Chapter 127
Chapter 127
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: Incident at the Octopus Leg Bridge Dungeon (1)
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For once, Bokbok Interiors was bustling.
Jang Chaewon was pulling up overdue estimates, Kim Chanwon was handling tile work, and Go Eunjin was buried in backlog paperwork.
The Heavenly Demon, however, had nothing particular to do, so he leisurely sipped green tea while reading a book.
"......"
Go Eunjin's gray eyes narrowed as she hammered away at her keyboard like mad.
Some people were working themselves to death, eyes popping out, while behind the Heavenly Demon across from her, it was like clouds were drifting lazily.
"If you have nothing to do, go gather materials or something."
Unable to stand it, Go Eunjin snapped, and the Heavenly Demon, teacup in hand, smiled leisurely.
"All tasks assigned to this seat are complete."
"There was that one missed request from before."
As if expecting it, Go Eunjin pulled out one of the stacked documents from her desk and held it out.
"What's that."
"Pop-Pop Fruit harvesting request."
Unfolding the document revealed a photo of round, glowing fruits.
Below it, details were densely packed: dungeon location, quantity to harvest, and so on.
"Hmm."
He'd been feeling a slight itch for action anyway.
With a hum, the Heavenly Demon grabbed the sack hanging in the warehouse and called out loudly.
"Nameless."
[You called, Heavenly Demon?]
As Nameless rolled out, the Heavenly Demon pointed to the document on the table.
"Material gathering."
[Understood.]
Nameless hopped onto the table and began scrutinizing the data eagerly. Watching this, Jang Chaewon called to the Heavenly Demon.
"Ah, put off the material gathering for now."
"What do you mean."
"There might be inspections in the dungeons these next few days. Better to handle the gathering later."
The Heavenly Demon looked puzzled.
"Inspections?"
"It's mostly formal, but sometimes the Association does undercover patrols. They might do it once per quarter when frequent."
"What does 'formal' mean."
Nameless on the table answered.
[Dungeons cover such vast areas. They can't thoroughly check every Awakener scattered everywhere, so they just do superficial patrols. Most are done with nanodrones anyway.]
"Nanodrones?"
[Those small flying things buzzing around you saw last time. They don't work inside dungeons, so the Association sends them to rest areas where Awakeners gather or near dungeons with good relic drops.]
Stroking his chin at Nameless's explanation, the Heavenly Demon mused.
"Nothing to worry about then. This seat avoids rest areas and relics."
[Getting caught is still a problem.]
"Won't get caught."
Slinging the sack over his shoulder, the Heavenly Demon snorted and turned.
Watching his back, Jang Chaewon smacked her lips.
"Go later? It's not urgent."
"Sitting idle gains nothing."
Remembering the creaking L.V.M.S suspension, wrinkles deepened around the Heavenly Demon's eyes.
"Better earn a coin or two."
"Hmm."
She had no retort to that.
Knowing the Heavenly Demon's skills meant even a swarm of Association agents couldn't touch him, Jang Chaewon nodded.
"Fine, then. Go and come back safe."
The Heavenly Demon opened the door to the secret passage leading to the black-painted dungeon.
Creak.
With the grind of metal, thick, textured air filled his nostrils.
Walking to the end of the passage, he felt a pull, and soon white light filled his vision.
"Hoo."
Opening the door again, the Heavenly Demon emerged atop a dilapidated building in a safe dungeon.
The secret passage naturally led to the rooftop door, so even if spotted by another Awakener, nothing suspicious would stand out.
Looking up, a clear blue sky blended seamlessly with the blue shield.
"Pop-Pop Fruit, eh."
According to the document, Pop-Pop Fruits grew in the heart of the B-rank dungeon, Octopus Leg Bridge Dungeon.
"Octopus Leg Bridge Dungeon, was it."
Nameless on his shoulder replied swiftly.
[Yes. It's a mobile dungeon in the southwest wasteland area. Finding the entrance might take time.]
"Mobile dungeon?"
