Save a Drowning Man, He'll Demand Your Bundle
There's an old saying: save a man from drowning and he'll demand your bundle in return. It's a common enough story. Dungeons are places where common sense goes out the window and the absurd happens every other minute.
"You people must have a death wish."
Before I could even answer, Choi Yoo-ra flashed a murderous smile.
"Choi Hunter-nim."
Startled, Major Im hurriedly tried to stop her. "Please calm down for now."
"Let go."
"You must restrain yourself."
"I said I would, so let go."
Choi Yoo-ra looked genuinely furious. If Major Im hadn't stepped in, she probably would have torn the Boramae Clan members to pieces.
"Don't you feel even a shred of conscience?"
"Not at all."
The Boramae Clan member answered my question without hesitation. "We were already fighting the boss, and our clan suffered the heaviest losses. Why should we feel guilty?"
"You were on the verge of total annihilation."
"Watch your words. We were about to finish it. You lot just barged in and stole the last hit."
"Oh."
I was genuinely impressed by their shamelessness. Yeah, that's how it should be. Everyone needs a thick enough face to survive. This really is the age of the strong devouring the weak. The weak have no place here. Only the wicked, the selfish, the shameless, the petty, and the vicious thrive in times like these. Not that it was ever any different.
"So that rune belongs to you?"
"Of course. Our clan made the biggest sacrifice, so naturally we take it."
"And if we refuse?"
"You'll die."
The Boramae Clan member I was talking to rested his finger on the trigger.
"You don't think you might die too?"
"Then you'll die with us. You think our clan will just sit back?"
Now they were even leaning on their clan's prestige. Not surprising. A 5-star rune was worth that kind of risk. Even stable hunters could lose their minds over something like this. Honestly, this was being pretty civil. Usually people just attack without asking questions.
Should I just kill them?
The injured had already been sent out of the dungeon by the Boramae Clan. Killing them here would reach the clan's ears, and that would mean war. On the other hand, they could kill us and walk out without consequences. We had no allies waiting outside.
"Let's keep this civil," the Boramae Clan member said smoothly. "You don't look like you can stop bullets. No point getting greedy and dying over it, right?"
Major Im, unable to hold back any longer, stepped forward. "That's enough. Lower your guns. You're currently threatening soldiers from the Defense Strategy Department."
"Even the Defense Strategy Department can't just steal our boss kill and snatch the rune."
"When did we steal the last hit? We only saved you from being wiped out."
"We appreciate the help, but we were about to finish the boss anyway."
"Do you have no conscience?"
"I think you're the ones lacking conscience."
"Son of a bitch."
Major Im finally spat out a curse.
Hmm. We've already signed a contract with the Defense Strategy Department, so there's no need to fear the Boramae Clan. Still, I can't move recklessly yet. Bullets are still dangerous right now.
But I couldn't just hand over the rune either. That thing was far too valuable.
I'll put a bullet in the head of the one in front first.
I was about to act on the ambush when a strange sound reached my ears.
Rattle, rattle…
It sounded like something rolling. What was that?
The die rolled an 11!
Luck increased by 110%!
Huh?
— Now might be the time to leave everything to luck.
The Goddess of Fortune whispered to me.
The one who had slipped out of the [Luck] card and given me a kiss of fortune…
Alright.
Trusting the Goddess of Fortune, I quickly raised my gun.
"……!"
The startled Boramae Clan members pulled their triggers, but…
Click!
The guns jammed or misfired. No bullets came out.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
My muzzle spat fire.
* * *
"Agh!"
They screamed and collapsed. I had aimed for their chests protected by plate carriers instead of their heads, so they wouldn't die. Of course, that only held true if there were actual ballistic plates inside those carriers. If they had removed the plates because they were too heavy and replaced them with sponge dummies, they were as good as dead.
"Subdue them!"
"Yes!"
Major Im's team quickly rushed the fallen men.
"Let go! Let go of me!"
"Shit!"
The men tried to resist, but they were pinned down in an instant by Major Im's group.
"Seung-cheol! Seung-cheol!"
"You actually killed him, you bastards!"
The men snarled at the death of their comrade. One of the three Boramae Clan members who had pointed guns at me lay bleeding and motionless, eyes wide open. A heart shot. Instant death.
"Idiot."
I clicked my tongue as I looked down at the corpse. Not a single shred of sympathy stirred in me. He deserved to die. If there had been a real plate in that carrier, he would have walked away with nothing but a bruise.
"Calling yourself a hunter and all."
I stared at the dead man for a moment before turning my gaze toward the 5-star rune. The subdued men were no longer worth my attention. I had spared the other two only because killing all three would have made things awkward with the Boramae Clan. They couldn't complain when I had let two live.
The captured men would be dragged to the Defense Strategy Department and punished. For now, I decided to check the rune.
