Chapter 21: The Magic Spearman

[Hidden Quest]

Strengthen physical abilities using mana and engage in combat (5 minutes or more)

Reward: Mana Hole Expansion Ticket

He had completed the hidden quest without even realizing it.

“Was it just my imagination that the hidden traits are the same as the mobile game?”

In the game he enjoyed before his regression, there were quests, but there were no hidden quests.

Since there was nothing more to be gained by thinking about it, he decided to just move on.

[???]

[???]

Unlike quests that gave gold as a reward, the hidden quest’s reward was different.

It didn’t have disclosed conditions like a normal quest, so he didn’t even know what conditions needed to be satisfied.

It felt as though he had luckily stumbled upon the completion of this hidden quest.

“Well. The name itself is ‘Hidden Quest,’ so that makes sense.”

The conditions for achieving the quest were also unexpectedly tricky.

It wasn’t completed just because he luckily strengthened his physical abilities; he had to engage in combat for a certain period as well.

“The reward is solid enough, so it’s fine.”

As he moved his finger toward the hologram window, a single ticket suddenly appeared in the air with a pop.

It was a ticket painted in black.

Receiving an unexpected reward left him feeling somewhat dazed.

It wasn’t just an ordinary reward, but an item that could expand his mana hole.

“Forget 1 billion won for this single sheet. It would easily go for over 2 billion.”

Depending on the situation, it could be sold for even more.

It was an item worth that much.

For a hunter, the mana hole or circle was important enough to be called their second heart.

As a hunter’s level rises, the capacity of the mana hole and circle naturally increases as well.

However, the amount of capacity that increases is different for every hunter.

Some hunters have low capacity compared to their level, while others have high capacity.

“Hunters with low mana capacity compared to their level often search for items like this to use.”

Items that permanently increase mana capacity are sold at whatever price the seller asks.

Mages, in particular, were desperate to find such items.

They tended to rely on mana more than other hunters.

“Let’s use it right away.”

Without hesitation, he used the Mana Hole Expansion Ticket.

At the same time the ticket was torn, inside his body.

An intangible energy settled exactly in the area of his navel.

A warm energy circulated, and just as it was about to disappear,

Tring.

[Conditions satisfied.]

[The Warrior's Mana Hole changes into the Magic Spearman's Mana Hole.]

A notification appeared before his eyes.

“What does this mean?”

He used a Mana Hole Expansion Ticket, but the mana hole itself was changing?

His doubt didn't last long.

Crack, crackle.

The sound of something breaking came from his abdomen, and the mana hole began to transform.

“Kuuuugh….”

He clutched his stomach and collapsed from the sudden pain.

He thought nothing much would happen, but it was considerably painful.

Tring.

How much time had passed?

The pain stopped abruptly.

Thinking it might be over, he lifted his head to see a hologram floating there.

[The Magic Spearman's Mana Hole has successfully taken root.]

[The nature of the mana has changed.]

“The nature of the mana has changed?”

When he closed his eyes and felt it… the mana hole had certainly grown larger, but it felt as if it had been replaced with a completely different part.

A sense of alienation, as if it wasn't his own.

It felt as if something thick was flowing inside his body.

[Magic Spearman's Mana Hole]

The mana hole of the one called the Magic Spearman.

His mana has the ability to weaken the power of monsters.

“For an ability to be embedded in the mana itself….”

Kim Hyun-jun could not close his mouth after realizing the changes in his body.

In terms of hunter rank, it was at least A-rank or higher.

In terms of the Hunter Army, it was an ability held by those at least at the rank of Colonel, and he, a mere soldier, had obtained it.

“I heard that was definitely something one is born with.”

A special ability being embedded in mana.

It was enough to consider it as having one more trait as a hunter.

“Just thinking about it now, among the A-rank hunters… there is Speed Star.”

Befitting the nickname Speed Star, it was said that his mana was embedded with an ability that maximized agility.

That was why it was even more surprising.

To the point where even the World Hunter Academy was certain that it was impossible to obtain that ability artificially.

