Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Even Summoning Skeletons Alone is Too Strong
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"Hold on, I need to take this call."
I set down the ribs I was eating and stood up.
"What could be so urgent?"
Jeong Sia asked, looking curious.
The hidden dungeon team totaled five people. Aside from me and Kim Tae-hyun, we needed three more, but...
'These two won't do.'
I had no intention of bringing them along. My traits were overflowing as it was, but a hidden dungeon was truly unpredictable—anything could happen.
I couldn't bear to save them only to watch them die.
A hidden dungeon.
Even I would struggle to protect myself there right now.
"It's about money."
"Then go handle it. Hurry back after the call."
I stepped out, took the elevator to the first floor, and scanned the area for a quiet spot before calling Kim Tae-hyun.
"Hello? Lee Han?"
The phone barely rang twice before Kim Tae-hyun's voice came through.
"Yes, it's me. Tae-hyun."
"You're on Earth, huh?"
"Yeah. I just got back."
"Perfect timing. Did you find anyone to join us in the dungeon?"
"No, I don't really know anyone."
"Makes sense. From what I saw of your hunting that day, you don't seem like you need a party anyway."
"Didn't you already round everyone up anyway?"
He wouldn't have called just for a mid-check.
I figured Kim Tae-hyun had already secured the other three.
"Spot on. Got lucky and found them quick. So, are you prepared?"
Prepared?
"Of course."
From the moment I returned here, I'd vowed it over and over.
The day Solomon sneered at Earth as a lower dimension and invaded.
The day I'd smash him to the ground and look down with a mocking laugh.
For that day, I'd do anything—spare no means or methods—to prepare everything I could.
"Hahaha, straightforward as ever. Then, October 25th, 9 a.m. at Yongin Station. We'll take the portal from there."
"See you then."
I hung up with Kim Tae-hyun.
October 25th—three days away.
'No time to level up.'
This meant adjusting my plans.
The two most urgent priorities were gear and...
One was proper items.
'Wonder if Cha Jin-hyeok has anything good.'
Sun's Cha Jin-hyeok seemed more useful than Jeong Ji-un from my past life.
The two moons in the night sky felt especially bright.
[Wyvern Leather T-shirt]
[Wyvern Leather Pants]
[Wyvern Fang Dagger]
Items stamped with the word "Sun."
They were crafted with utmost care by Sun Guild to catch up to Woosung, the item-making powerhouse.
'Wish I had more time.'
If I did, I'd have snagged a skill-equipped item from the auction house.
But with only two days until the 25th.
These were the best I could get through Cha Jin-hyeok in that time.
"Hey, what's that guy doing? Heading there?"
"Nah, probably just passing by."
"No monsters over there, though."
"True. Maybe sightseeing. It's a landmark, after all."
"Fair point."
As I crossed the dense forest, I overheard hunters chatting during a break.
Long story short, they were right—I was heading to that landmark.
I needed something there.
I trekked on until I reached the mountain summit.
A massive crater sprawled before me.
'Discovered five months ago, yet no one's dared challenge it.'
That was why it was called a landmark.
'Is that it?'
I eyed the intricate circular magic circle etched into the crater's rim.
Unlike my trial dungeon entrance, this one was blatantly visible.
All Utopia dungeons were like that—unpredictable.
Some were even inside monster bodies.
Anyway, I headed to the dungeon entrance at the edge and stepped onto the magic circle.
No warning—my body floated, and the surroundings shifted.
A long, stretching cave.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Step onto the teleportation magic circle if you wish to escape.]
Unlike trial dungeons, this one allowed free entry and exit.
I followed the cave path forward. It grew brighter inside as time passed, and soon I reached the end.
A lake of bubbling red lava.
In its center, an altar rose high, with red parchment floating above it.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Flight skills cannot be used.]
[Pierce the lava and seize the treasure.]
That's right.
This was a trap dungeon.
You had to conquer the lava trap to claim the reward.
The path to the altar?
A plain stone bridge, like something from a stream.
Cross it, and the lava's heat could overwhelm you—or if luck soured, a splash could melt you away.
'But I can do it.'
I touched the Phoenix's Tear around my neck and stepped boldly onto the bridge.
Sizzle!
