Chapter 80
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Suspicion
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A raid wasn't a game you could tackle solo.
It was a battle where multiple heroes pooled their strength to fight the darkness monsters threatening humanity's survival—a war, in the broadest sense. No matter how exceptional or valiant a hero might be, taking on a boss monster of equal caliber alone was impossible.
In that light, heroes battling the darkness monsters shared a certain common sense, honed over decades of war against them. But right now, that common sense was crumbling before their eyes.
"H-how from 【B-2】?! You don't mean you cleared it, do you?"
The 7-star hero Ilene gaped, her eyes wide. The one she was asking was Han Minguk.
Facing the question from this stranger, Minguk glanced subtly at his raid leader, Oh Hyun-jung. With her nod of approval, he shook his head at the foreign woman who'd addressed him. They hadn't cleared the 【B-2】 dungeon—they'd only just taken down the first boss monster.
"Then why the hell did you even go into a dungeon you couldn't clear?"
Sakashita Maki grumbled at Minguk's response, though her tone carried a hint of relief.
"For farming. If you'll excuse me, who might you be?"
"Ilene, 7-star hero from the World Heroes Association."
"Sakashita Maki from the Japan Heroes Association. 6-star hero."
"Ah, Han Minguk, 3-star hero. It's an honor to meet you seniors."
He'd had a rough idea already. Why else would foreign heroes show up with his leader?
He'd heard someone from the World Heroes Association would arrive soon, and it seemed today was the day. That meant it was time to wrap up the noob raid.
"Alright, then let's head to 'Ice Canyon'."
Minguk addressed his team. The visitors from the World Heroes Association were here to verify their dungeon-clearing prowess. Show them a clear of the 【B-5】 'Ice Canyon,' and everything would be sorted. Then they could borrow revival stones and gear, and be done.
That was when Ilene, lost in thought, spoke up to Minguk.
"Raid Leader Han Minguk, one thing I'm curious about—why did you enter the 【B-2】 dungeon? With your specs, strategy that is next to impossible."
"For farming. Specs might be lacking, but with tactical skill, some monsters are doable."
"Farming? Is that even possible? 【B-2】 requires at least 4-stars with top-tier gear scores..."
"They probably challenged it on a whim, right? Honestly, even clearing 【B-5】 as first-year heroes is hard to believe, let alone 【B-2】. It's a dungeon that stumps seasoned 4- and 5-star heroes. A rookie team trying for it? How can we buy that?"
"That's something to judge with our own eyes. Isn't that why I'm here in Korea?"
Ilene shot a sour look at Sakashita Maki. She understood the Korea-Japan rivalry well enough.
But interference with her duties was unacceptable. Maki shrank back under Ilene's glare. Beside them, a woman from the Korean Heroes Association casually covered her mouth with her palm, watching.
Ilene turned back to Minguk, who was smiling faintly at her, and asked again.
"Any results?"
"Yes. Got something pretty good. Want to see?"
"If it's not too much trouble, could you share your hero logs too?"
Minguk nodded without hesitation at Ilene's request. The World Heroes Association rep clearly wanted the unvarnished truth. Since there were no lies to hide, sharing the logs was no issue.
Besides, these two women were the ones who could loan Team GGW hundreds of revival stones and premium farming gear. No point in stonewalling—they needed to make a good impression. A favorable one might even snag them a discount.
"Hmm... Hm."
Minguk and the four women shared their hero logs.
Ilene and Sakashita—no, Sakashita Maki from the Japanese association—scrutinized GGW's records with fiery intensity, checking for fakes. But there it was: full wipe on the first try, Collibor downed on the second. Crystal clear.
Hero logs, which read mana fluctuations, couldn't be faked without camera or scan tampering. Ilene looked around, puzzled, when a glint of gold caught her eye—a gleaming fang.
"That wouldn't be..."
"Yes. The golden fang, senior."
So-jeong, catching Ilene's gaze, bowed her head and presented the fang for close inspection.
'No way they actually got it?'
She'd checked the logs and trophy. Yet Ilene couldn't believe it. Not 【B-5】, but 【B-2】. And by first-year heroes!
Sakashita Maki froze too. Rubbing her eyes and cross-checking all five logs yielded nothing suspicious. Minguk spoke leisurely to the two speechless heroes.
"So, shall we show you us taking down monsters in the 【B-2】 'Night Citadel' ourselves?"
Ilene startled, staring at Minguk.
"...Huh?! Th-that, that works?"
