Ch.7474. Cheerful Dungeon Practice

In essence, what matters is the content.

Even within the same legendary tier, the value can be categorized based on content.

The essences in the box Amon opened were rated 2 and 4 out of 10.

One was Adaptation, the other Recovery Enhancement.

Adaptation gradually increases resistance to techniques that have attacked you, while Recovery Enhancement increases all recovery speeds.

The problem is that both essences have fatal flaws.

First, Adaptation requires the affected area to be damaged.

Considering that the essence is applied to clothing, this means you’d have to mend your clothes every time the essence activates.

Especially in modern society where the attacks to block are bullets, expecting to get hit once for a slight resistance increase is insanity.

Recovery Enhancement has similar issues.

It increases recovery speed for not just wounds but also stamina, magical power, mental strength, and everything except Divine Power.

Its versatility is good.

But there are too many superior alternatives.

Stamina can be recovered much faster through genetic procedures or cyberware implants, and mental strength can be replaced with stimulants.

Above all, recovery works by accelerating blood clotting rather than regenerating severed parts.

With Regeneration essence being a superior option, there’s no need for this one.

Moreover, both essences have the disadvantage of being applied to clothing.

There are already many essences for clothing like <Heat Resistance>, <Electric Shock Resistance>, and <Transparency>, so there’s no reason to use these.

But none of these problems applied to Amon.

Amon destroyed the essences without hesitation.

Just like Sky Step in the past, the essences were absorbed into his body, not his clothes.

Sonia and Kathy expressed their shock in their own ways as they watched.

“I’ve only heard about this, but is this how it works?”

“Ohhh… then feed him this one too, and that one…”

While Sonia marveled and felt Amon’s chest, Kathy suddenly started making a list.

Amon gave a wry smile.

He pulled Sonia away and restrained the excited Kathy.

After calming them both down, Amon checked his condition.

He made a small cut on his hand with a knife.

The wound stopped bleeding in 1 second and healed in 3 seconds.

His recovery was already fast due to Divine Power, but with the essence’s effect, it became superhuman.

Amon cut his finger again with the same force.

This time, the knife didn’t penetrate.

It had already adapted.

Amon nodded with a satisfied expression.

Watching this, Sonia raised a question.

“I get Adaptation, but why not choose Regeneration?”

“Because the best defense is offense.”

As Sonia said, choosing Regeneration would heal wounds faster, but he’d have to give up on stamina and mental strength aspects.

For Amon, who had no intention of getting any surgery, these were areas he couldn’t afford to sacrifice.

As for amputation… he figured he just wouldn’t let it happen.

That’s why he chose Recovery Enhancement over Regeneration.

For a faster tempo.

Once Sonia understood, Kathy raised her hand.

“Yes, student Kathy.”

“Since you can absorb essences freely, why not use them all? I know it’s wasteful, but is there a need to hold back?”

Kathy tapped her director’s nameplate, emphasizing her wealth.

She was already planning to feed Amon all the legendary essences found in dungeons.

Reading Kathy’s thoughts, Amon gave a wry smile.

“I don’t think it’ll work like you think.”

“Why?”

Amon tapped his head.

“Essences also put a burden on mental strength.”

Cyberware, genetic modifications, magical engraving procedures.

All types of enhancement procedures place a significant burden on mental strength.

Excessive procedures often lead to people suddenly going crazy and becoming cyberpsychos.

Essences were no exception.

Of course, Amon had plenty of mental capacity since he didn’t undergo other procedures, but he wanted to save it for the final build he had in mind.

He might consider more if there was capacity left after reaching that build, but for now, he wanted to conserve as much as possible.

Especially since, unlike clothes that can be removed, there was no known way to remove absorbed essences, so he had to be extra cautious.

“Let’s save Regeneration for later.”

“What a waste.”

Kathy deleted the entire essence list she was writing.

“I thought someone with your mental strength could handle at least 100.”

“…What makes you think that?”

“Faith?”

Sonia nodded in agreement beside her.

Amon could only tilt his head at their response.

*

The next day.

Amon and Sonia headed to the dungeon.

<Swamp of Blasphemy>

A place where toxic flora and fauna gathered to form an isolated ecosystem, turning the dungeon itself into a toxic cauldron.

It was named so because all creatures there are equally defiled and cursed.

Despite this dangerous description, it’s classified as a low-level dungeon.

The reason being that this dungeon has been perfectly conquered.

This dungeon is very old.

In other words, all its poisons have been analyzed over time.

Occasionally new mutants appear, but ultimately, poisons work in similar ways.

With the right combination of antidotes and medicines, they can be quickly treated.

Therefore, if you prepare antidotes well and decide where to enter, it’s a simple dungeon you can walk through like a park.

Seminary students gathered in front of this dungeon for their practical training.

The supervising professor, the squinty-eyed priest, appeared before the orderly grouped students.

“Artiel. Mingming. Christie…”

After a brief roll call, antidotes were distributed to the students, and safety officers and evaluators were assigned to each group.

Amon introduced himself to the four groups he was in charge of.

“I’m Amon, responsible for your safety from now on. Pleased to meet you.”

