The Healing Restaurant of an F-Rank Hunter Who Almost Retired

Chapter 37 of 100

Chapter 37

Han Young-mi spoke in an agitated voice.

"But nobody knows that. Or maybe they know and pretend they don't? My name doesn't appear anywhere in the clear record. I heard that only the runaway tank and the raid leader were listed like heroes. I wandered around this world after dying and heard everything. So in the end... my sacrifice was simply buried."

She slammed her fist down on the table.

A hollow sound echoed through the food cart.

"I'm not asking for anything grand. I just want one person, even a single person, to properly remember that day and that moment when I stood my ground. I want someone to know that I didn't die for nothing. That a tank named Han Young-mi, even though she was an older middle-aged woman and only B-rank, fought more bravely and strongly than anyone else in that dangerous dungeon during her final moments. That's all I want someone to acknowledge."

Tears streamed down her face again.

This time, they did not feel like tears of simple sadness.

They felt like a desperate cry from someone who wanted the value of her existence to be recognized.

It was her final protest over a sacrifice that had gone unrecorded.

"I see...."

Hong Man-gi fell into deep thought as he listened.

Her lingering regret was not something that could be resolved by simply eating delicious food.

He needed to find proof of what her final battle and sacrifice had truly been like.

Then that evidence needed to be recognized.

Perhaps spreading it to the entire world was unnecessary.

At the very least, Hong Man-gi himself needed to know the truth.

Because that was what she wanted.

But how?

The records of an already cleared dungeon would be managed by the guild and the Association.

According to Han Young-mi, even those records had been slightly distorted, making her contribution look smaller than it truly was.

That meant,

'The BX-0 Dungeon... Is the only option to go there myself?'

That was the only solution Hong Man-gi could think of.

He could enter the dungeon where Han Young-mi died and search for traces of her final battle or proof of what she had done.

That might be the only key to resolving her injustice.

However,

the BX-0 Dungeon was one of the highest-level dungeons, difficult even for A-rank parties.

Kang Jae-min was currently out because of his injury.

Entering that place with only Hong Man-gi, a D-rank, and Lee Yu-han, an F-rank, was practically suicide.

Even if Hong Man-gi somehow managed to fight, he might not have enough attention left to protect Lee Yu-han.

On top of that, he also had to worry about the Association's Inspection Department watching him.

'I know it's reckless. But....'

Hong Man-gi could not ignore Han Young-mi's soul as she stared at him with a hopeless expression.

If he did not fulfill her final wish, she might wander this world forever in pain.

And that would become another burden on Hong Man-gi's heart as well.

'I guess this is a road I have to walk.'

Hong Man-gi made his decision.

He knew it was dangerous.

Still, it felt like something he could not avoid.

"Hunter Han Young-mi."

Hong Man-gi continued with a firm voice.

"I'll go there myself."

"What? Where?"

Han Young-mi asked in confusion.

Hong Man-gi pressed his lips together before answering.

"The BX-0 Dungeon. I'll go to the place where you fought your final battle and look for evidence that can prove what you did. It won't be easy, but I'll find some way."

Han Young-mi's eyes widened in disbelief.

"But that place is far too dangerous! And you... judging by the fact that I don't recognize you, you must be C-rank or below, right?"

She remembered Hong Man-gi's rank and could not continue.

"It's fine. I'm a D-rank Hunter who's been gaining plenty of experience. And I won't be going alone."

Hong Man-gi glanced toward Lee Yu-han.

Lee Yu-han looked confused because he had no idea what was happening.

Still, as if wanting to support Hong Man-gi's decision, he clenched his fist.

"And Hunter Han Young-mi, you'll have to come with us too."

"What? Me too? I'm already dead."

"Even as a spirit, you'll need to come. Your memories and experience can guide us. And at the place where you fought your final battle, we'll search together for something that can resolve your injustice."

Hong Man-gi's proposal was extraordinary.

Entering a dungeon together with a spirit.

Still, it seemed like the best option they had.

"Hmm...."

Han Young-mi hesitated.

Returning to the painful place where she had died terrified her.

However, it might also be her only chance to resolve the resentment keeping her here.

More than anything, the sincerity of this young Hunter who was willing to risk himself for her moved her heart.

"Understood. I'll go with you. Realistically... you could end up in serious danger because of me. Thank you, truly."

Han Young-mi could not hide her emotions.

Hong Man-gi nodded firmly and called Lee Yu-han.

"Let's close early today and get some sleep."

"What? Already? Ah! Did you complete that spirit's... wish?"

"No. We're going to complete it. Tomorrow morning."

"Huh? Where are we going?"

"The BX-0 Dungeon."

"What?!"

Lee Yu-han remained completely confused.

However, he seemed to decide that he would quietly follow Hong Man-gi and did not ask again.

The night around the food cart grew deeper.

* * *

The next morning, before the sun had even fully risen, Hong Man-gi and Lee Yu-han stood in front of the BX-0 Dungeon entrance beneath the blue light of dawn.

Beside them was an invisible companion.

Han Young-mi's spirit.

The cold and damp atmosphere unique to dungeon entrances surrounded the three.

Someone let out a quiet sigh.

"Whew...."

It was Lee Yu-han.

He could not stop himself from taking a deep breath.

The determination he had felt at the food cart the previous night had completely disappeared.

