Chapter 237. The Eating Incident
It’s 1:13 PM.
Ahn Yoon-seung estimated the dungeon clear time to be precisely 1 PM.
However, since the hunters were facing living monsters, there could be any number of unexpected variables.
A delay of about 13 minutes wasn’t unusual at all.
So, I decided to wait patiently for a call, increasing the volume of my mobile phone’s ringer before shoving it back into my pocket.
*
A Blue Gate in Seoul.
Earthlings have gathered in front of the enormous passageway, about 5 meters high.
They all sported name tags with the words ‘NEO SISTERS’ emblazoned on their chests.
But suddenly, the ordinary people’s attention shifted sharply to the north of this place.
Clack, clack, clack.
The sound of sharp dress shoes hitting the floor like metal clashing echoed into their semi-circular ear canals.
“Damn it!”
The person who appeared on the scene showed his face and, within seconds, uttered a first line utterly mismatched with his appearance.
A word commonly used by Koreans to start sentences.
And a shallow curse word.
“What the hell…”
“Mr. Kim Hunter!”
He tried to utter another curse out of annoyance, but a voice from the side interrupted him momentarily.
“What happened to Ahn Yoon-seung?! Is he still not out?”
But just because he stopped cursing didn’t mean his emotions had calmed down.
That’s right.
This was none other than the front of the Blue Gate the regular Team Three of Neo Sisters had entered.
And that blue monster’s lair had set off a disaster that should never have been initiated.
“Damn it!”
1:20 PM.
1:30 PM.
And when it hit 1:45 PM without any contact from Ahn Yoon-seung, Kim Gi-ryeo canceled his restaurant reservation and immediately contacted Neo Sisters.
Through this process, he found out some shocking news.
There were abnormal mutation phenomena observed in the gate Ahn Yoon-seung’s team had entered.
“Why this of all times?!”
And it wasn’t just some low-grade gate, but an A-Class dungeon where the mutation occurred. How could this be normal?
An unprecedented crisis had unfolded.
[Unidentified Gate]
[Description: No gate information available.]
[Grade: S]
According to Pixie’s analyzer, the current grade of that gate exceeded the A-Class criteria and reached the highest difficulty.
S-Class.
Truly, an unimaginable calamity had struck.
“Oh, the Team Three where Ahn Yoon-seung is… still inside the dungeon…”
“When did this situation even start? Get the person in charge!”
“W-We confirmed it around 1:19 PM! This dungeon has a lot of攻略 data on our Neo side. The average攻略 time was practically fixed…”
Thud.
Kim Gi-ryeo half-ran to stop in front of the problematic gate.
“Could it really have been this big from the start? The magic power pouring out is no joke.”
Right now, even at this moment, a gloomy whirring sound was coming out of the monster’s den.
The Neo Sisters’ personnel were sweating profusely explaining the situation to the S-Class hunter, a friend of Ahn Yoon-seung.
It was just as bewildering for them as well.
They knew this would lead to them being labeled cold-blooded.
But honestly, even if everything else died, Ahn Yoon-seung becoming prey for this Ki-simche was a bit…
“Damn it.”
Without that Earthling, who would have lunch with him, and who would gather evidence if malicious lies spread online?
“Shit. What terrible luck to have such bad fortune.”
The reason the blond man had survived this long was undoubtedly due to Ahn Yoon-seung.
That A-Class defensive hunter had a wonderful character, remembering the grace he received.
He displayed extreme friendliness toward the S-Class who saved him.
Besides, that handy tendency wouldn’t have changed unless he went through some considerable negative incidents afterward.
“My Earthling friend, whom I barely made it this far with…”
Looking at the gigantic gate before him, Gi-ryeo thought.
[Abnormal Mutation.]
How did the previously functioning structure of the dungeon suddenly change, causing the grade to fluctuate?
This man, a former great mage, had already prepared himself to explain the mutation phenomenon.
It was known to happen back in Alphauri when Ki-simche altered the food boxes they set up.
Rare frequency.
It was known that, barring any substantial differences, it generally increased in difficulty.
And considering various other characteristics observed, it was quite likely this Earth’s unusual mutation was due to the same reasons in past disasters.
