~Chapter 2~
I picked up the chubby cat and ran toward a quiet corner of the garden where no one would see us.
I was sprinting without thinking, trying to find a more secluded spot—when suddenly, someone stepped out from behind a big tree, and I crashed right into them.
“Ahh!”
“Meeoooww!”
The cat went flying and flailed its tiny paws mid-air, and I was about to fall flat on my back.
In that brief moment, I was debating whether to try a breakfall or just flop when I suddenly felt someone’s arms catch me.
“Are you alright, My Lady?”
A warm and gentle voice brushed past my ear.
I opened my eyes, dazed—and saw a gorgeous guy looking down at me, like someone who came straight out of my dreams.
He had shiny black hair, thick eyebrows, and deep red eyes that burned like fire.
His sharp jawline and high nose bridge completed the look.
He had the kind of perfect face that made you question reality.
Who even looks this good?
Still holding me, he gently helped me stand and apologized in a voice just as sweet as his face.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t watching where I was going. Are you hurt?”
“I-I’m fine,” I mumbled, staring at him blankly.
He helped me up with a small, charming smile.
That sharp expression softened, making him look like a bright and innocent young man.
That smile was illegal.
Seriously.
My heart nearly gave out from that smile, but I somehow managed to pull myself together.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to swoon over his stunning looks right now.
I had to stop that nightmare-cat from saying anything crazy.
As I looked around for the chubby furball I dropped, the sweet-faced hottie spoke to me kindly.
“Did you lose something?”
“Oh, no, it’s just… the cat…”
“Oh, the cat? I think it went… hmm?”
He turned to point me in the direction the cat ran, but instead of the bushes, he was pointing toward the sky.
Following his gaze, I looked up—and my heart dropped.
There it was, right in the middle of the clear blue sky: a massive, terrifying thing that screamed bad news.
Black and red swirling like a mini black hole.
I knew that sight way too well.
“What the heck is that doing here?!”
A Gate.
The entrance to a dungeon crawling with monsters.
And worse—it looked like a dungeon break was about to happen.
Two hours left? Maybe just one?
If no one took out the dungeon’s “owner,” monsters would pour out into the world.
But like… why is there a Gate here?
I mean, sure, a talking cat was already weird, but now this?
I was completely confused and frozen, just staring at the Gate, when suddenly, energy started surging.
That meant the dungeon break had begun.
Then, in a flash—I got sucked straight into the Gate.
“Wait, no, stoppppppp—!”
I thought I’d hit the ground hard, but to my surprise, I landed smoothly.
Correction: he landed smoothly—while holding me in his arms.
The warm spring garden was gone.
Now we were in a dark forest under a gloomy, gray sky with no sun, moon, or stars.
The handsome stranger looked up and muttered in disbelief.
“…Where are we?”
I buried my face in his chest and covered my eyes with both hands.
Oh no.
Don’t tell me… Is this seriously a dungeon?
I didn’t want to believe it—but yeah, this was 100% a dungeon.
I knew something was off when a talking cat showed up, but this? This was too much.
I thought I was finally going to live a chill life in a romance fantasy story, and now this?
What kind of messed-up life is this?!
I was so mad I started shaking, and the sweet guy softly said,
“Don’t be scared, My Lady. I’ll protect you.”
Seriously, even his personality was sweet.
He smiled to reassure me, and I looked into his eyes, feeling strangely calm.
Then I stepped down from his arms slowly.
He was amazing in every way, but he couldn’t protect me.
No matter how kind or handsome he was, a regular person couldn’t fight dungeon monsters.
Not even trained soldiers or high-tech weapons worked against those things.
It all started when Earth was on the brink of collapse from energy shortages and climate disasters.
That’s when Gates started popping up all over the world.
Monsters—called “beasts”—came pouring out of the dungeons beyond those Gates.
Just when humanity was about to be wiped out, certain people awakened with special powers—called “skills.”
I was one of those awakened people.
I looked into the air and silently thought, Status Window.
And just like that, a blue window appeared in front of me—only visible to awakened ones.
I’d seen this way too many times before.
《Airevet Titanoa》
[Status]
Laneier’s Garden D — 99%
□□■■□■□ □■
[Skills]
– Strength Boost C (Passive)
– Defense Boost C (Passive)
– Physical Enhancement B (Passive)
– Swordsmanship A (Passive)
– I’ll Block It All A (Active)
– Mutual Destruction S (Active)
The only difference was my name—it had changed to fit this world.
But my skills were the same as before.
I had six total, including the S-rank active skill [Mutual Destruction].
Back in my old life, I was one of only twelve S-rank awakened people in Korea.
At first, it was awesome. S-rank meant government-level pay and top-tier treatment.
But I didn’t know that “S-rank Awakened” was basically code for “S-rank Dungeon Slave.”
So what if they paid me a lot?
I’d finish clearing a dungeon and collapse on the street from exhaustion,
only to get an emergency call and be dragged into another dungeon before I even made it home.
What’s the point of money if you’re too dead tired to spend it?
My only hobby was reading web novels, but I could barely finish any because I was always too busy.
I only managed to finish my favorite novel, Secret Romance in the Butterfly Garden, right before my last dungeon.
I used to think that was why I ended up reincarnated here.
But now there’s another dungeon?
This life is screwed too. Should I just die now?
“…Actually, that’s not a bad idea.”
I muttered with a crooked smile, and Sweet Handsome Guy gave me a concerned look.
He didn’t know what was going on either, but he looked really worried for me.
Even his concern was beautiful.
Should I at least make sure this kind, sweet man survives before I die?
Trying to pull myself together, I asked,
“I’m okay. Um… may I ask your name?”
“Please, call me Linus.”
With a face like his, I was sure he’d be one of the main characters, but I’d never heard of that name before.
No way he’s just a background character with that face.
Is this world’s beauty standard broken or something?
Part of me actually wanted to live a bit longer and explore this world.
Remembering my etiquette lessons from last week, I lightly lifted my skirt and introduced myself.
“I’m Airevet Titanoa. Please, just call me Airevet.”
“The honor is mine, Airevet.”
Linus replied with a sweet-as-whipped-cream smile.
If only the scenery behind that smile wasn’t a gloomy forest and blood-colored sky, I’d have been thrilled to add this man to my list of sweet perks in this new life.
As I sighed and looked up at the cursed sky, Linus glanced around and asked,
“By the way… do you know where we are?”
“Hmm… I’m not really sure…”
I awkwardly avoided looking at the part of my status window that said “Laneier’s Garden D.”
Linus stared at the sky with a serious face, tilted his head slightly, and asked again,
“This is my first time in the capital. Is this kind of thing common in Arendel?”
…So he’s a noble from the countryside.
He probably came to the capital just in time for the Crown Prince’s engagement party and ended up attending by chance.
And then got dragged into a dungeon break.
I guess the only thing this perfect man was missing… I was lucky.
