Chapter 763
Chapter 763
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 763
Chapter Title: Beauty's Dire Fate
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I'd been inside Park Su-ho's tattoo world for nearly three weeks straight. Of course, I'd returned to reality a few times along the way, with his help. He had to pop back now and then to fetch real-world items into the tattoo world, after all.
I pulled out my smartphone and checked the backlog of messages. There were quite a few piled up. Most of them were from my girls.
'Mom messaged me too.'
Mom ran a laid-back beauty salon in Gangwon-do. She worried about me living alone in Seoul and checked in pretty often. I gave her half-hearted replies since I was busy.
'She wants me home for Lunar New Year next year?'
Home was in Pyeongchang, out on the rural fringes. Not many young folks around, and no standout beauties in the neighborhood either.
'What a hassle. Maybe next year.'
She'd understand if I wired her some serious pocket money.
Had texts from Han Ha-rin and Han A-young too.
Han Ha-rin's messages were mostly grumbly, and she only sent one a day.
Han Ha-rin: Where the hell are you? Forgot you promised me a massage? Get back here.
Something like that. Prideful as she was, Han Ha-rin rarely sent more than one message, and emojis were a hard no. This was progress, though—at least she initiated now. She never used to.
Her sister Han A-young was the opposite.
Han A-young: You're dungeon diving with that junior of yours, right? It's not dangerous, is it?
Han A-young: Sigh. You've been so busy lately. I miss you, but our schedules just won't line up.
Han A-young: (crying character emoji)
Han A-young came off softer in texts than she did face-to-face. She loved her emojis.
Jin Se-young: Yu-jin, it's so lonely at the dojo without you ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
Jin Se-young: Oh, got fully shaved down there this time. Wanna see?
Jin Se-young: (photo).
Jin Se-young had sent a low-angle shot of her bare pussy, topless. Toned thighs, flat stomach without a hint of flab. Her pink slit looked pristine. Plump outer labia, but her clit was tiny, like a grain of rice.
"Shit. That's hot."
I groped my dick with my left hand and fired off a reply.
Sung Yu-jin: Staring at your pussy has me losing it, sis. Where are you right now? Let's meet.
She usually replied in under 30 seconds, but a full minute passed with nothing. That meant one thing: she was in a dungeon.
I skimmed the rest of the messages and sent replies.
Baek Ji-eun: Hey, Sung Yu-jin. What're you up to?
Baek Ji-eun.
An A-rank hunter and exec at the Korean Hunter Association. Thanks to the "Absolute Hypnosis Sticker," she saw me as her childhood friend and fuck buddy.
She was grinding to climb the ranks fast, a total workaholic. We didn't meet often, and when we did, she was extra cautious. She popped up on TV shows a lot to build her rep—half for association PR, but her looks and easygoing vibe made her more popular than most celebs.
Sung Yu-jin: Just got back from work and chilling. Why? Wanna meet?
Baek Ji-eun: I'm in Africa right now. Can't.
Sung Yu-jin: For real? Association business?
Baek Ji-eun: Nah, broadcasting gig. But about that thing you mentioned last time.
Sung Yu-jin: The womb tattoo?
Baek Ji-eun: You crazy bastard. Cut the shit.
I blanked out for a second, thinking.
What had I said to Baek Ji-eun last time? Nothing came to mind besides suggesting the womb tattoo.
'...Did I say to dye her pubes rainbow? No, that was Han Ha-rin. Anyway, Baek Ji-eun's got that white pussy. Not natural, but Brazilian-waxed smooth sticky white pussy. Damn, white pussies are hitting different today. But no Jin Se-young, no Baek Ji-eun...'
Han Ha-rin had a bush. I'd suggested trimming once; she shot it down. Pretty conservative. Same with Han A-young. Now I was glad— the contrast made the black-and-white twin pussies pop!
Baek Ji-eun: That dungeon you mentioned with the curse-lifting item.
"Ah."
I'd asked her about curse-removal gear before.
Sung Yu-jin: What's up? Did a curse-lift item drop?
Baek Ji-eun: A dungeon popped with a chance for curse-lift items. B-rank, perfect size. What do you think?
Sung Yu-jin: Closed-type?
Baek Ji-eun: Yeah. Closed-type. Discovered in Masan yesterday. I'm holding off other guilds on my own. Interested?
Sung Yu-jin: I'd rather skip dangerous ones.
A B-rank closed dungeon.
C-rank, maybe soloable. B-rank? Tough alone. Even with Han Ha-rin, it'd be a grind.
Baek Ji-eun: Not hard. Small for a dungeon. B-rank 'cause of special monsters. Prep right, you could solo it.
Sung Yu-jin: Hm. Send detailed info first.
Baek Ji-eun: On it.
I read the dungeon file she sent.
'...Looks soloable. And the projected rewards...'
