- Attention all students. Due to a surge in gate activity at Ark, we are declaring a state of emergency martial law.
- All outdoor activities and mana usage are strictly prohibited. Please return to your dormitories immediately.
- We repeat…
Sirens blared across Ark, accompanied by the recorded announcement.
Second- and third-year students, familiar with martial law, followed the instructions without hesitation.
But for the first-years, it was all new.
"What's going on?"
"Is the broadcast messed up?"
"Let's just go grab some ice cream."
A spike in gate activity signaled the prelude to a large-scale dungeon phenomenon.
On Ark Island, it was as common as earthquakes in Japan, but to city kids, it felt like a distant threat.
"You lot! Didn't you hear the announcement?! Get back now!!"
Professors and student council members stepped in to control the students.
Skeletons, likely summoned by Seol Hajeong, roamed the campus, guiding—or herding—them along.
I was heading to the dorms after parting with Seol Hajeong.
No way I'm just going back like a good boy, though.
"Hey! Elder Sow!"
"!"
Shin Hyewon, shushing me with a finger to her lips, rushed over.
"Don't call me that out here!"
"Kek kek kek. Fine, noona. But when we're alone, can I call you sow?"
"Tch, I don't like it, but… if you really want to…"
"Huh? I was kidding!"
"…"
"Did you get it done?"
"Yeah."
The vice-dean slipped an ID badge around my neck.
"With me, you can roam freely even under martial law."
Professors and student council members patrol to suppress dungeon phenomena early.
Thanks to the vice-dean's authority, I was now part of the patrol team.
"Did you get badges for my sows?"
"Sorry, but including anyone outside the student council is already a stretch with just you."
"Huh?"
Ping!
I flicked the sow badge on her chest.
"Eek…!"
She straightened up, tensing instantly.
"I'll let it slide this once."
"T-Thanks…"
And so, I joined the vice-dean on patrol.
"Kim Taeyang, you seem awfully calm for an emergency," Shin Hyewon said.
"Obviously. What's the big deal about a little gate spike?"
A high gate reading doesn't guarantee a dungeon phenomenon.
It's just a possibility, but ignoring it could lead to massive casualties, so they make a fuss.
This time, though, the student council artificially spiked the readings.
Probably used some magic-engineering tool.
They're likely fine-tuning it to prevent an actual dungeon from forming.
In the original game, this was a trap to flush out a hidden villain.
The villain takes the bait, triggers a dungeon, and the student council teams up with the player to take them down—a standard plot.
But that's for newbie players.
For veterans, the villain's small fry.
The real prize is in the dungeon the villain triggers.
That's where the treasure's hidden.
'Except there's no villain right now.'
The villain doesn't infiltrate until the second semester.
So, no dungeon should form.
Which means I need to stir things up a bit.
'I'll make a villain!!!!'
No teeth? Chew with your gums.
Lucky for me, there's a certain someone at the ranch dreaming of playing the bad guy.
"Truly the God of Thugs, Kim Taeyang!! Finally revealing his true nature!!!"
On the dorm rooftop,
Rebel Guy and his posse of delinquents gathered.
It was a meeting that defied martial law, but they didn't care.
"Today's when Ark's at its weakest! Taeyang's been waiting for this moment!"
"This is his one-shot to bring Ark down!"
"What a devilishly insane plan!! That guy's gotta be a demon!! Kek kek kek…!"
This time, it wasn't just talk.
The proof was in the mana they were unleashing.
Crackle-
Sparks flew from the concentrated mana.
Large amounts of mana mess with gate readings.
Fluctuating readings increase the odds of a dungeon phenomenon.
One of the delinquents, noticing the sparks, hesitated.
"…This is kinda dangerous."
"Hell yeah, it's dangerous!! Kek kek kek."
"No, not like that… Rebel Guy, think about it. Is this really the right thing to do?"
"What? What's with the goody-two-shoes talk? Isn't this the kind of chaos we've been waiting for?!"
Rebel Guy and his delinquent crew.
They were messed-up kids.
When they first arrived at Ark, they were true thugs—armed with a criminal mindset, ready to beat up nerds and extort cash.
But then…
"Hurting others is wrong, isn't it? It goes against the code of conduct too."