Now that he was actually standing in front of the infamous BX-0 Dungeon, every cell in his body seemed stiff with tension.

Even with Hong Man-gi beside him, there was no guarantee they could survive the dungeon.

"Hunter Hong Man-gi, now that I'm actually standing here, I'm really nervous."

"Nervous?"

"Are we really going to be okay? Now that I think about it, this might be far beyond the level I can handle...."

Lee Yu-han's voice trembled slightly.

Perhaps sensing his anxiety, Han Young-mi's spirit whispered worriedly to Hong Man-gi.

"Mr. Hong Man-gi. Can't we think about this again? I don't want young people putting themselves in danger because of me. I could just carry my regrets with me...."

Her voice carried sincere concern and guilt.

But Hong Man-gi firmly shook his head.

"It's all right, Ms. Han Young-mi. And Yu-han."

Hong Man-gi looked between the two and spoke calmly.

"This isn't only about resolving Ms. Han Young-mi's lingering regret. I'm not doing this just because I want to perform a good deed. This is necessary for me too, and for Lee Yu-han. We need to grow again here. Only by overcoming fear and going beyond our limits can we become real Hunters."

There was unwavering confidence in his voice.

Lee Yu-han gathered his courage again after hearing him.

Han Young-mi could no longer argue and quietly nodded.

"All right... then."

As expected, the area around the dungeon entrance was quiet.

The BX-0 Dungeon was famous for being extremely dangerous.

Beyond that, it was a level immediately below an A-rank dungeon.

Unless someone had exceptional skill and courage, they would not even consider attempting it.

A few Hunters were standing around the entrance.

However, they did not seem interested in entering.

Instead, they looked as though they were waiting to watch any reckless challengers who might appear.

As Hong Man-gi and Lee Yu-han approached the entrance, several nearby Hunters began whispering.

"Hey, look at those guys. They're not actually planning to go inside, are they?"

"They look like low-rank Hunters. One's D-rank, and isn't that other guy F-rank? They're insane."

"Hey! Don't just walk in there! That place is hell, I'm telling you, hell!"

A middle-aged Hunter approached and clicked his tongue.

"Young people really have no fear these days. You clearly don't know what BX-0 is like. That's not a place for rookies like you. If you value your lives, turn around right now."

Hong Man-gi lightly ignored them and walked toward the authentication panel at the dungeon entrance.

Then something unexpected happened.

[Beeeeep]

A sharp warning sound rang out.

At the same time, a red energy field appeared in front of the dungeon entrance.

"Huh?"

"What is this, Hunter Hong Man-gi?"

"I... don't know...."

The energy field blocked their path.

Then a mechanical announcement came through the speakers.

【Emergency Notice. The BX-0 Dungeon has been temporarily closed as of today due to unstable internal mana and system error inspections. Entry is restricted for all Hunters. Repeating.】

"What... what did it say?"

Lee Yu-han asked in confusion.

"Temporarily closed? Suddenly?"

Hong Man-gi frowned.

This was the first time he had experienced anything like this.

Then several uniformed Hunter Association officials approached from the dungeon management office.

They stood in front of Hong Man-gi's group with stiff expressions.

"Good morning. We're from the Hunter Association Management Team. As you just heard, entry into the BX-0 Dungeon is currently prohibited. For safety reasons, the dungeon has been closed until the Association completes its inspection."

The official who seemed to be in charge explained in a stiff tone.

Hong Man-gi immediately understood.

'What a joke....'

The timing was far too perfect.

'They're trying to stop me from entering.'

Hong Man-gi stepped forward.

"What kind of safety problem? What exactly happened? The dungeon was operating normally until yesterday, wasn't it? And a dungeon itself is hardly a safe place to begin with. So what exactly does 'safety problem' mean?"

Hong Man-gi questioned him calmly.

"The phrase 'safety problem' is simply the general explanation. Recently, several observation drones operating inside the dungeon exploded for unknown reasons. We've also detected unusual changes in the internal energy flow, so a detailed investigation is necessary. Until official approval is given again, nobody may enter."

The official answered smoothly, as though he had prepared the response in advance.

"Then when will the dungeon reopen?"

"The inspection completion date has not been determined. For the time being, limited entry will only be permitted to B-rank or higher Hunters who belong to upper-level guilds pre-registered with the Association."

"Ha...."

B-rank or higher.

Members of registered upper-level guilds.

Hong Man-gi and Lee Yu-han met neither condition.

D-rank and F-rank.

Unaffiliated.

They were completely unqualified to enter.

"So you're saying we can't go inside."

Hong Man-gi's voice became lower.

"Yes. That's correct. Hunter Hong Man-gi and Hunter Lee Yu-han, in particular, do not meet the current rank requirements. We ask for your understanding."

The official spoke firmly.

Hong Man-gi bit his lip.

It was obvious discrimination.

And he was certain this restriction had been aimed specifically at him.

Every excuse they gave felt disconnected from reality.

'If they're going to act like this....'

Still, he could not back down.

He needed to resolve Han Young-mi's lingering regret.

And he also needed to stand against the invisible hands trying to restrain him.

After thinking for a moment, Hong Man-gi took a small card from his pocket.

It belonged to Kang Jae-min.

It was a temporary entry pass from the small-to-medium guild Kang Jae-min had previously belonged to.