Chapter 91
“Crazy?”
“What is this.”
“You want us to kill someone? What, is this some kind of trash dungeon…?”
Of course the place erupted.
The other hunters seemed no less shocked than I was.
Everyone was losing their heads.
‘What, this isn’t Squid Game.’
A sudden, unannounced deathmatch declaration.
The rules were simple.
– Kill someone.
– If you kill, you receive trial points.
Everyone murmured, and some hunters shouted at the sky.
“Fuck, what kind of trial makes rankers out of this? We aren’t fighting dogs!”
“Delilah, that bitch…! So the point was just entertainment at the expense of the weak?”
“……”
I quietly stepped back to the periphery.
This wasn’t the time to start blustering.
Stepping away and observing the situation from a distance was best.
The blade mage warned us clearly.
If you value your life, leave right now.
He even gave us a chance.
Stayed still then, and now they’re cursing Delilah and complaining?
Not wise.
“Hmm.”
I stepped back and watched the situation slowly.
Three types of people came into view.
First, those who blindly got angry or showed aggression.
Actually, the least dangerous group.
No matter how strong, simple-minded opponents are the easiest to handle.
Second, those whose eyes were full of murderous intent.
In other words, predators scouting prey.
They quietly scanned for lone or weak-looking people from afar.
These were the scariest.
‘Really….’
Would they really kill people so easily just to become rankers?
Finally, third.
Those who formed teams.
In a deathmatch like this, survival rates are much higher together than alone.
And I was the third type too.
Like the three hunters in front of me.
Olena, James, Capu.
They attached themselves to me as if it were obvious.
James spoke.
“Heh heh, Hun. We’re not fighting, right?”
“……”
Olena and Capu beside him looked at me.
A strange silence.
What, why are they all asking me?
You’d think I was their leader.
“Hmm.”
Olena nodded straight away.
“There are so many opponents to fight, no need for us who know each other to fight each other, right?”
She agreed with James.
“……Yes, that’s right. Well.”
In the end I nodded.
They were right.
Joining the fight now would do me no good.
Even if I weren’t an ordinary A-rank, everyone here came from top places in their countries.
Extraordinary people recommended by five rankers.
What would happen if I needlessly picked a fight with them?
One of two things.
Either I’d die, or my strength would be exposed.
Both were the worst outcomes.
If I died, that would be the end.
If my power was exposed, I’d become a target for the second group… potential killers.
“I agree with you. For now, we should stick together.”
Regardless of skill levels.
They approached first, so we accepted.
Decisions could come later.
Just as I was about to accept their alliance proposal.
KWAANG!
A blast deafened the center.
Boom! KWAANG!
Trees uprooted and mud flew into the air.
“What the—”
Capu frowned.
Mud splattered on his dark face.
“Tch.”
I clicked my tongue.
“Looks like it’s already started.”
Someone from the first group, the aggressive type, must have attacked someone.
Through the rising dust, hunters’ voices were heard.
“Bastard! How dare you hit me?”
“Yeah, die! You’ve been staring at me! I knew you were going to ambush me!”
“What the hell are you talking about!”
“Shut up and just die nicely!”
Someone ambushed someone, the ambushed person misidentified another and attacked… chaos began.
“Let’s get out of here.”
I grabbed my staff and tightened my backpack.
“Shall we leave this place?”
—
We left the center.
This tropical rainforest field looked vast.
Was it necessary to fight in the center from the start?
Either way, there was no need to be driven by the situation.
We walked along a trail.
“Hm, hey, Hun.”
From a ridge about three kilometers from the center, James spoke.
“Can we just keep running like this? Trial points might be really important. If we run away now and get eliminated….”
He looked displeased.
Yeah, he could be anxious.
I was anxious too.
I came prepared to risk my life—what if we were eliminated?
‘But.’
Would Delilah, ranked fifth in the world, slaughter people just to make rankers?
Besides, the Five Stars of Seoul all passed through, right?
Worth thinking more.
“My thought is different, James.”
Olena stepped forward.
“No need to recklessly go in just because you want trial points. Didn’t you see earlier? Dozens of jackals were eyeing gaps like wolves. Do you want to rush into that?”
Her tone scolded him.
James bristled.
“Are you saying keep fleeing? I applied to endure trials. I didn’t run all this way to just run away.”
“Ha, it’s strategy, not fleeing. Don’t you get it? Running doesn’t mean you’re scared.”
Olena pounded her chest as if exasperated.
Their argument brought us to a stop.
“…….”
Looking up, the sky was yellowing with sunset.
Night was coming.
This was a mountain without a single streetlight.
A forest without light would be worse than expected.
Anyway.
Their quarrel continued.
Five minutes passed and they were still bickering.
“Do you have confidence in that strategy? Sorry, Olena. For your argument to be logical, you need a plan for what to do next by moving like this.”
