The all-knowing Player (Solo Leveling)

High orcs (1)

Corresponding episodes: 68, 69

The sun shines down on our backs as Jin-Woo and I reach the trucks of the mining team—this time, without Seon-Ji and Yool. An enormous gate towers at the foot of a cliff plunged into the blue light of the portal. Dark streaks crackle at its edges, yet the power it emits ripples in softer waves than the dungeon cleared by the Hunters Guild yesterday. A temporary campsite has already been set up around the gate, and the area bustles with energy despite the early hour.

"Mr. Sung, Ms. Soo, you're here!" the miners call upon seeing us arrive on the site.

Bright smiles replace tired yawns as soon as the men spot us and lift their hands in a joyous greeting. The team leader, standing near the coffee truck with a few colleagues, waves at us, inviting us to join them.

"You should join us for lunch today, Mr. Sung!" he shouts.

"Don't tell me you already ate again?" a glasses-wearing miner adds, leaning on the counter of the truck as the coffee machine buzzes dully.

This time, the player promises to eat with us. The men cheer. They push us into the queue, and though the members of the retrieval team protest, declaring they were here first, the miners first in line drape their arms around our shoulders with laughs that drown out the discontent voices.

We get our drinks and follow our team to the side of the campsite, where a truck full of pickaxes awaits us. As the attack force still has to enter the gate to clear out the tunnels of the dungeon, we simply sip on our drinks and listen to the men chatting away.

I remain focused on the conversation, trying my best to ignore Jin-Woo's close presence. But he remains too close, so close I feel him flinch as a shout halls across the site.

"Guild Master Choi, Vice Master Cha?"

My head shrinks into my shoulders in a futile attempt to hide while Jin-Woo presses his helmet further on his head to cover his face. But it's too late: they head straight toward the mining team, their eyes focused on our frames. Both wear smiles, but while Hae-In's is warm, hidden under the handkerchief she holds against her nose, the urge to run away rises in me at the sight of Choi Jong-In's commercial smile.

How did he find out that we integrated his mining team? Did Hae-In tell him? I should have warned her not to tell anything to the guild master. Though he would have learned about our presence here after the high orc incident anyway, I believed we could get away with it without meeting him.

"Hunter Soo Hee-Jin, Hunter Sung Jin-Woo!" he calls out as the miners step to the side to let them pass. "What a pleasant surprise! When Hunter Cha told me that you integrated our mining team, I almost couldn't believe her."

The men around us shoot us bewildered stares. Cha Hae-In, and now Choi Jong-In?—is what they must be thinking. I purse my lips, swallowing a wince down. Attention is something I'd rather avoid. But it's inevitable for S-ranks. I just hoped we would be able to enjoy one last day of anonymity.

"Team leader Kang," the mage greets, "how are you? Do you mind if I borrow your new recruits for a while? We shouldn't be long."

His gaze drifts back to us, and in his eyes lies a sparkle that has my stomach twisting in apprehension. But the miner agrees with vehement nods, sending us off to the snake without a single clue in the world.

"Of course!"

We find ourselves forced to follow Choi Jong-In and Hae-In to a corner of the campsite, where a few mana streaks escape the hues of the gate to run over the cliff before dying down with a low fizzle.

As we walk, Hae-In leans toward me and lifts her handkerchief to ask in a whisper, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Tell you what?" I reply in the same tone.