Chapter 99

< Traditional Drama (3) >

“The lake before us is a freshwater lake with an area of 9.3 square kilometers and a maximum depth of 25 meters. The most representative inhabitant is the Abus, a third-grade freshwater salamander. Its sticky brown skin, dotted with red spots, looks like that of a venomous dragon, but it is actually very weak to toxins. It can be seen as a form of camouflage.”

The tour guide explained. The lake, nestled in a small mountain, was picture-perfect. The addition of a fairly well-preserved castle made it feel as if we were on a European tour rather than in a dungeon.

“To have measured the lake’s area and depth so precisely. The water must be quite calm.”

“It’s just a rough estimate.”

“Do you still expect a tip?”

“You’re a picky tourist. Is this what it means to work in the service industry?”

“Hearing such nonsense makes me want to put in my best effort to become a difficult customer. Call the customer service number of the Third City.”

“The connection is established. Please speak, sir.”

Engaging in pointless banter with a man who acts as if he’s the best thing since sliced bread, while the other one spouts nonsense with zero nutritional value. It’s a strange world we live in. Not that I’ve lived for very long.

“Will something show up? You’re showing too many weaknesses. Wouldn’t anyone notice?”

He said, looking at the tower that stood out among the ruins. I hope we’re not just going to end up on a sightseeing tour.

“Of course, they’ll notice. But since they don’t know each other’s cards, they’ll either take the chance if they think it’s advantageous, or they’ll back off. The gate will deactivate soon, so we’ll know soon enough.”

Sung Hyun-je checked a pocket watch he took out from his inventory. It wasn’t a dungeon item but a specially made watch from the dungeon’s byproducts, capable of being stored in the inventory. It was part of the Vacheron Hunter Collection, numbered up to 9.

“The fruit they’re dangling is so tempting that a hunter would find it hard to resist. If we’ve come to the right place, they’ll take the risk and jump in, even if it’s a bit of a stretch.”

A tempting fruit. If it’s similar to the system creators, it might be a form of information. Many hunters would drool at the prospect of getting a good item or title.

“So, did the Third City Guild Master accept and eat the fruit?”

“There’s no reason to refuse if it’s offered.”

“It wasn’t free, was it?”

“It’s a bit ambiguous.”

Sung Hyun-je tilted his head, a rare expression of uncertainty on his face.

“So far, it’s been a matter of eating and accepting. I thought it would be a relationship that would last for a few years, but suddenly the attitude changed. I was getting tired of it anyway, so it’s not bad, but... did I make such a mistake?”

It was a vague statement, but it seemed that Sung Hyun-je had been planning to exploit a cult or something similar until it became inconvenient. But he was caught sooner than expected... wait a moment.

‘...The system creators remembered the world before the regression.’

Then the cult might also know future information. They might know that Sung Hyun-je will betray them. If the relationship was supposed to last for a few years, then the time when they disappeared might be when they betrayed and left.

‘So, now that they’ve returned to the past, they want to change their attitude and deal with Sung Hyun-je.’

I feel a bit guilty. If it weren’t for me, he wouldn’t have been caught. But if the cult hadn’t shown any suspicious signs, Sung Hyun-je wouldn’t have opened up to me. He would have brushed it off as if it were nothing.

- Han Yujin!

At that moment, Noah, who had gone to hunt monsters, flew over quickly. He prepared for the wind pressure as he descended rapidly in front of me, then transformed back into a human and landed lightly. At first, he couldn’t maintain his balance after transforming, but now the change is very natural. It’s quite impressive.

“People are coming this way.”

“How many? Did you recognize anyone?”

“Seventeen, including the man we met before entering the dungeon and the MKC Guild Master.”

Yoon Kyung-soo of Sudo and Choi Seok-won of MKC. There are two S-rankers. I looked at Sung Hyun-je, who had a look of ‘what are you going to do about it?’ Sung Hyun-je, who met my gaze, smiled.

“It would be a shame if a peddler didn’t join the tour. I have two S-grade natural latex mattresses left.”

“No options. I won’t buy the latex.”

“Can you at least get a souvenir for your brother?”

“Our Yuhwan won’t use any unknown options from a tourist spot.”

Of course, I would buy gifts if it were a real trip. In the midst of this pointless banter, Noah looked anxious, alternating his gaze between me and the distant grassland.

“Would it be better for you to stay out of it, Yujin?”

“It might be more dangerous to be separated. They might not all be coming for us.”

Shallos’ bead only nullifies damage; it doesn’t prevent them from touching me. I need to be close to use shared skills. If I were alone, I’d be like a wrapped gift, easy to carry away.

Moreover, I need to be nearby to share the double skill with Noah. I can use the ‘Our Child is Great’ skill on Noah. With eighteen people besides me and Noah, it would be an 18% increase. It’s an awkward number to risk. If a hundred people came, Sung Hyun-je would have double attack skills, and Noah would have everything doubled, making it a fun party. But it’s impossible due to the entrance limit.

