Chapter 31: Dungeon Black Hole
As I opened my eyes again, feeling the warmth and comfort of a soft blanket, I found myself in a hospital.
It was the VIP room at Miracle Hospital, in the same room where my younger sister was admitted.
Looking at my now fully recovered body, a smile crept across my lips.
“It turned out well.”
It was a successful outcome, worth getting hit twice.
With this, I’d managed to strike a small blow at my enemy, keep my true abilities thoroughly hidden, and, as a result, Changseong would have to compensate me to cover up the entire incident.
‘The best gain was undoubtedly hiding my true strength to the end.’
With that sly old fox’s personality, if I had shown any skill above the level of a promising rookie, he would have definitely kept me under surveillance, constantly interfering with my path.
So I used only a fraction, no, even less than a fraction of my strength.
I limited my physical abilities to match the average level of a promising talent and purely relied on the martial skills granted by the Mugeuk stat.
“But still, it’s disappointing.”
Though the outcome was exactly what I wanted, from a combat perspective… I couldn’t fully utilize the technique of Deflection, which was quite regrettable.
“The skill didn’t manifest either.”
Skills aren’t that extraordinary.
You don’t always have to learn them from a skill book; they can be acquired through extensive experience, taught by a mentor, or even awarded directly by the system upon achieving a significant level of mastery.
The Deflection technique I know would manifest as a skill called Parry [Common-C] once I reached a level of proficiency the system could recognize.
Mastering Parry to an extreme level could even lead to the creation of a skill like Wanryu-Yusu Sword [Legendary-C], as achieved by the Chinese SS-rank hunter, the Sword Emperor.
Wanryu-Yusu, meaning “even a massive flow of water is just a stream before the sword.” The Sword Emperor could deflect any attack with a single sword stroke, flowing it away effortlessly.
Watching his deflection technique in a B+ rank boss monster raid video posted on YouTube before my regression was enough to rekindle my childhood awe and excitement.
This led me to research and practice everything about the technique of Deflection.
Since Deflection, or Parry, is an advanced skill, I never managed to turn it into a skill previously, but now things are different.
“Maybe because it was minor misfortune, the Perseverance reward is small.”
I received a +1 increase in the Perseverance stat and one spare point. I promptly invested the point in my Mugeuk stat and closed my stat window.
It hadn’t even been a day, and I was back in the hospital. Frankly, my physical condition was at its peak, to the point where I could be discharged immediately.
For the healers at Miracle Hospital (the guild), healing a few broken and bruised wounds must have been an easy task, almost yawn-inducing.
As I lay back down on the bed once more…
Knock, knock.
The sound of someone knocking on the hospital room door was followed by it opening, and a healer who looked like an intern stepped inside.
Considering the prestige and abilities of the Miracle Guild, if this intern was recognized as a doctor and going through the internship process, they must at least have a unique-level healing skill.
Doctors are revered figures, regardless of the era.
“Oh! You’re awake. The wounds weren’t too severe, so I quickly treated them! Moving you to this room was on the Guild Leader’s orders!”
I nodded at the bright explanation given by the high school-aged girl, who looked around the same age as my younger sister.
“Thank you.”
“Oh, it’s nothing! I’m just doing my job and getting paid for it! Plus, the Guild Leader assigned me to handle this VIP room, so ensuring the safety of the patient’s guardian is also my responsibility!”
I was taken aback by her words. Not even a fully licensed doctor, yet here she was, a mere intern, tasked with managing a VIP room?
‘I don’t recall anything like this…’
From what I knew of the Guild Leader, he wouldn’t be the type to entrust a VIP room to just any intern.
With the daily cost of staying here, why would he do that?
Did she somehow read my thoughts, or perhaps consider it herself? She quickly opened her mouth to explain.
“Ah… not that I’m not qualified! Although I’m an intern, I have the top marks in all evaluations, and I’m better at healing than most doctors in the guild. Plus, I’m set to be the next Guild Leader. Even though it’s overwhelming… I’m also known as the Saintess!”
