Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 38
>Chapter Title: The Secret Dungeon
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>[Silver Iron Shield]
>[Grade: Rare]
>[Description: A special shield made from silver iron, one of the rare ores.
>Silver has been known since ancient times as a noble and sacred ore that holds divine power.]
>[Level Limit: 20]
>[Equip Limit: Shield Warrior classes]
>[Defense: 100]
>[Damage Reduction: 110~130]
>[Durability: 100 / 100]
>[Special Option: Damage reduction amplifies as it absorbs more divine power.
>When amplification reaches its maximum, all accumulated stacks can be consumed to recover health.]
‘Oh, rare.’
For a level 20 item, the options were stacked.
It was the best shield in this range for tanks who used divine power—no question about it.
In fact, the Silver Iron Shield was known as the national shield for holy knights in this level bracket.
‘Must’ve cost a pretty penny.’
To think they’d wield gear like this and still have the guts to turn villain…
They probably never imagined they’d die.
Thanks to that, Do-hyun scored some great items, so all was well that ended well.
Do-hyun checked the remaining two items as well.
[Bastard’s Training Sword]
>[Grade: Rare+]
>[Description: An iron sword used by the hero Bastard during his quicksword training.
>As a blade that endured a great hero’s training, it is exceptionally sturdy and sharp.]
>[Level Limit: 20]
>[Equip Limit: Swordsman classes]
>[Physical Attack: 104~128]
>[Durability: 100 / 100]
>[Special Option: On attack, there’s a chance to trigger ‘Minor Haste.’ Haste increases attack speed and movement speed by 3%.]
>-Attack Speed +1%
[Mana-Infused Necklace]
>[Grade: Rare]
>[Description: A necklace infused with mana, crafted in the White Tower.
>Any mage considers the Mana-Infused Necklace essential, and it commands a high value.]
>[Level Limit: 20]
>[Equip Limit: None]
>[Physical Defense: 50]
>[Magic Resistance: 68]
>[Durability: 100 / 100]
>-Mana +3
>-Mana Recovery +5%
All top-tier rare-grade items, no doubt.
Maybe because of the villain penalty, only the best stuff dropped.
Among them, the sword stood out the most.
Not just because it was the only Rare+ item, but the name caught his eye even more.
‘…Bastard’s Training Sword? So Bastard Sword wasn’t just a made-up name?’
Talk about living up to the nick. The weapon really was a bastard sword.
It was such a hilariously perfect concept that Do-hyun almost laughed.
He could picture them grinning ear-to-ear when they got it, thinking it was meant to be.
‘Guess the nick’s worthless now.’
They might snag another sword eventually, but that was their problem.
Anyway, Do-hyun liked it.
The options were solid, and for a level 20 quicksword despite the damage being decent.
‘I’ll sell the necklace.’
Sadly, he could only equip one necklace, so it had to go.
The Blood Oath Necklace from Charlie was overwhelmingly better.
‘Come to think of it, how much has this thing grown?’
The Blood Oath Necklace was a growth item.
Rare even in Delrock.
No wonder Do-hyun had been blown away when he first checked its options.
He’d leveled up quite a bit since then—maybe the stats had improved?
[Blood Oath Necklace]
>[Grade: Heroic]
>[Description: A necklace bound by the blood oath of Arlen Castle’s Knight Commander ‘Charlie.’ Only his liege may possess it.]
>[Level Limit: None]
>[Equip Limit: Charlie’s Liege]
>[Physical Defense: 61+(40)]
>[Magic Resistance: 53+(40)]
>-Strength +4
>-Agility +2
>-Vitality +1
>-Attack Speed +5%
>-Movement Speed +5%
>[Special Option: Defense and magic resistance increase with every set amount of experience gained.]
>[Special Option: Unlocks at level 35.]
>-Non-tradable
‘Forty… So +2 per level?’
Do-hyun was level 21 now.
Exactly 20 levels gained, so it checked out.
Compared to a level 20 heroic necklace, it didn’t fall short—the growth was just right.
‘Could use this forever at this rate.’
If it kept scaling like this, he could rock it from level 1 to 100.
‘As long as that second option’s good.’
Special options mattered more at higher levels.
Items with strong specials outsold raw stat sticks by multiples.
The attack and movement speed boosts were plenty satisfying, but no guarantee the level 35 unlock would be.
‘Eh, it’s good enough for the long haul as is.’
No need to worry too far ahead.
That’s when he got lost in the loot.
