After the three spiders lay silently on the cold stone floor.
Even the hunters, who should have been happier than usual, remained silent.
They all were conscious of Jeonghyun.
What is an F-Rank?
The lowest rank among the seven ranks.
A common rank that makes up about 20% of hunters, known to be F-rank.
How could Jeonghyun, presumed to be an F-rank hunter, casually throw a single dagger and kill a Rock Spider?
How could this be explained at all?
Even for Jeonghyun, whose purpose was originally to inflict moderate injuries by throwing the dagger, he was still surprised by the outcome.
Who would have thought that the sturdy forehead would be pierced so easily with his skill?
“Well, should we disassemble it then?”
“Jeonghyun, you are… a bit strange.” Jeonghyun, who was trying to casually dispel the awkward atmosphere, had to stop abruptly at Jeonga’s sharp words.
Even Sunhyung looked at Jeonghyun with a suspicious look.
Although Jeonghyun had often shown F-rank-like behavior before, it was acceptable until now.
Partly as a form of praise, and partly because it was not incomprehensible.
Recently, however, the gaze towards unregistered individuals like Jeonghyun had become more sensitive.
Ironically, it was because of Jeonghyun.
Sangsoo shouted sharply.
“Who are you? Are you perhaps a villain?”
The incident involving Jucheol and Heesoo, which Jeonghyun had dealt with, had caused quite a stir in the media.
As a result, the atmosphere became a bit more cautious about bringing unknown people into the party, especially unregistered individuals.
Actually, Jeonghyun’s F-rank appearance had been somewhat acceptable so far.
But now, Sangsoo’s reaction was not unreasonable.
“We don’t know yet. Don’t speak recklessly.”
“Don’t speak recklessly? Haven’t you heard the story? They can change their faces. The Mask.”
“Still, we haven’t…
However, those who had actually gained benefits from hunting with Jeonghyun did not hastily pass judgment.
Doyoon stopped Sangsoo, who was ready to prepare an attack right away.
Sunhyung stepped forward, nodding.
“I’m not suspicious, but a somewhat reasonable explanation is needed. Until now, I more or less understood, but even if your skill level has increased significantly…”
“Well, in the end, it turned out like this.”
Jeonghyun let out a deep sigh.
He thought he would be suspected because the combat power at the time of awakening and now was like heaven and earth.
However, he didn’t know he would be caught so absurdly.
Initially, he tried to pass it off as practicing diligently, but it was impossible after the Rock Spider was defeated with a single blow.
‘If it’s like this, I have no choice but to go with Plan B.’
Fortunately, he had thought of a plausible storyline just in case.
“I was planning to keep it a secret, but actually…”
As Jeonghyun’s words trailed off, everyone’s gaze focused on him.
He had to throw in a shocking fact.
“I am the unregistered hunter who survived against the ‘Mask’ guys.”
“What?”
“What did you say?”
The other’s eyes widened.
The incident known as the ‘Mask’ incident revealed to the public that an unregistered hunter and an E-rank healer survived.
Of course, just saying this might have an impact, but credibility might be lacking.
Immediately, Sangsoo raised his voice.
“Do you expect us to believe that? There are so many unregistered people in the world. If you go around them, that’s it.”
“Sangsoo.”
Once again, Doyoon restrained Sangsoo.
But even so, the eyes of the others were still somewhat suspicious.
At such an ominous time, a hunter suddenly became stronger.
Moreover, he was a victim of the incident that became famous on the news?
However, Jeonghyun’s Plan B was not over yet.
“I can understand if you find it hard to believe. Here, this is the business card I received when I came out of the gate.”
A paper revealed from Jeonghyun’s pocket.
It was none other than Cha Yerin’s business card.
– The head of Investigation Department 3, Director Cha Yerin
It was a well-known fact that Investigation Department 3 was in charge of investigating villain crimes within the gate.
And unless it was a big shot, it was unlikely that someone would forge the business card of a person at the level of a department head.
“Oh, I know this person. She often appears in the news, right? Cha Yerin. So she was A-rank!”
It seemed that Jeonga recognized Cha Yerin’s name.
At last, the eyes of Sunhyung and Doyoon seemed to soften a little.
“My goodness, did you really experience such a thing? I heard about the unregistered hunter, but I never imagined it would be you Jeonghyun.”
Jeonga’s voice trembled with sympathy.
For a moment, silence fell over the group.
