La La La~! Toward the Spider Den

"La la la~!"

Choi Hyun-ji was humming cheerfully as she drove. The reason was simple.

Appraisal.

Along with these three items, there was also the new gear carefully placed in the back seat.

With the shield, she now had a full set, and they were on their way to the long-awaited D-rank dungeon. Honestly, with better materials and facilities, he could have made even superior gear, but this would have to do for now.

"That happy about it?"

"Yeah, honestly, stuff from the Hunter Market doesn't fit right and is uncomfortable in real fights, but this is basically like wearing an extra layer of clothes."

As Hyun-ji said, even Choi Hyun-seong was surprised by how exceptional the slime mucus effect turned out to be for Unique-grade gear. He'd only aimed for basic stretchiness, but it had birthed equipment so flexible it barely qualified as armor.

"By the way, who knew you could make stuff like this? Gear that boosts stats only shows up at Hunter Market auctions."

"What did I tell you? I have surprisingly good crafting skills."

"This isn't something you can just chalk up to good hands. You hiding a crafting skill or something?"

"I have the skill. Never hid it."

"What?!"

Hyun-ji was so shocked she neglected to watch the road ahead.

"Focus on driving. You'll cause an accident."

"R-right. But how do you have a skill like that? You're a supporter class, right? What was it again?"

"Puppeteer."

"Yeah, that. So how'd you get a crafting skill?"

"Obviously as a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sub-class."

"Sub-class?"

She wouldn't know yet. There were no related posts on the Hunters app, likely because no one had acquired one.

"Yeah. How do you get them? Does that mean I can get other classes too?"

"You can, but I don't recommend it."

Hyun-ji shot him a look that demanded an explanation.

"Leveling up slows down. You need more EXP per class."

He phrased it like ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠he'd just figured it out through research, even though he'd already confirmed it.

Hyun-ji ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠nodded as if it suddenly made sense.

"Come to think of it, I haven't heard you mention leveling up once."

"Yeah, haven't yet. So better to get them later, when leveling gets tougher."

"Makes sense. But if you post this on the Hunters app, it'll cause a huge stir."

"You shitpost on the galleries too?"

"No! I don't. Never posted anything."

Was it his imagination, or was cold sweat beading on her neck? Hyun-ji clearly wasn't a good liar. The way she whistled innocently and focused on driving screamed guilty of gallery trolling.

"You do, huh... Just don't post this info and mess things up for others. Leveling getting harder is real."

"Got it~!"

Hyun-seong shook his head at her irritated tone.

By tomorrow, it'll all come out anyway.

But it didn't matter. It was a fact that would come to light eventually, and it was necessary for strengthening modern hunters' levels. Besides, acquiring sub-classes wasn't easy— not everyone could do it.

I don't have all of them either.

Even now, there were classes Hyun-seong regretted not acquiring or never even attempting. Some he couldn't get despite thousands of years in that other world. What could be achieved in a mere ten years here? Modern hunters had a long way to go to catch up.

And it's not bad for me either.

One day, he'd have to explain his overwhelming strength, and sub-classes would help with that.

"Almost there."

Hyun-ji glanced at the navigation and announced.

Hyun-seong shook off his stray thoughts and focused on the dungeon ahead.

The dungeon they arrived at was the D-rank Spider Cave at the base of Bukaksan. They arrived right on time for their reservation and met the staff at the entrance.

Unlike E-rank dungeons, things were a bit more organized here.

"Welcome. You're the hunters reserved for 11 a.m., right?"

"Yes."

"Before you proceed, we'll go over some guidelines. Shall we head to the booth over there?"

Since it was their first time, they followed instructions and entered the white tent. There, a briefing began on the D-rank Spider Cave: info,Strategy methods, and emergency procedures.

This wasn't just because they were only two people—though the staff was surprised at first, they quickly moved on with a resigned, professional lecture.

The five-minute session was informative, but nothing beyond what was on the Hunters app.

"This briefing is only once for first-timers, and since you have no prior clears for Spider Cave, we conducted it. Good luck."

Not wanting to waste their time, the staff wrapped up quickly after formalities.

The siblings gave a silent bow of thanks and headed for the gate.

