Three days had passed since we escaped the dungeon. Lavi and I rested in a remote area, avoiding crowds. Rumors of the Abyss of the Dead’s collapse spread fast among Hunters.

  “That special dungeon is gone? No way.”

  “An entire A-rank party vanished, then the place turned up empty.”

  “Who cleared it? No one even knows their names.”

  Speculation flew, but no one had real info—and certainly no one guessed I (and Lavi) had triggered its collapse.

  “Master, how long are we going to skulk around?” Lavi asked, pouting like a bored child. Her red hair fluttered in the breeze.

  “Not much longer. We’ll head into the city, but we have to be careful,” I said. If people discovered my Domination ability, or that Lavi was some living dungeon core, we’d face a horde of opportunists.

  “Hmph, I’m not afraid,” Lavi said with a playful tilt of her head. “You’re not scared, right? I can demolish any guild if it comes to that.”

  “Let’s not make unnecessary enemies,” I replied, half-laughing. It was impossible to gauge how limitless her power might be. But fighting the entire Hunter world was not an option.

  Soon, we glimpsed an old fortress wall in the distance—part of a mid-tier Hunter city, gates half-open, guards posted outside.

  “This is Blackhallow—a town where plenty of Hunters gather,” I explained quietly. “We can collect info here and lay low.”

  “Alright, let’s check it out!” Lavi’s smile widened.

  “…But if you walk around showing that face, every eye will be on you,” I warned. Lavi’s looks were too striking to ignore.

  “So you want me to hide? Wear a hood?” she asked, uncomprehending. I sighed.

  Is she really naive, or is she messing with me?

  Eventually, I found a thick cloak to cover her. I also dressed in simple Hunter gear.

  “Okay, that’s better.”

  “It’s stuffy…” Lavi complained, adjusting the hood.

  We passed the gates into a bustling city square. Merchants bellowed about monster materials, taverns and inns lined the streets.

  “Selling rare items! Great deals here!”

  “Looking for party members for an E-rank dungeon run!”

  The clamor was refreshing—and disorienting after the grim silence of the Abyss.

  Lavi stopped in her tracks, enticed by a delicious aroma. “Master, I want that.”

  It was a greasy, sweet street snack.

  “Alright, I’ll get it,” I said, scraping out what little money I had left.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  She took a bite, eyes lighting up. “Wow, this is amazing! I never got to eat stuff like this in the dungeon.”

  I couldn’t help but smile at her simple joy—until I sensed someone behind me.

  “Long time no see,” a low voice murmured. “When was the last time we met?”

  I spun around in alarm.

  “You’re…?”

  A familiar face from my past: B-rank Hunter Jang Yehyeon. She wore her usual tight ponytail, her gaze as sharp as ever.

  “Hey there,” she said, voice dripping mockery. “You don’t look thrilled to see me.”

  I swallowed. “It’s… been a while. What are you doing here?”

  She gave a lazy shrug. “This is Blackhallow, a Hunter town. Why shouldn’t I be here? Let’s skip the chit-chat. About the money you owe me—planning to pay that back?”

  Ah… that. Once upon a time, before venturing into a dungeon, I’d borrowed some funds from her—then vanished. Lavi blinked in confusion.

  “Who’s this, Master? Another debt collector?” Lavi asked, glancing between us.

  Jang Yehyeon’s gaze shifted to Lavi. “And who’s this? Little girl under that hood?” She peered at Lavi, unimpressed. “Your new partner? Smells like an amateur.”

  Lavi bristled. “Amateur? Me? If I took off this hood, you couldn’t handle it.”

  “Ooh, feisty. Don’t get cocky,” Jang Yehyeon shot back. Both had strong personalities—this could escalate fast.

  Worried about a scene in the middle of a Hunter-infested city, I stepped between them.

  “Yehyeon, calm down. How much do I owe you? I don’t have it on me now, but I’ll repay it soon. Just give me time.”

  She let out a contemptuous laugh. “You’re as pathetic as ever. But there’s one way…”

  I tensed. “What do you mean?”

  Her eyes narrowed. “You don’t have a party, right? My guild’s short-handed for a certain job. If you join us for it, I might write off your debt.”

  A guild job? I knew she was some sort of team leader for a small guild, but who knew what kind of mission she had in mind.

  “What exactly is this ‘job’?” I asked, wary.

  “It’s a request for the Erent Estate, some noble family,” she said casually. “They’ve got a basement dungeon problem—monsters or something. It’s a straightforward extermination gig.”

  My gut twisted. The Erent family was famous, and rumors swirled about weird stuff in their private dungeon. Jang Yehyeon read my face and continued:

  “They didn’t hire me directly. My guild took the contract. We need extra people. You might do.”

  “I’m just E-rank,” I said bluntly. “Why bring me in?”

  She smirked. “Word is you fight better than you let on. If you have no money, you can pay with your body, right?”

  That last line dripped with sarcasm. Lavi, who’d been silent, tugged on my sleeve.

  “Master, let’s do it. Sounds fun. Another dungeon means I can test my powers,” she said excitedly.

  “You… you like that kind of thing?” I asked, baffled. But she was practically glowing with anticipation.

  “Sure, you wanted better control of your mana, right?” I sighed. She’s not wrong.

  Jang Yehyeon gave Lavi a skeptical glance. “Fine, bring her too. But if she causes trouble, it’s on you.”

  I hesitated. Working with Yehyeon’s guild could be risky. But we needed money and information for bigger goals—and clearing my debt would be a bonus.

  Guess there’s no choice.

  “Alright, I accept,” I said.

  She smiled wryly. “Great. My guild’s office is nearby. Come with me to handle the paperwork, plan the details.”

  I glanced at Lavi; she just grinned, apparently eager for an adventure. So we followed Jang Yehyeon into the depths of Blackhallow. The city air felt heavy, a mix of opportunity and danger, and my heart pounded anew.

  —End of Chapter 9