Chapter 32
Unlike before, the Death Knight’s movements creaked as it tightened its grip on its sword.
It was preparing to face Hyuk-min, who was charging straight in.
Its noticeably slower reactions were thanks to Hyun-jung, who apologized again and again for not being able to help more.
[15 seconds remaining.]
Green flames burst from the Death Knight’s helmet as it lowered its stance, gripped its sword with both hands, and prepared to fight in earnest.
‘How is he going to fight without a weapon…?’
Even though she had seen Hyuk-min smiling confidently, Hyun-jung’s worry grew.
He needed a weapon to contend with the Death Knight’s dark sword.
But the Immortal Demon Sword was still embedded in the monster’s face.
Which meant Hyuk-min was about to fight empty-handed.
Swoosh.
“Huh…?”
Something glittered in Hyuk-min’s hand.
“…My pistol?”
Hyun-jung blinked.
It was unmistakably hers—the pistol he had given her, the one that had changed her life.
And now that pistol was in Hyuk-min’s hand as he ran forward.
Tap. Tap.
Hyuk-min stomped the ground twice.
Blue Mana spread across his legs.
Haste.
The sudden burst of speed amplified his already incredible movement.
He accelerated violently—just moments before impact.
With speed too fast for the eye to follow, he clashed head-on with the Death Knight in mid-swing.
‘A boss-tier Death Knight… a unique monster… and he’s parrying it?’
Thud!!!!
Wind blasted outward.
Green flames burst apart.
Mana shattered like glass across the ground and pillars.
[10 seconds remaining.]
The pistol barrel met the Death Knight’s sword, exploding into a shockwave that shook the entire room.
Clatter.
“…?!”
The Death Knight tried to push forward, attempting to force another power struggle.
But Hyuk-min saw it coming.
A faint grin spread across his face.
Just as the Death Knight exerted more force—
Hyuk-min dropped his body low.
“Sorry, but I don’t have time for this.”
Whoosh!
The Death Knight’s sword cut through empty air.
Hyuk-min instantly slipped to its flank.
The Death Knight tried to recover its swing, flames bursting violently as it twisted its torso.
But at that moment—
Whack!
Whoosh—
Hyuk-min’s Mana-infused palm struck the Immortal Demon Sword still embedded in its face.
The impact jolted the Death Knight, momentarily breaking its stance.
But it was a boss-tier Death Knight.
A one-of-a-kind monster.
This alone wouldn’t bring it down.
Creak.
Whoosh!
It released an even more violent eruption of flames, searching for Hyuk-min—
Clatter. Clatter.
But Hyuk-min was gone.
In the instant it paused, he had vanished without a sound.
Startled, the Death Knight whipped its head left and right, searching for him—
“…?!”
Clatter.
A rush of wind above.
The Death Knight snapped its gaze upward.
Hyuk-min came down from above.
Whack!!
Whoosh—
His kick struck the Immortal Demon Sword, driving the blade completely into the Death Knight’s helmet.
[5 seconds remaining.]
The damage was severe.
The Death Knight dropped its sword as both knees hit the ground.
Green flames dripped like blood.
“I know you won’t die from just that.”
[3 seconds remaining.]
As expected, the boss-tier Death Knight did not stay down.
Green flames surged violently.
It picked up its fallen sword and forced itself upright.
And then—
[2 seconds remaining.]
It froze.
A pistol was aimed directly at its face.
Woooooo—
[ Mana : 70 / 140 ]
[60….]
[40….]
Mana gathered in the pistol.
[1 second remaining.]
[ Mana : 10 / 140 ]
The Death Knight understood.
It could not block this.
It could not dodge this.
And then—
Crack!
A pillar of blue light tore through the Death Knight’s face at point-blank range.
[ Mana : 0 / 140 ]
[You have used ‘Railgun’ by consuming all ‘98’ mana.]
[Regression Mode is deactivated.]
[Regression Mode cooldown is in progress.]
…..
[You have cleared the boss of the ‘Tomb of the Dead Knight’ Dungeon.]
= = =
The eruption of power exceeded even his expectations.
Crumble—
The pistol shattered into dust, unable to withstand the force of the Railgun.
The Immortal Demon Sword couldn’t kill the Death Knight.
But 98 Mana poured into a Railgun round?
It pierced straight through its head—and carved a long trench into the floor behind it.
“Uncle!!”
Hyun-jung’s voice echoed as she ran toward him.
Regression Mode faded.
The Pure Ring alleviated some fatigue, but his body was still far weaker than during Regression Mode. The poison was gone, but his vision spun.
‘I can’t miss it…’
Hyuk-min’s gaze stayed fixed on the Death Knight’s body as it turned into green flames.
Thud!
“Uncle…?”
Why had he come here?
Hyun-jung froze when she saw him reach both hands into the burning green flames.
“Aaaah! It’s dangerous!!”
“Ugh!”
Her fear lasted only a moment.
“Keeeeeeaaaaaah!!”
Whoosh!
Hyuk-min pulled something out of the Death Knight’s dissolving corpse—and then collapsed.
“Uncle!!”
Hyun-jung caught him just before he hit the ground.
If she hadn’t, his skull would’ve cracked open.
