Chapter 68: D-Rank Prospect
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 68: D-Rank Prospect
Now that I’d taught Yoon A-young presence detection, it was time to start clearing dungeons in earnest.
Since I’d shown her the ropes, she could practice on her own now. I planned to occasionally drop into D-1 myself to enjoy some... "natural" freedom.
We headed toward the dungeon in our trademark Thunderblue.
The well-funded Square Garden had offered to send a van, but Kwon Ye-jin insisted on the Thunderblue, seemingly attached to it.
As a result, a bizarre sight unfolded: a van loaded with our equipment followed behind us, while we, the actual heroes, rode in a cramped, aging compact car.
Looking at N-Star, the followers seemed to love it, but I wondered what we’d do once our numbers grew.
As I surveyed the interior of the tiny car—which couldn't fit more than five people even if we were packed like sardines—Kwon Ye-jin, who was driving, spoke up.
"How about 'Jeong Yeon-woo and the Kids'?"
"That sounds like a 90s idol group."
"Ascalon," A-young suggested.
"What about Guns N' Roses?" Yu-na chimed in.
We were deciding on a party name on our way to the dungeon. Lee Yu-na was participating via video call, and everyone had very distinct tastes.
I ignored Kwon Ye-jin, who had zero naming sense. Yoon A-young was reciting names of legendary weapons, and Lee Yu-na was only suggesting names that sounded like rock bands.
"I'm the only one who uses a gun," I pointed out. "Why is everyone trying to name the party based on me?"
"Well, because Master is our leader," Ye-jin replied.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"This party only exists because of you, Yeon-woo," Yu-na added.
"You haven't even joined yet," Ye-jin shot back.
"Oh? Are you still there, Kwon Ye-jin? Haven't been kicked out yet?"
The two rivals started bickering again, but they shut up the moment they saw my expression.
Relationships aside, I needed to see how well we functioned as a team in a real fight.
"Let's not overthink it. Keep it simple. No need to try too hard to be cool."
"Unicorn," Yoon A-young said softly from the back seat.
Where did that come from?
I glanced back, then turned forward again to see Ye-jin and Yu-na’s expressions. They looked like they were holding something back, yet they seemed to like the idea.
"...You guys... like 'Unicorn'?"
"Huh? Oh, I mean, Master... it's good. It's a legendary creature, right?"
"Right... a mythical beast..."
Why did they all like it?
As I looked at them skeptically, Ye-jin and Yu-na quickly began to explain.
"I-it's really strong! Unicorns are invincible. It's a perfect symbol for a hero who blocks monsters."
"The shape is distinct, too, so it'll be easy to design an emblem."
And they're obsessed with virgins.
These girls were subtly sexually harassing me. They only seemed to be on the same page at times like this.
And for the record, I love everyone, regardless of whether they're "pure" or not.
Are they seriously going to go with Unicorn?
"..."
Yoon A-young, who brought it up; Kwon Ye-jin, who was driving; and Lee Yu-na, who was watching me via video call—all of them were silent.
"Fine. Let's make 'Unicorn' the top choice for now. Let me know if you think of anything else later."
We were nearing the dungeon, so the naming discussion was cut short. They weren't actually serious about Unicorn, right?
As we stepped out of the Thunderblue, we were immediately hit by the spotlight of the crowd gathered near the dungeon. Seeing a few foreigners in the mix, it was clear we were gaining international attention.
The staff from the van quickly unloaded our gear. I still wasn't used to seeing corporate sponsor logos on the aluminum equipment cases.
Still, I suppose I should be grateful they didn't stick weird patches all over our actual gear in the name of advertising.
In some clear videos, you'd see heroes covered in patches. Seeing brands for pizza or dumplings plastered across someone's back and arms made it hard to take them seriously.
That was Break Line's style. I was glad I didn't take their support.
Square Garden was one of the Three Major Clans, so their sponsors were household names, but I still didn't want "Goyang Dumplings" on my back.
I greeted the crowd briefly but ignored the reporters' questions as we entered the dungeon.
"Situation Room, is the communication clear?"
"Yes, loud and clear. This is Operator Ryu Ji-hye. It is an honor to be assigned to Hero Jeong Yeon-woo, Hero Yoon A-young, and Hero Kwon Ye-jin. I look forward to working with you."
