Chapter 311 – Part 2 – C-rank

While killing Little Snakes, a welcome message appeared.

[You have been promoted to C-rank!]

[One skill slot has been added.]

It seemed that while hunting frantically, his combat power had exceeded 30,000 at some point.

With his promotion to C-rank, changes came to Choi Seong-min’s dagger as well.

[Assassin’s Blood Dagger (Growth Type)]

-Category: Weapon

-Grade: C (Owner’s Grade)

-Attack Power: 760~836

-Effect: Agility +52, Additional Attack Power +380 for 10 seconds when ambushing

-Durability: Infinite

-Usage Restriction: C-rank or higher (Bound)

The dagger’s blade became slightly longer and the weapon’s attack power more than doubled.

As if he had been waiting for this moment, Choi Seong-min changed into the C-rank equipment he had bought in advance.

‘It cost nearly 300 million won just to match C-rank equipment.’

On top of that, he had matched one ring to B-rank for the Maintaining Dignity trait, which alone cost another 100 million won.

‘Including skill enhancement stones and skill books, I spent a total of 500 million won, but it’s fine. If I use them cleanly and then sell them, I can recover more than 80%.’

Although the item costs were considerable, the effects were definite.

His Agility had increased by nearly 200.

As he changed items, the set effects also improved overall.

‘However, I wonder if I should keep holding onto the Wind Necklace…’

Unlike the other items matched to C-rank, only the Wind Necklace was D-rank.

He was keeping it for now because of the set effect, but he would have to replace it someday.

‘Since I’ve changed items, should I change skills too?’

He upgraded all his skills to C-rank using the skill enhancement stones he had bought in advance.

[Slash damage increased from 250% to 300% of Agility!]

[Dagger Throw damage increased from 200% to 250% of Agility!]

[Sprint duration increased from 15 seconds to 20 seconds!]

[Throat Slash damage increased from 250% to 300% of Agility!]

Then he took out the skill book he had brought to learn upon reaching C-rank.

‘Learn.’

With a flash of light, he learned a new skill.

[Skill – Shadow Step]

-Grade: C

-Effect: Instantly teleports behind the target.

-Cooldown: 120 seconds

-Usage Restriction: C-rank or higher

-Description: A skill that moves by riding the target’s shadow. Cannot be used on ghosts without shadows or in environments without light. Can teleport to targets up to 15m away.

It was Shadow Step, which could be called an essential skill for assassins.

‘There’s no skill better than this for instantly getting behind an enemy.’

Attacking from behind has various advantages.

You can gain the dagger’s bonus attack power by being recognized as an ambush, and it synergizes well with First Strike, which requires attacking first.

‘Especially since it has perfect synergy with Throat Slash, which deals 2x damage when attacking from behind.’

Shadow Step followed by Throat Slash was a national combo that all assassins essentially used.

‘I want to test the skill once.’

Looking around, Choi Seong-min was eventually able to find a snake.

‘First, I’ll place an assassin’s mark on it.’

Hisssss-

When a Little Snake the size of an anaconda approached within range.

Swoosh-

Choi Seong-min’s form sank into the ground and then emerged from behind the snake.

‘Throat Slash.’

With the assassin’s mark, First Strike, and Throat Slash combined for 8x damage.

Slice-

The snake’s head split right in half.

“One shot.”

It had been easy to catch even when he was D-rank, but now it looked even more manageable.

“Since I’ve reached C-rank, I should consider the bet won.”

He had only gone through three dungeons.

‘But I can’t be satisfied here.’

It wasn’t for nothing that he had bought C-rank items in advance.

‘I need to move dungeons.’

He was thinking of quickly conquering this low-level place and moving to a C-rank dungeon.

‘I need to hunt in dungeons that match my rank for higher rune drop rates.’

If you hunt in dungeons lower than your rank, the rune drop rate decreases drastically.

Since it was information he heard from God, it should be certain.

‘I’ll conquer this place within 30 minutes.’

Choi Seong-min’s body moved nimbly.

* * *

Song Chi-hyeon, who was resting at the villa, checked the time.

