Chapter 252
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 252
Chapter Title: National Hero
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Having taken down the corrupted ant, Han Minguk and the Team GGW raid party meticulously searched the dungeon as they pressed forward.
The darkness monsters that appeared in this [A-2] difficulty dungeon were quite dangerous, not just the named bosses but even the regular mobs. If they let their guard down during a break and got hit with a massive ambush, they could easily burn through a Revival Stone.
'Losing the Revival Stone itself isn't a big deal...'
What came after was the real hassle.
Moving the revived party members from inside the dungeon to rejoin the group could cause issues depending on their classes.
To avoid wasting time on short-term annoyances, Han Minguk and the heroes swept through every hidden monster pack as they advanced deeper into the dungeon.
How's it looking, Minguk?
'From what I've seen of other strategy videos, it shouldn't be too tough overall... but no clue when this dungeon might collapse.'
The higher the dungeon rank, the faster it collapses once repeated raids begin. Powerful monsters require an unimaginable amount of void mana to respawn.
'So when the dungeon runs out of void mana, it crumbles? Looks like that Dr. Louise hypothesis was spot on.'
Chatting sporadically with Ppuu, Han Minguk pulled out his Hero Pad whenever he had a moment to check named boss videos and strategy patterns.
Even watching videos couldn't beat real combat experience...
Still, every attempt taught them something, so he focused on key points the raid needed to watch out for. Reaching the edge of the dense forest, Team GGW spotted a massive clearing—and their second named boss.
"Orc."
A few heroes who spotted it went stiff-faced.
Yuna, especially, looked ready to charge the moment she confirmed it was a red-skinned orc.
The named boss snorted aggressively, poised to attack the second any heroes entered its range.
"Alright, briefing time. Since this is our first go at this named, we'll follow the plan but prioritize survival and pattern learning."
With the boss right in front of them, Han Minguk launched straight into the briefing.
They'd scored a solid accessory from the first named, so tying down this one shouldn't be too bad.
One-try clear was out of the question, but combining Memoria raid data and Hero Pad videos, they could take it down in 10 tries fast or 15 max.
Assuming the team adapted quickly to the attempts, that is.
"3... 2... 1... Engage! Tank grabs aggro, dealers and healers get to position!"
The briefing ended, and Han Minguk and Team GGW dove into tackling the second named.
The first try ended ugly: the red orc's massive overhead smash swept up dealers and healers, and a rain of arrows from orc minions finished them off.
Han Minguk, the only one left standing, frantically cast recovery skills to save his allies, but without shields, he couldn't solo-tank the missile-like arrow barrage.
Plus, rank-8 monsters were no dummies.
Spotting Han Minguk holding solo, it ignored the harmless tank and charged him.
Thanks to his veteran instincts, he held his own against the named as a healer—but by then, the team was wiped by minions.
Han Minguk fell to the named next, ending the first try.
Late afternoon.
Three mid-tier monsters had assaulted Rose Shield's outpost, sparking a fierce battle.
Tanks and mines from yesterday, plus nested machine-gun fire, kept casualties at zero—but it was a close call for the scavenging team.
"We got hit on the way here too... second attack today? Something going down?"
"Out beyond the defense line? Just bad luck. This is void-corrupted terrain anyway."
"Y-Yeah?"
"Not even large ones—just three mids."
The veteran shrugged at the newbie's worry.
Two monster encounters in a day? Heroes and soldiers had cleared high-risk zones, and with Korea focused on dungeon management, it wasn't everyday stuff.
But in void-tainted Daegu? Not unusual.
If it were real trouble, they'd be facing endless hordes, not twice.
"Anyway, stay sharp—"
Krunch! Boom!
Mid-sentence, a massive explosion echoed from afar—like something shattering.
The newbie whipped her gun around in panic; the veteran smacked it skyward with her own.
Everyone knew that sound: a dungeon gate Revival Stone breaking.
"Chill. Revival Stone popped. Full wipe again?"
"Oh, right... how many's that now?"
