Chapter 48 - Burning Dungeon (3)

This dungeon raid was a joint operation in name only; in reality, it was close to a competition.

There were several reasons for this.

First, the ambiguous difficulty of C-grade.

There was no particular incentive to fight as one.

It was clearable even if each sword unit played individually.

Second, this was a Burning Dungeon.

For most Hunters, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so as a unit leader, I couldn't ignore this aspect.

Even if not spoken aloud, everyone likely wanted to make a big score here.

But there was a much bigger reason than these things: the matter of pride.

Seo Ji-won and I shared blood (?), but in any case, we were in a relationship of competing for the position of the Haewon Sword Family's Head.

It was a natural feeling to become competitive.

And rumors about today's events would also spread quickly.

For these reasons, the third engagement with the skeleton soldiers was unfolding fiercely.

Rattle!

Rattle!

Craaaaaack!

At first, Seo Ji-won's Myeongundan was taking the lead.

It was expected.

The void left by Choi Ho-joong and Shin Ah-yeon, who had already sortied in the second round, was not easily filled.

This was because Chamryongdan, still a new unit, did not have uniform strength among its members.

However, as time passed, the aspect of the engagement began to change little by little.

The combined attack of the six Chamryongdan members, which was clumsy at first, began to synchronize, and as their coordination was refined, they became quite competent.

Of course, I was playing the biggest role.

I was in the middle of adjusting the positions of the six most efficiently in response to the momentarily changing formations of the skeleton soldiers.

“Jeong Seung-hwan! Move forward!”

“Nam Jae-hoon, Park Ji-ho. Spread out to the left and right!”

The members of Chamryongdan moved in perfect order according to my instructions.

Since I was giving orders considering both the battle situation and their capabilities, there was no reason for them to fumble.

Craaaaaack!

Another skeleton soldier crumbled under our sword unit's combined attack.

[Skeletons remaining: 132]

This time, the method of having three people cover the rear while the other three attacked the front was effective.

Above all, the coordination of the three in the front was amazing.

The two on the wings simultaneously created a diversion on the left and right, and the one in the center took that opportunity to watch for a chance and deliver a decisive blow.

Although I had planned and controlled it, the entire process flowed like water, so I couldn't help but praise the members.

“Seo Ji-han! This is ridiculous!”

Seo Ji-won's tone clearly showed his impatience.

The intonation itself had changed from when he was watching the battle leisurely.

It was still true that Myeongundan was superior, but our side's momentum had also become formidable.

Now they would be able to do well on their own without my command.

“Choi Ho-joong, Shin Ah-yeon. Did you see and feel anything?”

“As expected, the Unit Leader is a genius!”

“Tell me what you felt, not flattery.”

“This is my honest feeling! What kind of magic did you perform, Unit Leader?”

Choi Ho-joong was smiling with a dumbfounded expression.

“It’s not magic. I just moved the chess pieces appropriately while watching the opponent’s reaction.”

“Understood. From now on, I will practice not only swordsmanship but also chess.”

A surprising interpretation that made me want to facepalm.

“Ah-yeon, you?”

“I feel like I’m learning something. Didn’t you command by looking several moves ahead of the skeletons’ movements, Unit Leader?”

I nodded my head.

“I felt that I need to cultivate an eye that sees several moves ahead, not just being preoccupied with the immediate move. To do that, what must I do?”

“You have to be born with it.”

In fact, that was the most important thing.

Because in any form of combat, one often relies on an instinctive sense that cannot be explained with words.

“I see.”

“But don’t be too disappointed just because you weren’t born with it. The part gained through experience can’t be ignored either. And do you think I was just born with it?”

“...Pardon?”

“If you fight and fight until you’re worn out on the battlefield, you’ll also realize something someday.”

Shin Ah-yeon just stared at me with a blank expression.

Well, she probably couldn't even imagine how worn out I was on the battlefield, so it might seem like I was bluffing.

“Why? You don’t believe me?”

“N-no! I believe you!”

Seo Ji-won, who had been listening to our conversation, had become silent at some point.

His hardened expression directly reflected our Chamryongdan’s good fight.

Craaaaaack!

[Skeletons remaining: 109]

The third engagement was also nearing its end.

The number of skeleton soldiers in sight was nine.

Although I hadn't counted exactly, the number of skeleton soldiers hunted by Myeongundan and Chamryongdan in this engagement did not differ much.

This was a level of performance that was exactly as I had expected.

“Nine left. Catch more than five of them.”

When I gave the quiet instruction, the mana emitted by the members began to fluctuate once more.

“Yes! Unit Leader!”

So far, it was unknown which side had more kills.

However, there was one thing I could guarantee at this point. That our members would unconditionally complete the mission I gave them.

Craaaack!

Craaaaaack!

The cycle of the sound of boneheads crumbling became shorter and shorter.

Because Chamryongdan was gradually picking up the pace.

Craaaaaaaaaack!!

[Skeletons remaining: 100]

The score for the last 9 was 6 to 3. In my own way of scoring, it was our complete victory in the match.

***

The final, fourth engagement with the skeleton soldiers was an all-out battle.

Rattle!

Rattle!

