Chapter 14
Hunter X Hunter
'Oh, Sir Necro! Over here, this way!'
The afternoon after Bone 1 intense training.
Kang Jaeho group welcomed me at the agreed-upon location.
"You came as promised. I sent you some basic dungeon information via text. Did you confirm it?"
"Yes, I did."
The information was simple.
A new dungeon, judged as C-grade by the Association, had been discovered about a week ago.
The main mission was to exterminate monsters and defeat the boss.
The field type was a desert.
"As you advised, I applied plenty of sunscreen and brought emergency ice water."
'Good.'
Kang Jaeho nodded.
Beside him, there were a total of seven members.
'Seven?'
Weren't there originally five?
Seeing my puzzled expression, Kang Jaeho spoke up.
'Aren't you an official exploration member now? These five were originally part of the same team, and we invited two F-grade porter. Oh, don't worry. We've already paid the porter, so you won't have to bill them separately.'
'Ah, I see. Thank you.'
Well.
What else could be the main purpose of going into the dungeon for them?
To make money, of course.
Inside the dungeon, there are magic stones imbued with pure energy.
Or sometimes, high-grade ores like Orichalcum or Mithril can be found.
So, having a porter is essential.
If dungeon rewards are the main source of income.
Then materials picked up by the baggage carriers are just small bonuses.
I glanced at the two porter.
They looked like young men and women who had just become adults.
They looked similar, almost like siblings.
As they shyly exchanged greetings with me, I offered a light bow.
Just a few days ago, I was a porter myself, so there was some sense of kinship.
"Alright, now that the greetings are done, let's go inside! Haha, already feeling antsy, aren't we?"
"Right, I also want to see the abilities of our new Sir Necro."
The hunters laughed and eased their tension.
Clank!
Kang Jaeho loaded his revolver and spoke up.
"Okay, now that we've reported to the Association, let's go in right away. Dong-hoon and the porter please follow along."
They seemed more relaxed than tense.
'Indeed, they are daring hunters.'
Honestly, I found it a bit strange.
Even if I'm included, challenging a C-grade dungeon means risking one's life.
Where does this level of ease come from?
'Well, it doesn't matter.'
The reason I'm participating in a C-grade dungeon is not because they are safe.
It's solely for my skeletons and the confidence I have in myself.
It's not blind self-assurance.
'Because my skeletons, capable of dispatching D-grade top-tier orcs in an instant.'
Moreover, i have the old man's advice that even rankers can't deal with, couldn't I clear a C-grade dungeon?
I raised my staff.
[Skill activated: 'Awakened Skeleton Summon' (D-grade).]
Squeak! Squeak!
First, Bone 1 with a sword and Bone 2 with a spear appeared by my side.
[Skill activated: 'Awakened Skeleton Summon' (D-grade).]
Bone 3 holding a bow and Bone 5 with a staff in the rear.
And finally,
[Consuming 10 energy.]
['Bone 4' appears.]
Kwoong!
A sturdy bone shield leaned against the ground, and Bone 4 appeared in the front.
I smiled satisfactorily at the formation of these fellows.
"Ohhhh."
"Sir Necro! It feels like you've gotten even stronger compared to last time?"
"Right, the appearance hasn't changed much, but there's something different. The gaze of the skeletons has become sharper."
The hunters even went as far as praising, which lifted my mood further.
I shrugged my shoulders.
"Let's go right in."
***
[Entering the dungeon.]
Swoosh!
As soon as we entered, a scorching heat enveloped my entire body.
[Exposure to harsh environment!]
[All attributes decrease by 10%!]
'Ugh.'
The sunlight was so intense that it was hard to open my eyes.
The sand of the desert was dry and cracked.
Scattered dead trees lay fallen here and there.
"Wow, it's much hotter than I thought?"
"We have to endure it. Let's think of it as enjoying a sauna."
"Easy for you to say, is it even possible?"
The hunters grumbled while rolling up their sleeves.
