Kramado Dungeon.
Intermediate monsters called Kramanoims appeared on the 1st and 2nd floors.
That alone was enough to call it more than a beginner dungeon; a veteran’s hunting ground. However, dangerous traps and even monsters in the late 300s came out from the 3rd floor onwards.
They wouldn’t have met the Elfin Queen Spider if they’d taken a normal path, but it was still an asphyxiatingly dangerous dungeon.
If it was just up to Hegel and the others, they would choose the path that would take them back out!
“Huff huff.”
“Please slow down a little!”
However, they were now advancing even deeper into the dungeon.
Granted, the way in front of them was perfectly cleaned out by Weed. It was destruction that didn’t leave even 1 tiny baby spider alive. As for the monsters, they couldn’t even sightsee them, and the traps were completely destroyed.
That was because Weed had given Nide a separate task.
“Nide.”
“Yes. Hyung!”
“As you go forward, dismantle the traps.”
“What about the fighting?”
“I’ll take care of it. Just keep moving on ahead and dismantle the traps. Leave all the monsters alone.”
“Yes, hyung. Please leave it to me.”
For Nide, a Thief who explored dungeons and labyrinths as a profession, something like dismantling a trap was child’s play!
He had also experienced a near-death crisis with the Elfin Spider Queen, however it was merely because Thieves had characteristically low attack power. If he had created an opportunity for an ambush after hiding his body behind pillars of obstacles to fight, he wouldn’t have been able to win, he wouldn’t have lost either. Even when the boulder was chasing them, if not for his teammates, he could have somehow squeezed himself into a small crack in the wall and escaped, though there would’ve been no reason for him to get caught in the trap in the first place.
The Thief, Nide, was entrusted with a task appropriate for his specialties, and worked to disable or destroy the traps as he pa.s.sed by.
Weed was a.s.signed to the remaining monsters.
- Weed-hyung, there are a considerable number of level 300 Morron Chasers ahead.
Nide also performed the task of scouting.
Short and sweet!
When he was whispering someone, he made it short and straight to the point, however the time he was in battled was far more briefer than that.
Run up, fight, hunt and kill, collect the j.a.ptem!
There was nothing more frustrating than grilling and eating meat at a restaurant than having the meat suddenly stop coming in the middle of it. For Weed, the most stressful problem was running out of monsters while fighting.
[This refers to Korean BBQ places where you grill your own meat, there’s nothing more annoying than running out of meat.]
In other battlefields, monsters didn’t come out like they did in this dungeon. Since he didn’t have to fight sparingly, it was something to be welcomed!
A week hadn’t pa.s.sed since the dungeon discovery, so double the item drop rate and experience were applied. The first discoverers got to obtain discovery fame and the very best items from the monsters, but as long as you came in within a week, the experience and item drop rate applied to everyone.
You could say that it was the gift the monsters that had grown with warm and full bellies inside the dungeon gave to outsiders.
“65 of them…”
Weed could take on that many Kramanoims easily. With that many it would take a significant amount of time to dispose of all of them.
“Summon Dirtman, Fiery Pebble!”
Weed summoned the Spirits he’d personally created.
Since he had max intimacy with them, as long as his Mana held out, there was no limit to what the Spirits could do. It was a privilege only the Spirits’ creator could have!
The Dirtmen were mostly low-cla.s.s Spirits, and many of the Fiery Pebble Spirits came as intermediate Spirits.
A part of the ceiling collapsed and the dungeon became a sea of fire.
Chaos!
The Dirtmen rode on the Morron Chasers’ backs.
“Get off!”
Although the Morron Chasers swung their spears, the Dirtmen didn’t budge. That was because the Spirits of earth had nearly infinite Health. They squashed the Morron Chasers with their weight and slowed them.
The Fiery Pebbles went into the Morron Chasers’ mouths. Searing flames spewed out every time they opened their mouths!
Every time Weed ran in, only the flames were left behind. He cut down the flame-engulfed Morron Chasers without using any skills and just his basic swordplay. That was because he needed to pool his Mana and use it for calling Spirits in this large-scale battle.
Dwarves had faster regeneration than humans, so thanks to their quick regeneration he could fight with basic swordplay and occasionally use Sculpting Blade.
