The Hunter-Only Hospital near the Association.
Kim Jin-sol, Park Chan-mi, and Park Chanseong were loaded onto a vehicle and rushed into the emergency room.
Kwon-yeok-i hyung, who had been watching, turned to look at me.
“Thank you. We survived thanks to you.”
“I didn’t do much. By the time I came to my senses, everything was already over. All I did was feed them a Potion I had in my bag.”
“Because of that, their lives were saved. Honestly, I’d like to take you home myself……”
“It’s fine. Go get your work done. I’m just going to head home and pass out.”
Kwon-yeok-i hyung handed me an Envelope and patted my shoulder.
“I put in a good amount. If you ever need my help, just let me know.”
“Yes.”
After parting ways with Kwon-yeok-i hyung, I checked the Envelope on my way home. Inside was 1 million won.
That’s quite a lot for a porter.
He included me in the D-rank Dungeon raid so I could write a Resume for a good Guild, and even paid me generously.
He really is a good hyung in many ways.
‘I have to repay him someday.’
I put the Envelope in my pocket, and as I was approaching home, my stomach sent a strong signal.
Smacking my lips, I looked around.
Among the nearby restaurants, I headed for the one with the most tempting menu. I went inside, sat down in front of the grill, and ordered.
“Ten servings of pork belly, please.”
“Ten servings for just you? How about you start with two and order more if you need?”
“It’s fine. Please just bring them.”
Side dishes were laid out on the table, along with the burner and grill. Then, ten thick portions of pork belly were brought out.
“Are you some kind of mukbang YouTuber?”
“No. I just eat a lot.”
“Oh.”
“And two servings of kimchi cold noodles, please.”
“Wow. Are you really sure you can eat all that?”
“Yes.”
While the surprised waitress headed to the kitchen, I placed the meat on the hot grill.
Sizzle!
The sound of meat cooking and the savory aroma filled the air, making my mouth water.
The meat cooked quickly.
Once it was nicely browned and looked delicious, I cut it into bite-sized pieces and ate it together with a spoonful of white rice.
Between bites, I kept putting more meat on the grill.
Can’t let the flow get interrupted.
The kimchi cold noodles came out right away, and I enjoyed those too. When the meat ran out, I ordered five more servings.
I finished off with some fried rice, and only then was I done.
“You really… ate all of that?”
“It was delicious. I’ll come again next time.”
After paying and stepping outside, my stomach felt satisfyingly full.
A sense of contentment that naturally made me happy.
Back in my mining days, I’d often come home and make do with two packs of ramen and a shot of soju for dinner.
Ramen was cheap and filling, after all.
“Is this what happiness feels like?”
Now that I have money, there’s no need for that anymore. If I want something, I can just eat it. That alone makes me so happy.
My appetite has gotten a bit bigger, but—
Thanks to the money from the Dragon Lair, I didn’t have to worry. More would come in with time anyway.
“One orange juice, please.”
I bought a fresh fruit juice to cleanse my palate and headed home. The moment I arrived, I moved to the Dragon Lair.
[Moving to Dragon Lair.]
I checked the pile of Magic Stones on one side of the Dragon Lair.
Half were broken.
Half were intact.
Before anything else, it seemed best to make a Golem and assign it to the mine.
‘Let’s get started.’
I picked up the Core of the Rock Giant and moved to the Mana Stone Mine. Using the portal, I instantly arrived at the Mana Stone Mine, where an Orc stood holding a pickaxe.
“That’s enough. You can stop now.”
As I watched the Orc step back, I approached the wall of the mine. I drew up mana from the Dragon Heart.
I infused mana into the giant’s core.
Then activated the Magic Circle engraved on it.
Mana flowed along the lines, awakening the patterns one by one.
‘The order is important.’
It’s not enough to just pour in mana; if you don’t activate it in the correct order, you can’t make a proper Rock Giant.
It’s like locking a bicycle.
The one who created the Rock Giant made sure no one else could control it easily.