"Twenty-three today. Ugh..."
The veteran shuddered at the newbie's question, like it was too awful to imagine.
Twenty-three stones meant twenty-three deaths to horrific monsters. One death was nightmare fuel; twenty-three?
She'd have lost her mind.
"Tch... we almost had it."
"Should've handled the adds better."
"Second party's movement felt off too? Raid Leader said diagonal push—why zigzag?"
"Floor hazard, but yeah, should've trusted the shield and plowed through. My bad."
Despite it all, the heroes revived by the stones' mystic power shook off their daze, assessed the situation, then dissected the failed fight.
It was impressive just watching.
Team GGW, tackling Korea's deadliest [A-2] dungeon, had downed named 1 and 2 shortly after entry and was now on the third: 1st District Gatekeeper.
All in two days since entering.
"Fast?"
"...Duh? Not [B]—this is [A-2]."
The veteran gawked at the newbie.
Scavenger team meant basic darkness monster and dungeon knowledge, right?
Then she remembered the clan's explosive growth forcing rushed hires. This newbie was probably one too.
"New dungeon means weak raids waste lifetimes burning stones. Only Memoria first-string could strategy [A-2] this quick—and only with Kang Chae-young."
"Now?"
"She retired, lost some punch. Strategy schedules slipping already..."
"Chae-young must've been amazing."
"Top dealer rank for years. Skill plus more named fights than most raid leaders."
Talk of Chae-young shifted to her pregnancy and fiancé, Rose Shield poster boy Han Minguk—who happened to be at the outpost.
"...He's stupid hot."
"Heh. Scavenging's best perk."
Korea's top hunk and national hero. Chill personality outdid most female heroes; his popularity pierced the scavenging team skies long ago.
He never lorded his hero status either.
Plenty of heroes treated normals like slaves.
"God must've poured everything into making Minguk."
"Looks, personality—zero flaws. Stamina too."
"Stamina? Oh, knocking up Hero Chae-young..."
The veteran shrugged at the newbie's assumption. First time on GGW scav duty, clearly.
She'd learn by nightfall anyway, so she zipped it.
Day three of serious raiding.
Daegu City Hall Dungeon's 1st District was cleared. Cost: 59 Revival Stones. Gains: way more.
Kendal's Ant Flower accessory alone? Auction billions.
Han Minguk had zero plans to sell it, though.
'Surprisingly...'
Insanely good effects. Flat 30% life recovery boost? No brainer. Depending on strategy needs, he even considered farming the first named just for it.
It shone tanking named hits, letting them down the gatekeeper third named in three days to wrap 1st District.
"Now onto 2nd District..."
Han Minguk eyed his exhausted team.
They'd ridden 1st District's momentum, but 2nd looked doubtful.
"Two-day break before 2nd District. Scav team heads to Seoul for loot anyway—those with business, go and return day after tomorrow."
"Wooo!!!"
Giselle whooped first.
Three days battling nightmare monsters? Rest was desperate. Sweet food, warm beds called.
Kim So-jeong hid it better, but her lips twitched up. Probably itching to see So-hyun.
"Anyone for Busan?"
"...Busan?"
"Yeah. Beach, sashimi. Closer than Seoul anyway."
Jeong Ye-rin rallied for a Busan trip. Geographically spot-on.
Yuna and Tanya perked up.
"Hyun-ah, you in?"
"...Me?"
"Big Lego store there, right?"
"Count me in!"
Oh Hyun-ah joined Busan squad.
Her eyes sparkled imagining new Lego drops.
Han Minguk headed to Seoul. No real business, but stuff to discuss with Kim Tae-yeon.
Three days raiding: her texts were just work gripes.
Quest cleared ages ago, yet she hadn't clocked the pregnancy. Time to tell her.
He could already picture her reaction.
Fixed previous chapter subtitles.
Typos... I correct them whenever spotted, but so many ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ Hunting them down now.
Enjoy!
That elf novel getting trashed... Sympathies to the author. Fun read for me too—world's full of weirdos....
