00004 [Part 1] [Return] ------------------------------------------------------------------------=
There were still countless hunting grounds, quests, items, skills, and more that people hadn't found, and they continued to appear. That was one of C.M's methods for continuously drawing in players. In the old days, Karon too had excavated uncharted hunting grounds with his companions and earned a tidy profit.
"For now, Aggrieman and I will take the front. Aran, Choco Mint, support from the back, and Karon and Green Wind, keep watch from the very rear to make sure monsters don't ambush us."
Following Nieritic's orders, the group entered the cave. A damp, gloomy air seemed to emanate from deep within. Once not even a single ray of light came in, the interior of the dungeon became impossible to see with the naked eye.
"Light."
As Choco Mint murmured the incantation, a sphere of light formed above her palm. When she raised her hand high, the previously unseen interior of the dungeon became clearly visible.
"Mint, you come to the front. We'll protect you. And Green Wind, protect Aran."
"Oppa, I'm fine."
"No. There are a lot of high-level monsters ahead, so you need to be careful. And Karon, you... uh... just stay there."
Completely disregarded, I see.
Karon sighed as he watched Nieritic's back, chattering away with the rest of the party.
When Choco Mint moved to the front, the light didn't clearly illuminate the area behind where he was. Though they might have been spotted by monsters, she could have cast Light once more just in case, yet she took no such measure. Except for Karon in the very back, no one raised any objection about whether they could see properly up ahead.
Most players kept oil and tinder in their inventories so they could make a torch at any time in preparation for entering a dungeon. His inventory also contained materials to make a torch.
However, Karon didn't bother opening his inventory to light a torch. Instead, he quietly murmured a skill, quietly enough that the people ahead wouldn't hear.
"Owl's Eye."
[Your eyes are beginning to grow accustomed to the darkness.]
It was a skill he had acquired by clicking on a bothersome quest, because he couldn't fight while holding a torch when he had always fought wielding a sword. In an instant, his eyes began adapting to the darkness, allowing him to follow the people ahead without difficulty.
"Kyaaah!"
"Watch out!"
Giant vampire bats, reacting to Choco Mint's Light, rampaged toward the party. Having suddenly flown out of the darkness, the party couldn't help but panic.
"Calm down! Be careful not to let them drain your stamina!"
Aggrieman, accustomed to moving in darkness, quickly took one down. Following his orders, Green Wind incinerated one with fire magic, and Aran and Green Wind each dispatched one.
"Whew. You guys okay?"
Nieritic showed a sinister expression as he comforted the girls. Karon could see his smile thanks to Owl's Eye, but Choco Mint seemed to have missed it because she had canceled Light in her surprise.
"I'm sorry. I'll shine the light again. Light."
"No, it's fine. We'll take care of them all, so don't worry."
A monster I've never seen before.
Karon followed the party, slowly walking as he examined the fallen vampire bat corpses. It seemed that because no one had entered for a long time, unknown monsters were appearing. Given that this dungeon had been discovered not long ago, and considering that they had found unfamiliar monsters right from the entrance, it seemed likely that there wouldn't be a single monster they knew among those that appeared ahead.
This will be interesting.
The prospect of facing unseen monsters was profoundly intriguing. An adventurous spirit he hadn't felt in a long time flared up. He listened carefully to Nieritic's explanations of the dungeon interior as he led the way, comparing them with his own experiences as he surveyed the dungeon.
While descending a dark, narrow passage, Aran's party discovered sounds and light coming from below. It meant something other than vampire bats—which had no trouble living without light at the bottom of the dungeon—was dwelling there. The further down they went, the more vividly they heard sounds akin to a blood-starved beast. Eventually, upon reaching the dungeon floor, they could see, beyond the entrance, a giant monkey passing by, armed with a weapon and draped in an animal hide.
"Those are called Grumans. Their abilities and strength vary depending on the animal hide they wear over their heads."
The Gruman loitering near the entrance was draped in wolf hide. The monkey, roughly human-sized, checked that there was nothing around and passed through the corridor holding a spear in both hands.
"Grumans are pretty strong, so unless you have to, don't step forward and cover from the back. Got it, Aran, Choco Mint?"
"Yes, oppa."
"I'll shoot arrows when I see an opening, oppa."
The formation to take down the Gruman was decided right then and there. Aggrieman, the assassin, would launch a surprise attack, and Nieritic would charge in to attack. The rest would provide covering fire from the back. Karon didn't receive any orders from Nieritic, so he couldn't even join the support group.
Well, I don't exactly want to step forward for no reason. I'll just watch how a monster I've never seen fights.
No matter how strong the level 45–50 vampire bats or level 50–60 Grumans were, they were no match for Karon at level 100. Therefore, he decided to leisurely watch even while the others were absorbed in hunting, even in a situation where monsters might ambush them.
"Back attack!"
The moment the Gruman turned its back completely, Aggrieman darted out from the corner and quickly plunged a dagger into its back. The Gruman let out a monkey-like scream and made an expression full of hostility.
