“What...?” For a moment, Hyuk-Soo’s mind came to a standstill. Yong-Yong was the king of the Core? What did that even mean? His mouth hung open in disbelief. “But... but Do-Jun is...” Now that he thought about it, whenever the topic of the Core came up among his colleagues, Do-Jun always seemed uninterested, as if it were a distant issue that didn’t concern him. Hyuk-Soo had interpreted that reaction as simple indifference; perhaps to Do-Jun, the Core felt like a faraway, otherworldly matter, hence the lack of care. “Hmm.” Yong-Yong silently watched Hyuk-Soo. He could sense the man’s fear of the Core, his worry about Earth’s S-rank Hunters failing to conquer it and potentially endangering the entire planet. Yong-Yong figured that if he eased Hyuk-Soo’s concerns, he might score some points with Do-Jun. “Alright, mister. Hold my paw,” he said, extending his front paw. Hyuk-Soo, confused but compliant, grabbed it. In an instant, the two vanished. In a flash, Hyuk-Soo was transported to the bedroom in unit 301 of Changshin Villa. He almost yelled out when the scenery around him suddenly changed, but Yong-Yong leaped up and covered his mouth with a paw. “Shh! Be quiet, okay?” Hyuk-Soo nodded nervously. Looking around, he spotted Do-Jun, Yoon-Hee, Karsiel, and Byeol sound asleep on the bed. It didn’t take him long to realize that this was Do-Jun’s home. Yong-Yong opened a drawer as quietly as possible and pulled out the Core Talisman. His plan was to take Hyuk-Soo to the Core. However, without proper preparation, Hyuk-Soo would certainly die due to the Core’s overwhelming magical energy. An artifact to enhance his magic resistance was essential. Yong-Yong rummaged through Ivela’s Pouch and pulled out a pair of leather boots. It was one of the Hidden Pieces he and Do-Jun found on the Core’s fourth floor. It was a relic-grade artifact with no special options except for an absurdly high magic resistance boost. “This should work. Here, put these on,” he told Hyuk-Soo. Hyuk-Soo, still too bewildered to fully grasp the situation, did as instructed. The boots initially felt too big but soon molded to fit his feet perfectly. “Let’s go!” Yong-Yong said. With a pop, the two vanished again. Do-Jun, who had been meditating using Heavenly Demon Cultivation Art, slowly opened his eyes. For a brief moment, he considered following them but ultimately decided to let them do their thing. *** New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on novel•fire.net A holographic message appeared before Hyuk-Soo’s eyes. [You have entered the sixth Floor of the Core.] His jaw dropped instantly. The sixth floor of the Core—a place even Earth’s S-rank Hunters had yet to discover. He was standing in one of the most perilous locations imaginable! “Wh-where... where are we...?” he stammered. “This is the sixth floor of the Core,” Yong-Yong answered, nonchalantly. “Wh-why would you bring me to a place ...?” A man with the weakest possible stats had entered the sixth floor of the Core. His life flashed before his eyes, memories rushing through his mind as if he were just moments away from taking his last breath. Then, a loud crash sounded from somewhere. The Water Serpent, in his human form, appeared before Yong-Yong, kneeling on one knee in reverence. Glancing at Hyuk-Soo, who stood next to Yong-Yong, the Water Serpent asked, “Overlord, who is this...?” “Say hi. This is my master’s workplace senior, Kwon Hyuk-Soo.” At that, the Water Serpent’s eyes widened, his body trembling. A senior of Lee Do-Jun?! If it had been some random human, he might have dismissed them outright. But this man was associated with Do-Jun, and his senior, no less. There was no way he could treat him disrespectfully. On the contrary, he had to show the utmost courtesy. “It’s my honor to meet you, sir!” the Water Serpent said, bowing at a sharp ninety-degree angle. “Uh, y-yes, likewise!” Hyuk-Soo returned the greeting, though still dumbfounded. The duo’s extreme formality was bordering on comedic. From Hyuk-Soo’s perspective, the Water Serpent exuded danger. He had, after all, leaped a kilometer into the air to reach this place—something even Earth’s S-rank Hunters couldn’t do. Conversely, the Water Serpent viewed Hyuk-Soo as equally dangerous. Though he knew this human wasn’t particularly strong, the mere fact that he was Do-Jun’s senior made him tread carefully. What on earth is going on...? Hyuk-Soo couldn’t make sense of the situation. The creatures of the Core were supposed to be ruthless and dangerous. Yet, the man before him seemed almost... afraid of him. “C-could it be... Is he the S-rank Hunter the King of Earth spoke of?” the Water Serpent asked. Do-Jun had left a message while conquering each floor: If any other Earthlings arrive, they are S-rank Hunters on an important mission. Harm or threaten them, and it won’t end well for you. “Nope, he’s not a Hunter; just an ordinary human from Earth. I brought him here to show him around,” Yong-Yong replied. “I see!” The Water Serpent turned to Hyuk-Soo and asked, “What floor would you like to visit next, sir?” Hyuk-Soo blinked in confusion. “Sorry...?” “Aaagh! W-wait a second! Please! Aaaaagh!” Hyuk-Soo was riding on a gigantic bird with shimmering, colorful wings, soaring through the skies of the Core’s eighth floor. Over the vast sea, the Rainbow Bird let out a playful chuckle, swooping down to brush the endless surface of the sea with its wings. The water beneath was filled with poison. “Eeek!” Hyuk-Soo’s face went pale with shock, his breath catching in his throat. From atop the Rainbow Bird’s back, Yong-Yong furrowed his