Chapter 54  

However, Richard didn’t show it. It would be stupid to show his weaknesses in front of other hunters! Hunters didn’t respect the weak.

‘Look at that. The opportunity came faster than I thought.’?Whittaker approached as he rejoiced internally. He had wanted to approach Choi Yeonseung, and he got the chance to do that sooner than he expected.

“Ah. You’re a martial artist? Isn’t that amazing?”

“Go away.”

“Hey. Get lost.”

Smallwood and Elisabeth sharply reacted when Whittaker came over.

“Aren’t you two being too harsh? That hurts, you know. Choi Yeonseung, right? I’m Whittaker. I’m looking to make new friends.”

Whittaker held out his hand.

Rather than shaking it, Choi Yeonseung said, “I’m a bit shy.”

“That’s fine! I’m proactive. It won't be uncomfortable for you if I stick around, will it? ”

“Don’t even think about trying to stick in a straw here and just leave, friend. I don’t really think of you as a friend, though.”

“What’s wrong with him?”Choi Yeonseung curiously asked as Smallwood shook his hands.

“He only cares about money. He categorizes people based on his standards. He’ll flatter them if he thinks he’ll gain something from it and cut them off if he thinks they’ll bring in losses.”

“What’s wrong with that? Everybody does that.”

Elisabeth shook her finger. “Even if so, they don’t rub it in other people’s faces like he does.”

“Hah. Don’t listen to these guys, friend.”

“Don’t copy the way I talk if you don’t want to be injured, friend.”

Smallwood warned, but Whittaker ignored him and kept talking.

“These two hunters are acting a bit strange, but I’m not a bad person. My?calculations have pinpoint accuracy. You know what give and take means, right? Give as much as you take. You can’t just keep being on the receiving end.”

“Hmm. That sounds about right.”

Choi Yeonseung’s reply made?Smallwood perk up.

“Don’t be fooled by his nonsense, friend! He’s a real piece of crap!”

“Did something happen?”

“He pretended to be so friendly with me while I was on the 1st team. But the moment I went down to the 2nd team, he blocked me on Facebook!”

“... Are you a teenager?”

The unexpected grudge took Choi Yeonseung aback.

“So, Moneymaker.”

“How do you know my last name? Ah. They probably told you. Anyway, what is it?”

“I like give and take, but what do you want and what can you give me in return?”

“Phew. You know how to handle things! I like?Choi Yeonseung’s reply.” Whittaker grinned. “Do you know what my role is?”

“I’m curious.”

“I’m a healer.”

“Oh...”

Choi Yeonseung was surprised. This sly-looking guy was a healer? In a raid, being a healer wasn’t a specifically set role. If a hunter had healing-related magic or skills, then they tended to take on the role of healer! Healers were so rare that there were quite a few cases of raids without one.

“I’m Whittaker Moneymaker, a B- grade hunter. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

B- was good enough for a healer. Even if his level was a bit low, there was no need for him to fight in the front lines.

“Ah. How can he be a healer?”

“The world is going crazy.”

The two hunters grumbled. Without paying any attention to them, Whittaker continued.

“If you join forces with me, you’ll get all types of support during practice. Don't you want that?”

A talent optimized to help one become active in practice using healing and buffs! The problem was...

‘I don’t really need it.’ Would he fight better after receiving buff magic from Whittaker?

“I don’t need it,” Choi Yeonseung said with an uncomfortable expression.

“What?”

“I can fight well even without it.”

“Don’t talk nonsense! It is because you haven’t received it yet!”

Whittaker couldn’t accept reality.

How can he reject my offer? Other hunters would be worried about not receiving such graces! Oh, right! He was in the Abyss for quite a long time. That’s why he doesn’t know anything about my power!

“Haha! Is there anything wrong with him saying he doesn’t want it, friend? Get out of here quickly!” Smallwood excitedly interjected.

“No! Give it a try at least! My magic works even on martial artists!”

