Chapter 68
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: A Boy's Dream (2)
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He was twenty-two, the same age as Han-gyeol.
Eun-young turned off her phone screen.
“You could have taken the full ten minutes.”
“There wasn’t much to see, no need to stare at it for that long.”
The provided profile only contained basic personal information.
The trainee Hunters were starting to arrive one by one.
Soo-hyun, having finished his coffee, tossed the cup in the trash and stood up.
“This guy here will fill you in on the details.”
Soo-hyun tapped the shoulder of the rookie sitting next to him.
“Where are you going?”
“If you come to an amusement park, you have to ride at least one or two rides.”
“To think my hard-earned tax money is going into the wallet of a guy like you.”
“Hey! I paid my own way in!”
Soo-hyun rolled up his shirt sleeve to show his all-day pass wristband.
The fact that he seriously intended to have fun was absurd in its own way.
Eun-young waved her hand dismissively.
“Go on, get out of here. What did I expect from you anyway?”
As if he truly had no intention of seeing the other Hunters, Choi Soo-hyun disappeared into the crowd that flooded in after the park opened.
The dungeon was near the entrance of a ride.
Because of the dungeon, the fourth floor where the ride was located was closed for the day.
Eun-young headed to the fourth floor with an Association employee.
“You seem close with Deputy Chief Choi, Hunter-nim.”
“‘Deputy Chief Choi’ makes him sound so old… We’re just, well.”
Eun-young laughed awkwardly, avoiding the question.
It was because of the conversation they’d had while looking at the trainees’ profiles before the Association employee arrived.
—Oh, right. Song Eun-young.
—What?
—Don’t go around talking about me.
—Am I crazy? Besides, there’s nothing to talk about.
—I’m a pretty big deal, you know. Lots of jealous people out there.
—You’re so full of it.
—Anyway, if rumors spread about me planning to quit or serving another god, it’ll be a pain for both of us, so let’s be careful. You get that without me having to say it, right?
—Got it.
When Eun-young fell silent, the employee walking with her didn't ask any more questions about Choi Soo-hyun.
Near the dungeon, five Hunters were gathered.
The dungeon designated for the trainees this time was a D-rank dungeon called ‘The Old Mansion’.
It was a dungeon that took about six hours to clear, requiring them to eliminate the kobolds inside the mansion.
Even among D-rank dungeons, it was on the easier side.
Four of them were openly wary of Eun-young as she approached with the Association employee.
“Tsk, a supervisor just because of one idiot.”
“Seriously, isn’t it weird for an accident to happen in a D-rank dungeon in the first place?”
“Just means he was destined to die anyway.”
The team was composed of four men and two women.
Instead of targeting Eun-young, they badmouthed the unaffiliated Hunter right in front of her.
‘They still look down on unaffiliated Hunters.’
A Hunter standing a little apart from the group hung his head low.
Eun-young had also gone through her trainee days as an unaffiliated Hunter.
The contempt and scorn for unaffiliated Hunters were the same now as they were back then.
After getting signatures from all the Hunters, the Association employee did his job.
“As previously announced, this is Hunter Song Eun-young from the Aria Guild, who will be supervising this dungeon run. She will not intervene except in dangerous situations, so please feel at ease.”
“We’ll be in your care, C-rank Hunter-nim.”
“I’m B-rank, you know? Though I am scheduled for an evaluation next week.”
“Oh, is that so?”
The only other woman in the group retorted with a haughty attitude.
Seeing the young-looking woman, Eun-young held her tongue.
Amidst the subtle tension, the Hunters entered the dungeon one by one.
Eun-young was supposed to enter last, after watching the other Hunters go in.
As expected, the last one to go was Jeong Hyun-seong.
He was carrying a heavy load that looked difficult to manage even at a glance.
“Hah.”
Unable to watch any longer, Eun-young quietly snatched one of Jeong Hyun-seong’s bags with one hand.
It weighed over ten kilograms, but to the current Eun-young, such a weight was nothing.
“Um…”
“Hurry and get inside.”
Eun-young practically forced him forward, pushing his back.
Eun-young was the last to enter the dungeon.
[The Old Mansion]
Rank: D-
Recommended Party: 6 or fewer
Objective: Retrieve the ‘Crown of the Fallen World’ from the mansion’s basement.
Rewards
1) All members receive [200 Contribution Points] upon clearing.
2) Slaying all kobolds grants [300 Contribution Points].
“This is nothing…”
To Eun-young, who had run countless dungeons over the past month, a D-rank dungeon was child’s play.
