“S-Rank up to SS-Rank. Expected monster grades.”

Myeong-woo’s voice continued.

“This operation is also to adjust dungeon balance after the regression. Transcendents, of course, and the Source are not affected by our world’s flow of time.”

The Transcendents remembered everything. Their time had not been rewound.

“Therefore, the dungeon’s original grade should be the pre-regression one, but the Filial Sinner side has been forcibly lowering and adjusting it.”

However, errors remained—in the pre-regression dungeon, Riet and Noah entered and obtained the Dio Valshecis title.

“Since it was forcibly suppressed, if left unchanged, dungeons beyond the intended grade could appear.”

“How thrifty,” Seong Hyunjae remarked without hiding his sarcasm. I felt much the same.

“In that case, wouldn’t it be better to include the main team? Why separate us?”

“You said you would split the Siege and Defense teams,” Myeong-woo said, looking at me.

“Probably because of you, Yujin. This is dangerous. And the Filial Sinners still intend to protect you, at least for now.”

“So I feel like I’m on a leash.”

Probably that was why they let the main team choose first—and those summoned first to the room were the ones they valued more. They must have noted that order too.

‘But if monsters top out at SS-Rank, the main team won’t be in much danger.’

The Filial Sinners surely knew that. Yet they chose to separate us... they want me to apply my keyword to the entire sub-team.

“Defense time runs from sunrise to sunset. No monster may enter the innermost room until all allied Hunters there are dead.”

“So I’m supposed to hide in there.”

“You may go out and fight if you wish. But if the temporary System Administrator—the King—dies, it’s an automatic defeat.”

With Myeong-woo’s words, a message window appeared before me.

[By defeat condition, Enhae may not be used. She will not truly die.]

Seong Hyunjae, unfamiliar with Enhae, had sent the message so she wouldn’t be exposed.

“If you survive until sunset, you earn 1,000 points. Hunter injuries and deaths subtract points. King’s injury also deducts points.”

I glanced at Seong Hyunjae. If I can’t use Enhae, I must stay protected. But Seong Hyunjae is different—no matter how long he’s secluded, he’s surely stronger now than ever before.

...Hence his physical prowess as well.

“Hunted monsters convert to points sent to the King. The King can support Hunters using points.”

A points and support window appeared. Potions, water, food—no weapons or gear, but consumables of various types and prices. Support options included fortress repairs and trap ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) construction.

‘As expected, good things are expensive.’

Should we save points or spend them as we go?

Having explained the rules, Myeong-woo fell silent and watched me. A warmth spread in my chest. A stew of emotions rose—if I could, I’d tear everything down.

“Be careful. That’s all the advice I can give.”

Myeong-woo vanished, and Seong Hyunjae departed too.

“...I prefer enemies who are clearly addicts of filial piety.”

It’s maddening—everyone dragging others left and right for their own desires. Life isn’t neatly black and white, but still.

I manipulated the system to return to the fortress. The moon hung in the dark pre-dawn sky, mottled green. Because initial fortress setup needed no points, I lit the torches first. Generating electricity was tricky, so flaming torches appeared along the walls.

[2 hours 13 minutes until sunrise]

[Move your allied Hunters to prepare the defense!]

I stared at the message. I didn’t want to be dragged around by the Mermaid Queen. But I hated the thought of my team being harmed even more.

‘Fortunately, even including everyone, it’s just under fifty.’

Counting only S-Ranks, even fewer. Some sub-team members were A-Rank, and the young monsters besides Peace, Blue, Comet, and the Unicorns hadn’t fully grown. The Unicorns were only A-Rank too.

Although nearing the condition made me uneasy, I had to do everything I could. Not only for the sub-team’s lives but for the fragments of our world.

Deciding, I summoned the sub-team.

– Kiaaang!

“Chief Han!”

Warm greetings and less-warm ones reached me. Peace bounded down and circled in front of me. I held him tight—his soft, warm affection soothed my heart.

