Chapter 68. The Boss Has Been Captured

“

Hoahm.”

Kim Do-Joon yawned and stretched as he woke up. Then, he changed and washed his clothes. Upon arriving at the store, he found Siwelin cleaning.

— Good morning.

"Morning. Did you sleep well?"

— Yes.

She wore an apron and tied her black hair up in a single bun. Compared to her usual saintess raiment, the outfit made her seem more active. Besides, she said they were much more comfortable.

However, she always wore her robe during evening prayers or when teaching Kim So-Eun divine powers.

"Where are So-Eun and the elder?" Kim Do-Joon asked.

— They're doing that thing again.

"Oh, really?"

Kim Do-Joon went outside the shop. There, Jecheon Seong and little Kim So-Eun were moving slowly together. Seeing a giant elder and a six-year-old child moving in sync, as if performing some kind of rhythmic exercise, made him chuckle.

We really need to move soon.

It was early morning, so there weren’t many people around. But occasionally, someone would pass by. Sometimes, customers would come too. At this rate, rumors would spread through the neighborhood in no time.

However, Jecheon Seong did not seem to care about others' opinions, and Kim So-Eun seemed to find this fun.

Good thing we don’t have to wait too long. The new place has a yard, so it'll be perfect.

Kim Do-Joon recalled the house they had checked out. The new place had a yard, and one wall of the living room was made entirely of glass. At first, he’d thought it was a bit large for just the three of them, but now with Jecheon Seong, it seemed just right.

"Ah, Daddy! Good morning!"

Kim So-Eun, who had spotted Kim Do-Joon, put her foot down and greeted him with a bow. Kim Do-Joon walked over and gently lifted her up.

"Did you get a good sleep?”

"Yes! And these days, I wake up bright and early every morning!”

Maybe it was because of the morning exercises. Kim Do-Joon found it amazing and admirable that she came out every morning without complaint.

"Did you sleep well?" Jecheon Seong asked Kim Do-Joon

"Yes, did you get good sleep as well?"

It had been a few days since Jecheon Seong arrived. This routine had quickly become part of their day. Each morning, Kim Do-Joon would make his rounds, greeting everyone who’s doing their own little things.

Lately, Kim Do-Joon could hardly remember the days when he lived alone in the store.

"By the way, didn't you say you were going somewhere today?"

"Yes, I'm entering a dungeon today.”

Jecheon Seong nodded at Kim Do-Joon's answer.

"Be careful. Though I doubt you'll get beaten up anywhere."

"

Haha

..." Kim Do-Joon laughed awkwardly.

After patting Kim So-Eun on the back a few times, he set her down.

"Daddy is going to work now, so stay with Grandpa," Kim Do-Joon said.

"When will you be back this time?" Kim So-Eun asked.

"

Hmm

... maybe tomorrow?"

Kim Do-Joon couldn’t be sure, but it shouldn’t take longer than that. If the dungeon was smaller than expected, he could return sooner. When he said he might be back the next day, Kim So-Eun whined that it was too long.

Kim Do-Joon smiled awkwardly and patted her head.

"Daddy needs to work so So-Eun, your sister, and Grandpa can all live well."

"But still..." Kim So-Eun muttered.

In reality, the store’s income was enough to get by. However, there were problems that couldn’t be solved with just that. Of course, that was a secret from Kim So-Eun.

"I'll be back."

Kim Do-Joon said goodbye to them, heading to the storage next to the store. Kim So-Eun and Jecheon Seong went inside the store. The child would now get ready for kindergarten, and the old man would read in his room.

Jecheon Seong had mastered Korean in just one day. Lately, he took pleasure in reading books of all genres. Meanwhile, inside the storage room, Kim Do-Joon pulled out a variety of weapons from his inventory for inspection. Though he had already prepared them the previous day, he wanted to check them once more.

Axes and spears...

He examined the Kujika Tribesmen’s Broadaxe imbued with divine attributes, the Lightning Spear, and several knives with various negative effects. Additionally, there were numerous tools crafted from dungeon materials, though they were not classified as “items.” Lastly, there was the spear inhabited by Karlish.

— So you’re heading into an A-rank dungeon today?

"Yes. It's my first time tackling an A-rank," Kim Do-Joon replied to Karlish while wiping the spear's shaft with a handkerchief.

He’d experienced B-rank dungeons before, notably the multi-root dungeon where he had been trapped in before. Although there was only one rank difference between A and B, the disparity was significant.

