Episode 58 Replay Analysis (3)
The artificial dungeons on the ground floor of the Dungeon Building were created solely for the purpose of educating and testing students.
Risk factors are rare, and even if they are, multiple layers of safety measures protect students.
A representative example is the ‘escape device’ that immediately ejects students out of the dungeon when a fatal injury is predicted.
On the other hand, there are dungeons that extend deep underground into Dungeon-dong.
The countless dungeons that make this island, where Yongsal Academy is built, known as “Dungeon Island.”
Everything that happens in here is real.
If things go wrong during an attack, not only will you get hurt, but in some cases, your life could be at risk.
Instead, a reward commensurate with the risk is also given.
This means that you can obtain items.
They are given as rewards for clearing dungeons, dropped by boss monsters, or cleverly hidden throughout the dungeon.
Go Hyun-woo’s eyes lit up as he listened to the explanation.
“That means… … .”
“Weapons don’t drop either.”
C-class and B-class weapons too.
Go Hyun-woo’s expression became similar to when he first heard about the special performance room.
But he didn’t get up right away.
It must be because I realized something along the way.
He looks at me and asks a question.
“But… … isn’t it impossible now?”
“Because it’s still the week of the big match.”
The dungeon hall will open the week after the raid battle.
This means that you have to wait without moving for a few days.
And there is another very big stumbling block,
“I won’t be able to go down to the basement next week anyway.”
“Why is that so?”
“If you don’t qualify, then you’re not qualified.”
There is no way to deploy a freshman who has just entered school into a life-threatening real-life situation.
If by any chance he suffers a serious injury that leaves aftereffects or even loses his life, it would mean that there is one less candidate for future heroes.
Only those who have gained sufficient experience on the ground floor and have proven that they are prepared both internally and externally are eligible to go down.
So the minimum requirement to go down to the basement, that is, the entry requirement for the F-class dungeon, is.
“The total score for the dungeon raid is 5,000 points. Regardless of points, only the pure dungeon clear score is counted.”
“Umm… … .”
Go Hyun-woo took out his student ID, checked the back, and let out a sigh.
It will be woefully inadequate no matter what.
Same goes for me.
My current total strategy score is exactly 2,266 points.
[Fix Zone] is in the upper-middle rank with 683 points.
In [Goblin Swamp], the duo with the calligrapher is in the top rank with 728 points.
The solo play score is 855, which is definitely first in the grade. I didn’t save the replay though.
The combined ranking is between the top 5% and 10%, so if you maintain this pace, you’ll have to continue raiding for a few more weeks before you can even set foot in an F-rank dungeon.
Even my goal isn’t F-rank dungeons, but higher rank dungeons.
E-class, D-class, and higher must be unlocked sequentially by accumulating more points or passing exams, so it can be considered virtually impossible to do so during the first semester of the first year.
Go Hyun-woo asked.
“Isn’t there no way for now?”
“Officially.”
“Officially… … ?”
Go Hyun-woo repeated what I said.
He soon understands the meaning and smiles faintly.
There is no rule that says you have to do exactly as Yongsal Academy says.
“You can just sneak in.”
For times like these, there is the Yongsal Academy errand service.
The Thieves’ Club is involved in a variety of illegal activities, including trading in banned items.
One of them is allowing you to secretly enter dungeons that you are not qualified to enter.
I sent a message to Shin Byeong-cheol.
[Kim Ho: Errands]
[Shin Byeong-cheol: Where are you, sir?]
[Kim Ho: 2nd floor terrace of the store]
[Shin Byeong-cheol: I will go right away, customer]
“Did you call the new brother?”
“Oh. I’ll be back soon.”
While waiting, I sneakily checked the calligrapher’s reaction.
The attitude of not doing anything even though you openly threatened to break the school rules.
I feel like I’m more interested in drinking iced tea these days.
‘I guess so… … .’
As expected, there doesn’t seem to be much resentment about breaking school rules.
Would it be more accurate to say that they don’t care about the school rules at all?
Then, someday, depending on the calligrapher’s needs, we may have to raid the basement together.
It remains to be seen what that rich girl needs, but the possibility is open.
Shin Byeong-cheol showed up less than five minutes after I sent the message.
As expected from an errand service, it is sad to say that it is second to none in terms of speed.
“You’re here? How may I help you?”
“I’m going to go into the dungeon.”
“Dungeon? You know it opens next week?”
“I’m thinking about Monday evening.”
“It’s perfect for a Monday evening, what’s your number?”
“Number 388.”
“Let’s see, let’s see… … . If it’s number 388… … .”
Shin Byeong-cheol took out something like a notebook and looked through it for a while.
It looks like they’re checking the dungeon information.
“… … [Feather Serpent Altar]? It’s D-rank?”
“uh.”
“It’s a 4-person dungeon, who’s going in?”
“Just me and him.”
Shin Byeong-cheol looked at me and Ko Hyeon-woo alternately.
And his expression became somewhat worried.
“… … Is that okay? It’s a 4-person dungeon in Class D.”
Half of our worries are yours, half are yours.
If something goes wrong when we enter the dungeon, Shin Byeong-cheol, who secretly let us in, cannot avoid responsibility.
If it were a normal D-class, we could probably get through it with our skills, but if two people were to do what four people should do, I couldn’t help but have doubts.
I shrugged.