“Have you been uncomfortable?”

“Why would I be, when I get almost everything I want?”

Shishio smiled, her glossy face cheerful. The other Hunters agreed.

“And no chance of killing or injuring each other.”

“It felt like Valhalla.”

They must have been treated well as the sub-team. Their bright expressions made my chest heavy again.

“Now you can be injured or even die,” I said, looking at the Hunters.

“Powerful monsters will attack from sunrise to sunset.”

I explained the rules Myeong-woo gave. Shishio nodded solemnly.

“So we face monsters intent on attacking the Earth, right here.”

“Not so different from clearing a dungeon, then?”

“How sturdy are these walls?”

Bang! An impatient Hunter punched the wall. A dent formed, but it held.

“What if it collapses?”

“You said repairs are free before we start. Besides, if it breaks from my punch, it wouldn’t last anyway.”

“Build a sturdy tower!”

“Dig a moat.”

“Better to shrink the gate size, right?”

“This fortress is too large for our numbers. Better to build separate outer and inner walls, with the inner sized to our team.”

“It’ll all break anyway.”

Those chatting showed no tension.

“Monsters will appear up to SS-Rank! Unlike the Chatterbox party, lives are not guaranteed.”

“We already signed a disclaimer, didn’t we?”

Someone spoke. We had signed a contract forfeiting safety guarantees.

“No worries, Chief Han.”

Shishio raised her hand to my shoulder but withdrew it at Peace’s low growl.

“Exploring a dungeon always carries that risk. One must always keep death in mind.”

“...But no S-Rank Hunter has died in a clear before. None of us have faced truly mortal danger.”

Their mindset made sense.

“Honestly, I never thought I’d die—until the Chatterbox party.”

One Hunter scratched his head sheepishly.

“As rumored, the Sesung Guild Leader was no joke. After dying like that, I realized even an S-Rank life is just one.”

“I was probably overwhelmed by Haeyeon’s leader—or Peace? It all happened so fast.”

“When Riet Hunter appeared, I was a bit scared.”

“A-Ranks following an S-Rank always carry a will—like a death note, just in case.”

“Even without that, though.”

Their gazes toward me held no fear, but the weight of responsibility shone in those at the front.

“We are Hunters.”

“Even if many awakened live as they please, we must uphold basic duty.”

“We should take pride in protecting people. I even received a knighthood.”

“I see it as a social contract. If you dodge danger, you lose the right to be called a top-tier Hunter.”

“If you take everything then run, you’re trash. Have some pride.”

Some here surely looked down on weaker foes. Many were arrogant, perhaps having caused hunter accidents. Yet one thing was clear: they’d all protected the weak. They clear dungeons to save people. Even if for personal gain, the result was noble. Shishio, who once attacked me and Yuhyun, would be a staunch guardian in her own land.

“Yes, Hunters.”

I smiled. Personally, I didn’t like top-tier Hunters—my past self and current self both wary. If they discovered my skills, they’d treat me as loot. It’d spark conflict. It had happened before.

Still, I wanted these people to be safe. Even if they came lured by Chatterbox’s items, they’d stepped up to protect many. Regardless of rank, being a Hunter who stands firm is admirable.

A Hunter is a Hunter.

“It won’t be easy. Few have faced SS-Rank monsters, even among veteran S-Rank Hunters. But I believe you will all survive. I respect and love every Hunter who takes up arms to protect the world. Please, live through this.”

[Keywords are being applied to allied Hunters!]

A message popped up as the number of keyword targets quickly rose. As the Mermaid Queen said, none displayed special affection for me. My fist clenched. I must save them all if possible.

“Anything you need, just say it! A moat, was it?”

Hunters sprang into action at once.

“The moat is decorative!”

“What? It’s the hallmark of defense!”

“If anyone here can’t jump the moat, have them step forward! Except S-Ranks—they can clear a torrent!”

