Chapter 45: Matryoshka (1)

A week after the Vigilante incident.

I visited the Korean Hunter Association for the first time in a while.

Why?

“Congratulations on your rank promotion, Hunter Cha Hasang. We look forward to your performance befitting an E-rank hunter from now on.”

Today was the monthly hunter rank renewal day.

I was finally escaping F-rank.

All those steady F-rank missions had paid off.

Picking up trash in parks, rescuing puppies that fell into drains, finding runaway cats—every random odd job I’d done flashed before my eyes. It was quite emotional.

At that moment, a system window popped up in front of me.

Ding dong!

<The Warehouse Keeper’s reputation has increased!>

<‘Featherback’s Reward’ has been generated in your inventory!>

<Morgue Mu Featherback praises the achievements of his successor Warehouse Keeper!>

“Oh?”

Featherback, the one who’d thrown a fit when I got F-rank on the hunter qualification exam.

Something about tarnishing the Sorcerer Emperor’s prestige or failing to uphold the dignity of a Warehouse Keeper.

But I quite liked how he was quick to praise good work without hesitation.

I opened my inventory and checked Featherback’s reward.

[Featherback’s Special High-Performance Energy Drink]

A grayish-brown potion in a triangular flask.

The potion Featherback drank whenever he handled intense work—made by boiling pus slime mucus, fairy foreskin, and troll groin hair in sulfur fire for 72 hours.

One sip banishes fatigue, two sips restore vitality, and drinking it all raises every physical stat by one stage.

“Drink it. I made it cherry-flavored for easy consumption. Finish it and get back to work. You’re still far from done.” 

Featherback

Yeah, scratch that—I take back liking it.

I uncapped Featherback’s special high-performance… whatever and chugged it in one go.

A squishy, prickly texture slid down my throat.

The bright cherry flavor somehow made it worse.

Soon, my blood vessels warmed up, and strength surged through my entire body.

Ding dong!

<Warehouse Keeper’s Strength has increased by 10!>

<Warehouse Keeper’s Vitality has increased by 10!>

<Warehouse Keeper’s Agility has increased by 10!>

<Warehouse Keeper’s Intelligence has increased by 10!>

<Warehouse Keeper’s Mental Power has increased by 10!>

Every stat had jumped by a full 10 points.

Not bad at all.

I headed to the hunter mission board.

Starting at E-rank, I could finally take on proper “hunter” missions.

Let’s see if there’s anything good.

When I held my hunter license up to the board, a large holographic screen appeared before my eyes.

<There are a total of 4 missions available for E-rank hunter ‘Cha Hasang’.>

[1. Delivery Mission – Urgent]

– Deliver 100 E-rank mana stones to the Hunter Association. Deadline: one week.

[2. Miscellaneous Mission – F-rank]

– Five wild boars have appeared in the mountains near Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul. Cooperate with the fire department to capture them.

[3. Miscellaneous Mission – F-rank]

– TLT Pharmaceutical is recruiting clinical trial volunteers. The main task is testing a newly developed antidote potion; room and board for 2 nights and 3 days provided, plus travel expenses.

[4. Miscellaneous Mission – F-rank]

– Seoul Elementary School is recruiting crossing guards. Work hours: 1 hour each during morning arrival and afternoon dismissal.

Out of the remaining missions, only one was truly E-rank.

I accepted the mana stone delivery mission.

Obviously, buying mana stones at auction and submitting them wasn’t allowed.

The Hunter Association strictly prohibited proxies or monetary transactions for missions.

The simplest and most straightforward method was, of course, dungeon exploration.

An E-rank or F-rank dungeon should be manageable.

Tap! Tap!

Someone lightly tapped my shoulder.

I turned to see a burly middle-aged man.

When our eyes met, he grinned and spoke.

“Hey, buddy! You just took the E-rank mana stone mission, right? I’ve got a proposal for you.”

“A proposal?”

He pointed at himself with his thumb.

“Haha—! Guess I should introduce myself first! I’m Kim Cheolwoo, B-rank No. 34, Iron Fist!”

…

His hunter name sucked.

Behind Kim Cheolwoo stood about twenty hunters.

“These are my ‘Faithful Raiders’ party members! You’ve probably heard of us, right?”