“Still, if we need to run, I’ll ask you, Noah. We can leave that guy behind.”

“Yes, leave it to me.”

Noah nodded and transformed back into a dragon, standing close to me. He’s ready to carry me away, not just to ride.

“Leaving him behind is too much.”

“It means I trust you. I firmly believe he can survive even if he’s thrown into a fire. Fighting spirit.”

I’m not joking; he really can survive.

While I was thinking, the people came into view. As Noah said, there were seventeen, with Choi Seok-won and Yoon Kyung-soo leading the group. I want to use the ‘Leaf Skill’.

‘This guy is bothering me.’

Even among other S-rankers, Sung Hyun-je felt particularly dangerous. The man in the white coat, who had placed a picnic basket on the ground, looked at the group of hunters with a slightly bored expression. It was as if he found them disappointing.

“You seem to think they’re easy.”

“I had a little hope that they might try to involve the young master. It would have been more interesting.”

Why is Yuhwan here?

“Hae-yeon said it wasn’t certain.”

“True, but with Han Yujin here, there was a chance to persuade him temporarily. It seems they didn’t have the ability. This is too disappointing.”

With a self-assured air, Sung Hyun-je took a few steps forward. We were on a slightly raised hill, so our position was higher. This made his gaze, looking down at the approaching group, even more arrogant.

The group led by Choi Seok-won and Yoon Kyung-soo stopped about fifty meters away. Choi Seok-won took something out of his inventory. A blue gem the size of a fist appeared, and Noah spread one wing to shield me. I can’t see well. More importantly, Sung Hyun-je doesn’t seem to have any intention of stopping.

If he’s not careful, he’ll be finished.

Crack!

The gem cracked and shattered. A strange wave spread out and then disappeared. It doesn’t seem to affect me, but what is it?

“An electrical sealing item. I didn’t know such things existed.”

Sung Hyun-je muttered. Electrical? Must be related to electricity. A sealing item for attributes? I’ve never heard of it.

“Come down, Sung Hyun-je! Or are you going to run?”

Choi Seok-won shouted confidently.

“Will you share your skills?”

“You shouldn’t lose faith so quickly. Besides, didn’t you decide to be a good adult today? I’ll handle minor troubles like an adult.”

Sung Hyun-je smiled at me.

“And, I’ll teach you something better. Something special for Han Yujin.”

“I don’t need it.”

“Maybe not. But once you know, you might want to cling to it. Try the sense-sharing skill.”

I used the teacher skill, feeling uneasy. He wouldn’t refuse at this point, would he?

Sung Hyun-je turned around. He approached the hunters, who were ready as if for a boss raid, with a casual stroll. Even with one attribute sealed, the penalty is significant, but he still seems relaxed.

Rattle

A noble seeker’s chain, now dull and heavy, coiled around him like a swimming snake. After a brief silence.

Thud!

Choi Seok-won moved first, his foot striking the ground forcefully. His S-rank body, already powerful, received maximum buffs and charged like a tank. If it weren’t for Sung Hyun-je’s senses, the speed would have been impossible to detect.

‘...Crazy.’

I knew it clearly, even before it happened.

How Choi Seok-won would charge, in which direction, and what kind of attack he would use. It was more vivid than the sense-sharing from the teacher skill.

It was a form of precognition.

Sung Hyun-je’s combat precognition skill, which allows him to sense the opponent’s attack in advance.

Sung Hyun-je deliberately dodged the punch, filled with sharp magical energy, by a hair’s breadth. The wind pressure made his hair flutter, and the ground where Choi Seok-won’s foot landed crumbled. The seeker’s chain burrowed into the ground, unseen by everyone.

Boom! Bang!

Each attack, filled with terrifying power, rained down on Sung Hyun-je like a storm. Sung Hyun-je continued to dodge by a hair’s breadth. To an untrained eye, Choi Seok-won seemed to have the upper hand. Sung Hyun-je, with his attribute sealed, seemed to be running away, unable to counterattack.

‘...That despicable man is really something.’

In reality, Sung Hyun-je was toying with Choi Seok-won. Even while dodging, he didn’t distance himself, preventing A-rank hunters with ranged skills from joining the fight. There was no room for interference.

A precognition skill? Is he really crazy? Isn’t this cheating? Moreover, the most impressive thing is...

‘It’s a sense skill... so it can be shared with the teacher skill...’

It’s possible. Just like me now.

Damn, he’s crazy. Really... is he crazy?

His confident voice echoed in my ears. ‘You might want to cling to it.’ He’s really something, the bastard.

‘Sung Hyun-je being the top-ranked in the ranking battles must be largely due to this skill.’

