The Power of the New Technique (Part 2)
The hunt continued smoothly after that.
Originally, the Lee Do-hyeon party would spot more than ten monsters and either check their surroundings first or simply flee if the numbers were overwhelming.
Now, that need had vanished entirely.
At a T-junction where dozens of labyrinth goblins waited on either side, the Lee Do-hyeon party took the left path while the Ha-na party claimed the right.
Both sides succeeded in the hunt without a single failure.
Yet something far more troubling lingered in the air.
“……They’re faster than us again.”
“What on earth are those newbies hiding?”
“I have no idea. It’s terrifying.”
“Beyond calling them incredible, I don’t know what else to say. If they’re this strong, they should already be famous even in E-rank.”
“……”
Ha-na overheard the murmurs and immediately sensed a hidden threat.
Though the Ha-na party had shown nothing but kindness, offering directions and helping outsiders, the simple presence of police nearby still made people tense.
Even without speaking, she had no choice but to acknowledge the Lee Do-hyeon party’s dominance.
While Ha-na stayed silent, the other members couldn’t resist comparing the groups.
“I heard there’s a rising rookie party in E-rank.”
Park Hong-gu’s question earned a nod from Park Jin-hyeon.
“Yeah, I heard it belongs to someone named Do-hyeon. They wiped out an entire elf party.”
“Really? I only heard they cleared a dungeon with just two people.”
Yoon Ji-an tilted her head, puzzled.
Defeating an elf party and clearing a dungeon alone? Even one of those feats would mark an extraordinary party.
Suddenly, Ha-na recalled something.
“Hmm… I think I heard they were the party that sold Dwarf-made weapons.”
The group stared at the Lee Do-hyeon party with blank, confused expressions.
They had no idea the name “Do-hyeon” was a cover; to them, it was still just “Min-woo.”
Yet evidence proved the parties were not the same.
“Besides, that Do-hyeon only joined E-rank last week. He can’t possibly be the same guy.”
“Different names, different everything.”
“Exactly.”
“Hmm… last week in E-rank, and this week in D-rank? That doesn’t make sense.”
“Impossible.”
Ha-na’s decisive rejection ended further discussion.
Since the members weren’t the same person, there was no point speculating.
They had simply confirmed a terrifyingly strong new party.
Meanwhile, the Lee Do-hyeon party spotted more monsters and began the hunt.
Park Jin-hyeon clicked his tongue in disbelief.
“He detected them faster than me… that Min-woo guy.”
“……Faster than me?!”
“Jin-hyeon, even in D-rank you’re the top in detection.”
“True.”
Everyone stared in disbelief as Ha-na muttered to herself.
“If they’re like that, we might not even need them starting tomorrow.”
Normally she would have disagreed, but no one voiced opposition.
The sheer presence of Hana Rin and Ji Yu-chan alone was overwhelming.
Do-hyeon’s versatility felt impossible to match.
Better paths, superior detection, combat power that left even the two veterans stunned.
He looked like a monster, not a person.
Ha-na watched them and spoke quietly.
“They’ll adapt perfectly even on the second floor.”
“……That’s likely.”
“Truly, the gap between worlds.”
“With this much difference, jealousy is pointless.”
“……If we say this, will the dorm kids believe it?”
Han Ye-jin’s remark made everyone shake their heads unconsciously.
They probably wouldn’t believe it.
Even those who had seen it with their own eyes doubted it.
Ha-na, still under her own misunderstanding, warned her members.
“Just in case, let’s not mention the Min-woo party when we go out.”
“……Alright.”
“No place to say it anyway.”
“We’ll be careful.”
“Got it.”
The group nodded in agreement.
Ha-na had issued the order out of caution; spreading the information could only hurt their own standing.
Unknown to the Lee Do-hyeon party, they continued hunting with rapid, noisy success.
“I got two more this time.”
“You stopped my magic!”
“Still, I was the one who took them down.”
“Ugh, who cares who caught more.”
“It matters!” “It absolutely matters!”
From between Hana Rin and Ji Yu-chan, Do-hyeon shrugged tiredly.
***
After the hunt ended and they returned to the 53rd Shaft safe zone, Do-hyeon took on the role of guide to verify his precision.
His directions were flawless.
