Chapter 66
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Insane Partner
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'Think it'll go well?'
Ego spoke up. I opened my eyes, which I'd squeezed shut, and leaned slightly away from the seatback to glance sideways.
Even on this short flight that wouldn't take an hour, Ha Mi-jun Hunter was sipping a glass of whiskey, while Cha Do-yun Hunter sat with his eyes closed, listening to music.
'Gotta show off some cool moves somehow, what else can I do?'
I handed my empty cola cup to the flight attendant and turned my head back to the window. Beneath the pristine, fluffy white clouds, a green island was starting to come into view.
Our destination: Jeju Island's A-rank Manjanggul Cave Dungeon—a brand-new one.
'Of course, I've already cleared it once.'
The Manjanggul Dungeon had a cave backdrop, making visibility tough, and the bat monsters' ultrasonic attacks turned the whole clear into a total pain. But my unique skill nullified all their ultrasounds, so I'd breezed through it.
The one reason I was dead set on hitting this dungeon in this timeline too?
Cha Do-yun Hunter had opened up to me here.
Our combat rhythm synced perfectly, we acknowledged each other's skills, and he became a trustworthy comrade.
I subtly checked Cha Do-yun Hunter with my 'Regressor's Right Eye'.
[Cha Do-yun Hunter]
[S-rank Wind Attribute]
[Attacker type, pretty well-balanced?]
[Extremely averse to talking about his parents]
[Not super bubbly, but has a quietly kind side]
[Nearly died from poison. Severely damaged his vocal cords. Says he was home—why?]
[Seems to revere—no, practically loves—the Chairman]
.
.
.
[Nailed a combo attack in Manjanggul Dungeon]
The fact that Cha Do-yun Hunter and I tackled Manjanggul Dungeon together never changed, no matter how many regressions.
'This time, I'll sync our rhythm and definitely mend things.'
―Our flight will be landing shortly. Please return your seatbacks and tray tables to their upright positions.
I felt the plane descending toward the ground and quietly closed my eyes.
"Shin Ji-ui Hunter, you hit a dungeon just the other day, right? You holding up stamina-wise?"
"Yeah. It wasn't super intense fighting."
"Good to hear. No clue what this dungeon's like."
As I chatted with Ha Mi-jun Hunter, the car smoothly cruised along a scenic coastal road before veering into the mountains.
Manjanggul.
Guess we've arrived.
Behind a large signboard, I spotted container boxes and quite a few people bustling about.
"We're here."
At the driver's words, I was the first to pop the door open and step out.
Whiiiish―
A slightly chilly wind brushed my skin.
Coming from that cave?
The cave entrance visible beyond the containers felt eerily ominous for some reason. Ha Mi-jun Hunter and Cha Do-yun Hunter climbed out of the van and headed toward the crowd.
"Ah! The hunters are here!"
A young woman holding a tablet shouted. The people milling around the cave entrance all turned to us at once and bowed. She tucked her pen behind her ear and strode over briskly.
'Whoa, her hand's shaking.'
She was gripping the tablet so tightly it trembled—nerves, probably.
"I-I'm Jwa Min-a from the Hunter Association Jeju Branch Dungeon Division!"
"Where's Manager Kim, and who's this cutie? Oof."
I jabbed Ha Mi-jun Hunter in the side, and he let out a short huff.
This guy's Casanova vibes never change, no matter the regression.
"The manager's reporting to the Chairman right now. So I'm here to brief you!"
"Alright, spill it quick."
Min-a nodded vigorously, tapping her tablet. She seemed a bit calmer now as she retrieved the pen from behind her ear.
"Early yesterday morning, gate precursors were detected near Manjanggul here, and we immediately set up controls. And then, the gate popped up right away."
Classic pattern.
I peeked at Min-a's tablet—seismic wave graphs zigzagging wildly.
"Analysis of the waveforms and gate composition pegged it as an upper A-rank or higher. First time a dungeon this high-grade has shown up on Jeju."
"Makes sense. Jeju's only got lowbie dungeons for byproduct farming."
Ha Mi-jun Hunter crossed his arms, staring long at the cave and containers.
"Shall we head in?"
"As you command."
At my words, Ha Mi-jun Hunter winked and turned back to Min-a, who flinched with a shoulder twitch as she led us to the containers.
'Cha Do-yun Hunter's been low-energy since earlier.'
He was quiet by nature, but today he seemed extra dry. Could be fatigue... but his face hinted at something deeper.
Creeeak.
The container door swung open to reveal a wooden gate wrapped in ivy vines greeting us.
"Pretty nature-friendly door."
"We were surprised too when we saw it. Figured it'd be a stone gate since it opened in front of Manjanggul."
Didn't used to look like that... Is my memory off?
Thud.
"Let's go."
Cha Do-yun Hunter—who'd had his lips sealed tight—placed his hand on the gate first. I nodded without a word, and he pushed it open with a firm shove.
"Safe travels, everyone!"
"You too, cutie~"
"Ugh, get in already."
I shoved Ha Mi-jun Hunter inside, then stepped in last.
Shaaaah.
My vision went pure white, and wind thick with the scent of grass tickled my nose.
Feels like my face is buried in bushes.
But...
'Why's my vision taking so long to clear?'
I figured it'd snap back quick, but the murk dragged on longer than expected.
"Ha Mi-jun Hunter! Cha Do-yun Hun...!"
Fwaaah.
"Ugh."
The moment I called their names in rising panic, the world flushed green.
'N-not a cave?'
