The dungeon gate shimmered like a wound in reality.
It hovered above the cracked asphalt, twisting slowly—purple and black, like something breathing just beneath the surface. The air around it felt heavier, thicker, pressing down on the lungs of everyone gathered nearby.
Hunters stood in small groups, checking weapons, adjusting gear, whispering to each other.
And then there was Jin Tae-Hyuk.
Standing alone.
"Oi, Tae-Hyuk."
A voice called out lazily.
He didn't turn immediately. He already knew who it was.
Kim Joon-Seok. B-rank hunter. Fire-type ability. Loud. Arrogant.
Useful.
Tae-Hyuk glanced over, his expression flat.
"What?"
Joon-Seok smirked, slinging his weapon over his shoulder.
"Try not to die in there, yeah? We don't get paid extra for carrying dead weight."
A few nearby hunters chuckled.
Tae-Hyuk said nothing.
Did nothing.
But his eyes lingered—not on Joon-Seok's face, but on the faint aura surrounding him.
Strong. Stable. Confident.
For now.
"Let's move!" the raid leader barked.
The team gathered, stepping toward the gate one by one.
As Tae-Hyuk passed through, the world twisted.
—
The dungeon swallowed them whole.
Darkness stretched endlessly, broken only by jagged stone and faint glowing veins running along the walls. The air was damp, cold—unnaturally still.
Somewhere deeper inside, something moved.
"You all know the formation!" the leader shouted. "Frontliners up front, support in the back. Stay sharp!"
Tae-Hyuk took his position at the rear.
Of course he did.
That was where they always put him.
"Try not to get in the way," someone muttered as they passed.
He didn't respond.
Didn't need to.
His grip tightened slightly around his dagger.
Not out of anger.
Out of habit.
—
The first wave came fast.
Creatures lunged from the shadows—low, twisted things with elongated limbs and hollow eyes. Their movements were jerky, unnatural.
"Contact!"
Steel clashed. Flames erupted. Light magic flared.
The hunters moved like a well-practiced machine.
Efficient.
Powerful.
Tae-Hyuk moved too—but differently.
Carefully. Precisely.
He watched more than he attacked.
Measured distances.
Noted weaknesses.
Tracked who hesitated… and who didn't.
A creature slipped past the front line, rushing toward the back.
Toward him.
Tae-Hyuk stepped forward.
One movement.
Clean.
His blade slid across its neck.
The creature collapsed instantly.
No wasted motion.
No hesitation.
"…Huh."
Someone nearby glanced at him, slightly surprised.
Tae-Hyuk had already turned away.
—
They pushed deeper.
Further.
Too far.
The air changed.
It grew heavier—thicker—like the dungeon itself was tightening around them.
"Something's wrong," one of the hunters said.
The leader frowned. "Stay alert—"
The ground shook.
Then it broke.
A deafening roar tore through the cavern as something massive emerged from below, stone and flesh intertwining into a grotesque form.
An elite monster.
No—worse.
"…Boss-level," someone whispered.
Panic spread instantly.
"We weren't told about this!"
"Fall back!"
The formation shattered.
Hunters scrambled, retreating, shouting over each other.
Tae-Hyuk didn't move.
He watched.
Calculated.
Counted.
Strength difference: overwhelming.
Survival probability: low.
Then—
He saw it.
The hesitation.
The decision.
The leader turned—not toward the monster—
But toward the exit.
"Retreat!" he shouted. "We're pulling out!"
Relief flooded the group.
They ran.
Fast.
Desperate.
And Tae-Hyuk—
Was left behind.
—
It happened in seconds.
A misstep.
A shift in formation.
A deliberate choice.
Someone shoved past him.
Another didn't slow down.
The path closed.
And just like that—
He was alone.
The sound of retreating footsteps faded.
The monster's roar grew louder.
Tae-Hyuk stood still.
Silent.
"…I see."
No anger.
