, so Bom can appreciate looks too.

No, it can’t be just looks. Then is it his rank?

Myung Hyun had called Dong Hwa but was just staring at him without saying anything for several minutes.

Finally, Dong Hwa spoke first.

“I heard you had business with me before the meeting.”

Reconnaissance Team 7 had a regular report meeting scheduled in two hours. It could have waited until then, but Myung Hyun had called him separately.

Myung Hyun, belatedly collecting himself, answered solemnly.

“Yes. Are you injured anywhere?”

“No.”

As usual, Dong Hwa answered concisely but in short responses.

Dong Hwa wasn’t the type to elaborate on what happened in the dungeon unless Myung Hyun asked something specific.

Then Myung Hyun had to bring up the topic first.

“I heard Hunter Moon Ga Young discovered a campsite inside the dungeon.”

“Yes.”

“I heard you had been staying there before that.”

“Yes.”

“Is there a connection between you staying in the dungeon forgetting even the regular report and the campsite?”

“Yes.”

As expected…! Does Dong Hwa have feelings for Bom too?

The moment he heard that answer, Myung Hyun felt dizzy.