episode_0018

I looked around.

A place that looked like a waiting area in front of the dungeon entrance. Yellow walls were visible.

It was a scene that reminded me of the first floor stage.

The theme of this exchange is dungeon.

There are three themes for the exchange meeting.

They said dungeons, missions, and quests.

Dungeons and missions, except for ‘Bimoo’, allow killing between players.

That is, the list I had to be careful of included not only the monsters that appeared in the dungeon, but also the six players excluding me.

Chinese player on the 7th floor, Sun Haoran.

The next person who approached me and told me his name was Korean.

“This is Baek Jin-young.”

The number that appeared above his head was 8. Baek Jin-young spoke softly and laughed.

I spat out the name I had decided to use as an alias.

“This is Jung Woo-hyun.”

Anyway, if we talk, it will be impossible to hide the fact that I am from South Korea.

It was best to use a complete pseudonym to prepare for any variables that might arise.

Anyway, this place is different from Hyundai where I used to live, and there is no CCTV.

Since only people below the 10th floor were gathered, there was no one to take pictures with the terminal.

Even if I saw the face, I didn’t think I could convey it clearly.

‘When a variable occurs, we handle it as thoroughly as possible.’

The next person who approached me with a bright smile was a man with brown hair.

“My name is Jake. Nice to meet you!”

Jake immediately shook my hand and introduced himself as an American.

We shook hands.

The number floating above Jake’s head was 6.

At that time, Baek Jin-young, who had been standing back, approached while scratching the back of his head.

“I’m so happy to see a Korean person. I was confused at the last exchange because there were only Chinese and Japanese people.”

Baek Jin-young kept trying to talk to me by bringing up the commonality between us being Korean.

This didn’t feel strange.

It was quite natural to be happy to see someone from the same hometown.

This was a behavior pattern that could have been easily adopted even without the intention of resorting to trickery.

“Is this your first time at an exchange meeting?”

“Yes.”

“At first glance, the tower looks like it’s trying to kill all the players. But that’s not necessarily the case. If the players can get along well during the exchange, it seems like it’s easier to solve the problems than the regular tower floors.”

This is what the pioneer senior said.

Unless your luck gets so extreme that you end up in an underground sewer, the difficulty itself should be easier than Pandemonium.

“May I ask which difficulty level you came from?”

Looks like you’re going to do a really good job of counting my census.

I mentioned the difficulty level that had already been set along with the pseudonym.

“Normal difficulty.”

Baek Jin-young opened her eyes wide.

“Oh, I’m normal too. I’m normal top number 121.”

According to the notification window that popped up when I entered the 2nd floor, the Pandemonium tower I reside in is numbered 01.

According to the words of the seniors of the Transcendent Gallery, the number of towers is assumed to be created when people need them.

Compared to the over-saturation of Normal Tops, which require up to 121 summons, Pandemonium only needs one summon.

Indeed, how difficult will the road ahead be for me?

It was very frustrating.

Baek Jin-young seemed to be closing her mouth as if she was about to say something more.

A window appeared in front of the dungeon waiting room.

[You will be given 10 minutes to prepare.]

[Enter the dungeon after preparation.]

[10:00]

Beep.

[09:59]

What position has a time limit?

I fiddled with the hilt of the straight sword that sat at my waist.

It wasn’t an action born of tension.

“Are you okay…?”

But to the Japanese woman’s eyes, it seemed like I was nervous.

“Yes, that’s okay.”

“My name is Misaki.”

Misaki, 8th floor.

I organized the personnel.

Baek Jin-young and I. Two Koreans.

And Jake from the 6th floor, an American guy who greeted me.

Misaki, a Japanese person.

The Chinese woman on the 8th floor next to Misaki. And the 7th floor’s Sun Hao, who was the first to greet me.

Two Chinese people like this.

Finally, a blonde-haired woman yawning in the corner opened her mouth.

“Germany, Laura.”

One German.

There were seven people in total.

Above Laura’s head was a ‘9’.

Laura stretched and sat up.

“Is there anything you need to prepare? The person with the shield should step forward and the rest should support each other and do their part. It shouldn’t be difficult.”

I wonder if that slightly arrogant attitude comes from confidence in one’s power.

I couldn’t tell if it was the confidence that came from the 9th floor or not.

You’ll find out soon when the dungeon raid begins. This time, I’m planning on living a completely solo life.

No more, no less. Just act like a human being.

And the main purpose was to watch other people fight.

“I have the shield.”

Jake said, raising his shield.