I widened my eyes in surprise at her final words.
“You’re the actual Saintess?”
“Yes! Technically, I’m still a Saintess candidate. There are two other candidates besides me. Though, realistically speaking, it’s almost as good as confirmed! Hehe!”
Watching her laugh so innocently, I couldn’t help but cluck my tongue internally.
‘No wonder I didn’t recognize her face. She’s that famous Saintess candidate.’
The only person in the world to bear the title “Saintess” is granted this title exclusively.
With the death of the first-generation Saintess, the competition to choose the next Saintess was in full swing.
That girl, far outpacing the other two candidates, was virtually assured victory, so rumors were swirling that Korea would soon produce a Saintess.
‘But in the end, that Saintess candidate dies. And it’s a horrific death at that.’
That’s why her face didn’t stay in my memory.
How shocking must the event have been for South Korea, a place filled with endless gossip and a quick tendency to forget, to report on it daily for nearly a month?
In the end, no one discovered who, how, or why she was killed. She was simply found dead at her residence, limbs mutilated.
‘I have about a month left before the Saintess candidate dies.’
I’ll save her. The reason is self-evident. If I save her life, she’ll owe me, and that debt could later become a powerful asset for me.
And… she reminds me of my little sister, so I can’t simply overlook her.
After organizing my thoughts, I turned to the girl still cheerfully talking non-stop.
“So, what’s your name?”
“Oh! I completely forgot to introduce myself. My name is Min Chorong! It’s an honor to greet the guardian of my very first official patient!”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Shin Juha, the older brother and sole guardian of the patient Shin Yu-ah. Please take good care of my sister.”
With respect and courtesy, I bowed my head to her, continuing our conversation.
Little did I know what was happening within this guild, in this hospital room.
〚The Curse of Misfortune, having vowed revenge, bears a significant penalty to draw forth strength beyond its limits!〛
***
Central Security Room of Miracle Hospital. Here, in the center, a massive device was installed, and today too… it was quiet.
Naturally so. Despite its name, the Security Room didn’t involve much. All they had to do was take turns guarding patients, particularly those in the VIP rooms.
No, even calling it guarding sounded odd. After all, no one would dare cause trouble here at Miracle Hospital.
This place was officially part of South Korea’s 7th-ranked guild, boasting a large number of precious healers, a powerhouse within the Hunter industry, and was even under the official protection of South Korea’s top-ranked Dangun Guild.
Thus, the security personnel consisted of two types.
The combat team of the Miracle Guild, known as the Holy Knights, who took turns covering shifts.
And those dispatched from the Dangun Guild.
Though most were low-ranking members, no one dared underestimate them because they bore the guild’s prestigious name.
Thanks to this, it was a post so idle that one could easily call it a “honey post,” implying a cushy job.
“Team leader, it’s already lunchtime. How about we get some sundae-gukbap today?”
“Sounds great! Hey, call all the guys out on security duty. Since there’s nothing happening anyway, let’s leave just a few behind and eat together.”
“Ha-ha! Alright. Then let’s leave that dumb goof behind to guard the VIP room. He should be fine handling it alone, right?”
“Let’s go! I’m starving! Nothing like some hot gukbap to cure a hangover~!”
Their blind faith in the calm and safety led them to complacency and negligence.
Perhaps that’s why?
Humming cheerfully as they left the Security Room, they didn’t notice the small spark that erupted from the Dungeon Suppression Device, which kept the entire hospital safe.
***
“Huh? The security has changed. Wait, there’s only one guard? Did they all go out to eat?”
As I stepped out, I glanced at the tall, hulking figure and tilted my head.
‘Looks somewhat familiar.’
I wasn’t sure. After being worn out by Min Chorong’s incessant chatter, I slowly took my time heading down to the first floor, bought a few drinks and snacks, and returned to the VIP room, mentally fortified.
And what greeted my eyes upon returning was nothing but…!
“What… the hell? Why is that here?”
A vast, black vortex was slowly forming, tearing and distorting the air.
