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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
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Chapter 5: F-Rank Dungeon (2)
The F-rank dungeon is a beginner's dungeon.
You could say it's an extension of the tutorial.
For that reason, only one person can enter at a time, and like the tutorial, there's a helper inside.
One elf, one dwarf.
The difference this time is that the elf is an annoyingly handsome male elf.
"Can you teach me how to use magic?"
It occurred to me that I need to train my magic, but I don't know how to use it.
So, I decided to ask since we met.
"Do you mean how to use magic?"
Even his voice is impressive.
"Yes."
"Didn't they teach you in the tutorial?"
Ah!
So it was taught in the tutorial.
Of course, that was part of the tutorial.
"Oh... Was it? I cleared it in five minutes, so..."
"Ah, was it because of the double EXP buff? How did you know about that?"
Surprisingly, the elf also knew about this.
Well, it makes sense since they participate as helpers.
This is the kind of situation where blaming the internet comes in handy.
"I read about it while browsing the internet."
"Oh... The internet. The sea of information. Yet, you picked up useless information there. It would have been better to carefully listen to the tutorial's instructions... But we can't stay here for long. I'll only explain magic discharge today."
"Got it."
"Alright. Follow me. Magic Discharge."
"What?"
"How would someone in a world without magic awaken to the sensation of magic moving all of a sudden? For faster learning, we've registered verbal commands. Say 'Magic Discharge.'"
"Magic Discharge."
Suddenly, I felt a tingling sensation in my chest that spread through my entire body.
Pop!
With a sound like a balloon bursting, wind rushed out from my body.
The male elf's eyes widened.
"Wait, your magic level is 10? Or is it 11?"
"Ah, no."
Just as I was about to say it was 5, he approached with sparkling eyes.
Ah, don't come any closer, handsome guy.
You're giving me goosebumps.
"With this level of magic, you can already handle basic spells. Before I’m dismissed, let me teach you 'Fire Bolt.'"
"Yes, Master."
The elf is so cool.
Even his voice is amazing.
"It's the same as before. Just say 'Fire Bolt.' But this time, extend your right index finger toward the target. When you say 'Fire Bolt,' an arrow of fire will shoot out."
"Fire Bolt."
I pointed my index finger at the opposite wall, and flames flared up at my fingertip.
The flames condensed into a single arrow and swiftly flew toward the point I was aiming at.
Wow!
Is magic really this simple?
[You have mastered the 1st-circle magic, 'Fire Bolt.']
[If you master four more types of 1st-circle magic, you can acquire the 'Magic Level 1' skill.]
"You succeeded on the first try. That's not easy... You have remarkable talent, Awakened One. It's a pity there's not enough time."
It seems not everyone gets it on the first try.
"If I master four more, I can get the Magic Level 1 skill... That's too bad."
"I'd love to teach you more, but time doesn't permit. When you come back to clear the F-rank dungeon, other elf companions will assist as helpers. You can ask them. They're all good teachers."
The handsome elf smiled slightly and looked at the dwarf.
I quickly approached him.
"Are you giving out equipment today too?"
"Today's weapons are a longsword, an axe, a spear, and a round shield. Pick two. Quickly. We're about to disappear."
"Sword and shield, please."
Urged by the dwarf, I went with the classic choice of sword and shield.
As the dwarf quickly pulled the weapons out of his pouch and laid them on the ground, his body began to slowly vanish.
"That was close."
With the sword and shield in hand, I practiced a bit of Fire Bolt.
Unlike the tutorial, there's no rush to clear things quickly this time, so I might as well use some magic.
The range seems to be about 30 to 40 meters.
After firing 20 shots and attempting another Fire Bolt, my chest suddenly hurt, and the flames fizzled out before forming.
So this is what it feels like to run out of magic.
Wondering how to replenish magic, I felt something filling up in one side of my chest, like water being poured in.
So this is mana?
It replenishes faster than I thought.
Holding the shield in my left hand, I also swung the sword a bit.
Despite being a heavy longsword, it felt light to me, probably because of the compounded effects of my status window.
Swish swish. Swish swish.
After a few swings, I started to get the hang of it.
I’m not naturally dexterous, but this feels surprisingly easy.
Is this related to agility or proficiency stats?
After a few more swings and trying out some movements with the shield, I felt ready to move forward.
"Alright, let's go."
With the sword and shield in hand, I advanced.
As I went deeper into the cave, an imp appeared, just like last time.
But this time, the imp was much bigger, about 150 cm tall.
Its toy-like weapon had been replaced with a decent-sized trident.
Its previously scrawny body was now muscular.
Hmm.
Looks strong.
"Kieeek! Human! Die!"
"Fire Bolt."
Bang!
One clean hit to the imp’s head as it rushed at me.
