Chapter 16
[Title: Wow, that gate is freaking huge]
[o o]
It’s been a while since a high-rank dungeon appeared right in the middle of Seoul, hasn’t it?
-They say it’s an A-rank too.
-I was nearby and saw it. Man, it was terrifying.
└ For real, it has that eerie atmosphere or something.
-Can you feel mana if you go there? I want to awaken too.
└ As if, lol.
[Title: According to the news, it’ll be a while before it gets cleared]
[o o]
Even though it’s not an S-rank, it’s a seriously strong dungeon.
People are probably just going to wait it out until the S-rank hunters return from their trips, right?
-Didn’t dozens of people get sucked in?
└ Yep, pretty much a total wipeout.
└ Damn it, what’s the management bureau even doing?
-Can’t the A-rank hunters just team up and go in?
└ I saw my guild having a meeting. Since it’s a one-way dungeon, everyone’s avoiding it, lol.
***
The sudden appearance of an A-rank special dungeon.
It threw the Hunter Management Bureau and the guilds into a frenzy.
It’s not uncommon for high-rank dungeons to appear.
But the issue was that the management bureau failed to foresee it in advance.
Moreover, it appeared in the middle of downtown, and dozens of citizens got sucked in.
Families who couldn’t reach their loved ones were wailing.
Begging for their family members to be rescued.
Pleading not to lose their acquaintances again.
But there was nothing the government could do immediately.
It’s not a C or B-rank special dungeon—no, it’s an A-rank.
On top of that, it’s a dungeon with the constraint of being a one-way entry.
The hunters, valuing their own lives, started avoiding it.
Gathering enough A-rank hunters to enter right away was like reaching for the stars.
That’s how few and precious A-rank hunters are.
The government officials, who were controlling the area near the gate, spoke with tense expressions.
“There aren’t many A-rank hunters in Seoul right now, right?”
“Half of them are out on business trips. If the large guilds don’t unite, it’s impossible.”
One of the men sighed, and another, as if remembering something, clapped his hands.
“Hey, didn’t Hunter Kim Ji-a come up to Seoul a few days ago? What about her?”
“She’s famous for taking on such dungeons, but we can’t reach her.”
“What?”
The surprised man heard the other man’s response as he furrowed his brow.
“She might have gotten sucked in along with the others.”
“Then… the citizens might still be alive?”
“That’s impossible. No matter how strong an A-rank hunter is, she’s alone.”
“…We might lose a valuable talent.”
“If she just runs away, she might be able to survive on her own.”
Perhaps that might be for the best.
The official made a bitter face.
***
Meanwhile, inside the dungeon.
After blocking several waves of monsters, Ji-a was sitting and taking a break.
Her body was covered in wounds, and blood was still flowing from injuries that hadn’t stopped bleeding yet.
Si-yoon anxiously checked Ji-a’s condition from the side.
“U-Unni… Are you okay…?”
“…Yeah, I prepared enough potions in advance, so I’m still holding up.”
It was a lie.
Ji-a had already used up all the potions in the previous battle.
From the next battle onwards, it would truly be a fight that tore at her flesh and bones.
The mental exhaustion was also enormous, but she gritted her teeth and endured it.
“Si-yoon, it’s dangerous if you get caught up here. Stay with the others.”
“But still…”
“You trust me, right? I’m one of the few A-rank hunters in Korea.”
“Mm…”
Si-yoon knew it too.
Even though she came because she was worried, she was actually a hindrance.
But even so, she couldn’t stay away.
She at least wanted to provide some mental support.
“Unni! When we get out of here, let’s buy some cold beer and drink it with Si-hyun Unni.”
“Huhu… Shall we?”
“Judging by how she’s become a spicy weakling, she’s probably weaker with alcohol too. Aren’t you curious?”
“You’re right, I’m curious.”
“She’s definitely going to be cute!”
After sharing some random small talk, Si-yoon returned to where the citizens were gathered.
Ji-a watched Si-yoon’s retreating figure, as well as the two hunters and the citizens.
People quietly sobbing.
People praying.
People trembling as they helplessly looked around.
Everyone was filled with anxiety, hanging on to their faith in Ji-a.
Ji-a etched that scene into her mind.
It was the reason she couldn’t afford to collapse.
Ji-a turned to face forward again.
Ready to start the fight at any moment if the monsters appeared.
‘Si-hyun…’
Come to think of it, she hadn’t asked because she was in too much of a rush.
Whether Si-yoon had activated the bracelet or not.
Ji-a felt conflicting emotions well up at the same time.
A hope that Si-hyun wouldn’t come since it would be dangerous for her to come alone.
And a desire for someone to come and support her.
“I can’t afford to be weak…”
Why had she fought alone all this time?
Because she didn’t want to see people die.
Why had she frequently gone on business trips and cleared avoidance dungeons?
To protect more people.
Ji-a stood up.
Somehow, another group of monsters had spotted them and started approaching.
