HWM 15

Chapter – 15

Since large dungeons are ideally cleared as quickly as possible, Tae-woon and the Baran Guild party headed to the designated location the next day.

There, they were able to meet members of four other guild parties who were also participating in the raid.

“…The party with the highest rank is from the Daryong Guild. The leader, Choi Ik-hwan, is Level 3, and the other two are Level 2 Hunters.”

“I see.”

In situations where multiple guilds work together like this, an unspoken competition naturally arises over each party’s performance. Even the party leader, Harim, seemed to already be brimming with determination.

“Let’s not get too pressured and just go with it.”

“Ah, I know. But with our guild’s reputation at stake, I can’t help but pay attention.”

“Don’t worry about it, brother! All we need to do is show that rank isn’t everything, right?”

While overexerting oneself was never good, for a young rookie Hunter, a little friendly competition could be a valuable experience.

With that thought, each guild finished their preparations to enter the dungeon. Tae-woon noticed a familiar face among them.

“Well, look at you. Looking sharp, huh?”

It was Kang Man-sik, the leader of the gang that had previously pressured Tae-woon to break his contract.

“What brings you here?”

“Hey, hey. Don’t get worked up. Back then, I was just doing my job. And now, running into the same dungeon—holding grudges won’t help anyone.”

Perhaps hearing about Yong-cheol’s devastating defeat made Man-sik approach Tae-woon more cautiously than usual.

Still, his fundamental nature hadn’t changed at all.

“Baran Guild, huh? You’ve come a long way. Who would’ve thought that parasite of a kid would get this far? Well, anyway, let’s see what you can do. We’ll take the lead, but you better handle the follow-up properly.”

His arrogant, irritating taunts made Harim and Min-jun beside Tae-woon frown.

Tae-woon, however, paid no mind, finishing his equipment check silently.

“…Tch, we’ll see about that.”

Man-sik left, grumbling to himself, and Min-jun, unable to contain his anger, exclaimed:

“Who is that shameless brute? Showing up and insulting you and our guild like that!”

“…He’s definitely not someone I like.”

“People like him are born that way. No need to pay him any attention.”

Just like with the previous fight against Yong-cheol, Tae-woon no longer felt hatred or irritation toward them. As Man-sik had said, he was only doing his job, and Tae-woon’s field of vision had grown too wide for such trivial matters to bother him.

“That’s enough! We’ll prove ourselves through our performance!”

“Besides, once we’re inside, we’ll rarely see each other anyway.”

Due to the vast size of large dungeons, parties are usually split, with each team exploring a separate path.

“Baran Guild Hunters? If you’re ready, join us in the right passage.”

“Yes, no problem here.”

Tae-woon’s party formed a team with the three-person Heimdal Guild party, creating a balanced group of two Level 2 Hunters and three Level 1 Hunters.

The central passage, meanwhile, was being explored alone by the Daryong Guild, which had a Level 3 Hunter.

“If it’s over there, we don’t need to worry. A skilled Level 3 Hunter can easily handle eight Level 2s.”

Generally, Level 2 Hunters are considered about twice as strong as Level 1 Hunters, but from Level 3 onward, strength increases exponentially.

Tae-woon had never personally experienced this, but people said a Level 4 Hunter could take on dozens of Level 2s and still come out on top. This explained why no one worried about the Daryong party in the central passage.

“Then, let’s go.”

Baran and Heimdal Guilds entered the dungeon, and a cold chill swept over them.

Even considering its size, the atmosphere of a Level 1 or 2 dungeon was noticeably different.

For Tae-woon, who had grown from clearing two theaters, this dungeon would be excellent experience.

“Seven monsters, Greyhound Type I-14, detected 10 meters ahead!”

“Seven, huh. Looks like this dungeon will be tough right from the start.”

One of the biggest characteristics of large dungeons is that their size allows for a significant number of monsters.

The two parties quickly formed a proper formation with a front and rear line, and began eliminating the wolf-like Greyhounds.

Piiing!

Ting─!

“One of them! It’s escaping!”

“…I’ll handle it.”

