Chapter 106
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: Each One's Circumstances
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'Is that the area where the diffusion phenomenon occurred?'
Han Minguk's eyes widened too. The contaminated zone created by the dungeon break blanketed a vast swath of northern Hanoi. According to the interpreter, it spanned over two hundred kilometers in diameter—an enormous expanse.
Inside it, the number of newly spawned dungeons already tallied more than twenty-five hundred. And Korea, along with Canada and India, had been assigned the northeast sector of Hanoi.
"I'd like GGW to handle the [B]-rank dungeons around here."
The raid leader of the Strong Women Clan circled the geography near the diffusion zone with her pen as she spoke to Minguk. Her tone was surprisingly gentle.
"Does the numerical rating not matter?"
"Of course not. The high-difficulty dungeons will be cleared by veteran heroes like us in the Strong Women Clan anyway. GGW and Raid Leader Han Minguk should just focus on your own safety and gaining dungeon break experience—stick to the safe spots."
"Ha. You're acting more like a mom than my own. And isn't this a bit too two-faced? Which clan was it that dragged Rose Shield into this expedition in the first place?"
"Was that me? Our clan leader's just got a twisted personality, that's all."
The Memoria raid leader's snide remark drew an arm-crossed retort from the Strong Women Clan's raid leader. Regardless of her clan leader's ties, she wanted to cozy up to this promising male hero during the expedition. Other clans like GGW had been assigned their own sectors too.
Exceptions existed, though: America's 'White House' and China's 'Tencent,' both capable of clearing even [A-1]-rank dungeons with ease. Those two clans planned to tackle only [A-1]s.
The unit escorting GGW would be from China's 14th Army Group—a battalion-sized force. With Vietnam sharing a border and the dungeon break erupting in the north, China was desperate to resolve this crisis.
"Having to rely on Chinese soldiers for protection in Vietnam feels a little off, doesn't it?"
"Vietnam's military is stretched too thin to help. Plus, most of their troops are already tied up fighting monsters..."
The situation was much the same for the other clans. Whether Vietnamese or Chinese, as long as the military kept the monsters at bay, few cared about nationalities.
Minguk felt the same. His mind was wholly occupied with thoughts of the dungeons GGW had to clear.
Kuu's quest clearly just says to collapse all the 'temporary dungeons' in Hanoi.
It made no mention of their difficulties. And Minguk planned to exploit that with a little trick.
The dungeons spawned by this diffusion phenomenon formed a gourd-like distribution. Even the low-difficulty ones at the bottom—plenty in number, but still born of the phenomenon—included spots like [B-8] or [B-9].
That's why Minguk intended to scout and raid those first, before Canada and India's teams moved out. The moment the meeting ended, he gathered his team.
The contacted Chinese military unit arrived promptly, geared up like they were on three-minute standby.
"Major Miao Miao here. We've been assigned to escort the GGW heroes."
A middle-aged woman stepped out of a Humvee mounted with a machine gun. Her sharp eyes and firm lips screamed career soldier. Behind her rolled tanks and armored vehicles.
"For now, we'll start by clearing the lowest-difficulty dungeons, beginning with [B-9]."
As they boarded the military bus under Chinese escort, Minguk addressed his team. Eight people total, including himself, filled the seats.
"Knocking out the easy ones first?"
"Exactly. Wasting time on high-difficulty raids risks a dungeon break mid-run, which would be a nightmare."
The real reason was the quest, but his explanation rang true enough that everyone nodded knowingly.
"Which means the healers are off duty today."
Monsters below grade 5 required a five-hero raid party. More people wouldn't help.
The standard five-hero setup: one tank, three dealers, one healer. And GGW's raid leader, Minguk, was a healer-class hero. Thanks to that, the Budsen sisters were resting at the hotel.
"Those called now form the first strike team."
Minguk named Tanya first, followed by the three dealers: Kim So-jeong, Jung Ye-rin, and Shin Na-yeon. They were GGW's pioneers for their inaugural [B-9] dungeon.
Unfortunately, Korea's sector had only one [B-9]. No [B-8]s at all, but three [B-7]s.
Alright, time to spin the wheel...
