The dungeon gate slammed shut with a clang behind them, sealing the world into shadow.
A flicker of unnatural red light pulsed along the stone walls. That cursed glow. That cursed silence.
Johee's fingers curled tight around Jinwoo's sleeve before she even realized it.
[Instanced Dungeon: Active.
Exit: Sealed.
Time Limit: Who needs it? You'll be done before lunch.
Good luck, hot stuff.]
Johee didn't hear the System's sass—but Jinwoo did. His lip twitched like someone had told him a bad joke.
Her heart skipped a beat. No. No, not again.
Her legs wobbled, her breath grew ragged. The memories surged—hunters screaming, blood soaking the floor, her helpless as teammates fell one after another. Her own breath had once hitched like this, back then too.
Not again. Please... not again...
She turned to Jinwoo—no, Aaron—walking confidently ahead, hands in his coat pockets like this was just a stroll through a mall, not a monster-infested ruin. He looked back and smiled. Calm. Like always.
But Johee's mind spiraled. I don't want this again... I don't want to lose anyone again...
Especially not him.
And then she saw it.
A blur of gray fur.
A Direwolf, easily the size of a car, burst from the shadows—fangs gleaming, claws digging into the stone as it bounded straight at her.
Johee's scream caught in her throat.
No—Jinwoo! He's powerful, but—barehanded against a C-rank?! He'll get hurt! He'll—
Her mind flashed.
A different time.
A lean, awkward boy, barely reaching her shoulder, covered in blood from a torn shoulder. She'd healed him, scolded him—"Don't throw your life away for others!"—and he had only smiled.
"Thanks, Johee. But I couldn't just stand back."
That moment… something had cracked in her. Or maybe awakened. A spark. A purpose.
The growl of the direwolf shattered her reverie.
But something was different now.
This time, her fear didn't control her.
This time, it unshackled her.
Johee felt her trauma break like glass.
She didn't run. She didn't cry. Her body moved forward instinctively—toward Jinwoo, toward the danger.
Toward the one she would never, ever let die.
"I won't lose you. Never again," she whispered, and just as the direwolf lunged—
"Hey," he said gently, his voice pulling her from the rising storm in her head. "You okay?"
"You're not alone this time," he said, softly brushing her hand. "Stick close. I got you."
She wanted to believe him. But the memories were clawing up her spine, whispering horrors in her ear.
"Jinwoo—!"
But he was already moving.
Not rushing—just strolling forward like he was walking through a park. His coat fluttered behind him, footsteps silent.
The beast leapt.
He vanished.
Boom.
The Direwolf crashed into the stone wall behind them—headfirst. Bones snapped. It slid down in a limp heap.
Johee's mouth fell open.
[Skill Used: Rokushiki: Soru (Flash Step) - Lvl 2
Style: Casual Blink.]
Jinwoo stood where the beast had been, hands in his pockets.
"Ugly. And way too loud," he muttered.
He turned back to her with a crooked grin. "You good?"
She nodded slowly, still dazed.
But her thoughts were not calm.
He moved faster than I could blink. Was that teleportation?! No... no spell. Just raw speed. How... how is he so different?
[Appraisal: Active.
Target: Johee
Emotional State: 72% Shock, 18% Awe, 10% Inappropriate Fantasizing
Thought: "His arms look unfairly toned in that shirt."
Thought: "...Why is it hot when he's that deadly?"]
Jinwoo smirked.
"You're thinking too loud," he said without turning.
Johee blinked. "Wh-What?! I didn't say anything!"
"You didn't have to."
[Observation Haki: Lvl 2 - Activated.
Johee.exe has encountered a fatal error: EMBARRASSMENT OVERLOAD.]
He laughed under his breath as they continued deeper into the dungeon. Johee pouted, cheeks flushing red.
"You're doing this on purpose," she whispered accusingly.
"Only a little," he said innocently.
A cluster of goblin-like beasts dropped from the ceiling ahead. About ten of them.
Johee tensed, already beginning to chant a minor healing barrier in reflex.
"Wait," Jinwoo said calmly. "Let me test something."
He stepped forward, planted a foot—and then kicked the air.
Crack—whoosh—
A flaming arc exploded across the corridor.
[Skill Activated: Flame Tempest Kick - Lvl 2
Crescent Fire Slice - Light Roast Variant.]
The air blade carved through the entire pack of goblins, cutting them down with searing fire and a gale that rattled the walls.
Not even ash remained.
Johee's jaw dropped.
"You didn't even move," she whispered. "You kicked the air."
"It's called 'fancy footwork,'" Jinwoo replied, brushing a nonexistent speck from his shoulder.
[You just made flame-wind calamari, sir. Would you like to serve it with sass or silence?]
"I'll go with silence this time."
Johee looked like she'd just seen a magic show and fallen in love with the magician.
