Chapter 62

[This is an emergency news bulletin! We have reports that a Dungeon has appeared at a department store construction site in Shindang-dong. Anyone in the vicinity, please evacuate immediately.]

Beep! Beep!

[Warning! Dungeon outbreak at the department store construction site in Shindang-dong. Expected earthquake magnitude of 6 or higher.]

CRASH!! RUMBLE…

It took only about five minutes for the four-story department store, built on a plot of land over 100 pyeong, to collapse.

Outside the building—now a chaotic wreck with only its frame barely intact—countless people stood around, anxiously wringing their hands.

Police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances filled the scene.

As always, reporters pushed through the crowd, scrambling to deliver the breaking news.

“Excuse me, are you a survivor?”

“We’re looking for survivors! We would appreciate an interview!”

“We’re offering a small fee to any survivor who agrees to an interview!”

“Over here! Please come this way!”

They were so relentless they even blocked construction workers who had barely survived and were being escorted to ambulances.

Firefighters and paramedics shouted at them to move, but the reporters—like hyenas—refused to let go of prey they’d finally caught.

Even so, they got nothing.

“Sorry. You can hear about it from an official later.”

“I can’t say anything. I’m hurt. Please move.”

“Ah, it hurts! Go talk to someone else, not me!”

“Get out of the way! Come on! They said I need treatment now!”

The reporters were baffled.

The workers’ responses were too synchronized—so much so that it felt impossible without a firm directive.

Some reporters’ eyes shifted to the workers still emerging from the rubble.

‘Jisu Construction?’

Were they that fast?

Or had they anticipated something like this?

A wall of Jisu Construction personnel had already formed, blocking the view inside. Through the gaps, officials could be seen approaching workers one by one.

After exchanging a few words, every worker nodded grimly and let the paramedics escort them away, dragging their injured bodies.

Sensing something was off, one reporter strode up to a construction official and shouted.

“What did you say to them? What did you say that made the survivors refuse to say a word?”

The official briefly looked up, face heavy.

When he didn’t answer, the reporter’s neck veins bulged.

“Did you threaten them? Answer me! If you don’t answer, I’ll run the story that you threatened them!”

“Which paper are you from?”

“Gojoseon Daily!”

The official suddenly pulled out his phone and made a call.

After hanging up, he ignored the reporter’s threats and stared at the collapsed building, letting out a long, heavy sigh.

= = =

Bang Hyuk-min walked out from within the completely collapsed rubble.

Seeing him in [Regression Mode], No Death frowned in confusion.

“What, why are you here!? And [Regression Mode]? Did you get into a fight and get pushed back?”

“No. I was out of time, so I came straight out.”

“You’re not supposed to be here right now. Did you change the plan?”

Bang Hyuk-min nodded.

He glanced back at the rubble he had just emerged from.

Only then did No Death and Hyun-jung notice the crimson blood splattered over the debris.

And the few corpses still visible.

“Isn’t that the Azure Lake Guild mark? You said we didn’t have to worry about the guys outside.”

“I couldn’t just let it be.”

Bang Hyuk-min’s fist clenched on its own, grinding tight.

He had one plan.

Stop their plan and save as many workers as possible.

That had been the original plan.

Since he couldn’t save everyone without multiple bodies, he had given the Death Knight’s Helmet to No Death.

Without the helmet, Bang Hyuk-min needed a revolutionary method to break through the barrier leading to the third basement floor.

Get caught early and be transported straight to the third basement floor.

Then, with No Death watching everything through the Death Knight’s Helmet and intervening at the perfect moment, Bang Hyuk-min would slip into the third basement floor, infiltrate flawlessly, and insert himself into their plan.

That was Bang Hyuk-min’s plan.

Infiltration.

Using the Revenant trait to blend into their plan.

Saving all the workers through No Death and Hyun-jung’s efforts with the Death Knight’s Helmet.

Everything had succeeded.

And yet Bang Hyuk-min had come outside because of a single phrase he’d heard on the third basement floor.

“I underestimated them. Those guys… they were far bigger pieces of trash than I thought.”

===

Just as blue sparks flew and the opening of the Forced Dungeon Development Experiment was about to succeed, Park Chung-ho—having finished all his preparations—spoke into his radio, his voice reaching the Azure Lake Guild members on the first floor.

– “Are the ten ready?”

– [Chzzzk. Yes, they’re ready.]

– “The Dungeon will open any second now. You know how important your role is in this Dungeon, right?”

– [Chzzzk. We’ve prepared without a hitch. We’ll work in pairs of two to lure them one by one.]

– “We only need to offer more than ten lives to open the Dungeon completely, so you can prepare more. But make it perfect.”

