Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Dungeon Exploration
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A heavy silence descended for a moment.
It was the kind of silence that made me wonder if things had progressed too quickly.
"Uh... you want to go in together...?"
Kim Sang-cheol, looking a bit dazed, finally spoke up.
He probably wasn't asking if I was seriously suggesting we share the dungeon they'd barely managed to find. It was just sheer disbelief.
I had no idea what my level meant under Kalderon.
At best, I could only guess it was seen as something like a newborn baby in human terms.
"You're going in anyway, right?"
I have to go in.
Even if these three didn't enter, I still had to.
I didn't know exactly what the Fate of the Engraver pointed to, but following this path was my only option right now.
If it hadn't been such a tempting fish, I would've gone in already.
But I wasn't the rude type.
No matter how much I'd grown up in a world of kill or be killed, I wouldn't stab in the back those who offered kindness first.
"We have to go, but... you sure you'll be okay?"
"We can't protect you."
"I'm a priest, so I can heal some wounds, but still."
They were good people, rare even in Katabi.
The three were already hesitating, worried about each other's safety.
Now with a level 1 tagging along, they were concerned about getting an innocent person killed because of them.
"Don't worry about me. I've forgotten a lot, but I was trained to fight since I was a kid. I even took down a few monsters on the way here."
Mentioning the monsters on the way here brightened their faces a little.
Not fully trusting yet, but better.
"Like martial arts or something? There are cases where low levels are strong. People who trained in martial arts or athletics before Kalderon appeared."
So starting lines aren't equal, huh.
"Yeah, so no worries. If you don't want to give up the dungeon you found, we should head in quick."
For hunters, first discovery of a dungeon was like striking gold.
If others found it, it'd be looted in no time.
"Hmm... what do we do?"
Kim Sang-cheol turned to Kim Gil-sang and Oh Myung-yoon, who were pondering.
"We have to go."
"When else will we find another dungeon?"
After a moment's thought, the two nodded.
"If the monsters are too strong, we come back out."
"First entrants get ownership for a week anyway. Let's take it slow, no forcing it."
Maybe because the tough decision turned hopeful.
Unlike before, the three seemed motivated again.
Swish.
Watching them, I slowly stood up.
"Shall we go, then?"
The messages I'd seen earlier popped up one after another the moment we entered the dungeon.
Oh, Daikon?
Now I got why the Fate of the Engraver had pointed to the cave.
Daikon's Horn—one of the materials needed to unlock the next Engraving.
This cave must house the Daikon that dropped it.
"Daikon? What's that? Never heard of that monster."
The three didn't know about Daikon either.
"As expected from a first dungeon—experience gain bonus."
What?
I turned at the word "experience," looking confused, and Kim Sang-cheol explained.
"It popped up in the message just now. Normally, party hunting splits EXP by contribution, but first-discovery dungeons give a plus instead."
"All classes level up by accumulating experience?"
They all nodded at my question.
Like it was obvious.
Look at this.
- If you can grow.
I recalled the initial message about the Engraver class.
At first, I thought it was scaring me because it was support-oriented.
Now I saw—it was because its leveling was completely different from others.
"By any chance."
The idea that all classes used experience sparked a thought.
"Do you know about the Engraver class?"
"Engr... what?"
Kim Sang-cheol shook his head like it was nonsense.
"Wasn't in the selection list. Right?"
The other two nodded too.
"Never seen or heard of it... Did you have that option, Mr. Kang Hyuk?"
"Haha... no. Must've misread."
What the hell.
It was the class I chose, but it felt like a slap to the back of my head.
Fine, no one had picked it so unseen, but not even in the options?
Felt like Kalderon showed it only to me.
As if it knew I'd pick it.
"Kiririri...!"
Before I could think more, a monster appeared.
"Monster!"
"Get ready!"
Step.
From the damp, dim depths of the cave, the monster emerged.
Walking on two legs, covered in brown fur.
Overall look reminded me of wolf-type beasts from Katabi.
The monster labeled [Dacon] bared its teeth and approached us.
"Myung-yoon, magic ready!"
