Chapter 708
Chapter 708
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 708
Chapter Title: Academy's Savior
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We plummeted through the black void for a full thirty seconds before a new world suddenly materialized below us.
It was a dreary sky overhead, laced with the acrid tang of metal. We emerged from the rift still falling.
"So-hee noona."
"Ugh... yeah?"
Han So-hee blinked her eyes open and gasped at the sight around her. Sara had already shifted below us, resolute in her decision to serve as our cushion. At this height, though, she'd offer no real protection. The ground below was a city forged entirely of hard iron.
"We'll die if we hit like this. Use magic. Magic."
"W-wait a sec."
Han So-hee furrowed her brow, focusing her mind. Her abilities weren't limited to Barrier (S). She also had Magic (A). Her skills were geared toward combat support overall.
But in this dire situation, her spellcasting was delayed. The ground rushed closer. We might end up as bloody pulp, leaving me to revive alone with Complete Recovery.
"Got it... Levitation!"
Our vertical freefall slowed to a crawl, like descending an escalator. Thanks to Han So-hee's magic, we landed safely on the ground. The moment our feet touched down, an alert window popped up.
"Machine dungeon..."
"To think we've entered the dungeon Sung Ha-ri-nim went into... My God..."
Judging by their reactions, they'd seen the dungeon alert too.
'Some dungeons show alerts, some don't... This one's the former.'
At least it was a considerate dungeon, politely spelling out its objective.
I rubbed my eyes with my hand and deactivated Spirit Eye. Pushing it to the limit against Norden had left me exhausted.
"This is the dungeon Ha-ri unnie entered? No way. They said once you go in, the entrance vanishes—it's a special dungeon."
"That's true, but... I have no idea how this happened. The demon spirit's power must have influenced it somehow..."
"...It's miraculous. If the Association finds out you can force your way into special dungeons..."
"No. Right now, the key point is that this is an S-rank dungeon. Just to be sure—do you have a Dungeon Outer?"
"A Dungeon Outer? How could I carry something that expensive on me personally?"
"...Fair point."
Dungeon Outer.
An item that creates an exit from dungeons without one. It occasionally drops in dungeons, fetching over 300 billion won. Associations worldwide covet them to scout dungeon intel in advance.
"Yu-jin-nim. So-hee. Our best bet right now is linking up with Sung Ha-ri-nim as fast as possible. She's tackling this S-rank dungeon. Even with you here, So-hee-nim, survival will be tough."
"Sara's right. But is there a safe way to meet up? This place feels massive, fitting for an S-rank..."
Sara whipped her head toward me.
"I believe Yu-jin-nim's Spirit Eye can manage it. Yu-jin-nim, do you see anything?"
"Sorry, can't use Spirit Eye right now. Eyes hurt."
"I failed to assess your condition, Yu-jin-nim. My apologies. For now, we should hide somewhere safe. Once you've recovered enough for Spirit Eye, we might track Sung Ha-ri-nim's trail."
My Spirit Eye was unmatched for tracking. I could physically see mana and even air currents—not to mention scouting from the sky with thunder owl Moca.
"Where to hide...? The ground's all metal plating... That forest over there looks promising. Is the forest riskier?"
"No. In this dungeon, the forest is safer. Because..."
Sara trailed off, drawing her rapier from her waist and aiming behind us. A silver mechanical goblin, armored head to toe in steel, had appeared without a sound. Its red eyes glowed as it raised its club.
"Three intruders detected. Confirmed as humans. Per Machine King Law Article 7, all humans will be eliminated."
The club's head flipped open, revealing a barrel. It aimed at us and fired a laser beam.
"Barrier!"
Han So-hee hastily erected her barrier, blocking the mechanical goblin's attack.
Sara continued belatedly.
"Because... every monster here is mechanical. That's why they recruited Sung Ha-ri-nim."
With its attacks rebuffed, the goblin discarded its club and raised both arms. A chilling whir accompanied razor blades extending and spinning from its arms. It leaped, slashing at the barrier.
The barrier held for several strikes but teetered on the brink of shattering. Sara narrowed her eyes, timing her move as she glared at the goblin.
"Moca."
My mana drained into Moca. Sensing my will, it executed Thunder Tackle on the goblin. The effect was devastating—not a mere tackle, but lightning currents frying its circuits.
"Intruders... eliminate... eliminate... elimination... impossible..."
The goblin's red glow faded.
Sara sheathed her sword with a sigh.
"...Thank you, Yu-jin-nim."
"No biggie. Let's head back. I'm seriously about to collapse from fatigue."
"I'll carry you."
Sara sheathed her rapier and scooped me up princess-style. I accepted comfortably, burying my face in her ample chest and kneading her breasts with my hands. It felt great.
They dashed into the forest before more goblins appeared. Moca followed low overhead.
"Felt like at least a B-rank from that barrier hit, but it was weaker than expected."
