Chapter 228: Crack Museum (1)
“Is it dangerous?”
“Yes.”
“I… see…”
I already knew that something bad had happened, especially if Hyunsung was present. He was like an NPC harboring the main quest, seeing as he always events where crisis usually followed.
If I were to think about it, it had never not been dangerous.
Participating in the attack team with Jung Jinho in the first tutorial had also been a risk, and the siege of Castle Rock was also a dangerous thing. Of course, I didn’t feel burdened with such an event because I believed in him.
I knew that if any crisis came, he would appear like lightning and solve it.
In particular, in the tutorial dungeon’s case, the reality was that the difficulty had greatly decreased when he joined. It was a dangerous situation, but I wasn’t particularly nervous.
If I were to think about it, all of my decisions were rational choices made after considering all kinds of factors. Indeed, Kim Hyunsung never warned me of the dangers of his choices.
Even when an incident happened, he would say that he could solve it, but at least he had the confidence to make sure that colleagues in the same party would not die.
‘If he says it’s dangerous this time…’
Then this meant it really was. Anxiety bloomed from within me.
“Can I hear what’s going on?”
“A support request came from the Black Swan.”
“It will be difficult to refuse.”
“Yes.”
Park Deokgu spoke up, looking confused.
“Why is it so hard to refuse?”
“It’s because we owe them a lot.”
“Oh…”
“We owe the Black Swan a lot haven’t paid for everything yet, and they helped us even when I had a problem at the royal castle. Also, I got a lot of help in aspects that cannot be seen. Maybe you’ll be surprised if you know, Deokgu. We’ve been influenced and affected even in the trivial aspects.”
They had even helped us get rid of Park Deokgu’s potential barrier.
“Although it is called an alliance, the Blue, the Black Swan, and the Red Mercenary are groups that maintain independent powers. Of course, we have no choice but to move for personal gain. This alliance is maintained because the groups need each other, not because of the odd friendship or the goal of defending Lindel.”
“But Hyung-nim and the red-haired were being pretty… friendly, right?”
“It’s a relationship between Hee-ra and me, not a Blue to Red Mercenary one. Of course, there are some advantages to being close, but that’s all. As much as I put Blue first, she will put the Red Mercenary first. Actually, Hyunsung-ssi also maintains a close relationship with the Black Swan Guild Master. Public work is public and private work is kept separate.”
“Ohhh…”
“Nevertheless, if you think about the fact that among our three alliances, we are the ones receiving support in it becomes pretty obvious. It means that we are the ones being fully cared for. In the first place, our guild is a medium-sized guild when it comes to moving goods and abilities, but the scale itself is small.”
“I think I can understand…”
“In short, it is Blue that gets the most advantages in this trilateral alliance relationship. However, this honey is not free. You can understand it like that. It means the time has come to pay for the honey we’ve been eating.”
Kim Hyunsung nodded at my words.
“Kiyoung-ssi is right. This is the first time that the Black Swan Guild has officially requested help from us. If we reject it because this is dangerous, we will lose trust from the Black Swan and the Red Mercenary guilds. Of course, the same goes for other guilds and clans.”
“Oh… It’s like that… so it’s about trust.”
“Yes. It will be easy to understand if you think that way.”
From this standpoint, it was something that we really had to accept.
If, as Kim Hyunsung said, this mission was really dangerous, it may be possible to repay our debts.
‘It’s not bad.’
Blue, too, may get in danger someday, somehow.
It was a little ironic that we had to take risks in order to overcome more risks, but originally this continent gave rewards equivalent to the risks one took. It was necessary to gamble this time around.
“What exactly is it?”
“It’s a rescue trip to a dungeon.”
‘I knew it would be like this.’
Unless a war broke out and or they were held captive in another country, the Black Swan’s only reason to ask for help would be because of these types of things.
“To explain, I heard that the main executives and members of the Black Swan were isolated in the dungeon. The request I received from the Black Swan Guild Master Park Yeon-joo is to rescue those who are isolated in this dungeon, as well as attack the dungeon at the same time. Of course, it seems that the main power of Black Swan, including Park Yeon-joo, will move alongside us. I think the total number of the attacking team will be 30.”
“Hmm… Is it possible that those who were in the dungeon died?”
“There is one survivor who has managed to exit the dungeon. According to the testimony, those in the dungeon are surely isolated. The name of the dungeon is Crack Museum. The unusual part is… It is said that it is an unclassified dungeon.”
“So, there was a survivor who came out. No, rather… You mean the dungeon has no rating?”
