Chapter 11 – Shim Jin-seop

What would it feel like to meet the opponent you wanted to kill so badly?

What if you faced the one who laughed while watching you die?

I don’t know, but your blood would probably boil.

You’d lose control of yourself in anger.

‘I thought so, but…’

Min Do-jun was surprisingly calm when he faced Shim Jin-seop.

“I’m Shim Jin-seop.”

“I’m Min Do-jun.”

They introduced themselves with nonchalant faces.

It was unexpected even for Min Do-jun.

‘I was worried I might mess up from excitement, but it was needless concern.’

He remembered the faces of those who mocked him before he died.

He vowed that if there was a next life, he would surely take revenge.

That he would tear them apart like dogs as soon as he met them.

So he was worried.

Afraid he might lose his composure if he ever met Shim Jin-seop.

But it seems he was a more cold-blooded person than he thought.

‘That’s fortunate.’

Min Do-jun smiled pleasantly without revealing his true feelings.

He could wear any mask for the sake of revenge.

‘I can’t reveal it yet.’

He had to keep it hidden until the moment he stabbed him in the back.

“Looks like the others haven’t arrived yet?”

So he could ask Shim Jin-seop without batting an eye.

“No. I was alone when I got here.”

“How long have you been waiting?”

“About 5 minutes, I guess?”

“Do you smoke?”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s have a cigarette together.”

Min Do-jun took out cigarettes and a lighter.

He lit Shim Jin-seop’s cigarette for him.

“Thanks.”

Min Do-jun also put a cigarette in his mouth.

Park Dong-yun, who happened to see this, tilted his head.

‘Did the Hunter smoke before?’

It was the first time he’d seen this.

Of course, because this was Min Do-jun’s first time smoking.

‘Before regression, I was a heavy smoker.’

Min Do-jun was a smoker before regression.

But after meeting his wife, he never touched cigarettes again.

Because his wife hated the smell of smoke.

So he promised.

Never to smoke again.

‘That promise is being broken after 6 years.’

It was unavoidable for the sake of revenge.

He had to smoke together to get closer to Shim Jin-seop.

‘I’ll stab him in the back after becoming friends.’

Min Do-jun wasn’t close with Shim Jin-seop before regression, but they had been in a party together.

‘He was a real b*st*rd.’

Shim Jin-seop, who was making a name for himself as a magic swordsman at the time, was a foul-mouthed man as Min Do-jun remembered.

And he showed contempt and disdain for hunters weaker than himself.

‘So he might dislike me with my low level, but…’

At least he won’t be on guard.

‘The best time to backstab is when their guard is down.’

Min Do-jun planned to return the pain he received, and more, to him.

That’s why he was speaking to Shim Jin-seop in a friendly manner.

“How old are you, Jin-seop?”

“22.”

“Ah, so born in ’99?”

“Yes.”

“I’m a year older. I was born in ’00, so speak comfortably.”

“Hmm, alright.”

Shim Jin-seop didn’t refuse, seeming to prefer speaking casually as well.

“I live in Goyang. Where do you live?”

“Me? Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do.”

“Really? Isn’t that where Namhansanseong is? Korea’s first A-rank dungeon.”

“That’s right.”

“It must always be crowded there?”

“Yeah. It was crowded even before the dungeon appeared, but now there’s no room to stand.”

There are 50 A-rank dungeons in Korea.

Among them, Namhansanseong, the first A-rank dungeon, was always bustling with people.

They came to see the A-rank hunters.

In this era, hunters were more popular than celebrities.

They were practically heroes.

Of course, since they protected citizens from monsters.

This was why hunters strived to become stronger.

They could monopolize money, honor, and popularity.

“Ah, I need to hurry and become an A-rank hunter to enjoy that popularity. Make tons of money and drive around in a Rolls-Royce, right?”

“Yeah. It’s great just imagining it.”

Min Do-jun, who elicited empathy with words he didn’t mean, exhaled smoke and said:

“What level are you?”

“Me? 153.”

“Wow, that’s really high.”

“What about you?”

“Me? It’s a bit embarrassing…”

“Come on, tell me.”

“121.”

“What? That’s it?”

Shim Jin-seop’s eyes, which had shown goodwill, changed instantly.

“Really, 121?”

“Yes.”

Shim Jin-seop frowned openly.

“Your level is so low, why did you come here?”

“Just for the experience. You can enter from level 120, right?”

“Even so, how could you come already? That’s inconsiderate.”

“I’m sorry. But I’ll be helpful.”

“No, helpful or not, common sense says an E-rank shouldn’t come to a D-rank dungeon, right?”

