Chapter 46

EP.46 C-Class Holder Promotion (5)

"Get that brat!"

Oh no.

There's no one here but me.

The moment I saw the golden goblin holding the treasure pouch.

I blurted out a mutter without realizing it.

-Kerlek…!!

Perhaps startled by my shout.

The golden goblin hastily prepared to run away.

I couldn't just stand there and watch.

"No, absolutely not."

If my guess is correct.

The golden goblin is the rest room of this dungeon.

A walking rest room.

I've never heard of such a thing, but otherwise, there's no way to explain the lack of a rest room in this undiscovered dungeon.

I quickly reached the front of the golden goblin.

And grabbed the back of its neck to prevent it from escaping.

Its speed is indeed significantly slower.

Not to mention the hobgoblin chieftain, the C-class monster, the hobgoblin warrior.

Or the archers and sorcerers, it was much slower than them.

This indicates that this creature is not a regular monster but a special-purpose monster of the dungeon.

"Huh?"

But as I grabbed it and tried to snatch the treasure pouch.

I felt something was off.

The energy in my tightly clenched hand seemed to drain.

The golden goblin, whose neck I had grabbed, struggled...

And then went limp, as if it had lost all its strength.

As if... it had died.

No, damn it.

Is it going to die from this?

"...A monster loyal to its purpose."

A walking rest room.

A monster designed to reward holders who have cleared the dungeon.

Loyally...

The golden goblin completed its mission and fulfilled its purpose.

To die just because I grabbed its neck.

Perhaps this creature is an F-class monster in terms of rank.

Since it didn't have any runes, the [Rune Hunter] message didn't appear either.

"Let's check the reward."

After briefly wishing it well.

I emptied the treasure pouch to check the rewards.

Rewards spilled out into the room.

Various magic stones, equipment, elixirs, and potions were hidden in the treasure pouch.

I picked up the most eye-catching piece of equipment.

A bronze shield that gleamed.

<Item Information>

◎Name: Hobgoblin's Bronze Shield

◎Type: Shield

◎Rank: Rare

◎Durability: Normal

◎Craftsman: -

◎Special Effects

: Durability +2

: When the user infuses it with mana, it can block not only physical attacks but also magical attacks. This effect activates even if the user does not have resistance to the corresponding attribute, and the level of defense varies depending on the attacker's attack level.

◎Detailed Information

: A shield commonly used by hobgoblins. From its luxurious decorations and solid craftsmanship, it can be inferred that this is a bronze shield used by the chieftain of the hobgoblin tribe.

"Nice."

The first item is a big hit.

A rare item that seems to have been used by a 'hobgoblin chieftain'.

It increases durability by 2 and can block both physical and magical attacks.

If I had unknowingly used a magical attack on a shield, it might have been blocked.

"Good luck."

Not only the dungeon itself, but also the item luck.

Unlike the academy's underground dungeon, which was teeming with B-class monsters and had an A-class boss, the hobgoblin village is a mid-to-lower level dungeon with an average monster rank of C.

Naturally, the rewards for clearing it would be inferior to those of the underground dungeon.

But despite that, the first item turned out to be a rare item.

What the golden goblin left behind...

Was literally a treasure pouch.

"Should I start using a one-handed sword?"

Seeing the rare shield, I suddenly had this thought.

So far, I've been using a two-handed sword when wielding [Sword].

Using a two-handed sword allows me to exert more strength and speed, giving me a stronger impact than regular tanks and making combat smoother when using [Sword].

On the other hand, using a one-handed sword with a shield can significantly enhance my defensive capabilities.

"...It's better to change when necessary."

Still, I've been using a two-handed sword all this time, and I can't easily change my combat style just because I got a good shield.

Moreover, using a shield would impose restrictions on my free combat style.

I wouldn't be able to use [Dagger] or [Brawling] effectively.

Only when necessary, like...

When the role of a tank is more important in a party...

It would be better to take out the shield.

"Elixirs, potions, axes, armor..."

The rest of the items were ordinary.

Most of the equipment was normal-grade items.

There were also various potions that could be bought on the market.

Among them, there was an elixir that increased mana, which I immediately consumed to boost my stats.

It only increased by 1...

But even that is precious to me, who needs mana right now.

"Is that it?"

After organizing all the items, the only thing left was the magic stones.

But among the piled magic stones.

A book was cleverly hidden.

A book radiating a dark aura.

I carefully examined it and...

Immediately took it out to check the information.

<Item Information>

◎Name: Cursed Grimoire

◎Type: Special

◎Rank: Epic

◎Craftsman: -

◎Special Effects

: By reading it for 3 hours a day for 10 days, you can gain 2 points each in mana, divine, and mental. This effect can only be used once, and once used, it cannot be used again.

◎Detailed Information

: A book containing various curses and their casting methods. If you have a curse-related rune, this book can be very helpful.

"...Really nice."

I thought it would end with the rare item, but unexpectedly.

An epic item was hidden.

The effect is also impressive.

If certain conditions are met, it increases three stats by 2 each.

And it includes the mana value, which I need the most right now.

"I'll learn curses with this."

In this dungeon, I hunted a hobgoblin sorcerer and obtained [Light Curse], but I couldn't use it because I didn't know how.

