Scouting the Demon King's Castle

After parting ways with Kim Hana, Park Taemin headed to the food warehouse.

"There's so much... way too much. How much did you haul in?" Yoon Ji-young asked, staring at the mountain of foodstuffs piled high.

"Pretty much everything."

"Everything from the mart?"

"Who knows when we'll get another chance? Gotta take it all. Plus, we've got a bunch of people now."

"You must've worked hard. Was it tough?"

"Tough? Nah. Way easier than hunting monsters. Speaking of, the freezer seems to be working properly now?"

"Yeah. With the freeze magic infused, it holds steady for a good while."

"Nice. Come to think of it, we've come a really long way. Building all this from nothing—it's like we've created a whole village. Did you check out the bathhouse that finished yesterday? It's got this great rustic vibe in the middle of nature."

"I thought it was kinda creepy. Felt like something might jump out at any moment."

"Aw, you're exaggerating. These guys here wouldn't even count as a warm-up."

"Still, you're totally defenseless when you're washing up."

"Fair point. I'll mention it to them."

As he stepped out of the warehouse, wondering where to go next, Sin Dong-hyun approached from afar.

"Guild leader."

"Oh, Manager Sin."

"No need for 'Manager'—just speak casually."

"This feels more comfortable for me. What's up?"

"Nothing major, but I've got a favor to ask for tomorrow when you head out."

"A favor? What kind?"

"Could you grab about 150 magic lights?"

"Magic lights? You mean the magic lanterns? Already stocked in the materials warehouse."

"Ah, you got those too. I've been out all day setting up alarms, just got back. If you haven't eaten, join me. Menu's pretty good today."

"Sure, why not."

Taemin followed Sin Dong-hyun to the temporary kitchen and grabbed a tray, lining up. The hunters nearby pointed him out.

"Guild leader, go first."

"Nah, the line's not that long."

"Still, you first."

"Yeah, get up front."

"Ah... seriously... you don't have to."

Practically shoved forward by the crowd, he ended up skipping the line and got served first. With food in hand, he sat by the lakeside, enjoying dinner while gazing at the water.

He scraped every last grain clean, then patted his full belly and flopped back, staring at the blue sky.

"Full belly, blue skies... is this a dungeon or heaven?"

Ssslrk!

'Hm?'

Something pinged on Taemin's senses while he watched the lazy clouds drift by overhead. Bolting upright, he looked ahead—and there, rippling across the lake, two massive snake heads emerged.

The king of the Beginner Dungeon: Double Snake.

'Telling me to work off the meal, huh.'

It had been ages since he'd last seen one, so curiosity got the better of him.

'Cute.'

Taemin shook his head at the ridiculously low stats. He lightly drew his sword and waited for it to slither ashore.

Moments later, the Double Snake crawled onto land. It charged straight at him—a decent dash, but glacially slow to Taemin's eyes now.

He sidestepped effortlessly and slashed downward in a straight line. The beast's massive body split clean in two like tofu.

Watching it vanish pathetically, Taemin muttered with amusement.

"Used to be scary as hell. Now? Nothing."

Back when he first hunted, he'd thought he'd never get used to it. Monsters were pure terror back then.

Now? Just another job. Routine, even comfortable. Same for all the rest.

"Man, it's been over a week since I last hunted. Once ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the base is solid, I can get back to it. Wonder how long that'll take? Gotta do that promotion thing too... Next spot's the Demon King's Castle, right? Maybe swing by for a peek tonight if I've got time."

Even with everything going on, his hunting obsession only grew. What would the new dungeon be like? EXP yields? Monster strength? Growth rate? Curiosity buzzed in his head constantly.

But he couldn't just ditch everyone struggling here to hunt solo. Especially not when he was their pillar amid the despair.

"High rank ain't all perks. Just piles on the responsibility. Fine, just a quick look-see."

The next day, after wrapping up work and grabbing dinner, Taemin slipped out of the dungeon.

'Let's see... where's the Demon King's Castle?'

Activating the map, he scanned for nearby upper dungeons.

'That's the closest? Spirit Castle looks good too, but start here.'

He tapped the nearest one and dashed along the path. As the portal neared, he reflexively cast Invisible to hide.

Couldn't risk enemy eyes. But oddly, no guards at an upper dungeon portal.

'What? Empty? Trap?'

Scanning carefully, he checked other nearby portals—same story. Lone portals, unguarded.

