LRIC Chapter 91

“The compensation will come from the government. As additional expedition expenses.”

In the Association President’s office on the top floor of the Association building.

Hwang Hyeon-woo and Seok Dae-gyeong let out a small gasp upon hearing the explanation about their compensation. It was a considerable amount for a government-funded reward.

“That’s because it’s an initial expedition.”

Everyone understood at Association President Son Chang-il’s words.

After all, it was usually the initial exploration that was the most important, whether it was a dungeon or anything else.

‘Writing the report will be a bit of a headache, but…’

Even considering that, it was a profitable deal. It was much better than entering and exiting a dungeon in the same amount of time.

“Hyung-nim, how about a drink today? Dae-gyeong hyung-nim said he’s coming too.”

“We should have a celebratory dinner to commemorate the safe return!”

As the conversation with the Association President was roughly wrapping up, the two men whispered to Do-joon. Although he didn’t particularly enjoy drinking…

‘Well, one day should be fine.’

He wasn’t so unsociable that he would refuse such an occasion. Moreover, after spending a long time eating and sleeping together, he wasn’t on awkward terms with these two.

“Then I’ll see you in the evening!”

The two men left, arm in arm like close brothers, patting each other as they walked away.

Watching their retreating figures, Do-joon chuckled. When did they become so close?

“You’ve worked hard.”

When only the two of them were left, Son Chang-il spoke to Do-joon.

In fact, the real discussion was starting now. The conversation while Hwang Hyeon-woo and Seok Dae-gyeong were present was only about formalities.

Do-joon lifted the teacup in front of him and spoke.

“Not at all. It was a beneficial time for me as well.”

“Is that so? From what I heard, there wasn’t much to gain?”

The encounter with the elf who was a Spirit King’s contractor, and the meeting with the Spirit King himself.

Even for Son Chang-il, who had experienced all sorts of things, there was a lot of surprising news, but in the end, Do-joon’s group had gained little.

The corpses of some monsters packed in the inventory, and the spirit stones in Hwang Hyeon-woo’s possession. And the measly fire-infused medicinal herbs Do-joon had gathered.

The corpses would be worth some money, and the spirit stones were also valuable material items, but Do-joon’s original purpose of obtaining spirit medicines had not been achieved.

The medicinal herbs were too weak in energy to be called spirit medicines.

Son Chang-il, who knew that Do-joon was obsessed with spirit medicines for some reason, found Do-joon’s calm reaction unexpected.

“Just going there once was helpful enough. It will surely be useful the next time we enter.”

That was because Do-joon had hidden the fact that he had obtained a fragment of the Seed from everyone.

He hadn’t told not only Son Chang-il but also Hwang Hyeon-woo and Seok Dae-gyeong. Currently, only Jae Cheon-seong and Sivellin knew about it.

That’s why Son Chang-il had felt puzzled by Do-joon’s reaction.

“I see.”

However, he was sufficiently convinced by the answer that experience had been gained.

It was self-evident, without needing explanation, how much a single experience could help the next time around.

“Expeditions related to the branch will increase further in the future. Now that it’s known that the environment inside isn’t so harsh. However…”

“You mean the elves.”

“That’s right.”

The inside of the branch was similar to a kind of giant dungeon.

Unlike a dungeon, the types of monsters that appeared were diverse, and its size was so vast that it reminded one of a continent, but in any case, it wasn’t a place where one couldn’t set foot.

According to Shin Yuseong’s report, it was tentatively judged to be at the level of an A-grade dungeon. Of course, there would be more dangerous places and safer places depending on the location.

However, the variable called elves was the problem.

“I’m planning to announce about the elves soon. That those we thought were some kind of terrorist group are actually a type of monster that came from the branch.”

“I see.”

It would probably cause quite a stir. However, it wouldn’t lead to the level of panic that could be called chaos.

There was already a sense of vigilance instilled by the previous announcement that they were terrorists, and in the first place, this world was accustomed to all sorts of monsters popping out.

“They possess intelligence and are hostile to humanity. They are elusive, appearing and disappearing unexpectedly. Considering the elves, it’s difficult to simply view the inside of the branch as A-grade in difficulty.”

This was what was giving the Association President a headache.

The conditions for entering the branch had recently become a topic of interest in the industry and one of the rapidly emerging social issues.

Of course, they couldn’t just allow anyone to enter freely. Because it was dangerous.

However, on the other hand, they couldn’t tighten the restrictions too much either. Hunters wanted the regulations to be relaxed as much as possible. They would want to bring in as many people as possible, even under the pretext of being porters.

As a result, all sorts of suggestions, and pressure disguised as suggestions, were pouring in from various guilds. Calls from lawmakers associated with major guilds were also incessantly coming in, so it seemed like the wrinkles on his face had doubled recently.

“You’re going through a lot.”

