These Lunatics are Obsessed With Me

The dungeon was filled with a cold atmosphere. Even though the Muspelheim Dungeon was located in a desert, the sun was still scorching hot.

Sung Yoo-bin didn't even think about wiping her sweaty forehead as she stared ahead. She thought it was ridiculous, but Kang Yoo-hyun looked like he could kill someone with just his gaze. Sweat trickled down her clenched fists.

"Th—that…"

Seo Ha-joon managed to open his mouth. However, he couldn't speak properly because of Kang Yoo-hyun's intimidating aura. After swallowing his saliva, his mind felt fuzzy.

Damn it. Han Yi-jin. Why did he have to stick his nose in?

Seo Ha-joon, who had no memory of being in the hole, felt unjust. However, considering Sung Yoo-bin's words and actions, it seemed true that Han Yi-jin tried to rescue him when he fell into the hole.

And only he survived and escaped from the hole, and Han Yi-jin disappeared. Seo Ha-joon could quickly deduce how it would look in the eyes of others. His mind went blank as he tried to think of an excuse.

To make matters worse, Kang Yoo-hyun arrived at such a critical moment, emanating a sinister aura. If he answered wrong, it felt like his sword would split his body in two.

Moreover, he witnessed it with his own eyes. Kang Yoo-hyun single-handedly defeated two sandworms that even the combat team consisting of several S-class hunters couldn't even handle. SS-class hunters were indeed formidable beings. Seo Ha-joon's complexion turned pale.

"So, Hunter Han Yi-jin…"

Moreover, it wasn't just his own life that was at stake. Han Yi-jin was a hunter who signed a contract with the Odin Guild. If the Odin Guild found out that Han Yi-jin was in danger because of him, he would not be able to bear the consequences. The Tyr Guild would truly be finished after that day.

With these thoughts in mind, Seo Ha-joon found himself unable to speak any further. The moment when Seo Ha-joon closed his eyes in despair.

"Hyung!"

Kang Soo-hyun rushed over and stood in front of Kang Yoo-hyun. Kang Soo-hyun raised his head, panting.

“Why did you come so late?"

"…"

Kang Yoo-hyun didn't answer, but just stared at Kang Soo-hyun. Sensing his questioning gaze, Kang Soo-hyun immediately spoke up.

"He suddenly disappeared just like in the dungeon last time. We're not sure of his location either."

"You couldn't detect him?"

"Yes, if Hunter Hae Song-ha and I couldn't find him, then he's definitely not in this area."

"…"

Kang Yoo-hyun's eyes narrowed as he shut his mouth. What happened a moment ago flashed through his mind. He was facing Baek Si-hoo when he fell into a hole that suddenly formed, and at the same time, a rating abnormality occurred. Kang Yoo-hyun immediately used his skills to escape from the hole.

Baek Si-hoo, who had fallen into the hole together, was nowhere to be seen. Kang Yoo-hyun didn't know if he was still trapped there or if he had hidden his presence for a while. Baek Si-hoo's presence had disappeared completely.

And Kang Yoo-hyun came here because he felt the presence of sandworms not far away. When he saw the combat team being attacked by sandworms, he swung his sword at it.

After defeating the sandworms, Kang Yoo-hyun immediately looked for Han Yi-jin, but he didn't find him. Given the situation, it seemed like Han Yi-jin fell into the same hole that swallowed him and Baek Si-hoo before the sandworm appeared.

Both of them fell into a hole here, yet one came out while the other didn't. The corner of Kang Yoo-hyun's eyes twitched because of the strange feeling.

"Find him quickly."

"We're doing just that… Huh?"

Feeling the tremendous momentum behind them, Kang Soo-hyun and Kang Yoo-hyun quickly turned around. There, they saw the dragon inflating its small body and its spikes rising menacingly upward.

"Kyaang!"

A sound like iron striking iron came out of Yong-sik's mouth. Everyone's gazes fell on him.

"Kyang! Kyang!"

“…!”

Yong-sik soared into the air and headed somewhere. Perplexed, Kang Yoo-hyun and Kang Soo-hyun, who were watching Yong-sik, opened their eyes wide when they realised something.

The summon had the instinct to find its master. The summon might be able to find Han Yi-jin, who even with their detection ability couldn't find him.

"Hurry up and follow him!"

Sung Yoo-bin shouted as she came to her senses. She remembered how Yong-sik had fought a mid-boss monster in the Sæ dungeon to find the missing Han Yi-jin.

Maybe that summoned beast would do anything to find its master again.

Sung Yoo-bin, who felt this intuitively, followed Yong-sik, and soon the entire expedition team moved.

