Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Entering the Ice Grotto
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"Master, that was really unlucky just now."
Luen finished her spell and sat down, chiding Woojin.
"My turn now? Name's Kim Chan. As you can see, I'm a level 49 wind mage."
Kim Chan introduced himself from a table piled high with food, his leg jiggling under it.
"Wind mages are rare... Nice to meet you."
"Yeah, wind's not as mainstream as fire or ice."
"Still, getting scouted by the Ulld Union means you're exceptional."
"Haha, you're too kind."
Kim Chan scratched the back of his head sheepishly at Gareth's praise.
"Nice to meet you."
Munch munch.
Luen nodded at Kim Chan, her cheeks stuffed like a hamster's with food.
"Cough cough—."
"Eat slower."
Woojin patted her back and handed her some water.
"Leaving the invocation to you was a mistake. Who could eat all this?"
"Phew... I'm stuffed. What choice did we have? When will we get a proper meal like this again? You've been grinding us for days without sleep... Right?"
"Cough...."
"Ahem."
"Heh heh, you two seem awfully close."
At Luen's words, everyone coughed awkwardly and looked away, as if imagining something else.
"Don't talk nonsense. Just eat."
"Gulp."
Woojin shoved a piece of bread into her mouth.
"What about the rest of the team?"
"Huh?"
"I heard it's a raid dungeon. Shouldn't there be more people?"
"Nope. This is everyone."
Silence fell instantly.
"A-Are you insane?! Just five of us tackling a raid dungeon?"
"Ahem—."
Kim Chan shot to his feet but hesitated at Gareth's cough.
"Sorry."
"No need. It's understandable. Honestly, it's absurd."
"Right? Totally absurd..."
"Of course, I'm still going."
"He said it, but let's hear him out first."
Kim Chan quickly sat back down.
"Ulld Union lives up to its name. Quick to adapt."
"Shut it."
Woojin smirked at Kim Chan's sudden silence.
"Last one now."
"As you see, level 49, uses a bow."
"That's it?"
"Anything else to add?"
"I'd appreciate more honesty."
Woojin stared steadily at Gareth.
"Your class. You're no archer."
"...What rude nonsense? Didn't you hear? I use a bow."
"Using a bow doesn't make you an archer."
"...What?"
"That crossbow for starters. I recall you saying at the cabin it wasn't ordinary."
"You remember that?"
"I don't half-listen to people."
Gareth eyed Woojin for a moment, then nodded.
"Hmph, no reason not to say it. Just didn't want the hassle."
Click—.
He picked up the massive crossbow from the floor and yanked the protruding handle beside it.
The extended arms folded in like an umbrella.
The folded crossbow looked unusual.
"...A gun?"
Woojin and the others seemed to share the thought.
"Right. My class is Beast Hunter. A hidden class from Dwarf Archer."
"Whoa...! A hidden class. Ulld Union lives up to the hype."
Kim Chan exclaimed, eyes sparkling.
"Heh heh, flattery aside. Not the most efficient job anyway. Gunpowder tech hasn't advanced much."
Unlike the popular Red Tower focused on magic research, Arcane—specializing in mechanical and magitech engineering—got little attention.
"Can't be helped. Those skill trees unlock late... Not many have learned them yet."
"Exactly. It takes time."
He looked at Woojin.
"Hidden class or not, it's nothing special. Disappointed?"
"Nah. Hidden or regular, as long as you pull your weight, I don't care. Just wanted to know my party."
"Fair enough. How about you share yours? What gives you such confidence? Hidden class like me?"
"No. Plain warrior."
"Then how'd a level 40 clear the snowfields?"
"Got some slightly different skills."
Shing—.
Woojin drew his sword, sparks flying sharply.
"Heh heh, no way... Rare skill?"
"Something like that."
Woojin had pondered from the start of recruiting how much to reveal.
'Can't cut Taikan's limbs without Dragon Heaven.'
Better to show boldly if he couldn't hide it—build trust.
"Rare skill, huh... No wonder you're confident. Never heard of getting one from Dark Forest... Where'd you snag it?"
"You're not asking me to spill, are you? You hid your class too."
"Haha, true."
'No top ranker I know got a skill from Dark Forest. Lucky or skilled...?'
Gareth chuckled awkwardly, but his gaze toward Woojin shifted.
'Not bad.'
Feeling the looks turn from suspicion to curiosity, Woojin smirked.
He looked forward to how they'd change after the dungeon.