[Yes. Not actually moving, though. Different from real mobile dungeons inside variable dungeons. The entrance just shifts locations occasionally.]
"Why call it mobile then."
[If they don't classify Octopus Leg Bridge as mobile, the Association has to update maps every time the entrance changes. Constant map updates are a huge hassle for them.]
Bureaucracy was everywhere.
Even in the Murim Alliance, and in the Heavenly Demon's Ten Thousand Demons Palace.
The Heavenly Demon never forgave those who perpetuated such lazy practices.
"Such slothful fools handle operations?"
[Awakeners just accept it. The Association isn't flexible with laws or guidelines anyway.]
"Huh?"
Then, a clear female voice came from behind.
Turning, he saw a woman in a duck mask, lugging a huge pack.
It was One Good Deed a Day.
"Heavenly Demon?"
Doing one good deed a day yet stirring up odd trouble in dungeons, she was still a customer at Bokbok Interiors and a yokai deity.
"Miss One."
The Heavenly Demon gave a light clasped-hands salute, and a bright, resonant voice came from her duck mask.
"What brings you here?"
"Just some business in the dungeon."
"I see."
One Good Deed a Day's gaze fixed on the fearsome demon mask the Heavenly Demon wore.
"But that mask..."
Stepping closer, she peered intently at the mask, black mist seeming to emanate from it.
"It amplifies power but drains stamina too. And that ferocious aura..."
As expected of a yokai deity.
She instantly discerned the mask's energy, unnoticed by anyone else.
"Wearing it long-term could harm even your body, Heavenly Demon."
"No issue. Stamina overflows."
"Bigger problem."
"Problem?"
The Heavenly Demon's eyes flashed.
Did this mask have some fatal flaw unknown even to him?
"What problem."
"It's too scary-looking. Could disgust other Awakeners."
"...Doesn't matter."
"No good."
One Good Deed a Day said firmly.
"Dungeons are shared spaces. Can't harm others. Got it?"
One Good Deed a Day waved and left.
The Heavenly Demon stared blankly.
"......"
A cute duck mask now covered his dumbfounded head.
She'd forcibly removed the demon mask, tucked it into his bosom, and slapped on her spare duck mask.
-Dungeons aren't just for one person.
He'd refused repeatedly, but One Good Deed a Day was adamant.
A yokai deity's strong insistence left no room for refusal or force.
While dithering, she'd plopped the duck mask on him.
[It's fine, Heavenly Demon.]
Nameless spoke cautiously, fully grasping his mood.
[Sticking to one mask risks identifying you. Occasionally switch masks and clothes to lower exposure risk.]
Sound advice.
The Heavenly Demon, standing lost, nodded resignedly.
"Let's head out."
His voice sounded odd. The duck mask beak had a voice modulator.
"Why's this seat's voice like this."
Each word came out modulated into a cute, bright girl's voice.
[......]
Nameless swallowed laughter with all its might.
Laughing now would surely backfire on it.
[Guiding...]
Pouring all battery into patience, Nameless said curtly.
[...begins.]
Whoosh.
Unleashing Night Moon Extreme Speed, the Heavenly Demon in Our Clothes fluttered fiercely.
To him, it was a great peng soaring the skies.
To other Awakeners, it was a duck excitedly hopping into the air.
"Strange fellow."
"Thinks this is an amusement park?"
"Unique hobby."
Awakeners spotting him just tsked or looked baffled.
Thud.
Finally arriving in the southwest wasteland.
No ruins here—just sparse rocks in barren expanse.
"Nothing here."
[Traces of past attempts to destroy dungeons with missiles and such heavy firepower. During First Buster era when dungeons first appeared, no one understood 'world laws' properly.]
Modern weapons couldn't kill monsters; using them on dungeons just destabilized, altering size or spawning hordes.
Knowing this, the Heavenly Demon nodded.
"Find the entrance quickly."
[Understood.]
Clank. Various sensors popped from Nameless's head.
