Chapter 74 (2/2)
He, of course, meant the green-colored dungeon.
<> Su-hyeun thought.
Ever since its first appearance, the frequency of the green-colored dungeon’s appearance was locked at around one per year — up until now.
One appearing after another like this time was an anomaly. And as its frequency of occurrence was so low, the number of awakeners that attacked a green dungeon before was also equally on the low side.
It was only the awakeners from the top-tier large guilds or the famous awakeners from the Authority who challenged them. Unless you were one of them, it was practically impossible to take a part in attacking a green-colored dungeon.
“I guess you’ve improved by another step.”
Su-hyeun’s words prompted a guilty look to float upon Lee Ju-ho’s face. And then, looking somewhat sheepish, he avoided meeting the former’s gaze. “I was planning to show off later on, though. Dammit.”
“It’s fine to be proud, actually. Getting to where you’re in only two years is considered pretty fast, you know.”
The magical energy rated at 6th rank — although the concentration of the magical energy coming from Lee Ju-ho was quite faint, Su-hyeun still got to read it nonetheless.
Lee Ju-ho wanted to participate in the conquering of the green-colored dungeon because he was confident of not hindering them, at the very least.
“Even then, I’m far slower compared to you or Hak-joon. What a pair of monstrous b*stards you are,” said Lee Ju-ho.
Lee Ju-ho was a veteran who awakened not too long after the dungeons and awakeners appeared in the world. Even though you could say his rate of growth was fast, it still wasn’t enough to aim for the very top. Of course, being able to acquire the rank of “A” meant you couldn’t be accused of lacking in talent.
<>
Su-hyeun was worried about Lee Ju-ho’s confidence level dropping lower after comparing his progress to Hak-joon, or for that matter, Su-hyeun himself. Strictly speaking, both Hak-joon or him shouldn’t even be included in the comparison.
Su-hyeun was already the greatest awakener even back in the previous life, while Hak-joon, too, made a name for himself as one of the most powerful.
Of course, these were tales that would happen in the distant future. Regardless, these two were still some of the most talented in the entire world. Using these two as a comparison would only end up exhausting Lee Ji-ho, instead.
<>
In any case, Lee Ju-ho’s mindset of always looking up higher and trying to forge his way to that realm wasn’t a bad thing at all. Although he got his hands on the 6th-ranking magical energy only recently, as an awakener ranked A, he shouldn’t be holding anyone back during the assault.
“Very well. Let’s work together,” said Su-hyeun.
“Oh, hell yeah!” He must’ve been quite nervous, because as soon as Su-hyeun agreed, Lee Ju-ho loudly cheered and leaped up in joy.
Su-hyeun smiled slightly while looking at his reaction. Originally, this man was supposed to die a year ago inside a dungeon, but now he was a rank A. Not only that, he wasn’t satisfied by his current self and was working even harder to reach the same realm of Awakeners as Su-hyeun.
That was making him feel somewhat strange.
<>
Su-hyeun returned to the past, and to change many things, he had to work his butt off.
In the smaller scheme of things, he tried his best to change his own life and looking at the bigger picture, he pushed himself hard so that he could change epoch-shifting events.
However, what really changed was only himself. He already knew that a lone man changing the world was never going to be an easy endeavor. But now, he could feel the gradual change taking place against his skin after looking at the people surrounding him, such as Lee Ju-ho here.
<>
Su-hyeun inwardly prayed that the apocalypse would never arrive to this changed world.
From a certain point on, he stopped seeing a destroyed world.
* * *
The Gambler, the Papillon, and the Red Devil.
Although these three were considered locally as large guilds boasting huge sizes, they were also unfortunate enough not to be blessed with presences of S-Rank Awakeners. Also, they happened to be the guilds scheduled to participate in the assault of the green-colored dungeon this time.
“Kim Su-hyeun? That guy is the leader?”
The guild master of Papillon, the A-Rank Lee Kang-hui, heard the news and raised his voice at the awakener from the Authority. “Are you messing with me? That bastard got his rank S badge only recently, didn’t he?”
“According to the regulation, there are no problems,” replied the messenger from the Authority.
“You and your stupid regulation! Our lives are on the line here!”
Slam—!
He slammed down hard on the office desk, and the wooden furniture crafted out of luxurious material collapsed from the impact.
That was the proof of how incensed Lee Kang-hui was.
Unfortunately for him, his anger had no effect. Such a display should’ve been enough to cower his opponent at least just a little, but the awakener from the Authority didn’t even flinch once.
The man dispatched by the Awakeners Accreditation Authority, Kang Seung-cheol, scowled heavily and replied. “The other S-Rank Awakener, Miss Park Ji-yeon, has already participated in the Ansan dungeon assault recently. And as you may well know, Song Hyeong-gi was never interested in matters like this one to begin with. Even if we call him, he’s not going to show up, anyway.”
“In that case, someone else…!”
“It’ll be the same story even with the others. It’s not their turn yet. Besides, they are currently going through their next trials, so they can’t be reached at the moment.”
“Goddammit….”
“If you’re so averse to the idea, then I’ll give him a call, saying that he doesn’t have to come tomorrow.”
Kang Seung-cheol’s words caused Lee Kang-hui’s expression to crumple even further.
If that happened, the current green dungeon assault would end up as a complete failure. Without the presence of an S-rank, it’d be as good as impossible to conquer such a dungeon.
<>
He felt like punching the living daylight out of this Kang Seung-cheol person.
However, not only could he not do that to an awakener dispatched by the Authority, but also, he got this weird feeling that he shouldn’t treat this man so carelessly.
“In any case, I’ve conveyed the message in full, so I shall be on my way,” Kang Seung-cheol said that and hurriedly left the meeting.
With this, he had delivered the message to all three guilds — the Gambler, the Red Devil, and finally, the Papillon.
<>
Not like he couldn’t understand it, though.
To think, they had to attack a green-colored dungeon along with a newbie S-Rank while forgetting about the other, more prominent S-Rank Awakeners out there. It was almost like deliberately giving yourself a hard time while walking on a simple road.
<>
Kang Seung-cheol was one of only a handful of people who personally confirmed Su-hyeun’s real abilities. And that’s why he knew the truth.
Sure, it wasn’t as if he had seen other S-Ranks in action, but still, he didn’t believe Su-hyeun would be found wanting when compared to his current peers.
“Now I’m curious.” Kang Seung-cheol looked back at the Papillon’s guild house he just stepped out from and muttered to no one in particular. “I wonder how that idiot’s expression will look like later.”