Translator: Vine
Translated At: Nyx Scans
Chapter: 114
#114. The One Who Lost Their Name
2022.11.22.
Kururung...
The dark clouds, gradually thickening, were ominous.
A nameless bird circled under the thick clouds, letting out an eerie cry.
Though no words were exchanged, the two were thinking the same thing.
—That this situation they were in was no mere getting lost.
And that thought was correct.
[Hidden Achievement Unlocked - 'Devourer of Grudges' 10 kills!]
[Dungeon Necropolis Activated.]
The moment she saw the system message, Eunha was certain.
Bokgye Mountain was currently undergoing dungeonization.
Eunha had only experienced the 'dungeonization phenomenon' two or three times before.
Meaning, it wasn't a common occurrence.
There were various definitions of a Dungeon, but the most widely used meaning referred to 'a place transformed into another special space, neither reality nor a gate'.
Unlike ordinary gates where the rift could be closed by defeating the boss, dungeons were impossible to 'subjugate' or 'conquer'.
This was due to the monsters that regenerated almost infinitely inside.
The only way to protect civilian homes from an already appeared dungeon was complete closure or complete eradication.
From a hunter's perspective, the only advantage a dungeon had over a gate was that it could be stopped beforehand if the dungeonization wasn't fully complete.
However, the success rate was extremely low, as it required grasping the dungeon's internal system or conditions within a short time.
Kugugugu...
The low-vibrating ground trembles minutely.
An unidentified laughter, faintly heard from somewhere.
Red light bulbs, beginning to float in the darkened space without any support.
—The space was changing.
"..."
Eunha lifted her head with downcast eyes.
The darkened thing looked more like a low, black ceiling than a sky.
But still, at the far end of the sky, a faint sunset lingered.
So.
'There's still time.'
Eunha was certain, looking at the faintly shining orange streak of light in the distance.
However, what bothered her was...
'Why was it fine for the past 20 years?'
This place was the remnant of a gate.
Though civilian access had been prohibited for a long time, Association agents periodically managed the monster population, or hunters visited for tutorials...
If there had been information that fairy-type monsters appeared, the Rose Guild would have definitely relayed that fact to the test participants in advance.
'Could it be that fairy-type monsters haven't appeared until now?'
If so, why now of all times?
"People are visible over there. It seems everyone has given up on descending and gathered together."
Clown Ahjussi pointed ahead with a slightly brightened voice.
Though they hadn't completely descended the mountain, they had succeeded in joining other hunters at a midway point.
Let's hurry too.
Eunha quietly followed Clown Ahjussi, who quickened his pace.
There were about a hundred hunters who participated in the test.
However, only about thirty hunters were gathered there.
Most of them had faces contorted in fear, or were tightly clutching unresponsive terminals and cellphones.
With a faint hope that reinforcements would come from the Rose Guild.
Some were even seen sitting under the shade of a tree, their faces buried in their knees.
Fear, anxiety, despair, anger, sighs...
In the dark space where such emotions were chaotically mixed, another system window appeared.
[Dungeon Synchronization ▶ 11.2%]
[Dungeon Synchronization ▶ 11.9%]
[Dungeon Synchronization ▶ 12.0%]
The shorter the pop-up interval of the system window became, the greater the agitation of the surrounding hunters grew.
"It seems this dungeon is the type that can't be escaped until the conditions are met... Otherwise, the forest changing like a maze like this doesn't make sense."
[Dungeon Synchronization ▶ 13.1%]
"Since Gunslinger and Shine J went to look around, they'll probably come back with some clues. Let's wait for now."
[Dungeon Synchronization ▶ 14.5%]
"Do you think people outside have noticed this situation? Damn it, what the hell is going on... Ha, if I knew this would happen, I would have ditched the South Coast Gate operation support and just applied for a decent C-Class gate!"
"Hey, look over there! The trees...!"
[Dungeon Synchronization ▶ 16.0%]
Ssshhh...
