Chapter 13: A Wild Dragon Appeared. (1)

On the outskirts of Uijeongbu, in front of the Sangwangryeon-owned Dungeon Gate.

The chicken delivery truck came to a stop.

Suho got out.

“Suho hyung! You’re here?”

Jung Hyunsu came running over.

“Mm, you got here early?”

“I just arrived too. We’re going in right away, right?”

“No reason to waste time outside. Let’s go in.”

Suho and Jung Hyunsu equipped their gear.

The two of them soon crossed the Gate.

After entering the Dungeon, Suho quickly scanned the surroundings.

No Monsters were caught by his senses.

‘There’s no guide this time.’

From now on, he would always be paired with Jung Hyunsu.

Unless there was a special reason, he wouldn’t add new Party members.

It was better that way for information control, as well as for spoils, items, and experience points.

“Gotta stay sharp.”

This was also a 1-star Dungeon, but its difficulty was higher than the last one.

He’d confirmed his abilities were enough in the previous Dungeon, but there was no room for carelessness.

Suho steadied his mind and spoke to Jung Hyunsu.

“I’ll take the front, you cover the rear. Since this is our first time moving like this, let’s be careful.”

“Okay! I’ll trust you, hyung!”

Suho took the lead.

This Dungeon was a series of caves about 100 meters high.

He had already received the Dungeon Map in advance and memorized it all.

As he walked quietly, Suho suddenly stopped.

He extended a finger, pointing to the right wall.

‘There’s one.’

Five meters up, a shadowy shape clung to the wall.

Blade Spider.

An insect-type Monster with eight legs, each ending in a sharp blade.

Its body, made of jet-black chitin, was solid.

It specialized in ambushing from the wall like this.

Nod.

Jung Hyunsu had also spotted the Blade Spider.

After signaling the attack, Suho ran forward without a sound.

“We’ve been spotted.”

His preemptive strike had failed.

The spider sensed Suho’s approach through vibrations in its web.

The Blade Spider rushed along the wall toward Suho.

Then it opened its mouth.

A web shot out from inside.

‘Now!’

At Suho’s signal, Jung Hyunsu fired an arrow.

The arrow struck the web.

Whoosh—

It was one of Jung Hyunsu’s two Skills: Flame Arrow.

Flames burned away the spider silk.

In that moment, Suho closed in on the Monster.

The Blade Spider raised its two front legs.

‘Block it first.’

The front legs stabbed out like spears.

Suho thrust his claw hammer forward.

Clang!

The bladed leg was deflected in an instant.

‘Once more—’

Another blade stabbed from the opposite side.

That moment, Jung Hyunsu’s arrow struck the Blade Spider’s leg.

Crack—

The front leg aiming for Suho froze solid from an Ice Arrow and stopped.

‘Nice one.’

Suho pushed off the ground.

His body darted forward like a water strider.

The Blade Spider opened its mouth wide.

With its front legs sealed, it seemed about to bite instead.

But Suho was faster.

His claw hammer drew an arc.

The target: above the spider’s mouth.

Right in the center of its cluster of eight revolting eyes.

Crack—

The spider’s chitin shattered as its head caved in.

The Monster stopped moving.

Suho struck again with the claw hammer.

Crack!

A finishing blow.

The spider slumped down like a wagon with a broken wheel.

“Hyung, nice work.”

“You too. That Ice Arrow was perfect timing.”

“Hehe, but you did all the work, hyung. Haha.”

Jung Hyunsu grinned at Suho’s praise.

Suho smiled back.

‘This is enough. Just the two of us, Hyunsu and I, can handle it.’

His confidence turned into certainty.

“You’re not tired, right? Let’s keep going.”

Suho and Jung Hyunsu began the real hunt.

***

Outside the Dungeon.

At the Sangwangryeon Dungeon Management Team, Team Leader Hwang Byungsu was scowling deeply.

“On days like this, it’d be nice to just take a break.”

