Chapter 17 : The Hidden Route of the Fourth Layer

The Direction No One Took.

Yuseong ventured deep into the dense jungle of the 4th Layer, where he fought a battle all on his own.

Among the things experienced explorers talk about is a state called Fever.

What it is, essentially, is a trance-like ecstasy experienced during combat or exploration.

Not every explorer gets to experience it; only those with talent or caught in special circumstances rarely undergo it.

And Yuseong, during all the time he spent wandering the Abyss before his regression, had never once experienced the Fever state.

“So this is what it feels like.”

When an explorer achieves significant progress in the Abyss, it is recognized as an Achievement.

Upon achieving an Achievement, a special Privilege is granted through the system available to all achievers.

When receiving such a Privilege, a remarkable sense of euphoria spreads, and one’s body fills with strength.

Before the Privilege’s Buff could fade, another Achievement was unlocked.

This virtuous cycle continuing uninterrupted is precisely what the Fever state is.

Snap.

It began when he killed the 20th Kill Monkey.

[Common Achievement “Explorer Rookie” accomplished.]

[Strength slightly increased.]

[Temporarily entered a pain-free state.]

Yuseong had brought along soy sauce and brown sugar, along with seasonings, when he entered the Abyss.

And on the 4th Layer, there existed a rare monster unknown to most.

The Steel Buffalo—a cow with metallic horns.

The moment Yuseong thought of that monster, he naturally imagined bulgogi, and his mouth began to water uncontrollably.

To hunt the Steel Buffalo, one had to proceed through a special Clear Route.

In the dense jungle, where even determining direction was difficult, Yuseong managed to find a hidden path.

Following it, countless Kill Donkeys swarmed him.

Yuseong’s target was a hidden place in the 4th Layer called the Black Temple.

It was one of the Abyss’s many secrets, and the Clear Route to it only became known a few years later from now.

As Yuseong attempted to claim the territory for himself, the Kill Donkeys naturally went berserk.

He smashed through the crude traps they had set and, upon killing the 50th Kill Monkey,

[Uncommon Achievement “Monster Rookie” accomplished.]

[Wounds healed.]

He had earned an Uncommon Achievement.

Finally reaching the Black Temple,

he fought elite Kill Monkeys guarding the area and, upon killing the 100th Kill Donkey,

[Uncommon Achievement “Kill Monkey Slayer” accomplished.]

[Gained “Intimidation” effect against Kill Donkey monsters.]

There, Yuseong came face to face with the fierce Steel Buffalo sporting metallic horns.

The creature guarded the entrance to the Black Temple.

Clad in battle armor, Yuseong raised his Rose Knife and pointed at it.

“Found you, bulgogi.”

“Moo woooo!”

The familiar rural sound he would no longer hear outside.

Yuseong thought of the cows raised on the island with his grandfather.

Buksuni, who would eat beef stew so deliciously when served.

When that beloved cow disappeared one day, and on Yuseong’s birthday his grandfather had slaughtered Buksuni, Yuseong cried bitterly for an entire day and night.

But that evening, after eating bulgogi served with the birthday meal, he finally understood.

All living things survive by eating others.

And no matter what, gratitude must be felt for the flora and fauna providing nourishment.

Calm.

Yuseong gripped his Rose Knife and War Axe, making sharp, clear sounds as he assumed a battle stance.

The Steel Buffalo sensed its enemy and turned its massive body.

The pounding of hooves sounded menacing, clearly different from the gentle home cows like Buksuni.

“Charge.”

“Mooo!”

The Steel Buffalo was the hidden boss of the 4th Layer.

Killing that creature alone satisfied the Clear Conditions.

If others saw Yuseong fighting it one-on-one, they would surely be astonished.

Boss monsters are usually defeated by multiple Parties or at least several allies joining forces.

But Yuseong was confident.

He already had countless solo play experiences, and had witnessed dozens of occasions where a single individual defeated a boss of this caliber.

Even though he never surpassed Rank B.

He was a member of the Final Raid Team that took down the Abyss’s final boss, Time.

Moreover, Rank B explorers of the present and the Rank B from the time the Abyss was cleared were on entirely different levels.

The fight began without warning.

The Steel Buffalo’s charge and Yuseong’s bright battle stance almost coincided.

Bang!

With a sharp sound, Yuseong’s new type of War Axe flew like a fiery arrow.

The Steel Buffalo seemed to have been waiting as it charged headlong at Yuseong.

Its body mass was at least 0.3 tons.

A 65kg lean Yuseong could not collide with it without breaking a bone or two.

But Yuseong didn’t slow down.

Then, as if tossing a handkerchief, he swung the War Axe.

Screeech!

If it were Kill Donkeys, that blow would have shattered their skulls instantly.

But this opponent was a far stronger monster.

The Steel Buffalo showed surprisingly fast movements for its size.

Snap!

It tilted its head back and swung its metallic horn upward.

Its relatively weak neck was exposed.

Yuseong did not miss this weakness.

Clash.

Shreek!

Instead of the earth-shaking impact expected, blood splattered high into the air.

The blood was the Steel Buffalo’s.

Yuseong plunged the Rose Knife into its neck and, using the reaction, climbed atop the Steel Buffalo’s neck.

Blood gushed from the long slit across its throat.

Yuseong gripped the metallic horn tightly and hung on.

Soon, the Steel Buffalo lost momentum and collapsed to the ground.

Thud.

The heavy body hit the floor, echoing with a great roar.

Yuseong stood proudly atop the fallen Steel Buffalo.

The beast was not completely dead, letting out a wail as it tried to raise its head.

“Mooooo.”

“Sorry!”

Yuseong swung the War Axe down on its head.

Thunk!

Besides the horns, it was just a big cow.

