Chapter 604: Mystery Dungeon Exploration (1)

Reading my slightly worried expression, the CEO-nim continued with further explanation regarding the Mystery Dungeon Exploration.

“It’s nothing much. Just go into one dungeon, check what kind of dungeon it is, and provide your opinion as a reference for the rating.”

“…Me?”

“Now, you’ll soon be an S-class Hunter, so you should be able to clear at least a Mystery Dungeon.”

“Well, objectively speaking, that is correct.”

Mystery Dungeon. In other words, an unexplored dungeon.

Not artificial gates created with modern technology for travel, but gates that lead to dungeons occurring naturally around the world.

Among them, these Mystery Dungeons referred to dungeons that had not yet been explored even once.

And it was the role of high-ranking Hunters, Rank A, S, or higher, to be the first to explore such dungeons with unclear identities.

Occasionally, there were cases where Hunters of lower ranks explored them, but in such cases, it was mostly just because those Hunters were the first discoverers.

According to the Hunter Protection Act, it has now become illegal for Guilds to order Hunters Rank B or lower to explore Mystery Dungeons.

It’s also an era where dealing with the aftermath is even harder if mid-to-low tier Hunters go missing after being put into a dungeon with unknown risks.

Therefore, the general response method was for Hunters Rank A or higher, who could respond improvisationally even if considerably strong enemies appeared, to check it.

For me, whose life goal is also to prevent the sacrifice of other Hunters, I had no reason to refuse the Mystery Dungeon exploration itself, but…

…For some reason, CEO Seo Ok-hee’s attitude, singling me out to go in, was slightly bothering me.

“Going in itself is not particularly a problem. Is there any specific reason why I must go?”

“This newly created gate has an entry condition, so currently, if not for you, searching is impossible.”

“An entry condition?”

“Sometimes there are, right? Like needing to go in alone, or needing to go in with 5 or more people. Dungeons with restrictions on the number of people like that.”

“…Yes, there have been a few dungeons with such conditions.”

“The dungeon you have to explore this time also has an entry condition, and among the people I know, you are the only one who can enter this dungeon.”

“The person who meets the dungeon’s entry condition is only me… What kind of condition is it, anyway?”

“…A male and female pair.”

“What?”

“Needing to enter together as a male and female pair is that entry condition. Not mentally thinking of oneself as male or anything like that, but as a biologically male and female pair.”

…Somehow, as soon as I heard it, it felt like an incredibly suspicious dungeon.

Despite being in a world where male Hunters hardly exist, a gate with a male and female pair as the entry condition.

Just hearing it made it feel quite unsettling and suspicious, but the CEO-nim’s expression, on the contrary, was even more serious because of it.

“You understand why I said it was only you, right?”

“…Yes, that’s right. Male Hunters Rank A or higher who can explore Mystery Dungeons are only me, nationwide… no, worldwide.”

“I’m telling you this so you don’t misunderstand; even if you refuse, I won’t give you any particular disadvantages. You are the world’s only male Awakened Hunter, and even if the fact that you avoided exploring Mystery Dungeons and played it safe is revealed later, you have the justification to avoid danger as the first male Awakened.”

“…Well, there would be such justification.”

“But separately from that, dungeon exploration is something that must be done someday to prevent monster waves, so the government will eventually ease the exploration conditions for that dungeon. If you refuse, the mission will probably be passed on to another male Hunter. C-class male Hunters who even struggle to protect themselves against mid-level monsters.”

“…….”

“The choice is yours.”

…Well, I wonder if this can even be called a choice.

For starters, having the task I should do passed on to another male Hunter, not me, was a situation I didn’t particularly want.

Pushing other male Hunters, without even Awakened abilities, into a Mystery Dungeon was an act completely against my goal to create a world where people don’t die from monsters.

And if it’s the CEO-nim, who is acquainted with Eunyoung Noona, she probably knows about my dream to some extent.

She likely made this offer, confident that I wouldn’t refuse.

Thinking back, perhaps the reason she specifically had me participate in the purification event of the abandoned village’s purification group a month ago…

“Was having me participate in the abandoned village purification work a month ago also because you wanted to make me an A-class Hunter as soon as possible?”

“Don’t misunderstand. That wasn’t the only purpose, and even before that, I was certain your Hunter rank was at least A+. …It’s true I was presupposing this from when I assigned you that task, but.”

“…….”

“So, are you not going to do it?”

“…No, I have to.”