To think such a change appeared after using an expansion ticket.

“Furthermore, the mana’s ability seems to be of the type that weakens the monster's power.”

Debuff-type abilities were quite good.

Though he had to see just how much the monster was weakened, the ability itself was among the better ones.

Whether it was because of the effect of the hidden trait or if his constitution was special.

“A good thing is a good thing.”

There was nothing to be gained by thinking deeply about it.

What was more important was making this ability his own.

Sssss.

When he tried to release mana from his palm, sticky black mana leaked out bit by bit.

“This is much harder than I thought.”

He was able to release a small amount of mana even before the mana hole changed…… but now, it barely came out even when he exerted all his effort.

As expected.

Just like mana embedded with an ability, it seemed that handling it was not easy either.

“Yeah. If it were easy, it would be disappointing.”

From that day on, Kim Hyun-jun increased his individual training time to adapt to the new mana hole and mana.

***

One week later.

The members of the 3rd Platoon gathered at the parade ground for a dungeon raid.

The rank of the dungeon to be raided today was C.

Privates were excluded, and among the Privates First Class, a few experienced and useful ones were included in the raid team.

The rest were all filled with Corporals and Sergeants.

“Private First Class Kim Hyun-jun and Corporal Han Ji-han are part of the raid team for this dungeon.”

The number of people in the dungeon raid team organized by the Platoon Leader was seven.

Excluding Kim Hyun-jun and one other Private First Class, the rest were all Corporals and Sergeants.

“Platoon Leader. It’s not a D-rank, but a C-rank dungeon; is it really okay to include Kim Hyun-jun?”

As if they had been waiting, several Corporals raised questions.

The other Private First Class was one full of experience who would become a Corporal in a few months.

On the other hand, Kim Hyun-jun had not been a Private First Class for long and lacked experience.

If it was a C-rank dungeon instead of a D-rank, it was reasonable to raise questions.

This was because boss monsters began to appear starting from C-rank dungeons.

It meant that if one person’s skill was lacking, it could have a greater impact on the other soldiers.

Therefore, Kim Hyun-jun also waited for the Platoon Leader's answer with a face that showed no dissatisfaction.

“I did it because, in the Platoon Leader's judgment, there seems to be no problem including Private First Class Kim Hyun-jun.”

Second Lieutenant Kim Dong-woo answered firmly, saying that considering the skills shown so far, he could certainly be included.

The Corporals reluctantly answered that they understood, but their expressions did not look that way at all.

They knew Kim Hyun-jun's skills were superior to other Privates First Class, but his experience was clearly lacking in anyone's eyes.

Skills were skills, but experience in dungeon raids was also quite important.

“Hyun-jun. Can you do it? If it’s too burdensome, say so. I’ll take you out.”

“Private First Class! Kim Hyun-jun! I am confident!”

Opportunities for dungeon raids do not come often.

Naturally, there was no reason to back out.

He was also confident enough to clear a C-rank dungeon.

‘I really worked hard on my mana training for a week.’

He had been doing it in his spare time, but during the past week, he had truly pulled out mana until he was on the verge of collapsing.

It was because he wanted to use his newly obtained mana in actual combat.

Of course, one week was not nearly enough.

It was completely impossible to coat his body with mana or anything of the sort.

Despite diligently listening to the lectures from the hologram provided by the hidden trait, he was only at the level of barely coating his weapon with mana.

Even this was to the extent that it was strenuous to maintain for a long time.

‘Still, at this level, it should be enough for a C-rank dungeon.’

However, there was clear progress.

Because he had become able to coat his weapon with mana using only his own strength, without using a skill.

“That’s why I chose you for the raid team.”

Whether he was satisfied with Kim Hyun-jun's unwavering answer, the Platoon Leader showed a wide grin.

***

In front of the dungeon where they arrived by military vehicle.

A single blue portal was flickering on the flat ground where nothing else existed.

C-rank dungeon, Goblin Den.

“Loyalty!”

When Second Lieutenant Kim Dong-woo got out of the car, the soldiers guarding the portal saluted.

