Chapter 111
Chapter 111
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: Dungeon Outing Plan
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The next day, at Iron Fortress.
The sun had already passed its zenith, but Yoo Seongwon had no intention of getting out of bed.
He'd slept his fill and woken up, but now he was sprawled across the sheets, flipping on the TV to watch reruns of old variety shows. He surrendered his entire body to a profound peace, forgetting all the worries and concerns of the world.
"Shut your trap! You scrawny punks have no idea how long it took me to pack on this gut! It's the 'weight' of the fat that's different, you hear me?"
"Puhahaha! The weight of fat! Puhahaha!"
"If you're awake, how about getting some food first? I know it must be exhausting after that brutal fight."
"...I'll grab something myself, Mom. Eek! Sorry, my bad."
He'd shot off some nonsense to Shin Somi, who'd come to fetch him, only to cower immediately under her icy glare.
She might be a mother with a daughter, but it wasn't something she wanted to hear from Yoo Seongwon, a fellow thirty-something just a few years younger.
"No, calling you 'Mom' was my mistake, sure. But I really am wiped from the battle fatigue and stamina drain. Look, I've been fighting nonstop in the Goblin Empire Dungeon for a whole month without proper rest. Then in Gwangju against the scavengers, Busan with the A-rank boss Merman Warlords, straight to Seoul for the arc demon beast horde... Logically speaking, I need at least a month off..."
"We did a medical check, and your condition was beyond perfect—no fatigue left at all. Plus, you gained new skills. So..."
"Ahem! Skills are aces up my sleeve! Reserve cards, you know? Don't nitpick—just think logically."
"...Fine. Rest well."
And so Yoo Seongwon successfully defended his bed fortress to the end. Shin Somi decided she couldn't push any harder and left his room.
She headed to the central control room of Iron Fortress, where a hectic scene unfolded.
Elder Baek Geyeon was grumbling over a mountain of paperwork, while Yoo Cheong was huddled with Merblin, whispering nonstop.
"Oh? You're here. So, what about that guy?"
"He's resting."
"What? In times like these? What the—!"
"He's a smallfolk at heart. Whether he's decked out in golden armor, wielding SS-rank hunter prowess, leading S-rank knights, or ruling the Goblin Empire."
Human nature doesn't change easily, especially once someone's an adult.
Life habits and mindsets have already solidified, making change tough.
And if those habits have never led to failure, they're even harder to shift. Force it, and you'll just provoke backlash—so caution is key.
"That's why it's even stranger. With that personality, no constellation blessings or dominations... How the hell did he get so strong? I just can't figure it out."
"Hm? I thought you had a hunch before."
"Even if I did, he's way too detached from the world. If he'd gotten 'the call,' he couldn't act like that. Sigh~"
Baek Geyeon grumbled about Yoo Seongwon but kept grinding through the paperwork.
This incident alone had the government approving a trillion-won expenditure to deploy to the front lines. Without it, South Korea would've collapsed into an 'apocalypse' era or devolved to provincial government levels of power—a massive crisis averted.
"Whew~ So much, so much. War spoils disposal is one thing, but all these meetings and people... Any way to reform that guy?"
"No one's perfect in this world, Elder. Isn't it commendable that despite his personality, he steps up and fights to the end when it's time?"
"For pay?"
"Still, he keeps his word. How many people flip-flop on promises just because it's tough or inconvenient? Sigh~"
Shin Somi's sigh hinted at some deeper backstory.
Seeing her mother's darkened expression, Shin Ayoung jumped up from tinkering with her wire and guns, wedging herself between her mom and Baek Geyeon.
"So, today's plans are shot anyway, right? Might as well drag Uncle out for fun. Better than him holing up like that."
"Hmm~ Not a bad idea. Heh heh heh. No way he turns down 'fun.'"
"Not a great plan. You know how many reporters are camping outside Iron Fortress? If we take the trailer anywhere, they'll tail us to the end."
As Shin Somi said, Yoo Seongwon, the SS-rank hunter, had always drawn massive media attention. But in this war, he'd cleared three fronts in a single day, saving South Korea from crisis—becoming the ultimate 'joker card.'
His feats were impressive, but having five S-rank powerhouses—including himself—in one group was huge news. Reporters camped out as a baseline and even tried sneaking in for scoops.
"And right after a huge war... If pics of us outing hit, who knows what fake headlines they'll spin. Public opinion tanks. Stuff like 'Partying After the War Ends?' or 'Arrogant After Trillion-Won Payday?'"
"Hmm... Fair point. Thinking of scum like that Recka makes my teeth grind."
"Then... Mom stripping down for infiltration is the only—"
"Go to a dungeon. Details aside, inside a dimensional one, no interruptions."
