Chapter 47

EP.47 Swallow Leviathan (1)

“So, you’ve been promoted to a C-rank Holder?”

While eating a grape-flavored pudding with both hands, Kim Chae-eun asked me.

It was a leisurely dessert time after I had finally shown off my cooking skills.

“Yeah. I managed to do it after a day or two of hunting.”

“Wow… That’s really fast. I’ve never heard of anyone achieving results that quickly.”

“I found an undiscovered dungeon along the way, which greatly shortened the review period.”

The undiscovered dungeon, ‘Hobgoblin Village,’ was a paradise for monsters.

The C-rank monsters needed for promotion were everywhere, the hobgoblins.

No matter how many I killed, they seemed endless.

After finishing the conquest of Hobgoblin Village,

I successfully achieved all the requirements set by the Association within two days.

It was the result of being fully devoted to hunting day and night.

The examiner, Lee Ji-hye, looked at me as if I were a monster.

…Even I thought the hunting speed was unbelievable.

Anyway, I completed the promotion.

I’m a real C-rank Holder now.

“The dungeon… the Hobgoblin Village, you said? Is it really yours now?”

Kim Chae-eun’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

Most dungeons are owned by clans.

Exploration, conquest, and management—all require the power of a group.

But this time, the undiscovered dungeon,

Hobgoblin Village, is entirely mine.

I completed all the processes that are usually done by clans on my own, and I passed the ownership review without any issues.

“Yeah. I signed a contract with the Association with a 7:3 profit-sharing ratio.”

“30%? Why give so much?”

“The Association manages it. Management basically involves checking the entrance fees and dungeon byproduct fees… but for me, it’s like getting paid to sit around.”

“Does a dungeon really make that much money?”

“Yeah. Everyone prefers dungeons over the field.”

Unlike the field outside the barrier, where monsters are sparse, dungeons are overflowing with monsters and regenerate weekly.

So, naturally, Holders prefer dungeons over the field.

In such a structure, owning a dungeon brings in a lot of revenue.

First, Holders have to pay an entrance fee to enter the dungeon, and they also have to pay a fee for the results of their hunts inside.

The mana stone revenue has a 50% fee.

Other byproducts have a 20% fee.

The revenue is then split 7:3 between me and the Association.

The entrance fee revenue alone is enormous, and the fee revenue from mana stones and byproducts is beyond imagination.

It’s literally making money by sitting around.

It’s no wonder that each clan is eager to own a dungeon.

“Wow… That’s amazing.”

“If you want to hunt alone, you can go there. Except for the boss, all the monsters are C-rank, so it should be easier to hunt.”

“Am I free?”

“Of course, why would you ask that?”

Of course, Kim Chae-eun.

If other friends want to enter, I’ll let them in for free too.

The academy’s underground dungeon, which we attempted with a five-person party.

If I hadn’t tackled it with my friends,

I probably wouldn’t have grown so much in such a short time, and I wouldn’t have been able to save Kim Chae-eun during the final evaluation of the last semester.

While [Rune Hunter] and [Sweat of the Seeker] are good, the biggest opportunity for a Holder to grow is indeed the existence of a party or comrades.

“I give up. It seems too difficult.”

But Kim Chae-eun didn’t think deeply about it.

She immediately refused while eating the pudding.

“Why?”

“Ugh—How can a mage solo? I’ll definitely get hurt since I can’t tank.”

“Aren’t you learning swordsmanship these days?”

“That’s for self-defense.”

What use is a Holder learning self-defense martial arts….

Besides, even if you learn, it won’t be effective for self-defense.

“Still, some people do it occasionally, right? For example…”

I tilted my head in thought and said,

“…Kang Joo-yeon?”

“Do you want to die?”

“Sorry.”

Oops.

I triggered her again.

Kim Chae-eun seems to have some kind of rivalry with Kang Joo-yeon for some reason.

Well, they are the same age and in the same category, and Kang Joo-yeon is a high-ranking B-rank Holder.

She’s also the successor of one of Korea’s top three clans.

And I’ve personally experienced her strong performance in the same party, so it’s understandable that she might want to catch up.

Hmm.

The desire to improve is always a driving force for development.

It’s because of the desire to improve… right?

“Got it. Then let’s go together later.”

“…Together?”

“Yeah. Honestly, the underground dungeon was tough for just the two of us. We were a bit over our heads. Hobgoblin Village will be much easier to hunt.”

I can conquer the dungeon alone, but there’s no harm in going with Kim Chae-eun.

A reliable damage dealer is always helpful.

The hunting speed will be faster, and efficiency will increase with role distribution.

I can also develop the tanking runes I lack.

The prospect of going to conquer the dungeon was thrilling.

Kim Chae-eun’s face was also inexplicably flushed.

“Oh, except during the vacation. I’m going to be an intern clan member during the vacation.”

That one sentence immediately broke the warm atmosphere.

Ah.

I shouldn’t have said that.

Kim Chae-eun gave me a light glare.

“Are you really going to join? The Fire Judicator?”

“…It’s a good opportunity as a Holder. It would be a waste to miss it.”

“Tch. Then I won’t see you much during the vacation.”

Then I won’t be able to eat with you during the vacation.

