“It’s not possible to enter. We would appreciate it if you could grow a bit more before trying again.”
“What? You’re telling me I can’t enter? I’m an intermediate-level Hunter! And it’s just a B-class dungeon—why are the conditions so strict...?”
“Intermediate-level Hunters need a party of at least three. Please gather more members or raise your rank and try again. Next, please.”
At the gate set up in Hwaseong, Suwon.
A Hunter handed over his Hunter ID and asked to enter the dungeon, but the two young Dungeon Guards firmly refused.
They were denied entry because the Hunter didn’t meet the required conditions.
The rejected Hunter tried to protest further, but it was impossible.
In front of the gate, a line stretched far beyond 200 meters.
And in the middle of the long line was...
“Phew... As expected, the Golden Lake Dungeon is very popular, Master.”
“Experience points and drop rates are good, and it’s the only one in Suwon. This line’s actually pretty short for today.”
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Kang Hyunsoo and Swallow were there as well.
After receiving an intermediate-level Hunter ID from the Hunter Bureau, they had taken a quick nap at home before heading straight to the Suwon gate.
This was their well-prepared expedition.
But when they saw other Hunters being rejected, the tension was unavoidable.
The gate for the B-class Golden Lake Dungeon was known for having occasional casualties, so entry conditions were strictly checked.
In his previous life, Kang Hyunsoo had once been denied entry here.
At just over level 200, he had tried to enter based on Seo Jieun’s words about upgrading a hidden piece, but he had been denied because the conditions didn’t match.
To enter, he needed to bring at least three more mid-to-low-level Hunters, but since the hidden piece upgrade was the goal, that wasn’t an option.
The value of the growth-type hidden piece was beyond imagination, and sharing it with others could make him a target. Plus, upgrades required a lot of effort, so even if he formed a party with a good Hunter, he would have to give extra compensation.
In the end, Kang Hyunsoo, Seo Jieun, and Choi Taehun had to level up past 300 to become intermediate-level Hunters before they could enter together.
But now, his current level was at least 100 below that, and he had no party.
He had received an intermediate-level Hunter ID from the Hunter Bureau, but would he even be allowed to enter?
Kang Hyunsoo took a deep breath and quietly waited for his turn.
Soon enough...
“Next, please step forward.”
It was Kang Hyunsoo’s turn.
The Dungeon Guard, seeing Kang Hyunsoo approaching, raised up on tiptoes to peek behind and asked,
“Are you planning to enter alone?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Kang Hyunsoo nodded and handed over his Hunter ID.
“You’re an intermediate-level Hunter. The conditions are met, but... Are you sure about this? This is the Golden Lake Dungeon, a B-class dungeon, but with the difficulty level of an A-class dungeon. The monsters here are over level 350.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Kang Hyunsoo nodded again as the Dungeon Guard explained, swallowing nervously.
Luckily, his rank allowed him to enter, but because he was alone, they seemed extra cautious.
The Dungeon Guard, looking at his Hunter ID, raised a concern.
“It’s a bit worrisome. An intermediate-level [N O V E L I G H T] Hunter could technically clear a B-class dungeon alone, but it’s not guaranteed. I see that you’ve never cleared the Golden Lake Dungeon before.”
“That’s... because my talent quest requires me to enter alone. I’ve learned a lot about the Golden Lake Dungeon and its strategies, so you don’t have to worry.”
“Hm, a talent quest, huh...”
“Well, if that’s the case...”
In truth, the real goal was to upgrade the hidden piece, but Kang Hyunsoo used the talent quest as his reason.
Talent quests assigned to Hunters vary by individual, and they are tasks that must be completed. Using that as the basis for entry often allowed for exceptions.
Fortunately, the strategy worked.
“Alright, I’ll let you through.”
“I hope both your raid and quest are successful.”
The two Dungeon Guards moved aside to clear the path, allowing Kang Hyunsoo to enter.
“Thank you.”
Kang Hyunsoo gave a slight bow of thanks as he walked through the gate.
However, as he passed the guards and was heading toward the waiting area in front of the portal...
“One moment, Hunter Kang Hyunsoo.”
“...?”
The Dungeon Guard, who had been checking his Hunter ID, called him back.
Kang Hyunsoo wondered if something was wrong, but that wasn’t the case.
