[The Owner of the 13th Floor of the Labyrinth has changed.]
The President leading the Chinese Association, Joo Wonseong, clenched his fist as he stared at the message before his eyes.
It wasn’t so much anger as it was annoyance.
It felt like being bitten by a mosquito.
For years, the 11th to 13th floors of the Labyrinth, which had always been under China’s control, had been taken over by an unknown Korean.
Not just one, but all three.
“How is this possible?”
Even as he said it aloud, he couldn’t believe it.
Chunghwa Moon Leader Lee Gak was a B-Rank Hunter, but inside the Labyrinth, he received a buff, so he was nearly equal to a top A-Rank Hunter.
Jangpal, Lee Gak’s right-hand man, and Oh Jeong, his left-hand man, were the same.
Using the restrictions of the Labyrinth, when only one person was targeted, there was no one on the lower floors who could defeat them.
And it wasn’t just them, either.
Nearly a thousand Chunghwa Sect Disciples, together with the executives, faced the enemy.
“Goblin Mask…….”
Joo Wonseong stared at the report Lee Gak and Jangpal had submitted yesterday.
An illustration of a man wearing the Goblin Mask.
Beneath it, the abilities of the Goblin Mask were listed.
- Handles Orcs, Goblins, Dryads, and two Humans as summoned beings.
- Uses Fire and Ice Magic.
- Possesses Advanced Purification Magic, making poison and curses ineffective.
- Has learned Protection Magic.
- It’s possible to have summoned beings and elemental magic. Awakened Hunters don’t always have just one Skill.
However.
Being able to use all those abilities without restraint was beyond common sense. When Hunters awakened, they didn’t have that much Mana.
Mana only increased by descending the Labyrinth, or by consuming Potions.
But that Goblin-masked man had used Summoning Magic ten times in a single day, and also used Protection Magic and Advanced Purification Magic.
All in less than an hour.
It would require at least dozens of A-Rank Potions to accomplish that.
“Was Korea… deceiving us all along?”
In the past, Korea had been at the very top, the most powerful nation, possessing as many as seven S-rank Hunters.
Those who swept away incredible Rewards at the front lines.
If they’d used the Legacy left behind by those people to create such a monster, it wouldn’t be incomprehensible.
Otherwise, they may have raised him using the Rewards obtained by the recently active Hidden Piece Discoverer.
“Grit.”
Whatever it was, the Korean Association President had made a fool out of him.
Even though he knew everything, the man pretended not to, playing the role of the weakling right in front of him.
And now, he’d ended up looking like an arrogant fool, knowing nothing of the man’s true intentions.
Bang!
Joo Wonseong slammed his fist down onto the desk.
The shattered pieces of the desk scattered in all directions.
That wasn’t enough to cool his anger.
It seemed like only by utterly destroying Korea would he be satisfied.
Joo Wonseong called his Secretary waiting outside.
“You called for me?”
“I’ll only feel better once we take back the 11th floor of the Labyrinth. Contact the Blood Demon and send the most talented person available.”
“Understood.”
“And prepare the S-rank Potions and Equipment from the warehouse. Get the S-rank Skillbooks ready as well.”
“…Isn’t that a bit much?”
“Just do as you’re told.”
The Secretary bowed his head and withdrew.
As Joo Wonseong’s eyes blazed with vengeful determination, a familiar male voice whispered in his ear.
“Don’t touch Korea anymore.”
“What?”
Joo Wonseong’s gaze snapped around.
A man in a blue hood was perched on the window sill.
The one who had introduced himself as the Apostle of the Dragon God.
“I’m telling you this for your own good. No matter what you do now, you won’t win. Don’t get involved and just wait.”
“Are you saying China can’t beat Korea?”
“I’m saying you can’t beat him.”
“Korea, of all places, dared to mock the great China, and you want me to just watch? Those guys have insulted my pride!”
Joo Wonseong, already seeing red, ranted with veins bulging on his neck.
