Chapter 5
After telling Na-gyeong about my plans to become an academy teacher, my days became busier than ever.
I only had one month to accomplish everything.
“Explorers don’t have it easy, huh.”
Legally, all explorers are allowed to enter dungeons only once per week.
Even if you fail to clear the dungeon, you must wait a full week before attempting again.
This is why popular dungeons are often fully booked year-round.
For someone like me, starting from the lowest rank, F, and needing to clear four dungeons to progress, this was a frustrating limitation.
“Is there any slot available…?”
I spent entire days glued to my phone, searching for open spots in dungeons that fit my schedule.
“Oh, found one.”
Luckily, it wasn’t as hard as I feared.
Even within the same rank, dungeons varied in difficulty based on terrain and the types of monsters that appeared.
An F-rank dungeon with a one-star difficulty rating was much easier than a five-star dungeon.
So, by targeting the most challenging dungeons nationwide, I could usually find an available slot that fit my schedule.
The only downside was having to drive to those far-off locations.
“I’m heading out. Eat well while I’m gone.”
“You’ll be back tonight, right?”
“Probably.”
“Alright. Be careful!”
And so, over the course of five weeks, I steadily cleared F-rank dungeons, then moved up through D and C ranks.
Before I knew it, a month had passed, and I was standing at the threshold of my final challenge:
the B-rank dungeon, also known as the “Explorer’s Wall.”
“What a nice day.”
The B-rank dungeon I would challenge today was located in the northern mountains of Gyeonggi Province.
Unlike the C-rank dungeon I visited last week, this area was quieter, with fewer people around—perfect for driving and focusing on the task ahead.
“Let’s get my gear.”
I parked near the management office by the dungeon entrance and popped the trunk to retrieve my equipment.
Inside was a sleek, dark blade stored in an elegant case.
It was the gear Choi Yeon-jung had gifted me not long ago.
“Hehe, finally I get to use this.”
It had been about two weeks since I received it.
The day I easily cleared a D-rank dungeon, I happened to meet Yeon-jung nearby and ended up getting treated to an expensive meal.
“You’re using that? Why?!”
When the conversation turned to equipment, I showed her a photo of the weapon I was using. She was so shocked she couldn’t close her mouth.
She knew my spending habits well enough to expect me to use something cheap, but apparently, my weapon was even worse than she anticipated.
“This won’t do. I’ll get you some proper gear.”
Despite my protests, she pulled out her phone and said she’d arrange for a weapon from one of her sponsors.
“It’s not even my money, so don’t worry about it.”
The weapon arrived just yesterday.
It came with a certificate of authenticity and a signature from someone important, making it clear this wasn’t a cheap piece of equipment.
“Well, she said it wasn’t her money.”
I had no reason to refuse a free gift.
Click. I opened the transparent case and carefully drew out the blade.
The matte black blade gleamed faintly, its handle wrapped tightly in sturdy, brown leather.
I wasn’t sure what material it was made of, but it felt light enough to swing all day while still carrying enough weight to provide a satisfying grip.
What stood out the most was the intricate golden engraving on the blade, reminiscent of the holy sword Judgment I once wielded during my hero days.
“She’s got great taste.”
Smiling with satisfaction, I sent Yeon-jung another message of thanks before heading to the management office’s locker room.
It was time for the team meeting before entering the dungeon.
“Do you really need a party for just a B-rank dungeon?”
From B-rank onward, dungeons are classified as higher-tier, requiring a minimum of three participants to enter.
Since I didn’t have a party of my own, I reluctantly joined another group.
“Excuse me.”
“Ah, you must be Han Do-hyun, right?”
I was greeted warmly by a young man and woman, both decked out in top-of-the-line gear.
“Wow, their equipment is no joke.”
Compared to them, my casual workout clothes and single weapon made me feel seriously underdressed.
“I’m Kim Sang-jin, and I’ll be part of your team today.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Han Do-hyun.”