After a long pause, her thoughts settled, she replied with a groan. A 【B-2】 raid by first-years. Their play, shattering her common sense, had her dying to see how it differed from others.
"Ye-rin, to the right. You're on the edge of the monster's attack range."
"Rotting flesh incoming. Choi Yuna, confirm and prep. Tank, backpedal counterclockwise."
"Ranged dealers, hold at 3 o'clock."
Precise orders, like a computer dictating ally paths and timings. Theoretically feasible: predict enemy patterns, guide allies.
But executing with such pinpoint reading amid battle was brutally tough. Especially against darkness monsters. And the raid leader, Han Minguk, was a healer, not a dealer. One slip, and the tank was toast.
Yet Minguk nailed readings, tied seals nonstop, and healed relentlessly. The tank's HP refilling in bursts—pop, pop—was cathartically satisfying.
"The raid leading is impressive, but... who's that tank?"
Dealers were average. But the tank, moving flawlessly to Minguk's calls, stood out even to 7-star Ilene. Oh Hyun-jung, watching tensely beside her, responded on reflex.
"Oh Hyun-ah. Rose Shield's prized tank prospect. First-year hero, like the rest."
"Holding a talent like that? Rose Shield's future looks bright. But Oh Hyun-ah... the name..."
"My little sister."
Hyun-jung's voice brimmed with pride. Reports noted Hyun-ah's rapid growth in Minguk's Team GGW.
Her recent spike was in 【B-5】 runs. Yet days later, she tanked 【B-2】 horrors with unyielding defense.
"Ah... Sisters both mana awakened. Congratulations. Your sister's talent is incredible."
"She has a ways to go."
"Still just first-year. Tons of growth ahead. Tanking a 【B-2】 boss like that already? Can't wait to see her future."
Ilene, 7-year vet from the World Heroes Association, kept praising. Hyun-jung and the Korean reps puffed up with pride. Sakashita Maki, meanwhile, looked flustered. They were really downing a 【B-2】 boss-tier.
Under Minguk's command, GGW dismantled Collibor like a gourmet course. Luck held—the toxic rotting flesh dropped right away.
Moments later, as Collibor fell, Ilene thumbs-upped Minguk.
"Excellent! Unbelievable raid. I want to show this to everyone at HQ. Smashing 【B-2】 monsters? 【B-5】 is a breeze. This controversy's just a blip—I'll report it as such."
"Hmm..."
Sakashita Maki sighed inwardly at Ilene's words. The impossible was all true.
Even Japan's prodigy Shiranui Mai couldn't match this. Her DPS might edge them, but that was it. Minguk's leading and healing drew gasps from Maki too.
Hyun-jung, as if waiting, spoke up.
"So, when can we proceed with Team GGW's gear loan request?"
"Ah, I'll report it right away. Shipping via cargo plane with escorts—fastest is four days."
Hyun-jung's question was for Minguk's ears. He winked back. In four days, full 'Night Citadel' assault—beyond just Collibor—could begin.
The next day, the Chosun Ilbo front page blasted Minguk and the four women's faces.
Reporters from Evolution and Chosun Ilbo had covered yesterday's events—one each.
Veteran Chosun Ilbo scribe An Hye-jeong even snagged an exclusive with Minguk. It cost Rose Shield tens of billions in revival stone equivalents, but the article exploded in views.
Heroes reading it were baffled, confused.
Article got a typo? B what?
5 flipped looks like 2. Typo, right?
Not a full clear, just one monster. Possible, maybe?
You a normie?
Don't out yourself as non-hero. If that was possible, we'd have won the darkness war ages ago.
This why we call 'em trash reporters?
Writer's An Hye-jeong.
Oh yeah? An Hye-jeong messing up? She's a pro vet.
Reporter-nim, looks like a typo in the article.
Most heroes figured An Hye-jeong rushed and typo'd.
【B-5】 was already a stretch for first-years; 【B-2】? Three whole difficulty jumps. And Team GGW were mere rookies.
"Rumors linking Raid Leader Han Minguk of Rose Shield Clan—tied to recent Korean Heroes Association scandals—to fabrications have been confirmed true. Team GGW cleared the 【B-5】 dungeon 22 times in the past month and downed the boss-tier monster Collibor in the 【B-2】 'Night Citadel'."
But An Hye-jeong's piece proved factual soon enough. The World Heroes Association spokesperson confirmed it, ending the debate.
Perhaps national pride: Japan's Heroes Association, who'd probed GGW with the world body, stayed mum despite Japanese heroes' demands for truth.
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