A pleasant, clear voice introduced herself.
Unlike Break Line, Square Garden operated its parties like military units. They assigned dedicated staff—operators, support teams, production teams—to each party, allowing them to build rapport over a long period.
As the party grew, the support staff grew with them. Of course, they’d be replaced if their skills didn't keep up, but I liked this system.
Ryu Ji-hye, our current operator, had originally been an assistant operator for a B-rank party before being assigned to us. Her skills were guaranteed. Even as we rapidly climbed to C-rank and B-rank, she’d be able to handle it.
"I look forward to working with you too. I hope we can stay together for a long time."
"Yes, I will do my best not to disappoint you."
I hadn't seen her face, but given that she didn't complain even though I’d taken over a lot of the operating authority, she seemed to have a good personality.
The contrast with Break Line was so refreshing it made me giddy. With proper support, a hero party could exert so much more power.
"Here, drink this."
I handed Rahiya's Elixir to the two of them.
Kwon Ye-jin tilted her head as she looked at the strangely colored booster.
"Is this an aphrodisiac or something? Master, are you trying to pull something?"
"It's a booster. It costs about ten million won a bottle."
"...Are you insane?"
Ye-jin gasped, looking at the tiny vial that was barely two knuckles long.
"I mean, thanks, but... Master, are you sure we should drink this?"
"Yes, drink up. The effects last for about ten days, so I'll give you more next time."
"...Ugh."
The ten-million-won price tag seemed to weigh on her as she stared down at the vial in her palm.
Yoon A-young turned the vial over as if she’d never seen anything like it before.
"I've never heard of a pink booster. Did you make this yourself too?"
"I made it, but the recipe belongs to someone else. I'm the proof of its effectiveness."
A hero who had once fled from mere goblins during his "cherry-popping" was now the most anticipated prospect. There was no better proof than that, so A-young nodded.
No matter how much of a genius someone was, it was impossible to create medicine without research facilities, so she accepted that it was someone else's recipe. I did happen to like the character Rahiya, after all.
"You said ten million per bottle? Does it cost ten million to make it, not buy it?"
"Yeah, ten million."
"I'll pay for what I drink."
"You don't really have to."
"Yes, I do. Elixir recipes are usually kept secret, and even if the effects last a long time, if the ingredients alone cost tens of millions, the market price could reach hundreds of millions. I can't just drink that for free. And what happens when the party grows? Are you going to shoulder that cost alone? Even an A-rank hero couldn't handle that."
A-young spoke firmly, stating she would send the money later. Belatedly, Ye-jin took the hint and agreed, saying she’d send money too.
"We're teammates, not children to be looked after. Rely on us more. Lean on us."
"Exactly! Master, you can lean on my chest anytime."
Ye-jin spread her arms wide, following A-young’s cool speech.
I really had picked the perfect teammates.
I nodded, feeling grateful toward A-young as she looked at me with determined eyes.
Returning to the task at hand, I checked my gear and spoke as I slotted in a magazine.
"From this moment on, I am the party leader. No honorifics, and you follow my every command."
"Understood~"
"Got it."
As I gave the usual preamble, the atmosphere around A-young and Ye-jin shifted instantly as they responded.
"Let's go."
We flipped our switches and began clearing the dungeon in one fell swoop. That day, we cleared every single D-7 dungeon, earning the right to challenge Level 8.
"I wondered what it would be like after hearing the rumors, but they actually undervalued you. I see now why you wanted operating authority."
"Sorry. I have a bit of an obsession with commanding."
"No, I should be the one learning from you. If I end up unemployed because of you, you'd better take responsibility," Operator Ryu Ji-hye joked with a small laugh.
Ah, this is bliss.
Teammates who trust me, dedicated staff, incredible support, and perfect benefits. This is why everyone kills themselves trying to get into a major clan.
I couldn't help but compare this to my days at Break Line, even though I tried not to. We continued our conquest.
"Let's have crab for dinner tonight."
Time passed, and having smashed through D-8 with unstoppable momentum, we were now facing the boss of a D-9 dungeon. Kwon Ye-jin was practically salivating.
