Chapter 43 – Otherworld Attacker (3)
TL: Boko
Editors: Frost, StellarRain
Because he didn’t have a lot of luggage, moving didn’t take very long. He wanted to bring his father, Soo Hyuk, to live with him immediately, but he decided to wait as they hadn’t finished constructing the defense systems yet.
As soon as he finished moving, Sung Joon invited Jung Chul to his home because he had something to tell him.
“Congratulations moving into a new home. Do you like your new place?”
Jung Chul spoke as if he was a real estate agent, and walked across the garden into Sung Joon’s house. Sung Joon lead him into the living room and opened his mouth.
“It’s wide open. I like it.”
“That’s a relief. But aside from that, I’m sure you have something else you wanted to discuss with me other than giving me a tour of your house… Is it about the defense systems you wanted built?”
“That’s exactly why I called you.”
Sung Joon smiled. He took out a floor plan from his chest pocket and placed it in front of Jung Chul. The floor plan already had places marked that Sung Joon considered important points for defense after deliberating with Rishubalt.
“These points look like places where you want to construct defenses.”
Jung Chul noticed immediately. Sung Joon nodded his head and spoke.
“Money isn’t an issue. Please install the nation’s top defense systems.”
“The best defense systems can stop an attack from a platoon of B-rank Hunters. Because the systems are so effective, you need permission from the government to install them. We can secretly install them, but there’s a high risk to that.”
Though the restrictions regarding weapons and defense systems had loosened after the Raids began, it was still South Korea.
Some weapons and defense systems were still restricted.
“If I get permission from the government can you begin construction immediately?”
“Yes. As long as you get permission, installing the devices or systems won’t be a problem. The more money you use, the more manpower we can get and the faster the construction will be.”
Jung Chul replied to Sung Joon’s question. There was nothing that couldn’t be done with money.
“Please prepare the labor force for construction. I’ll take care of the government.”
Sung Joon spoke with a voice overflowing with confidence. If he pressed them, there was nothing the Korean government could do.
Since he was South Korea’s first SS-rank Hunter.
“Then I’ll start acquiring the labor force for construction.”
After saying that, Jung Chul left Sung Joon’s mansion. Sung Joon ate dinner and then walked over to the terrace. Then, he took out his phone.
“Are you planning on calling Team Leader Kim Hyun Sung?” Rishubalt asked. Sung Joon shook his head. He was planning on calling someone with a higher position than Hyun Sung. Asking Hyun Sung wouldn’t be a bad move, but it would be a waste of time as Hyun Sung would have to relay the information to his superiors.
“I’m going to talk to the Bureau Director, Lee Seung Tae.”
Because he’d received Seung Tae’s business card at the Blue House, he knew Seung Tae's phone number. Sung Joon unhesitatingly dialed Seung Tae’s number.
Seung Tae likewise knew Sung Joon’s number. Perhaps because of that fact, it didn’t take long before he picked up.
“Mr. Kang Sung Joon? This is the first time you’ve called me.”
“This should be our first time even talking over the phone. Probably.”
“Hahaha. You’re right.”
They exchanged light jokes with each other before Sung Joon went on to the main topic.
“You hate it when people don’t get to point immediately so I’ll tell you straight up, Bureau Director. I’d like to install the best defense systems at my mansion. Please give me permission,” Sung Joon said firmly.
“The best defense systems are able to repel a group of B-rank Hunters with a few rank Hunters mixed in. Are you preparing for some sort of battle?”
“I heard that Russia’s aiming for me as well.”
He’d coincidentally heard about Russia aiming for him when he had conversed with Jung Chul before.
“If you don’t give me permission, then I have no choice but to defect to America with my family for their safety.”
Sung Joon came out strongly.
America had wanted him ever since he was an S-rank Hunter. Since he was an SS-rank Hunter now, they would accept him without a second thought now.
“Alright. You have permission. Fortunately, I’m able to give you that permission.”
In the end, he gave in. He decided that it would be better to give Sung Joon permission, even if it was a bit of a hassle, than lose their first SS-rank Hunter. As they hadn’t yet established the armed intelligence agency, ‘White Tiger’ (Baekho), it would be better to give in to his demands.
“It seems like I won’t have to go to America for now. Thank you.”
“Of course. If there’s something you want, Mr. Kang Sung Joon, then we have to do our best to fulfill it.”
