Chapter 21 - Bait (1)

The monsters appearing in this dungeon were Kobolds.

They were a species of monster clearly stronger in combat than the Goblins I had faced so far.

[Remaining Kobolds: 5]

Although I had never faced this species on the Kalia Continent, I knew them well in theory.

Their representative features were being about the size of an adult man and having tough skin.

They were a tricky type of monster for an E-rank Dungeon, as they possessed some intelligence and had high durability, but since their numbers were not large, they weren't much of a burden.

“You stay back and just watch, brother.”

“I know. There’s no reason for me to step in for mere Kobolds.”

His role today was to evaluate how my Haewon Sword Style was applied in real combat.

That’s what Seo Ji-won thought, but in truth, there was something more important.

The task of subduing the assassin who would appear later. That was the main event.

“Oppa, what about me?”

“I’ll take three, and your share is two. No complaints, right?”

“Well, since the Haewon Sword Family won the bid for this dungeon.”

The dungeon rewards were not important today, so there was no reason to waste all our energy on trivial matters.

Although Seo Ji-won was here, I also needed to conserve mana in preparation for any unforeseen circumstances.

“Just wear your hat properly.”

“I got it! But what on earth is this hat?”

It wasn’t too difficult to include Han Ye-ji in this party.

I had won the bet with her, and I used what I gained from that bet today.

Han Ye-ji followed along today without knowing why, but she had a very important role.

After capturing the assassin, I planned to involve the Muwon Sword Family in crushing the mastermind behind him. A sort of insurance.

Only by making a big scene would my father be able to punish his own brother without being swayed by affection.

“Ho-joong, you guard my perimeter.”

“I will ensure there are no mistakes.”

“Do well.”

“...Ah, yes.”

“What kind of answer is that?”

“My protection. Is it really necessary?”

“That’s why you tag along every time I go to a dungeon. Are you here to play?”

“Ah, no, sir! I will provide ironclad security.”

Choi Ho-joong wore a puzzled expression.

Well, it was probably natural for him to be confused.

“Oppa, this is my first time in a dungeon after getting my license.”

“If you freeze up just because it’s your first time, you’re out.”

“Of course. Who do you take me for? But my first experience is with you, oppa?”

“Don’t say weird things.”

“Anyway, it feels strange. To come to a dungeon with three men I barely know. They say anything can happen inside a dungeon, right?”

I nodded my head.

“Because a dungeon is the only place in the world where no evidence is left, no matter what happens.”

And because of that fact, we would be facing an assassin from the shadows today.

“Young Master, shall we go now?”

We followed the path laid out in the dungeon and walked up through the forest.

The scale of this space was quite a bit larger than the last dungeon.

And in this vast place, there were only five Kobolds.

In this type of dungeon, the important thing was to find the monsters as quickly as possible.

If the clear time dragged on and night fell, it would become quite troublesome.

There were several clues to finding Kobolds.

The tracks they left everywhere on the forest path, their scent, their cries, the terrain they preferred as habitats, and so on.

I knew all of this from studying for the license exam, but in truth, I had a method far superior to such theoretical knowledge.

Senses.

Although I had been reincarnated into Seo Ji-han’s body, I had retained the senses I gained in my past life.

Even with my faint mana, if I roused it and sharpened my senses, it was possible for me to unfold a sensory perception that wasn’t much inferior compared to my Johan Raven days.

“One in that direction.”

And just then, one was caught by my senses.

“On what grounds?”

Seo Ji-won immediately expressed his doubt.

“I have good instincts.”

“As expected, it was nonsense. I can’t feel anything in the direction you mentioned.”

“That’s because your senses are dull, brother.”

“What?”

“It’s a bit far, but the direction is certain. Shall we go and see?”

Seo Ji-won scoffed at my words.

“Fine. I’ll follow you for now.”

I took the lead, and we continued to move.

The presence of the Kobold I felt in the distance remained in the same spot.

It was secretly looking down on our direction of movement from up there.

The fact that it wasn’t rushing in recklessly showed it certainly had some intelligence, but that intelligence was definitely not on a human level.

If it were, it would have run away by now.

“Wait a minute. Seo Ji-han.”

Seo Ji-won suddenly stopped me.

“Why?”

“Did you really feel something and come this way?”

“I told you I did.”

“That’s impossible. How can someone at your level!”

“So you feel it now too, brother.”

He nodded with a stiff expression.

“See. I told you I have good instincts.”

“You were just lucky.”

Seo Ji-won was certainly not ordinary either.

As befitting someone close to a Sword Expert, he felt the Kobold’s presence even from a considerable distance.

“Young Masters! Is this really the right direction?”

“Wow, what’s with you two! I still don’t know anything!”

Well, these two were still a long way off.

“Follow me. We still have a little further to go.”

We continued to make our way through the forest path.

And a short while later.

Kaaak!!

The Kobold finally let out a scream.

Whether it was a warning or a ritual before a charge, the creature had openly revealed its location.

Tadadadada!

‘So it was the latter.’

The Kobold let out a furious roar and began to charge towards us.

“Stay back. I’ll take it.”

I raised the Reapersword.

This would be the first time I used the Haewon Sword Style in real combat.

