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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Rift Dungeon
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Seora, who had returned to work after four days with a heavy heart, soon found she had no time for such thoughts.
Familiar work awaited her after her long absence.
“There was a clash between some small-time guilds over the weekend. No casualties, but the problem is they were so busy fighting each other that they postponed the dungeon clear, and a breakout almost occurred.”
“Are they all idiots there or something?”
Seora tutted at Jeong Taeseok’s words. Fighting in the middle of a clear, not even after it was done? Did they have brains?
“My thoughts exactly. Anyway, we’re imposing sanctions. Sorry to saddle you with these idiots, but I need you to handle it. Section Chief Kim Sanghyeon of the Hunter Management Team will be with you, so there shouldn't be any trouble.”
“This is what I usually do, anyway. It’s fine.”
Taeseok’s words were born of concern for Seora after her recent ordeal, but there was no need for him to feel sorry.
Seora had originally been an F-rank, so even though she was part of the Dungeon Management Team, she was typically assigned menial tasks like this clean-up rather than dangerous field missions. Besides, with a B-rank Hunter accompanying her, there was no chance of danger.
‘Looks like I can take it easy for once.’
Seora let out a deep sigh of relief and began to review the related documents Taeseok handed her.
* * *
“I’m telling you, we’re the victims! Those bastards were the ones who secretly pocketed the items first!”
Accompanied by Kim Sanghyeon from the Hunter Management Team in the same department, Seora visited the headquarters of a small guild called the Sanyang Guild. The guild master, Baek Geontae, vehemently proclaimed his innocence, spittle flying from his lips.
“The contract clearly specified the distribution ratio, but they stole from us behind our backs! How could they do this? How could they ignore the agreement and pull a stunt like this!”
His anger was understandable.
Unlike large guilds, small ones lacked manpower and often collaborated to clear dungeons.
Since it was a mutually beneficial relationship, they usually avoided causing trouble for one another. After all, no one would want to work with a problematic guild.
For them to try and snatch an item like that, it must have been something quite valuable. The documents didn't specify what it was; she would have to ask Kim Sanghyeon later.
“The Association has already completed its investigation into the matter. It has been confirmed that the other guild was at fault. However, that doesn't justify postponing the dungeon clear.”
When Kim Sanghyeon chided him, the guild master’s face immediately fell.
“Well, I was just so angry when I saw them stealing the item…”
“Does being angry make it acceptable to delay a clear? A breakout almost happened. And in a sparsely populated rural village, no less. If there had been even a slight delay, the villagers would have been massacred without receiving any aid.”
“Ahem. Hmph.”
Seemingly at a loss for words, the guild master coughed dryly and averted his gaze. However, his face was still flushed, indicating he still felt deeply wronged.
Kim Sanghyeon saw this but showed no mercy.
“In accordance with regulations, the Sanyang Guild is prohibited from clearing dungeons for two months. This applies to everyone, from the guild master to the guild members. Additionally, a fine of fifty million won must be paid within one month.”
Kim Sanghyeon pushed the relevant documents in front of the guild master, who shot up in protest. Since the Awakened possessed special powers and earned more money than ordinary people, their punishments were correspondingly severe.
“Wh-What? Two months? And fifty million on top of that?! Isn’t that too harsh? What’s a small guild like ours supposed to do if we can’t clear dungeons for two whole months! I told you, we’re the victims!”
“As I said, this is a fine for engaging in a private dispute and neglecting the clear. Moreover, the fact that a breakout nearly occurred warrants an aggravated punishment.”
“Aggrav…!”
He started to shout something but clamped his mouth shut, having nothing more to say.
If monsters had poured out of the dungeon, that rural village, devoid of a single Hunter, would have been horribly ravaged. As the leader of a guild, he wouldn't be ignorant of that fact.
In the end, he covered his face with his hands and accepted the documents.
“If it’s any consolation, the guild at fault has been banned from clears for six months and fined one hundred million won. Your situation is much better than theirs.”
