When the problem was settled, Eun-woo shouted at the hunters who followed him.
“Now that we have found the missing people, we will return!”
“Yes!”
Ha-eun poked Jung Eun-woo on the shoulder and asked.
“We’re leaving? Is the attack over?”
“That bastard, Seo Do-jun, will be handling it.”
It was a conversation that didn’t interest her much.
“If he can’t even catch a D-class boss by himself, he should have to put down his title as the guild leader.”
Well, that’s true. The opponent is ranked 1st. He’ll be fine. Ha-eun decided to turn off her mind. In that respect, the brother and sister were similar.
With Jung Eun-woo in the lead, the hunters belonging to the rescue team started to protect the people and make their way to the base camp.
Since the number of victims in the dungeon was not as small as they expected, it was impossible to get everyone out with the escape stones they brought. As a result, they waited at the base camp, and when the attack was over and the gates opened, they decided to leave one by one.
Jung Eun-woo cleared the road, wiping out monsters that appeared in the middle.
“W, we’re alive!”
“Oh my God.”
Those who arrived at the rescue team’s main base camp shouted in joy.
They were not out of the dungeon yet, but the people seemed relieved to think that numerous hunters were protecting them. Some sat down as if exhausted.
“Ha-eun!”
A person called Ha-eun, who was trying to follow Jung Eun-woo into a temporary tent. She was the woman who held down Ha-eun first, the one who lived in the same building.
The old woman’s face was stained with guilt. It was funny and it made sense. Ha-eun frowned.
“Ha, Ha-eun, you know…….”
But before the aunt could approach, Jung Eun-woo blocked her way.
“The survivors should be gathered over there.”
“I…… Eun-woo, that’s……”
“It’s over there on the left.”
It was a cold attitude that drew a line without any emotion.
“Y, yes. Okay…… I’m sorry.”
Eventually, the old woman withdrew. She was the aunt with whom she was friendly. But Ha-eun turned her head. There was still a red mark on her forearm.
Healers checked the health of the victims, and some hunters scattered to check if there were any survivors who had fallen alone.
A few more people were rescued and transported to the base camp, while the dungeon raid was completed.
[SYSTEM: The cave of the dead (D) has been captured.]
[SYSTEM: Hunter Do-Jun Seo (S). Compensation certificate processing]
Ha-eun, who was waiting for the gate to open in the tent, was happy.
“Miss Ha-eun!”
Seo Do-jun, who returned to the base camp as soon as he killed the boss monster, found Ha-eun and ran quickly. He gave a 90° bow to Ha-eun.
“I’m really sorry. Even after receiving the commission, I couldn’t do it properly, so this is all my fault.”
“No, what……”
Ha-eun looked around. She didn’t want to attract any more attention.
Fortunately, however, the hunters were busy preparing to escape the dungeon. Eun-woo, who had been by Ha-eun’s side until now, also left to command the hunters when the escape gate opened. Ha-eun whispered quietly.
“I’m the one who went out alone. Besides, we decided not to have a contract. I won the bet.”
“But…….”
“It’s okay. Never mind that.”
Ha-eun waved her hand as if annoyed. She went through a lot today to even pay attention to Seo Do-jun. Her scalp hurt and she was really tired. Once Ha-eun gets out of this dungeon and returns home, she will have a hot bath.
“Nevertheless…….”
“It’s really okay.”
However, Seo Do-jun kept hesitating at Ha-eun’s feet, probably because he couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable.
She’d like him to hurry and finish up so that she could get home quickly. In the end, it was time for him to break the silence.
“Then will you accept this?”
Seo Do-jun suddenly offered something to Ha-eun. Ha-eun raised her eyebrows, and took the item Do-jun handed over.
It was a solid bead that sparkled in yellow. It was quite big, about as big as Ha-eun’s fist. It was shining brightly, but it wasn’t just a pretty thing.
“This is the core of the boss monster.”
She knew it. Ha-eun asked, a little puzzled.
“Why are you giving this to me?”
“It’s D-grade, but if you sell it on the market, it will make a lot of money. It’s used to make other potions and armor.”
Ah, so it’s some kind of penalty fee/compensation?
Anyway, there was no reason to refuse. Looking at what Hunter Seo Do-jun said, she thought it would make some pretty good pocket money.
When Ha-eun nodded and received the core, Seo Do-jun looked relieved and left to help the other hunters.
It was when Ha-eun was about to put the core in her pocket.
[The constellation ‘Mutant of the Abyss’ asks if they can accept the core.]
‘Why?’
[The constellation ‘Mutant of the Abyss’ says that the core is just about to hatch.]
‘What?’
[The constellation ‘Mutant of the Abyss’ claps saying that they can see monsters walking around in the outside world in a week]
[The chance of a young core hatching anew is about 1 in 100,000, and the constellation admires how lucky she is.]
W, what is this! Even if she gave it, what would it do?
Ha-eun was terrified and pulled out the stone from her pocket. She wanted to ask him to take it back, but Seo Do-joon seemed to have gone somewhere else after giving the core. A monster’s core is an important resource essential for item manufacturing, so it’s a natural decision.
She can’t leave it here either. The constellation said it will hatch soon, so there is a possibility that the dungeon that was just completed will go wild again.
[The constellation ‘Mutant of the Abyss’ tells Ha-eun to destroy it immediately.]
[The constellation ‘Mutant of the Abyss’ says that it will be fine.]
Ha-eun glared at the core in her hand. It was hard, but it didn’t seem like it couldn’t be broken. The hand holding the stone was tense and drained.
The memory of that day that came to mind, and the experience of being caught and swept away by people just before, made Ha-eun hesitate for a moment.
She thought about it for a while, but in fact, the decision was already made. It would be unavoidable.
Ha-eun turned back to avoid people’s eyes.
A golden vortex began to spin in Ha-eun’s hand as she arrived at a place far away from the hunters, in a secluded place where no one would pay any attention. The vortex, which was initially an inverted cone, gradually compressed and narrowed down to a single straight line.