Chapter 8
Chapter 8
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Nayeo-ju Saves the World 8
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The dungeon located on Mansu Mountain was a cave-type dungeon.
Passing through the gate made it feel like we'd suddenly tunneled into the heart of the mountain's bedrock.
I'd been worried about ending up in a sweltering jungle or a brutally freezing glacier zone.
But this cave was dry—no humidity at all—and lit just right, as if someone had flicked on artificial lights. Aside from the dust and flying rock chips, it was a pretty workable environment.
And best of all, my pickaxe swings had a serious booster attached.
"Heh heh. Money, money."
Every now and then, hacking away at the tough dungeon walls would send a small mana stone rolling out.
Being a C-rank dungeon, they weren't high-grade or huge, but outside, these babies fetched tens to hundreds of thousands of won at least.
Constantly slamming down on rock was exhausting, of course.
But whether it was thanks to awakening as an A-rank, my stamina had improved, my strength was definitely up from before, and most importantly, it suited me perfectly.
"Phew, after that sweet potato harvest experience, this is the first thing this fun in ages."
This one's worth 500,000 won, this one 300,000.
I was getting a daily wage anyway, but they'd mentioned incentives on top.
That's why Kang Han was doing this job.
To pay off even the interest on his hundreds of billions in debt.
Mining as a day laborer guaranteed income, unlike risky dungeon raids that could fail.
Justice Guild wasn't even part of any joint raids to begin with.
Kang Han was off by himself, far from where I and the others were working, digging deep into the earth.
"Time to eat, folks!"
The foreman uncle bellowed.
"Food! Food!"
True to his title, he pulled out proper lunchboxes from a massive bag, portioned out just right.
We settled in a spot a little away from the messy work area, naturally forming a circle.
Everyone except Kang Han.
"Ooh, jackpot. Pork cutlet."
I'll chat him up after eating.
I didn't overthink it and took a huge bite of the pork cutlet.
That's when the guy who'd been extra fawning over the foreman uncle spoke up.
"Oh, right. You hear about that? The A-rank healer who showed up."
"Cough cough!"
Why was my story coming up here?
"I heard too. Hunter communities and trainee ones were blowing up over it yesterday."
Hunter-only communities? No way!
"Not just communities— it hit the news too."
The news too?!
"Wh-what'd they say?"
I hurriedly chewed and swallowed my pork cutlet before asking.
"Lemme think. Can't reveal personal info, but..."
The foreman scratched his bushy-bearded chin and continued.
"She's a 20-something woman, A-rank healer. First one in three years, so everyone's losing it. Word is all four major guilds put in recruitment offers."
"Recruitment offers?"
Unknown numbers kept calling and texting yesterday.
I'd blocked them all, thinking voice phishing scams.
"So why's Nayeo-ju doing this rough gig? What's your awakening?"
The guy my age, who'd been smacking his lips nonstop while eating next to me, suddenly asked.
"Money, what else."
"Knew it. Nayeo-ju's got money troubles too."
Troubles? Sure, if you call having too much money and not knowing where to invest it a "trouble."
I thought we'd eat in peace now.
But the guy leaned toward me.
"Tell me, just between us. What's your rank? E? F?"
Why would I trust you with that?
And was it okay to just ask people's ranks like this?
Day labor market seemed rank-blind, though.
Couldn't grasp the culture of this undescribed [Sejong Block] from the novel.
I pretended to focus on eating and brushed it off vaguely.
"High rank, and I'd be raiding with guilds. Just support-type."
Not a lie.
Healer was non-combat support, if you had to classify it.
Before the smack-lips guy could pester more, I changed the subject.
"Why's that guy eating alone, though?"
A probe for morale.
Sure enough, faces soured the second I asked.
"Don't know Kang Han? Justice Guild."
"Ah."
I nodded vaguely.
"That's just how he is. Thinks he's above us trash ranks."
The female miner across from me glared at Kang Han and spat it out. Everyone piled on like they'd been waiting.
"Even as an S-rank, can't land a proper hit. No different from us."
"I just don't get it. Can't even take a C-rank monster—why S? Barely D-level."
"Acts like hot stuff as guild master. Just scraping rejects who can't join other guilds."
Whoa, listen to them go.
