Chapter 22: Chapter 21 - Dungeon Break
*Beep* *Beep*
My alarm clock started buzzing, waking me up early in the morning just like it does every day. I sat up in bed, grabbed my phone from the nightstand, and, as usual, the first thing I did was check my emails. It's become a bit of a habit since I became a hunter because I often get emails related to hunter business that I need to look at.
There were the usual guild offers, nothing special, so I set my phone back on the table and got out of bed, heading straight to the bathroom to freshen up.
Once I was all cleaned up, I left my room with my phone in hand, browsing the latest news and scrolling through the internet. I made my way to the kitchen, ready to start my morning.
I took out my AirPods, popped them in my ears, and played some of my favorite Eminem tracks. He's someone I listen to every morning. I set my phone aside and focused on making breakfast.
I decided to make my usual hearty breakfast: a big omelet with toast and a glass of fresh orange juice. I grabbed some eggs, spinach, tomatoes, onions, and cheese from the fridge.
I cracked a few eggs into a bowl, added some salt and pepper, and whisked them with a fork. Eminem's beats pulsed in my ears, setting a lively pace for my morning routine.
I chopped up the spinach, tomatoes, and onions, enjoying the sharp sound of the knife on the cutting board. I heated a pan, drizzled some olive oil, and tossed in the onions, letting them sizzle until they got soft. Once they turned golden, I added the tomatoes and spinach, stirring them until they wilted.
I poured the eggs over the veggies and let them cook a bit before sprinkling a generous amount of cheese on top. The kitchen filled with the mouthwatering smell of melting cheese and cooked veggies. I carefully folded the omelet with a spatula, letting it cook until the cheese was all gooey and delicious.
While the omelet was cooking, I toasted a couple of slices of bread and poured myself a glass of orange juice. The bright color was a refreshing sight on the counter.
With breakfast ready, I placed the omelet and toast on a plate and sat down at the kitchen table. I took a moment to appreciate the meal before digging in, enjoying every bite while Eminem's lyrics played in the background.
As I ate, I picked up my phone again, scrolling through the latest news. Stories about hunter activities, new dungeon discoveries, and updates about other S-Rank hunters caught my eye. It's fascinating to see what's happening in the world, especially now that I'm a part of it.
Just as I was finishing my breakfast, my phone rang, interrupting the music. The screen showed a familiar number—it was Kim Namjoon calling. Wondering what he wanted, I wiped my hands and answered.
After the red gate incident, I hadn't done much for the past few days. I made some money by selling the magic beasts' corpses I brought back. They weren't as valuable as I thought they'd be, but they were still worth something.
So why was he calling now? I hadn't talked to him since we got out of the red gate two days ago.
"Hey!" Kim Namjoon said, his voice a bit shaky. Was he scared or nervous? I couldn't figure out why.
"What's up?" I asked directly.
"I need to talk to you about something. Can we meet today or whenever you're free?" he asked.
"What's it about?"
"It's important. If it's okay with you, it's better to meet and discuss it," he replied. "Can we meet tonight?"
"If it's really important, let's meet at 7 in the evening. Is that okay?"
"Yeah, no problem."
We talked about where to meet and then finished the conversation. I went back to my breakfast.
After eating, I washed the dishes, completing my morning routine. With nothing planned for the day, I headed to the living room and was about to turn on the TV when I sensed a strong magical energy nearby.
I could feel magical beasts and sensed C-Rank to B-Rank hunters near them.
Could it be a dungeon break? How could they leave a gate like that unattended, especially so close to my apartment? I should really pay more attention to the gates around here from now on.
Should I go check it out? Honestly, it seems a bit boring since the beasts don't seem powerful enough to be a real threat.
The civilians have probably already been warned to stay indoors, and the area might even be cleared by now. Plus, since I don't know who owns this gate, I'm not sure if I should get involved. The owner might not appreciate an outsider stepping into their territory.
Just as I was about to stop thinking about it and settle back onto the sofa, ready to grab the TV remote, my phone suddenly rang.
"Two calls in one morning? That's unusual," I said to myself. I've blacklisted most unimportant numbers, so I don't usually get too many calls. If this one got through, it must be from someone important.
I picked up my phone and saw the name on the screen: "Chief Woo Jin Chul."
Why do I have a feeling this call is related to the dungeon break I'm sensing right now?
"Good morning, Chief Woo," I answered, greeting him with a gentle tone.
"Good morning," Chief Woo Jin Chul replied, his voice calm but with a hint of urgency. "I hope I'm not interrupting your morning routine, but we have a situation developing near your location."
"I sensed it," I said, glancing out the window as if I could spot the magical disturbance from my apartment. "It's a dungeon break, right? Feels like a B-Rank."
"Exactly," Chief Woo confirmed. "The hunters on site are trying to contain it, but they're struggling with the sheer number of beasts pouring out. The backup squad will take some time to get there, so we sent a few nearby lower-rank hunters to manage things for now. But it's proving to be a bit much for them."
"But how did a B-Rank gate go unnoticed and remain uncleared for so long?" I asked, heading towards my bedroom. I couldn't step out in just my casual shorts and T-shirt. As I moved, Chief Woo's voice continued through the phone.
"The details are a bit unclear, but we suspect it was a scheduling oversight mixed with some communication issues. I'll give you the full story later. Right now, we really need your help to stabilize the situation."
"Understood," I replied, standing in front of my wardrobe. I grabbed a white jacket with a crisp white T-shirt underneath, along with white pants and matching shoes. "I'll get there right away. Just make sure the civilians are safe and out of the area."