His scheduled plans had fallen through.

The Party that was supposed to enter the Dungeon had run into trouble.

But another Party showed up.

Thanks to that, Hwang Byungsu had no choice but to work.

“Miss Hyeona gave direct orders, so I’m stuck here all day.”

Normally, he’d have assigned this to a subordinate.

But a special order had come down from Jeong Hyeona.

She’d instructed him to fully support today’s team.

Because of that, Hwang Byungsu was stuck on standby until the Dungeon hunt was over.

While he was grumbling, he saw a trailer approaching the Dungeon.

“Collection Team? They got here fast.”

Soon, a man in his late thirties got out of the car.

“Team Leader Hwang, you’re here?”

The man who got out was Jung Dongjin, leader of Collection Team 2 and Hwang Byungsu’s fellow recruit.

“Yeah, just happened this way. But you’re early too?”

“Same here. But why the long face?”

Jung Dongjin looked at Hwang Byungsu’s expression and asked.

With a heavy sigh, Hwang Byungsu began to complain.

“The team that was supposed to come today flaked. You heard, right?”

“I did. Hunting Team 7, one of their Party members disappeared, or something like that.”

“Yeah, so I thought I could finally rest, but then Young Master Hyunsu suddenly went into the Dungeon.”

“Is that what’s got you down? Young Master Hyunsu just awakened, so he’s bound to be fired up. Gotta be understanding.”

Hwang Byungsu sighed again.

“I get it. But he went in with some weirdo, and I don’t know if they’ll be okay. I heard he’s not even from our guild.”

“Right. He’s not from our guild.”

“Why let someone who’s not even a guild member into a guild-owned Dungeon? If he at least looked the part, maybe I’d get it. Did you see him? What a joke.”

Jung Dongjin didn’t respond.

He had seen the person Hwang Byungsu was talking about.

It was his team that collected the spoils from that hunt last time.

Oblivious to Jung Dongjin’s thoughts, Hwang Byungsu kept rambling.

“See that delivery truck? He came in that, and put a stockpot on his head—man, I was so dumbfounded. Maybe he’s crazy? But if he’s with Young Master, he can’t be that nuts. Maybe he’s a big-shot blacksmith or something?”

“…He’s probably not a blacksmith.”

Jung Dongjin replied.

He recalled what he’d seen while collecting the spoils last week.

Blunt force marks.

Every Monster they collected that day had a single blunt force mark.

On a fatal spot.

‘Even the Irregular’s wounds… except for one arrow wound, all were blunt force marks.’

Jeong Hyeona had gone into the Dungeon with them, but there were no sword wounds on the Irregular’s corpse.

That fact was clear.

‘He took down the Irregular without Miss Hyeona’s help. Two freshly awakened Hunters… no, just one.’

Jung Dongjin had collected countless Monsters.

He knew the arrow wound on the Irregular’s body wasn’t fatal.

The only conclusion was obvious.

Won Suho was no ordinary Hunter.

“Really? Not a blacksmith? You know something?”

“I don’t know much. He’s just Young Master Hyunsu’s Party member, and Miss Hyeona told me to keep an eye on him.”

“Ah, I see. Lucky guy. If he’s got the Jeong siblings on his side, he’ll live easy.”

Jung Dongjin just listened quietly.

“But why’d you come so early? Those newbies won’t be out until sunset at least.”

“Well. I don’t think it’ll take them that long.”

“Huh? What do you mean? Oh! Maybe they’ll just peek at the entrance and turn back, so they’ll be out sooner.”

Instead of answering, Jung Dongjin stared at the Dungeon Gate with deep eyes.

***

In front of the Dungeon Boss Room.

Suho and Jung Hyunsu were sitting down.

After three hours of rapid hunting, they were taking a break.

‘Leveled up twice.’

[Status Window]

Stats had gone up a lot.

With high base Strength, there was no need to use the newly acquired [Flame Strike] against regular Monsters.

