"Your expression is souring," Kang Seoksu remarked.
I quickly composed myself. I never imagined I'd run into Kang Seoksu here, and for a moment, I lost control of my expression.
"What a coincidence. You know this is a no-combat zone, right?"
Cameras were mounted outside, and Association staff were likely monitoring the area. If we fought in the cabin, they'd intervene within a minute, and we'd both be disqualified.
"I know. I have no intention of fighting here."
I could trust him on that. Kang Seoksu was clearly aiming for victory and would abide by the Dungeon Survival rules.
As Kang Seoksu and I locked eyes in a tense standoff, Han Harin, who had been standing behind me, moved first. She glanced at Kang Seoksu before turning her back on him and beginning to survey the cabin's interior.
"She seems to be resting. You should relax too and stop worrying about us. Isn't that why you came here?" Kang Seoksu said to me.
"Don't do anything stupid. I'll be watching you."
I gave Kang Seoksu a warning glance and started following him.
My frozen expression refused to thaw.
Ugh. Fuck.
All I could think was curses.
No matter how I look at it, I'm screwed.
The Rest Area could only be used once a day for one hour, with midnight as the cutoff. I'd rushed here, thinking I'd lose out if I didn't use it before midnight, but it seemed like a mistake.
If I'd just come an hour later, I wouldn't have run into this bastard.
As I followed Han Harin, racking my brain for a solution, I suddenly stopped short at the sight of a yellow-haired woman. She was a member of Kang Seoksu's team.
Her blonde hair was still damp, as if she had just finished showering, and she wore only a robe over her slender frame. Her long, graceful limbs exuded a captivating allure.
"Oh, what's this? You guys are here too?"
She seemed completely unfazed by the glimpses of her collarbone and thighs visible through the robe. A remarkably open-minded woman.
As we stared at her in silence, she glanced between Han Harin and me, then grinned.
"You two are definitely an item. I could feel it right away."
I nearly gasped aloud. How could she have figured out our relationship so quickly? I knew she was no ordinary woman.
"Spare me the small talk and move aside," Han Harin replied coldly.
"There's a bathhouse here, separated into men's and women's sections. It's not huge, but it's decent enough. Since we've met, why don't we introduce ourselves? I'm Yu Jeongmi, a D-Rank Hunter who works with Seoksu."
"...Han Harin," she said, revealing only her name before brushing past Yu Jeongmi and entering the bathhouse.
"A cold woman with a big chest," Yu Jeongmi remarked. "Lightning Freak, what about you?"
If it had been Kang Seoksu asking, I would have flipped him the bird immediately. But she was a stunning beauty.
"I'm Sung Yujin, leader of the National Heaven Hunter Team. Are you and Kang Seoksu... romantically involved?"
"Romantically involved? No. We went to elementary, middle, and high school together. We've been friends since childhood."
It seemed Yu Jeongmi and Kang Seoksu were childhood friends.
"It's been a while, so you could say we're somewhere between friends and lovers? Though I think Seoksu only sees me as a friend."
Yu Jeongmi smiled enigmatically, hinting at romantic feelings for Kang Seoksu.
"I see. Then I should take a bath first. We don't have much time here."
"Right. The women's bath has plenty of hot water."
"The men's bath probably does too."
"You're surprisingly decent. When I saw you destroy the food crates earlier, I thought you'd be even more eccentric than Seoksu."
"That was just an act. Viewers are more likely to remember someone like that."
I said with a smile, though it wasn't just a persona I meant it. I genuinely believed that if I couldn't have something, I'd rather destroy it, which is why I used Manroe.
"Well, good luck. Oh, there's a laundry room on the second floor."
"Yes, thank you."
We parted with smiles. Even though we were competitors in Dungeon Survival, it was ultimately just a broadcast program. There was no need to take things that happened on air to the point of life and death.
Well, Eun Sangmin probably wants to kill Kang Seoksu.
Even if he didn't die, he'd have to endure the agony of being burned alive for several dozen seconds. It was inevitable that he'd harbor a grudge against Kang Seoksu.
I never expected Eun Sangmin to be eliminated just three hours after Dungeon Survival started. This is a pretty big crisis.
Over 30% of my power had been drained. This was a major setback for someone like me, who had entered the competition aiming for victory.
That fucking idiot Eun Sangmin. Shouldn't a C-Rank Hunter be able to spot a simple trap?
He'd never been anything but a hindrance in my life.
I cursed Eun Sangmin inwardly, but knowing it was pointless to dwell on the past, I stopped.
Let's look on the bright side. Now that he's out, it's just me and Han Harin left. Without him around, all I need to worry about is the cameras...
I glanced right and left. The right door was marked "?" (Male), while the left door read "?" (Female).
Without hesitation, I opened the door to the women's bathhouse. Inside was a small changing room with four lockers. Beside them, a table held gowns, towels, and disposable toiletries like shampoo and toothbrushes.
I glanced at the bath. Its low transparency made it impossible to see inside, but I knew someone was in there.
It must be Han Harin. I saw her go in earlier.
There were only two women in the building: Han Harin and Yu Jeongmi. Since Yu Jeongmi was outside, it had to be Han Harin. I quickly stripped and opened the bathroom door.
The bath was a wooden tub. Han Harin was occupying one of the only two showers.
"W-what? Why are you in here?! The men's bath is next door!"
"Come on, Senior. I'm just here to help you wash."
I grinned slyly and moved closer. Han Harin sighed when she saw my erect member.
"We're filming. Can't you wait a week?"
