Of course, I could understand where they were coming from.
From the other guild parties’ perspective, they had already sacrificed a lot just to let us - a lower spec party - join the expedition.
Our party was the least experienced here. It wasn’t only our first time doing a dungeon exploration, but it was also our first time engaging in hunting activities, and all of them here knew it. Thus, if we were to bring Kim Ye-ri, who was a kid, with us, it would mean lugging around baggage that was twice as heavy.
“Hey, don’t say that, we can still have fun.”
“How can you make dungeon exploration fun, Choi Young-ki? This is not a joke. No matter how many people are involved… It was natural to be worried about our wellbeing.”
“That…”
“Even though our overall specifications are high, please remember that we are not here for sightseeing. You have to be aware that any dungeon can become dangerous at any time.”
“We will work harder.”
Even in the midst of that, Choi Young-ki still chose to take our side. Perhaps Cha Hee-ra had said something to him beforehand.
“Ah, well, we’re not saying that we don’t have faith in the Red Mercenaries…”
“Ah, the atmosphere feels a little uncomfortable now. Well, I suppose it’s time to give a briefing.”
“Yes, okay.”
“Sure.”
“As you’ve heard, the dungeon we are entering is a rare find. The name of the dungeon is Garden of Terror, and the guild’s analysis is that plant-type monsters will dominate the entire area.”
This was something we already knew. It seemed that this ‘briefing’ was only brought up for the sole purpose of lightening up the atmosphere.
As we were walking, I could see that Choi Young-ki’s disposition wasn’t so bad. Rather, he was exerting quite the effort to alleviate the nervous mood within the group.
“Hyung, doesn’t he look like a good person?”
“Huh. It also seems that way to me.”
Park Deokgu had also seemed to notice, and a part of me agreed. I felt comfortable knowing we had such a tanker as a leader, someone who was considerate of his comrades.
He was calm, knew how to communicate with people, and was good at skills. Choi Young-ki was a pro when it came to reading the atmosphere and minimizing any form of conflict. He was the type of tank that Park Deokgu should aspire to be.
As we walked and talked, I knew it wouldn’t be long until we’d arrive at our destination.
It was a little annoying to pass through places where enormous thorn bushes had gathered, but the slowing of the pace had given me ample time to observe the entrance of the dungeon.
‘Why’s it so small?’
The entrance itself was indeed a small opening where only one or two people could enter at the same time. However, it exuded an ominous, magical aura, almost beckoning any passer-by to enter it. It looked both dangerous and magnificent at the same time.
I never imagined a dungeon entrance could look so enticing.
After gazing at the entrance for some time, Choi Young-ki nodded and turned to us.
“I’ll be the first to go in slowly. The order of entry will be in this manner: Black Swan, Magic, and Blue. As there is a possibility that a battle may start as soon as possible, we will try to get in as quickly and efficiently as we can. Am I understood?”
“Yes.”
Following Young-ki’s command, people split into pairs while categorizing themselves according to their respective parties. I was at the very back, my hand holding Jung Hayan’s firmly.
Upon entering, I felt like the air had changed, and after a while, I heard a familiar message.
[You have entered the Garden of Terror, a rare dungeon. Number of people [24/30] checked.]
Right after this, I could hear a voice from the front. “Fan out! Put some distance, quickly! Our first opponent is here. Be careful not to get in anyone’s way or formation!”
I found it a little silly to come face to face with a monster right off the bat, but I knew I should have expected it. This dungeon positively oozed infinite magical power.
The Red Mercenaries immediately took up the front positions and were blocking the monsters trying to break through their formation as best as possible.
I observed the monsters’ physique. They were grotesque-looking plant giants that were about twice the size of a regular human. With every step they took, the ground shook slightly. This signaled that, unlike normal plants, these weighed as heavy as iron. It wasn’t easy to understand how they could move so efficiently as their bodies were made of stems and roots, but I knew now was not the time to question this.
I lightly knocked Deokgu on the head, seeing the guy looking up at the monsters in a trance.
“Deokgu.”
“Oh, I see.”
It didn’t seem like he was scared. Rather, he had just felt an initial shock upon seeing the monsters. Coming to his senses, Deokgu rushed forward to take his position as a shield tanker. The rest of the parties’ tankers were also doing the same to give their fellow party members ample time to attack.
It was difficult to maintain a solid formation due to the cramped space, but they were trying their best to provide somehow enough space for swordsmen and spearmen to move.
“I will keep pushing. Please start attacking slowly.”
“What!”
At that time, Park Deokgu, who had courageously jumped out first, suddenly lost focus. He was unable to withstand the attack and lost his balance.
“Priest!”
“On my way.”
Sun Hee-young immediately uttered a spell to support Park Deokgu, and Kim Hyunsung stepped forward in an attempt to help.
