Chapter 69: D-Rank Prospect (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 69: D-Rank Prospect (2)
"Master, at this rate, aren't we going to break the world record for reaching C-rank too?"
Kwon Ye-jin spoke with a look of pure glee.
"Not a chance. All three of you have been registered heroes for a long time."
I had taken about a year off after registering, and Yoon A-young’s level had climbed slowly because Break Line hadn't been much help to her. Once I told her what her role in combat should be, her growth accelerated, but she had to start over from a lower level when she joined our party.
As for Kwon Ye-jin, she had a long apprenticeship, but after being kicked out of her first clan just months after registering, she spent over a year as a freelancer. In terms of total time elapsed, it had actually taken the three of them quite a while to reach C-rank.
"Oh, come on. I meant the time since our Unicorn Party started tackling dungeons in earnest."
Are you really going to use 'Unicorn' as the official name?
Lee Yu-na was one thing, but even Kwon Ye-jin and Yoon A-young had started calling the party 'Unicorn' as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"It’s only unprecedented in Korea. Globally, there have been plenty of attempts like this. In the US, they even have project-based teams that gather top-tier prospects and blast through dungeons."
And over there, they clear dungeons faster than us because they shower their attacker prospects with Jewels of Life. In low-rank dungeons, 'Attacker Rush' tactics work incredibly well, so a balanced party like ours can't really compete in terms of raw speed.
"We also took over a week off when Break Line was absorbed into Square Garden," Yoon A-young added, speaking informally to Kwon Ye-jin. They seemed to have grown quite close.
Though Yoon A-young was younger, she was technically the senior hero. Kwon Ye-jin had found A-young’s polite speech too cold and insisted she drop the formalities. Eventually, they agreed to speak casually with each other.
So why won't you let me speak casually to you?
Kwon Ye-jin, ever the practitioner of double standards, tapped the steering wheel with a look of regret.
"I guess we'll have to settle for the Korean record, then."
"It’s not even the Korean record. There were many parties faster than us in the past."
Yoon A-young shared a piece of trivia I didn't even know; she must have been studying hard. It was ancient history—the kind of thing only someone who had lived in this world for a long time would know.
Back when mana theory was still in its infancy and hero health management was primitive, some parties apparently climbed one rank per day by relying entirely on Jewels of Life. Of course, those heroes usually succumbed to mana contamination shortly after reaching C-rank and were forced to retire.
We could probably clear one every two days if we pushed ourselves, but safety came first, so we were sticking to a three-day rest cycle.
Mana contamination...
It was a symptom equivalent to a death sentence for a hero, something everyone feared and guarded against. Even in my previous world, where research on the Awakened was advanced, a slight slip-up could mean three or four years of nothing but bed rest.
In the original Girl Hero Front, a cure had eventually been developed. A character falling into despair due to mana contamination and then overcoming it was too good a plot point for a game to pass up.
The problem was that the genius scientist who created the cure, Rahiya, didn't exist in this world. Since she was a character who loved explaining things, I knew the theory, but I couldn't build a facility that rivaled a specialized hospital, and I knew nothing about the machinery involved.
Rahiya had simply operated the machines in the background while explaining the theoretical mechanics. Without the knowledge to build the hardware, the theory was useless.
Wait. Come to think of it, do I really need to study and build the machines myself?
There were plenty of brilliant people here. If I just handed them the theory, wouldn't they be able to build it themselves? Since I couldn't guarantee 100% protection against mana contamination no matter how careful I was, it might be worth making some preparations.
"Master, we're here. Let's go."
Kwon Ye-jin’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I stepped out of the Thunderblue.
"If you succeed in today's raid, you'll be setting a major record for the first time in twenty years! Hero Jeong Yeon-woo, how do you feel?!"
"There are many opinions claiming you chose an easy dungeon. What is your response?!"
"Unnie!! Look over here!!"
"You're the best!! Yeon-yu-chan!!"
It was just a promotion to C-rank; I didn't get why everyone was making such a fuss. And why do they call the girls 'Unnie' but call me 'Yeon-yu'? I can't believe they're still using that horrific nickname.
Kwon Ye-jin walked with the swagger of a Hollywood star before suddenly scurrying back to a staff member to grab a piece of equipment she’d forgotten. Yoon A-young, as always, remained calm and composed.
Since this was the final dungeon for the party that had set the world ablaze to reach C-rank, a massive crowd had gathered. Square Garden, clearly conscious of public interest, had decided to broadcast this raid live.
Unlike Park Sung-jun, Lee Ru-da had personally asked for my permission and obtained my consent before proceeding. The level of respect and consideration was on a whole different level.
A giant electronic billboard stood in front of the entrance, ready to display the footage of our raid.
I need to be careful. I can't just say whatever I want inside.