He spoke calmly and comfortably, but it seemed like he felt uneasy somewhere. But because Sung Joon’s request wouldn’t harm him, he just decided to let it go without being too worried about it. So long as he wasn’t personally harmed, he would indulge Sung Joon.
“Then, keep up the good work.”
“Have a good day.”
Sung Joon finished talking with Seung Tae and immediately called Jung Chul.
“I’ve gotten permission.”
As soon as Jung Chul picked up, Sung Joon relayed that he’d gotten permission.
“You’ve gotten permission? It’s to my understanding that they don’t easily give away permission to install the best defense systems. At least, it shouldn’t be easy… as expected of you, Mr. Kang Sung Joon.”
Jung Chul was astonished. If the defense systems were modified just a little bit, it could be used as weapons, so the government tended to restrict access to them.
Considering how easily they gave Sung Joon permission to install them, it was quite easy to tell how much the government valued Sung Joon.
“It wasn’t very hard. There are no problems now, right?”
“Yes. Since we’ve gotten permission we can progress immediately once we procure the equipment, so long as it’s all paid for.”
“Don’t worry about money, and please move forward with it.”
“It’ll likely cost more than tens of millions of dollars,” Jung Chul said. However, Sung Joon didn’t waver. He’d even taken over a research facility for his father, so he had no reason to hesitate in spending millions of dollars for his father’s safety.
“Once again, it doesn’t matter how much it costs,” Sung Joon stressed.
“I understand. There are some things we need to order, but for a few of them, I have more than enough. We’ll start construction tomorrow morning.”
The normal auction house as well as the VIP auction house that Jung Chul managed were both equipped with top defense systems.
Therefore, he had some of the equipment in storage. Because Sung Joon wanted him to start construction immediately, he decided to use the components he had in storage.
“Could you please do so?”
“There are no problems with that. Since I have authority over it.”
“Thank you.”
The next morning.
The construction began. Sung Joon watched the workers transporting the equipment with a pleased expression. Rishubalt, who was watching TV to better understand modern times, approached Sung Joon.
“My lord. Didn’t you say that you were going to meet with Park Jang Hoon and Yoon Shin Chul?” Rishubalt asked, reminding Sung Joon. He had forgotten as he had been watching the ongoing construction. He opened his mouth with a calm expression.
“I’m planning on meeting them right now.”
Sung Joon sent a message to Shin Chul first. Fortunately, Shin Chul wasn’t in the midst of a dungeon assault, so Sung Joon got a reply within ten minutes.
[Anytime is good with me.]It didn’t seem like he had an appointment for a dungeon assault either, so he was free. Sung Joon sent Shin Chul another message and told him when and where they’d meet.
They promised to eat lunch together, and Shin Chul and Jang Hoon were to come to Sung Joon’s mansion. A short while later, the two came to visit him by car. Sung Joon opened the front gate for them and the car passed by the sections undergoing construction and entered into the main building.
“It’s been a long time. It’s nice to see you again.” Sung Joon greeted first.
“We came right away after getting your call! Hahaha” Jang Hoon responded vigorously. Shin Chul smiled as well and opened his mouth.
“I heard that you bought a mansion. Are we the first to visit it?”
“No.”
“I see. It’s not much, but this is a housewarming present.”
“It’s wine. Thank you.”
Once the two finished giving him a housewarming present, Sung Joon led both Shin Chul and Jang Hoon to the living room. The two were awed by the vast interior.
Shin Chul and Jang Hoon were both rank Hunters so the house they lived in was quite large, but their houses wasn’t nearly as large as Sung Joon’s.
They ate a simple lunch.
“I’m curious as to why you called us over, Mr. Kang Sung Joon. I’m excited. I wonder what you’ll bring up this time,” Shin Chul said.
“You see me as too much of a troublemaker.”
“Hahaha”
It seemed as though Shin Chul thought what Sung Joon said was a joke, as he sported a smile and Jang Hoon also began to laugh vigorously. Seeing that, Sung Joon tilted his head and spoke.
“I’ll just get straight to the point. I’m planning on forming a guild.”
“I’d somewhat expected this, but it’s quite early. Have you gathered any people to join your guild immediately?”
Shin Chul asked something quite important. Sung Joon shook his head.
