Chapter 81

EP.81 A-Rank Takedown by a C-Ranker (1)

The weekend arrived, marking the end of a tumultuous week.

My first week as an intern at "Flame's Judgment."

Honestly, too much happened for it to be just a first week.

I fought Shin Yuna to gain the team leader's trust right after joining, and the rune I obtained from that fight unlocked a new effect for "Rune Hunter." Then, the "Advanced Rune" system opened up, allowing me to combine and create "Martial Arts Master."

Moreover, just four days after joining, I participated in an expedition to an undiscovered dungeon, barely surviving a near-death crisis, and managed to defeat the boss only after all restrictions on my "Ultimate Skill" were lifted.

To top it all off, one of my teammates turned out to be a spy.

"This could make a whole book, I think."

Thanks to all this, I did grow a lot, but if I had to do it again, I'd hesitate. The clan activities were too intense and fast-paced.

"...It won't always be like this."

I muttered to myself, but Kang Juyeon, who was in front of me, responded.

At a Korean restaurant in Gangnam.

Kang Juyeon and I were having dinner together on Saturday evening.

A celebratory dinner to mark the success of the expedition.

We were too busy during the week, so we could only do this on the weekend.

Of course, it wasn't really a proper after-party since most of the team members, including the team leader Kwon Ohjun, Shin Yuna, and Lee Sumi, weren't there...

But with the key players, Kang Juyeon and me, it still counted as a celebration.

"Isn't it usually this busy?"

"Yeah. This expedition was planned for a long time... "

The "Forest Covered in Snakes" strategy was a large-scale project that "Flame's Judgment" and Hunting Team 5 had been planning for a long time.

Kwon Ohjun's A-rank promotion and the growth of promising member Shin Yuna.

Based on these, the official strategy project for Hunting Team 5 had been planned for six months.

Such a spectacular opportunity to explore an undiscovered dungeon doesn't come easily, and my participation meant that everything aligned perfectly.

...To include an intern like me in such a project.

I was once again reminded of Kang Juyeon's significant influence within the clan.

"Thanks. For including me in such a thing. I've been receiving a lot since I joined."

"...No."

Kang Juyeon shook her head and looked at me.

"Without you, the dungeon strategy would have been difficult."

"I agree."

"...?"

Kang Juyeon blinked at my unexpected response.

Usually, a modest reply would be expected here, but her look suggested something was off.

I laughed and continued.

"Haha. Just kidding, kidding. It's not like I did it all by myself. The team members helped a lot, and especially, you finished it off at the end. Without Inferno, that Imugi would never have died."

Certainly, my performance was outstanding, but it was just one piece of the puzzle in the boss strategy.

The success was possible because everyone worked together.

"Since we came here on the weekend, let's just eat. We've been talking about work again."

I realized we had been talking about work the whole time.

We were both at the level of addiction.

"...Yeah."

Kang Juyeon smiled gently in response.

It was a beautiful smile that suited her well.

I turned my head to look at the table for the meal.

And I was immediately amazed.

"Wow... How can there be so much?"

The table was filled with various Korean dishes.

At a glance, there were more than ten types of side dishes and five types of kimchi.

Acorn jelly, candied pumpkin, egg rolls, and jajang.

Tofu stew, mackerel grill, shiitake mushrooms, and octopus salad.

In the center, bulgogi and doenjang soup completed the spread.

It was a famous Korean restaurant in Gangnam, and the variety was indeed impressive.

The menu was mouth-watering just to look at.

'I should try making all this later.'

My cooking desire was rekindled.

While I don't particularly enjoy dining out, such a diverse and characteristic meal helps with the variety in [Cooking].

I picked up my chopsticks, taking in the luxurious dishes.

"Did you... receive all the rewards?"

Kang Juyeon asked, taking a bite of shiitake mushroom.

The rewards for the "Forest Covered in Snakes" strategy.

They were perfect.

During the strategy, we received magic stones or performance bonuses from the monsters we hunted, and based on our performance, we got additional bonuses, the epic item [Sword of Repentance], and the reward I requested.

Naturally, the requested reward was the magic stone of the boss monster.

Fortunately, no one else on our team requested it, so I received the magic stone from the supply team on Friday.

[The Forgotten Dragon's Magic Stone is filling the stone plate. The stone plate is enveloped in a mysterious aura.]

The result was a bingo.

The magic stone fit perfectly into the slot on the stone plate.

I was overjoyed.

While I had slightly expected it, I didn't know it would be one of the dragons.

Honestly, this magic stone alone was enough reason to be an intern at "Flame's Judgment."

Now, only two more magic stones were needed to unlock the seal on the stone plate.

The progress was much faster than I expected.

