Chapter 17

Chapter 17

[Episode 04] Solo Play (2)

The 15th Floor Normal Dungeon was the opposite concept from the 14th Floor.

Quality rather than quantity.

On the 15th Floor, only one boss mob existed.

Clank—

A Skeleton Knight wearing full plate mail.

At the same time as the boss room’s door opened, the appearance of the guy charging at a frightening momentum was visible.

An enormously fast speed.

The speed of running from the exact center of the stone chamber to the door is a little under 2 seconds.

If it was an ordinary Mage, the neck would have been sliced without even properly using a skill once and it would have ended.

Because even the fastest Energy Bolt takes about 3 seconds.

However, my case was a bit different.

First, activation words could be omitted.

It is possible to activate the skill just by thinking inwardly.

‘Chain Lightning.’

Crack crack—

Moreover, the casting delay of Chain Lightning is 0 seconds.

In reality, it is an instant skill.

Pssss—

[You have defeated the Skeleton Knight.]

“Huu.”

Even though it is already the fourth clear, looking at the speed at which the guy charges, the spine chills.

‘So this is why the bus is essential.’

With this much, it is a raid boss mob.

I cleared it in one shot because I possess stats and skills impossible at this level, but could an ordinary Level 15 Explorer party catch a monster like this?

‘If Level 15... 70 bonus points.’

Even if going all-in on Mana, it would have only become about 90 now.

Other party members would not be greatly different.

Each of their main stats not even reaching three digits, chick level.

For five such Explorers to gather and catch this guy, it would be questionable even if risking their lives.

It is not for nothing that the bus is popular.

“Oh?”

[Skeleton Knight’s Iron Helmet]

-Item Grade: 「Normal」 -Effect: Physical Defense +8 / Strength +2 -Set Effect: (1) Inactive

An essential item for low-level Warriors.

Skeleton Knight set.

A popular item with a set effect of defense rising 10% when equipping all five sets of helmet, breastplate, shoulder armor, gauntlets, greaves, etc.

Naturally expensive.

To the extent that there are high-level parties that repeatedly clear the 15th Floor to gather the parts of the Skeleton Knight set.

‘Luck is good.’

I secured it and climbed onto the altar.

A place with a bronze box and a vending machine.

‘Anyway it will be a [Wand] again.’

Currently I was clearing the 15th Floor for the fourth time in a row.

In the previous three clears, [Wand] came out in all.

Naturally I thought [Wand] would come out this time as well.

But.

“Mm?”

A dud?

It looked like there was nothing.

However, the center of the box.

One ring glowing softly was placed there.

‘This, no way...’

Checking, as expected.

[Silver Ring of Mana Recovery] -Item Grade: 「Normal」 -Effect: Mana +3 / Mana Recovery Power +5%

It was the 1st prize.

The best reward among the rewards that come out from the box on the 15th Floor.

‘Luck is really good.’

In the strategy book Seo Tae-woong handed over, the main rewards of each floor were also written.

Like the ‘Fireball skill book’ that drops with a rare probability when killing the Skeleton Mage on the 14th Floor, or the full body armor set obtainable by catching the Skeleton Knight on the 15th Floor, etc.

However, the real reward of the 15th Floor was separate.

The [Silver Ring of Mana Recovery] that appears with an extremely vicious probability from the box.

A very high transaction price was formed for a Normal-grade item, because this was an item that everyone needed.

‘Because skill use requires mana.’

It was an item that not only Mages but all classes that use skills wanted.

I immediately equipped the ring.

Then I saw the [Unique] grade ring on the ring finger of the left hand.

‘Come to think of it, I’ve never properly used this even once.’

I have tested it.

[Guardian Ring].

The casting delay of the skill ‘Guardian Shield’ built into this ring is about 0.1 seconds.

The moment the activation words are uttered, the skill is manifested almost instantly.

However, there was no situation dangerous enough to have to use this.

‘It is fortunate.’

Immediately left the dungeon through the exit.

[You have cleared the Normal Dungeon (15th Floor).] [Salvation Points are being settled.]

With this, today’s schedule also ended.

All newly acquired bonus points were invested into Strength, Agility, and Stamina.

Because I judged that raising damage further in a situation where even the last boss monster was one shot had no great meaning.

Rather than that, I decided to secure safety by investing in Strength, Agility, and Stamina which are directly connected to physical ability.

After finishing all dungeon clears, I checked the time.

3:24 PM.

A schedule that ended much faster than yesterday.

Thanks to Search Eye, the dungeon clear time itself decreased, but above all, starting solo play entirely was greater.

Because if riding the bus, the tempo inevitably slowed.

Because they explained traps one by one to me and Seo Tae-woong’s party took care of me, time inevitably took more.

Moreover, the time going back and forth to the hospital also ate quite a bit.

‘It is convenient but...’

It was a bit regrettable.

Because it had been too long since I had mingled with people like that.

Was it the first time since graduating high school?

It was good because it was a connection formed while experiencing social life for the first time.

‘Is Jeong Ha-eun-ssi okay...’