Shim Jin-seop wasn’t wrong.

D-rank dungeons are set to a difficulty for D-rank hunters.

So there’s an unwritten rule in the hunter industry that you should only enter dungeons of your own rank.

But since entry levels differ for each dungeon, an E-rank could join a D-rank, so nothing could be said.

They would just receive glares from party members.

Knowing this, Min Do-jun had no choice but to act a bit depressed.

“I thought it would be okay since I met the level…”

“Ugh… f*ck.”

Min Do-jun pretended to be flustered after hearing the curse.

“I-I’m sorry. But it’s reassuring that your level is high. I’ll rely on you.”

“You’re blatantly saying you’ll leech off me?”

“Ah… that’s not what I meant…”

“Forget it. Just don’t get in the way.”

Shim Jin-seop turned his head and muttered curses under his breath.

That’s when the remaining party members arrived.

“Sorry I’m late. I’m Kang Tae-won.”

“I’m Go Sung-min.”

After they introduced themselves, the staff guided the hunters to the entrance.

“Please decide on positions and put on your equipment when ready.”

The hunters looked at each other at those words.

“I’m a level 157 blunt weapon warrior, close-range DPS.”

“Level 155 one-handed sword warrior, melee DPS.”

Following the two, Shim Jin-seop spoke.

“Level 153 mage, ranged DPS.”

Shim Jin-seop’s characteristics were specialized for magic swordsman.

Min Do-jun didn’t question why he was acting as a mage despite this.

‘He’s probably not in a position to call himself a magic swordsman yet.’

He likely doesn’t have any notable skills to act as a magic swordsman yet.

Understanding this, Min Do-jun introduced himself while acting timid.

“Level 121 mage, ranged DPS…”

He glanced at people’s reactions.

‘They’re surprised as expected.’

Some even glared at Min Do-jun, beyond just surprise.

But that was all.

Since he met the entry conditions, no one complained.

They just sighed heavily to express their dissatisfaction.

“Let’s put on our equipment.”

Soon the hunters were geared up.

Their appearance armed with weapons and armor was enough to draw everyone’s attention.

Among them, Min Do-jun’s appearance stood out the most.

‘At least he matched decent items?’

The party members softened their complaints a bit seeing Min Do-jun’s equipment.

With high-grade equipment like that, he should be able to deal decent damage.

“Let’s go.”

The four hunters entered the entrance.

The dungeon raid began.

* * *

Kyaang!

Kyang!

Werewolves fell with screams.

“Take them out one by one calmly!”

The party members had high levels and some experience.

So they didn’t show signs of panic in hunting.

Except for Min Do-jun.

“Uh oh!?”

An Ice Spear sliced through empty air.

Flustered by this, Min Do-jun hurriedly put up an Energy Shield against the approaching werewolf.

Tung-

After barely blocking the beast’s fangs, he hit it with a Lightning Spear.

Bzzt!

But it wasn’t effective damage, as the werewolf was fine.

Grrrr!

The werewolf’s fierce attack continued.

Tung!

He blocked with the shield, but it was dangerous without a follow-up attack.

At that moment.

Thud!

Kyaang!

A huge stone pillar struck the werewolf’s head.

It was an Earth Spike created by Shim Jin-seop.

“Whew, thanks hyung. You saved me.”

“Hey, didn’t I tell you not to get in the way? F*ck, there’s a limit to being a nuisance…”

“…I’m sorry.”

Shim Jin-seop’s face was clearly irritated.

The other party members were the same.

They all saw Min Do-jun as a troublesome burden to the team.

“Min Do-jun. Let’s do this properly. The hunt is slowing down because of you.”

“I’m sorry.”

“How can there be such a difference when you’re both mages?”

The party member glanced at Shim Jin-seop.

Unlike Min Do-jun, Shim Jin-seop had hit all his skills so far.

Of course he would be compared to Min Do-jun who missed more than half.

“Hyung. You’ve been hitting the head every time, right? How do you do it?”

“How? Just do it well.”

“Can’t you teach me?”

“What am I supposed to teach you?”

“Like at what timing and with what feeling to shoot, that kind of know-how.”

“I don’t know about that stuff.”

Shim Jin-seop’s face showed clear annoyance, but Min Do-jun persistently clung on trying to get know-how.

The other party members didn’t care, treating it like someone else’s business.

But as Min Do-jun kept asking Shim Jin-seop for advice during hunts, slowing them down, they couldn’t help but care.

“Stop asking and let’s move quickly. We’ll get a penalty at this rate.”

