Chapter 47
What on earth just happened today…?
Before Cha Si-woo’s very eyes, all the “impossibles” he had so firmly believed in were collapsing one after another.
Fine. Him single-handedly sweeping through the three great guilds—if I didn’t know he was a Monstrous Hunter, I could accept that as a freak occurrence.
Unpredictable factors couldn’t all be accounted for. A Monstrous Hunter taking in some insignificant C-rank Awakener as a party member—that was an unexpected variable.
But Hyun Do-yoon defeating “Ghostblade” Yoon Se-ha?
That was an entirely different dimension.
This wasn’t some unknown variable.
An S-rank’s combat strength, her [Moonlight Phantom Swordsmanship], and the unleashed power of the Ghostblade itself—Cha Si-woo’s database had already run its precise simulations and drawn a clear conclusion.
It was, without doubt, a “predetermined outcome.”
And yet, the moment Yoon Se-ha dropped to her knees…
All of his cold, rational calculations shredded apart like worthless scraps of paper.
Goosebumps ran down his neck.
That shiver along his spine wasn’t just shock.
It was the sound of a shell cracking—
The sound of fractures running through the rigid structure that was himself.
Was I… wrong?
No. That was the wrong way to frame it.
No—I was wrong.
He had to admit it.
His way of thinking, his perspective, the very “eyes” through which he perceived and understood the world—it was time to change them all.
His precious data and probabilities might mean absolutely nothing.
Cha Si-woo felt this truth cutting into his bones.
In the end, Yoon Se-ha was carried out of the dungeon on a stretcher.
The faces of the three great guild members were complicated.
“Damn it, if only Ghostblade had kept her meals regular…!”
“Consider yourself lucky, Monstrous Hunter!”
But their voices betrayed a sharp defeat that no self-delusion could cover.
The guild members withdrew, blocking the passage to Room 3 as if to guard it.
As Yoon Se-ha had declared, they might give up Room 2, but they clearly had no intention of yielding the next area.
“You okay?” Seo Hye-jin asked, concern clouding her face.
“It’s nothing.”
Do-yoon brushed off his wounded shoulder. She already knew about his regeneration by now.
“My wound can wait. Look at what they’re doing.”
He jerked his chin.
From the passage, a few of the Shin Sword Guild members came running toward them, sly smiles curling their lips.
Seo Hye-jin’s eyes trembled with anger.
“Breaking the deal like this—cowards!”
“They wouldn’t dare stab us in the back outright.”
And indeed, trailing those guild members came a swarm of Elite Watchers, reacting to the bait just like fish on a line.
A cold smirk spread across Do-yoon’s lips.
“They’re just trying to stir up trouble.”
Right on cue, the Shin Sword Guild members slipped out of formation, leaving the Elite Watchers’ murderous gazes fixed squarely on Do-yoon’s party.
Their burning eyes radiated naked killing intent.
If the Watchers in Room 1 had been basketball-sized, these ones were like massive gym balls.
Whoooom!
The lead Elite Watcher lunged forward, its bulk moving with startling speed.
[Activating skill: Mana Shock (C)]
Cha Si-woo reflexively raised his hand and fired.
Crackkk!
A surge of blue mana struck the Watcher’s central eye—but the monster only staggered briefly, hardly hurt.
Damn it. So a C-rank skill really isn’t enough.
Combat sense, positioning, situational awareness—he had confidence those rivaled even higher ranks.
But sheer firepower? That, he lacked.
[Activating skill: Mana Shock (C)]
Another strike. Useless. It only enraged the monster further.
Thooom!
“Urgh!”
Si-woo lost his balance and crashed to the ground.
“Cha Si-woo!” Seo Hye-jin cried.
But she was hardly better off. Her stats weren’t bad, but with no combat experience and no true combat skills, she was helpless.
…Neither of them can farm for themselves.
Fwooosh!
Flames roared as Do-yoon’s fire sword slashed the air.
