Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Mistake (3)
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Hunters mainly hunt in dungeons lower than their own level.
That way, they can hunt safely without any danger.
The hunters who risk their lives to conquer the 'Tower' are S-Rank.
They're the only ones at the top in South Korea.
They stake their lives to push South Korea's limits higher.
Currently, South Korea has cleared up to the 47th floor, but their attempt on the 48th ended in massive failure.
They probably won't even dream of tackling the 48th floor for a few months.
Of course, F-Rank hunters don't go above the 10th floor.
That's because the difficulty spikes dramatically from the 10th floor onward.
So whether you've cleared the 10th floor or not often becomes the line dividing real hunters from fakes.
The 'Poison Rat' leaps forward.
It hurtles toward me on its stubby hind legs.
I swing my shield at the rat's ugly mug.
I smash it hard enough to shatter its neck bone completely.
An F-Rank hunter hiding his strength.
Finally, it's time to show my true power.
"Kyaaak!"
Lee Eun-seo screaming, surrounded by sewer rats.
Lee Jin-seong protecting her.
And the rest of Training Team 4.
Until now, they'd been looking down on me.
They probably thought I was a useless tank who couldn't even do his job.
But not anymore.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ ⚡ Strength: 10 💨 Agility: 10 ✨ Magic Power: 1 💪 Stamina: 19 Skills: Tough Skin Lv.4 / Shield Proficiency Lv.1 / Unicorn's Blessing Lv.1
I leveled up twice after visiting the 'Skeleton Labyrinth'.
My current level is 9.
I allocated bonus points, putting 1 each into Strength and Agility to reach 10.
I'm worlds apart from who I was a week ago.
Sewer rats like these? I could handle hundreds or thousands swarming me at once.
Splat-!
Squeak!
The rat's head bursts open.
Critical hit—I smashed its skull with my shield.
This 4th-floor dungeon is nothing to me.
"One, two."
Squeak, squeak!
'Poison Rats' dropping to my rhythm, more charging fearlessly—their corpses pile up like mountains in the sewer.
"Help me! Park Sun-woo!"
Lee Eun-seo shrieking like a banshee.
The rear guard is pure chaos.
Choi Da-eun's still just spectating.
I'm not wiping out all the sewer rats.
They're switching buffets—from the tough-to-chew Park Sun-woo to the tender supporters and ranged dealers.
"Here I go!"
I rush to support the rear immediately.
I kick through the writhing mass of 'Poison Rats' and rescue the trapped Training Team 4.
The F-Rank hunters bolt the moment an escape route opens.
The meat's running away.
Unbearable for the sewer rats.
Squeak, squeak squeak!
They bare their fangs, red eyes gleaming.
They think it's super threatening, I guess.
Crunch!
Like punting a mangy stray cat—eagle shot.
The sewer rat I kicked slams into the wall and turns into unrecognizable mush.
'Ahh, feels so good.'
I get why Choi Da-eun kept hitting me.
Every smack melts away the stress.
It's addictive.
I'm drunk on my own power, itching to dance with my blade!
I whittle down the 'Poison Rats' one by one.
The horde blocking the sewer passage thins out.
"Heal!"
The supporter activates her skill, and the ranged dealer starts firing magic.
They're finally snapping out of it.
Squeak squeak!
Fire arrows rain down on the 'Poison Rats'.
The rats crisp up nicely.
The smell of roasting meat fills the air.
Way better than the sewer rot.
My nose clears right up.
"Haa, haa."
The supporter and ranged dealer pant heavily.
They only relax after wiping out all the 'Poison Rats'.
"Cure! Heal!"
The supporter has no time to rest.
She has to detox the bite wounds and heal them fully.
"Park Sun-woo?"
"I'm fine."
In the first fight, I let myself get bitten on purpose.
To ditch the lantern and charge at Choi Da-eun's chest.
But in the second, I went all out.
Choi Da-eun, having been burned once, went on high alert for chest grabs, making it awkward to blatantly target her without messing up.
The result?
"...Ahem, ahem. Not bad? If you could do it, why hold back?"
Choi Da-eun pats my back with a much softer tone.
Is this the same woman who kicked my balls thirty minutes ago?
Her voice is so gentle, it's hard to believe.
The perpetrator might forget their crime, but the victim carries it forever.
Park Sun-woo won't forget Choi Da-eun's brutal bullying.
"Once the team's recovered, we'll move again. Just keep it up like before."
I never imagined such a sweet tone from Choi Da-eun.
Cheer from a pretty girl?
Feels good. I'd be lying if I said otherwise.
