These Lunatics are Obsessed With Me

“Kiaaa!"

The long howl of the Sandworm King echoed around them. Kang Yoo-hyun frowned as he glanced at the several floating system windows before him.

[System SS-207. An error has occurred.]

[The Élivágar’s Blessing (SS) is disabled.]

[System SS-207. An error has occurred.]

[The effect of Vanishing Darkness (SS) is weakened.]

[System SS-207. An error has occurred.]

[The Twilight's Guide (SS) is not activated.]

"…"

His passive skills were neutralised by an SS-class boss monster. This was the first time this had happened to him since the Draugr King, which meant the Sandworm King's skill proficiency was much higher than his.

"Hunter Kang Yoo-hyun!"

"…!"

A massive tail attacked Kang Yoo Hyun. As he narrowly avoided it, the area he was in was instantly devastated. The wall, which was high enough to reach the ceiling, collapsed with a loud sound.

Crash.

"Damn it."

As Kang Yoo-hyun muttered a small curse, Sung Yoo-bin approached him with flames flickering from her entire body. Seeing that, Kang Yoo-hyun opened his mouth.

"Does your flame also have an earth attribute?"

“…!”

Sung Yoo-bin looked at Kang Yoo-hyun in surprise. That was a fact known to only a handful of people in the Freya Guild.

Multi-attribute ability user. Usually, a hunter only masters one attribute, but there are some who can handle more than one attribute. Sung Yoo-bin was one of them.

"How did you…?"

Because Sung Yoo-bin didn't announce it to the public. Her fire ability was too overwhelming to claim that she was a multi-attribute hunter; her earth attribute only played a supporting role to enhance the flames. This was why Sung Yoo-bin could use her ability more freely compared to other fire-attribute hunters.

“Because Yoon-jae was the same."

"…"

Sung Yoo-bin was silent for a while as Kang Yoo-hyun spoke calmly to her. It felt like the name that came out of his mouth penetrated her mind.

‘So, my brother was also a multi-attribute hunter.’

Just learning the fact belatedly brought tears to her eyes. But that sentiment didn't last long.

"Kiek! Kiek!"

Boom, boom!

The Sandworm King started sweeping the area randomly to find the two people hiding. As a result, Sung Yoo-bin's fire barrier was scattered due to the gust of wind. It seemed like she wouldn't be able to last much longer like this. Sung Yoo-bin frowned.

“I don't know how well my brother mastered both attributes… But I can handle the fire attribute better. The earth attribute only serves as support."

Thanks to her earth attribute, Sung Yoo-bin could make her flames as hard as stone at will. The durability of her fire barrier surpassed that of others, and her ability to manoeuvre by leaping around on flames suspended in midair was all due to this attribute.

"That's good."

"…Yes?"

Kang Yoo-hyun's casual remarks made Sung Yoo-bin confused. The way he spoke could be interpreted as relief that her rare multi-attribute ability would be useful in battle, or perhaps he meant something else entirely. It was because he said it too calmly. Sung Yoo-bin immediately understood the meaning behind his words.

"If you have that ability, you can pass through the collapsed ceiling to the raid team."

"…"

Sung Yoo-bin glanced at the collapsed ceiling where the Sandworm King had breached. Strangely, no more sand was falling from the ceiling.

Only, a huge hole was created in the ceiling of the hidden area just as the Sandworm King's huge body penetrated it. Instinctively, she knew that place must be directly connected to the Muspelheim dungeon.

They needed the raid team's help to defeat the Sandworm King. So, Kang Yoo-hyun's words meant that she should join them and return, while he held off the Sandworm King.

Did he really mean that? Sung Yoo-bin wondered that for a moment. Her eyes scanned Kang Yoo-hyun, who was on the lookout for the Sandworm King.

‘Even Kang Yoo-hyun's passive skills…’

When the stone fragments were scattered, Kang Yoo-hyun's passive skills were also inactive. Even his SS-class passive skills were blocked. That meant that until they found Hunter Han Yi-jin, they would never be able to stop the Sandworm King even if they joined the raid team.

‘He didn’t tell me to join the team and come back to help…’

Was he telling me to run away and hide? Sung Yoo-bin gritted her teeth. An inexplicable heat surged in her chest.

"Are you telling me to escape alone?"

"…"

Sung Yoo-bin's face contorted as if she was displeased. Though he remained silent, she could feel Kang Yoo-hyun's affirmation. Sung Yoo-bin answered immediately.

"I refuse."

Answering her own question felt awkward. And what was even more frustrating was that, even though she rejected Kang Yoo-hyun's suggestion, she still couldn't do anything.

Even Kang Yoo-hyun, an SS-class, couldn't stop the boss monster either.

