Chapter 53
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Translator: MJK
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: 9. Final Dungeon (1)
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Every time I saw the ice attribute's energy, I felt it.
Quiet, sharp, deep.
Three monsters appeared from beyond the maze corner.
Even though it was a simulation, their movements were exactly like real combat.
Yu-hee and Hyun I-seo stepped forward simultaneously.
One fell immediately to Yu-hee's sword strike, and the other two were subdued by I-seo in short motions.
Their movements were so natural that I was momentarily stunned.
I followed behind only after the all-clear signal came.
There was absolutely nothing for me to do right then.
This was the best.
Safe, quiet, with the healer having plenty of leeway.
If real dungeons were like this, that'd be perfect.
"Hari."
Yoo Han-seong suddenly called from behind me.
I whipped my head around in surprise.
"Yeah."
"Don't lag too far back. Stay in sight."
"Okay...... Got it."
No matter how you sliced it, my stats were F-rank.
Being weak meant staying back was safest.
But why did he keep pointing it out like this?
As the question nagged at me, little oddities started to stand out.
Considering Yoo Han-seong's personality, that was straight-up concern.
A ton of it, even.
But during training? That wasn't like him at all.
The next section linked to the upper layer of C-zone.
The terrain itself was simpler than the maze, but the monster patterns were way more complex.
The simulation room only replicated half the real patterns, but even that was plenty to trip up rookies.
The group's pace quickened a lot, so I huffed a bit to keep up.
Running was no issue, but tension made my toes stiffen.
In a dungeon, you'd have to force them to relax—even if it meant crunching your own toes.
We'd been climbing for a while.
Suddenly, the right wall shook.
Vibrations hit like someone had slammed into it hard.
Simulation monster spawn signal.
"Hari, behind!"
Yu-hee's voice shot up.
I ducked on reflex.
A black shape whizzed right over my head.
Wind swept once, then the wall cratered.
The simulation effects are insane?
That attack felt real.
My heart hammered.
Yu-hee rushed over.
"Hari, you okay?"
"Yeah. I'm good."
I let out a breath and quietly pulled a potion vial.
Even simulated, hits like that could injure someone.
If anyone got hurt, I had to be ready.
Thankfully, no casualties.
They'd blocked it in an instant.
What a powerhouse team.
I slipped the potion back unnoticed.
The teacher spoke over the mic.
"Solid natural response through the ascent. Proceed to the next path."
Praise rolled in.
Team's skill carrying us—not my doing.
Still, a few kids' eyes flicked my way.
Something questioning in their looks.
What?
What'd they see?
I hadn't done a thing.
Yoo Han-seong called shortly from up front.
"Moving on."
We pressed forward.
Training over, final team comps and dungeon entry schedules would drop.
The final dungeon was already underway.
Final dungeon entry day.
Morning air felt weirdly frigid.
School buzzing head to toe, but I sensed an odd hush amid the noise.
Like whatever happened, the script was already written.
Just my mood, probably.
Just keep quiet today.
I unzipped my bag, checked potions again.
Neat little vials slid under my fingers one by one.
This'll do.
If we could all make it unscathed.
The field was packed with first-years.
Bureau staff, guild reps too.
More than usual finals.
Dungeon difficulty spiking, no doubt.
Hunter world.
Bluntly? They're spectators for weaklings dying.
Lost in dumb thoughts, I hung back quietly.
"Hari."
Yu-hee tapped my shoulder.
"You good?"
"Yeah. Fine."
Flashed my usual smile.
Look weak, become weak.
Quiet and steady, business as usual.
Yoo Han-seong was already chatting with teachers.
Face impassive, but calmer somehow.
Hae-sol checked his gloves; I-seo head bowed slightly, refocusing.
Tension thick all around.
Dungeon mouth cracked open slow.
Black light erupted inside.
No fanfare—this was real gate warp.
When this world's peril hit clearest.
Homeroom called teams.
"Yoo Han-seong team, gate 3."
Ours.
Deep breath, fell in line.
Gatefront, wind backflowed out.
Choking air laced with damp and metal.
My heart quivered—just a bit.
Unfamiliar tremor.
"Entering."
Yoo Han-seong from lead.
I clutched my bag, stuck close behind.
A little back.
That's all I needed.
Step in—darkness swallowed us.
Dungeon guts engulfed the team whole.
Floor jagged, air currents wilder.
Start like this? High difficulty.
Yoo Han-seong scanned first.
Hae-sol coaxed ambient chill slow.
I-seo pivoted light, poised.
Yu-hee regripped her hilt.
I trailed silent behind.
Ahead shuddered sudden.
Dust rained; pops echoed faint.
Pattern felt familiar—froze midstep.
Close-range ambush monster MO.
But piping up? Futile.
No trust there.
Hae-sol clocked it first.
He's S-rank bound, no question.
Reflexes unreal.
Held pace with already-S Yoo Han-seong, Hyun I-seo.
Ice aura skimmed floor.
"Incoming."
Laconic.
Yoo Han-seong nodded.
Monsters burst from shadow slits.
One.
Two.
Three.
Sim or not, reactions pure combat.
Hyun I-seo flowed quick, parried opener.
Yu-hee torqued, blocked flanker.
Hae-sol chilled speed from rear.
Yoo Han-seong pinned front with takedown.
I held breath backline.
Potion ready if needed.
Which first?
Endurance up?
Heal?
Antidote?
Heal priority.
Hand dipped—vial snagged fast.
Then yanked back—Yu-hee.
"Hari, danger."
"Yeah."
Monsters dropped; sim transition chimed.
Next wave seamless.
A-to-S mix final dungeon.
Grade shifts incoming too.
No breather zones.
"Push forward."
Yoo Han-seong curt.
I synced stride.
Too rearward? Risky repeat.
Too forward? Worse.
Midpack sweet spot, mute.
One job mine.
First to hurt? Dash, shove potion.
Full extent of it.
My dungeon due.
Deeper in, air thickened step by step.
Humidity aside, energy clung muggy.
Hence quieter.
Voices'd ricochet walls, vibe said.
This arc in canon?
Memory fuzzy.
Original combat-heavy; this course finer-tuned.
Real-prep redesign, maybe.
Faint splash trailed.
Nah—footfalls.
Someone masking aura, stalking.
Yoo Han-seong eased around.
"Rear."
Word sufficed.
Bag gripped instant.
Hae-sol finger-snapped chill spread.
Presence flickered blindspot.
Shadow beasts.
Then—it wall-scuttled, plummeted overhead.
Closer'n expected.
Sloppy clear? Instant wounds.
Body moved auto.
Bag unzipped, heal gripped, stepped up.
Prime spot for hits.
Claws shredded air.
Yu-hee sword upward; I-seo side-deflected force.
Hae-sol iced ledge, skewed drop.
Yoo Han-seong jaw-snatched perfect, floor-smashed.
Impact boomed.
Breath out then.
Quick scan hurts?
Negative.
"Hari, good?"
I-seo panted query.
"Yeah."
Brief.
Extra chatter'd shatter focus.
Onward inward slight.