Chapter 176

Chapter 176

After the meal, the tree’s pupil.

“I said I had no intention of eating bad food, and you meant it.”

“Why would we have to eat bad food?”

After finishing putting the ingredients in order, Seo Gio spoke with a serious face.

“As long as I am in charge of this team’s cooking, there will be no such thing as a miserable meal.”

“It’s scary when Hunter Seo Gio-nim doesn’t smile. I didn’t know.”

“That is why I smile and go about, isn’t it?”

“I also didn’t know you were such a big eater. You even pulled out a pot as big as a person’s torso.”

“Who was it that scraped that huge pot clean?”

“I wanted to say it was insanely delicious. Thank you so much.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed the meal.”

Gio peered beyond the entrance, concealed by vines.

“Still, morning has come again.”

“Up until we started eating, it was evening...”

As Hunter Sanarae grumbled at the fickle environment just as they’d heard, Healer Jung Yeongwon, who had been helping tidy the pupil, added,

“They said the fake sun and moon rise often, and it was true.”

“You kept observing even while we ate—did you find out anything?”

“It seems the time the sun is up is much longer than the time the moon is up.”

“And didn’t the temperature really drop sharply when the moon was up in the evening?”

“It’s not exactly a daily temperature range, but the temperature difference between day and night is quite large—that is also a characteristic of this dungeon.”

“Someone with a weak body would catch a cold easily.”

“That’s right.”

Of course, someone with a weak body wouldn’t be able to enter a dungeon in the first place.

‘...You can’t really call it a human way of thinking. It’s so off-the-wall it’s almost creepy.’

It was just the nonsense of an old-era human who didn’t know how scary dungeons were, but as a gardener, she couldn’t think that far. Having finished all the tidying, Jung Yeongwon gathered everyone.

“Using what we briefly looked around nearby before the meal, and Honey’s help in scouting for us throughout the meal, I’ve organized things. Most of it is information we could find in the Sun Church’s previous raid materials.”

Most notably, there were the traits of the dungeon monsters.

“The monsters that move when the sun is up and when the moon is up are divided. Monsters active during the day fall into a fainted state when evening comes, and monsters active in the evening are a little calmer during the day and become ferocious in the evening.”

“I believe that part was in the materials the church distributed.”

“Yes, and from here is additional information we discovered. The daytime monsters absolutely do not group up, and each one is busily searching for something. On the other hand, the evening monsters, once it gets dark, gather into one group and head somewhere...”

Jung Yeongwon pointed at Honey, who was thrusting out its chest confidently.

“Honey found that out. And Mr. Seo Gio interpreted it.”

“Kkurrururururur.”

“It seems to mean you should praise it. Everyone, please clap.”

“Kkuruk.”

Clap clap clap clap...

An uncertain, ambiguous clapping time passed.

“Then, Hunter Seo Gio-nim, do you understand the monsters’ speech? I’ve heard some seasoned tamers have that ability, and if you interpreted the information that waterbird brought...”

“It’s that our hearts connect. Like a married couple asking for a napkin with a glance at a restaurant.”

“Ah, so it’s a bond. I’d only heard about tamers, but seeing it in person like this, there are many surprising things. I also didn’t know a monster this cute really existed.”

“Our Honey is cute, yes.”

After a bit of small talk, Jung Yeongwon continued her explanation.

“Honey is truly capable. I was worried how far a small-bodied monster would be able to operate, but it was a completely needless worry. Somehow, it figured out where the night monsters move to. I think it would be best for us to check that side first as well.”

“Ah, they were moving to a single point?”

“For now, that’s what we determined. This would have been difficult unless it were a bird that could freely fly through the complex plants. It’s fortunate we have Mr. Seo Gio, who tamed a small flying-type monster—because it doesn’t seem like a perfectly clear movement... it would have been hard for humans alone to figure out.”

Jung Yeongwon looked at Garasani Hunter, the eldest among them.

“Would it be good to relay this news to the other teams?”

“We should relay the news, but it would be best for only our team to act on it.”

“If there’s something sensitive to human numbers, then even if a lot of people come swarming in, they’ll only get roughed up.”

