‘I just need to pretend to work hard.’

To summarize the current situation. Yesterday, B and A-rank hunters struggled with the obelisk all day but failed. This morning, Jung Haseong made an attempt but didn’t succeed. Finally, Esther, right in front of my eyes, has just declared her surrender.

‘Which angle will look best for the reporters…?’

So even if I fail repeatedly, people won’t think it’s strange.

“Let’s see.”

Tuk.

I placed my hand on the obelisk’s front. But unexpectedly, as soon as I touched the black stone, a strange sensation suddenly arose.

‘Ouch, it stings!’

Startled. It was a subtle sensation, difficult for Earthlings to notice, but it was a distinctive feeling when mana was being drained.

‘What is this?’

It’s strange. Taking mana in this way is like collecting personal identifiers, such as fingerprints or blood, that can identify an individual.

“Kiryeo-ssi, what’s wrong?”

Thus, the true nature of the black obelisk has become clear.

‘Ah, damn it. I thought it would serve the same purpose as the one that appeared in my hometown since it looks exactly the same…’

It turned out that this stone was a tool for selecting ‘challengers’ for the dungeon that would be created later.

‘It’s completely different!’

I’m surprised. Until now, I had thought this object was a sign indicating the entrance to a new gate. But it has now been revealed that this obelisk is a device for gathering information about those who touch it and selecting participants for the dungeon.

‘Mom…’

Suddenly, I found myself on the brink of being dragged into a new dungeon. However, I quickly came up with a plan. If I can get passersby to touch the obelisk now, it will decrease my personal chances of being selected as a participant.

“H, hey! Seonwoo Yeon-ssi! Would you come over here and give this a try? The stone feels really sturdy, and it’s quite a unique sensation…”

The very definition of meanness!

I didn’t hesitate to drag the association employee who was standing guard next to me into the lottery.

“It’s okay. I tried it earlier.”

However, Seonwoo Yeon had already touched the obelisk, and other staff members had begun discussions to seal off the area with a barrier, given that even S-rank hunters had failed.

“Wait a moment. Have you called any hunters with teleportation skills? Or maybe gather awakeners who can manipulate gravity and try lifting it into the air…”

I frantically struggled to increase my number of companions. However, all of these attempts ultimately ended in failure.

-Squeak.

Despite the speculation that the inscriptions on the obelisk might refer to Earth’s rotational cycle, it changed in just 21 hours.

“Huh?”

Squeak, squeak.

“Wait, this is different…”

Flash!

A flash of light cut through the shattered obelisk. And soon, the selection of challengers began.

“Kyaak!”

The first to be chosen was Esther, who had been standing closest to the obelisk. Despite everything, she was one of those whose magic had come into contact with the stone.

“Huh?”

Next, the one chosen was none other than the staff member beyond the police line. Seonwoo Yeon froze momentarily upon seeing the red pattern floating above her head…

“Wow.”

I squeezed my eyes shut as I confirmed the same symbol had appeared above me. What followed was the familiar sensation of teleportation.

‘It’s the same as when I pushed Yoonseung away and got kidnapped to White Maze instead.’

When I opened my eyes again, there was a foreign space in front of me that I couldn’t believe was Korea.

The dim lighting and old bricks made the place look like a medieval castle when I looked around. As I checked the group of participants gathered in the center of the room, I realized that the selection of challengers wasn’t random.

That’s understandable, because the list of people gathered was just these four.

“Whoo.”

Me.

Esther.

Seonwoo Yeon.

And…

“…?”

Jung Haseong.

Come to think of it, the hunters summoned to deal with the obelisk ranged from B-Class on the first day to S-Class today. And most of those gathered here are S-class… In other words, the obelisk had a mechanism that selected four people based on the order in which they touched it.

‘Oho. This time,’ it’s going to come out like that.’

I calmly analyzed the magic involved in the selection of challengers when, at that moment, a low voice echoed from the opposite side.

Jung Haseong spoke in a bewildered tone.

“What the hell is going on here? I was just attacking a different gate…”

“Gate?”

“Oh my, no wonder Haseong-ssi has blood on him.”

The black-haired S-Class immediately lifted his watch.

[Unidentified Gate]

[Description: No gate information.]

[Rank: EX]

Then, blue letters appeared in the air.

I’ve definitely seen this picture before.

“EX-class?”

“It’s clear that the problem is with that stone! It suddenly shattered and emitted light just before we were caught!”

“Is it because we touch the stone…?”

“I never touched the stone directly. I only used my skill from a distance.”

The hunters briefly discussed how they had been brought here. However, at that moment, Seonwoo Yeon stared at the group of people and suddenly spoke up.

“W, wait a minute. Everyone.”

Shaking pupils.

“Could it be that… everyone here is S-Class?”

After hearing that, she finally understood the situation.

“Everyone but me?”

This was an unprecedented situation.

In Korea’s terms, this was a major accident where three out of four S-class people disappeared at the same time.

“And the only one left outside was that worthless Kang Changho!”

Esther realized this and shouted loudly, but her intense reaction didn’t last long. This was because of the state of the awakener standing next to her.

“Oh my gosh! Look at this staff’s pale face. She must be feeling nauseous because of us!”

Soon after, Seonwoo Yeon closed her mouth with a pale face.

Handling even one S-class was tough enough, but with two top-tier awakeners suddenly gathered, she must’ve been completely overwhelmed by their mana.

‘How did that innocent B-class end up here…’

But the most pitiful one here is none other than myself. I’m a wolf in sheep’s clothing—an F-Class at the very bottom of the hunter society.

‘It’s all my fault.’

Yeah. This is the ‘non-voluntary gate entry’ that was an exception in the contract with Kang Changho. Being trapped in an EX-rank gate and having a team full of monsters.

