Chapter 108
Chapter 108
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: Team Member Selection
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“Red-eyed Lüka…….”
“It’s Red-eyed Lüka!”
As the senior examiner reappeared, the scattered participants began gathering toward the center one by one.
The 41 survivors of Theme 1.
Tap, tap.
At that moment, someone poked my right forearm.
“Where’ve you been? You just vanished all of a sudden.”
It was Olena, her face brimming with curiosity.
James and Kapu beside her wore similar expressions.
The Referee idly tapped only on his own window, then met my eyes.
Everyone seemed to be waiting for my answer.
What the hell? Do I have to explain even this?
“……Haha, just checking my rewards.”
“Huh? That staff you’re holding!”
As I brushed it off vaguely, Olena’s eyes sparkled.
“I’ve never seen it before. Is it a reward from this time? That reddish glow makes it look super expensive.”
“Yeah, something like that.”
I’d tossed aside the E-grade staff I used to use.
The one I wielded now was none other than the terrifying godslayer-grade staff.
Well, technically, it was an essence that had transformed into a staff.
“Wow, so what reward grade did you pick, Hoon? 100%, or 30%? No way you actually succeeded at 1%, right?”
Olena was beaming, showing her interest, when—
“Everyone, pay attention.”
Lüka’s heavy voice filled the space.
A voice so powerful and grave that it naturally drew all eyes.
“…….”
Silence fell over the once-bustling area.
We stopped our conversation mid-sentence and turned to Lüka as well.
Seemingly pleased by the sight—
“Nice and quiet.”
The corner of his mouth twitched upward.
“Congratulations to all of you for surviving Theme 1. This round had unusually high survival numbers. Normally, about 40% would’ve bitten the dust.”
I nodded as I listened to Lüka’s cold voice.
‘Right.’
Even recalling the info on Theme 2 confirmed it.
Divided into three teams.
Selecting up to 10 per team.
The dungeon creator had probably predicted around 30 survivors.
If I hadn’t pinned down the poison fog, it likely would’ve turned out that way this time too.
“You lot got lucky, at least. Thanks to an unexpected rookie, you climbed to Theme 2 way easier than the brutal previous rounds.”
Was it my imagination, or did Lüka’s blood-red eyes flick toward me for a moment?
‘No.’
It wasn’t.
The emotion in Lüka’s gaze.
I could clearly read the pure feeling radiating from him.
‘Curiosity.’
How could I be so sure?
I’d experienced it before.
Not just Lüka.
From Seoul’s Five Stars to Rank 84, the Thunderclap.
Every ranker I met had stared at me like I was some zoo monkey.
Seriously.
You see all kinds of things living long enough.
Getting attention from rankers.
‘Talk about a change in status.’
Well done, Joo Dong-hoon.
Compared to my E-grade hunter days, I’d grown a ton.
“One.”
Whoosh!
At that moment, Lüka raised his right arm.
“Only 30 can advance to Theme 2. Sorry, but that means 11 of you are out right here.”
Rumble rumble rumble!
The ground began to shake.
A change in terrain.
It started right around me.
Crack! Crunch!
The earth split in a circle around me.
“W-What’s that?”
“Hoon?”
“There’s a line drawn next to Hoon? Get back for now!”
The moment Olena and Kapu dodged—
Crash!
The ground supporting me shot up into the air.
‘Whoa.’
The gravitational pull of a ride slammed into me as I looked around.
Besides me, three others floated in midair.
Two participants and the examiner, Lüka.
[The three team leaders for Theme 2 have been selected based on contribution.]
Ah, team leaders.
Another perk given to those who conquered the previous theme with high contributions.
‘Here we go.’
I clenched my fist, staring at the message.
[Team 1 - Skeleton King, Joo Dong-hoon]
[Team 2 - Slayer, Chris Larsen]
[Team 3 - Illusionist, Wolf]
‘Chris Larsen and Wolf.’
The names of the 2nd and 3rd place contributors, excluding me.
I rolled my eyes, scrutinizing them closely.
First, Chris Larsen.
‘So he’s 2nd place, huh.’
My first impression, by my standards? Total flop.
Golden hair that evoked some sleazy medieval prince.
A shirt designed for a thug chaebol heir.
And even after a month, his hair was slicked back perfectly.
‘Word is he’s a murderer who picks fights.’
The guy I’d heard the most about right after arriving at Theme 2.
The Referee had reacted especially strongly to him too.
‘Plus.’
His epithet said it all.
Slayer.
I was genuinely curious.
How many people did you have to kill to earn a title like that?
‘Next, this Wolf guy.’
Honestly, I couldn’t get a good look at Wolf’s appearance.
He was cloaked head to toe in a robe with strange patterns.
[Ding!]
[Team leaders will select team members one by one in order.]
“Teams? We’re picking teams?”
“Those guys up there? What? Is this a team battle now?”
Someone reacted.
Participants who hadn’t gotten the info yet stirred below.
“Huh? Wait! So 1st place is Joo Dong-hoon?”
Someone else.
[Team 1 - Skeleton King, Joo Dong-hoon]
They’d spotted the message and were talking about me.
“Who’s Joo Dong-hoon? Skeleton King?”
“Koreanish name? Ugh, as expected from the hunter superpower packed with hidden masters!”