And it was right at the entrance to my sister’s hospital room.
“Damn it!”
My movements were swift. The moment a dungeon is created, it pulls in everything within a certain radius like a black hole.
This phenomenon, known as a “Dungeon Black Hole,” demonstrates the unpredictable danger of dungeons that can appear anywhere, and it’s the reason why the dungeon suppression device was developed in this era.
“The Miracle Guild should have a suppression device, though! Why is there a dungeon here?”
A sudden ominous thought made me quickly check the message log I had muted. Sure enough, there it was—the desperate struggle of that damned Curse of Misfortune.
“Shin Yu-ah!”
Calling my sister’s name urgently, I rushed into the hospital room, where Min Chorong and a guard were standing to protect her.
“Damn it, it’s too late to escape now. We need to get pulled in while keeping my sister safe! You, big guy! Hold onto the capsule so it doesn’t shake!”
“…Understood.”
Crack!
With a strange noise, the dungeon finally opened. At the same time, intense winds began to swirl, and an unknown force, one that pulled in only humans, started to activate.
Schwwwwp!
Min Chorong, my sister along with the capsule, the guard, and finally I were all pulled into the dungeon’s black hole. Only then did the dungeon’s dark vortex calm down, seemingly satisfied.
『Dungeon Quest (Mandatory): Ant Nest of Catastrophe
Rank: Unique
Grade: D+
Type: Defense
Description: You have entered an ant nest belonging to the species of Giant Ants known as Kanggeo! Survive!
Objective: Protect the queen’s egg and survive five waves.
Success: Rewards vary based on performance.
Failure: Death』
The place where the four of us landed was a massive cavern. Four passageways extended in each direction, and in the center rested a single egg radiating a mysterious energy.
“Of all things, a survival mission with waves!”
To make things worse, the dungeon’s rank was Unique, and it was rated D+.
Dungeons are pieces of land not affiliated with the Abyss, drifting aimlessly through dimensions until they crash into a dimension.
This truth was revealed through extensive research and later by beings we would meet from other dimensions.
‘If it’s Unique rank, it must be a territory that’s managed to avoid duplication and maintain its uniqueness while drifting.’
Lower-ranked territories—common, advanced, and rare—often fail to withstand dimensional drift, either disintegrating or being replicated into countless territories for unknown reasons. That’s why many low-rank dungeons have similar or identical designs.
Naturally, a territory with a rank high enough to remain intact would also contain stronger monsters. Although a high rank doesn’t always guarantee stronger creatures, it’s often the case.
And to top it off, the difficulty was quite high at D+.
“Damn it, how long do you think the capsule will hold out?”
The problem was my sister. The capsule operates using Magic Stones. And these stones are special ones that can only be crafted through proper processing.
“At most, it’ll last three days. What should we do? Processing Magic Stones isn’t easy! I mean… she won’t die even if the capsule stops, but… going four days without food or water would be dangerous.”
I knew that. Damn it! There were plenty of Magic Stones, but I couldn’t process them.
“…Excuse me.”
“Oh! Thank you for protecting my sister. I genuinely appreciate it.”
“…Actually, I… can process… Magic Stones… a little.”
The guard, who had been silent, pulled a small knife that resembled a carving tool from his subspace pouch. I couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of both relief and disbelief.
“…I learned… as a hobby… so I’m not that skilled… but it should… be enough.”
“That’s such a relief. Thank you again. Although… it’s quite an unexpected hobby.”
I sighed again, watching him scratch his head awkwardly. Then, feeling the first wave approaching from the distance, I drew my sword in preparation.
**((Mugeuk (무극) – A stat that embodies the concept of “limitlessness,” representing boundless martial talent and strength.))**
—
Read More at – GENZNOVEL.COM!!
PLEASE JOIN OUR DISCORD AND SUBSCRIBE THE ROLE TO RECEIVE LATEST NOTIFICATIONS!!
Click here -> https://discord.gg/S8c2kGVr2g
Comment