Early morning.
Seong-jun’s party arrived at the Association a bit earlier than their scheduled meeting time with Holy Emperor.
They found a spot and settled into a lounge area prepared in a corner of the Association lobby.
“I checked this morning and saw the deposit came through, so the trade with the Mirae Research Institute must have concluded successfully at dawn. I’ve already transferred everyone’s share to their accounts based on our distribution ratios, so make sure to check.”
The deal with the Mirae Research Institute, which Choe Gyu-taek had handled, was successfully finalized, and the payment was completed on the spot.
Choe Gyu-taek had transferred everything to Seong-jun after deducting his ten percent commission.
Seong-jun, upon confirming this in the morning, sent the funds to each party member’s account.
“Wow! I never thought I’d be able to touch this kind of money in my entire life. Seeing billions in my bank account… I honestly wondered if I was dreaming.”
Since the first day of hunting was done by Seong-jun, Gwang-taek, and Yuseon without Chang-su, the distribution was adjusted accordingly.
Nevertheless, since there were still billions sitting in his account, the smile never left Chang-su’s face.
“Once we start clearing B-rank dungeons, you’ll be making far more than that. So, go ahead and get a new house and a car. You should move your mother to a more comfortable place now.”
“Haha, that was my plan. I’ll start looking around slowly from now on.”
With billions in his bank account, there was no reason to live in a shabby, monthly rental anymore.
As soon as Chang-su saw the money, he immediately thought about finding a new home.
Hearing Chang-su, Yuseon spoke up in a low voice.
“Instead of just anywhere, why don’t you move to Seong-jun’s apartment complex? Gwang-taek and I already decided to move there too.”
Though they would be in different buildings, Gwang-taek and Yuseon had already decided to move to the same complex Seong-jun lived in since there were listings available.
They were suggesting Chang-su do the same if possible.
“Oh! Really? Then I’ll definitely have to look into that.”
Hearing that the entire party would live in the same complex, Chang-su seemed quite inclined toward the idea.
“By the way, Seong-jun. Do you plan on using a Debuff Potion during this raid?”
At Gwang-taek’s question, Seong-jun shook his head.
“No, this raid includes Holy Emperor, Changcheon, and Genesis. We shouldn’t have any issues with the boss even without a Debuff Potion, so why waste one?”
Even without using a Debuff Potion, their combined combat power was more than enough to clear the dungeon.
There was no reason to waste such a valuable item.
“True. Then what about Genesis? They’re still sending offers, aren’t they? Since we have Debuff Potions now, don’t you think we could accept their proposal?”
The biggest reason Seong-jun’s party hadn’t accepted Genesis’s proposal was the Debuff Potions.
No matter how incredible Seong-jun’s buffs were, clearing an A-rank dungeon boss alone was nearly impossible without a Debuff Potion.
However, since they had secured five sets of Debuff Potions through the one-person privilege dungeon, there was now room to consider clearing an A-rank dungeon with Genesis.
“I’m going to wait and see for a bit longer. We don’t know what variables might pop up while clearing B-rank dungeons, so we should save them as much as possible. Of course, if the conditions are good, I might accept Genesis’s offer.”
In the current situation, Seong-jun held all the cards.
Genesis desperately needed the title of solo clearing an A-rank dungeon to maintain the balance with Changcheon, and for that, they needed Seong-jun’s help.
On the other hand, Seong-jun didn’t particularly care about clearing A-rank dungeons.
He could earn more than enough money just by clearing B-rank dungeons.
Furthermore, if he opened a B-rank dungeon through the Dungeon Creation Device, he was guaranteed to get an S-rank Artifact thanks to the First Entry Benefit, so there was no reason to obsess over A-rank dungeons.
“I guess we’re not the ones in a hurry. Anyway, I’ll leave the decision to you.”
Seong-jun had never made a decision that harmed the party before, and more than anything, his judgment was trustworthy.
They decided to leave everything related to Genesis entirely up to him.
Just then.
“Oh! You’re all here early.”
The main force of Holy Emperor entered the Association.
The Holy Emperor members who had entered Korea consisted of four S-ranks, including Karl Buckman, and the three teams they led.
Team 1, led by Karl; Team 2, led by Reina; and Team 3, led by Sarah, were all comprised of A-ranks.
This force alone was powerful enough to easily overwhelm most guilds.
“Ah, yes. We tend to move a bit early. And this is Kim Chang-su, an Assassin who recently joined our party. He’ll be participating in today’s A-rank dungeon raid with us.”