To perfectly clear the quest, they'd need fifty dungeons. Monsters from the break still roamed, and Vietnam's turf was vast—it'd take time—but Minguk aimed to blitz it like a speedrun.
A [Class Stone (A) - Unique Grade] and [Class Stone (A) - Legendary Grade] awaited him.
"First male hero I've ever seen in person."
"What? You see 'em on TV every day. That Zhang Xiulan ad's on nonstop."
"I mean for real."
The private shot back at her sergeant's question. Close in age, they chatted casually when alone.
The private's gaze drifted to the dungeon entrance where the male hero had just vanished.
"And he's not just a poster boy—he's leading raids into combat, even cleared a [B-1]. The kids say it's true... Really?"
"Heard the same. Graduated Hero Academy just a year ago—how's that even possible? But the other heroes aren't lying."
"There's talk the World Hero Association bred him as a secret weapon with drugs to end the dark monster war."
"Pfft, no way. If so, it'd be one of our great Chinese heroes or the Americans. Korea's raid power is a joke. Guy's just a freak."
Chatting idly, the soldiers never slacked on watch. Their post was in an area the main force had already swept. Still, in the diffusion zone, monsters could pop anytime.
"Sergeant, is it true male heroes have insane libidos?"
"Why ask on purpose? Not like we've got men—or any action."
What started as hero talk quickly turned lewd. In a military skewed heavily female with few males, it was inevitable.
"I've done it once. Paid for it, though."
"How was it? Mind-blowing? Better than a dildo?"
The sergeant probed slyly, a twinge of jealousy at her younger peer's experience.
"Not that great. Just felt like something sliding in and out. Later, I regretted wasting the cash."
"Maybe 'cause there's no love? I'd take any guy who loves only me, even if older or surrounded by women."
"Like those exist? With all the hotshots hitting on you?"
Scouts reported all clear. The guards' banter continued. Two hours later, anomalies flickered at the mana-formed dungeon entrance.
"Dungeon's collapsing."
"Already?"
Miao Miao Major, lounging against the stiff Humvee seat, dropped her dashboard-propped legs at the aide's report. She checked her watch and scowled.
"Illusion. Go verify."
GGW had entered only two hours ago. Even a trash [B-9] had minimum clear times. Brass mandated five-hour waits.
But the aide confirmed it personally: the dungeon was indeed crumbling.
"H-how'd you clear it so fast? Impressive skills."
"Low difficulty, plus some luck."
Minguk replied humbly to the wide-eyed major, flashing a polite smile.
It was just a [B-9], after all—cleared pre-hero cert, trivial even.
But unlike her words, Minguk's heart raced with triumph.
Fuck yeah! It works!
He'd checked the quest right after toppling the ramen-munchable [B-9].
Ppuu's quest window blinked with a progress count of 1. Low-difficulty clears advanced it too.
"Raid Leader Han Minguk, heading back to Hanoi now?"
"No. Can we proceed to the next dungeon mission?"
Minguk shook his head fast at Miao Miao's question. Strike while the iron's hot. Her surprised look shifted back to soldier mode.
"Understood. But we need high command approval to move."
It'd delay things, but her unit handled night ops fine.
"Appreciate it."
High command approved GGW's request, naturally. Even lowbies needed quick clears to preempt breaks, and the northeast teemed with [B]s.
"For the next [B-7], Oh Hyun-ah, Choi Yuna, and Shiranui Mai prep. Need one dealer volunteer."
Kim So-jeong shot her hand up. Still buzzing from the last raid, she craved more monster-slaying swings.
"Huh?"
"Whoa, we've cleared this one before, right?"
Forty minutes later, at their second target—a [B-7]—Minguk and the crew's eyes lit up at the familiar sight. Luck struck: one they'd raided back home. But one issue.
"Gonna need extra dealer support."
The dungeon's monsters: orcs strutting with massive cocks on full display.
Frail weaklings that'd drop from one slash, but poison to mana-corrupted hero Shiranui Mai. She already strained to suppress her mana roiling from their stench.
Then So-jeong spoke.
"Do we really? Can't we handle it here? Raid Leader."
Minguk's eyes shook wildly, instantly grasping her implication.
Suddenly, a ding echoed in his ears: 'Outdoor play added to Kim So-jeong's preferred activities.'