Meeting the Party Members (1)

It was still semi-dark outside, the sky quiet and brooding as it waited for the sun to rise. Joo-Hee's alarm went off at 5:30 in the morning, its usual annoying tone breaking the silence. Still half-asleep, she instinctively reached out to snooze it, but as soon as her hand hit the button, the reality of what today was hit her like a wave.

"Right, today's the day!" she muttered, immediately forcing himself upright. Today was her first dungeon dive. The mix of excitement and nervousness made her heart beat a little faster.

She quickly reheated the leftovers from last night, eating them in a hurry while mentally going over her plans. Afterward, she jumped into the shower, keeping it short since she didn't want to risk being late.

Once out of the shower, she opened Joo-Hee's closet and immediately felt a surge of excitement.

Today was the day she'd finally get to wear the leather cloak and gears that Joo-Hee had used as a hunter. A smile crept across her face, and before she could stop herself, he let out a little squeal of excitement.

"Now this really feels like I'm actually in another world," she laughed to herself, shaking her head. "If this were the previous world, I would just be labeled as a cosplayer getting ready for an event, but here, it's different."

But the truth was, it did feel unreal. She was actually living in another world, just like those isekai protagonists from manga or novels he used to read.

As he dried off and got dressed, he felt the thrill creeping in again. The hunter clothes fit perfectly, snug yet comfortable, as if they were made specifically for him. He draped the leather cloak over his shoulders and turned to the mirror.

"Wow... this really is something else," Jake murmured, taking in the sight of himself in the mirror.

"I actually look like a real hunter... or even an adventurer. Like I'm about to step into an MMORPG or something."

She chuckled, a mix of excitement and nerves bubbling up inside her.

"If full-dive virtual reality were real, this might be what it feels like."

She could feel her heart beating faster, the weight of the situation sinking in.

"It feels so foreign, but... weirdly right at the same time."

The intricate design of the clothes, the craftsmanship that no cosplayer back in her world could ever hope to recreate, left Jake in awe.

The high-quality material, the weight of it on his shoulders felt so surreal.

She couldn't help but admire how well-crafted everything was.

For a moment, she just stood there, turning from side to side, checking herself out in the mirror.

"This is really good... no way anyone back home could pull off something like this. It's like stepping into a fantasy, except... it's real."

She smiled at the thought.

"Who knew I'd be geeking out like this before heading into actual danger?"

"Okay, focus, Jake, now's not the time for this," she muttered, snapping herself back to reality.

She shook off the excitement, knowing that the real challenge was still ahead.

Admiring her outfit wasn't going to help her survive the dungeon.

With a deep breath, she turned her attention to the rest of the essentials for the dive.

She quickly gathered a few potions for emergencies, and the small first-aid kit Joo-Hee always kept handy.

Her mind ran through everything she'd need for the day, making sure she didn't miss a thing.

With one last look around, Joo-Hee opened the door and stepped out, feeling a mix of determination and anxiety wash over her.

...

After a half-hour commute, she arrived at the training facility, greeted by Kang Ho, who was overseeing preparations for the day's small event.

The facility was bustling with activity, full of hunters milling around.

Joo-Hee estimated there were about a hundred of them, a mix of veterans and rookies alike.

Some looked like they were still recovering from recent injuries, likely sustained from previous dungeon raids.

Joo-Hee drifted into the middle of the crowd, trying to blend in, but the situation felt awkward.

She didn't know anyone, and the last thing she wanted was to approach anyone and force small talk.

To make matters uncomfortable, a few guys kept sneaking glances in her direction, some even blushing when she caught their gaze.

'Must be because of Joo-Hee's looks,' Joo-Hee thought with a sigh, reminding herself that she was inhabiting the body of someone who was, by all standards, beautiful.

Thankfully, no one was brave or foolish enough to approach her.

There were no overconfident, cocky types pestering her, unlike the cliches she had read before.

No "toads lusting after a swan's meat" as the saying went.

'At least I don't have to deal with that,' she thankfully thought.

At exactly 8 AM, Mr. Kang called everyone to attention, his voice booming over the chatter.

"Alright, hunters, listen up! We're about to start the group assignments for today's dungeon dive. Once you find your name, gather your gear and meet with your team at the right side of the facility."

Joo-Hee's pulse quickened as she heard the announcement.

'Alright, this is it. My first real dungeon dive...'

She gulped, anxiety gnawing at the edges of her thoughts.

