C37: The Last Round (2)
East Hunter Academy located in Noryangjin, Seoul.
In the room on the top floor, two men were facing each other with a desk between them. The man at the desk was looking at the man in front of him with a look of anger for some reason.
The other man, who received the gaze, stood nervously with a lost look on his face.
“What the hell happened?”
undefined“That’s……”
The man flinched at the burst of anger.
Lee Seok-man was an A-class hunter, even though he retired. It was a lot of pressure for an ordinary person to handle.
And the reason why Lee Seok-man is doing this now was simple.
[1st place: Kim Seo-joon – 117 (+7)]
[2nd place: So-yeon – 113 (+2)]
It was because Kim Seo-joon was running amok.
It wasn’t just that he was running amok, it was that he was running amok that made no sense.
It took 5 minutes from the time from the notification that Kim Seo-joon reserved the dungeon to the notification that the raid was over.
In other words, it took him 5 minutes to book a dungeon, reach its location, and finish the raid.
This was an impossible time for any hunter at the student level. Of course, a wizard who could teleport could do it, but once or twice, not like this.
It was impossible to teleport so many times and long distances in a row unless the Devil Star himself came forward. But what is the point of Devil Star being interested in such a nosebleed competition?
“You’d better give a proper explanation considering the money I’ve spent on you.”
Therefore, Lee Seok-man’s anger was a natural response. But there was one way that even Lee Seok couldn’t think of.
“Oh, I guess he booked the dungeon after arriving at the dungeon!”
“What? He arrived at the dungeon and then made the reservation?”
The man bowed his head and shouted urgently.
“Well, so I can’t figure out what dungeon he’s going to book…”
Of course, they could see it at the moment he made the reservation, but Seo-joon did not exceed 10 minutes at the longest, and when they arrived, he had already disappeared elsewhere.
It was a situation in which all the tricks they prepared wouldn’t work.
Lee Seok-man shouted.
“Send men to all the nearby dungeons. Someone must see him.”
“I’ve already tried it, but it’s hard to figure out. I don’t know if he changed his car. ”
In addition, the meticulousness of changing the truck they have been using continuously.
“Then buy the dungeon supervisor!”
“It’s also difficult because the dungeon management team is watching.”
“What? Dungeon management team, why?”
“I think his academy put pressure on them.”
“Does the dungeon management team move just because an academy is pressuring them? Is it Hunter Mill or Gaon?”
“No, but there’s a rumor that the academy is run by the granddaughter of the Sword Saint.”
“…”
Lee Seok-man is speechless.
“Gee, for now, there’s, uh, no way out.”
Seo-joon is literally a ghost.
“Then find a way! Don’t do anything about him! The East Academy will win this time! If you miss the championship, you’ll have to be prepared!”
“Yes!”
The man ran out of the room as if he was drowning in Lee Seok-man’s fury.
Seo-joon came out of the dungeon and former supervisor Dunn was looking at Seo-joon with a look of surprise.
“Wow, how can you take less than five minutes? Are you really a student?”
“Ha ha. Since I only did similar dungeons, I gained some know-how. I was lucky.”
“You’re amazing.”
The supervisor then asked, looking at Seo-joon’s empty hands.
“Come to think of it, you don’t dispose of dead bodies anymore?”
“Yes, because it’s the last day.”
The dungeon supervisor nodded as if he understood.
“You don’t have time for that because you’re in fierce competition with the second place. Then fighting!”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Seo-joon hurried to where Man-cheol was waiting, leaving the supervisor behind. Meanwhile, he checked the ranking on his smartphone.
[1st place: Kim Seo-joon – 123]
[2nd place: Lee So-yeon – 115]
Seo-joon was back in first place. The gap with Lee So-yeon has already widened to eight, and if it goes like this, there seems to be no problem with winning.
“Don’t let your guard down yet. She will catch up with you more and more.”
Man-cheol’s voice came out of nowhere.
“Of course.”
Seo-joon put his smartphone back in his arms and got into the car.
In fact, this way was not very good since there were frequent situations in which someone booked a dungeon that they almost arrived at.
It was a risky method in many ways, but it was the best way for now because he was making raids without much interference.
“Let’s start right away.”
“Yes.”
Seo-joon and Man-cheol continued to raid dungeons in the same way.
“There! There!”
Of course, he met a group of disturbances that he sometimes encountered by chance, so he was not as fast as before.
Nevertheless, Seo-joon and Man-cheol tried to avoid them as much as possible and head to the dungeons.