Finally, Sunhyung bowed his head.
“I apologize for suspecting. I couldn’t even imagine such a thing…”
“Hey, do you really believe what he just said? Just from seeing a business card?”
Sure enough, Sangsoo was not easily swayed.
But this time, Sunhyung didn’t just let Sangsoo’s words slide.
“Sangsoo, you should be a bit more polite. What if you end up on HunterNet for a villainous false accusation? You never know what might happen.”
Villainous false accusation.
Inside the gates, where the eyes of society don’t reach, anything that can happen due to human greed is possible.
While villainous crimes are a part of that, the problem is equally about falsely branding innocent people as villains.
Even if it turns out someone was falsely accused, their identity would be exposed by the HunterNet administrators, and even if they avoid legal punishment, they wouldn’t fit in with any party.
What if Jeonghyun goes out and accuses Sangsoo of a villainous crime?
All those who had been hunting with him would suffer a significant blow to their reputation.
“I’m fine. It was a situation where you could have had enough doubts.”
But Jeonghyun didn’t intend to go that far.
Even if he said it himself, wasn’t what he said a bit strange?
Sangsoo was rude, but at that level, he was a decent guy.
He didn’t cast a sudden magic spell for no reason.
Of course, something might come back from their side as well.
In that respect, Sunhyung matched well with Jeonghyun.
“Sangsoo, apologize to Jeonghyun quickly. Use polite language too.”
“…I apologize.”
After some hesitation, Sangsoo lowered his head as if reluctantly apologizing.
That should be enough.
There was no need to escalate this issue, and they might have to hunt a few more times in the future.
“Jeonghyun, are you really Level 3 then?”
As the atmosphere eased somewhat, Jeonga cautiously approached Jeonghyun and asked.
Jeonghyun smiled and answered.
“Yes, I’m sorry for lying. It wasn’t something I could talk about outside.”
“No, I understand. By the way, you said you were motivated to level up.”
“But still, Jeonghyun, you’ll climb higher someday. You’re good with your dagger, and I didn’t know it would hit so well.”
“How much is it?”
“7 million won.”
“Huh?”
With a light joke, Jeonga also laughed a little.
They are indeed people you don’t meet every day.
Until the end of the hunt, they could be cautious about themselves, and they could also say they won’t hunt together in the future.
If that happened, Jeonghyun had nothing to say.
However, they were trying not to ruin their relationship with him.
Just that effort alone was reassuring for Jeonghyun, considering what he had experienced so far.
‘There are people like this outside of my life.’
Jeonghyun felt a renewed emotion and spoke more cheerfully than usual.
“Shall we try disassembling again?”
And while they were temporarily reconciling the conflict, small holes in the walls of the main cave they passed through sparkled.
In those gaps, five pairs of red eyes were watching them.
Even Jeonghyun didn’t notice its presence.
—
“Kick!”
“Yes!”
[Obtained 1 coin.]
The somewhat awkward atmosphere in the party had naturally become more relaxed, and the notification window indicating the acquisition of coins continued to appear steadily.
Since entering the cave, Jeonghyun had already obtained 3 coins.
Now, there was no hesitation in using the Dagger Attribute.
When one dagger disappeared with a piercing effect, a spider extended in its place.
Of course, Jeonghyun wasn’t aiming for an instant kill like before.
He only aimed for the third leg or occasionally the head.
Even if Jeonghyun used all his abilities, the number of creatures the party had to face immediately decreased to about three at most.
If Jeonghyun unleashed all his attribute, he could handle about four, but the level of control required was still high.
‘It’s a bit frustrating, but well, that creature isn’t bad either.’
What Jeonghyun felt was that Sangsoo was indeed a skilled wizard.
Whether due to the conflict rising between the two, Sangsoo didn’t let his guard down. But still, he effectively incorporated the appropriate firepower without delaying the reaction.
As a result, most of the damage to the spiders they encountered was from Sangsoo’s magic.
It truly felt like he was on the same level as Heesoo.
The fact that it was a rare lightning element was an additional plus factor.
“Although it’s tough, we’re making good money, aren’t we?”
Sunhyung wiped his forehead and said.
The party members nodded in agreement.
Jeonghyun was humming a tune and focusing on the dismantling work.
At that moment, as if pretending to talk to Sunhyung, Sangsoo looked in Jeonghyun’s direction and spoke in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Hey, do you really trust that guy?”
