Levelling Up In An Exclusive Dungeon

Chapter 1

Years ago, monsters started to disappear from this continent.

At first, I thought they were simply vanishing, but after investigating, I discovered that wasn’t the case.

The missing monsters had all moved to another dimension.

Interdimensional travel.

It was a long-cherished dream for mages like me.

I didn’t know why this phenomenon was happening to monsters,

but it didn’t matter now, as it helped my research.

“The coordinate settings are complete… and the magical power connection is perfect!”

Standing on the magic circle that took me a long time to complete, I spread my arms toward the ceiling.

It was a great fortune that I could use this dungeon called the Great Labyrinth.

If I used the magical power here, crossing dimensions wouldn’t be a problem.

“Let’s go!”

As I shouted powerfully and activated the magic circle, the surroundings were dyed in blue light.

It was the same phenomenon that monsters showed right before they flew to another dimension.

I was convinced that my research was not wrong and closed my eyes tightly.

I believed that when I opened my eyes again, I would surely have arrived in another dimension.

However, even as time passed, the surroundings remained silent.

Feeling the chilly wind brushing against my sleeves, I opened my slightly closed eyes.

In my restored vision, I saw only a vast, empty field, not a dungeon.

It didn’t take long to realize what that meant.

“No way… did only the dungeon cross dimensions?!”

At the same time.

The mage wasn’t the only one feeling bewildered.

Hunter Kang Jin-hyuk, who returned home and opened the attic door, was also at a loss for words, even more so than the mage who failed to travel dimensions.

“What the hell is this?”

A labyrinth that would only appear in movies.

Anyone would be surprised if it were found in their own attic.

◈◈◈◈◈◈

The dawn air is cold.

It was only October, too early to call it winter, but

the dawn, with the sun setting and the air turning cold, was chilly enough to make one’s breath visible.

Olympic Park in Songpa District, Seoul, Gymnasium 1.

Many people were lined up in front of it, ignoring the cold weather.

They had been queuing since the crack of dawn just to see their favorite celebrities.

Kang Jin-hyuk was beside them, delivering water bottles needed for the stalls.

He saw the long queue filling the front of the gymnasium while heading towards the truck.

And he stopped and admired it inwardly.

He was just living day by day without a goal,

but it was enviable to be able to be so immersed in something.

Someone tapped Kang Jin-hyuk’s back as he stood there for a moment.

He turned his head to see that it was his senior from his part-time job.

“Why are you standing there blankly?”

“Just for a moment…”

“We need to hurry. We’re not even halfway done yet.”

“Yes.”

When his senior got into the truck loaded with water bottles, Kang Jin-hyuk also got into the passenger seat.

His senior, feeling bored in the truck after starting it and driving off, glanced at Kang Jin-hyuk.

He was trying to think of something to talk about when Kang Jin-hyuk’s short sleeves caught his eye.

“Aren’t you cold in this weather?”

“I’m a Hunter. Have you forgotten that Hunters are good at enduring heat and cold?”

“Does that apply to D-ranks too?”

“Luckily, yes. Thanks to that, I saved on heating bills.”

“Wow, I really envy that.”

When the conversation briefly stopped, an awkward silence followed.

His senior, unable to stand this, brought up a random topic.

“Why is a Hunter working part-time in a place like this?”

“…Why else? Because I’m broke.”

His senior belatedly realized that it was a rather rude question.

He tried to end the conversation quickly with an awkward laugh, but the damage was already done.

Instead, his senior tried to come up with something comforting to say.

“It would be nice if those guild bastards would loosen their grip a bit, wouldn’t it?”

“As if those damn guys would ever do that.”

The areas where monsters frequently appeared were monopolized by the top guilds.

They weren’t willing to give up even the monsters that appeared randomly in other places, so there was no way they would release their monopoly now.

Powerless D-rank Hunters like Kang Jin-hyuk had no way to hunt monsters, so they had no choice but to look for other jobs or work part-time like this.

