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8
Episode 8
“You visited the dungeon at the City Museum of Art today, didn’t you?”
Moon Do-yoon stated with certainty.
“I saw you entering on CCTV.”
But.
【False.】
Han Do-yoon left eye glowed with a pale golden light.
【Orb of Truth (B-Rank)】
It was unthinkable to visit the Association without any countermeasures, wasn’t it? He had stopped by the Dark Divine Palace beforehand and brought a few tools they used for interrogating captives. This one was an artifact that judged whether the opponent’s words were true or false. Its duration was half a day. Although it was a consumable and a bit of a waste, he judged it was better to be sure.
“I haven’t been.”
“…What?”
“I said I haven’t entered the dungeon.”
“I’m not calling you here to cause trouble. You can be honest.”
“You said there’s CCTV footage of me entering, right?”
“Ah.”
“Show it to me. I’m telling you, I haven’t been.”
“Well, that…”
“What is this about, first thing in the morning?”
Han Do-yoon seized the moment to press. Narrowing his brow, his voice sharp.
“First, you try to make me a dead man out of nowhere, then you threaten me with nonsense I don’t understand.”
“I’m sorry. That wasn’t my intention.”
“Do the others know? That you bother people with misunderstandings like this.”
“Your life was in doubt, so I told my colleagues.”
【True.】
“Fine. If something like this happens again, I’ll file a formal complaint.”
“Yes, understood. But…”
Moon Do-hyun asked, stubbing out the cigarette he was smoking.
“But by any chance, have you thought about re-registering your rank?”
“Still with that…”
“No. During my investigation, I found you’ve participated in many D-Rank dungeons over the years as an F-Rank.”
“I was just active as a porter.”
“As you know, Do-yoon, a hunter’s stats naturally rise a bit when they raid dungeons.”
It wasn’t a wrong statement. After their first awakening, hunters’ stats increase slightly as they subjugate monsters. The personal stat level-up was just that. But the increase isn’t large. That’s why the first awakening is the most important.
“An F-Rank going up is still just that.”
“D-Ranks and C-Ranks are also valuable. The situation in Busan right now is a mess.”
“I think I saw something about it briefly on the news.”
“We’re in a situation where we need even D-Rank hunters to help with C-Rank dungeon
【True.】
“But why do these dungeon anomalies keep happening?”
“We haven’t found the reason for that yet.”
Then, Ellis interjected.
「That is because of Master’s influence.」
Han Do-yoon turned his head and asked in a low voice.
“Didn’t you say something similar last time?”
「The dungeon’s ecosystem has changed. Because the apex predator, Master, has returned.」
Han Do-yoon glanced briefly at Moon Do-hyun’s face. Dark circles reached down to his cheeks.
“Don’t worry too much. We’re meticulously investigating the dungeons day and night. The problem is that dungeons that were D-Rank have gone up a rank, causing a manpower shortage…”
This makes me feel a little sorry.
“If you just become a D-Rank, we can provide supplies, and we plan to fairly distribute the profits from C-Rank dungeon through the Association.”
It wasn’t a bad proposal. His stats had genuinely increased, not just from the artifact’s power…
To grow the dungeon, he might have to go deal with dungeons C-Rank or higher someday. In that case, there would be more contact with the Association or guilds. Even if it was a bit risky, it would be good to slowly build up his profile now.
“Where do I do it?”
The Association checks a hunter’s stats in two ways. First, confirm the numerical value through a magical reaction scanner. Then, conduct a virtual simulation battle for more accurate testing.
First, the stats confirmed by the scanner for Han Do-yoon were…
“D-Rank.”
At the employee’s words, Moon Do-hyun asked again.
“D-Rank?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure you didn’t misread it?”
“No.”
“At least close to C-Rank or…”
“Apart from Strength, he’s close to F-Rank, actually?”
With an incredulous look, Moon Do-hyun stared at Han Do-yoon.
Han Do-yoon was clenching his fist, pleased.
“Wow, D-Rank!”
「Your control is perfect. As they say, hiding strength is harder than showing it off.」
“…Is that so?”
Moon Do-hyun was puzzled.
“Only D-Rank?”
He was very good at his job. Aside from being smart, his intuition was excellent. For some reason, he felt Han Do-yoon was hiding something. He’d checked all the nearby CCTV, and Han Do-yoon was the only one wandering around. He had a peculiar antagonism toward the Association. That’s why he had urged him to get a re-measurement.
“Prepare the next test too.”
“You’re going to have him do the simulation even though he’s D-Rank?”
“There’s more to see.”
“Yes, well…”
The subordinate gestured toward Han Do-yoon.
“Please come this way. We’ll begin the next test.”
The employee moved Han Do-yoon to a room next to the measurement chamber. It was a large room, about 130 square meters.
“It’s a mock battle. You won’t get actually hurt, so don’t worry and fight with all your might.”
Subsequently, a person appeared in the room. A man in armor.
“…Change that. Raise the difficulty.”
Moon Do-hyun, watching from outside, spoke.
“Then, perhaps the Queen Beetle?”
“No.”
“Then?”
“The Cursed Knight.”
“…”
The employee handling the mock battle artifact was a beat late in showing surprise.
“The Rich King?”
“Yes.”
“Even A-Ranks struggle with that.”
“The mock battle is safe anyway.”
“Even so… I won’t take responsibility if there’s a complaint.”
Soon, the figure of the man in front of Han Do-yoon twisted and transformed into a body twice as large. Jet-black armor and a greats word that seemed over 2 meters long. A helmet like those worn by Roman legionnaires hid his face.
「It’s the Rich King.」
The Rich King plunged his sword into the floor and placed both hands on the hilt.
