Ch.49The Large Dungeon Is Dangerous (2)

“…Was it too easy?”

I definitely thought I’d been acting rather listlessly lately.

I was the one who acted, but perhaps this was also mixed with the effects of the side effects.

Thinking about these things made me feel somewhat complicated.

“……”

My current level is 29.

With level 30 not far away, it was clear that running mere C-rank small dungeons wouldn’t earn me much experience anymore.

Feeling like the time had finally come, I decided to execute the plan I’d been only thinking about for so long.

Ding.

[So, you’re seriously going to form a proper party?]

[I can’t just keep running small dungeons forever.]

[Last time you gave up saying it wouldn’t work out.]

That was certainly true.

Forming a six-person party was an incredibly difficult task for me back then.

But now things were different.

[It’s no problem.]

After all, I was now a Challenger.

[What does that have to do with anything?]

Ignoring Song Hayeon’s words, I began planning the party roster.

[I’ll make it six people.]

[Do you actually have people who will join?]

Besides Song Hayeon, Kwak Minji, and myself, we needed three more people.

As I mentioned before, if I brought in the three people I’d grown closer to during the recent training, we’d have exactly the right number.

However, there was a problem.

‘Kim Seungmin is already B-rank now, so it feels a bit awkward to ask him…’

It seems like just yesterday he was talking about being level 17, but he’s already climbed quite high.

While I was pondering this, Song Hayeon said:

[I’m B-rank too and you boss me around just fine. Just bring him in. Your methods might be questionable, but your skills are real, so there’s potential, right?]

Come to think of it, I heard he hasn’t even joined a guild yet.

I decided to take a chance and sent Kim Seungmin a message.

And soon after, his reply arrived.

[Are you serious about this matter?]

After I confirmed that I was, Kim Seungmin thought for a moment and then presented one condition.

[If you’ll let me be the party leader, I’ll join.]

I immediately accepted his proposal. I had no intention of taking the lead on anything anyway, so this worked out well.

After some brief discussion with Kim Seungmin, we recruited Han Soeun and Choi Eunsol, who were currently active as C-rank hunters.

[Is Seungmin really coming? And the famous Song Hayeon too?]

[I’m definitely in!]

The two of them immediately responded to our request when they heard Song Hayeon and Kim Seungmin were joining.

It was a natural choice, considering it was an opportunity to form a party with renowned rookies.

[Well, it worked out somehow?]

And so the party was formed faster than expected.

There was no need to persuade Kwak Minji since she couldn’t disobey my orders anyway.

Kim Seungmin, who had gathered everyone together, had already prepared a lot of materials and explained the future plans.

“At first, we’ll clear a couple of mid-to-low C-rank dungeons to get used to working together.”

“We seem to be short on frontliners. How will we form our battle formation?”

Two necromancers, one ice mage, one assassin, and one hunter. Except for Kim Seungmin, who was a shield warrior, everyone else was a backline class.

To Choi Eunsol’s question, Kim Seungmin answered without hesitation.

“It shouldn’t be a problem. We have Song Hayeon and Baek Eunha’s undead.”

From various formations tailored to enemy monster types, to basic combat principles and boss battle designs considering everyone’s styles.

Watching Kim Seungmin’s smooth handling of everything, Song Hayeon quietly asked me:

“…Why on earth would someone like him come here?”

“I-I don’t know either.”

After meeting a couple more times to exchange opinions, we immediately began tackling a C-rank medium dungeon.

“Gray Rats and Hook Wolves, both species are highly agile and aggressive. Please summon undead with high durability.”

“Ah. Yes. Got it.”

“The Hook Wolf’s claws have strong connective tissue, so they’re difficult to dismantle with regular tools. I think you should use this.”

“…How annoying. Tsk.”

“The boss is a Ratris. Judging by the surroundings, it’s likely to be a poisonous specimen. Let’s keep our distance and focus on ranged attacks. Soeun, you’ll need to continuously slow its movements with ice magic.”

“Yes! Leave it to me!”

Kim Seungmin gave instructions as skillfully as someone who had been running parties for years, and we cleared the dungeon quite comfortably.

“This time it took 6 hours and 19 minutes. Much faster than last time.”

