Chapter 40
TL: Uncle Choi
Editor: Bait
[In Order to Move to the Next Floor, Eliminate the Goblin That’s Hiding From a Group of Orcs.]
As soon as they entered the dungeon, a new notification rang in the players’ ears simultaneously.
A light silence permeated the area.
“The clear condition is revealed.”
It was Jung Hoon-young who broke the silence.
Wearing armor made of black leather and carrying a huge shield on his back like a backpack, he spoke to the crowd.
“Since the condition for this floor is not difficult, let’s move separately on the first floor. But if you find the goblin, don’t fight it by yourselves and be sure to alert everyone.”
There was no response.
It was because the plan was already agreed upon in advance.
Jung Hoon-young continued speaking to his party members without waiting for an answer. “Alright, let’s get to work!”
“Woaa!”
“Ye-ap!”
Following Jung Hoon-young, his colleagues threw themselves through the thick forest with eager cries.
Without saying a word, the other party left toward the direction was opposite to where Jung Hoon-young’s party decided to explore.
The only one left standing now was Kim Woo-jin.
He was sitting down alone, unmoving.
He was recalling the conversation he had with Jung Hoon-young in the bathroom.
‘The battle on the 2nd floor.’
Jung Hoon-young told him his plan in the bathroom.
We will behave normally on the 1st floor and get rid of the Skull Guild members who are hiding their identities as soon as we arrive on the 2nd floor.
The reason for his plan was not explained.
However, that wasn’t unusual. Does a bodyguard ever explain why they are guarding a person in a certain way?
Moreover, there was no need to explain why.
‘Tight on time.’
Kim Woo-jin knew the reason.
‘Even if it’s a D+ rank dungeon, 2 floors are still 2 floors.’
Park Yi-yeon’s memory enabled him to find out how many times he had already made deals with the Skull Guild. He knew Hoon-young was a major customer of the Skull Guild and how to gauge their levels of competence.
At the same time, he could also figure out how skilled the assassins from the Skull Guild were.
‘They can definitely clear this dungeon as nine people without me.’
Unless Park Yi-yeon remembered their abilities incorrectly, it was no problem for the nine of them to clear this dungeon.
‘Especially person named Matsumoto, his skill is not normal.’
One of the assassins sent by the Skull Guild named Matsumoto was very skilled.
‘A holy guardian of light…’
For he was carrying the same halo that made Lee Se-joon a hero.
Skilled people like them had no problems clearing a mere 2 floor dungeon.
‘But it would be troublesome for them if I ran around.’
However, if Kim Woo-jin acted as a variable, the situation would certainly change.
For example, if Kim Woo-jin ran away on the 1st floor.
Or if there were problems while hunting Kim Woo-jin, resulting in more than two casualties.
In that case, even if the floor was cleared, they would have to face greater danger on the next floor.
Above all, Kim Woo-jin had the experience of surviving an assassination sent by the Skull Guild.
‘They most likely don’t have something like the Anubis’ eyes, so they would probably want to keep me alive if possible.’
From the Skull Guild’s side, Kim Woo-jin could not be underestimated even if they wanted to look down on him. And most importantly, they needed him alive in order to extract information from him.’
After taking such restrictions into account, it made it much harder for them to hunt Kim Woo-jin.
‘In such a situation, the best strategy for them is to clear the 1st floor quietly then move onto the 2nd floor.’ Avoiding as many issues as possible on the 1st floor.
In other words, on the 1st floor, they will act as hunters who are watching over their game.
They won’t care if their prey eats grass, drinks water, or whatever.
‘They’ll just watch over me on the 1st floor no matter what I do.’
Of course, they wouldn’t mind Kim Woo-jin accumulating bodies of orcs that will become Kim Woo-jin ‘s blood, weapons, and soldiers.
Kim Woo-jin got up from his seat when he arrived at this conclusion.
Jung Hoon-young, who was a level 29 player, was undeniably a strong expert.
With Undying Fighter as his halo, his fighting skills, judgement skills, and even his leadership skills were outstanding,
And he was also an excellent planner.
“So how is he?”
“He’s constantly hunting the orcs. He’s very skilled. A meticulous guy, good at kiting after poisoning them with his Blood Poisoning and setting up traps.
“Anything unusual?”
“Not really. He’s just hunting. The only thing special about him is how he’s treating the corpses separately. Well, it’s a sensible thing to do.”
“But keep an eye on him just in case. Get a clear picture of his behavioral patterns and abilities. That’s how we can catch him without complications.”
That was why Jung Hoon-young was not escorting Kim Woo-jin but hunting him.
“Aren’t you too worried?”
