Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Monster Wave (1)
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Choi Da-eun, who had safely returned from the Taming Room, clutched the Supreme Recovery Potion tightly in her hand while staring blankly at the ceiling.
Memories of what she had just been doing kept flashing through her mind.
The mocking voice of that masked bastard, taunting her like she was nothing, lingered idly in her ears.
She had ground her ass against the man's crotch.
Unaware—or perhaps fully aware—of Choi Da-eun's inner turmoil, her pussy dripped with arousal, soaking the rock-hard dick beneath her into a sloppy mess.
It was infuriating. Humiliating.
The fact that she had thrown away all her pride for this measly recovery potion—that she had shaken her ass in front of the bastard who raped her, jerking him off like some cheap whore—was too much to bear.
Tears prickled at the corners of her eyes from the sheer shame.
She wanted to erase it all.
If only the memory hadn't stuck, she could have at least felt some relief inside.
Even if it meant living on without knowing the truth herself.
'I'll kill him.'
She would pay back every ounce of humiliation she had endured.
Even if he begged for death, even if he pleaded for mercy, she would make sure he didn't go easily.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The next day.
Despite the ordeal, Choi Da-eun didn't take a break.
Every day was precious.
She scouted parties challenging the 7th-floor dungeon and tagged along for the clears.
Starting from the small fry monsters and working up to the boss, she tested them out. If Park Sun-woo alone couldn't handle it, she jumped in right away to finish the hunt.
'...His growth rate is insane.'
As if the past six months had all been a lie, Park Sun-woo showed explosive progress.
He had gotten noticeably stronger.
No real shortcomings on the 7th floor either.
Though the tank's limitations meant he couldn't solo the boss.
His level was 10.
Yet his stats were skyrocketing.
She couldn't see the exact numbers, but the total felt like it belonged on someone level 50 or higher.
"Park Sun-woo."
Choi Da-eun called out to stop him.
It was right after clearing the 7th floor safely and disbanding the party.
Park Sun-woo turned around with a face full of what looked like genuine gratitude.
"Finally calling me by name, Team Leader."
"What are you on about?"
Choi Da-eun pulled a potion from her bag and handed it over.
It was the Supreme Recovery Potion she had earned by dancing her ass off in front of that masked trash.
"...Th-this is...!"
Park Sun-woo checked the info and couldn't hide his shock.
His eyes can get that big, huh.
Choi Da-eun thought that as she spoke to him.
"We don't know what'll happen once you hit the 10th floor. No outside help up there—you'll have to get through it with your own strength. Got it?"
"Yes, sir...!"
"Supreme grade. As long as you don't die outright, it'll heal pretty much any injury. Use this only for Training Team 4. You're the toughest, so hold onto it and use it on anyone who's about to kick the bucket. Training Team 4 members only."
Whether hunters from other teams lived or died wasn't her problem.
Their team leaders would handle their own preparations.
Choi Da-eun only cared about getting Training Team 4 back alive.
It would be great if they showed meaningful results on the 10th floor.
If they smashed some monsters and racked up solid achievements before returning in glory.
But she knew better than anyone that it wouldn't happen.
They were trying hard, but it was impossible.
Not enough time or talent.
So she had lowered her goals drastically.
Just come back alive and intact.
Sometimes, survival itself proved your worth.
When everyone else was dying, saving even one extra life was enough to call it a win.
Choi Da-eun hoped Training Team 4 made it through safe.
They were shit-for-brains who could only eat and crap, but still.
'...My first team I built myself. My juniors...'
The word "first" held some bewitching power.
Even Choi Da-eun couldn't escape its pull.
She had grown attached.
They pissed her off every time she saw them, made her want to strangle them, but she didn't want them dead anyway.
Three weeks ago, she had tried to kill that worm Park Sun-woo herself when his potential hadn't awakened yet.
But that couldn't be helped.
She was human, after all.
She could see how rage might lead to impulsive thoughts.
Choi Da-eun was a person with emotions.
That's why she had swallowed her pride and endured the humiliation.
Thinking of it as giving Training Team 4 members an extra life made it bearable.
"Thank you.... I'll really give it my all...!"
Park Sun-woo, receiving the Supreme Recovery Potion, answered with dead seriousness.
His face was tenser than ever.
'So that's what his eyes look like when he's like this.'
The guy who never lost his playful side even in front of a boss monster.
The idiot who acted like a fool even with his life on the line.
Choi Da-eun met his gaze squarely.
A word that didn't suit him at all—responsibility—shone plainly in his eyes.
'...He looks kinda decent like that.'
Suddenly, goosebumps prickled across Choi Da-eun's skin.
She rubbed her arms furiously, cursing herself deep inside.
No, fuck.
What the hell was that.
You crazy bitch.
She considered slapping herself in self-reflection, but held back with Park Sun-woo right there.
"Ahem, that's enough. Get lost."
"No level check today?"
"Your level won't go up anyway, so you're still 10. Why bother."
"Fair point."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Supreme Recovery Potion from the Sex Game had come back to me.
