Chapter 06
Unknown Grade Dungeon
Dungeon grades.
Subjective difficulty levels quantified because the system didn't specify it.
As a renowned ranker once said in the mass media,
"you want to know the dungeon grade in advance? Unfortunately, there's no such method. You'll have to go in and check the difficulty yourself."
The system was peculiar.
Friendly in some aspects,
yet unreasonably unfriendly in others, making it seem unnecessary.
It would have been more convenient if it could just inform beforehand before entering.
"If I were to give one hint, check the brightness of the color surrounding the dungeon. The darker it is, the higher the probability of a high-difficulty dungeon."
However, this wasn't entirely accurate either.
The concept of difficulty was subjective from the start, and the reliance on probability statistics led to weak speculations.
That's why the World Hunter Association had no choice but to establish a standard.
The standard was simple.
"If five or more hunters of the corresponding grade can't clear it, then adjust the grade upwards!"
For example, let's assume that five or more A-grade hunters participated but failed to conquer it.
Then, the dungeon's grade would be designated as S-grade.
It was indeed a rather crude judgment criterion, but the hunters were quite satisfied.
After all, the number of dungeon incidents decreased significantly compared to when there was no standard... Well, it was inevitable.
In the end, it was a method where someone's sacrifice was unavoidable.
In short, this was the problem.
"Someone went in from the beginning, but how do we determine if anyone came out?"
"That's right. Ultimately, until someone goes in and checks, we can only speculate."
"So, who will go in?"
"They say some teams dare to enter, aiming for a jackpot."
"Well, even though entering is free, isn't it still necessary to have a somewhat high-level guild confirm it? Some people are scared, after all."
The dungeon I'm about to enter.
We call such dungeons "Unknown Grade Dungeons"
In the end, for dungeons like these,
when a certain amount of time passes without a successful strategy, large guilds have agreed to participate directly for confirmation.
One might consider it mandatory as designated by the association.
However, it's not an entirely noblesse oblige concept.
High-difficulty dungeons promise high rewards, which leads to fierce bidding competitions.
"But."
Even on the scale of large guilds, safety management is essential.
Sending in the 2nd or 3rd division recklessly and suffering a total defeat would result in a tremendous loss of power, wouldn't it?
That's why Before the expedition, they send out a "search party".
Thanks to that,
I could smell the scent of the dungeon much earlier than the other mercenaries.
* * *
"A cave?"
[Entering the dungeon.]
With a tingling sensation, the surroundings transformed.
The field type is a cave.
Drip, drip!
Water was dripping here and there from the ceiling.
Fortunately, thanks to the night pearls sparsely attached to the walls, there was no difficulty in securing visibility.
"Oh, night pearls, huh? If you take those off and sell them, they'll fetch a good price."
"Arthur, be careful. Don't you know hunters who recklessly touched things in the dungeon ended up dead?"
"That's just a saying."
Unlike me, who was tense,
Kim soo yul and her members casually stretched and started talking.
Except for me, there were a total of four members.
Aside from the S-grade Kim soo yul, all of them were wearing violet nameplates indicating A-grade Hunter.
"......"
I gulped, swallowing my saliva.
The people chatting and laughing beside me were definitely not ordinary folks.
They were top-tier hunters, the kind you'd only catch a glimpse of on TV.
And there were the hunters with code names.
"Please don't be too casual, and stay focused," said Amje Kim soo yul, the Shadow Emperor.
"First, Sogum (Swift Sword) and Sohwa (Small Fire), you'll go around with me."
"Yes."
"Understood."
Were they truly the names of rankers? The A-rank hunters, who seemed friendly amongst themselves, nodded politely.
"And Guide Kang Seon-wook?"
"Please Speak."
"try to find the exit. And Cover the porters as well."
"As expected, I thought it would be something like that."
Middle-aged hunter Kang Seon-wook glanced at me and nodded.
"Are you Confident?"
"If I'm not, won't it be a Shame to my code name?"
Unlike others, he had a slightly peculiar code name, Guide, bestowed by the system because he was exceptionally good at finding paths in dungeons.
It suited his role perfectly in the search party.
"Well then, let's hurry and set off."
Without saying much to me, Kim soo yul turned and ran ahead.
"Oh, Porter. Feeling nervous?"
Kang Seon-wook grinned and asked.
Being older, he had advised to speak comfortably during our first meeting.
He was an extroverted person, to the point of asking to be called "hyung" on our first encounter.
"Yes? Well... it would be a lie if I said otherwise."
"Then stay alert."
"Huh?"
I tilted my head in surprise.
"By the way, let me tell you, there's something suspicious about this dungeon, it's not just my imagination. Amje Kim soo yul, who is a ranker, didn't tell you to be on edge for no reason."
"Oh, is that so?"
Now that I thought about it, Kim soo yul did seem a bit anxious.
Even if it's an Unknown Grade dungeon, it's just a dungeon where a few mediocre teams failed.
But why is a ranker within the top 1,000 in the world in such a hurry?
"This dungeon is overly quiet. The structure is simple, and there's a high probability that there are no monsters. In such a narrow cave, if there were living beings, there should be at least a slight echo or vibration. Well, that means there might be hidden unique gimmicks..."
"Wow, you can figure all that out even before searching?"
"Well, kid, I've been dealing with dungeon for years."
He chuckled.
"For now, follow me. Let's start by finding the exit as instructed."
"Got it."
I followed him, in the opposite direction from where Kim soo yul had gone.
Sweat formed on my back and palms, but I didn't hesitate.
There was still a sense of safe when you were with a master guide.
However, that feeling didn't last long.
"Haah, this is so unsettling."