The fact that this skill can be shared with others is astonishing. The thought of S-rank hunters with perfectly synchronized movements and combat precognition made my skin crawl. With the right combination, there might be no dungeon they couldn’t clear, even if the difficulty increased. They could clear an S-rank dungeon in a day...

Shit, what do I do? It’s good, but... God, why this guy? I want to take his skill and give it to Yuhwan.

Boom! Bang!

The ground split like an earthquake under Choi Seok-won’s feet and the missed attacks. The tremors were so strong that I felt the need to run. Yoon Kyung-soo, who had been watching me and Noah, raised his long spear to join the fight.

“Aaaah!”

“Gah!”

A scream erupted from the back of the hunter group. The healers and buff-support hunters. The chains that pierced their chests, splattering blood, disappeared back into the ground.

“What-”

Choi Seok-won was startled as the buffs wore off. But before he could react, Sung Hyun-je grabbed his weakened wrist.

Crack!

Even without the buffs, it was the arm of an S-rank, a close-combat specialist. Yet Sung Hyun-je easily twisted and broke it, then smoothly kicked Choi Seok-won in the stomach, sending him flying.

“Gah!”

Choi Seok-won, slightly off balance, quickly realigned his arm. Sung Hyun-je, not continuing his attack, turned to look at Yoon Kyung-soo.

“Is this all you’ve got? I’m disappointed.”

Rattle

The seeker’s chain, rising from the ground, wrapped around its master’s wrist. I knew the chain could move somewhat on its own, but I didn’t know it could be so effective from such a distance. Even with the healers and support hunters, who are relatively weak, their stats, including equipment, were at least B-rank.

‘Disappointment? You’re the one cheating.’

How can you dodge attacks that don’t even hit? Moreover, the way he efficiently dodges leaves no openings. A wide-area skill might be hard to dodge, but for close-combat fighters, this precognition skill is a perfect counter.

...Even wide-area skills might be dodged in advance. But if Yelim were here instead of Yoon Kyung-soo, she might have been able to hold Sung Hyun-je back. As it is, it’s hopeless.

“I don’t recommend joining the fight. It’s not easy for two S-rankers to coordinate.”

He looked up at me, asking for my opinion. I gave him the middle finger. Your skill is impressive, but it’s annoying.

“After giving so much, they should back off.”

Shut up, you’re making me anxious. If the teacher skill could be used over long distances outside the dungeon, it would be crazy. But I haven’t checked, and the range probably isn’t that wide. It’s clear that I need to see it to use it.

Ah, why is this guy- oh.

“Noah!”

Sung Hyun-je shouted, sensing the same thing I did. But it was too late.

Thud!

The dragon, much larger than a human, was knocked back by a strong impact.

- Roar!

Noah, stopping with his claws on the ground, bared his teeth, but his fierce momentum quickly faded. His gray eyes filled with deep fear.

“Hi, honey~.”

A woman wrapped her arm around my neck from behind, greeting me in a cheerful voice.

“...Riet.”

Why are you here? I thought she might be angry about Noah, but surprisingly, she seemed to have forgotten about it.

“Hello, Third City Guild Master, hello Pebble~.”

“I didn’t expect you to join. This is really unexpected.”

Sung Hyun-je said, not hiding his surprise. Indeed, it is unexpected.

“What’s going on here? You’re not on their side, are you?”

Riet narrowed her eyes slightly at my question. Of course, I couldn’t see it with my own eyes; it was Sung Hyun-je’s perspective.

“Not exactly on their side, but some unlucky guy ordered me to kill Sung Hyun-je and bring him back... I followed without thinking, but when I hugged him, my head cleared! It’s amazing. You still smell good.”

Riet laughed and rubbed her cheek against my head. The command, and the clarity of her mind. Was it a curse or brainwashing? But it worked on Riet? I was puzzled, but that wasn’t the most important thing right now.

“Since you’re better now, you won’t act with them, right?”

“Of course, I won’t follow orders!”

Just as I was about to feel relieved,

“But how can I pass up such an interesting situation? Right, honey?”

Riet smiled widely, her golden eyes gleaming. Her body swelled instantly, and her arm, which had been around my neck, turned into a large hand that gripped my body. Turning my head, I saw her black scales fill my vision.

A pitch-black dragon with a red aura. With four sturdy legs, a thick tail, and a large head adorned with terrifying horns. Not only that, but spines like spears rose along her back with a grating sound.

She had no wings, but she was several times larger than Noah. Her entire body was in a violent form, making it hard to touch anywhere. She was a perfect, ferocious cursed dragon.

“Twins!”

I thought it was just a color difference, but it’s a completely different species! My cry of frustration was met with a smile from the black dragon, Riet, revealing her sharp teeth.

< Traditional Drama (3) > End

ⓒ Geunseo