96. Well-Behaved Pet
After pondering for a moment, Sergeant Kim Ju-hee added.
“Erase everything related to Jin Hwaryun, the hunter who came with us. Check the path she took. Also, regarding the dungeon.”
“…Wouldn’t it be quite a big deal to go that far?”
“It has to be done. Despite being bothersome. Because someday, someone will inevitably find this information.”
“…Understood.”
At that moment,
Someone approached their vehicle from a distance.
“Sergeant Kim Ju-hee!”
Bang! Bang!
The man rapped on the car window.
Sergeant Kim Ju-hee’s junior whispered to her softly.
“It seems like this person is really angry, doesn’t it?”
“Lower the window. Let’s hear what he has to say for now.”
Crack-
As soon as they lowered the window, the man shouted as if he had been waiting.
“I just heard that Jin Hwaryun, the hunter, entered the dungeon! Isn’t this clearly an act of intrusion? It’s a well-known fact that I have been given the Extrimis’s conquest right, isn’t it known by everyone in South Korea!”
From Noble mtl dot com
The junior beside him raised his hand to stop him.
“Whoa, calm down.”
“Do I look calm right now?! Why on earth did you let her in!”
“Of course, we also understand the importance of Hunter Lee Sang-yoon. Making you an elite hunter is currently South Korea’s top priority.”
***
Thud.
As Han passed through the gate and arrived at the dungeon.
He could face a completely different scene before him.
‘…This is.’
Han looked around.
A forest filled with flowers of various colors and the sound of buzzing insects. It was a dense jungle, so humid that it could be felt deeply in the air.
It was a wilderness so distant, reminiscent of the Amazon.
As he breathed, he could also feel the flow of energy following his breath.
Even though no one said it, he instinctively knew.
It was such a rich mana that even someone as ordinary as him, lacking talent, could sense it instantly.
[Rumble!]
Above the sky, shapes of unknown origin were seen flying while making sounds.
“Hana.”
Looking around, Jin-hwaryeong, with a heightened sense of vigilance, drew her sword and spoke.
“Although I’ve brought you this far as per Hani’s request, if it looks dangerous… I will not hesitate to turn back immediately. You understand that much, right?”
“Of course.”
He had no intention of acting recklessly.
Even so, what they were doing was bordering on recklessness.
But there was a guarantee from the system.
If that was true, it wouldn’t be as dangerous as it seemed.
“So… what exactly are we looking for here?”
“Just a moment. System, where should we go?”
[Head south.]
In response to Hani’s call, the system’s answer came as if it had been waiting.
“It says we should go south.”
“South it is. Alright, let’s move.”
They proceeded along the forest path.
“You know, the path is already laid out.”
It was a proper thoroughfare, more so than expected.
The forest path seemed to have been paved like a road, well-traveled multiple times.
“This is a path cleared by previous expedition teams. They’ve created passages like these all over to make transportation and supplies easier.”
Traces of battles, broken wagons, and boxes were scattered among the bushes.
“Did the hunters set all this up?”
To that, Hwaryeong chuckled.
“Some were set up by hunters, others not. Besides the carriers, there are specialized construction teams or contractors who build roads. To systematically conquer this vast dungeon, we need to establish outposts in various locations.”
It was a large-scale construction project, in other words.
The atmosphere was quieter than expected.
The two walked and conversed along the way.
“Let’s try to avoid encountering other hunters or people if possible. Nowadays, there might be more people around, so we need to be cautious.”
“Is something happening?”
“Do you know Hunter Lee Sang-yoon? He recently acquired the rights to conquer the Extremis Dungeon.”
“Oh, that guy. He’s been appearing on broadcasts a lot these days.”
“I heard that his team is stationed here, gradually exploring the area. That’s why they’re building camps on a large scale.”
First of all, the Extremis Dungeon, as it has already been in the world for quite some time, has had most of its geography and terrain explored.
It was said to be so vast, at least several times the size of the Korean Peninsula, that the hunters’ spirit of exploration was truly remarkable.
However, as the types and numbers of monsters inhabiting this place had not been perfectly identified yet, Lee Sang-yoon was continuing to explore the dungeon for that very purpose.
Before challenging the boss of this place, his intention was to extract as much information as possible and tame the most useful monsters.
“I can’t see any monsters. I heard that the monster spawn rate in the Extremis Dungeon is unusually high.”
“It’s still the beginning of the dungeon. This area is relatively frequented by people as it’s a main road, so hunters often clear the path.”
At that moment, as if sensing something, Jin Hwa-rin drew her sword and looked ahead.
She raised her hand.
“Wait. Stand behind me.”
[Keerkeer!]
Something crawled out from the bushes.
It was a bundle of plants with long ivy stems.
Resembling a strange plant creature with ivy vines bundled together.
It was the first monster she had ever seen with her own eyes since birth.
Lascoph Tula Asengche
• Threat Level: Grade 1.
