RTGR 38

Chapter 38 ….

[Silver Iron Shield]

Grade: Rare
Description: A special shield made from silver iron, one of the rare ores.
Since ancient times, silver has been known as a noble and sacred metal said to contain holy power.
Level Requirement: 20
Equip Restriction: Shield Warrior class
Defense: 100
Damage Reduction: 110–130
Durability: 100 / 100
Special Option: The more holy power it contains, the greater the damage reduction.
When amplification reaches the maximum, all accumulated stacks can be consumed to restore health.

‘Oh, rare.’

Maybe because it was level 20 gear, the options were stacked.

For tankers who used holy power, there was practically no better shield in this level range.

In fact, the Silver Iron Shield was known as the national shield of paladins for this bracket.

‘They must have spent quite a bit of money.’

To think they became villains while carrying gear like this…

It seemed they never even imagined they would die. Thanks to that, Dohyeon got some great items, so it worked out well for him.

Dohyeon checked the remaining two items.

[Bastard’s Training Sword]

Grade: Rare+
Description: An iron sword used by the hero Bastard during his fast-sword training.
As expected of a blade that endured the training of a great hero, it is extremely sturdy and sharp.
Level Requirement: 20
Equip Restriction: Swordsman class
Physical Attack: 104–128
Durability: 100 / 100
Special Option: On attack, there is a certain chance to trigger Minor Haste.
When Haste activates, attack speed and movement speed increase by 3%.
Attack Speed +1%

[Mana-Infused Necklace]

Grade: Rare
Description: A mana-infused necklace crafted by the White Mage Tower.
Considered essential for mages and highly valued.
Level Requirement: 20
Equip Restriction: None
Physical Defense: 50
Magic Resistance: 68
Durability: 100 / 100
Magic Power +3
Mana Recovery +5%

All of them were expensive items of Rare grade.

Perhaps because of the villain penalty, only high-quality items had dropped.

Among them, the sword stood out the most.

Not just because it was the only Rare+ item — the name caught his eye.

‘…Bastard’s Training Sword? So Bastard Sword wasn’t just a random nickname?’

His weapon really was a Bastard Sword.

At this point, it almost felt like an absurdly committed concept build.

Dohyeon snorted at the thought that the guy probably grinned to himself when he first got the sword because the name matched.

‘Guess he can’t live up to his nickname anymore.’

Maybe he’d get another sword someday, but that wasn’t Dohyeon’s concern.

Either way, Dohyeon liked it.

The options were solid, and despite being a fast-type sword, the damage was respectable for level 20 gear.

‘I should sell the necklace.’

Unfortunately, you could only equip one necklace.

The Blood Oath Necklace he got from Charlie was overwhelmingly better.

‘Come to think of it, how much did its stats increase?’

The Blood Oath Necklace was a growth-type item — a rare category even in Demlock.

No wonder Dohyeon had been stunned when he first checked its stats.

Since his level had risen a lot, the options might have changed.

[Blood Oath Necklace]

Grade: Hero
Description: A necklace bound by the blood oath of Charlie, the knight commander of Arren Castle.
Only his lord may possess it.
Level Requirement: None
Equip Restriction: Charlie’s lord
Physical Defense: 61 + (40)
Magic Resistance: 53 + (40)
Strength +4
Agility +2
Vitality +1
Attack Speed +5%
Movement Speed +5%

Special Option: Defense and magic resistance increase with accumulated experience.
Special Option: Unlocks at level 35.

Untradeable

‘Forty… so it rises by 2 per level?’

Dohyeon was currently level 21.

Since exactly 20 levels had been gained, it seemed correct.

At this rate, it didn’t fall behind even compared to level-20 Hero necklaces.

‘I could use this for life.’

If it kept growing like this, he might use it from level 1 all the way to 100.

‘…assuming that second option is good.’

At high levels, special options mattered most.

Items with strong special effects were many times more expensive than those with just high raw defense.

In that sense, the attack and movement speed bonuses were already satisfying — but there was no guarantee the level-35 option would be just as good.

‘Well, the current stats alone will last me a long time.’

No need to worry too far ahead.

Just then—

[Eye of Truth activates.]

“Hmm?”

A sudden cheerful notification.

Instinctively raising his head, he saw it.

“…Red?”

In one corner of the dungeon wall, a distinct red dot was shining.

