Kwon Jihan didn't stop there. He strode over, placing his palm on top of Yoon Seo's head and gently ruffling his hair.
"Hyung, did you give them your signature? Good job. If you have time, give me one too."
"…?"
Yoon Seo, dumbfounded, looked up at him, but Kwon Jihan only smiled broadly. Yoon Seo gave a small shake of his head to brush off Kwon Jihan's hand.
Yelena, who had been waiting in line, widened her eyes at the sight.
"He rushed over. Riceball. The moment it appeared. Kwon Jihan."
"Yes, noona. I saw it too."
Soo Jaehee nodded from behind.
"He's petting. His head. Yoon Seo. Kwon Jihan is."
"Yes, noona. I saw that too."
Yelena didn't say anything more, but her pale face flushed red.
"Since the guild master has arrived, signing time is now over."
After finishing the last signature, Yoon Seo capped his pen. Despite the fact that there were still people who hadn't gotten their signatures, he announced the session was over, and naturally, the reaction was intense.
"Could you just sign mine, please?"
"No! A signature! Me too! I've been waiting forever!"
Yoon Seo calmly glanced at the people who were making a fuss.
"If you keep insisting, there won't be any more signing times in the future."
"…!"
"If the briefing ends early, I'll sign for the remaining people."
"…!"
Those who had been about to argue fell silent and dispersed from the line. Without anyone telling them, they took it upon themselves to replace the broken tables and chairs from other meeting rooms, restoring order to the briefing room. Among them was Hong Euiyoon, who hadn't yet received a signature. He puffed in frustration but worked faster than anyone else to tidy up.
"What on earth happened here…?"
Yoo Juncheol was at a loss for words, while Kwon Jihan chuckled softly.
After the chaos had settled down.
The members of Team Perfect belatedly noticed the executives who had entered with Yoo Juncheol and Kwon Jihan, realizing the gravity of the situation.
They didn't know the exact grade or color of the dungeon they would be entering, but it was definitely going to be S-rank, so it made sense for the guild master to participate in the briefing. But to have notable high-ranking executives like Consultant Gwak Hwangi, Director Mu Yocheol, and Director Lee Mihwan, who had all been active since the Apocalypse, and on top of that, the heads of the item production, potion production, and strategy teams?
Has something like this ever happened before?
…Are they here just to see Seo Chaeyoon?
"Guild Master, our team manager hasn't arrived yet."
"For this dungeon briefing, I'll be conducting it myself, not the team manager."
The hunters' expressions shifted at the news that the guild master would personally conduct the briefing.
'What on earth is going on?'
'Why are they being so intense?'
'What kind of dungeon is this…?'
At first, all they could think about was finishing the briefing quickly to get Seo Chaeyoon's signature, but sensing something suspicious, they now realized that getting a signature was no longer the priority.
Yoo Juncheol spoke up.
"The dungeon I'm about to talk about is not mandatory for everyone. You can decide whether to participate after hearing the details."
"..."
"On October 14th, an S-class Red-Black Dungeon is expected to open in the Arctic."
"..."
Thud. Hong Euiyoon dropped the pen he had been holding to take notes. Others also froze in place, their actions halted. Their eyes were wide with shock.
In the heavy silence, as if a skill had snatched away all sound, only the soft squeaks of a ferret could be heard. Even Kwon Jihan, who had been playing with the ferret using his fingers, now wore a serious expression.
Yoo Juncheol spoke once again.
"You didn't mishear me. I'm saying that the Great Dungeon from ten years ago is reappearing."
"Wait a moment. Wasn't the Great Dungeon cleared…?"
Park Soobin looked at Yoon Seo with a bewildered expression. It wasn't just him; most people in the briefing room were staring at the survivor of the Great Dungeon. Yoon Seo remained silent, his lips tightly sealed.
Yoo Juncheol gathered everyone's attention, saying.
"Listen up, everyone. I will be the one explaining everything. I'll also be answering all the questions. Once the explanation is finished, you can ask your questions one by one, so please focus for now."
He began his explanation.
Just like he had explained to Yoon Seo, it all started with Grace Elysia's prophecy two years ago.
As Yoo Juncheol continued to speak, Yoon Seo observed the expressions of those around him.
Alec showed no change in his expression, seeming slightly intrigued. A couple in the room held each other, reassuring one another that they would protect each other. Soo Jaehee and Hong Euiyoon looked ready to fight at any moment, their eyes filled with resolve. Park Soobin had a worried look, his narrowed brows and wrinkled nose betraying his anxiety and concern. Hwashim's strong jaw clenched slightly, his expression unreadable, as if caught between unease and anticipation.
Yoon Seo's gaze settled on Kwon Jihan.
One hand rested on his chin while the other played with the white ferret, but his expression was very serious. Feeling Yoon Seo's stare, Kwon Jihan looked up and their eyes met. Yoon Seo flinched but didn't look away.