“I have plenty of funds but don’t have enough members. That’s why I have no plans of making the guild immediately.”
“Then are you saying…?”
Shin Chul’s eyes brightened.
“I’ll make a temporary assault team and increase the members step by step… I invited you both here today to ask you two to become executives of my guild.”
“Executives? What are the conditions?”
“The details are written here. You can just consult these documents.”
Sung Joon took out a piece of paper detailing the conditions, and Jung Chul and Jang Hoon read it.
“The conditions aren’t bad. But will the guild really only take 10%?”
In exchange for the benefits a guild gives, the guild would take a portion of a Hunter’s rewards. Normally that amount was 30% of a Hunter’s rewards, but because Sung Joon was exempt from any payments to the nation with regards to guilds, he decided to take just a 10% share from Shin Chul and Jang Hoon.
“That’s fine by me,” Sung Joon replied as he smiled. Jang Hoon looked favorable to the idea, but Shin Chul was meticulous, so he read the conditions carefully.
“But there’s a condition that states that we have to live in this mansion. I’ve never seen this provision anywhere else before.”
“In addition to being executives of my guild, you’ll also be employed as my personal bodyguards,” Sung Joon said, and Shin Chul furrowed his brow.
“If we are to be your personal bodyguards, then our actions become really limited… I don’t really like that.”
Like other Hunters, Shin Chul pursued independence.
“You’ll be my personal bodyguards by name only. All you need to do is live in a separate building of this mansion and help out if there’s an attack. And if the two of you join me… then you can enter SS-rank dungeons,” Sung Joon said, and Jang Hoon and Shin Chul's eyes shook immensely. All Hunters dreamt of assaulting dungeons with high difficulty.
“The conditions aren’t bad.”
“I’m for it!”
Shin Chul acted like he wanted to think about it some more, but Jang Hoon said he was in favor immediately. Shin Chul sighed.
“Ha! Well… it doesn’t seem like there’ll be much of a problem with it… I’ll accept your offer as well.”
“Thank you.”
“But I also have a request for you.”
“What is it?” Sung Joon asked.
“You can speak more comfortably[1] with us now. It’s not good to see an employer speaking so politely to his employees.”
“Alright,” Sung Joon immediately dropped the polite speech. Doing so wasn’t hard. Then, Jang Hoon’s eyes brightened and he asked.
“Can I call you hyung now[2]?”
He had called Sung Joon ‘hyung’ before, but had restrained himself afterwards. Sung Joon nodded his head.
“Do as you please.”
And Jang Hoon cheered.
[2] Hyung, or older brother.
//
Chapter 44 – Lord (1)
TL: Boko
Editors: Frost, StellarRain
Sung Joon founded his regular assault team, ‘Lord’, once Shin Chul and Jang Hoon decided to join. Since he was South Korea’s first SS-rank Hunter, once rumors spread that he had created a team, all the news channels covered it and several Hunters sent requests, hoping that they’d get accepted into his team.
Sung Joon rejected all of their requests to be a part of his team. Eventually, the ‘Lord’ regular assault team would develop into a guild, which would be comprised of only the best Hunters, and act as a sort of elite guard to fight against the Empire. Therefore, he couldn’t just accept anyone.
The day after Shin Chul and Jang Hoon moved in, Sung Joon travelled to the Blue Dragon Group’s head office to meet Seol Ah.
“I heard that you formed a regular assault team. Congratulations.”
Sung Joon and Seol Ah conversed while drinking tea in her office. She began their conversation by congratulating him on the formation of his regular assault team.
He picked up a snack and spoke.
“It’s not going to end there. I’ll eventually make a guild as well.”
The amount one is taxed while in a regular assault team or a guild is similar. However, a guild provided far more benefits.
“If you’re not taxed, forming a guild is much more beneficial in the long-term than maintaining a regular assault team,” Seol Ah said. Since he was exempt from taxes, he didn’t need to worry about the disadvantages and could just look at the benefits.
“If you truly plan on forming a guild, we, the Blue Dragon Group, can help with that.”
“If I’m being honest, I don’t really need your help right now,” Sung Joon said firmly. He didn’t need to be patronized when he didn’t even really need the help.
“I’m sorry?”
Unlike him, Seol Ah was flustered. It would be troublesome for her if Sung Joon came out like this. Because Sung Joon was aware of this, he had something ready for her, a ‘carrot’ if you will.
