Chapter 4: Dragon Lair Spread Skills

A sudden jolt snapped me awake.

“Haaah!”

Gasping desperately for air, I shot up from bed. Looking around, it seemed I’d really returned to reality—my familiar bedroom came into view.

[Dragon God’s Body magic has been engraved.]

I stared at the message floating before my eyes, my entire body trembling.

“This… is just a little pain?”

The agony I’d felt right before fainting was indescribably horrific.

I never want to experience that again.

Just imagining it made me shudder. I shook off the lingering sensation and checked my body.

I clenched and unclenched my fists.

Got up and bounced lightly on my feet.

“…Why does my body feel so light?”

As a Dungeon Worker, I’d always been weighed down by chronic fatigue, no matter how long I slept.

Now, my once-heavy body felt much lighter.

All the fatigue that had built up was completely gone.

“Is this thanks to status ailment immunity?”

My mind was clear, as if I’d slept deeply.

To feel this refreshed was amazing.

I couldn’t help but hum a little tune.

“…This is the best.”

I couldn’t sense any dramatic increase in physical abilities, but for now, this alone was enough.

Anyway, it was written that my physical abilities would gradually improve, and that I could raise them quickly by taking elixirs and such.

Of course, those aren’t things you can just get whenever you want…

Growl.

Maybe it was because I started thinking about food.

My stomach sent a signal.

A wave of hunger hit me all at once, and my mouth went dry. I pulled milk from the fridge and cereal from the shelf.

I poured the milk and devoured three bowls in a row. It took the edge off my hunger, but it wasn’t enough.

I opened a delivery app and ordered a hamburger.

“…How long was I unconscious?”

Checking the clock, I saw it was lunchtime.

12:14 p.m.

Considering I’d gone to bed after dinner last night, I’d been out for more than half a day.

“…Tsk. I should wash up first.”

Wrinkling my nose at my own smell, I headed to the bathroom. I stripped off my clothes and turned on the shower.

Feeling the cool water, I opened my status window.

[Name]: Cheon Yongje

[Skills]: Dragon Lair (EX), Dragon God’s Body (EX)

[Guardian]: Orc of the Desert Tribe (E)

There were new additions since the last time I checked. Seeing them made me a little greedy.

‘This might actually be doable.’

Now that I could command Guardians, I could tackle the Labyrinth or Dungeon like a summoner.

Right now, my Orc is only E-rank.

But if I invest some money to raise its stats, I could probably grow it to D-rank.

It’s possible to monopolize a Dungeon.

‘At the very least, I won’t be running at a loss.’

Simple math, but I could make much more money than I ever did as a Dungeon Worker.

[Main Quest has arrived.]

[Main Quest 4]

• Explore the area around the Dragon Lair. You can acquire various things.
• Reward: Gold Dragon’s Eye (SS)

“They’re giving me another skill?”

That alone was surprising.

But even more astonishing was what was written in the quest.

If these really were game-like abilities, I’d be able to earn all sorts of rewards through my Guardians.

Ding dong!

The doorbell snapped me out of it, and I finished my shower.

I stepped out, soothed my hunger with the hamburger, and then, to check if what I imagined was correct, I moved to the Dragon Lair.

[Moving to Dragon Lair.]

Swoooosh!

As the white light faded, a cave appeared before me.

The musty smell was still there, and the empty interior was unchanged.

“The Orc’s not here?”

The Orc that had been here until yesterday was gone. I glanced toward the cave exit.

“Is it outside?”

I headed toward the exit.

Last time, I’d been blocked by a transparent barrier, but now there was nothing stopping me. I walked slowly toward the entrance.

A cool breeze blew in, carrying the rich scent of trees.

As I reached the entrance…

With the bright light, a whole new world unfolded before me.

Swoooosh!

As the dazzling light faded, the view came into focus.

A lush, green forest.

Cool breeze and fresh air.

It felt like I’d landed in a scenic mountain retreat.

“Nice.”

Just walking here, taking in the atmosphere, felt healing.

It was like my weary heart was being soothed.

As I wandered, taking in my surroundings, something caught my eye. A stone radiating a faint blue glow.

“Magic Stone?”

A rare mineral that’s either a Labyrinth reward or found by conquering a Dungeon.

It contains mana, the power of nature.

It’s mainly used for crafting or enhancing items, or as a new energy resource for research.

This one looks about F-rank in size.

Currently, F-rank Magic Stones go for 100,000 won each.

“Money just lying around on the ground.”

[Main Quest 4 completed.]

[You have acquired Gold Dragon’s Eye (SS). You can now check information on targets.]

[Gold Dragon’s Eye (SS)]

• Allows you to view information about targets.
• The higher the rank, the more and broader information you can see.

I used the Gold Dragon’s Eye on the Magic Stone in my hand.

[Mana Stone (F)]

• A special stone containing mana.
• Used for enhancement, advancement, crafting, and more.

“…Jackpot.”

Looking around to test it on something else, I found another item.

A flower with lightning-shaped leaves.

It looked exactly like the ones Hunters bring back from Dungeons. Just to be sure, I checked it with Gold Dragon’s Eye.

[Lowest-Grade Lightning Flower (F)]

• A flower infused with lightning. The more petals, the stronger the lightning.
• Used to craft lightning-attribute items.
• Used to advance lightning-attribute Guardians.
• When consumed, slightly increases understanding of lightning attribute and resistance.

Just as I thought.

‘Attribute-related items are expensive.’

Especially those that increase attribute understanding—even the lowest-grade ones fetch at least 300,000 won.

