Chapter 37: Even in cyberpunk, the truth prevails

“I… I’m back…”

Amon hesitated as he entered the house.

Returning after a week, the house was dark and desolate.

It had been so bright and cozy when he left, but now, with the curtains drawn and lights off, the house was as dark as a dungeon, even though it was morning.

Amon fumbled around, looking for the light switch.

Click.

The lights came on, and while the room was physically brighter, the house still felt oddly dim.

‘Was it because the blackout curtains were just too effective, or was this cursed city simply too gloomy?’

His thoughts didn’t linger long, as he realized the source of this darkness the moment someone stepped out of a room.

‘Oh.’

Sonia shuffled toward him, her long, straight hair hanging down, almost covering her face.

If it was anyone’s fault, it was Amon’s.

He had promised to return the same day but came back after a week instead.

Of course, he had called to inform her of the delay and had even gotten her permission, as the work involved saving lives, something unavoidable.

But practicality aside, emotions were another matter entirely.

“Um… Sonia?”

Sonia, whose expression was hidden behind her hair, came closer.

Amon stood at the entrance, unable to retreat or move forward, waiting for her.

Finally, she approached him, stretching her arms out wide.

Amon tried to interpret her gesture.

Then he heard her mutter in a slightly pouty voice.

“What are you doing?”

“Uh… What?”

“Hug me.”

She lifted her head.

Her sleepy eyes and slightly pouting lips gave away her mood.

Only then did Amon realize her state.

“Were you sleeping?”

She nodded.

“There’s nothing to do around here when you’re gone.”

“So… you’ve just been like that the whole time?”

“Yeah. The internet isn’t even fun without you around.”

“Haha…”

Amon let out a dry laugh, looking at Sonia in her pajamas.

Her sleepy eyes looked slyly at him.

“Aren’t you going to hug me?”

Instead of answering, Amon gestured at his own attire.

He was still in the explorer outfit he had worn when he left a week ago.

While he’d borrowed clothes at the hospital to do some laundry, the current state of his outfit wasn’t exactly suitable for a hug.

The clothes were still stained with traces of blood and dirt.

“I couldn’t shower properly at the hospital. Mind if I go freshen up first?”

She brought her nose to his shirt and sniffed.

The sour smell made her recoil.

“Eugh.”

As much as she adored him, no amount of love could cover up the awful stench.

Amon chuckled bitterly and took a step back.

“I’ll be right back after a shower.”

When Amon returned, freshly showered and changed, Sonia was curled up on the sofa.

As soon as she saw him, she rushed over and buried her face in his chest.

Sniff, sniff.

Approved.

She hugged him tightly.

“I missed you…”

Amon silently patted her.

Only after Sonia had sufficiently absorbed his presence did he finally ask what was on his mind.

“Were you mad?”

“Me?”

She let out a small laugh.

“Because you stayed out for a week?”

He nodded.

“Why would I be angry? You weren’t cheating on me or anything, and you were saving people.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck.

Her eyes closed, and…

Smooch.

Their noses brushed together, then parted again.

Sonia’s golden eyes, filled with warmth, looked up at him.

“Did you really think I was some petty girlfriend who’d get mad over that?”

He shook his head.

Amon stroked her hair, and she nuzzled against his hand like a contented puppy.

As he enjoyed the softness of her cheeks and hair, he spoke.

“So, does that mean I’m forgiven?”

“Nope. Forgiveness is separate.”

“Then… what should I do to earn it?”

A mischievous smile crept across her face.

Her arms, draped around his neck, tightened slightly.

She pressed herself closer, her cheeks squishing against his, the puffed-up softness making Amon’s lips curl up in a grin.

“Make up for the time you were gone,” she murmured with a playful pout.

Amon pulled her into a tight embrace.

“Gladly.”

It was a week later that Amon was finally released from home.

Sonia hadn’t let him go, insisting he make up for the days he had been away.

Whether watching TV, eating, or surfing the internet, Sonia clung to him as if he were her favorite stuffed toy.

She either sat on his lap, rested her head on his knees, or leaned against his shoulder.

She just wouldn’t let go.

Of course, she still went to college, so she wasn’t with him 24/7.

But she had warned him that if he wasn’t there when she returned, she’d be furious, so he couldn’t go out except for grocery shopping.

