CH 28

[Using the Passive Skill ‘Diagnosis’.]

[Shin Sooha – Contamination Level 68%]

“Ah, Guild Master Shin Sooha. Hello.”

They say if you speak of the devil, he appears. I thought of Taesan, but I didn’t expect its guildmaster, Shin Sooha, to show up.

“Do you need something?”

“Huh?”

What an unexpected question. Seo Moon-no-eul did the same, and now Shin Sooha. Do I look like I need something? Why does everyone keep asking me if I need anything?

“Earlier, you mentioned that there might be something in Taesan.”

“Ah.”

Shin Sooha’s expression remained neutral, but strangely, I felt as if he was inviting me to share my thoughts.

‘Should I say something? No, let’s not.’

If I overstep my bounds, I could end up in a bad light with Shin Sooha. That could jeopardize my chances of joining the Cradle party. I need to level up my skills, primarily focusing on alchemy, and only use my gun in emergencies.

Let’s not be too greedy.

I straightened my thoughts and shook my head. “No, I just thought there might be all sorts of things in Taesan.”

“Okay, let me know anytime if you need anything.”

“Yes, but what brings you here? Do you have some business with our guild?”

The Taesan guild was notorious for its lack of interaction or cooperation with other guilds.

Why would the guildmaster of such a guild come to Sunset Guild? What’s the reason for this visit?

“I came because I saw Hunter Seo Go-woon on my way.”

“On your way?” I tilted my head and glanced around. Roads and buildings came into view.

‘Ah, where’s my mind been?’

I didn’t even realize I’d walked outside of the guild. I felt my ears burning and patted my face to cool down.

“But did your dungeon exploration go well today?”

“Eh? How did you know about that?”

The dungeon raid hadn’t even finished an hour ago. How did Shin Sooha know about it?

Shin Sooha shook his cell phone. “I receive a list of dungeons that have been cleared in each region.”

“Ah.”

As a guildmaster, Shin Sooha naturally received updates about cleared dungeons. The closest guild would have to take care of a dungeon that exploded due to unsuccessful raids.

‘I guess the dungeon we cleared today was close to the Taesan guild.’

I nodded. “Yes, the dungeon was easier than we thought.”

The kids were the only hindrance. If they had just used their skills proficiently, the raid could have been faster.

‘Should I drill them?’

I recalled my time as a police officer and the tough training I’d endured. I had gritted my teeth at the time, but now it seemed like a valuable experience. Without that training, there was no way I could have completed a dungeon raid with Seo Go-woon’s frail body.

‘Right. Nothing is more honest than learning through experience. It’s not exploitation.’

Ignoring a prick of conscience, I turned my gaze to Shin Sooha, who had been watching me silently. “Do you have anything else to say?”

‘If he came over to greet me while passing by, why isn’t he leaving now?’

“Hunter Seo Go-woon.”

“Yes, what is it?”

Why is he wasting time before speaking? There’s no Taeju pup today, maybe I should go for chicken and beer, it’s been a while.

“I’m about to head to a rank A dungeon. Would you like to join?”

“Excuse me?” I looked at Shin Sooha in surprise. “A rank A dungeon?”

“Yes.”

“Do you also go to such places?”

Although he died early in the novel, Shin Sooha was the world’s strongest, a triple S ranker.

He was known for only participating in dungeon raids personally if they were rank S or higher in Korea, or S+ overseas. Is the man saying he’s going to a rank A dungeon now?

“There’s a problem with the party I was supposed to go with, so I don’t have a raid party.”

‘Ah, so he’s going because he’s a guildmaster.’

A rank A dungeon.

If I go with him, even if Shin Sooha makes the kill, due to the level difference, it seems like I would hog all the experience. Is it okay for me to go? Before that, am I even allowed to enter there as I belong to another guild?

“You know I’m in the Sunset Guild, right?”

“Yes, is that a problem?” He responded without hesitation.

Does this mean it’s not a problem?

“It’s boring to go alone, will you come?”

I should refuse, but I want to go. I want to fight more, I haven’t had a proper fight except with the queen ant.

‘Should I just close my eyes and go?’

I don’t know anything, but Shin Sooha has been a guildmaster since he was 16, so he probably won’t cause any problems.

‘No, if something happens because I went, everyone will blame me. I can’t afford to tarnish my already poor reputation. So I should refuse…’

“I’ll give you the boss item if you come along.”

‘Boss item?’ I was momentarily tempted.

A rank A boss item would be at least rank A, up to A+.

‘If I get too greedy, I’ll get a stomachache, and what if they use it as leverage later.’

I was about to refuse when…

“The boss item is an A+ grade Demonstone.”

“Let’s go.”

There was no reason to refuse. No, I absolutely had to go.

‘Reputation? Threat? None of that matters! The Demonstone is the best!’

※※※

The strongest in the world.

I just thought he was the strongest guy I heard about.

+

[You have gained experience.]

[You have gained experience.]

[You have gained experience.]

[You have gained experience.]

+

“This way.”

Monsters were being flung against the wall just by walking, and experience messages popped up.

‘Even for an SSS rank, isn’t this on another level?’

+

[Your level has increased.]

[Lv 7  Lv 8]

+

Look at the speed at which the level is increasing.

At this rate, won’t I reach level 10 before we get to the boss room?

As if to confirm my suspicions, successive messages of experience gain appeared.

“Do you feel discomfort anywhere?”

Shin Sooha asked as I paused to read the messages.

“No, it’s not that…” As I answered looking at Shin Sooha, I was shocked to see the contamination level on his blade.

‘No way, wasn’t it at 68% earlier? How many monsters did he kill to raise it to 74%?’

