Chapter 49: Chapter 49

Once the rogue party’s introductions were finished, Han-gyeol stepped forward and introduced the Wing Guild members. Their group comprised two C-rank hunters, four D-rank hunters, as well as D-rank Si-hyun and Ah-reum, who was there for observation.

The men of the rogue party turned their attention to the two women. Clearing his throat several times, Han-gyeol redirected their attention back to himself.

“Ahem! As for rewards, we'll split them by party. No objections?”

“Of course.”

After confirming the terms, the two leaders exchanged a firm handshake. Kang Do-jun, the leader of the rogue party, then spoke up.

“I assume you’ve been briefed, but let me go over the dungeon details. Here’s a quick rundown.”

As Do-jun began his explanation, everyone listened intently.

The primary monsters inside the dungeon were undead creatures, mainly skeletons. Due to the nature of skeletons, if the boss controlling them wasn’t defeated, they would slowly revive.

It had been a race against time, and although they had pushed themselves to try to clear the dungeon, the sheer size of the dungeon prevented them from reaching the boss room. Ultimately, everyone but his team, who had escaped using their stealth skills, had been killed.

“Although it’s unfortunate about the ones we lost… we did manage to map the route. Since we’re starting early today, if we push through, we should be able to finish by evening.”

“I see…”

Everyone except Si-hyun tensed up, recognizing the unique danger posed by today’s dungeon.

A time attack.

If they didn’t clear the dungeon quickly, the monsters in their path would revive. They would need to defeat the boss before being surrounded by monsters from both directions.

“At least the path is mapped out. Let’s give it our best!”

“Yes, let’s go!”

With the information exchange complete, everyone prepared for battle and entered the dungeon.

Ah-reum released Si-hyun’s arm but stayed close, almost hiding behind her as they proceeded.

Si-hyun glanced at Ah-reum before following the group.

*Stealth skills, huh…*

She couldn’t shake an odd feeling. Even though this was her second life, the men in the rogue party seemed unusually calm, with no hint of tension.

While Do-jun was a B-rank, the D-rank members were similarly unperturbed. Some of them were even sneaking glances their way instead of focusing on the dungeon surroundings. They seemed entirely too relaxed.

“Ah-reum.”

“Yes?”

Si-hyun called to Ah-reum quietly. Putting aside her discomfort with the unfamiliar men, she didn’t want Ah-reum’s time here to go to waste.

“Are you scared?”

“Well… yes…”

Ah-reum’s voice was barely a whisper. Si-hyun chuckled softly.

“What do you think fear comes from?”

“Oh… well…”

“Listen carefully, okay? Trauma or different reasons might cause fear.”

Si-hyun looked Ah-reum directly in the eyes. Their gazes met.

“I think the biggest source of fear is the unknown.”

“Oh, that… makes sense.”

“We heard the details just now, right? The specifics of this undead dungeon?”

“Yes.”

When Ah-reum nodded, Si-hyun smiled.

“It’s review time. Do you remember what I said in our first lecture, right after entering the dungeon?”

“Uh… to predict what monsters might appear?”

“Correct! You’ve been paying attention.”

“Hehe…”

Ah-reum’s expression softened as she received Si-hyun’s praise. Enjoying the adorable response, Si-hyun continued the conversation.

“So, there’s no need to be scared anymore, is there?”

“…?”

Ah-reum seemed confused. Si-hyun elaborated.

“What we’re facing are skeletons. If the boss controls them, it’s probably something like a skeleton mage, right?”

“Y-yeah, that makes sense…”

“So now there’s no ‘unknown’ factor, right? It’s all stuff we’re familiar with.”

“Oh!”

Ah-reum’s eyes widened as understanding dawned on her. She covered her open mouth with a hand, thinking to herself:

*Hearing it explained like that, there’s nothing to be afraid of!*

The dungeon that had once seemed overwhelming now felt manageable, as if a fog had lifted.

Of course, she wasn’t ready to throw herself into battle yet, but at least the sense of dread was gone. She looked at Si-hyun with admiration.

Si-hyun grinned, enjoying Ah-reum’s respectful gaze. She felt a sense of satisfaction from guiding her student.

At that moment, the men ahead of them began to fight. Si-hyun gave Ah-reum’s head a few gentle pats and looked forward.

“I was planning to cover undead in our next lecture. Looks like you’re getting a head start on your studies, Ah-reum.”

“True! Hehe.”

“See? Skeletons aren’t that hard to handle.”

Si-hyun pointed at the Wing Guild men fighting in pairs.

“After all, they have recognizable forms, right? Whether they’re human or goblin types.”

“Yes! Exactly!”

“Between a goblin archer and a goblin skeleton, which one’s scarier?”

“Both!”

Si-hyun scratched her cheek, slightly taken aback, and looked at Ah-reum, who smiled shyly.