“This is my partner, Park Ina.”
“Pleased to meet you.”
“Likewise.”
Despite the stark contrast in appearances, we exchanged polite introductions, ready to face the dungeon together.
Luckily, the first impressions of my two teammates weren’t bad.
After chatting for a bit, I realized that Kim Sang-jin, who had already achieved B-rank, seemed to be helping Park Ina, his colleague from the same agency, progress.
“So, Han Do-hyun, this is your very first time in a B-rank dungeon?”
“That’s right.”
“Wow. And you chose a five-star difficulty for your first attempt?”
“Yes. It was the only one that fit my schedule.”
“Haha! Makes sense. Just stick with me today, and I’ll make sure you get home safely.”
Kim Sang-jin, exuding confidence, reassured me with his easygoing demeanor.
As someone already familiar with B-rank dungeons, he had every reason to be confident.
So, I decided to play along and follow their lead.
“Let’s start with a briefing, shall we?”
Taking on the role of leader, Sang-jin provided a concise explanation of the dungeon we were about to challenge.
He pointed out where traps might be hidden and what types of monsters we could expect.
“Over here, you’ll notice…”
His explanations were thorough and demonstrated his experience, proving he didn’t achieve B-rank by sheer luck.
‘Not bad.’
Though it was clear he wasn’t aware of any shortcuts through the dungeon.
A dungeon is an independent space, severed from another world for some unknown reason.
Among the countless dungeons, there are even ones connected to the world I once came from.
Coincidentally, the dungeon we were about to enter happened to be one of those.
“To think I’d end up here again.”
As I gazed at the old ruins spread out beyond the rift, memories of the past came flooding back.
This was a place I had challenged repeatedly, long before I crossed paths with Kim Yoo-bin, in search of a rare treasure.
‘That was a hellish experience….’
Lost in thought, I strolled leisurely through the ruins.
Meanwhile, Kim Sang-jin, who was walking behind me, observed me with suspicion.
“…What’s with this guy?”
Though he kept it to himself, Sang-jin didn’t have the best impression of me.
To him, I didn’t seem like a normal explorer.
“No armor, just a tracksuit….”
I had told him I’d been an explorer for only five weeks.
Even the public profile he checked before the meeting confirmed this fact.
In other words, I’d been at this for less than a month.
Yet, I was attempting a five-star B-rank dungeon on my first try?
Sang-jin, having seen all sorts of people during his career, couldn’t help but think I wasn’t ordinary—whether in a good way or a bad way remained to be seen.
‘…Let’s just keep an eye on him.’
With Sang-jin leading the way, the three of us entered the ruins.
“Let’s go.”
Preparing for the upcoming battles, Sang-jin carefully unsheathed his weapon—a sword crafted by a renowned artisan, recently purchased at great expense.
‘A masterpiece like this deserves a five-star dungeon.’
Gazing at his weapon with pride, Sang-jin smiled to himself.
Although it wasn’t part of the artisan’s exclusive collection, it was still leagues above most high-end equipment.
Even as a secondhand purchase, its near-pristine condition made it a worthwhile investment.
Gripping the hilt tightly, Sang-jin’s confidence soared.
…That is, until something caught his eye.
“…?”
He noticed the sword slung across my back.
The sleek black blade, adorned with intricate golden patterns, stood out.
“Huh?”
Sang-jin, a self-proclaimed gear enthusiast, immediately recognized the patterns.
They were the signature design of the artisan who only engraved them on weapons he was truly satisfied with.
“A fake.”
Sang-jin clicked his tongue inwardly.
The artisan’s collection wasn’t something money could buy.
These weapons weren’t made for commercial sale but were gifted exclusively to top-tier explorers with the right connections.
The idea of a rookie with just five weeks of experience wielding such a valuable weapon?
It was far more likely that I had bought a well-made counterfeit.
“No matter how good the fake is, flaunting it like that….”