Most Hunters retired at the B-rank threshold, unable to ascend to A-rank. The difficulty spike at A-rank was so severe, some even claimed it was greater than that between F and B. This sentiment was widely agreed upon, making the leap to A-rank a formidable barrier for many.

— Are you scared?

"Not at all," Kim Do-Joon replied.

For Kim Do-Joon, fear wasn’t a concern. He’d already defeated an elf, who was estimated to be at least A-rank. Additionally, he had sparred over a hundred times with Jecheon Seong, who could likely match even S-rank opponents.

— But you lost all those sparring matches.

"Experience of fighting strong opponents is what matters," Kim Do-Joon replied.

—

Hmm.

Karlish chuckled at Kim Do-Joon's awkward reply. Certainly, his duels with the elder Jecheon Seong had significantly contributed to his growth.

— Still, don't get complacent.

"I’m aware of that,” Kim Do-Joon nodded firmly.

Just then, something caught his eye.

[The additional reward has been granted.]

𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

[Tier 6 Labyrinth Key (Selectable)]

It was a reward for clearing a hidden quest on the Sky Road. Unlike the keys that were usually given randomly, this one offered a choice.

Is it going to be like the last time, where I had to pick one out of three?

Kim Do-Joon recalled the selectable item box, from which he had obtained the Lightning Spear. He had been disappointed then, as the choices were limited to only three. He’d a strong feeling that this additional reward would offer something similar.

Still, it's better than being completely random.

Kim Do-Joon was curious about the available labyrinths, but he decided to wait. He had too many pending tasks in the real world to dive into a new labyrinth right away. Not only was today his special promotion, he also had to prepare for the upcoming move. Let’s not forget that he had to ensure that Jecheon Seong, who had only recently arrived, settled in properly.

I'll deal with urgent matters first, then take my time to choose.

Kim Do-Joon dismissed the message window and left the storage room, having stored Karlish and the other weapons back in his inventory.

Honk! Honk!

Suddenly, he heard a car horn. The sound came from a sleek black sedan. As he turned around, the rear window rolled down to reveal a familiar face.

"Are you heading out now?"

It was Son Chang-Il, the Association President.

"What brings you here?" Kim Do-Joon asked, puzzled.

"Get in. I need to go as well, so it’s better if we go together.”

Son Chang-Il was the one who had requested Kim Do-Joon’s special promotion, and was temporarily acting as his guarantor. As such, he had an obligation to oversee the examination.

As Kim Do-Joon got into the car, the driver smoothly pulled away from the curb.

"I didn't expect you to pick me up.”

"

Haha

, if you fail, it causes problems for me too. So, I should make sure you’re in pristine condition. So, how are you feeling?"

"Good," Kim Do-Joon responded with a faint smile, which Son Chang-Il mirrored.

"That’s good to hear. Don't get too nervous about the A-rank dungeon. In the end, you’re basically hunting monsters like usual. You’ve done it often," Son Chang-Il reassured him.

Kim Do-Joon nodded in agreement.

Then, he asked, "Have you heard any news about the elixir? Especially one containing the fire element?"

Information about the elixir was one of Kim Do-Joon’s conditions when he handed over Eldora to Son Chang-Il.

"Unfortunately, no news has come my way. We’ve tried tracking down the existing ingredients of the elixirs, but it seems they’ve all been consumed," Son Chang-Il replied, shaking his head.

A look of disappointment crossed Kim Do-Joon’s face. If finding it were easy, it wouldn’t be called an elixir.

"And what about the stem?" Kim Do-Joon asked.

"No significant news there either. It's vastly different from the one-time dungeon of the roots. It’s much larger and takes a lot more time to explore," Son Chang-Il explained.

The stem dungeon was naturally a subject of great interest. It was an unknown variable that could impact the entire industry and even the social infrastructure.

For Kim Do-Joon, there was an additional reason for his interest. His original special promotion condition had been to accompany the exploration of the stem, not the A-rank dungeon he was heading to now. He had turned down that opportunity due to the excessive risk, which he now slightly regretted. There was always a chance that an elixir could be discovered inside.

If an elixir is found there, it’ll naturally belong to the exploration team.

Kim Do-Joon thought that he might’ve missed his chance. Still, even if he could go back, he would’ve made the same choice. The risk far outweighed the potential reward. But he couldn’t stop thinking about the chance of finding an elixir there.

