Chapter 181
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 181
“Wisteria?”
Seo Gio seemed a little pleased.
“It looks like wisteria. Though the petals are closer to lilac…”
“I didn’t know you were interested in flora.”
Kang Seo-dam was surprised that Hunter Seo Gio was familiar with plants from Earth. While Gio could have simply read the plant’s characteristics using his divine privilege, his tone held a genuine fondness.
‘It’s rare for a divinity to be so fond of things from Earth.’
Standing beside Gio, Kang Seo-dam examined the light purple tree and nodded.
“It does look quite similar to a plant from Earth.”
“Though, considering even the trunk is light purple, it’s probably not from Earth.”
“Yes, most of Earth’s native trees have brown trunks…”
“With the color so uniform, it looks as if the tree itself is a flower. It’s truly beautiful,” Gio remarked.
At his words, Garasani, standing beside him, stared intently at Kang Seo-dam.
“…”
“…”
Kang Seo-dam felt the subtle pressure.
‘It feels like he’s telling me to hand over a share of this tree once we clear the dungeon and secure its autonomy from the Sun Cult.’
What an absurd demand. He sounded like a doting grandfather trying to spoil his late-born grandson.
‘If this tree is a critical part of the dungeon clear, it’s doubtful it will even remain afterward. And even if it does, it would be classified as important research material or a hazardous substance, making it impossible to distribute… He’s not the type of person who wouldn’t know that.’
It was like demanding someone make flowers bloom on a barren winter field without magic, all because his precious grandson wanted to see it. Utter nonsense.
“What role do you think this tree plays here?” Kang Seo-dam asked, changing the subject.
“…We’ll have to find out.”
Fortunately, Gio himself seemed more interested in clearing the dungeon than in possessing the tree. It was a relief they wouldn’t have to clash with the Collector over something so ridiculous.
Kang Seo-dam called over a priest.
“Do you feel anything?”
“…I’m sorry, I can’t feel anything at all…”
“That actually gives me some certainty.”
“I-is that so?”
“There is no heat in this tree.”
At that, another team member chimed in with a question.
“No heat? When the rest of the dungeon is sweltering like a sauna?”
“If you touch it, it actually feels a little cool.”
It wasn’t that the tree was exceptionally cold, but even this was strange. Every other plant in this dungeon was steeped in intense heat.
“The high average temperature of the flora is why the poison spread so quickly,” someone added.
“That’s true, but then why is that one…?”
“I’m not sure. It’s even more confusing for Priests of the Sun like us.”
Priests of the Sun struggled to perceive targets that lacked heat. Because such targets didn’t align with their fiery holy power, they simply refused to be perceived. Kang Seo-dam looked back at the other hunters.
“Does anyone else have an opinion? It seems that simply approaching it won’t trigger the rampage we saw earlier, so please examine it without harming the tree.”
Just then, the gardener Jeong Young-won stepped forward.
“I’m quite interested in plants myself.”
“Is that so?”
“I even joined this raid because I heard there was unusual flora.”
“Then please, come closer.”
“Just as the priests said, I don’t feel any heat, but…”
Approaching the tree, Jeong Young-won examined it meticulously.
“…”
A strange light gleamed in her eyes.
“…Its life force is incredibly strong.”
“Life force?”
“Just as the Priests of the Sun are sensitive to heat, I am a healer.”
“So you can sense life force more clearly.”
“Essentially, yes. You can’t be a proper healer if you can’t grasp the energy and aura of living things.”
“I understand, Hunter Jeong Young-won.”
“And speaking from that perspective,” she said, adjusting her round glasses, her doll-like expression unchanging, “the dungeon’s life force is concentrated in this tree. In human terms, it’s a vital organ. You could think of it as the heart or the brain.”
“The heart or the brain?”
“It’s not just storing a lot of life force; it seems to be circulating it throughout the entire dungeon. Actually, that part is a bit vague even to me. It could just be that its overflowing life force is naturally spreading out.”
