Chapter 163
Chapter 163
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 163
Chapter Title: Dungeon Survival
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Dungeon Survival Reforged, day five.
Han Ha-rin and I had slept deeply in the rest area and only stepped out at 10 a.m. We were in peak condition. Among the supplies we'd gathered, there were plenty of preserved rations, so we'd hidden some in a spot only we knew and made a habit of eating them when we needed to.
'With the map, and fewer participants left in the dungeon, we've snagged three supply crates.'
Food was no longer an issue for us.
'The other teams are probably the same.'
They would've figured out the food intel by now after searching around. There were monsters that were edible, too. Food no longer held much weight in Dungeon Survival.
'Total survivors: 71. 27 teams.'
Even with us aggressively knocking people out, that was the count. Among them, the highest survival points belonged to Kang Seok-su's team, and we were still dead last.
'Kang Seok-su will find a base today.'
I thought about his personality. That guy always chased efficiency and thoroughness. He'd probably set up a base somewhere in the dungeon and hunker down for the remaining two days.
Kang Seok-su was anticipating the events on day six and seven.
The events on day six and seven were Battle Royale. All participants' positions would be revealed on the tablet maps.
'The base he'll pick is likely near a rest area.'
In case of emergency, he could flee inside one. It might look cowardly to viewers and other participants, but it was an incredibly efficient strategy. With the massive survival points he'd racked up, he could afford to endure more than an hour inside.
'He can only pull that on the final day. We need to knock him out today or tomorrow.'
There was something else to worry about.
The treasure Kang Seok-su had: 'Revival'. Even if eliminated, he'd get a new chance right away.
'Damn it. Of all times, he grabs it last night.'
It was a treasure on par with the 'Real-Time Map' I'd acquired—one of Dungeon Survival's key items.
'Useless trash in anyone else's hands... but different with Kang Seok-su.'
Say we catch him off-guard and eliminate him once. But he revives without dropping out. Then we'd have to face him head-on, with zero openings.
'This is tricky.'
Things weren't going smoothly. Before he got 'Revival', I figured our win chance was over 70%. Now? Maybe not even 10%.
"Sung Yu-jin. What are you doing?"
Han Ha-rin's voice snapped me out of it.
"Ah. Sorry."
We were moving stealthily to ambush other participants right now. Not the time for deep thoughts.
Soon, we spotted two people resting by a stream. We hid in the trees and watched them.
'One's already out. Checked with Hacking earlier.'
I signaled Han Ha-rin with hand signs used by Hunters. Situations where you can't speak often arise in dungeons, so every Hunter had to learn them. Simply called 'Hunter Signs'.
'Spent a month memorizing these in freshman year.'
Hunters who didn't know them got left out of parties, so I'd crammed desperately.
-Attack start.
She read my sign, nodded, and activated her gravity field.
"Hup?!"
"Guh!"
The two Hunters panicked at the sudden assault. I kicked off the branch and leaped at them. Blue electricity crackled along my knife.
"Enemy?!"
"Damn...!"
They reached for swords at their waists.
'Too late. You're in my range. Should've reacted a second sooner.'
Moment.
The world slowed. I slashed at their throats.
Fatal spots for instant kills. But Energy Protect took the damage instead. Knowing that, the two Hunters ignored the pain and swung at me.
'Once more. Moment.'
I dodged their swords, zipped behind them in a flash. Slashed one's back, grabbed the other's head with my left hand.
'Thunderbolt.'
Bzzzzt!
Intense current surged through my left hand.
When both Hunters' Energy Protects turned red, I backed away.
"Ugh..."
"This easily..."
Their faces were full of injustice as Association staff led them away. Fair enough—the ambush to elimination took only five seconds.
'Han Ha-rin slows them with gravity field, I rush in and finish. Even mana users can't react properly.'
Few Hunters had countered this tactic successfully.
"Picking off small fry won't win it. You know that."
Han Ha-rin approached me.
"Yes. I do."
I couldn't explain my worries to Han Ha-rin. Telling her Kang Seok-su could revive would inevitably lead to explaining my Hacking ability.
"Let's review the plan once..."
I stopped mid-sentence.
One of the Association staff filming us approached and held out a speaker toward us.
A man's voice came from it.
-Ah, ah. Mic test. Can you hear me?
While Han Ha-rin looked baffled, I caught on immediately.
'One participant used the 'Megaphone' treasure.'
Hacking didn't let me track every detail on all participants. Only Kang Seok-su mattered to me.
'Gotta look into this guy later.'
-For those surprised, let me explain: this is the power of my treasure, the Megaphone. Once every three hours, I can broadcast to all participants for one minute.
'Megaphone's a solid treasure.'
Depends on use. Pull aggro, spread misinformation, incite—plenty of options.
-I'm Seo Oh-jun, leader of the Three Tusks Team. C-rank Hunter, aiming for the win.
I instantly read Seo Oh-jun's intent.
'This bastard's trying to rally them.'
