Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 065
Chapter Title: Intermission
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⚙ QUEST CLEARED! ⚙ The world's first double dungeon turned out to be the 'Knight's Grave' guarded by the proud knight Wilhelm! Though it was an ultra-high-risk dungeon equivalent to S-Grade, thanks to your swift response, all the students trapped inside were safely rescued! Sure, you ran away in a pathetic manner, but hey, survival is what matters! As they say, even rolling in a field of crap is better than being dead! ⚙ REWARDS GRANTED ⚙ Activate the Rewards tab to claim and view details! REWARDS 1. Guard Rate +7% (Current Guard Rate: 11%) BONUS REWARDS 1. Badge of the Frost Spirit (Received) 2. Cross of Cold Flame (Received) "......"
When I came to, the first thing filling my vision was the system message, along with the Green House infirmary ceiling that had become so familiar I could hardly call it unfamiliar anymore.
I disabled the still-sarcastically mocking system messages and looked around.
Last time I'd woken up, Kang Ha-neul had been by my side, but this time, no one was there. It was a weekday afternoon, so that was unavoidable. Soon, a nurse spotted me, and after the doctor arrived, we exchanged the usual formal questions about my condition.
The result: my health was perfectly fine. Just as expected.
Yesterday, after fleeing from Wilhelm and exiting the gate, the skill effect wore off, and I collapsed immediately. The wounds that had been temporarily healed by Kang Ha-neul's skill reopened.
I lost consciousness right then. I thought I was done for, but according to the doctor, Marco—the team leader who had chased after me—saved me with emergency treatment. Thanks to the intermediate potion that team leaders carry on external dispatches, I managed to survive.
Anyway. Thanks to that expensive potion poured on me, my condition was excellent. The doctor even said I could be discharged as early as tomorrow.
I figured no one would visit since I was waking up and getting discharged the next day, but surprisingly, quite a few people showed up after hearing the news somehow.
First, Ryu Tae-hyun came to check on me. Then Do So-young dropped by to thank me for saving her student. An association staffer visited to ask about the new dungeon, and midway through, Chae So-yeon, Lee Tae-ho, and Jo Yu-ri stopped by briefly.
Just a bit ago, Marco the team leader from Team 9 and Kim Ha-na had visited too. Marco was oddly friendly toward me, which was strange since we'd barely even talked before.
Anyway. Lots of people came and went, and fortunately, no one brought watermelon this time as a get-well gift. For the record, Ji Ye-won couldn't come because of her part-time job, and Kang Ha-neul wasn't answering calls for some reason.
I figured everyone who was coming had come, marveling at my unexpectedly wide circle of connections while killing time idly.
"How's your body feeling?"
It was just before visiting hours ended when a woman I never expected walked into the room.
"......Han Gye-wol?"
Late evening. Han Gye-wol appeared before me in a neat shirt and women's slacks, dressed like she was heading to some formal event. When I asked about it, she said,
"Yeah. I was on my way to the company for work and stopped by."
So this was her office look, basically.
Stopping by on the way to the company, huh...
"Thank you. I never imagined you'd come visit, Han Gye-wol."
"Well, it's not every day you see a chaebol heir visiting someone in the hospital."
"That's true, but I didn't think our relationship was close enough for you to visit."
"Is that so? I don't see it that way."
Han Gye-wol shrugged and sat by the bed. Unlike her usual overbearing demeanor, her gaze toward me had softened a bit.
"We've run into each other a few times now, haven't we? I figured it was enough for a quick check-in."
It was unexpected. Sure, we'd crossed paths several times, but hadn't she always seemed annoyed about it?
"......"
Han Gye-wol was the type to sharply calculate gains and losses. She never showed unearned favor. Those she did favor all had value worth her attention.
She'd been cold to me before because I hadn't met her standards, probably.
'So now I do?'
As I pondered what had changed, Han Gye-wol provided the answer.
"You might not have heard, but the double dungeon at our training site was reclassified from S-Rank to Over-Rank this morning."
Over-Rank. Literally, a dungeon beyond the standard E-to-S scale—an irregular one. Of course, I already knew. In the original story, the 'Knight's Grave' where Wilhelm appeared had jumped from A to S, then to Over-Rank right after emergence.
"......You're not all that surprised."
"I figured as much. I fought the boss monster head-on, after all."
"Exactly what I wanted to talk about."
Han Gye-wol pulled out her smartphone and showed it to me. The screen displayed an internet news article about an S-Grade guild's failed dungeon raid.