“Yes. If I explain it in more detail, I heard that it is a type of dungeon that changes its rank. It can be a common-grade dungeon, as well as a legendary-grade dungeon. Personally… maybe we should think about the possibility of the dungeon changing to above the legendary-grade.
“What?”
“Of course, the odds are very low…”
If there was really the possibility of changing to a dungeon above the legendary-grade, entering itself would be both irrational and suicidal. Considering that there were only a few legendary-grade dungeons that had gotten attacked so far, the assumption of entering a dungeon that might have a legendary-grade or higher felt wrong.
Of course, if there were survivors, the Black Swan would have to prepare things related to the attack, but nonetheless, there were still too many risk factors.
‘If it is above the legendary-grade… Is it a mythic-grade?’
It could also either be common-grade or heroic-grade, too.
“How is that possible?”
“The Crack Museum is a type of dungeon where named monsters appear randomly.”
“Ohh…”
“It is said that named monsters of rare-grade, heroic-grade, legendary-grade, and mythic-grade are sealed in a crack and only randomly send out named monsters.”
“How did you get such information?”
“It would be better to show the report in person, rather than just explaining it in words. This report is based on information from a dungeon guide called Crack Museum Guide.”
“Yes, please.”
‘Dungeon guide…’
I sometimes heard that there were dungeons of this kind. No, I had actually experienced it.
It may be a little different, but in fact, I could think of the woman’s voice heard in the tutorial dungeon as a dungeon guide.
For example, being a dungeon guide was an irregular that informed how the dungeon ran and what goal was needed to be achieved within it. however…
‘It’s different from the Cursed Temple…’
The problem was that the information did not exist at all in the case of the Cursed Shrine, where I had obtained Juliana.
That was the reason why a dungeon had been able to swallow up most of Blue’s former members. In that sense, it was not bad to have such a special NPC attached.
‘Is it okay to assume that there are no annoying traps or complicated things?’
That could mean that the dungeon might have other complications, but…
‘For now, it doesn’t seem that bad.’
At least, like last time, I wouldn’t have to think my brains out or worry about other things than the attack, which was further strengthened the moment I read the Black Swan survivor’s report.
Of course, it would be hard to trust the report’s accuracy, but this was still better than nothing.
Kim Hyunsung stayed quiet as he watched me read the report, being considerate enough for me to concentrate completely.
‘In fact, nothing will change if I read it, but…’
[Unrated Dungeon Crack Museum Report.]
[This report is made based on the testimony of the Black Swan Guild’s survivor, who was guided by the Crack Museum guide.]
[It is divided into the first half, listing the guide as it is, the middle listing the dungeon called Crack Museum’s progress and events, and the last half listing the attack.]
“…”
[According to the Crack Museum Guide, the Crack Museum is a collection of secrets and treasures created by the Guardians of the Crack, and the guide Marx is an ego ring that has been created by them.]
[The Crack Guardians have been weathered over time and have lost their existence and significance, and the guide Marx is the only remaining Crack Guardian. Among those who entered the dungeon, a representative was elected, and about 30 explorers were fixed for the museum’s peace. Museum explorers started exploring the museum after wearing the guide’s ring, but once they entered the dungeon, they couldn’t leave the dungeon until they finished the exploration or paid the price, and they were forced to attack.]
“…”
[Dungeon attack can only be completed after sealing the Crack Guardians or defeating three of the named monsters contracted, and there is no other method. Named objects managed by the museum exist not only from the main continent but also outside of it. Some transcendental beings take the form of contracts, not seals.]
“Ha…”
[There are a total of 500 entities in the museum, and three types of legendary-grade or higher named monsters, thirty types of legendary-grade monsters, four hundred types of heroic-grade monsters, and the remaining monsters are classified as rare-grade monsters.]
‘This is… completely…’
[Named monsters of the three selected entities are thoroughly randomly determined.]
‘…’
[There are three rewards for exploring the museum. The rewards are three types of legendary-grade or higher armaments, thirty types of legendary-grade armaments, four hundred types of heroic-grade armaments, and the remaining armaments of the rare-grade… this part has been omitted.]
‘…’
[The rewards are also thoroughly randomized.]
‘So, the whole system depends on luck…’
[You could also get rare-grade rewards by defeating legendary-grade monsters, or get a rare-grade monster and receive legendary-grade weapons.]
Park Deokgu, who quietly looked at the report I was reading next to me, seemed to be able to understand this much.
“Isn’t this much like a game of drawing lots?”
I had no choice but to nod in response to his muttering.