Chapter 33: Golden Temple of Death

Arthur, they say you can get stronger?

“Wasseo?!”

“Yeah! Arthur!”

What’s with that reaction speed?

He whipped his head around.

Laser beams could shoot from his eyes.

“Heh. So then, Rani, give me that! I want it!”

Rani’s eyes sparkled brightly.

Again, again.

Look at her suddenly using honorifics.

Huh?

“Sojangnim? Wasseo also wants it!”

Hey.

If you keep doing that, huh?

Isn’t the kid learning from you?

“Wasseo, didn’t do anything?”

“Didn’t do—…”

Huh?

You, man.

You only use honorifics when you need something…

Rani’s been doing that lately, human.

“But do you know what that is?”

“Don’t know!”

“Hmm… Rani doesn’t know either! But if you have that, Arthur gets stronger!”

Hmm.

So that’s what it is.

Similar to the Robin Hood’s Bow Fragment back then.

She really wanted it the moment she saw it.

And the result?

Robin’s latent ability awakened.

Somehow, I feel this will be the same.

Then of course, we have to go.

[Worksite Exploration Complete.]

The worksite exploration just finished.

I wonder how difficult it will be.

“How is it? Can we clear it?”

“…Yeah, easier than last time.”

Robin’s impression: easier than the China S-grade dungeon.

And Arthur?

“Um… Wasseo is iffy.”

Iffy.

“But at least Robin’s here, so it’s fine…”

He forced the words out, but his expression was gloomy.

Oh dear…

If left alone, he’ll run straight back to the training grounds again.

“Hmm.”

Everyone’s just looking around awkwardly, but Rani springs into action.

She puffs her cheeks with air, then trots forward and raises both hands high above her head.

“When we get back, I’ll make something better and prettier than Ggalkkeumi!”

“Really?!”

“Yeah! Just trust Rani!”

“Wasseo trusts Bokdungi!”

“Heh! Bokdungi!”

Our Rani really loves being called Bokdungi.

She’s hopping excitedly.

Right?

She’s definitely a Bokdungi.

If it weren’t for Rani, who else would have lifted this drooping mood?

“Haha, that’s nice.”

Robin chuckled, and Todd smiled warmly too.

I admit it.

How can you not smile seeing that?

“Exactly, everyone’s smiling, so it looks great.”

Just perfect.

So let’s see what kind of magic our Bokdungi will perform this time.

Looking forward to it, let’s all get ready.

London, United Kingdom.

The meeting room of the Special Task National Security Agency, which manages hunters.

“Next is the report concerning India.”

Arthur Brandt, listening to the report, smiled with satisfaction.

As expected…

Power and authority are everything in this world.

• Interest

“We are continuously collecting information from across India, and have recruited all those who were national leaders among the refugees—.”

The man intently reporting is?

Edmond Crawford.

His position: Head of the Special Task National Security Agency.

Normally, he wouldn’t have time to report to anyone.

“Well proceeding well.”

“Yes, sir, Congressman.”

Right.

If I weren’t the number one ranked hunter and a congressman…

Edmond, that guy.

At first, he was ridiculously authoritarian.

It was hard even to see his face.

But now that his power has grown and he’s become a congressman?

He rushes over the moment you call.

“Any additional S-grade dungeons detected in India?”

“No, not yet.”

“As expected, once a country collapses, dungeons and towers stop functioning altogether.”

“The researchers presume so.”

No new S-grade dungeon.

Then…

“The broken dungeons before the collapse are the problem. Monsters must be crawling out continuously.”

“Yes… that’s correct.”

The scary part about dungeon breaks is that monsters expand their territory.

Like in the China incident.

So, India?

It’s been almost three years since its collapse.

How far have the monsters spread?

“Investigate thoroughly. If they hit floor 70, move in immediately.”

“Yes, understood.”

Arthur Brandt, UK’s number one ranked hunter.

A hunter bearing the name of a legendary hero.

He has a big dream.

A dream he’s held since childhood.

What is it?

The British Empire, the empire on which the sun never sets.

That legendary revival now only seen in history books.

“Let’s start with India.”

Then other countries that fell like India.

