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Chapter 17
“Long-term unresolved (長期未濟)” literally means something that hasn’t been solved for a long period of time.
The same went for long-term unresolved dungeons.
And because such dungeons often carried a high risk of breaking, most of them ended up being taken over by the government.
Later, large guilds would buy the management rights back for a dirt-cheap price.
If you cleared the quest, you could obtain byproducts at a bargain. It could turn out to be a decent investment.
But the odds weren’t particularly favorable, so very few guilds bothered to create a dedicated team for them.
At most, a raid team might get a casual suggestion like:
“Why not try this one as a way to take a break?”
If not that—
“Just dump it on the team filled with misfits. The ones too awkward to cut loose, but too much trouble to properly make use of.”
The Cold Case Dungeon Unit (CCDU), the team Lee Hyun had applied to join, was treated exactly like that at White Burn.
“People call it the Rose Team.”
“…?”
On his first day at work, standing in front of the guild headquarters, Lee Hyun ran into an old junior who had been waiting for him since dawn.
“The team you’ll be joining. Technically, it belongs to the guild’s Dungeon Conquest Division, one of our core departments. But in reality? It’s just for show, with no substance. Like flowers. Pretty, but pointless.”
“…”
“It’s meant as sarcasm.”
He had seen her briefly the other day, but his junior was still as cold and curt as ever. If anything, she seemed even more cynical now.
“Our team leader got pulled into an urgent morning meeting, so I had to come instead. I’ll be your guide today. That’s fine, right?”
Lee Hyun nodded awkwardly with a faint smile.
“Yeah, that’s fine.”
“Then follow me.”
Kim Min-jung didn’t even wait for his reply and briskly walked into the building.
Lee Hyun let out a short sigh, feeling conflicted.
I didn’t think Min-jung would be here of all places…
“Did you steal her wallet or something?”
Perched on Lee Hyun’s head, Son Oh-gong grinned while munching on a snack. Today it was an egg bun.
I may have grown up poor, but I never did anything like that.
“Then why’s she acting like you froze her out? Did you confess and get rejected or something?”
Back when I was with Cheongroe, she was one of my closest comrades.
“Then what gives?”
…I think it’s because she was disappointed in me.
“Disappointed?”
Because I cut off all contact one-sidedly.
A bitter smile crept onto Lee Hyun’s lips.
“Not coming?”
“No, I’m coming.”
He followed Min-jung through several checkpoints.
“This is a workplace, so instead of calling you ‘senior,’ I’ll call you ‘colleague’ from now on.”
“Yes, understood. Assistant Manager Kim.”
Lee Hyun had already noticed the badge around her neck listing her department and position.
But then—
“…?”
“…Since this is work, I thought I should also use honorifics. Did I make some mistake?”
Min-jung shook her head.
“No. You did well. We can’t mix private ties with work. It’s just… drawing such a clear line feels very much like you, senior.”
“…”
“Come on. Our unit’s on the 11th floor, but I’ll explain the Dungeon Conquest Division floor by floor as we go.”
Lee Hyun scratched his cheek and stepped into the elevator beside her.
Beep.
Min-jung tapped her badge and pressed the button for the 10th floor.
“Your ID card will be issued later today. The floors you can access differ by department and rank. Yours will…”
She explained everything calmly, professionally.
And somehow, that tone made Lee Hyun feel even more distance between them.
“Oh, right. Didn’t you say almost no one kept in touch after you left Cheongroe four years ago?”
Son Oh-gong snickered at Lee Hyun’s reaction.
“Can’t say I don’t get why you cut ties, but nothing ticks people off like being cut out of the blue. You reap what you sow.”
Lee Hyun knew he had no excuse.
“And the closer you were, the deeper the betrayal feels. This girl’s probably still pissed about it. Better handle it well. Ahh, moments like this call for popcorn, not egg buns. Still, tasty though. Nom nom.”
Lee Hyun clenched his fists, sorely tempted to smack the monkey on the head.
