Chapter 15 -----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Giant Sweet Potato (2)
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Woooooo!
At that moment, a massive wolf howl echoed from the distance. Hundreds of Blood Seekers in the vicinity had caught the scent of blood and were charging toward them.
"Annoying pests."
Even for a 1st Grade Awakener, facing a horde of hundreds of Blood Seekers meant pulling back first. Fights against multiple opponents were never as simple as they seemed.
But the Heavenly Demon wore an irritated expression, as if he were swatting at a swarm of flies.
"Four Ghosts Demon Extreme Retreat!"
The Four Ghosts Demon Extreme Retreat Technique infused tremendous rotational force into the legs, with destructive power increasing the more the body spun.
Spinning wildly in midair, the Heavenly Demon lashed out with continuous kicks at the oncoming Blood Seekers.
Keee.
The final Blood Seeker, its neck snapped by the kick, groaned as it collapsed to the ground.
A short while later, the area around the fallen hundreds of Blood Seekers was a literal sea of blood and corpses.
[Impressive as always, Heavenly Demon.]
"Trash like this isn't even worth a warm-up."
[That's not what I meant. I already know your martial prowess surpasses that of a 1st Grade Awakener.]
Nameless spoke in a tone of renewed admiration.
[What impresses me is your mental fortitude. Even the greatest Awakeners would rarely stand unfazed amid the corpses of hundreds of monsters.]
"This Seat is the Heavenly Demon. In the murim world, I witnessed far worse scenes countless times."
[Were there monsters there too?]
Narrowing his eyes briefly, the Heavenly Demon shook his head.
"Of course there were demonic beasts. But something far more terrifying and relentless exists."
[What is that?]
"...Humans."
As if unearthing a thought buried deep within, the Heavenly Demon's gaze darkened like pitch black.
Whirrr.
At that moment, Nameless, who had been rotating its round head in all directions, flashed its eyes.
[Heavenly Demon. A dungeon likely containing Crab Feet detected approximately one kilometer to the east.]
"Head there."
After advancing about two hundred meters, they escaped the foggy mist region.
Ahead of the charging Heavenly Demon lay a ruined urban landscape similar to that of a Safe Dungeon.
"Is that it?"
Following the blue arrow's projection, the Heavenly Demon's gaze settled on a single round tower, blackened as if stained with ink.
The tower, embedded like a massive chunk of iron, exuded an unsettling aura that crept outward.
"Looks just like a chimney."
Frowning at the pitch-black dungeon entrance, the Heavenly Demon muttered.
"That shell-backed beast lives in there?"
[It's just an estimation.]
Standing silently, the Heavenly Demon slowly stepped into the entrance, which resembled a void of darkness.
Whoosh.
The moment he entered the dungeon, a scorching heat blasted against his face.
A long tunnel, cave-like in structure, carried hot winds from somewhere within.
"Hmm."
Inhaling the hot air, the Heavenly Demon pressed onward steadily.
The narrow interior gradually widened, suddenly opening into a vast clearing surrounded by rocky walls.
Halting his steps, the Heavenly Demon narrowed his eyes. He sensed faint movements from the walls that appeared to be mere rock.
"These are..."
[Fire Salamanders. Monsters with a danger level of 2,500. They spew flames exceeding 300 degrees from their bodies.]
Only then did he realize that most of the "rocks" inside the dungeon were lizards camouflaged to match the surrounding stone.
Grrr.
Dozens of lizards turned their heads, glaring at the Heavenly Demon with gleaming eyes.
Fwoosh.
Flames erupted from the fine protrusions on their skin, igniting their bodies like roaring bonfires.
[Given the Fire Salamanders right at the dungeon entrance, this seems to be an A-Rank or higher high-risk dungeon. I recommend retreating.]
"..."
[No matter how strong you are, Heavenly Demon, clearing an A-Rank or higher dungeon requires dozens, sometimes hundreds, of high-grade Awakeners.]
Fwooooosh.
In that instant, one Fire Salamander on the rock wall gaped its maw and unleashed a torrent of crimson flames toward the Heavenly Demon.
"Cold Spirit Ice White Divine Art!"
As the searing heat surged forth, the Heavenly Demon extended one arm, channeling the murim's supreme ice art, the Cold Spirit Ice White Divine Art.
But with his internal energy capped at a mere ten years' worth, only a thin layer of frost formed on his hand.
Sizzle.
The flames touched his palm, instantly producing white steam.
"Urk."
Fwooooosh.
