Chapter 96. Regular Program, Dungeon Conquering Man (2)

Translator: Boko

The shoot went smoothly.

"Let’s move on to the selection of level 1 dungeons."

Kang Seol Hee gestured with her hand and a list of dungeons appeared on the huge screen.

"Aah, what's this?" Jeon Seong Gook asked slyly.

"These are the level 1 dungeons that our writers carefully selected for us," Kang Seol Hee said.

"Marron Hill, Angar National Cemetery, Haiston Tower, etc. Just the names themselves sound interesting!"

Jeon Seong Gook raised his voice.

"Level 80 - 100 monsters appear within these dungeons. We will tell you what mission you’ll have to complete after you choose your dungeon!"

"Hoo, hoo. I wonder what kind of missions there are," Jeon Seong Gook said.

Kang Seol Hee smiled.

"Our writers painstakingly chose various missions for us today using our viewers' input," Kang Seol Hee replied.

"Oh, that sounds exciting."

"We can't let people's choices overlap, so we're going to have our participants play rock-paper-scissors to decide who chooses first."

"Please choose a representative from each team and step forward," Jeon Seong Gook said.

"Which one of us should go?" Jae Woo asked Soo Ah.

"You should go. I'm not very good at rock-paper-scissors."

"Got it."

Jae Woo stepped forward. One member from each of the other teams stepped forward as well.

"Now, everyone ready... Rock-paper-scissors!"

At Jeon Seong Gook's signal, the representatives all extended their hands.

Rock. Rock. Paper. Rock.

Kang Oh had picked paper.

"Mr. Oga and Ms. Soo Ah will pick their dungeon first!"

Jae Woo sent Soo Ah a V sign. Soo Ah gave him a thumbs up.

The rest of the representatives continued playing rock-paper-scissors to determine their place.

Scissors. Rock. Scissors.

The one who'd put out rock was Yoon Se Hwa's partner.

'His name is Park Tae Gyu. I think his game ID is Wild Sword...'

"The next team to pick their dungeon is Mr. Tae Gyu and Ms. Se Hwa!"

Jeon Seong Gook pointed at Park Tae Gyu. Park Tae Gyu smiled at the camera and waved.

Jae Woo approached Soo Ah's side.

"Which dungeon should we pick, Soo Ah?" Jae Woo asked.

"Please pick whichever you want, Oppa."

"You sure?"

Jae Woo sifted through the list of dungeons on the monitor.

'I think the mission will be easier if I pick a dungeon with level 100 monsters, but if I pick a dungeon with level 80 monsters, then it'll be the reverse; the mission will probably be a pain in the ass.'

To him, there wasn't much of a difference between a dungeon with level 100 monsters and a dungeon with level 80 monsters.

'Of the level 100 dungeons... Ah, that one looks good.'

"How about Maroon Hill?" Jae Woo asked.

"Maroon Hill?"

"Yeah. The sunset's beautiful there."

"Ok, that sounds good."

By the time they'd decided on Maroon Hill, the rest of the contestants were finished deciding their picking order.

"I'll give you some time, so please discuss amongst yourselves which dungeon you'd like to pick," Kang Seol Hee said.

"Where is Maroon Hill?" Soo Ah asked.

"It's near Terra, the city renowned as a tourist city," Jae Woo said.

They'd already picked their dungeon, and since they were going first, they didn't really need to discuss anything else like picking a second choice; so they just talked about whatever for the remaining time.

"Now then! Have you all picked your dungeons? Which dungeon would you like to conquer, Mr. Oga, Ms. Soo Ah?" Jeon Seong Gook asked.

"We'll pick Maroon Hill," Jae Woo said.

Then...

Yoon Se Hwa furrowed her brow.

"Wait a second!"

Her hand shot up.

"Yes, Ms. Se Hwa? Is there something wrong?"

"We were planning on picking Maroon Hill too, so... could you give it to us instead?"

Yoon Se Hwa looked at Jae Woo and smiled with her eyes.

"No, we can't," Jae Woo flat out refused.

She stiffened at his firm refusal, but soon returned to her original face and entreated once more.

"Please switch with us. That view is a perfect fit for me."

