Chapter 66
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Strange Bet
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Memoria, where's your sense of fairness? Scared enough of Rose Shield's rookies to pull out the Kang Chaeyoung card?
Cowardly Memoria confirmed.
Scared!!!!!
Minguk's kids combined dungeon clears still wouldn't match one Kang Chaeyoung. She's been farming dungeons for cash since she was 16.
Even with Han Minguk, this is... Honestly too boring, losing interest. Where's the protagonist going while the side characters eat up all the glory?
When the member list leaked, people could only react with shock. What they thought was just a pissing contest between male heroes had snowballed into a showdown involving Korea's top rankers.
Oh Hyun-jung, leader of the Rose Shield Clan, had deliberately leaked Memoria's list, hoping the public would pressure them.
Whoa, Memoria's sharpening their knives.
Isn't that too much? Kang Chaeyoung against a first-year prospect?
The world of competition is ruthless by nature.
Competition? Isn't this an event match?
Honestly, this isn't Memoria vs. Rose Shield. It's Rose vs. Laon. When group pride is on the line, you pull your best card. That's fair... but isn't Kang Chaeyoung overkill?
But Memoria's leader wasn't one to back down either. Anticipating Rose Shield's move, she'd dragged the Laon group name into it, securing justification for deploying Kang Chaeyoung. It was a bet they couldn't afford to lose, as it would tarnish the group's reputation.
Of course, it wasn't entirely without criticism, but it was manageable.
The target dungeon was set to "Ice Canyon," just as Minguk wanted. With Kang Chaeyoung stepping up, they seemed willing to concede that much. Hearing that Memoria had accepted Ice Canyon as the battlefield, Minguk scoffed.
"Perfect. We've got a 97% chance of winning."
He gave his team personal training directives, then headed to the rookies' conference room for the four new teams. It was to hammer out detailed tactics for Ice Canyon.
Veterans who'd seen it before were fine, but Ice Canyon's monsters demanded careful leadership. The biggest threat was the Ice Drake, but the others weren't pushovers either.
Welcome to Hologram Training.
Generating Grade 4 Special Entity: Ice Drake.
Composition: Tank 1, Dealers 3, Healer 1.
After perfecting the tactics, he ran hologram simulations against the Ice Drake multiple times to find the optimal skill setup. The brutal cold and heavy AoE healing demands made mana tight as fights dragged on.
"No way I can tank this solo... Need help from the others."
Minguk started scrutinizing skill stones usable by each class. Heroes could equip hundreds, regardless of rank or unique class abilities.
He found "Mental Stimulation," a support skill for Choi Yuna's Ice Archer class. It boosted the target's mana recovery fivefold.
With only three skill stone slots and zero DPS value, it was largely obsolete for dealers. But Minguk pegged it as the key to conquering Ice Canyon.
"Mental Stimulation? Oh, I've got one. I collect skill stones as souvenirs."
Fortunately, Yuna had it. She nodded without question at Minguk's order to bring it.
While Minguk focused solely on Ice Canyon, shouts erupted in Memoria's leader office.
"That makes no sense! Sending Shin Nayeon to Rose Shield?!"
"If we win this bet, it's no issue."
At the leader's words, Kang Chaeyoung swallowed her boiling rage and spoke slowly.
"Ah, so that's why you had me clear a [B-5] dungeon? What, am I a kid? Clearing that trash?!"
Chaeyoung hated being dragged into this mess.
She was the number one dealer ranker, tackling high-end A-rank dungeons. Now, swapping to shabby gear to speedrun [B-5] against rookies? It crushed her pride.
'And treating heroes like trading cards!'
Worse, her prized protégé Shin Nayeon was the stake. Chaeyoung's eyes blazed.
"Orders from above. Laon's crown prince gave the word himself."
"The opponents are first-years! Even if they're talented, losing to fresh qualification passers? Be ready for the backlash! Fuck, their hero licenses aren't even dry yet!"
