###
Entering the dungeon.
Kang Hyun summoned Aden.
“Did Chief Choi not give you a ride today?”
“…Yeah, that’s a bit awkward.”
I just took a taxi instead.
“Once I earn some money, I should buy a car.”
“Oh!”
Because of the Perfect Clear effect, I’ve always been seeking out remote Gates.
But without a car, it’s terribly inconvenient.
“By the way, it’s been a while, and I still don’t see any monsters.”
“Up.”
“Excuse me?”
Aden looks up.
He tilts his head, puzzled.
“There’s nothing but clouds.”
“If you enhance your vision with mana, you’ll see. They’re inside the clouds.”
Within the white clouds: white eagle monsters.
Cloud Raptors.
A dungeon with challenging conditions.
But only three monsters to deal with.
“C-clouds!? They’re way too high! How are we supposed to deal with those?”
“We don’t. That’s why this dungeon is unpopular.”
Located in a remote area.
No one else around.
That’s why he picked it.
It’s the kind of dungeon sought out by gravity-type Awakened.
But gravity-type?
Not a single one exists in Korea.
That’s how rare the ability is.
“Ahem- Ahem-”
He lowered his mask and cleared his throat.
Adjusting the resonance of his voice.
Making it as focused and far-reaching as possible.
A basic technique for a Word Mage.
“What are you planning to do? What could you possibly—”
“【Fall】.”
“Huh?”
Aden looks up in disbelief.
The three Cloud Raptors were plummeting helplessly.
“Wow! This actually works? Word magic is amazing!”
Thud!
The Cloud Raptors hit the ground.
Instant death from the fall.
“That vision enhancement? How do you do that? I’ve never heard of something like that being possible.”
“Don’t bother. You can’t even handle your mana yet. If you try, your eyes will burst.”
“Ugh.”
Aden blinks her blue eyes nervously.
“Wait, you’ve never heard of it? Can’t kids these days even manage that much?”
“…Excuse me, but you’re also a kid these days, Master.”
“Thanks.”
“Pardon?”
I collected the mana stones.
Found and cut down the Black World Tree roots.
The dungeon was cleared, and we stood outside.
[Perfect Clear! (Solo)]
[A tremendous achievement! You have completely thwarted the invasion of the World Tree!]
[Due to your achievement, a ‘Blessing’ will be bestowed upon the surrounding area! Everyone will praise your achievement!]
A pillar of light shot up into the sky.
A familiar sight.
But today, something was different.
Ding!
[As a reward for perfectly clearing the dungeon (Solo), you are granted a special item.]
[You receive a ‘Bronze Box’.]
Ding!
[First to achieve ‘Perfect Clear!’ 10 times!]
[Outstanding Achievement!]
[Achievement reward granted.]
[You have received a ‘Silver Box.’]
“Huh?”
Achievement rewards?
This also happened when he received the Inventory.
Is this real?
‘Back then it was <Unprecedented Achievement>. Now it’s <Outstanding Achievement>.’
Even the boxes are different.
Last time, it was something bizarrely censored, something that felt like it shouldn’t exist yet.
This time, it’s silver.
Probably a grade above bronze.
It might not be as good as the inventory,
but it should still have better items than the bronze box.
“This time, there are two rewards.”
“Huh? Why two?”
“They said it’s for achieving Perfect Clear 10 times. It’s silver.”
“Oh? Silver?”
[Opening the ‘Bronze Box.’]
I started with the bronze box.
The familiar effect triggered.
Flash!
[You have obtained the ‘Drake Mountain Ginseng.’]
Ginseng?
Why ginseng?
Could it be a miraculous tonic?
[Drake Mountain Ginseng]
A specialty of Drake Mountain. Increases stamina by three ranks if currently F-, and by one rank if E- or below.
“Oh, this!”
Drake Mountain is a place in Thea.
Even I’ve heard of it.
‘This is supposed to be incredible for vitality.’
[Awakened Profile]
Name: Kang Hyun
Rank: F-
Traits:
<Reincarnator>
Skills:
<Kyle-Style Magic Swordsmanship (Original) Lv. Max>
Stats:
Strength: F-
Agility: F-
Endurance: F-
Stamina: F-
Mana: E-
Currently, my stamina is F-.
Should I save it for when I reach E-, or use it now?
I recalled the last dungeon.
Goblin mobs and the Orc boss.
I was exhausted just from that.
It was depressing.
If I use it now, the effect will be three times as strong.
Let’s just eat it.
Chomp, chomp.
“Ugh, bitter.”
Ah, that healthy taste you get from these tonics!
This time, I swallowed it all.
Stuff like this only works if you eat it all.
Ding!
[‘Stamina’ has increased. (F- → E-)]
“No more stamina troubles!”
“Congratulations on your stamina upgrade!”
Huh?
Anyway.
[Would you like to open the ‘Silver Box’?]
“Time to open the special reward box!”
“Special reward! Let’s go!”
[Opening the ‘Silver Box’.]
The more elaborate effects and sound effects began to ring out.
From the bursting light, a silver gleam shone.
Flash!
Ding!
[You have received a ‘Skill Level-Up Coupon’.]
“Huh.”
“Oh no, judging by your reaction, it’s not good?”
“It’s… something that doesn’t feel very useful.”
The skills I possess?
Only one, and it’s already at Max level.
