Chapter 100 – Together

The mention of a boss caught Min Do-jun’s attention.

“Say that again.”

-It might be a dungeon with a boss, I’m saying.

“How can you know that?”

Naturally, one couldn’t know if a boss would appear in a dungeon beforehand.

Especially from outside, there was no way to know in advance.

It’s not like dungeons displayed whether a boss had appeared.

However, there was one way.

One way to make an educated guess.

-How I know is because this is a dungeon with a help request.

Help request.

A system that could be used when only one person survived after party members died.

This was the only way to guess the presence of a boss from outside.

There was no other reason for party members to suddenly die.

‘So that’s why he said there might be a boss.’

They couldn’t know for sure if there really was a boss.

The party members might have died for reasons other than a boss.

‘Someone could have committed murder, or they might have let their guard down against normal monsters.’

While there were various possibilities, the most plausible was the appearance of a boss.

Nothing else could wipe out party members like a boss could.

-You must know too, Hunter. When there’s a situation requiring a help request, a boss is most likely.

“So you want me to enter a help request dungeon with you?”

-That’s right.

“Which dungeon is it?”

-The Giant Centipede dungeon.

Min Do-jun was slightly surprised at Kim Ji-hoon’s words.

It was the dungeon he’d been hunting in extensively.

“If there’s a boss, it would be the Black-colored King Centipede.”

-Right. It’s a boss I can’t handle alone, so I need your help, Do-jun.

If they killed the Giant Centipede dungeon’s boss, they might get the Moon Ring.

‘The drop rate should be higher from a boss than normal monsters.’

It was a perfect situation for obtaining items.

Yet Min Do-jun didn’t readily accept the proposal.

There had to be a reason for this show of goodwill.

“But why do you need my help specifically? There must be many hunters with higher levels than me around?”

-I called around but everyone said they were busy. You’re the only one I could ask for help.

It was an obvious lie, but Min Do-jun had some idea why.

‘Probably a scheme to verify my abilities.’

The fact that he specifically wanted to enter with Min Do-jun suggested he hadn’t given up on verifying his skills.

‘Since I seem to be hiding my strength, create a situation where I have to show it…’

One would have to reveal their true abilities before a massive enemy like a boss.

Whether to claim rewards or just to survive.

‘He thought this through somewhat.’

Kim Ji-hoon must know too.

That all hunters desire boss fights.

That’s why he mentioned the boss.

Moreover, Min Do-jun desperately needed items from the boss right now.

It was hard to refuse.

“How did you find out about the help request dungeon?”

-The request came to our guild.

This was likely another lie.

‘He probably asked the soldiers guarding the Giant Centipede dungeon to contact him immediately if help was needed.’

Emperor Guild would have that kind of authority.

“How many people are going in?”

-Just you and me.

“Just us?”

Min Do-jun deliberately sounded surprised.

“Isn’t that a bit dangerous?”

-Don’t worry, Hunter. You have me. I’ve killed one before, just follow my orders. Plus there’s a survivor, right? Three people should be enough.

Confidence could be heard in Kim Ji-hoon’s voice.

He wasn’t just bragging to persuade Min Do-jun.

‘His skills weren’t bad when we partied at Namhansanseong either. His damage seemed high.’

Even among A-rank hunters of the same level, power varies greatly depending on traits and skill.

Just because five A-rank hunters died to one boss doesn’t mean two couldn’t kill it.

‘Of course, I could kill it alone.’

But Kim Ji-hoon wouldn’t expect that much from Min Do-jun.

‘He probably thinks I’m about equal to or slightly below his level.’

He must be calculating that would be enough to kill the boss.

‘And verify my abilities too.’

Minimal members would be better for skill verification.

‘Should I call this luck rolling in?’

Min Do-jun had no reason to refuse.

-What will you do?

“When lives are at stake, I can’t refuse.”

-Alright. I’ll text you the location, come right away!

After ending the call, Park Dong-yun immediately asked.

“Hunter, are you going to a help request dungeon?”

He must have heard some of the conversation with Kim Ji-hoon.

“Yes. It’s the Giant Centipede dungeon, I need to go help.”

“Ah! What’s the address? I’ll head there right away.”

Park Dong-yun stepped on the accelerator after Min Do-jun shared the texted address.

* * *

There was someone pacing anxiously at the dungeon entrance.

It was Hope Guild’s manager Park Hyun-sik.

“Don’t worry too much. Support will arrive soon.”

The manager bowed deeply at Kim Ji-hoon’s words beside him.

“Thank you so much for helping.”

“We should help each other.”

Though Kim Ji-hoon smiled reassuringly, the manager couldn’t smile back.