After a few more blows from Yuseong, the Steel Buffalo finally lowered its head completely.

“Phew, getting a bite to eat is tough work.”

That last move was dangerous even for Yuseong.

Such a bold attack would have been unthinkable without countless near-death experiences.

Yet in the end, it succeeded brilliantly.

Ordinary explorers hunt monsters for their records.

Baek Yuseong, however, hunted for food, for his meals, for survival.

The difference in mindset was vast.

[Uncommon Achievement “Steel Buffalo Slayer” accomplished.]

[All monsters in the 4th Layer feel “Intimidation” from you.]

Having defeated the boss, the Clear Conditions were met.

Thud thud thud thud.

The entrance of the Black Temple.

The stone tiles on the floor began to move.

“Oh, a new Gate…”

What had newly formed was a Gate allowing passage to the next Layer.

Yuseong had discovered only three independent Clear Routes.

And this was because he had wandered around in search of food.

It was a remarkable Achievement.

[Heroic Achievement “4th Layer Conqueror” accomplished.]

[Masok acquisition rates in the 4th Layer greatly increased.]

[Stamina greatly increased.]

[Strength greatly increased.]

[Magic power greatly increased.]

[Heat resistance greatly increased.]

A message popped up confirming the Heroic Achievement.

A pleasant euphoria spread throughout his body.

But the smile appearing on Yuseong’s lips was not because of this.

“Bulgogi, just you wait, hehe.”

Only bulgogi filled his mind.

***

Jang Dojin.

Just hearing the name sounded tough.

Unlike him, this kid had a gentle face, but his physique was definitely imposing.

In an era sustained by Energy Bars, he was a rare high school student who achieved a height of 198cm.

Not just tall—he was naturally muscular with bent bones and great strength.

Without intense exercise or steroids, his sturdy muscles had formed naturally.

All thanks to his Gift.

“Cheonghad Aejangsa.”

An overwhelming power matching his physique.

Because of this, he was naturally the strongest high school student in Korea, and he became an explorer.

With high expectations from his parents, he earned his explorer’s license with outstanding performance.

At nineteen, Jang Dojin entered the Abyss before even graduating.

But no one in the world knew one thing.

The man who would smile even after being stabbed, wielding a knife as if swinging a shovel—

Jang Dojin was actually very fragile.

“Scary!”

He swung his slender palm like a shovel at an attacking Kill Donkey.

Though his eyes drifted and the swing was sloppy, unlucky Kill Donkey got hit.

Crack.

It sounded the same as when Yuseong swung the War Axe.

It was an instant kill, and the others hissed in shock.

“Huff, huff. My throat’s so dry…”

Three days had passed since he entered the 4th Layer.

His Energy Bars were all gone, and he had drunk all the water in his canteen.

He was on the verge of fainting from hunger and thirst.

Yesterday, he ate a bunch of random fruits from trees and got severely poisoned, clutching his stomach all day.

“Ugh, I shouldn’t have tried to become an explorer.”

Though he was Korea’s strongest high schooler, he had never actually fought.

Everyone was too intimidated by his size to dare attack.

His father, who admired explorers, wanted to raise him as a great explorer, so naturally Jang Dojin aspired to become one.

But this was how it started.

Since he had passed the explorer’s license exam, he thought fighting would be easy.

But the monsters he faced were terrifying.

Even Kill Donkeys smelled foul, and their thrown stones hurt from a distance.

Killing them was another matter.

When he first swung his knife and split a Kill Monkey in two, he saw its entrails spill out and vomited everything in his stomach.

The biggest problem was that he was lost.

From the very start, he had taken the wrong path.

“Dad… The strategy guide you got me is all wrong.”

His ordinary office worker father had paid a whopping five million won for the book.

It was supposedly a guide written by an excellent explorer.

Trusting that guide, Jang Dojin ventured into the 4th Layer.

He couldn’t find any companions.

He was shy by nature but also confident in his strength.

But the guide was a complete failure.

By the time he realized it, he was already thoroughly lost.

“W-Water…”

Eventually, half-mad with frustration, Jang Dojin wandered like this.

At that moment, he heard the clear sound of flowing water.

“Uh, uh.”

It was definitely the sound of running water.

Entranced, he began running toward it.

Where did this newfound strength come from? He had trouble walking moments ago, but now he could run.

“I can survive!”

A spark of hope flared.

He finally reached the riverbank.

The river wasn’t large, but clear water flowed.

He was about to jump in.

“Ha!”

He barely stopped himself from screaming and crouched down.

His heart pounded wildly.

A monster stood by the river.

Covered in dripping blood, it was singing a strange song.

“…Please put the bulgogi on the rice. Mix the bulgogi with the rice.”

The monster hummed in Korean.

Yet it didn’t feel frightening.

Its actions were too strange.

“Is it… butchering a cow?”

The monster had hung a cow-like creature on a tree and was dismembering it with a sharp knife.

If it were harvesting Masok, there would be no need to butcher meat like that.

It only needed to remove the Masok embedded near the chest.

But it was happily singing as it performed this action.

“Ah, my favorite bulgogi rice bowl…”

Then the one butchering the cow suddenly stopped singing.

It glared in Jang Dojin’s direction.

Jang Dojin’s heart nearly stopped.

He was perfectly hidden and unseen, yet it seemed he had been sensed.

Just as he was about to turn and flee the river,

he felt a sharp pain in his ankle.

“Wah!”

He screamed involuntarily.

Looking down at his ankle, he saw a bright red snake raising its head and glaring.

A fang-shaped wound was clearly etched on his ankle.

It was a deadly venomous snake; the wound was already turning purple, burning with pain.

But a voice more terrifying than the venom came from behind him.

“Y-You’re here.”

Somehow, the stranger had appeared behind Jang Dojin.