F-grade porter, on the other hand, seemed to be already struggling, biting their lips in discomfort.
'Is it really that tough?'
I tilted my head.
It was hot, but just bearable.
Especially compared to the hellish saunas the elderly endure, this was child's play, right?
'Could it be because of pain resistance?'
Squeak!
Since my skeletons were originally creatures devoid of moisture, they were robust against the heat.
"Gather around, everyone."
Kang Jaeho, without any change in expression due to the heat, sharply called the members together.
He certainly was a veteran who knew how to act in a dungeon.
"Focus, The types of monsters you'll encounter here are scorpions and snakes."
"Yikes, Snakes?"
"Don't pretend like you didn't already know. I've already told you, haven't I?"
"Hehe."
Ignoring the playful member, Kang Jaeho continued with the explanation.
The essence of the explanation was understanding the structure of the identified dungeon terrain and the location of the boss room that needed to be dealt with in the end.
"The format of a C-Grade dungeon are all similar, go through the barrage of monster and move to the front of the room, then open the door and catch the boss. Thats it."
"The type of boss is always random. So We'll have to see when we get there."
The conversation among the hunters made the porter gulp nervously.
Looking at them, Kang Jaeho grinned.
"You just need to follow along well. If there's something to pick up, pick it up. If there's something to report, relay it. Understand?"
"Yes!"
"Got it!"
The determined porter answered.
And so, the movement began.
The path was straightforward.
Assuming we were summoned in the west, simply move east where the sun was shining brightly, and that would be it.
According to Kang Jaeho's explanation, the further we go, the stronger the monsters become.
-ssssshhhh! Clack!
As we moved forward bit by bit, desert scorpions and snakes began to appear, one by one.
All of them were monsters strong enough to receive a C-grade rating.
"Are they finally showing up?"
"Everyone, get ready!"
Clank! Clank!
The hunters each brandished their weapons.
'Should I try catching one too?'
I began to control the skeletons as well.
I'm not sure why Kang Jaeho treats me so well.
But in this situation, I've been given autonomy.
-Kieak!
Three scorpions started rushing in my direction.
Judging by their momentum alone, they were similar to the 'orcs' I had faced in the open field before.
If it were in the past, I wouldn't have been able to do anything.
"Bone-5!"
I shouted confidently.
Compared to the ferocity of the old man, this was nothing.
Ooong!
In response to my call, Bone-o swung his staff and chanted a spell.
['Bone 5' uses the skill 'Air Shield (Lv.1).']
First, secure my safety.
Then.
"Bone 4, aggro them."
['Bone 4' uses the skill 'Minor Aggro Pull (Lv.1).']
Kwooong!
Bone 4 brought down his shield with such force that the ground trembled.
A cloud of dust rose.
-Kieeek! Kieeee!
['Desert Scorpion' gazes at 'Bone4'!]
['Desert Scorpion' gazes at 'Bone4'!]
['Desert Scorpion' gazes at 'Bone4'!]
Then, the monsters that unleashed their momentum in all directions focused solely on Bone 4.
'Good.'
I felt a sense of relief inwardly.
It's a level 1 skill, yet it works so well.
This also meant that the skeletons were not to be underestimated in terms of strength.
Hooong!
Bone 1 rushed forward, swinging his sword.
It was the 'Slash' I learned from the old man.
Kkagakak!
However, the tough skin of the scorpion did not allow the blade to penetrate.
-Kieeeet!
Of course, judging by their roaring, they seemed to be in some pain.
"Keep hitting!"
Squeak!
Bone 2 and Bone 3 also moved.
Bone 2 thrust his spear into the gap in the scorpion's skin.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
Bone 3 alternated, shooting arrows one by one.
-Kieet! Kieeek!
However, the scorpions only lowered their stingers as if they were possessed, striking only Bone 4 shield.
They couldn't counter.
The skeletons moved without hesitation.
