Finally Entering the D-Class Zone (2)
Entering with an explanation first was a clear sign that the D-class zone was complex and challenging.
Since they already knew the details, Do-hyun's party nodded without hesitation. The hunter who appeared to be from the Association, as if he had almost forgotten, spoke up.
“Ah, my greetings were late. I am Ha-in. I'm also a D-class hunter.”
While guiding them toward the party meeting room, Ha-in continued in that way, and Do-hyun glanced at Ha-in's actual party.
What looked like a three-person guide party was actually a five-person squad, and Do-hyun, along with Hana Rin and Ji Yu-chan, noticed him and replied with a faint smile.
“A three-person party is fine even up to E-class, but from D-class onward, the number of parties that start with ambushes increases because there aren't enough people.”
“So it's a maze zone?”
Do-hyun, as if he had already studied it, asked back, and Ha-in simply nodded.
If F-class zones were the wasteland and E-class were the floating islands, D-class was called the labyrinth region and it truly was.
The space twisted and entangled like a maze because no one could tell where the doors would lead.
Therefore, openly attacking another party was safe here in this enclosed area, unlike the flat terrain of F and E-class where anyone could see it. Killing someone here would rarely be noticed.
That was why D-class was the perfect place for anyone to become a villain, and caution was essential.
That was also why three-person parties were almost nonexistent.
Upon hearing Do-hyun's words, Ha-in added, “And D-class has a very wide spread.”
Do-hyun nodded at Ha-in's remark.
In fact, the teaching trio working in D-class, Sin Ji-yeon, Jeong Yu-jin, and Yoon Sang-woo, all had stats over fifty yet remained D-class hunters.
That was why Do-hyun already knew the wide spread of D-class.
Considering Kang Ji-hoon, a C-class hunter whose agility stat exceeded sixty, it seemed he might promote at sixty.
Entering at forty and promoting at sixty.
After thirty stats, a ten-point difference was significant, and a twenty-point spread in the region was even more extreme.
Do-hyun smiled with a mix of tension and amusement as he listened to Ha-in's explanation.
“So in the labyrinth region of D-class, a guide is always necessary. The guide for Lee Min-woo’s party is Lee Min-woo, right?”
“Yes.”
Because the information that Lee Min-woo could find the way had already been noted to the Association president, Ha-in already knew.
However.
“Even so, three people might be too risky. How about supplementing your party members? The evaluation report says three is acceptable, but D-class is truly dangerous.”
At that, Do-hyun, Hana Rin, and Ji Yu-chan shook their heads as if it was fine.
“For now, we'll do it as a three-person party.”
“Hmm, then as the guide party, we’ll stick with you until we enter. If we enter together this time, let’s stick with us.”
It was Ha-in’s consideration, but Do-hyun felt a slight unease at the words.
After all, traveling together as three was easier.
Still, Do-hyun nodded and said he understood.
For the first time, they would travel together, and if Do-hyun’s party proved their strength, Ha-in would surely change his mind and stick to three.
Watching Do-hyun’s party accept, Ha-in nodded with relief.
‘He really is a kind person.’
Then Ha-in looked at his own party.
『Ha-in』
『Trait: Archery Knight [C]』
『Han Ye-jin』
『Trait: Light Cleric [D]』
『Park Hong-gu』
『Trait: Knight [D]』
『Yoon Ji-an』
『Trait: Magus [D]』
『Park Jin-hyun』
『Trait: Rogue [D]』
After successfully analyzing the status windows of all five, he gained 800 AP.
Even without Ha-in, the fact that the other four were all D-class was surprising, and Ha-in being C-class made Do-hyun look at him with genuine interest.
The Archer trait was quite surprising as well.
And the stats, except for Ha-in, were all in the low forties, while Ha-in alone was in the mid-forties.
Thinking it was an unusually solid party, Do-hyun couldn’t help but nod.
Since they would travel together from now on, they exchanged greetings and self-introductions, and once the greetings were over, Ha-in stood up and spoke.
“Since most of the explanation is done, let’s enter.”
As they headed toward the Black Gate entrance designated seat, they chatted about various things, and once seated at the designated spot, Do-hyun realized he hadn’t checked his own stats yet before entering. He quickly did so.
Then.
『Stats』
▶「Strength: 36 ▶ 39」
▶「Agility: 40 ▶ 43」
▶「Endurance: 30 ▶ 37」
▶「Magic: 44 ▶ 47」
‘Hmm.’
Surprised by the higher stats than expected, Do-hyun entered the Black Gate.
***
The Black Gate connects to various dimensions.
There are dimensions full of beastmen, elf-only realms, and many others. Among them, some species from different dimensions were also linked. Among those, the elves had long ago connected the dimensions of all elves.
