This is completely solving the manpower problem with a new problem.

A few minutes later.

After safely joining Seonwoo Yeon, I greeted Seonwoo Yeon, who was waiting at the place.

Hello.

Ah, Hunter Kim Kiryeo.

Now, lets get to the point.

I came out after you were called, but I dont know if there is actually anything I can do to help. Isnt Seonwoo Yeon-ssis ability enough to search for a missing person?

I asked a question that I had the whole way to Eunpyeong-gu.

Then the B-Class hunter answered.

I was already going to tell you. Well, I used the skill targeting the missing people earlier.

Yes.

But the location is a little strange.

Seonwoo Yeon put her hand on her chin and made a serious expression.

The previous two people failed to be tracked down at all, and it wasnt until the last person that the skill worked as it should have

And after thinking for a while, she opened her mouth with difficulty.

It comes out underground. Thats the location.

What did you say?

I sense a missing person in a very low position where I can only assume it as being buried.

Looking at Seonwoo Yeons past track record, the error in the searcher skill seemed to be quite small.

First of all, she found exactly where Kim Kiryeo lives among the many rooms in the one-room building.

Then, does that mean there is really one missing person buried?

There is already a smell of a violent crime, but Seonwoo Yeons questions dont end here.

Besides, this is not a simple case of secret burial.

Yes?

As long as I properly identify the target, I can track their location with my skill, even if the person is dead.

But for the previous two cases, I couldnt even find the coordinates. There is certainly a disturbance caused by the criminal.

Its certainly a strange thing.

If they want to hide the victims, they will try to hide all of them. Why hide some and let others get caught?

Thats why I called Kim Kiryeo-ssi.

Ahem, Seonwoo Yeon cleared her throat once and continued the conversation.

Im thinking of moving to the missing persons coordinates from now on, but this seems like a guide from the criminal. A dangerous situation could occur.

If youve come this far, the reasons are all clear.

It was easy to guess what was said next.

So you called me here to use me to detect traps when you were searching for them.

As I was rolling my eyes in the air, Seonwoo Yeon spoke carefully with a stiff expression.

I, its definitely not a place where people would normally call an appraiser. Maybe thats why you feel uncomfortable

Uh.

I think this person misunderstands something right now, but I cant think of anything else at that moment.

I automatically tilted my head when she asked if it was uncomfortable.

However, when Seonwoo Yeon saw this behavior, she began to speak more nervously.

As expected, I decided that a safer search would be possible only if there was one more active hunter

I almost laughed out loud when I heard that.

What do you mean by active? Where can you find a retired person.

Look at me.

I was a former archmage, but all of my magical abilities were taken away from me.

But how absurd is it that the word active duty suddenly pops up?

Yes? ? What did you say?

Phew, nevermind.

Whats the point of complaining to her?

Seonwoo Yeon, who happened to hear my nonsense, seemed puzzled, but I quickly changed the subject.

Its nothing. Anyway, when does the search start?

As soon as team 2 is ready. From here, we will continue to climb towards Jingwansa Valley.

Seonwoo Yeon and I were part of search team 1, which included two police officers, and conducted a search for missing persons.

Rustle, rustle.

Moist soil touches the soles of the shoes.

I followed Seonwoo Yeon, who was leading the way, and looked around.

Lets see.

No matter how good I am, my senses will become dull if I am trapped in a trashy F-Class body like Kim Kiryeo.

Now that my sense was in a state of tension, the only way I could search effectively was by paying attention and concentrating on just one element.

And as a result of searching for dangerous objects in this mountain

First of all, there arent any big traps.

There were no significant or unexpected changes.

With a more comfortable mind, Seonwoo Yeon walked forward, using her flowing black hair as an indicator.

Everyone.

Not long after that, Seonwoo Yeon stops and stands tall.

This is the location. Under the ground where we stand, there is a person who has gone missing.

When Seonwoo Yeon looked back, she had the same business-like appearance as always, but there was a moment of hesitation at the corner of her mouth.

The movementI cant feel any movement.

If a missing person buried deep in the ground doesnt even show movement, it means only one thing.

There was a moment of silence among the search team

The person who broke this deep silence was none other than an awakened member of Team 2.

From now on, Ill be digging this land, so please step aside.

Team 1, please search the surrounding area!

Maybe there are some clues left on this mountain too.

Seonwoo Yeon looked around the surrounding area and then started to walk. I followed closely behind Seonwoo Yeon.

Werent you in charge of the site?

My work is already done. Ive used up all of the searcher skills I can use today.

She calmly explained the situation and then smiled bitterly.

After tracking it three times, I might as well consider myself just an empty shell.

Because thats all I can do.

I didnt give much of a response to her words.

Nevertheless, the conversation continued.

By the way, if you see any dangerous items installed nearby, could you please let me know right away?

Even though I didnt say it directly, I was already working on the detection.

Without showing any signs of it, I followed her suggestion and looked around again. I pay special attention to the spot where team 2 is digging.

If the criminal was trying to lure the police by using a missing person, he might have planted explosives in a place like that.

Nevertheless, no strange things were discovered in the end.

At least there were no traps using mana around here.

Hmm.

I focused on searching for dangerous substances for a moment, then raised my head when I heard Seonwoo Yeons voice.

Hunter Kim Kiryeo, wait. Can you see it over there?

Yes?

Its over there next to the tree in the distance. Doesnt it look like someone is standing there?

