Chapter 957
Chapter 957
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 957
Chapter Title: Rainbow Fruit
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I walked through the city, lost in thought. I had come here to find clues about the rainbow fruit, but I had no clue where to even begin.
‘Can’t just go around asking random people about the rainbow fruit. Even if I did, no one’s likely to know the details.’
I needed to find someone who had the information.
Was there something like an information guild in this world? Even if there was, the thought of tracking them down and negotiating made my head hurt.
‘So when the hell am I gonna find it? At this rate, I might end up stuck in this dungeon for over a month...’
Should I just mess around however I wanted and bail from the dungeon whenever?
“Out of the way! Move it!”
A group of soldiers clad in armor and carrying spears rushed toward the castle gate. I slipped aside amid the crowd. It had to be because of the guards I’d just killed.
Seeing those guards sparked an idea.
‘The lord. I’ll grab this city’s lord and squeeze him for info on the rainbow fruit.’
It didn’t sound like a bad plan to order the lord to fetch it for me. I could just kick back until he delivered.
The people eyed the soldiers curiously as they sped past, then went back to their own business. I headed for the square. It looked like the quickest way to the city’s heart, the lord’s castle.
Along the path to the square, merchants had set up stalls hawking all sorts of goods. Stands selling fruits and veggies were especially common. One clothing shop caught my eye—the owner was a familiar face.
Kang Seok-su. There he sat at his stall, wearing a black coat that clashed with the surroundings, staring blankly into space. I hung back and watched for a bit. He dealt with customers and sold clothes just like any merchant.
I could guess what was going on.
Like me, he’d been assigned a role. I was a farmer, and he was a merchant, plain as day.
I approached him.
“Kang Seok-su.”
“…Sung Yu-jin!”
He bolted up from his bored slump in the chair, eyes lighting up.
“You made it! Though I figured you would.”
“It got dicey.”
“Dicey? Guess it was different for you. Monsters?”
Kang Seok-su waved me over as he fired off questions. I took the empty seat beside him. With the shade and a gentle breeze, it was pretty comfy.
“Ran into ‘em. Magic stones from killing the bastards.”
I pulled out a stone and held it up. Kang Seok-su eyed it intently for a moment, then nodded.
“First time in a weird-ass dungeon like this, so I was thrown off, but a B-rank’s still a B-rank. What kinda monsters?”
Kang Seok-su was always keen on monster details. Made sense—monsters attacked hunters in every dungeon, and hunters hunted them for stones.
“Those monsters were…”
I glanced around. Crowds streamed by: men, women, old folks, kids. Hundreds visible at a glance. If they all flipped into monsters at once? Even I wouldn’t bet on handling every last one.
“People… who turned into monsters.”
“What?”
Kang Seok-su furrowed his brow, not getting it at first. Then his eyes sharpened as he scanned the surroundings. People everywhere.
“…You sure?”
“Why the hell would I lie about this?”
“Everyone here’s a monster? Shouldn’t they be attacking us if so?”
“No clue on the details. First time seeing ‘em. Maybe there’s a trigger for turning…”
“You start outside the city? Spill it.”
I’d tell him the full story—or close enough. Skipped a few bits, naturally.
“Spawned in a field.”
“Field? Farmer role?”
“Bingo. Message popped up right away: no three hours of farm work a day, and I weaken. Some old couple called me Hans.”
“Same vibe as me. I’m a merchant. Gotta clock three hours of merch work to dodge the penalty. Folks around called me Romelon.”
Kang Seok-su sighed after hearing about the village.
“…If people turn into monsters… this place is a nightmare. I prepped for the what-if… but it ain’t enough.”
“Other hunters?”
My turn to ask. Wasn’t holding my breath—his look said it all.
“No sign. Could be anywhere in the city, or outside like you. Or they bailed sensing the risk.”
“Your plan? Brand-new dungeon. No shame in dipping out.”
“Plenty’d be disappointed. Lots of eyes on me. Screwing this’ll hit my new guild hard. I’ll push till it’s hopeless.”
“Next steps? You got a plan, right?”
“Link up with you hunters first. West rendezvous… but shit’s hit the fan, so west’s off. Others probably got roles and penalties too.”
“Ain’t that dragging forever?”
“Can’t rush it. Stable clear’s the way. Won’t just sit—my role, this Romelon merchant, has connections citywide. Gonna tap ‘em for rainbow fruit intel.”