When he was finis.h.i.+ng the Morron Chaser group, Hegel, Selsia, Rumi, Bella, and Twitter ran into the nearby vicinity. The distance between them and Weed had shortened although they ran without stopping.
Thanks to being in the same party as Weed, they also received experience.
– Your level has risen.
– For being together with the party member who slayed a Morron Chaser with one blow, your Fame has risen by 1.
– Your level has risen.
– Your level has risen.
A low grade boss monster, Morron General, has been ma.s.sacred by your group. |
Their experience was rising so quickly that they were terrified to check their information windows.
With the exception of Hegel, the level 200ers were electrified and couldn’t believe whether it was a dream or reality.
By the time they’d caught up to him, Weed was already running off again.
Running as he wrapped bandages, with eyes closed for meditation, and using the defense skill Close Eyes Tightly, he managed to save a little Health even in the middle of battle!
As long as you weren’t blind, it was normal to always keep your eyes open if you weren’t sleeping. Since he was raising the efficiency of his fighting as he forcibly closed his eyes, it was absolutely ridiculous.
If you carefully examined Weed’s fighting method, it makes you wonder if it was made for humans to imitate!
“He doesn’t rest.”
“He’s probably not human.”
“He’s a Dwarf.”
Hegel became irritated listening to Rumi, Bella, and Twitter’s admiration.
“What the h.e.l.l.”
He really couldn’t wrap his head around how the situation had become like this.
Common sense!
Although he’d grown up since youth hearing often that he had no consideration, at the very least he had common sense.
Whenever he tried to use his common sense, his head just got muddled up.
“Though he said his profession was Sculptor…”
Hegel suddenly remembered something he’d said to the Black Lion guild members just 8 hours ago. It had been on the chat channel of the Black Lion Guild!
* * *
While they were resting after hunting Kramanoims on the 1st floor, Hegel had chatted with some people he knew.
Provence: Hegel, where are you now?
Hegel: Ah, yes. I spoke to you about this before. I have to explore a dungeon with friends from my school…
Provence: Oh, that was today?
Hegel: Yes. I’ve come to a dungeon in the Plains region of Dale Kingdom. Do not be surprised, hyung-nims, but I was the first to find an undiscovered dungeon.
Provence: Really?
Ject: That’s a bit surprising, Hegel.
Shen: Have you already grown this much?
As large as the Black Lion Guild was, there were many people who recognized Hegel.
Finding an undiscovered dungeon was a rare and glorious deed.
Shen: Approximately what level of dungeon is it?
Hegel: It’s a low-level dungeon. Although I had expectations, jeez. It’s about perfect for level 200s to come play. Whatever.
Hegel whispered quietly so his nearby group members couldn’t hear him.
Ject: Don’t disregard low-levelers. Even low-levelers get big quickly. You were also below level 200 not so long ago.
Hegel: I’m not disregarding them, I just mean it’s a dungeon for low-levels to play in.
Provence: You must be getting the appet.i.te for exploring an undiscovered dungeon. You also get tense from not knowing what’ll come out…
Hegel: Ah, it’s fine. It’s a low-level dungeon anyways, so what would there be? I want to finish the dungeon exploration quickly and also return to the guild hunting ground.
When he was chatting like this, he heard a dignified tone through the chatting room.
Bindel: Are your friends strong?
It was the Dwarven Warrior Bindel, who ranked within the top 3 in the Black Lion Guild.
Hegel: No. They’re weak. There’s one Thief who has a higher level than me, but besides him they’re nothing special.
Bindel: Isn’t your level over 300 right now? A Thief that’s higher than level 300…that’s amazing.
Thieves were a tough job to raise.
If they joined a party, they could use close-combat, but they often died because of their weak defense. The risk of exploring alone could not be compared to hunting with a party.
Bindel: What kind of build of Thief is he? And what is his level?
Hegel: He’s just a little over 300. His build is probably just mainly party hunting.
Hegel cut his words short since he didn’t want to flatter Nide.
The Swordsman who shone as the battle’s flower.
He had some contempt towards other professions, and although he himself knew Nide wasn’t normal, he didn’t want to acknowledge it.
