The situation was so dire it seemed unbelievable. Even for a disorganized rabble, there were limits to chaos.
It was inconceivable that others would remain passive while one person acted. As Han Taemin looked around, a commotion erupted. Hunters hit by the projectiles were losing their sanity one by one, wildly wielding their weapons.
Their actions showed no recognition of allies. It was reminiscent of the scene in the Labyrinth of Leimara.
“They’re in a frenzy!”
“Everyone, put on the protective talismans!”
“Restrain anyone having seizures!”
“Those still lucid, get treatment immediately!”
Surprisingly, Lee Jun wasn’t the one causing the abnormal behavior. It was the hunters expected to remain calm who were losing control.
Other guilds were preoccupied with quelling the chaos in their own ranks. Fortunately, the rear guard, far from the projectiles, remained intact. However, they lacked the direct power to quickly extinguish the spreading madness.
Focusing solely on the projectiles’ trajectories had led to a critical oversight of the disaster they were causing. The monsters emerging from the tunnels were relying not on the accuracy of the projectiles, but on their secondary effects.
“Was this their aim from the beginning?”
“Divine intervention. Who would have thought we’d encounter something like Leimara here?”
Only then did Han Taemin understand Lee Jun’s bold decision. As the Titan Guild’s shield for Team 3, they would have been the first to notice any anomalies.
After quietly handling the situation, Lee Jun could easily claim that his actions were a result of the projectile effects, thus receiving a light reprieve. It was a perfect opportunity that would have ignited Lee Jun’s conscience and stirred his impulses. He likely remembered the previous humiliation as well.
‘But…’
The choice also involved a potentially fatal mistake. The fact that these issues could apply to Han Taemin as well.
“…So, you think you can make such a choice.”
Lee Jun grinned and pressed the blade against Gi Siwoo’s neck. Blood began to bead and trickle down.
“Drop your weapon. Otherwise, your cute guild member’s head will fly off. You don’t want that, do you?”
Han Taemin smiled bitterly. How could he not find it amusing given the situation?
“So, what do you think you can do to me in such a situation?”
“Is that wrong?”
“Yes, you got the premise all wrong.”
Given that he had seen Bang Geunseok in his prime, it wasn’t surprising that Lee Jun was under such an illusion. Bang Geunseok would have been considered superhuman from an ordinary hunter’s perspective.
Despite the many eyes watching and his usual restraint, with the opponent holding both the situation and justification in their hands, there was no reason not to act. After all, acting out wasn’t unique to Lee Jun.
“Lie down,” Han Taemin said in a low voice.
Gi Siwoo, responding quickly, pulled back. If Lee Jun was guilty of anything, it was only the mistake of mistaking a bigger predator for prey.
With a swift motion, the blood-coated blade cleanly severed Lee Jun’s neck.
Current mana: 135. Even an ordinary iron sword, enhanced by the Eighteen Martial Arts, produced effects equivalent to a B-grade item.
[ Level Up! ]
[ Level Up! ]
[ New Ability Added ]
If Lee Jun hadn’t been so overconfident, there might have been a chance for resistance. But he had been certain of his victory until the very end.
The malicious smile on his lips revealed his complacency.
“Taemin,” Gi Siwoo gasped, pale and slumped on the ground.
Having witnessed the ugliest side of humanity firsthand, the shock was undoubtedly significant. Han Taemin, patting Gi Siwoo’s back more seriously than usual, spoke gravely.
“Calm down. You know there are such people in the world, don’t you?”
It wasn’t just about money, but about wielding violence more directly.
“So, what about the cleanup?” Gi Siwoo asked, surprisingly practical after calming down.
As Gi Siwoo pointed out, it was hard to believe that an S-rank hunter had gone berserk from the projectiles.
Han Taemin raised his finger and made holes similar in size to the projectiles, concentrated on his forearm.
At first glance, it might look like a concentrated attack had led to a frenzy. Suspicion would arise, but the evidence was unmistakably clear.
While Gi Siwoo marveled at Han Taemin’s swift response, An Seongtae and Choi Nami approached, having calmed the situation. They silently looked down at Lee Jun’s headless body, keeping their thoughts to themselves about the ambiguous scene.
Several holes had been made in Han Taemin’s forearm, as if from an attempt to block the projectiles. No matter how one looked at it, the scene seemed to involve a series of events.
“S-rank hunters going berserk is quite impressive,” Han Taemin remarked.
“……”
“Your answer?” he prompted, tapping his sword.
Both reluctantly concluded that they had been overwhelmed by the monster.
—
Thanks to An Seongtae and Choi Nami’s seasoned leadership, Team 3’s casualties were fewer than expected—about 30% of their strength. Considering the nature of the projectiles, it was a commendable result.
When the weary Team 3 reached their makeshift camp, they received surprising news. They weren’t the only ones who had suffered casualties in the first expedition.
