NOVEL NEXT Chapter 188: 188
Ting♪
As Jin Yuha put the ring on her finger, a clear bell rang in everyone's head.
A translucent blue window appeared in front of Kang Do-hee's eyes.
" [Jin Yuha] has equipped the "Ring of Affection and Obsession". "
Woom─
Along with the feeling of something foreign on her finger, a silver ring with a twisted design and a lewd pink gemstone appeared on Kang Do-hee's finger.
Kang Do-hee's eyebrows twitched as she stared at the ring that had suddenly appeared on her finger.
'What is this ring...? Did Little Fool get it?'
Jin Yuha had just shouted that he found it, so it must be his.
But what caught Kang Do-hee's attention more was the meaningful name of the item.
"Ring of Affection and Obsession"
The name of an artifact usually revealed its identity and effect, and it also fit with the concept of the dungeon it was obtained from.
Kang Do-hee, who had conquered countless dungeons, instinctively began her analysis.
'The theme of this dungeon is clearly nightmares. The main trap was psychological attacks... So it's a brainwashing item...? Affection and obsession, could it be, making me forcibly obedient to Little Fool...?!'
For a moment, such an assumption popped into her head, but Kang Do-hee quickly shook her head.
Using this artifact to force herself and the other party members to obey, control, and wield them?
That wasn't like Jin Yuha.
He wasn't that kind of man.
He would never do anything that would harm her or the other party members.
Kang Do-hee's firm belief in Jin Yuha made her mouth twitch.
'I've come to trust this Little Fool so much without realizing it.'
Kang Do-hee, who was usually distrustful of others and preferred to go it alone, found this feeling quite refreshing.
'Anyway, the fact that it appeared on my finger and showed up in my status window means that it's going to have some effect on me...'
Just as Kang Do-hee was about to open her status window to check for any changes, a notification appeared.
" Due to the effect of the item, [Jin Yuha]'s affinity towards [Kang Do-hee] increases Kang Do-hee's abilities. "
'...What, what!? Ho, affinity!?'
Kang Do-hee's pupils quaked at the unexpected word.
'So, so it means that depending on how much Little Fool likes me, my abilities will increase...?!'
It was an unheard-of effect, an artifact that could increase one's abilities based on someone's feelings.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Kang Do-hee's eyes moved faster than her cognition, checking to see how much her abilities had increased.
And her mouth fell open.
"...4%? All my abilities...?! Wait, is this a high number?"
It was definitely high.
A 4% increase in all abilities meant that she was practically a different person now.
There would definitely be a stark difference in her performance going forward.
However, the reason she wondered if this was a "high number" was not just that.
Paan─
Kang Do-hee turned her gaze to the other party members. They, too, had finished checking, and they wore the same expression as her.
Their eyes were fixed on each other's fingers, where the pink gemstone shone.
'...They're all wearing it. Even this girl, who isn't an official party member yet.'
This meant that the effect of Jin Yuha's item applied to all of Utopia.
In terms of simply increasing the party's power, this was the best outcome, but there was no room for such naive thoughts in their heads right now.
They were simply.
'...So, how much did she get?'
She didn't want to reveal her own increase, but she was curious about the others' increases.
She really, desperately wanted to know.
It was like a standoff between gunslingers in the Wild West, the tension palpable among the party members.
Just as they were all deep in thought,
"Oh."
Suddenly, a tired voice came from below.
"...My abilities went up. 3%. Hmm, is this a high number?"
It was Ichika, who had been lying in their midst.
Fortunately, her increase was lower than 4%, and at least all of Utopia's party members had a higher increase than the new girl.
As they all unknowingly breathed a sigh of relief,
"Hmm. So, if my affinity with my benefactor increases, my abilities will continue to rise...?"
Ichika casually dropped a bombshell.
"!
.
.
.
Utopia's hideout.
The large table was cluttered with papers and empty coffee cups.
Scratch scratch─
Shin Se-hee was sorting through the documents when she picked up her coffee cup.
Hoorip─
"Hmm, the reputation work is more or less done, and... There doesn't seem to be any movement to steal the quest for the American monster extermination quest... Hmm, we should be able to take it without any issues. After completing this quest, we'll take a week off to recharge..."
As Shin Se-hee went over their future schedule in her head, she suddenly leaned back in her chair and looked out the window.
"Hoo... Jin Yuha's taking a long time. He should be back soon..."
