Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Lux Dungeon Assistance
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A massive reed bent low, tickling the top of Dun's head.
A caterpillar-like bug monster dropped from the reed and crawled onto Dun's head.
Clatter, clatter.
Dun slowly pulled his sales cart toward the newly opened Lux Dungeon.
{Primavera: I'm bored. Tell me something funny.}
{Dun: Am I your clown?}
{Primavera: Aww, how cute. I just pictured you juggling in clown makeup.}
{Dun: ;;;;}
{Primavera: What does that mean? LOL, you use so many things I don't get.}
{Dun: It means shut the fuck up. If you're bored, stop bullshitting and come here quick.}
Dun gazed at the black caterpillar that had crawled from his head onto his hand.
[Lv. 40] Lux Larva
This one had no emotional descriptor beforehand. Sometimes monsters like this appeared without emotional descriptors, which basically meant they had no thoughts at all.
It was a common trait among very weak monsters or freshly spawned ones. These were tricky to dominate, so you'd either kill them outright or bait them into developing a descriptor first.
Step one: try talking to acquire their language.
"Hello?"
[Acquired skill, [Empathy with Lux Lv. 1].]
[Ki……ll……. Mas……ter…….]
The Lux Larva chomped desperately at Dun's finger, trying to kill him.
So you're the bastard who kidnapped the village kids....
"You black piece-of-shit stain."
[Lv. 40] Dejected Lux Larva
Understanding Dun's words, the Lux Larva deflated and curled into a ball.
"Domination of Warmth."
[[Domination of Warmth] activates.]
The dejected little larva, overwhelmed by the warmth from Dun, wrapped around his finger like a ring.
Dun stroked what he assumed was the Lux Larva's head and headed toward the newly generated dungeon.
A decent crowd of players had already gathered in front of the dungeon.
They looked busy checking their items and gear.
One player, staring blankly into space, spotted the little kid approaching from afar while dragging a sales cart—Dun.
The crowd's faces lit up with shock and joy.
"D-D-Dun!!!"
"Holy shit!! Dun's shop is here!! Where is this place? Note it down!! Hurry!!!"
"Noble one graces our humble spot!! Anyone know the favor route??"
"No fucking way!!! I gotta buy lotto from him!!!"
The players who'd spotted Dun stomped their feet and shouted.
Dun winced, his ears hurting.
"Ah, my ears..."
Everyone reacted sensitively to even the tiniest change in Dun's expression or words.
Last time at Genesis, a rowdy group of players had lost 2 forced favor points overall. The group that subdued them gained favor.
Knowing this, the players clamped their mouths shut. Pleased with the sudden silence, Dun smiled.
"Only one guild tackling this dungeon clear?"
As soon as Dun asked, answers poured out in a jumble.
Dun sorted through the flood of info.
"So, just you guys?"
"Yeah! Our 'Fucking Awesome' Guild bought the first-clear rights for the Lux Dungeon, so only we can go in and clear it!"
At the mention of dungeon clearance rights, Dun's eyes narrowed.
I vaguely remember those being one of Seol Do-yun's cash cows.
Right after Nina Pinta launched and communities popped up, Seol Do-yun secretly managed them, noting dispute hotspots and setting up systems to eliminate them.
Looks like as soon as Lee Yoo-hyun joined the Nina Pinta team, she monetized it immediately.
Before that, players fought over dungeon clears a lot, leading to tons of PvP right outside. No wonder that shit's died down lately.
"U-Um, D-Dun. Wanna join our party and help out?"
The 'Fucking Awesome' Guild leader, gauging Dun's thoughtful expression, spoke up.
"!! That ballsy fucker!!!"
"Shh! Shh! Favor drop!"
Dun eyed the freaking-out players with boredom, then glanced sideways.
Primavera had arrived unnoticed, watching the scene with keen interest. She'd run over, her platinum hair tousled by the wind peeking from her hood.
Dun slung an arm around Prim's shoulder.
"Not me. Take her instead."
"Me?"
Prim, intrigued by Dun's casual arm-around, stared at it while replying.
"Huh...? Sudden princess drop-in?"
"Partying with the magic genius princess? That's broken as fuck."
"Dun's the shadow ruler NPC conspiracy seems legit. Summoning the princess for real?"
The guild members deflated at the clear rejection, but Primavera herself was a super rare NPC.
You needed Lv. 50+ and the Selk Academy quest to even meet this Tier 1 NPC.
Prim's eyes widened at Dun's suggestion to party with the players.
"Dun? Care to explain?"
"Record Parchment has 'Grow with Adventurers.' That lets you share EXP dungeoning with adventurers."
"Oh. But why make me do it alone?"
Dun had other shit to do besides the clear.
"I'll be selling recovery potions to dying adventurers."
"?????"
"!!!!!!!"
The 'Fucking Awesome' Guild members, hearing the indirect reason for rejection, plastered question and exclamation marks on their faces.
They'd heard about Dun's scummy personality via community posts, but seeing it live was next level.
Still, you couldn't argue with an in-game powerhouse NPC. Targeting near-death moments to jack up prices? What a thug merchant.
At least he's willing to sell—must mean the community brainwashing calling players "pig-dogs" worked.
