NOVEL WEB Chapter 35 - Dungeon Clearing Contest (5)
Glimpse.
Soyeon looked at the monster slithering in front of her eyes.
It was a monster named slime that had a green color.
As a monster whose body was made of a viscous liquid like jelly, it was a monster that was classified as the weakest, comparable to a skeleton even at 1 star.
However, that was only in terms of combat power, and in reality, it was one of the monsters hunters were most reluctant to avoid.
First of all, his body was a viscous liquid like jelly, so he seldom took physical damage.
Most of all, the moment you die, the viscosity disappears and becomes completely liquid, so the slime itself is scattered on the floor.
Getting a corpse is almost like picking up spilled water.
Therefore, slime was a monster that was tricky to deal with and had nothing to gain, and that's why it was an ideal monster for this dungeon clearing contest.
So-yeon took up her weapon, the saber, and cut through the slimes without hesitation.
It was a saber with a completely different feeling from a sword, but it was the weapon that Soyeon had been with for the rest of her life, and it was the one that fit her hand the most.
A gurgle...
After several attacks, the slime soon scattered to the floor with an unpleasant sound.
And So-yeon didn't even think about collecting the slime and just went towards the other slime.
So little time passed.
So-yeon was able to get out of the dungeon after dealing with all the slimes.
You said it was over already? It's only been 15 minutes since you entered.
So-yeon opened her eyes wide and ignored the supervisor's words of surprise.
It was also the reaction I had seen over and over during the last contest, and it was because I did not have time to delay while responding to these reactions one by one.
Soyeon said as she got into the car waiting for her.
It's done. Let's go to the next one quickly.
Then, I buried myself in the sheet to take a break while moving.
However, the car does not start even after time passes.
knight?
...ah! yes. did you call
Aren't you leaving?
Oh, that's it...
At Soyeon's question, the knight was flustered and slurred.
It seemed like he was contemplating how to say this.
What are you doing?
The knight pondered for a moment before slowly opening his mouth.
In fact, all dungeons in this area have been reserved. So where to go...
All the dungeons are booked?
yes.
For a moment, So-yeon could not understand the meaning of the knight's words.
If all the dungeons in this area were reserved, wouldn't it be okay to go to the unreserved dungeon?
However, So-yeon soon understood the meaning of the knight's words.
Soyeon straightened her posture and asked.
What's the matter?
Then, the explanation of the article that follows.
After hearing the article's explanation, Soyeon nodded and said,
Maybe it's just a coincidence. First of all, since we don't have much time, let's start with the dungeons that we can go to.
yes. All right.
So-yeon headed to an unexpected dungeon.
but.
You caught up again?
yes.
At this point, anyone other than an idiot could tell that it wasn't a coincidence.
I'd rather stop the plan.
At the knight's words, Soyeon thought for a moment.
Then he shook his head and replied.
no. For now, let's keep going.
Of course, it can't be helped that So-yeon suffers as well. However, looking at Seo-jun's progress, he was able to raid more than 40 dungeons in a day.
On the other hand, Soyeon could not exceed 30 at most.
It seems that he is doing this with the feeling of dying together, but even so, it is Seo-jun, not So-yeon, who suffers a greater loss.
So-yeon headed to the next dungeon.
Nevertheless, Seo-joon continued to follow So-yeon, and then. And then they caught up in the next dungeon.
As a result.
[1st place: Kim Seo-joon - 98 (+15)]
[2nd place: Lee So-yeon - 73 (+13)]
[3rd place: Lee Ha-yeon - 40 (+9)]
[4th: Park Jeong-ju - 37 (+7) )]
.
.
.
Seojun only raided 15 dungeons and Soyeon raided 13 dungeons.
Day 1 and Day 2. Compared to the time when Seojun raided 32 and 41, 15 was a significantly lower score.
In a word, it meant that the trick was working.
However, Soyeon was also suffering from it, and the biggest problem was that it did not close the gap.
Although Seo-joon's blow was great, it is an undeniable fact that the gap is widening again little by little.
If I went this way, I couldn't reverse the rankings.
I knew you would notice, but I didn't expect you to respond in this way. Don't worry. I've already devised another way, so do as you please.
...All right.
Day 5 of the Dungeon Clearing Contest.
Soyeon headed to the reserved dungeon.
And the place I arrived at was a place where two dungeons were close together.
It seems that they coincidentally overlapped, but although it was rare, it wasn't the case that So-yeon thought so and headed for the dungeon she reserved.
And just then.
Is that Lee So-yeon?
From somewhere, he heard a soft voice calling his name.
A voice I've never heard before.
When Soyeon slowly turned her head, there was a dumb-looking young man and an old man with shaggy hair looking at her.
It was none other than Seojun and Mancheol.
And the voice I just heard was Mancheol's.
Soyeon tilted her head and said.
Who are you?
who is with people who are in the same predicament.
Then Mancheol smiled and said, and Seojun slowly walked towards Soyeon.
Soyeon couldn't understand what the situation was like now.
two minutes. Fighting between participants is prohibited. Please note that failure to do so will result in disqualification.
I don't mean to fight. I also reserved that dungeon.
