Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Alchemist's Lab Time Attack
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Opening the door of the dilapidated building nestled in the forest brought a sharp, fishy stench, as if they'd stepped into an aquarium.
1. Pay fixed compensation to the mercenary.
▶ Mercenary receives no hunting EXP.
▶ Not applied as party member.
▶ Dungeon Board registration adds +3 min per mercenary.
2. Share hunting EXP instead of compensation.
▶ Applied as party member.
▶ Mercenary counts as personnel on Dungeon Board.
▶ Mercenary gains title effects.
As they stepped into the dungeon, the choices appeared.
"Hmm..."
Woojin slowly read through the two options.
The titles earned from time attacks were tiered based on the top three spots on the Dungeon Board.
'And the title's rank changes depending on the number of party members.'
To snag the best possible title, soloing first place on the Dungeon Board was obviously ideal.
When Woojin touched the massive flask erected at the lab's entrance, a window popped up.
Current Record Rankings
1st: Keruga's Party (4 members) 17:372nd: Lykan's Party (4 members) 19:313rd: Jin's Party (4 members) 19:40
"Number 2."
Woojin selected it without hesitation.
"R-Really, are you sure?"
"This is a kind of investment. If it was just about me surviving, bumping up the title rank would be best. But I want to go all the way with you."
"A-All the way?"
"Yeah. We have to head to the Central Continent together."
"Ah..."
His straightforward answer made Luen's face flush as she bowed her head deeply for some reason.
"...Thank you."
2. Share hunting EXP instead of compensation.
▶ Luen (Mercenary) applied to party.
With the notification, the surrounding scenery began to shift.
Shwaaa...!!
A pale mist billowed up in an instant, shrouding their vision.
"Luen. Summon the spirits."
At his command, she hurriedly formed hand seals.
Woooong...!
A small vortex formed above her shoulder, then rippling winds shaped like inverted cones began floating around her.
"Use the spirits to find the path. The fog blocks the way, but it can't seal off the air flow to the upper level."
At his order, the wind spirits scattered at high speed.
'The community said the fog clears when you reach the stairs to the second floor.'
Kugugugugu...
And until then, the fog would keep summoning monsters nonstop.
'The air's changed?'
Suddenly, the mist enveloping them trembled faintly.
Grip.
Woojin tightened his hold on his sword.
'Come on.'
He didn't know what would spawn, but he'd cleave it the moment it appeared.
The fog before them parted, revealing a massive something lurking within.
Plip plip plop...
Powder rained down from above.
"Rock Golem..."
Luen murmured lowly, staring up at the enormous monster that looked twice her size.
The golem pounded its thick chest like an orangutan, then charged with a bellow.
Bang! Bang! Bang!!!
Each step cracked the lab floor like a spiderweb.
"Luen!!"
Woojin's sword became cloaked in pale wind.
"Hyaap!!!"
Confirming the wind infused in the blade, he swung with all his might at the golem's incoming fist.
Kaaaang!!!!
But despite his full-powered strike, it rang out with a light clang, leaving not a single scratch on the golem's body.
"Look here!"
Though his attacks did no damage, Woojin swung several more times to draw the golem's attention.
"Khan!! Found it!"
That was when Luen called out.
There, inside a glass tube that she pointed to, sat a black stone.
He knew instinctively what it was.
'The golem's core.'
"What color is it under the glass tube?"
"Red!"
No sooner had she answered than she nocked an arrow.
Fwoosh―!!!
Flames erupted from the arrow's tip.
Shwaaaak――!!!
She released the maximally drawn string, and the arrow pierced the fog straight toward the core.
Kwaaang―!!!
Her arrow struck the pillar beneath the glass tube dead-on.
Crack... Craaaack...!
Cracks spiderwebbed across the glass tube.
"One more!"
Her hand moved too fast to track, pulling an arrow from the quiver at her waist.
Shuuk―!!
But it had already left the string long ago.
Lightning-quick speed.
Shatter―!!!
The cracked glass tube exploded into shards, and the arrow embedded perfectly into the core within.
The golem's body staggered for a moment.
"Luen! Duck!!!!"
Woojin gripped his sword with both hands and bent at the waist.
Zziik... Zziiiizik...!!
With Dragon Heaven activating on the wind-enchanted blade, lightning burst from the sword like a rampaging dragon in all directions.
"Eek!"
Luen hurriedly ducked and put some distance between them.
Thud―!!
Woojin's sword plunged into the golem's side.
Unlike the initial deflection, it sank deep with a dull thud.
Kagagagak―――!!!
The erupting lightning charred the golem's body black, and the blade pierced straight through its waist to the other side.
Thud!!
The bisected golem's body crashed to the floor.
As the rocky body crumbled to ash, a pure white glow flickered around Luen before vanishing.
"...Oh?"
It was a level up.
"Luen, can you boost your rapid fire speed any higher?"
The joy of growth was short-lived; Luen hesitated at his question.
"For now, I'll put my new points into Agility."
Her vague response prompted Woojin to remove the ring and belt he was wearing.
Unequipped Cheetah Ring.
▶ Agility -5.
▶ Agility: 30(+35).