The Blue Hooded man shook his head and waved his hand.
“Do as you wish then. But if this interferes with our grand cause, you will pay the price. Remember that.”
“I’ll handle things without any problems, so don’t worry.”
“Fine, then. Tch. Since I’m here, I might as well leave something.”
The Blue Hood tossed something to Joo Wonseong.
A small wooden box.
Inside was a marble.
Within the translucent marble, lightning crackled.
“Give this to the one you’re sending to the 11th floor. Tell him to use it if he encounters that guy. That way, his odds of winning will go up, if only slightly. Of course… it’ll still be tough.”
For the first time in eight years, the owner of the floors had changed.
The Chunghwa Sect, who had owned the 11th floor, had been dismantled, and now a Korean Hunter was the master from the 11th to the 13th floor.
This news made the entire world buzz with excitement.
Every news outlet covered the story, and articles speculated on who the new owner of the floors might be.
[The Goblin Appears? Korea’s Monster Rookie Debuts?]
[Who is the Goblin Mask who clashed with the Chunghwa Sect?]
[Friend of the Hidden Piece Discoverer? Korea’s Secret Weapon?]
[Successor to Korea’s Lost S-Rank Hunter?]
[Is Kim Muhyeok a Fake? The Real Rising Star Emerges?]
A new star was born.
Korea’s hope, boasting overwhelming power.
With the arrival of someone who could revive Korea’s Hunter industry, many cheered with excitement.
-This is what national pride feels like! Chamberlain, bring me a glass of makgeolli!
-Damnnnnnnn. That’s so satisfying. Screw the Chunghwa bastards. I wanted to slap them every time they acted all high and mighty. Now they’re all finished, right?
-They lost the floor war. Lost all their power and turned into ordinary people. They’ll just disappear without a trace now.
-Wow. But how did it happen? Chunghwa Moon Leader should be at least B-Rank. And with the Labyrinth buff, isn’t he A-Rank? Plus, there were so many Chunghwa members.
-So they’re at least A-Rank. That’s insane. Is a new S-rank Hunter about to be born in our country?
-If that’s his performance just on the 13th floor… if he goes deeper, he might rival the Twelve Constellations.
-Even the Twelve Constellations weren’t that strong. If he just keeps descending, the Goblin will be the strongest.
-But who is the Goblin? Is he really Korea’s secret weapon?
-He’s probably close to the Hidden Piece Discoverer. That person has found 14 Hidden Pieces already. Unless he got those handed over, none of this adds up.
-Wow. If he got all those Rewards, no wonder he beat the Chunghwa Sect. But why give it all to a rookie Hunter?
-Maybe they’re preparing for the Hall of Glory? I heard the Hidden Piece Discoverer isn’t eligible to participate this time. Maybe they’re raising a new star for that.
Not everyone was optimistic, though, amidst all the speculation.
-But is this really okay? Isn’t floor war grounds for sanctions?
-Is there any benefit to provoking China? 30% of the Dungeons we raid come from China……
-Not just Dungeons, but Potions too—all from China.
-If China gets angry and cuts off all trade, Korea’s screwed, right?
-Forget that, can we even hold onto those floors? The Goblin will keep descending. How are the substitute Hunters going to defend them? It’s not like Korea has that many rising stars.
-It’s only a matter of time before we lose them.
-Honestly, it wouldn’t be strange if we lost them tomorrow.
-I just don’t get why we had to provoke China. The Association President and the Goblin… are they both out of their minds?
Meanwhile, the Korean Hunter Association posted two public notices.
One was about forming a new organization to replace the Chunghwa Sect.
They were recruiting members for Imemaengnyang.
The other was about selecting Hunters to participate in the Hall of Glory and raising them with focused support.
- Wow. If the Association’s doing this, then maybe the floor management really is under control?
- Should I apply? I awakened two years ago but quit being a Hunter because of the Chunghwa Sect.