“Yeah, honestly, isn’t it as easy as lying down and eating rice cake? The assassins and the guards are on the same side. Realistically, it’s already game over for him. Although we can’t do anything about getting a mission failure on our record.”
As mentioned earlier, Jung Hoon-young’s skills were real.
He was a real skilled expert who wouldn’t be affected by a little scratch on his record.
“Easy work and we earn one billion won per person… it feels like we’re making money too easily.” From his perspective, there was no reason for him to refuse a huge amount of money in return for his failure.
As his subordinate said earlier, this was a game that was virtually over when his group betrayed Kim Woo-jin.
“The Skull Guild is always generous with their money.”
“I don’t understand where all of their money comes from.”
Furthermore, it was not the first time that he made a deal with the Skull Guild.
However, he never figured it out. That’s how professional they were.
There was no problem with letting go of their focus by just a little bit.
“Don’t release your concentration.”
However, Jung Hoon-young tightened the rope around his concentration.
“The Skull Guild isn’t stupid, they wouldn’t have spent so much money on an easy job. I’m sure that guy named Kim Woo-jin has something up his sleeves.”
That was why Jung Hoon-young was a real expert.
“So first of all, we need to figure out all we can about him.”
Jung Hoon-young spoke while looking at the male subordinate who was right next to him.
“I always emphasize it but don’t hunt when the prey is on high alert. Go for the kill when it’s unaware and has its guard down.”
With these instructions, Jung Hoon-young slowly looked around.
“Isn’t it time to switch?””
A woman wearing a lightweight leather armor and a bird feather cap nodded.
“Yeah it is. It’s about time to switch but he’s not here yet.”
Everyone temporarily became silent due to the fact that the observer they sent to monitor Kim Woo-jin did not come back.
There was tension in the air.
It was evident how everyone here knew the importance of punctuality during surveillance.
“Shall I go?”
The female player raised her hand.
Seeing that, Jung Hoon-young said.
“No, we’ll all move together.”
Kururu!
Inside the thick forest, an orc was moving around.
Keuaa!
The orc’s movements became very rough and alert.
It was evident that the orc noticed the scent of blood, a very freshly spilled blood.
Simultaneously, there were signs that the orc was hungrier than ever before.
Krrr!
A piece of food that was constantly emitting the scent of blood appeared in front of its eyes.
A player was shaking on the floor, bleeding.
Keuaaa!
Orcs started running towards the food that was literally prepared on a table for them to eat.
It was at that moment.
A player appeared out of nowhere hit the orc’s head with the huge hammer in his hands.
Puukk!
Along with the sound of something hard breaking, the orc fell to the ground.
It was an attack that was sufficient to kill a normal person.
Keukkk!
However, the fallen orc moved its body while trying to get up rather than dying.
Krrr!
Unfortunately, its skull was broken and the damage had reached its brain, severely damaging its senses, in particular its sense of balance.
Puak!
Once again, the orc fell while trying to rise from the ground.
The player with the hammer swung at the orc’s head once more.
Puukk!
The sound of its skull breaking repeatedly rang.
At that moment, Jung Hoon-young, who was holding a hammer, shouted.
“Check the condition of Jin-wuk!”
An ironclad man immediately approached the fallen player.
The man had a wooden bottle on his left and a white light shined on his right hand, which meant he had activated his healing skill.
It signified that he was a healer and that was why he wore an ironclad armor.
Wasn’t it common sense to give the physically weak healer stronger defensive equipment when mobility was not important?
“Two!”
Meanwhile, Jung Hoon-young called the remaining two subordinates.
Two quickly showed up.
Puukk!
Jung Hoon-young shouted at the two as he struck his hammer at the orc’s head once again. “Look over the perimeter!”
Hearing this order, two subordinates went to observe the area while holding their weapons.
Jung Hoon-young also stopped paying attention the orc and began to surveil the area.
‘What could it be?’
At this moment, Jung Hoon-young’s eyes were sharp enough to remind one of a beast.
It was understandable.
Having his search party attacked was same as having his eyes gouged.
Furthermore, aiming for one’s eyes required competence.
It was evidence that the enemy had both intelligence and ability.
‘Who?’
Then who exactly was the enemy?
Here, Jung Hoon-young did not jump to conclusions on who the enemy was.
But then Jung Hoon-young heard a voice behind him.
“Aaahh!”
It was a scream from the healer who ran to heal his fallen ally.
When Jung Hoon-young turned his head in response to the sound, he could see two skeletal orcs with terrifying bone swords in their hands. They stabbed Lee Il-sung along with Kim Jin Wuk, whose neck had been cut off.
‘Trap!’
It was a situation where their enemies used their colleague to lay a trap for the healer.
