Chapter 16 – The Second Power
—
The process after that went smoothly.
Ji Hyun-woong scanned through the materials I brought and, realizing their significance, immediately expressed his desire to sign a contract with me.
Naturally, most of my conditions were accepted.
A short three-month contract period, a hefty signing bonus and salary, the right to refuse overtime, and so on.
It was hard not to be satisfied with such conditions.
“Looking forward to working with you, Ji Hyun-woong.”
“I’m Kim Yujin.”
And so, we found ourselves on the same boat, even if only for a short time.
“Oh, by the way, would it be possible to receive the signing bonus in kind rather than cash?”
“In kind? Do you have something specific in mind?”
Even if I received cash here, it would just be money in this place.
What mattered most was leveraging it for better specs. Unless I were in Seoul, getting proper equipment here wasn’t easy.
If possible, I thought it would be better to ask for items upfront.
So, I requested a piece of equipment I’d wanted for a while.
“A Spatial Ring.”
* * *
As I fiddled with the ring on my left hand, I murmured to myself.
“Not bad. It’s barely noticeable.”
The spatial ring I received from Ji Hyun-woong was a pretty decent piece of gear.
Though its internal space wasn’t very large, the ring itself was incredibly thin, making it almost imperceptible when worn.
It didn’t interfere with wielding a sword at all.
At that moment, Prill tilted her head and asked me.
【Yujin.】
“Yeah?”
【Why did you choose that? Wouldn’t armor have been a better choice?】
She seemed puzzled that I prioritized utility over direct combat power.
I kindly explained it to her.
“My Everfrost Sword is enough for weapons.”
【True! That’s fair!】
“Well, I did consider armour… but all the ones here are uncomfortable to wear.”
I had briefly thought about requesting armour instead, but unfortunately, none of the equipment owned by the Hyunwoong Faction offered both mobility and adequate defense.
I wasn’t willing to sacrifice mobility for defense, so I opted for utility instead.
There was one more decisive reason for my choice.
“And my Everfrost Sword stands out too much.”
The Everfrost Sword was a blade made of ice.
Its extraordinary appearance alone made it an attention magnet.
If I didn’t want to constantly draw aggro, the spatial ring was one of the most essential items for me.
【Ah, that makes sense.】
Prill nodded as if she understood.
While I was chatting casually with Prill, we arrived at our destination.
“So, this is it.”
The place we arrived at was the Hunter Team 3 lounge of the Hyunwoong Faction.
This was where I’d meet the teammates I’d be working with for a while.
Knock, knock.
After lightly knocking on the door and stepping inside, a few Hunters greeted me.
“Who are you?”
“Huh!?”
Among them, one person reacted particularly strongly.
“Hunter!!!”
It was the youngest member of the Hyunwoong Faction.
A 1-star Hunter whose life I had saved during the Dungeon Break.
“Thank you so much earlier!”
“Oh, it’s nothing. By the way, are you okay? You don’t have any trauma or anything?”
“Thanks to you, I’m perfectly fine!”
He looked up at me with sparkling eyes.
…It was a bit overwhelming.
“Oh! But why are you here, Hunter?”
“I’ll be serving as the deputy team leader for Hunter Team 3 starting today. I came to meet the team I’ll be working with for a while.”
Even though it was a temporary three-month position, I needed a title since I was now affiliated with the Hyunwoong Faction.
However, being a regular team member would have been inconsistent with my skills, and becoming a team leader would have been inappropriate due to my lack of experience.
That’s why I was given the title of “Deputy Team Leader.”
‘But in reality, I’m basically the team leader.’
What I found most satisfying was the practical authority it granted me.
The Hunter Team 3 of the Hyunwoong Faction currently had no team leader.
The team leader was reportedly dealing with a serious illness.
They hadn’t even participated in the recent Dungeon Break defense.
In essence, my role was equivalent to that of a team leader.
“Wow! Welcome, Deputy Team Leader!”
The youngest member clapped enthusiastically.
“Suddenly calling you Deputy Team Leader feels a bit odd… but we look forward to working with you.”
“Please take care of us!”
The other team members didn’t seem to have major objections either.
While it might have seemed sudden for an outsider to take the deputy team leader position, I had clearly proven my capabilities.