I feel a swell of pride inside.
Can't erase what happened, but maybe from here on, we can build a decent relationship?
I think so.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
After 'Poison Rats' come the 'Poison Slimes'.
Monsters born when accumulated sewer filth clumps together into massive volumes, gains sentience, and starts moving.
"Argh, you fucking bastard!"
I told them clearly.
Slimes resist physical attacks, so create an angle for the ranged dealer.
Drunk on his slight power-up?
Park Sun-woo ignores Choi Da-eun's orders completely.
'I'm the idiot for expecting anything!'
The 'Poison Slime' breaks through the front line to the rear.
The supporter and ranged dealer are completely exposed.
Choi Da-eun swings her Thorn Whip, smashing the slimes.
"...Hng!"
Every move rubs her stiff, erect nipples against her hoodie.
It felt oddly good.
Even Choi Da-eun unconsciously adjusts for better friction.
One wrong move, and a moan might slip out.
So she bites her lip, holds back curses, and saves Training Team 4.
"Urk, eurk!"
Park Sun-woo's puking his guts out.
He generously fertilizes the flowing gutter.
"You fucking piece of shit, you goddamn retard."
"......"
"Does it hurt to listen? Why the fuck ignore orders?"
Choi Da-eun starts to chew him out but holds back.
Park Sun-woo's practically merged with the 'Poison Slime'—he's a total mess.
Scared of shit? Nah, it's the grossness.
"Ugh, fuck."
Choi Da-eun sighs deeply.
Park Sun-woo slumps his shoulders.
Seeing his pathetic face sours her mood again.
"Not much left. Hurry up and finish, then we leave."
Can't retreat now.
Has to report back to Milky Way Guild with something worthwhile.
A bit further, and something good might drop.
Training Team 4 follows Choi Da-eun's command.
They pull themselves together and resume dungeon hunting.
A foul stench wafts from Park Sun-woo.
The inward breeze carries the rotten smell backward.
Everyone trailing the tank is dying.
'Thought he improved a bit.'
'Fucks it up like a ghost.'
'Why's our party stuck with this tank?'
'Wanna go home...'
Training Team 4 curses Park Sun-woo in unison.
Just mumbling internally, but it feels like their minds are linked.
'...Isn't he way stronger now?'
Lee Jin-seong glares at Park Sun-woo's back.
He usually treats Park Sun-woo like trash, but today he senses something off about his performance.
A week ago, Park Sun-woo was useless against orcs.
Kept getting knocked down, failing aggro control.
Without Choi Da-eun's help, Training Team 4 couldn't advance an inch.
But today was different.
Against the 'Poison Rat' swarm, Park Sun-woo held firm without retreating a step.
Clear proof of growth.
Not mental growth—physical.
In hunter terms, he'd leveled up.
'...Park Sun-woo leveled up? Ha!'
Same F-Rank hunter.
Awakened around the same time, joined Milky Way Guild as trainees together.
Assigned to Training Team 4.
Training Team 4 gets flak even in Milky Way Guild—like a dumping ground for rejects.
Bottom-tier potential.
No idea why, but they can't swap out despite being Choi Da-eun's team, just endless pointless support.
Lucky break for Lee Jin-seong, at least...
Still, no one's content with that treatment.
He's human too.
Bottom-feeder life ain't fun.
He thrashes to succeed.
Scrapes every second to grow stronger.
Yet stuck in place.
No progress, consoles himself watching those below him—like Park Sun-woo.
That's Lee Jin-seong.
But what the hell is this?
How'd Park Sun-woo get strong?
Why's he the one pulling his weight now?
Squeak!
He just bats away a 'Poison Rat'.
No hesitation in his movements.
Squelch-.
"Argh, fuck! Don't hit the slime, just hold aggro, I said?"
"Ah."
Even against 'Poison Slimes', he doesn't back down.
The acidic burn must sting, but he acts unfazed.
Strength, Agility, Stamina.
Grown across the board.
Choi Da-eun doesn't hit Park Sun-woo and moves on.
A week ago, he'd be a bloody pulp by now.
Legs shattered for sure.
Choi Da-eun knows it too.
Park Sun-woo's gotten stronger, starting to help Training Team 4.
'Then...'
In Training Team 4, who's the lowest rung, the biggest reject?
The supporter who at least helps somehow?
Or the ranged dealer useless in combat?
"Park Sun-woo, you're kinda funny, huh?"
Lee Eun-seo reacts.
Her bug-eyed stare now treats him somewhat human.
'...Am I the biggest reject?'
Lee Jin-seong grits his teeth.
He has to show something.