Bindel: At least with a Thief it will be easy to explore the dungeon. Since you said something about not having a Priest.
Hegel: Well, it’s just meh. Since I’m almost entirely handling the battle. And there’s still 1 Dwarf who hasn’t arrived yet.
Bindel: Oho, a Dwarf.
Bindel seemed to be quite interested since it was a Dwarf.
Bindel: Is he a Soldier or a Warrior?
Hegel. No, he’s a Sculptor.
Bindel: Sculptor?
Hegel: Yes. He’s a hyung I know, but he happened to be a Sculptor, so… he probably won’t be much help in the dungeon exploration, but I squeezed him in for the sake of the school a.s.signment. You know, I wish I could just breeze through and defeat just enough monster. After I’m just about done with my work here, I want to quickly go hunting with you, hyungs.
Bindel: Is that Sculptor’s level high?
Hegel: It’s…I don’t know. I never asked. Wasn’t really interested. Why are you asking?
Bindel: Because I worked with an impressive Dwarven Sculptor some time ago.
Hegel: So he made an awesome sculpture?
Bindel: Though that’s true too… he was a Sculptor with an abnormal Charisma and ability to command troops. I also was following his orders mindlessly and before I knew it, we’d blasted through the dungeon in an instant. Not just me, but dozens of Dwarves were pulled in by his control.
Hegel: I’m surprised there’s a Sculptor like that.
Bindel: That wasn’t all. His cooking skills were also outstanding. If you just ate the food he made, the fighting became even more ridiculous. The miscellaneous ingredients that went through his hands became an invigorating meal that made you feel strength was surging into your body.
Hegel: For a Sculptor to have that level of cooking…
Bindel: It was really comfortable because he also repaired weapons and armors that were in bad shape. If that Dwarf repaired it for you, items that were damaged beyond its durability limits were also restored.
Hegel: What? Durability limits can be restored? What are you talking about… is there such a thing?
Hegel didn’t know that items past their durability limits could even be restored.
Provence: Bindel hyung-nim, does that mean durability limits can be restored?
Ject: So you can return completely ruined weapons or armors back to perfect condition?
The majority of the Black Lion guild members didn’t know this. Although the Black Lion Guild had a considerable number of high level users like a prestigious guild, they didn’t know much about repairing the durability limit.
In the first place, there were hardly any cases where the durability limit of weapons or armors lowered by a lot while hunting. On top of that, they had never met a Blacksmith who could repair durability limits.
In order to repair the durability limit, you had to raise the skill level to at least intermediate mastery. For a craftsman with that level of skill, they could earn a fairly large sum of money simply by making and selling weapons or armor. There had been no cases where someone was willing to repair the durability limit, which wasn’t much help in making money and was just c.u.mbersome.
Bindel: Anyways, there was such a Dwarven Sculptor.
Hegel: Surely not, hyungnim! Versailles Continent is wide, so there can only be one Dwarf like that. But the hyung I know probably isn’t a Dwarf like that.
He had boasted to his guild members like this just 8 hours ago!
Hegel was devastated.
“This is far worse than than the case Bindel-hyung talked about!”
He was simply resentful that this kind of thing would happen to him, of all people.
* * *
They hunted a variety of monsters as they roamed about in the expansive third floor underground labyrinth. Once they entered the heart of the dungeon, there were dangerous traps, and boss-grade monsters were crouching in each place like that.
Weed and Nide deliberately fell into those traps and ma.s.sacred the boss-grade monsters there.
It was a hunting method of complete monster annihilation.
If even 1 monster was left, it was somewhat galling, stifling. Like when you wash your face but don’t wash your forehead, you can’t feel refreshed.
Besides, there was a double experience bonus applied!
Weed was getting a large amount of experience and items from the boss monsters.
Thanks to Nide destroying the traps, they gained additional fame, skill, and experience as they safely cleaned out the dungeon.
Those who were following were also able to gain experience, fame, and the j.a.ptem that hadn’t been completely picked up.
In this fas.h.i.+on, the Thief Nide completed the dungeon 3rd floor map.
– The Kramado Dungeon’s third floor bas.e.m.e.nt has been mapped for the first time.
Fame has increased by 75.