*Well, at least she’s not as tense now.*

With a soft laugh, Si-hyun continued.

“The key thing is to use tactics specific to undead, but don’t overthink it.”

“I understand!”@@novelbin@@

“Good! Now, watch how they fight. Use your skills if you need to.”

“Yes!”

With intense focus, Ah-reum observed the men’s combat techniques while Si-hyun turned her gaze to the rogue party.

Kang Do-jun was cutting down skeletons effortlessly with flashy movements. His agility and precision showed why he was B-rank, outshining even the Wing Guild members.

Nearby, the C-rank rogue focused on evasion, while the two D-rank rogues utilized stealth to exploit weaknesses.

*They’re well-coordinated.*

When the C-rank used stealth, the D-ranks naturally shifted to evasion. For a fixed party, their teamwork was impressive.

The initial battle ended with Do-jun’s outstanding performance. Once the monsters on his side were dealt with, he let his rogues rest while he moved to help the Wing Guild team.

“Phew, well done.”

“With this many monsters, it’s tough.”

After wiping sweat from their brows, the men exchanged a few words.

After a short break, Do-jun suggested, “Instead of slowing down their resurrection, why don’t we push forward quickly?”

“Since you’ve mapped out the route, do you roughly know the boss room’s location?”

“Yes. We should be able to proceed without getting lost.”

“All right, let’s do that.”

The conversation flowed smoothly, and the group continued deeper into the dungeon.

With the tension easing, Ah-reum turned to Si-hyun, curious.

“Professor, professor.”

“…Yes?”

“What… does ‘slowing down the resurrection’ mean?”

“Oh, it means breaking them apart.”

“Breaking them?”

Si-hyun nodded.

“Remember how I said that the skeletons will slowly revive if we don’t defeat the boss?”

“Yes.”

“They don’t all revive at once. Their broken bones gradually reassemble over time.”

“Oh! So if we shatter them, it’ll slow their revival?”

“Exactly.”

If they smashed them thoroughly enough, it would make it harder for them to revive, securing their path behind them. But this would cost time, slowing their progress.

Conversely, if they didn’t waste time smashing every skeleton, they could proceed faster but with less security. Each team chose the approach that suited them best.

*There are other methods too…*

A holy mage or skilled sorcerer could potentially sever the connection between the boss and its minions. But Si-hyun didn’t elaborate further. She’d never heard of anyone on Earth using holy magic, and it was too advanced a concept for Ah-reum at this stage.

Following the rogue party’s lead, the group pressed onward in silence. Battles broke out periodically, and they took short breaks in between.

“I’ll heal you!”

“Oh, thank you, student.”

“Hehe…”

Ah-reum used her healing skill on a Wing Guild member who had a scratch on his arm, smiling sheepishly when he thanked her.

After progressing for half a day, the group rested and had lunch in an open clearing, taking out the packed lunches they’d prepared.

“Ms. Si-hyun, Ah-reum, here you go.”

“Th-thank you!”

Si-hyun and Ah-reum ate the lunch provided by the Wing Guild.

While they were eating, Do-jun looked over at Ah-reum and remarked.

“So, you’re a student? And a support type, too. You’ve got a promising future.”

“Oh, I’m not that great!”

“Come on, it’s a rare skill. I bet a lot of teams would love to have you. Do you have a fixed party? If not—”

“…Mr. Do-jun.”

Si-hyun deliberately interrupted. Ah-reum was visibly uncomfortable, unable to refuse directly.

Relieved, Ah-reum scooted behind Si-hyun, holding her lunchbox. Si-hyun adjusted her posture and replied.

“Ah-reum already has an affiliation.”

“Oh, does she? That’s too bad.”

Feigning disappointment, Do-jun shrugged. His face wore a smile, but his eyes scanned the two women sharply.

When he turned back to chat with his party members, Si-hyun let out

a small sigh. The rogue party men had been glancing at them with unpleasant looks whenever they could.

After the meal, they resumed their dungeon run, and Do-jun frequently tried to engage Ah-reum and Si-hyun in conversation.

A few battles later, while Si-hyun and Ah-reum were talking with the Wing Guild members, Do-jun and his party gathered quietly at a distance.

“That white-haired one’s pretty, but she’s got no manners,” one of the rogues muttered.

“Right, boss? We just looked, and she gave us the stink-eye.”

“Should we rough her up a bit and cash in?”

“Again? If we do it too often, won’t the Bureau get suspicious?”

One of the men voiced his concerns, but Do-jun sneered.

“Heh, an accident in the dungeon. What are they gonna do?”

“True! How would they know if it’s an accident or not?”

“I’ll take care of the boss. Nothing to worry about, right? You don’t trust me?”

“Haha! When have we ever doubted you, boss?”

The rogue party chuckled darkly among themselves, clearly accustomed to such schemes.