Chapter 64: Competitive Dungeon Raid (1)

-Delivery Man Coin, let’s gooooo!

└Let’s go to Hangang!

└Your coin has been replaced with tissue paper.

└You never know. It’s not like only Fighting God is in the Dungeon.

└That’ll never happen.

└The Dungeon itself is an Undead Dungeon, LOL. Don’t you know Seol Jihoon’s ability is unbeatable against Undead?

The very existence of a Holy Knight is a fatal weakness to the Undead.

└I heard Hanul has a Healer with strong holy power too?

└Don’t you know the Hanul Healer is only on the level of Bandage or Red Medicine?

└They’ve gotten some decent Hunters lately, but it’s still a long way off. Their Supporter can’t even be compared to Fighting God.

Just as people were debating in the community, the Fighting God Guild’s Dungeon attack was incredibly fast.

As if waiting, countless Zombies and Skeletons greeted them at the entrance.

“Turn Undead.”

Seol Jihoon activated the Exorcism skill, which only high-ranking priests could use, the moment he entered.

In an instant, the surrounding Zombies and Skeletons collapsed on the spot.

The Hunters who saw that overwhelming power just stood there, dazed.

“I’ll take the front.”

Seol Jihoon literally walked at the front. Just by walking, the Zombies and Skeletons around him either collapsed or ran away.

“Wow, holy sh*t. Isn’t this a bit much?”

“With that kind of advantage, it’s just on a whole different level.”

The Hanul Guild and other guilds muttered as they saw this display of overwhelming dominance from the start.

“Everyone, just take your time and play around! We’ll clear this in no time!”

At the blatant jeering of the Fighting God Guild member, a Hunter from Hanul Guild frowned.

“Sup— No, Karin.”

“Heh.”

Karin, hearing me, confidently crossed her arms and stepped forward.

“What’s that supposed to be?”

“Is this some kind of chuunibyou?”

“Are those crazy Hanul freaks cosplaying as Power Rangers now?”

The Fighting God Guild burst into laughter at Karin’s appearance.

But Karin, clad in her costume, proudly stepped forward and reached out her hand.

“Justice Turn Undead!”

It’s not ‘Justice’, okay? Stop giving weird names.

Karin was obviously thrilled to wear her costume armor. Maybe it was because her face was hidden, she didn’t care what others thought.

The Fighting God members laughed, but only for a moment.

A light just as holy—no, even greater than Seol Jihoon’s—powdered all the surrounding Undead in an instant.

“…!”

“…Huh?”

Despite her ridiculous look and actions, the result was astonishing.

Overwhelming.

The Fighting God people were visibly shaken at the sight of the holy power.

Especially Seol Jihoon.

“Is this something amazing?”

Karin asked, and I replied.

“No, that’s just something everyone does.”

“Oh, right? I was wondering why everyone was so surprised.”

At my banter with Karin, the Fighting God people’s faces twisted up in irritation.

Even if Seol Jihoon’s grandfather came here, he’d be no match for this girl in pure holy power.

Her level might still be low, but when it comes to using that power, no one is more overwhelming.

“Whoa, does Hanul have a Healer like that?”

“They’re not losing to Fighting God at all.”

As the other guilds whispered, Karin raised her chin even higher with pride.

I could see the yellow scarf wrapped around her neck standing up stiffly.

Fighting God’s initial intimidation had failed.

Until the Dungeon’s fork appeared, everyone had to move together.

Seol Jihoon didn’t use Turn Undead anymore. Even without advanced skills, the Zombies were nothing more than punching bags.

Soon, as we reached the Dungeon’s Upper Floors, a fork appeared.

Now, people from different groups scattered to hunt on their own.

In other words, the real competition was beginning.

From here, it was a race to see who would take down the Boss first.

“Olivier.”

-Analyzing. Enemies are gathering nearby.

There was also someone with excellent detection skills in the Fighting God Guild.

Goh Hasol, who’d interviewed with me and acted amicably.

Last Dungeon, he’d found the Boss even faster than Olivier.

-The mana presumed to be the Boss is on the next floor. I’ve marked it on the navigation.

As expected.

Olivier’s search ability had been upgraded. Maybe because we’d been working together so much lately.

“Enemies incoming!”

“Everyone, battle stations! Type 1 battle formation!”

I drew my sword.

It was good for my teammates to get more real combat experience. But today—

Fighting God, and Seol Jihoon.

Because of them, I was determined to go all out today.

At the front stood the person with defensive skills, with ranged attackers supporting from behind—a classic defensive formation.

Ha Minjong, both Tank and leader, stood at the very front, facing the oncoming Undead.

An extremely short dagger. An extremely large shield. His playstyle was obvious at a glance.

Ha Minjong did not let a single enemy through, holding the line.

His defense was solid, but more importantly—

“Ignis.”

The spirit of flame engulfed the Undead monsters’ heads.

‘This is totally different from the rumors.’

Team 2 Leader Ha Minjong’s eyes widened at the power of the spirit summoned by Seohyeonji.

He was someone with a keen eye.

Seohyeonji had become S-Rank due to her excellent abilities. But compared to other S-Ranks, her potential was considered lacking.

Her actual combat ability was said to be below A-Rank.

“I took down one more, didn’t I?”

“Nope, if you don’t finish them off properly, it doesn’t count.”

Kim Taeyang and Kim Inho, who had only been Hunters for a few months, showed overwhelming combat power.

Thanks to their breakthrough power, Ha Minjong’s tanking was much easier.

‘But seriously, what is that?’

Ha Minjong glanced at the Healer dressed in a ridiculous Power Ranger getup.