Jeong Young-won stepped back from the tree.
“It’s not clear whether this tree is favored by the dungeon, or if the dungeon is maintained because this tree exists. If it’s the latter, we could take the damage and just destroy these trees, but…”
A hunter listening to her made a horrified face.
“U-um, Healer… no matter what, that’s… we’ll all die. Seeing as other teams have found them too, there must be several of these trees. We’d be wiped out before we could destroy them all.”
“Yes, and it’s not a guaranteed method,” she agreed. “From what I’ve heard, Team 6, who touched the tree, couldn’t destroy it either. It might look fragile, but it’s probably not a tree you can easily snap.”
Hunter Yoo Ji-na of the Collector Guild chimed in. “What if it’s the former? If the tree is favored by the dungeon.”
“Then destroying them all won’t clear the dungeon, at the very least.”
“So it would just anger the dungeon? This is a headache…”
With so many dead and injured from a single rampage, no one was willing to rashly test the theory of clearing the dungeon by destroying the trees.
A young priest looked utterly dismayed.
“To think we’re in this state even with so many outstanding talents gathered here. Why on earth was this only an A-Rank…?”
“You must not show weakness in front of those who have joined our cause,” a senior priest chided him.
“I-I’m sorry. I was frustrated and showed an ugly side of myself. I will reflect on this.”
The priest bowed his head deeply, but his apology didn’t sound particularly sincere. At that, the other hunters’ expressions soured. In this hot, humid place, with injuries piling up and poisonous plants everywhere, everyone was on edge. The priest’s comment felt like a passive-aggressive complaint: ‘We paid a high price to hire you, so why are you doing such a poor job?’
“I apologize on his behalf.”
In the end, Kang Seo-dam stepped forward.
“We will also deliver an official letter of apology after the raid, Hunters.”
“What? Oh, no. There’s no need to go that far… considering the Sun Cult’s reputation, you don’t have to.”
“It is said that sincerity and humility are more important than reputation. I would be grateful if you gave us a chance to reflect.”
While Kang Seo-dam skillfully placated the hunters, Hunter Sa Na-rae, who had been wearing a sullen expression, slinked over to the light purple tree. Gio welcomed him with a smile.
“You’re here.”
“A strange smell is coming from the tree.”
“Does it have something to do with that sullen expression?”
“Sullen? What a cute way to put it.”
Sa Na-rae, glossing over the topic with his usual eccentricity, wrinkled his nose.
“……?”
Noticing his expression, Jeong Young-won, who was also observing the tree, asked, “Hunter Sa Na-rae, you’re famous for your outstanding senses. You must know things others don’t. If you feel anything, could you tell us?”
“Famous? I wouldn’t go that far. I’m flattered by the undeserved praise, though. Well, it’s nothing major, but… how should I put it…”
Sa Na-rae trailed off, then gave his characteristic smile.
“It smells like a corpse.”
“…”
At Sa Na-rae’s words, Gio called over to Garasani.
“Mr. Garasani.”
“Speak, Hunter Seo Gio.”
“What did Priest Kang Seo-dam say during the break earlier?”
“He said they found traces of something heavy being dragged.”
“And we confirmed that monsters move here when evening comes.”
“You are correct, Hunter Seo Gio.”
“Then shall we check what the monsters do when evening comes?”
In this dungeon, where the rising and setting of the sun and moon were jumbled, it quickly grew dark after a short wait. The capable hunters erased their scents and presence, hiding themselves to observe the monsters’ movements. What they uncovered was shocking.
“…”
“…H-how…”
A priest with a youthful face collapsed to his knees.
“How could they… a priest… a priest…!”
“Calm down.”
“Using a priest as fertilizer!”
His face twisted with hatred for the monsters and the dungeon.
“These horrible monsters! Filthy monsters! Evil demons from whom even the Goddess has averted her gaze…!”
When night fell, the monsters brought ‘fertilizer’ from all over the dungeon. Most of it consisted of other monsters that fell dormant at night, but among the offerings were also the corpses of the previous subjugation team, which had not yet been recovered.
