Chapter 15: The Fire Bear’s End

The dungeon was already grueling because of the sea of flames.

It became even more of a mess due to Noh Youngjin’s blundering.

Because the flames spreading from person to person had turned it into a literal hell.

Boss is all that’s left.

Nevertheless, I charged forward with 15 Skeleton Soldiers.

Because once the boss monster was taken down, all the flames would disappear.

I want to just leave Noh Youngjin be when I think about him, but still, the boss has to be dealt with.

Honestly, watching Noh Youngjin scorched by the flames and jumping around like a thunderstruck naked man was quite satisfying.

However, with others watching, I couldn’t just stand by.

I ran toward this dungeon’s boss, the Fire Bear, to take it down.

The Fire Bear’s flames need to be cautious of, they said.

Ju Namgyu had warned not to approach the Fire Bear recklessly.

The reason was that the Fire Bear’s flames were made of mana, so they didn’t extinguish easily.

But I had a way to subdue it without even approaching the Fire Bear.

And a very powerful skill at that.

Go, Skeletons.

The moment I commanded, three Skeleton Soldiers clattered as they charged out.

“Uwooooooo!”

The roaring Fire Bear, whether the Skeleton Soldiers were coming or not.

Its momentum, like a huge building blazing fiercely, was truly immense.

But I moved the Skeleton Soldiers, and they quickly rushed in like guerrilla forces following orders.

The moment they stuck smack to the Fire Bear’s thick legs.

Bone Explosion.

I cast my specialty and strongest skill.

At that instant.

BOOOOM!

Flashes erupted from the bodies of the Skeletons attached to the Fire Bear’s legs, followed by tremendous explosions.

Three explosions chaining one after another.

After that ended.

THUD!

The Fire Bear ended up half-collapsing.

One of the Fire Bear’s legs, which had been blazing with flames, had vanished due to the Bone Explosion.

“Good heavens! The Fire Bear collapsed!”

“Insane! What the hell is that guy Seo Juwon?”

“Bone Explosion is that strong?”

“The Fire Bear should be incomparably stronger than something like Killer Bees?”

“He’s crazy. That guy Seo Juwon is a complete monster…….”

From behind, the team members spoke in shocked voices.

Members from other guilds uttered similar words.

This is just the beginning.

But it was too early to be surprised by just this.

Because my attack was only just starting.

Snap!

I gestured, and the second guerrilla group set off.

The Skeleton Soldiers clattering as they charged out.

The Fire Bear swung its massive arm toward them.

Whoosh!

The blazing front paw swung horizontally.

However, the Skeletons evaded the attack with incredibly nimble leaps.

The moment they stuck to the remaining leg, I cast Bone Explosion.

BOOOOM!

The Skeletons exploding in chain.

With that tremendous power, an explosion even larger than the sea of flames swallowed the Fire Bear’s leg.

Thus, the Fire Bear that lost both legs.

KUUUUUUUM!

Fell flat on its face.

Because there were no legs left to support it.

Let’s end this now.

Finally seizing the advantage, I ordered all the Skeleton Soldiers to advance.

Nine Skeleton Soldiers clattering as they charged out.

They were so valiant, like warriors leaping into enemy lines.

“Uwoooo! Uwooooooo!”

Of course, the Fire Bear didn’t stay still.

Lying prone, it wildly swung its front paws.

BOOM! BANG! BOOOOM! BANG! BOOOOM!

The Fire Bear pounding the ground like a child throwing a tantrum.

But the blazing flames were like hellfire, and the massive front paws were like swinging pillars.

Not to mention the madly shaking ground vibrations.

Clatter! Clatter!

However, the Skeleton Soldiers did not yield.

Following my orders, they charged toward the Fire Bear without a hint of hesitation.

Naturally, some got caught by the Fire Bear’s front paws.

The Fire Bear had grasped one approaching Skeleton Soldier.

Bone Explosion

BOOOOOOM!

