Chapter 605: Mystery Dungeon Exploration (2)

The party-up with the living legend of the Hunter world happened that very day, without any delay.

They say even the horn of a one-horned horseshoe crab can be ripped off in an instant, so it would be better in many ways to quickly explore dungeons like this mystery dungeon, which could explode into a monster wave at any moment, and assign it a rank.

Thanks to that, today’s work, which was originally just meant to fulfill the required attendance days, turned into a special day in many ways.

On this expedition, accompanying an SSS-class Hunter for the first time, my heart began to feel strangely excited.

“You looked quite troubled earlier, but now you seem pretty excited.”

“…Wouldn’t any Hunter in Korea get excited? It’s a chance to go on an expedition alone with a legendary figure like you, Madam President. Of course, I’d be excited.”

“…Well, you might be, but not everyone is like that. Take Kang Hye-eun, the leader of the Sky Blue Shield, for example. She always seemed uncomfortable whenever we met.”

“Really?”

“Since you’ll be the party leader from now on, you won’t have to face her alone, so it’s good that neither of you will be uncomfortable.”

“…I’m not the leader yet.”

I couldn’t just accept an important position like party leader without discussing it with Hye-eun or the other party members.

Especially since I doubted Cheon Jihee would just stand by and watch if I took over as party leader.

Although my relationship with her had grown closer for various reasons, Hye-eun was still likely number one in Cheon Jihee’s mind, not me.

“First, just in case, I’ll handle the combat as much as possible. So you focus on the dungeon’s internal structure…”

Seo Ok-hee, Madam President, walked alongside me as we headed to the location where the mystery dungeon was set up.

Usually, I only saw her sitting at her desk as the President, but walking side-by-side like this, her… growth was certainly noticeable.

Compared to before, various parts of her body had grown tremendously, but it wasn’t to the extent that Madam President’s overall impression had completely changed.

Her overall impression felt strangely close to that of an ‘on-the-verge adult’.

For one thing, Madam President’s height was on the shorter side for a typical adult woman, and her figure was closer to slender rather than having prominent breasts or hips.

It was like her height had increased slightly more than Hwayoung Sunbae’s, but without the large breasts she had….

“…Taekyung-ah.”

“Yes?”

“…I try not to pry into my employees’ thoughts unless absolutely necessary, but I don’t think it’s right to have such disrespectful thoughts while standing right in front of someone.”

“…I apologize.”

“Tone it down a bit. Of course, it’s more awkward for you since I can read your thoughts, but when you openly critique my figure or height in your head like that, I can’t help but read it, even if I don’t want to.”

“…I’ll be careful.”

“If you really can’t control your thoughts, think about something else besides me. I can’t read those even if I wanted to.”

“……Yes.”

I had vaguely known this fact when I first met Madam President, but it seemed her ability to handle information allowed her to perform limited mind-reading.

Although it seemed she could only read thoughts about herself and not other things.

It would at least make performance reviews easier. If someone had ill intentions towards her, Madam President could directly filter them out….

“Ahem.”

“…I apologize.”

Caught off guard and returning to thoughts about Seo Ok-hee, Madam President, I hurriedly tried to erase her image from my mind.

Don’t think about Madam President. Don’t think about Madam President. Think about Madam P…

“We’re here.”

“……”

Don’t think about Madam President. Don’t think about Madam President. Madam P…

“…Alright, fine. My bad. I won’t care what you think of me, so don’t waste your mental energy getting distracted.”

“……Yes.”

Seeing me, Madam President let out a faint sigh as if she’d given up and extended her hand towards me from the warp gate’s platform.

“Stay close. We don’t want any strange errors during the transfer.”

“Yes.”

As soon as I heard Madam President’s words, I wrapped my arms around her on the warp gate’s white platform.

Immediately, Seo Ok-hee, Madam President, activated the warp gate to the mystery dungeon, holding me tightly.

It was the moment of my first-ever mystery dungeon exploration.

---

「??? Rank. Mystery Dungeon.」

The mystery dungeon I entered with Madam President was like a large cave.

Shall I say it was a dungeon slightly larger than the Crystal Spider Cave, which I frequented with the Sky Blue Shield party members?

Considering it had entry requirements, the interior surprisingly looked not much different from an ordinary dungeon.

“It’s surprisingly normal. Especially for a dungeon with suspicious entry requirements.”

“Just because there are entry requirements doesn’t mean it has to be strange, but don’t get too relieved either. Dungeons without escape routes like this can sometimes have weird monsters appearing just a little way inside.”

“Yes, Madam President.”

“And you can let go now, right? How long are you going to keep hugging me?”

“Ah, I apologize.”

As soon as I released Seo Ok-hee, Madam President, who was avoiding my gaze with a slight blush, she stepped off the warp gate platform first.

I immediately followed her, stepping down as well.

“Today’s objective is exploration, not clearing, so we won’t go too deep. You need to be prepared with the thought that we can turn back anytime…”

-Pah!

“Huh…?”

“…Damn.”

No sooner had Madam President finished saying we needed to be prepared to turn back anytime than the warp gate behind us vanished.