All 100 skeleton soldiers remaining in this dungeon had been mobilized without exception.

There was no reason or leisure to save our strength, so all expedition members except for Seo Ji-won and me participated in the battle.

Seo Ji-won’s expression, watching this, was hardened.

In fact, there wasn't a huge difference in the number of kills between Chamryongdan and Myeongundan so far, but Seo Ji-won’s pride had been thoroughly crushed.

Just showing an equal footing with a new sword unit was as good as losing, but in terms of momentum, the atmosphere was almost one of a crushing defeat.

“A little more!”

“There aren’t many left! It’s almost over!”

Boneheads piled up in all directions, and the dungeon raid was also nearing its end.

“The last one is mine!!”

With a roar, Choi Ho-joong’s sword flashed in a single ray of light.

Craaaaaack!

[Skeletons remaining: 0]

And there were no more standing boneheads.

Choi Ho-joong had driven a nail into Seo Ji-won’s souring expression.

The always lofty Seo Ji-won of all people finally reached the point of seething.

[The boss room is opening.]

[Only 2 challengers can enter the boss room.]

On the dark coastline, another portal was created and began to shine brilliantly.

The challengers were already decided.

Seo Ji-won and I, who had not participated in the battle even once so far.

For a moment, the two of us looked at each other.

Seo Ji-won’s expression was murderous.

He was in a state to cut down whatever came out of the boss room.

It was unknown what kind of monster would appear in the boss room.

Also, the class of the boss monster was completely unrelated to the grade of the dungeon.

In the first place, the measurement of the dungeon grade was determined by the amount of mana that could be detected from the dungeon portal. Because the boss room, a dungeon within a dungeon, did not emit mana to the outside.

“Unit Leader! Will you be alright?”

Choi Ho-joong asked in a cautious tone.

This guy had a built-in worry for me.

“Why? Are you afraid I’ll die if I go into the boss room?”

“Th-that’s not it. You’re going in with Young Master Seo Ji-won.”

“So what?”

“Don’t be intimidated! Young Master Seo Ji-won’s martial prowess is famous on a national level!”

It turned out this guy’s worry was something else.

“So Ho-joong, your thought is something like this. So far, all of Chamryongdan except me has fought well against Myeongundan, so you’re worried if the guy called the unit leader will screw up at the last minute. Isn't it something like that?”

“O-of course not! I never thought that!”

“But you’re stuttering right now.”

“Don’t frame me! I was just worried about you, Unit Leader…”

“Alright. I won’t crap on a perfectly cooked meal, so just wait here. Oh, right! Ho-joong.”

“Yes, Unit Leader.”

“Would the members hate it if I set up a unit get-together after today?”

“If you just give the card and don’t attend, everyone will love it.”

This bastard.

“Alright, just pick a place. It’s beneath me, but I’ll just give the card and leave.”

“But will you really be okay?”

“What now?”

“You haven’t hunted at all in the dungeon yet, Unit Leader. Even if it’s a Burning Dungeon, there might be no reward, and if that’s the case, you might not be in the mood to treat…”

This bastard. In the end, it all came back to that.

That he was bothered by the fact that the opponent I had to compete with in the boss room was Seo Ji-won.

“Ho-joong. Today, just don’t give any opinions and keep your mouth shut.”

“Ah, understood!”

I immediately approached Seo Ji-won.

“Shall we go in?”

Seo Ji-won nodded his head without a word.

For him, this boss battle was the only opportunity to make up for Myeongundan’s sluggishness.

And it was also a sure opportunity.

Because the difference in martial prowess between the two of us was undeniably clear.

But it would not go as he wished.

I had something to believe in.

The story I heard from Han Byeong-cheol at the Muwon Sword Family. That would surely create a variable.

Was this situation called dreaming different dreams in the same bed?

Seo Ji-won and I, with our respective thoughts, stepped towards the boss room.

***

Skeleton King.

The boss monster we had to face was a huge skeleton reaching 4 meters.

A bipedal monster of this size was not something commonly seen even on the Kalia Continent.

‘It must be about the size of an ogre.’

But more impressive than the boss’s size was the aura of mana vibrating inside the boss room.

The mana being emitted by the Skeleton King was enormous.

To the point where even Seo Ji-won would be nervous.

“Seo Ji-han, I have to tell you something unfortunate.”

“What?”

“This is an unexpected emergency. The boss monster is stronger than I thought.”

He swallowed dryly and continued.

“So stay back. You’ll only be a hindrance here!”

He declared his intention to face the Skeleton King alone.

The mana of the Skeleton King visible to my ‘Mana Eyes’ was on a similar level to Seo Ji-won’s.

Though not as much as me, Seo Ji-won was also feeling the aura emitted by the boss monster almost accurately.

“There are a lot of people who worry about me.”

“If you die here, Father will hold me responsible. So don’t linger and step back! Dungeon rewards are only meaningful when you’re alive!”

Following his words might be a wise decision.

If I hadn’t met Han Byeong-cheol a while ago, that is.

[The boss battle will now begin.]

As the unit leader, I couldn't crap on the performance that Chamryongdan had built up so far.

Now was the moment to put the final dot.