Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Never Seen a Saintess Good at Magic Before?
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"What the hell is going on?!"
"I can't get a signal! Why can't I make a call?!"
"We’re inside a dungeon—what kind of signal were you expecting?!"
"Wait, are there no hunters here? Where are the hunters?!"
It was hell on earth. A cauldron of pure chaos.
The sudden catastrophe had plunged the citizens into a state of utter confusion.
Some screamed at the top of their lungs, while others turned pale with despair.
A few even fainted on the spot, tears streaming down their faces.
Of course, not everyone lost their composure.
A-Rank Hunter Kim Jia calmly assessed her surroundings.
The dungeon interior stretched endlessly in all directions, with nothing but dark walls and cold floors visible.
Thankfully, torches flickered on pillars here and there, providing a dim light, but that was the extent of it.
No exit in sight. And the mana density is completely off the charts.
Having cleared countless dungeons, she quickly reached a conclusion.
This was a special type of gate: a one-way dungeon.
It was the kind where you couldn’t escape until the boss was defeated.
"Everyone, listen up!"
Jia patted the shoulder of the trembling Siyun and shouted as loud as she could.
"I’m A-Rank Hunter Kim Jia! Everyone, stay calm and follow my lead!"
Her voice, carrying the weight of her rank, gradually quelled the uproar.
The title of "A-Rank" alone carried immense authority in this world.
"W-We’re saved…!"
"An A-Rank hunter—thank God!"
The crowd began to huddle around Jia for protection.
She scanned the faces of the group and called out again.
"Is there anyone else here who is a hunter?!"
"I-I’m a hunter too…"
"I’m C-Rank…"
Out of dozens of people, only two stepped forward.
Two C-Rank hunters.
Still, Jia felt a small wave of relief. Given how rare hunters were, this was a blessing.
She settled the civilians into a group and spoke quietly with the two hunters.
"You two aren’t E-Rank, so you’ve got actual combat experience, right?"
"W-Well, yeah, but…"
"This place feels at least B-Rank, doesn’t it?"
The two hunters shuddered as they looked around.
Jia hesitated for a moment, then nodded truthfully. No point in lying—it would become obvious soon enough.
"My guess? This is an A-Rank dungeon. I’ve never felt mana this vicious, even in other A-Ranks."
"Eek…!"
"We’re dead…"
Their faces drained of all color in terror.
Jia knew she had to bolster their courage immediately.
"I’m here with you."
Their eyes turned to her, desperate for hope.
She declared her intent with steely resolve.
"I’ll handle the majority of the monsters. You two just need to cover any that manage to slip past me."
"I-If it’s just that…"
"M-Maybe we can do this?"
Jia nodded encouragingly.
"If we hold out, reinforcements will come. As long as we endure, these people live. Chin up—don't let them see you shaking. Think you can do it?"
"W-We’ll try!"
"I’ll do my best…!"
Their expressions improved slightly, and Jia sighed inwardly in relief.
But it was far too soon to relax.
As far as she knew, Korea’s S-Rank hunters were all away on out-of-town assignments.
If this was indeed a high-level A-Rank dungeon as she suspected…
It would require multiple guild alliances to clear.
At least six A-Rank hunters would be needed to ensure safety.
Special dungeons like this—especially the one-way variety—made entry decisions difficult for the Bureau.
Reinforcements would inevitably be delayed.
This is bad…
Jia bit her lower lip, hard.
Can I really pull this off solo? Can I actually hold out that long?
She’d have to cover the workload of at least four people by herself.
I have to. No other options.
"Everyone, this terrain isn't good for us. Let's move somewhere more defensible—we can't stay out in the open like this."
"Sh-Shouldn’t we wait right here for the rescue team?" one civilian asked.
"Trust my judgment for now. We need to move."
"O-Okay."
The hunter had a point—straying too far wasn’t ideal.
But Jia alone could only guard one direction at a time.
They needed to find a spot where at least one side was walled off.
Jia led the group onward, praying that a defensible position was nearby.
Wh-What should I do…?
As they moved under Jia’s command, Siyun wrestled with a massive dilemma.
Jia-unnie had assured them she could hold the line until backup arrived.
She’d asked everyone to stay calm and follow her, and the citizens had complied, clinging to her words.
But can Jia-unnie really do it all alone?