That giant crab did look delicious. Its red body looked tough, but it was incredibly appetizing. The moss growing on its shell was a bit of a downside, but it wasn't like we were going to eat the shell.
"Ye-jin, you handle the Jungle Crab alone. A-young, take out the rest of the monsters. My support magic will be spread thin, so Ye-jin, just buy time. Don't overdo it."
At my command, the two charged forward.
Ye-jin deflected a massive pincer with her shield and shouted as she banged her greatsword against it.
"Come at me! You're dinner!"
While she drew the Jungle Crab's attention, A-young darted across the battlefield, wiping out the minions. Being seafood, they were weak to her freezing abilities; they fell wherever her skills landed.
Meanwhile, I pressed one hand to the ground and cast magic. My other hand continuously fired my pistol to support the two, while the hand on the ground used Matter Transformation to keep digging into the earth.
"Operator, keep the intel coming."
With my mind split between multi-casting, supporting two people, and commanding, I asked Ryu Ji-hye for assistance.
She continuously fed drone footage to the screen on my wrist, delivering the situation with perfect clarity. From the multiple drones, she transmitted only the most vital feeds. Based on her intel, I immediately gave Ye-jin an order.
"Bubbles incoming! Fall back!"
As I shouted, A-young created an ice wall in front of Ye-jin as she retreated. The ice wall held for a moment before melting away as the bubbles surged forward, but it bought enough time for Ye-jin to turn tail and scramble away.
"Bring the aggro toward me!"
Ye-jin ran like a character in a disaster movie. The Jungle Crab, frothing at the mouth, threw a massive pincer toward her. It was deflected harmlessly, but it succeeded in enraging the beast. The Jungle Crab skittered toward Ye-jin with a frantic clack-clack-clack.
"Master! Almost there!"
I climbed out of the deep pit I’d dug and fired my gun from behind Ye-jin to draw the crab's gaze. As the Jungle Crab closed in and raised its massive pincers, Ye-jin grabbed me by the waist and leaped over the pit. I kept pumping bullets into the crab mid-air.
The Jungle Crab, which looked like it was about to fall in, made a physically impossible sudden stop right at the edge of the hole. Looking at its hideous, expressionless crustacean face—which somehow looked smug—I smirked.
"Stupid bug."
Pshhh—!
A-young’s skill, which she’d been preparing from behind, activated. A massive pillar of ice erupted from beneath the Jungle Crab’s belly.
Flipped over instantly, the Jungle Crab tumbled into the pit. I immediately fired at the walls near its legs.
Stone pillars erupted from the walls where the bullets hit, but the crab’s flailing legs crushed them all. Its legs were thin compared to its body, but they were still massive.
Ignoring the destruction, I kept firing to create more stone pillars. Each one was destroyed, but the debris began to pile up, burying the Jungle Crab alive.
"Wow... this is the first time I've felt sorry for a boss."
Pinned under the rubble, the Jungle Crab was buried with only its vulnerable underbelly exposed.
Above our heads, A-young’s massive ice spear—her finishing blow—was complete. While I was burying the beast, A-young had taken the time to manifest a high-tier technique. Her beautiful silver hair fluttered as she looked down at the white underbelly with cold eyes.
K-boooom—!
The massive weight fell, creating a cloud of dust like an explosion.
Visibility vanished, so I pushed my presence detection and mana detection to their limits. I’d seen the Jungle Crab get skewered by the spear just before the dust billowed out.
I kept my senses sharp just in case, but as the dust cleared, I saw the dead Jungle Crab beyond Ye-jin, who was standing guard with her shield.
"Whew~"
Ye-jin whistled at A-young’s destructive power.
"I guess people like you are meant to be Attackers, Senior. I'm glad I listened to Master and became a Defender."
"An Attacker can only shine because there's a Defender. And because of him."
"Hehe, thanks for looking out for me."
Ye-jin’s bright smile looked surprisingly cute, a departure from her usual sultry aura. I patted her head and walked over to A-young, who was catching her breath after exhausting her mana.
"..."
When I patted her head without a word to tell her she did a good job, she glared at me but didn't pull away.
"Situation resolved," I reported.
"No monsters detected. Area secure. Good work, everyone. Next is D-10."
One more step and we’d be C-rank.
Finally, I could strip away the "beginner" label.