Bad luck, huh.
Just one step, and lava splashed onto my leg.
But it only hissed dramatically—no damage.
Worth an S-rank fire resistance.
I crossed in one go and reached the altar.
'In the end, it ends up mine.'
The skill on the red parchment wasn't originally mine.
It belonged to the original owner of this [Phoenix's Tear].
'Feel a bit guilty.'
Couldn't be helped.
'If we meet later, I'll make it up.'
If fate brought us together someday, I'd repay the favor.
I grabbed the parchment and checked its info.
[Lava Shield (B)].
Matched my memory.
No hesitation—I shouted immediately.
⚔ SKILL ACQUIRED ⚔ [Lava Shield (B)]
Finally got it.
Planned to grab it right after auctioning the [Phoenix's Tear], but the Resurrection Church delayed things.
Now, I'd patched my most urgent gap.
With Sia occupying one of my two skeleton slots, I lacked solid offense.
'Hidden dungeons might have foes immune to me and Kkaebi's attacks.'
As the name [Lava Shield] implied, it was a passive: on hit, a chance to envelop my body in a protective lava shield.
Lower rank than [Burning Vitality (S)] from the trial, but that was cheesing an absurd trial.
At my level, lava alone would dominate.
'Preparations complete.'
Now, just hunt until then. Sia's level-up was priority.
"Hello, Lee Han. Long time no see."
October 25th, 9 a.m., Yongin Station portal front.
Kim Tae-hyun approached in a black robe I'd not seen before, hand extended. Looked properly geared.
"Yes. Hope you've been well."
I shook his hand and scanned the others.
'No familiar faces.'
Team hand-picked by Kim Tae-hyun for the hidden dungeon.
All must be skilled, but none rang a bell.
'Names might jog something.'
Like Sia—famous but vanished midway. I asked Kim Tae-hyun.
"These folks joining us?"
Implying introductions.
"Yes. Let's do intros. They'll have our backs in there."
Have our backs, huh...
Hidden rewards: minimum A to S-grade.
Just pray greed doesn't turn knives on backs.
Kim Tae-hyun started.
"As you know, Kim Tae-hyun. Necromancer line. Level? You'll see soon enough."
We'll see levels...?
What did that mean?
Pushing doubt aside, a confident woman in her early 30s, silver armor gleaming, went next.
"Hi, Cha Si-won. Melee combat trait. Level 41."
'41. Vanguard elite.'
Top 5% now. Worth bragging.
Next, a bushy-bearded 50s man in pristine white robes—total opposite of Kim Tae-hyun.
"Name's Park Sun-oh. Healer trait. Level 37—kinda embarrassing after the lady's. Haha!"
Boisterous laugh with his intro.
Healer essential for endless hidden runs, but this guy? Unexpected.
Then, a hoodie-clad woman, head bowed low.
"Lee Eun-joo. 23. Enhancement trait. Level 35. Likes chicken. Hates spinach."
This one's not normal.
Enhancement?
Only Cha Si-won to buff here. Why bring her?
'Si-won's high-level, but...'
Can she handle everything solo?
"Just Lee Han left."
Kim Tae-hyun pulled me from thoughts.
All eyes on me, I spoke.
"Lee Han. Necromancer like Tae-hyun. Level 23."
No point hiding if it'd show anyway.
"23?"
"My ears broken? Haha!"
"Wild."
Everyone but Kim Tae-hyun gawked.
He stepped forward.
"No worries. I vetted Lee Han myself, like you all. My life's on the line too."
Really? Didn't feel that vetted.
"Fair. No way you'd drag randos into a hidden."
"Haha, yeah. Not unless betting his life too."
"Agreed."
Hidden dungeons: no exit once started. Straight shot—reward or death, like my trial.
"Intros done. Let's move."
Kim Tae-hyun led us through the portal to Utopia, straight to shops.
"Stock max rations, everyone."
No telling exit time—food essential.
I crammed compact combat rations into my bag.
Gear? They'd prepped; no need.
'Poison, though.'
I grabbed some—just in case.
"Poison too?"
Kim Tae-hyun sidled up.
Saw me buy with rations, huh.
"Yeah. Unknown monsters. Slow poison kills eventually."
