Yerin Jeong, with determined eyes, led her team and stepped into the Minotaurus Dungeon.
As they entered the dungeon, a damp and unpleasant air greeted her team.
Fortunately, torches were hung on the walls at regular intervals, ensuring visibility.
Another problem, besides that, was that this dungeon was a maze.
‘Snap out of it.’
Maze-type dungeons had far more problems caused by getting lost than monsters.
It was easy to become a lost child in the dungeon if you lost focus for even a moment.
As such, they mobilized all hunters with the Pathfinder trait.
As everyone was preparing to fully enter the maze, one of the team members quietly approached and asked.
“Um, Team Leader. Can we really clear this dungeon on our own?”
Fear and doubt were evident in the voice of the person who asked.
Yerin Jeong shook her head and replied firmly.
“Trust our skills. If it feels dangerous, we’ll retreat immediately, so don’t worry and follow me closely.”
After all, minor injuries or damage didn’t matter.
Wasn’t the team leader, Yerin Jeong herself, a B-Rank Healer?
Thanks to her trait, the team members had been able to carry out their missions intact until now.
However, the words of the person who asked a little while ago held two meanings.
First, it was a question of whether they could literally conquer this dungeon.
This Minotaurus Dungeon has a maze-like structure.
Moreover, it wasn’t even confirmed what was lurking at the end of the dungeon.
They only estimated the dungeon to be B-Rank because the Minotaurus monster itself was B-Rank.
‘It would be more accurate to consider it as higher than that.’
Considering the maze environment with many variables, it was easier to think of it as an A-Rank dungeon, not B-Rank.
And the second thing.
‘It must be about Kanghyeon.’
It was obvious.
It was the regret over the absence of Advisor Kanghyeon Lee.
Advisor Kanghyeon Lee had clearly demonstrated his skills by single-handedly clearing the Stone Golem Dungeon.
Naturally, the team members’ perspective changed.
There were many who felt regret that they couldn’t be together like this.
Although they didn’t know how Advisor Kanghyeon Lee cleared the Golem Dungeon, if he were there, this dungeon would also be easily cleared.
Yerin Jeong knew that too, but she excluded Kanghyeon Lee from this raid.
Certainly, if Advisor Kanghyeon Lee were here, she would have been much more at ease than now.
‘Although I brought my Familiar…’
Of course, Kanghyeon Lee had provided his Familiar, a Skeleton.
Even now, Kanghyeon Lee’s Familiar was accompanying Yerin Jeong.
‘Its name was Maru.’
However, Maru was just a Familiar.
The Skeleton summoned by an ordinary necromancer was weak, so it was practically as good as not being there.
‘In the end, the real strength must lie with Kanghyeon.’
Despite that, there were several reasons why Advisor Kanghyeon Lee was not brought along.
First, relying on Advisor Kanghyeon Lee would create an imbalance in team strength.
Didn’t they defeat the A-Rank monster Goblin Lord even in the period when Advisor Kanghyeon Lee was absent?
However, the moment they relied on one person for strength, the team’s power would plummet instantly.
Of course, that was the superficial reason; the real reason was different.
‘Tae-yeong Jeong…’
Yerin Jeong muttered the Vice Guild Leader’s name in her mind and subtly glanced back.
She saw Taekyoung Yoon, who was suspected to be aligned with Vice Guild Leader Tae-yeong Jeong.
This was a family feud between Yerin Jeong and the Vice Guild Leader.
‘I don’t want to drag Kanghyeon into this.’
She didn’t want to bring any other outsiders into this conflict and cause them harm.
He had already joined the team, so it was a precarious situation, but their relationship could be described as being on the edge of a business transaction.
However, if Kanghyeon Lee were further involved, the Vice Guild Leader would start actively obstructing them.
‘I can’t let Kanghyeon suffer because of me without reason.’
For now, Yerin Jeong intended to go as far as she could with her own strength.
After settling her thoughts, she led her team and began exploring the dungeon. How long had it been?
“Everyone, halt!”
One corridor split into two paths.
Immediately, hunters with the Pathfinder trait scanned the paths, but they couldn’t find any traces.
‘…There’s nothing.’
Yerin Jeong ran her hand along the wall, but on the ivy-covered walls, no clues were visible.
Moreover, when they tried to break the wall, it had no effect.
‘This is bad.’
Even hunters with the Pathfinder trait couldn’t determine the direction.
It wasn’t without reason that the guild’s scout team failed in exploring the dungeon.
The only hope they had was that more difficult dungeons had better rewards.
‘The problem is if we clear it, though.’
Still, she held onto hope.