“……”
The storm of emotions—anger, anguish, sorrow, and more—that had been raging on the guild master’s face instantly smoothed into a placid calm. Yes, compared to six months and a hundred million won, two months and fifty million was a much lighter punishment.
He let out a strange, choked sob and buried his face in his hands.
“The clear prohibition is effective immediately. Please be sure to check the fine payment deadline and don’t forget it.”
“*Sniffle*, yes… Ah, um, that item in question…”
“It has already been confiscated by the Association, so don’t get your hopes up.”
“I won’t! I won’t! I’m actually relieved the Association took it.”
Muttering to himself, Baek Geontae was overcome with sorrow once more, burying his head on the desk as tears streamed down his face.
With no reason to remain, the two left the guild master’s office.
I might actually get to leave on time today! She was in a great mood, as the first assignment she’d had in a while was ending easily and quickly.
Smiling brightly, Seora glanced back at the agonized sobs of *keuheup, heup, keoheok, eohheok* echoing from behind the closed door.
“It wouldn’t be surprising if they ended up brawling with that other guild later.”
“If there are any casualties, we’ll have to come back here again. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen.”
“You’re absolutely right.”
The Association didn't meddle in every guild conflict, but it was a different story if casualties were involved.
Seora prayed that they would confine their fighting to a non-lethal level.
“By the way, what exactly was that item…”
Just as they were about to leave the Sanyang Guild headquarters, Seora started to ask Kim Sanghyeon her question.
【Administrator: (ง •ω•)ง✧】
The administrator’s unusual message made Seora stop in her tracks.
What’s this? Why are you raising your fists like that, with your eyes sparkling? Why? For what reason?
“Ms. Yoon Seora?”
Kim Sanghyeon called out to her with a puzzled look, but Seora didn't even hear him.
【Administrator: (ง •ω•)ง⁼³₌₃】
It was because another ominous, fight-like emoticon had appeared.
“We have to get out of here, now…!”
Her face instantly paled, and she tried to shout urgently, but it was too late. A sudden chill washed over her as a message appeared before her eyes.
【A Gate is being generated. Please prepare for danger.】
【Gate generation complete.】
【‘Location — Sanyang Guild Headquarters’ has been engulfed by a Rift Dungeon!】
The ground shook, and her vision shifted in an instant. The once bright interior of the building became dark and gloomy, beginning to emit a faint light.
The building, glimpsed through the dimness, no longer held its ordinary shape. Faintly glowing minerals and unidentifiable stones were scattered everywhere.
Seora found herself standing inside a Rift Dungeon, one of the most dangerous types, where the entire space itself had been transformed into a dungeon. She clutched her head and let out a silent scream.
“My on-time departure!”
Of all things, it had to be a Rift Dungeon, not even a regular one!
To think my chance to leave on time was ruined by this damned dungeon!
Along with a silent scream, her precious, punctual departure sprouted wings and flew far, far away.
* * *
It was right after the Rift Dungeon appeared that Yeonhee, the vice master of the Chasa Guild, sought out her guild master.
“A call from the Association President.”
Guild Master Jeong Hoyoung took the phone Yeonhee offered without delay.
“Yes, President. This is Jeong Hoyoung.”
—Oh, hey, Hoyoung. I heard you were training. Sorry to interrupt.
“Not at all. Is something the matter?”
—A Rift Dungeon just opened up at the Sanyang Guild, near your headquarters.
At Association President Song Hanna’s words, Jeong Hoyoung immediately looked at Yeonhee. Yeonhee mouthed to him that it had just happened.
“Should I handle it?”
—There’s that, but a small problem has come up. Our dear Seora just so happened to be inside.
Jeong Hoyoung’s expression hardened instantly. He immediately understood why Song Hanna had called him directly instead of making a standard request for aid. Jeong Hoyoung was one of the very few people who knew about the relationship between Song Hanna and Yoon Seora.
“The vice master and I will head there immediately. We will rescue her shortly, so please do not worry.”