brow, then smacked its head with his dainty paw, producing a loud thwack. The bird momentarily wobbled, losing its balance, before regaining its composure and flying steadily again. “Stop that,” Yong-Yong commanded. “A-apologies, Overlord!” “Heh, what a dumbass.” The Water Serpent snickered. The Rainbow Bird flapped its wings and soared higher into the sky. Hyuk-Soo, still dazed, pinched his cheek as he looked at the surreal landscape around him. It... hurts... This is real. He was on a tour, but it was a tour of... the Core?! Hyuk-Soo had been traversing the sixth to eighth floors of the Core for three hours now. All the while, he overheard the ongoing conversation between Yong-Yong, the Water Serpent, and the Rainbow Bird, and what he learned left him utterly speechless. To summarize, first, Yong-Yong was indeed the king of the Core. Once reigning from the farthest edge of the Core, known as the Deep Realm, he had been called the “Overlord,” the undisputed ruler of the Core. Allegedly, even now, no one in the Core could rival him. Second, Do-Jun was descending the Core, floor by floor, preparing it for the S-rank Hunters. According to Yong-Yong, Do-Jun had already cleared down to the ninth floor[1], compiling and summarizing information to ensure the safety of the Hunters. The information was shared with the Chief of the Hunter’s Bureau and S-rank Hunters so they could descend safely. So that’s why our S-rank Hunters could advance so seamlessly... S-rank Hunters would broadcast their Core expeditions worldwide using a data transmission system called DTS. Their uncanny ability to pinpoint monsters’ weaknesses and navigate structures was thanks to Do-Jun’s meticulous groundwork. Lastly, Do-Jun was referred to as the “King of Earth” in the Core, revered and feared by its inhabitants alike. What the Bureau Chief said back then... When S-rank Hunters were in danger on the Core’s third floor, Young-Chul had held a press conference, declaring that a solo Hunter, the strongest on Earth, had been dispatched to help Behemoth. Somehow, Hyuk-Soo felt he had unearthed truths he was never meant to know. Puzzle pieces began falling into place: the Hunter’s Bureau’s sudden cooperation with Seoul’s Fissure Management Division a year ago, and the rapid growth of contracted Hunters’ skills. With a soft thump, the Rainbow Bird landed gracefully on the roots of the World Tree. With the Water Serpent’s aid, Hyuk-Soo dismounted the bird and saw adventurers approaching him. Upon seeing the Rainbow Bird and Water Serpent, the adventurers of the Core’s eighth floor knelt on one knee in unison. One of them, Marf, looked at Hyuk-Soo and said, “I’ve heard you’re an acquaintance of the King. I sincerely apologize for the delayed greeting.” Hyuk-Soo finally understood why Do-Jun had been so uninterested whenever the Core was mentioned. It was all in the palm of his hand. All along. If he so desired, Do-Jun possessed the power to obliterate the entire Core. Perhaps that was why he always seemed so indifferent. The weekend passed, and Monday morning dawned bright. Do-Jun quickly noticed something different about Hyuk-Soo’s demeanor. Since his trip to the Core with Yong-Yong on Saturday, there had been a clear shift in his behavior. “Senior, what are you doing?” Do-Jun asked. “Ah!” Startled, Hyuk-Soo hurriedly closed his notebook. Inside were detailed notes, all related to what he had done to Do-Jun: the times he sent him to fetch coffee, when he left work early while Do-Jun stayed late to handle tasks alone, and even an incident during a company dinner where a drunk Hyuk-Soo had to be carried home by Do-Jun. “N-nothing! I’m not doing anything,” he replied. “Okay then...” Do-Jun sighed internally and sat down at his desk. Hyuk-Soo peeked at Do-Jun. “By any chance...” “Have I... upset you often?” Hyuk-Soo asked, seemingly anxious. “No, no, never mind.” Hyuk-Soo waved his hands nervously, feeling relieved when Do-Jun shook his head and reassured him. “Senior, you don’t do that at all.” “Ah, that’s... that’s a relief.” Honestly, Do-Jun was genuinely thankful to Hyuk-Soo and held deep respect for him as a senior colleague. There was never any reason for him to feel upset. Later that day, the trio of the Fissure Exploration Unit decided to visit the sauna near Seoul City Hall for the first time in a while. Warm water poured over Do-Jun’s body as he showered. “Aaaaah, this feels amazing!” Cheol-Soo laughed heartily, scrubbing himself vigorously. Do-Jun chuckled at the sight, although today, Hyuk-Soo seemed unusually quiet, silently washing himself. “You done showering?” Cheol-Soo asked, and both Do-Jun and Hyuk-Soo nodded. “Then how about we scrub each other’s backs?” Moments later, the three men sat on bath stools. Do-Jun used an exfoliating towel to scrub Cheol-Soo’s back. “How’s that, Chief?” “Do-Jun, you should take up a side job as a back scrubber. You’re amazing at this. Haha!” But when it came time for Hyuk-Soo to scrub Do-Jun’s back, he hesitated. Cheol-Soo turned and noticed Hyuk-Soo frozen, holding the towel with a dazed expression. He chided, “Hyuk-Soo, what are you doing? Don’t leave our beloved junior’s back unattended!” Hyuk-Soo swallowed hard, brought the towel close to Do-Jun’s broad back, and then paused. After taking a deep breath, he spoke in a trembling voice. “Do-Jun...” A moment of silence passed. “M-may I... scrub your noble body?” 1. We know that we never saw Do-Jun step onto the ninth floor. After checking the later chapters, we believe it's safe to assume he reached the ninth floor off-screen, as it was never mentioned before. ☜