Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Dungeon Black Hole
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A warm, cozy blanket enveloped me as I opened my eyes again, finding myself in a hospital room. It was the VIP suite at Miracle Hospital, right next to my sister's bed. Seeing my body fully recovered, I couldn't help but smile.
"Things worked out nicely."
It had been worth taking those two hits. I'd landed a small blow on my enemy, thoroughly hidden my true abilities, and now Star Fortune would have to compensate me handsomely to cover up the whole incident.
'The biggest gain is definitely keeping my real strength hidden all the way.'
With that old raccoon's personality, if I'd shown more than promising talent, he would've monitored me and blocked my path at every turn.
That's why I'd used barely half—no, a fraction of half—my power. I'd capped my physical abilities at the average for a promising rookie and relied solely on the talent in martial arts granted by my Infinite stat, defeating him purely with technique.
"Still, it's a shame."
The outcome was perfect, exactly as I'd wanted, but purely in terms of combat... I hadn't pulled off a perfect deflection.
"And it didn't even turn into a skill."
Skills aren't that special. They're not just learned from skill books—you can gain them through countless experiences, inheritance from a master, or by achieving system-recognized mastery as a reward.
The deflection technique I knew would generate a skill called Parry [Common-C] once you reached a certain level of proficiency acknowledged by the system. Refining that Parry to its limit births the legendary skill Flowing Water Sword [Legendary-C], wielded by China's SS-rank hunter, the Sword Emperor.
Flowing Water Sword—a massive river is just a stream before the blade. The Sword Emperor dismantled any attack with a single sword, deflecting them effortlessly.
In a pre-regression NutTube video of a B+ boss raid, his deflections had ignited my childhood dreams and excitement. From there, I'd studied and practiced every aspect of the technique.
Deflection, or parry, is a high-difficulty skill, so I never managed to turn it into a skill back then. But now... things are different.
"Was the misfortune too minor? This Unyielding reward feels small."
Unyielding stat +1, and one spare point. I immediately invested it in Infinite and closed the status window.
Ending up back in the hospital in less than a day. Honestly, my condition was so perfect I could discharge myself right now.
For Miracle Hospital's (the guild's) healers, treating a few broken bones and bruises would be child's play—they'd barely need to yawn.
Just as I lay back down on the bed...
Knock knock.
The door opened with a knock, and a healer who looked like an intern doctor entered.
Considering Miracle Guild's prestige and capabilities, even an intern recognized as a doctor—rather than a nurse—would possess at least Unique-grade healing.
Doctors are dignified figures of the highest esteem, no matter the era.
"Ah! You're awake. Your injuries weren't severe, so I treated them quickly! Moving you here was the guild master's order!"
I nodded at the bright high school girl doctor's cheerful explanation—she looked about my sister's age.
"Thank you."
"No problem! I'm getting paid for it! And the guild master assigned me to this VIP room, so your safety as the guardian is my responsibility too!"
I was surprised by her words. An intern, not even a full doctor, handling a VIP room?
'I don't remember her...'
The guild master I'd glimpsed once didn't seem the type to entrust a VIP room to just any intern.
Not when a single day here cost a fortune.
As if reading my mind—or perhaps thinking the same—she hurriedly explained.
"B-but I'm not lacking in skill! Even as an intern, all my evaluations are top-tier. My healing outshines most guild doctors. I'm even slated as the next guild master. It's presumptuous, but... they call me the Saintess candidate!"
Her final words made my eyes widen in shock.
"You're the real Saintess candidate?"
"Yes! Well, technically still a candidate. There are two others besides me. But practically, I'm as good as chosen! Hehe!"
I clicked my tongue inwardly at the beaming girl.
'No wonder I didn't recognize her face. She's that famous Saintess candidate.'
The title of Saintess is bestowed on only one person worldwide. With the first-generation Saintess deceased, the selection for the next was in full swing. She was dominating the competition by such a wide margin that rumors swirled she'd become Korea's Saintess.
'But that Saintess candidate dies in the end. Horribly.'
That's why I didn't remember her face. What kind of shock must it have been for gossip-loving, forgetful Korea to report it daily for a full month?
They never uncovered who, how, or why. She was just found at home, limbs hacked apart.
'About a month left until the Saintess candidate dies.'
I'll save her. No need for reasons—she'll owe me her life and become a huge asset later.
And... she reminds me of my sister. I can't just let it slide.
I gathered my thoughts and spoke to the chatty girl without pause.
"So, what's your name?"
"Ah! I forgot the most important introduction. I'm Min Chorong! Greeting the guardian of my very first official patient!"
"Nice to meet you. I'm Shin Juha, my sister Shin Yu-ah's brother and sole guardian. Please take good care of her."