…

No.

First time hearing it.

And the raid name sucked too.

Kim Cheolwoo grinned wider and continued.

“Anyway, straight to the point—want a porter gig?”

“Porter work?”

“We’re heading to clear a C+-rank dungeon right now, but we haven’t found a porter yet. You look strong and sharp, so I figured I’d ask.”

Ah.

“All the E-rank mana stones we get in the dungeon are yours. In exchange, any artifacts or other rewards go to us raiders. How’s that? Win-win, right?”

He extended his massive hand.

“So, wanna join? No pressure if you’re not interested.”

It wasn’t a bad deal.

Gathering 100 E-rank mana stones solo would take at least a week of hopping between dozens of E-rank dungeons.

In a C+-rank dungeon, I could collect the full amount in a single day—with plenty left over.

Plus, as a porter, I could freely enter dungeons above my rank.

No real reason to refuse.

I was curious how a raid party fought too.

I shook Kim Cheolwoo’s hand.

He laughed heartily and pumped my hand.

“Good choice! Our raid has cleared C-rank dungeons over twenty times, you know? And if things get dicey, we pull out—safety first! Just stick with the Faithful Raiders! We’ll bus you through nice and easy! Hahahaha—!”

Ow.

Ow.

Did he have a megaphone in his throat? My ears were ringing.

***

A few hours later.

The dungeon we’d arrived at with the Faithful Raiders was hidden deep in Chiaksan, Gangwon Province.

<You have entered the dungeon ‘Turquoise Crystal Cave’!>

The interior resembled a massive limestone cave, with turquoise crystals densely clustered on the ceiling.

Then, dozens of monsters appeared before us.

Long, pointed ears and green skin.

Child-sized bodies with vicious faces.

The classic trash mob from countless games—goblins.

<Goblin>

– Danger Rank: E

– Discovery Location: Chiaksan, Wonju City, Gangwon Province ‘Turquoise Crystal Cave’

Humanoid monsters with green skin and diminutive builds.

They form groups, use primitive tools, and exhibit cunning, violent tendencies.

One goblin pointed at us and swung its club wildly.

[Gyagyak! Kya!]

At the same moment, dozens of goblins charged as one.

But.

Whoosh—thunk!

An arrow flew in and pierced a goblin’s chest.

At the same time.

“Alright! Let’s go~!”

Raid leader Kim Cheolwoo charged forward, clanging his steel gauntlets together.

Crack!

A goblin flew into the wall with the sound of crushing bones.

Agile and precise movements that belied his rugged build.

Kim Cheolwoo swung at another goblin.

Boom—!

An explosion no fist should make erupted.

The goblin’s face caved in beyond recognition.

Soon, five more goblins rushed Kim Cheolwoo from all sides.

But.

—Thud! —Crack! —Crunch!

Every punch snapped necks, folded spines, and tore jaws.

Kim Cheolwoo swept through the goblin horde like a storm.

In mere seconds—barely five—their numbers had nearly halved.

Kim Cheolwoo shouted to his raiders.

“No time to waste—clear them in one minute!”

The party members charged the remaining goblins as one.

Screams echoed everywhere.

[Kreeeek!]

[Kieek!]

[Kyaaak—!]

A one-sided massacre.

Kim Cheolwoo and the entire raid consisted of B- and C-rank hunters.

E-rank goblins being mowed down was only natural.

Meanwhile.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Someone leisurely did their job in a corner of the dungeon.

A man cheerfully swinging a pickaxe alone.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

That was me.

Leaving the battlefield of screams and roars behind, I diligently swung my pickaxe.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Soon, mana stones embedded in the walls began coming loose one by one.

Man, this is easy. So sweet.

If I’d come alone to mine mana stones, I’d have to deal with surrounding monsters first, then mine afterward—it would’ve taken at least twice as long.

But now, thanks to the raiders pulling aggro, I could focus solely on mining.

Then, a sharp screech came from behind.

[Kiyaaak—!]

A goblin charged me, swinging a dagger.

I waited until it got close.

Then.

Thud!

I lightly jabbed its jaw.

The goblin’s head twisted in an unnatural direction.

Crunch~!

[Ki, kiiik—!]

It let out a short scream and stopped moving.