To Siyun, Jia-unnie looked rock-solid—there wasn't a flicker of doubt in those steadfast eyes.
She stood tall and unyielding, like a hero straight out of a movie.
But that was exactly why Siyun was worried. It felt like she was forcing that image, overcompensating for the fear she must be feeling.
Siyun agonized over her choice. Should she activate the bracelet Sihyun had given her? Or not?
If this place was truly as dangerous as it felt, wouldn't dragging her older unnie into it be reckless?
This was a place where even a professional like Jia-unnie was struggling.
Was calling Sihyun really the right call?
Siyun didn’t actually know how strong her older unnie really was.
She’d heard the stories about the Hero’s party, but she had never witnessed that power firsthand.
All she knew was that Sihyun had effortlessly crushed that C-Rank stalker.
And then there were the fun stories Jia-unnie told after their C-Rank dungeon run together.
That was it. Nothing more concrete.
So she couldn’t make a rash decision that might put Sihyun in danger.
Siyun stared ahead into the darkness.
"Haat—!"
Jia-unnie had already engaged the first wave.
The two men who’d outed themselves as hunters stood before the civilians, but they were trembling uncontrollably.
Unlike Jia-unnie, they had zero confidence.
"Damn…!"
A massive humanoid monster ignored Jia and charged straight toward the civilian group.
"Kyaaah!"
"Do something about that thing!"
The people screamed in terror, but the two hunters in front were frozen like statues.
That’s when it happened.
"Graaak—!"
A long spear suddenly lodged itself in the monster’s back.
It collapsed instantly, unable to withstand the force of the throw.
The hunters finally snapped out of it, unleashing their skills on the downed beast as it howled in agony.
Siyun tore her gaze away and checked on Jia.
She’d already pulled a new spear and kept fighting, looking like she had gear to spare.
But then Siyun saw it.
Sh-She’s hurt…!
A huge claw mark had raked across Jia-unnie’s back, and blood was already streaming down.
Tears welled in Siyun’s eyes. Sihyun was precious to her, but so was Jia—they were both her family.
Watching Jia grimace while fighting through the pain hurt Siyun as if it were her own injury.
She couldn’t hold back any longer. Siyun activated the bracelet.
Whether it was the right or wrong move, she didn’t know.
But emotionally, she chose to trust her sibling.
The reliable brother who’d always protected her after their parents died.
The beautiful sister who’d returned as a woman and crushed their harasser.
The Saintess of the party that had felled the Demon King.
Siyun’s knowledge of hunters and dungeons was basic at best, but she remembered Sihyun’s words clear as day.
“No matter what, I’ll come if you need me.”
That was all she could rely on now.
"Urgh…"
Jia added another long gash to her left arm but successfully felled the last monster of the wave.
The crisis was averted for now—but the dungeon’s true onslaught was only just beginning.
"Haa, haa…"
Leaning heavily on her spear shaft, Jia tried to catch her breath.
As she had feared, this was a top-tier A-Rank dungeon. Minotaurs, Ogres... powerful monsters were pouring out in droves.
Even Jia, who was used to solo runs, couldn’t win against these numbers unscathed—especially with a group of civilians to protect.
She didn't have the option to fall back when things got dicey.
Doubt began to creep in: Can I really hold this position?
No. I can’t afford to think that way.
If she fell now, everyone here was doomed.
The authorities outside might prepare an assault, but they often abandoned civilians in these "irregular" cases to prioritize closing the gate.
It had happened all too often in the past.
But she wouldn't let it happen here. Siyun was here, and she wouldn't fail her.
I’ll keep everyone alive until backup arrives. I have to.
Jia pulled up her status window and chugged a high-grade potion.
It was expensive stuff she’d been saving, but now wasn’t the time to skimp on resources.
I will save them all.
Every time a comrade or acquaintance had fallen since she became a hunter, Jia had made a vow to herself:
To grow stronger. To ensure no more deaths happened on her watch.
She’d started soloing specifically to avoid the pain of losing teammates, but her goal had never changed.
This was the test to see if she’d actually gotten any closer to that goal.
Siyun, the two hunters, the terrified civilians—she’d protect them all, even if it burned her body to ash.
Jia faced the next wave of monsters charging through the dim light.
"Come on—all of you—!"
To steel her nerves, she let out a roar and kicked off the ground, charging back into the fray.