"No thank you."

"Tch, you're too much."

Yoon Se Hwa turned her body and acted like she was sulking.

"Alright then. Mr. Oga and Ms. Soo Ah will attempt Maroon Hill," Jeon Seong Gook said.

"Please show Maroon Hill," Kang Seol Hee said.

The huge screen, which now said Maroon Hill, showed their mission objective.

"Your mission is 'Bring back footage of the rainbow sunset at the top of the hill!'."

'If you make it to the top, you've pretty much completed the mission.'

It was always sunset at Maroon Hill.

But it was no ordinary sunset. It was a rainbow sunset, a sunset with 7 different shades of red that could be seen at any time of the day.

"Isn't this mission too easy?" Jeon Seong Gook said, looking disappointed.

"It does seem that way. It was a good decision not to give up on their first choice."

Kang Seol Hee nodded her head.

"Then, next up is..."

After that, the remaining teams all picked their dungeons and received their missions.

"Cut! We'll take a 30 minute break and then the teams will enter the capsule room."

Once they cut, the studio halted their production.

Jae Woo and Soo Ah rested in their respective waiting rooms and joined up 30 minutes later. The two headed for GBS’s capsule room.

But on the way to the capsule room, they encountered Yoon Se Hwa, who had been waiting for them.

She came over, looking sharply at them.

"Excuse me," she said to Jae Woo.

"Yes?"

"Soo Ah and I have something to discuss. Could you please excuse yourself..."

"I'd rather not."

"Seriously!"

Yoon Se Hwa was pissed.

Then Soo Ah intervened.

"Oppa, please go on ahead. I'm going to talk to her."

"Will you be ok?"

"Yes."

Jae Woo glanced at Yoon Se Hwa and then left the two alone.

"Hey, Jeong Soo Ah."

Soo Ah's real name was Jeong Soo Ah.

"Control your partner. And make sure you greet me properly. Stop strutting around like you're all that and get your shit together," Yoon Se Hwa said angrily.

𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Soo Ah became completely calm.

"Unni. Would you stop it already? It's unseemly."

"What?"

Once she was finished, Soo Ah walked right past her.

"Hey, stay there! Hey, Jeong Soo Ah!"

Yoon Se Hwa's sharp voice resounded throughout the room.

* * *

There were several players in Terra, as it was renowned as a tourist city.

Kang Oh, Asu, and the youngest writer were riding atop horses on the south road.

His face was completely covered by the Baramut helmet.

"It's been a while since we were all together," the writer said.

When they'd last broadcast Dungeon Conquering Man, Kang Oh, Asu, and the writer had gone to the Maumbharat Palace together.

"That's true."

Asu nodded her head.

Kang Oh looked at Asu's face. She wasn't doing her damndest to act happy this time.

'I guess I was worried over nothing.'

"What's wrong? Is there something on my face?" Asu asked.

"Yeah. Ugliness," Kang Oh teased.

"Ah!"

Both Asu and the youngest writer simultaneously groaned.

Kang Oh turned his head, avoiding the harsh looks from the two women, and scratched his neck in shame.

Then, Asu and the writer began talking between themselves.

"How do you diet, Ms. Soo Ah? Do you have some special way of eating?"

"Not really. You can have a beautiful body if you exercise diligently and control your portions."

"That's so basic."

"There's no right answer when it comes to dieting or studying."

"You're right, but... People are always looking for shortcuts..."

The two continued to chatter on.

A short while later...

"We're here."

Soon, they arrived at the entrance to their destination, Maroon Hill.

Maroon Hill was, as its name implied, a hill, and its entrance was an arch-like rock formation.

The writer passed Kang Oh a Sabra's Contract.

"Please sign here."

It was a contract stating that all of his abilities would be halved upon entry, and would only be returned to him upon exiting Maroon Hill.

The Dungeon Conquering Men were, like their last program, given penalties so that the dungeon conquest wasn't too easy for them.

Kang Oh had already agreed to these terms, so he signed the contract right away.

With it, Kang Oh could only use half of his full strength.

'Half is still more than enough.'

Kang Oh grinned.

