The Hunter’s Gonna Lay Low - Chap 85
“…”
The figure in pajama pants, wearing a white baseball cap, came to a sudden halt. However, the hiker and the young man did not stop. Instead, their pace quickened. What confidence they had! Lee Min-hoon retrieved his restraint gun from his inventory and, with his hand poised on the call bell, issued another warning.
“Come any closer and—”
But his words were abruptly cut off as the hiker raised his hiking stick high.
“Attack!”
“Squawk!”
Startled by the sharp cry of a rooster, Lee Min-hoon turned around, only to be struck hard in the face by something smooth, round, and blunt.
“Ugh!”
With a scream, he collapsed onto his chair. The round object that had knocked Lee Min-hoon out climbed onto his body and announced the mission’s completion into the microphone.
“Bawk.”
The hiker, Hong Ye-seong, shouted triumphantly.
“Good job, Kkokko!”
Tucking the stick under his arm, Hong Ye-seong pulled out a spherical device and pressed a button. The sphere split open, emitting a blue electric field that swept over the area. Sparks flew from the machinery inside the control room, and all the lights went out.
He rubbed his hands together with a sly grin.
“This is why I made this equipment. I’ve always wanted to try this at least once.”
Hahaha… Hong Ye-seong laughed heartily, bending back. Yoon Ga-eul, who had slinked over to Cha Eui-jae’s side, murmured.
“…Are we really allowed to do this? Won’t the Pado Guild contact us later?”
Cha Eui-jae responded with a vacant look.
“Well… I kind of expected this the moment we brought him here.”
Hong Ye-seong had committed acts of terrorism with black powder and kidnapped people even in the Artisan Exhibition, which was filled with rankers and his own bodyguards. So, in a place with no one watching? It was obvious he’d be thrilled and running wild. And indeed, he was.
Hong Ye-seong was a troublesome enemy and a competent but still troublesome ally. Cha Eui-jae closed his eyes as he watched the hiker bounce around.
Yoon Ga-eul had learned very well from Jung Bin how to handle Hong Ye-seong. The artisan, who had been wary under a mat in the corner, fearing they had come to capture him, melted at Yoon Ga-eul’s praises…
“You’re the best artisan!”
“A genius!”
“Truly the greatest creator!”
Each time she cheered, he melted, though he pretended not to. It was obvious he was smiling widely under his mask. Furthermore, the idea of sneaking into the dungeon without the guard’s knowledge seemed quite appealing to him.
Hong Ye-seong, who had been listening intently to Yoon Ga-eul’s story, mumbled with a sweet, melted face.
“My favorite movies are the 007 series and Mission Impossible.”
Yoon Ga-eul quickly responded.
“If you come with us, you can be Tom Cruise, Hong Ye-seong-nim.”
Yeah, you too can be Tom Cruise. It was the perfect hook. Already tempted by the allure of the illicit, Hong Ye-seong eagerly agreed. Thanks to recruiting the best Doraemon, they didn’t need to call a taxi or wait for the first subway; they arrived at Jongno 3-ga with Hong Ye-seong’s emergency escape paper.
“…Anyway, this is good for me.”
If Cha Eui-jae had come alone, he would have spent quite some time just destroying the surveillance cameras one by one. Is this why protagonists always travel with companions? As he was lost in thought, Kkokko returned leisurely with a card in its beak. It was the guard’s ID card.
The passage leading to the entrance of the Jongno 3-ga underground dungeon was firmly blocked by a thick, heavy iron door. When Yoon Ga-eul swiped the ID card on the machine installed next to the door, the door slowly creaked open with a heavy noise.
At the end of the dark tunnel, the entrance to the dungeon flickered with a blue light. Yoon Ga-eul took a deep breath.
“We’ll just look around the areas near the entrance where the erosion is progressing and then come right out. Got it?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s go! I’ve always wanted to see an eroded dungeon with my own eyes.”
Hong Ye-seong was excited, so that was fine, but Yoon Ga-eul looked visibly tense. She kept wiping the sweat off her palms. Cha Eui-jae, who was staring at the swirling entrance, quietly asked.
“Is this your first time entering a dungeon?”
“Huh? Oh, no. I went in once during training at the national security academy… But this is my first time going in for real.”
Yoon Ga-eul rubbed the back of her neck and muttered awkwardly.
“Jung Bin-nim and others took great care of me. They told me to study as a student… and that I could enter dungeons after becoming an adult. They also said I should reveal that I’m an S-grade hunter after becoming an adult.”
With Kkokko perched on his head, Hong Ye-seong nodded seriously.
“Right, why would a kid enter a dungeon? They should be busy playing.”
“…”
“Kids shouldn’t fight.”
For some reason, a feeling of nausea welled up. A world where minors are protected as a matter of course. Yes, things are different now. Cha Eui-jae roughly rubbed his face. Hong Ye-seong continued babbling.