“Hoo…”
Ji-a took a deep breath to calm herself.
Several trolls were slowly advancing toward them.
Trolls normally appear from C-rank dungeons onward, but these were higher-tier versions.
Moreover, unlike C or B-rank dungeons, a dozen or more were appearing at once.
Ji-a couldn’t back down.
She couldn’t let any monsters get past her.
In this space she was standing on.
She had to kill them all here.
“Bring it on—!”
Ji-a’s roar pierced through the eerie air of the dungeon.
She kicked off the ground and charged forward.
First, she thrust her sharp spear into the knee of the nearest troll.
“Graaaagh—!”
The troll let out a pained scream and swung its massive arm.
Ji-a calmly maintained her distance and dodged the attack.
She thrust her spear into the same spot again.
If it were a one-on-one fight, she could have just repeated this simple action.
But she was alone, and there were many enemies.
While she was attacking, the trolls that closed in on her swung their fists.
Ji-a barely twisted her body to avoid the first punch.
But another troll’s fist rushed at her immediately after.
Had she been in perfect condition, Ji-a would have dodged this attack with ease.
But right now, Ji-a was both physically and mentally exhausted.
She narrowly avoided the punch.
But her posture became unsteady.
She barely blocked the next troll’s kick with her spear.
“Hup…”
Ji-a’s body was pushed back.
Her arms tingled from forcibly blocking the monster’s attack.
However, Ji-a didn’t retreat.
She gritted her teeth and moved forward again.
She clashed with the monsters once more.
Ji-a relentlessly targeted the same troll she had been attacking earlier.
Since she lacked the ability to sweep away multiple monsters at once…
Taking them down one by one was the best option.
Thanks to her efficient judgment and persistence…
Finally, one of the trolls slumped lifelessly to the ground.
But Ji-a didn’t come out unscathed either.
“Argh—!”
A troll’s fist hit her shoulder before she could avoid it.
The difference in their physiques was incomparable.
Even though her body was strengthened by her awakening, there was still a limit.
Ji-a’s body was lifted into the air and flew backward.
She tumbled to a stop some distance away.
She nearly lost consciousness for a moment, but she held on with sheer willpower.
“Cough, cough…”
Her left arm wouldn’t move.
Ji-a broke out in a cold sweat.
But she managed to get up, relying on her spear in her right hand.
“Oh no…”
“What do we do…?”
“Isn’t the hunter reaching her limit?”
The citizens’ anxious voices echoed from behind.
But Ji-a didn’t look back.
With her left arm hanging limp,
She gripped the spear tightly with her right hand.
And moved forward again.
“You won’t get past me any further.”
Right now…
If she were to run away even now…
She might be able to survive.
One arm was useless, but both legs were still fine.
If she ran with all her might, she might be able to hold out until reinforcements arrived.
But, she couldn’t do that.
Because that’s who Kim Ji-a is.
The firmly established identity of Hunter Kim Ji-a… does not permit retreat.
Ji-a believed with all her heart.
The reason she awakened and became a hunter.
The reason she was able to achieve A-rank relatively quickly compared to others.
It was her desire to become stronger to protect others.
She believed it all stemmed from that.
So, she wouldn’t back down.
“Graaaagh!”
The troll screamed as its neck was slashed by her spear.
“Ugh…!”
Ji-a blocked the attack but was sent flying again due to lack of strength.
“…I’m going.”
The battle continued.
Time passed, and the number of trolls had been halved.
But Ji-a’s body was completely battered.
She felt that her limit was near.
But she endured.
At least until she defeated the troll in front of her, she wouldn’t fall.
Staggering, she moved forward again.
Swish!
Bang!
Killing, getting attacked, repeating over and over.
Ji-a squinted her eyes and looked forward with only one eye open.
Only one troll remained.
She had nearly wiped out more than a dozen trolls.
The end was in sight.
But her body wouldn’t listen to her anymore.
“Please… move…”
She gritted her teeth and commanded her body.
But her body, at its limit, refused to comply.
Even that one remaining troll could annihilate all the citizens.
The two hunters were nothing more than decorations at this point.
Just a little longer, just a little bit more…
Although there might be another wave after this…
If she could just hold out until then, they’d have a chance at survival!
Ji-a glared at the remaining troll.
It sneered as it approached her.
It raised its fist high to deliver a crushing blow.
Once it swung down, it would be fatal.
‘Damn it…’
Ji-a widened her eyes.
Since her body wouldn’t move, she at least tried to stay conscious.
The troll braced itself and moved its body with all its might.
At that moment!
Slash—!
The troll’s massive body…
Was neatly split diagonally in two.
Ji-a’s eyes widened.
The troll’s corpse fell to the ground.
And behind it…
A figure dressed in a pitch-black nun’s habit appeared.
It was impossible to tell who it was just by looking at the figure shrouded in a veil.
But Ji-a instinctively knew.
The Saintess, Jeong Si-hyun, had come to save them.
Ji-a’s lips curved upward into a smile.
—
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