Suho glanced at Jung Hyunsu sitting beside him.

‘Looks like Hyunsu’s stamina has fully recovered too.’

They were resting up to be fully prepared for the Boss fight. Since Jung Hyunsu looked fine, it was time to go.

“Shall we?”

“Yes, hyung. I’m good to go now.”

***

Suho stood up.

He rounded the corner and followed the corridor.

A wide cavern appeared ahead.

It was pitch dark.

He couldn’t see well, but Suho could sense the presence of the Boss Monster.

‘Ceiling.‘

The Dungeon Boss, the Blade Queen Spider, was hanging from the ceiling.

Suho pointed upward with his finger.

Jung Hyunsu nodded and drew his bow.

A Flame Arrow was fired.

The Blade Queen Spider reacted to the sound of the arrow.

Rustle, rustle.

The Monster, as big as a delivery truck, slid along the web.

The arrow missed.

But the arrow’s target wasn’t the Blade Queen Spider itself.

Whoosh—

The web struck by the arrow burst into flames.

The Blade Queen Spider lost its footing and crashed down.

It twisted in midair and landed on eight legs.

Suho was already there.

“Haaap!”

Letting out a battle cry, Suho swung his claw hammer with full force.

Crack—!

The hammer struck the Queen’s right front leg.

The spider staggered.

But Suho’s expression wasn’t satisfied.

‘Didn’t break.’

The chitin had a deep dent, but didn’t break completely.

Because of that, the Monster’s counterattack was quick.

The other front leg stabbed out like a spear.

Suho raised his claw hammer at an angle.

Ting—

He deflected it.

But the impact pushed Suho half a step back.

Fortunately, the damaged front leg wasn’t able to join the attack.

‘Get in at an angle.’

Suho moved to the left.

He swung his claw hammer at the Queen’s wounded right front leg.

Whoosh—

The spider quickly retreated, dodging the attack.

It was tricky.

Not as strong as the Irregular, but definitely craftier.

Just then, a Flame Arrow shot out.

The arrow struck the spider’s abdomen.

Fwoosh.

A small flame flared up.

The chitin prevented a deep wound or the fire from spreading, but it was enough to draw attention.

The Monster turned its head toward Jung Hyunsu.

“Now’s my chance!”

Suho charged.

His target was the right front leg again.

Suho activated [Flame Strike].

Fwoooosh!

Fire engulfed Suho’s claw hammer.

The hammer, slicing through the air, struck the spider’s bent front leg.

BOOOOM—!

A powerful explosion erupted.

The front leg blew off.

The Queen’s body staggered and tilted.

Suho moved around the Monster in a circle, keeping to its center.

Spinning clockwise, he swung his claw hammer repeatedly.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM BOOM—!

Four successive explosions rang out.

All the legs on one side of the spider shattered.

KIIIIIEEEEEK—

The Blade Queen Spider let out a horrific scream.

At the same time, its body collapsed to one side.

Meanwhile, Jung Hyunsu wasn’t idle either, filling the spider’s abdomen with Flame Arrows.

“Let’s finish this.”

Suho tensed his legs and leapt high.

He stepped on the broken spider leg and jumped again.

In midair, Suho could see the Blade Queen Spider’s head.

Fwoooooosh—

The claw hammer, charged with [Flame Strike], came crashing down on it.

BOOOOM—!

Thud.

Suho jumped off the collapsing body of the Blade Queen Spider.

[You have defeated the Boss Monster: Blade Queen Spider.]

[You have gained experience points.]

[Level up!]

[Level up!]

[Strength increased by 1.]

[Stamina increased by 1.]

…

“Hyung, is that the Skill Rune you got last time?”

Jung Hyunsu came running, shouting.

Against regular Monsters, there was no need to use [Flame Strike], so this was the first time he’d seen it.

“Yeah, it’s pretty useful.”