+

[You have gained experience.]

[Shin Sooha – Contamination level 75%]

+

‘It increased again after killing one more.’

I groaned inwardly.

‘At this rate, Shin Sooha’s contamination level will exceed 85% before we even get to the boss room.’

I glanced sideways at the Infinite Pouch.

Today as well, Salt begged me to take him with me, causing all sorts of trouble.

“Just stay at home.”

“Ppi! Ppi! Ppi!”

“No, how can I bring you into the dungeon. We had no choice but to go straight there before, but it’s not like that now. Stay here and sleep, I’ll be back soon.”

“Ppi, ppi, ppi! Ppi, ppi, ppi! Pppiiii!”

“Didn’t I say that I’ll lock you in a cage if you don’t listen? Ah! Don’t grab my hair! At this rate, I’m going to go bald! Let go!”

The little creature was surprisingly strong, and I seriously thought my hair was going to be pulled out.

If it wasn’t for the mediation of a chick who came out late, suggesting that I could carry it in the Infinite Pouch, I might have been the first purchaser of a hair growth product.

“Many hunters use the Infinite Pouch to carry their pets around. It’s like a giant universe inside.”

“Isn’t that animal abuse?”

“It seems to be cozier inside than you’d think.”

Although the pup was a bit sly, he didn’t lie.

Even though Salt had to be put in the Infinite Pouch, it still insisted on going with me, chirping endlessly, so I had no choice but to put it in.

‘What if he notices his sudden improvement in health?’

Suddenly, I recalled what the Taeju pup had said.

“No, you wouldn’t understand. How it feels to be purified.”

“The feeling of wanting to kill you on the spot and make that thing mine.”

My body started to tremble. From working as a detective, I learned that once a tycoon starts obsessing over something, they lose their reason.

Shin Sooha isn’t just any tycoon. He’s the youngest son of a global conglomerate that controls the entire financial world.

If he finds out that I can purify contamination, he won’t just let it slide.

The kidnapping and confinement that the pup mentioned could become a reality.

‘But I can’t just leave him like that.’

If his contamination worsens to the point of death, how will I conquer the dungeon? I don’t even know where he might die like last time.

I can’t even kill the monsters in the A-ranked dungeon by myself.

“Do you have any problems?”

“Ah, no. I just feel like I’m being a burden.”

I can’t say ‘I’m worried about your contamination, you jerk,’ so I beat around the bush.

“No, it’s something I have to do anyway.”

“Hahaha.” Having nothing to say, I just laughed. But how does he fight without even looking at the monsters? Does he have some kind of detection skill?

“Did you leave the pet you were carrying around last time at home?”

“A pet? Ah, you mean Salt?”

Could it be that he felt something from Salt…? Insane! That’s right, I had touched him with Salt on my head before. The message that had popped up like crazy at that time was a purification message.

Chills ran down to the tips of my hair.

‘Don’t tell me this guy brought me here targeting Salt?’

A sudden sense of alertness sprang up in me. I clenched a magic gun from the Infinite Pocket, ready to attack Shin Sooha at any moment.

“Why Salt?”

“I’m worried that Salt might come here due to its homing instinct.”

Homing instinct? What’s that all about?

“Due to numerous cases of stealing items after sneaking into the dungeon, we installed a security system at the gate entrance in Taesan.”

Is he talking about the thing where he had been pressing numbers enthusiastically when we entered the concrete wall?

“The system is designed to allow a high voltage current to flow if anyone enters without disarming the security, this includes birds as well.”

So…

He’s worried that Salt might get shocked by a high voltage current if it comes here because of its homing instinct?

Is that true, or is he just making things up?

“Sometimes, if a pet gets hurt, the owner can also get hit.”

Listening to the explanation, it does seem like a real concern, but I can’t tell if he’s sincere or not.

Should I just give it a shot?

“Don’t worry about that. Salt is kept in my Infinite Pocket.”

“That’s a relief.” Shin Sooha nodded and returned to facing the front, hunting monsters.

If he was after purification, I thought he’d naturally ask to see Salt or do something tricky. Why doesn’t he say anything? Could it be that he really was worried?

Keeping my guard up, I kept an eye on Shin Sooha.

But Shin Sooha really only kept hunting monsters.

‘Did only Taeju feel it that much?’

Only one person gave me their impressions about purification.

It could just be that the feeling Taeju described was unique to him, and other hunters might not feel that blissful.

‘Yeah, that could be it. Taeju might have gotten it wrong.’

If what Taeju said was true, Shin Sooha, who had already received purification in the forest dungeon, should have lost his mind.

But what about my current life?

‘Very, very peaceful.’

Although Taeju barked like a mad dog from time to time, aren’t I leading a fairly decent hunter life, excluding that?

‘Yeah, Taeju seems to be sensitive.’

Suddenly, I felt at peace. I felt embarrassed about being so wary, I wanted to hide in a mouse hole.

“We’ll soon reach the boss room.”

“Ah. Okay.”

I was lost in thought in a dungeon. But his contamination level is really high.

I frowned.

[Shin Sooha – Contamination Level 79%]

Does the contamination level usually rise that quickly? It didn’t seem to be that high when I looked at Taeju. How on earth has he been managing his contamination level?

At this rate, he would definitely fall down just like at the tower in the next dungeon.

‘Since it seems he can’t feel it, it’s better to purify him.’

Since Taesan’s dungeon doesn’t allow non-guild members, it was appropriate to purify him here.

I pulled Salt out of the Infinite Pocket. There was a risk that it could be detected, but…

‘Death is worse, right?’

I didn’t want to take on a bigger risk.