Chapter 100
Chapter 100
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: Monopolizing is Fun - 2
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Two hours had passed with no one daring to approach the dimension gate.
Winter had set in, and the sun set early, plunging everything into darkness quickly.
Yet the dimension gate glowed mysteriously.
It was because of the ten or so glowstone fragments scattered around it.
Thanks to that, no one could get near the dimension gate.
"The ones still hanging around are no pushovers, huh..."
From what I'd observed...
The people around the dimension gate were all at least level 15.
They clearly had plenty of game experience too.
Otherwise, most of them wouldn't have survived the zombie raid.
Not that they'd escaped unscathed, probably.
"But they're willing to risk it just to get inside."
It was pathetic.
No one knew what dungeon lay beyond the dimension gate.
The more people there were, the lower the odds of it being something boring—but it wasn't zero.
What if they went in and it turned out to be a kobold den?
"They're poking the bear they can't eat themselves..."
If I can't have it, no one can—that mentality.
Impressive.
There were a lot of people like me around here.
Anyway, night was deepening.
What I was waiting for were kobolds.
They loved stealing shiny things.
They'd definitely pick up those sparkling glowstone fragments.
Zombies couldn't be around, so the timing was tricky.
But if I waited, that moment would come—I knew it.
"Not my first or second rodeo..."
Something similar had happened in Survival Life.
It wasn't life-or-death there, so it got way more chaotic, but the pattern was the same.
And the endings weren't pretty.
Mostly, survivors got spotted, monsters swarmed, and everyone died together happily.
"They probably won't all go in together, right?"
If an organized group stepped up, they could clear it, but there weren't any around now.
Still, they were holding out well.
You'd think the zombie raid would scare them off to do something else.
"Are they that desperate, or do they see a sliver of hope?"
Maybe both.
They didn't seem clueless about the situation.
I peered out the window and spotted a few kobolds emerging from an alley.
They looked like they were foraging, but the timing couldn't be worse.
Hundreds of zombies and ghouls were rampaging through the streets.
But those kobolds wouldn't resist the temptation of the glowstone fragments.
"It's practically instinct..."
No one could curb their greed.
Goblins were a bit better—they'd flee if their lives were in danger, though they'd salmon-run right back.
That's what made them monsters.
Darkness had fully settled in.
Now people would glare at the dimension gate with burning eyes.
But what about above?
No one was watching the sky, surely.
If there was a flyer, they'd have gone in by now...
I climbed to the rooftop and summoned a dimension wall.
I ascended in big strides, like bounding up stairs, and suddenly the building was far below.
Good...
Now to move diagonally over the dimension gate.
Diving in while falling was ideal.
No one could react in that split second, but to be safe, I'd wait a bit more.
Zombie hordes chased survivors, and kobolds poured out of alleys.
Their eyes were locked on the glowstone.
That faint glow—didn't you want it?
Take it, if you dare.
I wondered if my silent wish worked, but the kobolds inched toward the dimension gate.
Of course, the survivors weren't just watching.
A few arrows flew, and kobolds screamed as they toppled over.
But kobolds were endless.
As goblins vanished completely, kobolds filled the streets.
Some fought zombies, but most eyed the glowstone.
They charged in without a care.
"Wh-what the hell?"
"Those bastards are after the glowstone."
Sighs erupted everywhere.
There were too many to stop with arrows.
Kobolds swarmed the dimension gate, scooping up fragments.
The gate plunged into darkness instantly.
Now!
I leaped down and plunged straight into the dimension gate.
.
.
.
It hadn't always been like this.
The first people to find the Gildong Station dimension gate didn't try to monopolize it.
They figured they could go in, check it out, and cooperate.
But that naivety soon unraveled.
Rumors of a dungeon entrance spread like wildfire, drawing crowds.
Some started trolling.
Firing arrows at anyone approaching the gate.
Someone yelled to stop, but if they'd listen, they wouldn't have started.
Frustrated people multiplied.
They shot arrows with malice.
By then, even getting close was impossible.
The originals were losing their minds.
How did it come to this?
"...In an apocalypse, cooperation with random masses is impossible."
The one speaking was Captain Kim Hyun-woo.
After arriving in Seoul, he'd received special orders from the president and investigated something in Incheon.
On his way back to the government shelter, he'd been tasked with scouting the dungeon's reality and came alone.
Luckily, he teamed up with two friendly survivors, but things went to hell.
"This is like blocking the pot so no one else can escape."
"Yeah. Didn't expect it to get this bad."
Mun Dae-ho dropped his head, dejected.
His younger sister, Mun So-yoon, stood beside him with arms crossed.
Both were ex-athletes, talented enough for the national team reserve.
They'd survived leaning on each other since the end times, but lately felt the limits and were recruiting party members.
Meeting Captain Kim and teaming up was good—until hesitation let rumors spread and locals turned it into chaos.
Kim Hyun-woo peeked outside through the curtain again.
"It's getting dark, so now they're tossing glowstone fragments. They're really trying to sabotage it."
So-yoon leaned against the wall, peering out, eyes widening.
"They're scattering those to shoot anyone approaching the gate, right?"
"Probably. No other reason to spread fragments."
"They're insane. Not right in the head."
"In the apocalypse, no one's right."
Dae-ho approached the window and asked Captain Kim.
"Once it's darker, won't we get a shot? The entrance glows, so monsters might take them?"
"Maybe... but with all these zombies, will kobolds even come out?"
"We gotta go in before bone creepers and werewolves show. Wait till morning, and someone'll break through."