"Please don't forget to turn film mode on. Take care. I'll be doing my own thing and will take some videos of Maroon Hill," the writer said.

"Film! Thank you," Asu said.

"Film! Thank you. Let's get going."

Kang Oh and Asu advanced side-by-side, and passed through the arched rock formation.

[Entering the spatiotemporal intersection point, Maroon Hill.]

If ten people entered a spatiotemporal intersection point, then ten different instances would be created.

In other words, it was an instant dungeon; they were created by Dreamgate so that people could film themselves without being interrupted by others.

When he entered Maroon Hill, his vision was filled with red.

"Wow, it's a sunset."

The once blue sky was dyed red. This was the special property of this dungeon, Maroon Hill.

A player could see this view 24/7! Thus, many players came here to sightsee.

"Let's go."

Kang Oh and Asu followed the path up the hill.

"By the way, what level are you again?"

"I'm level 66!"

"Mm, you're higher than I expected."

"I've been working hard."

"Then let's see what you’re made of."

Kang Oh picked up a rock and threw it at a nearby monster.

Kureung!

A humanoid monster with a pig face approached Kang Oh.

It possessed a red mane, wielding a stone axe in one hand and a shoddy crossbow in the other.

"This is the most common monster in Maroon Hill. It's a level 100 Pigman, otherwise known as a Nuo."

Asu nodded her head.

"I'll be by your side, so fight to your heart's content."

"Understood."

Asu unsheathed the sword at her waist.

Then, she cast Knight's Vow, a knight's class skill which increased one's attack power and defense.

At that moment...

Bang.

The Nuo shot an arrow at her with its crossbow.

"An arrow's coming," Kang Oh said.

"Yahp."

Asu deflected the arrow with her sword and then dashed towards the Nuo.

She thrust her sword, using the force of her acceleration to strengthen her blow.

Stab!

She succeeded and immediately withdrew her sword. Then, she attacked once more.

Honorable Strike!

This was a knight skill that could only be used if one possessed the Honor side stat.

Asu's blade slashed through the Nuo's chest. At the same time, white feathers flew through the air, which was the result of Honorable Strike.

'Her movement's are pretty good.'

She didn't move like a beginner anymore.

However, she hadn't advanced enough (level 66) to defeat the level 100 Nuo.

At first, she was able to push the Nuo back, but as the battle progressed and the Nuo began counter-attacking with its crossbow and axe, Asu was forced into the defensive.

"Don't fall back."

Kang Oh began fighting by her side.

He deflected any incoming arrows.

"Now!" Kang Oh said.

Asu reacted immediately. She ducked her head, dodging the Nuo's stone axe, and got in close.

Swish.

Asu slashed its neck. Shards of light burst from the wound.

Then, the Nuo counterattacked.

"Fall back."

She stepped to the side and Kang Oh pushed forward.

Swish.

Kang Oh swung his demon sword, and the Nuo raised its stone axe.

Whack!

Once his sword made contact, the Nuo's axe flew out of its hand.

Then...

Kang Oh and Asu simultaneously attacked the Nuo from the front and back.

Whack! Whack!

In the end, the Nuo fell.

[You have defeated a Nuo.]

Asu beamed.

In their past Dungeon Conquering Man appearance, Asu had conquered the Maumbharat Palace together with Kang Oh.

At the time, Kang Oh had acted as both a reliable big brother and an effective teacher. She was both his little sister and his student.

But today, she was his comrade.

"You fight well."

Kang Oh gave her thumbs up, and Asu responded with a V sign.

"I'm pretty good, right?"

"Yeah. You're doing your best in-game even with your busy schedule."

Asu's movements had become much sharper than before, which was proof that she'd been playing the game.

"At times, I get stressed at work... I can relieve all that stress by treating these monsters as the source of that stress and knocking them out!"

"So you must have been thinking of that woman, huh?"

That woman was obviously Yoon Se Hwa.

Asu slightly nodded her head and pointed somewhere.

"Ah, that Nuo looks like her!"

She’d pointed to a pig-faced Nuo wandering about.

"Then let's go over there and take it out."

As soon as he was finished, Asu rushed over.

"Get over here!"

She looked as excited as someone who'd come to an amusement park.