‘I shouldn’t have tried to act strong.’

It wasn’t my will.

***

At the same time, the outside world was in complete chaos. Around 4 PM GMT, a large number of hunters suddenly vanished, and even the obelisk, which had no direct contact, ended up pulling random citizens inside.

“An ordinary person at the gate?”

“A report has come in from the UK. There was a D-class person who was in charge of the appraisal…”

“South Korea is in chaos due to the mass disappearance of high-level awakeners…!”

The International Cooperation Agency reported the situation as critical and proceeded to immediately track and name the newly created EX-rank gate. It was designated as the ‘Labyrinth of the 13th Month.’

The gate, which was officially designated as the ‘Labyrinth of the 13th Month.’

[Unidentified Gate]

[Description: No gate information.]

But the raiders trapped in the dungeon don’t receive updates and can only face the unknown.

‘The 1st and 2nd ranked hunters are on the same team. If it weren’t for the structure where they have to be enemies, there’s nothing better than this.’

Still, Kiryeo didn’t seem greatly flustered and looked around. A vast hall. Numerous iron doors spaced at short intervals. And a stone placed in the center.

“Isn’t this the same one that was in front of the market?”

While Seonwoo Yeon caught her breath in the corner, Jung Haseong and Esther examined the black stone.

[Stop! No more than 2 people per room. Collect the keys. Time limit: 86164.]

Hmm.

Somehow the grammar written on the stone monument seems a bit awkward…

“Could it be that the keys mentioned here are prepared inside those iron doors?”

“I’m not sure.”

“And only 2 people can enter the room?”

“Normally, that would be the case.”

After a brief review, the S-rank hunters decided to proceed with the gate. Besides the time limit, there was also the issue of hunger, as they were living beings.

“We can’t waste time on this~”

“That’s right.”

“How about sending only 2 people as a reconnaissance team for now? The other 2 wait in the hall.”

By the time Esther and Haseong were talking, Kiryeo, who had been observing the situation, moved over and spoke to the person in the corner.

“Are you feeling better now?”

Then Seonwoo Yeon quietly nodded.

“Yes. Still, thanks to everyone’s consideration, I’m getting better quickly……”

The association staff was gradually adapting to the surrounding magical energy. Kim Kiryeo soon spoke in a calm voice, explaining the limitations of the gate, the plans they had devised, and other related details.

“Ah…Thank you.”

Is this the difference between top-tier hunters and ordinary awakeners? Seonwoo Yeon felt a sense of respect as she observed his calm demeanor despite being suddenly dragged here. Moreover, Kim Kiryeo, despite his S-rank status, remained so composed that not even a hint of magical energy could be felt when he approached her closely.

‘The only one who could breathe…’

As expected, that hunter was still reliable even in this situation. Seonwoo Yeon thought that for a moment.

“If we need to divide into teams of 2, how should we arrange the teams?”

But after a while, when the four awakeners gathered in the center for a discussion, Kim Kiryeo made a clear declaration among them.

He insisted that the teams should be divided as himself and Esther, and Jung Haseong and Seonwoo Yeon. Given the many incidents between the top-ranked and the fourth S-rank, it was understandable to avoid Jung Haseong for now…

The issue was the treatment of the B-Class. Seonwoo Yeon seemed to prefer being with the hunter she felt more comfortable with, but Kiryeo couldn’t accommodate this.

‘Isn’t SS and BF a bit much?’

In fact, pairing himself with Seonwoo Yeon was the worst possible combination.

“As expected, how about pairing the staff with the top-ranked hunter?”

“Yes?”

“The person with the most experience in gate raids here is Jung Haseong. Therefore, he will likely be very skilled at handling unexpected situations.”

“….”

“In a situation like this, it would be better to trust a hunter with a high track record.”

Kiryeo continued to persuade desperately, and it wasn’t long before everyone agreed. After all, the team composition at this point could be adjusted based on the progress of the raid.

“I understand.”

“Please take care of me.”

“Yes!”

In this way, the four challengers were divided into teams of two again according to the rules of the gate. Finally, the raid on the ‘Labyrinth of the 13th Month’ had begun.

‘Phew! That has almost become a big problem.’

The F-Class hunter let out a sigh of relief as soon as their companion was decided. National hero? None of that mattered. Whether it was the first or second rank, as long as it was someone who could protect him, that was all he needed.

‘If I end up alone in a room with Esther, I’ll have to come up with every excuse to avoid fighting.’

Hohoho.

Kim Kiryeo cheerfully made his plan. It was a foolish idea.

-Click!

No matter how excited he was about getting an S-rank, he had to remember that this was a dangerous otherworld.

“Huh.”

“Hmm?”

Click?

The hunters quickly turned their heads at the sound coming from the floor. But by then, it was too late. It was the sound of Jung Haseong, at the front, stepping on a trap. Moreover, it was a magical device that Earthlings had no way of dealing with.

“No, what kind of dungeon starts off with tricks like this…!”

With this unfair cry from Kiryeo, the two hunters caught in the magic circle disappeared in an instant.

***

Thump.

When he opened his eyes, a gruesome scene came into his sight. A room about 3 pyeong in size with a narrow iron bar blocking the front. If the previous location resembled an ancient medieval castle, this place seemed like a prison that could be found underground beneath it.

“Cough.”

Kim Kiryeo stood up from his seat, bitterly regretting his momentary carelessness. But he wasn’t done regretting it yet. This was a trap that confined ‘two people’ to separate spaces.

“….”

“….”

Soon, Kiryeo’s eyes met with the young man standing next to him.

“Ah, hello.”

Kiryeo completely forgot about his plan to take the initiative and instead greeted Haseong politely.

Well-done, medium, rare.

Why does this brain of his come up with such words at a moment like this?