From level 27 to 39—a whole twelve levels gained. The last time his level had surged like this was when he'd entered his first Instance Dungeon at level 1 and come out at 17. Back then, at least his level had been low to begin with. That wasn't the case now. It meant he'd cleared a staggering number of Dungeons in a short time.
'It's only been four days since Yoo Jin-Ho and I started raiding together, and I've already cleared nine Dungeons...'
Nine C-rank Dungeons, no less. Among Dungeons an individual could clear on their own, C-rank was the highest difficulty tier. The speed was absolutely insane. For other Hunters who needed C-rank Dungeons, this was nothing short of a disaster. Even Yoo Jin-Ho, who'd been watching from up close, was left tongue-tied by the ever-increasing pace of each run. The higher his level, the easier Dungeons became to clear. Nine Dungeons, twelve levels gained—that averaged out to over one level per Dungeon. Ten raids remained. Once he finished all nineteen raids he'd originally promised Yoo Jin-Ho, he'd easily surpass level 45. He'd beaten a B-rank Hunter when he was in his mid-twenties. Now, it was hard to even estimate how strong he'd become.
'My heart's racing.'
Jin-Woo pressed a hand to his chest. He could feel his heart hammering away. Thump-thump, thump-thump. Growing stronger day by day was genuinely exhilarating. It was something he could never have imagined before. That entering Gates and clearing Dungeons could be this enjoyable.
'It's because I can feel myself getting stronger with every step.'
Every time his level went up. Every time his stats changed. Hunting monsters let him feel the difference in himself right away.
'Hunting, huh...'
For the first time, he truly felt like a Hunter. The word "hunting" no longer felt awkward. Wasn't it said that for a hunter, finding the next hunting ground is just as important as the hunt itself? His next destination was already decided.
'...The Demon's Castle Dungeon.'
Had he been level 21 back then? He'd grown nearly twenty levels since he first set foot in the Demon's Castle. It seemed like that might be enough. But every time he thought back to the gatekeeper dog, Cerberus, that he'd encountered back then, he found himself hesitating.
'If I open the gate and a bunch of things I can't handle pour out...'
A chill ran down his spine. It'd be a godsend if he could escape with his Stealth skill, but he couldn't rule out the possibility of failing to do so. A Hunter could lose their life even after getting it right nine times if they failed just once. So he needed certainty. The confidence that he could handle even a horde of Cerberus-level monsters.
'Cerberus's name was in red, wasn't it.'
Monster difficulty was indicated by the color of their name. Other than the Demon's Castle, he'd never seen a monster with a red name. The Key he'd gotten from a Random Box to enter an Instance Dungeon had only ever spawned lower-tier monsters. The Future Department Store Dungeon from today was no different. But why was that?
'What is it?'
When he thought he'd never encountered a red-named monster outside the Demon's Castle, something felt off. Like he'd forgotten something.
'Had I faced a red-named monster somewhere besides the Demon's Castle?'
That couldn't be right. At level 21, he'd nearly died fighting Cerberus. If he'd run into a red-named monster before that, he surely would have come even closer to death...
"Ah!"
The voice slipped out naturally. Right. There had been one. A moment where he'd faced a red-named monster and nearly died.
'The Penalty Quest!'
The centipedes he'd seen in the desert back then had red names.
[Venomfang Giant Sand Centipede]
Some time had passed, and since he'd stumbled on them by accident, the memory of them as a "monster" had faded from his mind. That's why he couldn't recall them easily.
'If I could take those centipedes out without trouble!'
Then he'd feel confident tackling the Demon's Castle too. Since it hadn't been just one centipede, he'd also know whether he could handle a swarm of them. The question was how to get back there...
'Should I intentionally skip my Daily Quest then?'
Whether he did the Penalty Quest or the Daily Quest, the stat points he received as a reward were the same. There was nothing to lose.
'I'll head to the Penalty Zone tomorrow.'
Deliberately skipping a Daily Quest just to take a Penalty Quest. Considering the first time he'd barely escaped with his life from those centipedes, it was almost laughable.
"I bet those guys don't even drop experience or items."
A smile crept onto his face. Just then, Jin-Woo's sensory perception picked up a single person's footsteps descending from the elevator at the end of the hall. A woman's light footsteps. Not unfamiliar.
'Jin-A.'
It was 11 PM. His sister was about to arrive. Jin-Woo stood up before she could even dig through her pockets for her key. Click.
"Oh-ho~"
Jin-A let out a playful exclamation. A while back, she used to be startled every time the door suddenly opened for her, but now she didn't even flinch. People really are creatures of habit.
"Welcome back." "Hey there."
Jin-A greeted him cheerfully and trotted off to her room. She was just about to close the door and turn around when—
"Oppa."
Jin-A peeked her head out through the gap in her door.
"Do you happen to have any free days this week?" "Why do you ask?" "My teacher says I need to have a parent-teacher conference. It's okay if you can't make it, though."
Her face looked anxious, as though her homeroom teacher had given her a special mission.
'A parent-teacher conference, huh...'
Since Jin-A was a senior in high school, her school was clearly busy too. He wanted to brush it off with an excuse about being unavailable, but unfortunately, he did have an open day.
'That Yoo Jin-Ho, completely useless.'
After deliberating, Jin-Woo answered.
"Thursday." "Really? Thanks, Oppa!"
Jin-A's expression lit up. She looked like she was about to rush over and throw her arms around him, so Jin-Woo quickly waved her off.
"Tch."
Jin-A narrowed her eyes, then closed the door and went inside. Before long, a sigh escaped Jin-Woo's lips.