However, we were a tad too late. A monster came rushing through the gap that Park Deokgu had opened up, and it was rushing straight towards us.
‘Fuck.’
The formation had already collapsed.
I thought about uttering the spells integrated within my ring, but it felt like such a waste to use them at the very beginning of the dungeon.
Seeing Kim Hyunsung leaping up to stand in its way, it seemed like no one would get hurt, but I still felt anxious.
However, before anyone from our party even took the first offensive stance, the incoming monster was slammed sideways. Our savior turned out to be Choi Young-ki.
Quang!
“Support is needed here!”
“Noted!”
“Who…”
His intervention had sparked a change. Order began to spread throughout the parties once more, and the other guild parties were efficiently ridding the dungeon entrance of its monsters.
Of course, Kim Hyunsung was able to steadily inflict damage in the midst of that, but the problem was that Jung Hayan and I could hardly help with how efficiently he took them out.
This was the moment where I could see the difference between guild parties. It wasn’t just about the difference in our stats; it was also about our experience in teamwork.
‘We aren’t working together properly.’
As soon as the first wave of opponents had been cleared, Choi Young-ki addressed a breathless Park Deokgu.
“It seems you moved too quickly.”
“Yes… That… Thank you…”
“This often happens when you lack experience. It would be better to put some strength on the lower body.”
“Okay, I’ll take note of that.”
My gratitude towards Choi Young-ki began to rise as he simultaneously calmed Park Deokgu down and even gave him helpful advice.
“Then, we will organize the surroundings together.”
“Yes, okay.”
It didn’t seem like Park Deokgu had received a major injury, but the wounded expression on his face revealed that the real source of pain came from his failure.
“I’m sorry, everyone…”
“There is nothing to be sorry for. Deokgu. This is an experience for all of us who are newbies.”
“Still…”
“Hyunsung is right, Deokgu. There is no need to be so somber. Just continue to work hard with the intention of learning throughout this expedition. You will soon get better.”
“Okay… I shall try my best.”
“As you are now, the attack will feel a little heavier for you. It would be nice to lower your posture a little, so you’ll be able to stand your ground.”
“Ah.”
“It may take some time to get used to, but you will be able to do it well.”
“Yes, I’ll try.”
I felt a little worried about seeing Park Deokgu’s gloomy disposition. The fact stood that he had the potential to become an amazing tanker, but at his current state, he wouldn’t be able to keep up with the more experienced types, such as Choi Young-ki. He was feeling a lot more pressure as the person tasked with the role of standing in front, too. He knew that losing formation could mean the downfall of his team.
He was such a simple guy; I knew dungeons would easily be able to bring his mood down.
“Hey, Young-ki Choi.”
“Yeah? Do you have anything to say, Yura?”
“Those from the Blue Guild… I think it would be better to place their tanker over there in the rear.”
“Ah.”
“He still seems a little off with his physique. He might bring more damage if he is to stand at the very front. At least he can shield us from any potential rear ambushes.”
It was, once again, the Black Swan brat who had spoken.
‘Ha…’
Park Deokgu stepped forward.
“That’s…”
“I know that you want to prove yourself, but this isn’t the time and place to do so. As it is, the difference in stats and experience is too high.”
“He will probably get used to it soon. He seems to have good durability… Given enough time…”
“That’s the problem. If he falls out again, Choi Young-ki will have to help them. As a result, the formation itself becomes dangerous. Unlike the Red Mercenary Guild tanker, which has good durability stats, the other parties have a low durability except for our tanks. The unexpected can always happen. I think you know what it means if you get swept aside?”
“Nevertheless… Even if you tell me that…”
“That’s why I suggest you take to the rear. I think even the Magic guild agrees.”
Choi Young-ki was defending us against Yura’s harsh words, but I had a feeling it wasn’t just because Cha He-raa had ordered him to. It felt like he wanted us to improve.
However, it wasn’t only because of this. Even though Choi Young-ki was the de facto leader of the entire group, the authority of where to place Park Deokgu still rested on our party, and no one else’s.
Even if it was appropriate to give such an opinion, it still felt disrespectful all the same. It should have been one of us who made this suggestion instead of another party guild member.
In short, this kind of behavior would only cause unrest and conflict among guilds.
Only
‘This bitch…’
I had suspected what kind of person she was right from the start, but we hadn’t even been inside the dungeon for long, and she was already getting on my nerves.
‘Computational strategist, my ass.’
It felt like she was trying to cut our party down for the heck of it rather than thinking of the safety of the party expedition itself. I knew why - she wanted to harvest more of the end rewards for herself, and the only way to do that was to criticize another party’s contributions.
However, our party genuinely only wanted the experience. Gaining items was just a bonus.
Her method had started to piss me off, though. Why was she employing such political tactics on a guild expedition? This was such bullsh*t.
My mouth started to itch.
She wanted to resort to these types of tactics? Two could play that game.