"Smart. Still summoning just one skeleton?"
I answered his question with feigned regret.
"Yes. One."
"No magic invest?"
"As you know, mine's quirky. Lotsa limits."
No need to show all cards before hidden greed hits.
"Tae-hyun, dungeon far?"
Cha Si-won approached mid-chat.
"No. Right here."
"Here? Portal City?"
"Yup. Darkest under the lamp."
Dungeon spots were arbitrary—no shock.
"Follow me."
We trailed him.
But direction felt off.
"Residential district?"
Cha Si-won right.
Portal City's housing for Utopia livers—no Earth trips.
"Yes. Dungeon's here."
City center, not outskirts.
If undiscovered, obvious.
'Underground.'
Elsewise, only Kim Tae-hyun finding it? Nah.
He stopped at identical single-story row house.
"Here?"
"Haha! Fun from the start."
"Whoa."
Kim Tae-hyun unlocked the door.
"Come in."
Cha Si-won asked.
"Your place?"
"Haha, sharp. Explain inside."
We entered per his words.
Bare—no furniture, no life. Only suspicious living room carpet.
"Necromancer trait, right? Corpse-finding skill. Strong pre-death ones too."
Kim Tae-hyun walked to room center, continuing.
"Felt corpse aura nonstop underground here. Bought it, dug around."
Grabbed carpet edge, yanked.
"Broke the floor."
Exposed stairs in hole.
This guy dug his floor? Not a bank heist.
"Dungeon entrance below?"
Park Sun-oh peered down.
"Yeah. Summons dug till boom—dungeon entrance."
Who'd suspect underground? Luck plus skill.
"Shall we?"
Kim Tae-hyun lit prepared flashlight, led. We followed underground.
Rough stairs, dark jagged stone walls.
About five minutes down, yellow glow from stair end.
"Jump through there."
He leaped hole at end; we followed one by one.
"What is this place?"
"Whoa..."
Worth their awe.
Vast circular clearing.
Yellow glow from gold encircling it.
"Feels like a tomb."
"Tomb?"
Cha Si-won blinked shocked.
"Yeah. Strong aura corpse inside."
Followed his point.
Sole dark iron door in gold hall: massive dragon carved lifelike.
"Dungeon entrance."
Kim Tae-hyun approached, stood before it.
"Everyone up. Needs five to enter."
We gathered at the giant door.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Hidden dungeon discovered.]
[5-player dungeon.]
[Touch to begin verification.]
Door center message visible to all—helpful.
"Touch it."
Kim Tae-hyun palmed first.
[Level 45] That's why levels would show.
45? Necromancer perks.
Unlike me sharing EXP, they monopolize summon kills.
Nonstop hunting = insane levels.
'Impressive still.'
Not anyone could. Needed powerhouse summons.
Higher levels = diminishing EXP from weak mobs.
"Wow, 45."
Cha Si-won wide-eyed, touched next.
[Level 41] [Level 37] [Level 35] [Level 23] No fakers.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [5-player verification complete.]
[Dungeon level set to 36.]
[Once started, no exit until cleared. Open door? (Y/N)]
Door check explained.
Dungeon scaled to our average level.
This gets fun.
'Brought me to tank the average?'
Kim Tae-hyun's reason clear.
High-levels scouting lowbies like me? Fishy from jump.
Could grab similars easy for hidden.
'All he saw: me and Kkaebi vs. ghouls.'
Hard-fought pack = useful meatshield, he thought.
'Getting interesting.'
I was literal meatshield. No expectations.
"Hahaha! Leader planned it. 23? To drag average down."
Park Sun-oh sneered, confirming.
"Well, strong for 23. First meet confidence? Shocking."
Kim Tae-hyun's kill shot.
Never saw me as combatant.
"All ready?"
No backing out here, he figured?
My say irrelevant—he prepped entry.
Cha Si-won asked him.
"Clarify first. Rewards talk."
Sensitive—no one broached first.
Or ulterior motives.
"Divvy if divisible. Else, buy from owner at fair price."
Why I skipped asking.
Answer obvious.
How long these tiresome chats?
"Yes. Agreed?"
To Cha Si-won's question, I skipped words.
Reached out, firmly pressed [Y] on door message.