Chapter 16
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Senior's Advice
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'He doesn't even seem to know the basics of weapons, let alone spears.'
If her guess was right, Lee Seong-han had probably never even held something in his hand and swung it around. So it made sense that he hadn't bothered grabbing even a pair of common gloves before entering the dungeon.
'No matter how I look at it, a newbie's a newbie. But...'
Right before thrusting the spear in at the end, Sin Ju-yeon had clearly seen every one of Lee Seong-han's movements.
His footwork was awkward, and the impact point was slightly off. Far from using the spring in his waist and back, he'd shoved the spear forward purely with brute force from his shoulders and arms.
If the golem had even deflected the spear, his joints would've popped right out. It was a pathetic attack that lacked even the most basic basics.
'And yet he pierced that rock-hard stone. Thanks to the spear's rotational force.'
And that method was remarkably similar to her own Assault Charge. Was that even possible for someone who didn't know the fundamentals of spearwork?
The conclusion was one of two things.
Either Lee Seong-han had absurd, insane talent, or he was hiding a skill that didn't suit a supporter.
'What the hell are you, really?'
It wasn't suspicion or baseless doubt. This was pure, genuine curiosity.
He was a peer she rarely met, and if he had talent in martial arts, it might be fun to guide him occasionally.
'...Focus on the raid for now.'
Whether he had talent or hidden skills, that was a problem for after the dungeon clear.
"Trap on the ceiling fifteen meters ahead. There's liquid up there—is it poison or something?"
"Poison would be better. Debuffs or curses are a headache. Where exactly?"
"So... stop."
These guys weren't even scared of traps? I hurriedly stopped Sin Ju-yeon and Cheon Sang-ho, who kept walking.
"About ten footsteps from there, and it'll pour right down on your heads."
I didn't know the mechanism, but the ceiling where the liquid pooled was only about fifty centimeters thick at most. There might be some opening device, but I couldn't tell.
"Ju-yeon, think you can do it?"
"I'll team up with Sister Se-hee. Who goes first, Sis?"
"I'll soften the ground with magic first, so go when I signal. Can you stick your spear into the ceiling?"
"Should be possible."
"Then that's the plan. Hold on a sec."
Jeong Se-hee created two magic circles, sending one flying with her hand like when she'd buffed my weapon earlier.
"Ready. Get set, Ju-yeon."
"Got it."
Sin Ju-yeon rubbed her feet against the floor a few times, then hopped back to create distance. She was probably planning a running start to throw the spear.
Tadak-tadak-
Her heavy armor seemed pointless—Sin Ju-yeon sprinted at an incredible speed. She looked way faster than me in my unarmored state.
"Hup!"
With a short inhale, Sin Ju-yeon planted her left foot on the marked spot and hurled the spear with her right hand.
Kwaduduk!
"It's stuck!"
"Nice!"
The moment the spear lodged in, Jeong Se-hee thrust both hands forward. A magic circle the size of an adult torso flashed, unleashing a beam of pure white light straight at the spear shaft.
Kwarurung!
With a terrifying roar, the ceiling split open. No, in this case, it was more like collapsing.
"Everyone back up and get low!"
Cheon Sang-ho stepped a couple paces ahead of Sin Ju-yeon and bent his knees. His shield was so huge that crouching hid his massive frame completely.
Chwaaaaak!
The unidentified liquid pooled on the ceiling poured down like a waterfall in a frenzy.
Was Cheon Sang-ho using some skill? Not a single drop splashed our way despite the sudden deluge. Was it okay to just hold a shield like that?
"Vicious trap. If we'd walked into it blind, we'd all be poisoned."
Cheon Sang-ho stood and shook off his shield. Not satisfied, Jeong Se-hee conjured fire magic to scorch the entire surface.
"Thanks to Seong-han, we got through unscathed. Sang-su, aren't you just freeloading on the bus?"
"I spotted the trap first, okay? Seong-han's skill just catches more details than mine."
...Not entirely wrong, but it felt like I was deceiving them, leaving a queasy aftertaste.
Scan doesn't work in the dark. My eyesight was a bit better than average, but it meant nothing in a cave like this.
Right after this raid, I needed to secure night vision somehow. Dig through the exclusive shop for a skill, or if not, buy an infrared scope like she suggested.
After that, it was trap after trap. No skeletons since we'd cleared those two golems earlier—everywhere we went was chaos.
Arrows from walls or sudden floor collapses were routine; even a massive boulder rolling down the passage.