—Thanks, Hoyoung. *Sigh*. I don’t know why she keeps getting into situations like this. So many strange things have been happening lately. Maybe I should have a shaman perform a ritual. My poor baby.
“I will find a reputable shaman and report back to you. Please wait just a little longer.”
At Jeong Hoyoung’s serious reply, Song Hanna’s voice brightened on the other end of the line.
—Oh, really! Then please take care of that, too. It’s a Rift Dungeon, so you two be careful as well.
“Yes. I will contact you as soon as she is rescued.”
After ending the call with a reverent attitude, Jeong Hoyoung rose from his seat. Having just been training, he didn't need to warm up.
“Where are the others?”
“Four A-rank Hunters are on standby. We can depart immediately.”
“Let’s go.”
As if there was no time to waste, Jeong Hoyoung immediately left the training room. From here to the Sanyang Guild headquarters would take them less than ten minutes on foot; they would arrive in no time.
The problem was that Yoon Seora was an F-rank.
Jeong Hoyoung sincerely hoped that Song Hanna’s precious niece would be safe until then.
* * *
However, Jeong Hoyoung, the leader of the second-ranked Chasa Guild in the country, was unaware of one thing.
The pitiful ones weren't Yoon Seora, but rather the monsters who had the misfortune of running into an S-rank.
“You wreeeetched things who interrupted my on-time departure. Won’t you come out? I need to kill you all as quickly as possible so I can finally go home.”
In the dark guild headquarters, illuminated only by the faint light of glowing stones.
Seora activated her skill, and her left eye glowed a fierce red. The glow emanating from her eye in the darkness was unbelievably menacing.
Because of it, the monsters that had come to devour humans were now the ones fleeing in terror.
“There’s no escape, so just give up! Hahahaha! I’ll shoot every last one of you down!”
*Hieeeek!*
The fury of an office worker whose timely departure had been snatched away was nothing short of madness. At the unhinged cry of a crazed Seora, the monsters, with nowhere to run and nowhere to hide, trembled in fear.
A monster had descended upon the dungeon.
It had been about ten minutes since Seora had started her rampage without a care for prying eyes.
【Awakened ‘Yoon Seora’ has entered the Grade 4 Dungeon, ‘Ghost Town.’】
Seora hadn't given the message much thought. *Leave on time, leave on time.* That was all she could mumble, dazed. But Kim Sanghyeon, who was with her, was different. His face hardened.
“Ghost Town, don’t tell me…!”
Ghost. In other words, the monsters dominating this place were the spirit-type that corroded a person’s mind.
“Aaargh! Aack! N-No! Get away! Die! Die, I said!”
“Hyaaa! N-No! No! Aaargh!”
“Help me! Help me!”
The moment he realized it, screams erupted from all around. They must all be from the Sanyang Guild members.
Kim Sanghyeon, his face pale, whipped around to look at Yoon Seora.
“It’s dangerous! We have to get out of here…!”
But it was already too late.
【Awakened ‘Kim Sanghyeon’ is being corroded by the monster, White Ghost!】
A pure white, translucent monster suddenly appeared and was sucked into Kim Sanghyeon’s body. He reached a hand out toward Yoon Seora with a desperate look on his face.
“M-Ms. Seora! Leave me, and run…!”
Before he could finish his sentence, Kim Sanghyeon collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut. My goodness. The shock was enough to snap Seora out of her daze.
“To think of me even as you’re being corroded. What a good person.”
She was quite touched. She would definitely have to save him and get him out of here.
“The problem is, I don’t have a mental barrier either. What should I do?”
Seora scratched her head with a nonchalant expression, checking to see if the fallen Kim Sanghyeon was injured. Because of this, she failed to notice the White Ghost descending from the ceiling.
The pure white spirit was about to pounce on her crouching form…
【The System Administrator’s touch envelops the Awakened ‘Yoon Seora.’ Mental corrosion is ineffective!】
…but it bounced right off her with a *thump*.
“…Huh?”
Both Seora and the White Ghost, which had been knocked to the floor, could only stare blankly at each other.
An icy silence fell.
