Chapter 174

The Russian government’s practical collapse had happened three whole years ago.

「Gotham」

An organization that appeared one day.

A group formed by the combined forces of most Russian corporations drove out the country’s de facto dictator—the four-term President of Russia—in a single stroke.

No, rather than “drove him out,” it would be more accurate to say they turned him into a ‘puppet.’

“Our President is acting strange!”

Some citizens shouted.

Rumors spread that the President had fallen into panic—or that he’d gone insane.

“Still, I’m fine with it. Honestly, isn’t him staying quiet like this better than the old days when he ruled like a madman?”

“Right. Back then, I was always worried a war might break out.”

Those who tried to view it positively.

“Even so, he’s the head of state. Shouldn’t we impeach him?”

“If he’s strange, we should replace him! And there are rumors the elections back then were all rigged, too. Let’s do it properly this time.”

Those who viewed it negatively.

And yet, even amidst that—

Gotham’s march continued in secrecy.

A world-class mafia organization.

People who committed any crime without hesitation to achieve their aims.

What Gotham wanted wasn’t something as trivial as ‘dictatorship.’

Standing on the ideology of democracy and ruling by law?

That didn’t suit the temperament of the world’s 69th-ranked hunter, Bug King Andrey.

“I want the reestablishment of a complete monarchy. My word will be the law, and I want powerful regulations that can unify the nation through force.”

His ideology spread quietly through the shadows.

Naturally, there was severe backlash.

But Gotham—slaughtered those who raised their voices, without anyone ever knowing.

News?

It couldn’t get out.

The internet?

They blocked all information.

Even if someone managed to post something,

it was deleted the moment it was found—and so was their life.

For a long time, they deceived the world’s eyes while conquering the underground.

And the result was the birth of the current criminal state.

‘Now no one can stop it.’

Alone in the conference room, Zakhar lowered his head deeply.

Soon, the world would notice.

The reality of Russia.

‘Even before, a High Ranker came once.’

No matter how much they tried to suppress rumors, Russia was a massive European nation.

A few European countries that caught on had once sent a High Ranker to offer help.

One of them was the current world rank 18, Dual Swords Octavia Spencer.

After coming on an expedition, she turned back and said—

– Russia is a mysterious country. I know there are criminal organizations, but I couldn’t reach them.

– I can see the country is falling apart. The streets are quiet, and wherever you go, it’s mafia everywhere. But strangely, it doesn’t feel out of place. Hm… it feels like that’s just how it’s supposed to be.

Meaningful words.

Even more shocking was that the world didn’t move at all after hearing Octavia’s statement.

And—

– Same for me.

– I don’t even know what I’m supposed to help with.

– I don’t know where the criminal group is. It just felt like looking at an underdeveloped country.

– Even when I entered the Dungeon, there was nothing.

Other Rankers either turned back like that, or—

[European Ranker, another mysterious death in Russia?]

[Ranking shift due to High Ranker’s death. Suspected to have fought a Russian mafia organization?]

They died.

Why?

Because Gotham was that secretive.

And because they were that strong.

Even though Bug King was Russia’s highest-ranked hunter at world rank 69,

there was a reason Russia was ranked 15th among hunter nations.

Because they had that many Rankers packed in.

“Hoo.”

Zakhar let out a faint sigh.

How long—

how long did they have to live like this?

Was there anyone in the world who could save them?

In truth, there was an organization called 「Idam」.

The “I” from “different,” and the “dam” from Gotham.

Thus, Idam.

A group formed by a dreamer named Vladimir Rodygin, who gathered a few Rankers.

They said it was the only secret combat organization that opposed Gotham.

‘But if the rumors are true that they all died in the end…’

Zakhar fell silent.

World rank 78 was here on their side, sure—

but that was all.

Gotham was an unstoppable disaster.

All they had to do was hold their breath, do nothing, and keep living like this.

“Zakhar-nim! Zakhar-nim!”

While he was lost in thought, a subordinate entered.

“What.”

“The Ranker-nim has left.”

“Yeah? So in the end, that Dungeon… he’s going?”