"You okay?"
"...I'm alive, aren't I?"
I answered Sin Ju-yeon, who'd come to check on me, in a drained voice. She seemed to pity me a little but just patted my shoulder lightly without more words.
'If a C-Rank dungeon's this bad, what the hell are higher ones like?'
Most traps were smashed or tanked upfront by Sin Ju-yeon and Cheon Sang-ho; mechanisms were mostly disarmed by me and Cheon Sang-su, so no real danger.
The only trouble was magic traps—Jeong Se-hee couldn't dismantle them freely, so we took them even knowing ahead.
Something about mana and spell formulas. Anyway, we dodged or dismantled half, but the rest the whole party had to tank physically.
If partying's this grueling, what kind of monsters solo clear? Even A-Ranks solo most dungeons—unimaginable to me now.
"Can't be like that already at your prime age."
"Aren't you tired, Noona?"
"Tired? This is just daily life. Better get used to it quick. Fussing over every detail wears your mind out before your stamina."
Couldn't argue. Dungeons ate at your spirit more than body.
As a newbie freeloading, I could complain; Sin Ju-yeon stayed unflappable the whole way. Same age as me, but pure veteran vibe.
Pretty face, but impossible to read her thoughts. She was subtly kind, so not bad vibes.
"That tired? Want a lap pillow?"
"...I'll pass."
Conversely, this noona was too transparently teasing—troublesome. Why was she coming on so strong? Pure flirting?
No guy lies on a girl's lap mid-dungeon worldwide. If it were just us two, maybe.
Speaking of two, I'd nearly forgotten: next solo, I'd get a mentor. Guardian and instructor, a pro who could solo dungeons for emergencies.
"Got a solo mentor lined up? Or just apply and take whoever?"
Jeong Se-hee happened to ask about soloing.
Yu-ra Noona explained basics, but field advice couldn't hurt.
"Can you pick your own?"
"Big guilds train newbies that way from the start. Rich kids hire veteran hunters for big bucks."
"That necessary? Doesn't the Association handle it well?"
"Association's no charity. They don't baby newbies. Know this? About one in five Awakeners quits after soloing."
"Huh? Why?"
With a high-rank hunter babysitting, that risky? Or another reason?
"Smart, put nicely; cowardly, put bluntly. Gotta be cautious if this is your lifelong gig, right?"
"What about you, Noona?"
"Hmm, curious about my first time?"
Always twisting words... 'First time' reminds me of Yu-ra Noona. Probably finishing lunch and working now.
"Nothing special. Fun, a bit exciting. That thrill's long gone—this job's tougher than expected."
"Still better than most jobs. Early days are rough, sure."
"Follow guild or Association guides right, no big issues. Real problem's risking your life every dungeon."
"But the money's good, yeah?"
"Money? Die wasting it, and that's it."
Bluntly realistic here. As industry senior advice, I listened intently.
"Break's over. Boss raid in two hours max. Out before despawn."
"Three or four hours ahead of schedule."
"Meat after. Sick of instant meal kits—gonna lose it."
Cheon Sang-ho and Cheon Sang-su chatted over smokes; Sin Ju-yeon stared blankly down the passage from afar. Didn't she ever tire?
"Ju-yeon's just diligent. Always one on watch, even resting."
"Huh, others don't?"
"Vanguards usually handle lookout. Sang-ho oppa did earlier—think why."
Jeong Se-hee was a solid senior. Not just dumping info—she guided my thinking with questions like this.
Dungeons were unpredictable; improvisation key. High-Speed Calculation let me deduce fast.
"To buy time in emergencies?"
"Right. Others lack vanguard defense. Sudden ambush? Tank till they're ready."
That slender build... nah. She'd said 181cm—3cm taller than me, tall for a woman.
Her hands had serious calluses at lunch. Knuckles nearly as thick as mine.
Under that armor, no soft flesh like other girls—battle-honed, compressed combat muscle for sure.
Her words and actions suggested pre-Awakening martial arts training. Vaguely recalled her from a martial family.
"Break's done! Boss quick, wrap it up!"
Felt like a short sit, but twenty minutes gone. Boss room dead ahead.
"Me and Ju-yeon first. Se-hee center, Seong-han rear this time."
Last time I was protected mid-pack; now Jeong Se-hee ahead of me. Probably firepower formation.
'...Atmosphere's weird here.'
Nothing visible. I glared tensely at the pitch-black maw of the entrance.