Ch.135. First Business Trip of the Internship Program (2)

“Mr. Lee Minsu, what did you just say?”

Team Leader Seo Duho spoke to me. I answered.

“Since this is a large contaminated area, dungeons are everywhere. Wouldn’t it be better for us to find suitable dungeons ourselves rather than settling for the mediocre ones the Association has located?”

Soso responded to my comment.

“That’s not something to suggest so casually. Perhaps for low-level dungeons you tackled at the Academy, but when raiding under Flame’s name, we can’t just charge in recklessly.”

Soso explained briefly. Typically, when high-ranking guilds like Flame undertake raids, the raid team and information team move together. And the information team always moves first.

Dungeons exist beyond gates.

Therefore, the appearance of the gate, the waveform patterns of magical energy it emits, and even the terrain changes around the gate.

By analyzing these external factors first, one can gather information about a dungeon without actually entering it.

And for wealthy corporate guilds with abundant resources, they take it a step further for pre-analyzed high-level dungeons.

They send information teams and hunters equipped with return stones into the dungeon to gather more detailed information.

‘But that’s not common practice. It’s only worth it for A-rank dungeons or higher. Return stones are ridiculously expensive.’

Soso continued.

“That’s why the information team’s preliminary dungeon analysis comes first. Unfortunately, Flame’s information team is currently absent. We shouldn’t use such amateur methods as rushing into dungeons without prior information.”

Surprisingly, Soso was speaking quite sensibly. Though she wasn’t usually this articulate. As they say, the position makes the person—she explained calmly, befitting her role as Flame’s raid team leader.

Then Team Leader Seo Duho added.

“Well, as Team Leader Yeon said, right now I’m the only one from the information team. Even with good equipment for gate waveform analysis, ultimately it’s the information team’s personnel who must handle the input and interpretation. It requires manpower. And even if I tried to do it alone, the time would…”

Suddenly, Team Leader Seo looked at me.

“Wait. I’m sure Minsu, who passed the practical interview with perfect scores, didn’t speak without thinking. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes, Team Leader Seo Duho. As I said, finding suitable dungeons is possible with our current members.”

“With our current members? Without additional support from the information team?”

I nodded immediately.

“That’s right. And I think I could handle the preliminary dungeon analysis… especially with Team Leader Seo here.”

Team Leader Seo responded with interest.

“Your confidence is impressive. While an operator’s duties overlap with the information team’s in many ways, fieldwork is… No, considering your answers in the practical interview, I suppose you must have solid grounds for saying this. Would you care to explain?”

He was right. I wasn’t just showing off.

This southeastern contaminated zone was a place I frequently visited for part-time work during my student days.

This area is quite far from Seoul where Ains is located. So whenever I came, I made the most of it.

I farmed items in bulk to generate income, which meant I operated differently from ordinary hunters.

I pointed to the map displayed on the office wall.

“As you can see on this map, all the dungeons provided by the Association are concentrated in these flatlands or former village areas. Isn’t that right?”

“Hmm. That’s true. But that’s only natural. While dungeons in this zone are numerous, their ranks are all similar. Naturally, hunters prefer dungeons with better accessibility… Wait a minute?”

Team Leader Seo looked with interest at where my finger was pointing.

“So you’re suggesting we go directly into the mountainous area instead. Is that it?”

“Yes. Valuable gems are usually found in rough terrain.”

“Hmm. That’s correct. You know your stuff. That’s why Flame’s field team is always traversing difficult areas. Anyway, please continue.”

I provided more explanation. Finally, after hearing everything, Team Leader Seo gave his approval.

“Let’s go then. As Intern Lee Minsu suggested.”

***

The group moved together into the mountainous area.

Hunter movement is no simple task. For a single dungeon raid, the amount of weapons and equipment required is enormous.

That’s why guilds of considerable size employ numerous porters, or so-called “carriers.”

‘Not just for the raid team, but the information team’s equipment is also quite heavy.’

It’s no wonder that easily accessible dungeons are popular, and information about them trades at high prices. If you exhaust yourself before even reaching the dungeon, the raid itself becomes more difficult.

Mountainous areas like this, inaccessible by car, are truly the worst locations for hunter guilds.

‘But I’m using that common perception to our advantage.’

Team Leader Seo, walking beside me, said:

“Entering a place everyone avoids to find dungeons directly—this is truly thinking outside the box. I quite like your proposal, Minsu. You really do have the qualities of an excellent operator.”

“Not at all. Even if we find dungeons, failing to properly analyze them in advance would just waste time. Save your praise for then.”

“That’s a good attitude. Then I’ll look forward to your dungeon analysis later.”

Though this turned into an unexpected mountain hike, the other guild members willingly followed my suggestion. Of course, this was only possible because Soso, the field commander, gave her final approval.

Soso was currently separated from the group. She had tasks that only an A-rank hunter like her could perform.

When the conversation with Team Leader Seo paused briefly, Arini approached from the side and said:

“It feels refreshing to go hiking after so long. How about you, senior?”

“Not bad.”

“Since you can’t use mana anymore, you’re basically like a normal person now. If you get tired, I can carry you.”

“No, my physical abilities haven’t deteriorated that much. I’ve been rehabilitating diligently, so I’m fine.”

“Tch… Still, tell me if you get tired. I’ll heal you right away.”

Currently, I’m carrying less equipment than Arini. But the other guild members aren’t heavily burdened either.

The dungeons the group was planning to tackle were for intern program evaluation.

So they didn’t bring much equipment to begin with. Everyone carries their own weapons. And the heaviest equipment—the information team’s gear—was being carried by Uncle Donghyuk.

The rest was camping equipment. Team Leader Seo observed the group and continued:

“Since we’ve come this far into the mountains, it would be best to camp here for three days to save time. Your thinking is correct, Minsu.”