"Everyone seen the quest? We're heading to Ice Grotto, but it's not the trading post raid entry quest."
Raid quests aimed to hunt monsters and conquer Ice Grotto.
Woojin's was rescuing Charson's son inside.
"Not a conquest quest, so doable with five... But I think we can snag first clear achievement with this crew."
Gulp—.
Everyone swallowed dryly, tense.
"Anyone bailing, speak now."
'First clear...'
Words that stirred the heart.
Taking their silence as assent, Woojin spoke lowly.
"We move at 8 PM tonight."
'Come to think of it, first time party hunting.'
The thought struck Woojin.
Partly due to Solitude trait, but mostly his unique situation kept him from cozy group play.
"...Something wrong?"
"Nah. First time hunting with this much chatter."
"Huh? Not your first party hunt, right?"
"It is."
Peron stared at him, baffled.
"Then let's settle loot shares before heading out."
"Loot shares?"
"Yeah. Casual parties let the fitting class take items, or auction 'em and non-bidders get gold."
"Got it."
"But you're the quest holder, brother. You could hog all dungeon loot if you want."
Woojin turned slightly at Peron's unexpected words.
"Especially with the entry quest. You could even charge us gold—no complaints. Couldn't start without you."
"Nah. We're five-man raiding a dungeon. Pennies like that don't matter."
"Still, some things need clarifying."
Woojin glanced at the other two after thinking.
"I agree. High risk, huge rewards if we succeed."
Achievements and titles—priceless.
"How about this? I get first pick on one boss drop item?"
"Sounds good."
"Fine by me."
Gareth's ready agreement left Kim Chan nodding silently.
"Problem's busting through that..."
All eyes turned downhill.
Luen's eyes glowed cross-shaped.
"Five at the entrance. Fifteen more nearby. No ogres."
Grrrrowl—.
Falling snow obscured vision, but Luen pinpointed the monsters.
"Twenty total... Can we take 'em?"
"No hunting. Unknown monsters inside Ice Grotto—can't waste time."
"Then?"
"Peron. Mob pull. Lure the Ice Trolls from the entrance."
"Got it."
"No fighting. Lead 'em to the forest, stealth past, then regroup."
"Yes."
Peron bolted without hesitation at Woojin's order.
"Scouts had zilch useful. We'll scout and conquer. Kim Chan, conserve mana."
"...Will do."
"Relax. No dungeon unbeatable!"
Gareth clapped stiff Kim Chan's shoulder.
"Yeah. Don't sweat it. Even one survivor gets boss rewards."
"...No TPKs?"
"Depends on you."
Woojin strapped his round shield from his back to his wrist.
A C-grade shield bought for 80 gold at Baekhwagok trading post.
Lightweight enchantment made it one-arm wieldable.
"Stick close."
Shield over his face, he plunged into the blizzard.
"Hoo—."
The cave was warmer than expected.
After sprinting meters, white breath puffed with each exhale.
A faint light shimmered over Woojin's body with the dungeon entry alert, then faded.
Blessing of Light God Rasin ↓
▶ Stamina +5%
Blessing of Dark God Haden ↓
▶ Attack Power +5%
Blessing of Void God Muha ↓
▶ Speed +5%
"Oh... They give buffs like this?"
Kim Chan marveled at the colorful light particles raining down.
"Luen."
"Yes."
She nodded at Woojin and quietly summoned spirits.
Whoosh—!!!
Ice encasing the grotto melted, revealing lesser water spirits.
"Find the path."
The two spirits nodded and flew into the tunnel.
"More spirits now."
"Yeah. Hunting in snowfields boosted my water affinity."
Perhaps pleased he noticed, Luen's voice sounded upbeat.
Thud—!!
Then—a dull sound. Luen clutched her temple, staggering.
"What?"
"...Spirits vanished."
"Monsters? How many?"
She shook her head, face pale.
"That's... Just one."
"One?"
That instant,
Thump— thump— thump—.
The ground shook like an earthquake. Something approached from deep inside.
"No way..."
Woojin eyed the massive beast ahead.
A gigantic yeti cloaked in jet-black fur glared down with red eyes.
Taikan.
Unlike typical dungeons requiring trash clears before boss, this was different.
"...Convenient. Damn it."
Boss-only dungeon.
No trash mobs—just solo the boss for clear.
No trash meant,
"Everyone, evade!!!!"
the boss was that overwhelming.
[Rooooaaar—!!!]
Taikan's roar shook the grotto.