If you don’t understand the Magic Circle, even if you have the core and mana, you can’t create a Rock Giant.
Vrrrrrr!
For the final step, I shoved in a handful of mana.
The giant’s core glowed brilliantly.
Preparation was complete. Now, it was time to summon the Rock Giant. I pressed the core against the wall, and it was sucked into the solid rock.
Rumble!
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
The cave began to tremble and cracks formed. As the wall split open, massive stones started to take shape.
Two legs and two arms.
One face.
The giant Rock Giant I had seen in the Dungeon appeared.
[Ding!]
[Golem has been created.]
[Please assign a name.]
Golem.
[Assigning name.]
[Golem has been completed.]
[Golem (E)]
- A Golem created by Cheon Yongje.
- Has no thoughts.
- Overall Ability: E
- Items Held: None
- Skills Held: Mining (E), Recovery (E)
“Your job is to mine Magic Stones.”
When I gave the command, the Golem started to move.
It picked up a chunk of rock embedded with a Magic Stone from the ground and put it in its mouth. After chewing for a moment, it spat out just the Magic Stone.
Clean work.
I could check how efficient it was tomorrow morning, so I returned to the Dragon Lair and took out a Shard of Divinity.
This time, it was time to build a structure.
[Would you like to use the Shard of Divinity?]
Yes.
[There are three types of buildings you can construct using the Shard of Divinity. Please select one.]
[Sanctuary]
[Library]
[Ore Mine]
The Sanctuary is a buff-type building that temporarily increases production efficiency when you offer a sacrifice.
The Library is a building that produces Skillbooks at set intervals.
The Ore Mine yields various item ores.
All three have their merits.
The Sanctuary’s effect is better the higher its grade, so it felt wasteful to build it now, and the Ore Mine didn’t seem immediately useful.
If I had to choose one right now—
“Library.”
Consistently getting Skillbooks would be useful when needed, and it’d help when raising Guardians.
And if necessary, I could always sell them.
[Library construction time is 24 hours.]
[Once construction is complete, Skillbooks will be produced immediately.]
[A Red Dungeon is appearing in Korea.]
The birth of the third Red Dungeon-producing nation, after the United States of America and China.
Every Hunter in Korea went wild at the news.
-Hidden Piece Discoverer-nim, sorry for doubting you! Please, live long and stay in Korea forever!
-I just lost it, up and down.
-I was so annoyed that the World Hunter Association only gave our country a hard time. If you want to enter the Red Dungeon, bow your heads, you bastards.
-So true. Totally convinced.
-When I entered the labyrinth, Hunters from other countries kept giving me dirty looks. Now can I look back at them confidently?
-I could slap them in the face and it’d be deserved. They can’t say anything now.
-Does this mean we can finally raid Dungeons as much as we want?
-Hmm… is the Red Dungeon really that big a deal?
-Idiot kkkkk
-Hmm, is it really that big a deal? What’s with you? Are you from Japan? UK? France? If you’re jealous, just admit it. You’re so petty.
-Did your President come to our country early this morning or what?
With the appearance of the Red Dungeon, Korea’s standing changed.
It was just a special Dungeon, but—
Some people wondered if it really warranted such a shift in status.
But the advantages of the Red Dungeon were beyond imagination.
The three most important ones.
First. The only place where you can farm S-rank or higher Skillbooks.
Second. The only place where Level Stones that raise your level drop.
Third. The only place where you can obtain special Artifacts.
Each one was of immeasurable value.
Of course, just because you raided a Red Dungeon didn’t mean you’d get them all.
But the difference between those who could regularly enter Red Dungeons and those who couldn’t was enormous.
Regular entry meant you’d get those things someday.
[A Hunter affiliated with Korea has discovered a Hidden Piece.]
[Trial Rewards for Hunters affiliated with Korea will be enhanced.]
[Dungeon Rewards for Hunters affiliated with Korea will be enhanced.]
[The probability of a Red Dungeon appearing will slightly increase.]
Hunter Association President Lee Changgeon shook his head.