===

There was no such detail in his past life’s memories.

Ten lives—sacrificed like offerings—just to fully open the Dungeon.

It shouldn’t exist.

It was hard to believe this was happening in modern society, not the Joseon Dynasty.

‘Crazy bastards…’

His teeth ground together.

And there was another reason his rage wouldn’t settle.

In his past life, his father had worked himself to the bone to support their family.

That day—when they couldn’t even find his body—now overlapped with the ten workers chosen as sacrifices, and with the image of his father.

(T/N: Fucking degenerates)

Grit.

‘So that was why.’

A non-disclosure agreement? If he wasn’t even alive, there was no reason a secret could leak.

The possibility of telling his family?

No. Those bastards were terrified that their inhumane acts—crimes far worse than an NDA—might be exposed someday.

To erase even the smallest chance.

To leave not even a single ember behind.

That was it.

That was why they had destroyed someone else’s family.

“The more I learn, the more fucked up it gets.”

The reason his family had been ruined in his past life was finally clear.

A fucked-up reason.

A goddamn reason.

His family had been destroyed over bullshit like this.

RUMBLE…

A large hole opened in the rubble where the corpses of the Azure Lake Guild members lay.

It was a wide opening with stairs leading down like a Dungeon entrance, but the path broke partway through.

Faint screams echoed from inside.

‘Ah, no!!!’

‘Please… please!!!’

In that instant, black light flared in Bang Hyuk-min’s fury-filled eyes.

“Are there more workers left?”

The killing intent was so thick that even No Death spoke with cold sweat breaking out.

“What is this killing intent?!”

“C-Calm down. We saved all the workers. I confirmed it.”

“Then what are those screams coming from inside?”

“Screams? I don’t hear anything.”

Bang Hyuk-min headed for the hole.

With the Immortal Demon Sword in hand, he approached the edge, and a scream—so faint even No Death couldn’t hear it—rang clearly in his ears.

[Regression Mode Time Remaining: 1 minute 54 seconds]

“They have no intention of stopping.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Those bastards… they’re using their own guild members as sacrifices.”

The casual words sent a chill through No Death and Hyun-jung.

“Then the screams you’re talking about right now are…”

“Either Azure Lake Guild members or Land Cleaning Guild members.”

“C-Crazy…”

“They’re bad people.”

FWOOSH.

Bang Hyuk-min poured mana into the Immortal Demon Sword.

Beside him, No Death let black smoke spill from his entire body and drew two daggers.

“Only my position has changed. The plan stays the same. Here, today…”

With killing intent boiling in his eyes, Bang Hyuk-min’s cold voice echoed over the collapsed building.

“I’m finishing those bastards.”

Hyun-jung pulled a large gun from her [Inventory] and nodded.

“I’ll finish off the bad guys who come outside.”

Bang Hyuk-min and No Death turned to Hyun-jung.

After a silent nod, the three moved to their positions.

Bang Hyuk-min and No Death went into the Dungeon.

Hyun-jung vanished in an instant, heading outside the building.

= = =

Perhaps because it had been forcibly opened, the stairs leading into the underground Dungeon were poorly formed.

As Bang Hyuk-min carefully descended, he gathered his mana and spoke to No Death.

“The screams have stopped. As planned, I go down first.”

“How much time is left on [Regression Mode]?”

“Plenty.”

“Got it. I’ll do my best to keep up.”

The reason Bang Hyuk-min had to be on the third basement floor was simple.

There was absolutely no information in his past life’s memories about the forcibly opened Dungeon.

If the difficulty was low and they cleared it too quickly, he needed to already be in position.

“Be careful. You’ve experienced it, but they’re crazy monsters.”

Bang Hyuk-min nodded silently.

“Don’t worry. Our party members are monsters too. And I’m the leader who benefits from those monsters.”

Conviction hardened on Bang Hyuk-min’s enraged face.

“Hide (Stealth). Dark Ring. Body-Transfer.”

Using Hyun-jung’s [Hidden Skill], Bang Hyuk-min concealed his presence and vanished completely.

“That kid.”

Even in this urgent situation, a smile tugged at No Death’s lips.

“That’s a truly trustworthy expression.”

The plan had changed, and they were heading into a forcibly opened Dungeon they’d never seen before.

Even so, just seeing Bang Hyuk-min’s confidence made the anxiety in No Death’s chest fade.

This plan, too, would end in Bang Hyuk-min’s victory.

“All right~ Then I’ll go be our leader’s pawn.”

Tap. Tak.

On the incomplete stairs, only the sound of quiet, confident footsteps colored the dark space.