Gwang-taek and Yuseon had already met them a few days ago, but since it was Chang-su’s first time, Seong-jun took the opportunity to introduce him.
Chang-su hurriedly stood up and bowed.
“I’m Kim Chang-su, a B-rank Assassin! It’s an honor to meet members of the Holy Emperor Guild, one of the top guilds in the world!”
Being B-rank was certainly respectable, but it wasn’t a rank that a massive global guild like Holy Emperor would typically pay much attention to.
However, since he was part of Seong-jun’s party, William showed the appropriate courtesy.
“Nice to meet you. I am William Kreft of Holy Emperor.”
After a brief handshake with Chang-su, William looked at Seong-jun.
“In any case, it’s almost time. Changcheon and Genesis should have left by now, so shall we head out as well?”
Holy Emperor had been searching for a suitable dungeon since they decided to link up with Changcheon and Genesis to clear an A-rank dungeon.
They had narrowed it down to five dungeons.
After discussing with the Korean Association, they had decided on the dungeon they would tackle today.
Since they had already finalized discussions with Changcheon and Genesis, those guilds were likely heading toward the dungeon now.
“Let’s do that.”
Seong-jun’s party stood up and headed toward today’s A-rank dungeon along with the main force of the Holy Emperor Guild.
***
A-rank Dungeon: Red Mane Centaur’s Forest.
The Red Mane Centaur was a particularly powerful species among centaurs, known for its high Agility and powerful Attack.
“A Red Mane Centaur’s Forest. They picked a pretty tricky dungeon.”
When Seong-jun mentioned the dungeon was tricky, Chang-su asked curiously, “Is it? From what I know, centaurs have great Agility and Attack, but their Defense is quite low.”
Centaurs, being agility-type monsters, were known for being glass cannons.
However, that only applied to general centaurs.
The Red Mane Centaurs found here were on an entirely different level.
“That’s true for normal centaurs. Normal centaurs usually use pikes. But Red Mane Centaurs use swords and shields. Their Attack is as powerful as any other centaur, but their defensive capabilities using the shield are also excellent. They excel at both offense and defense, which is why they’re classified as A-rank, unlike other centaurs.”
Most centaurs were classified as B-rank monsters.
The reason only the Red Mane Centaurs were ranked as A-rank was that while their offense matched typical centaurs, their defensive aspects were vastly superior.
“Ah! Is that so? A sword and shield. That definitely won’t be an easy clear. But why did they choose this specific dungeon?”
“Holy Emperor chose a list of dungeons, and the Association picked this one. This dungeon portal happens to be right in the middle of Gangnam-daero, so it’s disrupting traffic. From the Association’s perspective, there couldn’t have been a better choice.”
Dungeon generation was truly random.
They could appear in remote areas with little foot traffic, or right in the middle of a city.
The Red Mane Centaur’s Forest had appeared right in the middle of Gangnam-daero, causing massive traffic congestion.
Since it was an A-rank dungeon and a rather difficult one, the Association had been delaying the raid, but as soon as they saw it on Holy Emperor’s list, they didn’t hesitate to point it out.
Just then.
“Haha, we meet again. Good to see you.”
Choi Gang-hyeok of Changcheon approached Seong-jun after entering the dungeon.
“You’ve arrived? I wasn’t planning on clearing an A-rank dungeon for a while, but Holy Emperor made an offer. Well, since Changcheon and Genesis are also participating, I figured it wouldn’t be too dangerous.”
At Seong-jun’s words, Choi Gang-hyeok nodded.
“That’s true. With Holy Emperor’s main force along with Changcheon and Genesis, we could probably clear this even without you, Kim Seong-jun. Of course, it would take at least three or four days. But since you’re here, maybe we can finish it within today. Actually, because I heard you were coming, I brought along all these B-ranks.”
If Seong-jun hadn’t been participating, they would have at most brought B-rank Tankers or Healers.
B-rank Dealers’ attacks were rarely effective against A-rank monsters.
But with Seong-jun there, the story changed.
Since their stats would be boosted to the level of A-rankers, even B-ranks could land effective hits on A-rank monsters.
That was why, upon hearing Seong-jun would participate, Choi Gang-hyeok had brought the same group of B-ranks who had participated in the previous A-rank dungeon raid.
“Well, if we split into teams like last time, the clearing speed will definitely be faster. However, finishing the raid without any casualties is more important than speed, so please don’t push yourselves too hard.”