Kang Jin-hyuk sighed quietly.

“It’s been getting worse lately, so it’s unbearable.”

“Why? Did something happen between the guilds?”

Kang Jin-hyuk was puzzled by his senior’s curiosity.

His eyes seemed to be asking how he could not know about it.

“Haven’t you heard the news?”

“What news?”

“For the past month, some crazy serial killer has been on a rampage, targeting only Hunters from large guilds.”

His senior laughed at Kang Jin-hyuk’s explanation.

“So you’re saying that those big shots can’t catch a single serial killer and are taking it out on others?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

They make excuses, saying it’s to find the culprit, but in reality, it’s not.

The existence of the serial killer is just an excuse to crush their opponents.

They had no intention of catching the culprit.

They seemed to believe that only the stupid and weak would fall victim to a serial killer,

and that they themselves were safe.

“The more I hear, the crazier they sound.”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

If he had known that being a Hunter would be like this, he would have looked for another job.

Kang Jin-hyuk felt pathetic for having dreamed of succeeding as a Hunter and staying in the same place for over three years.

Usually, if you struggle this much, you’d at least get a lucky break.

Why hasn’t the sun shone on my life yet?

When will my chance finally come?

While he was thinking like that, Kang Jin-hyuk heard screams.

It wasn’t just one person’s scream, but many.

His senior also seemed greatly agitated after hearing it.

“Hey, the concert isn’t supposed to start yet, is it?”

“Is that even a question?”

Those screams didn’t sound like they were out of joy.

It was definitely the screams of people terrified and begging for their lives.

Usually, the reason for such screams in a place like this was either a terrorist attack or the appearance of monsters. It was one of the two.

Either way, it was a great opportunity for Kang Jin-hyuk.

“Finally!”

This kind of thing happened at the place where he was working part-time.

And it happened at this hour, when everyone else was asleep.

They say a hero is made in times of crisis.

Kang Jin-hyuk felt that his turn had come.

Just in case, Kang Jin-hyuk pulled out an aluminum bat from his worn-out, cheap inventory.

“Senior, run away.”

“What about you? Are you really going there?”

“Of course.”

“Alone?”

“It’s actually easier to earn money alone.”

If there were more Hunters, they would just end up competing with each other.

In that case, it was better to hunt alone.

“Should I help you? I’ve been working out lately, so I’m confident in my strength.”

Kang Jin-hyuk laughed at his senior’s words.

“You know that only Hunters can catch monsters, right?”

It wasn’t a matter of strength.

Monsters had a special wavelength around them that made them immune to attacks from ordinary people and even conventional weapons.

Only Hunters, who were given stats, could penetrate that wavelength and attack.

“Don’t do anything stupid and just evacuate.”

Kang Jin-hyuk ran towards where the screams were coming from without hesitation.

As expected, when he saw the monsters attacking people, a smile formed on his face.

With so many of them, even if he only caught the small ones, he could live without worrying about money for a whole year.

“Alright!”

Kang Jin-hyuk stepped forward enthusiastically, but before he could reach the monsters, a middle-aged man blocked his way.

Realizing that the man was the CEO of the company that hired him, Kang Jin-hyuk stopped.

Kang Jin-hyuk couldn’t understand why the CEO was blocking his way.

“What are you doing?”

“Can’t you see? I’m stopping you from going.”

“No, I mean why?”

Thinking about the reason, Kang Jin-hyuk thought the CEO was trying to stop ordinary people from entering.

So he took out his wallet and showed his Hunter license.

“I’m a Hunter, so I can catch them. Get out of the way.”

“I’m stopping you because you’re a Hunter. This place already has an owner.”

“An owner?”

“Yes, all the monsters that appear around here belong to ‘Titan’.”

Kang Jin-hyuk was dumbfounded when he heard that.

He knew that many companies had contracts with large guilds.

He didn’t expect their influence to reach this far.

Kang Jin-hyuk truly realized the large guilds’ control, which was getting worse day by day.

