Chapter Text
A Dungeon Gate Stone was a rare, expensive item coveted by many. Most of them were monopolized by S-Rank Guilds, assigned to their highest-rank teams and strongest hunters, even as one might argue they were the ones who needed it the least.
For a common A-Rank Guild to have such a precious item in their possession was an extraordinary feat on its own. For the Hunters of the Guild to consider even using it meant it was extremely dire for them to make an exit. They were either faced with a terrible catastrophe… or an unprecedented opportunity.
“Is that a nest?”
One Hunter incredulously asked, stopping in his tracks before a mound of rocks, grass, and furs. A hole was formed in the middle, hosting three large, perfectly oval, unnaturally reddish-pink eggs. The rest of the group quickly took notice and stopped as well.
“By all calculations, we should be meeting the Boss about now, so I’d assume… this is its lair?” Another Hunter quizzically asked, looking around the large cave. Crystal mana stones sprouted in jagged sharps from the wall and the ceiling, but the rest of the area was left vacant. Except, of course, the inconspicuous nest and its content.
“Oh my god, this is huge. Do you realize what this means?” One Hunter fawned, eyes bulging out in excitement. She made her way over the nest, coming close without daring to touch it. “We just found the unhatched offspring of a dungeon’s boss. If we get them out then we can sell them for a lot. Those S-Rank Guilds would kill each other to get their hands on them, especially now, since they finally have someone to raise them.”
“She’s right,” the first Hunter agreed, starting to show the same excitement as his fellow team members. He then turned to the man standing at the very end of the group, his scrutinizing eyes roving all over the cave. He was no doubt planning the extraction of the mana stones and the eggs, as well as their battle plan for the still missing Boss Monster. “Guild leader, what do you say?”
Their Leader cracked a large grin. “I say we get to collect our money.”
The Hunters whooped, joyously celebrating their short-coming future of wealth. Their cheering however, was cut short, when a large, resounding crack echoed off the cave walls. The team quieted down, freezing at the fear of the monster boss finally appearing, but there was no large, monstrous monster coming down to feast on them. Instead, there was nothing but them and the three large eggs—one of which had a crack appearing at the side.
A crack that was getting larger and larger with every passing second as the egg continued to wiggle on its rounded bottom. Fortunately, the crack finally stopped spreading and the egg stilled after a few seconds. They waited a bit more, but there were no further changes.
“Okay,” the Guild Leader slowly said, trying to assure himself and the others. “Okay. Here’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to prepare to hold back and contain the monster for as long as we can, long enough for us to mine all of the mana stones and get the eggs out. In the meantime, Shin,” he turned to the female Hunter that had dared to come close to the nest. “You’re the fastest one out of all of us. I want you to use the stone and get out of the Dungeon. Go to the Hunters Association and tell them we need help extracting the eggs. There might be a possibility the egg would hatch and I’d prefer it if we could still bring back the baby instead of killing it.”
“Sir, are you sure? The stone is our only one…”
“If we get the eggs out, we’ll earn much more than what it cost me to get that one. Go and get back as soon as you can.”
“Got it, sir.” Shin saluted and quickly moved out, leaving the rest of the group to settle in for the time.
“Okay, gather up. We need to make plans.” the Guild Leader sighed, rounding up his team members. He sneaked a glance at the nest and prayed that the egg wouldn't actually hatch during the time Shin was gone.
· ────── ˚ʚ♡ɞ˚ ────── · ·
When Suk Hayan’s phone rang, Han Yoojin was half-listening to her animated explanation of the formation of a slime dungeon. Of course, it’s mostly scientific hypotheses and educated guesses based on existing data and theories, but Suk Hayan made it sound so exciting that Han Yoojin couldn’t help but listen despite not understanding most of it.
Or maybe it was because Han Yoojin was losing his mind out of sheer boredom because he’d been detained in Haeyeon for days. Han Yoohyun one-sidedly decided he needed to properly rest and had him on house arrest. To ensure he was properly recurperating, he had Peace, Bellare, Chirpie, and the other monsters sent away to Kiseungsu, even hiring some people to take care of them instead of Han Yoojin.
The point was that Han Yoojin was mildly disappointed when Suk Hayan excused herself to take the call. He wanted to give her the courtesy and privacy, but ended up catching bits and pieces of the conversation anyway as she only took several steps to the side.
