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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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[You know that hidden dungeon you went to recently, In-wook? The one with the missing people. That one.]
[Ah… The one at Guryong Mountain?]
[Yes, yes. Our research association found some interesting data there.]
I had already discovered and conquered countless hidden dungeons.
No matter how interesting it was, how interesting could it be?
[What is it?]
[They said the monster inside that dungeon gets stronger over time.]
I think it was around level 4, so before that, it might have been slightly easier.
[Hmm~ So you’re saying it was a bit weaker before I went there?]
[That’s basically it. Still, it would have been an impossible level for novice hunters.]
[That’s interesting.]
[Oh my. If In-wook hadn’t gone there, it might have evolved to level 5 or higher.]
[That would have been troublesome. Haha.]
But the weapon it drops is quite good…
* * *
Well, the truth is always one.
Either the dungeon I entered was different from my previous life, or those damned association guys gave me false research results.
Because the armored monster in front of me right now…
It looked exactly the same as the one I faced in my previous life.
In my previous life, I had gone to search the Guryong Mountain dungeon long after graduating from the academy.
In other words, if the research results were true, this guy should have been much weaker than when I encountered it.
What the hell is going on?
Si-hwa showed no signs of agitation even in front of that guy.
“…Interesting.”
That was her first impression.
If only I could run away, I wanted to leave this place with her right away.
However, due to the penalty of the hidden dungeon, we couldn’t return to where we came from until we defeated this guy.
Naturally, it was impossible to contact the outside world through cell phones or other communication devices.
The eyes of the monster, wearing black armor and resembling a human in some ways, glowed red.
As monsters increase in level, they are classified into two types.
The first type is monsters that boast enormous size and monstrous strength, capable of sweeping away an entire city.
The second type is monsters that resemble humans, like the one in front of us.
Each type had its advantages and disadvantages in terms of how to deal with them.
In the case of giant monsters, the number of personnel deployed was important.
No matter how strong of an S-rank I was, I couldn’t take down that size alone.
However, once the necessary personnel for subjugation were secured, the strategy from that point on was relatively easy.
On the other hand, humanoid monsters could be hunted alone without much difficulty.
But the important point was that as their level increased, the level of combat also increased.
In the first place, humanoid monsters rarely appeared in low-level zones.
Their basic intelligence was different from giant monsters that only repeated indiscriminate destruction.
The most powerful one I encountered even succeeded in imitating my techniques while growing stronger during the battle.
That was truly terrifying.
As Si-hwa drew her spear, the monster also drew its sword.
The weapon I wanted was gripped in its hand.
But to confront it now…
“Si-hwa. You alone can’t…”
Before I could finish my sentence, she dashed towards the monster like a bullet.
The monster’s eyes glowed even redder, and it let out a roar as it began to charge towards Si-hwa.
The moment Si-hwa’s spear and the monster’s sword clashed, a powerful collision of mana occurred.
The monster’s strength was originally around that level, but Si-hwa’s condition…
Si-hwa was strong.
It was natural for her to be strong.
But apart from being strong, her movements resembled those of a veteran who had experienced countless real battles.
That point bothered me immensely.
Of course, compared to when Si-hwa and I were at our prime as a pair, it was nothing.
If we had the same bodies and weapons as back then, it probably wouldn’t have taken more than 3 minutes to defeat this guy.
Why could Si-hwa face a monster stronger than herself so calmly?
I couldn’t understand it.
It was rare for a student to encounter a monster of this level.
Rather, if they did encounter it, it was safe to say they were as good as dead.
But the look in her eyes as she drew her spear was as if…
She had crossed the line between life and death countless times, like a hunter.
Si-hwa was the type to extremely dislike others interfering in her battles unless she requested help first.
Knowing her nature, I silently observed the exchange between her and the monster from a distance.
The monster, perhaps angered that Si-hwa wasn’t falling easily, let out a scream.
Kieeek!
The monster raised its sword high, and I could feel its mana gathering at the blade’s tip.
An ominous red aura enveloped its body.
This is dangerous…
I quickly gripped my sword, ready to jump in at any moment.
Of course, it wasn’t that I didn’t trust Si-hwa.
But the amount of mana that guy was about to release was enough to destroy a building.
I didn’t want to see her get hurt.