Swish!
His body shot like lightning into the horde.
Splaaat!
The Watchers burst apart like overripe fruit.
Splatter! Shaa!
Thick green fluids sprayed everywhere as Do-yoon tore through the monsters, erecting a defensive line around his two companions.
[Protecting Cha Si-woo] [Protecting Seo Hye-jin]
[Honor Points acquired: 250]
[Elite Watcher defeated. 200 points earned.]
[Elite Watcher defeated. 200 points earned.]
…
…
No shock, no suspense. Just inevitable slaughter.
Before Hyun Do-yoon’s overwhelming power, the beasts of Room 2 were nothing more than oversized trash mobs.
Ah, wait. If I kill them all, there’s no point.
Realizing this, Do-yoon deliberately held back, sparing vital points on the Watchers.
Grabbing two half-dead ones, he hefted them up and shouted:
“Delivery incoming!”
Wham!
The Watchers flew toward Cha Si-woo and Seo Hye-jin.
“Finish them off yourselves!”
Startled but obedient, the two hacked away at the dying monsters.
They fumbled at first but managed to land the killing blows.
This happened again and again—Do-yoon setting up kills so his teammates could grow.
Of course, compared to the vast points he raked in, what they gained was barely a drop.
Still, soon the Elite Watchers lay in heaps, their green ichor soaking the ground.
Do-yoon sheathed his fire sword, not even a bead of sweat on his brow.
“Thanks to you, we—oh!” Seo Hye-jin’s smile faltered, eyes widening.
“Do-yoon! Your shoulder!”
It was the wound from Ghostblade’s strike.
Any normal sword cut would’ve long healed, but the demonic energy from her blade was different—like a living thing, it gnawed at his flesh, spreading its black-red corruption.
“Tch.”
[Summon—Seed of Wraith]
Do-yoon immediately sat cross-legged and began channeling.
The pure inner energy of the [Heavenly Flower True Scripture] surged into the wound, clashing violently with Yoon Se-ha’s demonic aura.
Inside him, two beasts fought tooth and claw.
Like a fang driven into me… a little longer and it would’ve reached the bone.
Cha Si-woo watched with mixed feelings.
The points he’d earned thanks to Do-yoon were incredible—more than several C-rank gates combined.
But one question gnawed at him:
Why is he helping me? Why would someone this powerful bother?
Was it because he saw some potential in him? Or just whimsy?
Whatever the reason, one thing was clear:
If he wasted this chance, he’d regret it forever.
Cha Si-woo clenched his teeth.
…I’ll prove myself to him. To the Monstrous Hunter.
Breaking the silence, he spoke:
“Seo Hye-jin.”
“Yes?”
“Why don’t we investigate the area a bit?”
“For what reason?”
“You never know. There might be hidden elements or clues.”
“But someone should stay with Do-yoon. Who knows what those guild bastards might try.”
“You’re right. Then I’ll go alone.”
Bowing slightly, Si-woo set off deeper into the cavern.
Respawn points and passageways—if anything was obvious, we’d have noticed already.
His steps carried him past markings on the floor, into a dim, overlooked corner of rock.
A massive wall of stone loomed like a folding screen.
Drawn by some instinct, Si-woo approached the gridded surface and brushed it with his hand.
Something felt off.
“…Wait.”
Wiping away the dust, letters emerged from the dark stone.
“Ma…”
His eyes widened.
Tracing further upward, he found the next character.
“…nul?”
A sigh escaped his lips.
“‘Nulma’? What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
Do-yoon forced out the last trace of demonic energy from his wound.
But he kept his eyes closed, chasing the lingering afterimage of something far greater.
The clash with Yoon Se-ha’s [Demonic Soulblade] had pushed him to the brink.
At that razor’s edge, he had glimpsed a fragment of enlightenment—
A taste of the next peak, the path from the early “mastery” stage toward true heights.