“Ugh…”
At the time of the scenario gate occurrence.
An alien scholar had likened it to the tyranny of ‘gluttony’.
Interpreting this phenomenon in the same context, the abnormal mutation could be considered a result of the gluttonous tendencies of Ki-simche.
Simply put, it was a hunger issue.
“Hey, you gluttonous Ki-simche bastards!”
Just like humans, who decide they can only eat this much for lunch but end up opening the rice cooker again because it’s too little.
“Well, I originally planned to consume just a bit of pain and screams, but it turns out my stomach is empty. I need to change the box significantly to kill these things.”
Ki-simche often modified the structure of the food boxes using such mechanisms.
They didn’t like to recklessly elevate F-Class monsters like the white rabbit to the strength of A-Class. Changes in the dungeon’s grade lead to large-scale alterations in structure and spawn quantity.
One great mage constantly disparaged their kind for being gluttonous, but truly, there were hardly any individuals with bulimia inside Ki-simche.
Perhaps that’s why the probabilities of such abnormal mutations on Earth were low.
But whatever the case, if one were for it, it was basically 100% for them.
Now with the occurrence of an elevation mutation at an A-Class gate, not just Ahn Yoon-seung’s team, but all of South Korea was in danger.
“I never thought Korea’s first S-Class dungeon would appear like this.”
I had already contacted the association, so experts would soon gather to resolve the issue.
Shwish.
The upper-class personnel from Neo Sisters, Lee Cheong-ryong, seemed to want to deny reality as he inserted his arm back into the gate with the analyzer.
Just then, Kim Gi-ryeo also pushed his right arm inside the passage.
Although an Earthling’s hand was quite dull compared to the tentacles he used in his previous life, after repairing his lungs now, he could still recognize various things.
“Ha…”
The alien great mage rubbed his dry fingertips together and focused on the dungeon’s atmosphere.
Gradually, a particular conclusion flowed into his nerves.
“Uh?”
At that moment, the blond man suddenly shouted, pushing Lee Cheong-ryong aside.
“Wait! Get away from the gate right now!”
“Huh!”
“Something’s coming from the entrance…!”
But he couldn’t finish his sentence.
Whoosh.
Immediately after, from inside the glowing blue passageway.
Tentacles emitting a disgusting reddish hue like ropes woven from beast flesh poured out in droves.
“Uugh!”
“Mr. Kim Hunter!”
“Tentacle! Isn’t that a tentacle?!”
“Ugh!”
The mysterious lines that seemed ready to crush Kim Gi-ryeo’s eyes firmly grasped their prey and pulled hard.
That monstrous strength was threatening enough to swallow a 70kg adult man whole.
*
“Damn it!”
I tried to avoid low expressions, but it seemed the world wasn’t cooperating.
Swish!
As I felt something touch above my eyelids, my whole body was now swallowed whole by the dungeon.
But I didn’t lose my wits and immediately started to react.
The tentacles were only gripping my head or neck at best. Even then, the victim swiftly raised his arm, lightly escaping even the maximum damage of strangulation on his carotid.
“What kind of tentacle stuff is this…!”
Slice!
I pushed the red cord around my neck as far out as I could with my right arm.
Then, with my remaining hand, I took out the [Hydra] from the item box and struck down on the creature’s body with all my might.
In 2-3 seconds, I completed a strength-enhancing spell. Simultaneously channeling lightning-like magic power into [Hydra].
Wham!
The scarlet-skinned adversary staggered and retreated.
“Mr. Kim Gi-ryeo!”
“Hey, hey! Grab that thing! Quick!”
If I were alone, I would have been engaging in a dirty, lingering battle relying on the poison, but luckily, several high-ranking awakened from Neo Sisters were outside the gate, so the situation was quickly sorted out.
“Are you okay?”
Oh, of course, I’m fine.
If it weren’t for the divine tree, by now the skull of an F-Class hunter could have shattered like glitter inside a snow globe, but anyway.
“Phew.”
I readjusted my grip on the sword, ensuring that the tip of the Hydra wouldn’t hit the hunters who had entered.
I hadn’t realized how sudden it was earlier, but looking back now…
“It’s an A-Class monster.”
“Huh?”