- Everyone, hurry and try the 11th floor. The atmosphere is completely different.
- I dropped by for a bit, and there were so many Koreans. Didn’t know we had this many Hunters.
- The buffs are freakin’ amazing. Unbelievable. No wonder the Chunghwa Sect acted all puffed up.
- Agreed. The monster hides are all squishy. I punched one and it just burst.
- When you feel that kind of power, you really start wanting to get stronger.
As clearing from the 11th to the 13th floor became easier, those who had awakened but given up for various reasons began to return to the Labyrinth one by one.
The Association officially announced that ten thousand Hunters had already come back.
That number continues to grow, and even those who had planned to go abroad are returning and preparing for a new challenge.
- I’m thinking of restarting my Hunter career in Korea. Which guilds are good these days?
- I want to gear up. What equipment’s best these days?
- Any recommendations for a good Academy that teaches combat?
Those who had given up on Korea’s future were starting to look up once more.
The powerful wind the Goblin stirred up.
That wind brought changes that completely transformed Korea.
[You have discovered a Hidden Piece.]
[Hidden Piece Achievement Reward is granted.]
[Dungeon Raid Rewards for the Discoverer’s nation increase.]
[Trial Success Rewards for the Discoverer’s nation increase.]
[With 15 accumulated Achievement Rewards, a Red Dungeon will be created. Also, the probability of Red Dungeon appearances increases.]
I collected the Dragon Heart Fragment and cleared the Trial.
[You have completed the Trial of the 14th Floor of the Labyrinth.]
[As a Reward for clearing the Trial, you receive ten Mana Stones (E).]
[You have obtained the Hidden Piece for this floor.]
[You have acquired a Stage Challenge Ticket.]
[Using the Challenge Ticket allows you to challenge the owner of the floor.]
Up to the 13th floor, I had a just cause.
The Chunghwa Sect’s control.
China’s indifference.
Since Korea couldn’t descend the Labyrinth, it was justified to start a floor war.
But from the 14th floor on, the Chunghwa Sect no longer owned it, and it wasn’t held by China but by another nation.
-From the 14th floor, a misstep could backfire.
A floor war without just cause would only provide other countries an excuse to tear Korea apart.
If the world decided to clamp down, there was nothing I could do.
I still needed more time.
‘I have to become stronger.’
I needed strength to fight the Apostles.
And Korea needed strength to stand against the world.
That’s why, for now, I only planned to obtain the Challenge Ticket for the floor and slowly take it over. If the time came when justification arose, I’d clear them out then.
“Let’s go back.”
After leaving the Labyrinth and returning to the Dragon Lair, a message appeared saying a Skillbook had been completed in the Library.
I stopped by the Library to check the Skillbook.
[Tough Hide (D)]
- Increases the toughness of your skin, reducing physical attack damage.
I’d been needing a Skillbook to promote the Orc anyway, and this one appeared at just the right time.
I took the Skillbook and left the cave.
I could see the Orc being trained by Lophenheim. To call it training was almost an understatement—it was more like a one-sided beating.
But that’s how bones and muscles are made.
The Orc’s lacking potential was being supplemented by Ropenheim’s experience.
“Take a break for a while.”
[Understood.]
I walked over to them at a leisurely pace.
“How is he doing?”
“He lacks talent, but he’s persistent. It seems doable.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“It’ll take some time, but I’ll make sure he’s useful, so don’t worry.”
“Thank you.”
I then handed the Skillbook to the Orc and had him learn it.
Using money, I raised the Skill up to B-grade.
“Still, you’ll be able to endure a bit more than before.”
After encouraging the Orc with a pat on the shoulder, I was about to return to the Dragon Lair to head back to reality when a message appeared.
[An intruder has entered the Mana Stone Mine.]
[A Golem has suffered a critical blow. The Golem’s functions have ceased.]
An intruder?
“Orc, grab your gear.”
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