I bowed respectfully and continued the conversation.
All while oblivious to the events unfolding in this guild, this very room.
Miracle Hospital's central security room was as idle as ever today, dominated by a massive device at its core.
It was only natural. Security here meant little more than rotating shifts to guard patients—especially those in VIP rooms.
Guarding? That word felt off. No lunatic would dare cause chaos in Miracle Hospital.
This was Korea's 7th-ranked guild, the top dog in the hunter industry with hordes of precious healers, and under the official protection of the nation's #1 Dangun Guild.
Thus, security fell into two groups:
The Miracle Guild's combatants—Holy Knights—handling rotations.
And those dispatched from Dangun Guild.
Mostly low-ranks over high, but the guild name commanded respect—no one ignored them.
It was a cushy dream job, the epitome of easy duty.
"Team leader, lunch hour already. How about some blood sausage soup today?"
"Sounds good! Hey, call back everyone on patrol. No incidents anyway—leave a skeleton crew and eat together."
"Heh! Let's do it. We'll leave that dumbass idiot behind. Stick him on VIP duty."
"Let's go! I'm starving! Hot soup for the hangover~!"
Their blind faith in the tranquility and safety bred sloth and complacency.
That's why they missed it.
Humming cheerfully as they left the security room, they overlooked the tiny spark erupting from the dungeon suppression device safeguarding the entire hospital.
"Huh? Guard's changed. Wait, just one guard? They all go eat?"
Stepping out, I tilted my head at the massive, stolid-looking burly guy.
'Feels familiar.'
Whatever. My head was spinning from Min Chorong's endless chatter, so I took my time descending to the first floor, grabbing drinks and snacks to steel my nerves before returning to the VIP room.
And what met my eyes was...
"What the fuck? Why is that here?"
The air tore and warped, a massive black vortex slowly manifesting.
Right at my sister's room entrance.
"Damn it!"
My reaction was swift. Dungeons suck in everything nearby upon formation, like a black hole.
The Dungeon Black Hole phenomenon—proof of how dangerously unpredictable dungeons are, the very reason suppression devices were invented in this era.
"Miracle Guild should have suppressors! Why a dungeon?"
A ominous hunch hit me. I checked my silenced message log, and sure enough, Misfortune's desperate thrashing appeared.
"Shin Yu-ah!"
Rushing into the room calling her name, I saw Min Chorong and the guard protecting my sister.
"Damn it, too late to run. We get pulled in protecting her as best we can! You, burly! Hold the maintenance capsule steady!"
"...Yes."
Krunch!
With a grotesque sound, the dungeon opened. Winds whipped unnaturally, an invisible force pulling only humans inward.
Sluuurp!
Min Chorong went first, then my sister with her capsule, the guard, and finally me—sucked into the dungeon's black hole. Only then did the vortex calm, as if satisfied.
Dungeon Quest (Forced): Turmoil's Ant Den
📍 Grade: Unique
⏰ Rank: D+
🎁 Type: Guardian
Description: You have intruded into the ant den of the giant ants called Strong Giant Ants! Survive!
Goal: Protect the queen's egg and survive 5 waves
Success: Rewards issued differentially by performance
Failure: Death
We four arrived in a vast cavern. Four tunnels stretched precisely north, south, east, and west, with a single egg pulsing mysterious energy at the center.
"Damn it, a wave survival mission of all things!"
And the dungeon's grade was Unique. Rank D+ to boot.
Dungeons are territories unclaimed by the Abyss, drifting dimensions that crash-land into ours.
A truth gleaned from researchers and later otherworldly beings I'd meet.
'Unique grade means it retained its singularity without duplication during wandering.'
Lower grades—Common, Rare, Epic—shatter or duplicate endlessly during dimensional drift, explaining the abundance of similar low-rank dungeons.
Naturally, territories sturdy enough to endure host stronger monsters. Higher grade doesn't guarantee strength, but most are formidable.
And the difficulty was a hefty D+.
"Damn it, how long can the capsule hold?"
The issue was my sister. The capsule ran on magic stones—special ones requiring precise processing.
"Three days max, I think. What do we do? Processing magic stones isn't easy! O-of course, she won't die if it runs out... but four days without food or water could be dangerous."
I know. Damn it! Magic stones everywhere, but no processing.
"...Um."
"Ah! Thank you. For protecting my sister. Truly."
"...No... I... can... process... magic stones."
Pulling a chisel-like knife from his subspace pouch, the guard's words left me sighing in hollow relief mixed with gratitude.
"...Hobby... so skill's... not great... but... sufficient."
"What a relief. Thank you again. Though... it's an unexpected hobby."
I sighed once more at his sheepish head-scratching, then drew my sword, sensing the first wave approaching from afar.