Dungeon & Commander

Dungeon & Commander – 21

Yoo Min-jung was met with glares from Choi Moo-hyun and Yeom Sang-taek, as if to say, “Why are you telling us this now?”

At that moment, the participants’ attention turned to the stage. A middle-aged man walked onto the stage.

“I am Lee Wan-yeol, in charge of the Guild Management Department at the Dungeon Association. It is an honor to meet those of you who venture into such perilous places on behalf of all humanity.”

As he bowed, his sparsely-haired scalp gleamed.

Laughter erupted among the relatively young raiders. Someone even shouted, “Baldy!”

“Haha, please find a cure for baldness in the dungeon. Of course, taking Lyphium would make it grow back quickly, but it’s too expensive for a salaryman like me. Now, let’s get to the details of the test.”

The mention of the test quieted the crowd. Lee Wan-yeol scanned the room before continuing.

“This test will be conducted in three stages.”

Immediate reactions followed.

“Ugh!”

“Three times? That’s so long.”

“Why so many? Just finish it in one go.”

Lee Wan-yeol raised his hand and waited for the complaints to subside.

Most of the raiders in front of him were young and found it hard to control their emotions.

From his extensive experience working with guilds, he knew that even seasoned raiders in their forties were like children engrossed in their toys.

Gradually, silence won over the chatter.

As the hall quieted, Lee Wan-yeol’s voice echoed through the microphone.

“Out of the 32 teams participating, only 16 will remain after the first stage. Let me explain the first stage. A large-scale dungeon has been prepared. There are 48 monsters in that dungeon, which means there are 48 cores. To pass the first stage, you need to obtain three cores. In other words, you must hunt three monsters in the dungeon and bring their cores back through the gate to pass. Of course, the more cores you have, the better your chances in the second stage.”

The explanation ended.

Raiders raised their hands to ask questions.

Yoo Min-jung remained silent, listening to the questions and answers.

The raiders gathered here had received special education from a young age and had diverse experiences. There was no need for her to step forward and ask questions. Her doubts were being resolved through others’ inquiries.

Yeom Sang-taek whispered to Kim Joon beside him.

“Half of us will be eliminated. Do you think we can pass?”

“We have to.”

Kim Joon’s calm response.

His voice somehow calmed Yeom Sang-taek’s excitement, but he couldn’t shake one worry.

In the simulator training, his success rate as a buffer had been abysmal due to the settings.

Thanks to Kim Joon, he could fully demonstrate his skills at the Uramata Guild House, but the simulator settings at the Dungeon Association would be different.

Lee Wan-yeol’s voice continued.

“Teams that acquire more than three cores in the first stage should return to the starting point, the gate. Passing through the gate confirms your passage to the second stage. And as you all know, disconnection is impossible except in the case of death. We will start the draw after a 30-minute break.”

Lee Wan-yeol disappeared to the left of the stage.

The draw was a procedure designed to prevent fraud and corruption by determining which of the hundreds of machines in the simulation room would be used.

Even those who had gone through the awakening process to become official raiders couldn’t contain their nerves and kept running to the restroom.

Some people wore headphones and listened to music, others chatted with their team members, and some closed their eyes and meditated. Everyone had their own way of dealing with the tension.

The draw began.

The team leaders stepped forward to press a button, which released a ball from a transparent glass container through a long tube. The ball had a simulator number written on it.

Yoo Min-jung drew simulator number 32.

Once the draw was over, the simulation room was opened.

As the double doors swung wide, a space larger than most soccer fields came into view.

This simulation room, nicknamed “Small Stadium,” housed 300 machines. The “Large Stadium” could accommodate up to a thousand people training simultaneously.

Yoo Min-jung headed towards the back with her team members. She nearly cursed when she checked the simulator’s condition.

“What’s wrong?”

“The ones up front are DXS version 7. This one is version 6.”

Yoo Min-jung went to find Lee Wan-yeol, who was in charge of the test.

“The Dungeon Association was also affected by Devil’s Day. As a result, we couldn’t properly upgrade the equipment. I sincerely apologize.”

His shiny scalp was visible again.

Yoo Min-jung could see her reflection in his gleaming scalp. She almost laughed. This man had a knack for lightening the serious atmosphere.

“In terms of response speed and precise control, version 7 is superior. So, this test isn’t fair…”

Lee Wan-yeol cut off Yoo Min-jung’s complaint without changing his expression.

“If you have any objections, you can file a complaint after the test.”

“So, you’re saying our team, using simulator number 32, has to take the test with version 6 machines?”

Yoo Min-jung was incredulous.

“The draw was entirely random. Anyone could have drawn number 32. Moreover, the schedule is tight, so we can’t postpone the test. If we did, none of the teams here would be able to descend into the dungeon. Yoo Min-jung, you are the daughter of the strongest raider, Yoo Wan-seop. I believe you can easily overcome such a minor difference. In fact, I’m relieved that another team didn’t draw number 32.”

“…Alright, for now.”

Mentioning her father made Yoo Min-jung back down.

“What did he say?”

