#35
Do-hyeok stepped on the accelerator and headed straight for Nameless Guild headquarters. He ignored all traffic lights and speed limits, so when Kang Won-hyeok saw the amount of tickets that would arrive later, he’d fall backward, but for now it didn’t matter.
When Do-hyeok entered the Guild Leader’s office, Han Shin-woo was still standing there with a troubled expression.
“Han Shin-woo.”
And next to Shin-woo stood Geon Yu-han, who served as the purifier team leader. Do-hyeok’s brow narrowed slightly since he’d expected only Shin-woo to be there.
“You’re here? You came faster than I expected.”
“I floored it.”
Thinking that Kang Won-hyeok would fall backward again, Shin-woo looked at Yu-han.
“Geon Yu-han purifier, right?”
When Do-hyeok asked, Yu-han nodded.
“Why are you here?”
“Ah, well, Yu-han-ssi is the person who informed us that Ha-seong-ssi got caught up in the gate.”
Then Yu-han stepped forward and began explaining. He said he’d returned to the office after finishing work and overheard it then. Lee Hyeon-woo had been excitedly bragging about what he’d done like it was some heroic tale, and Yu-han, who heard it, turned pale and interrogated them.
“Then they said it. That they’d played a little prank on Ha-seong-ssi.”
As soon as Yu-han heard that story, he said he came straight to the Guild Leader’s office. While wondering who to inform, since Ha-seong was Do-hyeok’s direct purifier, he came here first.
“……”
When Yu-han finished speaking, Do-hyeok fell into thought without a word.
“Um, Guild Leader. Shouldn’t we take action quickly…?”
Even though purifiers could use some skills like hunters, those were literally just a few limited skills. It was natural since they were people who couldn’t become hunters because they couldn’t fight in the first place.
But such a purifier had not only gotten caught up in a dungeon, but its grade had risen to S-rank.
“Hmm. It’s too sudden.”
But Do-hyeok only muttered incomprehensible words. Yu-han looked at Shin-woo with a puzzled expression at the strange atmosphere.
“For now, the other hunters don’t know that Ha-seong-ssi got caught up in it.”
It wasn’t just Do-hyeok who was strange. Han Shin-woo also seemed to be worried about this story leaking rather than worrying about purifier Do Ha-seong. No, what had these guys collectively eaten wrong? Someone close to a civilian had gotten caught up in a dungeon, yet what was with that composure?
“Um, if I may be so bold, is it okay to do nothing like this? Ha-seong-ssi is in danger.”
Ah, danger. Only then did Do-hyeok mutter something and react. It truly couldn’t help but be a bizarre and strange situation.
“Don’t worry. Do Ha-seong isn’t in danger.”
“Why not?”
Why indeed? Do Ha-seong was a human stronger than even this country’s only S-rank.
What Do-hyeok was worried about wasn’t Ha-seong’s safety or anything like that. If the grade had been artificially raised this time too, Ha-seong getting caught up in it might be an opportunity. He’d brought Ha-seong to his side under the pretext of being an informant in the first place.
He was just surprised that things had happened so suddenly. Moreover, he didn’t like that this situation had occurred due to someone’s malicious prank. Another thing that bothered him was whether Do Ha-seong, thrown into an unprepared situation, would be able to move well without being caught when other Nameless teams were also dispatched to that dungeon.
Well, maybe it had worked out well after all. If Ha-seong really brought back some clues, it would be good, and Do-hyeok was a bit curious about how he would overcome this situation as his informant.
“Hmm, because he’s a competent purifier?”
At Do-hyeok’s words, Yu-han’s brow furrowed deeply. Words asking what kind of nonsense that was, whether human life was a joke, rose to the tip of his tongue. He’d known that Nameless’s Guild Leader was crazy, but he hadn’t expected it to be to this extent.
“And I’ll go. If it rose to S-rank, I have to go.”
Ah, only then did Yu-han’s expression relax a little. So he wasn’t completely insane after all—he felt relieved at that thought.
“You can go back now.”
“Ah, yes.”
When Yu-han left and the door closed, Do-hyeok glared at Shin-woo.
“Uh… why are you doing that…?”
“In a situation like this, you should have contacted me faster.”
“No, but…”
Who was the one who didn’t answer the phone! He’d tried so many times! He was so wronged that words wouldn’t come out properly.
“What kind of guy is Geon Yu-han?”
“Ah, if it’s Yu-han-ssi, don’t worry. He’s a sincere purifier. I told him that if this incident became known, the perception of purifiers within Nameless would also worsen, so for now don’t tell anyone and also asked him to tell those purifiers who caused trouble to keep their mouths shut.”
Though something felt unsettling, on the surface this was clearly something that Lee Hyeon-woo’s gang from the purifier team had done. If this incident spread within the guild, it would surely become an issue with the purifier team, so Geon Yu-han wouldn’t dig his own grave either.