Even if it's not as complex as magic, there must be a way to use curses.

And that method is written in this grimoire.

Corrosion, debilitation, slowing, distortion...

Various types of curses are all contained in the book.

For a special item, it has a high practical value.

I put the [Cursed Grimoire] in my bag and smiled in satisfaction.

"Golden goblin... delicious."

Indeed, throughout history.

The golden goblin never betrays us.

* * *

Lee Ji-hye couldn't believe what she was seeing.

"So... what is this...?"

A mountain of magic stones and monster byproducts.

All items designated by the association for promotion.

This didn't accumulate over a month or two.

Two days.

The results gathered in just two days after the promotion examination began.

The applicant for promotion, who said the situation was urgent and needed to hurry.

Do Jae-hyun truly showed the ultimate in hurrying by bringing all the results.

"It's been a while, Examiner. Or is it too soon to say it's been a while?"

"Do... Do Jae-hyun Holder. How did this...?"

Lee Ji-hye, still unable to grasp the situation, looked at Do Jae-hyun, who smiled.

"I had good luck. I found an undiscovered dungeon while hunting."

"An undiscovered dungeon?"

"Yes. Here's the related report."

She received the stack of papers he handed her.

<Undiscovered Dungeon: Report on the Hobgoblin Village (Provisional Name) and Application for Dungeon Ownership Review - Holder Do Jae-hyun>

When she unfolded the document, it was indeed about an undiscovered dungeon.

In the middle of the Bukhansan field.

A dungeon accessible through a small hole among the dense trees.

It was surprising and amazing that an undiscovered dungeon still existed in Bukhansan, which had been thoroughly explored by numerous clans and holders.

However, there was one strange point in the report.

It didn't just stop at discovery, but it also stated, "I am applying for a review of dungeon ownership."

Lee Ji-hye, reading this, cautiously spoke.

"Do Jae-hyun Holder. Did you...?"

"Yes. I completed the discovery and clearing of the dungeon. Most of the monsters were C-class, so I had good luck."

"..."

An undiscovered dungeon.

The first discoverer or clan has the right to clear it.

Regardless of whether the discoverer and the dungeon's level match.

Regardless of whether the discoverer has the ability to clear the dungeon.

This is a strictly set regulation and law.

Once the right to clear the dungeon is obtained, the first clearing of the dungeon is completed in their own way...

Then, a review of dungeon ownership is conducted.

In other words, Do Jae-hyun is now.

He has completed everything from discovery to clearing the dungeon on his own and has even submitted a report requesting a review of the dungeon's ownership.

Do Jae-hyun smiled at Lee Ji-hye.

"I hope you can also handle the review of dungeon ownership. I'm counting on you again."

Lee Ji-hye couldn't pull herself together.

Too much information was coming in.

It felt like her brain was about to overload.

So...

A holder who is trying to update their rank for the first time after registering as a holder, applying for a three-step promotion to C-class...

Brought the required association-designated results in just two days, meeting all the necessary review conditions...

And in the process, found an undiscovered dungeon, completed its clearing, and even applied for a review of dungeon ownership?

"This is just... unbelievable..."

A continuous series of stories that don't make sense logically.

But the reports and byproducts in front of her eyes were proving it.

And the protagonist.

Was smiling sheepishly without any speed.

"Haha. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to burden you with so much work, Examiner."

"No, no. This is a good thing for me too, as it counts as a result..."

One of the highest achievements during performance evaluations is the exploration of an undiscovered dungeon.

Especially, the results of this level are something that can't be achieved even if you try to create them.

Honestly, for Lee Ji-hye, there was nothing bad about it.

It was even a helpful situation.

Just...

"I'm just amazed. Do Jae-hyun Holder is... much more impressive than I thought."

A holder she thought was just showing off at their first meeting.

A holder she only knew as a fresh graduate from the academy.

He shattered all those prejudices.

He was the protagonist of results that exceeded expectations.

Half a year ago, during the promotion season.

After Kang Joo-yeon became a B-class holder...

He was a top-tier new holder that hadn't appeared in a very long time.

"I had good luck."

"If this luck continues, it will look like skill."

"I'm grateful if you think so."

Finding an undiscovered dungeon was luck, but clearing it and bringing all the promotion results in just two days was not in the realm of luck.

The insane hunting speed I saw on the first day.

Without that, these achievements would have been impossible.

"The results will be out today. With this level of achievement... it's almost certain. I'll try to process the review of dungeon ownership as quickly as possible."

"Thank you."

"As I said, this is a result for me too. I'm grateful. Thanks to Do Jae-hyun Holder, I'll get a performance bonus this time."

Lee Ji-hye got up from her seat.

She needed to start preparing to organize all these reports.

"Anyway! It was nice meeting you. If you have to come to the association again, let's meet then."

"Yes, I understand."

"If you have any requests, feel free to contact me. I'll try to help if it's something I can do."

A holder who helped the examiner achieve results through the promotion review.

If he had a request, she would want to help it as much as possible.

"Yes, I will. Thank you for your hard work, Examiner."

Do Jae-hyun smiled brightly and greeted her.

Lee Ji-hye turned her head for a moment at his smile.

...It was absolutely not because of any other intention.