Chimera Labyrinth: The Million-Won Centaur

The next day in the Chimera Labyrinth. I woke up at the crack of dawn again and entered the dungeon I'd mentioned in advance yesterday. Unlike other places, this dungeon took more time than intense combat, so we entered even earlier than usual. An Jeong-hwa yawned hugely, looking sleepy.

"Yaaawn~. Fighting nonstop would be easier. Coming to a dungeon this early in the morning for maze exploration..."

"We're here to build experience on purpose, so ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠don't get bored and drop your guard. Keep your wits about you. You know negligence from boredom is the number one cause of death in dungeons, right?"

"Mm, got it."

One word from me, and she snapped to attention, eyes straight ahead, scanning for threats as we advanced. Truth be told, after clearing a dungeon yesterday, eating, then training at the skill academy before heading home, it was no wonder she was tired with her meager stamina. But did dungeons care about a hunter's personal circumstances? No. Maintaining vigilance in that fatigued state was exactly what made a true hunter.

Still, she fixes it the moment I point it out.

She reeked of newbie, but she never forgot advice and internalized it immediately. As party leader, she was a very satisfying teammate. Inexperience could be learned and corrected, but a rebellious streak was hopeless. Her talent and attitude pleased me in every way.

"Besides, if luck's on our side, we can make some real money here, so don't think of it too negatively."

"Hehe."

Money talk, and she just grinned happily.

Today's destination was the dungeon called Chimera Labyrinth. A massive single-room maze of tangled paths patrolled by chimera experiments. Unusually, there was no boss monster, so you could hunt your fill and just head back out. The party verification bracelet from the dungeon management office automatically recorded your path, so as long as you avoided exhausted fights on the return, you were good.

Chimera experiments came in endless varieties. As a 10th-grade dungeon, none were overwhelmingly strong, but their stitched-together grotesque forms were visually repulsive. With random types and no standard strategy, it was classified as a niche dungeon.

Its one big draw? Certain chimera experiments fetched high prices at the exchange, depending on type. Human-like ones especially, useful for life sciences research. Of course, the truly humanoid ones appeared in higher floors of the Chimera Labyrinth, but even 10th-grade specimens had sold for ten million won before. Worth a shot.

"Money matters, but this is primarily for experience. Don't get too fixated."

"Ten million... ten million... Ah, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠yes!"

About an hour in, she started slacking again, so I dangled the ten-million-won chimera story. She stayed locked in like that.

She'll make plenty as a hunter, but she's way too obsessed with cash...?

She'd vaguely mentioned her parents falling into a cult over drinks before. Seemed more serious than I thought. But until she brought up family matters first, it wasn't my place to pry. I kept quiet.

Being money-grubbing isn't a flaw. As long as it doesn't hinder the hunt.

Bringing it up myself might bruise her pride. Best to stay silent on such things.

Clop-clop—

"Hm? Battle stations."

"Finally...!"

A sound echoed from the darkness ahead. Hoofbeats, maybe.

"Likely a chimera mix of horse, cow, goat—strong lower body. Watch for ambushes."

An Jeong-hwa nodded without a word, eyes fixed forward.

As before, she'd handle the fight while I supported from behind, intervening only if critical.

Gripping my throwing dagger, I waited. Then, from the shadows, the chimera experiment emerged.

I blinked in surprise.

"A centaur?"

A half-man, half-horse monster. This ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lowest-grade 10th-grade version had a human torso and arms, but a full horse head. Stitches scarred the junction hideously.

"Jeong-hwa, that's the ten-million-won prize."

"Really?!"

Among 10th-grade chimeras, the centaur was closest to human form—a golden goblin of sorts. Who'd have thought our first monster on day one would be this.

"Hiiiing! Prrr—!"

It spotted us, neighed excitedly, and charged. Bloodshot eyes, foaming mouth—it was starving.

"Puhiiing—!!"

"Hah!"

I wondered how she'd dodge the charge. She applied yesterday's lessons flawlessly, evading with a new move and slashing its flank.

