Chapter 14
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Tail (1)
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‘You need to use mana to discover the hidden dungeon...’
If it was structured so that the hidden dungeon only revealed its location when mana was used, just as Seo Yu-ju said, then it made sense that no one had known about its existence or position until now.
The others, unaware that Seo Yu-ju was a regressor, seemed impressed by her deduction.
An Tae-woo’s face lit up with excitement as he spoke.
“Indeed... Just as Yu-ju said, the hidden dungeon might only reveal itself when mana is used! Yu-ju, you’re amazing. How did you even think of that... Haha!”
“It’s not certain yet. It’s just a guess.”
No, since it was Seo Yu-ju speaking, it wasn’t a guess—it was fact.
The fact that she was revealing this much about the dungeon now meant she judged that this group could clear the tutorial. Still, just in case, I needed to probe her intentions.
“Yu-ju. If the dungeon is in the center... do you think we can clear it right now? It might be too dangerous...”
I put on a worried expression as I spoke, and the others looked concerned too.
They all seemed anxious about the possibility of someone dying.
“... I’m not sure, but I think it’s probably possible.”
Her saying that meant the odds of clearing it were high. Hearing her answer, everyone started to relax.
I’d prepared a plan for the worst-case scenario... but honestly, they’d never go along with it.
... This was just in case.
If she said we couldn’t clear it on our own... we could drag in the others from the camp or people outside and use them as meat shields.
If the dungeon was full of the same monsters, we could use them to split the aggro.
But that was truly a last resort, and no one here would approve it, so I kept it buried in my mind.
Anyway, setting that aside, if clearing was likely, we had other issues to consider.
There were other people outside this camp, and we had no guarantee they were good folks.
We could get ambushed on the way to the dungeon. We had food, and there were women in the party.
‘No way they figured out the dungeon’s location with mana and are lying in wait inside...’
No, that was excessive worrying. The thought of finally nearing the end of the tutorial must have triggered my old Earth-side paranoia and suspicions.
“... So the nine of us here will enter the dungeon?”
“Yes. That’s the plan.”
‘Tch... The group is a bit small, isn’t it...’
She exuded confidence, so our chances of clearing were probably high... but with so few people, worry was inevitable.
“When do we leave?”
“... If everyone’s okay with it, I was thinking tomorrow morning.”
“Yu-rim, Yu-hyeon. You all set?”
“Yes, oppa.”
“Yeah, hyung!”
“Good... Let’s go.”
After breakfast, we headed to the camp entrance with the kids. Everyone was there except the three newcomers.
“Oppa... you think it’ll be okay? Going to the dungeon today...”
Yu-rim glanced worriedly at Yu-hyeon before speaking to me.
“Probably... It should be fine. Honestly, if we can’t clear it with this group... no one else has a chance either.”
“.....”
I stroked Yu-rim’s head as I spoke.
“Don’t worry too much. You saw how strong Yu-ju is. And this is just the tutorial. No way it’s that impossible, right?”
Her tension eased a bit, and Yu-rim gave a small smile.
“Hearing you say that makes me feel better, oppa.”
“Don’t worry, noona! Yu-ju noona is super strong!”
‘Jeez... Noona’s worried about her little brother, but he’s totally fine...’
A little later, Ho-won ajusshi, Kang I-seo, and Hyun-jin arrived.
The moment Kang I-seo saw me, she grinned mischievously and teased.
“Oh, you’re already here. What’s up? This might be our last day—wanna go one last round for old times’ sake?”
Kang I-seo made a circle with her left thumb and index finger, then poked her right index finger in and out while looking at me.
“W-what crazy talk is that—?!”
Seo Yu-ju overheard and turned beet red before I could even respond, yelling first.
I clapped my hands over my ears, thinking my eardrums would burst. Yu-rim had covered Yu-hyeon’s eyes and ears the moment Kang I-seo started talking.
“Aw, c’mon, it was just a joke. His face is my type.”
“Please refrain from jokes like that from now on! They make people uncomfortable!”
“The guy himself isn’t saying anything—why’re you getting worked up, Yu-ju?”
Seo Yu-ju narrowed her eyes and glared at me.
“Yun-seong... You don’t mean...”
“... What exactly do you take me for?”
Kang I-seo smirked at Seo Yu-ju’s reaction, then turned back to me.
“C’mon, for real—no interest? If you want, I could...”
If I let this go on, it’d just get more exhausting, so I cut her off.
“... Enough with the jokes, I-seo. And don’t jinx it by saying today might be our last.”
Kang I-seo dropped her teasing expression, clicked her tongue, and said.
“Tch. You’re no fun. Why’re you so boring?”
“... What counts as fun in your book, I-seo? Definitely not normal, that’s for sure.”
She burst out laughing at my words.
“Hahaha... True that~”
Ho-won ajusshi suddenly sighed, grabbed Kang I-seo’s head, and bowed it down before apologizing to Seo Yu-ju and me on her behalf.
“Ahem...! Sorry about that. She’s been like this forever...”
“Hey! Let go, ajusshi! Can’t a girl have some fun?!”
One person like Kang I-seo was already exhausting... My head throbbed, so I closed my eyes and rubbed my temples.
“Ahem, ahem... Anyway, let’s get going.”
With that, we left the camp we’d been staying in.
After covering a good distance, Seo Yu-ju’s expression gradually hardened. As we kept walking, she spoke quietly so only we could hear.
“... Don’t respond loudly. Stay calm and listen. We’re being tailed right now.”
Hearing that, I inwardly clicked my tongue. It was the worry I’d had before leaving camp, now coming true.
The others didn’t show it, but Song Ha-eun and Yu-hyeon’s faces betrayed their agitation.
Ho-won ajusshi, used to such situations, calmly whispered back.
“... Any idea how many?”
“Not exactly... but about six behind us. I’d guess more on the sides or front. You don’t seem fazed?”
“We’ve run into this a few times traveling with Hyun-jin and I-seo. Even fought once or twice.”
‘No wonder they seemed battle-hardened from the start—they had experience.’
“Anyway... I think we should fight before they fully surround us. Going further just hands them the advantage—it’s no different from starting combat on their terms.”
Song Ha-eun and An Tae-woo looked tense at the thought of fighting people for the first time.
“So how do we...?”
“We’re scrapping the tutorial clear for today. I’ve got a rough fix on the tails behind us, so I’ll hit them first. But I can’t cover the front, so Ho-won, use your shield to block up front once I move. Everyone else, prioritize front and flanks. Don’t worry about me. And... Yun-seong, Ha-eun—no need to conserve mana. Focus on your own safety above all.”