Pluck.

I picked the Lowest-Grade Lightning Flower and put it in my pocket.

“I’ve already made 400,000 won.”

I kept looking around to see if there was anything else valuable.

Maybe I was just lucky at first.

I didn’t find anything else until I hit the transparent barrier again.

‘300 meters from the Lair entrance.’

I checked the area I was allowed to explore, using the transparent barrier as a boundary, and while I was surveying the area, I spotted something.

An Orc picking things up off the ground.

As I approached, the Orc stood up and came toward me. It set down what it was carrying.

Five F-rank Mana Stones.

Lowest-Grade Flame Grass.

Lowest-Grade Frost Grass.

Altogether, those materials were worth well over a million won.

[You have received Idle Rewards.]

I was starting to get a sense of how to develop my abilities.

And I could guess what the next quest would be.

Right on cue, the next quest appeared before my eyes.

[Main Quest has arrived.]

[Main Quest 5]

• There are intruders trying to invade the Dragon Lair. Stop the intruders and protect the Lair. If you lose the Lair Core, everything will disappear.
• Reward: Tower of Babel (A) unlock

As the message disappeared, I saw something charging toward me from the distance.

“Kirikirik!”

“Kirik!”

About 140cm tall.

Green-skinned.

The most common monster you’ll find in a Labyrinth.

Goblins.

Among the ten or so Goblins, I locked eyes with the biggest one. It grinned at me while brandishing its weapon.

“Kirikirik!”

With an excited cry, the other Goblins responded and charged forward.

I used Gold Dragon’s Eye on them.

[Goblin (F)]

• An ordinary Goblin. Excels at making Poison Needles and sometimes hunts monsters of a higher rank.
• Currently starving; sees nothing but food.
• Items: Poison Needle (F)
• Skill: Lesser Poison Manufacturing (E)
• Potential: D
• Overall Stats: F

Maybe because the Goblin’s rank was low.

Unlike with the Orc, I got a lot of information.

‘I can see their current state, items, and skills.’

I faced them calmly.

Ten Goblins.

You’d need at least a fully equipped F-rank Hunter party to hunt that many.

But I have an E-rank Orc.

One with higher attack power than other E-ranks, too.

“Orc, you can handle this, right?”

“Kurrrrk.”

The Orc nodded at my words. I pointed at the Goblins, giving my command.

“Leave one alive. Wipe out the rest.”

“Uoooooo!”

The Orc spread its arms and let out a roar. Fired up, it charged toward the Goblins.

Thud.

Thud.

The Orc’s hand snatched up a Goblin as it ran. The terrified Goblin struggled frantically, but…

The Orc’s thick hand snapped its waist.

Crunch!

The Orc didn’t stop there.

It barreled toward the rest of the enemies.

“Graaaaaaah!”

The Goblins tried to attack with their Poison Needles, but most bounced off the Orc’s thick hide.

A few stuck, but…

The Orc ignored its injuries and focused on the Goblins.

Ripping.

Crushing.

Breaking.

The number of Goblins quickly dwindled from ten.

Just as I was admiring the overwhelming force—

Swoosh!

Something flew and stuck in my neck.

Startled by the sting, I reached up to find a Poison Needle embedded there. The Goblin who shot it at me was cackling.

“Kirik! Kiririk!”

“Kirik kirik!”

But, contrary to their hopes—

[Due to Dragon God’s Body (EX), Lesser Paralysis Poison has no effect.]

The poison didn’t affect me at all.

“Kirik?”

The confused Goblin was quickly finished off by the Orc.

Crunch!

Crack!

Just as I ordered, only one was left alive. Goblin corpses littered the ground. The Orc walked over to me through them.

It presented the last Goblin before me.

I stared at the trembling, terrified Goblin.

‘Will this work?’

The reason I spared this one was to see if I could appoint another Guardian.

“Kneel.”

As I uttered the command word—

That strange sensation I’d felt when appointing the Orc as a Guardian returned.

Vmmm!

As a floating feeling washed over me, the Goblin’s eyes glazed over.

[Would you like to appoint the ordinary Goblin as your Guardian?]

Yes.

[Appointing ordinary Goblin as Guardian.]

[Main Quest 5 completed.]

[You have acquired Tower of Babel (A). You can now understand and use all languages.]

【P-please spare me!】

The Goblin’s voice, no longer “Kirik,” came through as Korean.

【…I-I’m useful! Here, look. Magic Stones that humans want!】

The Goblin opened its pouch wide.

Inside were several F-rank Mana Stones.

“That’s it?”

【I-I know a place with even bigger ones. There’s a mine not far from here, full of these.】

Oh?

A Magic Stone mine, huh.

Now I was starting to get the picture.

‘This is just like raising a Dragon Lair.’

If you appoint Guardians, they’ll roam the area gathering materials and deal with intruders.

Then I use the rewards they gather to strengthen my Guardians.

That way, I can expand my territory and influence.

“Interesting.”

It reminded me of how I felt when I first played the game.

The thrill of watching Guardians who used to die on every farming run slowly grow stronger over time.

I pictured myself growing stronger alongside new Guardians.

And with this ability, the enormous money I could earn.

I could finally repay my parents, pay off my debts, and do everything I’d never been able to do.

‘But to do that, I need to expand this territory…’

Thunk!

Thunk!

As I tapped on the transparent barrier, wondering how to expand it—

[Main Quest has arrived.]

[Main Quest 6]

• Conquer the first floor of the Labyrinth.
• Reward: Dragon Lair territory expansion.

There was my answer.

“Oh-ho!”