Episode 174.
The hunter community had a rough day today.
A den in the demon world where all kinds of human beings gather.
In fact, Spring was right when she said that there can be no such thing as a windy day.
It could be said that it was a place where strong winds always blew, let alone the wind itself.
A hunter community where strong winds are a daily occurrence.
But today, the strong wind was unusual.
A typhoon was approaching, whipping strong winds.
A super typhoon that sweeps away the entire hunter community.
There is only one.
『Breaking News! Hunter Maeng Si-woo is said to be undergoing an S-class promotion examination!』
It started with one post, like the small fluttering of a butterfly’s wings.
The post had no content.
Just three letters.
“I’ll be back soon.”
The title is the content.
In some ways, it could be seen as a feeble struggle that couldn’t even beat a butterfly’s wings.
But these feeble flaps of wings are on the other side.
It developed into a powerful typhoon.
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└<57 minutes of pain information>: Honestly, wouldn’t it be possible for someone like Maeng Si-woo? It’s like he’d break out into a pot like that.
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The post became a hot topic, receiving numerous recommendations.
Is that why?
『
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The news began to spread beyond the hunter community and onto YouTube.
and.
The Hunter Bureau acknowledges this fact.
It was only in an instant that the entire country, not just the Internet, was turned upside down.
“Hey, hey, this time, about Maeng Si-woo’s promotion evaluation. I heard that SH Group intervened in the decision-making process?”
“What? Really?”
Accordingly, numerous rumors began to circulate.
And once a rumor spreads, it becomes like a wildfire, uncontrollable.
“Doesn’t this mean that Han Chae-rin raised the judging standards in order to keep Maeng Si-woo in check?”
“Hey, no way. From what I saw in the video, Han Chae-rin and Maeng Si-woo. They seem to be close.”
“I don’t know. How would you know if it’s friendship or bad blood?”
“That’s true, but if that’s true… Han Chae-rin. I didn’t see it that way, but she’s really clever, isn’t she?”
The rumor grew and spread throughout the country.
Wherever I went, there was constant talk about Siwoo’s promotion test.
“Is this the birth of an Iregulus S-class? Or is it just stepping on a sprout? I’m really looking forward to this.”
“Is it for nothing that the news is full of stories about Maeng Si-woo?”
“So when is Maeng Si-woo’s promotion test?”
“A week later.”
“Mr. Ha, why are you waiting for a week?
All the attention of the country was focused solely on Siwoo.
A week like that.
It was by no means a short time.
But they say nothing moves faster than time.
A week passed by so quickly.
* * *
Yeongcheon-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do.
Could it be the influence of the Taebaek Mountains, known as the backbone of the Korean Peninsula?
“All I can see is trees.”
In the middle of mountains.
All that was visible was the mountain scenery of many mountains overlapping each other.
This place only has a view of the lush forest.
Woof woof woof.
“This is an S-class dungeon.”
The size alone appeared to be over 10 meters.
Compared to the average dungeon size of about 2M, it was truly overwhelming.
Is that why?
“It’s tingling.”
Siwoo could be under considerable pressure.
Should I say it’s the aura emanating from the gate?
Or should I say momentum?
A silent force was felt from the gate itself.
“They say that even S-class hunters have a hard time soloing.”
I could understand the reason right away.
“This is one level higher than the Black Stone Dungeon.”
The Black Stone dungeon that I conquered with Han Chae-rin was S-rank.
Of course, the actual difficulty level was not S-rank.
Because the only level of the barrier that imprisons the Black Stone was S-rank.
It was right to say that the actual difficulty was impossible to estimate.
That’s why it was nonsense.
Even if it was an S-class hunter promotion test, solo playing an S-class dungeon was just too much.
An unusual event that has never happened before.
Still, the reason Siwoo was here was simple.
“There hasn’t been any movement yet.”
Oh Joo-won, a scar-level executive of Pandemonium and the person in charge of Pandemonium in Korea.
It was meant to draw him out.
To put it simply, it was an advertisement.
Am I alone in a remote place?
Wouldn’t it be perfect for killing me?
It was announced nationwide under the pretext of an unusual S-rank promotion examination.
That’s what he said to Oh Ju-won.