"Yesterday, the Black Dragon Society sent in their scouting party ahead of the main raid. They entered that double dungeon... and got wiped out spectacularly. One A-Grade superhuman dead, four seriously injured, and even the S-Grade leader in a coma. How could it not be rated Over-Rank?"
You fought that dungeon's boss monster and survived.
Han Gye-wol added with a clear gaze. Surprise, doubt, suspicion—various emotions flickered across her face.
"I looked into you. Turns out you're just an E-Grade superhuman? Fine, getting into Special Countermeasures despite that is one thing, but surviving an encounter with a monster that put an S-Grade in a coma? No matter how I think about it, it's suspicious."
"Nothing suspicious. All I did was take Kang Ha-neul and run from it."
"The scouting party couldn't even do that and got annihilated. An S-Grade guild's scouting party."
"My superpower is specialized in evasion and disruption."
I puffed smoke from one hand and shoved it toward her. Han Gye-wol just shook her head.
"Whether it's humility or playing dumb, cut it out. If smoke screens were enough to escape, the scouting party wouldn't have been wiped."
"Call it what you want—it's the truth."
"You're hiding your power on purpose, aren't you?"
"......Pardon?"
I reflexively repeated her words, unconsciously swallowing a dry laugh. It was ridiculous.
Hiding my power? I'd love to have power worth hiding. Did she know that every time an incident happened, I rolled around desperately with this weak body of mine just to survive?
"You're in General Division, yet you unusually transferred to Special Countermeasures. Right after, you killed a Dawn Corps executive in an incident. You took down the bounty hunters trying to kidnap Kang Ha-neul. And this time, you survived the Over-Rank dungeon boss. Even if the last one was just running as you say, the previous ones are all facts, right?"
But thinking over what she said, her reaction made sense. The track record she listed was too flashy for a mere E-Grade superhuman.
'Accidentally came off as power-hiding.'
I'd never intended to hide anything; it was just desperate flailing against each obstacle. But to outsiders, it looked deliberate.
"I figure your true strength is at least A-Grade superhuman level. And others probably think the same."
"Others... who?"
"People like me who've taken an interest in you because of this incident."
Han Gye-wol explained. With even the well-prepared Black Dragon Society scouting party wiped out, plenty of eyes were on the lone guy who faced the boss and survived.
"Some guilds are already moving to scout you. The association is watching your movements closely, and the press is starting to sniff around. Oh, when's discharge?"
"Tomorrow."
"Good thing this isn't a civilian hospital. At least you won't run into reporters the moment you step out. Though they'll probably be camped at your place."
"Ugh......"
According to her, my doorstep would be swarmed with reporters and guild scouts for a while. Troublesome.
'Fine for me, but not good if Ji Ye-won gets exposed.'
We needed to avoid attention on her place. She'd just cleaned up her identity; if she appeared on the news, Dawn Corps would spot her immediately.
Should we move? Or hole up in the guard barracks until it dies down? As I mulled options, Han Gye-wol said casually,
"I can help with the reporters and scouts."
Han Gye-wol flashed a confident smile.
"With Hanseong Group's power, I can block most from even approaching you. If you want, I'll do it. You don't want unnecessary fuss from this either, right?"
"......Just words?"
"Of course not. In return for my help, help me out too. It's no loss for you."
"Can I hear the details first?"
"Naturally."
"Then tell me: how do I help you, Han Gye-wol?"
"Well......"
At my question, Han Gye-wol—who'd been speaking fluidly—trailed off. Arms crossed under her chest, she averted her gaze slightly before speaking reluctantly.
"......Help with my training. So I can beat Ryu Tae-hyun."
"Pardon?"
I blurted out in shock at the completely unexpected request.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Safehouse basement.
In the dim room under hazy lighting, Min Chae-ryeong sat blankly on the sofa. Worry was etched clearly on her face.
In her hand was Kang Ha-neul's statement on the double dungeon incident. But its contents differed from the official version. She'd censored parts of what Kang Ha-neul had stated.
This was the only pre-censorship original left. She was the only one in the Security Force who knew its contents.
And her worry stemmed from those contents.
'......Impossible.'
Min Chae-ryeong broke into a cold sweat as she ruminated over the statement.
Ahn Su-ho had expressed unease about this training expedition. And sure enough, the incident happened, proving him right.
It could be coincidence. But if not? If Ahn Su-ho had foreseen the double dungeon somehow?
To find clues, she'd taken a direct statement from Kang Ha-neul, written it up, and by the end, had to censor it.
The censored part was about Ahn Su-ho's fight with Wilhelm. Kang Ha-neul had intended to hide it, but couldn't because Ahn Su-ho was gravely wounded. In the end, she'd stated the battle faithfully, omitting only her skills and a few facts. That was what Min Chae-ryeong censored.
