These Lunatics are Obsessed With Me

"Let's get going."

"…"

Eventually, with Kang Yoo Hyun not coming, the team prepared to leave. And this time, I wasn't at the end of the team, but at the front. I was right in the middle of the combat team.

It was a completely different atmosphere than when I was with the support team in the rear. There was an intense atmosphere in the combat team fighting monsters directly on the front line. I was also very nervous.

Sung Yoo-bin stuck to me and was busy taking out defence items. Even when I told her it was okay, she rummaged through her inventory and pulled out endless equipment items.

"I didn't pierce my ears."

"The item will fit automatically when you wear it."

"Uh… But this is a high-grade item. If I wear it, it's going to bind to me."

"That's okay."

"…"

Sung Yoo-bin, with her eyes wide open, emphasised that it was okay. Come to think of it, there were not many people who could make as much money as Sung Yoo-bin, so I felt that there was no need to worry. I accepted the round piercing item without saying anything.

"Thank you."

"It’s nothing."

As she said, the piercing-like item automatically fits onto my ear as soon as I equip it. I touched the cold metal with my fingertips curiously. It's truly fascinating how it fits even though I didn't pierce my ears. As I touched it with admiration, Seo Ha-joon's irritated words echoed throughout the area.

"Let's go!"

"…"

He seemed to shout in my direction on purpose. Or maybe it's just my imagination? I frowned and walked forward. The sand beneath my feet felt hotter than yesterday.

"Sigh…"

The heat in the Muspelheim dungeon only intensified as we progressed. Nevertheless, I gritted my teeth and followed the combat team. It was exhausting. If only I could apply my auxiliary skills to the combatants then it would help me reach the boss monster faster.

“Hm?"

As I walked, panting like a dog exhausted from the heat, I felt a warm breeze beside me. I turned my head and saw Eden was spreading his palm. Maybe he used his wind ability to blow wind at me.

"You okay?"

"Um… I'm better. Thanks."

In fact, I was even more annoyed by the lukewarm breeze. Instead of feeling refreshed by the extreme heat, I just nodded without showing my discomfort. Still, he used his wind ability on me, I can't get mad at him like a psycho. Eden looked happy while my face was sour.

"Do you want me to take out the item I gave you before?"

"Yes?"

Lee Geun-ho, who came close to my side, asked subtly. I saw he looked fine without a single drop of sweat on his face. He also got caught up in Seo Ha-joon's whims. He was supposed to be in the support team like me. However, he didn't seem bothered by that. I wondered if he was really mentally strong.

"I'm okay. I can still endure it."

"Really? Just let me know if you need it."

"Haha, yes…”

I laughed awkwardly because I remembered the item Lee Geun-ho gave me. The white cloth-like sunshade item was indeed refreshing when it was worn, even though it ended up becoming Yong-sik's toy and Hae Sung-ha's seat cover.

I felt like this time it might turn into the same pattern, so I turned it down cautiously. Lee Geun-ho shrugged his shoulders with an indifferent expression on his face.

“Swarm of desert scorpions!”

"Prepare for battle!"

"…!"

As soon as we left the oasis, monsters rushed towards us. They were desert scorpions commonly found in the Muspelheim Dungeon. These monsters had deadly poison in their tails, but they were not dangerous monsters due to their low levels. The hunters in the combat team also seemed slightly relieved as soon as they confirmed that it was a scorpion.

"Uh, the numbers seem a bit…"

"…?"

However, the number of scorpions swarming towards us was very unusual. They were so numerous that even the distant horizon appeared black. Seo Ha-joon clicked his tongue and shouted belatedly.

"Hey, lay down the trap!"

"Yes!"

Several hunters with wide-area skills stepped forward and used their skills. Then, those with long-range skills and weapons also rushed forward. Soon, the scorpions and the hunters clashed.

Boom, Boom!

"Ugh…!"

My body was pushed backwards in the aftermath of the battle. I gritted my teeth and held on, and Eden's hand wrapped around my waist.

"Should I lift you up?"

"No, not yet."

Right now, it was still the early stages of the battle, so I could hold my ground. As I looked ahead, I saw the combat team fighting fiercely. Flames erupted from Sung Yoo-bin's fist, causing numerous monsters to be engulfed in fire. The intense heat reached my place.

I finally feel like I'm in a dungeon. I took out a gun from my inventory and fired frantically at the scorpions.

"Kkyau!"

"Don't go too far, Yong-sik!"

"Kkyaau!"

Yong-sik jumped between the scorpions as if he were playing whack-a-mole. Perhaps he saw this battle as nothing more than a game.

I gritted my teeth and continued shooting. The number of scorpions turning the ground black seemed to be gradually decreasing. The moment when the hunters finally showed some relief.

[The rating is adjusted by the interference of…]

[Muspelheim-S207's rating is adjusted to SS-rank.]