“In the same sense, how about not telling Haeryeong?”

At that, Sanarae, who belonged to Haeryeong, smiled broadly.

“That really hurts. Isn’t that discrimination? Are you throwing your weight around because you’re a big company?”

“Haeryeong guild members go crazy with the desire to fight the moment they think the stage looks good. A guild member who assumes there’s a dangerous monster might act impulsively.”

“Our guild doesn’t act like that to the point of being thugs. That’s a very narrow-minded way of thinking.”

“For it to be narrow-minded, there are far too many things Haeryeong has shown so far. Of course, I acknowledge it is an unfair measure, so I will leave it to you, as someone from Haeryeong, whether to pass this news along.”

“How can we raid when you’re so scary?”

Sanarae turned to Seo Gio.

“What should we do?”

“It might be fun to tell them.”

“...Fun?”

“Do it.”

“...”

“I said do it?”

Hesitating, Sanarae subtly averted his gaze.

“I won’t.”

“That, too, is Hunter Sanarae’s 마음.”

Gio said with a smile.

“I plan to follow Mr. Garasani’s words entirely.”

“That is something to be grateful for as well. It is an honor.”

Smiling softly like an old man hearing his grandson say, ‘Grandpa is my favorite in the world,’ Curator Garasani continued.

“We don’t know when the sun will set again. When it gets dark, it becomes difficult to avoid the poisonous plants, and the number of monsters decreases somewhat, but they become even more ferocious instead. It would be best to move to the point Honey confirmed while visibility is secured.”

And so the full-scale exploration began.

* * *

The A-rank dungeon, ‘The Four-Legged Rainforest Underground,’ surprisingly showed traces of humans.

“Is that a villa?”

“Rather than that, doesn’t the word ‘mansion’ fit better...?”

“Since this, too, will be a ruined dimension in the end.”

Jung Yeongwon murmured.

“Well, just because it’s a ruined dimension doesn’t mean humans necessarily had to have lived here, but...”

“I don’t think there was any mention of this in the materials.”

“It’s in a location that’s hard to find unless you look with eyes on fire.”

“The trees and vines are so thick, it feels like it’s hidden deeper inside.”

“It’s probably also because it’s so damaged you can hardly find its original form.”

A team member asked.

“Should we go take a look?”

“It seems better to move quickly while it’s bright, but...”

“If it was a dimension where humans lived, there might be useful items there.”

“That’s true too.”

A hunter’s wallet only grew sturdy if they gathered the dungeon’s yields diligently. You could catch monsters and sell their byproducts, but you could also make a fortune by taking equipment or items from an unfamiliar dimension like this.

“I just hope we can avoid traps or curses.”

Jung Yeongwon, the main healer of this team, said with her uniquely blunt, porcelain-doll-like face.

“Poison can be driven out of the body, but curses often bind to the soul, so there are many parts to be mindful of. Since we don’t know when it will get dark, I advise you to examine it carefully.”

“Don’t worry—you know our guild, don’t you. Daecheong likes safe paths.”

“If anyone has been hit by poison on the way here, please tell me in advance. When I asked earlier, everyone said they were fine, but it could be poison whose damage comes in with a time delay.”

“It seems we’re still fine. I am a bit thirsty, though...”

“Then let’s proceed carefully. It’s very old and collapsed, so it would be best to enter cautiously. And something dangerous might be guarding it...”

As Jung Yeongwon trailed off, Gio sent Honey flying.

“Honey.”

“Kkurruk!”

With its small body, Honey slipped right into the ruin, and not long after, it returned at a very fast speed. Fluttering its tail feathers, Honey asserted to Gio that there was no problem.

“Seems there aren’t any dangerous traps.”

“What about poisonous plants?”

“There are grasses and trees that grew through the collapsed gaps, so it seems that can’t be helped.”

“If it’s just that much, it’s fine. Everyone, let’s enter.”

The ruin, estimated to have been about five stories tall when it was built, seemed to have once belonged to a wealthy human, for gold and jewels were hidden among the plants. The team members gathered them one by one as they looked around the ruin.

