Chapter 14

Hunter X Hunter

“Oh, Necro mister! Over here, over here!”

The afternoon after Bone One’s intensive training.

The Kang Jae-ho party greeted me at the appointed place.

“You came as promised. I sent you the Dungeon information roughly in a text message, you checked it, right?”

“Yes, of course.”

The information was simple.

A new Dungeon, classified as C-grade by the Association about a week ago.

The main mission is to annihilate monsters and defeat the boss.

The field type is desert.

“As you said, I applied sunscreen thickly, and I also brought emergency ice water.”

“Good.”

Kang Jae-ho nodded.

Next to him were a total of seven people.

‘Seven?’

Weren’t there originally five?

As I made a puzzled expression, Kang Jae-ho opened his mouth.

“Aren’t you an official exploration member now? These five are the team we usually go with, and we hired two F-grade porters. Ah, don’t worry. We already paid the porters’ fee and won’t charge you separately.”

“Ah, I see. Thank you.”

Indeed.

What is the biggest purpose of them going to the Dungeon?

It’s to make money.

Inside the Dungeon, there are mana stones containing pure energy.

Or sometimes high-grade minerals such as noctilucent jade or Mithril come out, so the accompaniment of porters is essential.

If the Dungeon reward is the main income?

The materials that the porters pick up are minor rewards.

“……”

I glanced at the two porters.

They were young men and women who looked like they had just become adults.

They looked similar, like siblings.

I lightly bowed to them as they shyly greeted me with their eyes.

Since I was a porter myself just a few days ago, I felt a sense of kinship.

“Okay, if the greetings are over, let’s go in! Haha, my body is already itching?”

“That’s right, I want to check the abilities of the new Necro mister too.”

As the hunters laughed and relaxed.

Click!

Kang Jae-ho loaded his weapon, a revolver, and opened his mouth.

“Okay, I’ve already reported to the Association, so let’s go straight in. Dong-hun, and the porters, follow us closely.”

They seemed more relaxed than nervous.

‘As expected of adventurous hunters.’

Actually, I was a bit puzzled.

Even with me included, a C-grade Dungeon would be a life-threatening challenge.

Where does that composure come from?

‘Well, it doesn’t matter.’

The reason I participate in the C-grade Dungeon is not because they are safe.

It’s only because I have faith in my skeletons. And myself.

It’s not just blind confidence.

‘Because my skeletons can take down a top-tier D-grade Orc in an instant.’

Besides.

If I have the advice of the Old Man, whom even Rankers can’t deal with?

How could I not clear a C-grade Dungeon?

I raised my staff.

[Using skill, ‘Awakened Skeleton Summon’ (D-grade).]

Creak! Squeak!

First, Bone One with a sword and Bone Two with a spear appeared on the flanks.

[Using skill, ‘Awakened Skeleton Summon’ (D-grade).]

Bone Three with a bow and Bone Five with a staff in the rear.

And finally.

[Consumes 10 mana.]

[‘Bone Four’ appears.]

Thump!

Bone Four appeared in front, leaning a shield as big as his body on the ground.

I smiled with satisfaction at the reliable formation of my guys.

“Ooh.”

“Necro mister! It feels like you’ve gotten stronger than before?”

“That’s right, the appearance hasn’t changed much, but something feels different. The eyes of the Skeletons have become sharper.”

I felt even better when the hunters complimented me.

I shrugged my shoulders.

“Let’s go in right away.”

[Entering the Dungeon.]

Hoo-ooh!

As soon as I entered, a scorching heat covered my entire body.

[Exposed to a harsh environment!]

[All stats are reduced by 10%!]

‘Hmm.’

The intense sunlight made it difficult to open my eyes.

The desert sand was dry and cracked.

The trees here and there were emaciated and fallen.

“Wow, it’s hotter than I thought?”

“We have to endure it. Let’s think of it as enjoying a sauna.”

“That’s easier said than done, is it possible?”

The hunters grumbled and rolled up their sleeves.