The sun was setting, the red sky slowly turning to dusk.
As the operator supporting Utopia from behind the scenes, Shin Se-hee took pride and responsibility in her work.
But she hated this time, waiting alone while Utopia was out on a dangerous mission.
According to Jin Yuha, they would be back today after clearing the dungeon.
Unless something unexpected happened.
But the problem was when accidents occurred.
No matter how much the world expected and admired Utopia, they were not invincible.
There were bound to be casualties and serious injuries when it came to clearing dungeons and fighting monsters.
There were all sorts of bizarre monsters and powerful individuals in the world, and not all of them were good people.
'If someone dares to meddle, I'll bet everything I have and destroy them to their very roots.'
As Shin Se-hee indulged in her thoughts, unknowingly muttering to herself, she said,
"Maybe I should have asked to be a combat member too..."
If she told Jin Yuha that she wanted to be a combat member, he would be extremely troubled, but in the end, he would agree.
After all, their relationship had evolved from initial hatred to mutual trust.
"...That can't be done. This is what I'm best at, and it's what Jin Yuha has entrusted to me. I can't disappoint him."
Moreover, Jin Yuha probably had someone specific in mind for the special position.
"Hmm, but it would be nice if that person was a little worse than me, right? That's just my greed."
Just then,
Tting♪
Suddenly, a clear bell rang in her head, and a ring appeared on her thin finger.
"...What's this?"
.
.
.
Meanwhile,
Screeeech─ Screeeech─
"Kwaaaaaaaaahhhh!!!"
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaahhhh!!!"
Terrifying screams echoed through the dark underground.
"Run away!!! That crazy bitch has invaded this place!!!"
A group of people were running for their lives, tears, snot, and blood dripping from their limbs.
Tap─
A woman walked into the underground area.
Black bobbed hair, sunken black eyes, and a cold, hardened face.
It was Baek Seol-hee.
"Everyone, draw your swords."
At her short command,
Srrrrrrr─
The black-clad figures behind her, members of the Demon Slayer Squad, drew their swords in unison.
"Pursue and kill them all. Don't let a single rat escape from here."
Taah─
Baek Seol-hee took the lead, rushing forward and unsheathing her sword.
Tting♪
She casually swung her sword to wipe off the blood that had splattered on it, but suddenly, a sword aura burst forth.
Shaaaaaeaeaeaeak─!!!
The sword aura shot towards the pillars holding up the underground area.
Screeeech.
One of the pillars supporting the underground area was cleanly sliced through, revealing a smooth cross-section.
Kuguguguung─!!
"Waaah!! It's the pillar!! The pillar!! The pillar is collapsing!! Run, you idiots, or you'll become dried squid!!!"
Pababbat!!
.
.
.
Heok
Heok
Heok
The Demon Slayers who barely escaped to the surface from the collapsed underground were breathing heavily.
"Leader… control your strength…"
Among them, a woman wearing a rabbit mask glared sharply at Baek Seol-hee and spoke slowly. Others wearing animal masks also chimed in.
"Leader! Are you trying to kill us all!?"
"You did this last time too! If we miss a few because of this, we'll have to go through all this trouble again!"
"Do we have to dig out all those demons that got buried…?"
However, Baek Seol-hee kept her mouth shut and said nothing.
Suddenly, a bell rang in her head. And she just stared blankly at the ring that appeared on her hand.
'…My strength has increased. All of a sudden?'
The emotion she was feeling now was beyond astonishment.
She thought her abilities could no longer improve through training or elixirs. An unbreakable wall of growth.
'I vaguely thought I couldn't get any stronger than this…'
That limit was shattered today without any warning.
By 4%, no less.
'Why on earth…?'
Soon, she understood the reason.
" Baek Seol-hee's abilities increase based on the affection Jin Yuha has for her. "
Oh, my God.
It seemed her disciple had done something ridiculous somewhere again.
A smile.
Baek Seol-hee, who received an unexpectedly huge gift, let her lips curl into a broad grin.
"Th-the Leader, she smiled!?"
"Damn it, who cursed just now! Come out and bow your head!"
The Demon Slayers around her made a fuss at her smile.
'Hmm, my abilities increase based on affection… I suppose I'll need to strengthen the master-disciple relationship even more.'
Realizing that a new path to growth had opened, Baek Seol-hee thought of her disciple and touched her lips.
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