Ch.15Dungeon Tour Is Dangerous (1)

“The difficulty is D4 rank, estimated to be small in size. The advance team’s exploration revealed no unusual circumstances.”

By now, the training schedule was almost complete.

All that remained was the final challenge: the dungeon exploration field trip, considered the greatest hurdle of the government-sponsored hunter training program.

“The exploration will be conducted by a carefully selected team of instructors. However, for those who wish to experience actual combat, we will provide the situation and location.”

In reality, there wasn’t much for us to do directly.

The process involved observing the exploration team’s investigation, learning practical precautions, and understanding how actual dungeon conquests are carried out.

The training camp had been preparing us for this moment. Naturally, our groups consisted of people who had been working together and building teamwork.

“The situation shouldn’t be too difficult, so let’s do our best together.”

“I-I’m a bit nervous.”

“Come on, don’t worry too much. With Seungmin here, there shouldn’t be any danger in a dungeon of this rank.”

Our group had three members besides me: Kim Seungmin, a shield warrior; Han So-eun, an ice mage; and Choi Eunsol, an archer.

“Eunha, you’re a necromancer, right?”

“…Y-yes.”

Thanks to the filleted mackerel incident, Han So-eun and Choi Eunsol had developed quite a favorable impression of me. Because of that, we could at least manage brief conversations.

“That’s a rare class in Korea. What’s your title?”

“Uh…”

At Choi Eunsol’s question, I quickly racked my brain.

I hadn’t yet fully awakened. Naturally, I didn’t have a title. So I had no choice but to make one up.

“For reference, mine is ‘Agile Hunter.’ Not very impressive, right?”

In this world, titles were quite mysterious yet intuitive.

Some had meanings that were difficult to understand, but one thing was certain.

Those with impressive-sounding titles tended to be stronger.

Because of this, people often tried to guess someone’s talent or skill based on their title.

‘If I were to have a title…’

I had plenty of impressive options.

If I wanted to keep it simple, wouldn’t “Lord of the Underworld” be appropriate?

That would be fitting to represent my great achievements.

I prepared to speak with an expression full of pride.

“…Come to think of it, wasn’t there someone in another group with a title like ‘Guardian of the Earth’?”

“Oh, that guy? I didn’t like how he was showing off just because he had a flashy title.”

“Indeed, it wasn’t a pleasant sight. His fundamentals seemed lacking too. What really matters is having proper foundations.”

Those were the words of Han So-eun, Choi Eunsol, and Kim Seungmin in order.

Noticing their reactions, I hesitated and mumbled, hastily offering the alias from my novice necromancer days.

“Um, I’m… the Agent of the Old Haystack…”

I was a proper, traditional necromancer after all.

I absolutely couldn’t be mistaken for some rootless corpse-peddler.

“I assume everyone has their equipment ready. Then, let’s enter.”

After chatting briefly, we finished our serious preparations and finally entered the dungeon with the exploration team.

“Trainees should maintain a certain distance from the vanguard and move in formation.”

As expected, the exploration itself presented no problems.

For the veteran instructors, this lowest-level dungeon was manageable with ease, and we simply followed behind them, analyzing the battles.

“Trainee number 21, your rear guard vigilance is lax.”

“Ah, I’m sorry!”

But there was a reason why this dungeon field trip was called the greatest hurdle.

Even just walking and observing battles quickly exhausted the trainees more than expected.

No matter how much they aspired to be hunters, the killing intent of monsters and the eerie magical energy of the dungeon were not things to be taken lightly by those who had never experienced a dungeon before.

“We’ll take a 20-minute break now. During this time, quickly familiarize yourselves with stationary vigilance methods.”

This final process determined who could proceed as a hunter and who could not.

Simply put, it was a kind of filter.

Although everyone had undergone rigorous training and accumulated knowledge, there were clearly some who simply couldn’t apply it properly in actual combat.

Regrettably, such individuals simply couldn’t become hunters. They lacked the qualifications.

“Trainee number 13, are you alright?”

“…Urgh.”

And that was me.

Far from maintaining vigilance, I actually felt like I was about to throw up and die.