The surrounding trees began to sway eerily.
It wasn't just the branches trembling in the blowing wind.
They were literally 'moving'.
Like living animals.
"Wh-what!"
In the desolate air, someone exclaimed in fright.
It was understandable.
Wrinkles were forming on the rough tree bark, and each tree was developing its own expression.
Smiling faces.
Crying faces, angry faces...
Among them, there was also a face engulfed in fear, resembling Munch's 'The Scream', a world-famous painting (名畫).
The sight of the trees, densely filling the black forest, each displaying its own expression, was chilling enough to give one goosebumps.
While everyone held their breath, a cheerful, giggling laughter was heard from somewhere.
Though no one turned their head towards the source of the sound, everyone there knew.
—That just now was not a human voice.
[Dungeon Synchronization ▶ 20.0%]
[Red lanterns begin to light up one by one, replacing the moonlight. This place will soon become a splendid stage.]
'Stage?'
Eunha quickly looked around.
It was just as written in the system window.
The light bulbs in the air rose higher, not minding the surroundings like heads or trees.
They weren't connected to anything either.
A scene as if the entire forest had been enchanted.
However, the black forest, illuminated by the red light, was incomparably eerie.
"W-wait. Can't you all hear this sound?"
Someone, their face pale white, muttered as if to themselves.
Thump-thump, thump-thump...
A cheerful drum sound, unfitting for the place.
Even a playful trumpet sound, sliding over the lively beat.
It was an exciting melody, like background music from an amusement park parade.
However, no one knew where it was coming from, or who was playing the instruments.
'It's like a concert hall.'
Eunha thought so, watching the rapidly changing scene before her.
A sudden sense of incongruity washed over her.
The name of this dungeon, confirmed in the system window, was clearly Necropolis, meaning a tomb.
But this colorful and splendid scene unfolding before her eyes was far from a tomb.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The drumbeat, ringing in her ears, gradually quickened.
The dense bushes that had surrounded them had disappeared at some point, and black smoke began to swirl.
[Dungeon Synchronization ▶ 23.1%]
[The audience is flocking. Prepare a wonderful performance and please them.]
—Audience?
When the billowing black smoke finally cleared, Eunha discovered skeletons gathered there in droves.
Clack, clack, clack, clack, clack, clack, clack...
Countless skeletons, surrounding this place in an instant, were moving their jawbones at an unbelievably fast speed.
"What am I seeing right now? What the hell is going on?"
"N-no way, do we have to defeat all these skeletons?"
"Damn it! I don't know, let's just defeat them first and think later!"
A hunter, along with a curse, shot up from his spot.
The moment he clenched his hand, it transformed into a giant bear's paw.
Though he looked like a physical enhancement type hunter at first glance, it was likely an ability closer to transformation type.
He swung his fist towards a skeleton without hesitation.
However.
Whoosh!
His fist cut through the air pathetically.
A miss?
No way.
The man stared blankly back and forth between his fist and the skeleton before him.
Srrk, his fist returned to its human form.
Then, he gaped his lips as if he had realized something.
"This... isn't real."
Clack—
As if reacting to the man's words, the skeleton's jawbone slowly dropped.
Clack, clack, clack...
Clack, clack, clack, clack, clack, clack, clack, clack, clack, clack, clack, clack, clack, clack, clack, clack...
The sound of bones clashing gradually quickens.
By the time he barely regained his muddled senses, this place was no longer a forest.
[Dungeon Synchronization ▶ 30.0%]
[Introducing the master of the stage!]
Ta-da-dam—!
At the sound of a trumpet from above, everyone looked up as if mesmerized.
A trapeze fell from beneath the dark clouds.
"Gasp...!"
Someone sucked in a breath.
They saw it.
That bizarrely long shadow hanging upside down there.
'It', with its neck bent at a precise 90-degree angle and arms longer than its legs stretched out to both sides, looked down at this place with a wide, painted-on smile.
