Chapter 30

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: True Detective

Chapter: 30

Chapter Title: Newbie Team 4

-----------------------------------------------------------------

"As expected..."

Having checked the loot box, Minguk nodded with a look of utter certainty. What had happened just moments ago was the anomaly, and this was the norm. Inside the box were three pieces of Gear Score 100 equipment.

Unfortunately, there was no gear suitable for a healer, but since a pair of gloves that Yuna could use had dropped, it wasn't a total loss. On top of that, there was one unique item they'd never seen before mixed in—a Class Stone.

This was a B-rank class that allowed ranged attacks infused with the power of fire. Uniquely, upon switching to Flame Archer, it automatically equipped the B-rank skill Explosion Shot, and apparently, it couldn't even be unequipped unless you changed classes.

"A class specialized in AoE attacks, huh?"

Minguk held the palm-sized stone and glanced at Yuna. The only hero in the group who used a bow and might consider switching to Flame Archer was Yuna. But Yuna, catching his gaze, shook her head.

It wasn't an especially great class, and she was satisfied with her current one anyway.

"Then we'll submit this to the clan..."

Per their contract, any loot from raids that the party didn't use had to be turned over to the clan.

The clan would then buy it at a fair price and distribute the proceeds according to the contract's ratios. Even items that had already been equipped or used needed to be reported for settlement purposes.

Well, it came from a special entity like the Ifrit, but it was still just a B-rank class. It probably wouldn't fetch much. Minguk's own B-rank class, Saint, had only gone for about $400 as a Class Stone.

And seven hours later.

The "Flame Bridge – Ifrit" raid, which they'd started in the morning, finally wrapped up late in the afternoon. In that time, Minguk pushed through no fewer than four repeats of what was colloquially known as "loop runs."

Under ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Raid Leader Han Minguk's relentless pace, Hyun-ah and the rest of the team couldn't relax for a single moment outside their one-hour break, locked in fierce combat amid scorching flames. They couldn't even complain. After all, the one working hardest in the party was Minguk, their healer.

"Ughhh... This is way tougher ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠than Hero Academy graduation training, huh?"

"And back then, we had instructors too. The monsters were just rank 1 or 2..."

So-jeong shuddered at Yuna's words, which carried a hint of tears, before letting out a deep sigh.

It had been four days since they'd started running with Raid Leader Han Minguk. And they'd successfully cleared their second dungeon today as well. Things were going smoothly for the party. Even a 1-star hero like her had managed to absorb a Mana Crystal—something most could only dream of.

But...

'This is brutally exhausting, humanly speaking...'

Was it because their raid leader was in his early twenties? Even though she was older, in her late twenties, she just couldn't keep up with his energy.

Rose Shield Clan's Newbie Team 4 GGW had taken down the Ifrit four times across those raids. Sure, they lost one or two members each time combat ended, but with the healer intact and the tank unscathed, they'd scraped by and felled the boss monster every time.

However, the Mana Crystal only appeared in the first loot box out of the remaining three. And every single loot box from today's raids had been opened by the self-proclaimed "super lucky girl from Cheonho-dong."

"If the drop rate's 30%, shouldn't we have gotten at least two?"

"We did end up with two overall."

But maybe their first pull had been too good? Everyone's faces showed disappointment. The highest-value loot, a Revival Stone, had only come from that very first box.

"Alright, let's call it here for today. We'll take a couple days off and then dive back into Flame Bridge."

Minguk addressed the team. He'd wanted to keep looping tomorrow too, but they all looked worn out from today's grind.

'They can't handle full hardcore mode yet. Guess this world's raid standards are a bit lower overall...'

Back when he was active in the game, you'd have to loop at least ten times nonstop before anyone would call it "a little farming."

They'd gotten the Mana Crystal, but in the end, neither So-jeong nor Hyun-ah had managed to raise their hero rank. They hadn't hit their ability caps yet.

30% wasn't that high a probability, and with the raid not running smoothly—accidents popping off left and right—they couldn't clear fast enough either.

'They're not lacking in skill. A few mistakes, but with experience, they'll be fine...'

Still, zero failed clears was enough to give them high marks. They were all above average, at least.

On the Hero Pad's contribution rankings, tank Hyun-ah led with a B+. For reference, Minguk—who hadn't died once and kept everyone's health perfectly stable—was sitting at S-rank.

Hyun-ah, like Minguk, hadn't died in any of the four raids. Sure, she'd needed a lot of rescues, but she'd followed his orders precisely and resolved crises admirably.

Next was Kim So-jeong, also B+ but edged out into third by finer details. As a melee dealer wielding a greatsword, her damage output was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠exceptional. After her came Ye-rin and Yuna, both straight B-ranks—solid average performance.

With all the clears done, Minguk and Kim So-jeong headed to the clan house.

The rest were going straight home from there. But as raid leader, Minguk had to file the "post-raid report" and turn in the loot. So-jeong was staying at the clan house anyway.

