Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Boss Subjugation Complete
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Chapter 27
The moment it lost its two legs, the battle's outcome was essentially decided.
It was just a matter of how smoothly they could walk to victory.
In reality, the massive spider no longer exuded the majesty of a boss monster.
It was merely a huge, powerful rock spider.
Boom—
"It's holding up!"
Sunhyeong shouted as he blocked the boss's attack.
His body swayed slightly each time he withstood the massive legs and fangs, but the opponent couldn't unleash rapid strikes anyway.
Meanwhile, Sang-su's lightning magic disrupted the spider's senses in petty bursts.
Jeong-hyeon didn't miss the openings the two created.
He launched himself under the spider.
Thud—
The spider belatedly realized and snapped its chelicerae shut, but Jeong-hyeon had already passed.
He rose again on the spider's side where its legs were still intact.
On the third leg opposite the one Jeong-hyeon hadn't severed, one of Jeong-a's arrows was embedded.
And that arrow had created a gap.
Crunch—
As soon as Jeong-hyeon was certain the blade could slip in, he jammed the dagger deep.
'First strike at an angle!'
It wasn't the ideal weapon for cleanly severing limbs, so he had to target the nerves.
After briefly stiffening the spider, Jeong-hyeon stabbed repeatedly, like poking a doll with a needle.
Even accounting for scale, the size felt similar.
As a result, he couldn't fully detach the leg like before, but
"Kieee...."
He succeeded in dropping the remaining third leg limp.
He had completely neutralized two of the rock spider's weak points.
With both third legs out of control, the spider's movements noticeably dulled.
Its senses seemed impaired.
Having retreated safely from the spider's attack range, Jeong-hyeon shouted.
"Now, let's finish it!"
The cumulative damage was immense, even if it hadn't shown until now.
The fluids pouring from the severed legs were substantial, and it was constantly zapped by Sang-su's lightning whenever it recovered— no living thing could endure that.
Jeong-hyeon sheathed the dagger in his side belt and switched to the mace.
"Sunhyeong, I'm attacking from the front now!"
"Got it!"
To attack head-on, he needed Sunhyeong to tank even more stably.
Sensing its end, the boss thrashed desperately with its damaged legs.
Boom— Boom—
But its slowed, weakened claws were futilely blocked by Sunhyeong's shield.
Jeong-hyeon exploited the momentary gaps, bashing its face with the mace, leaving it disoriented.
"Kieeee...."
Its cries grew weaker with each successive strike from Jeong-hyeon.
Even Sang-su's light lightning spells, which it would have shrugged off normally, now caused stiffening—its condition was dire.
Soon enough, its massive body
Thud—
collapsed completely.
It still breathed, but it wouldn't move anymore.
From being cornered in the plaza, certain to die, they had somehow slain the boss.
It was no less dangerous than the goblin village—perhaps more so—and they'd overcome it again.
'Whew.'
Jeong-hyeon sighed inwardly in relief.
Since the last hunt, it was like the gates were cursed; they'd faced every imaginable stroke of bad luck.
Villains to mutated bosses.
'I can't even imagine what'll happen next.'
But the massive spider that had driven them to despair now lay quietly awaiting death.
No one could fault them for savoring the triumph now.
However,
"D, finally...."
"That's enough."
Expressing that triumph aloud was another matter.
Jeong-hyeon urgently covered Sunhyeong's mouth as he tried to chant a spell in exhilaration.
The thing wasn't fully dead yet.
Chanting a spell might revive even a corpse.
But spells belonged to mages.
"We got it!"
Sang-su's voice boomed across the plaza.
'Crazy bastard....'
"Why, what's wrong?"
Sang-su looked baffled under Jeong-hyeon's contemptuous gaze.
The spider, hearing the spell, raised its head with a dying effort.
"Kiee—"
"It's still alive?"
The guttural roar sounded ominous to anyone.
Sang-su startled and stepped back.
"Still alive?" was perfectly apt.
Jeong-hyeon swung the mace with all his might to interrupt the boss's final struggle.
'Fuck this shit!'
He cursed internally, unsure if at the spider.
Crunch—
With Jeong-hyeon's final blow, the spider's face caved in as it screamed with mouth agape.
It toppled lifelessly and didn't rise.
And then,
[You have acquired 1 coin.]
A perfect ending.
"Whew—"
With the final tension released, Sunhyeong collapsed.
Having tanked upfront, his body must have been pushed to the limit.
The others, holding position, seemed equally drained.
Only after retrieving the dagger from the boss's eye and approaching the corpse could Jeong-hyeon sit.
"Did we... survive?"
"Yeah, we survived."
Jeong-a approached Jeong-hyeon and Sunhyeong, stuttering as if victory hadn't sunk in.
They'd all thought death certain amid the chaos, unspoken.
As Jeong-hyeon grinned and answered, a window appeared.
[Proficiency level of "Somewhat Agile Movement" (F) has increased from 1 to 2.]
[Hidden achievement, "Why Are You Here?" achieved. You have acquired 5 coins.]
The most certain finale.