As the door opened and the group stepped into the 53rd Shaft, Park Jin-hyeon lowered his head in defeat.
He had spent nearly a full year mastering this route, yet Do-hyeon—freshly promoted to D-rank—navigated it faster than him.
“……My whole year…”
“……It’s fine. You’re doing well too.”
Park Jin-hyeon’s dejection drew comforting words from Han Ye-jin, and the others marveled at Do-hyeon’s abilities.
How could someone navigate this well?
Do-hyeon scratched his head awkwardly.
I was built to find my way.
His very nature made perfect navigation inevitable.
Plus, Analysis acted as an all-knowing GPS.
[Destination reached.]
Knowing the location let him skip the detection skill entirely.
Feeling a twinge of guilt, he still guided the group onward.
It was only natural to feel a little sorry for Park Jin-hyeon’s frustration.
He had been blessed with the skill of luck.
Just as he prepared to lead them back to the dorm, he spotted an odd sight.
Everyone—including Do-hyeon—wore puzzled expressions.
Elves, one of the upper species, were searching frantically with elementals as if they were bloodhounds.
Elves were common, but their behavior was not.
They were using elementals to scour something, much like tracking dogs.
Do-hyeon wondered if they were looking for him.
Are they hunting the one who killed Zerphael?
Zerphael had been killed in an Agni NTR incident, so perhaps the elves hoped to find the elemental user who had unleashed them.
He should probably leave the area, but he couldn’t since he hadn’t signed a contract with any elemental.
Just then, an elf group spotted the Lee Do-hyeon party and approached.
“Wait there! Lower races, halt!”
Haughty, commanding tones made eyebrows furrow across the group.
The 53rd Shaft belonged to no one; everyone used it freely.
Ha-na stepped forward as representative.
“What seems to be the issue?”
She spoke politely yet firmly, which irritated the elf leader.
“I’ll conduct a quick inspection.”
Before Ha-na could protest, the atmosphere turned hostile.
Do-hyeon noticed something.
The elementals before them trembled upon seeing him, their eyes filled with longing.
They then turned away from the party, desperate to leave.
As if they could no longer bear to stay.
The elf leader ignored Ha-na and turned to his elemental.
The elemental replied at once.
“It seems he doesn’t wish to remain here. Exploring elsewhere would be wiser.”
“Indeed. Lower races such as humans rarely possess strong elemental affinity. Let’s go.”
The elves departed.
The Ha-na party watched them with utter bewilderment.
They had barged in uninvited, demanded an inspection, then left without warning.
Loathing was an understatement.
“Who was the idiot who came first?”
“Why are all elves like this?”
“Disgusting.”
“Tell me about it.”
While the group grumbled, Do-hyeon still saw the elemental waving secretly at him even as the elves walked away.
His mind wandered.
They must be helping me.
Still thinking, Hana Rin approached him.
“Could it be because of what we caught last time?”
Her cautious question earned a nod from Do-hyeon.
“Probably.”
“……We’ll have to be careful.”
“I’ll watch out too.”
Ji Yu-chan, who had overheard, gave the same reply.
Do-hyeon watched the elemental’s retreat and reassured them.
“It should be fine. They just left.”
“That’s true.”
“Hmm… still, we must remain vigilant.”
Hana Rin nodded in agreement.
Although Do-hyeon spoke lightly, even Ji Yu-chan looked relieved.
Do-hyeon found the elves’ persistent search amusing yet strange.
Why are they looking for me?
It wasn’t merely for Zerphael’s death.
Though their bonds were tight, that was true only of the World Tree.
These elves would not obsess over killing their own kind so thoroughly.
Curious, he decided that if the opportunity arose, he would find out why.
As they walked back toward the dorm, he recalled the elemental’s desperate farewell.
He really is cute. I wonder where the summoning ritual slipped up.
Do-hyeon briefly thought of the distant elves, then wondered aloud.
Will hunting them make them appear?
A shiver ran through him at the thought.
Hana Rin and Ji Yu-chan turned to glance at him, but seeing his ordinary expression, they let it go.
There was something special about Do-hyeon Oppa…
……Must have been my imagination?
The two, whose senses had sharpened infinitely toward Do-hyeon, and Ha-na’s party arrived safely at the dorm together.