"...Unexpectedly tough."
It was Aggrieman's impression as he dodged a thrusting attack. Indeed, the dagger embedded in its back hadn't gone deep and fell to the floor.
"Get out of the way!"
As Aggrieman lured the Gruman to the designated spot, Nieritic dashed out wielding a greatsword. The sword was so heavy that it restricted his movement, but it had destructive power to match. The Gruman's spear was instantly split in two.
"Vertically!"
He brought the sword down toward the Gruman's head. The Gruman discarded its broken spear and quickly dodged to the side, avoiding a fatal wound. However, it seemed to have injured its shoulder, as one arm hung limp. An arrow that flew without missing that moment embedded itself in the remaining shoulder.
"Thanks, Aran!"
Nieritic gave her a thumbs-up as if praising her. In the end, while holding the greatsword with one hand, he showed an opening. The Gruman opened its mouth wide and bit his arm.
"Uwaack!"
"Nieritic, hyung!"
"Ugh...."
Aran tried to shoot the Gruman, but Nieritic seemed to be rolling around entangled with it, making it impossible to aim. Nieritic punched the Gruman with his fist, trying to break free from its attack, but it was no use against a charge made with a death wish.
"Flash."
When Choco Mint shouted "Flash," the surroundings were dyed pure white in an instant. Because they were surrounded by walls, the effect was outstanding. The Gruman, having received an excessive amount of light in its field of vision out of nowhere, was startled and rolled on the floor.
The problem was that the rest of the party was also caught by the Flash. Even Choco Mint, who had unleashed the Flash, frowned and stumbled around in confusion.
You have to give a signal before using Flash.
Karon's symptoms were even worse than the others because he had been using Owl's Eye. However, he quickly showed resourcefulness, drawing on his experience from more grueling adventures. He used a detection skill that sensed signs of life to think through their positions three-dimensionally.
This is bad.
Monsters' vision usually possessed functions beyond human sight. Therefore, as an excessive amount of light penetrated its eyes, it would have felt even more severe pain and damage than the others.
The Gruman was no exception. However, whether it was because the Gruman had developed functions beyond sight, or because it was trying to muster its last strength as it approached death's door, it was attempting to lunge at Nieritic.
"Ugh... my eyes...!"
His sword had also fallen far away, and Nieritic, unable to open his eyes due to the Flash, was truly defenseless. If the Gruman grabbed and bit his neck, he couldn't avoid instant death no matter how high his level.
'...No choice.'
Karon sensed signs of life, slipped between the people, and drew his sword. It wasn't the sword he usually favored, so the feel was unfamiliar, but he swung it by guesswork. There was a heavy, solid sensation in his hand. He could tell it was the Gruman even without seeing it. He impaled it against the wall to make sure it couldn't get up again, finishing it off cleanly.
'Whew....'
Soon after, his vision returned. He pulled his blade from the Gruman and shook off the blood staining the edge. The others also seemed to be slowly regaining their sight, cautiously beginning to open their eyes.
"Huh...?"
Green Wind looked at the Gruman collapsed against the wall with a bewildered expression.
"When did it die?"
Choco Mint was similarly baffled.
"Did you kill it, oppa?"
Aran asked Karon, who was standing next to the Gruman's corpse. Because he hadn't considered the aftermath of killing the Gruman, he stood there in silence. Nieritic, the last to open his eyes, was glaring at him suspiciously.
Karon had told them he was level 51. In this world, level wasn't the only factor that determined strength, but it was hard to believe that he had taken down a level 50–60 Gruman by himself in a short time. Even though the Gruman had been injured, the situation where everyone hadn't been able to open their eyes meant that couldn't be used as a reason.
"...When I opened my eyes, it was already down. You were with it at the end, so didn't you kill it?"
Having finished his thought, Karon shifted the responsibility onto Nieritic. At that, everyone's gaze turned to him.
"Huh? Me?"
Nieritic furrowed his brows with an expression that said he didn't understand what was going on. But who cares who killed it? The thought was firmly planted in his mind that if this was a chance to look good in front of the girls, he would take full advantage. He got up, putting on what he considered his coolest smile, and spoke.
"That's right! I killed it! I guess you could say I killed it instinctively because I thought you guys were in danger? Hahaha!"
"Wow, oppa, you're amazing!"
"As expected, a pro is different, oppa!"
Choco Mint and Green Wind exclaimed in admiration, praising Nieritic. Karon could clearly see, even from afar, how his nose rose into the air.
"Huh?"
"Oppa, that's impressive."
Though Aran said that, her gaze was directed at Karon. There was a hint that she found it somehow suspicious. He deliberately avoided her gaze and moved to a position where the others wouldn't notice him.
'Surely she doesn't suspect.'
Fortunately, Aran soon averted her gaze.
---------------------------= Author's Afterword ---------------------------=
Rianriseuma // There had to be a means of transportation, but nothing came to mind...
Gatpa Chonjang // Thank you~
Insep // Please understand that progress is slow because I'm writing in my spare time ㅠㅠ