'Does this even make sense?'
The reason was simple: she didn't want others knowing about Ahn Su-ho's freakish strength.
The world's first double dungeon. Over-Rank. Naturally, its boss was an irregular monster.
Yet Ahn Su-ho survived facing it. More than that—per Kang Ha-neul, he'd even gained the upper hand temporarily.
Kang Ha-neul hid her own skills, saying Ahn Su-ho cleverly exploited gaps in Wilhelm. But even that shocked Min Chae-ryeong.
-Crunch.
Min Chae-ryeong ground her teeth. She bit her lip hard.
As mentioned, she'd censored to keep Ahn Su-ho's power secret. He was her subordinate, after all. She didn't want others eyeing him covetously.
Truth be told, drooling had already started since he rescued students from the boss encounter. But better than letting it be known he could match it head-on.
In that sense, her cover-up was somewhat successful. Successful, yet her expression darkened endlessly.
'What the hell happened? Was he hiding his power all along? Or did he suddenly get stronger?'
This wasn't the first time. When Ahn Su-ho took the Special Countermeasures transfer exam, he'd returned several times stronger in days despite being mere E-Grade. Good enough for the team.
So had he surged again somehow? Min Chae-ryeong shook her head. Absurd. An E-Grade reaching A-Grade equivalent in under two months? Even stacking artifacts on a talisman, impossible.
So she focused on the former: he'd always been strong but hiding it.
She'd long known Ahn Su-ho hid much from her. His power being part of it wasn't surprising.
But not to this extent.
Analyzing from Kang Ha-neul's statement, his strength matched A-Grade. Maybe more. He wasn't alone against Wilhelm—he had to protect Kang Ha-neul too. Protecting while fighting is worlds harder than solo.
In that context, if Ahn Su-ho had A-Grade or higher power?
"......Hah."
Min Chae-ryeong let out a hollow laugh. If true, she'd need to completely rethink how to handle him. Her head throbbed.
'What the hell is he......?'
Min Chae-ryeong pondered Ahn Su-ho's true nature anew. She'd always held the upper hand with him, but really knew nothing solid. Basic personnel and history, yes—but his 'real self'? Foggy.
She'd tried everything to dig, but yields near zero. Best guess: some Dawn Corps connection.
Inevitable. Ahn Su-ho's essence was a possessor from another world; his shell hastily made by Blissful Heavenly Demon for possession. No wonder she found nothing.
She didn't know that, hence her unease. Couldn't grasp what Ahn Su-ho really was.
'Two people might know his secrets now. One's Ji Ye-won. The other......'
Min Chae-ryeong glanced up. On the bed in the dim room's center lay Park Ji-hyun, limp with limbs severed.
"Ugh... uuu... uh... uuuu......"
Park Ji-hyun stared blankly at nothing, mind lost.
When Min Chae-ryeong first saved her, no special reason. Just: Dawn Corps exec, useful if alive.
Now different.
She suspected Park Ji-hyun knew something about Ahn Su-ho. Basis: his actions.
That night, Ahn Su-ho intentionally killed the already subdued Park Ji-hyun. He claimed accident, but she wasn't fooled.
He'd clearly meant to silence her.
Maybe presumptuous, but Min Chae-ryeong saw Park Ji-hyun as key to Ahn Su-ho's secrets. Ji Ye-won too.
'Saved Park Ji-hyun with effort, but no recovery signs... Torture Ji Ye-won instead?'
The thought made her shake her head. Separate from Ahn Su-ho, Ji Ye-won still had use: Dawn Corps bait.
'If only Park Ji-hyun regained sanity, some clue might emerge......'
Min Chae-ryeong walked to the bed. Park Ji-hyun, staring dead-eyed at the ceiling, showed no reaction.
Dull eyes, drooling mouth. Only intermittent "ugh, uuu" groans. No trace of reason. Reviving the dead was near-impossible to begin with. She'd scraped every trick to save her, but this was brain-dead. Min Chae-ryeong sighed deeply.
"When are you going to snap out of it, really......"
The money and effort for one person made her sigh involuntarily. Potions, healers—failures. No sign of her mind returning.
Sole hope: her innate regeneration. Clinging to that sliver, hope she recovers herself. Min Chae-ryeong smacked her lips regretfully and turned away.
'Tomorrow, summon Ahn Su-ho post-discharge and probe.'
With that, she left. The heavy iron door clanged shut.
Left alone, Park Ji-hyun continued groaning faintly at the ceiling.