"President! How did you get here…!"
Seol Hajeong spread her arms.
Lena ran into her embrace.
"I pulled some strings. Looks like you and Taeyang were getting along?"
"...!"
Reality hit Lena hard.
Her life as Ark's student council secretary came rushing back.
'I was in the student council…'
She glanced at Kim Taeyang.
He was just sticking his tongue out between his fingers.
"Did you come with Charon-nim?"
"No. Charon-nim said they couldn't come along."
"That's good. This island's deadly for constellations. It sucks up all their mana."
"Hmm. So that's why."
Seol Hajeong recalled her conversation before arriving.
"I can't come with you. I can't even leak info about the dungeon. It's in the contract."
"Even if I pay more?"
"Ugh… I'd love to, but no. Break this, and I'm cut off from that star system's constellations."
Charon had helped her enter the dungeon.
But that was it.
Not even a hint about the dungeon itself.
"President, did you bring any artifacts?"
"Artifacts? I've got enough for myself."
Lena sighed, disappointed.
"What's wrong? Need something?"
"…It's for Hecate-nim."
Seol Hajeong pieced it together.
Hecate was exhausted.
But she couldn't hand over her artifacts.
They were all rare and expensive.
'If mana gets drained, my bones are useless too. Artifacts would break the moment they're used…'
This island was full of restrictions.
She understood why Lena stuck so close to Kim Taeyang.
"Lena, come here…"
Seol Hajeong led Lena to the beach, far enough from Kim Taeyang to talk.
"How's Hecate-nim?"
"Charon's child, I'm awake."
The pen in Lena's shirt pocket poked its head out.
"Hecate-nim, I'm glad you're safe."
"Thanks to the wanderer of darkness."
"Wanderer…?"
"She means Kim Taeyang."
"..."
Seol Hajeong's face stiffened briefly.
Hecate, oblivious, kept chattering.
"My child is so useless, she hasn't found a single artifact. I've fallen into a coma how many times… But the wanderer of darkness found a moon gem just as I was fading…!"
'This isn't good. Hecate-nim might bond with Kim Taeyang… We need to keep distance.'
Seol Hajeong unpacked her bag and offered Lena snacks.
"Lena, you don't need to rely on Kim Taeyang anymore. I brought enough survival supplies. From now on, we'll find a way out together."
"Oh…"
Lena didn't take the snacks.
"Lena? Not eating?"
"P-President, can I talk to Taeyang first? A lot's happened on this island. It'll be quick."
"…Sure. Go ahead."
Lena hurried to Kim Taeyang.
Her steps were oddly timid.
***
Chomp!
With a show to watch, I lounged in my chair, biting into fruit.
Who'd have thought Seol Hajeong would show up?
Does she have a dungeon-linked artifact?
Maybe a constellation's help.
I don't know everything about her.
From their talk, Charon didn't come along.
That's a shame.
It could've been a chance to snag Charon too.
Oh well, Hecate's a nice bonus, so I'm satisfied.
Then Lena rushed over, looking desperate.
"Taeyang, I need a favor…"
"Huh? What?"
She fidgeted, clearly uncomfortable.
"So… you and the president didn't get along outside, right? I've let that go, but she just got here, so she's still holding onto those feelings… She wants me to stick with her…"
"Hey, hey, cut to the chase."
"…Can I help the president for a bit?"
This is getting interesting…
Seol Hajeong was unpacking a dungeon survival kit.
She probably thinks surviving here's easy.
It won't be.
Dungeon kits assume hero abilities.
They don't include stuff for a mana-draining dungeon like this.
"Hey, useless sow, do whatever you want. I don't care."
"Saying that makes me a bit hurt…"
"Huh?! Stop whining and get lost if you're going!! I won't share my food again!!!"
Lena hesitated, lingering awkwardly.
She knew.
Leaving now meant starvation.
No more access to the cozy Taeyang House.
"…Sorry. I'll try to convince the president, so just wait a bit."
With that, Lena returned to Seol Hajeong.
About half the island's chests remain.
I'll snag most of them, so their survival's gonna get brutal.
Lena's used to my protection, food, and shelter.
If she'd been roughing it from the start, maybe she'd cope.
But she's adapted to comfort.
She won't last long.