To their astonishment, Team 1, tasked with securing a path to the next floor, had sustained the worst damage. They had been attacked by monsters capable of freely using Magnus effects, similar to those Team 3 had encountered in the outer areas.
Given the challenges of the second floor, their situation was likely even more intense. An ally’s change of heart could be just as troublesome as an enemy’s ambush.
To get more details, Han Taemin headed to Yoo Sora’s personal tent. He didn’t approach closely but used his mana to send a signal.
He guided her down an empty corridor. Soon, footsteps approached. Yoo Sora, upon seeing Han Taemin, shook her head in disbelief.
“You again?”
“You expected it, didn’t you?”
“Yes, there aren’t many hunters who can unsettle someone in such an absurd manner.”
It seemed the news was true; Yoo Sora’s plate armor was caked with monster blood.
“So, what is it you wanted to discuss? Are other hunters really starting to cause trouble as I warned? Let’s go. I’ll take care of it.”
Yoo Sora reached out, but Han Taemin stepped back slightly. “That matter’s been resolved. The most bothersome pest has been removed, and no one else is willing to risk their life for petty pranks anymore.”
“More importantly, I want to know what happened to Team 1.”
“Shouldn’t you have asked whether I was safe first?”
“I can see you’re fine. That’s probably why Team 1 was able to return at all.”
“……”
“Anything else to say?”
“No.”
Yoo Sora sighed and began speaking. The situation she faced wasn’t very different from Team 3’s. The only difference was that their damage was more severe due to delayed responses.
The unavoidable nature of the projectiles and their secondary frenzy effect were a dangerous combination. It wasn’t a matter of rank but of compatibility.
“To reduce casualties, we need to revise our plans,” Yoo Sora explained. “As a result, only a small, elite team will ascend to the second floor. It will consist solely of top-tier hunters with proven skills, regardless of guild affiliation. Roles will likely be reassigned as well.”
“What are the selection criteria?”
“You may not know this, but everyone gathered here is acquainted. We have some understanding of each other’s abilities.”
Though her explanation was lengthy, it meant that a team for the second floor would be formed with minimal friction. Han Taemin, tapping his lips thoughtfully, spoke up.
“In that case, recommend me when the time comes. I want to go to the second floor.”
If he remained passive, he was likely to be excluded. Regardless of his skill, his accomplishments were lacking compared to the others.
However, if Yoo Sora vouched for him, the situation could change drastically. This was precisely what Han Taemin was aiming for. His performance in this S-rank dungeon could be pivotal. If he missed this opportunity, who knew when another would come?
He was also tired of dealing with loose cannons like Lee Jun. Although it wasn’t problematic to deal with them, it felt more like being a human butcher than a knight.
“That’s quite presumptuous of you,” Yoo Sora replied.
“Is it too much to ask?”
“Don’t set the terms of our relationship on your own. We’ve only met a few times. It’s not like we’re close.”
“After this conquest is over, I’ll teach you about the next one,” Han Taemin offered, his voice low and enticing.
“Doesn’t that sound appealing?”
At his subtle question, Yoo Sora took a step back. In the narrow passage where only the two of them were present, she suddenly realized just how close they were standing.
“D-Don’t get your hopes up,” she stammered. “While it’s true that I have considerable influence, that doesn’t mean I have absolute power. If the suggestion seems outlandish, the guild masters will dismiss it outright.”
“It’s okay. What’s important is that you recommend me.”
“No more flattery!” Yoo Sora exclaimed, quickly vanishing down the passage as if to escape the tension.
Left alone, Han Taemin reviewed his recent gains.
[ Mana: 135 ]
[ Mana: 145↑ NEW ]
What caught his attention most was the ability listed as “Unspecified.” Han Taemin carefully examined Lee Jun’s abilities.
But the results were disappointing. Most were things that could be achieved with mana alone, without needing any special powers.
The only truly useful ability was:
▼ Berserk
Power: A
Description: Mental and physical aspects are inversely proportional.
Ability: Sacrifices a part of one’s sanity to gain all stats except for resistance.
“Not bad…” Han Taemin mused.
It was ambiguous but seemed to hint at the source of Lee Jun’s intense and emotional nature. Nonetheless, Han Taemin quietly added it to his repertoire.
—
As everyone recovered from the ordeal, the masters and deputy masters of each guild gathered for an emergency meeting. The topic, as Yoo Sora had mentioned, was about the next expedition.
Magnus’s dungeon was unanimously upgraded to S+. It was essentially an S-rank dungeon with an overestimate—not quite SS-rank but far beyond what could be considered a standard S-rank.
“It’s evident that entering the second floor in our current state would lead to a sharp increase in casualties,” Kim Jeongtae, the master of the Vain Guild, summarized. “To mitigate the risks, we will first select an elite team.”
Everyone nodded in agreement as they lined up. Names were mentioned one by one, and teams began to take shape.
The process was smooth and natural.
As the elite team for the second floor began to solidify, Yoo Sora unexpectedly raised her hand.
“I would like to recommend Hunter Han Taemin for the team.”