A Dungeon with traces of Gotham.

A Dungeon that existed in Russia, yet Russia itself barely knew.

A place like a black hole—once you went in, you couldn’t come out.

‘And.’

Strangely, a place that didn’t spread rumors well overseas.

“But, uh… the Ranker-nim left supplies for you to use.”

“Supplies?”

Zakhar tilted his head.

“Yes. Drinking water, hand warmers, boxes of ramen, a burner, gas—things like that. They said it’s an advance payment for lodging.”

“Ah…?”

Zakhar’s mouth fell open.

An emotion surged in his chest at the unexpected warmth.

He forgave his brother’s rudeness, and now he was even showing goodwill?

Were Korean Rankers all this kind?

“……”

Zakhar quietly closed his eyes.

And he prayed to the sky.

For the Ranker-nim’s safe return.

—

Near the Dungeon entrance.

In a silent plaza where not a single citizen could be seen—

“No matter how I think about it, it’s strange.”

Soyul-ssi murmured with a grave expression.

“Yes, it’s very strange.”

I nodded in agreement.

“No matter how provincial it is, there isn’t a single person in a city this big. And on top of that, there’s a Dungeon like this—yet not even a rumor has spread.”

“Couldn’t it be dangerous?”

“Soyul-ssi.”

“……Yes?”

She’s the one who told me to call her that, but when I do, her pupils widen slightly like it’s awkward.

‘Hmm.’

Ki Soyul.

Is her MBTI first letter an I?

Why is her reaction so entertaining lately?

Anyway.

“Have you ever seen me avoid a dangerous Dungeon?”

“……No.”

She blinked.

I smiled and continued.

“And besides, didn’t you used to like going into dangerous Dungeons too, Soyul-ssi?”

Back then, too—

she’d taken on the role of advance team for unclassified Dungeons.

At my question, Soyul-ssi shook her head.

“It’s not like that. Of course, I’m not the type to run away just because something’s difficult.”

“That’s basically the same thing.”

“Still, I prefer to at least poke at what looks dangerous before going in. I hate recklessness as much as I hate running away.”

So she was the type to tap the stone bridge before crossing.

Yeah—she’d been like that before.

‘Was it the guide, Kang Seonuk?’

She even had him scout.

And to prepare for emergencies, she had me—back when I was a porter—carry supplies.

Old memories that had already become nostalgia came back vividly.

But—

“I’m the type who just goes.”

“Huh?”

“Danger always helps me grow.”

“What do you mean by—”

“Sometimes I even think I wish it were more dangerous than I expect. Because it would become a stepping stone for me to get that much stronger.”

If my goal was world rank 1,

I couldn’t settle for easy Dungeons.

At the very least, wouldn’t I need to clear dozens more like Delilah’s trial?

‘And I need to let that Spear King old man taste my spear, too.’

Back then—

world rank 10, Spear King, had thrown down a challenge to me.

I don’t avoid anyone.

Sorry to Judgment Spear,

but I’m planning to go pay him back soon.

Of course, once I’m stronger.

“Hoo, seriously. You’re impossible, Donghoon-ssi. Well, I’m an employee. If the President-nim says we’re going, I have to follow.”

Soyul-ssi tightened her shoelaces and got ready.

She stretched her muscles, loosened her joints, and started warming up.

It was an attitude that fully acknowledged me as the leader.

Now it was time to enter the Dungeon.

But then—

“Hm?”

I frowned.

This was supposed to be an empty, quiet place—

yet I felt a presence behind us.

Three of them, at that.

“Hm?”

Soyul-ssi noticed too, straightening her back.

And not long after—

“Hey, wait!”

A familiar Korean accent rang out.

For reference, ever since the world went to hell, everyone’s speech was automatically translated as you heard it.

Not just humans—probably aliens too.

Shadow Shepherd King and Sunny, the dragonkin, elves, dwarves, and so on.

And even the Elder, too.

‘So.’

A Korean accent felt even more welcome.

“Skeleton King, Shadow Empress! Don’t enter yet—stand by for a moment!”

“……?”

