"Right. All the convicts are C-rank, and the Supervisory Unit Hunter is B-rank, so you don't need to worry."
Kim Sang-Sik nodded. The consensus was that it took more than ten C-rank Hunters to take down one B-rank Hunter. There was no reason to refuse a B-rank senior Hunter acting as supervisor and assisting in the raid.
'A B-rank and three C-ranks, huh...'
Jin-Woo glanced over the Supervisory Unit Hunter and the substitute convicts, then tilted his head.
'Something feels off.'
A subtle killing intent drifted among them. Was this the effect of his Sensing stat? Or was it just unnecessary worry? Either way, an indescribable sense of unease washed over him. Jin-Woo leaned in and whispered to Ju-Hee.
"Ju-Hee, sit this raid out."
Ju-Hee looked up at him and asked.
"What about you, Jin-Woo?"
Jin-Woo answered with a counter-question.
"If I went?" "Then I'm going too."
Her face made it clear she would find a way to follow no matter what.
'She's worried about me, but still...'
Jin-Woo knew from experience just how stubborn Ju-Hee could get when she wore that expression.
'I'm here, so it should be fine.'
He had single-handedly dealt with Hwang Dong-Suk's group of five C-ranks before. Jin-Woo nodded.
"Fine, then."
The Supervisory Unit Hunter finished his paperwork and stepped forward in front of the gathered Hunters.
"I'm Kang Tae-Sik from the Supervisory Unit. I assume you've already heard the briefing. Just focus on the mission and leave those guys to me."
Kang Tae-Sik gestured toward the convicts. The convicts trudged over and held out their hands. With practiced hands, he unlocked their handcuffs.
"Ugh, I thought I was gonna suffocate in these." "We're not slaves—do they really get to drag us around like this?"
The convicts rubbed their freed wrists and grumbled. Kang Tae-Sik ignored them and turned back to the Hunters.
"Who's leading today?"
Song Chi-Yeol, who normally filled the leader role, raised his hand halfway. Kang Tae-Sik nodded.
"Understood."
With Song Chi-Yeol at the forefront, the Hunters filed into the Gate one by one.
"Let's go."
Jin-Woo entered alongside Ju-Hee. The shock of the previous incident still lingered—Ju-Hee lightly grabbed the end of his sleeve.
***
Goblins dominated this Dungeon. Classified as the weakest among humanoid magical beasts, goblins made for an uncomplicated clear.
"Kieeek!" "Kiek!"
These grotesque little monsters had been manageable even before Jin-Woo gained his strength. He took them out as carefully as he could.
"Kieek!" "Kak!"
Seeing Jin-Woo fight far better than expected, both Ju-Hee and Song Chi-Yeol widened their eyes.
"Wow."
He was still hiding most of his power, but the difference was unmistakable. Ju-Hee walked over and asked.
"Are you taking martial arts lessons or something?" "Well… I've been running every day." "Running?"
Ju-Hee tilted her head, but it wasn't exactly a lie.
'But… I'm not getting any experience at all.' "Kieek!"
[The enemy's level is too low to gain experience.]
"Kak!"
[The enemy's level is too low to gain experience.]
Jin-Woo wore a disappointed expression. The same message kept repeating—the goblins were too weak to grant him any experience.
'This is pointless...'
On top of that, the mana crystals the goblins dropped were the lowest grade as well. Jin-Woo looked around. The so-called C-rank convicts, euphoric from their first taste of freedom in a while, were gleefully tearing into goblins with their weapons.
"Kieeek!" "Kek! Kak!"
Looking at them, it was hard to tell who was the magical beast and who was the human.
'No need for me to put in effort either.'
No experience, no money in it. At the same time, another thought crossed his mind.
'If it's always like this, maybe I should just leave the Association.'
Most of the work coming through the Association consisted of D-rank and E-rank Gate clears. If D- and E-ranks didn't net him any levels, there was no real reason to join the Association's raids.
'I can already cover Mom's hospital bills on my own now.'
He could leave the Association whenever he wanted. This was the power of money. The moment you had it, your options multiplied. While turning these thoughts over, the party pushed deeper into the Dungeon.
"Hm?" "Uh..."
Before long, a three-way fork appeared ahead of them. Kang Tae-Sik suggested to Song Chi-Yeol.
"The Dungeon's easier than expected—why don't we split up from here?" "Let's do that."
Song Chi-Yeol agreed. Jin-Woo closed his eyes and extended his senses.
'Where's the boss?'
He figured the boss might at least give him some experience. Soon, the presence of every living creature inside the Dungeon began flickering across his perception one by one. Jin-Woo opened his eyes and spoke to Song Chi-Yeol.
"Sir, let's go left." "Right."
Jin-Woo, Song Chi-Yeol, and Ju-Hee took the left path; Kang Tae-Sik and the convicts took the right; the remaining two took the center. The group split up. Jin-Woo's heart raced.
'The boss is at the end of this path.'
He couldn't call it strong, but something distinctly different from goblins—a unique, alien energy—was seeping out from the far end of the cave. He wanted to fight the boss as soon as possible. Yet every few steps he took, another cluster of goblins popped up.
"Kikik." "Kiririk." "Kiik."
About ten this time. One wielding a wooden club, one with a wooden sword, one with a stone tip tied to the end of a long stick. They had armed themselves as best they could, but... they posed absolutely no threat.