"Yeah. I had a brief meeting with the clan master the day before yesterday, and I received all the rewards by yesterday. The rewards were so good that I wondered if it was okay to receive them as an intern."

The [Sword of Repentance] was worth 290 billion won at the time.

Receiving it as an additional reward was equivalent to getting 300 billion won.

With the strategy bonus, additional performance bonus, and the magic stone, it was a lot.

Even though my performance was good and I had worked hard, I still wondered if I deserved all of it.

But Kang Juyeon's eyebrows twitched slightly at my words.

"Did you... have a meeting with Dad?"

"Huh? Yeah, everyone had one."

"...Did Dad say anything?"

Kang Juyeon's eyes looked uneasy.

Her expression reminded me of the meeting the day before yesterday.

-What exactly is your relationship with my daughter?

-Is my daughter not that attractive?

-You were about to kick me out of the clan over the rewards.

I stopped thinking.

The conversation with the clan master, who was a doting father, was a painful memory.

I laughed awkwardly and said to Kang Juyeon.

"Just that my performance was impressive? You know, the master is very strict about work and personal matters."

Strict about work and personal matters?

I felt guilty saying it, but I had no choice.

It was a well-intentioned lie for Kang Juyeon and me.

"..."

Kang Juyeon didn't seem to agree.

I ignored her and reached for the bulgogi with my chopsticks.

Hmm.

This place is really delicious.

* * *

I had already shown my multiple abilities to many people and clan members, but there were still some I needed to keep to myself.

For example, runes like [Sturdy Fangs], [Sharp Claws], and [Quadruped Combat] that enhance the physical strength of monsters, or the completely new runes [Penetrating Aura] and [Stiffening Gaze] that I obtained from this dungeon hunt.

If I showed these monster runes or new runes one after another, even the highly trusted Hunting Team 5 would find it suspicious.

So, it was essential to practice these runes alone.

Thanks to this, I was spending my golden weekend in the dungeon.

This time, the location was the academy's underground dungeon.

My training ground, like a staple of practical training.

[Your presence is unshaken when you assert your authority. Your charisma becomes even stronger when you overwhelm a weaker opponent.]

[The 'Intimidation' rune has leveled up.]

[You gain 1 Spirit from the rune's attribute.]

After sweeping away all the lizardmen at the entrance, the 'Intimidation' rune leveled up.

Among my runes, 'Intimidation' was particularly slow to grow.

It was natural.

'Intimidation' is most effective when fighting weaker opponents, but most of my opponents were powerful upper-rank monsters.

I cover the ability gap with the versatility and high proficiency of various runes, so the growth of 'Intimidation' was inevitably slow.

Still, there's nothing better than 'Intimidation' for grinding.

When facing C-rank lizardmen with low stats, it was unstoppable.

Moreover...

"This sword feels amazing."

After sweeping away the entrance.

I looked at the sword in my hand in amazement.

The [Sword of Repentance].

An epic item I received as a reward for the strategy from "Flame's Judgment."

It lived up to its epic status.

From the moment I held it at the start of the battle, it felt different, and after cutting down the lizardmen, the sensation was incredible.

Whether I was deflecting attacks with [Flowing Water Sword Technique] or piercing through gaps with [Crashing Wave Sword Technique].

In any combat situation with a sword, I could cleanly cut through opponents without any resistance.

The feeling was stronger when slashing rather than stabbing.

It was a clean, precise sensation, like slicing through a piece of meat with a kitchen knife.

I was amazed by the quality of this high-end item.

"This is why expensive items are used."

Moreover, the [Sword of Repentance] increases in power based on my holiness value.

My current holiness value is 15.

It's far from my main stats, but the increase is not negligible.

The special effect of 'Intimidation' and the performance of the [Sword of Repentance].

With these added to my existing combat power, I could handle lizardmen with just the 'sword' without using any other abilities.

Kee-ee!!

Kee, kee-ee!!

As the saying goes, if you talk about tigers, they will come. The same goes for lizards.

After passing the entrance and reaching the middle section, lizard monsters that were difficult to handle with just a sword appeared.

Sizzling Salamanders and Toxin Iguanas.

About ten of these monsters surrounded me.

"Damn. Why are there so many?"

Was the composition changed?

Or did I leave the dungeon for too long?

The composition of the monsters was different from the first time I saw them.

There were only about six Toxin Iguanas back then...

"Still, the more, the better."

The rewards from the "Forest Covered in Snakes" strategy.

The more monsters there are, the more I can test the effects.

I came here today to check their exact performance.

I smiled and looked at the lizards.

"Let's start by breaking the ground."

I began with [Power Break].

A derivative skill from the newly obtained [Garden of Split Earth].