Chapter 12. Team 25A, Kim Song-cheol (3)

He didn’t feel particularly nervous.

If anything, he had been much more anxious when he took the exam to become an Accountant.

‘This is strange…’Kim Song-cheol was surprised by how calm he felt.

Where did this confidence come from?

Was it his magical prowess, or was it simply the difficulty level of an F-rank Dungeon?

The survival rate of an F-rank Dungeon was approximately 98 percent.

While Hunters did occasionally die in what was technically a Dungeon, it was usually a case of extreme misfortune.

Most of those deaths were the equivalent of “tripping over and breaking one’s nose.”

For instance, someone might trip while trying to avoid a Goblin and get impaled by a sharp branch, leading to internal organ failure.

‘It must be because of the difficulty level.’

Kim Song-cheol reached that conclusion and stepped out of the dormitory.

As usual, he was dressed in comfortable clothes.

He would have to change into different attire anyway to enter the Dungeon.

The equipment for Dungeon entry was strictly regulated.

Kim Song-cheol entered a building right on time.

Standing in the lobby inside was Kim Myung-joo.

It was a face he hadn’t seen in quite a while.

“Hello?”

He offered a greeting to Kim Myung-joo, who was looking down at his phone.

Kim Myung-joo turned his head and raised his eyebrows.

He broke into a smile the moment he spotted Kim Song-cheol.

“Hello. You’re entering the Dungeon today, right?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Let’s go, haha.”

Kim Myung-joo led the way, gesturing toward the interior.

He had come specifically because of Kim Song-cheol.

It wasn’t that he had special instructions to give, but rather that he was curious.

He wanted to know how Kim Song-cheol was feeling and what his condition was like.

“Did you sleep well?”

Kim Myung-joo asked.

“Yes, I slept well.”

“That’s a relief. Many Trainees struggle to sleep. Sleep is directly linked to combat effectiveness, after all.”

“That’s why I made a point to go to bed early last night.”

Kim Myung-joo scanned Kim Song-cheol with a satisfied gaze.

The man showed no signs of fatigue or nervousness.

He looked exactly as he always did.

‘Good.’

In a first Dungeon, it was common to make mistakes due to nerves.

Sometimes that could become a trigger, leaving the fear behind as a form of trauma.

This was the typical path for Trainees who possessed outstanding skills but somehow failed to perform well in Dungeons.

“Now, equipment first.”

Kim Myung-joo pointed to a room on the right as soon as they turned a corner.

A table was set up inside, holding nameplates and baskets.

Mun Gi-jeong, Oh Song-hui, Ser Gang-jin, and Kim Song-cheol.

Three of the baskets were empty.

Only Kim Song-cheol’s remained.

Inside the large basket was a full set, including combat boots, a Combat Uniform, and protective gear.

Next to the basket was a backpack that looked quite stuffed.

It contained emergency first-aid tools, drinking water, and rations.

“Shall you change?”

“Ah, yes.”

Kim Song-cheol took the basket and entered a changing room prepared in the corner.

He took off his clothes and changed into the Combat Uniform.

Though it looked like a plain, khaki-colored outfit, it was actually a piece of gear packed with every possible function.

It was incredibly tough, ensuring a certain level of defense from the fabric alone, and it was made of flame-resistant fibers that even possessed self-regeneration capabilities.

‘It feels like I’m back in the military. I really don’t like this.’

However, the design failed to escape the look of a military uniform.

That was the only disappointing part.

Kim Song-cheol finished putting on the Combat Uniform and all his protective gear before stepping outside.

He looked like a well-trained special forces soldier.

“Does the design ever change?”

Kim Song-cheol asked while looking at his reflection in a glass window.

“Haha, do you not like it?”

“It’s not that I don’t like it, it’s just that it looks too much like a soldier’s uniform.”

“Why don’t you try to push for a change?”

“Me?”

“At a later time, I mean. If Hunter Cha Se-hyeon had any intention of improving the Combat Uniform, it would have changed already.”

Cha Se-hyeon had that kind of power.

Her influence wasn’t just a mere suggestion; it was on the level of a Dragon’s breath.

“That sounds like you’re urging me to get stronger quickly.”

“That is correct, haha.”