Ding!

Whenever entering a new dungeon, Hyun-seong first checked his objectives.

Boss kill as the clear condition, as expected.

He'd known, but seeing it confirmed made it feel daunting.

"Which way, oppa?"

Three paths branched right before them.

"Hm."

Finding the boss was luck anyway. Wrong path meant backtracking.

Hyun-seong pointed to the center one.

"Might as well take the wide one."

The cave felt claustrophobic, so he chose the open path. Hyun-ji advanced calmly ahead—hard to believe this was the same porter who'd thrown a fit about D-ranks days ago.

"Not nervous?"

"Lying if I said no, but confidence wins out."

"Good."

Hyun-seong was proud of his sister. She'd adapted and grown so fast as a hunter that he wondered why she'd never done it before.

Above all, she has solid combat sense.

Hunter skill had quantifiable stats, but battle came down to split-second judgment and execution. Hyun-ji had talent there—a congenital gift he couldn't craft. His worries had been unfounded.

As they proceeded down the widest path, they encountered their first monster.

Screee!

A tarantula with sharp fangs, eight legs, and shaggy fur. The problem was its size.

Clack!

It was grotesque, but Hyun-ji was prepared, sword and shield at the ready. She activated Hit Sense as always—even against one foe, no room for error.

She closed in swiftly. It leaped back, firing white thread.

Spurt!

Predictable spider silk. Hyun-ji ducked nimbly and swung.

Slash!

The tarantula tried to evade, but she was too fast. It lost a leg.

Screee!

She pressed on, blocking its fangs with her shield and striking the body.

Legs wouldn't kill it. The weak point was the forehead where its cluster of hateful eyes gleamed.

Stab!

Right on target.

Kraaack!

The tarantula wailed and collapsed. Hyun-seong approached, sensing the end.

"...Hoo."

Hyun-ji caught her breath and pulled her sword free. Green blood spurted.

"How was it?"

"Nothing unexpected, no variables. As predicted."

To Hyun-seong's eye too, one tarantula wasn't much.

"But getting webbed will be trouble. Might need your help then."

"Dodge as much as you can. That's why I made the gear."

"Got it. Feels light thanks to you."

She rolled her shoulders as she spoke. Hyun-seong nodded and approached the corpse, slicing between chest and abdomen with his dismantling dagger.

Out came a mana stone larger than any he'd seen.

"D-rank indeed."

He marveled, then extracted silk glands from its rear—palm-filling due to the size.

"Let's go."

"Yeah."

They pressed deeper.

How is that possible?

Im Yun-seo was the head of the strategy planning team at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Silver Eagle Guild, devising tactics for smooth dungeon clears.

Recently, Guild Master Min Seol-hee had given her a critical task: tail the hunter suspected to be a Rogue.

For a week straight, she'd shadowed Choi Hyun-seong without fail. And she'd witnessed something unbelievable.

The gear on Choi Hyun-ji. No way it's ordinary.

She needed proper appraisal and analysis to confirm, but her glasses indicated as much. They were an item that analyzed materials and gear.

Unique grade.

She had to report this. While they entered the Bukaksan D-rank dungeon, she returned to the guild.

Arriving in Itaewon Hunter Street, she headed straight for Min Seol-hee's office.

Knock knock.

"Guild Master, Strategy Planning Team Leader here."

"Come in."

Permission granted, Yun-seo entered. Seol-hee sat waiting, eyes demanding intel.

"So, anything?"

"Yes. Something astonishing."

"Astonishing? About Choi Hyun-seong, right?"

"Definitely."

"Report."

Yun-seo handed over photos secretly taken from her car.

"See the gear on Choi Hyun-seong's sister, Choi Hyun-ji?"

"Yeah, looks sleek. What brand?"

"That's... probably made by Choi Hyun-seong. He entered a workshop yesterday afternoon."

"Just entered?"

"Confirmed carrying a materials bag."

Yun-seo wasn't one to be easily fooled— Strategy teams even feared her strictness.

"So, that's it? The gorilla can craft gear?"

Seol-hee sounded disappointed despite her hopes.

"All those items are Unique grade."

At Yun-seo's bombshell, Seol-hee's eyes went wide.