Egypt, for example…

“This is information about an S-grade dungeon known only to a power figure who escaped India and shared it within his family. Please review.”

“Hmm, a legend about a dungeon that lures victims with desire and devours them…”

Gold, and riches—never fall for them.

They say it curses you.

“Easy.”

“This info…”

“We’ll burn it so it doesn’t leak to other countries.”

Just in case someone tries to steal it.

“Only floor 70 left.”

After that, we move immediately.

Starting with India, then the other countries.

We’ll save you, whom no one else would help.

But you must come under us again.

Under the great British Empire’s shadow.

“Well then, shall we go?”

A distant country, India.

Much farther than China.

Even flying straight takes over 8 hours.

Yoon Hajun?

He goes straight from home.

[Summon Range Temporary Expansion Ticket]

He bought this from the Request Point Shop.

It costs a whopping 10,000 points…

One S-grade request is 10,000 points.

If you don’t use the Scroll of Double Request Points, it’s barely breaking even.

But since the request was accepted… well.

“Sojangnim, this definitely tastes bad.”

“Can’t be helped, the country collapsed.”

Right.

The quality was poor.

Lots of elixirs, potions, and magic stones piled up… but the quality was far below standard.

It felt like…

“Pocket money folded up tight.”

“Exactly.”

Not like some thousand-won mart.

And this was supposedly gathered painstakingly.

It was written in secret notes left by the Awakening Management Bureau.

[Items collected bit by bit by refugees from India—]

Something like that.

Well…

Yeah.

Have to take it.

This is the kind of thing you must accept even if you have to pay.

Arthur’s chance to get stronger?

How can he resist?

Of course, no money will be spent…

“Everyone ready?”

“Wasseo’s all set.”

Uh-huh.

You looked ready long ago.

….

Robin was still expressionless.

But you can read him well enough now.

He wants to go quickly.

Good.

I’m ready too.

Let’s go.

[Using Summon Range Temporary Expansion Ticket.]

[Select the country to expand range.]

Many countries appeared.

Among them, select India.

Next, open dungeon deployment.

“Wow… There are so many here too.”

Numerous dungeons stretched out.

No, there are a ton here as well…?

Still, not as many as China, so they found it relatively quickly.

[Golden Temple of Death – ・S-grade]

“Phew!”

Alright, then leave the door open.

Just glance at what the workers are doing.

“Safe! Good! Good! Good!

Arthur, that guy’s shouting the slogan enthusiastically after a while.”

“Joah-!”

Bokdungi Rani is right beside, clenching her fists tightly, cheering “Aja aja” together.

Shall we try it together after a long time?

“Good! Good! Good!”

Ah.

This is the feeling.

Everyone shouting the slogan means we’re ready.

“Arthur, don’t forget your ring.”

When she quickly handed over the ring too?

Now we’re truly ready.

Let’s go.

“Thanks, Sojang! Wasseo, we’ll be right back!”

[Workers enter the dungeon.]

[Automatic Hunting activated.]

Huh.

It’s starting now.

Arthur, Robin, fighting!

[Monitoring]

The golden temple appears again on the screen.

Still…

“Shiny shiny! Pretty!”

“Yeah… gold everywhere.”

Huh?

Earlier it was so quick I didn’t notice.

Now that I look, it’s not only gold.

There are lots of jewels scattered around.

Diamonds…?

Wow…

They’re as big as fists.

How much would that be worth?

“Sojangnim?”

“Uh…?”

Lost in thought briefly.

Todd’s voice calling with a tap brought me back to reality.

“What was that just now?”

I have plenty of money…?

No.

Not exactly plenty.

But I could buy enough diamonds to wrap myself in them just by selling a few magic stones…

Why did I suddenly get tempted?

Even though they said those were all fake!

“Why so?”

“Maybe just my imagination, but I felt like I was bewitched.”

Yoon Hajun, age 23.

Original occupation: site worker.

Precious metals?

No way.

Had no interest at all.

Better spend that money on gukbap.

“That’s strange…”

“It’s normal. There’s a strange aura coming from that gold and those jewels. They aren’t ordinary objects.”

Not ordinary objects?

Then…?

“I thought so, and judging by Sojangnim’s reaction, I get it. Items that stir up desire. Naturally, they’re a bit suspicious.”

