Chapter 21
It had become a routine.
A special lecture by the old man of the Legacy of the Ten Thousand Arts, held for an hour each day.
I also did some light work now and then for the mercenary guild, ‘Fixers.’
The rest of the time was spent reviewing what I had learned.
I didn’t take a single day off.
For someone like me, who had been consistent for three years…
And who was only now starting to get stronger…
Laziness was a luxury I couldn’t afford.
“Donghoon?”
It was then that Ki Soyul approached me while I was doing strength training in an open lot.
“Huff, hoo… Yes. What is it?”
“I have something to talk about.”
She answered with a look that said, [Obviously I called you because I have something to say.]
“Something to talk about?”
“I made a promise, didn’t I? That I’d protect you from ambushes until you were strong enough.”
“…That’s true. I just didn’t think you’d be watching over me twenty-four hours a day.”
At my response, Ki Soyul tilted her head to the side.
“Hmm? That’s a bit strange. If I’m not watching for twenty-four hours, how can I protect you?”
Huh?
She had a point.
I scratched my head.
“But you’re still a Ranker, aren’t you? You’ve got dungeons to clear, and guild responsibilities too.”
“That’s actually why I came to talk to you.”
Ki Soyul nodded in agreement.
“It’s been about two weeks since I started guarding you. Even though I’ve been neglecting my guild duties, there are still things I need to take care of.”
Well, yeah. Someone like the Shadow Empress couldn’t be at my side all the time.
I knew that.
She had her own life, too.
“You must be busy. I understand.”
“So I’d like to suggest something.”
“A suggestion?”
“Yes. I need about six hours to take care of my pending work. That means I’ll be away for a while… and you have two options.”
As expected of Ki Soyul.
Impressive.
Most Rankers would have easily gone back on a promise made to a low-tier Hunter like me.
But she didn’t.
She found an alternative.
Just like how I never lied to her…
She clearly wanted to keep her word too.
“What are they?”
“First, you follow me around for six hours.”
“Oh.”
Not a bad idea.
Right now, the safest place for me was by her side.
And I trained all the time anyway.
Honestly, taking a break wouldn’t hurt.
“What’s the second?”
“You use that thing while I’m gone.”
“That thing?”
What thing?
As I tilted my head, Ki Soyul let out a small laugh.
“The key. The catalyst we got that time.”
“Oh?”
Right.
That thing.
I’d forgotten about it.
The B-rank key we got as dungeon loot—Trace of the Ancient Desert.
[Item: Trace of the Ancient Desert]
[Rank: B]
[Type: Catalyst]
[Description: A key that unlocks the secrets of a hidden ruin.]
[Effect 1: Allows access to the dungeon, ‘Ancient Desert.’]
[Effect 2: This item is bound to Hunter Joo Donghoon.]
“Catalysts are bound items. Meaning, it’s a solo dungeon. If you stay inside it, you might actually be safer than by my side. Not even Rankers can interfere in there.”
True.
Assuming a Ranker stronger than Ki Soyul shows up…
Being inside the dungeon might be safer than staying next to her.
The problem was…
My skeletons were still only D-rank.
“Hmm, but this is B-rank… wouldn’t it be more dangerous in there?”
“I’m not so sure.”
Ki Soyul didn’t agree.
“You tend to underestimate how much you’ve grown. Wouldn’t this be a good chance to find out? From what I’ve seen, I think you can clear it just fine.”
“Ah…”
At her words, I blankly opened my mouth.
Wait.
Did a Ranker just praise me?
Did she just acknowledge my progress?
‘That’s a new feeling.’
It was a feeling I’d never had before.
No one had ever recognized a former E-rank mercenary like me.
‘Guess my self-esteem really was in the gutter.’
I admitted it.
As a cursed Necromancer…
I’d lived a petty life, constantly jealous of my old classmate, the Dark Lord.
“……”
It felt like something warm was slowly rising in my chest.
Like the pain and effort I had endured were finally being rewarded, just a little.
Of course it feels good to be acknowledged.
‘But.’
Ki Soyul wasn’t just anyone.
She was a Ranker.
Someone who had climbed to the top of her field through countless trials and effort.
A true expert in hunting monsters and clearing dungeons.
‘Alright.’
I clenched my fist tightly.
I wanted to fully embrace this moment.
Another thought crossed my mind.
‘If just being acknowledged by Ki Soyul feels this good…’
What would it feel like to stand on equal footing with her?
Better yet—
What if all 999 Rankers recognized me?
‘Ahhh.’
A shiver ran deep through my core.
I knew it was an impossible dream.
But still, I wanted to dream it.
I wanted to live chasing that dream.
“That’s actually a pretty solid plan.”
My motivation flared up.
Truthfully, I had been wanting to go into a dungeon for a while now.
But if I entered one now, I risked being exposed to the Association or the media.
So I hadn’t gone.
Until I was fully strong, revealing myself would only make me a target for malicious groups.
Especially someone like me—a prime target for the terrifying terrorist group, the Shadow Severance!
In this wild land, what I needed was just one thing:
A dungeon just for me.
Ki Soyul nodded.
“Even if the difficulty turns out higher than expected, you’ve got enough skill to escape if needed.”
“Yeah, that’s true.”
I nodded.