Kwon Jihan's gray eyes curved like a crescent moon.
That gaze was full of confidence, certainty, and a gentle warmth.
'Let's get revenge.'
That's what Kwon Jihan seemed to be saying.
Yoon Seo knew that the revenge Kwon Jihan spoke of wasn't some vague fantasy or wish.
This was just the beginning.
The briefing lasted for three hours. Yoo Juncheol used a hologram device to briefly explain the terrain of the Great Dungeon and the monsters that appeared there, while the members of Perfect calmly and carefully absorbed the characteristics of the monsters. Although their participation in the raid wasn't yet confirmed, they participated in the briefing with such focus that it was as if they had already committed to it.
Yoon Seo found this fascinating.
He knew these people were righteous hunters, but considering the notorious reputation of the Great Dungeon, he had expected some hesitation. However, for the entire three hours, not a single person left their seat.
In their eyes, there was a quiet flame burning as they listened to the briefing.
At that moment, Yoon Seo understood. Even if the black portal opened, they would not back down.
There was no need to ask if they would participate.
Would the foreign hunters, hearing the same news from their leader across the sea, be the same as them?
Yoon Seo hoped they wouldn't be.
"That concludes the first briefing. Soon, the official announcement from the World Hunter Alliance will be made, so let's watch the press conference. After the announcement, registration for the S-class Red-Black Dungeon support will open."
Yoo Juncheol turned on the large monitor screen in the briefing room.
"So the Alliance has been making a fuss about an announcement for days, and it turns out it's about the Great Dungeon… Where's the guild master hyung going? Watch it here with us."
"Once the Alliance's announcement ends, Seokyoung will also make its own announcement right away."
Yoo Juncheol and the senior members left the briefing room.
As soon as only the team members were left, the room turned chaotic. Chairs were knocked over in the commotion. Yoon Seo understood that the uproar was due to the seriousness of the Great Dungeon. He even expected that there might finally be people trying to run away.
However, the scene that unfolded was different from what he had anticipated.
"..."
Side glances.
"..."
Sneaky looks.
The people who hadn't yet received his autograph earlier were now holding their papers, glancing around nervously.
They wanted his autograph but hesitated to approach him, awkwardly standing by and sneaking peeks at him, given that the Great Dungeon had just been discussed.
"Form a line."
Though Yoon Seo was baffled, he had them line up. The members of Perfect quickly composed themselves, suppressing their smiles as they approached.
After Yoon Seo signed all their papers, they clutched them to their chests, overjoyed, some even crying. They took photos and videos with one another, causing quite a commotion. There wasn't a trace of fear on their emotional faces.
Kwon Jihan, watching the scene with his arms crossed, approached Yoon Seo.
"Hyung, are you okay? Your expression is… well… "
"..."
"Never mind."
"Why are you stopping mid-sentence? What about my expression?"
"You look like someone being forced to eat a very bitter persimmon while watching fools welcome it with open arms instead of resisting it."
It was strangely accurate. Yoon Seo pouted.
"It seems like no one really grasps the reality of the Great Dungeon. Or maybe it's just an escape from reality."
"Is it strange that they're not afraid?"
Kwon Jihan asked with a smile. Yoon Seo nodded awkwardly. Then, Park Soobin, the only one who hadn't asked for an autograph, spoke up.
"There's nothing strange about it. We've vaguely expected that one day we would have to take on an S-class Red-Black Dungeon. It's not fear—it feels more like the inevitable has finally come. I think everyone feels that way."
"Exactly. I felt the same. And while it might be a bit awkward to say this in front of you, hyung, but we've finally got a chance to avenge the heroes of the past, so I definitely don't want to miss this opportunity."
Yoon Seo's unease grew even more.
Park Soobin said, "The inevitable has come," and Soo Jaehee spoke of it as "a chance for revenge."
No one was running away or turning a blind eye; they were all determined to stand and fight.
The reason they could so quickly steel their resolve was that they had always kept the Great Dungeon in the back of their minds. The return of the S-class Red-Black Dungeon, which had taken so many lives in the past.
Yoon Seo began to realize that he was the only one stuck in the past.
Everyone else was moving forward. Wasn't it time for him to overcome the past and start looking ahead as well?
'Crazy.'
Yoon Seo muttered to himself, quickly snapping out of his thoughts.
Where do I even go from here? I really must be crazy.
While Yoon Seo was lost in his complicated thoughts, Park Soobin, perhaps sensing something, spoke with concern.
"More importantly, are you okay, Yoon Seo? You must have been really shocked when you first heard the news."
"I'm fine."
"But you're not planning on going into the Great Dungeon yourself… are you?"
Yoon Seo blinked at the all-too-obvious question.
"I am going in."
Yoon Seo's response was calm, but Park Soobin, Soo Jaehee, Hong Euiyoon, and even those who had been happily receiving his autograph all froze. Their faces were a mixture of shock and concern.