[Might take time. Please follow my guidance.]
"Got it."
As the Heavenly Demon nodded—
Vroooom!
A roar, and far off, a car sped toward them, kicking up dust.
A dungeon buggy (off-road vehicle).
Screech.
The bus-sized large dungeon buggy braked before him, spraying sand.
Seats like welded scrap metal held a young man and woman.
Backseat loaded with gear suggested long-term dungeon dwellers.
"Hello?"
The driver, eyeing the Heavenly Demon, greeted amiably.
In a long coat and orange goggles, he had dark skin and sharp features.
"What're you doing alone in this wasteland?"
"Mind your own."
Sharp words, but the duck mask output a cute girl's voice.
"Puhahaha! What's that? Wild hobby!"
The man burst laughing; the girl beside him cautioned softly.
"Oppa, rude."
"Ah, sorry. But too funny."
The girl wore a round egg-shaped helmet.
Nameless pointed at it in surprise.
[A discontinued early-model helmet nanobot. But covers both eyes—can you see?]
She smiled and shook her head.
"Modded for transparent HUD display."
[Like second-gen glasses-type nanobots? Unique.]
The goggle man's jaw dropped at Nameless's natural speech.
"Whoa. Killer language pack. Become Human?"
With money, nanobots could be customized endlessly.
High-end packs customized voice, age, gender, personality—even human-like responses.
[Yes. Sharp eye.]
Nameless bantered; the man laughed at the girl.
"See? Told you to upgrade. New ones chat like that."
The sibling-like pair hovered like annoying flies, not leaving.
"Business with this seat?"
The man beamed and nodded at the Heavenly Demon's words.
"Saw you alone in the wasteland. Need a ride?"
"No need."
Flat refusal. To Nameless: "Find the dungeon fast."
Hearing "dungeon," the man's eyes lit.
"Dungeon? Around here, only..."
The helmet girl stepped forward.
"Looking for Octopus Leg Bridge Dungeon?"
Ignoring, Nameless replied quick.
[Yes.]
She smiled softly.
"Really? We're heading there too. What a coincidence."
The man grinned at the Heavenly Demon.
"Perfect. Hop on. Let's go together."
Vrooom!
Then, afar, a rusty truck barreled toward them.
M903 large truck's compact version, M703.
Screech.
It halted beside the buggy amid metal grind.
Short-haired man properly combed in driver's seat; pale-faced bob-cut woman in passenger.
"Wow, people in the wasteland after ages."
The short-hair eyed the Heavenly Demon and buggy man alternately.
"Heading to variable dungeon?"
Before reply, goggle man laughed.
"Nah. To Octopus Leg Bridge. Hearing good relic drops lately."
"Oh, really? Us too."
Short-hair knocked on the M703 door.
"Fate. Join us. Minor monsters aplenty."
Goggle man nodded, smiling.
"Shall we?"
"This seat..."
The Heavenly Demon started refusing.
But Nameless tapped his shoulder blade with a spindly arm.
'Hm.'
Always together, he read Nameless's intent from the gesture.
-Follow them first.
Clear message, surely with reason.
"Over here."
Goggle man grinned, pointing to buggy backseat.
After brief thought, the Heavenly Demon climbed in obediently.
Rumble. Vroooom!
Large buggy and compact truck roared across the wasteland.
In the loaded backseat corner rode the duck-masked Heavenly Demon and Nameless.
[Heavenly Demon. Something's off.]
Nameless's voice whispered in his ear from the shoulder.
Glancing, Nameless clung to his head, sensors narrowed small.
Puzzled, the Heavenly Demon thought: If suspicious, why speak openly?
[Don't worry. Only transmitting to you.]
"Hm."
Using Sound Transmission Secret Voice, he twisted sound thin, vibrating Nameless's audio sensors directly.
[Like this?]
Nameless couldn't hide surprise.
[Nothing you can't do, Heavenly Demon.]
[But what's off?]
[That truck couple. Checked databases—no registration as Awakeners.]