Chapter 17 - Our Sunbae-nim Did This? 1 (1/2)

Chapter 17 - Our Sunbae-nim Did This? (1)

Artpe headed down the stair leading towards the 35th floor.He grinded his teeth as the Dungeon shamelessly showed no signs of ending.

“What kind of Dungeon is this!?”

“Aren’t all Dungeons like this, Artpe?”

Maetel’s innocent eyes shone as she asked the question.She had drawn the short end of the stick by coming into this brutal Dungeon as her first Dungeon.However, she didn’t have the proper perspective to know any better.She didn’t get tired of this place, and she didn’t complain.She possessed an essential virtue needed as a Dungeon explorer….

“Mmm.What I’m trying to say is…..”

Artpe couldn’t tell if this was a good thing or not.Therefore, he evaded giving an answer by stroking her head.In turn, Maetel’s eyes narrowed in pleasure as if she was a cat.Mycenae had left behind her cart to look at them.She had a gentle look in her eyes as she spoke.

“It looks as if you are training an animal, customer.”

“Shut up.I want 245 gold.”

“You said you’ll sell it to me for 230 gold a moment ago!?”

“The price on items aren’t fixed.The price can fluctuate depending on my condition or if the other person is being rude.Let’s see…Right now it should be 247…..”

“Two hundred forty five gold!I’ll buy it!”

At this rate, Mycenae knew the price might increase further, so she quickly pushed the money towards him.

“Here.”

“Koo-ooooooooooh.”

Artpe grinned as he handed her the item.Mycenae used her observation magic to check the item, and she let out a groan.

“Kook.As expected, it is a really good weapon….Your ability to price an item is really uncanny.It makes me want to recruit you into the Anywhere company.”

“You won’t steal Artpe away from me, ajumma!”

“I’m really not an ajumma!”

Maetel, who had been standing there like a lamb, quickly hid Artpe behind her.Then she bared her teeth towards Mycenae.It made one wonder if she was a dog or some form of an animal in her previous life.Artpe patted Maetel, who was seriously worried.

“Even if I wanted to go, I won’t be able to.Don’t worry about it.Anyways, if you sell that item to anyone, you’ll be unable to handle the aftermath.Be careful.”

The identity of the artifact handed over to Mycenae was a Blood Gold Halberd, which held the curse of madness.

It accelerated the destruction of the user’s mind as a powerful downside, but the weapon would all one to destroy all enemies and allies alike.

However, Maetel already had control over her Berserk skill, so it was a useless weapon for her.Moreover, the weapon was too heavy for Artpe to wield.

Still, it would be an attractive option to most adventurers or mercenaries.The weapon would lead the user down a path of destruction, yet ambition made people take up such weapons.It was a trait inherent in all humans.

“Hoo hoo.As a merchant, my duty is to sell it at a high price.It is beyond my province to determine, who becomes the owner of an item.”

“You are an unscrupulous trader.”

Artpe let out a bitter laugh as he took out 100 gold from his pouch, and he pushed it towards Mycenae.She already knew what he would ask for.Mycenae didn’t give a reply as she took the money.Then she prepared the potions, water and ration.

In the past year, she had appeared each time they moved onto the next floor.She monopolized the trade with them as they moved from the 6th floor to the 34th floor.This type of trade was almost automatic.

“Excuse me, customer.”

She put together items worth 100 gold with no frills.Mycenae asked a question as she divided the items between Artpe and Maetel.

“What is the identity of this Dungeon?Why does it continue to go on like this?Does it perhaps have a tunnel leading to the demon world at the end?”

“We are exploring this place to find that answer.”

“You aren’t able to come up with a conjecture using your ability?”

Mycenae had a truly surprised expression on her face.Artpe snorted.

“I think you have too high of an opinion in regards to my ability.”

“As the number of floor gets deeper, the items that are coming out are increasingly to my liking. From my perspective, I wouldn’t mind if the Dungeon goes on for another 100 floors….Still, it is clear that this Dungeon wasn’t formed naturally.You probably already guessed this, right?”

“Yes.”

Artpe’s nodded his head in a self-possessed manner.Then he looked down at the stairway leading to the 35th floor.

Ghouls that were around 2 levels higher than the ones on the 34th floor was probably waiting for them on the next floor.If not, there would be a single jump in difficulty, and new monsters might show up.

“This Dungeon was created by someone with a clear goal in mind.It is true and definite that the two of us aren’t challengers that are compatible with that goal.”

“Normally, one would usually search the history of the region gain some clues about the Dungeon.If you want such a research done, I can do it for you.I’ll gladly accept a commission to research about the history of this region….”

“I’ll see you later, ajumma.”

“I knew you will answer in such a way.”

Mycenae grumbled as she went away.She notched another loss to him.She accepted the clean loss as she disappeared alongside the light.

However, after he sent her away, her words made him become mired in his thoughts again.

‘The history of this region…...?’

According to his knowledge, this region was where the hero was born.There hadn’t been anything special.It was a place where there was a normal town near the mountain.He knew from his past life that nothing much had occurred here.

On the other hand, how could there be nothing here?Even now, he was in a strange Dungeon that was made by someone.

Maybe, this place was hidden?What if this place was shielded from the eyes of the hero and Demon King?

In the past, the hero hadn’t wanted to desecrate a grave, because she was raised properly by her family.It could have also been the fact that she was quickly sent packing to the royal palace as if she was some fragile glass statue.In the end, she hadn’t discovered this place.Was there some enormous secret hidden here?

‘What happened here in the past?Did something of significance happen here?’

He had no way of finding out.Even if Artpe had the Read All Creation ability, he couldn’t see into the past to a time when he wasn’t alive.It was impossible.

On the other hand, if such a thing was possible…..

“Artpe…..?”

“.....it’s nothing.”

Maetel was looking at his face with a worried look in her eyes.Artpe shook his head to dislodge such thoughts, and he answered her.Unexpectedly, Maetel looked slightly wistful.

“Your face was incredibly serious and dashing.”

“Hmmph. That kind of sweet words will only work against the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon king’s army.”

This was why such words worked on him.It was a direct hit.Artpe let out a fake cough as he tried to hide the fullness he felt within his heart.

He didn’t know what would appear in front of them.It was something that couldn’t be confirmed unless one saw it with one’s eyes.He also knew that priority of this Dungeon had changed when he found out how the Dungeon was structured.