"Hmm, it's really strange...? No traps, no hints... Hah, this dungeon is quite eerie."
"Hey, Porter. Don't you feel like your body's getting heavier? Or Is it just me?"
"...."
As we walked further, Kang Seon-wook's expression grew increasingly strange.
The air became more unpleasant, and with each step, my body felt heavier.
It was as if something sticky and dense was pulling me down to the ground.
A shiver ran down my spine.
"Is it giving you the creeps too? Guide-nim... Are we sure about continuing?"
"Well, this feeling is new to me too. I didn't have this sensation even when facing a ranker."
"Huh?"
"I have a feeling there might be some inexplicable presence. Damn it, you said you're a necromancer, right?"
"Yes."
"For now, summon something. I'll do my best to help, but you never know, right? If things get dire, you'll have to look out for your own life."
"...."
It was a very frightening thing to say.
But for now, I should probably heed the advice of the expert, right?
["Bone 1" appears.]
["Bone 2" appears.]
["Bone 3" appears.]
["Bone 4" appears.]
["Bone 5" appears.]
Creak, squeak!
Using 50 energy, I summoned all the skeletons I could.
Afterwards, I positioned bone 4 with shields in the front. Bone 3 with a bow and the bone 5 sorcerer were placed on the sides. I placed Bone 1 and Bone 2 in the rear.
"Goodness, did I give them names too carelessly?"
When I first received my unique ability, they told me to give them names.
I didn't know they would grow into skeletons I could summon like this, so I gave them rather hasty names.
I had no idea I'd be using those names up until now.
"Oh, skeletons? Aren't there better options?"
"Well, I don't have anything like that...?"
I tried to answer the question that pricked at my chest with a grumble, but I couldn't.
"Ugh?"
A discomforting aura seemed to pervade the space as if it were gleefully taking control.
Breathing became difficult under the immense pressure.
It started to feel as if my entire body was heating up, like spending over ten minutes in a sauna.
"G-Guide-nim?"
"Damn it! Just a bit further! There's an open space ahead!"
"Ugh... What's different about an open space?"
"I don't know! But I can sense some energy over there! There might be someone there worth saving!"
"Energy?"
"I don't know! It could be the advance party that came in first. Or it could be a monster. Just move!"
Oh, man, I don't get it.
Now I can't even open my mouth, and I can't even keep my eyes open.
It felt like my ears were plugged and my knees gave out from the pressure.
Bone 5 used a skill.
[Using the skill 'Air Shield' (Lv.1).]
['Air Shield' (Lv.1) is shattered.]
"Cough?"
Blood spurted from my mouth. I couldn't believe it. The pressure was so intense that the skill was obliterated as soon as it was activated!
I shouted instinctively.
"Damn it, Bone 1!"
I had to get through this alley with the meager strength of the struggling bones.
It was the only means I had at the moment.
Moreover, Kang Seon-wook was already ahead in the distance.
"Ugh..."
Does this even make sense?
A dungeon that suddenly appeared in Paju City with extremely high difficulty level, enough to make even a ranker nervous?
They throw me a half-baked unique ability and now this!
Is there some other reason why the revered transcendents hates me! Damn it.
I want to live.
Whether I'm a ranker or not, I need to survive first.
As I muttered to myself like a madman, the oppressive feeling that had been suffocating me vanished like it was a lie.
I had finally reached the "open space" that Kang Seon-wook had mentioned.
[You have reached the stage 'The grief White-Haired Elder.']
"Yikes. The Profound White-Haired Elder? What's this now?"
***
The open space was about three times wider than the previous cave.
There were intricate patterns on the floor, and in the center of the left wall, there hung an artificial-looking "door." Then, a message popped up:
[Ding!]
[Stage: The Griefing White-Haired Elder]
[Frost has formed on the old man's white hair indicates how grand it's Grief.]
[Enter the room and defeat the elder.]
"Huh?"
Instinctively, I understood.
The white-haired elder inside that artificial "door" was the boss of this dungeon.
The pressure I had felt until now was emanating from that "door."
That's why the closer I got to this open space, the stronger the pressure became.
"But, it means I can survive inside the open space...?"
I looked down at the pattern on the floor. Hmm, is this some kind of seal that blocks energy? No, it's something else.
"Peo-people!"
"Hunters have finally arrived! A-are they reinforcements?"
About ten men and women had gathered in the open space.
Judging by the colors of the badges hanging from their waists, most were C-rank (green) or D-rank (yellow) hunters.
They looked at me and Kang Seon-wook, crying out in relief.
"A purple badge! A-rank hunter!"
"And there's a necromancer with skeletons too! It must be a rescue team! Please, get us out of here. Sob."
"No, first, some food... No, please give us something to drink. Our throats are so dry."
Though they varied in age and gender, they all had one thing in common: they were emaciated.
Well, given that there was no food or water on these patterns, it made sense.
If they'd been trapped here for a long time without an "exit"
"Yeah, let's distribute some emergency rations for now."
Kang Seon-wook looked at me.
"..."
I was momentarily annoyed at him fleeing alone to survive, but well, I had to understand.
He had warned me beforehand, and after all, dungeons were places like this.
I handed them a few chocolate bars and bottles of water.
As a porter employed by a large guild, I had prepared emergency rations for potential survivors.
"Water!"
"Something to eat!"
They rushed towards me like a horde of zombies from the apocalypse, devouring everything in a frenzy.
"..."
My chest felt tight. Wasn't this a glimpse of my future if I messed up?
"Come on, eat slowly."
Middle-aged Kang Seon-wook spoke as he stroked his beard.
After a while, looking at them finishing their meal, I asked slowly,
"Could you please explain what happened?"
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