Chapter 475
Chapter 475
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 475
Chapter Title: Eerie Water Park
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At the entrance to Crescent Water Park in Bucheon, more than fifty people had gathered. Half were hunters affiliated with the Suwol Guild, and the other half were hunters dispatched by the Korean Hunter Association.
As Han Ha-rin and I approached, all eyes turned to us.
Han Ha-rin and I were famous in the hunter world. We had appeared on a TV show called Dungeon Survival in the past, showcasing our skills to the public. We were among the most promising young hunters in Korea.
The gazes were even more favorable toward Han Ha-rin than me.
She was the younger sister of Han A-young, an S-rank hunter candidate with the Suwol Guild. And on top of that, she was beautiful, so it was only natural for people to like her.
I'm being treated like an outsider. Especially the guys' stares are prickly. Feels great.
I chuckled inwardly. Male jealousy always put me in a good mood. Well, if it went too far, they'd get the opposite reaction.
I deliberately placed my hand on Han Ha-rin's shoulder.
"……."
She glanced at me but didn't brush my hand away. The men's stares intensified.
"Ha-rin! Yu-jin! Over here! You should at least say hi!"
Han A-young waved us over. We walked up to her, and she introduced us to the guild members. Most were C-rank and B-rank hunters.
"These are the hunters you'll be tackling the Crescent Water Park dungeon with. They're C-rank, but... they're famous, so you probably know them. Ha-rin's my little sister, and Yu-jin's... my friend. Both have nature-based abilities, so they'll definitely be a big help."
"Hold on a sec, A-young."
The one who cut in was Jang Go-jun.
A man with a short two-block haircut. He glared at me sharply for a moment before forcing a blank expression.
I'd had a brief chat with him once before.
Han A-young's colleague. We bumped into each other right before she and I went to the motel. Heh. Looks like he still hasn't given up on her.
Too bad for him. Han A-young had already given me everything, even her anal virginity.
"What's up, Go-jun?"
"I knew Yu-jin and Ha-rin were coming... but Crescent Water Park belongs to our guild. Now that I think about it, bringing them in might cause issues."
"No problems. The guild master already approved, and the Association signed off on it too. Right?"
Han A-young asked the Association official nearby, who nodded readily.
"That's correct. Han Ha-rin and Sung Yu-jin are young hunters whose skills the Association trusts. Our stance is that it's better for them to gain more experience."
Jang Go-jun clearly didn't like me.
"...Sorry. I was a bit on edge. It's my first erosion-type dungeon, so I guess I'm tense."
"It's fine. We need someone as thorough as you to keep things running smoothly."
Our eyes met just then. I grinned at him, and he scowled before turning away.
"Go-jun, briefing time."
"...Got it."
Everyone headed toward the tent set up for the briefing.
I paused for a moment and looked at the water park.
"Ha-rin sunbae. You feel that too?"
"...Yeah. That's already a dungeon."
My senses were telling me it wasn't the ordinary water park I knew anymore.
Han Ha-rin narrowed her eyes and glared at the water park.
"It's disgusting."
She didn't like erosion-type dungeons either. And I felt the same. Looking at that water park made me feel like my territory was being invaded.
???
"I'll say this upfront. We scouted the water park yesterday and investigated its layout, the monsters that appear, and the dungeon's features. However, we won't be providing you with detailed information on this erosion-type dungeon. I assume you all know why."
Jang Go-jun spoke calmly in front of the whiteboard. The reason was to let us experience the erosion-type dungeon firsthand. Telling us the layout, monsters, and features would be no different from handing over a walkthrough guide.
The other hunters look unfazed. Makes sense—closed-type dungeons require going in blind too.
It wouldn't be dangerous. Even setting aside Jang Go-jun's skills, there was S-rank candidate Han A-young. If things got dicey, she'd step in and save the day. Plus, a water park was the perfect spot for her ice abilities to shine.
"Many of you probably know this already, but I'll give a quick rundown on erosion-type dungeons. They're different from previous dungeons. Past dungeons were spaces in another world separate from ours. We could enter through portals. If left alone, they eventually reach saturation and collapse—monsters spilling out into our world.
Dungeon collapses are the worst-case scenario. If one happens in a crowded city? Massive casualties. Multiple collapses at once, and it could turn into a China-level disaster.
Stabilized open-type dungeons make good resource hubs, though.
"Erosion-type dungeons can't collapse. But if left too long, they alter the surrounding environment and slowly expand their territory. They're gradually overlaying our world with dungeon elements. True erosion. You also can't attack them from outside—the barrier blocks external attacks. Hunters have to enter to clear them."
Since they expand gradually, turning them into resource hubs like open-types probably isn't feasible. Trying to colonize them could turn our world into the colony instead.
"The longer erosion progresses, the more dangerous the dungeon becomes. Yes, the dungeon grows. So we hunters must eliminate erosion-type dungeons before they become unmanageable. For the sake of the world."
Setting aside the cringey 'for the world' line, the fact that dungeons grow was unexpected.
An A-rank turning S-rank, S into SS? The Association must have headaches.
I'd never join the Association hunters.