"Y-Yeah… Even among delinquents, there's good ones and bad ones. If anything, we're closer to the good side…"
Spending time with Kim Taeyang had rewired their brains…!
Their delinquent spirit was now just a name…!
"Cut it out!"
"?"
Rebel Guy roared.
Compared to Kim Taeyang's bellow, it was like a kitten's meow, but it still grabbed attention.
"You guys messing around? Good delinquents? Ha, that's rich…"
"You know it too, Rebel Guy! Taeyang's not a bad delinquent—he's a good one! We're just trying to follow his lead!!"
The delinquents thought Rebel Guy was serious about causing trouble.
He was the thuggiest of thugs, after all.
But the truth was a bit different.
"You idiots!! You don't trust Taeyang?!!
"?"
"Taeyang, the good delinquent, is planning to trigger a dungeon to make Ark stronger!!"
What set Rebel Guy apart from the others?
Faith.
"Right here! This paper has Taeyang's real plan!"
"...!"
For a moment, only the sound of gulping filled the air.
Then a weird laugh broke out, spreading like wildfire.
"Ha, haha! That's what it was?!"
"As expected…! Good delinquent Kim Taeyang!!"
"We believed in you! So what's the plan?!"
"It's top secret for security. So shut up and keep pumping out mana!"
"Okay!"
The mana release resumed.
Rebel Guy, clutching the paper, was trembling slightly.
Because it wasn't a plan at all.
Kim Taeyang had handed him the note with these words:
- If you start doubting, open it.
The note read:
- Hey, hey!!! You dare doubt me?! Do it right, or I'll beat the crap outta you!!! Huh?!
'If you say it like that, it's hurtful and scary…!'
Rebel Guy was just spooked.
No one actually knew the real plan.
Seol Hajeong and Lena were also on patrol.
They didn't seem particularly tense.
The student council had everything under tight control.
"Is surveillance going well?"
"Kim Taeyang and his livestock are being closely monitored by our people, so no need to worry too much."
"While martial law's in effect, we need to drive out Kim Taeyang or at least dismantle his ranch. Once safety's confirmed, the school will pressure us to lift martial law, so let's wrap this up fast."
"Understood."
Even for a student council president, declaring martial law over this level of gate activity was a bit excessive.
The school knew it, which is why they were mobilizing all professors to push for a quick end to it.
'Normally, I wouldn't go this hard, but Taeyang-ssi crossed a line.'
Seol Hajeong admitted it.
She was acting emotionally.
'This is all your fault.'
And she planned to use those emotions as a pyre to burn Kim Taeyang to ash.
"Let's move."
As they stepped forward,
A hulking delinquent appeared around the corner.
"Hey! President Sow!! Fancy meeting you at this hour, huh?!"
"Taeyang-ssi? How are you…?"
Seeing Shin Hyewon behind him, Seol Hajeong pieced it together.
"The vice-dean's doing."
"Got a problem with that?"
"Of course not. I only hope our fellow patrol member stays safe."
As she moved to pass,
Kim Taeyang roughly grabbed her arm.
"Dictator sow. You really pulled this stunt, huh? When it all comes out, you might end up doing a naked dogeza in front of the whole school! Kek kek kek."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Huh? Think I don't know what you're up to?!!"
"If you keep insulting me, I won't stay quiet."
She hid it well, but she'd be lying if she said she wasn't intimidated.
Provoking Kim Taeyang directly was definitely an emotional misstep.
"What if this causes casualties?! Huh?! You can't even protect the students, and now you're threatening their lives? That's game over for you as president!!!"
"A gate surge is a disaster, sure. But if we handle it properly, nothing will happen. So, Taeyang-ssi, drop the delusions and do your job as a patrol member."
"If a dungeon phenomenon happens, you're taking full responsibility!! Got it?! You'll apologize with a naked dogeza in front of everyone and resign!!!"
Seol Hajeong let out a faint sigh and smiled.
"I'm not responsible for this. And a dungeon phenomenon will never happen…?"
At that moment,
Every hair on her body stood on end.
A hero's instinctual sense of danger.
The vice-dean reacted first.
"Dungeon phenomenon!! Everyone, fall back!!!"
