Chapter 123

“Bite!”

As if sensing Cho-i Hyeon’s words, the monster reluctantly opened and closed its mouth. It was Cho-i Hyeon’s finger. Cho-i Hyeon shook her head and made a tsk-tsk sound.

“Not this way, but that way.”

When Cho-i pointed at Taeyang Kang’s finger, the monster looked up at Cho-i Hyeon with an expression that clearly showed it hated it. Look at this, is it trying to get another taste of the shout? Cho-i smiled brightly and turned the monster’s body towards Taeyang Kang.

“Bite!”

As the second command was given, the juvenile monster crawled over and bit Taeyang Kang’s finger with a “chomp.” If it had been a B-Rank or lower hunter, their finger would surely have been severed, but for SS-Rank Taeyang Kang, it was no different from a toothless child biting him. He stared at the juvenile monster nibbling on his finger with an expression that conveyed he didn’t know what to do.

“Wow! Well done, well done!”

And Cho-i Hyeon, seemingly pleased that her command was followed, clapped her hands and laughed. Then she picked up the juvenile monster, plopped down on the bed, and lifted it high. The juvenile monster, instead of growling, squirmed and wiggled its body.

“Are you shy?”

“It just looks like it wants to get away from your hand.”

“Oh, how long have we known each other?”

“I thought it hadn’t been long.”

“Our trust shouldn’t be measured by ordinary time.”

“Your words keep changing.”

“When did I?”

Cho-i Hyeon snorted, pretending otherwise, and fiddled with the juvenile monster. Since it had intelligence, it seemed to recognize a stronger opponent and followed commands with a keen sense. Could she definitely tame it to this extent? While Cho-i Hyeon was thinking this, Taeyang Kang was thinking something entirely different.

‘Cho-i Hyeon playing with a monster is cute…’

Cho-i, completely unaware of what Taeyang Kang was thinking, placed the monster on the bed. The monster squirmed and began to crawl across the bed. It was so small that it seemed difficult for it to cross the entire wide bed.

“So why did you come to Korea?” ‘To see you.’

But he couldn’t say that directly.

“That’s none of your business.”

“You usually only go to S-Rank dungeons, don’t you? Was there a new S-Rank dungeon that opened recently?”

If that were the case, the news and S-grade and NS-grade would have been in an uproar, but Cho-i Hyeon hadn’t heard any such news. So that couldn’t be it. Just then, something came to mind. Cho-i Hyeon clapped her hands and said,

“Ah, are you coming to Korea because there are more dungeons leveling up these days?”

“……”

“Why, both overseas and in Korea, there are many dungeons leveling up these days, they say. Did you come to protect Korea? As expected, Korean blood runs deep, doesn’t it?”

‘That’s not it.’

But since he couldn’t say that, Taeyang Kang nodded obediently.

“It’s not about Korean blood or anything, but I felt the need to stay in one place for a while.”

“Indeed, Korea is a better place to settle than overseas. For a long stay, I mean.”

As if a thought had suddenly occurred to her, Cho-i Hyeon took out her smartphone. She immediately logged into Huntred. At that moment, Taeyang Kang flinched. “Could she possibly know that I’m that anonymous pervert?” a feeling of unease squirmed in his chest. But fortunately, Cho-i Hyeon pressed ‘create new post’ and then asked Taeyang Kang,

“I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“If the dungeon rank keeps going up in the current state, it’ll be a problem, right?”

“Most likely. The number of high-ranking hunters doesn’t increase that easily.”

“If there’s a way for them to get stronger, should we release it?”

“How can they get stronger?”

“Through a hidden dungeon.”

Cho-i Hyeon grinned, jumped up, and sat on the bed. Taeyang Kang pondered for a moment, then sat down next to her as she began to type a post.

[Found the minimum conditions for a hidden dungeon.] [It’s literally the minimum condition. There are other conditions, but I couldn’t find them. I’ve been to a hidden dungeon four times with this. The minimum condition is simple. You just have to go to three dungeons with similar monsters consecutively. I’ve been to Mantis Cave, Blade Mantis Forest, and Blade Bug Night. Believe it or not. The fast one wins lolololol]

Then she showed the post to Taeyang Kang. Taeyang Kang frowned as he read it.

“Is this real?”

“Of course, I’ve already confirmed it. However, this is just the minimum condition, it doesn’t guarantee a hidden dungeon.”

“Still, if you’ve confirmed it, doesn’t that mean the probability of a hidden dungeon appearing is higher?”

“That’s right.”

“You’re just releasing information like that?”

“It’s not much help if I keep it to myself, is it? Unless I’m going to save the world by myself. Well, Taehyeok Sa seems to want to do that, but I don’t.”

“Well… if you found it out, I won’t stop you.”

“That’s right. I found it out, so no one can say anything!”

Cho-i Hyeon immediately pressed the register button. She refreshed the page repeatedly. And as the views went up, comments started pouring in like crazy.