[Lv.60 '????' appears!]
[Only thunderous applause and cheers can lead him to the stage.]
[Remember! Unless the master of the stage performs the finale, this stage will never end.]
Eyes so black that the boundary between sclera and iris was indistinguishable.
Its red-painted lips were half-melted, clearly revealing its oral structure.
Creak.
'It', which had been bending its neck at 90 degrees, now bent it to the opposite side and began to cackle.
"No... way..."
Clown Ahjussi, his face pale white as if he had seen a ghost, lost strength in his legs and slumped to the ground.
"Why here..."
Clown Ahjussi, staring blankly at 'it' hanging from the trapeze.
It was the moment Eunha's gaze lightly touched him.
[The curtain rises! Elicit the audience's response!]
Thump. Thud, thud...
Something fell from the sky.
Rain?
No.
It was a rubber ball.
The creature had attacked.
A hunter, looking at the vividly colored red, yellow, and blue balls, shouted.
"Dodge!"
At that shout, the hunters, who had been blankly looking up at the sky, quickly came to their senses and scattered all at once.
It might be a bomb.
Perhaps another trap.
They had instinctively judged.
That those weren't just ordinary balls.
However.
"..."
"..."
Silence.
The balls, which they thought would explode upon hitting the ground, were surprisingly intact.
Nothing happened.
However, none of the hunters there touched the balls on the ground.
Since everyone was unsure of the situation, they had to avoid any rash actions.
While everyone stood frozen, someone stepped forward, breaking the chilly air.
"Everyone, they say if you keep your wits about you even when you enter a tiger's den, you can survive."
A woman, gripping a staff embedded with a blue jewel in both hands, stood before everyone.
Shine J.
A B-Class hunter who had partied with Gunslinger, and the one who had just signaled everyone to evade.
As she swung her staff, a golden, translucent protective barrier formed around each of the hunters gathered there.
An emergency buff in case of an unforeseen event.
Though it would be far from enough to block a major attack, it would probably block the aftermath of an explosion.
After confirming that a barrier had formed around every member, she spoke in a calm tone.
"If there's a boss-level entity in this dungeon, it's actually a good thing. If we just defeat that, there's a high chance we can seize the key to escape."
This time, it's our turn.
Shine J glanced back.
Towards her party member and best partner, Gunslinger.
At that, he, who had already aimed at his target, pulled the trigger.
Baaang—!
"...?"
Gunslinger slowly lifted his gaze, which had been fixed on the gun's scope.
As long as his 'Aimed Shot' passive was active, his shots within a certain distance should be a hundred percent accurate.
Moreover, now that he was receiving Shine J's 'Blessing' buff, his power and speed should have increased compared to usual...
[Dungeon Synchronization ▶ 36.3%]
Why was that thing still grinning over there?
"Hey, did you shoot properly?"
Shine J sent him a distrustful look.
Gunslinger clicked his tongue shortly and then fixed his gaze on the scope again.
Right, there's no way it's useless.
With conviction, he pulls the trigger once more.
Bang!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
...
Thump.
Gunslinger, dropping his gun, blinked as if unable to believe it.
The creature was unharmed.
It wasn't that the attack didn't work, but rather, it seemed the bullets were all repelled before even reaching it—
"That kind of thing won't work."
It was a calm voice.
"...That kind of thing?"
Gunslinger sharply turned around.
A woman in a black dress with long, flowing hair approached, her heels making clear clicking sounds.
"Didn't you see the system window that popped up earlier? Only thunderous applause and cheers can lead him to the stage."
Before the battle with the boss, there are conditions that must be met.
The woman, Eunha, stared directly at 'it' hanging upside down from the trapeze and parted her lips.
Eunha too didn't know exactly what those 'conditions' were.
However, the hint would be hidden somewhere.
If one carefully observed the field, which had transformed from a forest into a circus tent in an instant, there would surely be something somewhere.
