Ch.7325. The Beginning of the Cooperation Mission (2)

Flame continued to wait in the temporary barracks.

Currently, the guild assigned to Zone B had begun reconnaissance. The raid team was gathered in the barracks, listening to Yuri’s explanation.

“Gigantes, who’s in charge of Zone C reconnaissance, is an S-rank guild like Flame. They’re a satellite guild of Mansung, so they’re evaluated as having abundant practical experience. But they’ve suffered casualties.”

Yuri briefed them using information obtained from Gigantes, displayed through a small beam projector brought by the information team.

“Even though this is real space, once inside this territorialized area, it’s just like a dungeon. And this dungeon’s territory is exceptionally vast.”

Yuri pointed to the map that Gigantes had scouted. Paju City and Kaesong City. A dungeon spanning two administrative districts. No, since it was territorialized, it was beyond a dungeon—it was reality.

And Zone C was a wide area combining several sections.

Team Leader Seo Duho spoke up.

“Zone C, being on the outskirts, is the largest area. But it’s far from the boss zone, on the periphery. So according to the initial data sent by the Association, the magical contamination concentration wasn’t high, and there weren’t that many monsters…”

“The situation has completely changed. Would you like to see?”

Everyone looked at the data Yuri indicated. The measurements taken by Gigantes’ reconnaissance team. That data was completely different from the Association’s projections.

“Even though it’s Zone C… the magical contamination is three times the expected value?”

Soso remarked with surprise. While it wasn’t uncommon for dungeons or territories to be more difficult than anticipated when entering them…

It was rare for the difficulty level to differ by three times in an outer zone.

“That’s why they said even simple reconnaissance was challenging for Gigantes’ elite teams. No, it wasn’t just challenging. There were casualties.”

That wasn’t all. Since they had conducted precise imaging during reconnaissance, they could see inside the territory with much higher resolution than drone equipment could provide.

“It’s an incredible snowstorm.”

Just like when they had visited Mount Seorak. A heavy snowstorm was raging inside the territory, making it impossible to see even a step ahead.

Flame was right at the edge of the territory. But there was no sign of heavy snow here, so it was undoubtedly a phenomenon created by territorialization and magical contamination.

Team Leader Seo continued.

“With such magically created extreme cold, there would be problems with equipment durability and performance. That’s going to be troublesome.”

“Before that, it’s weather that would freeze an ordinary hunter to death.”

The next page of the data contained detailed information about the cause of death for the reconnaissance casualty.

“It’s a combination of factors. Physical ability deterioration due to extreme cold. Equipment performance degradation on top of that. And then encountering numerous magical beasts while visibility is severely limited…”

As Team Leader Seo said, although it was just Zone C reconnaissance, the territory was extremely challenging. The basics of reconnaissance require stealthy movement.

But in such severe weather conditions, it’s extremely difficult to move properly. Meanwhile, monsters’ senses are exceptionally keen inside dungeons or territories.

‘So that’s why there were casualties.’

Still, they were an S-rank guild. They probably never thought they’d suffer casualties during mere reconnaissance. They had barely completed the zone reconnaissance, but the Gigantes guild was reportedly in quite a panic now.

“So how is the Zone B reconnaissance going?”

“Hellhound, who was originally assigned to Zone B reconnaissance, has been deployed.”

Hellhound. True to their name, they were an independent guild with quite a rough disposition. A mercenary-type guild that would take on any job as long as they got paid.

They were also a guild formed by hunters who had been fired from corporate guilds after causing trouble. But their skills were undeniable.

“Apparently they had a bit of an argument with Gigantes, who suffered casualties. They complained that their workload was increasing because Gigantes couldn’t properly scout Zone C. I heard they insulted the deceased hunter.”

“Well, they’re famous for that kind of behavior. I heard that a particularly nasty team leader from Mansung transferred there. But they’re extremely money-driven, so they’ll definitely do a thorough job with Zone B reconnaissance.”

