Chapter 60: Return from the Ice Trap

The dragon spoke as if granting a favor.

“Only use it when it’s truly dangerous. If you use it carelessly, you’ll regret it. Let Ji-chan keep it.”

Joo Ji-chan grimaced, but carefully stored the bead in his inventory.

“Now then, be on your way. Someone is waiting for you.”

With that, the dragon vanished with a pop. It seemed it didn’t actually live underground here after all.

The four of them stared blankly at each other for a moment before leaving the room hidden within the wall. Even seeing the door that had been there moments ago disappear didn’t surprise them anymore.

****

They’re doing fine, right? Even without seeing them, they’ll manage.

Seong Ju-an had never once doubted his party members’ abilities, but since they tended to bicker whenever they got together, he couldn’t help worrying they might start fighting instead. When he was there, he could mediate, but now he couldn’t, and that made it hard to relax.

Standing in front of a dungeon, worrying not about monsters but about his teammates fighting each other… he really was like a parent.

As Ju-an paced anxiously, a massive rumble of thunder echoed from inside, making him stop in his tracks. It sounded like Baek Eun-hoo was summoning lightning to shatter the ice.

“Oh… looks like they’re actually coordinating.”

They had really changed. When they first met, they would clash at every turn, but now they were even working together.

Feeling a swell of pride, he looked toward the source of the sound, but an odd ache stirred in his chest. In a situation where no one knew what might happen next, they had forced the last remaining portal stone on him.

He understood what that meant.

Especially knowing what kind of person Baek Eun-hoo was, it made the meaning even heavier.

So… just come back without a single scratch. If you make it out, I’ll grant you anything you want.

Muttering to himself as he walked, a loud explosion rang out from inside, the ground shook, and then everything went still.

Instinctively, he felt that all the water filling the dungeon had disappeared. Now all that remained was for them to find the underground entrance, wipe out the low-level monsters, and come out.

But even after an hour of waiting, there was no sign of them.

Is there another trick?

Could the Constellations have set a trap because the trick was discovered too easily?

Dark thoughts kept piling up, one after another. As time passed, his chest grew tighter, almost suffocating.

What if… he lost them all?

The mere thought was terrifying.

Another hour that felt like a hundred years passed. Unable to bear it any longer, Ju-an tried calling Mo Jun-young, but the battery seemed dead. He called everyone else one by one, and finally, Gong Se-yoon.

At last, the call connected.

Ju-an held his breath.

“Hyung! You waited a long time, didn’t you? We’re coming out now.”

“…What?”

“I said we’re coming out!”

“A-are you hurt? No, why did it take so long? Were you trying to make me die waiting?”

“Hyuung… you must’ve been really worried.”

“Ha… seriously, just come out already. I won’t let you off.”

“Then don’t, hug me and kiss me instead.”

Se-yoon’s teasing voice was followed by laughter from the others.

“Yeah, let’s go with hugs one by one.”

“What, are you going to fight us if you don’t let it go?”

“Seong Ju-an, we’re sorry for making you worry.”

Even just from their tones, he could tell who was who. As he listened, the corners of his lips lifted, his heart lightening.

“Hurry up.”

“We’re almost there.”

“About a hundred steps left.”

At that, Ju-an ran, phone in hand, and found the gate. It hadn’t been there before.

“I found the gate too. How many steps now?”

“Eighty.”

“Seventy, sixty, fifty…”

“You must be running. The numbers are dropping fast.”

“Someone’s waiting for us so desperately, after all.

“Thirty steps left.”

Even Jun-young, who wouldn’t usually join such childish chatter, spoke seriously, making everyone laugh.

“Ten steps.”

Not long now.

Ju-an couldn’t stand still, pacing in front of the gate.

“Hyung, your breathing’s rough.”

Se-yoon’s voice came through, and moments later, the gate opened.

They appeared.

Seeing them glowing as if bathed in light, u-oan ran forward without thinking and threw himself into Baek Eun-hoo’s arms. Strong arms wrapped around him, and Ju-an beamed as he looked at the others behind.

Se-yoon pouted.

“What’s this? You talked to me on the phone but hugged someone else?”

“Come here too, Se-yoon.”