Unequipped Trinity Belt.
▶ Strength decreased.
▶ Strength: 45(+25).
"Use these."
"Really? It's okay to give them to me?"
"The monsters here aren't normal creatures—they're all summons from the dungeon boss, the alchemist."
To kill them, you had to destroy the core first.
"The faster you take out the cores, the quicker we clear the dungeon."
Woojin placed the gear in her hands as he spoke.
"The time attack record is riding on you."
He could've reclaimed first place solo, but...
'Might as well dangle the carrot.'
Shiiiiiik...!!!
The fog shook once more.
A gargoyle burst from the fog, unfolding black wings.
Did his words have an effect?
Shuk―! Shushuk――!!!
Even before the monster fully spawned from the parting fog, Luen had already loosed arrows at the distant core.
At the same time, flames gathered on Woojin's blade.
Kwaaang―!!!
A satisfied expression crossed his face at her reaction as his sword effortlessly shattered one of the gargoyle's wings.
Clearing a four-man dungeon with just two was a challenge in itself, but they were killing faster than the summons could spawn.
Congratulations. Level up.
▶ 22 → 23
"Luen. The path?"
Woojin promptly invested his new points into Strength and asked her.
"Just a moment...!"
In response, she hurriedly equipped the items, closed her eyes, and focused on the scattered spirits.
Chiring―.
A sound like crickets chirping rang out, and she opened her eyes, shouting.
"...Found it!"
"Where?"
"Follow me!"
Luen shot forward like a bullet into the fog.
Grip.
She grabbed Woojin's hand.
Tatadadak―――!!!
Nothing was visible in the fog, yet Luen nimbly dodged structures as she ran inward.
The reason the lab's time attack was so tough was the difficulty finding the path to the second floor.
Instead, killing the summoned monsters in the fog gradually thinned the mist.
Thus, the basic tactic for a fast clear was to eliminate summons as quickly as possible.
'Thinning the fog enough to see takes at least four fights.'
She'd done it in one.
'Another record-breaker this time.'
He couldn't let his guard down, but watching her charge ahead without hesitation filled Woojin with certainty.
"Found it!"
Shwaaaaak―――!!!
With her shout, as she stepped inward, the fog blocking them dispersed in an instant.
Woojin bounded up the weathered wooden stairs to the second floor hidden behind the mist.
Without pause, he threw open the second-floor door. An acrid smell hit them, along with the sight of an old man standing before a large desk.
Evil Tail offered high freedom, but dungeon bosses always started with fixed patterns.
Sig Elric, the Mad Sage—boss of the Alchemist's Lab.
'The community said the boss's lines determine its attribute.'
Rahard.
The head of the Alchemy Association in the Central Continent—but here, a clue for tackling the boss mob.
'Mention Rahard on the first page...!'
Shwaaaak...!!!
With the line, blue aura erupted around Sig Elric.
"Luen! Fire attribute!!"
Fwoosh―!!!
As Sig Elric shouted, Luen swiftly enchanted Woojin's sword with fire.
Peng―! Peng―!! Boom―!!
Dozens of blue orbs poured from the sage's hand.
Kwaaang―!!
Woojin kicked off the ground and leaped forward with all his power.
Kwagagagaang――!!
The orbs aimed at him slammed into the empty spot where he'd stood, spraying cold streams of water.
Sssizzle...!!
The exploded orbs' water hit the floor, flash-freezing the area white.
Sig Elric roared at Woojin dodging his attack and thrust his hand upward again.
Sharp ice spikes erupted from the frozen floor.
Crack... Craaaack...!!!
The spikes from the floor chased after Woojin.
"...!!"
Too late to dodge.
Woojin raised his arm to block the incoming ice spikes.
Peng! Peng!! Boom―!!!
But the spikes shattered midair like bursting balloons just before reaching him.
Shwaaak...!!
The arrow that smashed the ice spikes flew past Woojin and embedded itself before Sig Elric.
"Now!!"
At Luen's shout,
"Hup!!"
Woojin drew a deep breath and brought his sword down with full force.
Kwaaaang―――!!!!
But his blade was halted by Sig Elric's surrounding shield.
Dozens of magic circles overlapped beneath his feet, and the bookshelves on both sides began to rumble.
Glowing objects emerged from books on the shelves and scattered tools.
Kwajik―!!!!
But in that instant, Luen's arrow pierced the glowing materials in a flash.
"...?!?"
Sig Elric couldn't hide his shocked expression.
With the summoning materials destroyed, the synthesis circle under his feet shattered and vanished.
Hungry Mark
▶ Marks Alchemist Sig Elric.
▶ Steals 1/3 of highest stat (Magic Power).
▶ You do not possess Magic Power.
A milky energy leaked from Sig Elric's body, seeping into Woojin before fading.
Due to the stolen Magic Power, perhaps? Sig Elric's barrier momentarily thinned.
Spirit Possession
▶ Attack power +1.5x for 30 seconds.
In that moment, a massive orc spirit materialized behind him before vanishing.
"Hup―."
Kwaaaaang―――!!!
His sword, now laden with red aura, came crashing down once more atop Sig Elric's head.