NOVEL NEXT #007
#007
The effect of the precious guidebook was tremendous. I can now distinguish between Espers and Guides, and I’ve become well-versed in dungeon grades and types.
Because of that, I realized how big the gap is between me, an F-rank, and Kim Sehyun, an S-rank, and how absurd it is for me to enter an S-rank Yellow dungeon.
I didn’t particularly want to enter the dungeon, but I was too scared to say “I can’t do this,” so I ended up being dragged in. I also calculated that I’d be safe for now since I was supposed to be dropped in chapter 68.
‘An F-rank guide? I guess I’m just a low-level villain.’
It seemed that Lee Jaeha’s destructive behavior towards his own house was probably due to jealousy caused by this enormous gap. It was a rather base emotion to feel towards a friend who, despite his odd methods, was trying to take care of him.
‘Guiding, how fascinating.’
If Espers were beasts with immense power, Guides were the trainers holding their leashes. It felt strange, as it was a power that didn’t exist in the original world.
The reward for completing the quest to meet Hyun Dowoon was the ability to Guide. The moment I thought about Guiding, a faint power welled up inside me, like using a game skill.
According to the guidebook, I need to maintain this power and make contact with an Esper’s skin or mucous membranes. The best form of Guiding is supposedly sex, but I wouldn’t be doing anything like that. Even holding hands with a complete stranger was awkward enough.
‘In the dungeon… will I be holding someone’s hand to Guide them?’
Even as an F-rank, barely different from a normal person, that’s probably all I’d be doing inside the dungeon.
Thinking this, I headed to the assembly point for entering the S-rank Yellow dungeon, where I was unexpectedly given a task.
“You won’t have anything to do.”
An A-rank Guide coldly told me.
As written in the guidebook, everyone gathered for the S-rank dungeon conquest was A-rank. Only Shin Haejun and Kim Sehyun, the key figures of the conquest, were S-rank. I thought they wouldn’t be particularly kind to me, but I didn’t expect to be excluded from everything.
“Nothing at all?”
“Yes, if you really want to do something, you can collect dungeon by-products.”
It was a term from the guidebook.
When monsters are killed inside the dungeon, they produce by-products called “cores.” One of the guides’ tasks was to extract these cores from the grotesque corpses.
It’s something guides do when they have time outside of guiding Espers, and of course, guides don’t enjoy rummaging through corpses. So, collecting by-products is usually done by all guides taking turns. Telling me to do it all alone was clearly meant to be spiteful.
‘They probably thought I’d hate it, but…’
I’m used to being treated unfairly in groups. Above all, I thought it was better than doing nothing. At least if I did something, I could accept the dungeon conquest reward without hesitation.
“Alright, please teach me.”
“Have you never collected by-products before?”
“This is my first time in a dungeon.”
I answered confidently. When I checked the awakened management app on my phone as per the guidebook’s instructions, I saw that my dungeon entry count was 0.
“What? Then how did you get into an S-rank dungeon?”
A mumbled complaint escaped from the pretty lips of the guide in front of me. Judging by how they didn’t even bother to be discreet, it seemed they had no intention of respecting me from the start.
In times like these, my experience working in a company is very helpful. Even when I hear harsh words, my heart only stings for a moment.
“Take this dagger. You need to cut the dead monsters into small pieces to find the cores.”
That’s a relief. Just by properly handing over the task, this person was a good person. It’s better than not teaching me and then getting angry when I can’t do the job.
I received the small dagger and grinned.
“Can I… ask you again later if I don’t understand something?”
“Good grief.”
She shook her head and turned away. Then she returned to her group and complained, “Seems like they have no sense.”
Well, at least she didn’t tell me not to do it….
I stood quietly holding the dagger, unable to join any group. Kim Sehyun, who had brought me here, was standing next to his Esper, unable to hide his nervousness, so he had no time to consider or care about me.
“Dungeon entry preparations complete!”
An employee from the dungeon management department shouted while calculating the dungeon’s expansion rate with a portable instrument.
Soon, the sufficiently expanded dungeon entrance opened wide.
‘I’ve run dungeons thousands of times in the game, but to think I’d be entering one after being possessed.’
Feeling a bit nervous, I followed the others into the dungeon entrance, and immediately the dungeon information popped up on the awakened management app.
[S-rank Yellow Dungeon – 10 entrants / Special: Freezing / BOSS Blue Blade Mane]
It was very simple information. As soon as we entered, we were met with clusters of icebergs so white they looked blue, and air so cold it felt like it would freeze us.
“Everyone, put on the provided cold weather gear.”
Shin Haejun said with a face colder than the freezing air. Next to him, Kim Sehyun had already wrapped a scarf around himself tightly, though I didn’t know when he had done so.
At Shin Haejun’s words, everyone started putting on their cold weather gear in unison.
That is… everyone except me.
“Oh… Jaeha, didn’t you bring cold weather gear?”
When I stood there shivering, Kim Sehyun hurriedly approached and asked. His wide-eyed look made it seem like I had made a terrible mistake.