It wasn't fully ingrained in my body yet, but it wouldn't be much of a problem.

The aura emanating from that monster called a Kobold was not that formidable.

Shwaaaak!

Shwaaaaak!

Two straight lines cut through the space, and an X-shaped sword strike remained as an afterimage.

From the moment I extended the sword, I had a good feeling, so the result was a foregone conclusion.

From the moment I extended the sword, I had a good feeling, so the result was a foregone conclusion.

One Kobold met its end just like that.

[Remaining Kobolds: 4]

“Young Master!”

“What?”

“It’s nothing! For a moment, I thought you were going to collide with the Kobold!”

“Ho-joong, if you can’t predict things like that, how can you properly protect me?”

“I apologize!”

“Improve your skills more. It’ll be a problem if you continue to remain at that level.”

“I understand!”

It was a satisfying sword strike.

The flow of mana naturally erupting from my dantian, the control of mana evenly imbued in the Reapersword, and the explosion of mana concentrated at the last moment. Everything was executed exactly as I had planned, without a single error.

My dedication to the Haewon Sword Style these past few days had paid off.

Now, it was time to hear Seo Ji-won’s evaluation.

“How was it?”

“...Not bad.”

“Be honest. Was that all it was?”

There was no way it was just ‘not bad’.

Since I myself was satisfied, words like ‘perfect’ or ‘flawless’ should have been the normal response.

“Hmm. To be honest...”

“Yeah.”

“I think I need to see it one more time.”

“Why?”

“Because I didn't see it properly. You take the next Kobold as well.”

Seo Ji-won deferred his evaluation.

And his pupils were trembling slightly.

It meant his emotions were stirred.

“Alright. I’ll take the next one too. Is that okay, Han Ye-ji?”

“Yes, I don’t mind whatever order we go in.”

Just in time, I could feel the presence of another one not far from our current location.

“Then, follow me.”

I walked ahead without delay.

As described in the theory books, the creature called a Kobold was a monster that had a habit of mindlessly charging at humans despite having relatively high intelligence. The reaction would come quickly as soon to as we got near its habitat.

And we were just about at the point where we should be sensing something.

“Seo Ji-han. Answer my question properly.”

“What.”

“On what grounds did you take the lead this time?”

“Why? Did you feel the Kobold’s presence just now, brother?”

“Answer me. On what grounds did you move in this direction?”

“I told you. I have good instincts.”

“This is impossible at your level! I’ve never even heard of a case like this!”

“That’s because your knowledge is narrow, brother.”

Since you've probably never seen a reincarnated person.

“Young Master! But if we really go in this direction, will another Kobold appear right away?”

“Have I been wrong about anything I’ve said recently?”

“No, you have not!”

“Then just stick by my side and follow well. You have to guard me well, right?”

“Yes!”

As if my words were a command, Choi Ho-joong stuck to my right side.

His trademark was raising his sword and putting on an exaggerated expression of vigilance.

The ferocious cry of a Kobold was heard not long after.

Kraaaang!!

“Young Master!”

“You watch carefully too. The Haewon Sword Style and the Muyoung Sword Style come from the same root anyway.”

The Kobold charged towards us like a moth drawn to a flame.

Unaware of the fate that would befall it shortly after.

Shwaaaaak!

Shwaaaaaaak!

And the exact same scene from before was reenacted once more.

[Remaining Kobolds: 3]

“Easy. I think I know why they say only trash comes out as rewards in E-rank Dungeons.”

“Young Master, you’re not really in a position to say that.”

“Why? You don’t think I’ll get a Mana Rune and an Abyss Rune again, do you?”

“No. There’s no way. I can be sure of that!”

Anyway, this guy’s way of thinking was very realistic, unlike his appearance.

“Brother, by the way, did you see properly this time? I did it exactly the same as before.”

Seo Ji-won’s expression was graver than ever.

Once could be dismissed as a coincidence, but a coincidence couldn't happen twice.

“It was just...”

“Just what?”

“It was watchable.”

“Did you see it properly?”

“What kind of answer are you expecting?”

Perfect. Flawless. Genius. Things like that.

Words I'd heard countless times in my Johan Raven days, but words I never got tired of hearing.

Just as Seo Ji-won was about to retort, a message echoed through the dungeon.

[The maximum number of entrants for the dungeon has been reached. (6/6)]

In the end, as expected, today’s main event had begun.

“Someone else came in? Seo Ji-han! Were there more people scheduled to come?”

“No, there was nothing like that.”

“Then who on earth!”

“I don’t know. For now, it’s not someone from the Main Family. They all know I’m clearing this dungeon for training.”

“Then could it be someone from a Branch Family?”

“That’s the most likely possibility, isn’t it? Unless someone came in by accident, the only ones who know the location of this dungeon are the people of the Haewon Sword Family.”

“Some disrespectful Branch Family member must have broken the taboo.”

“Brother, you should go and teach them a lesson.”

Seo Ji-won nodded.

An encounter with them was bound to happen.

Because Choi Ho-joong had left traces we had prepared along the path we took.

Now, all we had to do was hunt Kobolds at our current pace and wait for them to approach.

The stage was perfectly set.

Even for the events that would follow today.