Chapter 18

EP.18 Academy Underground Dungeon (3)

The professor who was teaching the class on "The History and Basics of Holders" had said,

"In modern society, there are various ways for holders to earn money."

The first is hunting monsters.

By capturing monsters outside the barrier or those that occasionally appear inside, holders can earn money through the government-designated bounty and the 'magic stones' embedded in the monsters' bodies.

This is the most common source of income for holders and the decisive reason why modern society needs them, so it's perhaps a natural form of income.

"The second is... taking on requests from ordinary people. That is, doing things that only holders can do."

Tasks that require excessive physical strength...

Things that ordinary people find difficult to handle.

Holders can take on such tasks and handle them more easily.

However, the demand for this is not high, and holders who are not at least F-grade rarely take on such tasks.

Moreover, aside from specialized jobs like being a professor at the academy, the income is not substantial, so it is not highly favored.

"The last one is what you might be thinking of. It can be seen as dungeon raiding."

Dungeon.

A special space where countless monsters lurk.

Here, various rewards are hidden, and these are often rewards that are difficult to achieve through training or ordinary growth.

In particular, successfully raiding a dungeon for the first time can lead to special growth, so 'undiscovered dungeons' are always sought after by holders with great enthusiasm.

However, the highlight of dungeon raiding is the boss room.

The boss room is the final and highlight of dungeon raiding. Each dungeon has a different difficulty level and reward, and if you are lucky, successfully raiding it can bring an incredible windfall.

The only S-grade holder in the assassin category in Korea, Yoo Eun-sul, is rumored to have grown through a boss room.

After breaking through the boss room of the highest-level dungeon, "The River Touched by the Dragon's Breath," she rapidly grew and ascended to S-grade, a story that was widely circulating in the holder community.

While it's difficult to verify the exact facts, there's no smoke without fire.

The value of the boss room within a dungeon is that significant.

Dungeon.

For rune holders, it is.

A land flowing with milk and honey.

And among them, the particularly special undiscovered dungeons.

At the entrance of the academy underground dungeon.

We had been walking for about 10 minutes from the entrance.

And there was still no sign of anything.

It seems that the monsters will appear a bit further ahead.

"Then, Do Jae-hyun, this is your first time in a dungeon, right?"

"Yeah. I've only been a holder for two months."

"Wow, really? You must be quite talented, huh?"

Most of the conversation in the midst of the boredom was between me and Moon Ga-eun.

Kang Ju-yeon is a quiet type, so she was silent.

From the occasional glances she threw at us, it seemed like she wanted to join the conversation, but... how would we know if she doesn't speak up?

"Really, it's embarrassing to hear that in front of two talented people."

"Come on. Ju-yeon and I have been holders for quite a while. About half a year? And there's also the genetic factor. Right, Ju-yeon?"

Nod, nod—

In response to the sudden question.

Kang Ju-yeon quietly nodded.

Seeing this, Moon Ga-eun is truly remarkable.

Even knowing that she would get a stiff response and short answers, she consistently tries to talk to Kang Ju-yeon.

That's probably why they've been best friends since childhood...

"And you, Do Jae-hyun, you're D-grade, right? I've never heard of a holder who went from F-grade to D-grade in just two months."

"Not F-grade. I was almost at the end of E-grade."

A holder's grade is officially determined by the association.

The ability measurement devices used at the time of academy admission.

The holder association also uses these to measure the holder's ability and, through practical tests, assess the usability and level of the rune.

They also measure the results of monster hunting and dungeon raiding.

Since I have never hunted a monster or raided a dungeon alone, I am not a regular D-grade holder.

I just have the strength of a D-grade holder.

"Huh? Wait a minute."

While we were chatting and walking.

Moon Ga-eun suddenly raised her hand to stop us.

Her ash-blue hair swayed with the sudden stop.

She quickly sat down and placed her hand on the ground.

[Dolphin's Sonar], a rune that can maximize auditory and vibration-related senses.

She seemed to be using this.

Archers often take on the role of a ranger when raiding dungeons and provide shooting support from the back during battles.

The rune commonly used by archers is [Sharp Senses].

However, Moon Ga-eun, being a high-level elite, possesses the special rare rune [Dolphin's Sonar], which is naturally superior to the common archer rune.

"They're coming. About 100 meters?"

With Moon Ga-eun's words.

The dungeon echoed with a thud.

Some monsters appeared from a distance.

Monsters covered in scales, wielding tridents.

Bipedal and clearly human in form, but with the face and body shape of a lizard...

C-grade monster, Lizardman.

-Kaaack!!

-Kaak, Kaaack-!!

At first glance, there were four Lizardmen.

For me, at D-grade, taking on four Lizardmen alone would be greedy.

No matter how fast my growth rate is, taking on four C-grade monsters at once is almost impossible.

But behind me were Kang Ju-yeon and Moon Ga-eun.