The signs were already there.
"You're building a shelter now? It's late."
"It's gotta be built eventually. Doing it now means we sleep warmer. Better rest, better efficiency."
"Doing it during the day's more efficient…"
Their bickering reminded me of the army.
Like a green second lieutenant clashing with a skilled private.
"Lena, we're doing this now. I've decided."
"Ugh… Fine."
Seol Hajeong, clueless but pulling rank.
So frustrating.
Poor Lena…
That's the president you chose…!
Tough it out or give up, your call.
***
By dawn, the shelter was done.
Lena, hollow-eyed, muttered,
"Finally… Sun's up, so it'll get hot."
"Let's sleep…"
Seol Hajeong was just as exhausted.
As she entered the shelter, Lena stopped her.
"President, give me some emergency rations."
"Why? Already hungry?"
"I need to trade them with Taeyang's yams or dried fish. Rations are a delicacy here, so we'll get more calories."
"…Since when do you call him 'Taeyang'?"
Lena flinched at the remark.
But soon, she brushed it off.
"It's not a big deal. Where's the food?"
Seol Hajeong silently pointed to her backpack.
Lena traded for a bit of food.
They crawled into the cramped shelter, their sweaty skin touching.
"..."
Discomfort came out only as faint sighs.
Their first night's sleep was miserable.
***
"Let's hustle and find chests. Artifacts for Hecate-nim, food, and a way off this island."
"The chests here are like puzzles. They're tough to find."
"Challenging tasks spark passion."
Their bodies were heavy.
Still, Seol Hajeong was brimming with enthusiasm.
To Lena, it was exhausting.
"Why not make up with Taeyang?"
"…Make up?"
"Taeyang's great at survival. Finds chests way better than me. Do what he says, and you won't starve."
The phrase "do what he says" stung.
Seol Hajeong didn't live by others' orders.
She gave them.
"Lena, I know you've had it rough. But don't doubt my ability."
"If you're unlucky, you'll run into monsters. There are variants here."
"I'll protect you. Follow me."
"Sigh."
Lena let out a frustrated sigh.
Following Seol Hajeong, she kept pushing for reconciliation with Kim Taeyang.
'That's not reconciliation, it's submission. Lena's been gaslit.'
Seol Hajeong ignored it.
But, considering Lena's mental state, she avoided arguing.
Three hours of wandering the forest.
No chests found.
"Taeyang probably checked this area already. We'd have to go deeper, but that's too dangerous. It's getting late."
"We can't go back empty-handed."
"Let's pick tree fruit instead. That's the best we can do."
"Just tree fruit…?"
Then, Seol Hajeong spotted a white fluffball.
A wild rabbit.
"Lena! A rabbit…!"
"..."
Lena looked at her with pity.
It reminded her of herself ten days ago.
"Don't get excited. You can't catch it anyway."
"I think I can catch it."
"Sigh…"
Lena let out a heavy sigh.
At that point, even Seol Hajeong couldn't just keep taking it.
"Stop sighing. You're draining my energy too."
"You're the one making me sigh, President. I've tried it all, and I know—you can't catch it. Not with these frail bodies."
"Lena, a company that doesn't take risks slowly withers. I was taught to leap into the fire to find a path, and I've lived that way."
"Then go for it."
Lena spoke with half-given-up resignation.
Seol Hajeong put a finger to her lips, signaling silence.
Rustle.
She moved cautiously, like a predator.
Lowering her body, she approached the rabbit.
The rabbit, nibbling grass obliviously, looked like easy prey.
'Even without mana, my senses are sharp.'
Seol Hajeong had reason for her confidence.
Known as a summoner, she was also athletically gifted.
There was little she couldn't do.
'Now…!'
When she was close enough, she kicked off.
Just three steps would do it.
But, focused on the rabbit, she missed the ground.
"Urk…?!"
Her foot caught on a vine, and her body tilted.
Thud!!!
Her face slammed into the dirt.
"..."
She was dizzy.
A faceplant causing this much shock…?
'I almost passed out…'
As she tried to get up, a pen flew at her.
Hecate.
She clicked her tongue.
"Charon's child, you're just as useless. Well, what can a mere woman do…?"
Seol Hajeong brushed it off.
