Chapter 216
Chapter 216
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Nayeo-ju Saves the World (Part 2)
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We approached the ruins of the temple.
"Nothing like this has ever happened before... Why all of a sudden...?"
Ryu Do-kyeong let out a groan, staring at the double dungeon in disbelief.
I had a pretty good idea why.
For now, I turned to Ryu Ja-kyeong.
"Sub-Guild Master Ryu Ja-kyeong, how much recording space is left on the camera you brought?"
"About two hours. But if I delete the other files, we can record for over five hours."
"Then delete everything."
Ryu Ja-kyeong complied with my request without a word.
A few camera beeps rang out, followed by a red light as recording began.
"You just asked why the double dungeon appeared so suddenly."
I pulled the statue in question from my sub-space and held it up for everyone to see—especially the camera—as I explained.
"It seems to be because of this item."
"Uh, that statue... The one we got for free at Garak-dong Market, right?"
Im Cheong-su recognized it and cried out in surprise.
"Yeah, that's the one. I just got a system notification. It said this statue opened a hidden dungeon."
"So double dungeons must open when certain conditions are met."
Han Ji-seong immediately deduced the correct answer.
It was the first stage of major gate changes.
Shifting from simply entering a dungeon and clearing it by defeating the boss monster to unlocking hidden routes upon fulfilling specific conditions.
That's what people started calling 'double dungeons.'
'I had no idea this statue would trigger one, though.'
If I'd known, I never would've carried it around.
It was then, as I gripped the statue tightly in frustration.
Crack—.
A cracking sound rang out, and fissures appeared on the statue's surface.
"Wha—what the...?"
I'm not that strong!
"I'll hold it."
Kang Han took the statue from my hand.
Even the slight impact of passing it from hand to hand caused the stone encasing it to shatter completely.
Kang Han brushed it off with his hand, revealing a golden statue beneath.
It depicted a large hand clutching something that resembled a temple pillar.
Im Cheong-su spoke in a trembling voice.
"Hey... The item description changed. It was C-rank before, but now it's A-rank. And... the name is 'Proof of the Believer'."
I pulled up the item info in surprise, and sure enough, Im Cheong-su was right.
Proof of the Believer (A)
Only those who prove their faith may reach it.
It was clearly the key to the double dungeon, no matter who looked at it.
...If it'd said that from the start, I never would've brought it into the dungeon!
"Haa... What do we do?"
I sighed and asked Ryu Do-kyeong.
The double dungeon had opened because of an item I'd been carrying, but this was still inside a gate owned by Cheongmun Guild.
The decision lay with Ryu Do-kyeong, not me or Kang Han.
Ryu Do-kyeong cautiously placed his hand on the double dungeon under everyone's gaze.
"...There's a time limit."
"Excuse me."
I did the same as Ryu Do-kyeong and touched the gate.
"I'm not sure what 'dungeon boundary collapse' means exactly, but we can't just leave it."
"Let's go in."
Ryu Do-kyeong and Ryu Ja-kyeong spoke firmly, as if they'd already made up their minds.
Even so, they clearly explained their stance to Kang Han.
"Entering the double dungeon like this would violate the association's official notice. We understand if Justice Guild chooses not to join."
Kang Han touched the gate himself and then asked.
"The system says we have a little over four hours. Can you bring in Cheongmun Guild reinforcements from outside in that time?"
"...It's possible."
As Ryu Do-kyeong said, it was possible.
One hour to exit the underwater dungeon, and another to call Cheongmun's hunters and return here.
The problem was that even moving as fast as possible given the situation would take at least another hour.
That would cut into our time to clear the double dungeon.
Kang Han's gaze turned to the Justice Guild hunters.
Yang Hwa-yeon shrugged, catching his meaning.
"Doesn't seem like a situation to back out because we're scared of the association."
"I'm not sure how much help we'll be in an A-rank double dungeon, but we'll do what we can."
The Team 3 leader, composed of B- and C-rank hunters, answered calmly as well.
Having heard the team leaders' opinions, Kang Han told Ryu Do-kyeong.
"Justice Guild will help."
"...Thank you. I won't forget this favor."
"Cheong-su, Choi Su-won, you two stay here. Team 3, stay back and guard the double gate with them. Who's the fastest mover in Team 3? Head out now, request backup from Cheongmun Guild, and bring the reinforcements."
"I'll go."
Lee In-gyu, the nimblest in Team 3, dashed toward the gate leading out of the underwater dungeon.
Kang Han watched his retreating figure, then asked Ryu Do-kyeong.
"What about Cheongmun's rookies?"
"You two stay here. Follow Team 3 Leader's orders while I'm gone."
"A-alright."
Cheongmun's two rookies replied, unable to hide their tension.
Kang Han confirmed the hunters drawing their weapons, then drew his own black spear and said.
"Let's go in."
It was a gate inside the dungeon, but entering felt no different from one on the surface.
Just as sticky and chilling.
The double dungeon was another underwater dungeon, identical to the outside.
But there were differences.
"We can't retreat."
As soon as everyone except the two non-combatants and Team 3 outside entered the double dungeon, Ryu Do-kyeong checked the gate and spoke.
Normally, your hand should pass right through the gate, just like on entry.
But Ryu Do-kyeong's pale hand, touching the entrance, stopped as if hitting a wall.
The door behind us had closed.
We could only move forward.
The narrow path stretching from the gate—labeled the Pilgrimage Path—declared as much.
"I'll take the lead."
Ryu Do-kyeong took point, followed by Kang Han and Jang Su-ho.
Naturally, Yu Jin-rok guarded my side and Han Ji-seong's, with Team 2 surrounding us.
Despite the heavy tension, nothing happened for a while.
We just kept walking along the path.
But the peace didn't last.
It was just as the path began to widen a bit.
"Hng!"
"Ugh."
Grunts erupted from all around simultaneously.
Gravity had suddenly multiplied several times over, making our bodies feel heavy.
At the same time, red system windows flashed before our eyes in alternation.
[Obey!]
[Revere!]
[Obey!]
[Revere!]
"What kind of bullshit is this...!"
The others seemed to be holding out, but I couldn't.
Just as the system demanded—obey and revere—I was already on my knees on the ground.
It felt like someone was pressing down on the back of my head with immense force.
Whatever was screaming at us through the system had a clear demand.
Crawl on all fours along the pilgrimage path.
The malicious entity that had driven Jeong Je-hwa berserk just for peering into the statue was now tormenting everyone who'd entered the double dungeon.
"Fucking crazy bastards."
I struggled to lift my head and saw Han Ji-seong, suffering though not as badly as me.
"Who the hell do you think you are, ordering us to obey?!"
I gritted my teeth, put all my strength into my knees, and forcibly stood up.
My legs trembled uncontrollably, but I had zero intention of crawling on the ground like that damn thing wanted.
As I took one defiant step forward with that thought—
"I'll help."
A sturdy arm scooped me up effortlessly.
Kang Han, his face hardened in obvious fury, said.
"Bear with it even if it's uncomfortable. Kneeling doesn't suit you, Nayeo-ju-ssi."