“Enemies!”
“Skeletons!”
Then two subordinates who were surveilling the area announced the arrival of the enemy.
Jung Hoon-young turned around once again.
Then he saw a group of skeletons already surrounding him.
There were seven skeletons with completely black bones and every one of them held a sword made of bones coated with crimson blood in their hands.
At such a scene, Jung Hoon-young shouted.
“Grou….”
Group up!
He tried to shout that order.
Puhwat!
If Kim Woo-jin, who was hiding in the ground had not approached him from the behind and cut his neck with the dagger in his hand, he could surely have shouted so.
Huheop!
Jung Hoon-young let out a sound while trying to gasp for air.
[You Are Under the Effect of Blood Poisoning]
Jung Hoon-young’s ears received a frightening notification.
However, Jung Hoon-young had no time to consider that notification.
Puk!
It was because Kim Woo-jin brutally thrusted his sword into Jung Hoon-young’s neck.
Tukk!
Jung Hoon-young collapsed just like that.
“Aaahh!”
The healer Lee Il-sung, who was attacked by the two skeleton soldiers then collapsed due to the accumulation of wounds that could no longer be treated.
One of the skeleton soldiers turned its body toward another prey as if it were no longer interested in Lee Il-sung.
“Uh, uh!”
“Hyung!”
The remaining two people were appalled and gazed at the scene.
‘Uh, what do we do?’
‘Wha, what’s happening?’
When their eyes turned toward Kim Woo-jin, their hearts were filled with dread.
The first thing that players who joined the Messiah Guild learned was a word of warning.
“Don’t trust anyone except our guild members from now on. Especially inside a dungeon.” An advice not to trust anyone other than their fellow Messiah Guild players was due to Messiah Guild’s position in the world as the enemy of most players.
Even in the Messiah Guild, Kim Woo-jin only handled the most difficult tasks.
He encountered many people who approached him with good intentions but later changed their faces and showed hostility once inside the dungeon.
Naturally, Kim Woo-jin was an expert on dealing with such people.
It was important to stab em in the back before being betrayed.
That’s why he dealt with Jung Hoon-young’s party first.
Since they had to forcefully be kind and loosen their vigilance in order to strike Kim Woo-jin in the back. And now it was over.
Puk!
The last survivor of Jung Hoon-young’s party was killed by a skeleton soldier’s sword.
[Skeleton Soldier Has Achieved 3 Kills. All of its Stats Increase By 9 Percent Due to the Effect of Ruler of the Battlefield.]
Their end was clearly notified through Kim’ Woo-jin’s ears.
As soon as Kim Woo-jin heard the notification, he approached the dead and met their eyes.
[Eyes of Anubis Are Opening.]
The black eyes began to read their memories.
He started searching for what they were intending to do to him, what kind of relationship they had with the Skull Guild, and if they had connections to the Messiah Guild.
He figured out how they handled the money they saved from committing illegal acts.
That was all.
Kim Woo-jin was unemotional during this process.
- We have to catch him alive? It looks like they are going to torture him. Ku! He’s going to die after a hard time.
- What an unlucky guy! After being betrayed and then killed, he won’t be able to close his eyes properly.
- Anyway, I was thinking about buying a watch when the money arrives, what kind of watch should I buy?
Even at the moment, when Kim Woo-jin saw how they talked about betraying him as if he were a snack one might have with a drink, he didn’t show any particular emotions.
It was the same even when his eyes met with the dead Jung Hoon-young.
Kim Woo-jin didn’t pay attention to the plans they had for him.
- So you’re saying that if we betray the person we’re supposed to guard for Park Yong-wan, you’re going to give us five billion won?
- That’s right.
- Fve billion won for just stabbing a player in the back…
- Is the amount too low?
- No, not at all. I will take this kind of job with pleasure.
- Thank you as always. Mr. Kim Je-hoon.
One thing in particular attracted Kim Woo-jin’s attention.
‘Kim Je-hoon’
The name of a colleague he recognized from the Messiah Guild appeared.
‘I finally found a tail that I could catch.’
Kim Woo-jin raised his head.
Now, Kim Woo-jin, whose eyes returned to normal, headed somewhere.
Momentarily, where Kim Woo-jin stopped walking, a goblin was hanging from a tree like a corpse.
Kim Woo-jin threw one of his throwing knives at the goblin.
Puk!
The flying knife cut off the lifeline of the hanging goblin.
[You Have Eliminated the Hidden Goblin.] [The 1st Floor Dungeon Has Been Cleared. You Will Now Move Onto to the 2nd floor.]
Kim Woo-jin had no intention of stopping his hunt here.