Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Rock Spider Cave
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Chapter 22
"So, the deeper you go into the cave, the stronger the rock spiders get. If it feels too tough, we should just stop around the middle."
Sunhyeong was giving a brief rundown on the Rock Spider Cave.
They had probably done their own prior research, but this was a process to confirm it matched what they knew.
Once Sunhyeong finished, Jeong-hyeon spoke up.
"They say the boss mob respawns here too. Has anyone heard anything about it?"
"Oh, the Association said the respawn cycle passed recently. But no sign of it. They even sent a team to search inside after halting reservations, and still nothing. Well, it's an unpopular gate, so they probably didn't look too hard."
"Hmm..."
Jeong-hyeon fell into thought.
A boss not appearing even after its cycle was definitely a strange sign.
The boss was just a giant cave spider, sure.
But in combat, you couldn't ignore the advantages that came with sheer size, no matter how much it was just a difference in class.
"Anyway, we won't be going deep enough for the boss to spawn. Even if it's there, we won't run into it."
Sunhyeong answered with a smile, but
'Hmm...'
Jeong-hyeon couldn't shake the unease.
It was a low-probability event, but boss-grade monsters sometimes respawned as mutants.
A really low chance.
Of course, in those cases, they usually got taken out early due to heightened aggression right after respawning.
He figured it wouldn't happen, but a lingering doubt remained.
"More importantly, Jeong-hyeon."
Jeong-hyeon turned at Sunhyeong's call.
He asked with an awkward smile.
"Do you know how to butcher rock spiders by any chance?"
"Yeah, I've done it a few times, but it's been a while, so I went to check it out again recently."
"Ah, I see... so...?"
Sunhyeong shot him a subtle expectant look.
Jeong-hyeon could guess what he meant and grinned, scratching the itch.
"They go for about 800,000 each, I heard."
"Whoa! 800,000?"
The party's faces lit up instantly.
Rock spiders normally paid around 300,000.
The several-fold jump from zombies was a clear indicator of how tough they were.
As Sunhyeong, Jeonga, and Doyun chatted about the payout, Sang-su, who had been listening with a displeased look, tossed out a comment.
"You know how to butcher them?"
"Yes. Before becoming a hunter, I worked at a processing shop."
It wasn't a secret, so Jeong-hyeon answered without hesitation.
Otherwise, how else would he explain his butchering skills?
But Sang-su smirked, like he'd caught something.
"Ah, that makes sense. So you worked at a processing shop. Must've been tough."
Jeong-hyeon could tell the intent, of course.
He didn't react, just watched Sang-su quietly.
Sang-su didn't stop his provocation now that he'd started.
"Makes sense why you brought an F-rank hunter, hyung."
"Hey, what're you saying?"
Jeonga immediately smacked Sang-su's shoulder and scolded him.
He stared blankly at her but didn't add more, just snorted.
"Jeong-hyeon, that guy didn't mean it badly—"
"Oh, yeah. I know."
Jeong-hyeon gave an unforced smile.
It was meant as pretty harsh mockery, but it was nowhere near enough to rattle him.
Disdain for working at a processing shop?
He'd dealt with plenty of that in society already.
They knew it too, and since they were in the same boat, the shop workers had always looked out for him more.
Snide remarks about being F-rank?
Any hunter with real pride in their skills wouldn't fall for such cheap bait.
Besides, unbeknownst to anyone, Jeong-hyeon had EX-rank traits.
Technically, he even had D-rank traits now, same as Sang-su.
It was just cute.
'Well, I get why he's acting up.'
Freshly joined a big guild like Jeongjin, and softening a bit whenever Jeonga stepped in.
Only an idiot wouldn't guess.
But,
'That's that, and he still has to pay for all the little pokes.'
Understanding didn't mean letting it slide.
Just as Sang-su planned to mess with him inside the gate, Jeong-hyeon had no intention of going easy.
"Anyway, Jeonga, Sang-su."
"Yes?"
Sunhyeong let out a relieved sigh as Jeong-hyeon brushed it off casually.
The two turned to him at his call.
Sang-su's reaction was the complete opposite, though.
Ignoring that, Jeong-hyeon said what he needed to.
"Could you target the rock spider's forehead or third leg if possible? Left or right, doesn't matter."
"Third leg?"
Jeonga asked, puzzled by the sudden request.
Jeong-hyeon recalled the processing shop he'd visited on the day Sunhyeong contacted him.
His own shop didn't handle rock spiders much, so he'd gone to another on the foreman's recommendation.
"You're Jeong-hyeon, right? Big Use contacted me! A shop kid becoming a hunter—makes me proud!"
Were all processing shop folks like this?
The cheerful laugh and back-slap welcome gave him a sense of familiarity.
Well, you needed tough mental fortitude to last in a shop.
"Still just low-rank. Thanks. Oh, is that the rock spider?"
"Yep. Take a good look."
