RFH Chapter 09 — [R15]

 Episode 9

Thankfully, Lee Ruri soon stopped crying. She widened her eyes and alternated glances between Min Hyemi and Seon Jejun.  

“Huh? Did you come to rescue me?”  

“Yes... Since you saved me once, after all.”  

“Ruri-chan is so touched!”  

Ignoring her words, Min Hyemi signaled Seon Jejun with her eyes, suggesting they head to the final 9th Circle.  

Once they reached the 9th Circle, the dungeon would collapse, and they’d be able to escape!  

[You have entered the 9th Circle: <Treachery Circle>.]

But when they arrived at the 9th Circle, what awaited them was a despair-inducing mission.  

[Escape Condition: Reveal a secret you wish to keep hidden to prove your camaraderie.]

“This... This is insane...”  

Min Hyemi didn’t have many secrets, but if she had to choose one, it was obvious what it would be.  

‘I’ll have to reveal my genre of origin...’  

It didn’t seem like a light secret would suffice to get out of this dungeon.  

As Min Hyemi cautiously gauged Seon Jejun’s reaction, Lee Ruri, standing beside her, suddenly spoke in a cheerful voice.  

“Well, back when I was a school idol... I might’ve been a little jealous of Minami-chan?”  

“......?”  

“Everyone said I took good care of Minami-chan... but unlike me, she could sing and dance so well! I was a bit jealous! That’s my secret!”  

[Lee Ruri: O]

What? That counted? Also, who the hell was Minami-chan, you nerd?!  

Min Hyemi wanted to shout, but she barely managed to swallow the words.  

Instead, she stared at Lee Ruri with a look that demanded an explanation.  

“Hmph, it’s a pretty big secret! No one would ever think I’d feel jealous about something!”  

“Uh... Well, sure...”  

Considering Lee Ruri’s innocent and bubbly image, it could be considered a bit out of character, she supposed.  

Anyway, now it was Min Hyemi’s turn to share her secret.  

She glanced at Seon Jejun out of the corner of her eye.  

She hated how people’s gazes changed when they learned her genre of origin.  

A few would pity her, but most would see her as someone cheap.  

As if she were an object they could touch anytime they pleased—utterly disposable.  

‘Damn dungeon.’  

But what choice did she have? If she wanted to clear the dungeon, she had to say it.  

In the end, Min Hyemi lowered her head and confessed her secret.  

“I’m a female lead from a 19+ hardcore romance-fantasy.”  

[Min Hyemi: O]

A circle appeared in the air, signaling that her secret had been acknowledged.  

Min Hyemi couldn’t help but glance at Seon Jejun.  

‘He doesn’t seem like the type to look down on me... but would he pity me?’  

From what she’d observed of his personality in their short time together, that seemed likely.  

Surprisingly, Seon Jejun’s expression remained utterly indifferent.  

His face showed no reaction to her confession, as though he truly didn’t care.  

‘No matter how composed someone is, they usually get surprised at this.’  

In fact, Min Hyemi was the one who ended up staring at Seon Jejun in astonishment.  

Keeping his calm demeanor, Seon Jejun finally spoke.  

“I am a god from mythology.”  

However, when the system didn’t respond, he continued.  

“...Prometheus.”  

At those words, Min Hyemi clasped her hands over her mouth.  

Wait a minute. If he was Prometheus, then...  

“You mean the one who had his liver eaten by an eagle for 30,000 years for helping humans?”  

“......!”  

“I spent 30,000 years in that world.”  

[Seon Jejun: O]

[The dungeon has been cleared!]

Though the dungeon was now complete, Min Hyemi couldn’t feel happy about it.  

30,000 years—that was absolutely unimaginable...  

‘How could anyone not go insane...?’  

Now, she finally understood why he always seemed so lethargic and indifferent.  

How could anyone stay sane after having their liver eaten by an eagle for 30,000 years?  

Seon Jejun wasn’t human.  

He was, quite literally, a god.  

***

When they exited the dungeon, government officials dispatched from headquarters were waiting for them.  

“Team leader!”  

“Waaah, Chan-neul!”  

Kim Chan-neul and Jung Yeseul waved their hands excitedly, while Lee Ruri let out a delighted squeal and ran toward them.  

Though they often made Min Hyemi want to pull her hair out, seeing their faces brought her a sense of relief.  