“Loyalty. I am Second Lieutenant Kim Dong-woo, the leading officer for this dungeon raid.”

“Yes! Confirmed!”

Dungeons take various forms.

Sometimes they appear out of nowhere in the form of a portal on flat ground, and sometimes they appear in the form of a cave.

In places where people rarely visit, it is common to install warning signs, but in the opposite case, soldiers belonging to the Hunter Army stand guard.

This is because there are cases where civilians approach out of curiosity.

“Everyone, check your equipment thoroughly. This dungeon is very dark inside. Be especially careful with your footing.”

“Yes!”

The Platoon Leader's briefing followed.

He urged the soldiers to be especially careful of traps in this raid.

Goblins have high enough intelligence to be able to speak.

In human terms, they are around the level of an 8 or 9-year-old.

Therefore, the bastards often set snares here and there or dug traps to prepare for intruders.

‘If you look down on them because they look frail, you could really die.’

In Kim Hyun-jun's eyes, goblins were not monsters to be taken lightly.

Because before his regression, there were several times he almost stepped on a snare laid by a goblin.

It was only because their appearance looked weak; a goblin's strength is much stronger than that of an adult male.

If one is properly hit by a club swung by those bastards, even a hunter can be seriously injured.

It meant they weren't classified as C-rank monsters for nothing.

“Hey. Have you ever even caught a goblin?”

While Kim Hyun-jun was checking his equipment, starting with his headlight, someone spoke to him from the side.

An expression that seemed untrusting.

It was Corporal Kang Chul-soo.

“I know you’ve been doing well with D-rank dungeon raids until now, but C-rank is on a different level.”

Starting with the words asking why he didn't back out if he had any sense, he even went as far as saying he would kill him if he got in the way.

He seemed even more angry lately for some reason….

‘Ah. I did screw him over in training before.’

Then it makes sense.

That guy had quite a strong tendency to hold a grudge.

If it were up to him, he’d want to push him aside in the dungeon too, but no matter how much he disliked him, he didn’t intend to go that far.

The previous time was training, and this time was an actual situation.

“I am confident. Will you be okay, Corporal Kang Chul-soo?”

“What are you talking about right now?”

“Didn’t you faint while trying to take the officer’s sword before? I, on the other hand, took it.”

“Hey, you son of a X. Are you mocking me right now?”

Corporal Kang Chul-soo raised his voice as if his trigger button had been pressed.

Whether it was a memory he felt ashamed of himself, his face quickly turned bright red.

“Hey, hey. Chul-soo. The Platoon Leader might hear you. He just said it as a joke, so why get so worked up?”

“Corporal Han Ji-han. Am I at the level of seniority to be cracking jokes with that bastard?”

“You saw Hyun-jun take the officer's sword and stepped forward saying it was nothing, then you fainted immediately. Pfft.”

Whether the situation at that time was funny thinking about it again, Corporal Han Ji-han laughed while covering his mouth.

Corporal Kang Chul-soo tried to say something but closed his mouth.

As long as Corporal Han Ji-han stepped in, it would only be his loss to say anything more here.

“Anyway. Has Hyun-jun grown this much already? Going to raid a C-rank dungeon with us.”

Corporal Han Ji-han told him to ask anything if there was something he didn’t know.

Saying that the Goblin Dungeon was easy since he had cleared it more than five times.

‘I cleared it more than ten times before my regression, you punk.’

Kim Hyun-jun said he would count on him when that time came, then finished his preparations to enter the dungeon.

“Enter the dungeon!”

“Entering!”

A moment later, with the Platoon Leader's command, the soldiers entered the portal.

The environment changed in the blink of an eye.

“Everyone, halt!”

“Halt!”

“Activate headlights!”

“Activating!”

Just as the Platoon Leader briefed, the inside of the dungeon was covered in darkness.

The soldiers stopped in their tracks according to the Platoon Leader's command and then turned on their lights.

“Hmm. The interior is the same as what the investigation team reported. The location of the traps might have changed, so be careful.”

“Yes!”

It was the moment the full-scale dungeon raid began.