She nodded with every word, arms crossed, exuding confidence.

She looked like a student, probably still young, but she cast Buffs on her teammates exactly when needed.

Normal Healers only restored shield energy, cast defense Buffs, or attack Buffs.

But this Healer alternated between attack and defense Buffs as needed.

“Whoa, Lee Seoyeon. With your Blessing, I feel like I could fly.”

“Lee Seoyeon? Who’s that. I am Justice Yellow, nothing more.”

“What’s with the act?”

“Don’t want Heal or Buffs?”

“Uh, no, I do.”

“Watch yourself, then.”

…She’s skilled, but definitely a bit crazy.

That’s what Ha Minjong thought.

“Let’s keep moving.”

Team Leader Lee Hyunbin urged his comrades on.

Around him, the armor and remains of piled-up Skeleton Warriors filled the area.

Gulp.

He swallowed dryly without realizing.

The one person he couldn’t figure out was Team Leader Lee Hyunbin.

A porter, but nothing like a porter.

Everyone said so. It was a cliché, but he was on a different level.

“Team Leader, who is that guy, really…?”

“No idea.”

It didn’t seem like he was using any flashy skills. Just swinging his sword, moving, swinging again.

Despite the repetitive, simple actions, he smashed two, three enemies in a single blow.

‘Hundreds. Thousands. No, a movement honed endlessly over and over again.’

Ha Minjong wasn’t a swordmaster, but he could tell.

He never expected Hanul Guild would beat Fighting God to the Boss. In fact, as far as he knew, Hanul Guild couldn’t even reach the Upper Floors, let alone the Boss.

‘That garbage guild has completely changed.’

Ha Minjong thought the guild, which he’d expected to be disbanded, had transformed ever since the new guild leader boldly brought in Lee Hyunbin.

‘Looks like I made the right choice.’

Ha Minjong smiled.

There had been other guilds, but he chose to become a needed guild member, not just an ordinary one.

He’d wondered if he’d drawn a dud, but maybe he’d hit the lottery.

“From here on is the Upper Floors, so the monsters will be on another level. Team Leader Ha, you take command.”

“No problem, but what about Team Leader Lee?”

Ha Minjong was curious.

In both combat and command, Lee Hyunbin was superior.

Oddly, it didn’t hurt his pride to admit it.

“I’m going to go scout out ahead.”

Not bad, not bad at all.

“Team 2, take the front and flanks, Team 3 will support!”

The new Team 2 Leader.

He definitely runs a party like a veteran.

As a Tank, he reads the flow of battle well.

It’s hard to keep track of your surroundings in the middle of combat.

Of course. When monsters are swarming like rabid fans, you don’t have time to look anywhere else.

The members he led had solid skills.

Nothing extraordinary, but nothing lacking either.

And above all, my Team 3.

These guys have all become monsters.

Partly thanks to the huge boost in training from my Knight effect, but now each person’s potential is starting to shine.

Even now, with less than half their full strength, they’re hunting the Undead on the Upper Floors with ease.

So I left command to Team 2 Leader and moved on my own.

“Graaah.”

“Uuuugh!”

The sighs of the dead greeted me.

It was like they were asking me to play with them for a bit, but I had no intention of sticking around.

Crunch, snap!

With one swing of the Number 2 Sword, the Two-Handed Sword, all invitations to play were silenced.

-A Death Knight-level entity is approaching.

Olivier’s voice came through.

I gripped my sword and strode forward without hesitation.

Already, knights who had witnessed death gripped their swords and shields, burning with hostility.

Seeing them brought back old memories.

My knights.

They were awkward at first, but over time they’d become like family to me.

Now that I think about it, for an orphan like me, the memories of the other world were special.

It was tough at first, but—

“Grrrr!”

The knights, no longer able to utter human voices, raised their shields and pressed forward.

There weren’t just one or two.

As knights, their formation was well-drilled.

I wrapped Ethere around the Number 2 Sword.

Step by step.

With every step forward, a Death Knight’s body was torn apart.

-Boss detected. Marking it on the navigation.

Just as Olivier said, a presence with a massive mana core showed up on the minimap.

-Are you okay?

Suddenly? About what?

-You seemed a bit emotional.

Nothing to get emotional about. What’s she on about?

-When you see Death Knights, you think of your old knights… Never mind. Anyway, you know finding the Boss before Fighting God is all thanks to me, right?

“I’ll tell the Demon King to give you a raise.”

-Please. Do you think I’m doing this for that? Do you know I have five jobs because of my clones?

Now that I think about it, this girl has clones everywhere, not just at Hanul.

One at a government agency, one at a lab, and where else?

-So that means I get paid five times a month. Hehe.

Wow, that sounds amazing. That’s a dream for regular workers.

“You must’ve saved up a lot, then?”

-Nope, my expenses went up five times too….

What’s that supposed to mean?

Is she missing a screw somewhere?

The Boss room came into view.

No one had opened the door. There was no presence nearby.

“All right then.”

I opened the door and walked in.

Creeeaak.

With a creepy sound, a Lich, as if waiting for me, raised its hand from the throne.

Boom!

The audience chamber shook, and Death Knights, Phantom Knights, and all sorts of knights burst up from the ground.

As expected from their variety, their weapons ranged from longswords, greatswords, flails, maces—every kind imaginable.

“I am inheriting the throne.”

No one asked, but I felt like saying it.

I wonder if it understood what I meant?

All at once, the knights charged.

Knights are the classic thugs.

There are no fairy-tale knights. But at least those who died protecting their lord are not thugs.

There’s only one way to grant the highest honor to those who can neither live nor die.

Die to a really strong guy, and earn your honor.