“‘Pretty’? You blew its legs off one by one in a single hit! That’s a Monster you need a five-man Party and at least thirty minutes to take down, but you—ha… haha.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, this place is supposed to be tougher than last time. Not that it seems to make much difference for you, hyung.”

Suho just grinned.

Then Jung Hyunsu pointed at the fallen Blade Queen Spider and shouted.

“Huh? Something else dropped, hyung!”

Suho and Jung Hyunsu hurried over.

“A bracelet?”

A round ring made of silvery metal.

As expected, it was a bracelet.

[Spider Silk Bracelet]

• A bracelet containing the silk of the Blade Queen Spider. When infused with magic, it fires spider silk.
• Remaining uses: 5/5
• Item grade: Normal
• [Spider Silk Shot]
• Durability 30

“It’s decent, but the number of uses is limited.”

A bit disappointing, but not bad.

It was hard to get anything amazing from a 1-star Dungeon anyway.

“Hyung, you’re really lucky. This hardly ever drops.”

Come to think of it, as a ranged class, Jung Hyunsu could make use of this item too.

“Want it?”

“No way, hyung! The contract says all items belong to you. Unless you want to get sued for breach, don’t even joke about it.”

“…Alright.”

He really was a good guy.

“If something I need drops, I’ll pay you full price for it, so just sell it to me then.”

“Got it. Let’s get out of here.”

Suho patted Jung Hyunsu’s shoulder and started walking.

“Yes, hyung!”

Jung Hyunsu followed after him.

***

“Time for lunch, I guess.”

Hwang Byungsu pulled out his phone.

He was about to call his team to save seats.

But then, the Gate rippled in the distance.

“Huh? Already? Did they give up halfway? Well, that figures.”

That actually worked out.

Finish up and head back to the office.

Hwang Byungsu, hiding a smirk, hurried over to the Gate.

“Young Master! Oh my, you’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”

“No, Team Leader Hwang. We’re fine. Please call the Collection Team.”

Jung Hyunsu replied.

“Yes, they’ve been on standby. I’ll call them right away. By the way, how far in did you get before turning back? We need to know so the Collection Team can prepare.”

“Turning back?”

“You gave up halfway and came back, didn’t you?”

“We beat the Boss and came out.”

Hwang Byungsu’s face twisted in disbelief.

“What? It’s not even been four hours since you went in!”

“We cleared up to the Boss, so just call the Collection Team. Hyung, let’s go. Join us for lunch.”

Jung Hyunsu led Suho away.

Hwang Byungsu stared after them, dumbfounded.

“I told you. It might not take that long.”

Jung Dongjin, hearing the commotion, walked over.

Hwang Byungsu asked him blankly.

“Was Young Master Hyunsu some kind of genius after all?”

“Why else would he keep someone who’s not even a guild member around?”

“Wait, don’t tell me… that claw hammer guy? For real?”

Jung Dongjin didn’t answer.

He hadn’t seen it himself, after all.

But there was one thing Jung Dongjin was sure of.

“From now on, it’ll be better not to mess with that guy. Don’t look down on him just because he’s not a guild member.”

Jung Dongjin nodded toward the retreating Suho.

Hwang Byungsu’s head bobbed up and down in spite of himself.

***

After eating with Jung Hyunsu, Suho stopped by a warehouse-type Mart.

With the sudden increase in Dwarves, he was buying ramen almost every day.

‘There’s a limit to buying from the Mart like this.’

Buying so much ramen at once, the Mart staff were starting to look at him funny.

‘Buying is one thing, but hauling it all home is a pain too.’

With so many boxes of ramen, it was getting hard to bring them into the house.

Maybe it was time to move.

While thinking that, he arrived at home. Suho parked in front of the store and got out.

Now that he was home, checking on the Dwarves was the top priority.

Suho headed for the back room.

He hurried to the fridge.

[Emergency Mission Triggered!]

[Emergency Mission Triggered!]

[Emergency Mission Triggered!]

Messages popped up.