[Truth’s Eye activates.]
“Huh?”
A sudden cheerful alert.
He instinctively looked up—and saw it.
“Red?”
In one corner of the dungeon wall, a red dot asserted its presence.
Precisely at the seam where walls met—the corner—faintly recessed, red light poured out.
Small, but bright enough to spot from afar.
Step by step.
Drawn like a moth to a will-o’-wisp, Do-hyun approached and swallowed hard.
Up close, the glow was intense.
‘Hidden… Nah, no way.’
He briefly thought of the assassin boy from before but shook his head.
This was a 4-man party dungeon, and he’d killed all three himself. No one left to hide.
No goblin monsters used stealth either, as far as he knew.
Then it hit him!
‘Wait, herbs?’
Explorers’ earnings varied wildly by skill, but they were solid money-makers.
The class itself was rare, and skilled ones even rarer.
Their main hustle was scouting.
‘All sorts of herbs, antiques, relics…’
Armed with search skills, they sold anything valuable—and herbs were the big earner.
Potions, alchemy, enchantment mats—demand was high, prices too.
From tens of thousands to hundreds of won depending on type.
‘Yeah, makes no sense they’d find stealth but miss herbs. Obviously.’
If true, Do-hyun had unlocked a massive side hustle.
Better than most combat classes!
Resisting the urge to drool, he reached out—and a cheerful alert rang.
“Huh?”
He tilted his head at the message.
It was nothing like what he’d expected.
[You have discovered a hidden secret dungeon.]
>[… confirmed. Conditions met.]
>[You may view the secret dungeon’s information.]
>[You have discovered the secret dungeon ‘Black Goblin Shaman’s Hideout.’]
>[You are the first to discover a secret dungeon.]
>[Title ‘Competent Explorer’ acquired.]
>[Competent Explorer]
>-Grade: Rare
>-Description: A title given to the first to uncover a dungeon. You are born with the talents of a competent explorer!
>-Effect: Search skill range +10%, All stats +2
“…Secret dungeon?”
The red dot wasn’t some herb—it was a hidden secret dungeon.
He’d stumbled into discovering one.
* * *
Dungeons came in all types.
Party dungeons, solo bosses, labyrinths, special and event dungeons.
Even the common ones offered variety, earning praise from users.
But one type stayed under the radar…
‘Secret dungeons.’
Exactly that.
Hidden by name and nature—everyone knew they existed.
But ask if they knew locations? Most would shake their heads.
‘Even explorers hate hunting these down.’
If they were easy to find, they wouldn’t be secret.
Usually tucked in absurd spots, and even then, you needed to meet entry conditions.
‘There was one where you dripped blood on a cliffside flower…’
Insanely hard to find, but the rewards? Worth it.
That’s why skilled explorer users with high-grade search skills and unique abilities commanded respect.
Non-explorers? Near impossible.
Do-hyun’s find was no different.
[One dungeon survivor confirmed.]
>[No party formed: confirmed.]
>[Conditions met.]
‘What kinda insane condition is that?’
Solo discover a party dungeon without a party?
Impossible on paper.
Entry required four players—condition broken from the start.
Unless your party tried to kill one of you, leading to a bloody fight where you solo the boss.
‘And you need search skills to even spot the secret entrance.’
What were the odds that lone survivor was an explorer?
Lower than winning the lottery.
High-level one-shots with search options existed, sure—but in this bracket? No way.
Truth’s Eye was broken, packing every ability plus dungeon radar.
‘This is just… absurd.’
Fisherman’s luck, or what?
Do-hyun scratched his head, somehow the hero who cleared that brutal condition.
A shame it wasn’t herbs, but a secret dungeon? Game-changer.
No—leagues better.
[Black Goblin Shaman’s Hideout]
>-Grade: Heroic
>-Type: Secret Dungeon
>-Feature: Solo Boss
>-Description: One day, rumors spread in Raven of goblins with black skin. Countless superstitions followed.
>But the goblin never appeared and was eventually forgotten.
>Perhaps traces remain here.
>[Entry Limit: 1 player]
>[Entry Condition: First Discoverer]
>[Dungeon clears upon success; failure prevents re-entry.]
A high-grade one at that.
‘Heroic grade…’
Secret dungeons were tough regardless of grade, rewards matching.
Heroic ones? Scant info out there.
Sell this intel for hundreds… thousands easy.
Tight on cash? Like hitting the jackpot.
‘Gonna clear it.’
Do-hyun’s resolve was ironclad.