“But are there monsters inside?”
“Yes, probably.”
“Oh, should we prepare to run?”
“If possible, yes.”
Listening to the idle chatter, the nausea disappeared. Good. It seems the fighting will be my responsibility. It might even be better to go in alone.
As he alternated between looking at Yoon Ga-eul’s determined face and Hong Ye-seong’s carefree face, Cha Eui-jae took a deep breath. At that moment, Hong Ye-seong, who had been deep in thought, looked back at Cha Eui-jae.
“By the way, Secretary, are you good at fighting?”
“…As much as necessary.”
“Oh, what weapon do you use? A sword?”
Although his main weapon was a spear… he couldn’t say that outright. Besides, he used various weapons. He even used a green onion as a weapon. Cha Eui-jae answered indifferently.
“Anything.”
Hong Ye-seong started to pout, seemingly about to complain. Cha Eui-jae quickly added an explanation, hoping for understanding.
“I use whatever I can get my hands on. It really doesn’t matter.”
“Hmm, I see… Actually, that’s better.”
Hong Ye-seong rubbed his chin and started pulling out various weapons from his inventory. Thud, thud, precious weapons were thrown haphazardly onto the hard concrete floor. Yoon Ga-eul was appalled.
“Is it okay to just throw those on the ground?”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. I can sharpen them later. Take your pick, Secretary. Do you see anything you like?”
Just a glance revealed weapons of such high quality that any hunter would covet them. It was curious why he hadn’t displayed these at the Artisan Exhibition. Cha Eui-jae passed over the dazzlingly bright hammers, huge swords, and bows, grabbing a long, slender pole.
“This will do.”
“Huh, there are better weapons.”
“This one feels the most comfortable. By the way, Hong Ye-seong-ssi, can you fight?”
“Hmm? I’ve got Kkokko, don’t I?”
“Bawk!”
Kkokko raised one wing and cried out. Relying on such a small, cute, half-grown chicken for battle? And hiding behind it himself? Hong Ye-seong squinted his eyes, observing Cha Eui-jae’s face.
“What? Are you looking down on me? I should show you how well Kkokko can fight.”
“…Ah, okay.”
“Show them, Kkokko!”
Hong Ye-seong, who had been wearing sunglasses on his forehead, put them back on and pointed ahead.
“Kkokko, fire!”
“Cluck, cluck, cluck…”
Kkokko, who had been gaping its beak, let out a loud cry.
“Cluck-a-doodle-doo!”
Whoosh! A bright blue flame spewed from its open beak. Kkokko puffed out its chest proudly, though it didn’t actually inflate.
Next to them, Yoon Ga-eul muttered.
“It’s a fire chicken…”
Cha Eui-jae prepared to enter the dungeon, eyeing Hong Ye-seong with a mix of reluctance and resignation. He now had to protect not only Yoon Ga-eul but also Hong Ye-seong. Noted.
At that moment, a white system window appeared before his eyes. Cha Eui-jae’s eyes widened.
[You have met the conditions to unlock a title.]
[Achievement conditions: Re-entry into ∎∎]
[The locked title has been unlocked.]
[Title: ∎∎∎ ∎∎∎]
Rumble, the ground beneath him shook. Cha Eui-jae grabbed the arms of Hong Ye-seong and Yoon Ga-eul, who were about to lose their balance. Broken buildings began to rise from the ash-covered ground. Cracks started forming in the white sky. And—
[Congratulations on unlocking your title, J!]
[Your title is Conqueror of Solitude.]
[The dungeon responds to the title!]
[The dungeon is being restructured!]
Boom!
A massive bolt of lightning struck. Everything turned white before his eyes. As the sensation of the arms he held began to fade, Cha Eui-jae clenched his empty hand.
***
Swoooosh…
White ash scattered in the slow breeze. The man rummaging through the debris with a long stick shook his head roughly. When he looked up, a white vortex was swirling in the pale sky. Since the Day of the Rift, the black hole that had become common in the sky inside the dungeon was nowhere to be seen.
So what was that thing occupying the sky?
Steady footsteps approached. Jung Bin brushed off the white ash that had settled on his shoulder as he came closer.
“Have you found anything, Lee Sa-young-ssi?”
“No.”
Lee Sa-young replied indifferently, looking around. Just as Jung Bin nodded and started to speak, Lee Sa-young suddenly turned his head. It was towards the entrance they had come through. Following his gaze, Jung Bin asked with a puzzled look.
“Why, what’s the matter?”
“…Jung Bin.”
“Yes, sir?”
“Did you call for additional support?”
“No. The investigation of this eroded Dungeon is being conducted solely by you and me.”
Lee Sa-young’s sharp, violet eyes stared into the distance. He murmured.
“…Someone’s here.”
Jung Bin’s expression changed too. And as if to confirm Lee Sa-young’s words, a rumble began…
The ground started to shake.
