Levelling Up In An Exclusive Dungeon - Chapter 15

There were two things that Kang Jinhyuk couldn’t understand at the moment.

The first one was why the S-rank hunter Seo Sangho keeps pursuing a mere C-rank hunter like himself.

Perhaps hitting Ahn Doyoon in one strike could be a factor.

Although it’s a positive thing that he’s getting such recognition, it’s not very pleasant for Seo Sangho to personally recruit him to the guild.

And he can’t take no for an answer.

Jinhyuk never thought about joining the Titans, but if the guild leader comes to him again, it would certainly be too burdensome.

‘Should I just stay quiet for a while?’

Jinhyuk shook his head as he was thinking to himself.

At this point, there’s no way to shake off Seo Sangho’s attention.

In the end, the D-rank hunter was finally seeing some spotlight.

He doesn’t want to live his life away from the main scene again just because he feels burdensome.

‘I’ve got no choice but to ignore him for now.’

Seo Sangho seemed like someone who doesn’t settle when things don’t go his way.

For now, Jihyuk has no intention of being involved with the Titans.

Jinhyuk made up his mind on that first matter. But there’s still a different one that he couldn’t understand.

“She really ate all those by herself.”

Lucia lumped the sugary treat in her mouth as soon as she could.

The numerous desserts he brought from the outside world all disappeared in an instant like a magic trick.

“Whatchu loomkin at?”

“… Don’t talk while you’re eating.”

She seemed like a ghost that craved for sugar.

Lucia was busily moving her hands and mouth.

Seeing her eat with her whole heart and soul makes it more believable that she offered to teach him aura in exchange for all the food.

‘I’ve never seen someone eat this much.’

Lucia’s eyes grow wide open with each chocolate bar that Jinhyuk gave her.

People generally like sweets, so it’s not like that’s an odd thing.

What was strange was the amount of sugar she was consuming.

“Wooooh~”

Lucia exhaled loudly after her lengthy meal.

She consumed at least a few kilograms of food, but her belly didn’t stick out at all.

The mysterious sight made Jinhyuk realize the greatness of the elven genes.

“I thought you’d only bring the choco bar or something. There are so many strange foods from your world.”

“Are there no desserts from where you’re from?”

“There are some, but it’s nothing compared to the things I ate just now.”

In the world where Lucia lives, sugar was not a primary ingredient for their foods.

It was surprising that people with such natural love for sugars haven’t discovered sweet desserts.

“Why did you have to eat those here in the basement? We already caught the boss monster.”

Jinhyuk didn’t understand why she chose to eat in such a dark and unpleasant place.

Lucia pointed her finger toward the wall in response.

“Do you see those sentences written on the wall?”

“I do. What about them?”

“Those are magic spells. You can’t tell?”

Jinhyuk nodded his head.

The magic spells he was familiar with were usually in the form of a star drawn inside a circle.

It never crossed his mind that the scribbles written on the wall were magic spells.

“Then you should know that that’s what made connected this dungeon to your world.”

“Those words did?”

Lucia’s explanation was short, but it was enough to make Jinhyuk flustered.

“So, if you write those again in a different way, things would go back to the way it was?”

“No, that’s not it.”

Jinhyuk secretly felt relieved.

The dungeon has benefitted him greatly, but his level hasn’t been raised enough for him to allow the dungeon to disappear from his grasp.

In order to be successful in the outside world, he needs to at least be an A-rank hunter.

Jinhyuk can’t afford to lose the dungeon before that happens.

“There’s still no way to get back?”

“Yeah. But it’s worth studying the words written there.”

Magic spells usually disappear after they are used.

However, the one under this temple didn’t disappear.

Lucia probably guessed that it’s one of the reasons why the magic failed.

“I think we should stay here for a while to investigate it.”

“Once you’re done investigating, would you be able to solve it?”

“Maybe I could at least understand why the things happened the way it did. It’s impossible to go back yet though.”

Special substances were used by magicians to do such large-scale magic.

Unlike the disappointed Lucia, Jinhyuk looked bright as if his worries were gone.

Knowing that mere investigation wouldn’t change anything made him feel at ease.

‘She won’t be able to get back even if she investigates. I should take this opportunity.’

Jinhyuk thought that if he continued to cooperate with Lucia, he would gain more useful knowledge other than how to use aura.

“Tell me if you need anything. I’ll do my best to help.”

“…Why are you being like that all of a sudden?”

“J-just because… We’re in this together in this dungeon, so let’s help each other out.”

“Is that all?”

Lucia looked at Jinhyuk with suspicious eyes.

Even though they defeated a boss monster together, it’s only been a day since they first met.

She wondered why Jinhyuk suddenly showed loyalty.

Jinhyuk noticed Lucia’s gaze so he hurriedly tried to make an excuse.

“You told me you’d teach me all about aura. If you’re too focused on investigating this alone, you might neglect your promise to me.”

“Hmmm…”

What Jinhyuk said actually made some sense.

Thinking that it was obviously an excuse, Lucia decided to let it pass for now.