“…”

Damn system. What a clueless anomaly!

I turned my head while swearing inwardly. And I could see Seo Ha-joon, who was panicked by the system notification announcing the rating abnormality. And the ground beneath his feet began to shake violently.

Kugugugung.

"…!"

It was the sign of a sandworm. I held on to Eden quickly.

"Let's go!"

"But…"

"Hurry!"

"…Alright."

Eden reluctantly nodded his head. In an instant, our bodies floated up, and Eden flew carrying me. Fortunately, we managed to reach Seo Ha-joon's side before the sandworm emerged.

"Hunter Seo Ha-joon!"

"…Huh?"

"Give me your hand, quick!"

I hurriedly extended my hand. Seo Ha-joon was also an S-rank hunter. There was no other hunter near me that I could apply my auxiliary skill to besides him. However, Seo Ha-joon just stared blankly at me.

"What are you doing now… Ugh!"

Qrng. Qrng.

When I shouted at him again, the ground beneath me shook violently. My body staggered, and my feet sank into the sand. In my panicked state, I heard Eden and Yong-sik's voices in my ears.

"Yi Jin-ah!"

"Kkyau!"

"Eden, Yong… sik…"

In an instant, I heard the system's flat voice in my head as I was buried in the sand.

[You have met the special conditions to enter the ‘Hidden Stage'].

[Muspelheim–SS207. Hidden area, ‘Realm of Fire', opens].

‘What is that again…'

Soon, the surroundings around me became pitch black as if in darkness. I closed my eyes, feeling the oxygen getting scarcer.

"Seo Ha-joon! You bastard!"

"Ugh…!”

Sung Yoo-bin rushed towards Seo Ha-joon, who had just escaped from the sand hole, as if she wanted to kill him. Seo Ha-joon, who appeared on the brink of death after narrowly escaping the sand hole, gasped for breath as Sung Yoo-bin grabbed him by the collar. He looked at Sung Yoo-bin with a frown on his face.

"Why did you come out alone? Where's Hunter Han Yi-jin?"

"I don't know—"

"Does that even make sense?"

"…"

Seo Ha-joon felt treated unfairly. After barely getting out of the sand hole, he was suddenly scolded. He didn't even realise that he had fallen into the sand hole with Han Yi-jin. His mind became foggy as if he was affected by some kind of anomaly.

"Why are you blaming me for Hunter Han Yi-jin's whereabouts… Ugh!"

"Kugh."

Kugugugu.

The ground shook violently again. This time it was a truly unusual ground shaking. A sandworm suddenly leapt out from where the two were standing.

"Kieeek!"

"This…!"

"Kieee!"

"…!"

There were even two sandworms that appeared, not just one. On the other side, a sandworm of the same size suddenly jumped up and let out a wild roar.

The combat team was almost wiped out by just one sandworm, but two… Sweat dripped down Sung Yoo-bin's forehead.

[A fatal error has occurred!]

[The effectiveness of Incarnation's Blessing (S) has been reduced by more than 50%.]

[You are affected by the status ailment ‘Panic'.]

[The effect of Indomitable Will (S) is weakened.]

[The party members are affected by the status ailment ‘Panic'.]

[The effect of Leadership (A) is not activated.]

"Damn it."

It was a desperate situation. She could only manage to kill one sandworm if she had the auxiliary skill, but there are two. Sung Yoo-bin gritted her teeth and desperately raised her ability.

"Kiaa!"

"Where are you going?"

She shouted and threw a punch. A curtain of fire blazed around Sung Yoo-bin. However, it was not enough to stop two sandworms.

‘Are we really going to be wiped out this time…'

She squeezed her eyes shut, unable to bear the sight of the sharp fangs drawing ever closer through her curtain of fire.

Crush! Crush!

"…!"

Something black suddenly flew in and struck down the sandworms. Without even having time to scream, the sandworm's body was torn apart. Green liquid spurted from the sandworm and splashed onto Sung Yoo-bin's face.

"Ugh…”

The man attacked the other sandworm with fierce momentum. Sung Yoo-bin's eyes widened seeing the familiar back.

"…Kang Yoo-hyun?"

"…"

It was Kang Yoo-hyun, who they had been waiting for. He defeated two sandworms in an instant, then turned around and surveyed Sung Yoo-bin and her surroundings.

"What about Han Yi-jin?"

"…"

The surroundings fell into complete silence. No one dared to speak in the presence of Kang Yoo-hyun's overwhelming presence. Like flames burning in hell, Kang Yoo-hyun's blue eyes scanned the crowd thoroughly.

"Where's Han Yi-jin?"

"Ugh…!"

Finally, Kang Yoo-hyun's gaze fell on Seo Ha-joon, who was lying in a miserable state. He couldn't say anything and just looked at Kang Yoo-hyun with a frightened expression on his face.