Chapter 32
Before they knew it, Sunday had arrived, and Junhyeok headed to the department store with his younger siblings. Euncheol had never been to a department store before—the Great Catastrophe had struck when he was too young, and the three years that followed had been a time of wandering, leaving children like him largely neglected. After that, survival had been a daily struggle. Eunjung likely hadn’t either.
As soon as they stepped inside, Euncheol bounced around excitedly.
“Whoa! A department store! Haha! Hyung! Can I look around?”
Eunjung quickly pulled him back.
“Hey, Euncheol. Come here. You’ll get scolded if you make noise.”
Junhyeok chuckled and patted her head.
“It’s fine. No one’s going to scold you for this much. And Euncheol—let’s shop for clothes first, okay? We can look around later.”
At the mention of clothes, Euncheol dashed over to Junhyeok.
“Clothes? Yes! Let’s go shopping!”
Junhyeok led them to the mid-priced kids’ section. He’d considered the luxury brands but remembered the unpleasant incidents from before his regression. Besides, dressed as he was now, he’d only be ignored. No point inviting trouble.
“Go ahead and pick what you like. You too, Eunjung.”
“Really? Anything? Even two things?”
Junhyeok smiled.
“Not two—ten. Buy whatever you want.”
Money wasn’t an issue, so he let them go wild.
“Woohoo! I’m buying everything!”
As Euncheol eagerly touched every piece of clothing in sight, a flustered employee approached Junhyeok.
“Um…”
Junhyeok cut her off before she could speak.
“Don’t worry—we’ll buy everything he touches.”
“Huh?”
“Everything. Just keep track of what he handles.”
The employee blinked but bowed quickly.
“Ah! Understood.”
As she retreated to the counter, Junhyeok turned to Eunjung.
“You too—pick whatever you want. Money’s no problem now.”
Eunjung hesitated, then darted toward the girls’ section. No matter how mature she acted, she was still a kid at heart. Seeing her beam at the pretty clothes lifted Junhyeok’s mood.
Then—
WEEEEEE! WEEEEEE!
The emergency sirens blared.
Huh? What now?
The speakers crackled to life:
—Attention all customers! A spontaneous dungeon gate has appeared near the department store! Repeat: A spontaneous dungeon gate has formed nearby! Please remain calm and follow staff instructions for evacuation!
A spontaneous gate?
Junhyeok frowned. Wait—was today the day? And here of all places?
Back then, he’d been too busy surviving to care about unrelated incidents. He vaguely recalled five D-grade monsters emerging from a random gate somewhere, reducing the area to rubble before the Taebaek Guild dispatched Hunters to contain it.
Damn it! Five D-grades will flatten this place in minutes!
Even if Taebaek sent Hunters now, it’d take at least 30 minutes—longer if traffic stalled.
The crowd erupted into chaos.
Another announcement:
—Taebaek Guild has dispatched Hunters! Please evacuate calmly under staff guidance.
Yeah right, Junhyeok thought. Taebaek won’t make it in time.
He glanced at Eunjung and Euncheol—Eunjung clung to his pants, trembling like a leaf; Euncheol looked ready to cry beside her.
“Everyone! Proceed swiftly to the evacuation zone! Taebaek Hunters will arrive shortly—please follow us this way!”
Despite staff efforts, panic spread like wildfire:
“Move! I need out—now!”
“Me first! Get outta my way!”
“Mommy! Waaaah!”
Pure pandemonium.
“Customers! Stay calm! Exiting now is more dangerous—evacuate via designated routes!”
But chaos only worsened.
Suddenly—
KREEEEEGHHHH!!
A monstrous roar shook the building.
Screams followed:
“Aaaaahhh!”
“Help meee!”
“Move!!”
Even awakened Hunters froze at such roars—let alone civilians. The last shreds of order collapsed.
“Damn it.”
Junhyeok gritted his teeth. Why today? Why here?
But wallowing wouldn’t help.
“Excuse me!”
He flagged down a panicked employee.
“Me?”
“Can you take my siblings to safety?”
“Huh?”
“My brother and sister—get them out.”
The employee snapped alert.
“O-of course! This way!”
As she urged them forward, Junhyeok shook his head.
“I’m a Hunter. I’ll check outside first. Just keep them safe.”
“A Hunter?! What rank—”
“Doesn’t matter. Eunjung. Take care of Euncheol. Got it?”
He clenched his fists. Alone, I could escape. But not with them.
Their lives weren’t worth gambling. The only option: Hold out till Taebaek arrives.
“Hyung…come with us!” Euncheol wailed.
Eunjung gripped him tighter.
But if these monsters weren’t stopped, the entire district would be rubble—his siblings included. No choice left.
“Euncheol. You know I’m a Hunter. Right? I’ll stop those monsters. So protect your noona for me. Can you do that?”
“…”
“Can you?”
Euncheol sniffled but nodded.
“Mhm. I’ll protect her.”
“Good boy. Eunjung. Listen to this lady. Stay close to Euncheol. Okay?”
She nodded shakily.
“…Okay. But…you have to go?”
“Yeah. Don’t worry. I’m strong. Just follow her. Now go.”
Turning to the employee:
“Keep them safe.”
“I swear it. Stay alive. Kids—let’s move!”
As they hurried away, Junhyeok sprinted downstairs, pulling shield and sword from his inventory.
Time to swap skills for tanking.
With spectators around and only needing to stall, he replaced DPS skills with pure tank abilities.
Reaching ground floor:
KREEEEGHH!!
Five D-grade Karkans rampaged through carnage. Bodies littered the floor. People fled or froze. Kids wailed for mothers. Total hell.
Aggro all five at once. One escape risks my siblings.
Trusting instincts, he activated Swift Step and lunged.
SWISH!!
Basic guild-issued gear in hand, he targeted the nearest Karkan. Bipedal. Dangerous arm strikes.
THWACK!!
A leg slash drew first aggro.
KROOOAR!!
It gave chase.
THUD!! THUD!!
Too slow against Swift Step.
Next target: Another Karkan.
“Over here, mutt!”
THWACK!!
Repeat. Four more.
In under 10 minutes, all monsters were on him.