The F-grade porters were already struggling, biting their lips tightly.

‘Is it that hard?’

I tilted my head.

It’s hot, but it was just bearable.

Especially compared to the Old Man’s hellish sauna, it’s like child’s play?

‘Is it because of Pain Tolerance?’

Creak!

My skeletons are also strong against the heat because they are originally dry.

“Everyone gather around.”

Kang Jae-ho, who didn’t change his expression even in the heat, sharply called the members together.

He was definitely a veteran who knew how to act in a Dungeon.

“Focus. The monster types that appear here are scorpions and snakes.”

“S-snakes?”

“Let’s not pretend to be scared. I already told you everything, right?”

“Hehe.”

Leaving behind the joking member, Kang Jae-ho continued his explanation.

The gist of the explanation was the structure of the Dungeon terrain that had been grasped and the location of the boss room that had to be dealt with at the end.

“The types of C-grade desert Dungeons are all similar. Overcome the monster’s offensive and move to the front of the room. Then open the door and catch the boss. That’s the end.”

“What’s the boss type?”

“It was always random. We’ll have to go and see.”

The two porters swallowed hard as they listened to the hunters’ conversation.

Kang Jae-ho smiled at the two of them.

“You just have to follow us well. Pick up anything we tell you to pick up, and deliver anything we ask for. Got it?”

“Yes!”

“Yep!”

The porters, who were on high alert, answered.

That’s how the movement started.

The path was simple.

Assuming that the place where we were summoned is the west, we just have to move to the east where the sun is shining brightly.

According to Kang Jae-ho’s explanation, the monsters also become stronger as we go.

-Kieek! Kyahat!

As we moved little by little, desert scorpions and snakes began to appear one by one.

All of them were strong monsters enough to be classified as C-grade.

“Are they finally coming out?”

“Everyone, get ready!”

Click! Clatter!

The hunters each took out their weapons.

‘Should I catch them too?’

I also started to control the Skeletons.

I don’t know why Kang Jae-ho is being so nice to me.

But I was granted autonomy from him.

-Kieek!

Three scorpions began to rush towards me.

Judging by their momentum, they were similar to the ‘Orc’ I encountered in the open space?

I wouldn’t have been able to do anything in the old days.

“Bone Five!”

I shouted confidently.

Compared to the ferocious momentum of the Old Man, this is nothing.

Woong!

At my shout, Bone Five waved his staff and chanted a spell.

[‘Bone Five’ uses skill, Air Shield (Lv.1).]

First, secure my safety.

And then.

“Bone Four, draw aggro.”

[‘Bone Four’ uses skill, Low-grade Attention Grabbing (Lv.1).]

Koo-oong!

Bone Four slammed his shield down so hard that the ground shook.

Sand dust rose.

-Kieek! Kie-eh!

[‘Desert Scorpion’ is staring at ‘Bone Four’!]

[‘Desert Scorpion’ is staring at ‘Bone Four’!]

[‘Desert Scorpion’ is staring at ‘Bone Four’!]

Then, the monsters, who were spewing momentum in all directions, focused only on Bone Four’s shield.

‘That’s a relief.’

I was relieved.

The fact that it works well even with a Lv.1 skill.

Means that the Skeletons are also strong.

Hoo-oong!

First, Bone One ran out and swung his sword.

It was that ‘slash’ he learned from the Old Man.

Clang!

However, the scorpion’s hard skin did not allow the blade to penetrate.

-Kie-eh-eet!

Of course, judging by the roar, it seemed to have some pain.

“Keep hitting it!”

Creak!

Bone Two and Bone Three also moved.

Bone Two stabbed the spear into the gap in the scorpion’s skin.

Shoong! Shoong! Shoong!

Bone Three took turns shooting arrows at each one.

-Kiet! Kie-et!

But even so, the scorpions seemed to be possessed by something and only slammed down on Bone Four’s shield.

They couldn’t respond.

The Skeletons moved without hesitation.

