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6
Episode 6
*【Low-Level Monster ((can be revived State Extremely Slow)】
Only this one sentence concerning the dungeon had changed.
I would need to understand the sealed Gatekeeper’s stats or have the Rare Monster released to properly prepare for the next subjugation. The road ahead was long.
The fortunate thing was that the Association still hadn’t issued an official stance on the Jeju Island dungeon incident. Guilds were, strictly speaking, not part of the Association but independent organizations. The atmosphere was one of pinning all blame and responsibility for this incident on the 【White Tiger】 Guild.
In other words, there was a high possibility it would end vaguely without any additional subjugation missions. The fact that Hyun-woo Kang, who would bear all responsibility, had returned alive also played a part. An S-Rank had returned alive, and he would take all the criticism. Therefore, the government remained silent. The other major guilds remained silent. With the entire nation furious, there was no need to stir things up further by launching a subjugation.
Things had gone according to plan.
‘I can breathe a little easier.’
But I couldn’t let my guard down completely. Humans were beings who could invade at any time.
‘I’m still essentially on borrowed time.’
「Is something troubling you, Master?」
Ellis asked.
「You don’t look well.」
“You’re quite observant.”
「Am I?」
“By the way, you’re not surprised even after seeing my face?”
I had taken off my mask the moment I escaped from the Dark Divine Palace the day before yesterday. According to Orcatan, the previous Boss always wore a mask. This was probably the first time Elris had seen this face too.
「It is similar to the appearance I had imagined, so I was not greatly surprised.」
‘The appearance you imagined?’
So, she means I look like a Boss Monster should?
“Is that a compliment?”
「Of course.」
“I’m touched.”
「In any case, could you tell me what is troubling you?」
“It’s nothing major. I was just thinking about which dungeon to visit tomorrow.”
「Are you planning to go on another subjugation?」
“I want to test the performance of the remaining artifacts too. You only get a real feel for them by using them yourself.”
「I see. While moving about, you might also find a useful subordinate or two.」
“R-right.”
‘So I can bring subordinates from other dungeons?’
No wonder there were so many Rare Monsters.
「But, Master. You didn’t bring any Territory Stones for hiring subordinates, did you?」
‘Something like a contract? Surprisingly practical.’
「Shall I prepare some?」
“Not necessary yet. I’ll be wandering around C-Rank dungeons.”
「Understood. Low-level subordinates 」
Elris was like a secretary. A remarkably competent one.
「Then, shall I find the C-Rank dungeons nearby for you?」
‘She can do that too.’
“Please.”
「It is naturally my duty.」
Once you find a dungeon, entering is easy. Normally, hunters report to the Association before entering a dungeon. This is to learn the dungeon’s location and information and to receive help if they are in danger. However, it’s not legally mandatory. Therefore, hunters belonging to a guild skip this process and follow guild regulations.
‘Well, even if it’s not mandatory, no one enters without reporting.’
Their lives are on the line. If you enter carelessly and a higher-rank dungeon appears, it’s over.
「I’ve found one.」
‘Unless you have an excellent secretary like me.’
「It’s nearby. A relatively weak C-Rank dungeon. The boss is a Glacier Heart Gorilla.」
“Remember the location. We depart at dawn.”
「Understood.」
The next day, 4 AM.
Busan City Museum of Art parking lot.
Following Ellis’s directions, a green portal soon came into view. I tossed my canned coffee into a trash can and let out a yawn.
Tired and wondering why I came out so early? Even if it’s not legally problematic, reporting to the Association before entering is customary. No need to give them a reason to nitpick. There will definitely be people who make an issue of it. After all, Han Do-yoon is an F-Rank. It would be troublesome if it became known that he entered and cleared a C-Rank dungeon.
Han Do-yoon looked around and swiftly entered the portal. The brief warping of space, the interplay of light and darkness—and then a cold chill brushed his cheek.
「Frost Wolves.」
Only after hearing Ellis’s words did he realize monsters were around. A plain overgrown with bluish weeds reaching up to his knees. Frost Wolves were hiding everywhere, holding their breath. Meeting their eyes, he touched the Ring of Folding.
“Ring of Flames.”
【Would you like to retrieve the Ring of Flames (B-Rank)?】
“Yes.”
A crimson red ring, darker than blood, appeared in his palm. He slipped it onto his right index finger, preparing for battle, when another system window appeared.
【Unusable state.】
“Huh?”
That made no sense. With the 【Adaptation】 skill, he should be able to use almost any item.
「Ah!」
Then Ellis exclaimed in a surprised tone, as if she had just remembered.
「That ring requires another weapon to be used alongside it.」
“Hey, you should have said that sooner…”
Before he could finish his sentence, the Frost Wolves charged. Jaws gaping. Reflexively, he reached out and grabbed a wolf by the neck.
‘Huh?’
He thought the Frost Wolf’s strength would overpower him and he’d be bitten—but the wolf, its neck caught, was lifted into the air. Just as the writhing wolf was about to scratch his arm, he hurled it far away.
「I must have placed a sword together with it. Master’s sword is too powerful; I thought it wouldn’t benefit from the ring’s effect…」
“Okay.”
Han Do-yoon touched the Ring of Folding again and scanned the list.