I had simply proposed the same method I used as a student—entering difficult mountainous terrain to find dungeons to raid.

Back then, I did it to avoid paying dungeon brokerage fees, but in our current situation, this method was useful.

“And since few hunters would bother coming to such an inconvenient place, there will be less competition for B-rank dungeons.”

In this intern evaluation, B-rank dungeons are by far the most popular.

They’re not as dangerous as A-rank dungeons, but offer better rewards than C-rank dungeons, making them more efficient overall.

‘While better than Academy students, most interns still lack experience, so B-rank is perfect for them.’

Naturally, B-rank dungeons in accessible flatlands were already monopolized by corporate guilds. So the dungeons left for us were merely C-rank, as mentioned at the office.

If we could find and conquer several B-rank dungeons in these mountains, we might stand a chance against interns from corporate guilds who had already secured B-rank dungeons.

‘But they’ve probably already started raiding. So we need to focus desperately on preliminary dungeon analysis.’

After traveling, the group set up a camp at a location midway up the mountain that I already knew about.

And Soso returned to that location.

“Minsu, it was just as you said. Looking around the areas you pointed out, I found several gates that appear to be B-rank.”

As expected, Soso easily completed the task I had assigned her. In this contaminated zone, the magical energy distribution has become fixed.

Especially in this area where few people visit and magical interference is minimal, locations where similar-ranked dungeons frequently spawn remain constant.

I had asked Soso to scout those locations. Team Leader Seo said:

“That’s great. Then it’s time for us to move. Arini will stay here alone, and the rest of us will go.”

Now we needed to analyze the B-rank dungeon gates Soso had found. Of course, since neither I nor Team Leader Seo could carry all the heavy analysis equipment from the information team.

Uncle Donghyuk shouldered that burden.

“It would be difficult to continue analyzing too late into the night. Let’s move quickly. Wait. I’m an awakened one, so I can move fast even on difficult mountain paths, but… what about you, Minsu?”

I could be carried by Uncle Donghyuk if necessary, but he was already heavily burdened.

“I’ll try to move as quickly as possible. I may not be able to use mana, but my physical abilities aren’t that lacking. Somehow I’ll run…”

“Wait! There’s no need for that. It would be a waste of time.”

Soso stepped in front of me.

“Would you prefer to ride on my back, or be carried in my arms?”

***

After directly checking the gates Soso had found, the group returned to the campsite.

“Fortunately, the gate’s waveform patterns have been stored in the analysis equipment. Team Leader Seo, we won’t need to spend the night in front of the gate.”

“That’s right. This equipment that stores patterns cost an enormous amount. That’s why the finance team and our information team don’t get along. We couldn’t have purchased it without the Guild Master’s support.”

It was still winter, and nights in the deep mountains are extremely cold.

I was sitting next to Team Leader Seo by the fire we had set up like a campfire, busily conducting preliminary analysis.

‘This really is excellent equipment. It renders such high-resolution images without waveform interference.’

However, the equipment only displays the waveform patterns. Analyzing those patterns to gather information about the dungeon beyond the gate is the information team’s role.

Team Leader Seo was skillfully performing that task. He glanced at me and clicked his tongue.

“Minsu, did you really just graduate from the Academy? Your dungeon pre-analysis is much faster than our information team members.”

As he said, I had already completed the analysis of two dungeons. Based on the gate waveform patterns, I had output the dungeon’s terrain attributes, the scale of monsters likely to exist inside, and even the boss type.

I had also identified potential hazards that could cause significant damage without prior information, all organized and displayed on the equipment’s monitor screen.

“Well… I’ve been interested in this kind of work since my student days. So I’m familiar with it.”

“Even so, this work typically requires at least a master’s degree in a related field. Wow. With skills like these, no one could call you a parachute hire. This is impressive. If you weren’t an operator, I’d try to poach you for our information team. What a shame.”

“…It’s nothing special. Really.”

I felt awkward at Team Leader Seo’s praise. My familiarity with dungeon information analysis was also due to my focus on securing “key items” through prior information.

Key items are artifacts that haven’t been discovered by people yet, but will definitely be found in the future of Akahunter.

I became familiar with the process by preemptively claiming items that should have gone to other characters in the novel.

‘Well, it’s essentially theft. Nothing to be proud of.’

And that monopolization of key items created a butterfly effect leading to Ains’s tragedy. But I immediately pushed away the emotions that welled up.

‘Right now, I need to focus on what I have to do.’

While Team Leader Seo and I were engrossed in dungeon analysis, Arini brought me warm soup and bread.

“Senior, eat this first. I’ll be grilling meat later too, so look forward to it.”

“Ah, thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”

Arini smiled with great satisfaction.

She seemed quite displeased about being left alone at the camp, but while the group was away checking the gates, Arini had prepared dinner for everyone.

‘She’s really capable.’

And from across the camp, I could feel someone’s gaze on Arini and me. It was Soso.

***

Meanwhile, Yeon Soso was sitting in one part of the camp having dinner.

‘This is delicious as always. Arini’s cooking.’

During her student council days, she had tasted Arini’s cooking a few times. There was a world of difference between Arini’s skills and her own—she loved eating but couldn’t cook at all.

Though things improved somewhat by the time she joined the third-year student council.

Soso, essentially a loner, and Seong Arini, outgoing and popular—the two had completely opposite personalities.

‘What kind of relationship do those two have?’

While Arini was friendly to everyone, her manner toward Minsu was clearly different.

Anyone could see she was full of affection, if not love, for him. And she didn’t seem interested in hiding that fact from others.

‘Could they… already be dating?’

Just as her heart sank at that thought, someone spoke from within her.

– Foolish girl. You haven’t changed at all since then.

It was that voice—the one Soso hated with every fiber of her being.