She could only hope that her presence wouldn't be a hindrance. Ultimately, they might both meet a miserable end. Sung Yoo-bin smiled self-deprecatingly.

"I'm not going to run away alone."

“…”

For some reason, Kang Yoo-hyun's calm face cracked slightly at her firm statement. Of course, Sung Yoo-bin didn't know why, but she didn't dwell on it. It was more important to carry out her resolve.

"…Why?"

"Why you ask?"

Sung Yoo-bin had no doubts about what she said. She had lived that way even before awakening as an ability user. She didn't think running away was an act of weakness. Instead, she lived by giving advice similar to Kang Yoo-hyun's to others.

Before awakening, she would advise classmates who were bullied by Seo Ha-joon, and she continued to do so with other hunters in the dungeon after awakening.

Telling others to flee, like Kang Yoo-hyun was suggesting now, was something Sung Yoo-bin was accustomed to. She herself would remain steadfast and protect others—it was simply second nature to her.

“I have never run from a monster in front of me."

"…"

Kang Yoo-hyun remained silent at her resolute words. His expression looked complicated. There wasn't much time for a lengthy conversation anyway. The Sandworm King, who was frantically searching the ground, finally located Kang Yoo-hyun and Sung Yoo-bin.

Boom!

"Kugh…!"

The ground shook with a massive rumble. Although it wasn't a direct attack, the impact was immense. The boss monster's abnormal status attack had nullified all of her passive skills. Facing an SS-class boss monster unarmed was undeniably insane, yet for some reason, she felt an inexplicable thrill.

It was a strange feeling. Why was she feeling elated when she should have been consumed by despair, facing imminent death? Has she finally gone mad?

Sung Yoo-bin's body blazed as she evaded the Sandworm King's relentless attacks. Unfortunately, her power was gradually weakening. Just as she contemplated her impending demise, someone's voice echoed in Sung Yoo-bin's mind.

– Because Yoon-jae was the same.

– That's good.

– If you have that ability, you can pass through the collapsed ceiling to the raid team.

“…”

There was a scene unfolding before her eyes. Only her brother and Kang Yoo-hyun remained. What would her brother have said to Kang Yoo-hyun?

Actually, that was a problem she didn't need to worry about. Sung Yoo-bin's self-sacrifice was largely influenced by her brother, Sung Yoon-jae. Her brother would surely have advised Kang Yoo-hyun to flee. He must have believed it was better for the SS-class Kang Yoo-hyun to survive than himself.

No, she was foolish not to consider such calculations. Naturally… Naturally, he would have been willing to sacrifice himself for others.

"Kugh…!"

As if not tolerating even a moment of distraction, the Sandworm King's tail that struck downwards relentlessly followed Sung Yoo-bin as she dodged backward.

She instinctively realised that she could not avoid it. A feeling of helplessness enveloped her entire body. She squeezed her eyes shut tightly, picturing herself about to be crushed. As if complying with her will, her hard flame also lost its momentum.

Bang!

“…!”

But the future she envisioned didn't come. Everything before Sung Yoo-bin's eyes turned completely pitch black. Kang Yoo-hyun’s entire body blazed fiercely, like her flame ability, but it was black and not hot. It was an indescribable energy.

"Hunter Kang Yoo-hyun…!"

"Ugh…!"

Kang Yoo-hyun's vision wavered. The system windows incessantly flashed warnings at him. He couldn't last long to withstand the attack he had blocked for Sung Yoo-bin.

He had to convince Sung Yoo-bin to avoid him at all costs, just as Sung Yoon-jae had done for him, but he couldn't speak earnestly. Kang Yoo-hyun's dark eyes grew even darker. If things continued like this, he would die and be unable to face Sung Yoon-jae.

Kugugugu, kugugu.

“…?”

The ground shaking intensified. Kang Yoo-hyun, who barely repelled the Sandworm King's attack with his demon sword, felt a little strange. Soon, the source of his curiosity appeared before his eyes.

Boommm!

"Kyaaaak!"

"Ppiik-!"

"…!"

Something bright red and enormous charged in and hit the Sandworm King. With a long scream, the Sandworm King's body was sent flying into the distance. The two people's eyes widened at the unbelievable sight.

"Kang Yoo-hyun! Hunter Sung Yoo-bin!"

“…”

“…”

Someone approached Kang Yoo-hyun and Sung Yoo-bin, who were dazed. Behind this person, small black wings flapped in the air. The dragon summon that had suddenly disappeared was flapping its wings and clinging to Han Yi-jin's shoulder. Han Yi-jin's brown eyes scanned Kang Yoo-hyun and Sung Yoo-bin.