Curse-lift items rare even on black markets. Other guilds would kill for them.
Sung Yu-jin: I'm in.
I geared up and headed to Masan.
???
Black Priest's Village.
The B-rank dungeon Baek Ji-eun hooked me up with. Not because it spawned in an apartment complex—normies couldn't get close thanks to association control, and tents blocked any sneaky camera shots.
Gathered here were hunters. Hunters eyeing this dungeon.
"Ha. That fresh-faced kid's the raider? Association, you messing with us?"
"Wait. Isn't that Sung Yu-jin?"
"Sung Yu-jin?"
"Y'know, the young hunter who blew up a few months back. Korea's top rookie or whatever."
"Seoul guy, right? Why's a Seoul punk down here?"
They weren't thrilled to see me. From their view, they spotted roadside gold, then I swooped in and snatched it. Pissed 'em off.
"Now, now, calm down. Sung Yu-jin here is first raider. Association decision. Step back."
The association staffer said it. A few A-rankers frowned but held back hostility—mindful of the association's eyes.
"Sung Yu-jin."
The staffer approached and handed me something. A red thread ball half my fist size. I knew what it was. Any hunter would.
The Thread of Origin. Escape a closed dungeon without clearing. Two ways: infuse mana or burn it. Handle with care.
"...?"
I eyed the staffer curiously. Association didn't supply these. Black market price fluctuated, minimum billions.
"Was told to give it to you. Came from way up top... Looks like bigwigs are watching you."
"...Well, I am kinda awesome. Thanks."
I pocketed the Thread. Obvious who ordered it: Baek Ji-eun.
"Heading in now?"
"Yeah."
I paused at the entrance.
"Sung Yu-jin?"
"Got a jinx."
"A jinx? Common enough."
Lots of hunters were superstitious. Magic users especially. Some chugged chocolate milk pre-dungeon; one needed a slap from a girl.
"I'll help. What do I do?"
"Nah. Just stand there."
I broke into a wild dance. Hips thrusting hard, arms flailing. More clownish than cool.
"Wh-what the fu-?!"
"Cheeky little shit!"
"Ha... ha... psycho."
No real jinx, obviously. Just trolling the crowd. They could curse me all they wanted—hands stayed off.
I messed with them for 10 minutes, then dove in.
???
First impression inside: fucking creepy. Sky, ground, trees, bushes, rocks—all dim. Cool temps, breathing fine. But the air felt dead, like stepping into a landfill.
'Nothing special otherwise... Kill the Black Priest, clear the dungeon.'
Scout first. I climbed the tallest nearby tree for a look. Spotted a village a bit off. Maybe 1,000 folks.
'No villagers or priest in sight. Hiding in a building?'
Recalled Black Priest info.
B-rank monster using curses. Mostly mental attacks. Tough for norm hunters, but spirit defense gear or skills made it easy pickings.
'Clear a Black Priest dungeon, get curse/curse-lift loot.'
I crept toward the village, masking my presence, then froze. Villagers poured out of buildings in unison.
'Like they planned it.'
Hid behind a tree, watched.
Villagers looked off. Skin dark gray-black.
'Human... ish?'
Human shape otherwise. But eyes glazed, shambling like cheap-movie zombies. Bumping into each other, tumbling down.
'Black Priest victims, probably. Humans, huh.'
Rare for humans in dungeons. But hunters didn't count 'em as such—monsters in human skin. By definition. Bit premature, but.
'Got bombs in inventory. Wipe the village... Huh?'
One woman caught my eye. Black skin, zombie shuffle—same as the rest. But her features? Stunning beauty.
Short wine-red hair, perky nose, pretty lips, sleek skin. Dumb moves couldn't hide it.
'Human or not... gotta check myself.'
Swish. Swish.
Closed in with Eternal Heaven Style footwork. Villagers wandered aimlessly, slow—easy to dodge eyes.
'Get spotted, hassle. Use buildings for stealth.'
Slipped through an open wooden window.
"Kyaaak! Kyak! Kak!"
A man on the bed yowled like a feral cat, lunging at me.
'Some stay inside?'
Closer look: mid-40s, emaciated, no limbs.
'Can't walk, can't leave.'
Slashed with Fire Lotus Sword. Head rolled. Blood dark red. Sliced the gut open. Had to check.
'...There.'
Tiny black magic stone, finger-joint size. Worse than F-rank.
'Organs human-like.'
I slipped to the next house, avoiding blood scent. House to house, closing on my target.
'She sees ahead, but deaf maybe.'
Target passed a building. I shot my arm out, yanked her in.
"Kyaaak!"
She thrashed. Stronger than a normie, but laughable against me.
"Kyaaak! Kak!"
Tried biting my arm. No chance. Grabbed both her wrists in one hand, pinned her legs with my thigh, ripped her clothes off with the other.