"I don't think I can, Senior."
I crept closer to her.
"And this is the Rest Area, so there are no cameras or anyone watching. It's okay, right?"
I reached out to Han Harin with both hands, grasping one of her massive H-cup breasts in each. But they were so large that it was impossible for my hands to fully cup them.
"...Haa. Well, there's no helping it. Just this once."
I lowered my left hand and touched her vulva. It was hot and wet.
The wetness wasn't just from her shower.
Tsk.
I clicked my tongue as I peered out the second-floor window of the Rest Area.
Outside the cabin, three members of Kang Seoksu's team were leaning against trees, waiting for us.
This was exactly why I'd thought we were screwed the moment I saw him here.
Kang Seoksu's team, having arrived before us, had already left the Rest Area and were waiting for us to come out.
The Rest Area rule only applies within this cabin; it doesn't extend beyond its walls. Just one step outside, and they'll attack us.
Damn it. They've set up trap magic around the cabin.
Magic circles are inscribed near the cabin. I can't tell if it's the same spell that instantly eliminated Eun Sangmin, but it's clear we can't risk escaping through the windows.
If we go out, we'll be forced into a 100% confrontation with Kang Seoksu's team. Considering Kang Seoksu's skill and the number of his teammates, our chances of defeat are extremely high. We need to avoid fighting Kang Seoksu's team at all costs.
The problem is, Kang Seoksu's team has no reason to back down.
They're clearly planning to spend the night here. One of them will keep watch over us while the other two lean against trees and sleep.
If we come out, they'll just fight us and eliminate us. If we stay in the cabin, we'll still get penalized. From their perspective, it doesn't matter which we choose.
We're truly fucked.
The moment I entered the Rest Area and saw them, this thought flashed through my mind.
They'll likely stay until at least 5 AM, since the food crates will be delivered at 6 AM. They wouldn't want to miss two consecutive deliveries.
The penalty for staying in the Rest Area is -3 Survival Points per minute. Even if it resets at midnight... that's still at least -900 Survival Points.
Considering we only got 5 Survival Points for hunting a D-Rank Monster like the Giant Scorpion, losing 900 points is a catastrophic blow. At this point, winning is practically impossible.
"You cowardly bastards!" I shouted out the window, desperate to vent my frustration before it killed me.
"Cowardly? This is a legitimate strategy. If you were in my position, you'd do the same, wouldn't you?" Kang Seoksu retorted.
In a way, it was similar to the ancient concepts of siege and defense in warfare.
"Hey, just give us a break!" I pleaded, swallowing my pride. But Kang Seoksu shook his head.
"You have only two choices: come out and fight us, or hide inside like rats."
He clearly had no intention of backing down.
What the hell is "rats"? Rats? Does this guy even realize we're on a broadcast program?
I subtly shifted my gaze to the side. Four Association staff members stood a short distance away, cameras trained on us. Kang Seoksu's team, being a strong contender for the championship, attracted a particularly large number of cameras.
We couldn't even attack from inside the Rest Area. Doing so would result in immediate disqualification.
"...I won't forget this!"
I slammed the wooden window shut in frustration and lowered my gaze. Kneeling on the floor, Han Harin quietly sucked on my cock. I asked her, "Senior, what should we do?"
"...Hmm. How about pretending to fight while trying to escape?"
My cock slid out of Han Harin's mouth, the rigid shaft glistening with saliva.
"They're already preparing, so escaping won't be easy."
"You're the team leader. I'll follow your lead."
Han Harin stood up. Fully dressed, she checked her physical condition, likely assuming I was about to fight Kang Seoksu.
I glanced at the tablet:
Remaining time in the Rest Area: 4 minutes 20 seconds.
I set the tablet on the table and pulled Han Harin into my arms.
"Surely... you're not thinking of doing that, are you?"
"Probably. I think I am."
My hands began to caress her full breasts and hips.
"Are you out of your mind?"
"There's no other way. Our chances of escaping those guys here are slim, and our chances of winning are nonexistent. So, staying inside is our best bet."
I buried my face in Han Harin's neck and began kissing her collarbone.
"Hng... What about the penalty?" she gasped.
"There's nothing we can do about it. We'll just have to bear it."
"Are you giving up?"
"No. In Dungeon Survival, Survival Points are only one of the conditions for victory."
Dungeon Survival, as its name suggests, is about survival.
The last person alive wins. Survival Points are used to determine the winner among those who survive until the end.
In other words, if we eliminate all other participants before Dungeon Survival ends, we can win even without any Survival Points.
"Senior, you trust me, right? We can win."
"...Can I really trust you?"
"Of course. Just like with the Special Mana Massage, I've never lied to you, Senior."
Han Harin began stroking my cock with her slender, pale hand. I undressed her and carried her to the bed in the corner of the room.
4:00 AM.
Kang Seoksu stared at the cabin.
After alternating shifts with his teammates to maintain surveillance, they had confirmed that Sung Yujin and Han Harin hadn't emerged from the cabin. It seemed they had given up entirely and were simply sleeping.
If it were me, I would have come out and fought.
Surrendering without a fight was pathetic. Of course, they weren't officially eliminated yet. But with Survival Points around -900, they were as good as out. With such a low score, victory was impossible.
Kang Seoksu glanced at Choi Sahyeon, who had just woken up beside him. Choi Sahyeon stared at the cabin with a dazed expression.
"Choi Sahyeon, what do you think?"
"...I'm not sure. There seems to be a barrier around that building. I was too tired to check yesterday, but... no, it's a barrier beyond my level."