I couldn't understand why this place was called the "Realm of Fire" with such a grandiose name. When I thought of "fire," I had certain images in my mind. Like the blue flames from a gas stove or the bright red flames from burning logs.

And the fire I saw recently burn much more intensely than that. It was the flames emanating from Sung Yoo-bin's body. However, when I looked around, I didn't find anything that resembled fire here.

Even though it was a desert, it felt cooler underground. I subconsciously rubbed my arms due to the rapidly cold temperature.

"…"

"…"

Moreover, having someone next to me who wouldn't say a word made it feel even colder. I carefully spoke to Baek Si-hoo, who had an expressionless face.

“Um… Si-hoo… Hyung?"

"…"

When we confronted each other after the Loki Guild was destroyed, I used informal speech without thinking twice, but when only the two of us were left, Baek Si-hoo warned me to use formal speech. So, the way I spoke to him felt a bit strange.

"Are you sure you know the way…? I don't think it's the right way… though?"

"…"

"Um…?"

What does he know? I followed Baek Si-hoo's confident strides, but I had doubts. Baek Si-hoo, who was walking, suddenly stopped. I couldn't help but stop too. And Baek Si-hoo slowly turned around.

"Uh…”

Suddenly, a long sword was in Baek Si-hoo's hand. His sword, which must have claimed the lives of many fellow hunters, glowed with a dark-blue light. I gulped when I saw it.

"No, even if you're angry, put the sword down…"

"…"

Let's talk, please. I was about to finish my sentence, but Baek Si-hoo swung his sword fiercely and the words disappeared without a trace in my throat.

This crazy bastard! Does he want to kill me right away just because I talked to him? Fine, do well on your own. This…

I squeezed my eyes shut and muttered a curse inside, but no matter how long I waited, I didn't feel my body being split in half or my neck being severed. Could it be that he cut me so fast that I couldn't feel it? I opened my eyes slowly after such a silly thought.

"Keueek!"

"…Eh?"

I heard a sound like a pig being slaughtered. I turned around in surprise and saw Baek Si-hoo swinging his sword against strange-looking monsters.

Well, "fighting" might be the wrong word. The monsters' grades weren't very high-ranked, and Baek Si-hoo's slaughter seemed almost one-sided. The strange creature, whose limbs were twisted, became powder in an instant.

What on earth are those? They didn't look like the monsters described as SS-grade. As I frowned and tilted my head, Baek Si-hoo, who had finished his fight, returned to where I was.

"Get the items."

"…"

"Don't make me say it twice."

I nodded silently to Baek Si-hoo's stern command. I approached the corpses of the monsters, which were reduced to ashes.

I had to collect the items that the monsters dropped here, unlike the collection team under the support team which handled such tasks automatically. I couldn't say a word and had to pick up the items dropped by the monsters on Baek Si-hoo's orders.

Considering how many monsters Baek Si-hoo had dealt with in a short time, there were quite a few items buried in the ashes. Most of them seemed to be common loot, but there were some quite strange looking-things like fangs and claws.

Anyway, I picked up the items and stored them in the shared inventory, not my personal one. Since I'm currently in a party with Baek Si-hoo, the items would be automatically distributed to us after we cleared the area.

"…Huh?"

While digging through the ashes, I felt a strange tactile sensation. This thing is not hard. What's this? As I was wondering, I felt a sharp pain in my fingertips.

“Whoa!"

Startled, I immediately withdrew my hand from the ashes. Then, something like a beast's mouth was biting my finger. Drops of blood dripped from my finger.

The monster with only its mouth and teeth left bit my finger. I shook my hands frantically, but it didn't fall from my hands like a leech. Only then did I feel a throbbing pain in my fingertips.

What should I do? For a moment, I panicked and did nothing. Then I realised I was doing something really stupid and moved my hand.

If I shot the gun, my finger would also be blown off, so I had to use a knife. I searched my inventory to see if there was a knife I could use. However, perhaps because I was more panicked than usual, I couldn't search through my inventory properly, and the amount of blood I lost was alarming.

"Ugh…”

All strength drained from my body. Could it be that this monster with only its mouth left is poisonous? Then I'm in trouble.

It was when I grabbed the jackknife in my inventory and took it out—

Tak!

"…!"

"I just can't watch it anymore."

Tsk, Baek Si-hoo clicked his tongue and looked at me coldly. There was a look of patheticness in his eyes.

I mean, that's what someone does when they're panicking. And it hadn't even been long enough for Baek Si-hoo to say something like that.

I felt unfair for no reason, so I covered my bleeding finger and looked at Baek Si-hoo.

T/N: I will update next chap in next Sat. Apologies for the delay 🙏