Yoo Cheong, who'd been deep in talk with goblin mage Merblin, smoothly inserted himself.
As Heavenly Sword Army strategist and one of Yoo Seongwon's summoned knights, his elegant, romance-manga pretty-boy looks had stunned the women on arrival.
Anyway, he suggested a 'dungeon outing,' and Baek Geyeon reacted first.
"Oh? Not bad. Dungeon... Yeah, no one dares follow there."
"But high-rank risks accidents, low-rank lacks raid credibility and invites weird articles..."
"Leave that to the Goblin Empire!"
Merblin responded boldly to the concerns. He'd mastered the local language, speaking fluent Korean now.
Proud of his linguistic feat—not for nothing a mage—he puffed his chest and made an unexpected pitch.
"By local standards, it's a B-rank dungeon, but also His Majesty's vast, mighty golden empire since our surrender. Going there counts as raiding while being surrounded by His Majesty's loyal limbs—totally safe!"
"Can we trust this? Sir Yoo Cheong?"
"Pardon? Even betrayal's fine by me. We'd just raid a B-rank group-style. Honestly prefer that—curious what wisdom this mage Merblin uses to doom us. Note: No third surrenders."
Yoo Cheong smiled brightly and firm. Merblin let out his eerie goblin wail in protest.
To the others, Yoo Cheong seemed plenty odd too.
His fond gaze at Merblin screamed 'try it if you dare.'
Merblin freaked, shaking his head no way.
"Well, no issue then. Goblin Empire Dungeon's cleared, but entrance open—say we're fixing that, no complaints. Dungeons shift grades sometimes anyway."
"For emergencies, arm up fully and head out geared... Sounds good."
"And! And! Casual clothes and food go in spaces for mana stones and spoils—no problem!"
They synced perfectly, like scripted. As the saying goes, rip the iron horns off quick—they all started prepping.
Manpower was ample: knights training or resting at the sanctuary, plus Yoo Seongwon's summoned Heavenly Sword Army elites. Prep went swift.
But the real hurdle overshadowed all: dragging Yoo Seongwon out from his room, rolling in bed with variety shows.
"Ohohohot! Lady Katrina! You lack true beauty! A real socialite needs muscle and grit! Your flab couldn't bench 500 reps, let alone 200! Ohohohoho! Behold! Katrina! These muscles! True beauty!"
"Ooh! Miss Josephine's side chest! Look at that glorious muscle! Katrina! That's the beauty a noble lady must have. Forged by endless toil and self-discipline! That's true beauty! Burn it into your eyes! Your heart!"
"Puhahaha! Hilarious. Puhahaha! Item get sound... Huh?"
Yoo Seongwon, running an auto-farm game on his phone while glued to the show, froze as Shin Ayoung entered.
Guessing the second boss wave, he yanked the blanket over and went full defense.
"Begone, evil errand fairy! Wahh! Baby Seongwon's helpless. Wahh! Wahh!"
"...Over thirty and that's your line? Anyway, not chores—get ready to go. We're outing."
"Outing? What're you on about?"
"Captain's resting anyway... Group chill time. Bonding~ New knights popped up sudden, that goblin mage, etc... Everyone's awkward!"
Yoo Seongwon's knights treated him like an old comrade, but kept distance or beastly menace toward others—needed warming up.
Yoo Cheong and Jinseok, human-looking, were less distant, but all orbits centered on Yoo Seongwon—still an issue.
"Do it without me. I'm watching Josephine and Elise's front double biceps beauty showdown—hey, what're you doing?"
"Body language talk!"
"Wh-what talk! Get off! Hey! No jumping under the covers! What's wrong with you?"
Shin Ayoung had leaped in like pro wrestler.
Yoo Seongwon tried peeling her off, but she stuck like glue—some skill?—crawling bug-like everywhere, hard to grab.
"Gotcha!"
"Kyaaang~ Not there~"
"What's 'there'!"
Stats crushed her, so he nabbed her quick—but she weaponized femininity to escape each time.
He shot unfair glares at her cat-crouched in the bed corner, but she winked back.
"This is woman's weapon! Weak old bachelor can't touch!"
"Wanna bet? Respect minors, y'know?"
"So if it was non-minor Mom, you'd touch?"
"...Huh?"
"Moooom! Moooom! Uncle says he wants to grope you in bed~"
"How'd it twist like that? Fine! I'm up! I'm up! Uuuup!"
Via bizarre logic, Yoo Seongwon's image tanked—he surrendered to Shin Ayoung.
Thus, denied Josephine and Elise's majestic-chested muscle lady duel, he changed to casuals and left the room.