I felt awkward just for bringing it up—the venom flew fast.
Honestly, couldn't understand their sharp resentment.
"He's S-rank on looks alone."
He's handsome, right?
Plus, as I said this morning, even without skills, S-rank physicals were beyond imagination.
In short...
'He can hear every word of this conversation.'
Proof: Kang Han suddenly took a sip of water at my words.
I stared at him for a moment with bulging eyes.
'Ugh, that blockhead.'
I'd bet this wasn't his first time being shunned or hearing live trash-talk.
Yet he never snapped or argued back.
Because he was more furious at his own weakness than anyone.
I knew that was Kang Han's nature...
But my throat tightened anyway, so I took a sip of water.
The smack-lips guy perked up beside me.
"Oh? Done already, Nayeo-ju? Gimme yours then."
"Sure, whatever. Have at it."
Might be your last meal in this world.
It happened toward the end of lunch and mining shift.
Kang Han, working alone far off, suddenly dropped his tools and came running our way, yelling.
"Evade!"
Behind his sprinting back flew a bat the size of a three-story building, wings spread wide.
A monster that guilds conquering Mansu Mountain Dungeon should've wiped out.
"Wh-what the hell!"
"Shit, why's a monster here?! Wasn't this safe?!"
"Aaaah! I don't wanna die!"
Amid the panicking crowd, I activated Know as Much as You See.
"Damn it, a C-rank of all things."
Mansu Mountain Dungeon was C-rank difficulty.
Meaning this Giant Wingbat was boss-tier for this place.
And a flyer, to boot.
For low-rank awakeners with no flight skills—ground crawlers all—it was the worst matchup imaginable.
"Sh-shouldn't we run? Even on foot...!"
"Wanna die? Turning your back on a flyer spells death, idiot."
"Th-then what?!"
The crowd lost more reason as time ticked; the monster closed in.
I kept cool amid it and... run? Yeah, right.
'Damn!'
The real monster's pressure dwarfed imagination.
Couldn't even blink—my whole body locked up.
"That's... just C-rank?"
My vision swam.
If C was this bad, how about future A or S monsters?
No, that gate on Doomsday?
My legs quaked at every flap of those demonic black wings, will to fight gone.
Couldn't flee even if I wanted.
Everyone else was just as powerless before the sudden C-rank.
Instead of pooling strength to fight, they turned on Kang Han, screaming.
"Do something!"
"You're S-rank, you worthless shit!"
All here were C-rank or below.
One claw swipe from that beast, and it was game over.
Kang Han planted his feet alone between the approaching Wingbat and us.
Electricity crackled from his hands, back turned to us.
"Kieeeek!"
The Wingbat shrieked instinctively, sensing threat.
Crackle—!
Yellow bolts raced down his veined arms and shot at the bat.
But the follow-up was despairing.
Its thick black hide—impervious to blades—bounced the weak current right off.
"Kiik! Kiiit!"
The feeble attack enraged it further; its cry turned even more grotesque.
Pondering how to torment these pesky prey most painfully, perhaps—the Wingbat that had swooped close suddenly spread its wings wider and circled us.
"Useless bastard!"
"Can't even one-shot a C-rank Wingbat and calls himself S?!"
"Fuck, we're dead because of him!"
Abuse flew at Kang Han.
Truth was, he wasn't the one they should curse—he'd at least tried.
Blame the guild that didn't clear this dungeon properly.
But Kang Han didn't rebuke them.
"I'll hold it off somehow. Run."
He just stood guard, straining to do something.
"Wait... just wait."
Huddled behind him, I fought the terror.
Forced deep breaths felt like my chest would burst.
In [Sejong Block], everyone here dies.
The early episode that tanks Kang Han's rep for good.
But if I'd leave it be, I wouldn't have stepped foot here.
All that was left: pull the trigger to properly activate Kang Han's skill.
That's when it came.
A man's voice from right behind.
"Hey, don't hate him too much. We can't help it either."
Definitely the smack-lips guy.
"What the...!"
Bullshit.
But I couldn't finish.
He shoved my back hard, sending me sprawling forward.
In an instant, I hit the dungeon floor defenseless.
And at the same moment, the Wingbat's blood-red eyes locked on me.