Mapping skill proficiency has improved.
Experience has been increased. |
That means they have gone through every single pa.s.sage there was. They had completed the perfect occupation of the Kramado Dungeon.
“Huff huff.”
“Thi-this exploration is now finally over with!”
Hegel sank to the ground.
A dungeon exploration spanning five days!
Even considering the time difference that was four times faster than reality, almost a whole day had steadily pa.s.sed since they’d come into the capsule room at noon. It was midday in reality, when the sun was hovering in the middle of the sky outside.
“It was a really long day.”
Everyone could sympathize with Nide’s words.
They had never felt that hunting was this scary and gruesome before. They had also formed belief and confidence in themselves. Instead of always hunting safely with their Health bars filled up, they had chased down monsters like their tails were on fire.
Although they did it with Weed taking the majority of the fighting, when the others had enough Mana and Stamina, they had also partic.i.p.ated in the fight.
‘Hunting is fun.’
‘Will I be able to try this kind of hunting again.’
Even though it was scary, the thrilling pleasure could not be denied.
Hegel’s legs were knocking together.
“Good job everyone.”
Twitter smiled as her dimples showed.
“Yeah, you too. Since the dungeon exploration is over too, I think I’m going to go home and rest up.”
They planned on catching up on the sleep they’d lost. However, Weed raised his sword silently and was walking away somewhere.
“Oppa, where are you going?”
“I have to hunt.”
“Bu-but the dungeon exploration is over.”
“The double experience time hasn’t ended yet.”
“But it’s already noon.”
“There’s no school on Sat.u.r.day.”
“…”
Bella b.u.t.ted into the peculiarly flowing atmosphere.
“But oppa, if you keep going like this, you’ll ruin your body.”
“Body?”
“Since we’ve stayed up the whole night, you got to go home and at least have a nap. You also have to eat.”
“I ate earlier. And slept too.”
“When?”
“At dawn. I went home, made food for my little sister, slept for 2 hours, and came back.”
“…”
That meant when the group was taking a break and resting during the dungeon exploration, Weed had returned after eating and even sleeping!
In order to play Royal Road for a long time, body maintenance was essential.
* * *
“Come to the masquerade the Law Department is hosting! Freshmen can enter at a 30% discounted price.”
“There is Slavery Blind Dating in the Microbiology Department, which has lots of pretty older sisters. Only those younger than the older sisters can partic.i.p.ate.”
[Slavery Blind Date is an event where one student ‘buys’ another and makes them do whatever they want as their ‘slave’, all in good fun.]
“The Social Physical Education Department is having a super strength show in the Recreation Club Crew.”
“Look here! An opportunity doesn’t come day in and day out! Bare-handed fish catching that you can do during the festival period!”
It was the day of the Korea University’s festival.
This could not be a more unpleasant moment for Lee Hyun.
‘In the end, this day has come.’
After finis.h.i.+ng school, he usually had free time right afterwards. He would play Royal Road as much as he wanted. With sleep adjustments, he invested about 12 hours a day into Royal Road. Since he couldn’t help but play for less time than other Dark Gamers, it was essential that he spend his time sparingly. He even raised his level to level 358.
But to think that he was helplessly forced to stay at school for the festival duration!
It felt like a prison to Lee Hyun.
“Examination h.e.l.l is no big deal. If a man is indeed ceaselessly imprisoned, then does that mean he is an existence that cannot help but live?”
A question about existence!
Lee Hyun was having a philosophical thought for the first time in his life.
Other little kids raised their sensitivity as they played with the neighborhood puppies. When they saw the napping dogs, they were also dipped into speculation about the routines of animals.
However, Lee Hyun had not lived a life like that.
The law of the jungle!
If he saw a dog, and it was an easy target, the first thing he thought of was doenjang.
[Doenjang, fermented soybean paste, is a brown, thick paste. Depending on how it is prepared, it can be savory, sweet, or spicy.
j.a.ptem does not endorse the eating of dogs.
Remember the cultural difference — although the majority of new-generation Koreans frown on eating dogs, there are still a significant number of older Koreans who do eat dog meat.]
Dog and doenjang. Like the relations.h.i.+p of ramen and egg, it was a naturally occurring process of a.s.sociation.
