duo leveling [Solo Leveling]

Chapter 5

"Uh, hello." You bow down, a sheepish smile on your features.

"Hello, miss." The older man smiles warmly and nods his head down. "I was a little worried when Mr. Sung Jin-woo suddenly ran off, but I'd have to say I didn't expect him to bring a lady with him."

"Haha, yes." Trailing off awkwardly, you glance at the man beside you who silently stares. "Well, I'm Oh Eunha, pleasure to meet you."

"Song Chiyeol." He extends his hand and you delicately grasp it. Looking to his side, you notice that he didn't have his left arm. He notices your eyes. "Oh, it was a hunter accident."

"I see."

Nodding, you smile and step back, instinctively moving to Sung Jin-woo. He comes up behind you and stares at you and you look back, curious whereas to why he was looking so intently. It was merely a day since you've met him. It wasn't right to assume, but you swore that he seemed like a passive person.

"Are you a registered hunter?" He asks suddenly.

"Huh? Why do you ask?" You snap your head back at the older man, clearing your throat.

He points up to what looked like an open gate with a few people gathered around it, including a few suited people and probably other hunters.

"No, I'm not." You tell him and his eyes widen in surprise. "Though I'm sure that they'll make an exception."

He pauses for a few moments then nods and leads you up to the gathered group of hunters in front of the gate. When you near the people, you notice a chorus of gasps. Confused, you peek around Sung Jin-woo to spot a frail looking girl with the brightest soul you've ever seen. It was almost blinding.

"Jin-woo, are you really Jin-woo?" Tears begin to pool at her eyes and you take it as a cue to slip away, not wanting to cut into other people's business.

"Hello, I would like to join the hunter raid." You greet the employee from the Hunter's Association, pointing at the open gate behind them.

The suited employee nods. "Ah yes, do you have your Hunter card?"

Shaking your head, you press your lips together. "No, but could you make an exception?"

At the magic words, their eyes glaze over. As if hypnotized, they slowly nod, tapping a few things on their device. Grinning, you were infinitely glad you broke that rune stone before leaving the dungeon.

[Skill: 'Mage's Hypnotization' Was Activated]

"Yes, everything is completed, miss."

"Fantastic." You clasp your hands together, grinning in thanks.

The skill in question took a bit of your mana and couldn't be used on extreme actions or commands, but it was perfect for a little push here and there. Though by the reins of your morals, you've chosen not to use it extensively. You were, at least, confident in your persuasive skills outside of a skill.

"What a romantic atmosphere. Is someone filming a drama here?"

Swiveling around, you notice men in orange jumpsuits climbing out of a van. You didn't even have to see the cuffs or matching uniform to know that they were prisoners and criminals. Of what degree, you could just tell with a slight glance at the vile coloring of their soul. Even without your extra skill, you could understand what kind of people they were from the aura they emitted.

Gagging inwardly, your eyes narrow at the purple-haired male who made his appearance.

"Shut up, you fools." A chill runs down your spine at the sensitivity of his aura. "This isn't a picnic."

"You think so? There's something delicious waiting for us right here." One of the prisoners calls out, staring at you and you scowl slightly. Looking away, you ignore the stares lingering on you.

You were the odd one out right now.

"Miss Eunha, you're welcome to stay back." Jin-woo offers after muttering something to the light haired woman beside him.

Glancing at the people around, you shake your head. "No, I'm fine."

You wanted to test these new benefits that the system told you about. Not to mention you wanted to see how skillful Sung Jin-woo was.

Besides, your eyes were painfully drawn to the murderous suited man staring straight back at you with the coldest eyes fit for a predator observing its prey. The man's eyes dug into the back of your head and you were convinced you had two holes burned in already.

___

"Miss Eunha."

You glance up to see the pale haired lady walk up to you. It was barely an hour since you entered the dungeon and you, along with the other citizen party members, had embarrassingly done nothing. You mostly spent your time staring at monster corpses or observing Sung Jin-woo with a keen eye, to which you noticed he stiffened right up whenever you stared at him so you've decided to take interest in other things.

Speaking of, you peek slightly behind the woman to see Sung Jin-woo stab one of the goblins in a flash, too quick for anyone else to notice.

"Hello." You greet politely, tilting your head. "Is there something you need?"

"Ah? N-No." She trails off, turning away with an embarrassed flush. "It's just that Jin-woo mentioned you were a doctor. It's a little embarrassing as a healer to be in the same presence as someone as honorable as you."

Your eyes widen. "Oh no, please don't be. Humans all have different skills and talents the moment they are born. Besides, after all the people I'm sure you've healed, you are technically a doctor."

You smoothly glaze over the fact that you weren't actually practicing medicine and the fact that Sung Jin-woo had somehow talked to her about you. You were sure they didn't have nearly enough time to converse so much. They were much closer than you thought.

She lets out a strained smile and you tilt your head in wonder. "O-Oh, I forgot, my name is Lee Ju-hee. Pleased to meet you, Miss Eunha."

"Likewise." You extend a hand and she gently takes it, shaking it with a sense of affinity that makes you smile.

"The path branches into three."

You look up, walking around the end of the group to see three tunnels. You barely pay attention to the discussion of what to do. It was expected that the groups would split up. Every single time you glanced over at the prisoners your nose would catch onto the rancid smell of rotten flesh, the scent of something with death over their shoulder.

"And you, Miss Eunha?" You turn to see Sung Jin-woo gesture to the most left tunnel, where the most magical energy was gathered.

You give him a closed-eyed smile. "I'll go with him."

Everyone gapes when you point to the purple-haired suited man, including himself. He quickly collects himself as you grin at him.

"You don't mind. Do you?"

A/N: I realized I screwed up the timeline majorly. So let's all forget the fact that the scene with An Sang-min from the White Tiger Guild happened after the stealth rune. ('＿｀;）