"Anyway, the dungeon we're heading to is the A-rank called ‘Valley of Lament.’ As the name suggests, it’s shaped like a valley, and the winds are said to be quite fierce inside. And the monsters you'll face are mainly flying types..." Son Chang-Il provided a thorough briefing with a serious expression, sharing information gathered from initial explorations.

Although Kim Do-Joon would hear it again upon arrival, it never hurt to be well-prepared, especially when safety was involved.

As they conversed, exchanging questions and answers, they soon reached their destination.

"What's all this?" Kim Do-Joon asked in surprise, looking out the window.

In front of the dungeon, a barricade had been set up, and a crowd had gathered. There were numerous people holding microphones and cameras, along with curious onlookers.

"

Haha

, it’s a rare special promotion, after all. Plus, the fact that you just became an E-rank Hunter last year has drawn quite a crowd," Son Chang-Il explained.

Special promotions were indeed rare, comparable to skipping grades in school. However, unlike studying at a desk, it involved life-or-death battles with monsters, making such promotions uncommon. Additionally, a high-ranking and credible Hunter’s guarantee was required, making it even rarer. Few were willing to take on that role because they’d bear all the responsibility in case of an accident.

Besides that...

Kim Do-Joon looked directly at Son Chang-Il. Aside from the aforementioned reasons, the fact that the guarantor was the Association President undoubtedly added to the interest. The Association might often be caught between the government and the guilds, but Son Chang-Il’s position still held significant influence.

Without influence, there was no way he could mediate between the government and the guilds. The fact that the association president personally vouched for Kim Do-Joon made the situation even more newsworthy.

"You need to get used to this if you want to become an A-rank Hunter. A-rank Hunters always attract attention," Son Chang-Il said nonchalantly.

He was right. In a world where most Hunters retired as B-rank, achieving A-rank was a testament to one's ability and talent. Consequently, A-rank Hunters were few and highly valued at the national level, making them natural subjects of public interest.

However, Kim Do-Joon felt awkward. Not long ago, he was just another Gatherer among many. The sudden influx of attention was overwhelming, and he had many family members he wished to keep out of the limelight.

“

Ha...

” Kim Do-Joon sighed as he stepped out of the car.

And Son Chang-Il followed.

“There’s the president!”

“Who’s that next to him?”

“

Ugh,

you idiot, don’t you know who’s taking the test today?”

Camera shutters flashed, and reporters shouted questions. Son Chang-Il waved nonchalantly, while Kim Do-Joon walked silently beside him. As they made their way through the crowd to a barricaded area, the noise subsided. The inner area was devoid of civilians.

"Good to see you, President."

"Good to see you."

However, it wasn’t empty. Seated in a designated area were Kim Do-Joon’s soon-to-be teammates for the A-rank dungeon.

“Hunter Kim Do-Joon, I presume? I’m Choi Sang-Gyu.”

“Nice to meet you,” Kim Do-Joon replied.

Choi Sang-Gyu was the leader of the Il-Young Guild, known for its small size but highly skilled Hunters. After shaking hands with Choi Sang-Gyu and the other guild members, Kim Do-Joon and Son Chang-Il took their seats.

"As you’ve heard, this dungeon has flying monsters, making it more challenging than your average A-rank dungeon," Choi Sang-Gyu began his briefing, primarily looking at Kim Do-Joon.

“I’ve heard that you’re a Warrior-class Hunter with enhancement skills. Do you have any ranged skills or equipment to deal with flying monsters?”

“Yes, I have a spear with a retrieval function.”

“That’s good to hear. But just to confirm, you have other equipment, right? Sometimes you need ropes or general gear, not just items.”

“Yes, I’ve brought everything necessary.”

Choi Sang-Gyu's thorough questioning was expected. Even with the association president’s guarantee, an E-rank Hunter entering an A-rank dungeon warranted skepticism. Kim Do-Joon understood this and responded calmly.

However, just then, the ground shook, drawing everyone's attention to the source.

Rumble—

“

Huh?

”

“What’s going on?”

When everyone looked at the direction of the sound, they saw a trembling root.

Thud!

Kim Do-Joon stood up, ready to face whatever was coming. Son Chang-Il, Choi Sang-Gyu, and the guild members also drew their weapons.

There was a sudden, unexpected change in the roots. However, soon, they realized what was happening.

"That’s..." Son Chang-Il's face hardened.

The shaking roots began to disintegrate, starting from the edges and turning into dust.

“Has the boss been defeated?”

It was the phenomenon that occurred when a dungeon was cleared.