Instead of a proper answer, a fierce voice came out.

    Oh, arent you angry?

    Cedar clicked his tongue.

    I dont get angry over things like that.

    Im sure you were pretty upset earlier.

    Esperanza clapped her lips. He was definitely angry but its not wise to make fun of him now.

    I knew your face, but I didnt recognize it, did I?

    Oh, he did. He was so sneaky that I didnt even apologize and forgot. Then I dont have to apologize either, right?

    Esperanza warmed up to get down to business but Cedar clapped his tongue and tilted the teapot to fill her empty teacup.

    The cold and bitter tea moistened her tongue and lips and she opened her mouth.

    A year later, dungeons will appear indiscriminately and irregularly. They can appear in the palace, in the back alley, anywhere, and within that realm, monsters will appear to slaughter people. The dungeon disappears when all the people in it die and the monsters have nothing to eat or if its completely destroyed..

    Even though it was a terrible story, Cedar listened to it without blinking and Esperanza added, wrapping a cold teacup in her hand.

    I heard that the item Im looking for is an item that can completely eliminate dungeons.

    Its very abstract.

    Is that so? Isnt that specific?

    How does that thing get rid of dungeons?

    I dont know.

    Wouldnt the developer of the Golden Claw announce the end of the server by the time the game starts to lose money?

    Wait a minute, is this the time? Am I a sacrifice for subservience?

    It was a pretty plausible idea. After finding the golden claw and closing the dungeon, the game is bound to end.

    How much money have I spent on this game so far? What a ridiculous declaration of subservience. Are you kidding me?

    I dont know what youre thinking, Esperanza.

    Cedar, who called out her name in a strangely sweet voice, said.

    Think about how the dungeon will disappear.

    Isnt it just that they wont show up anymore?

    On the contrary, what if the whole world becomes a dungeon?

    I never thought of that. The world where hunters disappeared has become a monster world? Isnt it too nasty to leave the world weve been together for years?

    That cant be true. The golden claw isnt like that. Its a legendary item that all hunters are looking for.

    Theres no basis, just speculation.

    Cedars thoughts are the same but Esperanza declined to comment.

    She couldnt convince him without revealing that its a game but Esperanza had no intention of telling the truth even though Cedar already knew Esperanzas existence.

    Its very strange to be a woman from 13 years later? Maybe its more of a miracle. But isnt it shaking ones existence from its roots that this world is just a game? The two are different in weight.

    Either way, its the same if I can find it and go back.

    I mean, its weird. Why do you think you have to find it so you can go back? What does the disappearance of the dungeons have to do with you going back?

    Quest.

    I can see your eyes rolling.

    Esperanza, who was drinking tea, choked and Cedar shook his head and chuckled as he watched her hit her chest.

    Esperansa, who had cleared her itchy throat several times, barely spoke in a hoarse voice but it was a crude answer compared to the waiting time.

    Well, theres a way we hunters know.

    Cedar raised his eyebrow.

    If you cant explain, dont.

    Can I do that?

    Its for your good.

    Thats right. I was just asking for advice. Fortunately I seem to have succeeded in attracting his interest.

    When he said that I dont have to say it, I changed my mind instead of asking more questions.

    I dont know anything about dungeons from the magic engineering approach.

    I can tell you everything I know.

    You dont know anything about magic engineering.

    I know. However, it is impossible to bring Dr. Sullivan, a future magic engineer and dungeon scholar. Dr. Sullivan from 13 years ago cant be a better magic engineer than the man in front of me.

    Anyway, being a scholar is similar to a detective in that its a job to find the truth.

    Oh, yes.

    Is that how it works? Isnt it different?

    Esperanza leaned her head and thought. Of course, the genius magic engineer was not interested in other peoples thoughts.

    If I dig into my work carefully, I think Ill find something more interesting than ever. I think Ive even managed to touch the essential thing that makes up the world.