As the Fire Salamander spewed flames again, the Heavenly Demon spun away without countering, dodging the blaze.
[Heavenly Demon, there's no need to force your way through. The chances of a Giant Sweet Potato here are slim.]
The Heavenly Demon was a supreme expert with unyielding pride, but not a reckless fool.
He nodded calmly, abandoning his attempt to invoke the Heavenly Demon Supreme Ability.
"Let's turn back."
Afterward, the Heavenly Demon and Nameless meticulously scoured the boundary of the Variable Dungeon region.
But aside from occasional Blood Seekers popping out, no Crab Feet or Giant Sweet Potatoes appeared—nor even any dungeons.
"What the hell is going on? The only dungeon on the boundary is that one with the Fire Salamanders."
As the Heavenly Demon stared wearily, Nameless trailed off.
[My apologies. There were repeated reports from Awakeners claiming to have seen Crab Feet near the Variable Dungeon region's entrance...]
The series of beeps and clicks suggested it was running calculations again.
Once finished, Nameless, its eyes returning to normal, stroked the top of its head with its bony hand.
[The map of the Variable Dungeon region doesn't mark dungeon locations precisely, but there are plenty of Awakener traces near the boundary area.]
"That's the fourth time you've said that."
[My apologies. Could you move northeast one more time?]
Lost in deep thought, the Heavenly Demon shook his head.
"Enough. Now we'll do it my way."
He stared intently at a jagged rebar protruding from the ruined building ahead, then unleashed a sudden punch.
Boom!
The frail wall crumbled, leaving the rebar starkly exposed.
"Hup!"
Executing a breath control technique, the Heavenly Demon snapped off the rebar in one go and bent the flat end into an L-shape.
[What are you planning with the rebar?]
"A method unique to this Seat for detecting places where malevolent energy rises."
Gripping the L-shaped rebar, the Heavenly Demon closed his eyes.
"Dungeons are places where demonic beasts gather, so malevolent energy should surely emanate from them."
[You're referring to a dowsing rod.]
As the Heavenly Demon walked with eyes closed, holding the rebar, Nameless murmured lowly.
[What you're doing has no scientific basis whatsoever.]
"You sound just like Ma Gi-ja."
[Who is Ma Gi-ja?]
"He existed. One of my subordinates who acted like he knew everything, just like you. He scoffed at my secret technique as superstition too."
Opening his eyes briefly, the Heavenly Demon addressed Nameless.
"Be quiet from now on. Talking disrupts this Seat's concentration."
Closing his eyes again, the Heavenly Demon wandered about gripping the rebar. After walking for some time, he sensed something off and opened his eyes.
"Hm?"
He found himself back at the boundary between the Safe Dungeon and Variable Dungeon region, shrouded in mist.
[Heavenly Demon. We've returned to the boundary point.]
"Strange. I definitely felt something here."
The Heavenly Demon closed his eyes again and gripped the rebar. Focusing on the sensation in his fingertips, he detected an odd energy rising from a specific spot at the entrance.
"Underground, huh."
[What do you mean...?]
"Heavenly Demon Supreme Ability!"
Boom!
Invoking the Heavenly Demon Supreme Ability, immense power exploded from his entire body.
Crouching briefly, the Heavenly Demon shot into the sky using the Lightness Skill.
Nameless, clinging to his shoulder, gasped at the sudden aerial view and clutched the fabric near his shoulder with its bony arms.
"H-Heavenly Demon."
"Fist Demon Seven Forms..."
Crimson haze enveloped the Heavenly Demon as scarlet flames ignited in his palms.
"Heavenly Hand Void Breaker!"
Thrusting both hands forward, the scarlet flames descended like a fire dragon, burrowing into the ground.
Boom!
With an explosion, the dirt mound scattered in all directions.
At the same time, a staircase covered in iron plating slowly emerged from the earth. It was the dungeon entrance.
"Whew."
Landing on the ground, the Heavenly Demon eyed the metallic stairs and the entrance below.
"As expected, it was beneath the surface."
Creaaaaak.
But from the black door came a bizarre noise, and a massive crab-like monster slowly revealed itself.
One, two, twenty... countless Crab Feet began emerging outside.
[Congratulations, Heavenly Demon. You've discovered a new dungeon.]
"With those shell-backed beasts around, there must be sweet potatoes somewhere too."
The Heavenly Demon slowly surveyed the dungeon interior, teeming with Crab Feet.
From the entrance onward, innumerable Giant Sweet Potatoes hung in clusters.
