"Still can't get used to you in a clean suit, Si-eun-ssi," a passing clerk joked.

"Just wait'til the next dungeon," Si-eun shot back with a grin. "This one's got a few hours of shine left."

As they walked, the difference in their heights was a familiar sight. Si-eun, at a lanky 189 cm, had to consciously slow his pace for the others. He nudged Bo-gum, a solid 181 cm. "Hey, leader-nim, you think they design these ceilings for normal people or for you and me?"

Bo-gum didn't look over,his eyes forward. "They design them so we can walk without commentary, Si-eun."

Maru, at 167 cm, and Onjo, just a centimeter taller at 168, walked slightly behind. Maru was used to looking up at most of the world, but with Onjo, it was different. He could meet her eyes without tilting his head, a small, comfortable parity.

"Maru-ssi," Onjo murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "Your tie. It's crooked again."

Maru's hand flew to his neck."O-oh. Th-thanks." He fumbled with the knot as they walked.

Si-eun glanced back, his grin widening. "You know, for the shortest guy here, you sure have the most trouble staying straight and narrow."

"Leave him alone,oppa," Onjo said softly, but a faint smile touched her lips.

"I'm just saying!Our mighty gunman, brought low by a strip of silk."

Maru’s thoughts drifted from the teasing, tracing the painful timeline instead. Si-eun had been a miner since the role was created at the end of Year 1. Bo-gum had volunteered to lead that first team. Maru and Onjo hadn't joined them until Year 3, after his own disastrous three-year attempt at being a Hunter. Jung was a Year 4 discovery, and Joo-in, their high-schooler, was the newest recruit this year, in Year 6.

Joo-in was a Natural Awakener, a Moon type. A Half-Hunter. The title sent a specific, bitter ache through Maru. It was the same title Baek Suho had held until their graduation day, before the conscription that stole his future.

His hand drifted to his chest. The thumping was steady. A constant, living reminder.

Year 5. The end of the year. The Jadestone Mine. The searing pain. The darkness.

He… had died. His heart was destroyed.

The memory was a cold spike, so vivid it stole his breath.

A gentle touch on his shoulder made him jump. He turned to find Onjo looking up at him, her brow furrowed with concern.

"Are you alright, Maru-ssi? You stopped walking."

"Y-yeah... I-I'm alright," he stammered, the words fighting their way out, the stutter a permanent scar from that day. "J-just wondering… about Joo-in. At h-high school." It was a weak excuse, but the best he could manage.

"Joo-in?" Si-eun butted in, overhearing. "That kid will be fine. He's the popular type now, with that fancy Privilege Ability of his. Probably has a fan club."

"Oppa," Onjo chided softly, "even if Joo-in is popular, he's still young. He became a Half-Hunter, but he joins us because… being a miner is not as dangerous. It's smarter."

"Well, Joo-in kinda idolizes Bo-gum hyung, so, there's that," Si-eun shrugged. "Kid's got good taste in role models, if you ignore the fashion sense."

Bo-gum, who had reached the ore counter ahead of them, finally spoke without turning around. "Are you three done? The ore won't weigh itself."

They hurried to catch up. The staff greeted them with familiar smiles. With practiced efficiency, they tapped their Hunter Braces, summoning the day's haul onto the scales. As expected from a low-rank gate, the quality was poor.

The clerk sighed. "Not much today, I'm afraid."

"Just means the next one will be better,"Bo-gum said, his voice even. He took the payment chit. "Alright. Divided five ways, plus the team fund for maintenance." He began distributing the credits via their Braces. A soft chime confirmed the transfer to Maru's account. It wasn't much, but it was earned.

They stepped out of the guild into the late afternoon air. Si-eun stretched his arms high above his head with a groan. "Finally. Nothing like a clean suit and an empty wallet to make you feel alive."

Before anyone could reply, a voice called out from down the street. "H-hyungs! Noona!"

A young man in a slightly disheveled school uniform was running towards them, his bookbag bouncing on his shoulder. He skidded to a halt in front of them, slightly out of breath. Woo Joo-in, at 174 cm, was still growing into his lanky limbs. "S-sorry I was late! School ran over. You guys are done already?"

"Y-yeah, sorry Joo-in," Maru said. "It was a f-fast run today."

Joo-in's face fell with genuine disappointment. "Ah, man... Yeah, sorry. But hyungs, noona, I'm a miner too! I should be down there helping you guys working."

Bo-gum looked at the boy, his expression stern but not unkind. "You are a miner, Joo-in. And a good one. But you're a high schooler first. That's the plan we agreed on. Your studies are your main job right now."

Joo-in scuffed his shoe on the pavement but nodded. "I know... Sorry, Bo-gum hyung."

"No worries," Bo-gum said, his tone softening. "You focusing on school is you doing your job. You're in your second year now; that's important." He tapped his Hunter Brace, and a soft chime sounded from Joo-in's wrist. "And a job well done gets paid. There's your share."

Joo-in's eyes widened. "B-but I didn't even help today?!"

Si-eun laughed and reached out, ruffling the boy's hair. Joo-in swatted at his arm half-heartedly. "Yah! I'm not a kid!"

"Could've fooled me," Si-eun grinned, dodging another swat. He then glanced down at Jung, who was looking at Joo-in with a reptilian expression of approval. "See? Even Jung thinks you're being silly. Right, big guy?" Jung let out a low, crooning rumble and gave a slow, affirmative nod. "He says you earning that salary by hitting the books. Keeping our future bright and all that."

Onjo smiled softly. "He's right, Joo-in-ah. We're just glad you're safe."

As the others talked, Maru watched the scene, a familiar thought crossing his mind. Their little mining team was an oddity. They had one Sky Awakener, the C-Rank healer Bae Onjo. Then there were the three Earth Awakeners, all F-Rank: Bae Si-eun, Kim Bo-gum, and himself, Han Maru. And then there was Woo Joo-in.

Joo-in was a Natural Awakener, a Moon type who had manifested with top-tier stats and a formidable Privilege Ability: Shadow Manipulation. He could control his own shadow, hardening it or shaping it into shadowy animals with his hands. But his true potential was hinted at in his Privilege Passive: Full Moon Shadow. Under a full moon, his control extended to the shadows of others, allowing him to grasp, stab, or force them into animalistic shapes. It was a situational ability, but devastatingly powerful under the right conditions.

It was still surprising. In any other context, with that power, Woo Joo-in wasn't just a recruit; he was an A-Ranker in the making. Yet here he was, insisting on his place as a miner, sharing in their meager payday, and being gently parented by Bo-gum.

"Hey, earth to Maru!" Si-eun called, snapping his fingers. "You zoning out again? We're deciding on food."

Maru blinked. "S-sorry. F-food sounds good."

"Great," Bo-gum said, taking charge. "My treat. There's a new noodle place a few blocks from here that doesn't care if you bring a lizard." He clapped a hand on Joo-in's shoulder. "And you can tell us about school. Any big tests coming up?"

As the team fell into step, discussing dinner and homework, Maru followed slightly behind. The false heart in his chest thumped a steady rhythm, a secret burden. But surrounded by this strange, mismatched family, the weight felt, for a moment, a little easier to carry.