Levelling Up In An Exclusive Dungeon

Chapter 19

Kang Jin-hyuk, convinced by his secretary, headed towards the Titan’s defensive line along with other hunters.

Upon noticing the sudden influx of hunters, the executives of Titan frowned at the unexpected guests.

For those who wished to resolve matters solely through Titan’s own prowess, the hunters arriving to assist felt like intruders.

“Who authorized bringing these people?”

“It was the guild master’s orders.”

Hearing the secretary’s words, the executives’ expressions darkened.

As much as they wanted to send them back, they couldn’t oppose the guild master’s command.

Even though they held significant authority, it would be unacceptable to disregard the orders of Seo Sang-ho, Titan’s emblem and an S-rank hunter.

Ultimately, one of the executives reluctantly issued directions to the guild members.

“Tch, let them in.”

Thanks to the guild members maintaining the defensive line stepping aside, a path opened for them.

Kang Jin-hyuk and the hunters quickly slipped through the gap.

As the secretary attempted to follow them in, the executive who had instructed the guild members asked her for confirmation.

“Are you sure this was something the guild master ordered?”

“… Of course.”

Though she answered nonchalantly, in her heart, she was already considering the written apology and the deduction of her pay that would inevitably follow.

Having improperly used the guild master’s name, she might have to subsist on instant meals for at least three months.

“Excuse me, but I’ll take my leave now.”

The secretary gave a slight bow and hurried her steps.

The hunters, waiting a short distance away as requested, spotted her.

As soon as she joined them, the secretary began assigning the hunters to appropriate positions.

The hunters who specialized in close-range skills took up positions at the front lines where the tanks stood.

The magic-type hunters provided bombardment support from the rear.

Those with support skills were asked to position themselves in the middle to lend aid.

While the other hunters positioned themselves as requested, Kang Jin-hyuk, possessing cleric duties, moved towards the front lines instead of the middle ranks.

Noticing Kang Jin-hyuk’s actions, the secretary quickly approached him.

“Wait a moment. Are you really planning to go up front?”

“Why are you asking something so obvious?”

She barely restrained the impulse to ask what was so obvious about it.

A cleric rushing towards a monster instead of providing the needed support felt utterly ridiculous.

Contemplating their conversation, she sighed softly.

In such a hurry, she couldn’t afford to waste time over one hunter.

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“… Do as you wish. Just remember that if you can’t meet the quota at this counter, there’ll be no rewards.”

With a cold tone, the secretary handed him an item resembling a pocket watch.

“What is this?”

“It’s a tool to measure the magical energy of the monsters you hunt and compile the scores.”

For instance, goblins would count as one point, orcs as three, and so on.

If you trapped one hundred goblins and three orcs, a total score of 109 points would be recorded at the counter.

This recently developed tool was already being actively used by Titan to prevent cheating.

“The average score of hunters at the front lines currently stands at 82 points. If you want rewards, you’ll need to achieve scores higher than that.”

“Are you being overly strict with me?”

“I aimed to bring in a supporter, not a dealer.”

Her argument held weight.

Setting aside the fact that he was a cleric, right now, Kang Jin-hyuk represented a common D-rank hunter.

It wasn’t appropriate to promise excessively high rewards to such a hunter.

“Don’t be surprised later when you see the results.”

As Kang Jin-hyuk accepted the counter with confidence, the secretary couldn’t help but laugh internally.

No matter how confident he was, he was still just a cleric—not a professional dealer.

She struggled to understand why Seo Sang-ho held him in such high regard.

“I look forward to your results.”

After the secretary left him, Kang Jin-hyuk was left alone to tuck the counter away in his pocket.

Although she had left with a smile, he knew that it was a facade.

Kang Jin-hyuk promised himself he would make her regret looking down on him.

“I didn’t want to use this if I could help it…”

With a sour expression, Kang Jin-hyuk pulled out a stamina-boosting potion from his inventory.

It would ramp up energy levels beyond normal, but the payback would leave him worn out the following day—an awful side effect.

Kang Jin-hyuk quickly gulped down the brown potion.

To stand against a horde of monsters after a week of overexertion, it was an unavoidable choice.

“Ugh… This potion is terrible for my health but works incredibly well.”

Although the taste was horrific, the potion had an undeniable effect.

As it slid down his throat, clarity flooded his mind, and energy surged through his body.

Kang Jin-hyuk began releasing that borrowed vitality fully at the front lines.

With full swings of his bat, he clashed with the club of an ogre that was targeting the hunters.

A powerful impact rang out; shattered pieces flew not from Kang Jin-hyuk’s thin arms but from the ogre’s wooden club.

“Wha?”

The ogre stared dumbfoundedly at its broken club.

It seemed unable to believe its cherished weapon had splintered against the seemingly weak human.

Nearby, the other hunters shared the ogre’s disbelief.

“What? Who is that guy?”

“Is that even possible with a bat?”

The spectacle that would typically only be performed by an A-rank hunter was now being demonstrated by Kang Jin-hyuk, thanks to the training with Lucia.

