Indexer

At 52 years old, Jung Man-sik, the manager of the Hwagok-dong F-rank Dungeon Management Office, was on pins ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and needles.

"How long has it been since Kwon Mu-hyuk went in?"

Shin Yu-ra, the team leader from the Hunter Association, had been furrowing her brows anxiously and repeating the same question. Meanwhile, the dean of Hunter Academy and the magic professor were pacing restlessly, which only made his own heart race.

"It's been just over two hours now."

"Hng…!"

"Kgh."

At Jung Man-sik's cautious reply, the dean and professor clutched their thinning hair and groaned.

The day before, Kwon Mu-hyuk—a student from Hunter Academy who had just awakened as a mage—had entered the F-rank dungeon alone. But it had suddenly been upgraded to B-rank, triggering an emergency alert.

He'd only written the referral letter to help the low-level guy level up in what was supposed to be a safe F-rank dungeon. If word got out, everyone who'd signed off on it would be held accountable—which was why they were all gathered at the management office in the dead of night.

"Why the hell did the Hwagok-dong dungeon, which was F-rank for the past three years, suddenly jump to B-rank?!"

"Well, these things happen sometimes, but an F-rank dungeon shooting up three whole ranks? That's a first… What the hell did he do in there…?"

Park Kyung-tae, a staffer combing through government dungeon data for similar cases, grumbled irritably before glancing at Shin Yu-ra.

"Ahem, we'll only know the exact cause once the gate reopens. Not that it's likely, but it could happen if the dungeon's cleared, a quest's completed, or… a hunter dies."

At the word "dies," the academy dean flinched and shook his head.

"He's the first magic hunter our academy's produced in three years. Losing a talent like that would be a massive blow."

"He'll come out safe and sound! He has to!"

The magic professor clasped his hands and shouted, prompting the dean to snap.

"Exactly! Why send a freshly awakened student into a dungeon alone? Even if it was F-rank!"

"Kwon Mu-hyuk took down villains and zombies by himself. If it had stayed an F-rank dungeon, he could've handled it just fine."

Shin Yu-ra chimed in. She'd seen his skills in the sparring room herself, which was why she'd added her signature to the referral.

But the dungeon's rank changed. My obsession with dark energy clouded my judgment on his safety. If he doesn't come back… it'll be my fault.

Shin Yu-ra swept a hand over her somber face.

"For now, all we can do is wait. Praying Kwon Mu-hyuk comes out unharmed…"

Whether sensing the group's desperation or not, time marched on relentlessly before the dungeon gate they guarded.

"Whoa, has it gotten this late already?"

I checked my watch as I headed for the exit and realized night had long since given way to dawn.

I'd entered around 7 p.m., which meant I'd spent a solid nine hours hunting Red Mane Fire Wolves.

Having sucked up every last drop of dark energy left in the dungeon, no more red wolves respawned.

F-rank dungeons usually spawned low-grade monsters that regenerated almost infinitely even after the boss was defeated.

But this one had upgraded to B-rank, ramping up the dark energy demands for its monsters—and now it was sealing shut.

Pretty damn lucrative clear.

Satisfied with the pile of skillbooks in my inventory, I left without a second thought.

The dim predawn sky and chilly air washed away the dungeon's muggy aftertaste.

"Uh… Kwon Mu-hyuk?!"

"Ah."

I froze. Why was Shin Yu-ra popping up in this refreshing dawn?

It couldn't be because of the dark energy I'd guzzled inside… right?

As she hurried toward me, my mind spun like a windmill in a gale for a solid minute. Countermeasures flashed and vanished.

"You okay? Any injuries?"

"Huh? No, none."

Her expression lit up with what looked like relief, contrasting my sour face. Seemed it wasn't about dark energy—phew.

The magic professor, looking pale like he'd had a rough night, and the academy dean—someone I hadn't seen in ages—rushed over.

"Student Kwon Mu-hyuk?!"

"Mu-hyuk! You're safe!"

"Ah… hello, Dean. Professor. What brings you here?"

"You okay, Mu-hyuk? The dungeon rank shot up out of nowhere! We thought something happened to you… Huh?!"