Specifically, I had to make sure Kwon Ye-jin didn't drop any dirty jokes. I wasn't worried about Yoon A-young, but the two of us were the problem. I needed to make sure we didn't do anything weird and just cleared the place quietly.
"It's an assault rifle!"
When I pulled out the gun I’d custom-ordered for this raid—one that resembled the P90 from my previous world—everyone’s eyes lit up.
It's a submachine gun, not an assault rifle.
Before I could correct them, a woman nearby adjusted her glasses and began rattling off more technical knowledge than I even possessed. The way her lenses glinted as she lectured was honestly a bit terrifying.
I really couldn't get used to women being gun fanatics.
As I hooked the SMG to my tactical vest and adjusted the sling, cameras flashed frantically. From their perspective, this probably looked like a sexy woman professionally handling a firearm would have looked in my old world.
After finishing the equipment check, I looked at the screen already showing the interior via drone and entered the dungeon.
It was a labyrinth-type dungeon. Staring into the dark corridor, I checked my gear and comms one last time before standing up. Today, my loadout was heavy with extra magazines and additional equipment.
"Shall we? From this point on, I am the party leader. No formalities, and every command comes from me."
As I flipped the switch, the look in their eyes changed. Kwon Ye-jin took the lead with her shield, followed by Yoon A-young and myself.
This dungeon hadn't existed in my previous world. It was one of those 'event dungeons' with unique gimmicks. They were designed to provide variety for players, but such dungeons were easy to solve once you knew the strategy.
Since we were fighting monsters to save the world, this information was naturally shared. Usually, you’d just clear out the trash mobs and answer the questions posed by the boss monster, known as the Pharaoh. If you answered correctly, the raid ended without ever having to fight the powerful boss.
When I first chose this as our final dungeon, there was a mountain of criticism. Honestly, if you knew the answers, it was an easy dungeon that even a D-6 rank party could clear. Many people wondered why we were being 'cowards' at the very end after such a strong run.
The more fans you have, the more haters you get, and those looking to tear me down jumped at the chance. They called me a 'fraud' instead of 'Yeon-yu' and so on.
I didn't care what they said, but I really wished they’d stop with the 'Yeon-yu' thing. Why do both fans and haters use that name?
In a corridor wide enough for four large people to stand abreast, Kwon Ye-jin stood at the front, fiercely blocking the monsters. Using a shield larger than her usual one, she became a literal wall, while Yoon A-young attacked from behind with precise thrusts.
The narrow corridor made support easy, but it didn't leave much room for attacking. I pulled out a rappelling device used by tactical support teams, fired it at the ceiling, and hoisted myself up about two head-lengths.
The device on my tactical vest pulled me up smoothly. From the higher vantage point, the monsters' heads were clearly visible.
Rat-tat-tat-tat—!
As mana bullets poured from the SMG loaded with live rounds, the monsters dropped like flies. They were weak, mummy-like creatures to begin with, but the destructive power was definitely different from using a pistol.
The problem was that my speed in infusing the bullets with mana couldn't quite keep up with the rate of fire. About one in every three shots went out as a regular bullet, failing to penetrate the mana shields and bouncing off.
I'll need to practice this more before we add more party members.
Despite my own dissatisfaction, the effect was excellent. Once I swept through them from above, Kwon Ye-jin and Yoon A-young finished off the mangled mummies.
Shhh-wip!
The wire retracted with a sharp sound, and we continued our advance using the same method.
As we entered a massive cavern, facing the boss fight that should have ended with a simple Q&A, Yoon A-young looked at me.
"Is your mana okay?"
"Yeah, plenty."
Since I had been acting as a secondary attacker on the way here, she seemed worried. But I was fine. I always kept about a quarter of my mana in reserve for emergencies.
"Are we really doing this?"
"Umm..."
"Senior, Master. Why the hesitation now? Trust me, it's going to be badass as hell."
As the two of us wavered, Kwon Ye-jin, who had proposed the idea, urged us on.
"O ye who stand upon the threshold of life and death..."
As we approached, a giant statue that looked like it belonged in an Egyptian pyramid spoke in a solemn voice. This was the Pharaoh, the boss of the D-10 dungeon, 'Pharaoh's Question.'
"I shall guide the souls wandering in despair and grief into the shade of rest. For what do you lament..."
Man, this statue sure loves the sound of its own voice.
The arrogant tone was grating. We looked at each other, and at the sight of Kwon Ye-jin’s sparkling eyes, we shrugged and raised our left hands simultaneously.
"Eat shit."
The three of us stood in a row and flipped the Pharaoh the bird. I wondered if human insults would work on a monster, but it seemed to hit home perfectly; the Pharaoh went silent.
Rat-tat-tat-tat—!