On the other hand, Do-joon was calmly sipping tea with a peaceful mind.

It wasn’t that he was unaware of Son Chang-il’s concerns, but it wasn’t his own problem.

As Son Chang-il was pouting as if disappointed by Do-joon’s reaction, Do-joon put his hand inside his jacket.

“Come to think of it.”

Soon, what he took out were a few hunter licenses. And they weren’t from their country.

“What are these?”

“We found the corpses of hunters in the ruins where we first encountered the elves. They seemed to be Chinese hunters.”

The hunter licenses Do-joon handed over all had Chinese characters written on them. Just by looking at that, it was evident that they were from China.

Son Chang-il received them with a slightly subdued expression.

“I’ll take them well. I’ll hand them over to the Chinese Association.”

Although the relationship with the Chinese Association wasn’t very good, this was a separate issue.

Regardless of the country, the hunter licenses of hunters who died inside a dungeon were always delivered to their bereaved families.

After carefully collecting the few hunter licenses, Son Chang-il asked Do-joon,

“So, what do you plan to do now?”

As he asked that, his gaze was directed towards the hunter license placed next to Do-joon’s teacup.

He was referring to Do-joon’s new hunter license, which had just been issued and was shining brightly with the letter A proudly engraved on it.

“Thank you for the promotion. Thanks to that, I don’t need to bother accumulating achievements.”

“Thanks are… it was originally a promise. Although there were some twists and turns, you’ve been safely promoted.”

Come to think of it, it had been strangely long.

Clearly, the first mention of the special promotion was right after he had killed Eldora.

However, when he was offered to take the promotion test in the branch, he refused. When they decided on an ordinary A-grade dungeon as the test site, a dark elf popped out there…

And after talking with that dark elf, he finally decided to enter the branch.

“There are still voices of concern about your short career, but even considering that, the interest in an unaffiliated A-rank hunter will be great.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course. There are no unaffiliated A-ranks. No, there are a few, but they are only unaffiliated on paper, and they eventually have a guild they are closely associated with. But you’re different.”

Do-joon’s career was only 1 year. Even that 1 year was spent solely as a solo hunter without joining a guild, so he wasn’t particularly tied to any place.

A more desirable candidate for guilds than a mediocre rookie.

“If you want, any guild will welcome you with open arms. Or, you can continue as a solo like now. Solo hunters of lower ranks can only receive ambiguous treatment, but solo hunters of higher ranks are rather a symbol of skill. Or, conversely, you could create your own guild. There are many paths.”

Even with a short career, if one was an A-rank, people would flock to them just based on that rank. In this industry where the majority of hunters remained at B-rank throughout their lives and retired, being an A-rank was a guarantee in itself.

“Well…”

Do-joon pondered for a moment, then slightly opened his mouth.

The Association President stared intently at Do-joon’s mouth.

He was an outstanding talent, more so than anyone else in recent times. Due to his short 1-year career, he was currently only an A-rank, but it wouldn’t be long before he might become an S-rank.

Being able to hear the future plans of such a person was unconditionally a plus.

Soon, what came out of Do-joon’s mouth was…

“For now, I’m going to take a break.”

Instantly, the Association President’s eyes blinked a few times, and his energy deflated.

“Ah, yes, of course. You’ve worked hard, so you’ll need some time to catch your breath first.”

Do-joon nodded his head.

He had no particular interest in guilds or dungeons at the moment.

A short while later.

“The tea was delicious.”

Having finished all the necessary conversations, Do-joon put down his teacup and stood up.

***

Of course, when he said he would rest, it didn’t literally mean resting. It just meant he wouldn’t engage in external activities for the time being. There were many things he had been putting off.

First of all…

“Wow!”

“…!”

“Oh?”

Moving.

They had successfully moved into the house with a yard that they had seen before. It was a perfect house with two floors and even a basement that could be used as a shelter.

When they saw it back then, it was just the three of them including Sivellin, but since they had originally chosen a large house, even with the addition of Jae Cheon-seong, there were plenty of rooms.

As a result, unlike when they slept in the small room attached to the store, each person could have their own room. They had also purchased all the necessary furniture brand new, so the feeling of a new house was strong.

Especially So-eun’s room was adorably well-decorated. A brightly colored bedding was laid out, and there was a bookshelf filled with storybooks and a small round table.

If it had been just Do-joon alone, he wouldn’t have been able to decorate it so well. It was the result of So-eun herself and Sivellin, who was also a woman, putting their heads together and going shopping.

However, there was one thing that was bothering him…

‘Hmm.’

In this bright space, there was one item that stood out alone.

It was the crude wooden sword leaning diagonally next to the bed.

“Grandpa told me to always carry it with me! Ah, except when I go to kindergarten.”

“I-Is that so?”

Although he wasn’t a person with prejudices, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of incongruity.

However, he soon shook his head.

