Chapter 33

< Found! (3) >

D-Rank Lower Rock Formation Dungeon.

The main monsters here were goats that climbed cliffs. They were called Rock Goats, and their initial optimized skills were Jumping Headbutt and Stomp.

The Bud Skill is really good, you know. Even though it's the lowest ranked among the title skills, it has the highest usage frequency.

Of course, there was a skill that allowed you to check the opponent's information, but it could only confirm stats and skill levels one rank lower than your own. In comparison, the Bud Skill is an information skill that can confirm any level of stats and skills.

The main purpose isn't to check the status window, and there are some limitations, but it's up to how you use it.

"Uncle, here it is!"

Yelim proudly showed me a frozen goat. No, I told you to level up, not to bring it here.

"It's well frozen, so you just need to stab it. It's safe!"

"It's just a matter of stabbing, but will a spear even penetrate that block of ice?"

Yuhwan picked up the horn of a goat that was charred black and interjected. Then he smiled at me.

"It's still alive. The tough skin is almost all burned, so the spear will slide in smoothly."

"I can also freeze it a bit! Should I skin it for you?"

Poor goats. They're being frozen and grilled in both directions. I looked at Yumin, who looked like he was about to disappear into the ground.

"You need to level up too. Come on."

"Me, me too?"

Mingwoo looked behind him and then shrank like a frightened turtle. Even though the goat is half-cooked, is it still scary?

Just in case, I looked at Yuhwan and Yelim, and they both smiled at me simultaneously. The atmosphere is good. The charred black goat might be a bit ominous, but it's just a poorly cooked barbecue.

"You need to reach level 10 before me."

I'm not in a hurry, but Mingwoo needs to level up to 10 and stay in this dungeon to hone his skills. I grabbed his arm and pulled him along. Don't be scared, it's okay.

"Think of it like stabbing a burned steak. Or how about a frozen one? Doesn't it look like a statue of ice?"

"I caught it to give it to you, Uncle."

Yelim grumbled. Why are you arguing over such things?

"Yelim."

At my scolding, Yelim pouted.

"But..."

"Not 'but.' I'm telling you this now, all three of you should get along. At the very least, don't fight and try to be good teammates."

Fire, ice, and equipment crafting. How well they mix. If Kim Sung-han also reaches S-Rank, we'll have a complete team. Later, we'll be able to tackle all sorts of crazy dungeons, and if we coordinate and support each other, we'll be unstoppable.

The only thing missing might be a healer. Even five years later, there were no SS or AS stat and skill levels, so it would be hard to find someone at their level. Apparently, healers have stats and skill levels that are inversely proportional. Maybe because the average age is around 50.

Stats tend to be better the younger and healthier you are. While there are exceptions, most S-Rank stats are from people in their mid-30s or younger.

"Especially you, Yuhwan, don't fight with a kid five years younger than you. Yelim, as a contracted hunter, don't forget that you're dealing with a guild leader and a senior by three years."

At my nagging, both of them sighed simultaneously.

"I'm not trying to fight. It's just annoying to keep getting tangled up with him."

"Uncle is my guardian, so it's natural. Why is it annoying?"

"Even though you're young, you should be aware of your position. Didn't the PR team teach you that? I'm not distancing myself from my brother because I like it."

"I do pay attention."

"Did you try to drag him to the association when you went?"

"Well, we didn't go together. I'm still clumsy, but I'm learning hard."

There they go again. They're showing off their elemental opposition. Shouldn't they be trying to create a rival image for PR?

"Stop it, both of you."

"···Okay."

"···Yes."

Looking at it, the bigger problem is Yuhwan. He's worrying about me too much. If I can quickly grow Peace and bring in a few more monsters, he might worry less.

"One is my younger brother, and the other is my ward. If you keep fighting over my issues, how do you think I feel? At least pretend to get along in front of others. You did well in front of the reporters."

If you keep pretending, it might become real.

"If Uncle wants, I'll do it. It's easy to pretend."

Yelim smiled brightly and looked up at Yuhwan.

"Since Uncle is my younger brother, I can't treat you like a stranger. Let's get along from now on. Can I call you 'Brother'?"

···Why did you jump to 'Brother' so suddenly? Yuhwan also gave a gentle smile. They both look good, but it's just for show.

"Of course. Then I'll speak more casually."

"Yes, please do. I'll do my best, Yuhwan."

"I'll do my best too, Yelim."

They're smiling warmly, but I can feel the tension behind it. Oh, these two. Look at them having a staring contest without breaking eye contact.

It's lucky there are only a few of us. If we had more, we might need a 'Get Along' campaign.

And our poor Mingwoo is still cowering. Given that two S-Rankers are having a mental battle, it's no wonder a regular F-Ranker like him is trembling. Just a bit more, the hard work will pay off.

"You won't see them for a while, so just endure today. Just reach level 10."

After that, you'll need to hone your skills for at least half a year, so even if you want to see them, you won't be able to. Mingwoo nodded at my encouragement. For this kid, a backroom job might be more comfortable.

The dungeon run went smoothly after that. Yuhwan, needless to say, and Yelim were flying around.

After leaving the winding valley, a wide basin appeared. On the green meadow, hundreds of goats were gathered. Beyond them, a giant goat with black fur stood proudly. It might as well have a sign saying "I'm the boss."

Still, it's helpful that it's so obvious. Sometimes, a hidden boss can be a real pain.

"Brother said he's still level 9, right?"

Yuhwan asked. I hadn't reached level 10 yet because I was focusing on Mingwoo. Mingwoo had reached level 10 about 30 minutes ago but didn't get a skill, which was disappointing.

I had a hunch, but it seems the skill he was supposed to get at level 10 was replaced by the owner of the Golden Forge.