The same thing happened with the promotion test being a solo play in an S-rank dungeon.
If it was an S-rank dungeon, it wouldn’t have been strange if Siwoo died.
Siwoo has been clearing 600 B~A grade dungeons a day.
Imagine if that Siwoo died in an A+ rank dungeon.
People would find it strange.
Of course, the dungeon was an isolated space.
A place where no evidence remains at all.
However, it was not as if there was no evidence left.
There will be some kind of investigation into Siwoo’s death.
In the end, it was something that Oh Joo-won could end up stepping on.
If we were to conduct the solo play evaluation of A+ grade dungeons as before, there would be these problems.
Oh Joo-won may have been reluctant to take action.
But what if it’s an S-rank dungeon?
The difference between A+ and S grades is like heaven and earth.
Even if you die while playing solo.
People wouldn’t think it was strange at all.
If it’s an S-class dungeon, that might be possible.
I would have thought so.
Isn’t the prevailing opinion that it is still too dangerous?
It was as if the table had been set for dinner.
The best bait to catch me.
Even though I knew it was bait, I couldn’t help but bite it.
“And yet there’s still no movement.”
Siwoo was lost in thought for a moment.
But whatever.
“Once you enter the dungeon, you will take action.”
I didn’t really care.
As you said, it was before we entered the dungeon.
Although it was a deep mountain valley, it was still the outside world.
It wasn’t a very good move.
So, now.
“Shall we go in and take a look?”
Beyond the swaying gate.
Siwoo slowly pushed himself inside.
* * *
A hotel located on the outskirts of Seoul.
“I heard that Maeng Si-woo just entered the dungeon.”
Oh Ju-won smiled at the report he heard from his subordinate.
Hereby.
The most annoying variable was blocked.
So all variables are blocked.
In all cases, the number of cases was smiling at him.
There was no reason to hesitate or hesitate.
“Tell all of Pandemonium.”
Oh Ju-won slowly got up from his seat.
And the scar on Oh Ju-won’s left eye.
“It is time to begin the ritual.”
The prosthetic eye around his left eye flashed red.
* * *
Headquarters of the Inspection Bureau.
“Hunter Maeng Si-woo said he just entered the dungeon.”
I heard a report from Park Tae-min.
Park Tae-min slightly lowered his head and continued speaking.
“The regional investigation team has also completed all preparations. All guards are on standby, with only the minimum number of personnel left in each inspection bureau branch across the country. If the director gives an order, we will take action immediately.”
It was no different from an all-out war.
Is that why?
Baek Seon-je’s expression wasn’t that bright.
Baek Seon-je did not open his mouth easily.
The silence continued for quite some time.
“Let’s also move slowly.”
Baek Seon-je nodded after a long silence.
Baek Seon-je slowly got up from his seat.
“Then I’ll leave it to you, Team Leader Park.”
Baek Seon-je walked out of the director’s office.
“Director.”
Park Tae-min caught that Baek Seon-je.
Baek Seon-je slowly looked back.
Park Tae-min said, biting his lower lip.
“Really… is this the only way?”
Park Tae-min’s voice trembled as he spoke.
That would be the case, because that is what Baek Seon-je is trying to do now.
“Rather, just─”
“Team Leader Park.”
Baek Seon-je cut off Park Tae-min’s words.
Baek Seon-je was smiling brightly at some point.
It was Baek Seon-je’s smile that I had never seen before.
It was that smile that was always there at the forefront to reassure people in times of crisis.
But why today?
Park Tae-min felt no sense of relief at all.
A gaze that was slowly observed.
“Was the hope that was not released from Pandora’s box our wish, or was it the most evil disaster of all?”
Baek Seon-je has been saying things that I don’t understand.
Park Tae-min couldn’t understand what those words meant.
Wasn’t Baek Seon-je also asking a question that he wanted an answer to?
Baek Seon-je simply smiled.
That smile I’ve seen before.
“Please take care of the rest, Team Leader Park.”
Baek Seon-je left the place like that.
Park Tae-min remained there for a while.
Nothing until the whitehead completely disappears.
I really couldn’t say anything.
* * *
A landscape of vast grasslands.
