Ch.33Rescue Operation Is Dangerous (4)

The dungeon interior was surprisingly cozy.

The characteristic stuffy air and cool atmosphere weren’t particularly noticeable here.

Yun Sola, who had joined the supply delivery team at the Association’s request, remained vigilant while examining her surroundings.

“The air is warm, and the corridors are well-maintained. This isn’t normal.”

Indeed, it seemed special—the atmosphere was clearly different from ordinary dungeons scattered everywhere.

Creak.

Creak.

Having summoned skeletons from the dungeon entrance for supply delivery, they couldn’t completely hide their presence.

From now on, every action needed to be carefully considered.

“Which direction should we move toward?”

At Jeon Intaek’s question, Baek Eunha silently began heading toward the leftmost passage among the many corridors.

As the two followed behind, Baek Eunha hesitantly spoke up.

“Um, could you please… maintain a distance of 10 meters…”

“…Understood.”

Though they had heard about Baek Eunha’s personality beforehand, various worries and anxieties flooded their minds at that moment.

‘Is this really right?’

‘…Are we all going to die if we trust this person?’

To be honest, they had a bad feeling since Choi Seongcheol was excluded due to Baek Eunha’s adamant refusal. Excluding combat power based on personal feelings during an Association-led operation—did that even make sense?

But the situation was already irreversible. Jeon Intaek and Yun Sola followed Baek Eunha with ambiguous expressions.

Creak.

Creak.

Thud.

Thud.

After walking for some time, they began to sense monster presences ahead—apparently, their group was too large to go unnoticed.

“…There seem to be quite a few of them.”

“Should we block the corridor and take a detour?”

Jeon Intaek stepped forward, drawing up his mana and preparing his skills.

However, Baek Eunha raised her hand to stop him.

“…It’s not a problem.”

[Growl.]

What appeared were six kobolds. Judging by their threatening build and muscle development, they seemed slightly stronger than ordinary kobolds.

Yun Sola prepared her magic in panic.

“Without a vanguard, a direct confrontation is too risky!”

Baek Eunha had already summoned over ten skeletons for carrying supplies, so it was hard to believe she had any capacity left.

But Baek Eunha didn’t retreat, simply chanting her spell impassively.

Whoosh.

“Undead call.”

Splash!

[Grr.]

[Grrr.]

What emerged from the ground were two massive skeletons made entirely of red bones.

They were Skeleton Mashers, summoned through Song Hayeon’s medium.

Crack!

Smash!

[Keeek!]

[Kiek!]

A fierce battle between the kobolds and Skeleton Mashers began, but the outcome was quickly decided.

The Skeleton Mashers won overwhelmingly.

Crunch!

[Kihek—!]

It wasn’t even a close fight.

The kobold group was utterly destroyed by just two Skeleton Mashers.

‘…What is this? How is this possible?’

Jeon Intaek and Yun Sola, positioned at the rear, stared blankly at the scene.

Typically, a C-rank hunter’s summons would barely gain an advantage against monsters of the same level.

But to annihilate more than twice their number with just two summons?

It simply didn’t make sense.

‘Especially when she’s already using numerous skeletons for supply transport?’

The eyes of the two, which had been filled with anxiety, now looked at Baek Eunha ahead with a distinctly different light.

‘…Something’s different.’

‘Is this person really a C-rank like us?’

Jeon Intaek and Yun Sola faced each other with incomprehension.

And so, the party’s first battle came to an end.

#

In truth, I never had any intention of following the Association’s request to aim for a break.

‘Survive for over a week wedged between twelve debuff totems?’

It was obviously impossible. Not even worth considering. Rather than that, clearing the dungeon somehow would be better.

That’s why I deliberately didn’t avoid combat. I needed to gauge the opponents’ strength first.

And the results were quite positive.

‘This is more manageable than I thought.’

Since entering the dungeon, we had already completed three battles.