“This is a health potion. It’s a low-grade one, so it may not help much, but I hope it serves you well.”
“Oh... You really didn’t have to do this, but I don’t know how to thank you.”
“It’s nothing. Please be sure to come back alive. I’ll be cheering for you from the outside.”
The Dungeon Guard handed Kang Hyunsoo the potion with a bright smile and returned to his post.
An unexpected gift.
Kang Hyunsoo stared blankly at the potion in his hand and murmured softly.
“What’s this? In my previous life, they weren’t this kind... Is this because of my looks?”
“Heh! It seems so, Master. You’re realizing it without me even pointing it out!”
Swallow puffed out his chest arrogantly and adjusted his sunglasses with his wings.
Looking at his somewhat cocky and smug appearance, Kang Hyunsoo felt a desire to retort, but it was undeniable that his appearance had changed in an attractive way.
First, during his duel with Go Kyungseok, when he used his charm, Go Kyungseok hadn’t vomited like a masked Hunter. Even before arriving here...
[Completed Sleeping for Over 8 Hours (8/8)]
[Completed Beauty Quest 13.]
[Reward]
[Charm +10]
[Your face and body become slightly more harmonious.]
[Basic Appearance Power +1.]
[Condition Achieved]
[Beauty Trait: Body Temperature Stabilization Skill Level increased from E to D.]
[Beauty Trait: Growth Skill Level increased from D to C.]
[Beauty Trait: Hair Strengthening Skill Level increased from D to C.]
Having completed the auxiliary beauty quest at home, he had received numerous rewards.
Not only had his charm increased, but the skill levels of many of his traits had also risen.
First...
[Beauty Trait: Body Temperature Stabilization (D) – Quickly normalizes body temperature using mana. Sweat production is reduced. You won’t sweat much even with intense movement.]
With the skill level up, his sweat production decreased.
[Beauty Trait: Growth (C) – Your height increases by 1 cm and is maintained. Your bone structure lengthens, and your overall body size slightly increases. This effect occurs only once when the trait is acquired.]
[Current Height: 178 cm.]
His height had increased from 177 cm to 178 cm, and his physique had also grown a little more muscular.
And then, next...
[Beauty Trait: Hair Strengthening (C) – Hair condition improves. Your hair becomes shinier. Hair loss is treated, and your hair becomes thicker. Your hair color becomes more vivid, matching your natural shade.]
His hair had also improved.
Not only had his hair thickened, but it now had a glossy shine, and the color had become darker.
As he cleared more quests, he could feel himself coming closer to peak beauty, just like when he used the Bloom skill.
Having completed the auxiliary beauty quests at home, he...
[Condition Met.]
[Absolute Beauty Quest 8 is unlocked.]
[Absolute Beauty Quest 8]
[True beauty shines when shared with many.]
[Clear a B-class or higher open dungeon with at least 5 members (0/1)]
The next part of the Absolute Beauty Quest appeared.
However, this one was going to be difficult to clear immediately, as it required a B-class or higher open dungeon.
Unlike individual instance dungeons, which are created in separate dimensions, open dungeons that anyone can enter are hard to come by, and once cleared, they disappear. The rewards are also substantial, so when they appear, competition to bid for them is fierce.
In practice, it's difficult to secure a bid without a large guild.
So, Kang Hyunsoo decided to use his network.
He sent a text to Han Sungbin of the Samcheon Guild, the top guild among the large guilds.
Fortunately, he received a positive reply.
<Han Sungbin from Samcheon Guild – Yes, Hyung-nim! I’ll check right away. However, if it's a B-class open dungeon, it might be dangerous to go alone, so I’ll gather our guild members to help you!>
<Kang Hyunsoo – No, you don’t have to go that far...>
<Han Sungbin from Samcheon Guild – No, Hyung-nim! It’s been a while since we did a raid together, and I’d like to show you how much I’ve grown!>
<Kang Hyunsoo – Alright, thank you. Then please gather at least 5 people.>
Although Han Sungbin’s enthusiasm was a bit overwhelming, Kang Hyunsoo didn’t refuse, as the Absolute Beauty Quest required at least 5 members anyway.
However, a B-class open dungeon was harder than a typical B-class dungeon, so he needed to become stronger.