The young priest was utterly disgusted by the monsters’ blasphemous behavior.
“No wonder our brothers were nowhere to be found… to think this was happening…!”
“I told you to calm down.”
“B-but…! I didn’t know it would be such a horrible dungeon!”
“You are bringing shame to the name of the Sun.”
“…”
“Tsk.”
When Kang Seo-dam clicked his tongue, the young priest finally shut his mouth, his face turning pale. Within the Cult, Kang Seo-dam was known as a fierce priest with a powerful voice and a clear distinction between public and private matters. It was only natural to be scared after leaving a bad impression on such a man.
Ignoring the priest, Kang Seo-dam turned back to the hunters.
“Fertilizer… that was an unexpected method.”
“Well, it makes sense. There were no signs of the ground being dug up.”
“To think the ground would just split open…” Kang Seo-dam said, his expression weary.
When the night monsters brought their ‘fertilizer’ and dug their claws into the ground near the tree, the earth split wide open as if in pain. Then, they would stuff the ‘fertilizer’ into the gap.
“The hole looked quite deep, yet you managed to smell the corpses, Hunter Sa Na-rae.”
“It just happened that way, I guess? I was wondering what that strange smell was.”
“Whatever the case, thank you for your cooperation. Thanks to you, we’ve confirmed the location of our brothers’ bodies.”
“Though I’m not sure if you can still call those ‘bodies’…”
“It’s better than not finding them at all.”
Even after seeing the place presumed to hold the remains of his comrades, Kang Seo-dam’s expression did not change. He knew his role in this expedition. This was not the time to grow weak, nor to show it.
“And we’ve also learned some unexpected information.”
“As long as we hide well, the monsters can’t find us, even if we’re near this tree.”
“Yes, just as Hunter Seo Gio said. Though I don’t know the reason…”
Even elsewhere, hiding had prevented the monsters from detecting them, but this was right next to the tree where the dungeon’s life force was concentrated. It was strange.
Frowning, Kang Seo-dam muttered, “Are they unable to look elsewhere because they are so focused on the tree…?”
The other hunters expressed their confusion.
“Then does that really mean it’s favored? If they cherished it with their lives, wouldn’t they examine the surroundings more thoroughly? Honestly, if it’s such an important tree… I also wonder why no monsters stay behind to guard it.”
“I agree. In a previous A-Rank dungeon, there was a pillar that acted as the dungeon’s heart, and monsters were guarding it out in the open. There were also tons of traps to keep us away, but there’s nothing like that here.”
“It is strange. If almost all of the dungeon’s life force is concentrated here, and if it’s deeply connected to the dungeon’s survival… shouldn’t it be harder to access than this? Especially for an A-Rank dungeon.”
Hearing their reactions, Jeong Young-won nodded.
“Then that means, at the very least, this tree is not the dungeon’s heart. I don’t know if it’s some invincible tree that can’t be damaged, making protection unnecessary, but even so, it bothers me that the monsters are so indifferent.”
The monsters active at night seemed to possess high intelligence. Such creatures wouldn’t be negligent about something their lives depended on. The more clumsily smart they were, the more faithful they tended to be to their instincts.
“Then what on earth is it? The dungeon’s life force is concentrated here, yet the monsters who live here are indifferent. If it were simple favoritism, their behavior wouldn’t make sense.”
“In the first place, what role does that tree play? If life force is concentrated to that extent, there must be a clear reason, but right now, all we know is that touching it causes a massive uproar.”
“Even if you touch it, it doesn’t release poison, it doesn’t attack, and it looks so fragile… Even when it’s being fed corpses, the ground probably wouldn’t have opened if the night monsters hadn’t prodded it.”
“Then doesn’t that mean it’s just a plant with no hostile intent? Why is something like that in a dungeon? And why does touching it cause such a fuss?”
At that, Gio, who had been thinking deeply, spoke up.