The professor, lunging like he might hug me, spotted the gate vanishing behind me and gaped.

"Th-the gate's disappearing…!"

"Did he clear the dungeon?!"

"How…?"

Even Manager Jung Man-sik had come out, staring in shock at the fading gate.

"Kwon Mu-hyuk… you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠cleared a B-rank dungeon?"

Shin Yu-ra asked, her face full of astonishment.

"Yeah. Red Mane Fire Wolves showed up, and I got a 'quest.' Cleared all the 'quests,' and it was done."

I emphasized "quest" proudly. Receiving quests proved I wasn't the final boss—I was human.

"…I see. You completed the extermination quest, so the dungeon sealed."

"Yep! Finished the quest."

They all relaxed at my beaming emphasis on "quest," though their smiles held a subtle edge.

"Anyway, glad you're safe. A fresh awakener clearing a B-rank? Kwon Mu-hyuk, you're clearly a prodigy with exceptional talent."

"Right! He'll be the greatest magic hunter Hunter Academy ever produces! No doubt!"

"Of course. Heh heh…"

With the three crowding me with praise, their info windows popped up unbidden—stuff I had zero desire to see.

Blame the passive skill [Indexer] I'd unlocked hitting level 20 in the dungeon.

A passive tailored for my curse's goal: thoroughly conquering and dooming the world.

It popped up regardless of my will, spilling info I had no interest in.

Info I'd seen to death over 998 loops. Back as the final boss, it'd let me seep into foes' minds and corrupt them from the root. This loop? Eh, maybe useful someday.

Hm? This guy's karma is off the charts.

That karma meant countless lives snuffed out by his hand.

And the academy dean heading the Black Sheep Salvation Cult? In past loops, he'd died before I awakened my traits—I'd never known.

Black Sheep Salvation Cult.

Zealots worshiping me, the final boss. Screaming promises of salvation I never made, they dragged me deeper into darkness—demons in human skin.

Filthy, grotesque bastards who enshrined me as the Dark God atop their temple, siphoning my dark energy.

I was too corrupted then, too far gone to deny them my power.

This loop, I'd live as a normal black mage. No need to acknowledge them or pick a fight.

"Uh… if nothing's up, mind if I head out? Exhausted from the all-nighter in the dungeon."

"Hm? Oh, right. Go rest up. Seeing you're safe lets us head home easy too. Heh heh."

"Heading to the dorms? Ride with me."

The dean flashed a friendly smile, pointing to his car. Hell no.

"Nah, going home today for once. Wanna tell my brother my little bro awakened."

"Ah, yeah. Gotta share the good news with family! Off you go."

As I turned to leave after goodbyes, Shin Yu-ra caught my arm.

"I'll drive you! I… have something to say."

"…Sure, to the subway then."

Tense about what she'd say, but better than the dean smirking at my back. I hopped in her car quick.

Detour to the exchange first—sell those Red Mane Dire Wolf pelts. Grab some beef too…

Imagining facing my bro with a clear head, my heart swelled.

A vast space with grand stairs was littered with hunters' and monsters' corpses tangled together.

At the center, a black altar held a massive golden chalice brimming with blood infused with mana from hunters and beasts.

Tall stained-glass windows in crimson hues emanated ominous energy. A man in black robes raised his arms toward them, murmuring, dark aura rippling from his body.

Tens of thousands of fanatics packed the stairs outside, shrieking eerie cries in mimicry.

"Exalted Devourer of Ruin!"

"Exalted Devourer of Ruin!"

"Bestow the Black Sheep!"

"Bestow the Black Sheep!"

The man guzzled the blood from the chalice. Excess trickled down his robes.

Setting the empty vessel on the altar, a crimson flash pierced the stained glass, bathing him.

A whisper echoed through the red light.

His silhouette shuddered violently before he whirled to the cultists.

"Ooh!! Praise Him! Worship Him!"

"Praise ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Him! Worship Him!"

Gazing madly at the echoing flock, he bellowed again.

"The Black Sheep has descended at last!"

"Wooooaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

The mana-charged roar of ten thousand shook the walls and floor in resonance.

From above, a man's lips curled in greedy madness.