After watching Shim Kang’s YouTube video, she urgently made a call somewhere, and the appearance of her crying as if the world was ending was still vivid in my eyes.

It was then.

KakaoTalk!

Since it was extremely rare for contact to come first for me, I tilted my head and checked the smartphone.

Seeing the first sentence that came out as a preview, I briefly lost what to say.

『Jeong Ha-eun: [Funeral Notice]』

This kind of experience was the first.

While briefly worrying, I called Dad.

***

Based on Dad’s advice and internet research, I prepared to go to the funeral hall.

Since there was no suit, I found and wore clothes of a black series and headed to the funeral hall.

Before entering the funeral hall, I looked for an ATM nearby.

I didn’t know that the first time withdrawing and using money from the Explorer-exclusive account would be for this purpose.

‘How much should I do?’

From the 11th Floor to the 14th Floor.

About four days of seeing each other.

Because this was the first time, I didn’t know how much condolence money to give.

At first, I withdrew an appropriate 100,000 won as found on the internet.

‘······Isn’t it too little.’

In the bankbook with a 9-digit number stamped right now, not even a scratch is made.

While worrying, I withdrew an additional 200,000 won.

Eating the hanwoo course cuisine at the omakase was also thanks to Jeong Ha-eun if one thinks about it.

It seemed I should at least do the value of having been treated to a meal.

We had also become quite close eating and drinking together.

In front of the funeral hall, I put 300,000 won into the envelope.

Next to the place where envelopes were prepared, there was a place like a lounge, and news was flowing from the TV there.

[The Management Bureau revealed an official position and the list of the deceased...]

An article that had been coming out all day today.

After Shim Kang exposed on YouTube, the Management Bureau also began to step forward in earnest.

Talk of increasing the Salvation Points support fund to 200,000 won per point and temporarily receiving support from Explorers who possess points abroad or something.

Anyway, the Management Bureau was also doing their best in their own way.

I opened the Status Window and checked the Salvation Points I possessed.

[Salvation Points]: 11,306

A state of having exceeded 10,000 points.

It was big that I was able to monopolize the skeletons flocking in hundreds on the 14th Floor.

Thanks to that, I was able to earn thousands of points a day.

Unlike other Explorers who do party play, because I monopolize all points alone, it was also something that could be gathered faster.

‘If this trend, after about a month, it seems I can sufficiently gather about hundreds of thousands of points.’

An excessively large number of points for what one Explorer gathered.

Someday I was thinking of reporting this to the Management Bureau.

Anyway, at the end of the year when the year finishes, all Explorers had to report obligatorily.

Those who do business with [Single-Person Survival Right] also gather at the Management Bureau at the end of the year and report the Salvation Points they possess.

Because they are points that evaporate the moment it becomes next year, to at least receive the support fund.

‘The trend of my points can no longer be reduced to an ordinary level.’

It would be possible if buying and eating the vending machine stat candies that cost 10,000 points each.

However, I had no intention of wasting like that.

Because it was a situation where the lives of 10,000 people could be endangered at that moment.

Rather than such a method.

‘Make it so that the points I earn make sense.’

A method exists.

Precisely the solo clear of the [Unique] grade dungeon.

With this, even my absurd Salvation Points earning could be sufficiently explained.

Of course, there is something that catches.

Precisely the date I registered as an Explorer.

The point that it was long before the notice that [Unique] grade was born appeared.

‘Even if I prove that I am a Unique-grade Explorer, it is a problem.’

Because I would inevitably have to explain about the ability I possess.

The solution I was thinking for that was this.

‘Insist it is Re-Awakening.’

Using the material ‘Re-Awakening’ that frequently appears in webtoons or dramas as an excuse.

Of course, this was also something for much later.

Because for now it was a situation where the floor of the [Unique] grade dungeon had to be raised first.

Having finished the thoughts, I checked the guide board on one side of the corridor.

After confirming Jeong Hana’s name, I carefully entered the funeral hall.

Right after writing the name in the guest book prepared at the entrance and delivering the condolence money.

“Jaehyun-ssi?”

Jeong Ha-eun who discovered me had both pupils widen.

Both eyes swollen from crying so much.

I slightly lowered my head as a greeting instead.

“...Thank you for coming. Please come this way.”

Following her guidance and going inside, the portrait of a familiar face was there.

Jeong Hana.

The smiling face in that photo looked particularly young.

I could newly realize how dangerous a job being an Explorer was.

A job where one doesn’t know when or at what moment one might lose one’s life.

‘May the deceased rest in peace.’

As heard from Dad, offered one incense and briefly silent prayer.

Then bowed twice in front of the portrait and stepped back one step and lowered the head.

After finishing the condolences and trying to leave, Jeong Ha-eun caught me.

“Have you eaten? Please eat and go.” “...Thank you.”

While sitting awkwardly in front of the meal Jeong Ha-eun prepared, she spoke first.

“Did you get in well yesterday? I was in a hurry then...” “I got in well. You don’t have to worry.” “In a little while the team members...”

It was then.

Kwaaaaang!

“!!!”

A loud explosion burst out.

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