Is this what he's really like now? How is this still the same man who could barely lift his own sword?
[Appraisal: Update.
Thought: "I think I need to sit down."
Thought: "...on his lap."]
Jinwoo nearly choked on a laugh.
"You good back there?" he called over his shoulder.
"I'm fine," she said, clearly lying.
They stepped into a larger chamber. At the far end stood a Marsh Bear—a towering brute of muscle and moldy fur. Claws like daggers. Snorting steam.
Johee tensed. "That's a C-rank beast!"
"Mmm," Jinwoo said, sizing it up like a bored shopper. "Looks like a warm-up."
He cracked his neck. "Let's test another one."
He bent his knees slightly—and launched into the air.
[Skill Activated: Geppo (Moonwalk) - Lvl 2
Style: Cloud-Hopping Showoff.]
He bounced off thin air like stepping stones, then twisted mid-air, his leg igniting in Devil Flame.
He came down with a spinning kick.
FWOOOOOM—KRAK.
The fire-wreathed slash carved across the bear's chest like butter, knocking it into the wall.
Boom.
The beast roared, enraged—but staggered. Burned.
Jinwoo landed with perfect balance, flicking his wrist like it was nothing.
Johee was still trying to process what just happened.
Then the bear charged.
Jinwoo waited… waited…
Then sidestepped with a burst of flame.
[Skill Activated: Flame Burst Dash - Lvl 2
Style: Phoenix Flick.]
He appeared beside the bear mid-charge—and drove his elbow into its side.
A sonic shockwave exploded from the impact.
The bear was launched into the opposite wall, ribs caved, growling no longer.
Jinwoo adjusted his collar.
"Still breathing?" he asked.
The bear whimpered.
"Good. I'll let you take it from here, Johee."
"Me?!" she squeaked.
"Fireball. Right in the snout."
She hesitated.
"You've got this," he said, voice warm. "I'm right here."
She swallowed.
Raised her hands.
Mana pulsed.
Fwoosh—
A concentrated bolt of flame slammed into the bear's smoking chest.
It squealed—then dropped.
Dead.
Johee's hands trembled. Not from fear.
She smiled.
That was the first time she'd taken down a C-rank beast with her own spell.
Even if he did 99% of the work.
"I did it," she whispered.
Jinwoo grinned. "Told you. Stronger than you think."
Johee looked at him—really looked—and her heart twisted.
He's gentle. But deadly. Sweet. But terrifying. Soft-spoken… but his presence shakes the world.
She wanted to say something. Anything.
But he leaned down, brushing her hair behind her ear.
"You burned it better than me," he said, just low enough to make her blush.
She could barely breathe.
[Appraisal Update:
Thought: "Screw the dungeon. I'm in love."
System Summary: Critical hit. Target Johee is now flustered, fascinated, and fatally smitten.
----
The air in the dungeon felt suffocating .
Johee frowned as they stepped past the split remains of the serpent-like mid-boss. Black ichor steamed on the stone floor, already dissipating like the dungeon itself wanted to forget it ever existed.
Jinwoo wiped his knuckles clean with a flick of his coat, eyes still scanning the cavern ahead. This wasn't the final chamber—but it felt like it.
"C-rank? My ass," he muttered.
[Observation: If this dungeon is C-rank, then I'm a calculator in a bikini.]
Jinwoo smirked. "I'd pay to see that."
[You couldn't afford it. Not even with your little $913 billion stash.]
"Cute."
Johee, still catching her breath, narrowed her eyes at the yawning tunnel ahead. "There's a pressure in the air… It feels like it's watching."
Jinwoo nodded. "Final chamber. Get ready."
He turned to her and, with a swipe, opened his Inventory. A shimmering green-black staff appeared in his hand, embers flickering along its etched shaft. He held it out to her.
"Take this."
Johee blinked. "Wait—what is this?"
[Item – Staff of Verdant]
Rarity: Uncommon
Boosts magic power by 35%
Increases range of spells
Skill: [Protect] – Summons a barrier that blocks fatal damage
Mana Cost: 1MP per minute
"Found it deeper in the dungeon—looked like it was hidden, probably a bonus from boss," he lied smoothly. "Thought it might come in handy."
Johee hesitated, then slowly accepted it. The moment her fingers wrapped around the staff, a faint hum traveled up her arm—warm, protective, powerful.
"Jinwoo…" she murmured.
"You'll need it," he said, voice turning sharp. "I'm going in first. When I give the signal, charge your mana and cast your biggest fireball. I'll make a weak point. You hit it."
Her jaw tightened, but she nodded. "Understood."
------
The tunnel groaned like it was alive as they stepped into the final chamber.
It was massive.
A forest of dead trees surrounded them, their leaves burned away, their trunks hollowed. And in the center stood the boss.