I just need to buy time until they strike.

"I'll go first!"

With those words, I immediately rushed forward.

Before the Lizardmen could reach us.

I needed to take the lead.

'Before drawing my sword...!!'

Before drawing the sword on my back.

I first took out the four throwing daggers from my waist.

The use of the [Dagger] rune.

The B-grade monster, Sizzling Salamander, had extremely high durability and a rare rune [Lizard's Scales] that further enhanced its durability, making the use of daggers meaningless.

Even if I used my sword, it would hardly make a scratch.

However, the C-grade Lizardman is different.

The Lizardman is a monster with a strength advantage, but relatively weak durability, making it vulnerable to attacks.

The [Dagger] rune, which I have leveled up to level 4, will definitely be effective.

"Ha...!!"

I threw all four daggers at one Lizardman.

[Quarter Knife], a derivative skill of [Dagger]...!

A trick skill where you throw four daggers and imbue only one with mana to enhance the attack.

As expected.

The Lizardman, caught off guard, reacted in confusion.

He deflected the first dagger with his trident.

And with the next move, he deflected the second dagger.

But there are limits to simultaneous reactions.

Just two.

The Lizardman could only react to two daggers with his speed.

-Kaaack!!

The remaining two daggers embedded themselves in the Lizardman's body.

One in the ankle.

One in the neck.

And [Quarter Knife].

The dagger imbued with mana among the four.

Was the one embedded in his neck.

"Lucky Seven, you bastard."

Damn.

This is a critical hit.

Well, not a critical hit, but still.

The Lizardman, hit in a vital spot with a dagger fully imbued with mana, was rendered combat-incapable.

I'm not sure if it's dead, but this is a very effective ambush.

I immediately drew the sword from my back.

There was no time to celebrate the successful ambush.

-Kaaack!!

-Kaak, Kaaack-!!

Perhaps enraged by the sight of their comrade being attacked.

Three Lizardmen charged at me at high speed.

I held the sword with both hands.

I deflected their thrusting tridents.

The principle of [Flowing Water Sword Technique].

Even if multiple weapons attack simultaneously, if you can pinpoint the center of the attack, you can deflect them.

Clang, clang-

The Lizardmen's tridents clashed with my sword.

They made sharp sounds as they collided, but they hadn't touched my body yet.

In the midst of this.

I steadily looked for an opening.

"Haap...!!"

While deflecting attacks, I countered with [Continuous Strikes].

The principle of [Tidal Wave Sword Technique], stabbing the Lizardman when an opening appeared.

Although the difference in grade meant I couldn't show the same level of power as the [Quarter Knife], I clearly inflicted damage, creating large and small wounds.

'Not good.'

But there are limits to this kind of battle.

The strain was gradually felt in my wrists and muscles.

This was due to my immature rune usage and ability.

I'm just starting to learn sword techniques from the professors, and my rune level is only 1 or 2.

It's not enough to cover my low abilities.

The relentless attacks of the Lizardmen's tridents.

And their indiscriminate attacks.

To withstand these, I needed either superior abilities or runes.

But with my D-grade abilities, this was my limit.

"Ugh...!"

A pained voice involuntarily escaped.

The sword, which had been smoothly deflecting attacks, was now requiring more force...

The Lizardmen's tridents were becoming more burdensome.

-Kaaack!!

To make matters worse.

In front of us, during the battle.

The sound of another group of Lizardmen was heard.

Ah.

Shit...

Thinking about it, this is a dungeon.

The first group we encountered was just these four, but there could be many more Lizardmen inside the dungeon.

And the ones in front were reinforcements.

'Really, I'm going to die.'

Dealing with three Lizardmen is already a struggle, and fighting more would really kill me.

I was reaching my absolute limit.

And then.

Moon Ga-eun's voice, which came to my rescue, was heard.

"Do Jae-hyun, fall back!"

A signal that support magic and shooting were ready.

I quickly retreated from the Lizardmen.

A speed that was hard to believe I had just been fighting.

The Lizardmen seemed confused.

This was due to both my high speed and the assistance of the [Dash] rune.

The [Dash] rune not only helps with movement and running but also enhances sudden movements and agility.

It naturally affected my ability to escape from battle.

Boom, boom, boom-!

Whoosh-

As soon as I retreated from the battle.

A tremendous explosion and a rain of arrows flew.

[Light Meteor] and [Triple Power Shot].

Very effective for dealing with multiple enemies...

Their main area-of-effect skills.

The three Lizardmen I was fighting.

And the five Lizardmen that came after.

They were eliminated by the bombardment from Kang Ju-yeon and Moon Ga-eun without any chance to react.

-Ka, Kaa...

The battle was over.

"......"

I stared blankly at the scene.

After seeing such an overwhelming attack.

My body and mind became reverent.

Is this...

A mass hunt or something...?