“I don’t think you’ll die. If you mess up, you’ll just run away.”
I have no intention of running away, but that’s what they say.
He will only take on this job if he is sure that no harm will come to him.
Shin Byeong-cheol also asked Ko Hyeon-woo to confirm.
“What about you? Are you okay?”
“I trust Brother Kim. I’m sure he’s thought of everything.”
Go Hyun-woo’s answer was so decisive that it felt blind.
Shin Byeong-cheol, who asked the question, felt embarrassed.
“… … Oh, then do that. I’ll prepare it for Monday evening.”
“What about the maintenance?”
The process of infiltrating the underground dungeon is difficult and risky in many ways.
So naturally, a certain amount of compensation must be paid to the thieves’ club.
Sometimes you pay upfront, and sometimes you promise a certain share of the dungeon clear reward.
But Shin Byeong-cheol waved his hand.
“Oh, what’s the deal between us? We owed each other money last time, right? Just consider that paid off.”
During the ban wave, all the banned items were in danger of being confiscated, but I hid them in the [Cube of Life].
Thanks to this, Shin Byeong-cheol was able to avoid the fate of being beaten to death by his seniors, and was able to get away with a moderate beating and having his hair pulled out.
He’s saying he’ll pay off that debt by helping me infiltrate the basement for free.
I made a surprised expression.
“I didn’t think you’d bring it up first, but here we go again.”
“Hey, if someone heard that, they’d think I’m a guy who doesn’t know how to be grateful. That man, Shin Byeong-cheol, is someone who keeps his word even if he takes everything else.”
“I see.”
I nodded.
They just take everything else.
You shouldn’t lend anything to him.
In addition, there was another very important reason why Shin Byeong-cheol brought up the free stuff first.
“And honestly… … . I’ve only been down to the basement once. I followed my older sister. Let’s gain some experience this time.”
“… … .”
He was also a first-year student and had little experience.
This is the first time I’ve ‘gone down’ to the basement with Dang Gyu-yeong, and we’re set to be the first guests of this inexperienced guide.
Go Hyun-woo asked me with his eyes if it was okay.
If you want to be 100% sure, it’s better to hire someone with a 2nd year or higher degree.
But I wasn’t too worried.
Shin Byeong-cheol’s skills may not be very good, but he still has the basics down for a thieves’ club.
If there’s a difference, I’ll step in and do it.
“We don’t care. Just don’t do it roughly because it’s your first time.”
“Oh, that’s a given. I should do my best to serve you. Is this all for now, sir?”
“No, one more.”
“Dungeon again? Where.”
“Number 104.”
“104… …?”
Shin Byeong-cheol furrowed his brows quietly.
He checks his notebook with a look of hope, and his eyebrows furrow even more.
“Number 104… … [Black Death Room]. It’s a B-class. Is there something wrong with it?”
“I saw it correctly. It was the Black Death.”
“This is a deep dungeon… … Hey, honestly, there’s no way I can help you with this.”
Shin Byeong-cheol scratched the back of his head.
Dungeons from S to B rank are located in the deepest part of the dungeon, the ‘deepest part’.
Regular students are not even allowed to approach, and even being caught loitering nearby will result in the highest level of discipline.
It would be difficult for Shin Byeong-cheol to bring it to him with his abilities, and even if he had the ability, it was not an issue that he, a first-year student, could handle lightly.
So it was natural to give that kind of answer.
“I know. Just ask the manager about it.”
“That much, I guess it can be done. I’ll ask and let you know. Again?”
“That’s all.”
“Okay. Then I’ll go. Thanks for your hard work~”
After I finished explaining my business, Shin Byeong-cheol stood up from his seat with a look of urgency on his face.
And just like when he came, he ran out.
I watched his back for a while and drank my iced tea in silence.
Then I summarized the conversation we had had so far with Go Hyun-woo.
“In the grand scheme of things, our plan is this. On Monday evening, we enter the D-class dungeon, [Feather Serpent Altar]. We’ll get your weapon there.”
In conclusion, you can obtain a pretty useful longsword.
If it’s that longsword, Go Hyun-woo will have no problem using it for a while.
At the same time, I intend to gain some benefit in my own way.
That’s why I chose the Feather Serpent Altar among the many dungeons that drop longswords.
“Then we’ll go through a few days of preparation. We’ll negotiate with the Thieves’ Club and buy some items.”
As Shin Byeong-cheol mentioned, the deep dungeon is not an issue for him to deal with.
At least the third year members of the Thieves’ Club will negotiate with Dang Gyu-yeong.
It is safe to say that there is no chance that the negotiations will end in failure.
Even if it doesn’t work out, I’ll make it work.
“The more prepared you are, the better. This is a place where even the slightest mistake can cost you your life.”
“I’m ready. What do I have to do?”
“Your role is important.”
It’s not like we’re simply taking Ko Hyun-woo along as a skilled swordsman.
Inside the dungeon, he must completely become another self.
To make that happen,
“You should know as much about dungeons as I do.”
He handed over the bundle of documents he had brought.
Go Hyun-woo’s eyes widened as he received and turned the pages one by one.
“… … !”
Strategy guide for [Feather Serpent Altar] and [Black Snake].
Starting with the structure of the dungeon, the enemies that appear and their locations, what path we should take and how we should achieve our goal, etc.
Everything was included in the two strategy books.
“Memorize it. Without missing a single letter.”