His level had skyrocketed to 140 after a week of hunting.

While in terms of levels, he was merely on the cusp of a B-rank, it was still insufficient for facing the ogre.

However, Kang Jin-hyuk possessed the effects of [Application of Divine Power – Level 3].

Thanks to channeling divine power throughout his body, his physical capabilities were greatly enhanced.

As long as his MP didn’t run out, his stats could surpass even those of A-rank hunters.

“I’m glad I prepared potions ahead of time.”

Typically, associations limited potion sales per individual to maintain supply metrics.

However, the black market organization he worked with allowed him to acquire over a hundred potions for a small additional fee.

At present, he had 1,529 mana potions in his inventory.

As long as his stomach held, he wouldn’t run out of MP.

“How long are you going to keep staring at your broken club?!”

Kang Jin-hyuk leaped into the air, reaching the ogre’s head with just a single jump.

Only then did the ogre finally attempt to divert its attention to Kang Jin-hyuk.

Yet, it was already too late.

With a swing of the bat, he shattered the ogre’s head like a balloon.

The massive body of the ogre collapsed to the ground, stirring up clouds of dust.

“Victory!”

Kang Jin-hyuk landed atop the ogre’s corpse and took out the counter to check his score.

“Wow, the ogre gives 12 points! If I catch about six more, I should be good.”

Leaving behind the awestruck hunters, Kang Jin-hyuk moved onward to his next target.

“Since I’m getting paid by the kill, I should fight where the witnesses are abundant.”

Kang Jin-hyuk had no trust in Titan.

Even if the counter worked perfectly, they could easily dispute his claims later.

He decided that the best way to ensure he wouldn’t be cheated would be to fight in the public eye, creating witnesses.

“Let’s see… That area seems to be gathering a lot of attention.”

Searching for the most crowded areas naturally led him to rather perilous locations.

Monsters, showcasing overwhelming power against the many hunters, became his prime quarry.

Kang Jin-hyuk downed mana potions and ran wild among the fray.

No matter how solid a monster’s body might seem, it couldn’t withstand the bat wrapped in his aura.

Before anyone knew it, Kang Jin-hyuk’s score had already exceeded 82 points.

“A-rank hunters are barely lasting against them…”

“What’s his deal?”

As he picked off one monster after another, the surrounding hunters began to take notice of Kang Jin-hyuk’s exploits.

Even as they admired his abilities, doubts floated on the edges of their minds.

“How did I miss a hunter like that until now?”

“I’m seeing him for the first time today.”

“He’s not listed among the A-rank roster, is he?”

Once someone started to shine in the role of a hunter, they almost inevitably attracted attention.

However, information about Kang Jin-hyuk was mostly non-existent.

Just weeks prior, he had been a D-rank hunter whom no one took notice of.

His recent notable actions had only been in aiding Titan by protecting clerics.

That accomplishment was kept under tight wraps by the Titan executives, ensuring his face was unrecognized.

The only ones who accurately knew his name and face were those that participated in the hunt with him back then and Ahn Do-yoon, knocked out in the confrontation.

“Why is that bastard getting so strong?”

From a distance, Ahn Do-yoon chewed on his thumb as he observed Kang Jin-hyuk’s ferocity, his chin propped up in thought.

He felt a sudden throbbing at the places he’d been hit during their previous encounter upon watching Kang Jin-hyuk rampaging.

“Why’s that bastard always nearby when I’m around?!”

Ahn Do-yoon remained oblivious to how Kang Jin-hyuk had improved so dramatically in such a short time.

The thought of a talent differential surged in on him just then, causing turbulence of emotions to surge.

He had barely clawed at his way through leveling, while Kang Jin-hyuk seemed to be flourishing without effort.

That couldn’t sit right with him.

“Who do you think you’re showing off in front of?!”

Ahn Do-yoon couldn’t bear watching Kang Jin-hyuk’s rising fame any longer.

Now’s the only chance he had to wear down the one who brought him shame.

With his mind set, Ahn Do-yoon realized he needed to move.

The moment a nearby ally noticed his strange behavior, it was already far too late.

Ahn Do-yoon clutched his sword with both hands, launching himself forward.

He only had eyes for Kang Jin-hyuk’s unguarded back.

The one moment where he wouldn’t expect an attack—a moment right after defeating a monster.

Fueled by his animosity, Ahn Do-yoon surged onward, ready to exact revenge.

Despite a witness count that seemed overwhelming, the anger he felt blurred his judgment.

Failing to withstand the neglect from the executives who used to back him, Ahn Do-yoon was determined to press on.

He pointed his sword directly at Kang Jin-hyuk, unleashing the bitterness that had been piling up within him.

In his view, the one responsible for his misfortune had always been Kang Jin-hyuk.

“No more holding back!”

When Ahn Do-yoon lashed out in anger, his sword broke in two against Kang Jin-hyuk’s shoulder… along with his own sense of rationality.