“Officially, say that I’m going as support, and make sure nothing about Do Ha-seong leaks out. Keep watching Geon Yu-han closely too.”
“Yes. Are you leaving right away?”
“Yeah. If the grade went up, the dispatched team will be in danger too.”
Do-hyeok immediately prepared to leave.
“Ah. Shin-woo.”
“Yes.”
Do-hyeok’s hand on the door handle paused.
“Those bastards.”
Shin-woo flinched at the sudden curse. What now? What was displeasing him again?
“The ones who pranked hyung and caused this mess.”
Ah, Shin-woo made a low sound. Lee Hyeon-woo. He was someone with considerable skill and experience in the purifier team, but Shin-woo was learning for the first time that he had such a nature.
“After this raid is over, bring them all before me.”
With those words, Do-hyeok left the room again.
“Oh dear, I wonder if there’s going to be another bloodbath.”
Shin-woo shook his head and let out a deep sigh.
* * *
Though he’d thought boldly about it, this wasn’t easy at all. He probably needed to receive more hazard pay. For now, Ha-seong had to follow two principles.
One, he must not let his existence be discovered by the hunters who came to raid this dungeon.
Two, he had to deal with the monsters before his eyes while also gathering clues.
“Ah, this is really tough.”
Leaving the fallen monster in front of him, Ha-seong looked around. In the past, he would have just smashed everything regardless of others’ attention. If he rampaged so flashily and another hunter happened to see him, it would be big trouble.
Ha-seong moved to a different location first. Even the clues—the criteria for them were quite vague. There was practically no evidence that could give certainty that the grade had been artificially raised. It could have been a dungeon whose grade rose naturally.
Of course, cases where the grade suddenly rose, especially rising so drastically to A-rank or higher like this, were very rare. In Ha-seong’s previous world, such cases were sometimes described as “using up all the bad luck of a lifetime.” And the dungeon where he first met Cha Do-hyeok had also been artificially raised to S-rank. So for now, he had to gather clues first. He needed certainty that this dungeon was also such a case.
Ha-seong, who had been moving forward like that, paused. Sounds similar to combat noise came from ahead. Ha-seong first hid behind a nearby tree and used his detection skill.
Then, as expected, several green dots and one red dot appeared in front.
‘Are they Nameless hunters?’
Ha-seong turned off his detection skill and carefully hid his body as he walked toward where the sounds were coming from. Then, as expected, there were several people who appeared to be hunters and a giant monster.
“Ugh.”
Ha-seong unconsciously scrunched up his expression upon seeing the monster. It was a slime-type monster, but the problem was that it was dripping black liquid like sewage. It was the kind you definitely wouldn’t want to touch just by looking at it.
Even when attacked, it seemed to absorb the attacks into its interior, swallowing them with its whole body.
“No, in times like that you need to use explosive-type skills.”
Ha-seong muttered frustratedly while hiding behind. Perhaps because it was a relatively low-grade dungeon, the team seemed to consist only of novices without much experience yet. Of course, in Ha-seong’s eyes, anyone would look like a novice.
The monster wasn’t staying still either. It spewed and shot black liquid while pouring out attacks.
“Why isn’t anyone casting area shields? Is there no area tanker?”
Ha-seong was now spectating.
“Guys! Stay sharp! This guy is the master of this dungeon! If we finish him, we can get out!”
Someone who appeared to be the team leader suddenly shouted.
Master of this dungeon? Ha-seong stared at the monster at the slightly strange words. Certainly, as the hunter who shouted said, he could feel the master’s energy from it. But…
“Something’s strange.”
It was when Ha-seong was lost in thought. Some hunter landed an explosive-type skill directly on the monster. Then its body shattered to pieces and black water splashed even to where Ha-seong was hiding.
And after a while, the monster gradually became smaller like melting ice cream, then completely disappeared. The Nameless hunters high-fived each other, saying they’d worked hard.
“No.”
Then Ha-seong, who noticed something, furrowed his brow deeply. Whether naturally or artificially, it was certain that this dungeon’s grade had risen. In other words, a monster that would at most be around B-grade couldn’t be the master of this dungeon.
But that slime had the master’s energy. Something was strange.
“But why isn’t the dungeon collapsing?”
“Right. By now it should be making noise. An exit isn’t appearing either.”
Those without much experience apparently didn’t know that this dungeon’s grade had risen. Since they felt the master’s energy from that slime, they would naturally think they’d conquered this dungeon.
“T-Team Leader.”
Then one hunter who looked the youngest among them pointed ahead with trembling hands.
“Wh-what is that…?”
Everyone’s gaze followed his finger. Ha-seong did the same. Something enormous was slowly approaching from their front.
It was the true master of this S-rank dungeon.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