The arrow of fire shot out, striking its head directly.
With a bang, the Fire Bolt exploded, and the imp's head caught fire.
The imp thrashed around on the ground in agony.
It seemed to be trying to put out the flames, but since it was magical fire, it only burned more intensely, showing no signs of extinguishing.
"Arghhh! Spare... Spare me..."
"If you were in my place, would you spare me? Ah, let me at least ease your pain."
The pitiful sight of it rolling around—I'll finish it off with my sword.
Thud!
[You have slain a warrior imp. Experience buff applied: Gained 10 experience points.]
As I pulled the sword from the imp's neck, blood spurted out with a squelch.
It’s a gruesome scene, but I feel nothing.
Perhaps such emotions dull once one becomes awakened.
I wondered how much 10 experience points meant, so I checked the status screen.
It showed Lv1 at 1.1.
Ten percent, huh.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
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So, I need 100 experience points to level up.
Alright.
Let’s kill everything in my path.
"Human!"
"Fire Bolt."
"Arghhh!"
"You coward!"
"You're the ones ganging up on me, you bastards. You, too—Fire Bolt!"
Screech!
After decapitating the burning imp, I thought I should try some close combat as well.
After killing two imps and walking a bit further, I encountered three this time.
"Human!"
"Ugh, stop calling me that."
Three imps gripped their spears and charged at me.
I dashed towards them and leapt high at the middle one.
Putting all my strength into the jump, it felt like I was flying.
Before the middle imp could even raise its spear, my foot stomped down on its head.
Crunch!
"Screeech!"
Full force.
I use all my strength.
As I stomped on its head with all my might, I felt the skull crack with a crunch.
Now, for a slash.
I turned towards the imp on my right.
From below to above, I swung diagonally.
Splat!
The trident snapped like a twig, and the imp was cleaved in half, starting from its chest.
Weak.
Without pausing, I turned to block the third imp's spear with my shield.
Clang!
The trident ricocheted off, and the imp’s arm twisted unnaturally.
The grotesque eyes of the imp widened.
"Ugh... mon... monster!"
Thud!
A blow to its head with the shield crushed its face, and it collapsed.
I skewered its neck for a quick confirmation kill and withdrew my sword.
[You have slain three warrior imps. Experience buff applied: Gained 30 experience points.]
One, two, three kills—that's 60 points.
Four more to go, then?
This is... easier than I thought.
"Whew..."
A car with a Hunter Bureau emblem, akin to a police car, was parked on a mountain road in Seongnam’s Jungwon District.
In front of it, a man in a suit was smoking a cigarette, fiddling with his smartphone out of boredom.
‘Ah, why did I have to get assigned to an F-rank awakened team? F-rank dungeon timing is the worst. I wonder when this will finally end today.’
Clearing times for F-rank awakened dungeons varied wildly.
Some finished far quicker than expected, while others dragged it out for the entire 24-hour limit before being forcibly summoned back.
For F and E ranks, if someone received a fatal injury in the dungeon, they’d be forcibly summoned back after 24 hours.
E-rank hunters usually gauged their chances well and left voluntarily if it seemed impossible, but F-rank ones often pushed themselves too far, dying and coming out a day later.
When they returned, most were traumatized—shaking, vomiting, even losing control of their bodily functions.
Their physical bodies in the real world were unharmed, but their mental scars were from being gruesomely killed by imps.
‘Man, I hope this awakened does well. Thinking about cleaning up the mess from the last one... Ugh. But it'll probably take another three hours at least. Maybe I’ll take a nap.’
Phew.
Exhaling cigarette smoke, the man glanced at the red portal, then opened the car door.
‘Just an hour nap.’
He adjusted the driver’s seat back, loosened his tie, and prepared to sleep.
The engine was running, and the air conditioner was blasting.
Just as he was about to get comfortable—
The portal disappeared.
"Oh. The car’s already on standby?"
A clean-cut man wearing brown slacks and a black T-shirt appeared.
It was Kim Jiho, the Hunter who had volunteered for the F-rank portal in Jungwon District.
‘Huh? What? Already done? Did he give up? No, the portal disappeared, so it’s cleared, right?’
The man hurriedly tightened his tie and stumbled out of the car, rushing over to Kim Jiho.
"Hello, Awakened Kim Jiho! I’m from the Seongnam branch of the Hunter Bureau. Did you already...?"
"Yes. It was easy."
"Wow. Amazing. It’s only been an hour, and you’ve already cleared it. You’re close to a record!"
The man, who had been buttering him up with generic flattery, froze.
‘Huh. It might really be a record…’
Even if it wasn’t a record for F-rank dungeon clear time, it could very well be a record for a first attempt.
The sleepy man’s eyes sparkled.
‘This needs to be reported to the higher-ups.’
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
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