“Instead, I’ll accept your help on other things. And since you’ve helped me out thus far, I can sell you my magic stones, as long as you give me a fair price.”
The rule was that when one was alone, they must sell their magic stones to the Dungeon Bureau; however, when in a ‘guild’ or a ‘regular assault team’, they may sell their magic stones to a corporation instead, so long as they have the permission.
With this method, the major corporations wouldn’t need to use the Dungeon Bureau as an intermediary and would be able to save on a commission charge, while simultaneously enabling the guilds to sell their magic stones at a better price.
“We don’t have anything else to ask for. But you probably have something you want; isn’t that why you’re making the offer?”
Seol Ah, who was only momentarily taken aback, regained her comfortable expression. The Dungeon Bureau demanded a steep commission fee whenever they delivered magic stones to the corporations, so it was a huge advantage to them to monopolize all of a guild’s magic stones.
This was the main reason major corporations would either sponsor or form their own guilds.
“I’d like you to be my manager.”
“I can do that. I don’t need to be involved in matters regarding the company,” Seol Ah enthusiastically approved. She had once considered company matters paramount, but now that she was interested in Sung Joon, everything regarding him took precedence.
“I’ll be in your care once the time comes.”
“That should be my line,” Seol Ah smiled and replied. There was progress, so her grandfather and Chairman of the Blue Dragon Group, Tae Seok, would recognize her achievement. When she thought about that, she felt amazing.
Sung Joon, who thought that their conversation was over, checked his watch and stood up from his seat.
“You’re leaving already?”
Seol Ah’s voice was tinged with disappointment. She wanted to be with him for just a little bit longer. She thought her desire would be transmitted to Sung Joon but Sung Joon merely shook his head.
“Yes. You see, I need to schedule an appointment for a dungeon assault.”
“I’ll see you next time.”
Because there was nothing more important to a Hunter than dungeon assaults, Seol Ah let it go and saw him off from the first floor.
Sung Joon took his car and travelled to the Dungeon Bureau. It was to apply for a dungeon assault.
Han So Eun being his exclusive clerk, as well as having his own counter, eliminated any waiting time. Sung Joon didn’t even need to wait his turn, he just walked over to his exclusive counter.
“Hunter Kang Sung Joon! Hello!”
So Eun greeted him with a radiant expression. Sung Joon felt his own mood brightening, and responded with an enthusiastic voice whilst smiling.
“What can I do for you today?”
“I came to schedule an appointment for a dungeon assault.”
“At what difficulty?”
“S-rank.”
“I understand,” So Eun replied whilst quickly typing on her keyboard and began to go through the procedures.
“Are you going to solo play it this time as well?” So Eun asked. Sung Joon was South Korea’s first and only SS-rank Hunter, so the Dungeon Bureau was well aware of the news that he’d created a regular assault team. However, she had to ask as he’d almost always solo played until now.
“There’ll be three people in total.”
“You don’t need to be matched with anyone else, correct?”
“Yes, it’s unnecessary.”
It was rare for only three people to assault an S-rank dungeon, but he was experienced in soloing S-rank dungeons already, so So Eun wasn’t particularly surprised.
With a calm expression, she opened her mouth.
“You’ve already registered the roster for your regular assault team with the Dungeon Bureau, correct?”
“Yes, I just did,” Sung Joon nodded his head and replied. He’d been able to do that task rather quickly with Hyun Sung’s help.
“Could you please give me the roster of all those participating in the dungeon assault?” So Eun requested, and Sung Joon took out the roster. With that, So Eun registered all the names listed on the roster into the dungeon assault appointment.
“We’ve gone through all the procedures. There happens to be an untouched S-rank dungeon available! Would you like to schedule an appointment immediately?” So Eun asked. Though it wasn’t common for S-rank dungeons to appear, S-rank Hunters tended to be lazy, so if a dungeon appeared while they were resting, the dungeon would be untouched.
“Please do.”
“When day would you like?”
“Please schedule it as fast as possible.”
So Eun nodded her head and typed on her keyboard. However, she seemed to have found something unusual and opened her mouth while looking at Sung Joon.
“Hunter Kang Sung Joon. It seems that there was an error with our computer network. When I looked into the matter further, it seems like this is actually a failed elite dungeon rather than an untouched dungeon.”