“I’ve already contacted Titan. You just keep doing your part-time job.”

“What nonsense is that! I found them first and got here first!”

“Don’t be stubborn and go. Have you forgotten what kind of guild Titan is? They’re one of the top five in Korea.”

“So what?! Get out of the way!”

Kang Jin-hyuk couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.

He was chosen as a Hunter and stats were generated.

He went to the Hunter Association and got his license.

He was fully prepared and qualified to hunt monsters.

What was lacking that he had to back down without catching a single one?

Kang Jin-hyuk pushed the CEO who was blocking his way to the side.

Even though he was only a D-rank, he could push aside an ordinary person with force.

“Ouch!”

While the obstructing figure fell on his butt, Kang Jin-hyuk tried to run towards the monsters.

But he couldn’t take another step forward.

A hand stretched out from behind and firmly grabbed Kang Jin-hyuk’s shoulder.

“Huh?”

The hand that grabbed his shoulder immediately pulled Kang Jin-hyuk back.

As if he had been hit head-on by a huge wave.

Kang Jin-hyuk’s body was pulled back without any resistance.

And he was thrown to the ground mercilessly, rolling over and over.

“Ugh!”

The culprit who pulled Kang Jin-hyuk spoke to him in a cold tone.

“Don’t even think about trying to get a piece of the pie and get lost.”

Kang Jin-hyuk raised his head and saw a crowd of Hunters who had gathered before he knew it.

They were all wearing black jackets, and the same pattern was drawn on their shoulders.

Even Kang Jin-hyuk knew that it symbolized ‘Titan’, one of the large guilds.

“You’re the ones trying to get a piece of the pie! I got here first!”

“What does it matter who got here first? This is our territory.”

“Where is there such a law?!”

“Of course, there’s no legal effect. But it’s the same for you.”

“What?”

“You’re just arbitrarily claiming that the first person to arrive is the owner, aren’t you? Did the Association ever establish such a rule?”

The meaning of the words of Ahn Do-yoon, the Vice Guild Master of Titan who pulled Kang Jin-hyuk, was simple.

If neither opinion is legally established, the stronger one is right.

That’s what Ahn Do-yoon was trying to say.

“What kind of absurd logic is that…?!”

Kang Jin-hyuk jumped to his feet.

He couldn’t stand it any longer when he saw the Titan Hunters hunting monsters.

“Don’t push it, you bastards!”

Overwhelmed by his emotions, Kang Jin-hyuk ran towards Ahn Do-yoon with his bat.

If he was going to lose all the monsters, he at least wanted to hit that annoying face once.

But it was he who got hit.

He was hit on his left cheek by a fist he didn’t even see coming, and he fell to the ground once again.

The familiar touch of the asphalt scraped mercilessly against Kang Jin-hyuk’s skin.

“What a piece of trash, trying to attack me.”

Ahn Do-yoon, clicking his tongue in displeasure, gave an order to a nearby Hunter.

“If he tries to attack again, beat him up and throw him out.”

“Understood.”

Kang Jin-hyuk, who had heard the whole conversation, clenched his fists while lying on the ground.

He knew it in his head.

Titan was a guild that only Hunters of at least B-rank or higher could join.

It was common sense that a D-rank Hunter couldn’t stand a chance against a member of such a guild.

It was today that he realized it firsthand.

Kang Jin-hyuk realized anew that this was the position of a D-rank Hunter.

Once he realized it physically, he no longer felt like fighting back.

The CEO, who had watched everything, helped Kang Jin-hyuk up.

“I told you to just go, you fool.”

The CEO dusted off the dirt on Kang Jin-hyuk’s clothes and offered words of comfort.

But no words could reach Kang Jin-hyuk now.

He had thought that this was his chance.

He had thought that all the hardships he had endured were in preparation for this moment.

He had come with hope, but what Kang Jin-hyuk faced was the wall of reality.

Even though they were both Hunters, some hunted monsters and earned achievements,

while others carried water bottles and earned a meager daily wage.