More precisely, it was at the seam where two walls met — a slightly indented corner emitting a crimson glow.

Though small, the light was bright enough to notice from afar.

Step. Step.

As if drawn by a will-o’-the-wisp, Dohyeon approached and swallowed.

Up close, the intensity of the light was no joke.

‘Stealth…? No way.’

For a moment he thought of the assassin boy earlier, but quickly shook his head.

This was a four-man party dungeon. He had personally killed the other three.

There was no way someone was hiding.

And he had never heard of goblins that used stealth.

Then suddenly—

A thought flashed through his mind.

‘Could it be a herb?’

The Explorer class could earn wildly different income depending on skill, but it was still known as a profitable profession.

The class itself was rare — and competent explorers even rarer.

Their main source of income was searching.

‘They can gather herbs, antiques, relics — anything.’

Armed with various search skills, they sold anything valuable.

Among those, herbs were the biggest money maker.

They were in high demand for expensive potions, alchemy, and enchantment materials.

Depending on the type, they could sell from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of won.

‘Right. If it can find stealth, there’s no way it can’t find herbs.’

If true, Dohyeon had just gained an extremely lucrative income source.

An explorer stronger than most combat classes!

Suppressing his drool, he reached out—

Ding.

“…Huh?”

The moment he checked the message, Dohyeon tilted his head.

He couldn’t help it.

Because what appeared before him was completely different from what he expected.

[You have discovered a hidden secret dungeon.]
[…confirmed. Conditions satisfied.]
[You can view the secret dungeon information.]
[You have discovered the secret dungeon ‘Black Goblin Shaman’s Hideout.’]
[You are the first to discover a secret dungeon.]
[You have acquired the title ‘Competent Explorer.’]

[Competent Explorer]

Grade: Rare
Description: A title granted to the first person to discover a dungeon.
You possess the qualities of a competent explorer!
Effect: Search skill range +10%, All stats +2

“…A secret dungeon?”

The red dot wasn’t a herb.

It was a hidden secret dungeon.

By sheer chance, Dohyeon had just discovered one.

* * *

There were many types of dungeons.

Party dungeons, single bosses, labyrinths, special dungeons, event dungeons…

There were countless varieties widely known among players, each with its own appeal.

But among them was one type that wasn’t well known.

‘Secret dungeons.’

That was it.

As the name implied, they were hidden dungeons. Players knew they existed.

But if you asked where they were located, nine out of ten would just shake their heads.

‘Even explorer classes struggle like hell to find secret dungeons.’

If it were easy to find, it wouldn’t be a secret.

Most were hidden in absurd locations, and even after finding them, you still had to meet activation conditions.

‘There was even one that required dripping blood onto a flower growing on a cliff…’

They were notoriously difficult to discover.

But the rewards were guaranteed to be excellent.

That was why explorer players with high-grade search skills and unique abilities were so highly valued.

Without the explorer class, finding secret dungeons was practically impossible.

The one Dohyeon discovered was no different.

[Only one survivor in the dungeon confirmed.]
[Confirmed not in a party.]
[Conditions satisfied.]

‘What kind of insane condition is this?’

In a party dungeon, you had to discover it solo without being in a party?

It was absurd.

You needed four people to enter this dungeon in the first place — the condition itself was nearly impossible.

Unless your party tried to kill one member…

…and after a bloody fight, that person ended up the sole survivor and cleared the boss.

‘And you’d still need a search skill capable of finding secret dungeons.’

What were the odds that the lone survivor would be an explorer?

Probably lower than winning the lottery.

At high levels there were one-time search items, but no one at this stage would have something like that.

The Eye of Truth finding the dungeon on top of everything else was simply ridiculous.

‘This is… unbelievable.’

Call it dumb luck…

Dohyeon scratched his head after unintentionally fulfilling those brutal conditions.

It was a bit disappointing that it wasn’t a herb.

But discovering a secret dungeon instead?

No — this was incomparably better.

[Black Goblin Shaman’s Hideout]

Grade: Hero
Type: Secret Dungeon
Trait: Single Boss
Description:
One day, rumors spread in Raven about a black-skinned goblin sighting, and countless superstitions followed.
But the goblin never revealed itself and was gradually forgotten.
Perhaps traces of that goblin remain here.
Entry Limit: 1 person
Entry Condition: First discoverer
If cleared: Dungeon disappears
If failed: You can no longer enter