“Heh… hehehe…”
Despite nearly dying, Hyuk-min smiled like he had won the lottery.
Hyun-jung, half laughing and half crying, stared at him.
“It’s over now, right? Nothing else is going to pop out? We’re leaving. Even if Uncle argues, we’re leaving.”
He shook his head weakly.
“I burned everything trying to get it. I wasn’t sure… but now that I’ve cleared it, I was right.”
“Okay! So that’s why you came here?”
Hyun-jung pointed at the object he held tightly.
“I needed it.”
“Wait—that’s…”
He lifted his hand.
The object revealed itself.
“That guy’s head!?”
It was the Death Knight’s helmet.
Hyun-jung shivered, hugging herself as if just looking at it gave her chills.
“Ugh…”
Hyuk-min didn’t care.
He proudly put on the helmet and shouted—
“I’m tired! Today was a good day! Let’s eat something amazing! And sleep in tomorrow! How about it!?”
People don’t change.
Hyun-jung—who a moment ago looked horrified—immediately threw her hand up at the mention of food.
“Beef!”
“Okay! Let’s go!”
“Yay!!!!”
= = =
It had been an exhausting day in every way.
But after eating delicious beef, Hyun-jung felt refreshed and fell asleep quickly.
Hyuk-min quietly stepped out of the motel.
“Should I get her a room soon?”
He considered it, then shook his head.
Better to give the motel owner some money and keep things as they were.
He wanted to provide her a comfortable environment—but he didn’t have enough money to raise a child yet.
“Yeah. When she’s a little older. I’m glad I met that motel owner.”
“Bang Hyuk-min!”
A sharp voice cut through the night.
The most annoying person appeared.
“I’m tired today.”
Hwang Ji-young strode over, steps sharp, eyes venomous.
“What now.”
“The cement factory in Hwado. Why did you go there?”
“I must’ve gone because I had a reason.”
“What reason? How did the great Bang Hyuk-min end up looking like this?”
She scanned him.
Even with potions applied, his tattered, bloodstained clothes made it obvious how hard he had fought.
“Well, I should get changed before heading home.”
“That’s not what I meant, you bastard!”
“I went to a Dungeon.”
Her eyebrow twitched.
“Dungeon?”
“I asked you guys for help. Did you think I was playing around?”
“That’s impossible. There is no Dungeon there. Our info says there can’t be a Dungeon there!”
“Stop thinking your information is everything. Look at me. Do I look like this because it wasn’t a Dungeon?”
She looked him over again.
Bang Hyuk-min had once stormed the Eventful Guild alone without taking a single hit.
If something injured him this badly—and took this long—it had to be a high-grade Dungeon.
“What… kind of Dungeon was it?”
Her voice shrank.
“Is Korea’s top government guild leader really asking me, a guildless adventurer?”
“So what! Tell me! Aren’t we supposed to have no secrets!?”
“Really? Have you told me all your secrets?”
“Of course! You know most of Black Label’s secrets!”
“Did you tell me? Or did I just find out?”
“That’s—! Wait.”
Her expression shifted.
Ah.
‘Here we go. This is going to be annoying.’
She looked like she was about to confront a truth she’d been ignoring.
“Let me ask you something. How do you know so much about us…?”
Hyuk-min debated.
He should just tell her.
“It was a Hidden Dungeon.”
“What?”
“It opened at 8:44 PM and disappeared after five minutes.”
A Hidden Dungeon… in Korea?
If true, the country would erupt.
Her eyes widened, sparkling with shock and excitement.
“Stop drooling. I already cleared it.”
“What…?”
Her emotions shifted wildly.
“What was the clear reward? Hidden Dungeons always have rewards!”
Hyuk-min pulled out the Death Knight’s helmet and held it up.
It looked ordinary—but its ability was truly fitting for a Hidden Dungeon.
‘In my past life, Park Chung-ho lost every battle against Baeksan… until he got this.’
Clatter.
Hyuk-min put the helmet on.
“Well? What does it do? What Skill does it have!?”
Hwang Ji-young’s eyes shone even brighter.
“I can see Mana flows. Are you using a Skill right now? Wait—”
She suddenly covered her body.
“What are you thinking!? That pose—are you trying to look through my clothes? I’m a married woman with a child! No matter how pretty I am, you know my secrets, so don’t—!”
“Sigh. Tsk, tsk, tsk.”
Hyuk-min couldn’t handle her nonsense.
He clenched his hand.
Whoosh!
Green flames erupted—and he vanished without a sound.
“What—!?”
She looked around frantically.
No sign of him anywhere.
She glared at the informants.
All of them shook their heads.
“Wow…”
Maybe she thought he was still there and invisible.
Hwang Ji-young shouted at empty air—
“Is that an invisibility Skill!? Space distortion!? It’s not a movement Skill, right!? What is it!? Bang Hyuk-min!! Come out!! Let’s talk!! Where did you go!?”
She didn’t know.
The Death Knight’s helmet’s active Skill was a movement Skill.
“It’s not a movement Skill, right!? Don’t lie! There are only a handful of movement-type items in the world! Come out! I know everything!”
And so—
Hwang Ji-young yelled at thin air for a full thirty minutes, alone, before finally storming off.
“Bang Hyuk-min!! You’re dead!!”