Kim Kiryeo doesnt have very good eyesight.

Living in the deep sea, my eyesight has improved compared to my previous life when it had almost deteriorated, but well, its still not great.

I had no idea who Seonwoo Yeon was pointing to, so I examined the mana in the northern area quickly.

There is one awakened person.

Is that so?

In that moment, what I sense is someones faint magical power.

Could it be someone involved in the incident?

Seonwoo Yeon called the awakened person in charge of subduing the criminal, and the police officer immediately took action.

Even the suspicious people who were watching from the trees sneaked a peek as we sent the police.

He was a middle-aged man eating something; his appearance was ordinary, and he was dressed entirely in hiking attire, so at first, I thought he might just be a hiker.

But at this moment.

A strange thing happened.

He swallowed what he had in his mouth, causing his magical power, initially no more than E-class, to suddenly surge in the blink of an eye

Step back!

I quickly shouted to the police who were heading north.

However, this short time wasnt enough to deal with the situation, and the awakened person was eventually cast magic.

The hiker activated a skill in this direction.

But wait a minute.

No way, could it be that everyone here didnt notice?

The target of that awakened persons skill was not the police of the suppression team

Hunter Seonwoo Yeon!

I reflexively reached out to Seonwoo Yeon.

Originally I was going to try to get her out of range of this attack by pushing her away.

Oh my.

W, why are you doing that?

Its late.

While having a clear understanding of all the situations in my mind, my sluggish body refuses to follow through or act accordingly.

We are already falling.

Immediately, a sharp sense of falling spread through the veins

Because a huge gate appeared on the floor we were standing on, with Seonwoo Yeon at the center

Kyaaa!

Dirt, stones, and even trees.

Next, the blue passage opened its mouth like the maw of an animal and instantly swallowed everything in the place where Seonwoo Yeon was standing.

Hiiik, splash!

Ugh!

The long fall has ended.

I opened my eyes wide as I felt intense pain in my back.

And then what is visible are the dark cave walls and the huge lake that we fell into.

An unfamiliar landscape. Its a dungeon.

Damn it.

Whether Kim Kiryeo learned how to swim or not, that kind of thing didnt matter.

Because I was an aquatic creature in my past life. It was easy to swim out of the lake.

Keugh, keugh.

Anyway, damn it. Earthlings are also really funny creatures.

Why do these people, who cant even breathe underwater, have a culture of enjoying water play? Are they crazy?

Ugh.

I first got up on the ground.

As I focused on catching my breath for a while, one by one, other people also swam out of the lake.

W, what on earth is this? Hunter. Have we entered the gate now?

A total of three people were caught up in this situation.

Seonwoo Yeon, D-Class police officer, and me.

Did the suppression team police not get in just in the nick of time?

At this moment, the blue light pouring from above disappears all at once.

The gate entrance is closed.

That terrorist!

Now the outlines of the Eunpyeong-gu disappearance case are being revealed.

Whoo.

My head is very complicated right now; should I try to understand the situation first?

A, are youHunter?

Huh! Police?

But unfortunately, I was not given the time to organize my thoughts

I kept hearing a mumbling sound from somewhere, so I wondered if I had heard it wrong.

T, the missing people?

Soon, two young people came out from behind a nearby sharp rock.

The police who saw this were astonished.

N, no. Its true! These people are high school students who went missing!

I cant believe were finding a missing person like this!

However, everyone was indifferent.

Their bodies were injured all over, and perhaps because they couldnt eat properly, their faces looked gaunt.

P, please get us out of here. Heukh, y, youre here to save us, right? Right?

When he was questioned, the police were first surprised, but they quickly calmed down and showed a trustworthy look.

Dont worry, just wait a moment!

Next, the policeman took out a square object from his pocket. It was a supply analyzer.

Beep.

[Gate Name: Winter in Istanbul]

[Description: An enemy that uses ice attribute attacks appears. Be careful of the small number of flying monsters.]

[Grade: B]

Heuk! B-Class gate?

Its pretty high.

H, here. Originally, there were many people who were captured. There were 6 people. Theyre all dead. O, only us. Now its just us left.

The high school student, who had been missing, is unable to speak and is sobbing.

But the situations werent as bad as they seemed.

There were awakened people in this place who were capable of facing monsters on the same level.

It seems like there are very few monsters here. I think just one B-Class person will be enough to clear it.

Aah! Appraiser! Is that so?

I approached the woman in the corner.

Seonwoo Yeon-ssi, lets go hunting first. Maybe there will be a new exit

However, the moment I saw her face, I closed my mouth.

The association employee who always had a calm and upright attitude.

However, her eyes were bloodshot and wide open, she was panting unsteadily.

Seonwoo Yeon-ssi?

She seemed not to hear my words, hyperventilating for a while, then suddenly let out a gasp.

Please let me out!

Yes?

Let me out! I cant stay here! I cant stand it! Please get me out of here

She was in no condition to have a conversation.

The other person has now started scratching her own arm with her fingernails.

Shes clearly in panic.

It was only when I saw this reaction that I was able to notice it.

I think Im doomed?

The only awakened person in this place who can fight against the monster

Gate phobia?

Ugh.

Why didnt I realize this earlier?

Its only been 7 years since Dungeon Shock occurred.

In the meantime, many people died. Of course, those strong-willed people who overcome such pasts deserve praise and recognition

Ugh, uh

Again, I think were doomed.