Chapter 7
[Shin Ja-geon (Raider) / Lv. 9]
Strength — 10
Perception — 14
Stamina — 8
Magic — 6
Ja-geon's perception rose the most since he fought using evasion and reflexes.
"Damn. Back in my prime..."
In his heyday as the Explosive Dragon, Shin Ja-geon had all stats exceeding 1,000 at level 300+.
It was due to near-exploitative skill combinations and item effects.
Though his class was Warrior, he'd mastered all combat styles enough to be called an all-rounder.
"Quit dawdling and move."
A man who'd finished scanning shoved past Ja-geon.
Ja-geon tilted his head, then tumbled down the stairs.
Thud.
He rose slowly from the fall, brushing off his clothes as he stared at the man who pushed him.
"What? Got a problem staring? For a level 9..."
The man sneered. He'd peeked at Ja-geon's stat certificate over his shoulder.
In Raider society, level equals status.
Higher level means superiority.
Treatment changes utterly based on level and ability.
"......"
Ja-geon blankly watched the man walk away before impulsively tailing him.
That bastard's level 28.
Ja-geon had glimpsed the man's stat certificate while falling—or rather, the man had flaunted it openly.
I'm level 28, you're level 9. So know your place.
Ja-geon chuckled, shoulders shaking.
Same everywhere.
Weakness invites scorn.
Money, power, violence, connections...
In human society, those with more of any source of power despise those with less.
No matter how prettily wrapped, human nature doesn't change.
Step.
Ja-geon quietly pried loose a paving block with his nails.
Clutching it, he followed the man into an alley.
Crack.
Something shattered.
A brief scream. A fleeting struggle.
The one emerging from the alley was Shin Ja-geon,
wiping blood from his chin.
"Reality isn't a game, dumbass," he muttered.
The raiding party members had gathered in the plaza.
They were here to conquer an E-rank dungeon.
Raiding parties typically formed with compatible members.
Once a stable team grew influential, they became known as named parties.
If a party matured and cleared higher dungeons repeatedly, they earned official guild status.
"Boss, are you crazy? Why..."
Big Bo whispered to Ja-geon from within the crowd.
He carried a backpack as large as his own body.
"Hey, we need to get our stuff back."
Ja-geon replied nonchalantly.
He glared at the raiding party members.
How dare they touch my belongings?
A brief glint flashed in Ja-geon's pupils.
Ja-geon and Big Bo had joined the raiding party as porters.
Their targets were the very party that had stolen the Mimic's Fang Shield.
The raiders recognized them and waved mockingly.
"This shield is really good. We're putting it to great use."
The party leader taunted.
The Mimic's Fang Shield now rested in his hands.
"I applied as a porter. Take good care of us."
Ja-geon spoke tersely.
The party leader narrowed his eyes.
He doesn't seem completely stupid like Big Bo... Why?
The leader couldn't comprehend Ja-geon's motives.
Joining the very party that stole his item as a porter?
It defied common sense.
"Why our party, of all places?"
The leader felt uneasy.
Big Bo was harmless as a fool, but letting a resentful member inside risked chaos.
"Your group looked strong. Even if porters stay safely behind, we're screwed if the main party wipes. I prioritize practicality. Plus, you owe me—you’ll treat us well."
Ja-geon smiled.
The logic sounded plausible.
"Haha, that's your reason? I like your attitude. The disrespectful speech grates, though. Do well, and I'll make you my permanent porter."
The leader scratched his head and shrugged.
Ja-geon's words were a form of flattery.
No man disliked being called "strong"—especially not someone craving prestige enough to lead parties.
What could a level 9 and Big Bo possibly do?
He'd already verified their stat certificates.
The party's average level hovered around 30.
A level 9 stood no chance.
This was both common sense and certainty.
Dungeon ranks currently ranged from F to Triple S.
The transnational dungeon management organization "Dio Foundation" assigned these ratings.
Nations typically ignored dungeons below D-rank,
as lower-tier parties handled them for leveling and loot.
D-rank and below caused no environmental contamination or monster outbreaks.
The real problem began at C-rank.
Left unchecked, C-rank and higher dungeons polluted surrounding lands and unleashed monsters.
Beyond this tier, governments offered bounties.
D-rank and below: low-tier. C to B: mid-tier. A and up: high-tier.
Ja-geon memorized the new ranking system.
Two years was neither long nor short.
Many minor details had changed.
E and F-rank dungeons appeared in remote areas—countryside, mountains, abandoned regions.
Discoverers reported them to local offices for map registration.
Most spend their lives stuck in low-tier dungeons before dying. Like Big Bo, still a porter after two years.
Ja-geon adjusted the massive pack on his back.
The party had arrived at Bukhansan's foothills.
Hikers had discovered and reported this E-rank dungeon.
Such dungeons caused no harmful effects.
"Look, Raiders!"
"So the rumors about the new dungeon were true."
"Mom, those men are wearing armor! So cool!"
"Hush. Don't associate with them when you grow up."
Hikers buzzed upon spotting the party.
Raiders were stronger than ordinary people—and often scum.
Many viewed raiding as a last resort for societal rejects.
Public wariness was natural.
High-profile Raider crimes frequently caused scandals.
"Because of a few lunatics, we get treated like this? Unbelievable."
A party member complained.
"Remember that psycho swinging a sword downtown last week? Can't blame them."
"I need to quit raiding after making bank."
"Pfft. Could you really give up your power? Everyone says that, but none do."
Declaring retirement at a Temple let Awakened return their powers.
They could retire as civilians with accumulated wealth.
But such cases were rare.
Those drunk on supernatural power rarely relinquished it.
Strength surpassing others’ was an addictive drug.
"Everyone form a Binding. We're entering now."
Binding referred to Ilsong's party system.
It distributed EXP based on contribution.
Without it, only the killer received full EXP,
hindering balanced growth.
Alternatively, Binding lets minorities monopolize EXP.
Some guilds routinely did this.
They funneled final blows to members who paid or had connections—
a practice called "EXP ticket scalping."
Most high-level Raiders boasting societal status belonged to this category:
all level, no combat experience.
They spent billions chasing useless power for vanity.
To them, raiding was a hobby, not a profession.
In contrast, bottom-tier Raiders risked lives for meager sums.
"Binding."
"Binding."
Hummm.
Blue light spiraled around the group.
The party faced the dungeon entrance—
a gate large enough for two cars.
Dungeons led to alien spaces, not Earth.
Digging around them revealed only ordinary ground.
"Stay sharp. Hey, porters. Keep up if you don't wanna die."
A rear guard struck a pose while lecturing.
Ja-geon and Big Bo were the only porters.
"Bullshit," Ja-geon muttered under his breath.