I immediately cast Bone Explosion, and the Fire Bear’s hand turned to dust.

The Fire Bear’s effort to block the Skeleton Soldier backfired on it.

Clatter! Clatter!

Maybe because only one hand remained.

The Skeleton Soldiers charged even faster, plundering the defenseless enemy lines.

Though some were smashed by the Fire Bear’s punches, far more passed through.

Snap! Snap! Snap!

When the Skeleton Soldiers stuck smack to the Fire Bear’s massive head.

I gave the final command.

Bone Explosion

BOOM! BANG! BOOOOM!

The Skeletons emitted flashes and exploded in chain.

Like multiple landmines detonating at once, an explosion of immense scale.

Due to that, the surrounding view was completely devoured by the wind pressure and smoke.

“Urgh.”

I too protected my head with both hands because of the tremendous wind pressure.

After the storm-like wind pressure vanished, I could discover it.

The Fire Bear’s corpse, its head and even its flames cleanly gone.

[Level has increased.]

[Level has increased.]

[Level has increased.]

[Level has increased.]

[Level has increased.]

Soon, levels rising like crazy.

This was clear proof that the boss monster had been subjugated.

Nice.

Having taken down the Fire Bear alone, I was about to turn around.

But something caught my eye.

[You have reached a certain level and acquired a new skill.]

[The name of the new skill is…….]

[‘Skeleton Mage Summon’.]

It was a moment of receiving an unexpected gift.

Deputy Team Leader Noh Youngjin.

He had prepared thoroughly ahead of this gate raid.

Though he had little time to train since recently leaving the Hunter Hospital, he still trained as hard as possible.

Above all, he resolved not to lose his composure.

Because last time in the Killer Bee gate, he poked the hive unnecessarily and caused an accident.

So this time, he diligently hunted only the fire dogs.

Far more than the other guild members, and even much more than Seo Juwon.

Up to that point, it was fine.

But when he encountered the boss monster, his composure shook.

Because he completely forgot what Team Leader Ju Namgyu had warned before the gate raid.

As a result, unquenchable flames attached to Noh Youngjin’s body, and he even spread them to other guild members.

In a situation where they needed to catch the Fire Bear, they were busy putting out fires.

And while he was blundering like that, someone stepped up.

That name was Seo Juwon.

He took down the Fire Bear while Noh Youngjin was jumping around to put out the fire.

Using that damn Bone Explosion again, just like last time.

In the end, Noh Youngjin, having his achievements stolen, came out of the gate like a defeated soldier.

He had no choice.

After the Killer Bee gate, he had been grinding his teeth so much, yet this time too, Seo Juwon stole all the achievements.

So Noh Youngjin planned to go home and soothe his burning stomach with soju.

But the world wouldn’t leave him alone.

“Hey, you crazy bastard!”

The moment he exited the portal, someone charged at him and threw a punch.

With a thwack sound, Noh Youngjin went flying.

Several people rushed at him and inflicted violence.

They weren’t Gaon team members.

They were hunters from other guilds.

“You bastard! Because of you, our Nammun guild members almost burned to death!”

“You torture officer-like bastard! If you’re gonna die, die alone—why spread the fire!”

“Guys, beat this bastard up! Just beat him like a dog!”

A few guild members from the joint raid kicked the fallen Noh Youngjin.

The reason they were spewing such anger and violence was simple.

Because of this bastard Noh Youngjin, the fire spread, and they nearly wiped out.

Not to mention failing to subjugate the Fire Bear.

Thwack! Thud! Smack! Thud!

Countless kicks poured onto Noh Youngjin.

Damn it.

This isn’t what I wanted.

Noh Youngjin curled up like a pill bug and endured the harsh kicks.

“S-sorry! I’m really sorry, everyone!”

At that moment, Gaon Team Leader Ju Namgyu stepped in.

He kept bowing his head and calmed the violence.