It was one of his first traits and crucial in the boss fight, so leveling up made sense.
Slaying the mutated boss also unlocked a hidden achievement with 5 coins.
The rewards matched the ordeal.
"Ah...."
Jeong-hyeon nearly cheered but clamped his mouth shut.
He'd leveled proficiency recently; flaunting another would seem odd.
Unless one had multiple traits, it was suspicious.
Sunhyeong, conversely, openly celebrated.
"Huh? Proficiency up! My proficiency leveled!"
His toughness trait hit level 3.
Level 3 earned true veteran status, so he beamed more than usual.
As party members congratulated him and joy from rewards and survival overtook fatigue,
Jeong-hyeon stood.
"Let's get up. I hate staying here longer."
"Agreed! Let's go!"
As they prepared to leave, Sang-su approached Jeong-hyeon hesitantly.
"Something to say?"
"Uh...."
After hesitating, Sang-su bowed deeply in apology.
"I'm sorry for everything!"
It was an apology from the man who'd mocked Jeong-hyeon for being F-rank, for his workshop experience.
Jeong-hyeon knew views had shifted but was surprised by the sincerity.
"It's fine. Well, you're D-rank."
"N-No, not D-rank! I've learned so much!"
He decided to tease a bit.
"Well, you joined Jeongjin now. Guys like me deserve some disregard."
"I was wrong! Forgive me once! Jeong-hyeon—no, bro!"
Sang-su bowed deeper with each plea.
Thinking back, Jeong-hyeon had saved him when pegged as a villain.
No pride withheld from his lifesaver.
Jeong-hyeon chuckled and pulled him up.
"It's really fine. Kinda cute, in a way."
"....Huh?"
Patting the puzzled Sang-su's shoulder, Jeong-hyeon added.
"Let's get out now."
"Ah.... Yeah! Let's go!"
Sang-su flusteredly rallied the others.
Birds of a feather, this party had decent folk.
Sang-su had been prickly early, but youth excused that.
Though same age as Jeong-hyeon.
On the way out,
No spiders harassed them.
Instinctively knowing they'd slain the dominant boss.
Even the few presences Jeong-hyeon sensed retreating vanished hastily on approach.
He leisurely recovered thrown daggers.
"Wow! Sunlight!"
Emerging fully from the cave into sunlight was pure elation.
Jeong-a bounced joyfully; others expressed relief variously.
"Uwaaaah!"
Sunhyeong knelt roaring,
"Thank you. Thank you."
Do-yun murmured prayers, hands clasped.
'Healers are often religious, huh?'
Finally, Sang-su, whom Jeong-hyeon eyed,
"Yes, we just exited the gate. Don't ask. Mutated boss—we barely survived. Anyway, can we meet urgently?"
Was on a call.
Odd to phone immediately after near-death, but not dwelled on.
Likely guild contact; guilds advocated for members.
Despite association checks, a boss—mutated—endangered his guildmate?
They hadn't grasped the incident's scale.
***
At Jeongjin Guild HQ, one of Korea's top-five giants,
Was Cha Jun-won's office, HR Team 2 leader.
Over 180cm tall, flawlessly handsome—explaining his internal promise and external fame.
Plus flashy B-rank magic hunter; popularity immense.
Clink—
Two teacups on the luxury table.
"So, why the urgent meet? Rest after that ordeal."
His visitor: Han Sang-su.
"Uh, well...."
Second visit to Cha Jun-won's office.
Meeting a famed B-rank hunter always tensed him.
Despite "call anytime," accepting a meet request surprised.
But Jun-won patiently endured Sang-su's fumbling.
HR Team 2 handled low-rank scouting.
Even high-ranks tensed; a fresh D-rank level 2? No contest.
Jun-won neither condescended nor minded such reactions.
"Last time, you said recommend good hunters anytime. Got one?"
"Ah."
That was it.
Jun-won deflated slightly but listened attentively.
HR power was vast; requests endless.
He urged his scouts to report talents, but usually friends or dregs.
"I see. Tell me. From this gate?"
"Yes! Rock Spider Cave."
"Subbing a mutated boss with five low-ranks? Impressive. Rank?"
Undeniably amazing—luck or skill.
Details pending.
"Well...."
Sang-su hesitated guiltily but answered.
"Unregistered. Proficiency level 3, supposedly."
Jun-won's poker face furrowed briefly.
Unregistered?
Fancy term for F-rank.
Level 3 usable, but F-rank caps at 4.
Hitting 4 tough; growth capped.
Jun-won said gravely,
"Sang-su, I get it, but unregistered is...."
"N-No! Hear me out. Unregistered, but not F-rank!"
Jun-won foresaw objection; Sang-su cut in desperately.
Such boldness from the fawning man startled Jun-won.
Rude, even.
But Jun-won listened patiently.
Vowing internal repercussions if trivial.
"So, anyway...."
As Sang-su continued, Jun-won's eyes widened gradually.
Sang-su grew animated.
"....That's the guy!"
When finished, Jun-won incredulously echoed.
"That guy's F-rank—no, unregistered level 3?"