Chapter 604 – Mystery Dungeon Exploration (1)

The owner, who read my slightly concerned expression, continued his explanation of the mystery dungeon exploration.

“Nothing special. All you have to do is go into a dungeon, check what kind of dungeon it is, and take their opinions into consideration when grading.”

“… “Me?”

“You will soon be an S-class hunter, so you should be able to clear the mystery dungeon.”

“Well, if you look at it objectively, it’s true.”

Mystery Dungeon. In other words, an unexplored dungeon.

Gates leading to dungeons that occur naturally around the world, not artificial gates created with modern technology for movement.

Among them, this mystery dungeon refers to a dungeon that has never been explored.

And it was the role of high-ranking hunters of A-level or S-level or higher to be the first to explore such unidentified dungeons.

There were some cases where lower-level hunters did the research, but in most cases, those hunters were the first to discover it.

According to the Hunter Protection Act, it is now illegal for guilds to instruct B-level and lower hunters to explore mystery dungeons.

It is also an era where it is more difficult to deal with a mid- to low-level hunter going missing after putting them in a dungeon where it is unclear what kind of danger there might be.

Therefore, the normal response method was for a Hunter of Class A or higher, who could respond flexibly even if a fairly strong enemy appeared, to check.

As my life’s goal is to prevent other hunters from being sacrificed, I had no reason to refuse exploring the mystery dungeon itself.

… For some reason, I was a little bothered by the attitude of the owner Seo Ok-hee, who pointed at me and told me to go in.

“Going in itself doesn’t really matter. “Is there any reason why I have to go in?”

“The gate created this time has entry conditions, so it is currently impossible to search it except you.”

“What are the entry conditions?”

“It happens sometimes. You have to go in alone, or you have to go in with 5 or more people. “Dungeons with a limit on the number of people in that way.”

“… Yes, there were a few dungeons with that kind of thing.”

“The dungeon you must explore this time also has entry conditions, and out of all the people I know, you are the only one who can enter this dungeon.”

“I’m the only one who met the conditions for entering the dungeon… “What are the conditions?”

“… A pair of man and woman.”

“Yes?”

“The condition for entry is that a male and female pair must enter together. “It’s not that they mentally think of themselves as men or anything like that, but as a biological pair of man and woman.”

… For some reason, this dungeon felt extremely suspicious as soon as I heard about it.

Even though it is a world where male hunters almost do not exist, it is a gate where a male and female pair are required to enter.

It was a dungeon that gave off a very strange and suspicious feeling just by hearing it, but the owner’s expression was even more serious for that reason.

“Do you see why I said there was only one of you?”

“… Yes, that’s right. Male hunters of Class A or higher who can explore mystery dungeons are all over the country… No, there will be only one person in the whole world.”

“I’m telling you not to misunderstand, but I won’t give you any disadvantages if you don’t do it. “You are the only male awakened hunter in the world, and even if it is later revealed that you did not explore the mystery dungeon and saved yourself, you have the justification to avoid danger as the first male awakened.”

“… Well, there must be a reason for that.”

“But regardless, to prevent a monster wave, exploring dungeons must be done at some point, so the government will eventually relax the conditions for exploring those dungeons. If you don’t do it, the mission will probably be passed on to another male hunter. “For C-level male hunters who have a hard time even defending themselves against mid-level monsters.”

“…”

“The choice is yours.”

… Well, should I really call this a choice?

First of all, I didn’t want my job to be handed over to a male hunter other than me.

The act of pushing another male hunter, who did not even have the ability to awaken, into the mystery dungeon was completely against my goal of creating a world where people do not die from monsters.

And if the boss is close to Eunyoung, he would know something about my dream.

It was highly likely that he made this offer because he was confident that I would not refuse it.

When I think back, maybe the reason why they made me participate in the group’s cleanup event for the abandoned village a month ago was…

“When you let me participate in the abandoned village cleanup project that took place a month ago, did you do it to make me an A-level hunter as quickly as possible?”

“Don’t misunderstand. That wasn’t the only goal, and I was already convinced that your hunter grade was at least A+. … “It was true that I had assumed this from the moment I asked you to do it.”

“…”

“So, you’re not going to do it?”

“… No, I have to.”