‘It’s been 6 hours since Choi Seong-min entered the dungeon.’

The time allowed for soloing was exactly 24 hours.

This should be the time when he’s actively hunting.

‘He’ll probably try to hunt as much as possible for the remaining 18 hours too.’

He knew by reading his thoughts.

How Choi Seong-min would behave.

‘His desire to grow quickly seems even stronger than mine.’

Well, he had no complaints.

He had already decided to focus on raising Choi Seong-min among his subordinates anyway.

‘There’s no point in raising the others. There’s no one who can grow as fast as Choi Seong-min.’

He had impressive direct subordinates of A-rank and B-rank, but in terms of growth rate alone, there was no one who could match Choi Seong-min.

‘I’ve ordered the dungeon managers to let a hunter named Choi Seong-min in without following procedures, so there shouldn’t be any problems with soloing.’

However, since he had only contacted three Little Snake dungeons, there were constraints.

‘Three places should be enough. You can re-enter after 12 hours.’

If he spent 4 hours conquering one place, by the time he finished all three, they would reset again, so it would be sufficient for 24 hours of use.

‘It should take about 4 hours to conquer one dungeon.’

But this was only Song Chi-hyeon’s personal opinion.

He didn’t know how strong Choi Seong-min was.

Ring ring- Ring ring-

‘Who is it?’

Song Chi-hyeon answered with a puzzled expression after seeing the name on his phone.

“Choi Seong-min? What’s wrong? You should be actively hunting right now.”

-Great Hero-nim. I apologize for the presumption, but I called because I need dungeons.

“What do you mean? I’ve already prepared enough dungeons for soloing…”

Song Chi-hyeon, who belatedly caught on, asked in a surprised tone.

“Don’t tell me you’ve already finished all three Little Snake dungeons?”

-Yes.

To finish conquering three places in just 6 hours.

That meant he hadn’t spent more than 2 hours conquering each place.

‘How did he catch them so quickly? It shouldn’t be easy to catch 200 in 2 hours.’

He had expected it would take at least 4 hours to meet the conquest goal of 200 monsters…

‘That’s a level that’s only possible if you catch them almost in one hit.’

Song Chi-hyeon, who had been too surprised to speak, soon broke the silence.

“I understand. I’ll tell my dungeon managers to add a few more places. Would three more be enough?”

-Yes. But I’d prefer C-rank dungeons instead of D-rank.

“C-rank? Don’t tell me you’ve already risen to C-rank?”

-That’s correct.

Song Chi-hyeon even felt deflated by the faster promotion than expected.

‘I even thought there might be a chance he couldn’t make it, but there was no need to worry about that…’ A satisfied smile formed on Song Chi-hyeon’s lips at the growth rate that exceeded expectations.

“I understand. I’ll arrange for you to solo in C-rank dungeons.”

-Thank you, Great Hero-nim.

After ending the call, Song Chi-hyeon couldn’t hold back the laughter flowing from his mouth.

“Hehe, it’ll be quite a sight to see Moon Yong-taek’s face tomorrow.”

* * *

“It’ll be 24 hours soon.”

Moon Yong-taek, who was looking at the luxury watch on his wrist, gazed beyond the forest path.

He was waiting for Choi Seong-min, the party to the bet, to appear.

“But why is he so late? Don’t tell me he ran away because he knew he’d obviously lose?”

Since leaving the team was the condition anyway, it wouldn’t matter if he ran away…

“But then the promise to hit his head once would fall through.”

If he didn’t show up like this, he’d have to end it anticlimactically without even venting his anger.

“Do you think the group leader will win the bet?”

At the words of team member Roh Kyeong-jin beside him, Moon Yong-taek glanced at him and laughed as if it was obvious.

“Do you think he’ll lose? Do you think that D-rank will show up having become C-rank in just one day?”

“Still, he’s skilled enough to beat someone with 60,000 combat power.”

“That was luck. That guy with 60,000 combat power must have been stupid and underestimated him.”

“…”

Roh Kyeong-jin wanted to say that he was also underestimating him, but he held back.

He had learned firsthand that there was nothing good about provoking anger.