One of the smaller Greyhounds broke through the rear line. Tae-woon, without using the power of his mask, sprinted and thrust his spear into its side in the blink of an eye.

Chaaak!

Crack!

Keeeng!

He followed up with a precise strike to its vital point, finishing it off with a decisive stab.

Squeeeak!

Puh!

“Most Type I Beast monsters rely on their physical abilities,” Tae-woon noted.

The Greyhounds were indeed strong and fast, but they were no match for Tae-woon’s skill.

The Heimdal party leader, Kyung-chul, watched in admiration.

“Impressive. Not the movements of a Level 1.”

“I couldn’t have done it without your assistance in controlling them.”

“Heh, a humble one too.”

With no major issues, Baran and Heimdal’s parties progressed quickly on their first day of exploration.

“Let’s see… we’re at least halfway through. We might even be the fastest.”

“Any problems so far?”

“Hm? None. Just plain Greyhounds, and the only nuisance would probably be Rock Boars.”

Kyung-chul, a veteran Hunter, seemed reliable, so his words were trusted.

“Still, in a large dungeon, anything can happen. Stay alert.”

“Understood.”

After setting up a simple camp to rest for the night, Tae-woon’s party ventured deeper into the dungeon the next day.

After multiple battles with Greyhound packs, and a few skirmishes with the anticipated Rock Boars, ten hours had passed since they first entered.

They reached what seemed to be the end of the right passage.

“Unexpected. I didn’t think this would be the right path.”

In front of Kyung-chul, who wielded an axe, stood a massive, awe-inspiring boss room.

Normally, parties would return to the dungeon entrance to meet up with the other two teams before challenging the boss.

But the three wide passages branching from the boss room suggested another possibility.

“Looks like they connect back to the starting point’s three passages.”

“Agreed. We may have gone through extra effort for nothing.”

After about an hour, two exhausted parties emerged from the left passage: the Samson Guild, which included Man-sik, and the Garosu Guild.

“What… is this the structure?”

“See for yourself. You’re late this time.”

“Ha… I’m too tired to make a fuss.”

The Garosu party leader, seemingly acquainted with Kyung-chul, slumped onto the ground.

Just as the atmosphere was settling, Tae-woon noticed a strong sense of unease and gathered everyone to voice his concern.

“Something’s off. How is it that the Daryong Guild with Choi Ik-hwan arrived last at the boss room?”

The Hunters all tilted their heads, realizing he was right. Their expressions soon hardened.

Kyung-chul, sensing the tension, called everyone to alertness.

“Everyone, prepare yourselves─!!”

Even though nothing had happened yet, the atmosphere was undeniably ominous.

Soon, from deep within the central passage, a bloodied man emerged and faced the group.

Step, step… step.

“D-Daryong’s party… Choi Ik-hwan and two others… have died. Are you all okay?”

“What happened? We didn’t face anything that strong…”

“In the central passage… there was… a freak about 3 meters tall, swinging a club with a grotesque face. Ik-hwan tried to strike it fatally, but it retaliated even with its waist severed… sniff…”

The man sobbed uncontrollably, having lost two party members and being left alone.

Fortunately, the monster had been defeated thanks to Ik-hwan’s sacrifice. But that wasn’t the real problem.

If the boss ahead was stronger than that monster, the remaining Hunters would face a daunting challenge.

“Kyung-chul, isn’t this dangerous?”

“Who knows? Even Ik-hwan would’ve survived if it weren’t an ambush. Either way, we have thirteen Hunters here.”

A single Level 3 Hunter can handle eight Level 2s, so Kyung-chul’s assessment wasn’t wrong.

Yet everyone knew this fight would not be easy.

“Damn… honestly, if the boss is stronger than that guy, it won’t be weak. But if we unite and fight together, it’s not impossible.”

“…Guess we have no choice. Once inside, there’s no escape other than clearing the dungeon.”

With that, the Hunters took time to rest and prepare for the final battle.

Boom!

Giiigg!

At last, with resolve steeled, the Hunters pushed open the massive door to the boss room.

The moment had come to witness the end of the large dungeon, where even a Level 3 Hunter had perished.