Eventually, as part of her compensation, she also asked him to sleep beside her.

Though they lived under the same roof, they had never actually shared a bed before, so Amon was visibly flustered by her request.

“Won’t it be cramped in bed?”

“You can just hold me while we sleep.”

Amon tried to refuse, blushing.

“No… uh… this is a bit much.”

“Do you not like me?”

He couldn’t resist the trump card.

In the end, Amon went to bed holding Sonia in his arms that night.

The first night, his heart pounded so hard he could barely sleep, but humans are adaptable creatures.

By the second night, he started sleeping soundly, and soon enough, it felt natural to share the bed with her.

***

A week later, Amon resumed his mercenary work.

“Hehehe.”

On his way to the Explorer Guild, laughter escaped him.

No matter what world he was in or how old he got, he couldn’t help but feel excited when he got a new weapon.

‘They’re all done for.’

Eager to try out his new triple jump, he quickened his steps toward the guild.

On the way, he called someone on his phone.

“Hey, Cassie. How’ve you been?”

It had been a while since he’d last met his friend Cassie.

They had initially started as rivals when Amon began his mercenary life, but over time, she became his junior, disciple, and companion.

Back then, she worked with him as a fellow mercenary during his early days of taking on assignments.

Before heading into a dungeon to level up, Amon had temporarily parted ways with her to experience it himself and later teach her.

‘I should’ve rejoined her in just a few days.’

But, unfortunately, a run-in with scavengers delayed him by a week, and Sonia holding him back added another week.

During that time, he had told Cassie to take on other work, so he hadn’t kept up with her situation.

Fortunately, she was doing fine as a solo mercenary.

“Oh, really? That’s a relief. Looks like the brokerage boss took good care of you.”

From the other end, her bright voice responded.

[So, when are you taking me to the dungeon?]

“Sorry, I only went once myself. I’ll go two more times and then take you. Just wait two days.”

[And you’re not gonna make it two weeks or a whole month this time?]

“Hey, this last time was special.”

[Speaking of, your incident is pretty famous these days.]

“Huh? But it didn’t make the news, did it?”

In this rotten world, news of a scavenger ripping out an explorer’s organs wasn’t even newsworthy unless the explorer was a superstar.

Organ theft by scavengers, gang murders, car accidents, industrial disasters—they were all just part of daily life.

So, although Amon’s incident was a rare case, it wasn’t enough for the news.

But Cassie wasn’t talking about the news.

[Of course, it’s not in the news. People are just saying you’re rich.]

“Rich? What? I’m barely getting by… Ah.”

Finally, Amon understood.

The D4C he had summoned at the dungeon entrance.

That VIP treatment was something average explorers could only dream of.

While it might not make the news, it was certainly enough to fuel gossip among explorers.

“Geez… seriously.”

At the time, he’d been in such a rush that he’d just called in the best medical service he could think of, without considering the repercussions.

“They’re not going to give me trouble over it, right?”

For mercenaries who lived hand to mouth, Amon’s apparent wealth was more than enough to stir up jealousy.

Luckily, Cassie assured him that there didn’t seem to be any ill will about it.

[Your equipment and combat skills made them accept it, more or less.]

Without needing to explain, the mercenaries had drawn their own conclusions about his background.

With top-notch gear, the ability to wipe out scavengers, and the willingness to call in D4C to save a teammate, they figured he was probably a retired ninja or a former security team leader.

[Actually, I’ve even been avoiding people because I used to be your teammate.]

In the mercenary world, it was an unspoken rule that being associated with former corporate personnel brought nothing but trouble.

So, naturally, Cassie was also being ostracized.

“Sorry about that…”

[If you’re really sorry, take me to the dungeon soon.]

“Alright. I’ll go a few more times and take you.”

[Okay. Take care.]

Amon ended the call.

By then, he’d reached the entrance of the Explorer Guild.

Clap!

He slapped his cheeks and opened the door.

‘Second exploration!’

With renewed determination to succeed this time, he stepped inside the guild.

Amon entered the guild and, amidst people’s stares, headed for the reception desk.

He looked for a party to join, with the help of the receptionist who had been friendly last time.

But—

“Sorry, we’re not on the same level as you.”

Most people declined to take him in.