Seeing that, and while I was momentarily stunned, Seo Ok-hee, Madam President, calmly continued her explanation.

“No need to panic. This sometimes happens in dungeons with player count requirements.”

“……”

“Perhaps an exit will appear once we clear it completely. …Though turning back anytime is no longer possible.”

“Yes, Madam President.”

…I had heard that some dungeons used for personal training were like this, but this was my first time experiencing it.

Still, since I was with Madam President, I wasn’t worried that we couldn’t clear it right away.

“For now, follow behind me. Be ready to react immediately if anything happens.”

“Yes.”

True to her experience clearing many mystery dungeons, Madam President didn’t panic even in this situation and moved forward.

It was a moment when I felt a little relieved, thinking that as long as I followed Madam President, clearing the dungeon itself shouldn’t be a problem.

-Thump! Thump! Thump!

“They’re coming.”

“…Yes.”

The heavy footsteps suddenly echoed throughout the entire cave, instantly raising my tension.

Soon, a group of one-eyed giants with massive physiques appeared, lining up at the front of the cave.

‘Wooooo! ‘

‘Grrrrr! ‘

These were giant monsters, each easily surpassing A-rank, I’d guess.

I couldn’t figure out why one-eyed giants of that size were emerging from such a cramped cave, but one thing was certain.

If I had to face that horde of one-eyed giants alone, I probably wouldn’t be able to guarantee victory.

…But, well. Madam President is right beside me now.

She told me not to participate in the fight if possible, but I still kept my sword ready, prepared to swing it and offer support anytime.

Even though Madam President was an SSS-class Hunter, I thought my support might be needed in an unforeseen situation.

“You seem to be thinking something you shouldn’t, so I’ll say it again.”

“Yes?”

“I will handle the entire fight. Don’t loiter around me, you might get in the way.”

“……Yes.”

‘Wooooooo! ‘

As soon as Madam President finished speaking, the horde of one-eyed giants charged at her, wielding giant clubs.

No matter how I looked at it, the situation seemed like a definite crisis, and although my heart boiled with the urge to draw my greatsword and block the way for her right now,

because of Seo Ok-hee, Madam President’s words, I waited with maximum patience for her next move.

In order to witness Madam President’s fighting style, which had never been revealed to the media, with my own eyes.

‘Guaaaaa! ‘

Just as the horde of one-eyed giants closed in, about to swing their massive clubs, Madam President thrust her right arm forward towards the monsters.

Simultaneously, a bolt of lightning generated from her fingertips began to flow between the monsters.

-Pzzt-zzzzzzzt!

‘Wooooo? ‘

‘Guaaaaa… ‘

Perhaps flustered by the sudden bolt of lightning flowing between them, the horde of one-eyed giants froze in place, ceasing their actions.

Even the one who was just about to strike Madam President with its club froze in place, stopping its attack.

Watching this, I couldn’t help but think:

‘Isn’t that a bit… weak?’

In terms of power, it looked comparable to a 4th or 5th circle electric magic spell. Of course, that’s just how it looked to me; the actual power might be different.

Furthermore, the one-eyed giants struck by Madam President’s lightning didn’t seem outwardly harmed.

I watched to see if she might attempt another attack after briefly immobilizing them, but Madam President seemed focused on something else, releasing a few more, even weaker, electrical jolts.

The first one-eyed giant to react to Seo Ok-hee, Madam President’s somewhat peculiar attack was the one closest to her, who had been about to swing its club.

‘W-Wooooooo! ‘

-Whoosh!

“Madam President! Danger!”

Seeing the creature move again after being stopped and swing its club, these words burst out of my mouth involuntarily.

However, the club swung by the one-eyed giant wasn’t heading towards Madam President’s position.

The club in its hand began flying towards another one-eyed giant next to her, not Seo Ok-hee, Madam President, who was right in front.

-WHACK!

‘Guaaaaa? ‘

It was clubbing another one-eyed giant beside it on the head with its own club, seemingly out of nowhere.

Both the one hit and the hitter seemed bewildered, but that didn’t stop the club-wielding one from assaulting its comrade.

Soon, several other one-eyed giants in the horde began fighting amongst themselves, swinging their weapons or fists at each other.

“……Huh?”

While my brain struggled to comprehend the surreal scene before me, the ten one-eyed giants continued their fierce battle as if against their own will.

Before long, the horde of nearly ten one-eyed giants had all fallen to the ground, fighting each other, leaving only one remaining.

Seeing that all the other monsters were down, Madam President unleashed another bolt of lightning towards the last one.

A massive, powerful lightning strike, vastly different in scale from before, struck the final remaining monster.

Pzzt! Pzzt! Pzzt-zzzzzzzt!!

‘Gaaaaaaah…!!!’

Upon receiving Seo Ok-hee, Madam President’s true attack, the one-eyed giant let out a scream as if its entire body was burning.

In less than a few seconds, the last remaining monster collapsed, emitting white smoke from its entire body.

Seeing it lying there, resembling an electrocuted roast chicken, I quietly made a resolution in my heart.

…Indeed, I must never cross Madam President from now on.