Laura nodded. The target was Sun Haoran.

“You take the front line next to Jake. I’ll take the center. The rest is up to you.”

“Okay.”

Sun Haoran accepted without much objection.

It seems that the ones who are clearly in a party state are Misaki and the Chinese woman next to her.

I don’t know about the rest.

Laura, wearing leather armor, smirked at me.

“You have to take care of your own life. This is a place where no one can take care of you.”

Oh, yes.

I nodded quietly.

Weak position.

It wasn’t bad. Rather, it was a position where I could leisurely watch these guys’ movements.

Grrr-

Jake opened the giant door in front of the notification window.

[You have entered the dungeon ‘Kobold’s Cradle’.]

…Cobalt?

I thought about the gallery work I did before going to bed last night.

– Archmage) Kobolds are stronger than goblins, but weaker than orcs.

The prediction of the Grand Wizard Senior as to ‘what kind of monsters would appear in a dungeon if a dungeon were to be opened at the exchange meeting’ turned out to be correct.

So, it seems like I’m fighting enemies of a lower level than the ones I fought on the second floor.

Jake’s voice was heard.

“Wow, Cobolts are not easy guys… !”

?

Is that so?

Are the Cobalts really that tough?

I began to wonder what kind of honey my friends who were confidently walking ahead had sucked out.

My seniors told me some things to keep in mind.

(N Dragon King) Beltui-, like all other species, the kings are strong beyond the norm even within their own species.

N?? Was it strong even by your standards?

(N) I’m providing eye-level training for the climber. Beltui- has a high empathy level.

It means that you only need to watch out for the Cobalt King.

A faint light was streaming into the darkness. Torches were hung here and there on the walls.

As soon as I set foot in the dungeon, I felt damp and damp.

Choaaaak!

A chain flew out from between two huge rocks.

I watched Jake’s movements.

Jake lifted his circular shield with all his might.

Kaang!

The chain was blocked by the shield and lost its direction.

Sreung!

Laura, who had been standing at the back, drew her longsword and stepped forward.

Laura’s new form flowed like water toward the kobold behind the rock. The longsword was thrust into the kobold’s shoulder.

Kraaak!

A scream burst from the cobalt’s mouth.

Laura couldn’t kill him with one blow. She struck him with exactly three sword strikes and he died.

It was just a stab and a stab without any special format.

Still, the combat sense itself didn’t seem bad.

Thud thud-!

Suddenly rocks fell from the right. The wall that I thought was narrow compared to the front was a trap.

A blast of spears surged through the fallen stones.

The blade’s destination is my neck.

Kagakak!

He changed the trajectory of the spear with his drawn straight sword.

Phew!

And he thrust his sword into the heart of the cobalt, the master of the spear.

I felt eyes staring straight at me.

It was the gaze of a Japanese woman, Misaki.

It was a look of doubt as to how I, a third-floor tenant, could react like this.

I said, nodding.

“It’s flying towards you too. Be careful.”

“Huh, hi?”

Why doesn’t that get translated automatically?

This time, a hammer was flying in the same direction the spear had come from.

With the momentum to crush Misaki’s head.

He grabbed Misaki’s shoulder and pulled her back. Then he stabbed the kobold under the chin with his sword as he swung his hammer.

And pulled it out.

“Be careful, I said.”

“Sorry, sorry… .”

Misaki, who was clinging tightly to the Chinese woman who was partying, nodded awkwardly.

“… You’re pretty good at fighting. 3rd floor. ”

A Chinese woman’s voice was heard.

Yes, that level of awareness is enough. I plan to stick to the observer’s perspective for this exchange.

***

.

Although it was a gallery without Han Yoo-seong, the topic of conversation was still directed towards him, the only climber of the gallery.

Title: Nothing’s Going to Happen, Right?

Author: Archmage

– The monsters’ level will be lower than that of Pandemonium 2nd floor. In the end, the same humans are always the variables.

No, what could happen?

There’s no way someone who’s over level 20 and uses swordsmanship in a 10-story exchange meeting.

n) Up until now, the climbers I’ve seen haven’t been the type to easily believe someone they haven’t seen in a long time.

(Ice Queen) Frozen! I agree!

(Sword of Light) I’ve given you enough advice, so I’ll listen.

(N Dragon King) Beltui – Please give me some advice on late-night snacks.

n Sword of Light) Die

Wouldn’t it be more fun if there were variables?

n Pioneer) That’s right.

(A secretive person) I know life well, yeah

(N Archmage) These things are pickled in dopamine… .