"Hah."
Endless raids, stopping by the Penalty Zone, and now a parent-teacher conference with Mo-ra's teacher. It was going to be a busy week.
8. Job Change Quest
Jin-Woo left the apartment early in the morning. His schedule was packed today. Yoo Jin-Ho had said he'd reserved four Gates. Since he'd taken a day off, he apparently planned to make up for it by doubling up tomorrow.
'Well, considering the clear speed lately...'
Four or five Dungeons a day was nothing. The only issue was that it was rare for that many C-rank Gates to appear in close proximity all at once. In that sense, today was a lucky break. He arrived at his apartment building's entrance with a light step. But the usual sight of Yoo Jin-Ho waiting there in his van was nowhere to be seen. On top of that, he sensed a suspicious presence.
"Tch."
If yesterday's incident hadn't happened, he might have let it slide. Not today, though.
'I definitely warned him.'
Jin-Woo turned the corner and immediately spotted a man in a suit lurking nearby. The man was checking his watch and hadn't noticed Jin-Woo approaching yet. Jin-Woo called out to him from right in front of him.
"Excuse me."
The man jumped like he'd been shot.
"S-Sung Jin-Woo, Hunter-nim!"
His face looked like he'd just seen a ghost.
'Well, that's exactly why I suppressed my presence and moved the way I did.'
Jin-Woo clicked his tongue inwardly.
"You're from Baek-Ho Guild?" "Huh? Oh, yes. I'm Hyun Ki-Chul from Baek-Ho Guild's Second Management Division."
It seemed this was the subordinate employee that a man named Ahn Sang-Min—some department manager or other—had mentioned bringing along yesterday.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Hunter-nim."
Hyun Ki-Chul glanced around nervously and extended his hand. He seemed to want a handshake, but Jin-Woo wasn't in the mood. He just stared silently, and Hyun Ki-Chul's face flushed as he withdrew his hand.
"I believe I already told you I have no intention of joining a Guild for the time being."
Hyun Ki-Chul waved his hands in a hurry.
"Ah, that's not why I'm here."
He then extended his other hand, which was holding a tumbler.
"What's this?"
Jin-Woo eyed the colorful liquid inside the translucent tumbler and asked. Hyun Ki-Chul puffed out his chest and replied.
"I made you some vegetable juice. I juiced it myself, so don't worry about the quality!" "..."
Hyun Ki-Chul kept his hand extended. Jin-Woo had no choice but to take the tumbler and ask again.
"So, you've been waiting here since dawn to give me this?" "Yes, Hunter-nim! You need to take care of your health too!"
For a moment he wondered why Baek-Ho Guild was concerned about his health, but before he could dwell on it, Hyun Ki-Chul gave a deep bow, smiled brightly, and walked away.
"I hope to see you again, Hunter-nim!"
Jin-Woo waved the tumbler back at the retreating Hyun Ki-Chul.
"...What an interesting guy."
After Hyun Ki-Chul disappeared, Jin-Woo stared at the tumbler for a long moment. He'd heard the story of the insurance king who won people over by handing out Yakult to his clients, but an employee who personally juiced vegetables and brought the juice was probably a first.
'Well, it was given to me, so I can't just toss it.'
Not that it would matter anyway—even if by some miracle it was poisoned, his Detoxify buff would take care of it. So why not give it a taste? He sipped through the straw stuck in the tumbler. Jin-Woo's eyes went wide.
'...This is good?'
Just then, a familiar voice came from behind him.
"Hyung-nim!"
He turned to see Yoo Jin-Ho approaching. As always, Yoo Jin-Ho wore a bright expression and jerked his chin in the direction Hyun Ki-Chul had left.
"Hyung-nim, who was that guy just now? He was standing around here for a while."
Jin-Woo's answer was simple.
"An insurance salesman." "Ah."
Ever agreeable, Yoo Jin-Ho took it at face value. Jin-Woo glanced around and asked.
"Where's your car?"
The fact that Yoo Jin-Ho had seen Hyun Ki-Chul standing here meant he himself had arrived a while ago, yet his beloved van was nowhere in sight.
"I parked it over there and walked, Hyung-nim." "What for?" "There've been a few unsolved murders around here recently, haven't there? Since I don't live around here, the residents were giving me some suspicious looks."
Jin-Woo nodded. It had been showing up on the news quite a bit lately. The victims were mostly young women. There had apparently already been two cases this month alone. In that kind of situation, an unfamiliar black van parked right in front of the apartment entrance was bound to make people nervous. Gulp, glug-glug-glug. The vegetable juice hit the bottom. Jin-Woo gave the now-empty tumbler a little shake, then headed toward where Yoo Jin-Ho had parked.
"Let's go." "Yes. Hyung-nim!"
***
This time, the Dungeon spawned Lizardmen. Lizardmen were, quite literally, lizard people. They walked on two legs, carried weapons, and occasionally cast spells. Lizardman Sorcerers who could use magic were few in number—but that only made them trickier opponents. Two fireballs materialized at the tips of the Sorcerer's fingers.
'Magic?'
When Jin-Woo moved to close the distance, the two Lizardmen guarding the Sorcerer's flanks immediately leveled their spears. Reptilian reflexes. Jin-Woo leaped backward, narrowly dodging the spear tips. The fireballs likely would have come in rapid succession. Whoosh—whoosh—
"Hyung-nim, be careful!"
Yoo Jin-Ho, watching from a distance, strained his neck and shouted. Boom! The explosion tore through the narrow cave, shaking it to its core.