Though an elite dungeon yielded two times the amount of magic stones, the attack difficulty was high. Because there wasn’t much prior investigation regarding them, they were pretty much just traps.
“Do you have any information on the party that failed the attack?”
Sung Joon was well aware that it would be helpful to know at least a little information regarding the party that failed.
“The attackers were Hunter Ahn Joon Seok’s regular assault team ‘Invasion Headquarters’.
Ahn Joon Seok was South Korea’s number two S-rank Mage Hunter. Sung Joon had never met him before, but there was a bit of simple information regarding him on Hunter.com.
‘The ‘Invasion Headquarters’ is also an elite regular assault team comprised of rank Hunters and up.’
“How far did they get?”
“I can’t give you a definite answer, but I believe Ahn Joon Seok stated that he got about half way through,” So Eun replied, and Sung Joon organized his thoughts. Although its difficulty should be rather high, as it’s an elite dungeon, it should be doable if Ahn Joon Seok had already cleared half of it.
‘The Boss is the problem though.’
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the Boss would at least be on the level of a Medusa if it were an elite dungeon. Even if it wasn't, the road leading up to the Boss would be extremely dangerous.
Thus, it was likely that it was the latter if Joon Seok and the ‘Invasion Headquarters’ had given up half way.
“Did he collect the magic stones?” Sung Joon asked. When someone abandons a dungeon mid way, they lose all rights to the magic stones. Conversely, a successful party has all the rights to the magic stones.
“Yes. He collected all of them. Even just half way through, the amount is staggering, so if you finish the assault, then it should yield about two times more than a similarly ranked dungeon.”
Elite dungeons were renowned for yielding much more magic stones in exchange for its higher difficulty.
“I believe it’s worth going if the reward is two times the norm,” Rishubalt said. Sung Joon didn’t nod his head, but he agreed. Since he’d used money recently, he had to diligently gather up some funds again.
“Please schedule the appointment. As quickly as possible.”
“Is one o’clock in the afternoon in two days alright with you?” So Eun asked, and Sung Joon didn’t object. As soon as So Eun finished scheduling the appointment, Sung Joon returned to his mansion and told Shin Chul and Jang Hoon about the details.
“We’re going through an elite S-rank dungeon in two days at one o’clock in the afternoon.”
“Can we do it with only the three of us?”
“Sung Joon. We might have experience going through an S-rank dungeon, but we don’t have any experience with elite S-rank dungeons.”
Shin Chul looked uneasy. Both Shin Chul and Jang Hoon didn’t have any experience with elite S-rank dungeons.
“I’ll be there, so as long as you don’t die on the spot, you should be fine,” Sung Joon said definitely. That was his confidence as an SS-rank Healer Hunter. So long as your brain and heart were intact, he could restore you to perfect health with his healing power, even if your limbs were cut off.
“Trust me.”
“Of course I trust you!” Jang Hoon responded vigorously, but Shin Chul looked calm. Sung Joon glanced at him and asked.
“Are you worried?”
“I would be lying if I said I wasn’t. It would be different if it was just an S-rank dungeon, but I believe we need more members for an elite S-rank dungeon.”
“Trust me. I’ve soloed S-rank dungeons before. Nothing will happen.”
Like always, Sung Joon overflowed with confidence. And because he knew that his confidence wasn’t unfounded, Shin Chul was able to smile and nod his head.
“I’ll trust and follow you, Mr. Kang Sung Joon.”
Two days later, near one o’clock in the afternoon, Sung Joon, Shin Chul, and Jang Hoon appeared at the entrance of the dungeon.
The news had spread on Hunter.com that they were assaulting a dungeon that the number two S-rank Hunter, Ahn Joon Seok, as well as his assault team ‘Invasion Headquarters’, had failed to conquer, so there were several bystanders around that didn’t have anything better to do.
“Are you Hunter Kang Sung Joon? I’ll check your license.”
The Dungeon Bureau worker on standby approached and said. Sung Joon willingly took out his Hunter’s license and finished with the simple verification procedure.
Sung Joon, Shin Chul, and Jang Hoon entered the dungeon. Because Joon Seok and the ‘Invasion Headquarters’ had left after going half way through, they didn’t encounter anything, not even the monsters’ shadows.
