Chapter 52

Though he had suddenly been transported from the staircase to the underground passage, Siyoon remained calm.

This was a dungeon, after all.

A place where it wouldn’t be strange no matter what situation occurred.

‘Still, an underground passage…’

Siyoon had studied up on the Hidden Route.

Since it was an unconquered dungeon, there was no telling what might happen.

And mazes were one of the most notorious progression hurdles.

Especially in an unconquered dungeon.

There was no reliable information available, and the paths were convoluted.

There could be traps, or magic beasts could ambush him at any moment.

Furthermore, there was no guaranteeing when he would actually clear the maze.

It was the perfect environment to wither a hunter’s mind.

…However, Siyoon felt slightly differently.

More specifically, about this underground passage.

For one, to call it a maze, the underground passage was strangely devoid of hostility.

This wasn’t just a simple feeling or a judgment based on intuition.

‘There are no traps at all.’

It had already been dozens of minutes since Siyoon started walking through the passage.

He had been walking with his senses heightened; if there had been any traps, he would have found them long ago.

Yet, there was nothing—not even a common arrow trap.

It wasn’t as if there was a special magic trap making him walk in circles, either.

He knew because he had been leaving marks as he walked.

“Is it really just an underground passage, literally speaking?”

Siyoon muttered, surveying his surroundings.

The passage was illuminated by lily of the valley peeking out from between the creeping vines.

With its long-abandoned traces of human presence, the place held a somewhat desolate atmosphere.

Just then, light seeped from around the corner.

It wasn’t the faint glow of the lily of the valley.

It wasn’t quite sunlight, but it was brighter than that.

Bracing for any unexpected events, Siyoon rounded the corner on his guard.

“…The smell of grass.”

At the end of the passage, lush thickets could be seen beyond an arch-shaped entrance.

Weeds had grown tall enough to brush against Siyoon’s shins.

As he carefully stepped through the entrance, an open cavern came into view.

“Not outside, but still underground.”

Siyoon looked around.

The entire cavern was covered in plants, presenting a peculiar sight.

Among them, the most striking was the ancient tree in the center.

A massive, thick trunk that looked to be at least several hundred years old.

Beautiful branches and leaves curved upward as if supporting the ceiling.

Illuminated by the lily of the valley swaying in a breeze from somewhere, the ancient tree looked like a world tree.

It was then.

Tiring!

[ Current location: ‘Enseodotar’s Underground Ancient Tree’. ]

Siyoon checked the newly appeared message.

“It seems this place is recognized as its own zone.”

But his questions were not resolved.

He could understand if it were above ground, but for such an ancient tree to exist underground…

Siyoon’s eyes grew cold.

‘Unlike other places, the zone’s name is explicitly labeled as the Underground Ancient Tree. That means there’s a high possibility something is hidden here.’

The Hidden Route guides hunters to the area most deeply connected to the dungeon itself.

To put it metaphorically, it was like uncovering the dungeon’s hidden secrets.

In any case, this ancient tree couldn’t have been connected to the passage for no reason.

“I should investigate.”

He might discover something here.

* * *

Siyoon searched every inch of the cavern containing the ancient tree.

By progressing through the Hidden Route, hunters could access hidden zones.

And usually, such zones often contained rare equipment.

No one knew the reason for sure.

Instead, there were various theories.

One of them suggested it was related to the dungeon’s hidden lore.

There were many structures and traces that weren’t found in the existing zones.

Many of them, in particular, had styles vastly different from Earth’s.

Because of this, rumors often circulated that parts of a destroyed otherworld had manifested as dungeons.

He knew this because these were common opinions he encountered while gathering information.

‘It’s interesting, but that’s not what’s important right now.’

He was worried about his party, but if he wanted to gain something, being separated from them right now was the optimal situation.

It would be better to regroup quickly, but a brief exploration wouldn’t hurt.

With that in mind, Siyoon investigated the cavern.

However, nothing of note turned up.

“Tsk.”

Siyoon clicked his tongue.

Let alone useful equipment, there wasn’t even any junk lying around.

Now there was only one place left. The ancient tree.

Since it was the most promising spot here, he had intentionally saved it for last.

“Hmm.”

About ten minutes into searching the vicinity of the ancient tree.

Siyoon discovered a chest buried beneath the ancient tree.

Finding it was pure coincidence.

The ground right beneath the roots was bulging slightly.

When he dug it up, an old wooden chest emerged.

Siyoon carefully opened the chest.

Click.

Inside the chest he had opened with anticipation were a single key and a book.

Both looked quite old.

But Siyoon’s eyes gleamed.

Items found in a place like this couldn’t possibly be ordinary.

He carefully picked up the key and the book.

[ You have acquired ‘Enseodotar’s Underground Key’. ]

[ A key that can open a hidden room. ]

[ You have acquired ‘Detector’. ]

Siyoon’s lips curled into a smile as he checked the items.

Just as he had expected, they were indeed extraordinary items.

‘The Underground Key must be another item needed to progress through the Hidden Route.’

Considering it was hidden like this, it probably wasn’t an item required to clear the path.

It was more likely an item used to open something concealed.

If he was lucky, he might be able to obtain even more equipment.

Swish.

Siyoon safely stored the key inside his coat.

The truly important item here was the book.

With a racing heart, he checked it.

+

「Detector」

Rank: Rare

Level: 1

Category: Support

▶ The five senses increase, and observation skills increase.

+

“Hmm.”

One of Siyoon’s eyebrows arched as he checked the skill.

Support category, and it increases the five senses.

It was quite a decent skill.