“By the time I get that strong, I probably won’t even be wearing a Combat Uniform… but I should probably put in some effort for the sake of those who come after me. But Director, wouldn’t you be able to change it?”

“Ah, it’s a bit difficult for me to change it.”

“Eh? Why?”

“Because I was the one who selected that design.

It would be a bit awkward for me to change it after picking it myself, haha.”
“Oh.”

To think the person who selected the design was right in front of him.

Kim Song-cheol, who had been criticizing the Combat Uniform with such enthusiasm without knowing that, found himself in a slightly awkward spot.

“…Suddenly, I like the design. Shall we head out?”

This time, Kim Song-cheol took the lead.

Kim Myung-joo followed behind with a gentle smile.

Kim Song-cheol crossed the hallway and pushed open the large doors at the end.

It was a spacious underground area.

Bright lights that were almost blinding greeted him first.

In the center of the space lay a circular Portal Tablet that looked to be about three meters in diameter.

Unidentifiable characters were engraved along its border.

It was a Portal Tablet that generated Portals.

The Republic of Korea possessed a total of two such tablets.

One of them was right here.

“You’re here?”

As Kim Song-cheol entered the space, the Trainees who were waiting greeted him quite warmly.

The old friction between them had long since vanished.

In the first place, Kim Song-cheol hadn’t really held a grudge.

The four of them were now close enough to be considered a proper team.

“Eh, the Director came too.”

“What? He didn’t even come once before.”

The Trainees whispered among themselves when they saw Kim Myung-joo following behind.

Even though they had entered F-rank Dungeons several times by now, Kim Myung-joo had never even shown his face.

They couldn’t help but feel a little neglected.

“Is everyone ready?”

Kim Myung-joo ignored the Trainees’ grumbling and opened the conversation lightly.

“We’re ready.”

“It’s not like it’s our first or second time.

Though it is the first time we’re being seen off by the Director.”

The Trainees poured out their complaints casually.

Even though they were wearing clothes similar to military uniforms, the Training Academy was not the army.

It was a place that revolved around efficiency and results rather than strict vertical hierarchies.

Team 25A, which was producing the highest results among their peers, had plenty of room to speak their minds.

“Haha, I have a schedule too, you know. I trust you’ll understand that part.”

After expressing his brief regrets, Kim Myung-joo said a few short words.

It was the typical speech about being careful and returning safely.

After Kim Myung-joo’s short encouragement ended, Kim Song-cheol stepped onto the Portal Tablet with Team 25A.

Once all four had boarded, a faint light began to leak from the tablet.

“Set to F-rank.”

Mun Gi-jeong said, tapping his finger in the air.

Kim Song-cheol also looked at the hologram Mun Gi-jeong was viewing.

While it was visible to all team members, the task of operating it belonged to the leader.

“Setting to F-rank.”

As a substitute, the team members repeated the leader’s words.

Because a mistake in rank setting could happen, the rule was for all four members to watch and repeat the command.

If the rank was set incorrectly, a literal disaster would unfold.

It was a very important process.

“Transmission in 5 seconds. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.”

When Mun Gi-jeong’s countdown ended, his finger poked the air.

Suddenly, the light coming from the Portal Tablet grew blindingly bright and swallowed Team 25A.

Kim Song-cheol’s vision turned white, with Kim Myung-joo’s smiling face being the last thing he saw.

It wasn’t painful to the eyes, but all he could see was white.

After about three seconds had passed, he suddenly felt an uneven floor touch the soles of his boots.

At the same time, the white light cleared, revealing a strange forest.

Multi-colored leaves.

Grown trees and branches twisted in bizarre ways.

And the equally colorful undergrowth sprouting from the ground.

It was an alien sight.

“It’s the Bienin Forest.”

Mun Gi-jeong said, looking around.

The terrains that appeared in F-rank Dungeons had already been classified.

It was simply a matter of memorizing the organized data.

If it was the Bienin Forest, it was a terrain where insect-type Monsters appeared.

They weren’t as intelligent as Goblins, but they were characterized by having slightly higher combat power.

“Ugh, I hate bugs.”

Oh Song-hui frowned as she drew her sword.

The sword, made of a special alloy, rang with a clear sound.

“We’ll move in a Modified Perimeter Formation.”

