A Hidden Dungeon Emerges
The full-scale departure had begun. It was painful to watch, but there was nothing he could do except stand by and take it in. A week passed in a quiet tension, and as July arrived, the exodus of guild members from Echo began to slow at last.
“About half of the former Echo guild members have decided to stay with the reorganized guild after the merger and have completed their renewals,” Taemin reported.
“Fewer left than I expected.”
At first, Taemin had expected more than half of Echo’s former members to quit. But by July, Wraith had become a single guild in everything but name, and about half of Echo’s former members had chosen to remain and renew their contracts. It had been an unexpected outcome, but a positive one, so Hyun-jun’s voice was light as well.
“I think it’s because you were promoted to A-Class Hunter, Guild Leader.”
If B-Class Hunters formed the backbone of guild power, then from A-Class upward they became core assets on a national scale, and with that came many more opportunities to get close to real power. In particular, Hyun-jun had risen to A-Class in a short span of time and was now being regarded as a suspected second-awakening user, so it was hardly strange that half of Echo’s former members had renewed their contracts with hope in their hearts.
“That’s a relief.”
Hyun-jun nodded in agreement. Since more of Echo’s former members had stayed than he had expected, it felt like, with a little more effort, they might even be able to aim for a guild promotion.
“How’s the additional recruitment going?” Hyun-jun asked. Echo’s former guild leader, Choi Na-young, had held more off-the-books money than expected, which meant the pool of funds they could draw on had become larger. Since there seemed to be no problem with recruiting more guild members right away, Hyun-jun had already instructed Taemin, So-jin, and the PR department to begin additional recruitment a few days earlier.
“As it happens, the department in charge requested materials for guild promotion. Since Wraith and Echo’s previous performance can’t be used after the merger, I think we’ll need to start reorganizing the guild raid teams and moving them soon.”
A guild’s performance was usually judged by things like the official dungeon clears of its raid teams and its defense ratio during raids. Raid situations happened randomly, so the only noticeable record they could raise immediately was the guild’s dungeon-clearing results.
“How long will the reorganization take?”
“Team leader Baek Han-soo is having a rough time with all the new raid-team interviews, but the reorganization shouldn’t take more than a day.”
“Then get it done immediately.”
“Understood.”
Taemin answered in a calm voice and left the Guild Leader’s office. The next day, Hyun-jun received a report from Taemin saying that the raid team reorganization had been completed. Hyun-jun immediately contacted the Dungeon Management Bureau and applied for a dungeon clear.
Fortunately, perhaps because there were many newly generated dungeons, a clearing schedule was set before two hours had even passed after the application. The exact date was three days later, and Hyun-jun called together Wraith’s raid team.
“You really plan to start with a B-Class dungeon?” Han-soo asked as he walked up behind Hyun-jun, who was checking his gear.
“Team 2 has a lot of replacement members, so the overall level has dropped. I think it’d be best to start with a B-Class dungeon as a test, too.”
As for Raid Team 1, some of the Echo-origin members had stayed thanks to Han-soo’s skill at keeping people together, so it was still in a state where it could be deployed immediately. But Team 2, which had practically been dissolved and then only recently refilled with new people, was another matter.
“Hmm… I agree with that. Still, wouldn’t it be good to clear an A-Class dungeon with Team 1 and rack up results quickly?”
“I’m planning to activate Team 2 first, then run them in rotation with Team 1.”
“Ah...! That would definitely be more efficient. I was thinking too narrowly.”
Han-soo nodded in understanding at Hyun-jun’s brief explanation and took a few steps back.
“Since it’s a B-Class dungeon, I’ll be the only A-Class Hunter you need to accompany you. Mr. Baek Han-soo, please stay at the guild office and move ahead with the plan for forming Raid Team 3.”
Before the merger, Echo had organized and operated three guild raid teams, but Wraith had only two. Since the guild had grown through the merger, he thought it would be better to have at least three raid teams, even if they were only Bronze-tier.
“You mean forming a third team? Understood. Leave it to me.”
Han-soo answered with confidence. Hyun-jun checked the time. It was about that time. He finished his inspection and put his gear into his subspace pouch. Just then, the timing worked out neatly as the door opened and Taemin walked into the office.
“Guild Leader. Team 2 is waiting in front of the dungeon.”
“What about the vehicle?”
“It’s already running. We can leave right now.”
“Let’s go down.”
Hyun-jun headed to the parking lot with Taemin. A sedan was parked there, and the driver, who had been waiting, hurriedly stubbed out his cigarette when he spotted Hyun-jun and opened the rear door. Taemin got into the passenger seat. The driver was just about to pull away after confirming that both men had boarded when...
“Hyun-jun!”
A familiar voice. Hyun-jun turned his head and saw So-jin running toward him. There was still time to spare, so he got out of the car for a moment.
“Noona. What’s wrong?”
He asked as he approached, but So-jin couldn’t bring herself to speak right away. After a short silence of about five seconds, she met his eyes and carefully opened her mouth.
“Take me with you too…”
Her voice was small, but it carried a hard, steady resolve.
I want to help too...
The Hyun-jun who had always been by her side had started to feel distant at some point. If she didn’t become useful, that distance would only grow.
I need to go to the dungeon...
After awakening, a hunter’s growth did not stop. Even ordinary hunters, though not to the same degree as second-awakened users, still had room to improve little by little. So-jin’s trembling gaze reached Hyun-jun.
“A healing-type hunter should be fine as an extra, right?”
“All authority is in the Guild Leader’s hands. And I don’t think adding one more person to the current group will cause any major problems.”