Against a low-grade centaur, watch for two attacks: charge and rear kick. They always combo.

Like this—whoosh!

"Whoa?!"

Miss the charge? It skids to a halt and rear-kicks the overconfident foe.

Jeong-hwa barely dodged reflexively but hesitated to close in, rattled by the threat.

Clop-clop—

"Hiiing—!"

Irritated by the wound, it reared a foreleg and charged again.

Swish—

"Ugh...!"

This time, it swung its arms too. She dodged but landed no counter.

Then the inevitable rear kick! Perfectly timed as she recovered from the arm swing.

Can't block that.

I moved to intervene—then she surprised me.

"Hup!"

Like parkour, she wall-kicked over the rear hoof, slashing the thick hamstring tendon.

"Puhiiing?!"

"Die!"

Undeterred, as it staggered in pain and lost mobility, she mounted the horse half and hacked the human torso wildly.

The structure left the arms unable to defend the back. It bucked futilely—hamstring severed, no leverage.

Slash-slash—

"Puhihihiiing..."

Dozens of undefended vital strikes from its blind spot. Finally, the horse-headed centaur wailed pitifully and crashed down with a thud.

"Hah, hah, hah!"

Jeong-hwa, who'd dismounted early, panted but grinned at the corpse.

"Hah, whew! Ten million won!"

Bloody-faced, she beamed—eerie from an outsider's view. I felt chills for a different reason.

Overnight growth like this?

Stamina still sucked, but she'd covered with a short burst. Two days ago, she couldn't solo a low-grade centaur.

They're pricey for a reason: rare encounters, too tough and fast for solo or small parties despite self-preservation instincts.

Her unique ability was Man's Triumph Over Heaven, right? That must be it.

Vague description, but it likely fueled her talent. Her overnight leap was unnaturally gifted.

Siriel will be shocked at training today.

Mastering her lessons in one night? She'd freak.

"Ten million! Yes!"

She hummed happily, looking anything but genius.

Too hyped, I cooled her off—and corrected a misunderstanding.

"Jeong-hwa, that's not ten million."

"...?! What?! You said ten million!!"

She whipped around, yelling. Calmly, I replied.

"Only if it's alive. Dead, value drops. I said chimera experiment, not corpse. For experiments, it needs to be alive."

"But—but...!"

Struggling to accept, she muttered "but" before asking.

"Th-then, how much for the body? At least five million, right? Right?"

Eyes pleading for half, I gave the market rate.

"About... one point five million? Mana stone included."

"Aah...!"

One-point-five mil per monster was huge, but after ten mil hopes, she deflated with empty laughter.

I regretted the lost ten mil too. Planned to intervene for capture, but she one-shotted it. My fault for assuming she'd fail and not warning her.

I pulled her up from self-recrimination.

"Still, one-point-five's big. You soloed it, so 100% to you."

"Sniff. Really?"

"Yeah. Let's drag the body out."

No boss, camera revenue primary—re-entry allowed mornings, unlimited.

"Ugh, okay. But really all mine? I feel bad..."

"It's fine. My bad for not saying capture."

"For real? Hehe, thanks then."

Not ten mil, but one-point-five revived her smile. Seemed materialistic, but ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I felt sorry.

How hard up was she to cling to money like this?

Someday, I'd learn her family story.

Opportunity will come.

Reaching to tie rope on the corpse—

"Huh?"

Clank—

Sudden system messages, and the floor under An Jeong-hwa crumbled. She plummeted into the pit before reacting.

"Jeong-hwa!"

The pit was endless black void. Too late to grab—instinct took over.

"Hup!"

Survival instinct screamed: You won't die. Trusting the top-tier instinct that saved me before, I dove in, snagging her waist mid-fall.

"Grip tight!"

No time for replies—I hurled her upward with all my strength.

Our eyes met as she flew.

"Yeoul-ssi!"

Confirming her safe ascent, I watched her calling face recede—then plunged endlessly into the depths.