Chapter 55: The Dungeon That Cannot Be Cleared

“I’m really sorry. It won’t happen again.”

Ju-an threw off the blanket and sat up. Ji-chan couldn’t even return to his own bed and was just standing there, watching him carefully. It’s not like he’d get angry just because their lips touched, after everything they’d already done…

An awkward silence settled between them. Ju-an looked at Ji-chan, who couldn’t even meet his eyes and kept his head lowered, his whole body stiff with tension.

‘Poor Ji-chan…’

“Are the side effects of your awakening really that bad?”

“Ha… it’s not just that. If it were just the side effects, I wouldn’t have held back.”

Ji-chan lifted his head, his eyes tinged red. It made Ju-an a little uneasy, but they’d have to keep seeing each other from now on, he couldn’t let things stay this awkward every time it was Ji-chan’s turn.

“Then why did you hold back just now?”

Startled by the question, Ji-chan’s large, double-eyelid-less eyes widened. Strangely, Ju-an found that expression kind of cute. It wasn’t even a gentle-looking face… maybe this was what people meant by growing attached?

“I told you. It wasn’t because of the side effects.”

“…Then what?”

Ji-chan’s lips trembled. It looked like he wanted to say something but was forcing himself to hold it in.

“…Do you like me? Is that why you wanted to kiss me?”

“Why do you keep pressing me like this?! I said I’m sorry. Stuff like this can happen. As long as it doesn’t happen again, that’s enough.”

Ji-chan snapped and turned as if to go back to his bed. Without thinking, Ju-an grabbed his hand.

It wasn’t because he suddenly felt desire or affection. It was just… Ji-chan had been struggling to breathe, trembling like that, yet still couldn’t admit he did it because he liked him. Ju-an felt bad for him, so he grabbed him on impulse.

“You said it’s not a side effect, right?”

Ji-chan nodded, looking surprised.

“Then you can stop at just a kiss.”

“…What?”

Ju-an pulled him in and pressed their lips together.

Ji-chan froze for a moment, as if he couldn’t believe what just happened, then cautiously began to suck on Ju-an’s lower lip. When Ju-an slipped his tongue in slightly, Ji-chan gently bit down on it.

“Mm-”

Ju-an had started it, but Ji-chan was the one leading. For someone who said it wasn’t because he liked him, his response was surprisingly intense. Their lips met and parted again and again, and every time Ji-chan let out a low groan, his hot breath brushed against Ju-an.

Still holding his arm, Ju-an breathed in that warmth. What started as a kiss out of pity was gradually deepening. Each time their tongues tangled, something fluttered in his stomach, his body reacting.

He had expected something rough, judging by Ji-chan’s usual behavior, but the kiss was soft, covering him in an unfamiliar sensation. Even the slightest brush of their shoulders felt heated.

“Haah…”

Ji-chan pulled away, breathing deeply, his gaze hazy as he looked at Ju-an.

“I told you… it’s not a side effect. I could stop at a kiss. So… don’t push it any further. Go to sleep.”

Feeling like something really might happen if he went any further, Ju-an nodded. Ji-chan licked his lips and turned away, muttering to himself.

“You’re the only one who could make something like a kiss feel like torture.”

‘…Torture?’

Ju-an didn’t quite understand, but decided it was better not to ask. Watching Ji-chan climb into bed and pull up the blanket, he lay back down as well. As he thought about it, he started to get it.

Ji-chan seemed to think Ju-an had kissed him just to mess with him. To be fair, even Ju-an didn’t know why he’d done it, so it made sense Ji-chan would be confused.

‘Then why did I kiss him?’

Calling it pity didn’t quite add up, he felt pity for Eun-hoo, Jun-young, and Se-yoon too, but he hadn’t kissed them.

Did he feel something special for Ji-chan? Or was it just that everyone else openly liked him, while Ji-chan kept avoiding him, making him restless?

The more he thought about it, the less clear the answer became, only the lingering sensation of their lips remained vivid.

****

The next morning, breakfast with Ji-chan was awkward. Wanting to break the tension, and needing to call Se-yoon anyway, Ju-an thought it’d be better to eat together and contacted him. Not even five minutes later, Se-yoon showed up in his pajamas.

“Hyung!”

“Se-yoon, you’re here. I called you to have breakfast together. There’s something to discuss too.”

Up until then, the atmosphere wasn’t bad. Ji-chan, who liked cooking and feeding others, didn’t complain about Se-yoon joining either. The problem started when Ju-an brought up the topic he’d been waiting to say.