“Being a medium dungeon, the experience gain is no joke. Did anyone level up?”

“I gained one level.”

With skilled party members and an excellent leader, the party ran more smoothly than expected.

Since Kim Seungmin knew all my characteristics, there weren’t any particular inconveniences.

“This is what a real party is like. I’ve always wanted this, but Master always…”

“S-shut up.”

Starting from C4-rank, then C2-rank, and finally C1-rank medium dungeons.

We continued to tackle dungeons step by step, increasing the difficulty level, and with our existing fame, we soon gained quite a reputation among other parties.

Murmuring.

[Ah, that party is the…]

[Wow, it’s Song Hayeon. I watch her streams often.]

[Then is that Baek Eunha? Can’t see well since they’re all bundled up.]

Unlike me, who had thoughtlessly called Song Hayeon to run any dungeon, Kim Seungmin had a plan for everything.

“We’re starting to get in sync now. I think we can pick up the pace a bit.”

Under Kim Seungmin’s systematic growth plan, we leveled up at a fairly rapid pace.

“Master, what level are you now?”

“…Level 31.”

“At this rate, you’ll be promoted soon.”

After three weeks had passed, the party members’ faces were full of smiles.

It was essentially the ideal party life that hunters dream of—smooth dungeon runs and good income.

Even Kwak Minji, who was initially full of complaints, was visibly grinning.

After another three weeks, fatigue began to creep into those smiles.

The promise to pick up the pace wasn’t empty words, and we were definitely starting to feel the strain.

After three more weeks, shadows finally filled everyone’s faces.

“……”

Since Kim Seungmin was likely having the hardest time, no one spoke up, but honestly, this wasn’t normal.

It was no longer time to worry about pride. As we exchanged glances, we all directed pleading looks toward Choi Eunsol, the oldest member of our party.

Finally, unable to withstand the pressure of our gazes, Choi Eunsol approached Kim Seungmin.

“Seungmin? C-could we take a break just for this week?”

“Do you have something going on?”

“No, that’s not it. Just…”

The murderous schedule that pursued extreme efficiency while staying within the Association’s regulations—that was the problem.

“If you’re not feeling well, I can introduce you to a skilled recovery mage.”

Kim Seungmin was, to put it bluntly, an insane hard worker.

Watching Kim Seungmin as he began checking Choi Eunsol’s condition, Song Hayeon whispered:

“…How can someone live like that?”

“Ugh, exactly.”

Kim Seungmin was truly a monster created by dungeon society.

Despite surely being much busier than us as the party leader handling various tasks, his expression showed not even a hint of fatigue.

There was a reason he was promoted to B-rank faster than any other hunter in the same quarter.

After Choi Eunsol’s earnest plea, Kim Seungmin examined our complexions.

By now, his gaze felt like that of a factory manager inspecting equipment.

“…I apologize. I didn’t pay enough attention to that aspect. Then let’s take this week off to rest.”

Just as we were recovering our worn-out spirits after being liberated from the hellish schedule, a request arrived from the Association.

“It’s asking if we’re interested in participating in a B4-rank large dungeon raid.”

Due to the rapidly increasing frequency of large dungeon appearances lately, they seemed to be short on manpower.

The dungeon was to be tackled by a raid team from Hanul, a medium-sized guild, but they were also requesting support from available parties of the appropriate rank.

Since we had never experienced a large dungeon before, it was a pretty good opportunity.

“I’m in! I’ve been wanting to try a more challenging dungeon anyway.”

“I agree. When else would we get a chance to enter something like this?”

Choi Eunsol and Han Soeun immediately voted in favor, and Kim Seungmin shifted his gaze to me. At the same time, Song Hayeon asked worriedly:

“Um… with that many people, won’t it be too much for Master to handle?”

“We’ll likely be assigned to the scouting team, so the number of people actually fighting together won’t be that many. The boss room will be handled by the guild with exploration rights, so it probably won’t be too burdensome.”

“Then I guess it should be fine…”

As everyone’s eyes focused on me, I thought for a moment and then awkwardly gave my answer.

“…S-sure, why not.”

And so, we declared our participation in a B-rank large dungeon raid for the first time.