Ju-an reached out over Eun-hoo’s shoulder, pulling Se-yoon into one arm. With the other, he wrapped around Jun-young’s shoulder, while Ji-chan came up behind him, ruffling his hair and resting his cheek against him.

Surrounded by four men, he should’ve felt overwhelmed, but he didn’t.

“I’m glad everyone’s safe.”

“Our buffer figured out the solution smartly. Didn’t expect much, though.”

At Eun-hoo’s mutter, Ju-an rested his chin on his shoulder, and the others pressed closer. Their different scents and presences wrapped around him reassuringly, calming his anxious heart.

“Was clearing the basement difficult?”

The party members exchanged glances before answering one by one.

“They were all dead before we even got there.”

“There wasn’t much to do.”

“Even if they weren’t, I’d have burned them all anyway.”

“Flooding would’ve worked too.”

Pulling away from Eun-hoo, Ju-an shook his head in horror when Jun-young mentioned heading to Stage 2 next. Just clearing Stage 1 had been exhausting enough.

As he waited outside, Ju-an had come to one conclusion.

As long as the Constellations wanted war, they couldn’t stop clearing dungeons, but from now on, they wouldn’t take reckless risks.

What mattered wasn’t speed.

It was surviving, together, until the very end.

At that moment, Ju-an’s goal shifted from simply returning to his original world… to surviving together with everyone.

Just then, a status window appeared before them.

<STAGE 1 Dungeon Result – CLEAR>

<Reward Card – OPEN>

<All party members’ trust increases by 5.>

<Due to increased trust, combined attacks deal double damage.>

Ju-an’s eyes widened at the unbelievable reward. It was far too generous for Stage 1.

Yet strangely, the others didn’t seem surprised. They just smiled at him.

Sensing something odd, Ju-an narrowed his eyes.

“What is it? Did something happen while I was gone?”

“What could’ve happened? A good reward is just a good reward.”

“…That’s suspicious.”

“You said all that matters is everyone being safe. Why doubt it now?”

“…That’s true.”

If they could double their attack power just by combining skills without a buffer, the remaining stages would be easier. And rewards were based on difficulty, since the Constellations had hidden the dungeon, it made sense the difficulty had increased.

“Shouldn’t we celebrate with a meal or something?”

At Jun-young’s suggestion, everyone nodded, except Se-yoon, who immediately let go of Ju-an’s hand and protested.

“What? No way! Have some shame. I’m not giving up even a minute- get lost.”

Considering how much Se-yoon had endured so far, it was understandable. The others didn’t argue and backed off.

“Then I’ll return to the center.”

“Well, we’ll take turns. Dinner’s on my turn.”

“See you in two days, Sung Ju-an.”

After watching them leave, Ju-an grabbed Se-yoon’s hand. Se-yoon, who had been fuming just moments ago, now rubbed his cheek against Ju-an’s hand like nothing had happened.

When he was lively, he was this bright, cute, and lovable…

Ju-an preferred him like this, but even his gloomy moments lingered in his mind. Hoping Se-yoon would only feel that way when they were together, Ju-an returned to the residence with him.

****

Ju-an had been about to go home, but changed his mind. Remembering how empty Se-yoon’s place had been before moving, he worried about leaving him alone again.

Noticing, Se-yoon tilted his head.

“You’re not going in? Where are we going?”

“To your place.”

“Huh? Why?”

“You just moved in. We should have a housewarming. And… it’s nice to see it.”

Smiling, Se-yoon pulled Ju-an along and entered the code.

Ju-an had expected basic furnishings from the residence center, but what greeted him made him gasp.

“Wow…”

The entire place, styled in white and blue tones, felt like a Mediterranean village brought indoors, fresh and cool. It suited Se-yoon’s ice-based abilities perfectly.

The expanded living room had a blue accent wall with an L-shaped white sofa, decorated with sky-blue cushions. The ceiling featured bold blue elements with metal and glass accents, and diagonal white wood frames across the windows.

It felt like a refreshing sea breeze might blow in at any moment.

Se-yoon stepped inside, drew the curtains, then opened the window slightly.

Bathed in the reddish light of sunset, his pale skin glowing, Se-yoon smiled brightly and beckoned.

“Come in, hyung.”

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