‘I need to upgrade the hidden piece first and clear the Absolute Beauty Quest.’
As they say, praise makes even whales dance.
Growing quickly with his previous life’s knowledge and the beauty talent he’d gained in this life, he couldn’t help but feel excited.
His connections were expanding, and even those without ties to him were beginning to like him.
He would grow stronger and even better looking.
Kang Hyunsoo placed the potion the Dungeon Guard had given him into his pocket, then drew his twin swords and entered the portal.
At that moment...
Fwoooosh—!!
[Entered B-class dungeon.]
[Defeated the boss monster of the B-class dungeon.]
[Clear the dungeon by defeating the boss monster (0/1)]
His body felt weightless, and the scenery changed in an instant.
From the gate with the view of a city wall, he was transported to a golden lake surrounded by dense forests.
“Whew, it looks just like it did before.”
Kang Hyunsoo sighed in relief as he looked around.
It wasn’t just the scenery that was the same.
[Trust Bracelet]
[Grade: Hero]
[Ability: Defense +80, Magic Resistance +10]
[Skill: Trust Armor (A) – Forms a transparent armor made of mana over the entire body. Consumes 100 mana per second.]
[The wearer has reached level 200.]
[Item growth conditions unlocked.]
[Obtain 200 golden shards from the Golden Lake (0/200)]
[Obtain 1 golden core from the Golden Lake (0/1)]
The upgrade conditions for the hidden piece, the Trust Bracelet, were exactly the same as in his previous life.
He could upgrade the Trust Bracelet at the Golden Lake.
In his previous life, he had briefly struggled to figure out where to find the golden shards and the golden core, but that was no longer a problem.
“Phew, phew...”
[Lv 340. Golden Lake’s Guardian Seahorse]
Near the portal, a seahorse-like monster wearing a spear, helmet, and armor approached from above the golden lake.
“Well, the welcoming party is a bit underwhelming.”
“Still, at least they showed up. And with just one, it’s perfect for testing.”
Kang Hyunsoo ignited the fire sword and the command sword, lighting them with crimson flames, and sent a Sky Blade from a distance.
Whoosh—! Whoosh—! Whoosh—!
Three orbs of aura flew toward the seahorse monster armed with weapons.
The Guardian Seahorse desperately shot a water jet and swung its spear, but it couldn’t stop the Sky Blade enhanced with crimson flames.
Screech—! Screech—! Screech—!
The orbs passed through the spear and armor without resistance.
[Lv 340. Golden Lake’s Guardian Seahorse has been defeated.]
[You have automatically obtained 1 golden shard.]
[Experience gained.]
[Level increased!]
[Reward: Strength +1, Agility +2, Mana +2]
A three-hit combo.
It wasn’t a one-hit kill, but it was still very fast.
Moreover, the quest item was automatically obtained.
In his previous life, he had to control his strength so Seo Jieun could land the finishing blow, but this time, that wasn’t necessary.
Swallow knew this too.
“Ah, the memories are coming back. Back then, I had to struggle so much to gather all the mobs.”
“...You talk as if you actually experienced it.”
“Well, Master’s memories are also my memories, right? Heh. I know how to deal with these monsters, so I’ll help a little.”
“Hmm, well, it’s good to share both memories and work.”
He hadn’t actually lived through it, but sharing memories and dividing the work wasn’t a bad idea.
The first hunt became a signal flare.
“Phew, phew!”
“Phew, phew!!”
[Lv 340. Golden Lake’s Guardian Seahorse]
[.......]
[Lv 340. Golden Lake’s Guardian Seahorse]
After defeating the Guardian Seahorse, reinforcements appeared from the golden lake and the surrounding forest.
It started with about 30 of them, but their numbers quickly grew to 40, 50, and even 60.
What’s more, they were all wearing spears and armor, making them look like an army.
This was the dangerous aspect of the Golden Lake.
Unlike the scattered mobs that charged recklessly, the monsters here attacked with a sense of order, like an army.
It was a formation that would be hard to break on your own.
But...
‘If you know the method, you can easily break through. And luckily, I have reliable reinforcements.’
Kang Hyunsoo smirked, then raised his lips.
“Alright, shall we do some good old grind work?”
“Yes! I’ll handle the grunt work, Master!”
He and Swallow charged toward the sea-horses forming a line.