When the scorpion’s skin was torn by Bone Two’s continuous stabs.

Hoo-oong!

Bone One swings his greatsword through the gap.

Crack!

The scorpion’s leg is dismantled by the crude strike.

Dark red blood splattered.

[Defeated ‘Desert Scorpion’.]

‘Easy?’

The rest were the same.

When Bone One raised his sword and slashed, the severed part of the scorpion flew into the air-

Bone Three’s arrow was embedded in the wound.

‘Weak. It doesn’t seem like a C-grade.’

Is the grade wrong?

Or have I gotten stronger?

Of course, the desert scorpion is a lower species among C-grades.

Its strength is about D-grade, but I know that it was raised to C-grade because of the characteristic of moving in groups.

“Wow, Necro mister, you’ve already finished three of them?”

“Did you really get a lucky chance?”

I looked to the side.

Kang Jae-ho’s party had also finished dealing with the scorpions, and they were wiping the blood off their weapons.

I was a little surprised that there was no disruption in their appearance.

‘Were they that strong?’

Indeed, in the Dungeon where the Old Man was.

There was no way to know about their strength.

In that Dungeon, they and I were just weak survivors.

‘But anyway.’

Among those members, one has been mentioning ‘lucky chance’ since earlier.

I was a little bothered.

Saying that my image has changed even though not much time has passed.

Or that my muscles seem to have grown and my face has become more handsome.

That he wants to check my abilities quickly.

And the sudden sense of intimacy.

‘They’re being too nice to me.’

Looking at it now, if they have that much skill.

It feels like they would have been fine even if they came without me.

As Kang Jae-ho said, if they want to welcome me as a team.

Shouldn’t they try to match up with me rather than giving me autonomy like now?

‘Am I being too sensitive?’

In short, it feels like this.

I have a kind of instinctive sense of incongruity, but I have no evidence.

‘You never know.’

What if they approached me aiming for my lucky chance?

What if they are skilled people of a much higher grade than the nameplate they have?

Let’s think about it.

Why did they pick me out of so many hunters?

Even though I’m an E-grade to the public.

‘What is this.’

I frowned.

It felt like the puzzle was coming together.

‘They know that I’m the one who got the reward in the high-difficulty Dungeon.’

However, because of the confidentiality agreement with ‘Parang’, I can’t recklessly say anything or ask anything.

No matter how skilled they are, they wouldn’t want to break their promise with the Ranker, Gi So-yul.

‘Then.’

There is only one way to satisfy their greed while keeping all the previous restrictions.

That is Dungeon exploration.

A space with no CCTV and no evidence left.

And Dungeon accidents happen more often than traffic accidents.

‘Let’s be careful for now. It’s just suspicion for now.’

Someone said that.

That the scariest thing is people, not Dungeon monsters.

It’s one of the truths you realize when you live as a hunter.

Step, step.

We walked slowly, dealing with the monsters.

Had about two hours passed like that?

The boss room I had been waiting for was visible.

A huge ‘door’ erected in the middle of the desert and altars with various patterns engraved on both sides.

[Ding!]

[Stage: Ancient Desert Scorpion King]

[In order to break the seal of the Ancient Desert Scorpion King, you must offer a sacrifice.]

[Place the sacrifice on the two magic circles engraved.]

[The sacrifice must be a living hunter of F-grade or higher.]

“Sacrifice, F-grade……”

I muttered in a low voice.

Information that I had never heard from them before.

‘If it’s a living being……’

I instinctively looked back.

I saw the porter siblings reading the message with widened eyes and panicked expressions.

At the same time.

“Hmm, a sacrifice. A tricky boss type came out?”

“I know, why this of all things? Tsk.”

I saw the hunters smiling with expressions that were not sad at all.

The identity of the incongruity I had felt so far.

‘Ha, these bastards.’

I clicked my tongue.

That’s right.

Those guys are not Monster X Hunter, but Hunter X Hunter.

In other words, they were hunters who hunted hunters.