“A plan?”
Olena widened her eyes.
“Honestly, where’s that plan? Did you have one?”
“So you mean we’re just fleeing with no plan?”
“One thing’s for sure: charging into that chaos earlier seemed like the most stupid plan.”
“…….”
Capu and I blinked and just watched them.
Capu often looked at me with a [What the…] expression, shrugging.
“Besides.”
Olena spoke again.
“Ultimately, following this far was your choice. The four of us formed a team, and when Hun suggested leaving, if you had complaints, you should’ve jumped into that chaos. Why stir trouble now and ruin team morale?”
“Why are you getting so emotional? I was only stating my opinion, Olena.”
Their squabble continued.
This wasn’t the time.
I sighed.
“Alright, both of you, that’s enough for now.”
For some reason they obeyed me.
Maybe I looked tough?
Or maybe experienced?
When I spoke, both shut their mouths and stared at me.
“Now, as you both said, we don’t have a concrete plan, but we can make some guesses.”
“Guess?”
James tilted his head.
“Yes, Delilah set the first rule: kill someone.”
“……She did?”
“But that’s only a rule, not necessarily something that must be followed.”
“……Why?”
“There’s no time limit or quota.”
“……?”
Not only James, but Olena and Capu’s gazes turned to me.
I smiled on purpose and began.
Listen carefully.
This is the advice of a veteran who cleared three ultra-difficult dungeons even rankers struggled with.
“Limit…?”
“Yes, limits.”
On the ridge.
In the quiet forest where the blasts no longer echoed, my low voice carried.
“If it were a trial where you must kill to pass, they would’ve set a time limit or a target number. Like survive until a certain time, or be among the final few.”
“……What if they were just being cruel and unfriendly?”
“Of course that’s possible. But the judge, the blade mage, said this.”
– Delilah offers a total of six themes for the trials. Pass according to the theme and you’re done.
“Six themes in total.”
“…….”
“Looks like this is the first theme, and there are only fifty hunters—are we supposed to kill them all?”
I thought, no way.
“There’s a saying in our country: always figure out the question setter’s intent.”
Not 100% certain, but I’m pretty good at dungeon intuition.
I’m probably right this time too.
“Alright, that makes sense.”
James nodded.
“A grand trial that makes rankers by telling them to kill each other? Doesn’t add up.”
“Yes, exactly.”
“So what’s the theme then?”
“I don’t know that either. But they dropped us into this vast tropical rainforest. And the sun’s going down. That means… survive, maybe?”
“……Survive?”
“Actually, I checked my backpack earlier.”
I put down the bag I was carrying.
[Item: Dmir’s supply backpack]
[Grade: S]
[Type: Bag]
Dmir made this lightweight treasure for me.
I had filled it with emergency rations to endure this trial.
But.
Crackle!
When I put my hand in, a spark jumped.
[Ding!]
[Pocket space cannot be used in this dungeon.]
“See. Pocket space is blocked.”
“What?!”
James was startled by my action.
Capu and Olena widened their eyes and checked their bags.
Crackle! Fizz!
They too couldn’t retrieve items they had brought.
“No way.”
Olena clicked her tongue.
“Looks like the theme is really survival? They even blocked food.”
“Goddamn it.”
Hunters panicked.
It made sense.
Hunters who frequent high-difficulty dungeons always bring plenty of supplies.
I nodded.
“Yes. First, secure food, clothing, and shelter in this rainforest. At the same time, be ready for battlegrounds against other hunters. Especially if any opponent specializes in darkness, that could be a headache.”
“Fuckin’ hell….”
Cursing slipped from James’ mouth.
“So.”
I scanned them.
“Now is not the time for grown adults to squabble.”
“……Hun.”
“Finding a plan and sharing opinions is fine. But if you stay with me, you must not fight over meaningless things.”
My quiet tone.
Gulp.
The hunters swallowed.
“Alright… I’ll keep that in mind.”
“I’m sorry too.”
Surprisingly, both apologized obediently.
I smiled a little.
They were all A-rank or higher hunters, yet they didn’t know each other well.
If we’re sticking together for now, we should at least learn each other’s core abilities.
Whoosh!
I swung my staff.
Rattle, rattle!
My beloved bones appeared.
“Master.”
Sturdy Sunny.
“Ah, the scent of thick forest.”
The high elf, Eldrin.
And—
Kwooong!
Bone Four hammered shield into the ground, Bone Five raised a staff, Bone Seven brandished a staff.
Finally.
Bone One swung his sword.
Dmir was left at the workshop, so I didn’t summon him.
“For now, my unique ability is….”
I looked at them with my skeletons.
“A somewhat unusual necromancer. Before we focus on survival, shall we reveal our abilities?”
Alright, let’s take this slowly.
I’ll clear it this time too.
I’ve always done it so far.
I vowed firmly to myself.