• A medium-sized monster widely distributed on the rugged Decamile 4th planet.
• The ivy stems that make up its body are stronger than most rocks.
[Keerkeer!]
The long vine bundles gathered together and pointed sharply towards Jin Hwa-rin like a spear.
It was an attacking posture.
But only for a moment.
For some reason.
[Keerruk?]
With a moment of puzzled reaction, the posture of the sharp vine bundles slowly began to relax.
“…?”
Jin Hwa-rin showed a moment of confusion at this strange reaction.
Instead, she took this moment as an opportunity to swing her sword towards the creature.
No, to attempt to swing it.
If it weren’t for a shout.
“Hwarin! Wait!”
The blade was just about to slice through the monster.
She, however, stopped midway and revealed her confusion.
“…Han? Why?”
“Would you not take another look at that monster?”
“What… What are you talking about…”
[Kkiieee-]
The monster Lascoph Tula.
It was shaking its vines with a very soft and thin tone that she had never heard before.
It was a voice that resembled a kitten calling out to its mother.
“What is this.”
Jin Hwa-rin blinked in confusion.
Even someone like her, who had no thoughts about monsters, could tell.
To this creature, there was no intention of attacking them whatsoever.
It was the beginning of a genuinely bewildering moment that she had never experienced in her long hunter life.
***
Dungeon Extremis was a space familiar to hunters as much as the time it had appeared in the world.
Not just a target for top hunters, but a dungeon well known and familiar to ordinary people living in South Korea, who occasionally heard various news about it.
News like the occasional large and small plants coming out from Extremis and wandering around the island of Ganghwa was a regular feature that appeared every few months like an annual event.
With such circumstances, for second-grade hunters aiming to be promoted to first grade, this place was one of the most suitable dungeons to gain experience, and for first-grade hunters, it was the optimal place to hone their practical experience.
Jin Hwa-rin, the hunter, was no exception.
Once upon a time, when she was a first-grade hunter, she had ventured into this dungeon.
What she realized back then was that a mere plant could become such a fierce and threatening presence.
The conventional Earthly belief that plants rooted in the ground would not move did not apply here.
The plants in this dungeon moved freely and were more threatening than most monsters.
Plants with a vicious and ruthless nature, possessing exceptional strategies that even deceived human intellect.
But it was a whole different story this time.
Honestly, it was absurd according to her knowledge.
“Monsters… following people.”
Yes.
It was a completely nonsensical idea.
Yet, a grotesque situation that shattered her knowledge was unfolding right before her eyes.
“Stop. Don’t come any closer.”
[Keee-]
Continuously approaching and rubbing against her, the Jun 1st grade creature Lascoph Tula, as casually as handling a pet dog.
“….”
It was completely nonsensical from any angle.
But the strange thing was that it wasn’t the only oddity.
They were already all around her.
Large and small monsters following behind her.
[Squeak!!]
[Keiiii.]
From tiny plants, barely born, as small as a person’s finger, to several medium-sized entities that could easily reach 3 to 4 meters.
They were just quietly trailing behind him.
As if they had become like sheep following a shepherd.
Their numbers were increasing.
To what extent?
As many as the number of monsters they encountered.
“….”
What can this be called?
Taming? Summoning spells or hypnosis?
No, not at all. Neither of these seems appropriate.
“You know.”
“Why?”
Turning away from Raskov Tula, who kept brushing against him, Han responded to Jin’s question.
With narrowed eyes, Harin asked, “Han, are you trying to be a druid or something?”
“It’s not really like that.”
“But why are they like this? And the numbers keep increasing. Did you spray some kind of perfume that plants like?”
At that, Han chuckled.
“I’ve always been good with various types of plants. Seems like it works here too.”
“Wow, you seem quite flustered.”
“Oh.”
Just then, Raskov Tula wrapped Han’s eyes with a long plant stem.
“Stop it. Don’t.”
“….”
Could any part of this figure be considered monstrous?
There was no gentle pet following its master like this.
Struggling to contain her surprise, Harin asked, “Was this why you said it would be safe to come to the Extremeist Dungeon?”
“Well… I mean, I’ve never been inside the dungeon myself, so I wasn’t completely sure, but yeah. It was what the system told us.”
Honestly, it all felt surreal.
No matter the assurance given, no one in their right mind would risk their life willingly.
Even if no one touched the plants, Han included, unless there was a reason to come here, he wouldn’t have ventured in.
[Keek!]
“Hmm?”
Kwahng!
Another monster appeared at that moment.
Nepenthera Adult
Danger Level: Average Grade 1.
A medium-sized monster widely distributed on the treacherous Decamiel Fourth Planet, known for hunting any moving creatures with its aggressive plant-like body.
“Oh. It’s a monster.”
As it lunged towards Han and Jin who were in front of it.
[Keek…?]
Pausing momentarily, the creature stopped its movement and fell silent.
“….”
Could this really be happening?
It seems like no one in the world would believe it.