= = =

Crimson blood dripped down.

Thump.

Behind the corpse that collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut, Park Chung-ho—soaked in blood—shook out his short hair.

Then a System alarm rang out for everyone present.

Ting.

[Hidden Quest: Complete the Incomplete Dungeon.]

[Number of Souls Consumed ( 10 / 10 )]

[Hidden Quest has been completed.]

[As a reward, the Dungeon will become complete.]

[Upon clearing, you will become ‘The First to Clear a Forcibly Opened Dungeon’.]

[Warning, you may attract the attention of ‘Someone’.]

[Warning! ‘Someone’ detects the forced opening of the Dungeon.]

[‘Someone’ feels a crisis and attempts to find the target.]

As the messages appeared, the third basement floor began to change.

Stone walls rose within the largest laboratory space, and a massive door formed along the lab wall.

A Dungeon was being created—spaces that hadn’t existed moments ago taking shape.

At the strange, unprecedented messages, Park Chung-ho looked back and asked,

“Someone? Have you ever seen something like this?”

Despite Park Chung-ho’s chilling question—spoken while drenched in the blood of ten people—the Western Shaman kept his characteristic smile, and Yaksha bared his teeth in werewolf form as both shook their heads.

“This is the first time I’ve seen it. Who could ‘Someone’ be?”

“I don’t know who, but this is unsettling.”

“Indeed. We should clear this quickly and hide. The world is wide, and monsters are many.”

“Hahaha, of course. Let’s coil up like a dormant dragon, nursing our venom, until we reach the level of that American guy we saw.”

“I will follow you.”

Awooo~~

Shiver shiver shiver.

Just as Yaksha’s howl was about to fill the third basement floor, the sound of someone trembling echoed from a corner.

A tremor so severe it scraped at everyone’s ears.

It was Jang Han-bit.

“Jang Han-bit.”

“Y-Yes!!”

Under Park Chung-ho’s gaze—after he had killed ten people—Jang Han-bit trembled even harder.

He was terrified.

Just moments ago, ten Azure Lake Guild members he had trusted and followed had died.

People he had laughed and joked with.

A grin spread across Park Chung-ho’s face.

“I’m not going to kill you. Don’t worry. You’re still very useful.”

“Th-That’s right! I-I-I’m v-very useful!”

“Park Jae-hyun.”

At Park Chung-ho’s call, Park Jae-hyun answered as well, voice shaking.

“You… called for me?”

“You’re trembling less, though. Have you killed someone before?”

“No, sir. I was prepared for it, but… it’s not easy.”

Park Chung-ho nodded repeatedly.

“The first time is never easy. It gets comfortable later. Remember this. To avoid being eaten, you have to eat. Whatever it takes. That’s reality.”

“Thank you for the advice.”

“Stay out of the way. We need to finish this quickly.”

As they spoke, the Dungeon finished forming.

Ting.

A System message arrived as if on cue.

[The boss is appearing. There is only one monster in the Forcibly Opened Dungeon.]

“Is that the boss?”

A large stone statue stood before Park Chung-ho, a giant axe slung over his shoulder.

Large wings. A head.

A crouched, humanlike form.

Two eyes set with yellow jewels, and lips stretched all the way to its cheeks.

Four fangs jutted from between closed lips.

[The boss’s name is ‘Corrupted Gargoyle’.]

The Corrupted Gargoyle rose slowly, stone dust shedding from its body.

Then it roared at Park Chung-ho’s party.

KKIYAAAAAAAK!!!

The deafening screech made Park Chung-ho, the Western Shaman, and Yaksha grimace.

But Jang Han-bit and Park Jae-hyun didn’t.

“Keuk!”

“Aah!! Aaaah!! My ears!! My ears!!”

Blood trickled from their ears.

The Western Shaman shot them an annoyed look, created a barrier talisman for them, then pressed a finger to his lips.

“Be quiet. Or I’ll rip your mouths open.”

“Aaaah!! Hup!”

Park Jae-hyun clamped a hand over Jang Han-bit’s mouth.

With a satisfied smile, the Western Shaman gave a slight bow and vanished.

As Park Chung-ho and Yaksha were about to launch their attack on the Corrupted Gargoyle—following the Western Shaman’s lightning strike—

Just as Park Chung-ho’s giant axe shattered the gargoyle’s ankle—

And at the very moment Jang Han-bit’s group struggled to hold their screams back—

Without a sound, the Dark Ring on Park Jae-hyun’s wrist emitted a black light.

Ting.

[You have used ‘Body-Transfer’.]

[The ‘Hide (Stealth)’ Skill is maintained.]