[1st place: Lee So-yeon – 126]
[2nd place: Kim Seo-joon – 125]
…………………………
[1st place: Kim Seo-joon – 131]
[2nd place: Lee So-yeon – 128]
…………………………
[1st place: Lee So-yeon – 135]
[2nd place: Kim Seo-joon – 134]
The neck-and-neck fight between Seo-joon and So-yeon was the main concern not only for the two but also for others.
For them, the whereabouts of this fierce fight had their own meaning, so the problem that occurred now was bound to become quite serious because there were no more dungeons to raid.
To be exact, all dungeons prepared for the contest have been dealt with for the first time in the 24 times that the contest was held.
Of course, it didn’t matter that all dungeons were dealt with. Considering the purpose of the contest, it was a great thing.
Nevertheless, the reason why this has become a serious problem is none other than.
[1st place: Kim Seo-joon – 141]
[2nd place: Lee So-yeon – 141]
Seo-joon, who did 141 raids first, was the first place, but the number of dungeons’ raids was equal, so it is actually a joint 1st place.
Only the heads of the two academies, Seo-yoon and Lee Seok-man, were sharply arguing over this.
“What do you mean joint winners? No way! How can a participant who committed various irregularities win?”
“What do you mean? You’re talking too much. Isn’t it too much speculation to conclude that we instigated the accident?”
“A coincidence? How many accidents have occurred during the contest? Are you saying that those were just coincidences?”
“Unbelievable things happen in life. Above all, do you have any proof that we instigated it?”
“Evidence in a clearly visible situation? Aren’t you claiming it after thoroughly shutting your mouth in the first place?”
“So you have evidence or you don’t.”
“I’m investigating. It will be revealed soon.”
“Then let’s go and talk again.”
The organizers held a long meeting and concluded that a clear winner should be chosen.
In addition, as Lee Seok-man said, there was no solid evidence that Lee So-yeon had cheated, so it was concluded that Lee So-yeon could not be disqualified.
“Sigh… I’m so sorry Seo-joon.”
Seo-yoon apologized with her head down.
“No, you did the best you could.”
Seo-yoon really did her best.
From mentioning the name of her grandfather that she hated so much, Seo-joon kept putting pressure on the organizers.
Nevertheless, the reason why things have gone this far was because Lee Seok-man had his hands here and there before the contest began.
If it weren’t for Seo-yoon, Seo-joon would have missed the first place as soon as he failed to withstand the sabotage.
“More than anything, I haven’t missed the championship yet. There’s a final showdown left, and no matter how much they bought the people involved, they won’t be able to do tricks here.”
“That’s true, but…”
Seo-yoon looked up at Seo-joon. She didn’t know if it was because she was in front of him, but Seo-yoon was facing Seo-joon with a confident face.
“…make sure you win.”
Seo-joon replaced the answer by lifting his spear.
The final showdown would be decided in a place where three dungeons were attached.
Although rare, there have been quite a few cases where two dungeons are attached sometimes, but it was also the first time for Seo-joon to see three dungeons attached.
Seo-joon took a step toward Lee So-yeon and a group of officials who came in advance. It was quiet around him as he walked around because it was the last competition to determine the winner of the contest and there were few people, and the only person he knew was Lee So-yeon.
Due to Seo-yoon pressure to prevent teaching Seo-joon heard that one of the officials present was the team leader of the dungeon management team.
“You’re Kim Seo-joon, right?”
As Seo-joon approached, one of the officials approached and asked.
The slightly reflected necklace sign said Shin Young-seok, the team leader of the dungeon management team.
When Seo-joon nodded, Shin Young-seok called So-yeon.
“Now that you’re both here, let me explain the rules. The rules are simple. You can choose one dungeon from the three dungeons and raid it. The one of you, who finished the raid faster, will be the winner.”
Quite a simple rule for a final contest however Seo-joon tilted his head once and asked.
“Then, if we clear the first dungeon first, won’t we win?” Is there a reason to go around the remaining dungeons?”
“But we can’t leave the remaining dungeons unattended…”
Shin Young-seok then smiled awkwardly and continued to talk.
“In fact, you’re right. So at first, we were just trying to find a place where 2 dungeons were attached, but there was no suitable place. This was the only place available. And come to think of it, shouldn’t the winner be ahead of the number of dungeons count? It’s the first time we’ve done this, so we have to keep the form on paper ···”
Seo-joon nodded without asking any more questions.
Either way, if he quickly raided the dungeon, it meant that he would win.
In that case, Seo-joon was more confident than anyone else.
“You both understand the rules, don’t you? Do you have any other questions?”
Seo-joon and So-yeon shook their heads at the same time.
