Chapter 215
Chapter 215
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 216
Chapter Title: Nayeo-ju Saves the World Part 2 Episode 36
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The underwater dungeon we were touring for observation was located just a ten-minute walk from the guild.
"It's right in front of the guild?"
Exaggerating a little, it was practically like having a fixed dungeon in the guild's front yard.
A small tunnel had been built to control access to the gate positioned right beneath the water's surface. The gentle lapping of waves against it created a pleasant yet somewhat eerie sound.
The black gate, swaying in the seawater like a massive strand of seaweed, only added to the unsettling vibe.
Ryu Ja-kyeong brought over a pair of young men and women who looked to be in their late teens and introduced them to us.
"These two are new hunters who've officially joined Cheonmun Guild. They'll be accompanying us on the tour today."
"Please take good care of us!"
"If they've officially joined, does that mean they were already part of Cheonmun Guild?"
"Yes! We're from the Cheonmun Youth Academy!"
As expected.
Just like the kids we'd run into at the café earlier, these two had been living and training at Cheonmun instead of commuting to Seoul Awakener High School.
Upon awakening, they'd naturally become full members of Cheonmun.
Other guilds wouldn't have stood a chance to recruit them.
'That's a smart approach.'
It felt like I'd just gotten a hint about the direction Justice Guild should head in the future.
"Alright, time to head in."
"Huh? No need for any special items? I figured we'd need something to breathe underwater..."
Ryu Ja-kyeong pulled out a dungeon camera and shook her head with a smile at my question.
"Deep-sea dungeons sometimes require special gear, but this one doesn't need anything extra."
Then how were we supposed to breathe underwater?
That unanswered question was still swirling above my head when...
Ryu Do-kyeong waded straight into the water without a moment's hesitation, her legs swishing through it casually.
Sure, it was the fixed dungeon in their guild's front yard, so she was used to it—but for first-timers, the sight made our eyes go wide.
Just before fully stepping through the gate, she turned back to us.
"No need to worry—just go ahead and enter. There's a time limit, so please hurry."
"Time limit?"
This wasn't some gate on the brink of a dungeon break—what was she talking about?
Pondering that, I followed the Cheonmun folks toward the gate.
A chill ran through me from the cold seawater, but right as I took a few more steps and my foot touched the gate...
There were limits on entrants and stay time alike.
This was my first time in a dungeon like this. A touch of tension rose as I surrendered my body to the cold seawater below.
"This is really something."
We were clearly underwater, yet we could breathe and even talk without any gear.
It felt like I'd turned into a fish.
Even better—if I thought about swimming, I could swim. If I wanted to walk like on land, that worked too.
I waved my arms around experimentally. The water's texture flowed perfectly between my fingers, hitting me anew with the fact that this was a dungeon, not reality.
A red timer ticked down relentlessly at the top of my vision.
Curiosity struck me all of a sudden.
"Guild Leader, what happens when the timer runs out? Forced ejection from the dungeon?"
"No, nothing like that. You'll just lose the ability to breathe underwater."
"...Getting ejected would've been better."
There wasn't even a visible surface to swim up to.
Imagine strolling along the deep seafloor, then suddenly being unable to breathe...
Horrifying just to think about.
"It's classified as large-scale, but underwater dungeons are smaller than most other types. Plenty of time to tour the depths and get back to the gate, so don't worry."
"No monsters left in this area. Still, you never know what might pop up in a dungeon—stay cautious. We'll head deeper for about an hour."
With that kind explanation from the Ryu siblings, we set off.
"Hey, check this out! Swimming feels way more natural!"
"Whoa, for real?"
"Yang Hwa-yeon Dolphin Spotted off Incheon's Coast!"
"Ack! She's lost it! Fire-breathing dolphins don't exist!"
Bouncy balls inside the dungeon, still bouncing outside.
Today's hyped-up Raiding Team 2 swam through the underwater dungeon like a pod of dolphins.
I considered reining them in, but Ryu Ja-kyeong was filming them with a smile, so I let it slide.
Yeah, fine—as long as everyone's enjoying themselves.
No fish to gawk at, but the swirling Raiding Team 2 "dolphins," plus clusters of coral reefs and dungeon plants resembling black seaweed here and there, kept the trek from getting boring.
About thirty minutes in...
"Holy crap."
Im Cheong-su, walking beside me, came to an abrupt halt.
"What? What's up?"
"Sis, mind asking if I can harvest some of this?"
Im Cheong-su's gaze was locked on a patch of white coral right by the path.
It protruded in spiky bundles, like thorns gathered together.
"Go ahead and harvest it."
Ryu Do-kyeong approached first, clearly having overheard Im Cheong-su.
"If it's for research, we can send some to Justice Guild periodically."
"For real?!"
Im Cheong-su's face lit up at Ryu Do-kyeong's generosity.
Then he shouted in excitement.
"This is crown coral! With this, I think it'll actually work!"
"Work? What will?"
"The wound treatment potion!"
With Ryu Do-kyeong's permission, Im Cheong-su whipped out a basket and sickle from his sub-space. He carefully chipped away at the coral while explaining.
"They say it paralyzes on skin contact. That's why you're not supposed to touch it directly—but if we use it right..."
"It'll work as an anesthetic."
Understanding dawned, sending a faint shiver down my spine.
For months, Im Cheong-su had been burning the midnight oil alongside Director Seo Yu-baek, trying to minimize the side effects of healing potions.
To find the key like this...
Im Cheong-su looked thrilled yet utterly baffled.
"Right—plants grow underwater too. Why didn't I think to check underwater plants? Ugh, am I an idiot? Wait, no—genius?"
His mumbling mouth flipped between grins and grimaces without pause.
"You mean the trauma drug they're doing clinical trials on at the Awakener Hospital?"
Ryu Do-kyeong had confirmed the area was clear of threats before returning. Now he squatted, watching Im Cheong-su harvest the coral with a smile.
"Impressive work from someone so young."
"Right? He's a real go-getter."
Ah, so much for not bragging.
"Heard from Director Seo—even the unfinished version saved a hunter's life. Once the wound treatment potion's complete, trauma deaths in dungeons will drop big time."
"That'd be incredible."
Overhearing me and Ryu Do-kyeong, Im Cheong-su seemed to well up. He bit his lower lip hard.
Seeing that made him even more endearing. I gently stroked his hair, which felt softer underwater.
The kid who usually recoiled from me just worked his hands faster, stuffing the basket full of crown coral.
Harvesting the coral took a little extra time, but we made it to our destination without issue.
"We're almost at the deep zone now. Cross that hill, and you'll see it."
Ryu Do-kyeong pointed beyond a thicket of underwater plants crowning the gentle rise.
What would the heart of an underwater dungeon look like?
Vaguely picturing a dim cave or yawning sea trench, I crested the hill...
"...A temple?"
A bad feeling prickled the back of my neck.
I'd been avoiding anything god-related like the plague, and now this—a temple out of nowhere.
"What the...?"
But even Ryu Do-kyeong looked thrown off, like this was new to him too.
And then the real surprise hit.
At the base of the hill, in front of the crumbling ruins of a temple, a black gate materialized like a dark whirlpool.
A new gate spawning inside the dungeon we'd entered through another gate.
"It's a double dungeon."