Following Mun Gi-jeong’s words, Team 25A adjusted their formation.

In the formation, Swordsmen were placed at the very front and very back, while Mages were positioned in the middle in a staggered, zigzag pattern.

Once again, Kim Song-cheol was in front of Mun Gi-jeong.

He wasn’t directly behind him but to his back-left, a position where he could see Mun Gi-jeong just by turning his head slightly.

“Moving out.”

The primary objective was to secure the portal’s location.

Though they had enough water and food, it was most advantageous to find it in advance since they never knew what might happen.

Team 25A began to advance through the forest.

The woods were loose, not dense.

However, because the elevation of the terrain fluctuated repeatedly, securing a clear line of sight wasn’t easy.

‘It feels like I’ve come to an alien planet.’

Kim Song-cheol thought as he looked around.

The colors and shapes were like that.

While the presence of stems and leaves was similar to Earth, the colors and shapes were foreign.

They had advanced about 50 meters while maintaining their vigilance.

*Skritch!*

With a strange noise, a bug the size of a large dog burst through the bushes.

Overall, it felt similar to a beetle, but it had scythes like a mantis’s front legs attached to its mouth.

Combining two familiar things in such an odd way gave it quite a grotesque feel.

“Yikes!”

Oh Song-hui shouted reflexively and swung her sword upward.

The speed was much faster than usual.

The increase in the speed of the sword strike was clearly visible even to Kim Song-cheol’s eyes.

*Slash!*

The scythe attached to its mouth was severed by the strike and spun through the air.

At the same time, a Magic Missile fired by Kim Song-cheol slammed into the creature’s flank.

*Thud!*

It made a fairly loud noise, but there wasn’t much damage because the carapace was hard.

Instead, its body staggered heavily.

Oh Song-hui didn’t miss the opening.

In the gap where its torso was lifted from the ground, she kicked the creature’s head upward.

When its body was half-flipped, Oh Song-hui swiftly took its head off.

Oh Song-hui, who had been swinging her sword so impressively just a moment ago, let out a “Eww!” like a college student her age and jumped back.

Immediately, the bug’s legs twitched in its death throes, and fluids sprayed in every direction.

Oh Song-hui had jumped back because she knew that would happen from experience.

“Could you please finish it off!?”

At Oh Song-hui’s request, Kim Song-cheol immediately cast Magic.

As everyone knew, Kim Song-cheol’s Mana pool at the 1st Circle was no different from an inexhaustible spring.

Wasting a spell or two was no burden at all.

A Wind Cutter flew out from Kim Song-cheol’s Magic Circle.

The blade of wind cut through the flipped bug’s waist and tore into its soft underbelly.

Only then did the bug’s movements gradually subside.

“Ugh, thanks. Bugs are really the worst.”

The team members didn’t scold Oh Song-hui for her weak display.

They knew that if the situation had been urgent, she wouldn’t have cared if she was covered in the creature’s fluids.

[23 Points]

As the bug died, a small message appeared in the vision of all team members.

It meant they had earned 23 Points by killing the bug.

Usually, around 3,000 Points were needed to clear an F-rank Gate.

If they killed 150 of these bugs, they could close the F-rank Dungeon.

“Moving on. Maintain formation.”

Mun Gi-jeong’s command.

Oh Song-hui wiped her sword on a leaf and returned to the formation.

Team 25A continued through the forest, killing bugs along the way.

Perhaps thanks to Oh Song-hui’s fuss, the atmosphere was quite light.

From what he heard, it seemed they usually traversed Dungeons in a similarly relaxed manner.

However.

Oh Song-hui, who was walking at the very front, suddenly dropped her posture low and gave a hand signal to “Halt.”

It was an abnormal situation.

“No, so at that time…”

Ser Gang-jin, who had been chatting, shut his mouth instantly, and all team members lowered their postures until they were almost crouching.

The teammates walking behind were all staring at Oh Song-hui.

Oh Song-hui was hiding behind a steep ridge, looking down at the other side.

She soon hid back behind the ridge and looked back at her teammates.

Anxiety was visible in her eyes.

Oh Song-hui quickly sent three hand signals.

The expressions of the team members who saw those signals stiffened in an instant.