Chapter 20

[You have entered the Alchemist’s Laboratory.]

[You are currently in a party with Ruen (Mercenary).]

[Set experience distribution.]

Opening the door of the old building in the forest released a fishy smell, as though they had stepped into an aquarium.

1. Pay the mercenary a fixed fee.

▶ The mercenary receives no share of hunting experience.

▶ The mercenary does not count as a party member.

▶ An additional time penalty (+3 minutes) applies for each mercenary when registering on the Dungeon Board.

2. Share hunting experience instead of paying a fee.

▶ The mercenary counts as a party member.

▶ The mercenary counts toward party size when registering on the Dungeon Board.

▶ The mercenary also receives the title’s effects.

The options appeared as they entered the dungeon.

“Hmm...”

Woojin slowly read through both choices. The titles awarded for time attacks varied according to placement among the top three on the Dungeon Board.

‘And the title’s grade also changes depending on party size.’

Naturally, securing first place on the Dungeon Board alone would earn him the best title.

[The Dungeon Board is now active.]

A window appeared when he reached toward the enormous flask standing at the laboratory’s entrance.

[Current Record Rankings]

[1st: Kerga’s Party (4 members), 17 minutes 37 seconds]

[2nd: Lycan’s Party (4 members), 19 minutes 31 seconds]

[3rd: Jin’s Party (4 members), 19 minutes 40 seconds]

“Option two.”

Woojin made his choice without hesitation.

“A-are you sure?”

“Think of it as an investment. If I only cared about myself, then of course a higher-grade title would be better. But I want us to stay together to the end.”

“T-to the end?”

“Yes. We have to go to the central continent together.”

“Oh...”

For some reason, his unhesitating reply brought a blush to Ruen’s face, and she bowed her head low.

“... Thank you.”

[2. Share hunting experience instead of paying a fee.]

▶ Ruen (Mercenary) now counts as a party member.

With the notification, their surroundings began to change.

WHOOOOSH...!!

Whitish mist billowed up in an instant, blocking their view.

“Ruen. Summon your spirits.”

At his command, she hastily formed hand signs.

HUMMMM...!

A tiny whirlwind formed above her shoulder. Then rippling gusts shaped like upside-down cones began floating around her.

“Use the spirits to find the way. The mist may block the path, but it can’t block the airflow leading upstairs.”

At his command, the wind spirits swiftly scattered.

‘The community said the mist disappears once you reach the stairs to the second floor.’

RUMBLE...

Until then, the mist would keep summoning monsters.

‘The air’s changed?’

For an instant, the mist surrounding them trembled faintly.

Woojin tightened and adjusted his grip on his sword.

‘Come on.’

He didn’t know what would be summoned, but he would cut it down the moment it appeared.

[“Grrk.”]

The mist before them cleared, revealing something enormous within.

PATTER...

Dust fell over their heads.

“A rock golem...”

Ruen murmured as she looked up at the enormous monster, which seemed twice her size.

[“ROOOOAR!!!”]

The golem beat its thick chest with both arms like an orangutan, then charged with a roar.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!!

With every step, cracks spread across the laboratory floor like a spiderweb.

“Ruen!!”

Whitish wind enveloped Woojin’s sword.

“Haaaah!!!”

Once he saw the wind settle over the blade, he swung with all his strength at the golem’s oncoming fist.

CLANG!!!!

Despite his all-out strike, a clear metallic ring sounded, and not a scratch marked the golem’s body.

“Over here!”

Though his attacks did nothing, Woojin swung several more times to hold the golem’s attention.

“Khan!! I found it!”

That was when Ruen called out to him. She was pointing at a black stone inside a glass cylinder.

He knew instinctively what it was.

‘The golem’s core stone.’

“What color is it beneath the glass cylinder?”

“Red!”

She drew her bowstring almost before she had finished answering.

[Hawk Eyes activates.]

FWOOSH!!!

Flames sprang from the arrowhead.

WHOOOSH!!!

She released the string, drawn taut to its limit, and the arrow pierced the mist toward the core stone.