The raid party of five had dwindled to two, and with the mix of genders, the car ride to the clan house was deathly quiet.

"......"

Minguk, fiddling with his Hero Pad to draft the submission report for the clan, stole a glance at Kim So-jeong. Her face looked utterly drained from the day's battles.

"Was the raid a bit too intense?"

"Huh...? Oh? Y-Yeah, I'm f-fine..."

Startled by Minguk's sudden question, So-jeong jolted upright from her daze. He might be younger, but he was her raid leader. After a hesitant pause, she spoke carefully.

"Honestly, it was a little tough. And that 'loop run' thing? First I'd heard of repeatedly farming the same dungeon. Usually, even the same one gets hit once every four or five days..."

Hero Academy apparently didn't teach the true art of grinding loops.

"Guess your stamina's not quite there because of your age."

"Pfft. You're still in your twenties, aren't you? Veterans would lose it if they heard that."

"But they're not here, right?"

Minguk blinked at So-jeong's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠playful shrug and quip. Her mature aura and usual reticence made this joking side a surprise. People really revealed their true colors after a few real talks.

"It was rough, but today's raid was amazing. Taking down that Ifrit four times..."

"The loot boxes were a letdown, though?"

"I'm satisfied. We pulled two Mana Crystals, didn't we? Hyun-ah's luck isn't bad at all. Plus, we got the Ifrit subjugation record. Huge gains for a hero today."

So-jeong flashed a bright smile and swept back her sweat-matted hair.

"......"

To Minguk, that gesture felt intensely sexy. Her mature allure stirred something primal. Suddenly, he flashed back to So-jeong's breasts and pink nipples from the Ifrit raid.

He swallowed unconsciously, then quickly changed the subject to avoid betraying his thoughts.

"So, you live at the clan house, Kim So-jeong?"

"Oh? Yeah."

"Why? A promising hero who made Rose Shield should be able to afford a nice place..."

"Heh. I'm not world-ranking material or anything. And Seoul real estate's pricey. Plus, Rose Shield runs its own daycare. The teachers have a great rep."

"Ah, for your daughter?"

Minguk blinked curiously. He'd known from her profile that Kim So-jeong had a daughter, but not about the clan-run daycare.

He'd only joined recently and hadn't paid much attention to such details. With mostly female heroes fighting dark monsters, they clearly prioritized family conveniences.

"Yeah. Someone has to watch her while I'm out fighting, and I'm single anyway... So I just stay at the clan house."

"Not inconvenient?"

"Not at all."

Minguk nodded at her casual shrug. The clan handled way more than he'd thought. Owning a whole 14-story building probably helped. At a loss for words, he turned back to his Hero Pad.

"Mind if I ask you something too?"

Now So-jeong spoke up.

"Sure? What?"

"The Power Crystal. Why'd you give it to me? Aren't you close with Hyun-ah?"

"We are, but... like I said, Power's core to your melee weapon build, right? Way better for boosting the party's firepower."

"I hear most raid leaders don't divvy loot that rationally. Especially rare stuff like Mana Crystals—you can't just buy 'em. Parties disband over loot drama all the time."

Minguk tilted his head. He got most of it, but "rare" for Mana Crystals? Hard to relate.

"Eh, keep farming Ifrit and they'll keep dropping."

"...Yeah, fair point."

So-jeong chuckled. Anyone else saying that would've gotten eye-rolls and disbelief.

But this guy? A 1-star hero with skills beyond belief, leading the team flawlessly. He had "future world-star" written all over him.

She could easily picture the world fixating on him soon.

'And a male hero at that...'

So-jeong's eyes traced Minguk's features. His Mana Awakening had transformed him into a heart-stopping stunner. Looks really were a weapon.

"......"

Suddenly hyper-aware of his handsomeness, So-jeong's heart raced with excitement. The post-battle adrenaline amplified it, and she unwittingly let out a hot breath.

Was it because he was a Mana-awakened male hero? It felt way more intense than with other guys. And sitting right beside her, Minguk couldn't miss it.

'Aw, missed opportunity...'

The clan's hero transport was fully sealed from the driver's seat to let battle-weary heroes rest. If it'd just been him and Hyun-ah, he might've cautiously gone for some sucking and nibbling. But Hyun-ah wasn't here.

And So-jeong was a woman he'd known less than a week—basically a coworker. Off-limits, obviously.

'Oh yeah!'

Come to think of it, he'd totally spaced on that deep kiss with Ye-rin. Scratching his head in regret, Minguk pulled up the internet on his Hero Pad.

"Uh, um..."

Minguk was speechless scanning the rapid-fire replies.

This was that kind of world. One surviving on war against darkness-wielding monsters. Male-female ratios shattered. Desperately boosting birth rates in hopes new girls would awaken to mana.

Minguk kept his head fixed on the Hero Pad, eyes sliding sideways. The gray-bobbed beauty had her hand on her stomach, eyes closed, leaning back in her seat. Her bra-top—exposing the upper curves of her breasts—felt extra tempting today.