However, after listening to the words of the supervisor and Seo-joon, So-yeon was able to understand the situation right away.
Soyeon said to Seojun who was approaching.
Is that the contestant Seojun Kim?
That person is Lee So-yeon, right?
Seojun and Soyeon looked at each other without speaking.
silence that followed.
Seojun slowly opened his mouth.
No matter who wins, we compete proudly. It's a competition, but isn't it a contest that started with a good intention?
It sounds like you're saying that I'm not proud.
Haha I didn't mean it that way.
Seo-joon, as if he hadn't come to ask, moved on with his steps.
So-yeon also looked at Seo-joon's back and then turned her back.
‘Isn't this a contest that started with a good intention?'
At that moment, Seo-jun's words come to mind like an echo.
it's funny
Soyeon muttered with an expressionless face.
There is no such thing as good intentions. No, there is no such thing as a good purpose in this world.
Beasts called humans are inherently selfish and judge based on ‘benefit' when doing something.
Act when it benefits you and don't act when it doesn't benefit you.
In the process, there was no good intention such as goodwill and goodwill.
Dating a friend had benefits to soothe loneliness and loneliness.
Because meeting a lover had the benefit of being able to express one's inherent desires to each other.
Having a family had the benefit of being able to easily protect oneself against external threats.
In that sense, friends, lovers, and family could be seen as the ultimate representation created by the relationship of interest.
After all, the dungeon clearing contest itself was a contest that undoubtedly revealed such interests.
If someone raided a dungeon without thinking about the gains.
If the government hired pro hunters without thinking of the gains.
If only there was someone who didn't think of gain.
This dungeon clearing contest was a contest that did not need to be held.
But good intentions?
don't be funny
The winner gets everything and the loser loses everything.
That's why if it's profitable, I'm just going to take it without covering the means and methods.
‘Let's finish quickly and leave.'
Kwajik.
Soyeon worked harder than usual and raided the dungeon as quickly as possible.
And maybe because of that crowd, it took less than 10 minutes to raid a dungeon.
It was not a difficult dungeon, but even taking that into account, it was a new record.
Therefore, So-yeon quickly came out of the dungeon, thinking that she would not run into Seo-joon.
however.
one!
As soon as I came out of the dungeon, I heard a strange sound from somewhere.
Puck Kwajik.
along with an unknown sound that followed.
kya I've only heard of it, but seeing it myself is amazing. very me
The employee's amazed expression caught Soyeon's eyes.
Soyeon slowly turned her head to where the employee was looking.
two!
Puck Kwajik.
Then, we encountered a bizarre sight.
...?
Soyeon couldn't explain the situation right in front of her.
When Seo-joon found such a So-yeon, he shouted.
Are you finished with the raid? I thought it would take longer, but it ended quickly.
Soyeon felt dumbfounded.
Does that mean you waited for me to come out?
Then, Seo-joon spoke again to So-yeon, who was absent-minded.
Um... if you're just going to throw away the body, can we keep it?
a corpse?
yes.
Seojun pointed with his finger at the dungeon where Soyeon came out.
So-yeon looked at Seo-joon and the dungeon alternately several times, then nodded her head in a daze.
...follow your heart.
ah! thank you
With So-yeon's permission, Seo-jun pushed himself into the dungeon where So-yeon had just come out.
After a while, Seo-jun appeared and was carrying an armful of goblins that So-yoon had raided.
Then he took a step out of the dungeon.
three!
Squat!
...
So-yeon was at a loss for words.
Then, So-yeon asked Seo-joon with a feeling of just in case.
....why would you do that?
yes?
At So-yeon's sudden question, Seo-joon stopped walking... no, squatting for a moment.
this exercise?
Soyeon shaking her head.
Seojun immediately understood Soyeon's question and answered right away.
Ah, dismemberment? haha why would you do that Of course it's to make money.
...
So-yeon took a cold step as if she didn't need to hear any more.
After all, there is no such thing as a good purpose in the world.
Therefore, there are no hunters with good intentions.
This is the era where dogs and cows can become professional hunters.
‘Let's see. Because this brother will become a professional hunter that makes people's hearts beat.'
Pro Hunter is just one job.
A forest full of unknown trees.
The tall trees that seemed to pierce the sky and the grass that grew up to their waists blocked their view, but the two people walking through the forest were moving forward as if it didn't matter. One of the two was Calia, a paladin with shoulder-length platinum hair and neat armor.
The other was an unknown beauty with long auburn hair.
Where the hell did this old man go? Calia. What do you see?
invisible. Jimin-nim, do you feel anything?
At Calia's question, the woman called Jimin shook her head.
Anyway, it's still the way I like it.
And the two of them walk again.
How long did it take to go back like that?
Wow!
Suddenly, a roaring sound was heard in the forest.
Calia and Jimin almost ran to the direction where the sound came from.
After a while, what the two faced was a huge monster lying on the ground covered in blood.
And it was an old man who trudged along as if it was no big deal.
Jimin burst into genuine admiration at the scene in front of him.
Whoa... Geomseong Grandpa. awesome thing?
That would be the case, too, because if Jimin's eyes were right, the monster that had fallen right in front of him was none other than the 10-star monster Durac.