“I feel bad since you’re so desperate, but I really don’t need it.”

“It will be twice as expensive if you change your mind later!”

“Sure.”

Whittaker gritted his teeth as Smallwood dragged him away.

‘He isn’t used to reality yet since he’s been lost in the Abyss for so long, but he’ll understand soon!’?Whittaker thought. He truly believed in that.

Choi Yeonseung reacted that way simply because he didn’t know anything yet. He’d change his mind once he had seen Whittaker’s magic, then he’d come and ask for favors like the other hunters!

‘I’ll charge him twice as much, maybe even thrice... Wait.’

Whittaker realized his mistake. He forgot to ask what he could get from Choi Yeonseung. He normally would’ve talked to Choi Yeonseung, made an estimate of his value, and determined what he could rip off of him.

‘Bah. There are plenty of opportunities for that anyway.’

***

[Do you want to enter the ‘Crossroads Trial’ dungeon?]

[Rewards: ?, ? ?, ? ?]

[Admission limit: 50 people.] magic

[Time remaining: 1 hour and 12 minutes.]

“Crossroads Trial?”

“I have no info on this dungeon.”

“Is anyone familiar with it?”

The hunters clicked their tongues. The days when hunters didn’t study were gone. Studying decades of dungeon and monster data was something that hunters had to do now! However, this was the first time they ever heard of the ‘Crossroads Trial.’

“It’s either it hasn’t been revealed to the public or it hasn’t been discovered before.

-This test is a competition. Assume that there is an overlap in dungeon raids.

The hunters frowned at Ernest’s words. A situation where several teams that weren’t cooperating with each other entered the same dungeon. It made the difficulty of the raid jump several times higher.

“How long has it been since that last happened?”

“There's only so many times dungeon raids can overlap.”

The hunters grumbled. Dungeons were quickly reported and managed upon being found in the United States, eliminating the chances of two teams quarreling with each other. However, raid overlaps were common outside the United States, especially in places with unclear borders. It would be great if two countries raiding the same dungeon could reach an agreement before entering it, but if one of them just went for it, the other wouldn’t just stand still. In such cases, the raid turned into a very simple match where the ones to clear it first would take the rewards!

“Can I attack another team?”

-No. You have to clear the dungeon without fighting each other.

“Damn.”

There had been times when armed conflict broke out inside dungeons, but problems just escalated in those situations. In such situations, a good hunter would be able to avoid conflict and clear the dungeon first!

“Since it has a max capacity of fifty people, does that mean eight six-man teams will enter it at the same time?”

“That won’t be possible even if all the Icarus clan members rallied up and raided it. How many teams will be entering it is a secret.”

“Oh...”

Choi Yeonseung was slightly impressed. To make it as close to the real thing as possible, they had to do all forms of preparations. Hence, they prepared as best as they could within the limits of the virtual world! He had barely exchanged a few words with Ernest, but he found him strangely likable.

‘He probably likes training.’

-Ready. 3. 2. 1. Enter.

The hunters immediately started to enter, regardless of who came first.

***

‘Is it a cave-type dungeon?’ Choi Yeonseung was the first to check and feel the terrain around him. He had been wandering the Abyss for over 10,000 years. Hence, it was only natural for him to be familiar with all types of terrain, be it a cave, mine, sea, swamp, plains, gas mine, lava mine…

‘I’ve been fighting for so long I feel like I’ve been to all kinds of places.’

The hunters who came in together examined each other and found their luggage.

“Upon checking, we’ve got two weeks’ worth of food. Let’s split it up per person. We’ll share the supplies as well.”

“I have to focus on magic, so such a burden is—”

“If you don’t want your part, then throw it away.”

At Elisabeth’s words, Antony grumbled and packed his luggage.

“Have you ever stayed here for more than two weeks?”

“It hasn’t happened to me yet, but if you’re unlucky, then you can get stuck here for longer.”