“Isn’t this usually how hostages are treated?”
“…Hostages?”
“Like a leash to control someone useful.”
Gio continued.
“They have to feed it regularly and check its condition every night, but since there’s no affection for it, the act is a mere duty. It seems less like caring for something and more like a task that must be done. So, why would the monsters go out of their way to do that?”
A hunter answered in a hesitant voice. “If a dungeon monster feels a sense of duty… wouldn’t it be because the dungeon is maintained that way? They don’t seem capable of high-level thinking… but that’s probably why they’d be even more sensitive to their own disadvantages.”
“Good point, Hunter Dang-woo. Then why would the existence and growth of this tree help maintain the dungeon and benefit the monsters? As I said, the monsters have no great affection for the tree. Seeing how they don’t even guard it, it probably isn’t a vital organ of the dungeon.”
“…Not the dungeon’s heart, but definitely helpful in maintaining it… Hmm… I don’t know. Is the hostage you mentioned related to this? If so, who or what is the hostage for?”
“The dungeon,” Gio said. He went on. “This is a villa dungeon created underground. It’s a space built beneath a cave. Even though it’s not connected to the sky, rain falls, the sun rises, and the moon rises.”
“Well, that’s because dungeons are spaces that defy common sense…”
“Let’s make an assumption. Who is making this rain fall? Who is raising the sun and the moon? This isn’t a completely different dimension.”
It was a physically existing space.
“That could be magic.”
“True, but…”
“I have a question,” Gio said, turning to Yoo Ji-na of the Collector Guild, who was a mage. “Ms. Yoo Ji-na, can humans make it rain with magic?”
“If an A-Rank works themselves to the bone, it’s possible.”
“Can humans raise the sun with magic?”
“Maybe if an S-Rank works themselves to the bone?”
“Can humans raise the moon with magic?”
“That’s the same. It’s not within the human realm.”
“Then who does magic belong to?” His blue eyes curved gently. “Doesn’t it belong to humans?”
Humans could not dare to raise the sun and the moon.
“Where does the sun here set? Where does the moon go when it disappears? Earth’s sun and moon rise and set as part of their orbit, but as I said, this is a villa dungeon.”
“Uh…”
“It’s a fixed, physically limited space. Honey flew as high as possible, and Dana ran as far as she could, but this place isn’t as vast as a planet.”
“…”
“So where does the sun go when night comes? What is the moon doing until the sun rises? The sun and moon here rise and set in exact symmetry. The moon goes where the sun was, and the sun goes where the moon was.”
Gio looked up at the ‘sky.’
“Since an Earth cave is above us, the sky we’re looking at now isn’t a sky, but a giant ceiling. Through Honey, we confirmed that the ceiling is covered by trees.”
He continued.
“And it rained.”
“…”
“If it rains from the ceiling, water must have fallen from the ceiling, right?”
And it was a fine, heavy downpour, like a rainforest.
“When the moon rises and night comes, the heat subsides, and the night monsters present food to this tree. The monsters here don’t like the heat either. That’s why the day monsters can only sleep when night comes, and the highly intelligent night monsters can be active.”
Assuming the ‘moon’ was a more favorable concept than the ‘sun’ here.
“Did you say only this tree lacks heat?”
“…We did.”
“And you also said life force is concentrated here.”
“We did.”
“Let’s just make an assumption,” Gio said, pointing to the ‘sky.’ “What if this dungeon is being supported by a giant ‘something,’ and these trees are favored by it? What if this fragile-looking tree is like family to that giant thing?”
He lowered his hand, covered his mouth, and smiled.
“If it were me… I think I would hold out.”
For my family, I would support this giant forest.
“That’s why I brought up the word ‘hostage’.”
“…Hostage.”
“Though there’s a high possibility it’s just a delusion.”
“…”
Kang Seo-dam, who had been listening to the entire story, wiped his face.
“…All available personnel will focus on exploration.”
There were some dungeons that could only be cleared once you understood their story.