{Acquired title, [Conscientious Huckster].}
{Acquired title, [Super Dominant].}
Dun's eyes widened at the sudden titles.
Huh? NPCs can get titles now too? Never happened before no matter what. Something got updated for sure.
Conscientious Huckster's a stretch, though. Super Dominant, maybe.
Dun dragged his cart behind the 'Fucking Awesome' Guild as they entered the Lux Dungeon.
The Lux Dungeon was a massive rectangular prism of dense, seamless reeds. The guild entered through a huge hole that looked gnawed out.
[Entered Lux Dungeon.]
{Entered Lux Dungeon.}
Alerts popped up from both the system window and Record Parchment right away. Annoyed, Dun waved them off.
Then darkness hit.
Pitch black all around, and at the same time, Lux sounds echoed.
Rustle rustle rustle rustle rustle rustle.
Rustle rustle rustle rustle rustle.
Countless larvae munching reeds.
[Eeek-! Eeek-!]
Adult Lux screeches too. And the reeds clashing, somehow eerie.
Vision blocked, the sounds sharpened.
"Light! Light! Someone light it up!"
"You blind? Reed field! One fire spell and we're all roast!"
"Argh! Something fuzzy brushed my arm!"
Prim watched the chaos a moment, then summoned her stored staff from her ring.
"Solignight Luchet."
Chanting, orbs of bright light burst from her floral staff. Light revealed the surroundings: massive, fat larvae circling the guild members.
The Lux Larvae were already in perfect formation.
[Lv. 47] Lux Larva
[Eeek-!]
"Eeeeeek!!!!!"
"Uwaaaah! Fuck, fuck!!!"
One warrior guild member swung his sword hard at a Lux Larva. The mage focused fire on the nearest one.
But the encircling larvae shattered their pre-set formation.
Pummeled by attacks, a Lux Larva's HP dropped low, turning blue and swelling. Then...
Boom!
It burst, spraying innards. The secretion was poison, wiping out HP slashed by the blast wave. Over in a blink.
"Shit, lost our healer!"
"Argh! They spew poison gas on death! Watch out!"
"Where's the princess?! Huh? Where the fuck is the princess??"
"Lux Dungeon hits hard right from the start."
HP draining, high Lux defense tanking hits—the leader yelled at Dun, chilling atop a larva.
"Dun!!!! Gimme some Sparkle Series Antidote!!!"
"Gold first."
Dun took a gold coin and tossed a glittering green antidote.
The leader chugged it, eyes bulging as poison cleared.
"Dude!!! This shit's insane!!! Attack buff is nuts?!"
"Even his eyes look sparklier!"
"That's fucking useless!"
The tank leader gripped his sword tighter and smashed a Lux Larva. Damage landed solid.
Boom!
But the poison burst still hit.
"You guys suck at using your skills. Taking every single explosion? Sigh, tsk."
Dun tsked at a hit guild member while chugging water from a bottle.
Panicking at the circle attack wrecked their formation, so the guild flailed, fighting individually.
One annoyed guild member snapped at Dun, who did nothing but bitch from the sidelines.
"Then how?! If you know so much, give advice!!"
Dun stroked his chin.
"Wanna buy dungeon strat tips? I give as much as you pay."
[Buy Dun's Lux Dungeon Strat Tips?
Above that - Dungeon Clear Assistance
Gold (100 units) - Advanced Tips
Silver (10 units) - Mid Tips
Copper (1 unit) - Basic Tips]
An alert popped in front of the leader.
"Dudes!! Dun strat shop's up! Advanced, Mid, Basic—which?! Advanced plus extra tips means he'll help clear!"
"Most expensive! Most expensive! Always pay Dun top dollar!"
"Got it! You all owe me later!! Promise! Promise!"
After quick huddle, the leader chucked all his gold and silver at Dun.
Mid-monster assault, aim sucked—but Dun caught it deftly in jars.
Clink, clink.
Capping the coin-filled jars, Dun spoke.
"They're sound-sensitive, and there's small holes up top. What now, you idiots?"
Dungeons and gates shared tons of traits. With endless gate experience, mid-low strat for Dun was cake.
"Sorry! One step from death, brain froze! Your explanation sucks!"
"Sorry, Dun! I don't get it!"
"......"
Dun grimaced like it was a hassle. Tempted to let them die, but he'd taken good pay, so mercy.
"When I whistle, shut up and hide weapons. Distance from Lux."
Dun walked to a hole, stuck two fingers in mouth, and whistled loud.
Wheeee-!
Clear sound echoed everywhere; guild went dead silent. Leader warned it'd cost big, no trolls.
Wheeee-!
Another blast drowned minor noises. Larvae all crawled toward Dun.
Dun dodged nimbly out of the pack.
"Circle broke. Herd to holes, attack. Shield on explosion. Why not use shields?"
Basic bully tactic. Plenty to save a panicked guild.
"Soon adult Lux flies from that hole. Trap it or bomb before it exits."
Dun scratched his dominated Lux Larva's chin, relaying inner info.
Following Dun, they handled larvae and sudden adult dives easy.
Monsters thinned; Dun grabbed cart and rolled along.
"Hurry and break the boss."
While they gawked, Dun slipped away quietly, got Prim's note from lower floor.
{Primavera: Dun!!! Kids down here!!!}