Chapter 179
Chapter 179
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 179
Chapter Title: Victory on the Brink of Catastrophe
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"I'm Colonel Park Han-jung. Let's talk inside first."
The military officer who introduced himself headed into the tent ahead of everyone.
I turned to the guild members and said,
"I'll be right back after a quick chat. Keep prepping."
"Yeah, hurry up and get back out here. I'm itching to go."
Jang Su-ho grinned at me and gave a thumbs-up as if to say not to worry.
The other guild members—even the former Magma Guild hunters who had just joined Justice Guild—felt the same.
They hadn't objected to Kang Han's suggestion to enter an A-rank gate on the verge of dungeon break; if anything, they'd jumped at the chance.
I shot one last glare at the black, rippling gate before stepping into the tent.
Expecting a private talk with Kang Han, Colonel Park looked at me with puzzled eyes.
"And you are...?"
"Justice Guild's manager, Nayeo-ju."
"Ah, the manager. So Justice Guild has two leaders. But is it true? You're really going into the gate?"
"Yes. But first, can you get in touch with the higher-ups?"
"The higher-ups...?"
"Before Justice Guild enters the gate, there's a promise the VIP needs to keep."
"Hmm."
Colonel Park glanced down at the red phone on the desk.
It was probably the hotline to the presidential office.
After a moment's hesitation, Colonel Park picked up the receiver.
"This is Colonel Park. Connect me to the president. Right now..."
He explained the situation at length, then held the line without hanging up.
And shortly after.
"Sir. A guild that plans to enter the gate is here. They have some conditions... Yes, understood. He'll speak with you directly."
The phone was handed to Kang Han.
"Yes, this is Justice Guild Master Kang Han. Our demand is simple: postpone all pending legislation related to awakeners."
[ "......" ]
I couldn't hear the voice on the other end of the line.
But Kang Han's words alone were enough to piece together the conversation.
"Hunters from the Public Guild Alliance and the Association won't come. They're hoping for the dungeon break. Non-awakener bills are irrelevant to them now."
[ "......" ]
"Decide quickly. Will you abandon Pangyo and tens of thousands of citizens like this? Or honor the promise and at least try to prevent the dungeon break?"
Silence filled the tent as they awaited the president's response.
And then, moments later.
"We'll enter immediately. Hunter Im Cheong-su from Justice Guild is heading your way, so please send the written oath bearing the president's signature with him."
After the call ended, Kang Han handed the phone back to Colonel Park.
The colonel, his heavy mood plain on his face, took the receiver and asked us as we moved to leave the tent.
"You're really going in?"
"If the gate isn't cleared, dungeon break is inevitable."
"The prediction HQ researcher who evacuated earlier said the monster count has grown so much it's closer to S-rank than A."
"Is that so."
Kang Han replied calmly and looked at me.
He hadn't said a word, but strangely, I could read the meaning in his eyes.
He wanted to leave me behind because the dungeon was too dangerous.
"Don't even think about it."
Leaving a perfectly fine healer behind while the guild enters a dangerous dungeon?
When I shot him a flat glare, Kang Han let out a small sigh and turned to Colonel Park.
"...Even if the risk level has risen, nothing changes. We've got the promise, so Justice Guild will enter."
As we bowed to Colonel Park and stepped out of the tent,
"What were you doing in there? No time to waste—let's go already!"
"Guild Master Yu Myeong-hwa?"
Camellia Guild's Guild Master Yu Myeong-hwa and her guild members had already mingled with Justice Guild and stood before the gate.
I asked in surprise,
"Why are you here?"
"Why do you think? To stop the dungeon break. Traffic was jammed, so we ran, but Justice Guild beat us to it."
Yu Myeong-hwa winked with one eye and smiled.
At that moment, Yi Cho-rok shouted from behind.
"Liar! We heard intel about Justice Guild coming here and teleported in! To repay the favor for stopping my rampage!"
"Yi Cho-rok! Why say unnecessary things?"
A chuckle escaped me.
Just like Yu Myeong-hwa to be unable to live with debts, good or bad.
Kang Han seemed to think the same, pulling his spear from subspace with a smile.
"We've secured the government's promise. We can enter right away."
"Took you long enough. Alright, everyone ready?"
Yu Myeong-hwa turned and asked; instead of words, everyone raised their weapons.
Thud. Thud.
Kang Han strode forward with heavy boot steps, lining up beside Yu Myeong-hwa at the gate.
My spot was at the very back, with Justice Guild and Camellia Guild, next to Yoo Jin-rok.
Kang Han checked his watch and announced loud enough for all to hear.
"Dungeon break in 2 hours, 34 minutes."
Sparks of bright yellow electricity crackled from his spear.
"Let's go."
It was a desperate struggle.
Monsters attacked from all directions the moment we entered, relentlessly without pause.
"Keeeaak—!"
"Take out the big ones first!"
Over thirty hunters scattered everywhere.
Unfavorable for defense, but the call to maximize kills in the short time available.
"Grrr, grrk."
"Kiek, kekk, kek!"
The fearless monsters charging at hunters had twisted forms impossible to identify.
Monsters fusing and splitting among themselves—a common phenomenon right before dungeon break.
And I was already on my third vial of stamina-boosting tonic.
What do you want me to do?
I roughly dismissed the system warning in front of me and focused on Yoo Jin-rok collapsed before me.
"Ugh... krgh."
"Hang in there just a bit longer, sir."
Yoo Jin-rok had gotten injured protecting me moments ago.
Knowing a dungeon on the brink was dangerous for a C-rank hunter, he'd insisted on coming with me instead of letting me go alone.