At this point, it was questionable whether it was a matter of trust or just a lack of tact.
“You, after apologizing like that earlier…”
Sunhyung squinted his eyes.
Wasn’t that discussion over earlier?
Jeonghyun, who had been sincere in combat as well as dismantling, quickly finished the task without saying a word.
Until now, personal emotions were not explained.
However, contrary to the usual situation, where Jeonghyun would have ignored it and moved on, this time he showed a reaction.
“What!”
Jeonghyun turned his head after tearing off a spider leg, aiming towards where Sangsoo was.
Sangsoo, catching Jeonghyun’s fierce gaze, stumbled back, staggering and retreating.
It was partially a provocative gesture out of habit, but he didn’t expect a real reaction.
Although Sangsoo didn’t know his exact attribute or level, Jeonghyun’s combat skills were threatening even to those who just watched.
“Wait.”
However, Jeonghyun didn’t stop.
Instead, with confidence in his movements, he rose from his seat, reaching for the dagger at his waist.
“Hold on, Jeonghyun!”
As a precaution, Sunhyung quickly raised his shield to block Sangsoo and stood in front.
However, Jeonghyun, without hesitation, drew another dagger and threw it as if to send it off.
“Ugh!”
“Ah!”
Sangsoo grimaced in pain as the dagger pierced his buttocks, and Jeonga screamed.
But ultimately, Jeonghyun’s dagger passed above Sangsoo’s head and disappeared into the darkness.
“Krrrk-”
The familiar cry of a stabbed spider.
It was the sound spiders usually make when Jeonghyun’s dagger pierced in them.
He wasn’t paying attention to Sangsoo in the first place.
If he intended to kill him, he would have done it from the beginning.
Sunhyung’s shield?
To make it effective, he needed to cover Sangsoo much faster and more calmly.
Only then would the subsequent actions reveal whether the dagger could be avoided or not.
However, Jeonghyun only felt the approaching spider from behind.
Although he threw a dagger directly at the nearest one, he said nonchalantly, “It’s not just one.”
“W-what?”
At Jeonghyun’s quietly spoken words, the expressions of the people became puzzled.
Suddenly, without saying anything, he killed a spider with a thrown dagger and said it wasn’t just one?
But Jeonghyun’s senses were fully engaged.
Spiders were gathering from various directions on the path they had just taken.
Monsters don’t usually appear on the paths they’ve traveled.
In the case of a cave like the Rock Spider’s, holes in the walls were used as spider passages, but that was only for the surprise attack, not to retreat.
‘Then?’
Jeonghyun recalled the conversation he had before entering the gate.
The boss hadn’t appeared even after the respawn time had passed.
Although he didn’t know who or what it was, given the number of spiders gathering in the background, it couldn’t be explained without some kind of manipulation.
‘Should I break through the back? Or move forward anyway?’
The moment Jeonghyun asked himself the question, he answered it.
“For now, run forward! If you don’t want to die!”
Then, he lifted Sangsoo and pushed the others forward.
“Why, why are you doing this?”
“Even if you can’t hear this sound… No, even if you can’t hear it, just run!”
There was still time until the job change.
In response to Jeonghyun’s urgent voice, Sunhyung, Jeonga, and Doyoon hesitated for a moment, then started running.
And as for Sangsoo,
“At least explain before you tell me to run…! Fine, I’ll go!”
He complained but still ran along, supporting Jeonghyun’s plan.
“Let’s go! Just explain before telling us to run…! I’m going!”
He complained, but he managed to withstand it, so Jeonghyun mocked him without hesitation, pulling out another dagger and throwing it.
Jeonghyun briefly ran back, retrieved the dagger embedded in the spider, turned around, and rejoined the party.
Without time to dwell on the awkward atmosphere and such.
“For now, tank in the front, archers provide support, healers and wizards in the middle! I’ll cover from the rear!”
People quickly took their positions as Jeonghyun instructed.
It’s uncertain whether there will be a path open forward.
But even for Jeonghyun’s senses, it was better than not knowing how many spiders were gathering behind.
Jeonghyun shot a dagger at the small holes stuck in the cave like a bear.
‘I don’t know what you’re thinking, but for now, I’ll follow.’
The party, accustomed to each other already, began to kill spiders in the front.
Now, it wasn’t clear how long the remaining path in the cave would be, but they could only hope it wouldn’t be too long.