Once inside the dungeon, Eun-young handed the bag back to Jeong Hyun-seong.
Jeong Hyun-seong took the bag without thinking, and his body tilted from the weight.
“Thank you.”
Eun-young smiled, telling him not to worry about it.
She wanted to help carry it for him, but showing undue favoritism could lead to misunderstandings.
—Don’t help him too much.
Choi Soo-hyun, who seemed displeased with Eun-young entering the dungeon as a supervisor, had nagged her until the very last moment.
‘I know, you don’t have to tell me.’
Even though it had only been a few months since she officially started her Hunter activities, she was sharp enough to know that much.
Perhaps because it was an old mansion, it definitely had the feel of a haunted house.
A woman approached Eun-young.
It was the same woman who had bickered with her about being C-rank before they entered.
“Now that we’re in the dungeon, I’ll say this.”
“Hm?”
“If it weren’t for this incompetent loser, you wouldn’t even be here. So don’t interfere, ma’am.”
Chae Seol-ha. She was a follower of Cervia, the god Choi Soo-hyun once served.
At Chae Seol-ha’s words, Eun-young clenched her jaw.
“Oh, of course. Why else would I be here? I wouldn’t help you even if you were dying! So just pretend this ‘ma’am’ doesn’t exist and do whatever you want, kiddo.”
For Eun-young, who had been hardened by years in the service industry, Chae Seol-ha’s words barely registered as insults.
At the word “kiddo,” Chae Seol-ha quickly sized up Eun-young’s height.
Even though she had put extra insoles in her sneakers for the occasion, she was still clearly much shorter than Eun-young.
“Anyway! If you’re a supervisor, act like one and stay quiet!”
Deciding she couldn’t win against Eun-young in any aspect at the moment, Chae Seol-ha turned her back.
“Hah, maybe I should have just offered to write ten reports instead.”
Now that she was actually in the dungeon, the fatigue was immense, even though she wasn't the one clearing it.
Watching the Hunters walk away, Eun-young clenched her fists.
“You can do this, Song Eun-young!”
Eun-young balled her fists tightly.
Compared to what she had been through, this was nothing.
She didn’t want to disappoint Han-gyeol, who had given her another chance.
‘Maybe…’
Eun-young’s gaze fell on Jeong Hyun-seong as he followed the group.
It was a difficult problem.
The party entered the mansion.
Small flames on the candelabras lining the mansion walls flickered.
“Alright. Let’s begin.”
Chae Seol-ha set down her personal bag and drew a pistol from her hip.
At a glance, it looked no different from a modern automatic pistol.
To be precise, it wasn’t a pistol but a magic gun.
Magitech engineering.
It was an industrial field dedicated to creating weapons that utilized mana in modern firearms.
Chae Seol-ha’s magic gun was one of these magitech weapons.
Magic guns guaranteed power, but they were expensive, and their maintenance costs were higher than normal weapons, making them difficult for a newly Awakened Hunter to use.
In this case, it was one of two things.
Either her family was rich, or both her parents were Hunters.
Either way, it was none of Eun-young’s business.
Kobolds, having noticed the intruders, appeared.
They seemed to have coordinated beforehand, moving into their respective positions with practiced ease.
Three Hunters acted as tanks, one was a melee fighter, and Chae Seol-ha, positioned behind them, took the role of the dealer.
One of the so-called tanks was practically just for show.
Watching Chae Seol-ha’s group fight, Eun-young frowned.
‘What are they thinking?’
Even if Jeong Hyun-seong was unaffiliated, his fighting style was clearly not suited for a tank.
Five kobolds surrounded the Hunters.
Deciding she might draw unnecessary aggro, Eun-young perched on the second-floor railing.
Timing it perfectly, Chae Seol-ha pulled the trigger, aiming for a kobold’s head.
Chae Seol-ha’s magic bullet pierced the kobold’s forehead.
After calmly dispatching all the kobolds, Chae Seol-ha lowered her gun.
Chae Seol-ha glanced up at Song Eun-young sitting on the railing, then turned her head away with a prim look.
‘Hmph, "for safety’s sake," my foot.’
They were Hunters.
Whether it was D-rank or A-rank, wasn’t it natural to enter a dungeon prepared to die?
This wasn’t a children’s playground; it was ridiculous for another Hunter to tail them into a dungeon for "safety."
‘If it hadn’t been for Soo-hyun oppa’s request!’
Chae Seol-ha had been a fan of Choi Soo-hyun since high school.