“I’m sorry.”

But Min Do-jun only apologized verbally while continuing to hold Shim Jin-seop back.

This inevitably slowed the party’s pace.

“Aish! If it’s going to be like this, we’ll go hunt first! That’ll be faster!”

“What?”

“Mages hunt with mages!”

“Ah, no, I’ll go too…!”

Afraid of getting a penalty, the warriors ran into the forest. Shim Jin-seop tried to follow, but.

Grab-

He couldn’t because Min Do-jun held him back.

“Hyung, where are you going?”

“Hey, let go!”

“Ah, hyung!”

Because Min Do-jun clung on holding his arm, Shim Jin-seop missed the timing to chase after them.

Shim Jin-seop was dumbfounded seeing the warriors who had already disappeared, while Min Do-jun was secretly rejoicing.

‘Finally alone with him.’

This was the reason he had acted inconsiderately and caused trouble for the team so far.

It was to have time alone with Shim Jin-seop.

‘It would be troublesome if a third party interfered with what I’m about to do.’

Min Do-jun intends to kill Shim Jin-seop.

Here, where no evidence will remain.

But he couldn’t kill him in front of the other party members.

If he was going to kill him, it had to be where no one else could see.

That would be cleaner.

‘That’s why I went as far as causing trouble to split up the party.’

Fortunately, the hot-tempered warriors left first as planned.

It was possible because they were experienced and skilled.

‘Even if that didn’t work, I would have used another method.’

In any case, things went according to plan and he was laughing inside, while Shim Jin-seop frowned and shook off Min Do-jun’s hand holding his arm.

“Ah! F*ck! They left first because of you!”

“I’m sorry, hyung. Since it turned out this way, let’s do well just the two of us.”

“How am I supposed to do anything with an idiot like you!”

“Hyung… isn’t that too harsh?”

“Did I say anything wrong? F*ck.”

Shim Jin-seop, fuming, ran in the direction the warriors disappeared with his staff.

He intended to chase after them before it was too late.

“Hyung! Where are you going!”

“Don’t follow me!”

“What am I supposed to do if you leave me alone!”

“I don’t care! Die for all I care!”

Min Do-jun hurriedly chased after Shim Jin-seop, not wanting to lose him.

Fortunately, Shim Jin-seop stopped after a short distance.

“Hyung, why did you stop…”

“Shh!”

Shim Jin-seop gestured to be quiet and pointed ahead.

A werewolf was prowling around.

“Hey, looks like we have to take that one down together. Can you do it?”

“Yes, don’t worry.”

“How can I not worry seeing how you’ve been? Tsk.”

Despite Shim Jin-seop’s scolding, Min Do-jun just grinned with a foolish smile.

Completely fooled by that face, Shim Jin-seop muttered “Idiot” and turned his attention to the werewolf.

“I’ll hit it first, then you use a skill when it gets close. Got it?”

“Yes, hyung.”

“You need to aim carefully.”

Saying that, Shim Jin-seop created a huge stone pillar and hurled it at the werewolf.

Thud!

Kyang!

Despite the distance, the stone pillar struck the werewolf’s body.

It was excellent accuracy.

But a werewolf wouldn’t go down with just one hit.

Woof woof!

The angered beast charged right away.

“It’s coming! Get ready!”

Shim Jin-seop prepared his next spell for a follow-up attack.

Min Do-jun also prepared, creating an Ice Spear.

Preparing to kill Shim Jin-seop.

[Revenge characteristic effect increases damage by 2x.]

[Hunter Hunter characteristic effect increases damage by 2x.]

The Ice Spear, amplified by a total of 4x damage, aimed at the back of Shim Jin-seop’s head.

‘No.’

Min Do-jun changed the aim.

‘I shouldn’t kill him easily.’

Shim Jin-seop, standing in front, had no idea what Min Do-jun was doing.

He was only focused on the approaching werewolf.

Thud!

Kyaang!

After landing a follow-up hit on the approaching werewolf, Shim Jin-seop turned and shouted:

“Now!”

At the same time, Shim Jin-seop saw.

An Ice Spear flying towards him, not the werewolf.

Shunk-!

“Aaaaargh!!!”

Intense pain surged as the ice spear pierced his thigh.

“Y-you! Ugh!”

“Sorry. I aimed wrong.”

Saying that, Min Do-jun created a Lightning Spear.

And launched a follow-up attack.

At Shim Jin-seop, not the werewolf.

Bzzzzt-

“Grararargh!!!”

“I aimed this one wrong too.”

Thud-

Shim Jin-