‘How was I supposed to know when nobody told me?’
As I stared blankly, Kim Sehyun stamped his feet.
“I could give you this… Oh. But this was a gift….”
Kim Sehyun started to take off his scarf but suddenly blushed and glanced at me. Judging by his reaction, it seemed Shin Haejun had given it to him.
“It’s fine.”
I can’t take something he received as a gift. When I waved my hand, Kim Sehyun looked at me worriedly before slowly turning away.
By the way, it really was cold. To think each dungeon has such special environments, the list of things I need to prepare keeps growing, but I have no money.
Ding!
: *Obtain Cold Weather Gear*
Quest Rank: D
Without cold weather gear in a freezing dungeon, you’re perfect for freezing to death! Let’s act like a villain and snatch some!
Hat (0/1)
Scarf (0/1)
Gloves (0/1)
Reward: ???
What? Now you want me to extort things? I gaped at the screen.
This is really crazy. Who am I supposed to ask for these? And there are three items! Nine’s soft laugh seemed to be mocking me.
While I was thinking why I should do this, I also had a feeling that I shouldn’t not do it.
‘Kim Sehyun is my only hope.’
Even if he can’t give me the scarf because it was a gift, surely he’d give me a hat and gloves if his friend was about to freeze to death?
“Kim Sehyun.”
I immediately approached Kim Sehyun hesitantly. As I approached, Shin Haejun and the other Espers who were discussing where to start their attack also looked at me.
“Y-yes? Just a moment, Jaeha.”
Kim Sehyun looked at me with a slightly flustered expression, then grabbed my arm and pulled me to a spot a little distance away.
“What is it?”
“I’m cold. Can you lend me some cold weather gear? Nobody told me… it would be a freezing dungeon.”
I deliberately added the last part. He’s my friend, so I wanted to imply that he should have paid more attention to me. I thought he might give them more easily if I acted pitiful.
“Ah… s-sure.”
Kim Sehyun glanced behind him slightly and handed me a hat and gloves. Then he looked at his scarf with regretful eyes before handing that over too. I didn’t expect him to give me the scarf as well, and I felt a bit grateful.
I guess you do feel sorry for not telling me about your mistake.
“Cough, cough!”
The problem was… Kim Sehyun immediately started coughing. His face quickly turned red as if the cold air was challenging for him.
‘Why is he so sickly?’
It does seem like if he struggles in the cold all day, he might be sick in bed with a cold tomorrow. But I should return these as soon as I complete the quest.
While I was thinking this, a sharp voice came from behind.
“What are you doing?”
It was Shin Haejun. He was looking at Kim Sehyun and me with a displeased expression.
“Ah… my respiratory system is weak, so I’m coughing a bit.”
Kim Sehyun muttered, cupping his cheeks with both hands. Shin Haejun then glared at me with a reproachful look.
“Why is everything you were wearing now in his hands?”
“Oh, Jaeha said he didn’t prepare anything at all.”
“So he really came empty-handed.”
I rolled my eyes while checking their reactions.
“Nobody told me what kind of dungeon we were going to, they only told me the meeting time and place.”
So it’s not my fault. I didn’t choose not to bring anything, I couldn’t bring anything. As I tried hard to explain, Shin Haejun’s eyes narrowed.
“You said you had to bring your friend, but you didn’t even tell him such basic information?”
“Ah…”
Kim Sehyun’s face suddenly turned pale upon receiving the reprimand. Then he glanced at me slightly.
‘What’s with that resentful look?’
It felt a bit off from Kim Sehyun’s attitude up until now.
Maybe he wanted me to stay quiet. But getting scolded for something that’s not my fault…
‘Wasn’t what I experienced at work enough?’
Why should I be unfairly scolded even in a novel?
I quietly avoided Kim Sehyun’s gaze.
“We can’t afford to look after someone who’s whining about being sick, so we have no choice.”
Shin Haejun sighed softly, then snatched the cold weather gear I was holding blankly and tucked it into Kim Sehyun’s arms.
“Ah…”
Kim Sehyun, who seemed to only say “Ah!” in front of Shin Haejun, gaped again. Somehow, his eyes seemed to look a bit happier.
“But what about Jaeha…”
As Kim Sehyun was about to say something, Shin Haejun quickly took off his own cold weather gear and threw it at me. Kim Sehyun then looked up at Shin Haejun with hazy eyes and said,
“B-but what will you do, Haejun?”
“I’m a freezing-type awakened one anyway, so I don’t get cold. I was just wearing it for appearance’s sake.”
“Haejun…”
Kim Sehyun glanced at the cold weather gear in my arms, seemingly displeased about something. Regardless, Shin Haejun, apparently annoyed by this standoff, tossed his words at me.
“Use it and throw it away.”
Use it and throw it away? How could I do that… It clearly looked expensive, so I had to use it carefully and return it.
“Th-thank you! I’ll use it well and return it to you!”
I shouted towards Shin Haejun as he turned away.