With Bone-2 continuous thrusts, the scorpion's skin finally gave way...
Hooong!
Through that opening, Bone 1 swung his greatsword.
Crack!
The scorpion's leg was dismantled in a brute blow.
Crimson blood splattered.
['Desert Scorpion' has been defeated.]
'Easy, isn't it?'
The rest were the same.
When Bone 1 raised his sword to strike, the severed part of the scorpion flew through the air...
And Bone 3 arrow lodged itself between the wounds.
'They're weak. Not like C-grade at all.'
Was the grade wrong?
Or have I become stronger?
Of course, if it's a desert scorpion, it's a lower-tier within the C-grade.
Their strength is about D-grade, but they've been elevated to C-grade due to their characteristic of hunting in groups.
"Hey, Mr. Necro, you've already finished three of them?"
"It looks like we've definitely gained some good luck, huh?"
I glanced to my side.
Kang Jaeho's group seemed to have also dealt with the scorpions, wiping the blood off their weapons.
It was a bit surprising how they showed no signs of disarray.
'Is that all it took?'
Well, in the dungeon with the old man, there was no way to gauge their strength.
In that dungeon, both they and I were a feeble survivors.
'Anyway.'
One member among them has been mentioning 'luck' repeatedly.
It bothered me.
It didn't seem like much time had passed, but their image had changed.
Their muscles seemed to have developed, and their faces looked more handsome.
I really want to check my abilities quickly.
As well as The sudden friendliness.
'He's treating me too well.'
Looking at it now, with their level of skills, they would have been fine even without me.
As Kang Jaeho Said, if they want to welcome me as part of the team.
wouldn't it be better to try to synchronize rather than giving me autonomy?
'Am I being too sensitive?'
In short, that's the feeling.
There's a kind of instinctual unease, but there's no clear symptom.
'You never know.'
What If they approached me with the intention of targeting my luck?
What If they were experts of a much higher grade than the badge they hold?
Let's think about it.
Why did they choose me out of many hunters? And that's even when I'm outwardly an E-grade.
'What's this?'
I furrowed my brow.
It felt like the puzzle pieces were gradually falling into place.
"They know that i'm the one who obtained the rewards from high-level dungeons."
But because of the secrecy agreement with 'Parang,' I can't speak about it casually, nor can I ask.
No matter how skilled they are, they wouldn't want to break the promise with Ranker Kisoyul.
'In that case...'
While following all the previous restrictions, there's one way for them to fulfill their desires.
That is, dungeon exploration.
It's a space without CCTV, where no evidence is left behind.
Dungeon accidents occur more frequently than traffic accidents.
'Let's be cautious for now. It's still just a suspicion for now.'
Someone said that there's something scarier than dungeon monsters: it's humans.
When you Living as a hunter, you come to realize this truth.
Thud, thud.
We continued to walk, white slowly dealing with the monsters.
About two hours seemed to have passed.
Finally, the boss room we had been waiting for came into view.
An enormous 'door' standing in the middle of the desert, with various patterns carved on both sides.
[Ding!]
[Stage: Ancient Desert Scorpion King]
[To unseal the Ancient Desert Scorpion King, you must offer a sacrifice.]
[Place the sacrifice on top of the two engraved magic circles.]
[The sacrifice must be a living hunter of F-grade or higher.]
"A sacrifice, F-grade..."
I muttered in a low voice. Information they hadn't heard yet.
'If it's a living being...'
I instinctively glanced behind me.
The porter siblings, reading the message with widened eyes and puzzled expressions, were visible.
At the same time.
"Hmm, a sacrifice, huh? The boss type seems to be tricky, huh?"
"Yeah, why does it have to be this? Tsk."
The hunters were chuckling without a hint of pity.
The true nature of the discomfort I'd felt so far.
"Ha, these guys."
I clicked my tongue.
That's right.
They weren't Monster Hunters, but Hunter Hunters.
In other words, hunters who hunted other hunters.
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