At Hyun-jun’s question, Taemin answered. Since So-jin was a C-Class Hunter, if she accompanied the guild’s raid team, she was qualified to enter a B-Class dungeon one rank above her own. In other words, there was no official problem with it.
“Get in.”
“Thanks, Hyun-jun.”
Hyun-jun had agreed to a somewhat unreasonable request, and So-jin was grateful. She got into the car first with a faint smile on her face. Hyun-jun boarded after her, and the vehicle pulled away.
The B-Class dungeon scheduled for clearing was in Suwon. It wasn’t far, so they arrived in just thirty minutes. Six raid team members were visible in front of the Gate, and a Dungeon Management Bureau employee was organizing the roster while looking at a tablet PC.
“I’ll wait nearby.”
Hyun-jun and So-jin got out first. It wasn’t necessary, but Taemin said he would wait nearby. Hyun-jun didn’t stop him. Since an A-Class Hunter would be accompanying them, if they hurried just a little, the B-Class dungeon clear would be over quickly.
“Don’t wait too long.”
“I trust you, Guild Leader. It’ll be over before long.”
Taemin said with a gaze full of trust. Hyun-jun nodded in response to that faith and joined Raid Team 2, who were waiting in front of the Gate, together with So-jin.
“It’s good to meet you, Guild Leader. I’m Choi In-gi, the leader of Raid Team 2.”
A sturdy hunter stepped forward and greeted him. He was one of the Echo-origin raid team members who had not left during the merger. Hyun-jun had seen documents related to him before, so he already knew who he was.
“Yes. I look forward to working with you.”
Hyun-jun gave a short reply. At the same time, he focused his mana into his eyes. Soon, the true name above In-gi’s head appeared.
[Choi In-gi: A Watchman Who Strives.]
A plain true name.
“We have an additional member.”
“Could you give me a brief introduction?”
“A C-Class healing-type hunter. She doesn’t have much dungeon-clearing experience.”
“There’s nothing wrong with adding one healing-type hunter. And with you, Guild Leader, joining a B-Class dungeon as an A-Class Hunter... I don’t think there’ll be any major problem.”
If In-gi, the team leader of Raid Team 2, had opposed the idea, it would have been a pain, but fortunately he nodded readily and answered in agreement.
“Still, I think a short briefing would be necessary.”
When outsiders mixed into an official guild raid team or a party was formed through a more ordinary match-up, it was common to go through a briefing to organize the plan and get everyone’s breathing in sync.
“Yes. Of course that’s necessary.”
“Then let’s begin.”
The briefing started. So-jin didn’t have much dungeon-clearing experience, but she was still a C-Class Hunter, so she had the fundamentals. It didn’t take long.
“Briefing’s done.”
“Good. Let’s proceed with the clear.”
With that answer, Hyun-jun moved first toward the Gate. Just moments earlier, the procedural steps required before entry had been completed through the Dungeon Management Bureau employee. Once all the raid members had gathered, the employee opened the Gate.
“Let’s move out.”
They entered the darkness. In-gi, who had extensive dungeon-clearing experience, took command of the raid team. They went down the stairs and opened the door, revealing the dungeon’s dark interior.
“Deploy the drones.”
At In-gi’s order, some of the raid team members took drones out of their subspace pouches and activated them. Large and small drones flew up, casting light around the area.
“Advance.”
At In-gi’s words, the hunters moved forward. They had already drawn their weapons from their subspace pouches. With their surroundings under watch so they could respond the instant any monster attacked, they advanced step by step.
“They’re coming.”
This time, Hyun-jun gave the warning. He could feel multiple presences ahead. He shielded his body with his shield and raised his sword toward the front. As expected, monsters appeared in the light cast by the drones.
“Orcs! Five berserkers and five ordinary orcs!” someone shouted. It was a B-Class dungeon, but perhaps because this was the entrance, the monster group was made up of C-Class orc berserkers and D-Class ordinary orcs.
“Forward!”
With the shout, Hyun-jun began moving slowly toward the front. In-gi and the raid team followed behind him, and the orc pack also began charging in with savage momentum.
“Woooooar!”
Soon, the monstrous cries pouring from the orcs drew close.
“Fire Cannon!”
A fireball far larger than a normal Fireball tore through the darkness and flew forward.
“Kwoooar!”
Fire Cannon slammed into the upper body of an orc berserker. In an instant, his entire body turned into a mass of flames and collapsed. Other monsters ran past the writhing orc berserker, who was twisting in agony and groaning, and rushed at Hyun-jun.
At that moment, Hyun-jun’s eyes turned cold. His sword swept through the air and severed the necks of the four nearest orc berserkers, sending red blood spraying up. It all happened in the blink of an eye.
“In, incredible...”
Even before the battle had properly begun, In-gi couldn’t help but let out a breath of admiration. To his eyes as a B-Class Hunter, it was a level that felt impossibly far away.
“We’ll continue.”
The remaining orcs were dealt with by In-gi and the other hunters. After that, they pressed on through the dungeon. Thanks to Hyun-jun’s performance, they reached the boss room before long. Just as they were about to rest for a moment before the final push...
Bang!
With a thunderous sound, the door slammed shut.
No way...
Hyun-jun swallowed dryly at the ominous feeling. He turned his head toward the leader of Raid Team 2, Choi In-gi.
“Mr. Choi In-gi...! Don’t tell me this is...”
Under the light, In-gi’s face was stiff and pale. His lips trembled as he parted them.
“I think... it’s a hidden dungeon.”