Yeom Sang-taek asked as Yoo Min-jung walked back.

“Just get ready.”

“…Should we contact the master?”

Choi Moo-hyun asked cautiously.

“It won’t help. It’s better to contact him after we pass the test.”

Nodding at Yoo Min-jung’s words, the team members simultaneously took off their clothes. Since they were already wearing tight suits, they could immediately get into the simulators.

Nearly 200 participants moved into the virtual space almost simultaneously.

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***

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Kim Joon grabbed a handful of dirt from the ground.

As he stood up and opened his fingers, the dirt and sand fell between them. He meticulously observed the falling speed and spread, marveling inwardly.

‘As expected of the Dungeon Association. The simulators installed in the guild house are on a different level. The machines themselves may be similar, but… the software running inside is completely different. This is as close to reality as it gets.’

Usually, entering a virtual space through a simulator meant going straight into the dungeon.

But not here.

The participants were gathered at the dungeon entrance, the gate. Entering the dungeon through the gate was part of the simulation.

Everyone wore the same equipment.

They donned tough leather clothing similar to what the Dungeon Association provided to actual raiders, belted a dagger around their waists, and wore boots suitable for any terrain.

The carrier had a store bag equipped with a digger.

“We will now begin the first test. Good luck to you all.”

Lee Wan-yeol’s voice boomed like thunder from the sky.

At that moment, the gate opened.

Darkness was visible.

The team that drew number 1 started running inside.

It would be a while before it was team 32’s turn. The machine was outdated, and they were last in line. They were at a disadvantage from the start.

“Snake.”

Yoo Min-jung commanded.

The team shifted into an S-shaped formation. They planned to increase their speed as soon as they entered the dungeon to overtake other teams.

“Go!”

Yoo Min-jung shouted, sprinting forward like a sprinter, trusting her team to follow.

As they brushed past the right side of team 31, who had just entered the dungeon, the startled team leader’s curses were audible.

Ignoring them, Yoo Min-jung swiftly overtook teams 30, 29, and 28.

“Eleven o’clock.”

The snake formation veered slightly to the left.

The dungeon was vast. It was easier to hunt monsters by spreading out rather than sticking together.

Buffer Yeom Sang-taek shot a beam of light into the air. The area within a 15-meter radius brightened, but the surrounding darkness grew even denser.

“Diamond.”

At Yoo Min-jung’s command, the team shifted into their basic formation.

Choi Moo-hyun took the lead, with Yoo Min-jung and Yeom Sang-taek covering the flanks, and carrier Kim Joon following behind.

A tedious advance began.

Charging blindly could lead to being hunted rather than successfully hunting monsters, given the uncertainty of what might emerge.

Suddenly, a scream echoed from afar.

Though they knew it was a simulation, the realistic environment made their bodies react as if it were real.

When a dinosaur-like monster bit off an arm, instinct overpowered reason, and they screamed.

Moreover, the simulation had the pain option enabled. While it wasn’t as painful as actually losing an arm, the machines inflicted enough pain to create that illusion.

“Radar team approaching from 5 o’clock, 50 meters away.”

It was Yeom Sang-taek.

“Oh! And two Pyrosaurus monsters are approaching from 12 o’clock, 45 meters away.”

Yeom Sang-taek continued.

With raiders approaching from behind and monsters from the front, Yoo Min-jung frowned.

“Avoid them. Left turn.”

The team changed direction to the left.

For a moment, the darkness cleared, revealing a glimpse of red flames. Screams pierced the silence.

“One Pyrosaurus is heading this way.”

Even without Yeom Sang-taek’s warning, the growing thuds of footsteps made it clear to everyone.

“Reverse Triangle.”

Combat command!

Yeom Sang-taek moved beside Choi Moo-hyun and cast a help spell. Fortunately, the magic worked smoothly, contrary to his concerns.

Choi Moo-hyun channeled the rising power into his Golden Wall. A golden barrier formed.

The Pyrosaurus charged and spewed fire from its mouth. The Golden Wall effectively blocked the flames.

At that moment, Yoo Min-jung created a fire arrow and aimed at the Pyrosaurus’s chest.

There was already a wound there. The fire arrow burrowed into the tear, igniting the creature from within. Unable to withstand the pain, the Pyrosaurus collapsed with a thud.

As Yeom Sang-taek controlled the flames, Kim Joon stepped forward to secure the core. Within about four minutes, the core was safely stored in the store bag.

The team members exchanged glances.

Satisfaction was evident. With one core obtained, they only needed to hunt two more monsters to complete the first test.

“…That team from earlier seems injured. They aren’t moving. And the Pyrosaurus is circling them.”

Yeom Sang-taek reported.

“Let’s go.”

Yoo Min-jung decided.

In their diamond formation, they pierced through the darkness, causing the cunning monster to flee.

“Yoo Min-jung?”

An Seong-ho’s face lit up like someone who had found a lighthouse while adrift.

“What happened?”

“…Our dealer got hit.”

An Seong-ho pointed to the dealer’s arm, wrapped in bandages.

