Chapter 101
Chapter 101
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: Monopolizing is Fun - 3
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It's gotten a bit quiet now.
The people who fled after hearing the ghost noises must have spread the word, because no one else was coming in.
But letting my guard down would be a mistake.
I blocked the entrance with a dimension gate and headed into the dungeon.
Places like this experimental dungeon tend to have standardized layouts.
It almost feels like some official national dungeon blueprint was set in stone.
The problem is, if you don't know the structure, you're bound to get lost.
Certain spots even have traps designed to confuse your sense of direction, making it worse.
"Let's see..."
With Hyun-woo's group entering, using flashbangs was tricky now.
This kind of dungeon or maze registered as the same dimension as my shelter, which was a shame.
That meant I couldn't use guns or net guns inside.
"If push comes to shove, I'll use whatever."
For survival and monopolizing, I'd do anything.
I checked my gear, confirmed the footage on my laptop, and picked up a glowstone.
Since the dungeon wasn't huge, the chances of anyone being at the entrance were low.
"Gotta track the scent..."
Monsters have a distinct smell.
It's a lot like the stench from a truck loaded with cows and pigs.
In a cave, it hits even harder, and up close, it could knock you out.
Where else would all their shit and piss go?
"Filter mask on..."
In Survival Life, foul odors count as debuffs, but a mask mitigates them.
Regular masks don't do much, though.
I geared up heavily and summoned Dingo to sniff us out.
"No barking, got it? Stay quiet."
The clever pup immediately picked up on the cave environment and took the lead.
As we walked the narrow path, Dingo and I both heard footsteps at the same time.
My perception had grown to match Dingo's.
Though I'd never catch up on smell.
I was about to hide in the dimension gate and wait when Hyun-woo's group passed by.
They looked tense, fresh off a fight.
"Another fork. What kind of messed-up layout is this..."
"The dungeon doesn't seem that big, but we can't find it. Our sense of direction's shot."
"I've been leaving markers, right? Just hang in there a bit longer."
"Oh, nice work, So-yoon."
So the woman's name was So-yoon.
She straightened up with a smile—nearly 180cm tall.
As she scanned the cave wall, she accidentally brushed the dimension gate.
"Huh?"
She must've felt something off.
I closed the gate immediately.
The dimension gate was smoother than the cave wall, so the texture was different.
No way she'd realize I was spying.
After a bit, I reopened it—they were gone.
I hurried along with Dingo.
Then, at a fork, he perked his ears, crouched low, and let out a soft huff.
Over there.
I nocked an adamantine arrow on my longbow.
I could faintly see monster fur.
The weird part? A few were still alive.
Usually, they eat each other until only one remains pretty quick.
"Eh, as long as I snag the points."
I tossed the glowstone ahead.
The soft light illuminated the approaching monster's face.
"A troll..."
A troll here, of all places.
Similar build to an orc, but with long arms and stiff spines.
A basic mob in other games, but deadly in Survival Life.
"Those spines aren't a joke..."
When threatened, it puffs up and shoots them everywhere—no poison, but painful as hell.
Its exclusive skills, Frenzied Strength and Super Regeneration, make melee a nightmare.
Old me could've handled it but would've run and found another way.
"Not anymore."
It's in my net now—I can attack one-sidedly.
I released the string, and the adamantine arrow pierced its tough hide mercilessly.
Kuoooooh—
The troll's roar echoed dully in the narrow cave.
I had to finish it before Hyun-woo's group returned and bolt.
I fired arrows in rapid succession.
The already weakened troll took hits to the head and dropped dead.
Creepy how the arrows embedded in its body were pushed out mid-fight.
Super Regeneration at work.
A bit disappointing.
Ferocity is like a werewolf's combat instinct—boosts stats in crises.
No need for murderous intent, activates simply. That's a plus.
But the effect was meh.
"Should've been Super Regeneration."
Frenzied Strength didn't fit my style either.
I'm supposed to avoid hits; what's the point if I take damage first?
Not bad as insurance, but...
"This isn't terrible."
Losing Lifeform Tracking stings, but that's how it goes.
Think positive.
I quickly shot the rest for a total of 95 points.
Then heavy footsteps approached.
"What was that noise over there!"
"Let's check it out quick!"
"Wait a sec..."
They seemed busy, so I slipped quietly into the side path.
I summoned Dingo and had him sniff for old book smells.
As an alchemist's dungeon, it'd be full of ancient books and tools.
Of course, reaching it meant overcoming traps and monsters.
Luckily, my experience and built-up combat power weren't shallow.
"Dingo, stop."
At my low command, he halted and crouched.
We bypassed obstacles together.
This way, we sped through the dungeon.
Possible because I knew the layout roughly.
After a few fights, we reached the deepest part.
The alchemist's chamber, aka the living quarters.
A few desks, boxes, furniture—standard stuff.
"No owner, huh..."
Never seen humanoid lifeforms in this world.
But they exist for sure.
Who else made these books and tools?
Curious, but looting first.
I'd closed the entrance gate earlier, so people were probably inside by now.
They'd be pissed once they figured it out.
Didn't matter.
Only a handful knew my identity.
They might block the entrance later, but I had ways around it.
I've done this before.
"Loot first."
I opened the dimension gate and shoved everything in.
Among it, a scroll book caught my eye.
Most in unknown script, but two stood out.
"Jackpot."
I gripped the scrolls tight, then carefully tore them.
Messages popped up, deducting 1,000 points.
Would've been perfect before the troll, but layout-wise, unavoidable.
