Chapter 43 – Party with the Enemy

‘Lee Se-yun?’

It was a familiar face.

He was one of the hunters present when he died.

‘It’s definitely him.’

Having remembered his face until the moment of death, there was no way to mistake him.

Although he didn’t directly harm him.

‘Just standing by during my death makes him deserving of death.’

Being there made him just as complicit.

He was also a target for revenge.

Anger surged momentarily, but he held it back.

‘Who’d have thought I’d meet him in a place like this.’

Lee Se-yun is an A-rank hunter approaching level 2,000.

It was natural to think it was too early to meet him.

‘What’s an A-rank hunter doing in a B-rank dungeon?’

While pondering this, Lee Se-yun walked over.

“Hello.”

“Who… gasp!”

Park Dong-yun, who belatedly recognized his face, was startled.

“A-aren’t you Hunter Lee Se-yun?”

Lee Se-yun was an A-rank hunter currently gaining popularity.

He was also the ace of the Blue Dragon Guild, ranked among the top 5 in Korea.

“Haha, yes. Thank you for recognizing me.”

Lee Se-yun smiled kindly.

With looks that earned him the nickname ‘flower boy hunter’.

He was very popular among women because of this.

“You must be famous?”

Unlike Park Dong-yun, Min Do-jun pretended not to know him.

If it weren’t for the regression, he wouldn’t have known his face anyway.

“Hey, Hunter-nim. You don’t know Hunter Lee Se-yun? He’s the rising A-rank hunter! He’s often on TV.”

Park Dong-yun jumped up more than the person himself at the fact that he didn’t know Lee Se-yun.

“I’m only interested in hunting.”

When he spoke as if he really didn’t know, Lee Se-yun laughed awkwardly.

“Haha, I guess I need to work harder. Anyway, let me introduce myself properly. I’m Lee Se-yun.”

“I’m Min Do-jun.”

As soon as the two finished shaking hands, Park Dong-yun asked.

“But what brings Hunter Lee Se-yun here? Surely you’re not here to hunt…”

It was a question asked because someone like Lee Se-yun would have graduated from the archaeopteryx dungeon long ago.

“Ah, when I was B-rank, I obtained a collector’s item called the ancient tablet here. No matter how much I studied it, I couldn’t figure out how to use it. So I came to see if there might be some method inside the dungeon.”

“Ah, so you’re here to investigate.”

Park Dong-yun and Min Do-jun nodded as they understood Lee Se-yun’s purpose.

“Don’t worry. I won’t steal your prey. I’ll just enter together and act separately inside.”

Despite Lee Se-yun’s reassuring words, Min Do-jun wasn’t comforted.

‘Just entering together is a nuisance to me.’

To Min Do-jun, who could only benefit from experience multiplication when entering alone, Lee Se-yun was nothing but an unwanted guest.

“Ah, here they come.”

Eventually, as the time limit ended, hunters emerged from the entrance.

Their expressions weren’t good, as if they had failed the raid and received penalties.

“Shall we prepare now?”

Lee Se-yun put on his equipment first.

His luxurious equipment, wearable only by A-rank hunters, drew people’s attention.

“Oh? Isn’t that Lee Se-yun?”

“It really is!”

“Wow, I was feeling down from the penalty, but what luck!”

“I should ask for a photo!”

“Me too!”

Hunters who had just come out gathered around Lee Se-yun.

He was an object of admiration and a popular star, even surrounded by male fans.

‘Compared to Lee Se-yun, I’m barely famous at all.’

Although Min Do-jun had become famous for preventing dungeon breaks, he couldn’t compare to Lee Se-yun who frequently appeared on TV.

‘Less fame is better. Don’t have to take photos like that.’

Min Do-jun put on his equipment while Lee Se-yun was taking photos with fans.

Swoosh-

Just in case, he changed into different armor.

‘Showing the ancient armor might cause trouble later.’

Lee Se-yun’s goal was to learn how to use the ancient tablet.

Obviously, Min Do-jun had no intention of telling him how to use it.

‘No reason to do favors for others. Especially not someone like Lee Se-yun.’

Therefore, he planned to thoroughly pretend not to know despite knowing.

‘I wonder if even an A-rank like him can’t see Au.’

He had summoned the ghost wolf earlier, but Lee Se-yun showed no signs of noticing it.

‘Unlike stealth, it must be absolute invisibility.’

As he was thinking how fortunate this was, Lee Se-yun, who had finished taking photos, came over.

“Do-jun-ssi, sorry for keeping you waiting. I had to properly attend to the fan service.”

“It’s fine.”

“Shall we go in if you’re ready? But what about other party members…?”

“Not needed.”

“What? But I’m not planning to help with hunting…”

“I don’t need help either. I’ll hunt alone.”

“Ah. Perhaps your level is…”

“670.”

“What?”

Lee Se-yun, who had naturally assumed it would be over 1,200 level since he said he’d hunt alone, was shocked.

“Will you be okay? Hunting alone?”

“Don’t worry. That’s how I’ve always done it. Let’s go.”

With a still worried expression, Lee Se-yun followed Min Do-jun into the dungeon.

* * *

As soon as they entered the dungeon, Min Do-jun contemplated.

‘Should I kill him now?’

It was because of Lee Se-yun, after all.

He was, in any case, a target for revenge.

‘Even if I kill him, I won’t be suspected.’

Min Do-jun was still a C-rank hunter.

There was a stark difference compared to A-rank Lee Se-yun.

Naturally, no one would think Min Do-jun could have killed him.

‘It would sound more credible to say he was killed by the boss.’