Their stated reason was that they weren’t on the same level, but the real reason was different.

‘I don’t want to get involved with a retired corporate ninja.’

It would be fine if he’d retired peacefully.

But most ninjas didn’t retire in the wholesome sense of the word; usually, it meant trouble.

There was always the risk of getting tangled up with a corporate pursuit team.

And parties desperate enough to accept even such a ninja had no reason to stay in the entrance-level dungeons Amon wanted.

Most of them were exploring the deeper levels.

Thus, Amon struggled to find a party.

‘Should I just go in alone?’

He entertained the thought briefly but dismissed it just as quickly.

That was a suicide mission.

A swordsman couldn’t replace a gunner or a mage, and no individual could possibly handle every situation alone.

Statistics from that year proved it well.

Out of 100 solo dungeon explorers, 99 never made it back.

The one who survived usually only got lucky that year and would probably die the next.

The odds of someone surviving solo for years were one in ten thousand.

Amon was wise and cautious, experienced but not arrogant.

He was a young man who was well aware of his own limits, so he gracefully tossed away any notion of going solo.

Instead, he sipped a drink at the guild lobby’s bar, waiting for a party.

Noticing his situation, a receptionist offered him a suggestion.

“Mr. Amon, there are a few people here who haven’t found parties for their respective roles yet. How about forming a party with them? If you’re interested, I can ask them as well.”

Amon considered her suggestion.

‘People who couldn’t find a party?’

Not being able to join a party usually meant there was something wrong with them.

‘Would a party made up of such individuals even function properly?’

With that thought, Amon declined the offer.

He had no interest in a dysfunctional party.

The staff understood his reasoning and didn’t bring it up again.

***

An hour later, a party finally accepted Amon.

They were only going to the dungeon entrance, and they needed a nimble frontline fighter.

After hearing the details, Amon headed to Table 13.

The party seemed decent enough.

They had originally had a frontline fighter, but he’d lost his leg to a slime, so they were urgently looking for a replacement.

While the party leader looked a bit rough, that was average for cyberpunk standards—nothing unusual.

In fact, Amon’s last party leader, Evan, with his bright yellow hair, didn’t exactly look like the model of diligence either.

Aside from that, there was nothing noteworthy.

“We’re beginners, so… please take care of us.”

Amon nodded.

He was a beginner himself, after all.

For a beginner party, their equipment was decent.

Usually, beginners compromised on weapons to save money, but this party’s gear was at least mid-range.

‘Not bad.’

Amon nodded to himself as he headed to the dungeon with the party.

As they passed through the entrance and moved further in, one of the party members caught his attention.

It was the mage, a young woman who seemed quite timid, jumping at the slightest sound.

Her light and detection spells didn’t last long, and her casting speed was slow, often delaying the exploration.

‘This mage… isn’t very reliable.’

The contrast was especially sharp compared to Paul, the mage in his previous party.

Of course, it was unfair to compare her to Paul, a veteran among veterans, but he hadn’t met any other mages since then.

The other party members, apparently friends with her, kept trying to reassure her, but it didn’t help much.

‘Frustrating.’

Watching her, he suddenly remembered a famous saying from the Great Sage in his previous world.

・[When five people gather, there’s always at least one troublesome one.]

Recalling that, Amon could only accept the situation.

‘Is it you again, Sensei?’

Even if the world changed, the truth remained the same.

Remembering that truth, he resigned himself to the situation.

‘Guess it can’t be helped.’

After all, in any group, you couldn’t expect to meet only good people.

In hindsight, his previous party had been almost unnaturally ideal.

With a warm smile, Amon chose to overlook the mage’s mistakes.

But his patience didn’t last long.

“Hahaha! Let’s see who can take down more!”

The tank charged recklessly into the enemy lines, abandoning his post in the rear.

“Dodge however you can!”

The gunner unleashed a full-auto barrage, heedless of the allies in his line of fire.

“Hey, you’re rich, aren’t you? Why don’t you give us a bit more?”

Meanwhile, the party leader tried to cut down Amon’s share.

Finally—

“Eek, sorry, everyone!”

The mage, as it turned out, was a queen bee who only attracted trouble.

Looking at these four disasters, Amon thought to himself.

‘Damn it, Sensei. Couldn’t just one troublesome person have been enough?’

This was hell.