"How many do I need to bring back for the store owner to fulfill the Divine Request?"
[One Giant Sweet Potato yields over 30 bundles of eco-friendly fodder. Just one will suffice.]
Nodding, the Heavenly Demon looked around with satisfaction. By its scale, this dungeon held far more Giant Sweet Potatoes than the previous one.
Nameless chattered on in admiration.
[You've discovered a new dungeon ripe for resource harvesting. Reporting its location to the Association could net you anywhere from 10 million won to up to a billion, depending on size...]
"No need. This Seat can't register anyway."
[Correct.]
"Not interested. I've agreed to work for the store owner for three years. For the sake of recovering my internal energy, if nothing else."
Opening his bag, the Heavenly Demon plucked one Giant Sweet Potato and stuffed it inside.
[But there's a problem, Heavenly Demon.]
Nameless spoke as it gazed at the Giant Sweet Potatoes clustered at the entrance.
[To sustainably produce eco-friendly fodder from Giant Sweet Potatoes, someone must publicize this dungeon's location to the world.]
"What are you saying?"
[Only then will Awakeners harvest the resources, and the fodder factories produce eco-friendly fodder. Unless you become a direct supplier of Giant Sweet Potatoes yourself.]
"No big deal. Register it under the store owner's name."
[Manager Jang Chaewon isn't registered as an Awakener either.]
"What?"
The Heavenly Demon looked dumbfounded. Even the store owner was an unregistered Awakener.
"Then report it anonymously."
[Impossible. Only registered Awakeners can register dungeons. Even spreading rumors might not prompt the Association to investigate promptly.]
"A registered Awakener, huh..."
Gazing at the bag containing the Giant Sweet Potato, the Heavenly Demon suddenly recalled two faces.
An elderly man beaming broadly while carrying a huge load, thinking of his granddaughter. And the face of an old man searching ruins for relics to cover his sick child's hospital bills.
* * *
"Huh?"
A few days later, inside Bokbok Interiors.
Jang Chaewon gaped at the junk dealer employee unloading heaps of eco-friendly fodder.
"What's with all this fodder? Did the dungeon regenerate already?"
"Oh, ma'am. Haven't you heard the rumors?"
Setting down the eco-friendly fodder bundles, the employee smiled faintly.
"A dungeon overflowing with Giant Sweet Potatoes was discovered. Near the Safe Dungeon boundary."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Found by a team of nothing but old folks, they say."
"A team of only elderly people?"
Jang Chaewon blinked.
Even near the boundary, that area overlapped with Variable Dungeons—misty, crawling with high-danger monsters outside.
"I've never heard of an elite team made up of seniors."
"Nah, it was a 7th or 8th Grade Awakener team. They were scavenging for relics everywhere and stumbled on the entrance by chance."
Having unloaded all the eco-friendly fodder from the truck, the employee spoke enviously.
"Nice dungeon with good materials—they must've gotten a huge reward. Like 100 million per person? Or 200 million."
"Wow."
"Anyway, no more worries about supply. I'll head in now."
"Yes, thanks for your hard work. Appreciate it."
After the employee left, Jang Chaewon glanced at the Heavenly Demon reading a book at the reception table.
'That guy...'
A few days prior.
"Whoa, Giant Sweet Potatoes? Where'd you get these?"
The bag the Heavenly Demon brought back from the dungeon was piled high with enormous sweet potatoes.
Giant Sweet Potatoes, the key ingredient for eco-friendly fodder.
"I wandered dungeons and got them from an old porter fellow."
"An old man?"
"Yeah. He does hauling work and said he got them by chance."
Jang Chaewon narrowed her eyes.
"Were you out hunting sweet potatoes because you thought you wouldn't earn trust? I told you not to go into dungeons for personal gain!"
"As if. It was purely for public good—studying dungeons. I got them purely by coincidence en route."
Lies were written all over his face, but she wasn't in a position to pry.
Without Giant Sweet Potatoes, fulfilling the Divine Request right away would have been impossible.
'That guy turned the whole dungeon upside down looking for Crab Feet.'
Those serving in the territory must not register dungeon discoveries or new monsters.
That too would be personal gain.
"Lucky break."
Catching her gaze, the Heavenly Demon said awkwardly.
"Good thing Giant Sweet Potatoes were found. One worry down, right?"
"Uh-huh. Sure is."
Pretending nonchalance, the Heavenly Demon returned to his book. Shrugging at the sight, Jang Chaewon thought.
'Fine, I'll let it slide. Just this once.'
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