Soyul-ssi and I tilted our heads and turned around.

A muscular man and two women revealed themselves.

—

Nicknamed Steel Fist.

The Ranker covered in muscle was named Bong Jaeyoung.

The world’s 101st-ranked man looked at the man in front of him.

‘So this is the Skeleton King everyone’s been so hot about lately?’

A crooked smile spread across his face.

These days, any time something came up online, it was [God Donghoon] or [God Skeleton]—

ridiculous worship.

To be honest, he didn’t want to admit it.

‘What do you mean he jumped straight to 78? That makes no sense.’

A case of someone becoming a High Ranker in one leap from outside the top 1,000?

In thirteen years of history, it was the first time he’d ever seen it.

In other words, something beyond common sense.

‘It must be a mistake.’

Even supercomputers have errors.

And even creatures made by god have mutations.

Why would a system be any different?

‘And what? Skeleton King?’

The pinnacle of a necromancer, as he knew it, was a Death Knight or a Lich.

Never some mere skeleton.

‘That guy—his experience and skill have to be way below mine.’

So when he heard the Skeleton King had left for Russia, he went straight to the Association Chairman.

His personality demanded he see anything that made him curious with his own eyes.

– Chairman-nim. You remember what you asked me last time, right?

– The support request for Russia. I’ll go.

– But that Skeleton King—if he’s doing well or not, I’ll go as a watchdog.

– Huh? No, Chairman-nim. Think about it. Just a week ago, he wasn’t even ranked. Do you think he has proper Dungeon experience? If we trust him and leave it to him for no reason, we could lose valuable national power. Yeah, yeah, I’ll go and teach him a thing or two.

– And for support… hmm. Just attach two Rankers from the Association. You know? Not some gloomy guys—fresh ones.

Crude language.

And after practically notifying them and getting the plane moving, Bong Jaeyoung arrived and ran straight to the Dungeon.

“Nice to meet you. I’m rank 101, Bong Jaeyoung. Shadow Empress, it’s been a while too, huh?”

“……Yes.”

Soyul-ssi replied flatly.

Bong Jaeyoung frowned slightly.

‘She’s the same, too. Seriously—she got a little more popular lately and now she’s all high and mighty.’

At Soyul-ssi’s chilly attitude—cold as the Siberian wind—

he felt a little offended.

But he was used to it.

Even in the past, Shadow Empress had always been this cold to him.

“Ah, yes, nice to meet you. I’m Joo Donghoon… but why are you here?”

That was when Skeleton King accepted the greeting and asked.

Bong Jaeyoung glanced at him sideways.

‘Not impressive.’

For rank 78, his presence felt weak.

It didn’t come through clearly.

‘Is it because he’s not a pure close-combat type?’

He was a necromancer, after all.

‘Yeah. It really is a system error.’

Bong Jaeyoung was rank 101 himself.

He had eyes that could gauge someone’s ability to a degree just from their presence.

‘An assassin could hide their presence a bit, sure.’

But Joo Donghoon was a necromancer.

A necromancer who used Shadow Arts?

He’d never heard of such a thing in his entire hunter career.

‘At this level, I can eat him.’

With a grin, Bong Jaeyoung spoke.

“It’s the Association’s directive. We’re entering this Dungeon together. And we’ll be acting as monitors. Now, you two, introduce yourselves.”

He gestured to the two Association Rankers who followed behind him.

“Ah, yes. Hello. I’m Kwon Soye, affiliated with the Association.”

World rank 909, The Druid Kwon Soye.

“I’m… uh, Im Sujin. It’s an honor to meet someone so hot right now.”

World rank 930, Asura Im Sujin.

Both were female Rankers in their twenties, but neither belonged to the Five Stars of Seoul.

“Ah, I see.”

Skeleton King dipped his head slightly after hearing their introductions.

“But you said you were ordered to monitor us?”

“Yes. Exactly. Monitoring.”

As Bong Jaeyoung widened his eyes and spoke,

“Mm, well.”

the man coolly nodded.

“Entering a public Dungeon isn’t something that concerns me… understood. Shall we go in together?”