I must be imagining things.

Brrrrr-!

Just as I was organizing my plans,

a sudden disaster alert rang loudly on my phone.

Kim Chae-eun and I exchanged glances.

We put down our pudding and checked the message.

[Korean Holder Association] Emergency Disaster Text

-At 19:08 on June 27, an S-rank monster is suspected to have appeared in the northeastern part of Dongbu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk. Nearby residents are requested to move to the designated shelters according to the Association’s instructions.

[Korean Holder Association] Temporary Raid Notice

-An S-rank suspected monster has appeared in front of the East Sea. We are forming a temporary raid to hunt this field monster. The raid will consist of 5 A-rank Holders, 20 B-rank Holders, and 50 C-rank Holders. For detailed information by category, please refer to the official website of the Korean Holder Association. Holders who wish to participate in the raid are requested to apply immediately. If an S-rank Holder expresses a willingness to participate, the number of B-rank and C-rank Holders may be reduced to zero.

It’s finally here.

The S-rank monster.

The notice for the Swallow Leviathan hunt.

* * *

My application to join the raid was processed without any issues.

Although I’m a newly promoted C-rank Holder, I was fortunately selected for the raid due to my good performance in ability and achievement evaluations.

Moreover, the help of Lee Ji-hye, who conducted my promotion review, was significant.

-If you need any help, feel free to contact me. I’ll try my best if it’s something I can do.

I didn’t miss the opportunity to contact her when needed.

I immediately sent a text as soon as I applied to join the raid.

Fortunately, one of her seniors was in charge of the disaster monster hunting raid, and there were no issues with my participation, so I was easily accepted.

Indeed, connections are a waste if not used.

“Wow—An S-rank monster, I’m so excited.”

“…Why are you here?”

I asked Kim Chae-eun, who was sticking to my side.

After the notice was issued and the temporary raid was confirmed,

she followed me to Pohang.

Kim Chae-eun’s Holder rank is F-rank.

Like me before, she hasn’t updated her rank since registration.

F-rank Holders are not allowed to participate in the raid.

Despite my repeated explanations, I couldn’t change her mind.

“You left me out when you went to Bukhansan, and now you’re trying to go alone again? I feel so wronged.”

“What exactly is wronged about it…”

“Anyway, I feel wronged!”

“Even if you come, you can’t hunt. I told you, only C-rank and above can participate.”

“Hehe—It’s okay. I’ll wait at the safe line.”

Is she here to hunt or to travel….

Anyway, we arrived in Pohang, getting off the warp gate.

In front of the East Sea, where the Swallow Leviathan appeared.

Many Holders had already gathered in Guryongpo, Pohang.

We arrived as quickly as possible, but it seems we were a bit late.

I quickly ran to a Holder Association staff member who had secured a position at the safe line and said,

“I’m C-rank Holder Joo Jae-hyun, assigned to the temporary raid for the disaster monster hunt. Can I receive instructions?”

The staff member quickly checked the list and nodded.

“Welcome. C-rank Holder Joo Jae-hyun, please head to the 5th squad of the Warrior category in the southeast direction, where the mana stone is pointing. Please hurry as the situation is urgent.”

“Yes, understood. Thank you.”

“Is the person next to you…?”

“Oh, she’s with me. She’s not a raid member.”

“Those with you can wait here. Absolutely do not cross the safe line.”

I turned to look at Kim Chae-eun at the staff member’s words.

She nodded, as if to say not to worry, and said,

“Be careful. Don’t get hurt like last time!”

“Got it. If you get bored, eat some pudding.”

“Tch. Don’t eat too much and get full.”

After exchanging some silly banter, I looked straight ahead.

“Phew…!!”

Fortunately, I have the [Charge] rune, which allows me to move much faster than others.

Despite being a bit late, I arrived at my squad without any issues.

However, upon arriving at the scene,

“Damn….”

I couldn’t help but swear.

The open beach of Pohang.

Its beauty was nowhere to be seen.

The area was a complete mess.

Houses that looked like civilian homes were all destroyed, and nearby ships, cars, and roads were in ruins.

The only fortunate thing was that there were no casualties?

Even that might have been evacuated and out of sight.

Nothing was left intact.

The scene was a perfect example of the phrase “utter destruction.”

Evidence of the appearance of an S-rank monster.

Surrounding the area,

dozens of Holders had gathered to hunt the monster.

“There they come! Be careful!”

“Shit! Everyone, get out of the way!”

And as soon as I arrived,

a massive tremor shook the ground.

Immediately, a dozen or so Holders in the front hastily fled.

Perhaps they had experienced this before.

Their movements were swift and precise.

The source of the tremor soon revealed itself.

With a loud rumble,

a massive sea monster emerged from the water.

“Kaaaaa…!! Aaaa-!!”

At a certain height between the land and the sea,

it took no more than a second to close the gap.

Numerous breakwaters were reduced to dust, and the concrete on the ground melted like ice cream.

In an instant, the creature destroyed everything around it.

Damn….

“Is this a lizard, a dragon….”

The monster, which boasted incredible destructive power and intimidation just by appearing.

An S-rank monster I had only read about in text, now facing it with my own eyes.

The appearance of the Swallow Leviathan.