◈ Mimicry and Transformation
Never seen this rune before. Never even heard of its existence.
"What is it?"
"Want to see?"
"Hmm."
Choi Yoo-ra hesitated for a moment, then shook her head. "No thanks. I'll pass."
"Why?"
"Because I'll get greedy if I look."
"Greedy?"
"I only need what we agreed on. You take it."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
Choi Yoo-ra turned away as if she had completely given up on it.
Mine, then.
Since Choi Yoo-ra had relinquished her claim, the rune was mine. I had no intention of showing it to Major Im's team either. My contract stated that I didn't have to share loot with the Defense Strategy Department. The etherium I had given them was merely a token of gratitude for their efforts, not an obligation.
"Well then…"
Without hesitation, I reached for the rune. A card slipped out of my deck and absorbed the [Mutation] rune.
Mutation Magic Card ★★★
Mimicry and Transformation
Egg ghost, huh.
The card depicted a faceless man.
I'll check it later.
I desperately wanted to test the [Mutation] card, but I stopped myself. Exposing my full power wasn't worth it.
"Let's wrap this up and head out."
"Ah, yes."
Major Im looked slightly disappointed that he hadn't seen what rune I had taken, but he didn't press the issue.
* * *
"Hah."
I was startled the moment I stepped out of the dungeon. A chaotic scene greeted me.
The area in front of the dungeon was in complete uproar.
"Move them quickly!"
"Start CPR here!"
Injured people lay scattered everywhere. Medical staff and paramedics ran frantically between them. On one side, corpses covered in white sheets were lined up neatly. There looked to be around fifty of them. It seemed many of the hunters trapped on other floors had also suffered casualties.
That wasn't all. Members from various clans had gathered in front of the dungeon as well.
"Min-gi! Chung-ryeol!"
A middle-aged man in an odd outfit rushed toward the hunters being escorted out by Major Im's team. He wore a helmet, a plate carrier, and a tactical belt around his waist, but his clothing looked completely wrong. Instead of the usual tactical gear hunters wore, he was dressed in skin-tight cycling tights like a professional cyclist. An electric bicycle with an etherium battery was parked beside him, making him look more like a cyclist than a hunter at first glance.
"B-Brother!"
"Yeong-nam hyung-nim!"
Min-gi and Chung-ryeol spotted the man and shouted.
Yeong-nam… Ah. I knew who he was.
Kim Yeong-nam. Clan Master of the Boramae Clan. He had been such a notorious cycling enthusiast that he served as president of a cycling club even before awakening. Apparently his hobby hadn't changed even after becoming a hunter.
"Step back. These individuals have been arrested in the act."
"In the act? What are you talking about? Why would my brothers be criminals?"
Kim Yeong-nam raised his voice sharply. A surge of ether burst from him, pressuring Major Im.
He might have looked ridiculous in that outfit, but Kim Yeong-nam was no ordinary hunter. He was a well-known named hunter whose name came up often, and his skills were considerable. At this point in time, he was probably around 5-star level. Even Choi Yoo-ra, herself a named hunter, had to acknowledge his strength.
"I think there might be some misunderstanding, soldier. What exactly did my brothers do to be treated as criminals?"
Min-gi and Chung-ryeol immediately pointed at me and shouted.
"Yeong-nam hyung-nim! That bastard killed Chan-ho and stole our rune!"
"That's right! He killed Chan-ho! These bastards are framing us because they want the rune!"
Kim Yeong-nam snapped his head toward me, glaring.
"You son of a bitch… Did you kill my brother?"
Kim Yeong-nam strode toward me with clear intent to kill. I didn't run. There was no reason to, and I had no desire to. Besides, there was no need.
"Wait a moment."
Someone smoothly stepped in and stopped Kim Yeong-nam.
"Hah!"
Kim Yeong-nam's steps halted in surprise. Minister Ahn Guk-seon, dressed in a black tactical uniform and plate carrier instead of his usual suit, had positioned himself between us.
I had no idea why this man was here, but…
"Ah, Minister. It's been a while. How have you been?"
Kim Yeong-nam bowed his head to Minister Ahn.
"I've been well, thanks to you. And you?"
"Same as always. Haha."
"That's good to hear."
"But what brings you here, Minister…?"
"I was passing by and heard the report, so I stopped in. What about you?"
"As you can see, I came running after hearing my kids were trapped in the dungeon."
"I see. You've had a hard time."
"Ah, not at all."
"Still, I understand how you feel, but getting angry based solely on what your brothers say won't solve anything, will it?"
"……"
"Hear the full story first before you get angry. I'm asking you. And as the master of a clan, no matter how angry you are, you should at least be able to make that kind of judgment."
"I… I have no excuse."
Kim Yeong-nam backed down without protest, as if he had never been angry in the first place.