If someone had to do something, I might as well do it myself. Especially if the target is limited to male hunters.

Because it was an unchanging fact that among all the male hunters in the world, I was the only male hunter with the ability to awaken.

And there was no particular objection to exploring the mystery dungeon itself.

It was something I had to do someday once I became an A-level or higher hunter, and I was also in a position to become an S-level hunter soon.

Of course, it made no sense to neglect my duties as a high-ranking hunter.

Although I was a little concerned that it was a dungeon with a suspicious entry requirement of being a male and female pair.

… For a moment. However, if it is a pair of man and woman. Who will be my partner in entering the mystery dungeon with me?

“Just a moment, boss.”

“Do you have any questions?”

“That’s not it, you said that the dungeon in question is one that a man and a woman must enter together, right?”

“Oh, right.”

“Of course I will be the male hunter, but who will be the female hunter? Who is Eunyoung? “Is an S-class hunter like senior Kang Eun-young my partner?”

I almost blurted out the nickname for Eunyoung, but quickly corrected myself when I realized it was in front of the boss.

If her boss found out that I, who was almost 20 years younger than her, called her her older sister, Eunyoung’s older sister’s reputation would be damaged in many ways.

In the first place, Eunyoung and the boss, who is the same age as her, would be in a strange mood.

Luckily, the boss probably didn’t hear me almost call her Eunyoung-noona. She calmly explained why Eun-young-noona and I couldn’t be partners.

“It is true that Eunyoung is a trustworthy and capable person, and it is also true that she is close to you in many ways, but this time, she will not be sent to the same group as you.”

“Why?”

“First, your main weapon is a great sword, and Eunyoung’s weapon is also a great sword, so the positions overlap. “I know you have many different secondary abilities, but if your main skills overlap, it becomes difficult to respond in various situations.”

“… “That’s right.”

“Second, Eunyoung’s berserk is the most efficient awakening ability when working alone. “It becomes less efficient when you, a member of the same proximity, are by my side.”

“Umm…”

Certainly, considering Eunyoung’s fighting style, she would not be a good match for me, who is also a close-quarters swordsman.

When I thought of an A-level or higher hunter who did not overlap with me in terms of compatibility or position, but was somewhat compatible with her, Mina’s face naturally came to mind.

“Eunyoung nu… If it’s not senior Kang Eun-young, how about Han Min-ah? Her position doesn’t overlap with mine, and she’s much better at things I can’t do, like tracking down and disarming traps. And since it is a mystery dungeon, the main task is exploration, so I think it would be a good fit.”

“She was a candidate for that mourning, but she was excluded this time because she has physical limitations to her abilities as she is from the animal world,” She said. “I think it would be a little dangerous for a girl with weak combat skills to enter a dungeon where only two men and two women can enter.”

“… Well, that’s something that can’t be helped. “He’s not a guy with strong direct attack capabilities.”

“I have experience exploring mystery dungeons a few times, so if it were a different exploration, I probably would have added it. “The more explorers there are, the better, and there are only two hunters in our guild who can search while protecting themselves.”

Thinking about Han Min-ah’s personality of actively participating in this type of work because it pays well, it was a moment when I felt even more regretful.

“That’s too bad. “If it were Min-ah, she would have turned on her fire and rushed into this kind of work.”

“There’s nothing to regret. “From the very beginning, when our guild started taking charge of this mystery dungeon, it was decided who would enter the women’s section.”

“Yes?”

“I just said it. “There are only two hunters in our guild who can protect themselves and even search.”

Was there anyone else in the company’s guild with that kind of ability other than Han Min-ah?

I didn’t know what she was talking about, so I tilted her head, and the boss got up from her seat and came towards me. She stood face to face with me and pointed alternately with her finger at me and herself.

… No way, she was a person who was predetermined from the beginning.

“Someone who has exploration skills, sufficient combat skills, a lot of experience exploring mystery dungeons, and whose awakening skills do not overlap with yours.”

“No way…”

“You and me. The two of us will explore like this. “If you have any complaints, tell me now.”

“… “I don’t have any choice.”

“Even if it was there, they wouldn’t listen.”

A living legend in the hunter world.

It was the moment when it was decided to accompany SSS-level hunter Seo Ok-hee.