As a race that revered the World Tree that pierced through dimensions, it was far too easy to unify them into one.
Of course, even if all elves’ dimensions were connected to the Black Gate, their numbers were still fewer than the species that lived ostentatiously in one dimension. Yet their unity was beyond imagination.
Even other higher species hesitated to get involved with them, and that was the elves. From that, one could see how vicious and tenacious they were.
Among the dimensions of those elves, in the realm governed by the Grand Prophet, a massive ancient tree had a naturally formed treehouse growing on one of its branches. Inside that treehouse, four elves sat around a round table.
Each of the four elves exuded an intimidating aura that no one could ignore, and each displayed a power that even Han Mu-yeol could not ignore, with all of them looking displeased.
“The prophecy that a new Transcendent will open by killing Zerpael.”
“Among E-class, a useless guy who’s too useless.”
“He had enough talent for elementals, but…”
“He was lazy.”
The four Grand Masters who governed the Grand Prophet were exactly those.
Originally, they wouldn’t have cared about E-class at all, but this time the situation was different.
It was also because it was the prophecy about opening a new Transcendent spoken by the Grand Prophet governing one of the elves’ dimensions.
Now, no one among the Grand Masters here didn’t know the importance of the new Transcendent.
“Even after killing Zerpael, he hadn’t promoted and kept looking in E-class, so it’s impossible to find him.”
“Foolish E-class wasted too much time.”
“Still, it’s fortunate. The next region is the D-class zone.”
“With such a wide spread, they’ll stay there a long time.”
While the Grand Masters conversed like that, they each transmitted their thoughts to their subordinates.
To find the new Transcendent in the D-class zone. There were quite a few clues. They judged it was someone with very high affinity for elementals.
That made sense because Zerpael, who died in E-class, was attacked by Agni, a flame elemental of the same kind. That meant Agni hadn’t protected Zerpael from the elemental’s attack, proving his high elemental affinity.
After giving the orders to their subordinates, the Grand Masters finally relaxed.
And they began talking about the new Transcendent.
“A new Transcendent has appeared in another race.”
“A new higher species is being born.”
“Hmm, we’d better kill them before they open a new Transcendent.”
“After all, they won’t be elves, so they deserve to die.”
“It’s not good if another higher species appears.”
“Well, even if a new higher species appears, it won’t bring disaster to one of our elves’ dimensions.”
After exchanging meaningful conversations among themselves, they stood up.
“The next meeting will be after we kill the new Transcendent.”
“Make sure to handle your assigned missions well until then.”
“See you next time.”
“Everything is for the sake of Mother’s Tree.”
With those words, the elf Grand Masters who left their seats mobilized all the elves who could reach the D-class region, and elves began swarming into the D-class zone.
And each party was accompanied by elementals.
***
D-class labyrinth zone.
When Do-hyun’s party entered the labyrinth, the atmosphere was immediately different from E-class.
The aura of hunters around them and the overall feel of the region were quite different.
The mana density was at least 1.3 times higher than in E-class.
Do-hyun’s party, already familiar, didn’t look around, but as they scanned the surroundings, they saw no sun and the underground maze shape made them internally amazed.
There were many twisting paths, and walls had countless doors.
Even the ceiling had doors, and they saw winged other races emerging from a few of them.
If they were to enter a maze city from a fantasy world, would it really be like this?
While Do-hyun’s party was still surprised internally, Ha-in spoke to them.
“Follow me closely.”
The gentle tone that Ha-in had used before entering the Black Gate had become stiff, and Do-hyun’s party followed with some tension.
They opened the door to an alley in the central plaza and entered, and Do-hyun and Hana Rin, sensitive to magic, felt it.
‘Just now…’
‘We moved through space.’
Feeling the unique shimmer of spatial movement magic, both Do-hyun and Hana Rin burst into laughter in disbelief.
After several more doors, they reached a place far from the central plaza, where a somewhat shabby but large building stood.
It was the Korean Hunter Association building of the 53rd Safety Zone in D-class.
Again located on the outskirts, but now familiar, Do-hyun’s party and Ha-in’s party entered the building.
The atmosphere was definitely different from E-class; since it was D-class, it felt calmer, and the place was now an accommodation for those showing the aura of hunters.
Do-hyun actually welcomed the atmosphere and entered with a subtle smile.
Several parties recognized Ha-in and approached him.
“Ha-in, new?”
“…Yeah.”
“Khe khe, how long will you last this time?”
“Two days.”
“You’re generous. I say half a day.”
“Puha ha, half a day is too much. I say one day.”
Do-hyun’s party felt a bit out of place in the rough atmosphere but, already somewhat accustomed, offered no further response, and Ha-in, watching them, relaxed his expression.
And.
“First, prepare in your individual rooms and come out. We’ll guide you to the hunting grounds.”