However, the angry guild members kept pressing Ju Namgyu.

“Look here! Because of your team member, we almost all died! You know that?”

“That’s right! Is it all okay just because it’s Myth Guild? Does Myth Guild get to cause nuisances like that?”

“No, how the hell did that idiot get into Myth Guild? Huh?”

“How are you going to compensate for this! Because of that crazy guy, we couldn’t even hunt the Fire Bear—how will you compensate!”

The guild members yelled fiercely at Ju Namgyu.

Ju Namgyu bowed repeatedly with a sinner’s heart and apologized.

The messed-up Noh Youngjin just trembled behind Ju Namgyu.

Thus, Noh Youngjin shedding tears behind the apologizing Ju Namgyu.

Crouching like a criminal, he could spot it from afar.

A scene receiving respect, not anger.

“Hey, you took down the boss monster with Bone Explosion earlier, right? That was really amazing.”

“A Necromancer, how can you be so strong? I was truly shocked.”

“Your name is Hunter Seo Juwon? Huh, first time hearing it, but you’re really strong.”

“Excuse me, could you give me one autograph? It’s for my daughter, haha.”

“Subjugating the Fire Bear alone. I was really amazed. I respect you, Hunter!”

A person surrounded by countless guild members receiving all sorts of praise.

None other than Seo Juwon.

Damn it…….!

Noh Youngjin gritted his teeth.

That’s exactly what I wanted.

Recognition and praise from others, that’s what I was trying to get.

Losing it all, Noh Youngjin felt so wronged and upset.

He wanted to bawl his eyes out.

Seo Juwon, why do you keep blocking my path every time! Why! Just why!

Noh Youngjin bit his lower lip until it bled, swallowing his anger.

 *** 

After safely completing the gate raid.

Me and the Gaon team members returned to Myth Guild.

Upon arriving at the office, Team Leader Ju Namgyu went to report to the Bronze Raid Leader’s office.

While waiting briefly in the office, Ju Namgyu returned as if the report was done.

“Mm, everyone worked hard on the gate raid.”

Ju Namgyu speaking to the team members in the middle of the office.

Me and the team members listened silently.

“It wasn’t an easy gate, but you all worked hard. Especially Seo Juwon.”

“Yes, Team Leader.”

“Especially worked hard. Taking down the Fire Bear alone. Following the Killer Bee gate, this time too today”

“Really amazing.”

“Thank you, Team Leader.”

The Bronze Raid Leader was very pleased too. 

Probably reflected positively in performance reviews. Anyway.

“Let’s give a round of applause for our hard-working Juwon.”

With Ju Namgyu’s words, the team members clapped.

The team members clapping with such bright faces toward me.

I bowed my head to them, my teammates and seniors.

“Mm, if there’s good news, there must be bad news too.”

Ju Namgyu continued speaking to the quieted office.

Ju Namgyu’s expression turning somber.

He slowly turned his head and continued toward Deputy Team Leader Noh Youngjin.

“Noh Youngjin.”

“……Yes.”

“It’s discipline. Suspension from deployments for one month.”

“What?! D-discipline?”

Noh Youngjin shot up and shouted.

“Yes, discipline. Directly from the Bronze Raid Leader.”

“No, why? Why discipline?”

“Because of the impulsive action in the gate, causing damage not only to our team but to other guilds this time.”

“Ha, Team Leader! No matter what, a one-month deployment suspension! That’s too harsh!”

“I know. But since it’s the second time following the Killer Bee gate last time, they’re imposing heavy discipline. Anyway, use this discipline as an opportunity to reflect. That’s all. Everyone worked hard. Go home!”

With Ju Namgyu’s words, the team members got up, packed their things, and left the office.

The faces of team members going to see family, meet lovers, or rest deeply at home were bright.

Except for one person, Noh Youngjin, slumped emptily.

I glanced at him and also packed my things to leave the office.

“Pfft.”

Secretly mocking Noh Youngjin.