Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Constellation Gallery EP.50
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Before Yoo Juhan entered the dungeon.
A few shadows hid behind a building, poking their heads out just enough to stare intently at something.
"This... is it really safe?"
Kwak Man-ho's right-hand man nodded at the question.
"Yeah. Even with Intelligence at 10, they won't notice us from this distance."
Kwak Man-ho nodded, keeping his eyes fixed, and slightly shifted the direction of his question.
"Jumma bastards?"
At those words, one guy crouching in the back unwittingly moved his lips.
"Well... looks like two women and one man, so probably... yeah."
Kwak Man-ho glared at him steadily, and the subordinate flinched, lowering his voice.
"Their armor's kinda weird... definitely didn't have stuff like that before..."
"What're the jumma muttering about?"
"Too far to hear properly."
That was when it happened.
Something faintly glowing appeared in the hand of the man they were watching from afar.
The object shattered quickly, and at the same time, a purple aura bloomed around him.
"...Whoa, what's that now."
"Must be the guy's ability. Seein' all kinds of weird shit."
"Whaddaya think, boss?"
"Whaddaya mean what. If we go now, we're dead. Gotta check how those jumma move."
He pursed his lips and turned his head.
"Then we pull back?"
"Nah. Gotta find their base. Even a fierce tiger needs sleep sometime. That's when we strike."
As he spoke, the three of them entered a ruined building.
"They're goin' in there?"
"Go check if that's their hideout."
"...Me?"
As the subordinate's eyes widened, the right-hand man stopped him.
"Get any closer from here, and they might hear ya."
"You idiots."
Kwak Man-ho scowled and snapped at them.
"That guy showin' up alone could be a civilian. You gonna stab first and ask questions later without thinkin'? If spotted, just play dumb survivor and slip out natural-like."
With that, he shoved the subordinate's back.
The pushed guy gulped and reluctantly crept toward the building.
A few minutes later, he cautiously returned.
"Nothin' there... no jumma either. Weird."
"We all cursed or somethin'?"
Kwak Man-ho, frustrated, moved himself.
He carefully approached the building and peeked inside.
Indeed, nothing was there.
Not just empty—dust untouched.
"...What the hell. It's really gone."
As the other subordinates started rushing over belatedly, the right-hand man suddenly raised his hand high and shouted.
"You slow-ass morons, what if they move together! What if they're hidin' with stealth?!"
He scowled hard and turned to Kwak Man-ho.
"Boss, lemme check."
The right-hand man quietly and swiftly approached the dungeon area alone.
And in that moment, he sensed something.
"Uh... boss. Th-there... seems to be a dungeon here?"
Kwak Man-ho squinted and tilted his head.
"What? I don't see shit."
"...Gotta have high Intelligence to detect it."
At that, Kwak Man-ho silently glared at his right-hand man.
This guy always tried solving everything with brains.
That personality was helpful in times like this, which was the problem.
"...Buncha weirdos anyway."
He pulled out a cigarette and mumbled without lighting it.
'A dungeon, huh...'
His eyes grew cold.
"Wait it out. Those jumma will come out for sure. That's when we check."
While goblins kept pouring out endlessly, the party limit had somehow reached 10 people.
'What kinda idiots set it to 5 from day one?'
It made sense why goblin-like mobs were spawning.
I kept hunting goblins without stopping, despite the thought.
One sword swing took out three, one spin took five.
Blood sprayed, groans filled the air, and the floor glistened like undercooked pajeon pancake with goblin fluids.
'Skill levels aren't rising as fast as I thought.'
No, there wasn't even a sign of it.
A sigh escaped my lips, but my hands moved busily.
Just in case the skill leveled up.
Even without that, this was all money.
The respawn zone was literally an 'endless vending machine.'
Press the button, goblins pop out, slice them, gold drops.
Other beginner dungeons are similar?
I hesitated, thinking maybe quit moderately...
'When will I find another dungeon.'
Suck it dry while it's here.
That's my survival method.
But that wasn't the real important part.
Gold matters, but achievements bring real rewards.
'Runestones' or 'items' you can't buy with plain gold come from achievements.
So, eat moderately, dust hands, move areas.
'Time to wrap up and head out.'
One goblin left.
Catch it, and it restarts, but no more of that.
Then, the sound of a bowstring drawing from behind.
"Don't shoot."
"Huh?"
"Gonna stop now and head up."
"For real?"
Tulip's face lit up.
"Yeah. I'll hold that one. You pick up arrows."
"...Huh?"
"Gotta pick up all you've shot so far. Wasn't plannin' to ditch 'em?"
Tulip's eyes widened in shock.
"All the ones shot so far?"
"Why ask again."
"But... two more kills buys three quivers?"
"That's gold loss for two goblins."
"We killed so many... a bit is... fine..."
I said seriously, holding the goblin.
"If you can pick without buying, you should."
At that point, respawn more goblins, kill a few extra, then go up... more efficient no?
That's how ya get rich
Pity, slipped a secret sponsor to First Hunter
You too? lolol
Looks like Tulip's gettin' sponsors thanks to me.
She needs the money more anyway, so not bad.
Right then, Kang Harin stepped up with sparkling eyes.
"Tulip, you rest. I'll pick 'em up."
"No, sis, I'll do it..."
"Both pick. Faster that way."
Tulip and Harin stared at me blankly.
"What're you doin'. Pick 'em. Or I'll pick, and you hold this thing?"
I nodded at the goblin.
Its maw still drooling fluids, sharp teeth jutting out anything but cute.
"......"
Both dropped their gazes to the floor at once.
And immediately started scouring the ground.
"Got 'em all!"
Tulip snapped her head up, shaking arrows clutched in both hands.
Arrowheads slick with goblin fluids, shafts sticky with mucus.
Still, she beamed proudly.
"Headin' up now?"
"Nah. Not yet."
"But arrows are all picked?"
"I know. But you're tired. Drink a recovery potion now while it's safe-ish."
Tulip hesitated at my words.
"But... we picked arrows to save gold...?"
"Saved it, so you can drink."
Still holding the goblin, I added.
"And goin' up tired is dangerous. Who knows what's next."
"You really okay it?"
"Think I'd only allow it near death?"
Kang Harin and Tulip nodded in unison.
Sincerely. As if it was obvious.
"......"
I sighed softly and turned back to Tulip.
"Anyway, drink. No big wounds now, so won't hurt much. Still, stay tense. Recovery potions react different each time."
Tulip bit her lip and nodded.
Uncorked, gulped the liquid.
I watched her face closely.
Pupil tremors, breath depth, fingertip shakes... to catch any reaction instantly.
But not even a wrinkle.
"Body feels super refreshed!"
Tulip stretched, beaming.
Shoulders slumped from fatigue moments ago? Like a lie, face clear and smiling wide.
"Totally good as new! Wanna head up quick!"
"...No pain?"
"Huh? No! None!"
Damn, why only me hurt every time.
Mine feels like a bulldozer scraping insides, but she stretches like sunbathing.
'Got pain tolerance for luck?'
Some total luck law or what.
"Good. Let's move."
"Uncle not drinkin'?"
"Nah. I'm fine. Told ya to drink to adapt early."
Tulip's eyes shook slightly at that.
"Touched. Stingy uncle for my sake..."
"Not just for you. But drop the stingy."
"Thanks, cheapskate..."
"Hey, same thing."
Tulip giggled.
Kang Harin smiled faintly too.
In that brief laugh, proof we lived human-like in this world.
'But up there... bad feeling.'
No backing out after coming this far.
Handled goblins, no fear.
"Let's go."
"Yep!"