After all, in a situation where they didn’t know the way, taking the direct approach was the right thing to do.
‘Left or right…’
Simply choosing one path and moving forward blindly.
The paths would become increasingly complex the further they went, but there was no other suitable method.
Originally, the best way to save time was to split the team.
However, there was too little information about the dungeon they had entered.
If they divided the team carelessly, there was a risk of annihilation.
Ultimately, Yerin Jeong decided to have everyone move together by choosing one path.
‘Right.’
Yerin Jeong, without hesitation, chose the right path and led the team forward.
However, the journey was arduous.
They repeatedly encountered dead ends, forcing them to turn back, and some areas were filled with traps.
There were even places where unknown bone fragments and broken weapons were scattered.
Each time, Yerin Jeong boldly turned back the way they came.
And she chose other paths, paying attention to safety.
Thanks to this, there were no casualties, but due to their continuous movement, the fatigue of the team members gradually accumulated.
“There will definitely be a way. Let’s push a little harder!”
Yerin Jeong encouraged her team members, but the dungeon’s structure only became more complex.
As everyone’s expressions hardened, only one person smiled faintly.
It was Taekyoung Yoon.
‘Without that Kanghyeon guy, it’ll be fine. As long as Yerin fails.’
He was inwardly rejoicing.
For him, who wished for Yerin Jeong’s failure in conquering the dungeon, the current situation was not bad.
For a dungeon like this, even Kanghyeon Lee would surely not be able to break it.
‘Its size is more than I expected.’
Taekyoung Yoon was also a B-Rank Hunter.
This was a dungeon with a ridiculously large maze, even without any monsters appearing.
If such a dungeon were cleared, the probability of good rewards was high.
‘I should report immediately when we get out.’
Since Yerin Jeong failed to conquer it, he planned to report to the Vice Guild Leader to reclaim this dungeon.
‘This time, I’ll finally be able to make up for my failure.’
How much profit did Yerin Jeong gain from Kanghyeon Lee single-handedly clearing the Stone Golem Dungeon a few days ago?
As a result, Taekyoung Yoon was severely scolded by the Vice Guild Leader.
Because he handed over the dungeon for free without causing any damage to the team.
But now it was different.
The team’s morale was gradually falling.
No matter how much of a team leader she was, she had to take care of her team members.
Now, if Yerin Jeong waited a little longer, she would give up on conquering the dungeon.
Taekyoung Yoon was waiting for that moment.
“……!”
A Minotaurus appeared in front of them.
A monster with a heavy build and a bull’s head.
But it wasn’t an ordinary Minotaurus.
“Minotaurus Chieftain! Everyone, prepare for battle!”
Yerin Jeong shouted.
The Minotaurus Chieftain, an A-Rank monster, appeared.
It was a creature with a much larger build than a regular Minotaurus, wielding a large double-headed axe.
‘This is bad!’
Yerin Jeong’s team didn’t have any A-Rank Hunters.
She had only thought it was a complicated maze dungeon, but to think an A-Rank monster would appear here.
For her, it was the worst-case scenario.
Although she quickly prepared for battle, there was no guarantee of victory.
Tension filled the air.
The only fortunate thing was that the opponent monster was standing still in its place.
“…….”
But something was strange.
The Minotaurus was just standing still and making no move.
‘What’s going on?’
The Minotaurus Chieftain would undoubtedly be the owner of this dungeon.
But how should they interpret the dungeon owner making no move in front of intruders?
‘Could it be that it wants to make a transaction?’
Sometimes, intelligent dungeon owners proposed transactions to hunters.
They didn’t know the detailed circumstances, but if it really wanted a transaction, it wasn’t a bad situation.
They didn’t know what the other party would offer, but it meant they could continuously gain the necessary benefits while leaving the dungeon as it was.
Everyone, including Yerin Jeong, stared at the Minotaurus Chieftain with tension.
Soon, the bull’s head opened its mouth.
“Kukuru, Lord Baalcherit wishes to see you. Follow me.”
With those words, it turned its back and started walking.
“…Baalcherit?”
A Minotaurus Chieftain was strong enough to be the owner of a dungeon.
But such a monster mentioned another being.
Moreover, it did so while adding the honorific ‘Lord’.
Even if they wanted to ask for details, the Minotaurus Chieftain continued to walk.
At that moment, Maru, who had been quietly staying, made a sound.
“Clack, clack-clack.”
(Baalcherit is on our side. Let’s follow.)
Unfortunately, Yerin Jeong and the other hunters couldn’t understand Maru’s words.
It was Yerin Jeong who gained courage from Maru’s bone clattering.
“Yes, we have to do something.”