A boss that has appeared but neither moves, attacks, nor is even attacked.
A strange field with pillars instead of trees, red light bulbs instead of moonlight, and carpet instead of soil.
Skeletons that have lost their substance and become 'audience'.
—And us, standing in the middle of it all.
This was a battle until the dungeon synchronization rate reached 100%.
In other words, what was important in the current situation was judgment rather than combat power, and keen observation rather than judgment.
Eunha, who seemed to be thinking about something, glanced somewhere.
Clown Ahjussi, staring blankly up at the trapeze, was visible.
At first glance, he looked simply frightened, but...
'No.'
If he were afraid, he would have dodged or fled when the balls rained down from the sky just now.
However, Clown Ahjussi hadn't.
"You... why are you..."
Standing in place, merely looking at 'it' hanging from the trapeze with wavering eyes.
So, Eunha thought.
Perhaps that was agitation.
"You know something, don't you?"
Eunha asked Clown Ahjussi.
Only then did he, as if returning to reality, quickly come to his senses and turn his head towards Eunha.
"Anything is fine, if you have any idea, please tell me. In this situation, every little piece of information is important."
"Ah..."
The moment Clown Ahjussi faintly parted his lips.
"Are you asking, knowing he's an E-Class concept hunter?"
A nearby hunter spoke with a displeased face.
"With that rank, he probably hasn't even properly cleared a common mid-level gate, let alone a dungeonization phenomenon."
This wasn't a one-sided criticism.
It was an extremely obvious statement.
Knowing that, Clown Ahjussi had started to speak but then closed his mouth again.
However, Eunha's thoughts were different.
"This isn't a point where combat power is needed. Gathering information and moving based on it comes first."
"That makes sense. But what I mean is, why are you asking him for such important information?"
"Then?"
Eunha, tilting her gaze upwards, stared intently at him.
Srrk, her pitch-black hair slid down her white cheek.
Eunha spoke with eyes full of conviction.
"Is there anyone else here who has noticed anything about this situation?"
Unlike the past, the current hunter world had ranks.
As a not-insignificant amount of time had passed, the world had changed, so she intended to readily accept and acknowledge it.
However, this was now a matter unrelated to rank.
"She's right."
Shine J, who had been silently observing the situation, tapped the ground with her long staff.
"First, let's hear what he has to say."
The highest-ranked B-Class hunter among them.
At her words, the hunter, though not relaxing his dissatisfied expression, finally closed his mouth completely.
Eunha subtly gestured towards Clown Ahjussi with her eyes.
Please speak.
That was the meaning.
Only then did Clown Ahjussi hesitantly begin to speak.
"...Our performances always started with juggling."
—Our?
Eunha's gaze, fixed on Clown Ahjussi, changed slightly.
"If I'm right, then perhaps these balls are..."
Clown Ahjussi, his words trailing off, bent his knees and reached for the balls scattered on the floor.
[Dungeon Synchronization ▶ 43.4%]
Picking up one, two, three, four, and then five, he lightly tossed them into the air.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...
And the juggling show began.
"Ahjussi, what on earth are you doing now—"
Just as a hunter, with an incredulous face at his sudden action, was about to speak.
Ding!
[The audience begins to cheer!]
Clack, clack, clack, clack, clack...
The motionless skeletons began to move their jawbones again, making sounds.
No, this time, it didn't stop there.
They wildly shook their skulls or lifted their emaciated arms and swirled them around.
'...They're happy?'
Eunha, who had been staring at the change in the skeletons, looked at Clown Ahjussi again.
At that moment, a surprised voice came from right behind her.
"Th-the trapeze...!"
Ding!
[The venue is filled with heated excitement!]
[Lv.60 'The One Who Lost Their Name' descends to the stage.]
Whoosh, thud.
'It' descended from the trapeze.
[Dungeon Synchronization ▶ 50.0%]