They were in a training dungeon, so nobody had ever had to stay here longer than two weeks. The group checked for food and other supplies. They were given standard hunter equipment, ranging from portable sleeping bags to search drones.

“I’ll be at the front.”

“What are you saying? We’ve got a narrow path ahead of us. What if we get ambushed and get into a melee?”

“Tsk tsk. What made you think I can’t stop that much? You’ve got poor senses, Gutierrez. Believe in me!”

Crossroads Trial?was a dungeon that circled around along a narrow cave path. It was impossible to know where monsters would come out in labyrinths like this. It had monsters that sneaked under the dark and monsters that hid in the walls, waiting for an ambush.

Melee combat was expected! Elisabeth fought best in such situations.

“I’m a close-quarters combat specialist, so I’ll take the lead.”

“You said you’d listen to my orders!” Antony complained.

“I said I will listen if it makes sense.”

Hunters’ qualities were far from ‘yielding’ or selflessness.’?Moreover, in this dungeon raid, they didn’t just have to work as a team. They also had to ensure they stood out. Of course, Antony didn’t have such complicated calculations in his head. It was just his personality!

“You’re not as good at close combat as I am, Schneider.”

“Of course not, Gutierrez. I’m better. However, you don’t have to feel ashamed. You’re a hunter great enough to be compared to me!”

“......”

Elisabeth clenched her fists. She wanted to punch him! His sincerity only made her even angrier. However, she couldn’t hit him. If she did, she would be known as the hunter who attacked her colleagues in a dungeon.

“I’ll take the lead. All of you will support me from behind. That’s the best way to handle this.”

“Uh, excuse me.”

“What is it?”

“That friend ignored your words and just left.”

“?! ! !”

Seeing Choi Yeonseung running alone on a narrow path while they were talking surprised the hunters, Antony included.

“W-W-What are you doing?”

Even the strongest hunters rarely charged in by themselves in a dungeon since doing so could mean their deaths! No hunter would enter a place alone where they didn’t know where monsters would come out from. Even Antony didn’t do that. Yet...

-Swiiik!

“A rock chameleon! Be careful!” Elisabeth called out urgently when she heard the wind hissing.

Rock chameleons were C-grade monsters that had claimed the lives of countless hunters. It had two weapons:?A poisonous camouflage ability and deadly poison! The rock chameleon’s camouflage surpassed imagination. It didn’t blend with the surroundings by changing colors. Rather, it actually melted into its surroundings to hide. If one wanted to aim for it, then they’d have to launch an attack when the rock chameleon emerged...

However, it also fired off deadly poison as quickly as bullets from the venom glands under its tongue. People wouldn’t be able to survive being hit by it.

‘Crazy. C-grade monsters are already appearing. They’re so tricky to deal with...’

Encountering a C-grade monster at the dungeon entrance was unlucky, even more so if it were a tricky monster like the rock chameleon.

… Well, the monsters were the unlucky ones.

Choi Yeonseung suddenly hit the wall amid his run, causing blood to splash as a scream echoed.

-Kuweeek!

The rock chameleon had weak physical strength and defense for a C-grade monster. If those stats were higher, it would’ve become a B-grade. Still, defeating it in one hit?

“What? Isn’t everyone coming?” Choi Yeonseung stopped in the middle of a dark and narrow passage and called out to them. Dumbfounded, the other hunters couldn’t answer.

Surprisingly, Antony was the first to react.

“What are you doing, newbie?! You left without me!” Antony shouted loudly and ran forward. He was robbed of what he was trying to do.

… Of course, unlike Choi Yeonseung, Antony never intended to run at such a crazy pace.

“Stand back, newbie! I’ll take the lead!”

“I can’t hear you.”

Choi Yeonseung turned away as if he had gone deaf and charged onward again.

“I told you to stand back!” Killing the monsters is my job!” Antony said as he pitifully pursued Choi Yeonseung.