“So you’re holing up here, watching and waiting.”
“Yep. Stick with me? No telling when these folks turn. Better together than solo, yeah?”
“Nah.”
I shook my head flat-out.
Solo was comfier. Zero interest bunking with a dude. Plus, alone, I could spot a hot chick and rail her no hesitation.
“Got your own thing going, so no pressure. Mind sharing?”
“Hitting up the lord—biggest shot in this city—for backup.”
“……You’re a farmer. Tenant farmer.”
Lords don’t help; seeing one’s a pipe dream. Show up uninvited, pray you don’t get thrashed. World worked that way.
“You’re off too. I ain’t tenant Hans. I’m hunter Sung Yu-jin.”
Kang Seok-su’s eyes widened a tick, then settled.
“My bad. Sung Yu-jin. One favor? No biggie if you pass.”
“Shoot.”
“Kill a guy for me.”
“Urk!”
I slipped into a mansion near the square and lopped off a middle-aged guy’s head. The mark Kang Seok-su wanted gone. Dude was stonewalling Kang Seok-su—or his role, Romelon. Made ops tough, he said.
‘Kang Seok-su. Colder, sharper than expected.’
He was on point.
Like back home, dungeon folk weren’t “people” to him. ‘Specially after I dropped the monster twist.
Per request, I patted down the corpse.
Jackpot: magic stone.
Barely 2cm across.
‘F-rank. Standard for dungeon humans. Turned ones were 8cm.’
Pocketed it, waited. Check if he’d morph. Half hour, nada. Insurance: yanked his heart, stomped it flat. Heart’s the weak spot—sans it, maybe no flip.
Reported job done to Kang Seok-su.
He toyed with the tiny 2cm stone.
“Figures… So not monsters in human suits.”
“Corpse might still zombify. Oh—and don’t ease up on kids. Even babies turned.”
“Not that green.”
“Catch ya.”
“……You kill on request, no deets?”
“What? Monsters were ever people?”
“…Point taken. You’re the top hunter here.”
“Duh. Anyway, out. Swing by tomorrow afternoon. No-show, whatever.”
I waved.
Hot chick strolled past. Eyes tracked her natural. Monster or not, pretty gets me going. Normal—beats bestiality freaks.
Flash: high school nightmare vid.
Back then, mainstream porn bored me; chased the extreme. Dove deep web for gems.
Depths hid horrors beyond imagining.
‘Guy taking it from a big male dog. Fuck. Pukeworthy still.’
Face twisted, I tailed the babe quietly.
Empty alley, railed her till sunset. Finally, lord’s castle bound.
En route, penalty hit.
Legs lead. Vision hazy. Throat clogged, gut twinging.
Checked my fist. Grip down 30%.
‘Penalty’s no joke. Way past “off-day.” Serious debuff.’
Frailty lifted. Saved Complete Recovery as ace.
‘That shit revives you from death. God-tier.’
Castle gate ahead. Soldiers, naturally. Gear leagues above gate scrubs. Aura heavy.
‘Low D-rank hunter equiv? Yeah.’
Straight-up marched in. Rocking swanky threads from Kang Seok-su—commoner’s decade savings, his words.
Guards locked on. I flashed a grin.
“Here for the lord. Send word.”
Their mugs soured.
“Farmer’s got no manners.”
Five spear grips circled me.
“The fuck? Blind to this drip? Honored guest, me.”
Flared the finery.
They clocked it, stayed agro. Scoffed even.
“Pig in silk’s still swine. Fancy rags hide base blood?”
“Nah, not hiding.”
No farmer vibes: tall, pale, presence screamed not-peasant.
Guards pegged me instant.
‘Hans ain’t castle-level famous… Dungeon fuckery.’
Role absolute. Dungeon laughing.
“Insulted the lord, dissed us… Arm’s breaking. Thank us for mercy!”
Charge. Spears menaced, no stab—fists and feet. Reciprocated: same.
‘Kill ‘em, lord beef’s locked in.’
Thwack! Bam! Crunch!
“Gaaah!”
Punch, kick—guards airborne. Rolled, writhed, down.
“Up, asshole. To the lord.”
“H-how’s a farmer this strong…!”
“Not farmer.”
Slap.
Guard shuddered, head bowed.
“…I’ll… escort.”