Gaining Access to an E-Rank Dungeon

Lina: "Hey, where are you? Got time to hang out? It's been a while."

Tian read the message and smiled faintly.

Ever since his parents passed away, his life had felt empty. The cramped apartment he rented never truly felt like home. After graduating school without many friends, he had spent most of his time managing his guild. But Lina had always been there.

She never changed—always caring, even after everything that had happened.

Without hesitation, Tian typed a short reply:

"Sure. Where?"

The response came within seconds.

"Hunt Bean Café, near downtown."

Tian nodded to himself and slipped his phone back into his pocket. Leaving the Hunter Association office, he walked with noticeably lighter steps.

Since his car was broken, he had no choice but to take public transportation. A few minutes later, he arrived at a small café on the side of a busy street.

The moment he stepped inside, a warm atmosphere welcomed him. The aroma of coffee mixed with the low murmur of conversations. Some people were focused on their laptops, while a few Hunters were casually chatting—probably discussing strategies for their next dungeon run.

Tian's gaze swept across the room before stopping at a girl sitting in the corner by the window.

Lina waved at him with a bright smile.

Tian walked over, ordered a coffee, and then finally sat across from her.

She wore a simple white top and had a small purse beside her. Modest, yet effortlessly charming. Her minimal makeup did little to hide her natural beauty.

"Damn, I need to get used to this."

As Lina started talking, Tian barely heard what she was saying.

"Tian! It's been forever!"

Without warning, Lina opened her arms and pulled him into a tight hug.

Tian stiffened for a moment but slowly returned the embrace. "You seem really happy," he said as they pulled apart.

"Sit down first, then we'll talk."

Lina chuckled, taking a sip of her coffee, while Tian took a deep breath before sitting down. He shifted his gaze to the window, trying to avoid looking at her too much.

They had been friends since middle school, all the way through high school. Truthfully, there had always been something there—but the gap between their statuses was too wide. One of the reasons Tian founded his guild was to change that, to one day stand on equal footing with her.

"Tian, look at me."

Lina's voice pulled him back to reality.

Reluctantly, Tian met her gaze. It barely lasted three seconds before his face heated up, turning red like an apple.

Lina laughed in satisfaction. "You're still the same!" she said, wiping away tears from laughing too much.

Tian scowled. "Stop teasing me. So, what's this all about?"

"Nothing much. I just wanted to see you."

Tian let out a long sigh. "How's college?"

The moment he asked, Lina's expression turned playful.

"It's going well. Oh, by the way, a new guy transferred into my class yesterday. He's super handsome, and guess what? He's a B-rank Hunter!"

She watched him closely, as if trying to catch even the slightest change in his expression.

Tian instinctively turned to her, his brows furrowing.

Lina burst into laughter, clutching her stomach. "Hahaha! That reaction! Priceless!"

Tian sighed, refusing to fall for her trap.

"Relax. I'm not interested. The only person in my heart is you."

She said it casually, but her gaze held a deeper meaning.

Tian froze. His face burned even hotter, completely speechless.

Seeing his reaction, Lina was clearly enjoying herself. Tian ended up staring out at the road beyond the window, letting himself bask in the strange yet comforting warmth of the moment.

For a while, he even forgot about the problem of entering an E-rank Dungeon.

But reality quickly set back in.

"…Lina, I need a favor."

Lina raised an eyebrow. "A favor?" she repeated in surprise.

In all the time she had known him, Tian had rarely asked for help. Even when he built his guild, he had done it on his own.

"Name it! Whatever it is, I'll help!" Lina said enthusiastically.

Tian bit his lip, hesitating for a moment before finally speaking.

"I need permission to enter an E-rank Dungeon."

Lina paused briefly, then nodded as if it was no big deal. "I can do that. Wanna register now?"

Tian's eyes widened. "Wait… Seriously?! You can?!"

Lina laughed. "Yeah, let's do it now. But there's a catch."

"…What is it?"

Lina picked up her coffee cup and slid it toward him. "Finish this first."

Tian stared at the cup. His eyes fixated on the faint imprint of Lina's lips on the rim.

"Damn it… why am I thinking about weird stuff?!"

His face burned again.

But when he saw Lina's expectant gaze, he finally gave in. Hesitantly, he picked up the cup and took a sip.

Sluuurp…

Lina smiled victoriously, then took the cup back. Without hesitation, she drank from the exact same spot.

Tian froze.

Lina chuckled. "What's wrong? Tastes good, right?" she asked with a mischievous grin.

For a while, they simply sat together, chatting, sharing stories, and finishing the coffee from the same cup.

***

A luxurious white car cruised down the city's main road. Traffic was fairly busy, but the driver maintained a steady pace. In the back seat, Lina and Nita sat side by side, while the chauffeur focused on the road ahead.

"Once we arrive, I'll introduce you to the Dungeon keeper," Lina said casually.

Tian, sitting next to her, gave a slight nod. Since his guild was still at F-rank, he couldn't rent an E-rank Dungeon. Fortunately, Lina could help him gain temporary access.

"By the way, how's your uncle's guild? Has the raid in the Tokyo Dungeon been completed?" Tian asked, curious.

Lina's expression shifted slightly. "There was a bit of trouble. That active A-rank Dungeon turned out to be far more dangerous than expected, so my father ordered the team not to go too deep."

She paused for a moment before continuing in a heavier tone. "But... it seems like the Japanese Hunters are targeting my father's guild. Two Hunters from his team have already fallen."

Tian's eyes sharpened. He could hear the sadness hidden in Lina's voice. Normally, she was always cheerful, but this time, there was a tension she couldn't fully mask.

"At least your father is still safe… I hope their raid in Japan ends without further casualties," Tian said sincerely.

Lina turned to him and smiled faintly. "Thank you."

Silence filled the car for a moment before Lina spoke again. "Do you need help clearing the E-rank Dungeon?"

There was a reason why F-rank guilds weren't allowed to rent E-rank Dungeons. Usually, clearing one required at least two E-rank Hunters. As far as Tian knew, his guild currently had only three E-rank Hunters—the absolute minimum requirement.

But to ensure safety, at least five were recommended.

Tian pondered for a moment before finally answering. "No need," he said, a small smirk playing on his lips. "I want to try something."

Lina looked at him with curiosity but decided to wait for the results rather than pressing for details.

"Good luck! I hope you succeed," she said, her smile full of encouragement.

"Thanks."

A few minutes later, the car pulled up in front of a large, fenced-off area. The perimeter was secured by high wire fencing, and a guard post stood near the gate, with several uniformed personnel stationed around it. Dungeons located near city centers were typically much more expensive than those in forests or remote areas.

The moment Lina stepped out of the car, the guards immediately saluted. They waited silently for her instructions.

Lina stepped forward and explained Tian's situation to the head guard. After receiving approval, Tian had to go through a series of verifications—fingerprint scans, retinal scans, and even registering an emergency contact number.

Once all procedures were complete, Lina handed him an electronic key card.

"The Dungeon key," she said with a smile.

Tian took it with a serious gaze. "Thanks, Lina. I'll repay this favor sooner or later."

Lina simply shrugged. "Don't worry about it."

After that, she accompanied Tian to his guild office before finally leaving, dropping him off in front of the small headquarters of KING.

Tian gripped the key tightly, his eyes locked onto the building before him, filled with determination.