“We’ve just passed the halfway point that the Dungeon Bureau told us about,” Shin Chul reported. Sung Joon nodded his head. With his excellent senses, he started to sense mana presences springing up one or two at a time.
“They’re coming. Get ready.”
“Shield.”
As soon as Sung Joon warned them, Shin Chul cast protective magic. A red spear came flying towards them, striking the blue ‘tent’ surrounding them.
Kwang! Kwang!
It felt as though the shock was transferred over to them. Right as Shin Chul deactivated the defensive spell, he swung his staff, sending dozens of Wind Cutters at his enemies.
“He’s double casting. As expected, you weren’t wrong about him my lord,” Rishubalt said.
Double Casting was a technique that could only be used by Mages with a deep understanding of magic. And most Mages with such talent eventually rose to be high-ranked mages, or even Archmages.
‘Yeah. I wasn’t wrong. Yoon Shin Chul is talented enough to become an S-ranked Hunter.’
Sung Joon’s eyes gleamed. If he raised Shin Chul well, Shin Chul would become an excellent leader for his elite guard.
//
Chapter 44 – Lord (2)
TL: Boko
Editors: Frost, StellarRain
Dozens of Wind Cutters flew through the darkness, severely injuring the incoming Flame Berserkers.
There were seven of these Flame Berserkers, who had quickly closed the distance. Of the seven, three were sliced into pieces and fell to the floor.
“I’ll begin casting the next spell!”
Shin Chul raised his mana. Because of his Double Casting, he was simultaneously responsible for both offense and defense. There was just too much for him to do.
“Sung Joon! I’ll go!”
“I’ll take care of the remaining four. Park Jang Hoon, protect Shin Chul! I feel like there’s an ambush coming.”
“U-Understood!”
Jang Hoon obediently obeyed Sung Joon’s command. Though Jang Hoon was extremely prideful and powerful, he was well aware of how he should act before someone more powerful than him.
Flame Berserkers were rank monsters. Sung Joon calmly closed the distance between them, and swung his aura clad blade.
rank monsters were nothing before an SS-rank Hunter. The Flame Berserkers were cut down by Sung Joon’s blade and helplessly fell. The shredded flames scattered into the air.
“AH!”
From behind, he heard an anguished voice; it was Shin Chul’s voice.
“It’s a Dark Assassin,” Rishubalt reported. Sung Joon turned around and looked towards Shin Chul and Jang Hoon.
Shin Chul was bleeding and Jang Hoon was swinging his greatsword in an attempt to ward off the Dark Assassin. He was fighting back, even going as far as activating his aura armor, but the situation wasn’t looking good, as there were more than ten Dark Assassins present.
Although he was ambushed by a group of rank monsters, Jang Hoon was able to stave off most of the Dark Assassins’ attacks and was able to cut down three of them in one blow.
“I’ll be right there!”
Sung Joon used his high-speed movement and healed Shin Chul with his ‘Heal’. Shin Chul, who had been healed of his injury, unleashed fire in the immediate vicinity, forcing the Dark Assassin’s to back off, albeit for a moment. Because of that, Jang Hoon was able to catch his breath, and Sung Joon was able to group back up with them.
Vroom–
He swung his sword, cutting through a Dark Assassin. Sung Joon swung his sword just a few times, yet all the Dark Assassin’s were destroyed, leaving their ‘cores’ behind.
“Absorb.”
Sung Joon, who’d defeated the rest of the Dark Assassins, absorbed their mana, leaving only the magic stones behind.
“How are your injuries?”
“They’ve been completely healed,” Shin Chul said. Sung Joon nodded his head. Shin Chul's injuries weren’t severe. As it had been just a small cut on his arm, an SS-rank Healer’s Heal restored him instantaneously.
“Good. Then collect the magic stones,” Sung Joon said. There were two reasons he’d decided to hunt as a party. Firstly, he wanted to test how efficient it was, and secondly, it would save time when collecting magic stones.
Whenever a battle ended, it was really a pain in the ass to pick up each and every magic stone. Even so, an S-rank dungeon was much too dangerous to hire an assistant to pick the magic stones up for him. If the assistant died, there’d be a huge price to pay.
‘No matter how I think about it, this way seems best.’