“Since most of it is collapsed, the only places we can check are the first floor and the third floor. The second floor’s floor has completely fallen through. Especially the third floor looks so precarious it feels like it’ll collapse the moment we go up... will it be okay?”

At the Daecheong employee’s question, Sanarae, holding his nose, frowned.

“Why does it stink so bad here?”

“Huh? Hunter Sanarae, are you alright?”

“My nose feels stinging.”

“Oh, could it be poison?”

“Doesn’t feel like poison... must be a lot of dust.”

“It doesn’t seem like there’s any harm in going out quickly.”

A team member said.

“Then let only a few lighter-bodied people go up.”

“Lighter-bodied...”

Hunter Sanarae looked at Jung Yeongwon.

“Are you on the lighter side?”

“In terms of actual weight, I suppose I weigh less than you all.”

As the only woman, her build itself was on the petite side.

“But if you ask whether I can use my body nimbly, that’s another matter. I can protect myself, but climbing a corridor that looks like it’ll collapse if you tap it even lightly would be difficult.”

“Hmm, is that so.”

“In that regard, I believe Hunter Sanarae-nim would be better. I’ve heard you use your body extremely well—wouldn’t you be able to go up and come back without difficulty?”

“If I go up, it’ll go crash.”

At Sanarae’s woeful face, Gio smiled brightly.

“You have a great talent for nonsense.”

“Oh, picking a fight?”

“It was pure admiration.”

“People don’t usually admire like that.”

“Most people also don’t lie as easily as eating.”

“Why do you assume it’s a lie?”

“Of course, it might not be. That was rude of me.”

“No...”

“Then I will go.”

Gio set his foot on the ruined stairs.

“I’m confident with things like this.”

And the stairs didn’t even make the usual creak.

“Right?”

“...How did you do that? For there to be this little sound...?”

At the Daecheong hunter’s admiration, another team member snapped,

“He must have a skill.”

“Ah, like a weight-reduction skill.”

“Sorry, this guy hasn’t been in the industry long.”

“If... if you were offended, I’m sorry.”

Gio waved a hand.

“It’s fine. I’ll just check quickly and come back.”

“Yes, please.”

And soon, the figure of Hunter Seo Gio disappeared from their sight.

“...”

“...”

They fell into a strange impression.

“...There really isn’t any sound at all.”

“I can’t sense him at all.”

It wasn’t only the Daecheong hunters’ sentiment.

“...?”

Hunter Sanarae even scrunched up the bridge of his nose.

‘...There’s no smell.’

He hadn’t been consciously aware of it, but that sweet, cool fragrance he’d smelled in the hotel’s event room was gone. You could hide your presence with a stealth skill, but for body scent to vanish was a bit strange.

‘And that suddenly, too?’

Or had his nose finally gone numb?

“...”

“...Mm...”

Sanarae glanced toward Garasani and Jung Yeongwon, who showed no reaction at all, then smiled broadly.

“Then I’ll go take a look too.”

“You said earlier you wouldn’t go.”

“Now that Hunter Garasani says that, it makes me want to go for sure.”

“What a surprising disposition.”

“I’m just too worried, sending a colleague alone.”

Sanarae stopped listening and climbed the stairs.

Creak.

“Whoops.”

As expected, it’s severely corroded.

“Sorry, the stairs are breaking.”

“Keuk, cough cough...!”

“Watch out for the dust.”

“You’ve already dumped all the dust there is...!”

“Poor thing. That’s why you should’ve been careful.”

Waving his hand lightly, Sanarae soon arrived at the third floor.

‘This is in better shape than the stairs.’

It was still a floor that would collapse in a rumble if you stomped once, but it seemed better than the stairs, which crumbled with a patter just from placing your foot. He looked around.

‘Where is Hunter Seo Gio?’

And what came into view.

“...”

A waterfall that resembled blood.

“...Uh...”

“...”

“...?”

No, platinum blond.

And beyond the man’s back, a framed picture.

“...Hunter Seo Gio?”

“You’ve come.”

He did not show his face.

“There is an interesting painting, so I was appreciating it.”

“An interesting painting?”

“Yes.”

What turned around and looked at him, smiled.

“There is a peaceful landscape painting.”

(To be continued in the next episode)