"?!"
Crackle-!
Mana sparks erupted throughout the corridor.
Everyone scrambled to safety,
Immediately taking defensive positions, bracing for a gate or monster.
But one man, brain pickled in bravado, stood firm.
"Huh? You all freaking out and backing off is hilarious!!"
"Kim Taeyang! Be careful!! The gate?!"
Right beside Kim Taeyang, a gate formed, its jagged maw like a beast's jaws.
"Hey, hey!! Stop freaking out and shut up!!! This is why females don't make good heroes!!"
"It's a variant gate!! We don't know what kind of dungeon it is, so hurry—"
At that moment—
Crunch-
The gate's sharp teeth swallowed Kim Taeyang whole.
"...?"
It happened in an instant.
Kim Taeyang was devoured by the dungeon right before their eyes.
Even in that brief moment, Seol Hajeong's mind raced.
'Why did a dungeon phenomenon happen…? No, that's not important right now.'
She hadn't meant to trigger a real dungeon.
It was just a setup for martial law.
'An accident causing casualties during my term is unacceptable!'
She genuinely wanted Kim Taeyang gone.
But not like this.
If she wasn't in full control, his disappearance or death would be a massive blow to her as president.
Lena read her thoughts perfectly.
As Seol Hajeong moved to dive into the gate—
"I'm sorry, Hajeong-nim."
"Ugh…?!"
Lena shoved her aside and threw herself into the gate.
It snapped shut, vanishing before their eyes.
"Lena…?"
Seol Hajeong's eyes trembled violently.
The vice-dean beside her was no better.
"I… still haven't gotten my free PT session…"
***
"Wohoo~ A chill vacation on a deserted island, all to myself~☆ Sayonara to boring academy life for a while!!"
This hidden dungeon's gimmick? Survive on a deserted island!
Just make it through 30 days, and you're golden.
For newbies, it's a daunting event.
Waste your daily action points on dumb stuff, and you're starving in no time.
But me? I know how to get food, water, and the hidden items. This is basically a vacation.
And the scenery on this island?
Seeing it in person is unreal!
The water's so clear it's insane!!
"Hey, hey!! Is this island a chick or what?!! The view's so damn hot it's turning me on!! Kek kek kek!!"
I've been needing some alone time lately—this is perfect…!
—Or so I thought for about 10 seconds.
Splat!
"Huh?"
A girl crashed onto the sandy beach.
Lena Erandel.
"Hey, hey!!! Why the hell did you follow me?!?!"
"I came to help, you jerk."
"I don't need your help!!!! Don't ruin my vacation!!!!!"
Lena brushed off the sand and stood.
She pulled her three-color pen from her chest pocket.
With a click-click, it stretched and transformed—into something like a gatling gun.
"Guess fate's real. Not only do we meet again, but I get a chance for revenge like this."
"What kinda nonsense you spouting?!?!"
Lena aimed the gatling gun at me, ready to fire any second.
"You really don't remember? The European sow you used to call…!"
"?"
The only European sow I know is frozen Spanish pork belly…
Whatever, I'll hear her out later.
First, I gotta deal with that ridiculous pen-machine-gun.
"Hey."
I stepped toward her.
She flinched, aiming at my heart.
"Don't move and answer me! Or I'll shoot?!"
"Go ahead."
"...!"
Hecate's gatling gun form is no joke.
Pull the trigger, and I'd be splattered with ink bullets, cursed to hell and collapsing.
But this is a dungeon.
Dungeons have their own rules.
This island absorbs mana.
Even a constellation's mana isn't exempt—use a stigmata, and you're exhausted in no time.
"You told me to shoot."
Lena grinned wickedly.
Whirrrrr-
The gun's barrels started spinning.
"Think I still like you…!?"
Like me?
So she was dating Kim Taeyang?
Well, whatever…
Now that I think about it, this situation's perfect.
I'm the only one who knows where to find food, water, and essentials.
Lena's gonna be starving soon,
And her constellation, Hecate, will be drained from mana exhaustion.
The only one who can fix that? Me.
'Wohoo~ Time to snag a sticky, juicy SSS-grade constellation!!'
My mouth's itching to say it out loud!!!