Then, a car appeared from the forest path.

“Oh? He’s here.”

“No, it’s the Great Hero-nim.”

Shortly after, two people got out of the limousine that stopped in the parking lot.

It was Song Chi-hyeon and Choi Seong-min.

“That bastard came with the Great Hero-nim?”

Moon Yong-taek looked with displeasure before bowing his head to Song Chi-hyeon.

“Have you arrived, Great Hero-nim?”

“Yes. Today is the day to confirm the bet results, right?”

“That’s correct.”

“Don’t mind me and settle it between yourselves.”

When Song Chi-hyeon crossed his arms as if he would observe, Moon Yong-taek smiled wickedly and turned his gaze.

“Newcomer. Did you hunt well? You haven’t forgotten the bet details, have you?”

The corners of Moon Yong-taek’s mouth gradually curled up as he looked at Choi Seong-min.

Indeed, Choi Seong-min’s expression looked deathly pale.

Finally, laughter burst from Moon Yong-taek’s mouth.

“Pfft. Hey, how can you show it so obviously already? It’s all over your face. I can tell who won without you saying anything.”

“…”

Looking at his powerless appearance, it seemed certain he had lost the bet.

“I told you, didn’t I? C-rank in one day is impossible. When your head is stupid, your body suffers – that saying fits perfectly. Why did you make such a reckless bet…”

“What are you talking about? I already achieved C-rank.”

“What?”

Unlike before, when he spoke with a bold expression, Moon Yong-taek felt confused.

“Y-you’re joking! C-rank my ass.”

“Should I prove it?”

“Do it!”

As soon as the words ended, Choi Seong-min’s form instantly disappeared and appeared behind Moon Yong-taek.

“Gasp!”

The startled Moon Yong-taek instinctively created distance.

“C-rank skill Shadow Step. This proves it, right?”

“…”

Silence was tacit agreement.

Moon Yong-taek, who found it hard to accept that he had lost the bet, shouted.

“Fuck! If you achieved C-rank, why did you look so deathly pale earlier?”

“That was just because I was tired from hunting?”

“Are you mocking me?”

It wasn’t mockery but the truth.

He was tired from going through dungeons for 24 hours straight without sleep.

“I won, right?”

“Fuck… Fuck…!”

Moon Yong-taek, unable to contain his anger, kept spitting out curses, forgetting that the Great Hero was watching.

“Give me the car keys.”

“Kugh…”

He took the car keys from his pocket, but his hands trembled as if it was too precious to give away.

“You weren’t already C-rank before making the bet, were you?”

“What if I was?”

“Then that would be clear fraud…”

“What’s the use of saying that now? Whether it’s fraud or not, we made a bet anyway, and we just need to look at the results, right? Hurry up and give me the car keys.”

“Kugh…”

Moon Yong-taek reluctantly handed over the car keys.

As he was about to turn around, Choi Seong-min called him back.

“Wait. It would be disappointing to end it like this.”

“What now?”

“You haven’t forgotten the bet, have you? Calling me hyung for life.”

“…”

“Try calling me once. Call me hyung.”

Moon Yong-taek’s eyes trembled.

It was the first time in his life that his pride had been so trampled.

And by a junior 10 years younger who had just risen to C-rank.

“Why aren’t you doing it? You lost the bet, so you have to call me hyung.”

“…”

“Can’t you accept that you lost the bet? The Great Hero-nim is watching too.”

Moon Yong-taek, belatedly recognizing Song Chi-hyeon’s presence, spoke through gritted teeth.

“H… yung.”

“It’s too quiet, I can’t hear.”

“Hy… ung.”

Snicker.

At Choi Seong-min’s blatant mocking laughter, killing intent flowed from Moon Yong-taek’s eyes.

Even so, Choi Seong-min acted brazenly without caring.

“Well done. You have to call me hyung like that from now on.”

“…”

“Why no answer?”

“Fuck…”

“You don’t want to call me hyung, I see.”

“Would you want to if you were me?”

“Then how about this?”

Choi Seong-min proposed a new bet.

“The loser of a sparring match gets expelled from the team.”