Even so, without flight it’d be hard to clear a river. Seong Hyunjae couldn’t leap the Han River in one bound.

“Rather than a moat, set obstacles—just knee-high. We’re not bunkering in to fight.”

“How many ranged attackers do we have?”

“Healers, gather there—let’s sync the support roles!”

“Potions enough? Feels a bit short.”

“We didn’t plan for hours of combat—”

“Chief Han, any stamina potion prototypes?”

“Let’s pool potions and share. Gear too—write rental contracts and lend as needed!”

Luckily, facing a group of prophets meant we weren’t completely unprepared. But more enemies and extended combat time meant shortages were likely.

I rifled my inventory—sadly, I had almost no usable high-grade gear. The Lynx set was bound to me; the rest suited F-Ranks only. In other words, useless for top-tier Hunters.

“Here are stamina potion prototypes!”

Shishio proudly produced her stash, winking at me.

“I brought everything from the Kiseungsu gathering and after.”

“Well done!”

Stamina-potion-material dungeons in Japan had shipped her the prototypes first—domestic guilds had priority, then overseas. Not many, but enough for a couple apiece.

While Hunters inspected gear, I rode Peace aloft, surveying the fortress for repairs and modifications. Other flyers joined, offering advice.

“Can we dig a trench so deep that even S-Ranks can’t cross? Or build a cliff wall?”

“I’ll try—oh, it works! Not around the whole fortress, but for part of the rear!”

“Rather than a cliff, digging is better.”

“Also build towers at the rear for flyers!”

Time ebbed away. Things looked manageable, but anxiety lingered. I should’ve found a way to go to America...

[Visit request received!]

A sudden message appeared. A visit request? Surely not the Mermaid Queen again. Suspicious, I accepted. The window crackled, then a portal opened slightly.

“Daddy!”

“...Gyeol?”

Gyeol, wings spread, dropped down. How did he get here?!

“How did you—why are you here? It’s dangerous!”

“Don’t worry, Daddy. I can’t stay long. Mister Myeong-woo arranged for me to sneak in disguised as you. I can only last ten minutes. Are you okay? No injuries?”

Gyeol babbled at me rapidly. Then:

“And I looted the Chatterbox vault!”

A torrent of gear and items poured out. Hunters and I gaped. A mound stacked taller than him. Gyeol shrugged.

“You need it, right?”

“Well, yes!”

Gear at least S-Rank, probably SS+: exactly what we needed.

“Gyeol, thank you! How did you even—”

“Your aura’s unique now.”

– Grrr!

A familiar growl on my shoulder: Peace bared his teeth. What the—

“Whoa—look at that!”

“What, what is it?”

“...Am I seeing things?”

Hunters rubbed their eyes in bewilderment. Above them, Seong Hyunjae flew in, sporting the same pink fairy wings as Gyeol. ...This is insane.

“I—”

“Isn’t this embarrassing?!”

I grabbed Seong Hyunjae from the air. What is happening? I’m speechless. Gyeol sighed deeply.

“I was the one who told him.”

“So—everyone! We need rental contracts, now! Time’s short!”

Mountains of gear that even money couldn’t easily buy. Shaken from seeing the bizarre Seong Hyunjae, Hunters eagerly pulled out contracts. Meanwhile, I quietly asked Seong Hyunjae and Gyeol:

“What’s going on? And why is that Seong Hyunjae over there?”

“There are many ears listening here.”

Seong Hyunjae looked skyward. ...Sensible to guard against Transcendents. And time was short.

“Gyeol, you said you’d leave again? Seong Hyunjae coming too?”

“Yes. Even if he hates it, I have to take him. I’m his guardian right now.”

“My master, of course.”

I almost covered Gyeol’s mouth.

“Then I have one request.”

I whispered to Seong Hyunjae and Gyeol. Soon they departed, and gear distribution finished.

[5 minutes until sunrise]

The sun began to rise.