Huge body over 20m. The muscles that filled it up tightly and the strength that burst out.
It was a monster that was difficult to deal with even for S-class hunters, but the swordsman lightly brushed off his sword as if he couldn't even eat something after dinner.
Jimin, who then met Geomseong's eyes, said to Geomsung with a look of surprise.
Somehow, it seems that the older I get, the stronger I get. Isn't it about time you weakened?
It's still that babbling noise. Rather, why are you here? Where is the demon going?
Grandpa knows too. Master is not in good health. Probably this year at the earliest. I think it will be difficult to make it past next year at the latest.
Geomseong looked up for a moment and looked at Jimin, who shrugged his shoulders and answered.
Jung Ji-min, the disciple of Demonic Star.
As a disciple whom Maseong took in in his old age, now that Maseong's health has deteriorated. In fact, it was an existence that played the role of a demon.
At first, there was a lot of talk in terms of skills, but after Maseong admitted that he had already surpassed himself in an official position, he was called the next generation of demons.
And the Sword Master knew better than anyone else that those words were not lies, so he didn't say anything different.
The swordsman brushed off the blood of Durak on his sword and spat out words.
It is providence to go when the time is right.
Then why isn't Grandpa going? The only thing I corrected until I got older was my grandfather. How long are you planning to eat it all by yourself?
noisy. And what kind of grandpa is the grandpa from earlier? As far as I know, four years old...
Aye! Even though I'm old, that way of talking is still the same!
Geomseong clicked his tongue at the sight of Jimin interrupting and shouting.
Jimin's age as seen now is in his late teens or early 20s at most.
But that was nothing more than concealing his apparent age through sorcery.
His actual age is probably twice as old as his appearance.
The Sword Saint made a displeased expression and spat out words at Calia.
More than that, didn't Calia say it was a 6-star dungeon? But why are there 10-star monsters here?
At the time of measurement, it was definitely a 6 star. The reason Durak exists is probably because of the Distortion.
However, the swordsman shook his head resolutely.
gibberish. Distortion doesn't happen this way. It sounds more plausible to me that Jinrihoe is plotting something. Just like it was 30 years ago.
At the same time, the momentum of the swordsman felt even a little bit of life.
Calia shook her head and replied.
I fully understand how you feel. But I swear in the name of the truth that we did nothing.
You bastards are always like that.
The swordsman glared at Calia several times before gaining momentum.
And Calia's words continued.
Of all of us, Sword Saint is the only one who has personally experienced the Distortion, so that's probably true. But isn't it also strange that it's right?
Swordsman and Calia's eyes naturally turned to Jimin.
okay. Got it. I'm afraid I don't know how to investigate.
Jimin shook his head and approached the corpse of Durak, which the Sword Master had slaughtered.
Red blood was gushing out from the torn and cut wounds here and there, as if proving that he had just fallen.
Jimin quietly closed his eyes in front of the corpse of Durak.
After a while, a strange magic wave burst out and soon permeated into Durak's corpse.
After a while, Jimin opened his eyes and said.
Hmm... there's definitely an abnormal flow of magical energy?
Those words...
but it's hard to see it as a distortion like the old man said.
What do you mean by that?
Jimin raised his index finger and said.
To put it simply, the reason this dungeon was initially measured as a 6-star dungeon was because of one of the 10-star monsters here, Durak. In a word, you said that you misunderstood the measurement figures. Sometimes this happens.
A 6-star dungeon meant a dungeon where many 6-star monsters appeared.
Therefore, the total amount of magical power in a 6-star dungeon was equal to the sum of the magical powers of all 6-star monsters in the dungeon.
Therefore, this dungeon, where only one 10-star monster exists, is similar to the total amount of magical power in a 6-star dungeon, meaning there was an error in the measurement.
It was rare, but not nonexistent, and this led to a dungeon accident that led to a situation in which one lost one's life.
However, there is a problem.
What is it?
Jimin spoke right away.
It shouldn't be 6 stars.
In case someone isn't a disciple, there's nothing different from demonic nature. explain it understandably
To the question of the Sword Master, Jimin answered while looking at Durak.
If it's a 10-star monster like Durak, it should be measured as at least 7-star or 8-star, not 6-star. However, it is a little problematic that it is measured as a 6-star dungeon. Wasn't there anything strange about you, Grandpa?
There was no It's only a 10-star monster, so what's so strange about it?
...that word. Do you know how unlucky it is?
Geomseong said as if he didn't care at all about Jimin's words.
Anyway, didn't I say it wasn't a Distortion?
That's true... but this isn't such a simple matter to think about. It's never been like this since the Great Monster Beserk fell.
Then Calia, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, asked.
What are the chances of a similar situation happening in other dungeons?
It's low, but I wouldn't say it's not there. Hmm...Calia apostles don't say much?
This work is entirely my responsibility.
okay.
Jimin nodded without question.
It was a fairly important matter, but the successor to the apostle of chastity had the right to do so.
Especially now that the Apostle of Purity is vacant.
I guess I need to do a bit more research on this.
Jimin murmured after thinking for a moment.