When a skill you're supposed to get at level 10 doesn't appear, it's usually because you haven't met the conditions. You might get it later when you meet the conditions, or you might never get it... It's half luck.

"I don't necessarily need to reach level 10."

"Having one more skill would be convenient. I'll bring a few over."

"Me! I'll do it!"

Yelim, now completely familiar with Hermes' Shoes, confidently stepped forward and flew up. She's like a fish in water.

'This time, the skill won't appear either, will it?'

In my previous life, I didn't get a new skill until level 30. This time, it might be the same.

What is my optimized skill, anyway?

I want to use the Bud Skill on myself. I tried it in front of a mirror, but the status window didn't appear. Not just the Bud Skill, I want a growth buff too. Saying "I love myself" won't do much, will it?

Anyway, the L-Rank skill title I got is useless, and the other one only helps others. Does the system creator hate me? Or at least make it easier to use. The effects and keywords are really dirty and despicable...

[Found!]

···What?

A message window appeared?! Wait, did I get it because I cursed? Did it come to find my curses? No, I've cursed the system many times, so it can't be that. What is it? What is it?

Another message window appeared in front of me.

[Oops, sorry!]

No, I'm the one who's sorry for cursing... Is it an error? A moderator's mistake?

Wait, let's talk. Is there a keyboard window or something? Why is the conversation one-sided-.

"Brother!"

Yuhwan shouted and pulled me into his arms. At the same time, I also shouted.

"Yelim, protect Mingwoo!"

I don't know what's happening, but it's a danger signal. In other words, if we leave Mingwoo alone, he'll die.

Immediately after, the cries of the goat herd were heard.

-Keek!

-Keeek!

The smell of burning meat. Thanks to Yuhwan's fire resistance, I didn't feel the heat. Are Yelim and Mingwoo safe? The last revenge skill application window didn't appear, so they seem to be alive.

"···What's going on?"

I can't see the situation because I'm being held. I know we received a large-scale fire attack, but... This is a D-Rank lower dungeon. Why did something that can use a wide-area attribute attack appear? It's not like the dungeon is going crazy like it did five years later; it's still stable.

"I've never seen this monster before."

Yuhwan said quietly. Hey, let me see too. I tapped his shoulder, and he loosened his arms.

"Be careful."

I turned to look at the basin. The green meadow is burning red. The remains of the burned goats are piled up like a mountain.

The original boss is impaled by a golden, sharp beak.

A fire-enshrouded strange bird swings its beak and tears apart a well-cooked goat, swallowing it. I recognized it immediately from its distinctive beak.

'2nd Tier Strange Bird. Golden Beak Mya.'

It's an A-Rank upper dungeon boss monster. Strange birds are relatively weak for their tier, so they're not at the S-Rank level. But why is it here?

'···Could the "sorry" be because of this?'

Is it really a system error? A bug? Call the moderator. Let's talk.

"Are you two okay?"

After confirming the monster, I turned to find Yelim and Mingwoo. Fortunately, Yelim had cast a cold sigh in time. Yelim was standing in front of Mingwoo, and in front of them, there were blackened marks.

"···We're okay. But what is that?"

"Sometimes, monsters that don't match the dungeon's tier can appear."

This was extremely rare at this stage, but more importantly, since the boss monster died and the escape gate didn't appear, it seems this bird has replaced the boss. This is going to be troublesome.

By now, there must be chaos outside. The dungeon that the Hae-yeon guild leader and the S-Rank rookie entered has changed to at least B-Rank. They can't come to help even an hour later.

"Brother, take this."

Yuhwan handed me the gate stone. It's like a reenactment from my previous life. Of course, compared to the damn dragon Lauchitas, the firebird is a joke.

"You don't need to. That thing is weaker than you."

Our elemental attacks won't affect each other, and physical attacks are stronger for Yuhwan, who has an S-Rank combat aptitude. The flying monster is a bit annoying, but Yuhwan has the Blue Willow Leaf, so it's not a problem.

Mingwoo and I can stay in a corner and let Yelim protect us.

Yuhwan looked at me with a puzzled expression.

"Do you know what the monster is?"

"2nd Tier Strange Bird, Golden Beak Mya. As you can see, it's a fire attribute and an A-Rank upper dungeon boss. It has the habit of chasing its first target, so it won't aggro easily. If you do well, you can leave quickly. Be careful of the beak attack. The legs are relatively weak. The skull is soft, and the back and belly are the hardest. The beak is the hottest part, but you'll be fine. The wings look like one pair, but there's a hidden pair, so it's better to attack the head directly. Mingwoo and I will be fine if Yelim protects us. By the way, the beak is a very expensive material, so try to cut it off intact if possible."

Yuhwan looked speechless for a moment.

"···Brother seems a bit strange."

"It's not strange, it's suspicious. Seok Si-myeong also said I'm suspicious. It's hard to explain, so let's just gloss over it. Is that okay?"

"It's not that it's not okay, but..."

"Anyway, I'm your brother. That won't change."

Whether it's the Han Yu-jin from five years ago or the current Han Yu-jin, I'm still Han Yu-hwan's brother. Yuhwan nodded slightly and handed me the gate stone.

"Still, keep this."

It's too risky. I won't lose to a mere firebird, but...

"I'll do my best."

Yuhwan said to Yelim with a bow.

"Don't worry."

At this moment, both of them were completely serious, putting aside any emotional grudges. I feel satisfied. I hope they continue to cooperate and get along well.

He looked at me one more time, and Yuhwan turned around.

He'll be fine. If it's the Yuhwan from five years later, it would take 10 minutes, no, 5 minutes. Now, it might take 30 minutes at most. So, I should cheer for him with peace of mind.

< Found! (3) > End

ⓒ Geunseo

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