Just looking at the scenery with the horizon in view made me feel refreshed and open.
“It’s not an S-class dungeon, but more like a resort.”
Siwoo chuckled and laughed.
Of course, that’s just talk.
I didn’t really think of it as a resort.
“Has about 10 minutes passed?”
It’s been about 10 minutes since I entered the dungeon.
“There’s still no movement.”
Still, there was no significant movement.
So, a hidden ninja appears.
I didn’t hear any lines like this one where a mean man suddenly appeared and said, ‘How stupid of you to step into a trap on your own two feet.’
If only this place weren’t inside an S-class dungeon, it would have felt like a vacation spot.
“There’s no way you couldn’t find me.”
That’s understandable, since Siwoo had been radiating energy in all directions since a while ago.
I’m here!
They were advertising blatantly.
There was no way I wouldn’t find Siwoo.
Why is there still no movement for 10 minutes?
“Did you just decide to ignore me?”
It seemed likely that that would be the case.
Siura seemed to have decided to ignore the bait.
He not only set the table but even gave me a spoon to eat with.
The bait operation seemed to have gone down the drain.
“hmm….”
In the end, it was a situation where Oh Joo-won could not be dragged out.
I thought I would have to talk to Baek Seon-je again about future plans.
Previously.
“I need to clear the dungeon quickly.”
Siwoo had no choice but to get up from his seat.
“This is… the Tentriculus Dungeon?”
Tentriculos.
It was a type of undead and a vengeful monster.
A monster that can control darkness, also known as the ‘Floating Nightmare’.
Due to its unique properties, Tentriculus was impervious to physical force.
A monster that occupies the highest rank among S-rank monsters.
“I wonder if the Orichalcon Gauntlet won’t work either.”
If you think about it, the Orichalcon armor was given an ‘attribute’.
God’s Metallurgy (SS).
Reality manipulation (SSS).
It was an attribute granted by the power of two gods.
Even Tentriculus, who is darkness itself, cannot ignore the power of God.
I think it will probably work out with a high probability.
“Let’s give it a try.”
Siwoo got up from his seat and looked for Tentriculus.
I stretched out my energy and looked for the presence of Tentriculus.
How long did it take to search like that?
“…I don’t see a single one.”
For some reason, Tentriculus was not visible.
Of course, I didn’t search for that long.
About 1/10th of this vast grassland.
but.
“It’s strange that I don’t see a single one.”
More than anything.
“You must not have known that an intruder was coming?”
Siwoo had been radiating energy in all directions since a while ago.
He said he was advertising his location to Oh Ju-won.
And spirit monsters react more sensitively to this intangible energy.
Naturally, I couldn’t help but be aware of Siwoo’s existence.
There was no way he wouldn’t have noticed the intruder.
Originally, Tentriculus should have come to Siu first a long time ago.
“But why…?”
That moment.
Stop.
A thought flashed through Siwoo’s mind.
The footsteps I was taking suddenly stopped.
A situation where Tentriculus is not visible.
A situation where not a single monster is visible inside the dungeon.
Insight (S+).
A strange force penetrates the essence of the phenomenon encountered.
Siwoo had once been in a similar situation.
I’ve had instances where monsters don’t exist in dungeons.
Black Stone Dungeon.
At that time, there were no monsters in the Black Stone Dungeon.
And now.
Krrrrrr…!
An unknown noise was heard on the wind.
And it wasn’t just one.
Krrrrrr…!
Oww…!
Hagururuk…!
Three strange sounds.
But ironically, these three strange sounds were not the sounds of three beings.
The sense of super strength (SS) is sharpened.
The muscles become stiff and tense.
A sharp mind grips the whole body.
Siwoo slowly looked back.
And what I saw was a huge mountain.
That distant view.
A truly huge mountain was approaching Siwoo.
Kukukukung!
As they approached the huge mountain, the ground shook as if an earthquake had occurred.
Soon, a huge mountain appeared in front of Siwoo.
Siwoo was able to identify the mountain.
That wasn’t a mountain.
A huge mass like a mountain.
Evil teeth.
And three heads.
“Cerberus…?”
Cerberus, the three-headed dog of hell.
Cerberus existed in this dungeon.
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