CHAPTER 15
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"Recommendation from an acquaintance? Really? You think bumping into Jehee makes you his acquaintance?" Taera challenged.
My response came swiftly, "Why would I claim to be Jehee's acquaintance? I'm introducing a contact of mine."
I was utterly perplexed. Aligning myself with someone like Jehee was the last thing on my mind. Why would I seek a connection with someone so cunning, who offered nothing more than a dubious ring under the guise of a contract?
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[Warning: Due to the Master's displeased mood, your favorability rating decreases by -1.]
[Warning: Due to the Master's displeased mood, your favorability rating decreases by -1.]
"What's the issue?" I protested, baffled.
Jehee’s mood had soured suddenly. I hadn't uttered anything offensive. How could I possibly enhance my favorability under these circumstances? In frustration, I rose sharply, fixing Jehee with a glare. He responded with a casual shrug and a smug smile, only fueling my irritation.
Yet, it wasn't Jehee who replied, but Taera. "What do you mean, 'why'? Have you lost your mind?" he retorted sharply.
The irony wasn't lost on me – Taera was the one overstepping, always meddling in matters concerning Jehee. He didn't know the full story.
"I wasn't speaking to him," I shot back.
"To him? Ha! It's been ages since I've faced such treatment, but surprisingly, I'm not even mad."
Taera stood defiantly, his sarcastic laughter echoing my dismissive words. His posture was a clear threat: “You might be the first to challenge me, but I can easily quash that challenge.” So, I opted for silence.
Then Jehee, who had been observing silently, calmly addressed Taera. "Taera."
"What?"
"Say hello. Meet Yeon Seonwoo, who claims to be my fan."
"...A fan?"
"Yeah. If a recommendation from an acquaintance isn’t feasible, how about we consider one from a fan?"
Taera's confusion mirrored my own as he furrowed his brows. "What are you getting at, Jehee?"
The situation was becoming increasingly baffling.
Our gazes met, and I subtly shook my head, signaling that my frustration wasn't directed at him. Still, unease clung to me as I tightly gripped my protective gear, readying myself for any potential danger. However, Taera's reaction to my equipment, marked by a peculiar chuckle, made it evident that his behavior was disconcerting, not just to me but to others as well.
"That's amusing," he commented dryly.
I shot back, "What's so funny about it? Let's share the joke because I'm certainly not amused."
"Alright then. I’ll accept the recommendation from a fan," Taera declared, his expression a mix of amusement and devilish charm. "Seonwoo, right? Give me the details of your recommendation. I’ll have a headhunter on it immediately. You do know, in our guild, not just anyone gets to join the request reception team. Seize this chance while you can."
His proposal, delivered with a sly grin, made me realize the unique nature of the guild’s leadership.
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The newly discovered dungeon was nestled within a neighborhood park in Junggye-dong. An imposing iron gate stood in the center of the park, marking the dungeon's entrance.
Contrary to my expectations of a more fantastical arrival, we journeyed to the location in a guild vehicle. Surprisingly, the ride was quiet, with each member engrossed in their devices, creating an atmosphere of focused anticipation.
An hour later, we reached the park. As I stepped out of the car, the sight of the dungeon's entrance prompted a nervous swallow. The prospect of entering such a place was both exciting and intimidating.
Standing before the gate, I reassessed my gear. The protective equipment, crafted by Yeom Dongmae and worn over my black guild uniform, felt cumbersome and restrictive, a constant reminder of the challenges that lay ahead.
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[Superior chest protector made of Amata leather. Creator: Yeom Dongmae]
[Superior arm protector made of Amata leather. Creator: Yeom Dongmae]
[Superior leg protector made of Amata leather. Creator: Yeom Dongmae]
[Lesser shaman's bauble. Wear Level Restriction: Lv. 50 and above]
My curiosity about Yeom Dongmae grew. A member of the Yeolmu Guild, skilled in creating superior protective gear, yet an unfamiliar name in the gaming world. Who was this elusive craftsman? The mystery added an intriguing layer to our impending dungeon exploration.
Yeom Dongmae's craftsmanship had afforded me the luxury of donning these exceptional protective gears, unfettered by any level restrictions. However, the dungeon-sourced weapon I possessed was bound by level constraints, relegating me to lesser equipment.
Despite its inferior quality, the weapon's price exceeded that of my protective gear, suggesting it was likely beyond my financial reach.