We were surrounded by bush walls. Towering hedges at least twice my height stretched endlessly, rustling with leaves in the breeze. No cave in sight—not even a loose pebble—as I scanned around, wondering if the spawn point had shifted.
"Ah."
"Oh."
I turned right, away from the bush walls, and caught sight of light hair and long lashes.
"Cha Do-yun Hunter!"
"Right beside me, huh."
Never thought I'd be this glad to see him.
Cha Do-yun Hunter's eyes widened slightly at the sight of me, then he drew his weapon and scanned warily.
"Where's Ha Mi-jun Hunter?"
"No idea. Vision just cleared."
Headache incoming.
I pulled out Ego, brought it to my lips, and drew a deep breath.
"Ha Mi-jun Hunteeer!!"
Bzzz, bzzz, bzzz.
My voice boomed through the dungeon, vibrating the air briefly—but no reply.
"Shin Ji-ui Hunter...!"
Ah, Cha Do-yun Hunter's icy glare was back.
He clamped his hands over his ears, shooting me a look of utter contempt. So much for mending fences on the way out.
Anyway, this dungeon was worlds apart from the Manjanggul I remembered. It felt more like...
"A maze."
"Yeah, same thought."
Cha Do-yun Hunter reached out and lightly touched the bush wall.
Shrrk.
"Tch."
"You okay?!"
A thin line of blood beaded on the back of his hand like a paper cut. The leaf he'd touched sharpened its edge even more.
"Seems like the more you touch, the stronger it gets."
Whooo―
Cha Do-yun Hunter's 'Sky Breeze' blew gently. Fresh skin slowly regenerated over the cut on his hand.
'What kinda messed-up dungeon is this? Gotta scout from the air.'
"Gonna hop up quick and check."
I leaped with 'Bird that Heeds Day Words', stepping up the air like stairs.
'Lemme see, walls are pretty high...'
Thud!!
"Ack!"
"Ngh!"
I glimpsed the top of the bush wall for a split second before an invisible force yanked me down, slamming my head right into Cha Do-yun Hunter's.
"Ow... what the hell..."
'That hurt like a bitch.'
I clutched my head, slumping to the ground. Once the pain ebbed, I slowly stood.
"If you're gonna botch a skill that bad, don't use it at all!"
"No, it's not my fault—something invisible pulled me down."
"That even make sense?"
Cha Do-yun Hunter snapped, furrowing his brow sharply.
If we leave this place on even worse terms, that'll be a disaster.
"Ah, ah, you hear me?"
Ha Mi-jun Hunter's voice rang out right then—like a supermarket PA system.
"Ha Mi-jun Hunter! Where are you?"
"Oops, forgot to mention. Here, I can only see your positions, Shin Ji-ui Hunter and Cha Do-yun Hunter. No sound or visuals."
Only our positions? Didn't he spawn with us?
"Short version: This is a maze dungeon. There used to be a big maze park around here."
'Of all dungeons to change, why this one?'
Any shot at impressing Cha Do-yun Hunter was toast.
"Anyway, I'm guiding. You two escape the maze."
Ha Mi-jun Hunter chuckled low, then sighed long.
"Oh, and one more thing I gotta stress."
Kiiiiing.
A tearing screech ripped through the bushes as wooden vines shot out, latching onto me and Cha Do-yun Hunter's wrists.
"You two gotta stay within one meter of each other."
"What?!"
"...Pardon?"
Exclamations burst from our mouths in unison.
Clank.
As if proving Ha Mi-jun Hunter right, wooden shackles like handcuffs bound our wrists.
That pull downward earlier when I went up—must've been this dungeon's gimmick.
"And try not to touch the maze if you can help it. Touch it, and it attacks me straight off."
Cha Do-yun Hunter glanced between his hand and the bush wall, then let out a deep sigh.
"Man~ Wish I could see your faces. Must be a sight."
"That guy's something else..."
"Anyway, unless you wanna stick together forever, head straight."
Click.
Comms cut, leaving awkward silence swirling between me and Cha Do-yun Hunter.
We'd barely entered, headbutted, and grated on each other's nerves—and now our wrists were linked. Comedy gold.
"Well, gotta escape, so let's plan."
Cha Do-yun Hunter pinched his brow with his free right hand, then gripped 'Morning Glory' again. One silver lining: my right hand was chained to his left. I could adjust bullet size, so left-hand shooting was doable. But for him, drawing and firing an arrow would be tricky.
"Monsters show? I'll handle defense. You attack, Cha Do-yun Hunter."
"Got defense skills?"
"Nah. But I can pop shields with this."
I shook Ego, and Cha Do-yun Hunter tilted his head, looking down at me.
"...You seem more seasoned somehow."
"Naturally."
Memories brought back combat sense too. Still gaps, but not the me he remembered.
Shhiiik.
Thorn vines slithered snake-like toward our ankles.
'Already starting, huh.'
Vrrr.
Whiiiish―
I pulled Ego's trigger for a shield just in front of our ankles, and Cha Do-yun Hunter instantly drew Morning Glory's string.
Twang!
The wind arrow sparked faintly as it nailed the thorn vine dead-on, crumbling it to dust.
Our rhythm's solid?
"First combo since Shibuya Dungeon."
I smiled at him over the decent link-up, but he whipped his head away.
"Felt off to me."
"Nah, it was good."
"Hmph."
'Gotta build some fondness through friction at this point.'
With Cha Do-yun Hunter's face plastered in dissatisfaction, we dove into conquering the maze dungeon proper.