Everyone here had witnessed my abilities during the Dungeon Break.
‘Besides, it’s only for three months.’
Even if there were any complaints, it didn’t matter.
All I needed to do was get along for three months.
“Oh? Then, Deputy Team Leader, are you going to the dungeon with us tomorrow?”
“That’s the plan.”
“Wow!”
“Thank goodness.”
Their reactions were positive.
‘Of course.’
Most of the Hunters here were 2-star, and the youngest was 1-star.
The dungeon they were scheduled to enter tomorrow was confirmed to have 2-star and 3-star level monsters.
If the team leader had been present, it might have been a different story, but going in without one would have been risky.
The Hunters breathed sighs of relief.
“We were terrified at the thought of going in by ourselves.”
“That would have been a death sentence.”
Taking on 3-star monsters without a 3-star Hunter was madness.
It wasn’t something anyone would order unless they wanted the team to die.
Looking at the brightened mood of the team members, I thought to myself.
‘This isn’t too bad.’
Initially, after signing with the Hyunwoong Faction, I had wanted to rest for a few days and focus on individual training.
Especially honing my Aura and swordsmanship.
However, due to Ji Hyun-woong’s earnest request stemming from their lack of manpower, I reluctantly agreed to the dungeon expedition.
And now that I was here, it didn’t seem too bad.
The team’s atmosphere was decent, and the response to me as the new deputy team leader was positive.
‘From being just a porter at the Ironclad Faction to becoming a deputy team leader here….’
It was still a modest step, but it was undeniable progress.
While it was a bit disappointing that things hadn’t gone as planned, this was simply a slightly different path, not the wrong one.
‘Practical experience is necessary anyway.’
To be honest, if it weren’t beneficial for my growth, I wouldn’t have accepted the dungeon expedition.
What mattered most to me now was getting stronger.
And.
‘Entering dungeons certainly helps with growth.’
It wasn’t just training that I needed; real combat experience was just as important.
For now, I intended to use the Hyunwoong Faction as a stepping stone for growth.
In that sense.
“Is no one using that?”
I pointed at a device in the corner of the lounge.
“Are you planning to use it?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll turn it on for you!”
The device in question was…
Whirrrrr—
Thud, thud, thud—
“Ahhh… this is nice….”
【Me too! I want to try it!】
‘You don’t fit the size.’
【Aww.】
It was a massage chair.
And I thought to myself.
Rest is also an essential part of growth.
The Hyunwoong Faction was a place with excellent employee benefits.
* * *
The next day.
Hunter Team 3 of the Hyunwoong Faction gathered in front of a gate.
It was a dungeon-type gate they planned to clear today.
“Is everyone here?”
“Yes, Deputy Team Leader!”
A total of six people had gathered here.
The team consisted of me, the deputy team leader, three 2-star Hunters, one 1-star Hunter, and one porter.
Seeing the porter among them brought back some personal memories.
‘Not long ago, I was in that same position….’
Of course, there were some differences.
The treatment of porters in the Ironclad Faction and the Hyunwoong Faction was starkly different.
At least here, they were treated with a basic level of respect.
‘Damn Ironclad bastards.’
The thought of past grievances made my expression harden.
But I quickly shook my head to dispel the memory.
Those guys would soon be crushed.
‘Because I’ll make sure of it.’
Until then, my only task was to grow stronger.
Nothing else mattered.
Any other complications would be handled by Ji Hyun-woong.
‘Looking back, finding this temporary base was a great decision.’
Nodding in satisfaction, I proceeded to perform the final check with my teammates.
“Have you all packed your gear and consumables properly?”
“Yes!”
“Good. Let’s head in.”
Everything was in order.
“Wait!”
“?”
That was until a man with blond hair and a heavily tanned body appeared out of nowhere.
‘Who’s this punk who looks like a delinquent?’
I only wondered for a moment before I realized who he was.
“Team Leader Geum!?”
“Uh… weren’t you on medical leave?”
Apparently, this was the missing team leader of Team 3.
As for why he was here…
Perhaps he instinctively sensed his position was in jeopardy.
“Well, I heard there was a new deputy team leader, so I came to check it out. Just to make sure everything’s okay!”