Although it felt ominous, simply waiting wouldn’t solve the problem.
“Let’s follow too. Be alert, as it could be a trap!”
After organizing her thoughts, Yerin Jeong led her team members and followed the monster.
* * *
After following for a while, a wide open field appeared.
It was the end of the maze and simultaneously the center of the dungeon.
And seeing the being at the end, Yerin Jeong’s eyes widened.
“A, a child?”
Sitting on a throne surrounded by Minotaurs was a small girl.
With pale skin and red eyes, the being was definitely not human.
Moreover, it was a scene that didn’t fit with a Minotaurus Dungeon.
Taekyoung Yoon was equally flustered.
“Are we sure we didn’t come to the wrong place? What on earth is going on!”
But no one could explain this bizarre situation.
The situation was that alien.
‘What on earth is its true identity?’
To Yerin Jeong, it looked like an ordinary child, but the Minotaurs seemed to offer absolute loyalty.
Moreover, a Minotaurus was kneeling beside it with a raised hand.
“…….”
The more she looked, the more confused she became.
As everyone stood there in a daze, the child broke the silence first.
“Hmm, welcome to my dungeon. I am called Baalcherit.”
It was then that she remembered the Minotaurus Chieftain’s words from earlier.
‘He definitely called you Lord Baalcherit.’
Yerin Jeong also regained her composure and shouted to her team members.
“Everyone, sheathe your weapons!”
Then, bowing to Baalcherit, she offered a polite greeting.
“B, Lord Baalcherit. I am Yerin Jeong, leading a team from the Fire Bird Guild.”
A slight tremor could be felt in her voice.
It was unavoidable.
The aura emanating from Baalcherit was overwhelming.
‘This isn’t a normal A-Rank! What species could it be…’
With just a small gesture, her team could be annihilated.
It seemed better to use the current atmosphere while the opponent was being friendly.
“If, if you have something you desire, my Lord of the Dungeon…?”
Yerin Jeong’s body trembled.
Seeing that, Baalcherit smiled faintly.
Baalcherit felt good being called the Lord of the Dungeon after a long time.
“Well, I have no desires. It’s just that the owner of the voice told me to conquer this dungeon.”
The owner of the voice? Conquer the dungeon?
Yerin Jeong was even more confused by Baalcherit’s words.
However, she couldn’t just stand by.
Not having a desire meant that they could be attacked at any time.
With their current strength, they were already inferior to the Minotaurus Chieftain.
Yerin Jeong made a bold move.
“Still, if there is anything you desire, just tell me. I will prepare it immediately.”
“Hmm, for a petty human, you have quite good intuition.”
Baalcherit’s tone of voice rose.
It felt very good to have someone praise it after a long time.
It felt like compensation for the years of being treated distantly by Celia.
‘I want to stay here…’
Baalcherit liked this dungeon.
It didn’t want to go back to where Celia was.
“Then, I want to eat fresh blood!”
Baalcherit demanded blood with a naive expression.
Then, Yerin Jeong, without any hesitation, took out a dagger and cut her arm.
And she began to collect blood in an empty container handed over by her teammate.
Starting with her, other hunters also cut their arms and drew blood.
They had no doubt that if they angered this being here, they would die.
“Oh! You are a commendable bunch!”
Baalcherit was pleased by the humans offering blood to it.
‘There are also friendly adventurers.’
It thought that not all adventurers were hostile to dungeons, but these humans were different.
‘What country’s adventurers are these? They can’t be from the Church…’
Come to think of it, their clothing was also unfamiliar.
These were things Baalcherit had never seen before in the El Dorado Continent, of which it was aware.
There was one familiar thing.
‘That weapon is the same as the one the Goblin Lord had!’
These adventurers wielded weapons identical to those frequently used by the Goblin Lord.
As it examined each person for other elements, a Skeleton monster caught its eye next to a human named Yerin Jeong.
“…Huh?”
It felt a familiar aura.
Was it similar to Celia?
No, it would be more accurate to say it was similar to the unknown voice’s owner.
Not only that.
The sword the Skeleton wielded also felt somehow familiar.
“Well… is it just my imagination?”
Baalcherit lost interest.
If that Skeleton were related to Celia or the owner of the voice, it would have taken some action, not just stayed still.
But since it was still remaining still, it must have felt it incorrectly.
The sword also felt familiar because it was ordinary.
“…….”
Contrary to Baalcherit’s thoughts, Maru was faithfully following its master’s orders.
– Maru, even if you meet Baalcherit in the dungeon, don’t acknowledge it and stay still. Got it?
As ordered, Maru turned its head away from Baalcherit.