She knew Choi Soo-hyun worked in the Hunter Training Division, but she rarely had a chance to see him during her training.
But then, Choi Soo-hyun had personally come to ask for their understanding regarding a supervisor joining this dungeon expedition.
Even though they, as trainees, couldn’t refuse an Association order, Seol-ha was moved by the sight of Choi Soo-hyun coming to ask for their cooperation.
A true model for an Association Hunter!
But then.
‘That woman!’
Seol-ha had arrived at Lotte World a little earlier than the other Hunters.
Seeing Choi Soo-hyun there in person, preparing for any unforeseen circumstances, Chae Seol-ha was moved once again.
But what Chae Seol-ha witnessed was none other than Song Eun-young having a cozy chat with Choi Soo-hyun.
On top of that, finding out Song Eun-young was the supervisor for this dungeon made her anger impossible to contain.
Eun-young looked down at the murderous glare from Chae Seol-ha.
‘Wow, she really, really hates me.’
In reality, Eun-young felt nothing when she looked at Chae Seol-ha.
It was the composure of an adult.
After clearing all the kobolds on the first floor, they had to search the mansion to find the key to the basement.
Contrary to Eun-young’s expectation that they would all search the mansion, only Jeong Hyun-seong prepared to move.
Sensing something was off, Eun-young came down.
“What are you all doing now?”
“My, didn't we agree you wouldn’t interfere with our business?”
“I asked what you are doing.”
“We need the basement key to go down, right? To get it, we have to search the mansion, but there are kobolds all over the place. Going through the mansion room by room, dealing with kobolds as we go… don’t you think that’s incredibly inefficient?”
The biggest problem with The Old Mansion dungeon was the kobolds that popped out from all over the place.
Unlike the relatively spacious first floor, the upper floors were narrower with many secluded spaces, making it difficult to use the same strategy as before.
As always, surprise attacks were one of the greatest dangers for Hunters.
“We’re going to mob-hunt. What? It’s a common strategy, isn’t it?”
Faced with Chae Seol-ha’s shameless attitude, Eun-young didn’t know where to even begin to object.
“I’m fine. I agreed to do this.”
Jeong Hyun-seong raised his weapon, as if telling her not to worry.
Eun-young raised both hands and backed away.
‘Hah, I never should have participated in this half-baked project.’
Supervisor-slash-manager, my ass. Her role was so ambiguous that she felt hesitant to even speak up.
Eun-young stepped back, and the dungeon expedition resumed.
Jeong Hyun-seong made several runs, luring the kobolds inside the mansion to the central hall on the first floor.
With each pull, Jeong Hyun-seong accumulated more and more injuries.
After finishing off the kobolds, they searched the mansion and found the key to the basement.
Chae Seol-ha and the other Hunters were regrouping for lunch before heading down to the basement.
As the dungeon progressed, Eun-young became little more than a ghost.
“This is so annoying.”
Leaning against the wall, Eun-young practically chewed through a calorie bar.
What displeased Eun-young wasn’t that Chae Seol-ha’s group was treating her like she didn’t exist.
‘They’re treating him like a disposable pawn.’
Even if he didn’t serve a god and lacked abilities, the way Chae Seol-ha and the other Hunters were acting was out of line.
What angered Eun-young was her own situation, having to pretend she didn't see what was happening.
Jeong Hyun-seong approached her side.
“Um, if you don’t mind, would it be okay if I ate next to you?”
“Oh, sure. I don’t mind. But are you sure that’s okay?”
Eun-young glanced over at Chae Seol-ha and the other Hunters.
Jeong Hyun-seong casually sat down next to the wall Eun-young was leaning on.
“Just eating should be fine. Haha, I know they’re watching, but… I wanted to talk to you.”
“Oh, I’d like that. But…”
Eun-young lowered her head, and her gaze fell on the bowl Jeong Hyun-seong was holding.
Usually, people brought emergency rations into dungeons, like the calorie bars or water candies Eun-young was eating.
Even for a one-day trip into a D-rank dungeon, no Hunter would bring something like ramen unless they thought it was a picnic.
Even though she’d filled her stomach with a calorie bar, Eun-young’s mouth was watering.
“I have an extra cup of ramen, would you like one?”
“Not really? I wasn’t staring because I wanted ramen, you know? I was just wondering what kind of crazy person brings ramen into a dungeon. But if you’re offering, I won’t refuse. I-it’s not like I particularly like it or anything!”
Her face clearly screamed that she wanted it.