If anything happened to him here, I could never face Yu Ga-young.
Body Healing
Consumes 50 Stamina to heal target's critical wound.
Stamina does not decrease due to ‘Stamina Boost Tonic’ effect.
Im Cheong-su, thank you so much.
You're the best son.
I praised Im Cheong-su inwardly as I watched the blood gushing from Yoo Jin-rok's thigh slowly knit closed.
But while the potions kept my stamina from dropping, mental fatigue was unavoidable.
My head throbbed, dizziness hit in waves, and my vision blurred intermittently.
How many hunters had I healed now?
I couldn't even remember.
Staring blankly at my blood-soaked hands, I heard a close thwack and a monster's screech.
"Kiek, kekk, kek!"
Startled, I looked up to see a monster impaled on an electricity-formed spear and pinned to the wall.
Kang Han had been fighting far ahead, at the rear where I was.
He was suddenly by my side.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine. So don't worry about me and..."
Boom—!
A deafening roar split the air as something scattered in all directions.
I'd somehow risen from where I'd fallen, embraced by Yoo Jin-rok, with Kang Han shielding our huddled group behind him.
In the chaos, I thought dazedly,
Had the time passed and the dungeon already broken?
"Kyaaaaak—!"
Lifting my head with difficulty, an ambiguous sight met my eyes—fortunate or not.
Beyond the system window loomed a massive Relishia, ripping through the boss room door.
That explosion had been Relishia shattering its dungeon restraints.
Even the dungeon boss had broken free of its zone.
Dungeon break was imminent.
Kang Han beside me and Yu Myeong-hwa fighting deeper in charged at Relishia in unison, as if on cue.
Crackle—!
Bang—!
Relishia shrieked as it took simultaneous strikes from two S-rank hunters.
"Kyaaaaak!"
Relishia's scream wasn't mere pain.
"Keeak, keeak!"
"Krwooo!"
"Grrrooo—."
Like a wolf's howl summoning packmates, more monsters poured from deep dungeon branches at Relishia's call.
"Ah..."
A Camellia Guild magic hunter supporting the front lines with spells groaned in despair nearby.
And it wasn't just them.
Relishia's emergence and the new monster wave sapped many hunters' will to fight.
"Can't... block it...?"
Yoo Jin-rok clutched his partially healed wound from staggering up, murmuring with darkened eyes.
That was when it happened.
"Here!"
"Damn it, come at us all!"
"Magic users, fall back and provide support!"
Suddenly, about a hundred people appeared in the boss room cavity where fighting raged.
No need for info windows to tell.
Hunters.
"Sorry we're late!"
"No time for apologies—kill another monster!"
"You two S-ranks, focus on the boss!"
"Right! We'll handle the rest!"
My legs buckled in sudden relief; Yoo Jin-rok caught me.
"Ah..."
By my estimate, less than an hour remained until dungeon break.
Yet they'd come.
Not knowing the dungeon's state.
Knowing they could die if the break couldn't be stopped.
All these hunters had crossed the gate themselves to prevent more casualties.
"Raaah!"
Jang Su-ho swung his shield wide with a roar.
Hunters attacked monsters in tandem.
Thud!
Crack!
The battle reignited.
I used my skills on the wounded being carried from everywhere.
Fortunately, a B-rank healer among the volunteers let me treat more injured.
"30 minutes left!"
Someone shouted.
"Kyaaaaak!"
The massive Relishia finally let out a long screech and began to dissipate.
Kang Han and Yu Myeong-hwa, without a moment to breathe, split off in different directions to keep fighting.
"20 minutes!"
The monster surge halted.
"15 minutes!"
"10 minutes!"
Monster and hunter numbers evened out.
And finally.
Stab—!
Kang Han's spear deeply pierced the last monster's chest.
That instant.
✓ Cleared dungeon on brink of break!
🎁 Rewards - Calculating contribution...
The system window flashed before my eyes.
"We... we did it."
Justice Guild, Camellia Guild, and countless unaffiliated hunters cheered as one.
"We're alive!"
"Insane! We stopped it!"
"Wooo! We succeeded!"
Too exhausted to shout, I collapsed onto the ground.
"Nearly died before even averting the apocalypse."
A relieved laugh mixed into my murmur.
"Nayeo-ju-ssi."
Kang Han approached, crouching to meet my eyes.
"Guild Master, good work."
"You too, Nayeo-ju-ssi."
"You're bleeding."
I reached out and healed the wound on Kang Han's forehead.
As he slowly closed his eyes, lashes casting shadows, I told him,
"You know this? The real fight starts now."
Kang Han opened his eyes and looked at me.
"Justice Guild and Camellia Guild are now directly opposing the alliance led by Sama Guild."
"Looks that way."
"It'll be exhausting."
Kang Han laughed deeply at my words.
"We can handle it, with you here, Nayeo-ju-ssi."
Such ambiguous words, yet they rang clear.
Confirming his wound fully healed, I extended my hand to him.
"Legs won't hold me up—help me stand."
His large, warm hand gripped mine firmly, pulling me up in one motion.
As I brushed dirt off my pants,
Kang Han asked,
"Want me to carry you?"
"No thanks?"
Time to ditch that 'protected' label quick!
I glared at Kang Han once more and headed for the gate.
This dungeon was done with me.
As I stepped one foot into the still-rippling gate, hearing Kang Han's footsteps behind,
"Noona! Wait up!"
"Why are you two leaving first? Together!"
Voices called from behind.
I shouted back loudly,
"Hurry up!"
Mountains of work awaited!
- The Heroine Saves the World Part 1 Complete.