Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: The Blue Ghost Knight's Ambush
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The waterfall wall was riddled with holes. If I had to describe it, it looked like an anthill.
Some holes led to mermaid villages, while others opened into monster habitats teeming with beasts.
That was why they needed Pello's trace—to pinpoint Yenz and Gray's habitat among the hundreds of openings.
Lee Yoo-hyun gripped the thread infused with Pello's trace and descended further.
"Still scared of water?"
"Honestly, I've been down here so long it's starting to feel numb."
If anything, slaying monsters underwater felt like conquering the lingering trauma of those old kaiju horrors.
"I've always wondered—why do you tag along when you could just hand out quests and chill at home?"
Dun pondered deeply at Lee Yoo-hyun's question.
At first, he'd joined to show quick leveling methods, but now Yoo-hyun handled everything himself. No need to tire out commuting just to watch his job change.
He could always ask what Yoo-hyun could do after the job change from the comfort of home.
"...Curious what job Pello has?"
Truth be told, there were a few trivial reasons. Like how he enjoyed swimming. And Gae-ttong-i loved the water here, so it was a chance to feed him plenty.
But above all, there was something to confirm.
"Still, it's weird finding a master craftsman in the land of water instead of fire."
"I don't know the details either. But if you're hiding from pursuers, you'd pick the last place anyone'd expect a craftsman to go."
"Makes sense."
Pello's trace kept plunging downward until it halted before one cave opening. Nothing special about it compared to the others.
"Looks like this is it."
Pello's trace began glowing brighter than before. As they approached, a current flowed inward.
Lee Yoo-hyun hesitated a moment, then plunged in boldly.
The forceful pull of the waves lasted only a second before a new space unfolded before them.
Monsters swam in chaotic swarms across the vast chamber.
Two types occupied the area: neon-winged pink dolphins, the Yenz, and thin gray water snakes coiled around the Yenz tails, the Grays.
[lv. 102] Tense Yenz
[lv. 95] Frightened Gray
[lv. 90] Shocked Yenz
[lv. 87] Anxious Gray
The moment Dun and Lee Yoo-hyun appeared, every gaze locked onto them.
[Humans.]
[Should we kill them now? We have to. I want to kill them.]
[Yeah, kill 'em. They're humans.]
The Yenz, after a brief chatter, flapped their glowing wings to gauge the duo's mana. Deciding who to strike first.
The bulkier human had moderate mana. The smaller one...
An immeasurable surge of energy emanated from the tiny human. The flustered Yenz huddled for countermeasures.
[No chance of winning.]
[Charging now is suicide.]
[The big human's doable.]
[But I wanna kill the small one.]
"Monsters, but they're chattering instead of attacking right away."
"High-intel ones have a lot of talkers."
Lee Yoo-hyun, braced for an instant swarm, stared dumbfounded as the monsters bickered among themselves.
"They're taking too long. Let's just bulldoze through."
"Huh?"
Dun activated a domination skill he hadn't used in ages.
"Domination of Fear."
[[Domination of Fear] has been activated.]
[Critical!]
[The level of skill [Monster Domination] has increased.]
The critical hit dominated more Yenz and Grays than expected.
Picking a domination type matching the monsters' current emotions often triggered crits.
The Yenz and Grays poised to strike Yoo-hyun while wary of Dun froze, trembling.
[Gr-Great...]
"Skip the flattery. While I head across, fight the ones I don't like."
The dominated Yenz proved it with actions. They assaulted the monsters blocking the path deeper into the habitat, clearing the way.
"Pello's trace still moving?"
"Yeah, still heading inward."
"Let's go. Gotta be back before dinner. Got chewed out by Rihaowel last time I was late."
"Your mom?"
"Ah, uh, yeah, Mom."
Dun nodded vigorously.
Pello's trace led deeper into the habitat. Stronger Yenz appeared as they advanced, but Dun dominated through.
Dun handled the swarming packs, while Lee Yoo-hyun took the stragglers charging solo.
"Hunting with you feels insanely secure. Like I'm the strongest in the world. Am I sucking too much honey here?"
"Don't worry, I'll squeeze out every drop you owe me. Already got exploitation plans mapped."
"Whoa, for real? Guess we'll be partying longer."
"...?"
At the cave's end stood a single wall. A small groove marked its center. Pello's trace hovered briefly before slotting in perfectly.
Rumble rumble rumble!
The entire cave shook violently.
Cracks spiderwebbed in a circle across the sealed wall, a handle materializing.
"Let's go. This must be where Pello's hiding."
Lee Yoo-hyun swallowed hard and nodded tensely.
They opened the door and swam to the innermost chamber. Upon entry, Dun and Lee Yoo-hyun tumbled across the floor.
Unlike outside, not a drop of water filled the space.
As they entered, the handle and cracks vanished.
"Excuse us."
Bracing to meet the legendary dwarf craftsman, they ventured inside.
"Hm. Nobody here?"
Expecting a dwarven welcome, they found the space empty. As Dun dried his hair with the towel Yoo-hyun handed him, he pointed to a corner.
"Dwarf corpse over there."