A Direwolf—but not just any. Towering, fur black as void, eyes burning silver-blue like moons, its fangs dripped with ichor. It radiated hunger.
A mimic. A fake Fenrir.
Its presence made Johee's skin crawl.
Jinwoo smiled faintly.
"Bingo."
The wolf snarled, and the dungeon floor exploded beneath it.
"Go left!" Jinwoo barked.
------
Johee rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding a scythe-like claw. Jinwoo blurred forward, fists glowing faintly, Observation Haki flaring to life.
[Skill Tactical Insight: Boss has incredibly high speed, strength, and regeneration. Weakness located under the left armpit. Classic design flaw.]
he called. "Aim for the left side. Under the arm!"
"Got it!"
The wolf leapt, and Jinwoo met it midair.
He punched the damn thing in the jaw, fire coating his knuckles.
The wolf crashed back, stunned for half a heartbeat. Jinwoo didn't let up. He ducked low, weaving between claw swipes, boots scraping as he kicked off a stone to rise behind the beast. Fire trailed behind him.
[Reminder:Stop Taking hits to flex ur logia Physical Immunity]
Jinwoo spun midair ,Hands in his pocket and kicked the Direwolf's side, sending a pulse of Haki through its body. A crack echoed as a rib gave way.
It turned, howling in fury.
Then—its eyes locked on Johee.
She had begun to chant, fire pooling in her palms. The Staff of Verdant shimmered, casting heat and green-gold light into the air.
Mana swirled around her, her eyes glowing bright amber.
"NOW!" Jinwoo yelled.
He dashed again, fists glowing as he uppercut the beast directly under its arm, tearing through fur and bone—exposing the weakness.
"JOHEE!"
She raised the staff.
"Ignite."
A sphere of fire, larger than anything she'd ever cast, pulsed into being. The magic felt cleaner. Stronger.
The boss turned—just in time for the fireball to slam into its exposed ribs.
A shockwave tore through the chamber.
The Direwolf screamed.
It burned alive.
Flames engulfed it as it thrashed, its howls fading into ash. The darkness peeled away. Light bled back into the room.
And then—silence.
Jinwoo landed lightly on one knee.
The beast was gone.
Only ashes remained.
He turned.
Johee was standing there, panting, face flushed, cloak smoking faintly. The staff in her hand dimmed.
"…We won?" she asked, almost afraid.
Jinwoo smiled. "You killed it."
She blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then threw herself at him.
Her arms wrapped around his neck. She didn't care about the ash, the sweat, the aftermath. Her heart was hammering.
And Jinwoo… just caught her. Steady. Calm.
"I did it…" she whispered.
"You did."
She pulled back just enough to meet his eyes. Her gaze flickered down.
And then—without a word—she kissed him.
It wasn't gentle.
It was hot. Confident. Desperate. A damn claim.
Her hands tugged his coat tighter as her lips moved with his, her fire still smoldering through her skin. Jinwoo made a sound—something low, surprised—and then leaned into it.
His hand slid up her back. Her fingers threaded into his hair.
The dungeon glowed behind them.
[Alert: Johee has obtained the following loot—
Item: C-rank Mana Stone
Item: Cloak of the Forest – Enhances healing magic by 20%, offers minor camouflage.]
[System Commentary:
Achievement Unlocked: "Kiss of the Conflagration."
New Title Available: "Spell-scorched Sweethearts."
…No, I'm not kidding.]
Johee broke the kiss, breathless, lips swollen.
She looked up at him, eyes blazing.
"…Sorry," she said. "I just—I had to know."
Jinwoo chuckled softly. "What?"
"If you tasted like smoke and danger."
He raised an eyebrow. "And?"
"You do," she whispered.
Then rested her forehead against his.
He closed his eyes for a moment. "Johee…"
[Warning: Dungeon collapse in 4 minutes.]
Jinwoo opened his eyes.
"Looks like the dungeon's jealous."
Johee grinned. "Let it collapse."
-----
Author's Note:
WELL. WELL. WELL.
Look who finally locked lips, huh?
Yes, you heard me right.
Our emotionally damaged murder cinnamon roll and the sweet healer girl FINALLY KISSED.
Guess what? He did. And with style.
Because of course Jinwoo couldn't just accidentally kiss someone. No no. He had to do it while being built like a Greek god, casually melting monsters, and throwing out lines smoother than a mana-forged silk shirt. The man flirts like it's part of his skillset. Probably called [Passive: Irresistible Charisma Lv. Max].
Meanwhile, Johee? Poor girl's out here trying to heal people and not spontaneously combust every time he looks at her like that.
Honestly, I'm proud of you all for surviving this long...
I heard the unspoken "please just let them kiss before I die of slow-burn-induced heartache."
Well, here you go. A kiss. A real one. With tension, teasing, and just a dash of trauma.
Now, What more to expect ?....
-Author-kun