‘Well, if she likes it, it doesn’t matter.’

It would be strange to forcibly take it away from her when the child was fine with it.

Sivellin’s room wasn’t particularly decorated. Other than the bed and the small TV she had used in the store, there weren’t many items. Overall, it had a spacious feel.

However, there were a couple of unidentified objects placed on a cabinet to one side.

Upon closer look, they resembled the tools she had made when she was a ghoul. Of course, unlike back then, proper carving wood or stone materials were used, so they didn’t have a grotesque appearance.

「Now that I have the space, I’m going to make a lot of them!」

He knew she had been doing something from time to time even in the store, but he didn’t expect her to be making those again.

Although they didn’t exude holiness as blatantly as the objects back then, just having a couple of them on the cabinet made the air in the room feel different.

It felt more like a church sanctuary than a room in a home.

“Um, uh, yeah. Work hard.”

Still, he couldn’t bring himself to stop her. Wasn’t it him who had broken all the tools she had made to save her back then?

Jae Cheon-seong’s room was simple. The entire wall was filled with books.

He spoke proudly with his arms crossed.

“I picked out the ones that looked good while browsing at the library and purchased them.”

He knew that Jae Cheon-seong often went to the library. He frequently borrowed books, and in the first place, it was Do-joon who had introduced him to the existence of libraries and helped him get a library card.

But to think he had already read so many books.

Moreover, if this was the amount he had carefully selected, how many times more had he actually read?

‘They’re all excited.’

Do-joon left the room with a satisfying smile, leaving behind Jae Cheon-seong who was grinning at his room.

Having gone from sleeping together in the store to having their own spaces, everyone seemed thrilled.

Seeing their reactions, Do-joon also felt proud as the head of the household. It was worth spending a large sum of money to purchase the house and furniture.

Beep-

At that moment, his cell phone rang, and a text message arrived.

<[Web Sent] From Fleamarket. The items you purchased have begun shipping. The expected arrival date is…>

It was a message from the market.

‘The mana items I purchased are coming.’

The items with mana stats that he had purchased with the remaining money after buying the house and furniture. They were finally arriving.

‘Are the urgent matters roughly taken care of?’

Putting the phone back in his pocket, he thought for a moment.

Special promotion. Moving. Mana stat items to grow the fragment of the Seed.

Most of the necessary things were done.

His footsteps headed towards the basement.

‘Then now.’

Creak-

The sturdy metal door opened, and Do-joon stood in the middle of it.

Soon, what he took out was…

[6-tier Labyrinth Key (Select)]

The item he had received from the Sky Road where he met Jae Cheon-seong.

As befitting a hidden quest reward, it wasn’t the usual random key but a key with “Select” written on it.

‘Use.’

Do-joon spoke while holding the key.

Then, the key shone faintly, and a new message window appeared.

[1. Lake of Lava]

[2. Arachne’s Lair]

[3. Frozen Harbor]

There were three options.

Do-joon, who had examined them this way and that, slightly frowned. It was because there was no information other than the names.

‘Do I have to choose based on the names alone?’

Of course, even just by looking at the names, he could roughly guess their appearances. However, it was only a conjecture of their appearances, and he couldn’t predict at all what he could obtain from them.

Do-joon pondered for a while like that.

Soon, his hand selected one of the three.

***

Nitens, the Forest of Wind located in the northern part of the branch.

In that coniferous forest covered in pure white snow, an elf was staring at a puddle of water.

The hood was pulled down deeply, concealing the face, and that figure was reflected on the still surface of the lake.

The only visible part was the pink lips beneath the hood. Those lips moved and formed words.

“Eldora still hasn’t returned.”

A voice as calm as the surface of the lake. However, this time, the surface of the lake began to ripple in reverse, and the figure of a small child began to take shape.

“Elsar, that’s not the urgent matter right now, is it?”

“But Eldora is…”

As she kept mentioning Eldora to the end, the child frowned irritably.

Elsar tightly closed her mouth. She knew well that displeasing this capricious boy was never a wise thing to do.

“You don’t seem to understand the seriousness of the situation. He wasn’t an ordinary human.”

“Certainly, this ‘outside’ was a bit more resistant than usual, but to call it threatening to that extent…”

“Ah, enough, just listen obediently.”

The child waved his hand, cutting off Elsar’s words. As she closed her mouth again, the child spoke while looking at her.

“That human who was in Vulcanus’s territory. Find and kill him, or report to me, or do something. Don’t just leave him alone and ruin everything.”

But how could she find a human whose face she didn’t even know?

The ability of that human he spoke of was also something she found hard to believe. According to her common sense, it was something that simply couldn’t be possible.

Although Elsar was more concerned about Eldora’s whereabouts, who hadn’t returned, than such incomprehensible matters…

“…Yes.”

In the end, she had no choice but to bow her head before him.