Ring of Folding
Chalice of Radiance (B-Rank)
Monarch’s Token (?-Rank)
Tragic Mask Replica (B-Rank)
Clairvoyance Crystal Orb (B-Rank)
Suin’s Wristband (A-Rank)
…
Arahan’s Sword (C-Rank)
The C-Rank sword at the very bottom.
‘This is it.’
“Arahan’s Sword.”
「I picked up a sword one of the humans who invaded last time was using.」
【Would you like to retrieve Arahan’s Sword (C-Rank)?】
The fallen Frost Wolf struggled to get up and immediately charged again. The nearby pack did the same. Five sets of jaws, with sharp teeth leading the way, approached.
“Yes.”
An iron sword gripped in his hand.
“Come on.”
As he clenched his fist, the Ring of Flames reacted, and flames flickered. Fire enveloped the silver blade, and Han Do-yoon swung the sword with all his might.
Swish—!
Boom!
When the blade met the Frost Wolves, flames erupted explosively. The bodies of the five wolves turned to ash and scattered in a single strike.
‘This feeling.’
It was insane.
“This is good?”
「The disparity between the artifact and the monsters’ level is so severe they seem to die just from being touched.」
“Next one…”
「The monster observing the situation from the rear is an Avalanche Lizard.」
Han Do-yoon slowly advanced, melting the ground with his sword. Its form was closer to a dinosaur than a lizard. Its entire body was covered in snow.
「For a C-Rank, it’s quite strong.」
“Really?”
‘I can’t believe I’m facing a C-Rank like this.’
“Groar!”
The Avalanche Lizard roared. The chill from its mouth was enough to freeze the air.
‘Why isn’t this scary at all?’
His footsteps gradually quickened. He approached and swung the sword horizontally at the creature.
Swish—!
Boom!
The frozen air melted again. Through the bisected Avalanche Lizard, he could see five or six more of the same monsters and Frost Wolves. Using the rotational force from his swing, Han Do-yoon spun a full circle and swung the sword once more.
After dealing with the lizards, Han Do-yoon charged like a runaway locomotive. At some point.
【Personal EXP Level Up.】
【Please check the Status Window.】
He saw system windows popping up. But Han Do-yoon didn’t have the leisure to pay attention. He was busy solo-clearing the dungeon—and it was quite fun.
Swish—!
Boom!
Swish—!
Boom!
The sounds of splattering blood and explosions. With each strike, multiple lizards and wolves were cleaved in half and turned to ash. He could see the monsters waiting behind trembling.
A strange sense of pleasure washed over him. The feeling of becoming a god of death. No. He truly felt like he had become the Boss.
「We have finally arrived. This dungeon’s boss. The Glacier Heart Gorilla.」
“It’s big.”
「That’s on the smaller side. I’ve heard there are individuals over ten meters tall in other dungeons.」
“Really?”
Anyway, the Glacier Heart Gorilla, which appeared as if announcing itself as the boss, looked exactly as its name suggested. Pure white fur and rugged muscles formed an armor-like shape. Its height was about two stories of an apartment building.
The gorilla’s shoulders slowly pulled back. Soon, a fist as large as a wall tore through the air towards him. But Han Do-yoon stood still and thrust out his sword.
‘I can block this.’
After about an hour of killing monsters and experiencing it firsthand, he was confident. The flames from the Ring of Flames were more intense than magic used by a B-Rank mage. Then blocking one punch should be possible.
It was the right judgment. In reality, the gorilla’s fist was pushed back by the fiery storm spewing from the sword.
But the problem came afterward. After blocking the gorilla’s punch, Han Do-yoon took a step forward, jumped to cut the creature’s arm, and brought his sword down.
At that moment.
Crack!
There was a fact he had overlooked.
It wasn’t just the gorilla that couldn’t withstand the power of the Ring of Flames.
‘Oh, shit?’
“The sword.”
It shattered.
Simultaneously, Ellis spoke urgently.
「Master, the magical balance the artifact was channeling has collapsed. It’s going to explode.」
As the sword shattered, a powerful explosion occurred.
Boom!
Thanks to Ellis warning and quickly dropping the sword, he wasn’t injured, but his body was sent flying upward. Higher than the head of the gorilla, whose posture was distorted from throwing the punch.
As if time had slowed, his eyes met the gorilla’s… Seeing the gorilla reaching out its fist, he reflexively touched the Ring of Folding.
“Monarch’s Token.”
【Would you like to retrieve Monarch’s Token – Levatein?】
“Give it to me, quick.”
It was simply a matter of drawing another sword since the first one had broken.
‘It’s heavy.’
This one couldn’t be swung. Nor was there a need to swing it.
He simply dropped down, and the sword easily split the gorilla’s fist.
“Huh?”
The sword didn’t stop. It continued down, piercing through the shoulder and cleaving the creature’s heart in two.
“Wait.”
It kept going, cutting through until the sword plunged into the ground. He put it back into the Ring of Folding.
‘The ground almost collapsed again.’
As the sword pierced, the ground cracked. His gaze returned to the gorilla. It was split in two.
【Personal EXP Level Up.】
【Please check the Status Window.】 x 5
Bluish windows flashed before his eyes several times.