BANG!!!

Her arrow struck the pillar beneath the glass cylinder dead-on.

CRACK...! CRACKLE...!

Cracks spread across the glass.

“One more shot!!”

[Rapid Fire is activated.]

Ruen’s hand moved too fast to follow. Just when she seemed to be drawing an arrow from the quiver at her waist—

WHOOSH!!

—it had already long since left the string.

She was truly lightning-fast.

CRASH!!!

The cracked glass cylinder shattered, and the arrow struck the core stone inside dead-on.

[“Grrk...?”]

The golem staggered.

“Ruen! Duck!!!!”

Gripping his sword with both hands, Woojin twisted at the waist.

WHOOOOM...!!!!

[Severance is activated.]

BZZT...! CRACKLE...!!

As Dragon Heaven activated along the wind-enchanted blade, electricity surged from the sword, lashing in every direction like a dragon.

“Eek!”

Ruen hastily ducked and backed away.

THUD!!

Woojin’s sword bit into the golem’s side. Unlike the first time, when it had bounced off, the blade sank deep into its body with a dull impact.

GRRRRIND!!!

The surging electricity blackened the golem’s body. The sword buried in its side passed straight through its waist and out the other side.

BOOM!!

Cut in half, the golem collapsed to the floor.

[You have defeated the Rock Golem.]

As its rocky body turned to ash, a cluster of pure white light flared around Ruen and vanished.

“... Oh?”

She had leveled up.

“Ruen, can you shoot any faster?”

Her joy at growing stronger was short-lived. She couldn’t readily answer his question.

“I’ll try putting my new points into Agility for now.”

At her uncertain answer, Woojin took off his ring and belt.

[You have unequipped the Cheetah Ring.]

▶ Agility decreases by 5.

▶ Agility is now 30(+35).

[You have unequipped the Belt of the Trinity.]

▶ Strength decreases.

▶ Strength is now 45(+25).

“Use these.”

“Really? Are you sure you can give them to me?”

“The monsters here aren’t ordinary living creatures. They’re all summons belonging to the dungeon boss, the alchemist.”

To kill the monsters, they first had to destroy the core stones.

“The faster you take care of the core stones, the faster we can clear the dungeon.”

He placed the equipment in her hands.

“Our time attack record depends on you.”

In truth, he was perfectly capable of claiming first place alone, but...

‘Might as well give her a carrot.’

HISSS...!!!

The mist stirred once more.

[“SCREEEE...!!”]

A gargoyle burst from the mist, spreading black wings.

Had Woojin’s words worked?

WHOOSH! WHOOSH-WHOOSH!!!

Before the monster had even finished materializing in the parting mist, Ruen had already fired arrows toward the core stone that had appeared far away.

At the same time, flames formed along Woojin’s blade.

BANG!!!

With a look of satisfaction at her response, Woojin smashed through one of the gargoyle’s wings without hesitation.

[You have defeated a Gargoyle.]

[You have defeated a Gargoyle.]

[You have defeated a Gargoyle.]

Tackling a four-person dungeon with just two people was a challenge in itself, yet they were cutting down the monsters faster than they could be summoned.

[Congratulations.]

[You have leveled up.]

▶ 22 → 23

“Ruen. What about the way forward?”

Woojin asked as he put his new points into Strength without hesitation.

“Just a moment...!”

At his question, she hurriedly equipped the items, closed her eyes, and concentrated on the spirits she had sent out.

CHIRR.

At a sound like an insect chirping, she opened her eyes and cried out.

“... I found it!”

“Where?”

“Follow me!”

Ruen shot forward like a bullet, plunging into the mist. She gripped Woojin’s hand tightly.

PATTER-PATTER-PATTER!!!

Nothing was visible in the mist, yet she deftly avoided the structures as she ran deeper inside.

The laboratory’s time attack was normally difficult because finding the way to the second floor was so hard. However, the more summoned monsters they defeated in the mist, the thinner it became.

That made dispatching the summoned monsters as quickly as possible the basic tactic for this dungeon’s time attack.