“The 10th and 11th floors are ours. We use part of the 12th too, but that’s where the execs sit, so you won’t need to go. Let’s meet your team first.”
Since Team A was located in the far corner, Lee Hyun got a full look at the 10th floor as they walked.
The Dungeon Conquest Division was the backbone of White Burn, large enough to have teams all the way down to Team Z.
“Who’s that? Haven’t seen him before.”
“No idea.”
“Assistant Manager Kim’s personally escorting him, though. Must be someone important. Maybe a new hire for Team A?”
“Did an announcement go out?”
“Not yet. But damn, he’s good looking.”
Lee Hyun could feel curious eyes on him, whispers following as they passed.
“Well, if it isn’t Hunter Jang! I heard you’d been discharged, but to think you actually came to our guild!”
A familiar voice called out. Manager So Sung-hae from Team A ran over and grabbed Lee Hyun’s hand warmly, his tired face beaming.
“It’s been a while, Manager.”
“Don’t be so stiff! We’re family now!”
“What? It really is Hunter Jang?”
“Hunter, are you feeling better?”
Other Team A members popped their heads over their partitions like moles, waving and greeting him warmly.
“Your injuries… are you okay now?”
Even Min, another old classmate, shyly approached to ask after him.
Meanwhile, employees from other teams could only blink in confusion.
Who the hell is that guy?
Team A, those arrogant pricks, acting that friendly?
Didn’t they ask for backup recently? Maybe he was involved?
Speculation ran wild, but no one guessed the truth. Executive Lim had already ordered everyone to keep the Monkey’s Den incident secret.
So curiosity about Lee Hyun only grew.
“No serious injuries. Thank you all for your concern.”
“Whew. Honestly, we were terrified back then. Please don’t push yourself like that again. Nothing matters more than your own safety, got it?”
Manager So’s voice was heavy with concern.
“Yes. I’ll remember that.”
“You say that, but you’ll probably dive right into trouble with your new team. Too kind for your own good. Hey, why don’t we just steal him for ourselves?”
“Right? His skills are wasted anywhere else.”
“Quiet, you lot. You think I want to let him go? Not like we can say a word in front of the team leader, though.”
“Well, the team leader controls our assignments. You don’t, Manager.”
“You punks—!”
The team ducked down behind their partitions, hiding from his glare.
Manager So vowed to restore his dignity later, then turned back to Lee Hyun.
“I heard where you’re headed. Sure you don’t want to reconsider?”
“Sorry.”
“Not even a little? Your talent’s too precious to waste.”
Lee Hyun felt grateful. Other guilds barely acknowledged help received, treating it as their due.
But Team A truly welcomed and worried for him.
“Your kindness means a lot. But I’d only be a burden to Team A.”
“If you’re weak, then what does that make us… sigh. Fine, I won’t press. But if you change your mind, come to me or the leader anytime, understood?”
“Yes. I understand.”
Lee Hyun nodded, realizing maybe this company life wouldn’t be so bad after all.
“Elevator’s too slow. Let’s take the stairs to the 11th.”
Min-jung led the way up.
“What do you think of the division? Do you like it?”
“I think I can settle in more easily than expected.”
“All the members care for you. Just like in Cheongroe.”
At that name, silence fell.
Lee Hyun realized it—this was the moment he had long expected would come.
“Can I ask why you cut all contact back then?”
Her voice wavered just slightly. Despite her icy facade, she had gathered courage to say this.
“You left only a discharge paper, packed in a rush, vanished like you were running away. You didn’t think we’d resent you for that, did you?”
She had called him senior, not colleague.
“No. I never thought that.”
Lee Hyun dropped the honorifics, speaking as he once had.
Countless words churned in his head. But what came out was something else entirely.
“It wasn’t you resenting me. It was me… not having the face to see you again.”
“….”
“And that hasn’t changed.”
His voice was calm, but heavy.
“I was your leader. Responsible for your safety and lives. But my bad judgment only made things worse, cost us sacrifices that shouldn’t have happened.”
“….”