I stuffed every paper and pen from the quarters into the gate and closed it.
Time to head to the entrance.
A few would be waiting to lynch me.
Meaning, breakthrough required.
Assess first.
I sent Dingo through the gate and dashed to the entrance.
...
Several groups tangled in the not-so-big dungeon.
After shooting arrows at each other outside, they couldn't just laugh it off.
The air was thick with tension.
Groups flinched, bowed heads, and passed if they crossed paths.
In the chaos, a fight broke out—someone got hurt.
The victim writhed on the ground, screaming.
"I'll fucking kill you and become a murderer, you bastard!"
"Kill me! Try it!"
"I remember that arrow from earlier clear as day? Thought you were fine?"
About to turn murderous, two intervened.
"Hey, cut it out!"
"Calm down!"
Not out of pity or fear—dungeon rules. Monsters could pop anytime.
Though Sung-ho had cleared most, they didn't know.
This happened everywhere.
Good news: no killers yet.
A shame for Sung-ho, scouting escape routes.
Hyun-woo's group finally reached the depths.
Swept clean by Sung-ho, of course.
"...That guy took everything."
"Hard to fit in one backpack..."
"Wow, swept it spotless. Even took the dust."
So-yoon grumbled, slamming a drawer.
Hyun-woo spotted something while scanning.
Hinges on the door.
"No metal plague here...?"
"For real..."
They checked, stunned.
Intact metal was impossible in Seoul.
Rumors of government shelters hoarding it, but just rumors.
Shaking off regret, the trio headed out.
Footsteps—several blocked the chamber.
"You looted and now leaving?"
"Can't just let you go easy."
They'd teamed up somehow.
Despite the outside arrow fest.
So-yoon stepped in front of tense Hyun-woo.
"Sorry, but we got nothing. It was already cleared."
"Haha, who buys that?"
"Someone beat us here. Check our packs."
Dae-ho, reading her intent, added cautiously.
"Us empty-handers fighting feels off, right? Let's move on nicely."
"...Hiding stuff?"
"Where to hide in this cave? Everyone's searching top to bottom."
Fair point...
The trio seemed convinced enough.
So-yoon and Dae-ho blocked front, Hyun-woo emptied packs from behind.
Showed contents and insides—disappointed faces all around.
No one dared suggest strip-search; they kicked walls, grumbling.
"This is insane."
"So some guy looted and dipped?"
"Who the hell?"
"Dunno who, but probably sprinting to the entrance by now."
So-yoon's hint flipped their faces—they bolted without a word.
"Getting out's gonna be tough now."
"We can show packs, but that guy? No way."
Dae-ho said; sister So-yoon snapped.
"Not the time to worry about him!"
"Still..."
More people swarmed.
To avoid fights, Hyun-woo's group showed packs again.
So-yoon clenched fists but held back at her brother's restraint.
They all ground teeth at the guy who'd swept first.
He probably sniped all the monsters inside too.
This wasn't normal.
Newbie timing this fast?
Veteran maybe?
Meanwhile, rumors spread: the looter was still inside.
Second arrivals confirmed empty packs.
People snapped, stampeding.
"Block it! Seal the entrance!"
"Block it, and what can one guy do?"
One entrance in, one out.
Block, and he'd have to empty his pack.
Groups exchanged greetings, marked allies—hunting solos.
Hyun-woo watched bitterly.
Arrow chaos outside, perfect teamwork inside.
'If they'd done this sooner, we could've shared rewards...'
Greed swallowed all.
Now crowds at entrance, waiting.
But he never showed.
"Where's that fucker screwing around?"
"What about search teams?"
"They're looking—no one's back there."
"Slacking while flapping gums?"
"Then you go."
"Watch your mouth. Think searching's easy?"
Grumbles sprouted among them.
Meanwhile, Sung-ho lounged in his shelter, sorting loot.
Leisurely.
...
"About time they're getting pissed."
Gate open, fight noises crystal clear.
Fight on, fight on.
Dungeon fade would take time—I'd wait comfy.
They're the rushed ones.
Anyway...
"Of all things, this turns into an item."
Troll dropped Worn Wooden Sandals.
"Cold resistance for winter, I guess."
With item slots at 6, room for one more.
I ate a winter strawberry I'd saved and slipped on the sandals.
The chill air felt neutral now.
"Damn, effective."
This'd hold up decently in harsh winter.
Summer's rough in apocalypse, but winter's the killer.
Everyone fleeing monsters, losing food supplies shifting camps.
Real winter? Brutal survival war.
None of my concern.
While they shiver, I'll chill in warm forests.
I flipped through old books.
"What the hell's this say?"
Seemed plant descriptions—total gibberish.
Flipping fast, a strange map appeared.
Isn't this the northern mountain?
Perpetual snow, lake below—matches perfect.
"Treasure nearby?"
Worth checking.
Tried with the scarabs—no interest.
Not soul-possessed then.
Just normal scarabs? Hard to buy.
"I'm hiding my identity, you're hiding yours."
Working scarabs startled, glanced at me.
They got issues.
I peeked outside via gate.
A few with glowstones fully blocked entrance.
No gaps.
"Tough bastards."
I'm the toughest.
Plotting to screw them over.
"If I wait for dungeon despawn, what happens to the gate...?"
Guess: left dangling in Yangjae middle. Can't assume.
Best: ditch them and escape.
"People outside too..."
After pondering, I found a good way.
Wanted to blast Murderer's Heart loud, but ghost sounds built immunity.
"Time for this one."
See how long they last.