“Thanks to you, we learned about the Constellations’ plan. So I think we should clear Stage 1 and 2 simultaneously today.”

Se-yoon, who had just lifted a spoonful of soup, slammed it down. His eyes shot up sharply as he glared.

“What do you mean by that?”

“…Exactly what I said. We’ll head to the dungeon right after breakfast. I’ve already told Eun-hoo and Jun-young.”

Hearing that, Se-yoon ruffled his hair wildly and started jumping in place.

“That’s not fair! This doesn’t count, doesn’t count! I didn’t risk getting info from a Constellation for this! This is so unfair, unfair, unfair!”

Ju-an sighed. He had expected this reaction, but still hoped Se-yoon, being in a good mood, would understand at least a little.

That hope was clearly misplaced.

“This is so mean. I’m the only one who hasn’t slept with you yet. How is that fair? How much am I supposed to put up with? I’ve been waiting for today so much…”

With teary eyes, Se-yoon grabbed Ju-an’s hand. Even while upset, he didn’t grip it tightly, just pressed it against his cheek.

Ju-an gently wiped his tears and comforted him.

“I was looking forward to today too. But you know it’s better to act before the Constellations make their move.”

“…You were looking forward to it too?”

Ju-an nodded with a smile, and only then did Se-yoon’s expression soften a little.

“Sniff… yeah, I know that too. But still…”

Se-yoon pouted, still not letting go of his hand.

“So let’s finish quickly and then enjoy ourselves. The more we drag this out, the longer the raid will take.”

“…Okay.”

He still looked unhappy, but it seemed the persuasion had worked somewhat. Se-yoon obediently went back to eating.

After breakfast, Ju-an watched Se-yoon head back to his place to wash up, then sent a message in the group chat.

[Group] Ju-an – Eun-hoo, Jun-young, where are you?

[Group] Eun-hoo – On the way to the stage.

[Group] Jun-young – I went to work early, delegated tasks, and I’m heading to the dungeon now.

[Group] Ju-an – Then you’ll get there before us. Stay apart in case there’s another trick.

[Group] Eun-hoo – You worry too much.

[Group] Jun-young – I’ll make sure to keep my distance from Eun-hoo.

As consistent as ever.

****

An hour later, Ju-an arrived at the dungeon entrance with Ji-chan and Se-yoon. Eun-hoo and Jun-young were already there, standing apart and minding their own business until they spotted Ju-an and gathered.

Since it was the easiest stage, it shouldn’t be anything special.

Ju-an stepped forward to check the information…

Suddenly, it felt like the ground beneath him gave way.

“Ah!”

As he cried out and twisted his body, someone grabbed his waist. When he came to his senses, it was Eun-hoo.

“What’s wrong? Didn’t you eat?”

“No, I ate fine…”

Ju-an trailed off, staring at the ground. There was nothing there.

What was that just now?

It definitely felt like the ground had sunk.

It wasn’t dizziness or weakness like Eun-hoo assumed.

“Hyung, what’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

Se-yoon’s brown eyes were already brimming with tears. The others looked just as worried.

“I just misstepped. It’s nothing.”

He said that, but there was no way he had simply misstepped. If anything, he had been more careful than usual at the gate. Maybe his instincts had sensed danger inside.

“If you’re fine, why does your face look like that?”

Eun-hoo’s cold blue eyes narrowed.

Of course he wouldn’t let it go.

If there was a trick inside, the others needed to know too. So Ju-an stepped forward and placed his hand on the gate.

<Dungeon Info – STAGE>

…What?

That’s it?

Every dungeon had a stage number, which indicated its difficulty and rank. But this one… had none.

Then, could it be?

His face turned pale.

“Why? What’s wrong?”

Se-yoon rushed over, but Ju-an couldn’t answer.

The danger facing all of them now was on an entirely different level.

Among all dungeons, there was only one without a stage number.

The tutorial.

And that tutorial… could never be cleared.

They had followed the proper route to reach Stage 1, only for it to become an impossible dungeon. This had to be the Constellations’ doing, switching the dungeon’s position while they were busy, blocking their progression.

“Ha…”

As he let out a sigh, Jun-young stepped forward.

“Stop sighing and explain what’s going on.”

Swallowing, Ju-an pointed at the gate.

“That dungeon… is one we can never clear. So we should go back today. If we go in now, we’ll gain nothing, and there’s a high chance we’ll all die. It’s frustrating, but there’s no choice.”

At his words, everyone froze, mouths falling open.

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