Min Do-jun’s eyes grew cold as he watched Lee Se-yun’s back.

‘The question is whether I can kill him now…’

Could he, having become overwhelmingly stronger, kill an A-rank hunter with a surprise attack?

Various simulations ran through his head.

‘Too dangerous.’

If the surprise attack failed, that would be the end of his life.

Without even properly getting revenge on Shin Kyung-min.

Moreover.

‘It hasn’t been visible since earlier.’

[Lee Se-yun]

-Description: ??? ??? ???

-Combat Style: ??? ??? ???

-Weakness: ??? ??? ???

Lee Se-yun’s weakness wasn’t visible.

The same went for the description and combat style.

Only the name was revealed.

‘What’s going on?’

It couldn’t be just because his level was high.

He could see the weaknesses of Cho Gyu-chan and the others.

‘Could it be that opponents stronger than me aren’t visible?’

If that’s the case, ambushing Lee Se-yun would be even more dangerous.

‘No choice. Have to postpone it.’

There was no need to risk his life in an uncertain battle.

Just as he made that judgment, Lee Se-yun turned around.

“Do-jun-ssi, are you sure you don’t need my help?”

“Yes. Please don’t mind me and go about your business.”

“How can I do that? We came in as party members after all.”

“Really, it’s fine.”

While internally screaming for him to just leave, Lee Se-yun looked at Min Do-jun with concern.

“Then I’ll just accompany you to that point ahead. I need to go there anyway.”

“If you insist.”

One might have felt goodwill from his caring attitude, but Min Do-jun maintained his expressionless face.

Because he remembered Lee Se-yun’s cold eyes before he died.

Perhaps that’s why.

Every single one of Lee Se-yun’s actions seemed fake.

Even his friendly conversation now.

“Were you going to enter alone if I hadn’t come, Do-jun-ssi?”

“Yes.”

“Aren’t you scared?”

“I’m fine.”

Lee Se-yun tilted his head at those words.

‘Judging by his expression, he looks like an A-rank hunter just taking a casual stroll in a neighborhood dungeon.’

There was absolutely no tension visible in Min Do-jun’s expression.

‘Is he naturally fearless?’

Having never seen him fight, Lee Se-yun could only judge Min Do-jun by his level.

Level 670, just at that level.

Therefore, he thought Min Do-jun entered the dungeon alone due to shyness.

After all, there were occasionally people who were so shy they would enter alone and use up the time limit.

Moreover, seeing how he responded curtly when spoken to, he definitely seemed shy.

‘Did I interfere with his alone time by joining the party unnecessarily?’

Feeling somewhat guilty, Lee Se-yun thought he should protect this hunter Min Do-jun to some extent.

That was why he walked together instead of parting ways immediately.

‘Though I can’t help much since I have my own business.’

At that moment, an archaeopteryx appeared in front of the two.

Screech!

Min Do-jun lowered his sword and waited for the archaeopteryx to come closer.

But that stance must have looked dangerous because.

“Dangerous!”

Swoosh!

Lee Se-yun, wielding his rapier, dealt with the archaeopteryx with wind-like movements.

“Are you okay?”

“…”

Min Do-jun’s expressionless face wrinkled.

Just as he was about to protest about what he was doing.

‘Wait, this is a chance to see his combat style.’

He changed his mind.

“I’m fine, thanks to you.”

He decided to go along with his meddling briefly.

“That was dangerous.”

Lee Se-yun had thought Min Do-jun was about to die.

“This won’t do. Get behind me.”

“That’s not necessary.”

Though he formally refused.

“Listen to me. I’ll help you just until we reach that point ahead.”

He tried to ignore it.

“Alright.”

Min Do-jun reluctantly followed the instruction as if he had no choice.

Screech! Screech!

Three archaeopteryx discovered the two and flew towards them.

Lee Se-yun’s rapier flashed.

Swish swish swish!

Slash! Slash!

Two archaeopteryx died without resistance.

‘Attack power is average. A warrior type mainly using thrusts.’

While closely observing his combat style, Lee Se-yun brought one archaeopteryx.

“This one’s yours, Do-jun-ssi. I’m holding its neck so it can’t attack. Don’t worry and kill it.”

“This isn’t necessary.”

“Just take it when offered. Here.”

“Thank you.”

Min Do-jun raised his sword, playing along with Lee Se-yun’s insistence on helping.

‘I’d rather kill him than the archaeopteryx, but…’

For now, it had to be postponed.

Slash! Slash!

“Oh, you must have high strength? You’re handling it well.”

Even without buffs, the archaeopteryx died after just a few sword strikes.

[Experience +3,600] (100% contribution)

Though it was easy to kill, the experience was minimal.

‘Because of that bastard Lee Se-yun…’

He was dissatisfied but didn’t show it.

“Let’s go, Do-jun-ssi.”

After killing a few more archaeopteryx, they reached the promised location.

“I’d like to keep helping, but unfortunately we must part ways here.”

“Understood. Thank you.”

Just as he turned around after giving insincere thanks.

Screech! Screech!

Three archaeopteryx that happened to be nearby flew towards Min Do-jun.

“Ah, be care…!”

Lee Se-yun, who tried to help, widened his eyes at the sight of Min Do-jun suddenly creating flames.

‘Magic?’

Whoosh!

The summoned Fire Blast directly hit the approaching archaeopteryx’s body.

Bang!

Simultaneously, Min Do-jun applied buffs to his sword and leaped forward.

Slash! Slash-!

Thud thud thud-

Three archaeopteryx were instantly cut down.

Truly overwhelming damage.

“…”

When he turned around, Lee Se-yun was staring at him with an astonished face.