“This tentacle monster has an A-Class level of magic power.”
I continued explaining.
“Well, it was the same during [Mimic City], but we shouldn’t blindly trust the results that come out of the analyzer.”
“Ah!”
“It seems like various grades of monsters are mixed here, just like other dungeons. Thank goodness they’re not all S-Class?”
Hearing that, one of the Neo Sisters guild members said in a hopeful tone.
“W-Well, what about the chance that the dungeon’s magic density is just high, and there aren’t any actual S-Class monsters? Those types of dungeons exist sometimes!”
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.
“I wish it were so, but judging from my detection skill, I can say with 100% certainty that there is at least one S-Class monster present…”
Just when the awakened members of Neo Sisters again wore despairing expressions.
I touched the walls of the dungeon and contemplated for a moment.
“A food box spread by gluttonous tendencies… then there’s a good chance there are wards attached here…”
Originally, I had intended to prepare my heart a bit more before entering.
But given the situation, I had no choice.
It might even work out better.
Had I tried to enter the usual way, I would have had to report to someone following the Knight’s Pact procedure.
Considering recent events, entering this S-Class gate would hardly have been easily accepted.
“It’s a pity I can’t make use of Kang Chang-ho’s strength, but now is not the time for such deliberation.”
I concluded my judgments and said to the awakened.
“Everyone, please go outside and relay this. I’ll be in the dungeon beforehand, clearing traps until the support arrives. Call all S-Class members immediately.”
“Y-Yes?”
“Traps? Surely there are no traps in this mutated dungeon, right?”
“Based on my instincts, there are probably quite a few.”
As the Neo Sisters nodded, one of the guild members voiced concern.
“Going alone to clear the path seems too risky…”
That’s true, but.
“I know. But rescue operations usually race against time. Moreover, if S-Class hunters have entered, it’s better they don’t feel the need to turn back and just stand at the entrance…”
As I continued my word while rearranging my disheveled sleeves from the chaos upon entering.
The Neo Sisters’ personnel suddenly looked puzzled.
You’d be better off not leaving once you’ve entered, right?
But after I elaborated further, their eyes widened.
“Do you not understand why I’m suggesting this? This dungeon is in a state of significantly high explosion risk right now.”
“Huh!”
“Ah!”
When an abnormal mutation occurs, the number of monsters within the dungeon changes randomly.
But if, by chance, the monster density determined by fate is already over an ‘explosion condition’?
“When Ahn Yoon-seung’s team gets wiped out, there will be an immediate break.”
If I stated it this way, they would probably understand.
I told the pale-faced Earthlings.
As standing here could bring about the sudden re-generation of another monster, if they didn’t feel confident facing an S-Class adversary, they better get out.
Of course, I would also avoid battle as much as possible to stay alive. Anyhow, bring more people out quickly.
“Yes, got it!”
“Ah… understood!”
With that, the Earthlings who had entered the dungeon turned back towards the entrance in unison.
I observed their figures, and when their magical presences completely faded away, I turned away.
“Ha…”
First of all.
Half of what I had just said was a lie, but I was incredibly thankful that the Earthlings left so willingly.
“Because this mutated dungeon, as luck would have it, has a low number of monsters set.”
I recalled some sort of phrase and rolled my eyes.
When I had followed the guard, the person named Lee Cheong-ryong, and inserted my arm inside earlier, I found out that, fortunately, the enemies were sparsely scattered within the dungeon.
Even an F-Class hunter could evade battles and move forward as long as he sharpened his senses.
“Were resources lacking or something?”
But, seemingly to compensate for that void, various dangerous traps lurked within.
I needed to prioritize disabling those to arrive slightly earlier at the more critical middle point where the lost people might be.
Thus, I had just dispatched all the primitive spells. From now on, I was ready to unleash high-level magic.
And from what I’ve just said, anyone could deduce that Ahn Yoon-seung’s current survival status…
“Speaking of which, his team consisted of five in total, right?”
I thought while tracing the magic of the life forms that brushed my senses.
“Really, Yoon-seung should feel grateful for being scammed by me.”
After all, where in the world was there such a kind-hearted conman?
To personally manage the funds so they wouldn’t die easily.