'Wanted posters out, and they leave portals empty? What's the play? Real trap?'

After a moment's thought, he headed for it anyway.

'Came this far, no backing out. They don't know my tricks. Even if it's a trap, I can escape once.'

Deep breath—and he vanished into the portal.

Inside, he squinted into the pitch-black gloom, scanning around. Under faint moonlight, skeletal trees loomed everywhere. Eerily like Death Land, but more sinister, bone-chilling.

"What a backdrop. Perfect for ghosts."

No time for muttering—he ramped up his tension.

'No intel here. Trap or monster, stay sharp.'

Twenty minutes of hyper-vigilance later, a monstrous figure appeared ahead.

Humanoid, creepy as hell: clutching its own severed head under its arm, chained like a flail weapon.

"Ugly bastard. Let's check stats."

Taemin deployed his Heart's Eye.

'LV80 right at the entrance... not bad.'

With Hydeger active, he charged. Sensing him, the Dullahan lumbered forward.

Kuooooh!

At close range, it hurled the head-flail at Taemin's chest—chain whipping terrifyingly fast.

'Brute force.'

Dodging ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lightly, he closed in before recovery, slashing vertically down its chest.

Riiiip!

Skin tore like a zipper. Fatal wound, but it ignored it, charging with recovered head.

Taemin met it head-on, sword whipping through the air in all directions.

Shwick—!Swiik.Shwick!

The body shredded into five pieces amid gruesome sounds.

"Nice. Solid."

He pressed on, mowing down stray Dullahans. Soon, a pack came into view—not Dullahans.

They resembled the reapers from Chaos Tower's top floor: skeletal heads shrouded in baggy robes. Smaller, wielding staves instead of scythes.

Taemin scanned them.

'Ranged type. Lots of 'em—time to dust off the blades.'

He unleashed Blade of Defense and Blade of Attack. Eight pale white blades and eight blazing blue ones swirled around him, illuminating the area.

'16 total... up by two. Crits alone could shred ten at once.'

With Hydeger primed, he charged. As distance closed, red orbs fired from their staves. His blue blades launched in sync.

Dodging the barrage by a hair, he watched: the eight attack blades tore through relentlessly. Unavoidable—they pursued to the death.

Not high damage, but 60% crit rate meant frequent bursts. Two or three hits, and they shredded into rags.

'This is a cakewalk.'

Amused, he dropped his hands, weaving through them relying solely on blades. Distant ones exploded under attack blades; close ones pulped by defense blades.

Ten minutes later, dozens of Liches dissolved into smoke.

"Am I overpowered now? Gear really makes a difference."

No hunts since swapping gear—he felt the power surge now.

"This strong ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠already? With the High Elf's bow unlocked, it'd be insane."

Curiosity struck; he opened inventory, eyeing the enshrined divine bow.

"If I could wield this properly, nothing would scare me."

Over a meter long, twin bow limbs with faint, ethereal strings. Metal plating from riser to sights screamed luxury—this was no ordinary bow.

He reached in to draw it.

"Still locked, huh. Need that promotion first."

He stowed it and pulled up his status.

"67 billion to go, doubles at 90 to about 200 billion. Factoring level scaling... 300 billion from 90 to 100? This ain't a joke."

He shook his head at the absurd number. 300 billion EXP? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠That was 300,000 LV100 monsters.

"Gonna be grinding forever."

Back on the move. Clearing Liches, he massacred everything in his path, plunging deeper.

"Beat 'em to death, no items. What kinda bullshit is this?"

Grumbling ahead, a towering structure pierced the distant horizon.

"That the Demon King's Castle?"

Too far for details, but instinct screamed yes.

"Pretty distant. Time check... already dawn?"

Clock read 3 AM.

'Wanna check it out, but that'd screw today's work.'

"Yeah, can come back. Guild first, not my greed."

No regrets—he turned and exited the dungeon.

Back at Beginner Dungeon HQ, he cautiously scanned the entrance.

"Straight in triggers alarms, wakes everyone. Skirt right through the woods."

He'd gotten the layout from Yu Hyuk. Circling right stealthily, he cast Arrainba and sped through.

At HQ, hunger hit as he neared his tent. He detoured to the food warehouse.

"Ramen where... ah, here. Brew one up before bed."

Boiled and slurped a delicious ramen at the kitchen, patted his stuffed belly.

"Nothing beats ramen at dawn."