"No, what you felt was accurate. Mechanical goblins are B-rank. Hard to dent without mana-infused attacks, with top-tier resistance to fire and ice. But electricity? Barely any resistance. That's why the American Hero Association called in Sung Ha-ri-nim."
"...Moca's lightning saved us. Good thing Yu-jin's here. Sara, I need more intel on this dungeon."
"I'll share everything I know. ...Ugh... Yu-jin-nim, could you be a bit gentler?"
"Sure. I'll just undress you instead."
"Pardon? L-later..."
"Nah."
Ignoring Han So-hee's sigh, I stripped off Sara's top. Jacket and shirt—just unbutton buttons. I slipped my fingers into her lacy black bra, fondling the warm, soft breasts and teasing the nipples snagging on them.
'Glad I didn't drop into this dungeon alone.'
Mid-grope, I spotted three mechanical insects flying toward us. Sara and Han So-hee hadn't noticed yet.
'Machines... perfect matchup. Hacking.'
I hacked all three. The incoming insects turned on each other per my command—firing missiles, crashing wings, tumbling to the ground in a tangle. They lay still.
A clatter made Sara and Han So-hee turn, baffled.
"Wh-what was that?"
"No idea. Better hurry into the forest."
We slipped safely into the woods.
Krunch!
Sung Ha-ri ripped the mechanical troll's head off with her bare hand, ignoring its crumpling body as she gazed skyward. The overcast sky matched her entry into the dungeon.
'Something just fell from the sky... A mechanical wyvern?'
The fallen mechanical troll twitched.
"Ha-ri! Don't let your guard down!"
A worried voice called from behind. Sung Ha-ri calmly spun her spear, thrusting it into the headless troll's chest.
Bzzt-crackle!
Lightning arced, electrocuting the troll. Smoke billowed from its overloaded frame. It moved no more.
Sung Ha-ri turned. Seventeen A-rank heroes besides her—all weary. They'd felled over five hundred mechanical monsters to reach here.
"Unnecessary worry. Good work, Ha-ri."
Ethan Roosevelt sidled up, overly familiar. Blonde, blue-eyed white guy—slim, handsome, half-celeb from a few films. A-rank, but worthless in her eyes.
She ignored him, approaching the hooded, slight redhead man. He was their scouting operator.
"Rayburn. Machine King's position?"
Rayburn tapped his trait-summoned laptop, compiling dungeon data.
"Not enough intel yet. Dungeon's too vast to pinpoint the king short-term."
Plain voice. Meaning: keep grinding mobs and wandering.
Sung Ha-ri eyed heroes salvaging steel plates and wires from corpses, then told Rayburn:
"Something fell from the sky earlier."
"Yeah? Missed it. Flora! See anything?"
Rayburn called his sister. Flora, mid-loot, looked up—her red bob swaying.
"Too busy fighting. Who has time? Anyone see something drop?"
"Busy? Loot up, Flora."
Rebuke in return. Flora tsked loudly for all to hear and resumed salvaging.
Rayburn typed.
"If you saw it, I'll log it. What exactly fell?"
"Mechanical wyvern, maybe... Too far to be sure. Probably not."
"Distance?"
"Roughly 60 km."
"About 37 miles. Sharp eyes."
"What else was there?"
"A forest. Looks restful at a glance... but hunter territory. No safe spots in forests here."
Sung Ha-ri hesitated, then:
"Want to check it out."
"S-rank instinct? Sorry, no king there. We'd backtrack. We'll rest here, push forward. Issue with my orders?"
She shook her head. She respected Rayburn's command skills—they'd evaded traps thanks to him.
"No issue. Just nagging at me."
"Rayburn, Ha-ri's bothered. Mind if Ha-ri and I scout quick?"
Ethan butted in. Before Rayburn replied, Sung Ha-ri scowled.
"Ethan. Told you before entering: stay out of it."
"Haha... Just looking out for you. Take the goodwill."
"Nothing more annoying than unwanted favors. Cut it."
"Don't be so prickly. We're teammates. Let's get along."
"Ha, teammates? The weakest one here."
"......"
Sung Ha-ri sneered and walked off. Ethan scratched his head silently, glancing at Rayburn.
"Sung Ha-ri's still a knockout, huh?"
"That psycho bitch? Even after what she did in America?"
"Heard about it. Makes her hotter."
"Don't say that to her face. Advice for your sake."
"Got it. Not suicidal. But I wanna get close to Ha-ri. Help a guy out?"
"She's got a ten-year-old kid."
"Adds to her appeal."
Rayburn grimaced openly, irritation plain.
"No drama. Focus on raid."
"Aw, harsh."
Meanwhile, Sung Ha-ri leaned her spear against a steel wall, staring where something fell. Towering machine city blocked the view—even mana-enhanced sight.
'Ah.'
She looked skyward. Her body itched inexplicably.
'Miss Yu-jin.'
A day-plus without her son sharpened her nerves.
'Time for Yu-jin to finger my pussy...'