Just then, a man approached Min Hyemi.  

She recognized him as the team leader of the research team working on the lower floors.  

“You’re from the Corpse Disposal... I mean, Recovery Team 2, right?”  

“Yes, that’s correct.”  

“Why did you go into the dungeon yourself? You had Hunter Seon Jejun with you. There was no need for you to risk going in as well.”  

She couldn’t exactly say it was because she had received an S-rank quest, so she gave a safe answer.  

“One of my team members was inside. How could I just stand by and do nothing?”  

“Oh...”  

Fortunately, he seemed to accept her response with a nod.  

Min Hyemi then began explaining the situation in detail to the officials as she prepared to leave the site.  

Vroom—*

At that moment, a sleek sports car came speeding toward them. Despite the restricted area being cordoned off with tape, the car looked as though it was about to break through.  

Everyone’s attention shifted to the vehicle, which screeched to a halt just in time.  

When the car door opened, familiar faces emerged.  

“Security Team 1...”  

Someone mumbled.  

As they said, the people inside the car were from Security Team 1.  

First to step out was Kwon Anna, the sole female leader of the team, known for her overwhelming charisma.  

Unlike Seon Jejun, her specialty was creating havoc and chaos during combat, often leaving the battlefield a complete mess.  

Following behind her was a man with sharp features and an intense, intimidating aura.  

He was the epitome of the phrase 'the man you’d never want to meet at a family introduction dinner.'

‘That must be Kang Jinhyuk.’  

Kang Jinhyuk was said to be the protagonist of a male-oriented apocalypse story. Having survived an apocalypse, he was known for his rough and dirty temper.  

In other words, not someone you’d want to get involved with.  

Min Hyemi instinctively clung to Lee Ruri’s side.  

Just then, the last person stepped out of the car.  

The sight of him made Min Hyemi’s expression sour instantly.  

“Ugh, gross...”  

A man with radiant golden hair and a kind, friendly demeanor.  

Yes, he had the stereotypical 'sub-male lead' look from a romance fantasy.  

He was Han Ian, known as a sub-male lead from a female-oriented romance fantasy world.  

“Chan-neul, I feel sick...”  

Just as there’s a law that even the sub-male lead still counts as a male lead, Min Hyemi couldn’t help but feel nauseous when she saw a romance fantasy returnee.  

“Team leader, please don’t die!”  

Kim Chan-neul, alarmed, hurriedly supported her.  

“Let’s get out of here quickly!”  

“Yeah...”  

She leaned on Kim Chan-neul and was about to hurriedly leave the scene when—  

“Wait a moment!”  

A voice called out, stopping them.  

Min Hyemi turned her head and locked eyes with a pair of soft hazel-colored eyes.  

Incredibly, the person staring at her was none other than Han Ian, one of the top three people she never wanted to deal with.  

“Excuse me, haven’t we met somewhere before?”  

“...That’s such a lame line.”  

Kang Jinhyuk, standing next to Han Ian, sneered sarcastically.  

But Han Ian didn’t seem to care at all.  

Since Min Hyemi was meeting him for the first time, she replied with a puzzled expression.  

“No, this is our first meeting.”  

“Really? I felt like I’d seen you somewhere before. Ah, could it be...!”  

Han Ian widened his eyes as if he had come to a realization.  

“Are you from a romance fantasy world?”  

“W-what?”  

“I’m also from a romance fantasy world, haha. But you give off the vibe of a romance fantasy female lead.”  

“........”  

Min Hyemi narrowed her eyes in silence.  

Thankfully, he hadn’t realized she was from a 19+ romance fantasy... but—  

‘I don’t really want to be recognized as a romance fantasy female lead.’  

Especially by Han Ian, a sub-male lead. What if he ended up falling for her?  

“Yes... I’ve heard that you’re a sub-male lead from a romance fantasy.”  

“Oh, you know about me.”  

“Do you still love the female lead from that world?”  

Min Hyemi asked to test him, and he responded with an overly serious expression.  

“Of course. My love will never change.”  

“Oh...”  

“Angelina, never forget that I’m always behind you...”  

Han Ian suddenly got lost in a wistful monologue, speaking to himself.  

Seeing his level of devotion, Min Hyemi immediately lost interest. With such unwavering loyalty, there was no way he’d ever fall for her.  

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