"...Um, Hunter Jang Go-jun."
"Yes, speak."
"What happens if we smash buildings in an erosion-type dungeon? We don't have to pay for it, right?"
"Fortunately, buildings in erosion-type dungeons slowly regenerate even if they're destroyed. It's a dungeon, after all. Even if they are still damaged when the dungeon is cleared, they will revert to their original form. So, no need to worry about property damage."
Sighs of relief echoed around. Hunters earned well, but smashed buildings were hard to cover. If they didn't regenerate, over 80% of hunters would skip erosion-types.
Risking your life for a dungeon, then paying extra? Insane.
I felt the same.
"The way to conquer an erosion-type dungeon is to smash the dungeon core hidden somewhere. It might be concealed or fused with a boss monster. We've located the core, but you all must find and destroy it yourselves."
This was getting boring.
I reached for Han Ha-rin's thigh next to me. Even over her clothes, the firm flesh was perfect to stroke. I wanted to grope those massive H-cup breasts, but that'd draw too much attention.
"...Sung Yu-jin. Briefing's in progress. Focus."
Han Ha-rin grabbed my hand to stop me.
"It's all just 'be careful' nagging anyway. I've heard what matters."
My hand didn't stop. She glanced at my face, sighed softly, and gave up blocking me.
We'd already gone all the way. She wouldn't get mad over some thigh groping now.
My hand, stroking her inner thigh, unbuckled her belt and slipped inside for a peek.
No panties—just a white bikini swimsuit.
"Sunbae, you wore it like I asked?"
"...It wasn't hard, so I did."
I tried slipping my hand into the swimsuit, but bad timing—the briefing ended.
"...Finally, my advice: don't trust anything inside the dungeon."
*****
Including Han A-young and Jang Go-jun, twenty-four of us entered Crescent Water Park. With the Association staff following, it was over thirty people.
The environment changed the moment we entered.
Torrential rain poured from the sky like a waterfall. Looking up, there wasn't a single cloud—just clear blue skies. A clear anomaly.
Didn't look like rain from outside... So this is an erosion-type feature.
Connected to the world, yet severed from it.
I looked around. Everyone grimaced at the rain.
No umbrellas, though— they'd block vision and tie up a hand. Fatal in combat.
I whispered in Han Ha-rin's ear.
"Good thing you wore the swimsuit like I said, right? Everyone else is soaked to their underwear and miserable. Oh, I wore one too."
"……."
Han Ha-rin ignored me without twitching an eyebrow. I smacked my lips and stepped back.
We gathered in a wide plaza near the entrance. Mana density was slightly thicker than outside. No issue for us— all C-rank or higher here, so we could handle it fine. General public would've struggled.
The six B-rank hunters naturally clustered by the fountain. Without A-rankers Han A-young or Jang Go-jun stepping up, they'd lead. Higher ranks leading was unspoken rule.
Han Ha-rin and I watched. As C-ranks and outsiders to Suwol Guild, it made sense.
Moments later, a female B-rank stepped forward. Apparently chosen as temporary leader.
She had long light-brown hair in thick braids. Healthy tanned skin full of elasticity, plump lips, sharp eyes.
Her weapon: knuckles. She looked like a prideful female warrior. Her toned body and gear hinted at her close-quarters fighting style.
Obviously a martial arts brawler specialist. Rare type.
C-cup breasts, perfectly proportioned. No excess fat. Muscles rippled on arms and legs. Her tight butt in combat gear was enticing.
She glanced at Han Ha-rin and me. Her eyes lingered on Han Ha-rin a few seconds.
"I'm B-rank hunter Gong Ji-young. We'll move slowly to the right together, gathering intel. I think intel is the top priority for this mission. Any objections?"
A pleasant husky voice. Her tone suggested the hunters here weren't close-knit.
She scanned the group. No objections. As planned, Jang Go-jun and Han A-young stayed back, observing.
"No objections, so we'll start the dungeon raid slowly... Ugh?"
From the fountain behind Gong Ji-young, a water mass erupted, taking human shape.
A C-rank monster: Waterman. Smash the transparent core somewhere on its body to kill it.
The hunters didn't panic at the ambush, gripping weapons and assuming combat stances. But I moved first.
The moment Waterman appeared, I used my ability.
Lightning.
Boom!
A bolt from the sky cleaved the Waterman in half. Unfortunately, missed the core. It regenerated fast.
"Haat!"
Gong Ji-young shouted and punched.
Kaboom!
A louder blast than mine. Her fist obliterated the Waterman's body. A cracked transparent core fell to the fountain. She caught and crushed it, leaving only a magic stone in her hand.
"C-rank monster, Waterman. This environment's perfect for them. Even cleaved, they regen in three seconds. So blow them away in one hit like me... or aim for the core as best you can."
She said it calmly, but it wasn't easy. Transparent core was hard to spot, and blades or spears didn't work well.
Our eyes met briefly. Sensing her gratitude, I grinned. Helping a beauty is only natural.
"Alright, let's move agai— damn, rough start."
Gong Ji-young frowned.
About thirty Watermen had appeared around us.