"I can only hope now that I will be grouped with capable people..." she muttered under her breath, nervously rubbing her hands together.

The large monitor behind Mr. Kang flickered to life, revealing team groupings.

Joo-Hee's eyes scanned the list, hoping for familiar names.

But, of course, it was expected that she barely knew anyone there, let alone their reputations.

She felt a knot tighten in her chest.

Even though Joo-Hee was registered as a B-rank, she knew her body was only good for C-rank performance, especially after her mana pool had deteriorated from the near-death incident.

She sighed aloud, trying to calm her nerves.

Mr. Kang's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Hunters, go ahead and start preparing now. Porters will assist you, but it's your responsibility to be ready."

Joo-Hee winced at the mention of porters.

Her thoughts drifted to Jin-Woo's past, the image of him as a powerless porter, mistreated by those around him.

'I guess no matter what world you go to, people will continue to treat others cruelly,' Joo-Hee wondered.

She remembered Joo-Hee's feelings too, the quiet sorrow she felt witnessing it all.

'I guess this is what happens when a world of humans gain powers akin to the Gods?' she pondered.

'Maybe that's why my world didn't have any supernatural users. Or maybe... it's just that there's no record of it...'

She curiously thought, 'After all, humanity has thrived for thousands of years. It's foolish to think that there haven't been people in the past who wielded abilities beyond human comprehension.'

She could almost picture it, warriors and felons, battles that shaped the course of history, all woven into legends.

'History books and relics don't always tell the full truth and only a portion of it,' she mused.

'Take the Spartans, for example. They say 300 fought against more than 10,000 enemies, but come on, that's ridiculous. Humans have limited stamina. How could they pull that off?'

Joo-Hee considered the absurdity of such a feat.

'Unless… there was something more at play. Forgotten arts, supernatural abilities—techniques lost to time that allowed them to achieve such impossible victories.'

But what really cemented her theories were the undeniable experiences she'd been living through.

'I mean, look at me,' she thought.

'I've transmigrated into another world, a world inside a light novel of all things. A very novel created by man itself. If powers didn't exist, how could I, a mere human, end up here?'

It was a thought that tugged at her constantly.

Something—someone—had to be behind it all.

But as much as these thoughts raced through her mind, she couldn't shake the sadness that always accompanied them.

Her chest tightened, and her lips trembled as she lowered her head.

'Not that I'm angry about being transmigrated... I mean, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,' she admitted, the tiniest of smiles flickering before it faded.

The thought of her parents and siblings back home, gnawed at her.

She bit her lips, holding back the emotions that threatened to rise.

She straightened herself, taking a deep breath, pushing the grief and unnecessary thoughts to the back of her mind.

Joo-Hee scanned the screen, eyes darting across the names listed under each team.

She finally found her name next to four unfamiliar ones: Ryu Min-Soo (Porter); Kim Da-Sol and Park Jae-Sung (Fighter); Ha Yoon-Ji and Choi Eun-Bi (Ranged Fighters).

"Okay... that doesn't look too bad," Joo-Hee murmured, trying to keep her spirits up.

"At least it's a mix of roles. Let's just hope they know what they're doing."

She glanced around at the growing groups forming, people calling out names and waving to find their teammates.

She couldn't help but feel out of place.

'Should I shout like them?' she wondered.

'Nah, my introverted ass can't do that,' she cried internally, cringing at the thought of making a scene.

Just as her embarrassment was about to swallow her, a figure approached.

It was a tall, average-looking guy with brown hair.

At first, Joo-Hee tensed, thinking the guy might be one of those trying to flirt.

But, thankfully, the man introduced herself instead.

"Ms. Lee Joo-Hee, right?" the man said with a grin.

"I'm Kim Da-Sol. It's good to see you again."

Joo-Hee blinked in surprise.

'Again?'

She hadn't fully integrated with Joo-Hee's memories yet.

Most of them were fragmented, and only specific triggers would unlock them like a flash of short scenes in her mind.

'Crap... who is this guy?' she gulped before responding.

"Da-Sol? I-I'm so sorry," Joo-Hee said, bowing slightly with an apologetic smile.

"I have a terrible memory for faces and names sometimes. I've met and partied with so many people in the past few months that... it's hard to keep track..."

"I'm getting sad, Unnie. How could you possibly forget me so easily?" Da-Sol said with a playful smile, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

'Unnie?' Jake, or rather Joo-Hee, could barely hide her slight discomfort.

It was the first time anyone had ever called her by such.