“All three dungeons are two-star dungeons. There is no difference in difficulty, so you can decide which dungeon to raid first after discussing it.”
“If you don’t mind, can I decide first?”
As soon as Shin Young-seok finished speaking, Seo-joon opened his mouth.
If Shin Young-seok’s words were true, it didn’t matter which dungeon he chose. However, what Lee So-yeon has done has been on his mind.
Of course, it was unlikely that they would have done so, but Seo-joon wanted to choose first to prevent anything that might happen.
“Do as you please.”
So-yeon didn’t pay much attention as if she didn’t make a move this time so Seo-joon answered after thinking for a while.
“I’ll have the rightmost dungeon.”
“Then I’ll take the leftmost dungeon.”
Before entering, So-yeon said to Seo-joon.
“Don’t be so upset.”
But So-yeon’s meaningful words.
“What does that mean?”
“Contestants please start!”
However, Seo-joon could not continue the question at the sight of So-yeon entering the crack at the same time as Shin Young-seok’s cry to announce the start.
Seo-joon looked at So-yeon’s back and soon pushed himself into the crack.
The interior of the dungeon that he entered was a dark cave.
Shin Young-seok said it was a two-star dungeon, so it seemed to be a kobold dungeon.
Kobolds are monsters that don’t fit the dungeon sweep contest purpose so it was obvious this dungeon was urgently chosen.
“Shall we go?”
Seo-joon walked quickly, sharpening his senses so that he could swing his spear at any time.
It was necessary to be careful because kobolds had a habit of making surprise attacks, but their surprise attacks were not a threat to Seo-joon, who learned Chiron sense.
Rather, it is a more profitable situation because if the monsters attacked him he could easily finish the raid.
Like that, Seo-joon walked around the dungeon without hesitation and after some time.
“What’s going on?”
Seo-joon didn’t find a single kobold.
After five minutes he couldn’t hear a breath let alone see monsters so he paused for a moment.
“Isn’t it a kobold dungeon?”
Even if it wasn’t a kobold dungeon, it was strange because other monsters should have appeared.
“Then what the hell…”
Just then a terrible scream broke out from somewhere.
“Aaaggh.”
The rumbling roar echoed the walls of the cave then a four-legged monster in the shape of a large, ferocious beast appeared.
“Manticore!”
It was none other than a four-star monster, manticore.
“Why is a manticore here?”
Seo-joon blinked his eyes and reaffirmed the manticore’s appearance, but nothing changed.
Then a sudden thought came into his mind.
“A measurement error dungeon?”
Sometimes there were dungeons like that because dungeons are rated by measuring the total amount of mana in the dungeon…
“KEEEEEEEE!!!”
At that moment, the manticore’s roar erupted again.
Seo-joon closed his mind. Whether it was a measurement error dungeon or something else the manticore in front of him comes first.
When Seo-joon looked at the manticore, the manticore was shaking its whole body as if it was bursting with joy after seeing prey.
Four-star monster, manticore.
In fact, monsters with one or two stars could not be considered monsters.
As it can be seen from skeletons or slimes, even ordinary people could handle them however it was different starting from 3-star monsters.
Considering that there were no monsters with less than three stars during the cataclysmic days, the true monster threatening humanity meant monsters with more than three stars.
And manticore was a four-star monster, not a three-star monster. Of course, Seo-joon had experience dealing with a manticore but at that time the manticore had just woken up from its hibernation state.
It was only a two-star state in terms of combat power. However, the Manticore in front of him was a manticore in its intact state.
“KEEEEEEEE!!!”
Or to be exact in a state of extreme hunger.
Seo-joon tightly curled the spear in his hand and didn’t hesitate.
“KEEEEEEEE!!!”
A tearful roar attacked Seo-joon’s mind but Seo-joon did not stop running.
The manticore also jumped at Seo-joon, kicking the floor with four legs and its wide-open mouth opened towards Seo-joon.
The manticore’s teeth approached in an instant with a dizzying sensation but Seo-joon did not back down.
[Intuition is actually an area of thought, not a sense. We instinctively think and judge the information we receive through our five senses, but intuition is what we feel when our reason does not understand the process.]
[We’re just ‘imagining’ it because it’s our senses. In short, keep in mind that intuition is not a sense that doesn’t exist, but an idea that exists.]
He could see it and feel the things he couldn’t comprehend back them.
Seo-joon rolled up the spear tightly and a horrible crunching sound was heard.
Seo-joon’s spear strikes continued as all of these actions flowed together as naturally as water and the manticore’s neck soared into the air.