-But at this rate, the winner of Dungeon Survival Reforged will be Aqua Stone Team—Kang Seok-su's crew. You all know this without me saying.
Yesterday's event was 'Ask Anything'.
Go to a designated spot, contact organizers, get Dungeon Survival info. Three questions per team.
Most Hunters probably asked about the top contender for victory.
-Aqua Stone Team's survival points: 7,955. Second place, Gari Brothers Team: 5,120. Gap's nearly 3,000. Yes, their win is all but certain.
I chuckled.
Things were going even better than I'd hoped.
-So here's my proposal: everyone band together and eliminate Aqua Stone. Then we compete among ourselves for the win.
In short: a temporary alliance.
Like when Korea's top ten guilds united against the SS-rank Red Dragon. Unite to take out Kang Seok-su.
'Every participant has probably thought it at least once. Real Hunters would know about Kang Seok-su's team.'
But this was a broadcast program. Never forget that.
Dozens of Hunters teaming up to eliminate one? Viewers might bash the alliance.
'No easy way to rally Hunters either. Seo Oh-jun, with the Megaphone, stepped up.'
He'd take less flak than others.
-Those with us, come to sector A-11 tomorrow at 9 a.m. Please.
All Hunters would head to A-11. Guaranteed.
High-point teams benefit from securing Aqua Stone's elimination. Low-point teams get a shot at turnaround.
'Above all, it's a show. Can't miss a big event like this.'
Most Hunters joined Dungeon Survival to promote themselves. Show strength, gain popularity, join a big guild—that's the goal.
'Obviously, I'm going too.'
-Oh, and! Gukcheon University Hunter Team. Don't come. Yesterday, they said the one who eliminated the most Hunters was Sung Yu-jin from your team. Can't trust you guys. If you show, we'll attack on sight.
"......"
The camera zoomed on my face.
Time to swallow the dog's eye, cow's eye, and tens back down.
-One more time: sector A-11. Hope many Hunters come. Please join us.
The staff took back the speaker.
Han Ha-rin frowned at me.
"What now? We'll get totally shut out like this."
"...We go. Skipping 'cause they said not to means no win. This is our chance."
"Just checking—you're not thinking of allying with Kang Seok-su, right?"
That was an option.
Rejected by the alliance, join Aqua Stone against the Hunter coalition. They might target us next. Slim chance, but possible.
'Kang Seok-su's odds against the alliance are low. Even if he's the strongest, it's dozens versus one.'
I gave her a wry smile.
"That's an option too. Shall we meet him?"
I had the Real-Time Map. Meeting Kang Seok-su was easy if I wanted.
???
Han Ha-rin and I entered the rest area in sector C.
All rest areas in the dungeon were identical cabins with the same layout.
Opening the front door led straight to the living room. Two men on the sofa—Choi Sa-hyun and Kang Seok-su—looked up at us.
"Never thought we'd meet in a rest area again. How peculiar."
"That's what we were gonna say."
Peculiar my ass—we came to see you.
Kang Seok-su wouldn't use day one's strategy again. He knew we'd abandoned survival points.
Han Ha-rin shot Kang Seok-su a cold glance, then headed to the bathroom.
I approached the sofa, crossed my legs, and sat opposite him.
"......Got something to say?"
His eyes held wariness toward me.
"Nah. Just wanted a close look at a doomed bastard's face."
"You little...!"
Choi Sa-hyun started to rise, but Kang Seok-su grabbed his shoulder.
"Crude speech."
"Everyone talks like this these days. Middle school syndrome."
"Not here for a pissing contest. State your business. Alliance proposal, right?"
"Hm. Wanna ally?"
"Declined. To win with no points, you need us gone. You'd betray us at the critical moment."
"Suit yourself."
I stood.
I'd expected refusal. Trust issues aside, Kang Seok-su's pride played a part. He'd think: I've got this.
"By the way, where's Jung-mi noona?"
"......Jung-mi noona?"
I didn't miss his twitching brow. Not a normal reaction. Kang Seok-su did have feelings for Yoo Jung-mi.
'Jung-mi likes him too... but he seems more into her.'
She'd said two years ago, he'd dumped her. They fought big after his relationship clumsiness.
'Doesn't seem the type to handle romance. Probably acted oblivious, fought, and split.'
After, she'd dated another guy in anger but broke up soon.
"Talked with her last rest area meetup. Way better convo than with you. Heh."
"......"
"Whatever. See ya."
I showered quickly in the bathroom, went upstairs, and found Yoo Jung-mi on the bed.
"Don't come in, I'm resting... Huh? Yu-jin?"
"Hey, Jung-mi noona."
I shut the door. Dropped my pants, pulled it out.
"W-what? Why strip suddenly?"
"Let's do it once. We agreed on sex friends back then."
"Never happened! That was a one-day fling!"
"Then let's fling today."
I approached. She stared blankly at it. Probably recalling day one's pleasure.
"......Just once."
"Yeah. Got it."
I came inside her four times.