Amon spoke wearing a mask and sunglasses.

He wore these because of Sonia and Kathy.

– “Wear them. Absolutely.”

After Kathy whispered something to Sonia, she handed Amon the mask and sunglasses with a fierce intensity.

Amon could only give a wry smile, reading the jealousy underlying her emotions.

Amon himself was aware of his appearance.

Just looking in the mirror sparked faith, so Sonia’s thoughts were crystal clear to him.

Moreover, Amon also didn’t like Sonia wearing revealing clothes in public places.

Priding himself on being just as jealous as her, Amon obediently followed Sonia’s words.

As a result, Amon was currently a suspicious figure wearing sunglasses over a skull mask.

(For reference, Amon initially tried to get by with just a brown sweater mask, but after getting smacked by Sonia and Kathy, he switched to this style.)

While Amon introduced himself, the students scanned his equipment and body.

When Amon had entered the mercenary office in the past, his impression was that of a retired ninja.

But now Amon’s equipment…

‘Isn’t he an active security director???’

The scan returned as impossible.

From shoes to pants, coat, and gloves.

All scans were rejected.

Each item was military-grade, and of the highest quality.

This was only possible for black operatives from intelligence agencies or security department managers and above from megacorps.

Considering that even they only had some weapons that couldn’t be scanned, Amon’s full-body coverage put him at the level of a security director.

The students, who initially viewed Amon as a mere mercenary, straightened their posture.

Respect comes from power, after all.

In their minds, Amon’s title changed from ‘Hey’ to ‘Sir’.

Jealousy or fear?

Such emotions only arise when there’s something to compare with.

Their hearts were filled with reverence.

Proportional to this reverence was a sense of relief.

Having such a person protect them.

Even if they encountered scavengers or gangs inside the dungeon, they’d be safe.

The students’ bright eyes focused on Amon.

With his face covered, Amon turned away from the pressure.

Then he met Sonia’s eyes.

When she smiled slightly, Amon habitually sent her a finger heart.

Sonia responded with a bright smile.

The students were shocked.

Not because the two were in a relationship.

Sonia had already mentioned this before the practice, so it wasn’t surprising.

Of course, the level of her boyfriend Amon was impressive, but this time the surprise stemmed from a different reason.

What shocked them was Sonia’s smile.

– “The Gunpowder Saint smiled!”

– “They really are lovers!?”

– “Wow…”

Sonia usually only gave slight smiles in front of others.

Her classmates, accustomed to her faint smiles, couldn’t help but be shocked by her radiant one.

Sonia’s group members also let out shrill screams.

– “You sly fox! You should be like this all the time!”

– “I’m really disappointed. So it’s just business with us, huh?”

– “You’re lucky. Dating someone like that. The world is unfair.”

– “Can I ask if there are any good men around him?”

Her group members poked her sides and acted friendly.

Amon realized they were the friends Sonia had mentioned at home.

‘Seems like they have a good friendship.’

He had worried they might be imaginary friends, but they were real.

Amon looked at Sonia’s group members with a warm smile.

Sonia also didn’t just take the teasing but returned it playfully.

It meant they were genuine friends, not just for show.

‘You’ve made many good connections too.’

Amon was happy for her as if it were his own achievement.

*

After introductions, the groups Amon was in charge of entered.

Amon followed the group slowly with a sword at his side.

He heightened his tension, ready to rush in if any problems arose.

But his tension proved unnecessary as the students’ combat power was overwhelming.

By the standards of mercenaries Amon had seen, they were in the upper-middle tier.

‘Well, they’re future holy knights after all.’

To be a bit harsh, mercenaries tend to be of lower quality since anyone can apply.

Comparing them to these elite students, despite being students, was disrespectful.

Moreover, according to what he heard from Sonia, detoxification was the most basic of holy magic.

In a department full of Divine Power holders, this dungeon posed no threat.

With the students’ overwhelming performance, Amon had nothing to do.

‘It doesn’t seem like I’m needed here at all.’

Amon naturally relaxed as he watched.

It wasn’t carelessness but a rational judgment.

It was far more reasonable than staying tense and getting tired when actually needed.

However, not long after, Amon regretted his choice.

Several hours later.

“Fuck…”

Amon stood in the center of the devastated dungeon, dumbfounded.

It wasn’t because scavengers appeared or a dungeon conspiracy unfolded.

The students were safe and no one was hurt.

Just that Amon himself had caused a rather big accident.

“Damn it…”

To be precise, it wasn’t “rather” big—it was just big.

All Amon could do was repeatedly rub his face in frustration.

With no one else to blame, his dejection intensified.

‘Who could have predicted this…’

It all started with simple curiosity.

– “Sir, are you interested in holy magic?”

A basic holy magic taught by a student.

A magic so basic that even someone with poor aptitude like Amon could use it.

Amon massaged his eyelids as he recalled the student’s words.

– “It’s a magic series called Faith Confession, where purification and destructive power increase proportionally to faith.”

At the center of what was once the <Swamp of Blasphemy> dungeon.

In a place that had now transformed into something else entirely, Amon pressed his eyelids firmly.

He was truly aggrieved.