After all, senses were hard to raise through normal methods.

“It would’ve been nice if it were a combat category.”

But it was also true that he felt a bit disappointed.

The skills he possessed were only two.

And of those, only one was a combat category: Close Combat Technique.

Of course, it wasn’t like he was weak right now.

Thanks to Enhancement, he could wear incredibly powerful equipment and fight with an enhanced body.

In particular, Enhancement and Close Combat Technique had excellent synergy.

Still, a disappointment was a disappointment.

If it had been a combat category skill, he would have been able to fight in an even wider variety of ways.

However, it was too early to just learn it because it was a support category.

Because he had Enhancement.

Tiring!

[ Using ‘Skill: Enhancement’ to enhance ‘Detector’. ]

Siyoon enhanced the Detector skill book itself.

If the skill could enhance even a pebble, there was no way it couldn’t enhance a skill book.

‘If I’m going to learn it anyway, it’s better to raise its performance through Enhancement.’

It was Enhancement with an increased effect from leveling up, after all.

Plus, he had never properly enhanced a skill book before.

In the case of Close Combat Technique, it was a skill book that had accidentally enhanced while he was enhancing a regular book.

But now was different.

It was a skill book he had perfectly acquired from a dungeon.

In other words, it was brand new, having received no effects from Enhancement whatsoever.

‘I’m looking forward to seeing what happens.’

Would the effect get better, or would the rank itself increase?

Siyoon felt a sense of anticipation as he used Enhancement for the first time in a while.

Right at that moment.

[ Will you consume ‘Enseodotar’s Underground Key’ as an enhancement material? ]

[ If ‘Enseodotar’s Underground Key’ is used as a material, a special effect will be granted. ]

“What?”

Siyoon’s eyes widened.

An enhancement material?

He had used the skill a lot, but this was a first.

‘Is this a newly added feature from the level up?’

He couldn’t be sure, but it was certain.

Because it had never popped up before.

The System was quite unhelpful.

To the point where it never clearly told you anything.

So, effects unlocked through leveling up had to be discovered on one’s own, like this.

“Doesn’t look like there’s any harm in doing it.”

Although the key would be consumed, it seemed fine.

Should he call it a sort of bonus?

And it wasn’t like he needed the key to open the hidden door.

If it could enhance the skill, using it as a material in return was a good deal.

[ Consuming ‘Enseodotar’s Underground Key’ as an enhancement material for ‘Detector’. ]

After some deliberation, Siyoon chose to consume the key as a material.

The key in his hand crumbled into dust and was absorbed into the book.

It seemed the method of consuming materials was outright absorption.

At that very moment.

Hwaaak!

A brilliant light burst forth from the book.

As Siyoon frowned at the sudden change.

[ Congratulations! ]

[ You have achieved a Great Success in Enhancement! ]

[ As a great success effect, a special ability is added to the item as an extra line. ]

Siyoon froze when he saw the message that appeared.

“Great success?”

This, too, was a message he had never seen before.

The book slowly descending into his hands had clearly changed form.

The faded paper all gleamed as if brand new.

Furthermore, the book’s title written on the surface was a vivid gold, unlike before.

[ You have acquired ‘Path Finder’. ]

The book’s name had even changed.

This meant the skill itself had also undergone a change.

Siyoon hurriedly checked the contents.

+

「Path Finder」

Rank: Epic

Level: 1

Category: Support

◇ Imbued with the ‘Guidance and Pioneering’ effect.

― Pierces the target’s weaknesses, and detects hidden things and paths.

▶ Senses increase significantly.

+

“Huh.”

The skill’s rank had jumped from Rare to Epic.

Even at Level 1, it had an incredible effect attached to it.

It was the special ability added as a great success effect.

‘A skill that pierces weaknesses, detects hidden things, and finds paths.’

He had no idea how many skills were condensed into that single sentence.

Looking at the sheer abilities alone, it wasn’t Epic, but Unique-Rank.

“Impressive.”

Siyoon marveled.

The disappointment he had felt over it not being a combat category had long since vanished.

Rather, he felt immense satisfaction at acquiring such a cheat skill.

[ You have achieved a great success in Enhancement for the first time. ]

[ From now on, the probability of a great success will be displayed separately during Enhancement. ]

“Are they being considerate to this extent?”

Siyoon looked at the additional message that appeared.

True, it had informed him of the probability in advance even for normal Enhancement.

Logically, since the effect was so significant, the probability of a great success would be even lower, so it was only right to display it.

Siyoon took out a potion he had on hand and attempted to enhance it as a test.

[ Will you use ‘Skill: Enhancement’ to enhance ‘low-rank Life Recovery Potion +5’? ]

[ Great Success Probability: 1% ]

“……”

And he momentarily doubted his own eyes.

Not even 10%, but 1%.

No matter how he looked at it, aiming for a great success intentionally seemed difficult.

Unless some other feature appeared later, that is.

“For now, it’s better to think of it as a bonus that pops up while enhancing.”

The performance of a great success was certainly incredible.

But it wasn’t something to obsess over.

Because the probability was so low, there was a higher chance of getting bogged down if he fixated on it.

Siyoon cut off his thoughts at a reasonable point.

‘I’ve already delayed quite a bit, so I need to move quickly.’

He still hadn’t met up with his party.

He didn’t have the luxury to spend more time here.

A dungeon was a place where anything could happen.

And a Hidden Route was even more uncertain.

Regrouping with his party and moving on to the next zone as quickly as possible was the best course of action.

After learning the skill, Siyoon looked at the opposite side of the cavern, which connected to another passage.