Unlike the people she’s met so far, Jinhyuk doesn’t seem to be someone with ill intentions.

Jinhyuk looked relieved as if a thorn had been removed from his throat.

‘There’s no way that a person who has something to gain from me would come back here to help me.’

Lucia thought so, so she stood up as she shook the fabric of her clothes.

“Speaking of which, let me tell you the basics of using aura.”

“Right now? Weren’t you going to investigate those written magic spells first?”

“Teaching you the basics shouldn’t be that difficult.”

Lucia approached Jinhyuk and reached out her right hand.

Jinhyuk didn’t know whether she was asking for a handshake or something else, so he just stared at her hand.

The frustrated Lucia then grabbed his hand.

“I’m asking for your hand, what the heck are you staring at?”

“You should’ve told me then.”

When their hands connected, Jinhyuk felt a strange feeling as if an energy was transmitted to him.

He instinctively tried to retract his hand when he felt like being shocked by a static electricity.

But Lucia held on to his hand tightly.

“Don’t be scared. Remember this feeling.”

Jinhyuk listened to Lucia and tried to accept the unfamiliar feeling.

‘How am I supposed to remember this? I’m no martial arts master.’

As he endured the uncomfortable feeling and focused on doing what he was told, Jinhyuk realized that the sensation transmitted from Lucia’s hand was being passed on to his body.

When he turned his attention to her hand, he saw the blue energy blooming like a haze.

He knew what it was immediately.

‘Oh, he’s more talented than what I expected.’

Lucia was amused by the state of Jinhyuk’s body.

‘If he does well, he’ll get down the basics within the day.’

Lucia recognized Jinhyuk’s innate talent because the mana was moving well throughout his body.

The reason why she transmitted mana to Jinhyuk was for him to get a sense of it. Another purpose was to penetrate the blocked blood paths within his veins.

However, seeing the situation now, it seems like Jinhyuk’s blood path wasn’t blocked at all.

The mana flowing throughout his body was circulating rapidly, without any signs of being intercepted.

After some time, Lucia pulled back her hand.

Right at that moment, the movement stopped from Jinhyuk’s body.

“Right, now do you know how it feels? Try it.”

“Try that? Right now?”

“It usually takes decades just to build the necessary mana, but you can just compensate with your divine power from being a cleric. It won’t be too difficult for you.”

“Divine power? What is that?”

“The one you used to defend against the boss monster’s attack. That skill requires divine power to utilize it.”

Although that skill uses MP as well, that skill which was unique in clerics has a different root in itself.

Jinhyuk realized this after understanding what Lucia said.

However, knowing the theory wasn’t enough to actually apply it to practice.

“I kinda get what you mean but… How can I transform that into aura?”

“You have to figure that out from here on. With your own body.”

“Of course, it’s easier said than done….”

The skill works on its own when he says the name of the skill. He has no idea how to transform it with his own body.

When he uses the skill, he reaches out his hand just because he feels like he should.

He doesn’t think that the action meant much.

“How on earth am I supposed to do this?”

With an awkward feeling, Jinhyuk stared at the void.

He tried to use his skill, thinking that it was worth a shot.

“Holy Shield!”

The shield appeared before his eyes just like usual.

Jinhyuk focused on finding out what he felt in his body the moment the shield appears.

“Holy shield! Holy shield! Holy shield!”

As he repeatedly used the skill, Jinhyuk realized that every time he used it, a force permeated from the outside was released through his palm.

The feeling was very faint that he couldn’t notice it before.

“Is this the thing you’re telling me to change to my own?”

Once he says the name of the skill, the skill automatically works on its own.

Changing that was like changing the laws of physics.

No one had tried that kind of thing before, so Jinhyuk didn’t think it would be possible.

“Is this really the only way?”

Lucia answered immediately.

“Yes. If you don’t like it, then be prepared to train for the rest of your life just to learn how to use it.”

Jinhyuk sighed quietly.

Lucia spoke so firmly that he really had no choice.

With very little hope, Jinhyuk went at it again.

He reached out his hand and used the skill once more.

“Holy shield!”

After using it 10 consecutive times, his MP ran out. He took the potion that he brought to bring back his MP.

He then tried the skill again without rest.

Perhaps thanks to the repeated movement, the sense felt clearer little by little.

However, just feeling the sensation wasn’t enough.

He has to somehow change that feeling to the one that he felt when Lucia touched his hand.

It was like an act in vain as he reached out his hand to the air.

Despite that, Jinhyuk didn’t give up. 

If he succeeds in doing the impossible…

If he’s the first person to make it possible, he’d feel a great sense of accomplishment.

Leaning on that very little hope, Jinhyuk drank five more potions.

“Hmm?”

As he repeated the skill over and over again until he ran out of potions, the shield that he summoned did not take on a proper form and began to crush.

It seemed like a simple skill failure.

However, there is very little probability that a skill would fail if he has enough MP.

It was evident that the divine power used in his skill was being directed in a different direction.

“Is this really possible…?”

His expectations brew little by little.

And then, a notification appeared before his eyes.

[You have learned a skill]

[Divine Power – Level 1]