“No way! Someone found eggs in the Boss lair? How many? Three?” Suk Hayan gasped, listening intently to the speaker on the other side. “Of course, they should bring them back! Can you imagine how much information we can get from those eggs?”
Han Yoojin perked up, subtly leaning closer to listen better.
“Exactly! Haeyeon would be more than happy to buy one and even if, and this is a very big if, the Guild Master disapproves, other guilds would be fighting to get them!” Unaware of Han Yoojin listening in, Suk Hayan continued to rattle off. However, her friend said something that caused her excitement to die down. When she next spoke, she sounded concerned. “Oh no, one of the eggs hatched? Could they get it back safely? Do they have the equipment? … No? I mean they’re an A-Rank Guild, they should have had something.”
Listening to the one-sided conversation was more than enough for Han Yoojin to piece together the situation. Seemed like the fortunate Guild who ran the Dungeon found themselves a problem—a problem he could solve. If he played his cards right, he could easily wiggle his way out of his containment for a few hours. It could even be beneficial for Haeyeon, it would be getting two birds with one stone!
“Sorry, Suk Hayan.” Han Yoojin coughed, playing at being polite and guilty as he interrupted the call. “I really didn’t mean to, but I just couldn’t help but overhear your call. I think I might be able to offer some help.”
The speed in which Suk Hayan turned to Han Yoojin was startling. She had a moment of shock that turned into one of dawning realization. Before he knew it, she had grabbed his hands and waved them up and down in her excitement. There were practically stars in her eyes. “Of course, Yoojin! How could I forget? You’re literally the solution!”
If she took any problem with Han Yoojin eavesdropping on her, she didn’t show any negative feelings. Instead, she almost seemed happy and relieved that he had. She used the chance to give further explanation to Han Yoojin. “My friend, he’s a researcher working for the Hunters Association, they got a help request from another Guild for extraction. The Association isn’t sure if they could sedate the newly hatched monster safely with it being so young, but if you’re there, they wouldn’t even need to use any item or potion! You could calm it down.”
“I certainly can.” Han Yoojin nodded along, secretly cheering on the inside at the prospect of finally going out of Haeyeon. His early celebration was almost dashed when Suk Hayan suddenly wilted, shoulders dropping and smile slipping away.
“Oh, wait… Guild Leader said you need to stay in the company, though.”
Shit. No, no, no. Han Yoojin was almost successful. They couldn’t dangle the means of escape right in front of his nose then just snatched it away. That just might be the last straw before he turned insane.
“He’s just being overprotective as always. He wants me to stay safe, but if you tell your friend I’m going, the Association will no doubt send a team to protect me. I couldn’t be any safer with them! Besides, this would bring so many benefits to everyone: Haeyeon, the Guild, the Association, even the future of mankind and dungeons as we know it. Just think about it, Hayan-ssi! What if they send in an inexperienced group in their haste to respond to the call and something happens to the eggs and the baby? It’s so rare to find any young monsters in the dungeon as it is, and the first one we find in a long time disappears, just like that.”
Han Yoojin knew he almost got Suk Hayan in his corner from how distressed she looked after hearing his words. He only needed something a little more to fully convince her.
Biting her bottom lip, Suk Hayan warily asked, “But… didn’t you say you have a dinner plan with the others tonight? If you miss your reservations, the others would be so upset.”
“I’m only going to be there to calm down the baby, right?” Han Yoojin tried to put in as much confidence as he could in his voice, trying to appear as the picture of assurance to Suk Hayan. “Since they’re already in the Boss’s lair, they should already be in their last dregs of the Raid. I’m sure they’ll finish the dungeon in no time and I’ll make it in time for dinner.”
Suk Hayan was moments away from cracking. Han Yoojin could feel it. He only needed one last touch.
“Come on, Hayan-ssi. You know me. Would I offer to go if I don’t already have a plan in mind?”
“... Okay.” Suk Hayan caved. “Okay. Promise you’ll be safe?”
“Of course.” Han Yoojin beamed, smiling boyishly, more than happy that he could finally go out. “It’s just an extraction mission. What could go wrong?”
If Han Yoojin knew what was going to happen in the future, he would’ve rethink his words. If the future him could speak in the moment, he would’ve replied, “Everything. Literally everything would go wrong.”
But Han Yoojin of the moment was self-assured and none-the-wiser.
“Trust me.”