Do-yoon clung to that sensation.
Hours passed.
「My lord! Wake quickly! Something ominous approaches!」
The Wraiths he had scattered throughout the cave whispered urgently.
They’d been deployed to guard against tricks from the guilds—but the guilds were silent.
This was something else. Unexpected.
“Return now, little ones.”
At his command, the Wraiths shuddered at the hated nickname but obediently withdrew into their hidden nests.
Almost at once—
“Hyun Do-yoon…!”
A booming voice split the cave.
Footsteps thundered.
Yoon Se-ha appeared.
No longer the bloody wreck carried out earlier. Now her uniform was crisp, her face healthy, and her aura vastly more oppressive.
“…Wait. You’re a high schooler?!” Seo Hye-jin gawked, pointing at her checkered skirt, hands trembling.
“B-but you called me—”
“Child, appearances aren’t everything.”
Ignoring her entirely, Yoon Se-ha’s eyes locked onto Do-yoon.
“Hyun Do-yoon.”
“What’s with that outfit?”
“I have finals after this raid. This was the only spare I had—and you shredded my last set.”
“You just admitted something that could ruin you socially, without blinking.”
“Forget the chatter. That last technique you used—”
Her gaze burned with strange fervor.
“What exactly was it? It felt like it cut at the very root of existence itself.”
“Just a sword that happens to be sharp.”
Do-yoon’s flat reply made her frown.
“I’m not trying to steal your secrets. I mean a true exchange of martial insight—”
But then—
“Lady Yoon Se-ha! A mid-boss has spawned in Room 4!”
A Shin Sword Guild member came sprinting up, breathless.
“Wait.”
“It’s urgent! We need your support!”
“…Fine.”
Annoyed, Yoon Se-ha shot Do-yoon a last look.
“You’re far more interesting than I thought. I’ll savor that sword of yours properly next time.”
Her tongue flicked across her lips, flashing sharp fangs.
Then she turned, leading the guild away toward Room 3.
Do-yoon smirked faintly as he watched her go.
“…Time to find Cha Si-woo.”
At the far end of the rock wall, Si-woo dangled on a rope, feeling along the surface.
As Do-yoon and Seo Hye-jin drew near—
“Finally!” Si-woo shouted in triumph.
“Wonedjoro-Bera!”
“…What?” Seo Hye-jin blinked.
He repeated, voice trembling with excitement.
“Wonedjoro-Bera!”
“What… does that even mean?”
“The wall—seven columns, seven characters each. Read vertically, they’re nonsense. But horizontally—”
He cut the rope, landing before the stone wall, and recited:
Life’s hardships drown me again and again.
No matter how many failures, no matter how high the wall, the dream is achieved.
For you lies a hidden treasure. Push the final wall.
“Hidden treasure? So behind the last wall, there’s something?” Seo Hye-jin’s eyes sparkled as she approached the seventh wall.
“Wait!” Si-woo grabbed her arm.
“This is a dungeon. Push the wall carelessly and who knows what trap might trigger. It could be a one-shot chance.”
“But isn’t the meaning obvious?”
“On the surface, yes. But it could be a trick.”
He recalled the words inscribed at the dungeon entrance:
‘Only when seen in the right place, with the right eyes, at the right time, will it open.’
“And yet this poem bluntly says ‘push the wall.’”
“So the two don’t match?” Do-yoon asked.
“Exactly. There must be a deeper meaning.”
Si-woo shut his eyes.
In his mind’s eye, the poem arrayed itself in a 7×7 grid.
His thoughts spun rapidly.
This system… downright vicious.
The puzzle itself was simple.
But miss the hidden nuance, and you’d fall straight into the trap.
Pushing the wall would’ve been instant game over.
And then—like discovering a hidden constellation—his gaze cut diagonally across the grid.
His eyes blazed.
“This is it! ‘Look to the third wall’!”
“That’s the true hidden message—‘the right place’!”