So-yoon urged action, but the men hesitated.
This'd waste all their time.
So-yoon checked her ponytail and tied her shoelaces.
Influenced by her national-team athlete parents, she'd grown into an all-around sports star.
Post-growth spurt, she'd tested her limits in special forces and presidential security.
Her trait: Instant Acceleration.
It boosted her physical abilities several levels.
"Can't wait. I'll go—clear those monsters for me."
"So-yoon, once you go in, you can't come back out."
"Oh, really?"
Captain Kim nodded firmly.
He'd heard settings from the government shelter.
"Farming dungeons were the same. One entry per person."
So-yoon chewed her lip.
"So we go in blind?"
"That's why my backpack's so big. Didn't plan to block arrows with it."
Time ticked as they talked, and deep night fell.
Kobold cries echoed from somewhere.
"They're out already."
"Bone creepers and werewolves'll roam soon."
"Like I said, before that..."
Then it happened.
A racket started—kobolds swarming the dimension gate.
A few arrows flew, but numbers overwhelmed.
Glowstone vanished into kobold hands, blanketing the area in dark.
And So-yoon saw it clearly.
Someone appeared from pitch-black sky and dove into the gate.
"Huh?"
Too fast—maybe a trick of the eye?
But the ripples from the gate said otherwise.
Someone had entered.
She panicked.
"D-did you see? Someone went in!"
"What? Impossible. No one was near."
"I saw it clear as day!"
"If So-yoon says so, with your eyes, it's real."
Dae-ho backed his sister.
No time for this.
So-yoon yelled out the window.
"Someone's in the dimension gate! Stop the stupid fighting among ourselves!"
"So-yoon!"
Captain Kim freaked, murmurs rising everywhere.
They seemed unsure if she was telling the truth.
No more delays.
So-yoon shouldered her pack and left final words.
"I'm going first. Follow or don't."
She leaped down; Dae-ho turned with a sigh.
"As you see, she's impatient..."
Only one way now.
Captain Kim grabbed his pack.
"Let's go. Night cover might work."
"Yeah."
They headed to the first floor, waiting for an opening.
No arrows flew even as So-yoon entered.
The nonsense finally ended.
People gathered near the gate one by one.
.
.
.
This place...
I stopped at the entrance fork, flicked on my flashlight, and scanned the terrain.
The dungeon felt very familiar.
"Experiment Dungeon."
I didn't know who'd run the experiments.
Inferred from variant monsters, books in unknown languages, tools.
We called it Experiment Dungeon or Alchemist's Dungeon.
Its feature: cages holding monsters.
Dangerous variants, but worth farming.
"Traps here too."
Not crude goblin ones—cleverly hidden traps everywhere.
I eyed the sign lying on the fork floor.
Move it to read, and trigger a trap.
Narrow space—poison needles incoming.
I backed off, drew my Emeras spear, and prodded the sign.
Shk.
"As expected."
A poison needle whistled through the air.
Hit that, and paralysis or blindness wouldn't be the end.
I checked my gear and advanced.
Darkness split; an ugly goblin lunged.
"Hey there."
I stabbed with Emeras spear on sight; it screeched kiii... and died.
Variant?
Rifled its pouch—poison needles.
Sniffed: different from usual.
Not paralysis...
Test on body when unsure.
I uncorked a potion vial, sipped emperor honey.
Stabbed my thigh with a needle; status updated, vision blurred slightly.
"Blindness poison, huh."
Sudden blindness in the dark? Panic city.
Emperor honey cleared it fast; vision returned crisp.
Phew, lucky.
Others should be arriving soon.
Wanted to block the entrance with dimension gate, but needed it for emergencies.
Dimension wall vanished without focus.
"Gotta compete here."
I was used to it.
Someone poked head in from entrance.
I quickly opened dimension gate to hide.
A young woman entered, pulled glowstone from backpack, grumbled.
"Why aren't those old guys coming?"
At least two more coming.
Damn, she's tall.
Solid build too—athlete vibe.
Two more entered.
One squat guy like Hyung-jun hyung; the other...
Hyun-woo?
Heard he went to Seoul—didn't expect him here.
Claims military, so maybe orders from government shelter.
The trio huddled, talking.
"No one else coming?"
"They will. You yelled, so no more attacks."
"Bunch of cowards. Just group up, clear, split rewards."
"Hardest thing in the world: gathering people's hearts."
"It's pitch black here—stay sharp. I'll tank; support from back."
"Got it."
"Wait, sign on the floor? What's this?"
Woman grabbed it casually; Hyun-woo yanked her shoulder.
"Don't touch recklessly—danger..."
"Oh? String attached?"
"Trap. Someone disarmed it."
"Trap? The one who went first?"
They looked grave, scanning around.
Searching for me, probably.
After they left, I cautiously emerged.
Felt like those folks might talk sense.
Knew Hyun-woo; some cooperation here wouldn't hurt.
But screw the saboteurs.
I opened dimension gate at narrow entrance, sealing it.
Someone mid-entry bumped, flailed.
"Fuck, what is this?"
Man pounded with fists and body—no budge.
Best to bail outside, but greedy face said otherwise.
I played dumb, entered cave, queued a national music artist's piece on my laptop.
Labyrinth.
Eerie, scary melody filled dungeon; man groaned.
"Urk!"
Ghostly wails followed; he bolted outside.
"Next customer."
A woman entered, heard ghostly cackle, collapsed.
"Mommy!"
Business booming today.
End of Monopolizing is Fun - 2