He couldn’t, since five out of six who entered had died.

Otherwise, the dungeon entrance wouldn’t have turned green.

Above all, all the party members were from Hope Guild.

‘We shouldn’t have sent in newcomers…’

Strictly speaking, there was one experienced high-level member, but the other five were newcomers.

Newcomers who had just reached level 1,600 and were entering the Giant Centipede dungeon for the first time.

‘Should have split the teams instead of sending them all in just because the numbers matched.’

Though as manager he had to follow guild policy, he felt he should have pushed harder to prevent this disaster.

‘Still, it’s fortunate. Emperor Guild is sending support…’

With help from Emperor Guild, known for individual excellence, there should be nothing to worry about.

Wasn’t this hunter Kim Ji-hoon over level 2,000?

They should be able to save at least one person.

Though that didn’t improve his mood.

“They’re here.”

As Kim Ji-hoon said, an SUV pulled into the parking lot.

Eventually Min Do-jun got out and approached the two.

“Good to see you, Do-jun. It’s been three weeks?”

“Yes, so what’s the situation?”

“Ah, the manager here will explain.”

“Hello, I’m Hope Guild manager Park Hyun-sik.”

“Min Do-jun.”

“Thank you so much for helping.”

The manager bowed to Min Do-jun and briefly explained the situation.

After hearing it, Min Do-jun muttered quietly.

“Five at level 1,600 and one in the 1,800s…”

“Yes. We don’t know who died and who survived.”

“Of course. How long since the help request came in?”

“I wasn’t watching the entrance constantly so I’m not sure exactly… but about 40 minutes ago.”

“How much time limit remains?”

“6 hours left. Whether they can endure alone for such a long time…”

“We don’t have time to stand around, let’s go in.”

“Right.”

Kim Ji-hoon nodded and headed to the dungeon entrance with Min Do-jun.

The portal that should have been purple was green.

“Ah… w-wait a moment!”

Just before the two could equip their gear and enter, the manager ran up frantically.

“How can you go in already? The other hunters haven’t arrived yet…”

“There are no other hunters.”

“…What?”

“Just the two of us are going in.”

“…”

Seeing the manager’s dumbfounded expression, Kim Ji-hoon smiled.

“Don’t worry and wait. We’ll definitely save your remaining guild member.”

The two disappeared inside after those words.

The Hope Guild manager still wore an uncomprehending expression.

‘Even six people couldn’t kill the boss, what can two do…’

Returning to his spot, the manager asked Park Dong-yun who was standing nearby.

“You came with that guild member earlier, right?”

“Huh? Who?”

“That Hunter Min Do-jun.”

“Our hunter isn’t part of any guild though.”

“What? He’s not from Emperor Guild?”

“He’s with Ilsan Hunter Management Center. I’m his manager.”

“Ah…”

He’d naturally assumed he was from Emperor Guild since they said support was coming.

‘Well, what does the guild matter. As long as his level is high.’

The manager asked hopefully.

“What level is Hunter Min Do-jun?”

“1,700.”

“Ah, I thought so…”

For a moment the manager wondered if he’d heard wrong.

“You just said 2,700, right?”

“No, I said 1,700.”

“…”

The manager stared blankly at the entrance where the two had gone in.

With eyes full of anxiety.

* * *

The two walked through the damp centipede lair.

“First time entering the centipede dungeon with just two people.”

“…”

Min Do-jun showed no particular reaction to Kim Ji-hoon’s words.

His eyes were busy looking for traces of the boss.

“There are signs of centipede hunting here.”

Where Min Do-jun pointed, giant centipede fluids were visible.

Though monster corpses vanish as smoke, their fluids remain.

“Looks like they went this way. Let’s find the survivor before it’s too late.”

The two tracked the traces at a somewhat quick pace.

They couldn’t run outright since they had to watch for monsters or survivors nearby.

“A fork in the road.”

At the first fork, they had to split up.

They continued tracking after meeting again at the fork’s end.

They passed the second and third forks the same way.

“Lots of signs of centipede hunting but no people.”

“…”

Finding the sole survivor wasn’t easy.

The Giant Centipede dungeon itself was vast.

But since there was only one direction of progress, they’d eventually meet if they searched thoroughly.

“Mr. Kim Ji-hoon, wait.”

Kim Ji-hoon stopped and turned around.

“What is it?”

“Something’s stained here.”

Something different from monster fluids was on the cave wall.

Wiping it with his hand revealed blood.

“Human blood.”

“Something must have happened nearby.”

No one knew if they’d encountered the boss or if murder had occurred.

Just as they were about to start searching.

Light leaked from a corner.