A blue aura gathered around the staff Oh Myung-yoon held.
Oh... so that's magic.
Not really surprising.
I'd faced every Assassin Art in Katabi.
Just novel that mana, not Yin Force, could do it.
Clank.
Kim Sang-cheol, in heavy plate armor with an axe, advanced on the Dacon.
Frontline's for warriors, as expected.
I nodded at the familiar formation.
Tank to take hits, DPS mage, healer priest.
Perfect hunting party setup.
"Kiririk!!"
The Dacon charged Kim Sang-cheol, claws raised.
Clang!
Kim Sang-cheol held his ground, matching the beast's power.
Swoosh!
As the Dacon's movement locked, Oh Myung-yoon's blue orb flew in fast.
Thud.
"Kirik!"
Hit by the spell, the Dacon staggered back.
Seizing the moment, Kim Sang-cheol rushed and buried his axe in its head.
"Ki...!"
A final yelp, and it crumpled.
Dungeon trash mob level—nothing special.
"Whew."
"Sang-cheol, you okay?"
"Fine."
Hm?
While they checked each other.
Something flew at us from the side.
"Kiririri!!"
Two more Dacons lunged while tension eased.
"Two more!"
"Sang-cheol, front...?!"
Before they reacted.
I kicked off the protruding wall and leaped into the air.
"Ki... ki?"
The Dacons faltered as an unexpected target soared in.
I extended my leg at the front one.
Crack!!
Felt its skull cave under my right foot, then spun for a roundhouse on the other.
Thump!
Thud... thud.
Both hit the ground in turn.
Land.
I dropped down, looking at their half-crushed heads.
No Engraving test on these guys.
Just tapping a Troll had exploded its head.
Didn't look different here.
"Sh... shall we go deeper...?"
Turning, the three gaped, frozen.
Dacons weren't strong, but a level 1 dropping two instantly shocked them.
"Haha... let's go."
"Uh... yeah!"
"Yes!"
Any longer, and questions would rain.
I led them deeper into the cave.
Crack! Split! Boom!
Blasting through endless Dacons, we pushed forward.
- I'll take point.
Kim Sang-cheol offered first, in his plate.
But I waved him off.
Dark ahead, unknown threats—better me up front.
Split! Split!
Smashed jaws of two more, tossed them back.
Man.
Crack!
This is fun.
How long since I swung fists and feet freely?
Thud!
Too weak was the flaw.
If Dacons were stronger, more fun.
A bit regrettable.
Thump!
Kim Sang-cheol's axe fell behind.
I damaged upfront; barely-breathing ones went to him and Oh Myung-yoon.
End?
No more Dacons—I shook blood from my hands.
Come all at once.
They came in waves of a dozen.
All out, we'd clear fast and meet Daikon.
"K-Kang Hyuk! Hold on."
Just my thought, apparently.
The three panted, sweating buckets.
"Le... let's rest a bit. Everyone's worn out."
Forgot for a sec.
Even weakened, my stamina outpaced theirs.
Got too hyped, set my pace.
"Sure."
"Haaa!"
They collapsed at "rest."
Staring right at me.
"Mr. Kang Hyuk, how are you not even breathing hard?"
"What did you train in as a kid...? Fifteen years bedridden, yet fighting like this?"
"Never hunted this fast—stamina can't keep up."
They shook their heads.
At Kim Sang-cheol's question, I scratched my nose.
"Just kept fighting. Had to, in my environment. Guess that's why the instincts stuck, even after fifteen years out."
Outcomes differed a lot, but not total lies.
Assassins lunged if I even blinked.
Built a body that fought sleepless—grateful or resentful?
"Makes me really curious about your training."
"Nothing special, just...!?"
Was about to say "intense training."
Step.
But a presence interrupted before finishing.
"Mr. Kang Hyuk...?"
They eyed me puzzled as I stopped.
"Rest's over."
"Huh?"
"Dungeon boss is here."
Senses etched from countless battles.
It screamed: incoming wasn't a regular Dacon.
"Grrr...!"
With a chilling growl.
The lair's master, Daikon, revealed itself.