Goblins are easy enough bare-handed now.

Just a few months ago.

Back when I was F-rank, I couldn’t have imagined this.

Strength, Vitality, Agility, Intelligence, Mental Power.

All steadily increased from clearing the warehouse quests.

I kicked the goblin corpse aside and resumed mining.

“Alright, let’s power through and collect all 100 mana stones!”

***

Goblins, giant spiders, poison slimes, orcs, and more.

Countless monsters poured out, but the raiders dispatched them in moments.

The party cleared paths by killing monsters; I carried loot and mined mana stones.

After repeating that process several times.

We reached the boss room.

[Huff…… Huff…… Huff……]

Rough breathing leaked from beyond the tightly shut stone door.

Kim Cheolwoo turned to his raiders.

“According to intel, the boss here is C-rank. It won’t stand a chance against us, but no letting our guard down! Hold your positions! Alright—let’s go!”

Creeeaaak~!

Kim Cheolwoo flung open the boss room entrance.

A stone chamber with large turquoise crystals sprouting here and there.

A round altar stood in the center, topped by a massive boulder.

Then.

[Grrrk—grrrrk—]

The boulder slowly rose with a phlegmy rumble.

A height two heads taller than an orc.

Tusks jutting out like a wild boar.

Thick rocks clung densely to its body, with foul pus and blood oozing from the cracks.

Flap—

<Rock Troll>

– Danger Rank: C

– Discovery Location: Chiaksan, Wonju City, Gangwon Province ‘Turquoise Crystal Cave’

A troll whose entire body is covered in stone due to petrification disease.

It combines the troll species’ regeneration with rock-hard defense.

Soon.

[Kwooooooo—!]

The rock troll roared and charged.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

The ground shook violently with every step.

When it closed to a few meters, Kim Cheolwoo shouted.

“Now! Aim for the eyes!”

As if waiting, fire arrows and fireballs launched together.

Whoosh~! Roarrr~!

Dozens of flaming projectiles slammed into the rock troll’s face, and both eyes began burning fiercely.

[Kraaaagh—!]

The rock troll staggered, clutching its face.

The raiders didn’t miss the opening.

Thick chains soon bound its arms and legs.

Clank! Clank!

Seeing that, Kim Cheolwoo threw a powerful punch.

“Good! Hold it tight—!”

Boom!

A heavy fist buried into the rock troll’s solar plexus.

Shockwaves rippled outward like waves on a lake.

Crack—crunch—crack—

Muscles tore, bones shattered, organs ruptured.

[Kreeeuuuugh—!]

The rock troll flailed and screamed.

Kim Cheolwoo dodged lightly and unleashed a furious barrage.

Meanwhile, I closely observed Kim Cheolwoo and the raiders’ teamwork.

Yeah, solid coordination makes combat far easier and more efficient. Lots to learn here.

Soon.

“Time to die, you lumpy bastard!”

Kim Cheolwoo began pummeling the rock troll’s body wildly.

Boom! Kaboom! Kaboom! Boom! Crunch! Thwack! Crunch!

Only after reducing it to pulp did he stop.

<The dungeon lord, ‘Rock Troll’, has died!>

<An escape gate will be generated!>

A gate connected to the outside opened beside the cave troll’s corpse.

In normal dungeons, an escape gate appears near where the boss falls.

Meaning no need to sprint desperately toward it.

Dungeons also stay open generously for about a day after the boss dies.

Plenty of time to gather materials, mana stones, and rewards before leaving leisurely.

Soon, Kim Cheolwoo and the raiders began collecting the boss room treasure chest and the rock troll’s drops.

I’d already gathered enough mana stones for the association. Just need to head out now…

Then.

—Sparkle!

A brilliant light caught my eye.

A turquoise door in the corner of the boss room.

Unlike the other stone structures, this door was made of turquoise crystal.

Why is there a door in the boss room?

The area around the turquoise crystal door shimmered like heat haze.

Just like the spatial distortion around gates.

Suddenly, various pieces of information surfaced in my mind.

A 0.0000123% probability spatial anomaly.

Another dungeon generated inside a dungeon.

That was…

…No way—a hidden dungeon!?

A treasure trove where priceless riches lay sleeping.