“What is it doing?”
「Soul Domination, one of the mental magics. A spell that subdues the target’s will and hope.」
“I feel fine.”
「Naturally. Master’s soul is several times more noble than a Rich King’s.」
‘If it doesn’t work on me either, how weak is this thing?’
「Moreover, you are currently mentally connected with me as well.」
‘So it’s because of you?’
“How do I win?”
「The Rich King cannot move while using Soul Domination. Just go and stab its lower abdomen.」
“Not the neck or heart?”
「Yes. The Rich King’s soul is in its lower abdomen.」
Han Do-yoon walked over and stabbed the Rich King’s lower abdomen.
Squelch.
The Rich King vanished.
Moon Do-hyun, who had been watching intently from outside, gaped.
“What was that?”
“I… I don’t know either.”
Even A-Rank hunters lose their minds to the Rich King’s magic.
“Was it a bug?”
“Unless it was, it’s unexplainable…”
As the employee muttered that there was no problem yesterday and checked the artifact, Han Do-yoon came out.
“Is it finished now?”
“Ah, yes… But how did you do that at the end?”
“I just walked over and stabbed it with the sword?”
“That, that may be, but weren’t you scared or dizzy?”
“It wasn’t particularly bothersome.”
At Han Do-yoon words, the employee whispered.
“I checked just now, and it doesn’t seem to be broken?”
“What?”
“We’ll know when the results come out. It’ll take a little time, so we’ll have to wait.”
Moon Do-hyun was startled. A hunter excellent in mental attributes? He became even more inscrutable.
Before a proper judgment could be formed, Han Do-yoon took the initiative.
“Then, can I go now?”
“Yes, you’ll be reclassified as D-Rank for now.”
“So I can go to C-Rank dungeons too?”
“That’s possible. Since you’re here, would you like to make a reservation as well?”
“Sounds good.”
Moon Do-hyun led the way, gesturing for him to follow.
“You’re very skilled with the sword too.”
“Well, the sword is my main weapon for now.”
Moon Do-hyun’s gaze brushed over the sword hanging at Han Do-yoon waist, then slowly moved to his fingertips.
“I thought you would use that…”
Moon Do-hyun’s unique skill allowed him, if he focused, to see curses or blessings placed on a person.
‘Those with mental attributes are usually mages. But he uses a sword… I can’t figure him out.’
From the ring Han Do-yoon wore, he could feel a remarkably complex entanglement of magical
‘If he won’t show me, I’ll have to see for myself.’
The moment Moon Do-hyun activated his skill, he couldn’t help but stop in his tracks.
Because Moon Do-hyun’s eyes saw threads of magical entangled like a spider’s web. Each strand imbued with killing intent. Dozens upon dozens of layers of magical curses and barriers tightened around his throat.
「Master.」
“Why?”
「That human just made contact with the bond connecting me and Master.」
“What?”
Startled, he looked at Moon Do-hyun. His face was pale and frozen.
“He didn’t figure out my identity, did he?”
「There’s no need to worry. A bond of that level won’t be pierced by someone of his caliber.」
“What did he see to make that expression?”
「He must have seen a part of me. But he likely didn’t realize what it was.」
‘Is that so?’
“Hey…”
Only after Han Do-yoon called out did Moon Do-hyun snap back to his senses.
“Ah…”
“Are you okay?”
“Huh? Yes…”
A tone filled with terror. Moon Do-hyun’s instincts screamed. Don’t try to learn more.
7 PM.
Right in front of the C-Rank dungeon near Haeundae, as scheduled.
The moment Han Do-yoon arrived at the meeting spot, a grating, loud voice pierced his ears.
“A D-Rank has the nerve to show up last?”
At first, he thought it was just noise. But he soon realized the voice’s owner was pointing at him. The man who was this subjugation team’s leader, Kang Chan-woo. The expressions of his colleagues standing beside him weren’t great either.
“You, I’m talking to you. Is there another D-Rank here besides you?”
Kang Chan-woo’s arrogant gaze swept over Han Do-yoon from head to toe. At that moment, Han Do-yoon recognized his face.
“Huh?”
Kang Chan-woo also seemed to recognize Han Do-yoon, narrowing his eyes and voicing his doubt.
“Weren’t you… an F-Rank last time?”
That’s right. They had raided together in the past. To be precise, when Han Do-yoon had participated as a porter hired by a D-Rank party.
‘Of all people, his party is the leader.’
They seemed around the same age, which explained the casual speech from the start. Thinking he’d gotten the worst possible team, his face unconsciously scrunched up.
“My rank went up.”
He answered just as curtly.
“At best, a flea that’s jumped a little.”
Kang Chan-woo snorted.
“You’re the same as back then, huh? Still have no manners.”
“What?”
Kang Chan-woo’s face contorted viciously. As the atmosphere turned hostile, the colleagues next to him urgently tried to calm him down.
“Hey, hey! Chan-woo, why are you like this from the start?”
“You got disciplined last time too for picking fights with party members.”
At his colleagues’ pleas, Kang Chan-woo shrugged as if he was doing them a favor.
“Fine, fine. I won’t bother him inside. That’s good enough, right?”
At that moment, Han Do-yoon pupils glowed faintly. The still-active 【Orb of Truth】 delivered a cold verdict in his mind.
【False.】
‘How laughable.’
Han Do-yoon, hiding his inner thoughts, retorted to Kang Chan-woo’s words with an indifferent expression.
“That’s the right thing to do.”
He met Kang Chan-woo’s eyes directly, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. No one caught the meaning behind that smile.
‘Of course, it’s the right thing for you to get beaten up.’