Si-hwa began to gather mana at the tip of her spear, as if to counter the monster’s attack.
Their power output was roughly equal, but the reason that guy was troublesome was…
“Dodge!”
I shouted at Si-hwa.
Si-hwa, who was about to face it head-on, reacted to my words and barely dodged the monster’s attack.
The ground where Si-hwa had been standing was dug up to about one floor underground.
That guy was strong in itself, but the sword it was holding also had an annoying ability.
The ability of the monster’s sword.
Its weapon’s shape changed irregularly.
The monster’s weapon, which had been close to a greatsword, had now transformed into a thin shape resembling a Japanese sword.
Naturally, the speed of technique execution also changed depending on the weapon’s shape.
That attack just now was half a beat faster than what ordinary people would expect.
“What the hell is that?”
Si-hwa muttered as she brushed off the dust on her clothes.
“Si-hwa. Listen to my instructions from now on.”
I grabbed her shoulder.
“What…?”
She seemed slightly startled by my active attitude after observing the battle the whole time.
“From now on, try to match my instructions. Got it?”
Honestly, I wanted to leave her alone to give her experience, but the opponent wasn’t that easy.
The monster, once again enraged that its attack had failed, let out an even louder roar.
Kieeek!
This time, its target was me, not Si-hwa.
As the monster flew towards me, I concentrated mana on my fingertips.
The sword I was currently using was a practice sword.
I didn’t know how long it would last, but I struck the monster’s attack with all my might.
I could feel my arm trembling.
Even with physical reinforcement, this was the extent…
Si-hwa probably also felt a considerable burden on her body, although she looked fine without showing it.
If it turned into a battle of attrition, our defeat was as good as certain.
Then the only option was a quick resolution, but…
Was it possible…?
Even if I tried to explain this technique verbally now…
There were various techniques that Si-hwa and I had devised together as a pair in our previous lives.
Our combined techniques, unrivaled by anyone in individual capabilities, boasted destructive power that could easily be counted among the top in the world.
Of course, the power output would be inferior to our previous lives, but if it was that technique…
It would be more than possible.
That was the move with the highest chance of success given to us at the moment.
“Si-hwa. Can you buy some time for me starting now?”
I asked her.
Si-hwa silently nodded.
“Good. Then, while buying time, when I give you the signal, throw your spear towards me with all your strength. Got it?”
For a moment, Si-hwa’s eyes wavered.
Was she hesitating to throw the spear at me?
“Trust me. Just this once.”
It couldn’t be helped.
If she asked how she could trust that, I could only say she would know once she tried.
But Si-hwa raised her spear as if there was no problem at all.
“…I can’t hold out for long.”
With those words, Si-hwa threw herself at the monster once again.
While she bought time, I tried to condense the maximum amount of mana I could gather at my fingertips.
More. More. A little more.
This wasn’t enough.
I needed more powerful destructive force.
“Ugh.”
Si-hwa seemed to have inevitably allowed an attack, staggering slightly.
There was no time.
“Haa… Haa…”
I could feel my heart beating so fast it felt like it would burst.
Alright. This should do.
“Si-hwa!”
I shouted at her.
The moment I called her name, I ran towards the monster at my maximum speed.
She, who had been maintaining a confrontational stance with the monster at a slight distance, tightly gripped her spear and began to concentrate her mana once again.
“Now!”
She threw the spear in the exact trajectory I wanted.
As if she had known from the beginning what I wanted…
Receiving the momentum of Si-hwa’s spear flying at a devastating speed, I poured the condensed mana into her spear once more.
The monster tried to resist by raising its sword and concentrating its mana, but it was futile.
The technique I just used was too good to be wasted on a small fry like you.
Consider it an honor to die by this technique.
As the mana exploded, a thunderous roar reverberated throughout the dungeon.
Si-hwa’s spear, gripped in my hand, pierced through the monster’s armor and shattered its heart.
Its red eyes soon lost their strength, and its body, which had collapsed on the floor, slowly turned to dust and disappeared.
And what remained in its place was a single sword it had been using. The weapon I was searching for.
With trembling limbs, I picked up the sword and turned around to look at Si-hwa.
She looked exhausted, her mana considerably depleted like me.
But I had to say what needed to be said…
“Yoo Si-hwa.”
I called her name in a cold voice.
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