"Could this be a gift?" I wondered, barely concealing my eagerness as I admired the significant stat boost from my equipped items. I yearned for more practical gear like this, rather than some peculiar ring. Speaking under my breath to ensure privacy, I summoned my status window.
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[Yeon Seon-woo Lv. 52
Trait Grade: C
Primary Trait: Supporter
Secondary Trait: Mentalist
Awakened Trait: - (Unawakened)
Physical Attack: 152
Magic Attack: 1,508
Physical Defense: 3,614
Magic Defense: 2,785
Status Resistance: 1,152
↓Expand]
Reviewing my enhanced stats, thanks to the superior gear, I was genuinely impressed. The cumulative effect of the set bonuses had significantly bolstered my abilities. With this upgrade, I felt confident that I wouldn't be easily vanquished by C-grade dungeon monsters.
As I surveyed my equipment and status, my companions, who had exited the car with me, were similarly engrossed in checking their own gear, their hands gesturing through the air as if manipulating invisible interfaces.
Present were Lee Jehee, Han Chorok, Baek Taera, and Kim Hana, our designated guide. Witnessing these key characters from the game gearing up for the dungeon was both intriguing and heartening.
The idea that all these individuals had congregated solely to aid me in a C-grade dungeon seemed almost unbelievable. With such an assembly, it felt more akin to a team prepped for an A-grade challenge.
And having Hana as our guide was the icing on the cake. As a guide, she was a pivotal figure in dungeon raids. Rangers, known for their exploration and mapping prowess, excel in navigating dungeons. Hana epitomized this, being a top-tier Ranger class hunter. Her awakened trait, 'Equalizer King,' placed her among the elite in archery, renowned for her mastery with the divine bow. Her silent demeanor only added to her mystique as a formidable character.
Taking Hana into a simple C-grade dungeon did indeed feel excessive. As I contemplated this, my gaze fell on her, absorbed in the sight of the dungeon entrance. However, my observation was interrupted by a sudden hand on my shoulder, causing me to startle.
If I had anticipated Jehee being so close, I might have feigned ignorance.
"What, what's up?" I stuttered, caught off guard by his abrupt approach.
"Guilty conscience? You jumped like you’ve done something wrong," Jehee teased, a trace of amusement in his voice.
"Guilty? As if someone as upright as me would ever be!" My protest sounded overdone, even to my ears.
"Upright?" He raised an eyebrow, stepping back with an air of skepticism that rendered any rebuttal from me moot.
"So, why did you call me over?" I asked, eager to shift the conversation.
"You need to disable the party member information viewing permission. It's still on, isn’t it?" he reminded me.
"Oh, right."
His comment reminded me about the permission settings I had previously enabled. I promptly accessed my status window and turned off the viewing permissions. As I did so, the party window popped up, showing that I was already part of Jehee's party.
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[‘Jehee’ has requested to join your party. Auto-decline in 30, 29, 28…….]
[〈Accept〉 or 〈Decline〉]
[‘Yeon Seon-woo’ has joined ‘Jehee’s party.]
[Party leader ‘Jehee’ has transferred all rights to experience and item acquisition to ‘Yeon Seon-woo’.]
"Wow."
I hadn't fully grasped that the game allowed for such settings, which were particularly handy for leveling up new party members in dungeons. The notion that I was now benefiting from this generosity was unexpected.
Seeing my reaction, Taera couldn't help but comment, "You look so pleased with yourself, grinning like that."
With a smile still playing on my lips, I replied, "I'm not grinning that much."
He shot back, perplexed, "Are you missing a few screws or something?"
"Just a regular guy here," I maintained, keeping my lips tightly sealed as I spoke.
This only seemed to irritate Taera more, his expression turning icy as he called out sharply, "Hey."
Instantly, I regretted my earlier demeanor.
"...Yes?"
"Just remember, I’m the healer. I can bring you back from the brink, understand?" His reminder was stern, underscoring his critical role in our upcoming venture.
"Yes, exactly that," I responded, a hint of unease in my voice, intrigued yet wary of Taera's healing capabilities.
"Do you really want to experience endless pain without any visible injuries, up until the brink of death?" he prodded, his tone implying a warning.
"No, no, I get it!" I quickly assured him, eager to avoid any such experience. "Believe me, pain is the last thing I want."
As I cautiously edged away from Taera, who slowly relaxed his fists, I felt a sudden, firm hand on my shoulder. Whirling around, I was met with Jehee's presence, right by my side. His unexpected proximity caught me off guard yet again.