Dun's sharp eyes spotted a withered dwarven body at the indicated end.
"Aw... Did we get here too late? Hope he went peacefully."
Rest in peace. Lee Yoo-hyun murmured a quiet prayer.
"You go through all that to get here, and 'rest in peace' is what comes out?"
"Well, if he's dead, no learning crafts from him, so job change is toast, right? Kinda bummed."
Dun shook out his hair and clicked his tongue.
"Tch, we don't know yet. Let's check closely. Might find a skillbook or something."
"I'll go look. Smells pretty rank—must be pretty decomposed. Hey Dun, still got the goggles on?"
"Worn 'em so long, got marks. Staying like this."
"Got it. Be right back."
Lee Yoo-hyun strode toward the dwarven corpse.
[NPC Pello]
He eyed the nameplate hovering overhead. Unlike Dun's vivid tag, Pello's was faint, nearly gone.
"Lee Yoo-hyun!"
Water began seeping toward the supposedly dead body. It gathered, forming a skeleton that propped up the collapsed dwarf.
Dun whipped the towel toward Yoo-hyun. It smacked him hard, halving his HP—but saving him from the revived dwarf's axe.
As the sustaining water drained, the dwarf crumpled limply.
[Underwater Prison.]
A voice echoed from somewhere. Not Yoo-hyun's or Dun's—a stranger's.
At the voice, a sudden water torrent crashed into Yoo-hyun against the wall. It morphed into a cube, trapping him.
[Underwater Hell.]
The cube imprisoning Yoo-hyun began heating, boiling.
"Lee Yoo-hyun?"
Trapped in boiling water with half HP left, his fate was obvious.
It all happened in under 10 seconds. Too swift to track visually.
"Damn, a trap."
Dun grimaced, tongue clicking.
[Underwater Prison—Grand.]
Suddenly, thick, viscous water like the Ullr entrance flooded from below.
Not breathable—it rose swiftly to Dun's neck.
"!! Shit."
Rihaowel had curbed his cursing, but shock made it burst out.
He tried to exit, but the door was sealed. Punching the wall failed as the current shoved him back. Feet off the floor in the filled space, Dun drifted helplessly.
Against the rising tide, Dun swam upward through the sludge. The ceiling pocket vanished under water.
Dun inhaled deeply before submerging.
But his breath didn't last.
'Shit, idiot, moron.'
Level 999 Dun rarely died. But suffocation changed everything. He could actually die.
Desperate to breathe, he opened his mouth—bubbles escaped.
[Hahaha! Long time no see, Dun. The world's top powerhouse trembling—quite the sight.]
The ridiculous panda marks from prolonged goggle wear let him see underwater.
A figure emerged from behind the wall.
A monster in blue armor. From Montgheel—the one that once targeted his life.
[Boss Monster] Blue Ghost Knight
Level: 402
Race: Montgheel Ghost Knight
The Blue Ghost Knight held ducal rank in Montgheel. Dun scowled.
[So cocky in your power, falling into this trap so easily. Thought no monster could touch you?]
The knight thrilled at Dun flailing for air.
Furious, Dun flipped the middle finger at the Blue Ghost Knight.
[Ah, I know that's a crude insult. On death's door, curse freely.]
"......"
[Shattering the impregnable fortress—exhilarating. Everyone gave up on killing you, but I never thought it impossible!]
Years ago, Dun's sudden Montgheel arrival triggered full alert.
Monsters vaporized with single punches. Bounty issued, all attacked—but he was untouchable. Even asleep, strikes failed.
Young Bachinum fled, the human-Montgheel barrier strengthened, and Dun ascended. Monsters feigned surrender.
But they lurked opportunistically, seeking barrier weaknesses.
The Blue Ghost Knight found a breach method earlier than most.
And devised Dun's execution faster. All plans executed in utmost secrecy.
[Think I didn't know you hunted items to weaken yourself? Baiting with a legendary craftsman's skills was child's play. You bit hard—softened by peace, guard down.]
Dun clung to fading consciousness, recalling when he got 'Pello's trace' info.
That shady merchant... was this guy.
Dun mustered final strength, swinging at the Blue Ghost Knight.
[Puhahaha! Pathetic. Sorry, but I'm intangible—like punching water.]
The knight clutched his belly laughing.
[Anyway, farewell, Dun. I'll claim your corpse and savor the bounty. Hahaha!]
Dun thrashed until oxygen failed, body going limp. Unconscious or dead.
Bubbles popped from his mouth—final breath.
To be safe, the Blue Ghost Knight waited 10 minutes post-collapse. No movement.
To retrieve the body, he solidified his watery form.
As he reached for Dun—
Crack!
The "dead" Dun's arm seized the now-solid knight's helmet.
[What...!]
"Gotcha, you bastard."
Dun grinned brightly. His fingers pierced the helmet. The knight's head was pinned.
[You...! How are you breathing!]
"Sip—ha. Sip—ha."
Dun breathed demonstratively, mockingly.
A small bean paste-eyed face appeared around his head. Gae-ttong-i, matching the water's hue, enveloped Dun's head, enabling breath.
"I was never careless."
Not since deciding to protect his happiness.