Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Dungeon Clear
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"Huh...?"
Startled by something hurtling toward me, I reflexively opened my squeezed-shut eyes slowly. Right before me, the new queen's massive, overwhelming hand was closing in to crush my head.
In that bewildering moment, I yelped in panic and toppled backward.
"Gasp!"
I had every reason to be shocked. If that hand grabbed me, I'd be done for without a peep.
The sheer overwhelming power the new queen had displayed was nothing short of awe-inspiring.
As I opened my eyes, the queen peered intently into mine for a long moment before pulling back her outstretched hand with an expression of astonishment.
-How... did you do it?
Was she referring to killing the Spear-Form Leech?
I'd had my suspicions, but to confirm, I checked the full reward message.
The Spear-Form Leech invaded its host's body, seized control of the brain and mind, and manipulated them at will. It must have always underestimated its prey, conquering and devouring their spirits.
But not this time. It had trespassed where it didn't belong.
'No, if it had been a pure mental attack, it might have had some effect...'
Misfortune, Fortune, and Tower of Gold weren't geared toward mental defense, so they wouldn't block such assaults much. Ultimately, mental attacks had to be repelled solely by Supreme Soul and the Unyielding stat.
But the Spear-Form Leech went further. It crossed the line.
To dominate not just my mind but everything about me, it delved deeper than the spirit—straight into my inner realm. And within that realm dwelt my abilities.
The arrogant, ferocious Misfortune glared at the intruder like it was a mere toy, true to its nature.
The benevolent yet not entirely gentle Fortune, plagued by laziness, silently looked down on the fool who dared disturb its rest.
And the mightiest, most taciturn authority, Tower of Gold—the very force that had driven countless races to extinction—deemed the Spear-Form Leech unworthy of even a glance.
Only when Supreme Soul sensed their displeasure and fulfilled its role did the Spear-Form Leech meet its end.
"Uh... I think it's because I have a unique ability that strengthens my mental barriers."
It wasn't a lie. Though the authorities crushed it into choosing death, Supreme Soul delivered the final blow.
-Is that so? You must possess greater abilities than I thought. Then again, our kind were all brute force and savagery—no mental barriers to speak of. No wonder it couldn't handle you.
Muttering with a mix of regret and disdain, the new queen stepped back a few paces and bowed her head to me. It was a gesture of gratitude.
-Thank you for bringing me into existence. I, Beatrache, dare to swear eternal alliance to you, Human Shin Juha.
As her words ended, a new title etched itself into my status window.
And that was that. The new queen, who named herself Beatrice, vanished in search of a new home after her vow. A portal yawned open behind me, signaling that this godforsaken dungeon was finally cleared.
Dragging my exhausted, battered body upright, I hauled the two unconscious hunters with one hand, clutched my sister with the other, and threw myself into the shimmering portal, letting tension drain away as consciousness slipped.
Meanwhile, at Miracle Guild, anxiety had reached fever pitch. Five days had already passed.
From guild master to the lowliest member, the atmosphere was funeral-like—a natural progression. Now, opportunistic scavengers were sniffing around, sensing something amiss.
"Still nothing?"
In the guild master's room on the top floor of Miracle Hospital, Ki So-young drummed the table anxiously before blurting out the question.
"...I'm sorry. Not yet..."
It was torture by hope. If the hunters inside had all died, they could re-enter and mourn properly—but the dungeon persisted, entry denied.
That meant one thing: inside that demon cave, they were still fighting desperately, in agony.
Her adorable, beloved niece included.
But Ki So-young knew better. It was futile thrashing. Those three couldn't clear a Unique-D+ dungeon while guarding one patient.
Min Chorong—the girl dubbed Saintess Candidate, all but guaranteed to succeed Britain's fallen first-generation saintess—was doomed to fade away.
Ki So-young clenched her fists. Min Chorong was the only blood relative her sister had left behind.
'Sister...'
Her sister, forever burdened with guilt. She'd sacrificed from childhood for her one and only little sister, only to find love and happiness at last—when the dungeon's shadow engulfed their family.
Through awakening and some miracle, her niece escaped the dungeon barely alive. But her brother-in-law and sister perished.
And Ki So-young hadn't been there. She'd been in Britain for the Saintess Selection—her life's supposed pinnacle.
How she regretted it. For what? Petty ambition cost her the only family she had, her sister.
All she could do was soothe her wailing niece, who cried for her parents, with mental stability buffs.
Fortunately—or not—her niece erased those painful memories herself, lived joyfully under Ki So-young's care, and rose to next Saintess with overwhelming talent.
But again! Again! Again!
"Damn dungeon. Damn monsters. Damn fate."
As if the world refused to let Min Chorong exist. Like the dungeon that swallowed her parents and vanished, this one too reached its claws for her fragile little niece.
No miracles possible this time.
In that pitch-black moment, the guild master's door burst open as a guild member rushed in.
"G-Guild Master!"
Ki So-young rose, eyes trembling, uttering the words she dared not voice aloud.
But the member's eyes held no despair—only urgency, haste, and a speck of hope.
"The dungeon... the dungeon's changing!"
Ki So-young froze. What nonsense was that? A changing dungeon?
"Something inside... they must've found or triggered it! Maybe a hidden stage! Could the dungeon's rank drop?!"
Her mind sharpened. She understood the spark of hope in his eyes.
It happened sometimes. In the Abyss or dungeons, hidden stages could raise or lower a zone's rank or intensity.
Ki So-young bolted from the room, slippers forgotten, barefoot down the halls to the VIP room.
And there she saw it. The transformed dungeon.
The result was devastating. Larger, denser, brimming with greater malice.
Unique-C
Just one rank up in danger, but to her, utter despair.
"Ah... Aaaah!! Chorong!!"
Tears streamed from her eyes. The dungeon quaked ominously, forebodingly. As if denying them hope... offering only despair.
'Please. Please. Please. Heavens. God. Anyone. Save my niece.'
Ki So-young was powerless. She'd abandoned the saintess path, returned to her niece, built this guild, gained power—all to prevent this.
Yet again, she was too late. Her power, authority, guild—all failed.
No anchor to cling to. Prayer was all she had.
Despair consumed her. Everyone sighed at their guild master's sight.
Those who knew her past pitied her most. Losing her only kin twice—no one could endure unscathed.
The dungeon pulsed with ominous energy, as if broadcasting the internal frenzy and desperation.
Time crawled. Seconds stretched to minutes, minutes to hours in that endless brief span!
The dungeon shuddered massively again. Another change!
All eyes locked on. It grew larger. Denser. Fiercer.
Yet something differed. Despite the heightened rank and danger, the malice was gone.
"Wha... what's this?"
"What am I seeing?"
"I'm not the only one feeling it, right? A dungeon like this?"
"A non-ominous dungeon. Hidden stage? What's happening inside? Too curious!"
"Guild Master! There's still hope!"
Doubts faded briefly. The wildly expanding dungeon halted, shrank rapidly, returned to normal...!
Creaaaaak!
The unbreakable seal shattered, revealing three wound-covered figures and one filthy but functional capsule.