“…We’re fine, so there’s no need to worry. You should focus on your recovery—”
“Shh. Be quiet! I need to talk to the deputy team leader.”
“……”
The man silenced one of the team members before turning to me.
“So, you’re the parachute hire they brought in?”
And just like that, he started picking a fight.
‘Good grief.’
It didn’t feel great.
He seemed convinced I wouldn’t dare retaliate.
It wasn’t entirely baseless, either.
After all, I was indeed an outsider parachuted into this position, and he was the one who had been in charge of this team until now.
In terms of hierarchy, he was technically my superior.
Perhaps that’s why.
“Yeah, that’s me. So what?”
“Wh-what…!?”
He clearly hadn’t expected such a response from me.
“You… do you even know who I am!? I’m the team leader. The team leader!”
“I know. I’m not blind.”
“You little…!”
The so-called team leader turned red and started fuming.
But it seemed he didn’t have much else to say.
“If you don’t have any business, leave. We’ve got a dungeon to clear.”
And so, I calmly dismissed him.
The ones who were more surprised were my teammates and Prill.
“Gasp!”
“Whoa.”
The team members audibly sucked in their breaths, and Prill nervously whispered to me.
【Uh… Yujin. Are you okay?】
‘Of course, I’m fine.’
I hadn’t done this thoughtlessly.
I calculated that I could handle this much.
First of all, the team members didn’t seem to like this guy very much.
That alone indicated he wasn’t a well-liked leader.
Moreover, he hadn’t participated in yesterday’s Dungeon Break defense.
The reason? He claimed he was “unwell.”
But looking at him now? He seemed perfectly fine.
It was clear he’d faked being sick to avoid participating in a critical battle.
Honestly, it was disappointing that someone like him was part of the Hyunwoong Faction.
‘Well, it’s not like every place is filled with good people.’
He was probably holding onto his position thanks to his status as a 3-star Hunter.
The Hyunwoong Faction lacked combat power, so Ji Hyun-woong probably couldn’t afford to kick him out easily.
And more importantly.
‘I heard all of this directly from Ji Hyun-woong.’
This assured me that the guild leader wasn’t on this guy’s side.
That confidence allowed me to stand my ground.
“You… you… This isn’t going to work. I’ll lead the dungeon expedition today!”
“People on medical leave don’t get to do that. Submit a proper recovery report first.”
“…Damn it. This little punk!”
Finally, he raised his fist in frustration.
But I slammed the ground in front of him with my mana-infused foot.
Boom—!
“……”
The impact silenced him.
I spoke directly to his face.
“Officially, I’m in charge of today’s dungeon expedition. Because some so-called team leader called in sick.”
“……”
“We’re moving in.”
And so, with the atmosphere heavier than before, our team entered the dungeon.
A lush tropical rainforest unfolded before us.
‘At least he didn’t follow us in.’
It seemed the team leader wouldn’t bother us further inside the dungeon.
The youngest member approached me with a worried expression.
“Um, Deputy Team Leader, are you sure this is okay?”
“It’s fine. I’ll take full responsibility, so just focus on clearing the dungeon.”
“…Understood.”
I reassured the youngest member.
And then.
“Seriously, what can that guy even do?”
“I never liked him anyway!”
“Deputy Team Leader, why don’t you just take over as the team leader instead?”
For some reason, the other team members were on my side.
I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Alright, let’s focus on clearing the dungeon first. We can discuss the team leader issue later.”
“Understood!”
For now, I managed to calm the team members.
We were in a dungeon, after all.
A place where monsters could appear at any moment.
Then.
【Uh… Yujin!】
‘What’s wrong?’
Prill spoke with a serious expression.
【Something feels off here.】
‘The dungeon?’
【Yeah.】
Something felt off about the dungeon?
I immediately heightened my alertness.
Unforeseen accidents could happen at any time.
If even Prill found something strange, it might indicate a serious issue.
‘Explain in detail. What feels off?’
【Well…】
After a moment of hesitation, Prill finally said something important.
【I think there’s another Dragon’s Power here.】
“……”
I blinked for a moment, then relaxed.
“…Prill.”
【Yeah?】
“Don’t say stuff like that so seriously.”
【Hehe.】
It turned out to be good news—a hidden piece discovered.
—
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