    I suppose so. The core of this world is monsters, dungeons, hunters, and magic engineering.

    Esperanza thinks he doesnt want to get to the point but hell know when he gets to the deep end that this world is an illusion, that it was only created for others to play and to make money out of it.

    What should we do now?

    Us?

    I didnt expect this answer.

    We need to gather information. My study, library, maybe rumors or legends.

    I suddenly remembered Jacks information.

    [Inventory]

    There was information even if its not about the golden claw. Esperanza laughed with a confident face for the first time in a long time.

    [Item: Jacks note]

    Dungeons, monsters, rumors, legends.

    Papers of the same name poured out and a pile of notes piled up under my feet to my calves.

    Cedar Clyburn muttered, unable to hide his surprised face.

    What the hell is that dirty paper doing in my drawing room?

    In a completely different direction than Esperanza thought

    So what about this?

    She took out one more item as I was trapped in the paper and couldnt move even a step.

    [Item: Monster Encyclopedia 7th Edition (Author: Alfred Sullivan)]

    It was Alfred. Alfred Sullivan. Well, you might like it.

    The thick encyclopedia was passed over to Cedar who took it carefully. Unlike when he saw Jacks note, he shook off the leather cover with a humble gesture.

    Is it okay if I dust the room?

    Ill take care of it.

    Cedars attitude toward knowledge was pious and he caressed the pages of the book carefully.

    The bridge, which had been roughly crossed, was neatly lowered as he read the book slowly as if he was savoring every page.

    Cedar Clyburn, who was reading the fifth page, looked up.

    Dr. Sullivan is not an insignificant person.

    Is that so?

    Hes useful.

    It seemed the best compliment he could give. Well, he just called him a nobody a while ago.

    I wouldnt have organized it this way, but its inevitable.

    Yes.

    Cedar glanced at Esperanza, who answered in an insincere voice, then returned his gaze to the book.

    Anyway, I think its academically valuable. After reading all of this, I think Ill have a rough idea of what a dungeon is like.

    At least its better than the gibberish explanations of a layman like me.

    Because I didnt like to throw things away, the miscellaneous things in my inventory will be of a great help to me now.

    How many times did I spend money to increase my inventory capacity?

    No, lets put this aside.

    By the way, what is that?

    This is a note. Its written by a newspaper seller named Jack, but he knew a lot of rumors, so I paid him some money for it.

    Rumors.

    Rumors are often worthless, but very occasionally, they contain real information that is unknown elsewhere.

    Stories that dare not be told through official routes roam underground and in back alleys.

    You have to pay an information vendor to buy filtered information, but you can get rumors just by making friends with people in the back alley.

    Its just a note, so I dont have much information, but just in case. There were a lot of quests related to the golden claw.

    Quests?

    Missions for Hunters like the destruction of dungeons, acting as an escort or transporting items. You might also get caught up in a dungeon in the middle. There are also cases where you participate in events or stand guard.

    You use a lot of unique terms for a 12-year-old job.

    A prickly Esperanza mumbled, burying her nose in Jacks note.

    Because it is such a closed community, slang developed a lot.

    In a sense, its really closed because the only ones that can be hunters are the players.

    I guess not everyone can be just because they want to, right?

    Yes, you need to be qualified. I dont know exactly what qualifications I have.

    Well.

    Cedar, who turned over the book by tapping the tip of his chin with his finger, nodded. He didnt seem to care much about Hunters qualifications.

    This monster leather. Is it the leather wrapped around your scythe?

    I went over and checked the book and as our foreheads almost touched, Cedar pulled his body back a little.

    Which one? Oh, thats right.

    The book was meticulous so I cut a little bit of thick ogre hide and pasted it on but it was possible because it was a limited edition book.

    I remember getting it as a reward for completing an episode but I never opened it, so I didnt know it was described so carefully.

    But even this is not enough for that man to see.

    How can I meet the limitless eye level of a genius? I have to be self-sufficient.