“And then, after getting injured, I was pitifully coddled by you, when it should’ve been the other way around. I couldn’t stand myself. That’s why I left.”
“….”
“I didn’t deserve to face you again. So… I ran.”
No excuse could change the truth—back then, leaving had been nothing but running away.
Chasing his brother’s killers was just a pretext. The truth was, he hadn’t wanted to admit his first real failure.
“I’m sorry. For back then.”
“….”
“I should’ve said this first, but I’m late.”
Her steps faltered.
Silence stretched.
Lee Hyun didn’t expect forgiveness. He only hoped her anger and disappointment had eased, even a little.
Then—
Click.
She started walking again.
“Some resent you. But far more still miss you.”
“….”
“Please, remember that.”
From below, Lee Hyun saw her lips pressed tight, like holding something in.
“…I will. And while it’ll take time, I’ll meet each one and apologize properly. Thanks… for caring.”
They could never go back entirely. But he knew now he couldn’t run anymore. He had to face things head-on.
Maybe one day, they could laugh together again, reminiscing.
Perhaps his answer had helped, because her footsteps grew lighter.
And for just a moment—he thought he glimpsed a faint smile on her face.
“This is the Cold Case Dungeon Unit. For formality’s sake, it’s labeled Team Z.”
He’d heard: Teams A–F handled domestic dungeons, G–W overseas. Within those categories, more sub-divisions existed.
But Teams X, Y, Z were entirely separate categories.
The Rose Team was Team Z.
Z… it even sounds like my codename. What a coincidence.
Lee Hyun smirked as they reached the most tucked-away corner of the 11th floor.
Maybe this life wouldn’t be so bad after all.
But—
“What a dump.”
Yeah. A total dump.
The place was chaos. Empty bottles, crumpled snack bags, stinking leftovers everywhere.
Some members were even snoring on the couches.
“This is the worst. You okay staying here?”
Lee Hyun chuckled wryly. Hunters lived differently from ordinary office workers, true. But there were limits.
Sure enough—
She’s fuming.
Min-jung’s eyebrow twitched. She’d been a strict rule-follower back in Cheongroe, and her face showed she was barely holding back fury.
“Team Leader Jung.”
She walked up to a man reclined in his chair, face covered with a newspaper.
“Team Leader Jung!”
“Ugh… what’s the racket—oh, if it isn’t Assistant Manager Kim? Long time no see!”
Jung, the team leader, pulled down the paper and grinned.
But Min-jung only frowned and stepped back.
“You stink of alcohol… What on earth were you doing here?”
“Oh, this? Ha! We had a team dinner last night. Couldn’t find a good place for round three, so we came back here.”
“You think this is a playground?”
“Come on, don’t be like that. You’re not even on our team anymore.”
Feigning friendliness, he moved closer, pretending to sling an arm around her shoulder. His intentions were obvious.
Disgusted, Min-jung tried to push him away—but before she could, Lee Hyun caught Jung’s wrist.
Smack!
Startled, Min-jung looked up at the man who stood a head taller than her.
Lee Hyun spoke, his face hard.
“Looks like the alcohol hasn’t worn off yet. Maybe wash your face first?”
“Hm? And who are you supposed to be?”
“Lee Hyun. Newly assigned to the Cold Case Dungeon Unit.”
“Ohh, so you’re the new recruit we’re getting? But…”
Suddenly, Jung’s grin twisted cold.
“Mind letting go of my hand?”
Magic flared.
His killing intent was palpable.
Min-jung’s face hardened. Team leaders were all high-level hunters. Jung was no exception.
He had only been demoted here after scandals—abusing subordinates, pocketing bonuses, countless issues. Only his A-rank strength had saved him from being fired outright.
Rumors even said he’d been sponsored by Chinese backers, though the execs covered it up.
Min-jung worried Lee Hyun, fresh from breaking free of his curse, couldn’t handle him.
But—
Grip.
“If I don’t… what will you do about it?”
Lee Hyun only tightened his hold, smiling coldly.