Clearing a dungeon quickly was important, but the most vital goal was to clear it without losing a single person.
Seong-jun emphasized that it was much more important to proceed steadily and safely rather than rushing to save a little time.
“Haha, of course. It’s not like we’re pressed for time like before, and we’re not soloing it either, so there’s no need to overdo it.”
Choi Gang-hyeok had no intention of recklessly increasing the speed.
This dungeon had already been cleared before, so the First Entry Benefit was gone.
While Seong-jun and Choi Gang-hyeok were talking.
“Are you the Healer, Kim Seong-jun?”
Ju So-jeong of the Genesis Guild, who had entered late, approached them.
Seong-jun knew her well, as she was called one of the two pillars of the Korean Hunter world alongside Choi Gang-hyeok.
“Ah! You must be Guild Master Ju So-jeong of Genesis. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Kim Seong-jun.”
When Seong-jun greeted her with a smile, Ju So-jeong asked with a somewhat blunt expression, “I understand my guild has requested a joint raid several times, but you kept refusing? Was it because I didn’t step forward personally like Choi Gang-hyeok over here?”
At Ju So-jeong’s question, Choi Gang-hyeok smirked and interjected.
“What’s this? You sent subordinates to ask Kim Seong-jun for help? If you were that desperate for an A-rank solo clear, you should have shown some sincerity and come yourself like I did. Well, I suppose for Genesis, you might not be able to clear an A-rank dungeon even with Kim Seong-jun’s help.”
As Choi Gang-hyeok spoke sarcastically, Ju So-jeong’s expression instantly soured.
“What did you just say? Look here, Choi Gang-hyeok. Changcheon and Genesis are on the same level anyway. You were just a bit faster than us; if you can do it, we can do it too. And ‘solo clear’ is a stretch — wouldn’t it have been impossible in the first place without Kim Seong-jun’s help?”
“Ehey, on the same level? What nonsense. Didn’t you see the world guild rankings? Our Changcheon is ninety-second, and your Genesis is ninety-fifth. The objective data speaks for itself. There’s a three-rank difference, so how can we be on the same level?”
Choi Gang-hyeok and Ju So-jeong were bickering like children over their pride.
Fearing a fallout before the raid even started, Seong-jun quickly stepped in.
“Haha, that’s enough. And Guild Master Ju So-jeong, I didn’t refuse Genesis’s offer out of any ill intent. I simply realized the limits of my own abilities. While clearing the A-rank dungeon with Changcheon, I felt I was still lacking in many ways. That’s why I refused; I wanted to focus on improving my skills for a while.”
At those words, Ju So-jeong looked at Seong-jun and said, “Lacking skills? Even if that’s true, the fact is you cleared an A-rank dungeon with Changcheon, didn’t you? If that’s the case, aren’t you skilled enough to work with Genesis? Just once is all I ask.”
At this rate, Genesis would forever be stuck with the stigma of being inferior to Changcheon.
They had to succeed in an A-rank dungeon raid under the same conditions as Changcheon no matter what.
Seong-jun appeared to contemplate Ju So-jeong’s words for a moment.
Then, he cast Divine Eye toward her.
‘Hmm, why is she so obsessed with clearing an A-rank dungeon? Let me see what she’s thinking. Divine Eye.’
As he cast Deep Analysis, which had evolved into the Divine Eye after devouring Divine Insight, Ju So-jeong’s information appeared before him.
[Analysis Results]
Ju So-jeong: [S-rank Sorceress of Hellfire]
Average Stats: [S+]
Detailed Stats: [Available for viewing]
Weakness: Vulnerable to high-speed attacks. Requires significant casting time for skills; can be easily suppressed by disrupting her posture to induce skill cancellation. [Appears cold but is a forever-solo, making her extremely vulnerable to romantic ‘confession attacks.’ / Probability of failure is high if the user’s appearance is not up to standard.]
Combat Style: [Crushes enemies with powerful fire magic.]
Core Skills: [Inferno / Wave of Flames]
Reliability: 33
Psychological State: [Thinks she absolutely cannot lose to Choi Gang-hyeok’s Changcheon. Obsessed with the idea that she must persuade Seong-jun at all costs to succeed in an A-rank solo clear.]
Last Thought: ‘Hah! That annoying jerk Choi Gang-hyeok. I will succeed in an A-rank solo clear no matter what. Anyway, how on earth can I persuade this Kim Seong-jun guy?’
After confirming Ju So-jeong’s psychological state and last thought through the Divine Eye, Seong-jun smiled inwardly.