‘My stomach hurts. My head aches.’

There were just too many people. If it had been just the four of us conquering the dungeon together, it might have been different, but this large-scale communication was nearly impossible for me right now.

“If you’re not feeling well, we can move you to the rear standby group.”

“I-I’m fine…”

So I decided to take special measures once again.

Whoosh.

‘Curse Blind.’

Again, if I couldn’t see, there was nothing to fear.

Curse Blind is divine, and I am invincible!

Tick.

“We’ll resume moving shortly. Please form your ranks.”

Though my vision was impaired, that’s what intuition was for. For someone like me who had been through thick and thin, this was extremely simple.

‘This way.’

I naturally slipped into the middle of the formation, when suddenly I heard the voice of a trainee next to me. Someone I didn’t know at all.

“Excuse me, that’s my position…”

“…”

Hiding my reddened face, I dispelled the curse and returned to my proper place.

The subtle gazes of my team members pierced my heart.

#

The dungeon conquest was proceeding smoothly.

However, since it also served as training for the trainees, the time required for clearing was being considerably extended.

“We should reach the boss room in about two hours. Please don’t let your guard down and hang in there a little longer.”

The instructors continued to forge ahead while encouraging the trainees.

While some trainees were completely exhausted due to their incompatibility with dungeons, Group 3, to which Baek Eunha belonged, was generally doing fine. They were even relaxed enough to chat while maintaining vigilance.

“But this dungeon is unusual.”

“Huh? In what way?”

At Choi Eunsol’s question, Kim Seungmin looked around once before continuing.

“Are you familiar with the difference in magical energy distribution based on dungeon size?”

“What’s that?”

“The smaller the dungeon, the more closely connected the magical energy in the atmosphere tends to be. This is due to the presence of the boss monster.”

Boss monsters possess magical energy far greater than ordinary monsters.

Therefore, the more confined the dungeon space, the less room there is for that energy to disperse, causing it to concentrate.

“I heard this was estimated to be a small dungeon.”

“Yes. I believe the supervisor mentioned that as well.”

“But the surrounding magical energy is subtly thin. It’s not a big difference, just peculiar.”

The point Kim Seungmin raised was actually something the instructors had been concerned about all along.

It was hard to see it as a problem, but it was indeed an unusual situation.

However, the lowest-ranked dungeons were rare and difficult to find in Korea. Looking for another one was out of the question.

The chief supervisor, former C-class hunter Choi Jeong-un, spoke up.

“Have there still been no unusual findings?”

“No. There have been no differences from the advance team’s investigation, and no abnormal signs either.”

They had already sent an advance team to check all areas of the dungeon and locate the boss room. Honestly speaking, there shouldn’t be any problems.

Although something felt off, Choi Jeong-un deliberately ignored it.

And finally, the group reached the entrance to the boss room.

After taking one last break, Choi Jeong-un gathered the trainees and spoke.

“We’re about to enter the boss room. We haven’t checked what’s inside, so to prepare for any contingencies, trainees will not enter.”

That was the right decision.

Most of the trainees, who had been secretly frightened, nodded in relief at those words.

“Instead, since we’ll be conducting the battle in a straight line of sight, you can wait outside and focus on analyzing the battle.”

Eventually, they would have to face boss monsters directly. With the sound of someone swallowing nervously, the instructors finally entered the boss room.

Boom.

“Hunter Kang, please secure our vision.”

“Yes. I’ll light it up.”

Flash!

A basic light spell filled the boss room, and finally the scene was revealed to all. The boss room was completely empty.

“A D-rank boss wouldn’t be the stealth type.”

“It could be hiding in the terrain. Everyone be careful…”

That’s when the anomaly occurred.

CRASH!

BOOM─!

With a sound like the earth turning upside down, the advance team was startled and looked around vigilantly.

As the noise subsided, someone shouted urgently.

“Supervisor! Behind, behind us!”

At those words, Choi Jeong-un quickly checked behind them, and soon contorted his expression at the incomprehensible sight.

“What… is this…”

The rear guard, who had been waiting in front of the boss room just moments ago, had disappeared without a trace.