Compared to him, Shin Chul and Jang Hoon were talented rank Hunters. Because they weren’t at the same level as the dungeon, they wouldn’t be rewarded much. It was much more cost-efficient than clearing the dungeon with another S-rank Hunter like Eun Joo.
Sung Joon was capable of clearing the dungeon by himself, but at the end of the day, he needed personnel.
“You really are impressive, Sung Joon! You not only knew it was an ambush, but you were also able to take down these rank monsters so easily!”
“As expected of an SS-rank Hunter. I’m honored to be a part of your assault team.”
Sung Joon listened to their admiration and smiled.
“There are several monsters about 500 meters away and another ambush waiting for you. It seems like you’ll have to be careful,” Rishubalt said. He had taken the initiative to scout beforehand, and report on the situation. Sung Joon very slightly nodded his head and replied.
“There’s a group of monsters 500 meters away. It seems like there is an ambush waiting for us as well.”
“Holy… You can sense them from that far away? Impressive!”
Shin Chul couldn’t hide his astonishment at Sung Joon’s statement. He’d heard about S-rank Hunters’ abilities through rumors and had also seen them up close, but because Sung Joon was South Korea’s sole SS-rank Hunter, he couldn’t help but be surprised.
“There are a lot more ambushes than I thought there’d be, though I suppose that could be because it’s an elite dungeon,” Rishubalt added. Sung Joon looked at Shin Chul and opened his mouth.
“I think there will be a lot of ambushes waiting for us. Can you use your spells on those monsters at the edge of 500 meters?”
“Yes, I should be able if you just give me some time.”
It would be impossible for other rank Mage hunters. However, Shin Chul said that he could do it. Seeing that, Sung Joon affirmed that he wasn’t wrong in his assessment of Sin Chul.
He had potential.
“You only need to hit one, so that all the monsters aggro and come rushing over to us.”
In a dungeon, it was normal for monsters to remain in their original positions, but it was also normal for them to pursue any attackers.
“If you force the stealthed monsters to move as well, then it becomes much easier to sense their presences. As expected of Korea's only SS rank hunter!”
Jang Hoon said something quite obvious and nodded his head. Shin Chul channeled his mana and began casting. At the same time, he finished casting his long-range aiming spell, targeting the enemies from afar.
“Ice Spear.”
Shin Chul spoke the activation words and completed his spell. He had created a single ice spear. He could’ve created several of them, but it seemed like he wanted to be completely accurate, so he only made one.
Shin Chul slightly waved his staff and the ice spear cleaved through the air. At the same time, Rishubalt quickly moved towards the monsters’ position in order to ascertain the situation.
“It seems like it hit.”
Shin Chul smiled. It wasn’t easy, but he spoke so nonchalantly about it. Eventually, Rishubalt returned to Sung Joon and reported.
“One of the Flame Berserkers was hit. The group of monsters is coming over here now. The monsters that were laying in wait are coming over here as well.”
Sung Joon’s eyes narrowed as he kept looking forward. He felt their presences, and was able to see them before long.
“It’s a Cold Mage! Yoo Shin Chul!”
“Shield!”
Sharp shards of ice poured down upon them, and Shin Chul responded with a defensive spell. Sung Joon surveyed the monsters to choose a target for his petrifying beam. It was difficult to dodge and was a frightening skill that would apply a petrifying curse, even if one were to defend against it. However, the mana consumption of the skill was severe, so he decided he’d only use it against S-rank monsters and up.
‘Found you.’
Sung Joon’s eyes gleamed. The S-rank monster, the Lava Warrior, had come under his gaze.
“Petrify!”
Once he channeled mana into his eyes and spoke the activation words, a red beam shot out from his eyes. The Lava Warrior raised its giant shield and protected itself against the beam, but that was a mistake. The petrifying beam had to be avoided at all costs.
The shield began to turn to stone, and like an infectious disease, spread to the Lava Warrior’s body.
“Is that an artifact?” Shin Chul asked. Sung Joon nodded his head and opened his mouth.
“Yeah. It’s an S-rank item called ‘Medusa’s Eyes’.”
“It’s the first time I’ve seen an S-rank item used. It seems like I’m experiencing many strange things when I’m with you, Mr. Kang Sung Joon,” Shin Chul said, and began casting once more. Jang Hoon hastily utilized high-speed movement and took care of the exposed Dark Assassins.
“Gale Sword.”