Unless it was another special case like that ‘Unranked Dungeon’ from before…
Normal dungeons were generally open to exit.
“Then I’ll go with the second option.”
“I figured you’d say that. You’ll head out right away, right?”
“Well, why delay? I’m already done with this morning’s training anyway.”
It had been a while since training, and my energy had fully recovered. (T/N: I will be using energy instead of stamina moving forward. )
“Then channel energy into the key to activate it. The dungeon will appear.”
Ki Soyul smiled.
As if she found the determined look on my face cute.
Vmmm!
The moment I activated the key, a message appeared.
[Would you like to activate ‘Trace of the Ancient Desert’?]
[You can now open the dungeon, ‘Ancient Desert.’]
[Warning!]
[This dungeon is for solo entry only.]
I met Ki Soyul’s gaze. She nodded.
A silent gesture wishing me good luck.
‘Alright, screw it. Let’s do this.’
I stared at the gleaming golden key.
Another ‘opportunity’—a catalyst all the Rankers were desperately searching for.
If this could make me stronger?
‘No backing out.’
Flash!
A blinding light overtook my vision.
—
[Entering special dungeon.]
“Hmm?”
When I opened my eyes again, I was in the middle of a desert.
It felt similar to previous dungeons, but there was one noticeable difference.
‘A pyramid?’
A massive pyramid-shaped stone structure dominated the landscape.
[You have entered ‘Ancient Desert.’]
[You discover the ‘Pyramid.’]
The messages kept coming, and my heart began to race.
A pyramid inside ancient ruins?
What kinds of powerful monsters and traps awaited within?
What kind of rewards were hidden inside?
I was nervous, but a wave of excitement surged.
Just because it was B-rank didn’t mean I should shrink back.
If someone like Ki Soyul said I had a shot, I had to believe in it.
Whoosh!
First, I swung my staff to summon my skeletons.
[Skill: Awakening Skeleton Summon (D-rank) activated.]
From Bone One to Bone Five—
These were the guys who’d been forged sharp through rigorous training.
‘No need to rush.’
Slowly, very slowly.
Take this carefully and clear it smart.
I began trudging through the sandy desert.
Toward the main gate beneath the pyramid.
All signs pointed to the interior being the dungeon.
“Maintain formation.”
Creak!
My skeletons nodded in unison at my command.
As D-ranks in a B-rank zone, we were undeniably the underdogs.
‘The weak should fight like the weak.’
To clear the dungeon safely, I needed to maximize our effectiveness through formation.
Getting cocky and charging recklessly could cost me precious stamina—my lifeline.
Creeeeak!
As I approached the door, it automatically opened.
That’s when it happened.
[Ping!]
[A connection between the dungeon and Hunter Joo Donghoon’s class has been detected.]
‘Hm?’
I stopped briefly.
A wave of unease rippled through me.
[Warning!]
[The dungeon is undergoing transformation.]
[You cannot exit the dungeon.]
“Wait a minute?”
I realized something was wrong, but it was already too late.
Whoosh!
A huge gust of wind pulled my body forward.
I was helplessly sucked into the pyramid.
Behind me—
Ssssshh… Thud!
I only heard the sound of the heavy door closing.
—
The interior of the pyramid was pitch black.
There was no light, nothing to see.
“What the hell is this?”
I muttered to myself.
I’d entered full of confidence, but what was this?
A chill ran down my spine, and a creeping sense of unease wouldn’t go away.
Still—
That didn’t mean I could just sit still.
This was a dungeon.
To survive here, I had to adapt quickly—even to the unexpected.
“Bone Three.”
Click click!
Thank god.
The sound of clattering teeth confirmed the skeletons had been pulled in too.
“Scout the area. See what’s around us.”
Click click!
A positive response.
[‘Bone Three’ uses skill: Vision Acquisition (Lv.6).]
Tunk! Tunk! Tunk! Tunk!
Bone Three pulled an invisible bow four times in midair.
Each glowing arrow fired in different directions, scattering light.
Two arrows shot forward and backward nonstop.
The remaining two bounced around, checking height and depth.
‘Looks like a long hallway.’
I closed my eyes.
And shared Bone Three’s vision through my senses.
A few seconds passed.
‘What the…’
My body flinched.
I couldn’t help it.
‘Is this for real?’
Straight ahead, there was clearly a large open space.
Unlike the rest of the dark dungeon, it was lit by fire—a vast, glowing area.
That part was fine.
‘But this…’
It was insane.
Inside the chamber were countless skeletal soldiers.
Not one or two.
Not just dozens, either.
‘About a hundred…?’
[Stage discovered: Grudge of the Sun Spear.]
The hell?
[Ping!]
[Stage: Grudge of the Sun Spear]
[In the depths of the pyramid sleeps ‘Sun Spear,’ a warrior and absolute ruler of the Ancient Desert Empire.]
[Break through the defenders and reach the ‘Sun Spear.’]
Sun Spear?
What now?
I furrowed my brow in confusion—
Fwoooosh!
Torches along the corridor flared to life.
At the same time—
[Warning! Warning! Warning!]
[One hundred D-rank Ancient Skeleton Spearmen are charging in!]
Are you kidding me? One hundred D-ranks?
There’s only five of us.
A hopeless situation had just begun.