If it’s a task someone has to do, it’s better for me to do it. Especially if the target is limited to male Hunters.

It was a much better option than pushing other male Hunters, without even Awakened abilities, into a Mystery Dungeon.

Because it was an unchanging fact that among all male Hunters in the world, I was the only one who uniquely possessed Awakened abilities.

And I didn’t particularly have any objections to the act of Mystery Dungeon exploration itself.

Once I became an A-class or higher Hunter, it was something I’d have to do someday, and even now, I was soon to be an S-class Hunter.

As a high-ranking Hunter, refusing the duty I must fulfill was obviously out of the question.

The fact that it was a dungeon with a suspicious entry condition of a male and female pair was slightly bothering me, but.

…Wait. But if it’s a male and female pair, who would be the partner entering the Mystery Dungeon with me?

“Just a moment, CEO-nim.”

“Do you have any questions?”

“It’s not that, but you said that dungeon absolutely requires a male and female pair to enter together, right?”

“Uh, that’s right.”

“As the male Hunter, naturally it’s me, but who will be the female Hunter? Could it be an S-class Hunter like Kang Eunyoung Sunbae-nim?”

Inadvertently, I almost blurted out the nickname for Eunyoung Noona, but realizing the CEO-nim was present, I quickly corrected myself.

If the CEO-nim found out that I, who am nearly 20 years younger, call her Noona, Eunyoung Noona’s reputation would inevitably be damaged in various ways.

Besides, the CEO-nim herself, who is the same age as Eunyoung Noona, would probably feel awkward somehow.

Fortunately, whether she didn’t hear that I almost called her Eunyoung Noona or not, the CEO-nim calmly explained the reason why Eunyoung Noona and I couldn’t be partners.

“Eunyoung is indeed a sufficiently reliable skilled person, and it’s true she’s close to you in various ways, but this time, I won’t send you in the same team.”

“Why?”

“First, your main weapon is a greatsword, and Eunyoung’s weapon is also a greatsword, so your roles overlap. I know you have various other support abilities, but still, if your main skills overlap, it becomes difficult to respond in various situations.”

“…That’s true.”

“Second, Eunyoung’s Berserk state is the most efficient Awakened ability when acting alone. If you, who are also melee-focused, are nearby, the efficiency decreases.”

“Hmm….”

Certainly, considering Eunyoung Noona’s combat style, me, being a close-combat greatsword user like her, wouldn’t have good synergy.

Thinking of an A-class or higher Hunter who wouldn’t overlap in synergy or position with me and could work reasonably well together, Min-ah’s face naturally came to mind this time.

“If not Kang Eunyoung Sunbae-nim, how about Han Min-ah? Her position doesn’t overlap with mine, and rather, she’s much better at things I can’t do, like tracking or trap disarming. And since it’s a Mystery Dungeon, the main task is exploration, so it seems like it would fit reasonably well.”

“That kid was also a candidate, but still, as she’s beast-kin, there are physical limitations to her abilities, so I excluded her this time. In a dungeon where only two people, a male and female, can enter, someone with weak combat power seems a bit dangerous.”

“…Well, that’s unavoidable, I guess. She doesn’t have strong direct offensive abilities.”

“She has some experience exploring Mystery Dungeons, so if it were a different exploration, I probably would have added her. The more explorers, the better, and there are only two Hunters in our guild who can explore while protecting themselves.”

Thinking of Han Min-ah’s personality, who actively participates saying this kind of work pays well, it was a moment where I felt even more regret.

“That’s a shame. If it were Min-ah, she would actually jump at this kind of work, eager.”

“No need to regret it. From the moment our guild took on this Mystery Dungeon, who would go on the female side was already decided.”

“What?”

“I just said it. There are only two Hunters in our guild who can explore while protecting themselves.”

Was there anyone else with such abilities in the company guild besides Han Min-ah?

Not understanding what she was saying, as I tilted my head, the CEO-nim got up from her seat and approached me. She stood face-to-face with me and pointed her finger alternately at me and herself.

…No way, the one person who was decided from the start.

“Has exploration abilities, sufficient combat ability, plenty of Mystery Dungeon exploration experience, and whose Awakened abilities don’t overlap with yours.”

“No way….”

“You and me. We’ll explore together like this. If you have any complaints, speak now.”

“…Not even a shred.”

“Even if you did, I wouldn’t have listened.”

A living legend of the Hunter world.

It was the moment my partnership with SSS-class Hunter Seo Ok-hee was decided.