Every member of a raider team played a crucial role, but the dealer’s value was exceptional.

A dealer was essential for a successful hunt. If the dealer was injured… the raid was effectively over. At best, they could hope for a safe retreat.

Yoo Min-jung felt uneasy.

In a real dungeon, she wouldn’t have passed approaching monsters off to another team. In a real dungeon, they would have joined forces to take down both monsters.

“Want to team up?”

“…What?”

“It’ll help us hunt faster.”

“I-I’m fine with that.”

“I’ll give the orders.”

“Of course, you should. Thank you so much.”

An Seong-ho looked like he was about to cry.

The two teams merged into one.

They now had three tanks, two buffers, two carriers, and one dealer. Such situations were common in real dungeons.

Sometimes, adaptability was the greatest virtue a team leader could display.

Yoo Min-jung tested the formation.

While the diamond formation was reliable, directional changes and formations like the wedge or crawl were nearly impossible.

Still, with three tanks, they wouldn’t easily fall to most monster attacks.

The raiders exchanged greetings. Tanks with tanks, buffers with buffers, dealers with dealers.

And carriers with carriers.

“I’m Kim Joon.”

“You look young.”

“I graduated high school this year.”

“…If possible, quit being a carrier.”

Regret and despair crossed the face of the man who appeared to be in his early thirties. It was a look Kim Joon, fresh out of school, couldn’t comprehend.

The injured dealer was the responsibility of that carrier. Supporting the dealer with a broken arm while carrying a 15-kilogram store bag made it impossible to keep up with the team’s pace.

“Need some help?”

“Sure.”

The response was curt.

Initially, the carrier and Kim Joon supported the dealer from both sides, but their pace was still slow.

After some thought, Kim Joon made a decision.

“I’ll carry him.”

“…You don’t have to.”

“Please take my store bag.”

“Alright.”

Kim Joon removed his store bag and carried the dealer on his back. The weight wasn’t too much for him. He could maintain a decent speed even while carrying someone, allowing the team to move more fluidly.

Yeom Sang-taek, who was ahead, subtly gave a thumbs-up.

They continued their tedious exploration into the darkness.

They moved quietly for over 30 minutes.

Then, Yeom Sang-taek spoke up.

“One o’clock direction, three Goldisaurus, 50 meters away.”

Upon hearing this, Yoo Min-jung issued a command. Reverse Triangle. A defensive counter-formation.

The three tanks moved shoulder to shoulder, advancing forward. They didn’t need Yeom Sang-taek’s help.

The battle began.

The Goldisaurus charged swiftly, attacking the tanks with their heads and bodies. The tanks’ shields were strong enough to repel the Goldisaurus, sending them flying back.

Yoo Min-jung didn’t miss the opportunity. She swiftly took down two of them. One managed to dodge the fire arrow and fled into the darkness.

“Advance.”

The three tanks stomped on the necks of the two Goldisaurus to ensure they were dead.

“Carrier.”

The other carrier stepped forward instead of Kim Joon, who was carrying the injured dealer.

It took nearly 30 minutes to extract the cores from the two Goldisaurus with the digger. He placed the two golden cores into Kim Joon’s store bag.

“You helped us out. So, can we take the next one?”

It was An Seong-ho.

“Of course.”

Yoo Min-jung’s discomfort melted away. Passing the test together would be a pleasant outcome.

Their next target was an Owakerus.

Although it was a tricky opponent with ever-changing abilities, this time it attacked simply with its body. They successfully defended and counterattacked, taking it down.

The carrier took 20 minutes to extract the core.

At that moment, An Seong-ho’s hand darted towards Yoo Min-jung’s chest. His hand was already blackened.

Simultaneously, another tank near Choi Moo-hyun targeted the oblivious Yeom Sang-taek.

The injured, or rather, pretending-to-be-injured dealer placed a hand on Kim Joon’s neck, attempting to cast a spell. Kim Joon quickly threw the dealer forward.

The dealer crashed to the ground, his weight driving him down.

It was a move reminiscent of a judo throw.

“Argh!”

This time, the dealer’s arm genuinely broke. One leg twisted at an unnatural angle.

Meanwhile, the opposing carrier grabbed Kim Joon’s store bag and ran towards An Seong-ho.

An Seong-ho’s attack missed.

Choi Moo-hyun had charged in and knocked him aside.

Despite this, Yoo Min-jung’s left arm, grazed by the blackened hand, started bleeding. She immediately cast a spell to expel the poison seeping into her arm.

Yeom Sang-taek wasn’t as lucky.

A tank’s powerful punch hit his chest, killing him instantly. His body slowly vanished. In a real dungeon, a corpse would have remained, but fortunately, this was a virtual space.

“What are you doing?”

Yoo Min-jung, retreating with Choi Moo-hyun, formed a fire arrow in her right hand.

“It’s useless.”

An Seong-ho and another tank created a barrier. Inside it was the carrier with the store bag.

The dealer Kim Joon had carried, now with broken limbs, was abandoned.

The fire arrow flew but only produced a series of loud bangs.