But Team Leader Seo’s prediction was wrong. A few hours later, the Hellhound hunters returned to the temporary camp. They looked terribly battered.

With tattered protective gear and blood seeping from wounds all over their bodies, one hunter shouted:

“This territory. You absolutely must not enter it!”

***

Evening came.

Woooooong—

The extreme cold that had reached minus 30 degrees Celsius even during the day. As night fell, an unbearable cold wave accompanied by strong winds was sweeping through the temporary camp.

Inside the temporary barracks, the heating was on, so they wouldn’t freeze to death. But instead, the mood among the guild members had grown cold and somber.

“Senior, would you like a hot chocolate?”

“No. Americano, please.”

Arin was busily moving around, serving drinks to everyone. The cold was so severe that even hot drinks cooled down quickly.

The expressions of those examining the reconnaissance data brought back by Hellhound were grim.

“Three casualties. And one of them was an S-rank hunter.”

Team Leader Seo said. As he mentioned, Hellhound’s losses during Zone B reconnaissance were much greater than Gigantes’.

And in what was supposed to be just a reconnaissance mission, all of Hellhound’s guild members had their MCI exceed the limit.

‘This was a mission where you couldn’t participate unless your limit was above 80 to begin with. And yet…’

That meant the mental contamination of hunters who entered the territory was severe.

And among the hunters exposed to the territory’s curse due to mental contamination exceeding the limit, one suffered from such terrible hallucinations that they attacked their allies.

“And another hunter ran into the snowstorm and went missing. The rest were discovered in their hiding spot because of that hunter, resulting in combat with monsters and more casualties…”

Team Leader Seo’s expression was heavy as he muttered to himself.

‘Even Team Leader Seo, a veteran who has been through everything at Mansung…’

That meant the current situation was far from ordinary. He continued:

“Also, most of the monsters Hellhound encountered were specters or undead. That means the territory is heavily contaminated. Fortunately, we have two White Cross priests in our guild.”

As Team Leader Seo said, undead are the most troublesome monsters to deal with when mental contamination is severe enough to exceed the limit.

The curses and confusion they casually throw around. Resistance to those debuffs disappears in that state.

‘I have a bad feeling about this.’

I recalled the content of the original work.

This was the Paju cooperative mission that Siwoo’s Justice had participated in. But the territory described in that episode wasn’t this difficult.

‘But now the difficulty seems way too high no matter how I look at it.’

An S-rank guild. And an S-rank hunter died during reconnaissance. Of course, a hunter or villain’s rank isn’t an absolute measure of strength, but I couldn’t help but think of the tragedy of Ains.

The graduation ceremony episode that the cadets could have handled normally. But with the appearance of the S-rank villain, Shadow Demon, the future completely changed.

‘Could this also be that butterfly effect…’

In a novel where the protagonist had died. It might be natural for the story and plausibility to become this jumbled.

At that moment, Yuri spoke:

“The good news is that Hellhound forced themselves to continue reconnaissance even after taking casualties. That means we’ve secured a safe route.”

“Hmm. But knowing those guys, they probably just barely set foot on the border of Zone A to get compensation from the Association. So there’s a high chance it’s not a proper safe route. I’m not sure how helpful it will be.”

“Still better than nothing.”

Team Leader Seo responded with surprise:

“Wait, are you planning to proceed with the reconnaissance, Guild Leader?”

All guild members’ eyes turned to Yuri. I couldn’t help but compare Hellhound and Flame at that moment.

‘Hellhound’s combat power is roughly similar to Flame’s.’

Although Yuri and Soso were quite famous, Hellhound had many hunters with over 10 years of experience.

In the hunter world, surviving for more than 10 years is a sufficient badge of honor. Even they had returned in a miserable state. That’s how dangerous this territory is.

As guild leader, Yuri could abandon the reconnaissance mission. It would be a huge loss for the guild if there were casualties in the raid team.

Now that the difficulty had increased significantly compared to the preliminary data provided by the Association, there was justification to give up.