“Damn, so it was all thanks to this Joo Dong-hoon guy who caught the poison fog! He’s gotta be a ranker, no doubt.”
“And skeletons? That’s necromancer, right? Necromancers are totally broken, confirmed!”
Some gave cool acknowledgment.
Others shot envious glares.
A mix of emotions flowed toward me.
“……Hoon’s rank 1?”
Olena’s group looked stunned by the unexpected result.
“Impressive. Hoon’s a powerhouse, huh. Makes sense—each of those skeletons had insane presence.”
As participants buzzed about me—
The next message appeared.
[You may select up to 10 team members.]
[Team members not selected will unfortunately be eliminated.]
[Eliminated participants will not die and can return under a secrecy binding.]
“What? Eliminated?”
“Right now?”
“This is bullshit! After everything we did to survive!”
“So we leave our elimination up to those three up there? Ugh, if you don’t like it, prove your skill—huh?”
“No way.”
Those who’d chased ranker dreams.
Who’d staked their lives.
No way they’d give up easily.
That made their pleas all the more desperate.
“P-Pick me!”
“No, me! Pick me over that guy—if I make it back, I’ll give you 10 billion!”
“Idiot! Rankers are on the line—what’s 10 billion? Team leaders! I’ll say it straight: I’ll be useful to the team over money!”
They started flirting with the team leaders hovering above.
Of course, I was by far the most popular.
“Skeleton King! I’m a mage! You know parties need at least one mage……!”
“Joo Dong-hoon! Pick me and I’ll do dishes, cooking, even nightly massages……!”
Chaotic clamor.
So loud I couldn’t make out half of it.
How desperate they looked.
“…….”
If I hadn’t placed in the top 3.
Would I have been like them?
Who knows.
“Joo Dong-hoon.”
Lüka, the magic swordsman, looked at me and spoke.
“You choose first. Point at one from down there.”
“……Yes.”
I didn’t look at those pleading desperately.
I didn’t even glance toward Olena, James, and Kapu.
‘We have history, but that’s it.’
The dungeon was reality.
To achieve my goal, I’d go with the most practical, realistic option.
First off.
Unlike Theme 1, Theme 2 seemed to emphasize teamwork.
‘Teamwork’ meant synergy over individual skill.
Meaning personality mattered.
So I set my criterion.
‘I’ll cut anyone who’s committed murder for personal gain.’
Those types were time bombs who’d backstab teammates at the first temptation.
Filtering them out was half the battle won.
“I pick.”
As my mouth opened, everyone fell silent.
Gulp!
They swallowed, awaiting my verdict.
I looked down.
There, one figure gazed up at me expressionlessly.
‘Yes.’
You’re first, no question.
Only you can help me sort the ones to exclude.
“I select the Referee, Jang Wei.”
* * *[‘Referee, Jang Wei’ has been selected for Team 1.]
Rumble!
The ground around the Referee split just like it had for me.
It surged up, bringing him to my side.
“As expected, you were 1st.”
That’s what he said the moment he arrived.
No thanks for picking him, no why me.
As if it was only natural to choose him.
Man, the Referee really was one quirky character.
“You knew?”
“I only guessed. But seeing the results, it’s surprising. Still, a powerhouse who beat me should be at that level.”
I gave a wry smile.
So that’s how it was.
The Referee looked pleased.
Probably thrilled that the guy who beat him turned out even stronger than expected.
“Anyway, there’s one reason I picked you.”
“What is it.”
The Referee perked up his ears.
I smiled and pointed below.
“Use your ability to judge those down there—separate the ones who deserve judgment from those who don’t.”
“……Separate them?”
“From Theme 2 on, it’s about teamwork. And only one team makes it to Theme 3—10 people total. I’d prefer my trial companions not be villains, at least.”
That wasn’t all.
Like Seoul’s Five Stars.
This team could become lifelong ‘comrades.’
I couldn’t have a bunch of mass murderers as comrades.
Like with Gi So-yul or Jang Dae-woong.
I wanted cool comrades by my side too.
“Whoa, you……!”
“…….”
“You’re a good man after all! No villain could have such upright, righteous thoughts.”
The Referee met my eyes with a resolute expression.
Then he nodded.
“Leave it to me. I’ll judge them with all my heart.”
“…….”
Something about his thought process felt simplistic.
‘Whatever.’
As long as the results were good.
Easier to handle that way, even.
And so the team selection began!
[‘Olena Zhelenska’ has been selected for Team 1.]
[‘Francis Fred’ has been selected for Team 2.]
[‘Clara Jumi’ has been selected for Team 3.]
…….
[‘Myo Hana’ has been selected for Team 1.]
[‘Melissa Stone’ has been selected for Team 2.]
[‘Julia Blanchett’ has been selected for Team 3.]
…….
I picked first, then Chris Larsen and Wolf followed suit.
Messages popped up for everyone accordingly.
I chose carefully, referencing my Serene Mind Technique aura and the Referee’s ability.
Before long—
[Total: 10 members.]
[Team selection complete.]
Ten participants had gathered by my side.
The ones I’d face Theme 2’s trials with, at least.
“…….”
I met their eyes.
They looked back at me.
A long silence stretched.
[Theme 2 begins.]