[Found the minimum conditions for a hidden dungeon.]
[It’s literally the minimum condition. There are other conditions, but I couldn’t find them. I’ve been to a hidden dungeon four times with this. The minimum condition is simple. You just have to go to three dungeons with similar monsters consecutively. I’ve been to Mantis Cave, Blade Mantis Forest, and Blade Bug Night. Believe it or not. The fast one wins lolololol]
└ What is this guy talking about?
└ It’s about time for the aggro to start talking nonsense.
└ Oh, damn it, if I could go to a hidden dungeon like that, I would have gone a long time ago.
└ Don’t talk nonsense, you idiot.
└ Lololololol, doesn’t he have anything to do after eating?
└ Yeah, screw you.

“Ugh, these sons of bitches, do they live with rags in their mouths?”

Cho-i Hyeon started grumbling as she looked at the comments. Taeyang Kang’s head started to heat up when he saw the insults on Cho-i Hyeon’s post. How dare those sons of bitches curse at a method Cho-i Hyeon personally confirmed, without even checking it themselves? Taeyang Kang got up from his seat for a moment.

“Where are you going?”

“Bathroom.”

“Oh, go ahead and come back~”

While Cho-i Hyeon was giggling at the comments, Taeyang Kang strode to the bathroom. He immediately took out his smartphone and started leaving comments.

└ Honestly, shouldn’t you check it first?
└ I’ve been there. The early bird gets the worm.
└ Oh, there’s someone actually falling for this.
└ Oh~ go ahead and come back~ you son of a bitch~
└ Lololol, you fell for this?

And beneath that, other comments began to appear. Taeyang Kang felt his head boiling and immediately stormed out of the bathroom. He then said to Cho-i Hyeon,

“I’m going first.”

“Oh? Why are you suddenly so enthusiastic?”

“If you know valuable information, it’s a Scythe’s job to go first.”

“Wait. Let’s find a dungeon for us to go to then.”

Cho-i Hyeon exited Huntred and accessed a search engine. She then began to think carefully. After all, according to Zhixuan, a hidden dungeon had to have a certain level of compatibility. That meant she had to find a dungeon that was compatible with Taeyang Kang.

‘Should I just look for dungeons related to Ice?’

Cho-i Hyeon was typing in the search bar when something suddenly occurred to her.

“Is there… any reason… for me… to do the legwork…?”

Cho-i Hyeon immediately called Taehyeok Sa. Taehyeok Sa was there to be taken advantage of.

-It hasn’t been that long since I left. “Buy me a dungeon.” -Why suddenly this time? “I’m sending Taeyang Kang to a hidden dungeon.” -Taeyang Kang? There’s no particular benefit for us, is there? “Wouldn’t it benefit humanity?” -……

As Taehyeok Sa fell silent as if asking what that meant, Cho-i Hyeon began to explain.

“So, dungeons are leveling up right now, right? But the existing S-Ranks and above can’t stop all of them. Even if Korea has many S-Ranks.” -So? “Let’s create many contingency plans.” -So that’s why you posted that on Huntred. “You’re monitoring everything even if you pretend not to. You disgusting bastard.” -Always, if it’s your business. “You’ve become even more disgusting.” -Anyway, I understand. But is there a reason it has to be Taeyang Kang? “Just, because it’s certain?” -What is? “The concept? The attribute?” -I understand what you mean. So, we just need to find a dungeon related to Ice, right? “You’re quick to understand. Very good.”

Cho-i Hyeon laughed gleefully and picked up the monster that was still dawdling on the bed. The Entity now sighed deeply and chose to remain quietly in Cho-i Hyeon’s arms. Cho-i Hyeon stroked the juvenile monster’s horn while on the phone, then spoke to Taeyang Kang.

“I can’t go right away.”

“I know.”

Cho-i asked into her smartphone again.

“How long do you think it’ll take?” -Three days at most. And a two-year offer to Taeyang Kang. “Wow, you even take care of things like that at a time like this. Amazing, truly amazing.”

And Taeyang Kang blinked, as if he heard that.

“Two years?”

“Yes.”

“Where, at Paehyeok?”

“Yes.”

“With you… the same?”

“Hmm, since I’m an SS-Rank, I’ll probably be alone a lot, but if I have to form a party, there’s a high chance I’ll go with you, right?” -Tell him to bear with it even if he doesn’t want to… “Good.”

“He says it’s good, you son of a bitch.” -That’s unexpected.

Taeyang Kang tilted his head to the left, unimpressed, listening to what Taehyeok Sa had said. His dream was to support Cho-i Hyeon as a dealer from behind when she stood as a tank. No one in this room knew it, but it was a new dream that had started this year, anyway.

“Okay then, sign the contract tomorrow.” -Tell him to come to Paehyeok by 2 PM tomorrow. “I’ll go with you tomorrow.” -Now that I think about it, why are you two together? “You’re asking quickly. I’m sleeping here tonight.” -…Sleeping over? What kind of girl are you,

Click. Before Taehyeok Sa could nag any further, Cho-i quickly hung up the phone and giggled, looking at Taeyang Kang. Taeyang Kang sighed and thought to himself.

‘It’s not dangerous because it’s Nara, but the kid is careless.’

Taeyang Kang had long forgotten the fact that his shin had been snapped in half by Cho-i Hyeon.