Sang-jin’s opinion of me plummeted further.
Still, he decided to keep his thoughts to himself. After all, we’d part ways after today.
“Everyone, get ready.”
Before long, we reached a previously marked combat zone in the ruins.
“Excuse me, hold on a second.”
Do-hyun, who had been walking ahead, suddenly stopped and called out to the two of us.
“…What is it?”
He pointed to a support pillar that was holding up part of the ruins.
“Doesn’t that pillar look like it’s about to fall?”
“What? The pillar?”
The pillar he pointed at was one of many ordinary ones scattered throughout the ruins.
“Looks like it’s going to fall over….”
Ignoring how strange his observation seemed, Do-hyun began poking the pillar and then abruptly pushed it with force.
And then—
Boom! Rumble, rumble, rumble!
The pillar suddenly collapsed inward, causing the entire ruins to shake violently.
“Ahh!”
“Hey! What are you doing…!”
“Oh, look. It’s opening.”
“What?!”
Sang-jin, scowling at Do-hyun’s calm demeanor after his reckless action, was about to pull him outside to hold him accountable when—
Thud, thud, thud, thud!
“!”
The commotion stirred a horde of monsters deep within the ruins.
“Get ready for battle! Ina, now!”
“Y-Yes!”
Amidst the chaos, Sang-jin and Ina frantically drew their weapons and prepared for the incoming monsters.
But moments later—
“…Why aren’t they coming?”
“S-Sang-jin, over there!”
“What?”
The two of them witnessed an unbelievable sight.
“What the….”
“The monsters….”
The horde charging toward them had fallen into a massive pit that had suddenly opened beneath their feet.
“Oh, looks like we can just move on.”
Do-hyun brushed it off, calling it “good luck,” and continued deeper into the ruins.
“H-Hey! Han Do-hyun! Wait up!”
And that was just the beginning.
“Hmm, doesn’t this wall look like it’s about to crumble?”
He demolished random walls to create shortcuts.
“Huh. This statue looks suspicious.”
He activated hidden traps no one else had noticed, allowing them to avoid major battles altogether.
It was as if he knew the ruins like the back of his hand.
“Another trap….”
“H-How are you doing this?!”
“Just lucky, I guess.”
And every time, he dismissed their amazement with casual remarks about luck.
For Sang-jin, watching this unfold was infuriating.
‘Who is this guy?’
By now, it was clear to Sang-jin that Do-hyun wasn’t an ordinary explorer.
“Looks like this is the last area.”
In record time, the three of them reached the final combat zone.
‘We’re more than twice as fast as the best record.’
Checking the time, Sang-jin swallowed hard at their unreal pace.
Regardless of the reasons behind it, this achievement was something worth holding onto.
“…Is there nothing else left?”
“I don’t think so.”
Sang-jin, still wary, asked for Do-hyun’s opinion one last time before stepping up as the leader to orchestrate the final battle.
The strategy was simple: Sang-jin would engage the dungeon boss, the strongest monster, while the others handled the smaller threats.
“It’s coming!”
Boom! The baited magic bomb exploded, and a low rumble echoed from the darkness ahead.
A massive troll king, nearly five meters tall, lumbered into view, accompanied by a swarm of smaller mini-trolls.
Roarrr!
The final battle had begun.
Boom!
Dodging another attack from the troll king, Sang-jin took a moment to assess the status of his party members.
“Hiyah!”
Ina, having conserved her energy thanks to the earlier shortcuts, darted around the chamber, taking down the mini-trolls one by one.
Meanwhile, Do-hyun—
Slash! Slash!
—moved with effortless precision, cutting through the monsters as if it were child’s play.
‘…What the hell?’
Watching Do-hyun fight, Sang-jin felt a growing sense of unease.
It didn’t take him long to realize what was wrong.
Do-hyun wasn’t using any magic.
‘He’s fighting without magic?!’
The realization left Sang-jin utterly stunned.