The dull thud of the SMG echoed as I peppered the Pharaoh’s stationary abdomen.
"Deploying drones. Good luck, everyone."
Ryu Ji-hye, who had been briefed on the strategy beforehand, offered her support as the operator.
The monsters leading up to the boss were nothing special, and the Pharaoh was supposed to be cleared with questions, yet the dungeon rank was D-10, the highest in its class. This was because the Pharaoh itself was a powerful monster, roughly equivalent to a C-2 rank.
Originally, it was classified as C-rank when the answers were unknown, but it dropped to D-rank once the solution was found. Since then, most D-rank heroes cleared it through dialogue rather than direct confrontation.
The people watching the live stream were probably losing their minds right about now. Three mere D-rank heroes had just boldly challenged a monster with the strength of a C-2 rank.
Armor-piercing mana bullets dug into the Pharaoh’s stomach. This was exactly why I’d brought the SMG.
Despite the surprise attack, the Pharaoh rose slowly, small fragments crumbling from its torso. As the concentrated fire began to carve a hole in its gut, the Pharaoh raised its staff and swung.
"Incoming!"
Rumble!
Kwon Ye-jin retreated to avoid the wide-range attack that swept the floor, then charged back in with all her might to engage the Pharaoh.
"Lure it to the center!"
"Got it, Master!"
I took a stable stance and continued to focus my fire solely on the Pharaoh’s abdomen. Smoke billowed from the overheated muzzle, and empty magazines began to pile up on the floor.
"I've got aggro!"
"Yoon A-young!"
Yoon A-young, who had stayed back to minimize her presence since the start of the fight, attacked the Pharaoh’s back on my command. Struck from behind, the Pharaoh turned its massive body and swung its staff, but Yoon A-young quickly escaped by creating ice platforms in mid-air.
As the staff shattered the floating ice, sparkling shards fell like snow. Navigating through the debris, Yoon A-young landed gracefully and immediately backed away.
Her fighting style was becoming more flamboyant by the day.
Unlike the visually pleasing Yoon A-young, Kwon Ye-jin was brutally hacking at the Pharaoh’s ankles.
"Hyaaah! Center-left out-of-the-park home run!!"
She swung her greatsword with both hands in a literal batting stance, snapping the Pharaoh’s ankle. However, the massive Pharaoh barely seemed to notice, repeatedly slamming its heavy staff down at the nearby Kwon Ye-jin.
Boom! Boom! Boom! BOOM—!
"Yoon A-young, save your mana."
Yoon A-young, who had been creating ice shields to help Ye-jin, withdrew her mana at my command.
"Hah—that barely tickles."
Blocking the staff head-on with her shield, Kwon Ye-jin wiped blood from her nose with the back of her hand and grinned. I was putting a lot of pressure on her, but she was holding up well.
I discarded the empty SMG and, while healing Kwon Ye-jin with one hand, continued to fire at the Pharaoh’s stomach with my other pistol.
Bang!
Struck by an explosive round, the Pharaoh’s gaze finally landed on me. With a deep hole gouged in its stomach, it ignored Kwon Ye-jin and lunged toward me.
Bang-bang-bang!
I fired at the ground to create stone walls as I retreated, but the Pharaoh shattered them all with a single swing of its staff.
"Guaaaah!"
Kwon Ye-jin drove her greatsword into its ankle and pulled with all her strength. The Pharaoh, annoyed, kicked her away.
"Senior, please!"
Kwon Ye-jin, who had been sent flying despite blocking with her shield, gave a thumbs-up. Yoon A-young closed in on the Pharaoh’s stomach.
Sssssss—!
A quiet but ominous sound filled the air as cold air erupted from Yoon A-young’s outstretched hand. The frost, sucked into the deep cavity in the Pharaoh's gut, rapidly flash-froze its midsection with the sound of structural failure.
Crash!
Yoon A-young desperately blocked the Pharaoh’s staff, but like Kwon Ye-jin, she was sent flying. Despite the heavy impact, she looked more insulted by her failure to dodge than hurt. As she tumbled through the air, she flipped the Pharaoh the bird.
I laughed at her uncharacteristic display of vulgarity and aimed my pistol, now packed with as much mana as I could compress, at the frost-covered abdomen of the Pharaoh.
Pwaak!
A sound unlike a gunshot echoed—a red flash, more like a laser than a bullet, pierced through the Pharaoh’s stomach. The pistol, used as a medium for the spell rather than a firearm, melted in my hand, and I dropped it.
Rumble...
As I shook off the sticky, singed residue from my hand, the Pharaoh’s body began to crumble before me.
"Pharaoh neutralized. No other monsters detected in the vicinity. Dungeon clear. Congratulations. And congratulations on your promotion to C-rank."
Hearing Ryu Ji-hye’s congratulations, I smiled.