Kang Jin-hyuk, whose expectations and dreams were shattered, simply moved like a machine.

He didn’t answer his senior’s question about what had happened.

He just focused on the task that was allowed to him at the moment.

“Damn it…!”

At this moment, Kang Jin-hyuk wanted to cheer for the serial killer who only targeted large guilds.

Even though he knew it was a wrong thought, the only way for a D-rank Hunter to relieve his frustration was through such a twisted curse.

◈◈◈◈◈◈

After some time had passed.

Thanks to Titan’s experienced handling, the monsters were quickly subdued.

It was the best news for the people preparing for the concert.

Thanks to that, Kang Jin-hyuk was able to receive his daily wage without any problems.

But Kang Jin-hyuk wasn’t happy at all.

The daily wage that came into his account was only a few tens of thousands of won.

If he had caught even one monster, this amount of money would have been pocket change.

Kang Jin-hyuk felt pathetic that even though he was a Hunter, he had to do a part-time job in front of monsters.

But there was nothing he could do.

He learned for sure today.

That this was the reality of a D-rank Hunter.

If he felt wronged, he had no choice but to bow his head and join a large guild.

However, the problem was that it required a donation of at least 30 million won.

Kang Jin-hyuk’s savings were all he had received today.

He was barely making ends meet, paying rent every month.

It was impossible for him to save more than 30 million won, even if he took out a loan.

“I’ll be going first.”

Kang Jin-hyuk ignored his senior’s suggestion to have a drink and headed straight home.

He wanted to drink himself silly, but he couldn’t afford it.

Kang Jin-hyuk had to go to another part-time job in two hours.

He had no time to get drunk.

Moreover, he wanted to be alone now.

“Damn it…”

As soon as he got home, a sigh that was close to a curse came out.

Kang Jin-hyuk trudged in and lay down on the floor.

Looking around the 12-square-meter old house, Kang Jin-hyuk sighed.

The house he was currently living in was too big for him to live alone.

It was hard enough to make ends meet with his daily part-time job.

Nevertheless, the reason Kang Jin-hyuk was pushing himself to live in this house was because of the faint hope that he might succeed someday.

But that hope was gone today.

A D-rank Hunter with no backing or capital could never succeed.

“I should just move out this month.”

Let’s go to a place that suits me.

Kang Jin-hyuk thought so.

It was a realistic choice to quit being a Hunter and slowly save money while looking for a job.

“Sigh…”

Kang Jin-hyuk made up his mind, but it wasn’t what he wanted at all, so he felt even more depressed.

As time went on, his frustration only grew. At that moment,

Kang Jin-hyuk heard something fall from the attic with a thud.

“Wh-what was that?”

Did something he had piled up fall over?

Kang Jin-hyuk hurriedly got up and opened the attic door.

“Uh…?”

Kang Jin-hyuk was speechless at the sight inside the attic.

Stone walls, like something you’d see in a game or movie, were intricately intertwined like a labyrinth.

Kang Jin-hyuk had no idea why this had appeared in his attic.

As he approached to take a closer look, he was startled to find a goblin that had suddenly appeared.

“Yikes!”

He was so surprised that he fell on his butt, bumping into the things piled up in the attic and making a clattering sound.

But even then, the goblin didn’t turn its gaze towards Kang Jin-hyuk.

The goblin just continued on its way.

The goblin horde that followed was the same.

None of the more than ten goblins looked his way.

“No way… am I invisible?”

It seemed that the structure was such that you could see inside the labyrinth from the outside, but you couldn’t see the outside from inside.

When Kang Jin-hyuk cautiously reached out his hand towards the labyrinth, his hand naturally went inside.

There was no resistance whatsoever.

Kang Jin-hyuk pulled his hand back out and burst into laughter.

The labyrinth and the monsters inside it.

Kang Jin-hyuk knew what it meant.

“A dungeon… a dungeon appeared in my attic?”