'Do these guys never get tired of this?'
Jin-Woo frowned. The moneyless nuisances came in droves, and all they did was get in the way.
"Ten of them at once..." "What do we do? Regroup with the others and come back?"
But the other two were rather serious about it.
"Still, since they're only goblins, I reckon we ought to give it a try first." "Right."
Flames flickered at Song Chi-Yeol's fingertips, and Ju-Hee finished preparing her healing magic. Jin-Woo scratched the back of his head.
'Come to think of it, even though we're inside a Dungeon, I don't feel any tension at all.'
Was it because he had grown incomparably stronger than before? He finally had a faint awareness that he had become at least a little different. Song Chi-Yeol asked Jin-Woo.
"Mr. Seong. You ready?" "Yes."
Jin-Woo synced with his teammates' pace and methodically took the goblins down. They were in the middle of clearing the Dungeon when, suddenly, a series of screams erupted from somewhere.
"Uwaaahhhh!" "Uwaah!"
Not goblins. Definitely human voices. Jin-Woo, Song Chi-Yeol, and Lee Ju-Hee looked at one another. The screaming briefly died down, then another horrifying shriek tore through the air.
"Uwaaah!"
Song Chi-Yeol's face hardened.
"Let's go."
The three of them sprinted toward the source of the sound. Jin-Woo could have surged ahead of the other two, but he held back his speed for their safety. They ran for a while before Ju-Hee spotted someone and raised her voice.
"Someone's over there!"
Kang Tae-Sik, the Supervisory Unit Hunter, was on his knees, drenched in blood. Kang Tae-Sik shouted.
"Be—be careful! Those bastards might still be lurking somewhere!"
He spat out the words with great effort, then collapsed face-down on the ground in pain.
"Ugh."
Unable to stand by, Ju-Hee rushed to Kang Tae-Sik.
"Let me heal you!"
Ju-Hee had her own reasoning. Even if the enemy was nearby, she was a B-rank healing-type Hunter. Her treatment speed was anything but slow. She judged it would be more advantageous to heal Kang Tae-Sik before the enemy could strike.
"Just hang on a little."
Ju-Hee stood in front of Kang Tae-Sik and extended both hands. A gentle light gathered at her fingertips. Right then, Kang Tae-Sik shot his upper body upright and drove his mana-infused hand straight at Ju-Hee's throat. *Shhik!* Just before his fingers reached her Adam's apple, someone snatched Kang Tae-Sik's wrist at the last possible instant. *Tak!*
"Ah...!"
Ju-Hee stumbled backward in shock and fell to the ground. *Thud.* Kang Tae-Sik wore a puzzled expression.
'You blocked my attack from that range?'
Taking out a few lower-rank Hunters wasn't difficult for a senior Hunter. The only obstacle had been one B-rank female Hunter. Fortunately, she was a non-combat type. With no means to defend herself, he figured a surprise attack would end it easily. But... his ambush had been thwarted. All the effort he'd put into his act had gone to waste. Kang Tae-Sik's gaze traveled up the hand gripping his wrist. At the other end of it was Jin-Woo's face. Jin-Woo's eyes burned with a fierce killing intent. Kang Tae-Sik scowled.
"A grunt from the Association?!"
*Shhik!* Kang Tae-Sik's free hand shot toward Jin-Woo's face. But Jin-Woo tilted his head and effortlessly deflected the fist.
'No way?'
Kang Tae-Sik put his strength into breaking free of Jin-Woo's grip.
"Huh?"
Even Jin-Woo looked surprised. Sure enough, it was the strength befitting a senior Hunter. Both arms now free, Kang Tae-Sik launched a wild barrage of attacks. But Jin-Woo moved just as fast, countering blow for blow. *Bababak!* Their hands and arms exchanged a relentless volley of strikes. Neither gave an inch. In the meantime, Song Chi-Yeol pulled Ju-Hee back to safety.
"Ah, sir..."
Ju-Hee couldn't find her words from the shock. But the one even more stunned than she was Song Chi-Yeol himself.
'How is this possible...?'
The speed of the exchange was unbelievable. He could barely follow it with his eyes. It was one thing for the senior Hunter, but Seong Jin-Woo was unrecognizable. He wasn't losing ground against a B-rank at all.
'Even with my C-rank eyes, I can barely keep up with his movements!'
His instincts had been right all along. The Jin-Woo standing before him was not the weak but sharp-sensed E-rank youth he had known. After an indistinguishable flurry of hundreds of exchanges, both fighters stepped back to catch their breath. Jin-Woo glared at Kang Tae-Sik, his brow furrowed.
"That blood on your uniform... it's not yours, is it?"
Kang Tae-Sik cracked his wrists and answered.
"That's right. It's those bastards' blood. But honestly, I didn't expect to run into a Hunter of your caliber in a place like this."
He was genuinely impressed. He had heard no word of a senior Hunter among the Association's rank-and-file.
'This is a problem.'
He had believed today was the perfect window to make his move, but he had run into an unforeseen obstacle. Unable to hold back his curiosity, Kang Tae-Sik asked.
"Who are you? What's your rank?"
Jin-Woo summoned 'Kaesar's Fang' into his hand and answered in a flat voice.
"Sung Jin-Woo. E-rank."