‘So she just doesn’t want to lose to Choi Gang-hyeok? This means I can push the situation in my favor.’
He didn’t know the history between the two, but it was clear Ju So-jeong hated losing to Choi Gang-hyeok.
And for that purpose, she wanted the title of an A-rank solo clear.
This meant she would be willing to endure a reasonable amount of loss to get that title.
“Sigh, you make it quite difficult for me. Let’s do this then. I need an A-rank dungeon where we can get the First Entry Benefit, just like the conditions with Changcheon. If that condition is met, we can discuss the details further.”
If he was going to clear an A-rank dungeon with Genesis, he decided he should at least secure an SS-rank Artifact through the First Entry Benefit.
And of course, he planned to negotiate much better terms than he had with Changcheon.
“A dungeon with the First Entry Benefit? Hmm, that’s not easy… Fine. If that’s your condition, I’ll find one no matter what.”
What else could she do?
Seong-jun held the power right now, so she had to accommodate his conditions as much as possible.
Just then.
“It looks like everyone is here. Shall we start the hunt?”
William approached Seong-jun, Choi Gang-hyeok, and Ju So-jeong.
Since all the Hunters, including the Genesis members, had entered the dungeon, he suggested they begin.
At that, Choi Gang-hyeok laughed heartily.
“Hahaha! Let’s do it. But before we head out, we have to do what needs to be done. Kim Seong-jun, you’re going to cast the buffs now, right?”
Once they left the entrance and stepped into the initial area, the real hunt would begin.
Thus, he judged it best to buff everyone before they departed.
“I should. Just a moment.”
Saying so, Seong-jun immediately began casting his buffs.
‘All-in-One! Wide Area Mode! War Cry! Wide Area Mode! Healing Light! Wide Area Mode! Energy Amplification! Wide Area Mode!’
Seong-jun cast everything from his existing buffs to the newly acquired Energy Amplification in Wide Area Mode.
*Flash! Flash! Flash!*
At the same time, the level of Energy Amplification increased.
**[The Active Skill [Energy Amplification] has been applied to 255 people.]**
**[The level of Active Skill [Energy Amplification] has increased from 2 to 3.]**
In the case of All-in-One, War Cry, and Healing Light, their levels didn’t rise since they had already leveled up previously; only Energy Amplification rose from Level 2 to Level 3.
‘Oh! Energy Amplification reached Level 3. Does that mean it increases by 30 percent now? I should keep going until it reaches at least Level 5.’
A 30 percent increase in total capacity was already significant, but Seong-jun felt it should at least reach 50 percent.
Meanwhile, everyone who received Seong-jun’s buffs looked shocked.
“Whoa! What is this! The increase is much higher than during the last Dungeon Break!”
“Huh? My Aura just jumped by 20 percent! Wow! This was possible?”
“This is crazy! Seriously crazy! With this, even we can land effective hits on A-rank monsters!”
The ones surprised by Seong-jun’s buffs were mostly the B-ranks from Genesis.
Like Changcheon, Genesis had brought a large number of B-ranks upon hearing Seong-jun would participate.
On the other hand, the B-ranks from Changcheon reacted relatively calmly since they had experienced it once before.
“As expected of Kim Seong-jun’s buffs! But it’s even stronger than last time? And this time, even the total Mana capacity increased!”
“I can never get used to these buffs. Anyway, we’re going to suffer again for a while after today. How are we supposed to hunt without these buffs?”
Finally, the members of Holy Emperor were equally astonished.
William, in particular, couldn’t hide his surprise at the buffs that were much stronger than he had imagined.
‘Hah! This is a real buff? I heard it was incredible, but receiving it in person is beyond what I imagined. How can such a buff even exist? It even increases the total amount of Aura. I’m truly speechless. Kim Seong-jun… I must bring him to Holy Emperor no matter what.’
If he could recruit Seong-jun, Holy Emperor would become several levels stronger than it was now.
William became determined to scout Seong-jun by any means necessary.
“I’ve finished casting the buffs, so let’s get started.”
After casting everything applicable to the Wide Area Mode, Seong-jun cast individual Enchant Buffs only on his party members.
Once all the buffs were applied and he suggested they head out, William nodded and spoke.
“Ah! Yes, shall we? Everyone, move out!”
With Holy Emperor leading the way, Seong-jun’s party, Changcheon, and Genesis followed.
Thus, Seong-jun’s second A-rank dungeon raid began.
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