"Failure's just a step toward success."
"Child, wipe your nosebleed."
"..."
Seol Hajeong struggled with the nosebleed for a while.
***
They had a small success.
They caught a tiny snake.
"Let's eat…"
"Okay…"
Eating it felt miserable.
Not just because it looked like a twisted underworld sausage.
"Wohoo~ Lobster garlic butter grill secured~☆"
It was because of the guy next door's dinner!
"Finding butter and garlic in a chest? Insanely lucky!!! This sexy smell's unreal?! My nostrils are flaring on their own!!!!"
Kim Taeyang's table was a spectacle.
Whole grilled lobster, baguette, fresh salad.
And even…
"Hey!! Wine too?! Is this island even a dungeon?! This is a resort, right?! Hey!!!!"
Pop-
He poured and drank wine.
A restaurant-worthy meal.
'Looks delicious…'
Staring at it, then at their finger-sized roasted snake…
"Sigh."
"Damn it."
All they could do was sigh and curse.
"I curse this…"
Lena muttered as she tore into the snake.
It felt like the curse was aimed at Seol Hajeong herself, but she had no energy to argue.
The meal ended in three minutes.
There wasn't much, and the snake tasted awful.
"Lena, my throat's dry. Got any water?"
"I'll ask Taeyang."
"Wait—"
"He's not that petty. He'll give us water."
Lena trudged wearily to Kim Taeyang, mid-meal.
"Taeyang, sorry, can you spare a bottle of water?"
"Huh?"
His thick fingers glistened with butter.
Lena had to suppress the urge to lick them.
"Take a 500ml one."
"T-Thanks…"
"Hey, hold up."
Kim Taeyang stopped Lena, offering a small piece of lobster meat.
"Eat this while looking at that president chick. Then you get the water."
"...!"
Pure white lobster meat.
Garlic butter dripped from his hand.
Just one bite.
It'd melt in her mouth.
Could she sacrifice her pride and loyalty for that…?
Hell yeah, she could!!!
Nom.
Lena popped the lobster into her mouth.
Kim Taeyang's fingers went in too, but that was a bonus.
She could taste the oil on his hand!
'This flavor…!"
The mix of oil, spices, and lobster.
Heavenly… no, devilish food.
She let out an involuntary moan.
"Hnng…♡"
Shudder…!
Her body went limp from the shocking taste.
"What's that moan? You didn't just climax from lobster, did you?"
"So… good…♡"
"Hey! Stare at the president chick!"
Lena looked at Seol Hajeong.
She was staring right back.
'Sorry, President…! But you're too weak to catch stuff like this…♡'
Slurp!!
Lena desperately sucked Kim Taeyang's fingers.
"Yo, rate the taste!"
"Garlic butter lobster grill… One bite, and I'm addicted…! So delicious, my tongue's melting…!!"
"This chick's taste review's hilarious. Yo! Bonus bite!"
"Ohh♡ Ohhh…♡ Thank you…♡"
Slurp! Slurp!!
"Lick my hand and throw a peace sign! Peace…!"
"H-Heace…♡"
Sucking his fingers, Lena flashed double peace signs.
Seol Hajeong could only watch the shameful display.
***
"Here's… the water…"
"..."
Lena returned after scoring two bites of lobster.
Seol Hajeong took the water silently.
"Was the lobster good?"
"It was okay…"
"You ate it like it was amazing. Even licked his fingers."
"Taeyang forced me. He wouldn't give the water otherwise…"
Seol Hajeong stayed calm.
She'd expected Kim Taeyang to pull something like this.
She wouldn't crumble over such provocation.
She opened the bottle and drank.
"Hey, president sow, that's my purified piss, so savor it~ Kek kek kek."
"Pfft..."
Piss?
Even Seol Hajeong couldn't help but get pissed at such a vile prank.
"…Taeyang's a scumbag beyond imagination, huh?"
Crunch!
She was about to crush and throw the bottle.
"No!!!"
Swipe!
Lena snatched it with lightning-fast hands, glaring at Seol Hajeong.
"President! Are you crazy?!!"
"Uh, what…?"
"This is holy water!!! How dare you try to throw it?!! Are you out of your mind?!!!!"
"?"
Lena looked furious, ready to throw a punch.