‘Normally, you need at least four fights to thin the mist enough to see the way.’

They had managed it in just one.

‘We’re going to set another incredible record.’

He couldn’t afford to let his guard down, but watching her run ahead without hesitation filled Woojin with certainty.

“I found it!”

WHOOOOSH!!!

As she cried out and stepped farther in, the mist blocking their path dispersed in an instant.

Woojin raced up the old wooden stairs to the second floor that had been hidden behind it.

[You are entering the boss room.]

He opened the second-floor door without delay. An acrid smell greeted him, and he saw an old man standing before a large desk.

[“Intruders...! Have you come to interfere with my research yet again...!!”]

Despite the freedom [Evil Tale] offered, dungeon bosses always began with a set pattern.

This was Sig Elric, the Mad Sage, boss of the [Alchemist’s Laboratory].

‘The community said his element depends on what he says.’

[“Did Rahad send you?!”]

Rahad.

That was the name of the head of the Alchemists’ Association on the central continent, but here it also served as a clue to defeating the boss.

‘If he mentions Rahad in the first phase...!’

WHOOOOSH...!!!

As he spoke, blue aura surged around Sig Elric.

“Ruen! Fire element!!”

FWOOSH!!!

As Sig Elric shouted, Ruen swiftly enchanted Woojin’s sword with fire.

BANG! BANG!! BA-BANG!!

Dozens of blue orbs poured from the sage’s hands.

[Acceleration is activated.]

[Sprint is activated.]

BOOM!!

Woojin planted his foot and launched himself forward with all his strength.

BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!!

The orbs aimed at him struck the empty floor where he had stood, spraying jets of cold water.

HISSS...!!

The moment the water from the exploding orbs touched the floor, the surrounding area froze white.

[“How dare you...!!”]

Seeing Woojin evade his attack, Sig Elric roared in anger and thrust his hand upward once again.

Sharp spikes rose from the frozen floor.

CRACK...! CRACKLE...!!!

The spikes jutting from the floor targeted Woojin from behind.

“...!!”

It was too late to dodge.

Woojin raised an arm to block the ice spikes flying toward him.

POP! POP!! POP-POP!!!

But just before reaching him, the spikes shattered in midair like bursting balloons.

WHOOSH...!!

The arrows that had broken the ice spikes flew past Woojin and lodged in front of Sig Elric.

“Now!!”

At Ruen’s shout, Woojin drew a sharp breath.

“Hup!!”

Then he brought his sword down with all his strength.

BOOOOM!!!!

But his sword was stopped by the shield surrounding Sig Elric.

[“Insolent fools...!! Do you think that’s enough to break my barrier?!”]

[Sig Elric’s transmutation formula activates.]

Dozens of overlapping magic circles appeared beneath his feet, and the bookshelves on either side began shaking.

[Summoning begins.]

Here and there, books on the shelves and tools scattered about began emitting light.

CRUNCH!!!!

But at that instant, Ruen’s arrows pierced the glowing materials with swift precision.

“...?!”

Sig Elric couldn’t hide his shock.

With the materials for his summoning destroyed, the transmutation circles beneath his feet shattered and vanished.

[“I-impossible!!”]

[Hungry Brand is activated.]

▶ Alchemist Sig Elric is branded.

▶ You steal 1/3 of his highest stat (Magical Power).

▶ You do not possess Magical Power.

Milky energy flowed from Sig Elric’s body, seeping into Woojin before disappearing.

▶ You cannot use Magical Power.

▶ If you cannot use the stolen stat, the branded target loses an additional amount equal to twice the stolen value.

[“Urgh?!”]

Was it because of the stolen Magical Power?

For an instant, Sig Elric’s barrier grew fainter.

[Spirit Channeling is activated.]

▶ Attack power increases by a factor of 1.5 for 30 seconds.

At that instant, the soul of a gigantic orc appeared behind Woojin, then vanished.

“Hup.”

BOOOOOOM!!!

His sword, imbued with red aura, descended toward Sig Elric’s head once more.