No panic.
Just understanding.
"They chose themselves."
The ground trembled as the creature lunged toward him.
Too fast.
Too strong.
No escape.
—
And then—
A blue screen flickered into existence before his eyes.
[Host Condition: Critical]
[Activating Emergency Protocol]
Tae-Hyuk blinked once.
Not in shock.
In interest.
"…A system?"
[Debt System Initialized]
[All power requires equivalent compensation]
The monster closed in.
Its shadow swallowed him whole.
[Offer: Borrow Power]
[Effect: Temporary Enhancement — High-Tier]
[Cost: 5 Years Lifespan]
Five years.
For survival.
A fair trade.
Tae-Hyuk didn't hesitate.
Didn't question.
Didn't fear.
"…Accept."
[Confirmed]
Something inside him snapped.
No—
Expanded.
Power surged through his body, violent and overwhelming. His senses sharpened, the world slowing to a crawl.
The monster's movement—
Too slow.
Tae-Hyuk stepped forward.
For the first time.
He smiled.
Not warmly.
Not kindly.
But with something colder.
Something dangerous.
"Is that all?"
The creature roared, striking down.
Tae-Hyuk moved.
Faster.
Cleaner.
Stronger.
His blade carved through flesh and stone alike, precise and merciless.
The battle ended almost instantly.
The monster collapsed.
Silence returned.
—
The blue screen flickered again.
[Debt Recorded]
[5 Years Lifespan — Pending Collection]
Tae-Hyuk exhaled slowly.
"…Pending?"
His gaze shifted.
Toward the direction the others had fled.
A faint smile touched his lips.
"…Interesting."
—
Hours later—
The surviving hunters regrouped outside the gate.
Shaken.
Exhausted.
Alive.
"Where's Tae-Hyuk?" someone asked.
Silence.
No one answered.
No one needed to.
"…He didn't make it," Joon-Seok muttered.
A few nodded.
Expected.
Acceptable.
—
Then—
The gate rippled.
And a figure stepped out.
Unharmed.
Unshaken.
Jin Tae-Hyuk.
Everyone froze.
"What the—"
"How is he—?
Tae-Hyuk's gaze swept over them.
Calm.
Detached.
Different.
"Surprised?" he asked quietly.
No one spoke.
Couldn't.
Because something about him had changed.
Not just his presence—
But the way he looked at them.
Not as teammates.
Not even as people.
But as—
Resources.
—
A scream suddenly cut through the air.
Everyone turned.
Joon-Seok collapsed to his knees, clutching his chest.
"W-What's happening—?!"
His body trembled violently.
His skin—
Wrinkled.
Aged.
Right before their eyes.
"No—no, this isn't—!"
Panic erupted.
"Get a healer!"
"What's wrong with him?!"
Tae-Hyuk watched silently.
Carefully.
The system window appeared again.
[Debt Collection in Progress]
[Target Adjusted]
"…Adjusted."
His lips curved slightly.
Understanding.
Cold.
Precise.
"So that's how it works."
Joon-Seok's screams weakened.
Faded.
Then stopped.
Silence fell over the group.
Heavy.
Terrifying.
Tae-Hyuk turned away.
Unbothered.
Unmoved.
—
"Wait—!"
Someone called after him.
He paused—but didn't look back.
"…You're leaving?" the hunter asked, voice shaking.
Tae-Hyuk's response was simple.
Calm.
Absolute.
"Yes."
A beat.
Then—
"You chose to leave me first."
He walked away.
Step by step.
Unhurried.
Untouchable.
—
Behind him—
Fear began to spread.
Not of the dungeon.
Not of the monsters.
But of him.
—
And as Tae-Hyuk disappeared into the distance, the system flickered once more.
[Debt System Active]
[Next Transaction Available]
His voice was barely above a whisper.
But it carried something far heavier.
"…Good."
A pause.
Then—
"Let's see how much the world is worth