“Oh? Then aren’t those two in danger?”

It’s a trap, right?

Is there no way to warn them?

Why didn’t we notice during exploration?

Watching anxiously—

“Huh? They’re fine.”

Despite the flashing lights all around.

Our loyal workers didn’t even glance at them, despite the temptations.

Even though I know it’s a trap, I find myself sneaking looks…

Ah, our workers are the best.

What’s gold to them?

They just want coffee and meat!

The equipment looks good at first glance?

Hmm…

Still, how can it beat items made by Rani!

Moreover—

“Of course. Our workers are immune to most mental attacks.”

What?

That’s a thing?

The more I get to know these people, the more broken they seem.

Anyway.

Arthur and Robin were fast again this time.

Especially Robin.

Shuk.

The moment he saw an enemy, he shot an arrow straight into it.

He was like a runaway train.

“Heh, Robin’s really strong!”

“That’s thanks to Rani’s weapon.”

For real.

He was already a monster before.

But not this strong.

“Right! After getting Ggalkkeumi, he got much stronger!”

Yeah.

After getting Ggalkkeumi and cleaning up, he’s been that strong.

Will Arthur be the same?

Ah.

He’s not just stronger.

He’s gotten a bit more aggressive…

“Oh, that room.”

“That’s the room! The one with the shield! Hey! Hurry, hurry!”

The room hiding the shield fragment that will make Arthur stronger.

But the layout looks complicated.

Feels like there’s a puzzle to solve.

I wonder…

Kwahaaang!

What wonder?

Look at him.

He got really aggressive.

Puzzle or no puzzle, he just smashed everything.

Still, the result?

Success.

The wall collapsed and they got the shield fragment.

Ah, smashing stuff is satisfying to watch.

“Moving on!”

With the reward in hand, they started the strategy again.

Golden knights kept rushing—

Shuk.

Robin cut them all down.

“Is it just me, or is this easier than the old S-grade dungeon…?”

“That’s probably it. Mental attacks don’t work.”

Ah.

Sure. What use is tempting with gold and jewels?

Arriving quickly at the boss zone.

The boss is…

“Scary-looking!”

“I saw it earlier too, is that a dokkaebi?”

“I checked; it’s called a Yaksha.”

Yaksha?

An Indian yokai…

Anyway, looks fierce.

• You made it here without touching anything? Impressive.

Huh?

It talks.

• “Passed. As a reward, take all of this.”

A literal mountain of gold and jewels piled up.

Just looking at it makes your mouth water…

Definitely a trap.

The moment I thought that—

Pshoo!

Ah, Robin as expected.

Without hesitation, shot an arrow between its eyes.

So satisfying to watch.

• “How rude!”

“Angry! Angry!”

So what?

Arthur and Robin will probably win anyway.

Alright, let’s go, workers.

[S-grade Dungeon Clear Success!]

As expected.

Arthur and Robin easily won.

More precisely, Robin did.

“Yaksha? It looks fierce, but doesn’t seem like a brute.”

“Probably. Robin’s workers’ arrows didn’t miss a single shot.”

But its durability was good.

Like a hedgehog, it only died after being pierced repeatedly.

Still, a safe clear.

Time?

[Clear Time – 00:53:18]

Wow.

Faster than last time.

[Strategy Reward – 90 Advanced Mana Stones / 50 Superior Healing Potions / Kubera’s Golden Coin / Reinforced Mithril Ingot / …]

But the reward…

Not a fragment but coins?

Hmm.

It’s probably not just ordinary coins.

Will have to check later…

For now.

“Wasseo, brought it back!”

Right, this.

The piece brought back after breaking the wall.

Let’s check it first.

[Fragment of Friedwen]

“It’s a shield! Rani can make a shield with this!”

Nice.

But Arthur doesn’t use shields.

“Really? Wasseo, he only uses a sword. Hurr hurr!”

Arthur shook his head.

“Rani’s going to make it! Trust Rani!”

Yeah.

No use arguing.

But it’s true.

If you don’t trust Rani, who else?

“Really…”

So, Arthur.

Calm down and let’s watch what magic our Bokdungi will perform.