The difficulty was rated C3-rank, and since even eight hunters couldn’t clear it, I was cautious. But the monsters I faced weren’t that powerful.

‘…That’s what makes it suspicious.’

Although not as impressive as his gaming skills, Kim Seungmin’s abilities as a hunter weren’t bad at all.

Assuming the other seven were at a similar level, there’s no way they couldn’t clear a dungeon of this caliber.

There must be some obstacle we haven’t discovered yet.

And if we could break through that obstacle, clearing the dungeon wouldn’t be impossible.

“Um. Could we wait a moment…”

I awkwardly addressed the two people following at a distance. Then I immediately took out a small flask from my pocket.

“Undead call.”

Various small insect corpses I had prepared in advance. After raising them, I gathered my magic once more and chanted another spell.

Whoosh.

“Berserk.”

Rustle.

Rustle.

The insects in the flask began to violently shake their bodies.

I brought it over to Yun Sola.

“Eek! Why, why?”

“Um, speed buff…”

Yun Sola grimaced in disgust, but at my firm request, she cast her magic toward the insects.

“Breath of the Wind Fairy.”

Whoosh.

Flutter.

Flutter.

Now the insects were thrashing their limbs as if in a frenzy. Without hesitation, I opened the flask’s lid.

Click.

“Eek!”

Rustle!

The released insects disappeared down the corridor in an instant. Now we just had to wait.

“What have you been doing all this time?”

“…M-mapping.”

I avoided Yun Sola’s gaze as she took two steps toward me, and I retreated four steps.

It’s really difficult traveling with two companions. I missed my two-person party with Song Hayeon.

“Um, the paths here seem strange…”

“What do you mean?”

It’s frustrating dealing with these rookies. Shouldn’t they notice these things immediately?

At that moment, one of the insects quickly sent back a response.

The direction was northwest, and underground. There was something unusual there.

“…A nest?”

“Pardon?”

I immediately led the party toward that location.

#

Yun Sola and Jeon Intaek followed Baek Eunha despite not understanding the situation. And there, they encountered it.

Writhe.

Writhe.

[Kieeek…]

A structure that looked like a large lump of flesh, or perhaps a part of the dungeon that had come alive and was breathing.

It was what they called a monster plant.

“Holy shit.”

“W-why is there a plant in a C-rank dungeon…”

Jeon Intaek spat out a coarse curse upon seeing it. Yun Sola also fell into despair instantly.

“…Damn it, what the hell is going on?”

It wasn’t particularly strange.

Plants were structures known to appear only in dungeons rated B-rank mid-tier or higher, especially those classified as large-scale.

What was particularly problematic was the presence of high-level monsters that were always said to accompany plants.

“L-look over there.”

Even now, on the rock wall beyond the plant, a monster emanating an ominous aura was sleeping with its eyes closed.

Monsters being born in real-time from the plant, plus a powerful sentinel.

This was clearly not something a small party like theirs could handle.

“…Let’s retreat. We need to regroup with the main force quickly. Without everyone together, we don’t have even a sliver of chance.”

“We need to leave before the enemies notice us.”

The thought of engaging in battle was completely absent from their minds.

Their only goal was to regroup with the main force as quickly as possible and stall for time until the break.

However, Baek Eunha glanced in the direction of the sentinel and took a step forward.

“A-are you insane?”

Yun Sola, her mind going blank at the sight, grabbed Baek Eunha’s shoulder.

That was a mistake.

“Eek!”

Thud!

Baek Eunha, who had maintained an expressionless face even in this terrifying scene, suddenly let out a shrill scream and collapsed to the floor.

The resulting noise filled the corridor, and both of them reflexively flinched.

“Ugh. I-I told you not to touch me…”

Baek Eunha protested with teary eyes, but that wasn’t important right now.

Yun Sola and Jeon Intaek held their breath, their faces turning ashen.

“…Shit, we’re all dead.”

The monsters scattered around the plant and the sentinel on the rock wall.

All those enemies’ murderous gazes were now targeting the party.