The ten year old Lee Hyun who gazed with pleasure at the dogs that approached with their tails wagging if you threw them a few bones!
‘That puppy looks like its meat broth will brew well.’
Although it was a festival everyone was enjoying, Lee Hyun just waited for it to end quickly.
“Dishwas.h.i.+ng squad, mobilize!”
Lee Hyun was in charge of managing the bar.
His responsibility had grown because he was older than his teammates and had shown ability since the bar preparation.
“Alright!”
Students used rubber gloves washed the cups and bowls. The bowls in the store were rented so they had to thoroughly wash them before use.
“When should we start receiving customers?”
“The girls will be ready in 10 minutes!”
Business would begin as soon as the female students, who were entrusted with serving, arrived. Even as they were making the appetizers, they heard music and the sound of firecrackers outside. Many people were coming and going past the outside of the tent bar. There were far more students from other schools and outsiders than students from their school.
Finally, the female students, who had changed in the dressing room and had put on light makeup, appeared.
The college girls appeared wearing a white veil and a wedding dress!
The college girls each walked toward their close friends.
“Don’t just stand there blankly. Take off my veil!”
For some reason, the male students felt their hearts thump as they took off the veils.
The female students had instructed them in advance.
“It doesn’t really mean anything. It’s just because the man is supposed to take it off to get that feeling.”
“I know!”
The male students threw back the veils.
“You look different when I look at you like this.”
“Well tomboy, you look elegant when I look at you like this.”
“Wanna die?”
The group members also exchanged jokes without reserve.
Since the female students’ wedding dresses had been personally handmade, they weren’t that pretty or the designs weren’t really impressive. Even so, they were similar imitations and gave off slight impressions of a young bride.
All the female students came out, and Seo Yoon, who had gone in last, hadn’t come out.
“…”
The conversations in the bar stopped. Even the students preparing appetizers in the kitchen and the students cleaning the tables with rags were speechless.
It was because very many eyes were drawn to the dressing room as they waited for something.
Click.
Seoyoon carefully opened the door to the dressing room and walked out.
In that moment, the men were captivated.
She was the woman of every man’s dream.
The beautiful skin that looked like it could only be maintained by drinking dewdrops that were purified by about 8 filters!
Seoyoon had light makeup on her face.
This was a common misconception men make; they think that makeup is plastic surgery.
Makeup adds expression and color to the face. The light makeup on Seo Yoon made her own beauty seem all the more beautiful.
The face that was extremely beautiful even in its normal, bare state, was now difficult to stare at for a long time.
Although her eyes, nose and lips were far too beautiful, they merged together and manifested in complete harmony. She was a beauty who made them wonder what the peak of natural radiance was. Their breathing stopped, and they felt like they wouldn’t have any regrets even if they died like this simply by looking at her face.
In addition, the thin fabric of the wedding dress evoked a stunning figure from the shape of her body.
It felt like a dream every time Seoyoon walked forward. Even if you knew that she was pretty even when she went plainly, after getting dressed up, her beauty was enough to make you lose your senses.
The men’s mouths went dry.
They were enormously moved, like a person who discovered water after not drinking for a decade, and not just water, but honey water!
The miracle of the century was here.
The line of the dress from the thin fabric that swept from the legs to the waist, chest, and collar bone was perfect.
With the enchanting beauty Seoyoon possessed, her forearms alone could be considered s.e.xy!
The most beautiful face wearing the veil was flushed pinkly with bashfulness.
Every time Seo Yoon walked forward, the dress made a swish, swish sound. She walked forward towards Lee Hyun with her head bowed.
“It’s a G.o.ddess.”
“She’s a G.o.ddess.”
Sounds of admiration came from around the room.
The female students murmured their envy.
“That dress, the works of a world-renowned designer Marie-Ange Chloe.”
“Ugh… It’s really too pretty a dress.”
The boys were deeply sympathetic.
“A world-renowned designer!”
“Impressive. Impressive!”
Then, just as enormous respect for the designer was forming!
Seoyoon went to Lee Hyun and raised her head a little. The clear light of her eyes were visible.
Anyone could see that it meant she was asking him to take off her veil.