Kim Sung-cheol bowed his head at Chaeyoung's outburst, eyes downcast.
Adored for being a male hero, but Chaeyoung was untouchable—a top Korean dealer ranker.
"Sigh... Chaeyoung, it's just in case. Even with 99% odds, we can't risk it. Laon must win. That's why you're going."
"Fine, whatever. Clown show it is. How many years left on my contract?"
"Come on, why act like this?"
The leader jumped up, massaging Chaeyoung's shoulders. Losing her was unthinkable—she was Memoria's star and face. Silent Kim Sung-cheol chimed in.
"Hero Kang Chaeyoung, please calm down. Let me treat you to a fancy dinner. Save my face too..."
"Back off! Fifth-year acting tough against a rookie. Pathetic. Embarrassing, you moron. What's that gear for if you can't use it? Useless as an orc, daring to open your mouth?!"
Kim Sung-cheol bit his lip at the venom but stayed silent. One more word, and her palm might meet his cheek.
In the end, the leader's desperate persuasion forced Chaeyoung into the fray—not for Kim's pride, but to save Shin Nayeon from Rose Shield if they lost.
The bet date was set: one week later.
The member list leaked, but dungeon and clear details stayed secret. Group pride demanded it.
"Can we win, Raid Leader?"
"Of course."
Minguk, reviewing strategies on his Hero Pad, answered calmly to Yuna's question. He glanced at her—training had slimmed her slightly.
After the clear, a team dinner seemed in order. Winning, then hitting up Jo Suyeong for premium meat—she'd hook them up.
"Don't worry. Follow Minguk's orders, and we win for sure. Memoria's sending their second-string raid leader, right? Minguk leads way better."
"But Kang Chaeyoung..."
"Pfft! Raids solo? Think she can solo the boss with crap gear? We got this. Could nap thirty minutes and still win."
Minguk shrugged at Hyun-ah's fawning praise. In thirty minutes, they'd reach the rendezvous. To dodge reporters, Memoria was already at Ice Canyon.
Ignoring the chatter, Minguk mentally rehearsed. Rose Shield's vehicle arrived at Ice Canyon, tightly controlled by Memoria staff due to the hype.
'Crowded. Thought it'd just be entrants.'
Stepping out drew hostile stares—the first since isekai. Uneasy vibe.
Minguk spotted Kim Sung-cheol, central to the drama, and Memoria members. Handsome like a celeb, but glaring daggers.
Memoria's second-string raid leader seemed relaxed, as did their tank and dealer. They respected Minguk's rep but expected victory.
Team GGW was rookies tackling [B-5] first-time. Success alone would stun the world.
Memoria's were seasoned rankers per year. Especially dealer Kang Chaeyoung...
"Double. Clear in double our time, and I'll overlook your insolence, junior."
Minguk turned to the voice. Red-haired woman, arms crossed, glaring. Black coat, mana orbs swirling around her.
'Those...'
Minguk's eyes lit up. Rare mana orbs—he'd heard but never seen in action. Kang Chaeyoung's signature weapon, top Korean dealer.
"Pleased to meet you, Hero Kang Chaeyoung."
"Hello! Meeting a legend—family honor!"
Team GGW rushed over, bowing. Even chatty Hyun-ah in the van joined.
Minguk scratched his head at her fan-girl squeals, then addressed Chaeyoung.
"Grateful for your generosity, senior, but..."
His gaze swept the team.
Chaeyoung—and all Memoria—clearly underestimated Ice Canyon's terror. It wasn't casual.
Ice Drake demanded max healer output. Gear might brute-force it, but...
All entrants' Gear Score capped at 200—bare minimum.
Minguk faced Chaeyoung.
"We'll win this bet. Didn't come thinking we'd lose."
"..."
Chaeyoung scowled at the provocation but admired his guts. She smirked, muttering.
"Impossible, but if it happens, I'll grant one wish within reason."
Minguk paused, nodded, lips curling.
Sweet—one wish secured. Already pondering uses.