Chapter 80
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Time Attack! Greece S-Rank Dungeon
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‘I don’t have time for this.’
That was the only thought running through my head as I waved to the reporters in front of the departure hall.
The team challenging the time attack consisted of me, Se-bin-i, Ha Mi-jun Hunter, and Cha Do-yun Hunter. A composition that abandoned defense and healing to focus everything on offense. Everyone had been worried without a healing specialist like Han Jin-woo Hunter or a defender like Choi Min Hunter, but time attacks came down to how explosively you could pour out your attacks.
It was a dispatch team I’d put together myself, willing to take the risk of injuries just to land one more hit.
‘They’re all targets I’ve planted the seeds of words in, too.’
And it was also preparation for any unexpected situations back home. In emergencies, healing and defense were top priorities, after all. Plus, thanks to us clearing the Shibuya S-Rank Dungeon in their place, the Japanese Hunter Association would help us out.
“Hunter Shin Ji-ui, could we get a quick word on your aspirations?”
“Cha Do-yun Hunter, over here~”
“The Greek Hunter Association unusually issued the dungeon entry permit in just one day. Is this related to the DF rankings by any chance?”
The reporters were making a racket.
“Ji-ui.”
“Oh, yeah.”
Se-bin-i handed me the microphone.
Aspirations, huh…
“I absolutely won’t come back empty-handed.”
Click-click-click-click.
Flashes exploded like crazy at my words. I slotted the mic into a drone flying my way and turned toward the departure hall.
The Greece S-Rank Dungeon was a myth dungeon where you entered Greek mythology itself and fought alongside Zeus to kill Cronus. It was mid-to-high difficulty among S-Rank Dungeons. Since they were all humanoid monsters with high intelligence—and gods according to the dungeon lore—they were tough to deal with.
But the strategy itself wasn’t hard at all. You traveled with Zeus until you met the boss monster Cronus, so no wandering around lost looking for the gate. In the end, clearing time boiled down to how fast you could take down the monsters.
That’s why it was a great dungeon for time attacks compared to others.
“Nervous, Hunter Shin Ji-ui~?”
“A little.”
“Breaking the record is a given, but don’t stress if we don’t. I’ve got your back, right?”
“I’m the one who pushed for this, so I’ll take responsibility.”
“Haha, that’s the spirit.”
Ha Mi-jun Hunter slung an arm around my shoulder with a chuckle. I’d just paid off the loan on my parents’ house to the Association and was settling Ji-yu’s hospital bills—no way could I let more debt pile up here.
“Um, everyone.”
I called out, and Se-bin-i, Ha Mi-jun Hunter, and Cha Do-yun Hunter all turned to me at once.
“Thank you.”
[Eloquence increased]
[Awakener ‘Shin Ji-ui’s’ words shake Awakener ‘Kang Se-bin.’]
[Awakener ‘Shin Ji-ui’s’ words shake Awakener ‘Cha Do-yun.’]
[Awakener ‘Shin Ji-ui’s’ words shake Awakener ‘Ha Mi-jun.’]
I had a clear goal—obtaining Aether’s Robe—but these people were just here because I asked. They’d willingly taken the risk of their skills being exposed worldwide through the broadcast.
“And sorry…”
Thud.
“Ji-ui.”
Just then, Se-bin-i placed a hand on my shoulder and leaned down to meet my eyes.
“I’ll do anything you want.”
“……”
“So don’t worry—just use me however you like.”
‘She’s spouting off without thinking again…’
Still, hearing that made my heart feel secure. She wouldn’t betray me in this timeline, no doubt.
“No need for sappy thanks. Just treat me to a meal later, got it?”
“Shouldn’t I be the one treating?”
“Doesn’t sit right with me to let a younger princess buy my dinner.”
Ha Mi-jun Hunter chimed in this time. His words were light, but the sincerity came through.
“This squares us for the Paju Dungeon debt, right?”
“Ugh, fine.”
And Cha Do-yun Hunter, still hung up on owing me one.
‘I’ve gathered some solid comrades.’
Everything was going according to plan. I pushed away the anxiety filling my head and headed for the dedicated departure gate.
“Ha~ How many months has it been since I last visited Europe?”
While our Association staff loaded the luggage into the car, Ha Mi-jun Hunter stretched languidly.
The weather felt similar to Korea’s. Maybe a touch more humid.
“Nothing else to load? You can hop in now~”
The staff closed the van’s trunk and climbed into the passenger seat. He’d come along to assist us, and despite his drowsy tone, his hands moved with expert efficiency.
Once we were all in, the van smoothly pulled onto the road.
“Normally we’d have a limo ready, but with the tight schedule, it’s a van this time.”
“Don’t sweat it, Your Highness.”
“Ha Mi-jun Hunter, still the same as ever.”