‘But if we give up now…’

We would inevitably fall behind in the upcoming competition with Sigurd. In fact, I wanted to continue this mission even if my body got damaged.

‘This mission is definitely a turning point in the future story.’

Before the Yeonjung War, Justice, as the protagonist’s guild, received numerous buffs.

So an opponent matching the caliber of Justice, which had grown into a corporate guild, was needed. The original author, Red Lake, must have agonized over this.

That’s why the suddenly emerging mastermind was the worst villain group, Red Lake.

‘For Flame to face Red Lake, we must grow to that level.’

And this reconnaissance is a mission that must succeed for that growth.

But I couldn’t force Yuri to continue the mission. She, not I, was the guild leader. And after Siwoo’s death, she was the one carrying on the Ark Hunter’s story.

I had to wait for Yuri’s decision. As a heavy silence filled the temporary barracks…

Yuri looked at me and said:

“Minsu, you’re the main operator for this cooperative mission. I’d like to hear your thoughts.”

And with those words, all guild members focused on me.

“I want to know your objective assessment of our chances of successful reconnaissance.”

***

The group entered the territory.

A territory dungeon-izes a part of reality, but it’s not actually a dungeon. So there’s no time difference with reality like in dungeons.

Flame entered the territory at 7 AM. Outside the territory, the sun was already bright, but the moment they crossed the boundary, it became dark due to the severe weather.

‘Just one step, and it’s completely different from reality.’

A transitional state that assimilates reality with a dungeon. Like dungeons, monsters cannot come out, but once complete territorialization ends, dungeon collapse begins.

The monsters inside the dungeon come out into reality.

And after dungeon collapse, the territorialized area becomes contaminated with magical energy like now. An unimaginable disaster for humans.

That’s why dungeons that have progressed to territorialization must be cleared at all costs.

The former North Korean city of Kaesong became the ghost town it is now because of such a dungeon collapse.

The group was carefully heading toward the center of the territory. The final reconnaissance party consisted of five people:

Me, Yuri, Soso, Father Stefano, and Arin.

Woooooong—

As reported by the advance team, a heavy snowstorm was raging inside the territory. It felt like an expedition heading toward the pole through an arctic blizzard.

Of course, this territory was far more dangerous than polar exploration. But the difference was that Flame had an exceptionally skilled ice mage.

Yuri took the vanguard position.

“Guild Member Yuri’s ice magic is truly amazing. I’m impressed every time I see it.”

In the middle of the blizzard where one couldn’t see a step ahead, Yuri was changing the direction of the snowstorm. With her silver hair fluttering, she was cutting through the blizzard, truly looking like the Snow Woman she was nicknamed after.

‘But she’s consuming massive amounts of mana in exchange.’

Yuri’s Nivis was glowing without pause. Born with a naturally large mana capacity, she should be fine for now.

But like ancient dungeons, mana capacity has limits, so the group hurried to follow Yuri.

Eeheeheeheeheehee—

Along with the howling wind sounds from all directions, eerie wailing continued without pause.

“You must not listen to those voices. Ignore them.”

His gun glowed. Father Stefano’s gear was a submachine gun and White Cross sacred implements. The greenish light emanating from the gun momentarily silenced the wailing.

‘This is definitely not a place that can be traversed without a cleric.’

The precision oscilloscope I received as a reward from the intern program. The waveform it displayed was extremely steep.

The party members’ MCI, checked through earpieces, rose by more than 20 at once, showing how dense the magical contamination was in the territory.

‘It feels like the place is filled with vengeful spirits.’

Even I, with an MCI of 0, felt an unconscious fear. Although I had experienced many dungeons and territorialized dungeons before, this place was unlike any other.

‘The dungeon boss captured by the Association’s equipment. What on earth could it be…’

But I shook off the idle thoughts. This mission was just reconnaissance. And the current party members had entered this dangerous territory because of my decision.

We had to succeed in this reconnaissance. At that moment:

“You said there was a 50% chance of success. If you said so, senior…”

Arin, moving alongside me, spoke.