“Truly astonishing.”
How could this be discovered?
Six times—what no one else had found, and in a row at that.
Thanks to this, the Korean Hunter Association was busier than ever.
And so was Lee Changgeon as President.
Piles of documents were stacked high on his desk.
Requests from overseas Guilds and Hunter Associations wanting to contract with Korea for the Red Dungeon.
In the past, just looking at the documents would give him a headache. He’d have to find the best deal in unfair contracts.
But now, things were different.
They brought their own terms.
All he had to do was pick the best.
“How long will this continue?”
With every five achievements, the Red Dungeon’s efficiency increased, so its value rose the more achievements piled up.
Even if things ended here—
By joining hands with the UK, France, or Japan, Korea could further increase the Red Dungeon’s efficiency.
Knock knock!
“President.”
“Come in.”
The door opened and his secretary walked in.
“President, there’s been a report that a Red Dungeon has been discovered at the amusement park in Yongin. The Management Division has already headed out to secure the scene.”
“So this is the first Red Dungeon.”
“What would you like to do?”
“We have to conquer the first one ourselves. Contact the Ranker Guildmasters. Tell them to gather at the Association immediately.”
“Yes, understood.”
“And is everything ready for the deal tonight?”
The secretary nodded.
“Yes. We’ve prepared someone trustworthy.”
“Who is it?”
“Vice Captain Sojin Lee.”
He could trust her.
“I don’t know if we’ll meet the discoverer at the deal location. If you do get to talk, ask about the Red Dungeon. Tell them we’re willing to hand it over if they want.”
“Understood.”
“And emphasize it again—don’t try to find out their identity. Killing the goose that lays the golden eggs is foolish. The Hidden Piece Discoverer is someone who lacks nothing.”
“Yes.”
After the secretary left, Lee Changgeon gazed out the window.
Three Elixirs obtained in this deal.
And all the other things he’d gain through future trades.
With this, they could expect great results at the upcoming Hall of Glory in about a month.
The moment they won there—
Korea would soar once again.
“This is just the beginning.”
With the deaths of the S-rank Hunters,
the ten years where everything was lost.
Through this opportunity, not only would they reclaim their former glory,
Clench.
Lee Changgeon balled his fist.
“I’ll uncover the truth about those who killed you all. Just wait.”
The time for the deal was approaching.
I sat at a café near the meeting spot and ordered coffee and cake. I watched a drama to pass the time until the appointment.
When the time came, I stepped outside and moved to a secluded corner.
“Summon Park Chanseong.”
Swoosh!
With a bright flash, Park Chanseong appeared.
As instructed, he wore a mask and a black cloak to hide his identity.
In both hands, he held a bag containing Elixirs and Magic Stones.
“Go on.”
“Yes.”
Now obedient, Park Chanseong left the alley and walked toward the meeting place.
I linked my mind to Park Chanseong with telepathy.
Then I returned to the café and finished my cake.
[The other party has arrived.]
[Hand over the goods and collect the money.]
[Collected. By the way, they’re asking about the Red Dungeon. They say they’re willing to hand it over if you want.]
[Tell them I’ll take it next time.]
[Delivered the message.]
With that, I ended the telepathy and sent Park Chanseong back to the Dragon Lair.
‘Red Dungeon.’
The rewards are incredible.
But it’s still too much to tackle alone.
And since this is the first Red Dungeon, everyone’s attention is on it.
There’s no need to rush and take unnecessary risks.
If I talk to the President, I can get it any time, so I’ll grab it when I need it.
“I’ve eaten well.”
I returned my coffee cup and plate, headed home, and then moved to the Dragon Lair.
[Moving to Dragon Lair.]
When I opened the bag Park Chanseong had brought, it was filled with bundles of 50,000 won bills.
A total of 4 billion won.
“An extra billion?”
“They said it’s for the Red Dungeon information. Since it’s the first Dungeon, they included a bonus.”
Nice.
‘Now that I’ve got money, should I clear the Main Quest?’