Good weather, quaint buildings, and the blue sea visible in the distance. Everywhere I looked felt like a movie scene.
I leaned back against the seat and turned toward the staff in the passenger seat. He was reviewing our schedule and dungeon info on a tablet. The dungeon page even listed obtainable gear.
“Mind if I take a look?”
“Of course!”
The staff handed over the tablet with a light smile. It was filled with photos and details of all sorts of equipment.
‘Quite a lot, as expected.’
As a popular dungeon, the number of obtainable items was impressive.
‘Hermes’ Sandals’ with flight capabilities, ‘Hestia’s Poker’ that exploded along attack paths, and even ‘Gaia,’ which granted high immunity to all attacks as long as your feet were planted on the ground.
Weapons and armor that were hard to find on the Hunter Market—and when they did appear, they fetched anywhere from hundreds of billions to trillions.
I tapped to the last page of the gear list.
[Aether’s Robe]
[Greece S-Rank Myth Dungeon Armor]
[Light Attribute]
[Special Notes: None]
[No Image Available]
And there it was—the legendary Aether’s Robe, shrouded in rumors. Its existence was inferred from other items’ notes, but no one knew its appearance or performance.
All that was known was that it was the strongest light-attribute armor in existence.
“Hunter Shin Ji-ui’s after Aether’s Robe too, huh?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah. A powerful attribute armor like that… I’d love to have it.”
Ha Mi-jun Hunter craned his neck from the back seat to peer at the tablet.
“It was total chaos when Aether’s Robe was first revealed~ It was mentioned in Gaia’s special notes.”
The staff searched his phone, found what he wanted, and snapped his fingers.
“‘Themis, I gift you Aether’s Robe. Nothing in this world shall harm you.’”
I nodded slowly and handed the tablet back to the staff.
“All the other attribute items from the Greece S-Rank Dungeon have dropped before, but never a light-attribute one, so everyone assumes Aether’s Robe is light-attribute.”
“Aether’s the god of light and the upper sky, after all.”
Ha Mi-jun Hunter added. I’d thought it was just some legendary item from myths, but it might be even more incredible than I’d imagined.
I quietly opened my status window and gazed at the text floating in the corner.
[‘Shimmanni’: The blessing of Shimmanni, who picks out top-grade items whenever she appears. Greatly increases the chance of obtaining the highest-grade item from a dungeon.]
[Duration: 5 days, 21 hours, 49 minutes, 24 seconds]
‘It’s gotta be Aether’s Robe. Got it?’
The blessing text crackled as I thought it.
No idea if that meant yes or what.
I closed the status window and shut my eyes. Once inside, I’d catch my breath briefly before diving straight into the time attack—I needed to manage my stamina starting now.
Vroom—
I took a deep breath, listening to the engine as the car sped toward the city center.
“Yeah~ They’re heading into the city center now. Huh? Oh, then you saw. Looked pretty ordinary to me?”
A long-haired man with golden locks tied back in a ponytail was floating in the sky, talking on the phone. His youthful, high-pitched voice made his cat-like lips curl cutely every time he spoke. Thick, long lashes framed his sharp, bird-of-prey eyes.
His delicate features contrasted with a well-built physique. His muscles peeked through the tight black t-shirt, and slim jeans clung to his long legs, ending in winged leather sandals—Hermes’ Sandals.
—You think I wouldn’t know that? I saw her too—she’s just an ordinary Eastern girl. Stop with the useless chatter.
“Ahaha, my apologies for the rudeness.”
—You idiot. If it weren’t for your skill and that decent shell of yours, I’d have ditched you ages ago.
A low, feminine voice emanated from the receiver, dripping with consistent arrogance. She tsked once and fell silent. The man, unfazed as if used to it, silently tracked the van carrying Ji-ui with his eyes.
—We’re just observing today. Don’t approach carelessly.
“Got it. We’ll see all her skills on the broadcast anyway.”
Whoosh—
The man rode the wind toward Athens. A faint green glow surrounded Hermes’ Sandals.
“What was her name again? Jee?”
—Ji-ui. Call it ‘Jee’ like a moron if it’s hard to pronounce. Though there’s not much difference between the two, really.
The woman pronounced Ji-ui’s name quite accurately. The man muttered ‘Jee’ under his breath, furrowing his brow.
“Why does the Guild Master want to meet her so bad? Because she’s DF ranking first?”
—Whether she’s SS-Rank or DF number one doesn’t matter.
A low chuckle came through the receiver. Surprised, the man pulled the phone from his ear, glanced at the screen, and double-checked he was indeed talking to his Guild Master.
—I can’t wait for the day we meet.
Click.
The woman ended the call abruptly after her amused words.
“Sigh, guess I should head back too.”
The man tossed his phone into his inventory, then traced a circle in the air.
Whiiir—
The wind gathered into a ring, forming a large rift, and he plunged into it.