This item is currently unusable.
Even if I could use it, I’m not even sure the skill system itself is worth investing in yet.
‘Does raising the level automatically make you a master? That’s just absurd.’
I clicked my tongue in disappointment.
It felt like a waste, so I just stashed it away.
“Still, the achievement rewards aren’t bad.”
“Isn’t this a failure though?”
“Well, at least you get a random box. Just the fact that it’s a reward for Perfect Clear makes it incredibly good.”
It’s random, so this time was just bad luck.
Next time might be better.
“Should I try for another achievement? What other achievements are there?”
“I’ve never even heard of achievements existing before.”
“Huh? Is it just me who gets them?”
Come to think of it.
The minimum requirement for achievements seems to be completing Perfect Clear ten times.
They must have existed before, but no one’s been able to achieve them until now.
In essence, the rewards for achievements are mine alone to monopolize.
“Will I get another reward if I do it ten more times?”
I checked my mana.
Plenty left.
【Fall】 is a beginner-level Word of Power, and there weren’t many targets earlier.
“I could clear another dungeon.”
“Oh! Are we going? Will you use Words of Power again?”
“Let’s head out right away. Oh, but I need to make a call first.”
Ring-Ring-Ring—
I pulled out my phone and answered the call.
“Yes, Chief Choi.”
<Great work on the clear. Another solo Perfect Clear today, I see!>
“Well, yes.”
<That’s a relief! Haha!>
What’s so relieving?
Lately, Section Chief Choi has been unusually restless.
<Ah, about that new condition I mentioned last time. We’re still waiting on approval. Once we get it, it’ll be finalized!>
“Ah, okay.”
<So please hang in there for a little longer! Never go to Seonghwa…!>
I never expected him to hold Aden in such high regard.
Is it because her value has skyrocketed lately, thanks to her frequent TV appearances?
Well, she’s practically a celebrity now.
Being from Thea makes her unique, and her pretty face draws attention everywhere.
“Yes, got it. Is that all you wanted to discuss?”
<No! Of course not! Don’t be disappointed!>
“Uh, I’m not disappointed. I was just asking because I’m thinking of clearing another dungeon—”
<About the 1st-floor security team leader!>
Now this was an interesting topic.
<The interrogation of the team leader who made advances toward Kang Hyun is complete.>
I see.
The dungeon will have to wait.
###
At Kang Hyun’s Academy.
Aden collapsed onto the sofa.
“What country was the spy from?”
<They weren’t from another country.>
“Huh? Then who were they?”
Chief Choi explained the organization behind the 1st-floor team leader.
“Tsk, those guys again.”
<Do you know them?>
“Just a minor conflict in the past.”
The first assassination attempt had been thwarted.
But they didn’t give up and tried again.
Boldly, even within the Awakened Management Bureau.
“These guys can’t be left alone.”
“Chief Choi! Did you hear that? These are people threatening my Master! Can’t the government do something?”
I switched to speakerphone.
<Well…>
A troubled tone.
<Of course we can, but it’s complicated.>
“How so?”
<To arrest them as perpetrators, we need clear evidence.>
“Ah. Then Master’s identity would be exposed.”
<Exactly. Otherwise, a lengthy investigation would be required for additional evidence.>
I see.
Well, if they were easy to catch, they would’ve been dealt with already.
“It doesn’t seem like they’ll be wiped out in one go.”
If they’re this brazen, their organization must be quite large.
<Oh, don’t worry about that part.>
“Huh? Why?”
<From the interrogation, we found out that the organization is large, but the assassinations are handled by a small branch.>
“So it’s structured for easy scapegoating.”
Interesting.
In that case…
“I’ll just eliminate them all.”
<What?! No, you can’t do that!>
Chief Choi was visibly alarmed.
“Why not?”
Was he going to lecture me about the sanctity of legal processes?
After two assassination attempts on my life?
‘That would be disappointing.’
Thankfully, that wasn’t the case.
<These are people who murder Awakened individuals. And they’re part of an organization. Even for someone like you, Kang Hyun, it’s too dangerous!>
“Ah, I see. I thought you were going to say it was illegal or something.”
With Section Chief Choi, I half-expected him to solemnly declare, ‘Korea is a nation of law! Citizens must obey the law!’ and throw a tantrum.
But his response surprised me.
<What are you talking about? These are cancerous tumors draining Korea’s Awakened power. If possible, they must be completely eradicated.>
“Oh.”
<That’s the only way to truly strengthen the nation and protect Korea.>
This man was scarier than I thought.
I like his extreme views.
But if he’s saying it’s dangerous, fine.
“Got it.”
I’ll just do it secretly.
‘I already know the branch’s location.’
Chief Choi didn’t know.
I had already interrogated one of their loan sharks in a dungeon.
<…Oh, thank you.>
He sounded taken aback by my sudden acquiescence.
<We’ll do our best on our end, so please be patient.>
“Sure, sure.”
<We’ll also arrange for Kang Hyun’s security. Expect personnel to arrive in two days.>
“Hmm…”
Security?
Quick action, commendable.
That means I’ll have to wrap this up by tomorrow.
Moving stealthily would become annoying otherwise.
<Is something wrong?>
“No, please proceed with that plan.”
Tonight, I’ll crush them.
It’s finally time to use the ‘Dark Room’.