Sung Joon instantaneously closed the distance with Gale Sword, and took down five rank monsters, as well as two S-rank monsters with his impressive swordsmanship. Seeing that, Jang Hoon was astonished.
The battle ended rather quickly. Shin Chul and Jang Hoon collected all the magic stones, and Sung Joon continued with the assault.
The inside of the dungeon was quite expansive, befitting an elite S-rank dungeon. Unlike Sung Joon, Shin Chul and Jang Hoon couldn’t utilize ‘Absorption’, so they had to rest much more compared to Sun Joon.
“Let’s rest a bit here.”
Sung Joon set his light drones to patrol mode and sat in the middle of the light. As they were on patrol mode, the light drones would patrol a set distance away whilst illuminating the darkness.
“I have an interim report for you,” Rishubalt said, approaching Sung Joon. As Shin Chul and Jang Hoon were right next to him, Sung Joon couldn’t nod his head or reply. However, his gaze looked as though it were conveying ‘go on’, so Rishubalt spoke with a calm expression.
“Your clear speed is about 20-30% faster than when you solo the dungeon, even when factoring in the increased breaks. However, the rate at which your synchronization rate goes up is about 10-20% less.”
Sung Joon listened to Rishubalt’s report and ate a piece of beef jerky.
“Thus, I recommend that you hunt as a party if you intend to make money, but if you want to become stronger, solo play is best.”
He didn’t nod his head, but Sung Joon agreed with Rishubalt. Sung Joon ate warm soup and beef jerky while organizing his thoughts.
Their breaks weren’t very long. After finishing their meals, they immediately continued with the assault.
“Ambush!”
It had been thirty minutes after resuming their assault. They were no longer underground and had arrived above ground. Once Sung Joon’s party appeared in the wide hall of the mansion, heavily armed humanoid monsters appeared.
Sung Joon loudly warned Shin Chul and Jang Hoon and at the same time, he severed the right arm of the closest monster aiming for his life.
“Vampires?”
Their opponents were top-tier rank monsters, ‘Vampire Knights’. A red aura danced upon their blades.
“Sung Joon! We’re ok over here!”
It was Jang Hoon. They were doing well against the top-tier, rank Vampire Knights. Worrying about them was unnecessary.
“There’s a Vampire Noble who appears to be the commander at eleven o’clock. He’s wearing the Species Alliance’s insignia, and I suspect he’s a baron,” Rishubalt said.
Sung Joon smirked. A Vampire Noble, or more specifically, a baron, was a low-rank S-rank monster.
‘I don’t think I’ll even need to use my Illusionary Sword.’
Sung Joon used his high-speed movement, instantaneously closing the distance with the Vampire baron.
“H-He’s fast!”
The Vampire baron was incredibly taken aback at the unexpected speed of Sung Joon’s high-speed movement and swung his sword at Sung Joon. Simultaneously, the vampire used blood magic to confuse Sung Joon, but he wasn’t Sung Joon’s match.
After five minutes of dueling, the vampire’s head went flying.
Shin Chul and Jang Hoon had almost finished taking care of the eleven ambushing Vampire Knights. The Two rank Hunters were able to fend off the ambush of top tier rank monsters and although it wasn’t easy for the two to defeat the Vampires, they still managed to pull it off.
“The Boss Room should be close,” Shin Chul said. Rishubalt, who had been listening to the side, nodded his head and opened his mouth.
“Yoo Shin Chul is right. The Boss Room is close.”
There were monsters along the path to the Boss Room, but they were able to take care of them without difficulty. The Boss Room appeared around ten minutes after they took down the final enemy. As soon as they opened the door, they were met by a long-haired Vampire wearing golden armor.
There were ten Vampire Knights at his sides as well.
“You probably can’t understand me, but welcome Otherworlders,” the Vampire said. Sung Joon knew who he was.
“It’s Marquis Laote of the Species Alliance. I thought he’d died in the Ridonia Great Plains, but… he somehow survived.”
His name: Vampire Marquis Laote.
He was one of the Vampire nobles in the Species Alliance who had participated in the battle in the Ridonia Great Plains against Roukel.
“Based on the quantity of his mana, he should be SS-rank,” Rishubalt reported.
“If the Species Alliance is my opponent, then I have no complaints,” Sung Joon said silently. His eyes were overflowing with hatred.
//