Choi Da-eun was investing everything she earned into Training Team 4.
A true giver without holding back.
The reason she could even challenge the Sex Game?
To prove herself to the Milky Way Guild members.
Her resolve was so fierce it let her crush her own pride without a second thought.
Next game—let's go.
I summoned Han So-ra for some strength training.
And Choi Da-eun for the Sex Game.
The day of reckoning approached.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Milky Way Guild received support from both the government and the association.
All because Hwang Deok-su, the B-Rank Hunter and Milky Way Guild Master, had a skill perfect for training newbies.
Not that it worked on everyone equally, of course.
No matter how much you multiply by a high number, zero stays zero.
Training Team 4 was a zero-potential party—Hwang Deok-su's skill did jack shit for them.
But lately, things had changed.
Hwang Deok-su shot a glance at Park Sun-woo from Training Team 4.
'Potential's zero. Zero.'
He checked again. Same result.
Compared to Lee Jin-seong in a "acorn height-measuring contest," Park Sun-woo's talent was even lower.
Bottom-barrel F-Rank Hunter, rice bug, worthless shit—Park Sun-woo held every nickname in the guild.
It didn't make sense that this guy was growing.
Hard to believe.
'New gear? That shield looks brand new.'
If not for Choi Da-eun's report, he wouldn't have felt even a twinge of wariness.
Hwang Deok-su felt needless anxiety.
Someone approached him and greeted him.
"What's got you so tense, Milky Way Guild Master?"
"Haha, Director Kwon Cheol. Long time no see."
Jin Kwon-cheol, head of the Korean Hunter Association's Guild Management Division.
The man with the most power over guilds in Korea.
He shared an inseparable bond with Hwang Deok-su, the Milky Way Guild Master.
Hometown boys, neighborhood buddies.
Meeting at different stations in life, they became partners in bleeding the national treasury dry.
"We're always grateful for your favorable view of our guild."
"Isn't the Milky Way Guild Korea's future? As someone in the association, supporting that future is only natural."
The two were bound by a dark, shady deal.
Jin Kwon-cheol pushed the Milky Way Guild in mid-to-small guild support policies, and Hwang Deok-su kicked back a cut of the funds to him.
'We're just supporting hunters.'
Invest more in hunters who show growth.
Jin Kwon-cheol's son, Jin Yu-han, had real talent.
The tank in Training Team 1 was putting up stellar results.
"There'll be a game-changer in the mid-to-small guild support policy this time. Selecting a few guilds to boost funding, with the government backing them."
Focus and concentration.
The Joseon Guild's failure to clear floor 48 had lit a fire under Korea's feet.
"We can't rely only on the big guilds. We need to massively increase support for guilds raising new hunters. To not fall behind Japan... That's the situation."
"Sounds like a great plan, Director Kwon Cheol."
Hwang Deok-su just followed Jin Kwon-cheol's lead blindly.
"All you need to do is show the Milky Way Guild's prowess by clearing the 10th floor. Train F-Rank hunters for half a year into D-Rank level performance..."
Any casualties along the way? Not a concern.
A few F-Rank deaths wouldn't ruffle Korean society much.
'Training Team 4 wipes on the 10th.'
Officially, "died to monsters."
What happened in the dungeon stays buried, and Choi Da-eun pays for her unfair contract.
"I'm looking forward to it. Really looking forward."
Hwang Deok-su licked his lips, savoring the thought.
Training Team 4 was in sight—not long until Choi Da-eun had his dick in her mouth.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ All members of the Milky Way Guild's 12th Training Batch assembled.
Ten teams total, 90 people.
Party sizes varied.
The hunters carried backpacks as big as themselves.
The 10th floor clear condition: survive 10 days on an uninhabited island.
They packed enough food for a generous two weeks.
The weight was insane.
Even supporters struggled to hoist their packs.
"Everyone."
Hwang Deok-su stepped forward.
A few reporters snapped photos as he gave his speech as Guild Master.
Most let it go in one ear and out the other.
Pure formality.
The other hunters were the same.
Tense faces stared blankly at Hwang Deok-su.
The speech wasn't long.
Time to enter.
Clear the 9th floor, and you could head straight to the 10th.
The Tower treated anyone entering the same gate within 3 minutes as one party.
Once through, no re-entry to the 10th.
Only the Milky Way Guild's F-to-D Rank hunters here were challenging it.
"Fuck, just come back alive."
Choi Da-eun looked over Training Team 4, encouraging them.
She massaged the female hunters' shoulders and slapped the males hard on the back.
"If you wrap it up well and come back..."
Entry time approached. Choi Da-eun gazed at Training Team 4.
"It's late, but we could all grab a team dinner."
"Sir, yes sir!"
"Cut the crap."
I snapped a sharp salute at Choi Da-eun and hurried my steps.
The portal rippled wildly.
They started entering one by one.
Scorching sunlight pounded my body.
Kyaaak, kyaaak-!
Seagulls cried out vigorously.
Already wanted to go home.
'Too damn hot...'