Chapter 45
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Delivering Inside the Dungeon
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"Detection skill check—the harpies using skills are at least A-rank!"
"Then the boss monster must be S-rank or higher..."
"At least the boss hasn't shown up yet. That's a relief... Huh?"
Grrrrrind.
Like a dam bursting at the seams, like paper being torn to shreds.
The multi-layered barriers that had blocked the monsters' advance ripped apart.
"Th-that thing..."
Emerging from between the harpies was a boss monster in the form of a stunningly beautiful woman, adorned with enormous golden wings of a bird.
The dungeon's second phase has been accelerated due to an error.
Phase 2 of the dungeon is now active.
Boss Monster, 'Fallen Rainbow Goddess Iris,' has appeared!
'The boss monster at this timing?'
Shin Ha-rang gritted his teeth.
And one that looked almost human at that. This was a bad omen.
Sure enough, responding to the hunters' unease, the boss monster 'Iris' slowly raised her hand and commanded the harpies.
"My sisters, show these vermin who invaded our nest what happens."
Phase 2 Dungeon: Fallen Goddess's Buff Activated
Harpies' instantaneous attack power now rivals S- rank.
This buff will not disappear until the boss monster is defeated.
"Kiiiiiiaaaaa—!!"
-Die, humans!
Empowered by Iris's buff, the harpies' pitch-black eyes gleamed as they shot toward the hunters like arrows.
The [Boreas's North Wind] they conjured was no different.
"What kind of insane buff is this...!"
Han Ju-o's face turned pale. Without hesitation, he loaded the Mir Guild members onto his dragon's back.
Shin Ha-rang did the same.
"Run! Run away, Delivery Hunter!"
The moment he shouted, the goddess's rainbow irises twisted in displeasure.
-Noisy human. I'll grant you the mercy of dying by my own hand.
An ivory whip materialized in her hand. As she gripped the pitch-black whip, hundreds of rainbow-colored hailstones formed in the sky.
Seeing hail the size of an adult man's fist, Moon Chae-ryeon thought:
'One hit and I'm done for.'
A regular pebble might just give a ticklish bump on the head.
But rainbow hail personally unleashed by an S-rank boss monster? Even at a glance, it screamed instant skull-crusher.
-I'll make you regret stepping foot here.
The boss monster Iris grinned wickedly as harpies cackled around her.
"Kee-hee-heek! Feasting tonight! Kiiik!"
"Mashed human meat is tender and delicious!"
"A royal banquet!"
Chae-ryeon wanted to deep-fry every mocking one of them and reincarnate them as chicken.
'Just smash those birdbrains flat!'
But she couldn't. Survival came first. Amid the overwhelming assault, her customer—the man—foolishly shouted again.
"Dodge, Delivery Hunter! Getting swept up means big trouble!"
'What the hell is that idiot customer saying?'
Shin Ha-rang had already witnessed Chae-ryeon's prowess in the [Mirage Quest] dungeon.
The time she pulverized a massive sandworm with her bare hands—and her motorcycle—thanks to the [Customer Love is Sales Love] skill.
'After seeing that, he still won't ask for help.'
Was he noble or selfishly stupid?
Flabbergasted, Chae-ryeon heard Manager Sol-chan say with a pale face.
"M-Mistress. This is too dangerous..."
"No, Sol-chan."
"Pardon?"
"I can't back off with valued customers right in front. You haven't left a review yet. Delivery's not done."
And she hadn't even collected payment, so it wasn't unreasonable.
"B-But..."
Sol-chan hesitated. Her summoned familiars knew better than anyone that she wanted to hide her identity.
Mimi poked her head out, eyes full of worry.
"W-Will you be alright...?"
She'd humanized Sol-chan precisely so she wouldn't have to step up herself.
"Right, System Admin?"
Chae-ryeon sought confirmation from the administrator, who replied with an emoticon as if saying do whatever you want.
( ◜◡‾)◜◡‾)◜◡‾)◜◡‾)◜◡‾)₎⁾⁾
Whatever, Chae-ryeon. As you wish.
You don't need my permission for the path you choose.
system: You're the one and only hunter chosen for ■■.
Permission granted, no more hesitation.
Chae-ryeon hopped on her motorcycle and revved the engine. The roar felt especially fierce.
"Skill activation!"
[Invincible Delivery Knight] activated.
[Customer Love is Sales Love] activated!
'Here we go.'
As the skills triggered, Chae-ryeon yelled at Shin Ha-rang.
"Hey, Wing Guild leader!"
"Y-Yes?"
Shin Ha-rang, squeezing out his power to shield his comrades, met her gaze.
"Place your victory order."
You know what I mean, right?
Chae-ryeon winked. Hard to see inside the dark helmet, but Ha-rang caught on quick.
"...Of course. 'Repurchase Promise'—if you wipe them out, I'll secure it from all 15 of us here."
Such a polite customer.
Conditions met.
User's all stats doubled compared to 'Rainbow Goddess Iris.'
Fusion skill synthesis!
New skill, [No Monster Zone From Here On, Get Lost!] unlocked.
Business territory expansion begins inside the dungeon!
Shhh.
Something shifted in the humid, sticky air.
Starting from the ground beneath Chae-ryeon's feet, the tropical rainforest morphed into an ordinary city street—like a commercial district. Asphalt roads, brick sidewalks, and even illusory food stalls appeared.
The incoming whirlwinds and rainbow hail hesitated, then began melting away stickily!
Territory: No Monster Zone
Effect: Allied hunters' instantaneous stats x1.5 boost
This was a rare buff skill, typically seen only from buffer-type support hunters.
"Wh-what the hell...?"
Chae Nara, vice leader of Wing Guild, stared in awe.
Just one hunter. She'd pegged her as B-rank at best, but she was radiating insane energy.
Chae-ryeon grabbed a long flag—not a balloon—from her skill and bellowed.
"Get away from my customers, you birdbrains!"
Vroooom. She charged her motorcycle straight into the monster horde.
Under the scorching tropical sun, her bike's red-hot color gleamed even brighter.
The harpies spotting Chae-ryeon leaping over the horde laughed at her.
-What's this? What can one puny human do...?
-Special delivery? Kiiik!
-...No.
But boss monster Iris paled and urgently commanded.
-R-Run! That's our ultimate predator!
-What do you mean, sister!
-Kiiik. Even 'That One' triggered another error to stop ■■...!
-No time to explain! That, that thing is...!
Iris eyed the descending Chae-ryeon on her motorcycle with terror.
Her rainbow irises trembled like in an earthquake.
-It's a hunter! No exaggeration to say she carries Hercules' blood...!
-Huh?
-A hero, an apostle, chosen by fate! Our natural enemy!
Iris puffed her wings amid the clustered harpies, trying to flee herself, but it was too late.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Chae-ryeon leaped off the bike, gripped the flag's thin metal feather shaft, and swung it lightly like a spear.
It looked just like the Grim Reaper wielding her scythe.
"You knew your own neck could fly off anytime if you tried to take lives, right?"
Her soft, gentle whisper was even scarier. Goosebumps rippled across the harpies' feathers.
'She's a crazy bitch.'
The monsters, cowed by one person's killing intent, tried slinking back—but their ankles were snagged.
-K-Kiek!
-What's this!
[Business Territory] effect. Like ink in water, the skill's influence spread instantly, debuffing enemies as well as buffing allies.
Territory: No Monster Zone
Effect: Enemy monsters' instantaneous stats x(-1.5) nerf / Some skills sealed for 1 minute
"K-Kieeeek...!"
-B-Body won't move right!