Chapter 26-6: A-Class Dungeon
On the 10th floor of a C-class dungeon, five ogres stood blocking the passageway.
“Crawling out like roaches,” Ja-geon muttered as he raised his hand sideways.
Dark flames flowed down his arm.
Kreeeeng!
A sound emanated from the magic glove on his left hand—a skeletal gauntlet with finger bones reinforced like an exoskeleton. Black mist rose from the bone gauntlet like fog.
[Lich Gauntlet]
Gloves crafted from a lich’s bones that amplify dark magic.
The dark flames channeled through the Lich Gauntlet intensified.
Today’s my graduation test.
Ja-geon had been running dungeons solo lately, occasionally joining instant raid parties to pull off borderline criminal acts. In two months, he’d achieved growth that would take ordinary raiders 1-2 years—all through life-risking gambles.
“Gyaaaaah!”
The ogres shrieked as dark flames engulfed them, charging at Ja-geon while roaring. Five ogres packed together made the dungeon passage feel claustrophobic.
“Heoggaebi Jeon-i…”
Ja-geon chanted aloud—it was faster to vocalize spells he hadn’t fully mastered.
Swish!
His robe billowed and swallowed him whole, erasing Ja-geon’s presence from the world for an instant.
“Over here, morons!”
Ja-geon reappeared behind the ogres with a smirk. Useful, but the cooldown’s too damn long. Heoggaebi Jeon-i was magic embedded in an item.
[Goblin Robe]
One of the miraculous magical artifacts created by dim-witted ogre mages. Enables use of spatial teleportation magic “Heoggaebi Jeon-i.”
Beneath his deeply drawn hood, Ja-geon’s eyes glinted. He swung his arm forward, and five dark bolts materialized instantly. Aim for the legs.
Ja-geon concentrated his attacks on the ogres’ lower limbs until they wobbled and collapsed. Cold calculation—that’s what I need. Mage classes demanded calmness. Limited mana had to be allocated precisely—reckless spell-spamming led to exhaustion. No wonder I hated mage classes…
Warriors relied more on innate physicality. Even at similar levels and stats, combat prowess varied wildly. That’s why Ja-geon, a mage, could duel same-level warriors with a sword. If I’d picked warrior class, I’d have cleared A-class dungeons by now.
Ja-geon poured his remaining mana into another wave of dark flames. The ogres screamed as they burned to cinders. “Tch.” Their deaths yielded only worthless loot.
Clink, clink—metal chimed with Ja-geon’s movements from the mana-boosting accessories jangling on his body. Necessary for solo clears. Can’t waste time waiting for mana recovery after every room.
Crack!
His disposable rings shattered as their stored mana depleted.
Ja-geon straightened his robe and advanced deeper. “What’ll drop today? A weapon’d be nice,” he mumbled, smoking outside the boss room before shoving the door open.
The boss chamber held only one corpse—a devil wolf (bat-winged werewolf) with torn wings and severed limbs. Another raider? But no entry traces…
A silver-armored figure stood at the center—likely heavy armor class.
“I’ve been waiting,” a female voice said.
Ja-geon pushed back his hood and approached. “Who’re you?”
The woman replied in an alien tongue: “Li Vendira, Ryuphae.”
After a moment of realization, she chanted briefly and extended her hand. White light pierced Ja-geon’s mind.
“Can you hear me? Forgive the intrusion, but I’ve forced the common tongue upon you. We’ve little time—the gods’ gaze can only be fooled briefly.”
She stepped closer and flipped her visor open with a clank. Ja-geon’s eyes widened.
Not human.
“An elf?” he stammered.
Her skin gleamed pearl-white, with silver hair barely concealing elongated ears.
“You may call me that,” she said, urgency blending with reverence. “The honor is mine. But time grows desperately short.”
Ja-geon furrowed his brow. He reached out toward the approaching woman.
"What kind of trick is this?"
Magic power swirled violently in Ja-geon's grasp. He prepared to cast an attack spell at any moment.
"Just remember one thing. Always cherish your life. Everyone is waiting for you. No matter what anyone says... you are the 『Liberator』."
Her final words faded, becoming indistinct.
The woman’s body turned translucent.
Ja-geon lunged to grab her, but his hand swept through empty air.
"Goddammit."
He stared as the woman vanished, her existence erased from the world.
‘A dead boss... a non-human woman... an elf? Gone in an instant.’
Ja-geon’s mind churned. He shouted into the void:
"Isaac!"
His cry reached a transcendent being.
Isaac, God of Chaos.
He heard Ja-geon’s voice.
Well, what is it? My faithful servant? No, my mutt? Haha.
Isaac’s voice reverberated around Ja-geon. The god slurped loudly, drinking something unseen. Ja-geon slammed his fist against the wall.
"Enough jokes. Explain what just happened."
You think I watch only you? Ha, I’m busy too! Slurp.
"A non-human bitch appeared and vanished. She was already in the boss room."
...Hmm. No clue? Hallucinating already? Going mad would be tedious—you’re too amusing. That Black Tiger Raid Team mess was fun, though. Meant for you to slaughter them all, but that twist? Hehe, delightful.
"Stop dodging. You’re a god. You know."
Even if I did, why tell you? Remember your place, human. You’re just a soul-bound slave. Kukuku.
Ja-geon’s face hardened. Cold fury radiated from his hollow eyes.
Pride wounded? Become a god yourself. Heh. Focus on revenge! Grow stronger and kill them all!
WHOOSH!
Dark flames erupted around Ja-geon, crawling up from the ground.
"Raaaaaagh!!"
He unleashed his magic in a torrent, flooding the chamber with searing darkness. Even the Devil Wolf’s corpse burned as flames mirrored his rage.
Tsk tsk.
Isaac averted his gaze. Ja-geon heaved ragged breaths, then slowly closed his eyes.
‘Genuine anger... but this spectacle should suffice.’
Pulling his hood low, he smirked.
‘Isaac knows something. That woman deceived divine eyes—she’s their enemy.’
His thoughts spiraled.
‘Confusing... but if it hurts those damned gods, I’ll play along.’
Ja-geon buried the incident in his mind and trudged from the dungeon.
Complications aside, he was ready.
Now to conquer an A-rank dungeon.
Kim Chunsik had scrutinized Ja-geon’s past through every resource.
‘Ordinary.’
That was his conclusion.
Shin Ja-geon’s history held no secrets—just neatly arranged mundanity.
A mother lost in childhood, a father to colon cancer two years prior.
Destitute, he awakened as a raider.
‘No gaps. No hidden mentors. How does a rookie gain such power?’
Kim Chunsik chain-smoked, piecing together rumors:
Ja-geon cleared dungeons brutally, alone. Members vanished alongside him.
Twenty dungeons in two months—reckless, even suicidal.
‘Big Bo’s irrelevant. Only Ja-geon matters.’*
"Boss. He’s here."
A Black Tiger member bowed.
Kim Chunsik nodded. "After two months... Bring him."
Ja-geon entered, eyeing the room.
"Stinks of unwashed men. Where’s the eye candy?"
Tension thickened the air.
Kim Chunsik broke the silence first.