'Ugh, it's really gross-looking.'
Jeong-hyeon prided himself on resistance to most monsters, but the real thing was horrifying.
No wonder hunters hated facing them—the appearance said it all.
Named for rock-hard bodies, but don't picture smooth stone.
The shell was a thick, murky purple near black, slick with slimy goo that reeked.
The irregular, protruding body was pocked with big and small holes.
Ten baseball-sized eyes studded the face, and the eight legs—full of holes—ended in razor-sharp claws.
A few had come to his shop back then, but as a newbie, he'd watched from afar.
Hesitant to approach, the foreman who'd welcomed him laughed loudly.
"Hahaha, yeah, it's creepy. But you get used to it and it gets kinda cute. Come here."
'Where's the cute in that?'
Absurd, but Jeong-hyeon followed and learned the traits.
Luckily, the foreman had tons of experience and shared plenty.
"What weapons you use?"
"Mace... and dagger."
"Oh, mace matches well. Swing hard, can't crush the body but the face should give."
He pointed out the thinnest shell spot on the face.
An inverted T-zone above the mouth with its solid mandibles, between the aligned eyes.
"Of course, if you can avoid the front legs and mouth! Hahaha!"
Easier said than done—perfect weak point.
Still, that's where butchering starts.
Even a work knife cuts in with force there.
And,
"This is premium info..."
He lowered his voice gravely for one more.
The third leg, which Jeong-hyeon had brought up.
Looking at Jeonga still watching curiously, and Sang-su glancing despite pretending not to, Jeong-hyeon explained.
"Hitting the third leg flips the spider easily. Legs splay out."
"Huh? Really?"
Rock spider nerves cluster near the third leg, spreading to others.
Impact there makes the rest reflexively stiffen and spread, creating imbalance you can use to flip it.
Insect-types were easy once flipped.
Even if not, it took damage easier than other spots.
Sunhyeong's party had hunted a few, but this was new info, so all looked surprised.
"Sunhyeong, smash the third leg with your shield when you see an opening."
Jeong-hyeon said smiling, and Sunhyeong thumped his chest, got it.
Nothing boosts confidence like knowing weaknesses.
"Alright, let's head in!"
"Okay!"
***
'Rock Spider Cave.'
Suitable for E-to-D rank parties, but infamous for accidents.
Spiders' instinctive terror, plus wall/ceiling approaches.
Long main tunnel without light, pocked walls with ambush holes.
Far more dangerous than eerie but structured corridors.
"So, do you guys come to places like this often?"
Jeong-hyeon voiced a question brewing since hearing about the cave.
He'd chalked up past crowding to popularity, but another unpopular one?
Maybe they sought these out despite complaints.
But Sunhyeong shook his head firmly.
"No, we want normal gates too. Goblins, orcs—bright, good air."
Plus Jeonga shuddering at the vibe, like last time.
"Ugh, this is all 'cause you're lazy, oppa. I told you to book ahead!"
Hearing that, Jeong-hyeon chuckled.
General parties had to book fast or popular gates filled.
'Come to think, Jucheol really put in effort.'
Prepping a goblin gate for newbies—that was work.
And Sung-su tried cute appeals to Jeonga amid it.
"No more worries like that. We can book level 2 gates normally through our guild now."
Sang-su wasn't wrong.
Association separated general and guild bookings.
General first-come, guilds negotiated.
'But things don't always follow rules.'
Jeongjin could snag E-rank general slots easy.
Not fully legal, but industries had unspoken deals.
Offer comp gates or rewards, independents had no reason to refuse big guilds.
That's why major guilds had high entry competition.
"Pfft, anyone'd think you're a team lead. Worry about yourself first. You just joined days ago."
Sang-su's bid for brownie points backfired.
Harmless if he didn't pick fights—kinda cute.
Listening to them, Jeong-hyeon pondered.
Prompted by Sang-su's Jeongjin entry.
'I'll need to join a guild eventually.'
Joining was worlds from registering.
Contract-based: hunters disclose all abilities, guilds support accordingly.
But which guild would believe he swapped traits freely, held multiples?
Even that traits upgraded with coin use?
Even if one did, at mere D-rank, he'd just get used and discarded.
'Need more strength first.'
Solo had limits; couldn't stay indie forever.
Freelancing meant higher gates as he grew.
High-ranks had few free slots—growth demanded affiliation.
Not a quick-answer question.
Then his senses picked up approaching presences.
"Here they come."
"Yes?"
The party looked baffled, like what?
'Shoot.'
Jeong-hyeon realized his slip.
E-rank combat sense plus physical boost gave unmatched detection here.
But outwardly F-rank.
Should've warned just before others noticed, lost in thought.
"Cave echoes sounds. Hear that rustling?"
"......?"
"......Battle ready!"
Half-forcing the call.
Vowing to hide strength better next time.
'Man, this concealing crap is tiring.'