Chapter 10: A Special Deserted Island (1)
TL: Hanguk
'There's a dungeon where the shrine is?'
I don't remember seeing anything like a dungeon when I was scouting the island with my drone.
Could it be hidden in an area that I couldn't explore with the drone?
If so, I don't have much to worry about.
At least I've explored all of the dock line, which can be considered the front of the island, and the areas covered with bushes that I couldn't explore are all located on the back of the island.
'But if the dungeon is cleverly hidden and overlaps with my activity area later...'
My father described the dungeon as a 'dangerous dungeon that captures people'.
In other words, it could be dangerous for me too.
"Do the monsters come out of the dungeon and capture people?"
[No, it's more of a system where if you enter a certain area, you're forcibly sent to a dungeon full of monsters, like teleportation.]
How vicious.
This is essentially a trap.
My father continued his explanation in a worried tone.
The existence of the dungeon was revealed by some survivors. But the problem is that the survival rate is terrible. In Busan, a portion of the 53rd Infantry Battalion was sucked into a dungeon, and despite being armed with guns, only 4 out of 230 missing persons returned.]
"......."
It seemed like my father was trying to scare me as a warning.
If so, it's quite an effective tactic.
Because the word 'dungeon' has started to sound frightening.
'If I'm transported to a dungeon by going to an unexpected place, I should just move along the paths I've already been on.'
The island has become larger, but due to the threat of the dungeon, my activity area has significantly reduced.
[Of course, you have to be careful, but if you do fall into a dungeon, don't move around unnecessarily and find a safe place to hide. This seems to be the best way to increase your survival rate.]
And my father didn't just try to scare me, he also gave me some action tips in case the worst situation occurred.
"What do you mean?"
[There's something called a 'time limit' in dungeons.]
"So if I endure that time, I can escape?"
[Yes. Or you have to find the exit of the dungeon, but you might end up going deeper trying to find it. It would be better to stay where you find a safe place.]
"Hmm..."
Wait.
Doesn't that mean that having a safety tent makes survival easier?
It piqued my curiosity a bit.
Of course, I don't intend to risk my life for a little curiosity.
[I'm worried. Why does there have to be a shrine on a deserted island...]
I was taken aback by my father's deep sigh.
My father, who was always confident and overflowing with exuberance.
His voice was filled with deep sorrow and self-deprecation.
He must think it's his lack of ability that he can't rescue me.
He had been pretending to be calm, but he seems to have lost his composure with the emergence of the dungeon threat.
"Uh, Dad..."
Feeling sorry for him, I scratched the back of my head.
"Actually, I have something to tell you."
[What is it?]
"You told me not to fight monsters and to run away even if I come across them."
[I did.]
Eventually, I decided to reveal my situation.
I'm level 13 now.
All my stats are twice as strong as the average person.
I have survival items such as a safety tent, ring of recovery, potions, etc.
And I've acquired proper weapons and skills, so I can easily kill orcs or dire wolves.
[........]
"........"
There was a moment of silence after the story ended.
The reason I didn't reveal the situation until now is simple.
'I didn't want to worry my parents.'
So I said I was hiding well in a safe place.
Telling them that I'm fighting monsters would only increase their worry.
However, the situation changed with the emergence of the dungeon.
Now, I thought it might be a little more reassuring to let them know my situation, so I revealed the truth.
My father, hearing this story, asked incredulously.
[Really?]
"Yes."
[Hmmm...]
A very emotional sigh.
Then my father opened his mouth with a dry laugh.
[Actually, the Ministry of National Defense and each military branch decided to raise the level with special forces members. They're calling it the enhanced soldier project or something...]
A plan you'd expect the military to think of.
But I wondered why he suddenly brought this up, so I listened quietly...
[But when we made the plan, we had to check its practicality. So we looked for people who had raised their levels. We lured them in by promising to provide a safe environment for their families. What do you think was the highest level among those gathered?]
A random quiz followed.
I threw out a number that I thought was appropriate.
"About 10?"
I also know that I've grown abnormally.
So, thinking it would be hard to be as high as me, I called out 10.
[The highest was level 5. And it was a famous fighter that all Koreans would know. You've leveled up three times more than that person.]
"Really?"
[It takes 100 experience points to go from level 1 to 2.]
"That's one grand dire wolf or two orcs for 100 experience points."
Since it's early on, the required experience points are low.
You level up if you kill one, or at most, two monsters.
[If a level 1 person charges at a grand dire wolf or an orc, they'll go straight to hell! Normally, they gain experience by killing slimes worth 5 XP or goblins worth 10 XP, so they can't level up right away.]
If it's a monster worth 5 XP, you need to kill 20 of them, and if it's a 10 XP monster, you need to kill 10 to level up for the first time.
Considering that, leveling up doesn't feel easy.
[That's the usual route, leveling up that way and increasing your stats gradually, getting used to combat, killing a Kobold worth 20 experience points, then slaying a Gnoll worth 30, and finally challenging an Orc worth 50.]
"The first monster I saw was a Grand Dire Wolf, and the next was an Orc...”
I've seen a lot of slimes and goblins on the internet.
But I didn't know the gap would be this big even though those monsters are weaker than Orcs or Grand Dire Wolves.
'So, is that why they call the Grand Dire Wolf a human crushers?'
I've always thought that I've been very lucky.
But... maybe not.
Facing the Grand Dire Wolf in a situation where nothing is clear would be a disaster for anyone else, and going to the grave would be a natural consequence.
According to my father, the fact that I survived and grew like this itself was a miracle.
[It's a relief that you're alive, and it's surprising that you've grown so much. Even though you're my son, you're really amazing.]
I thought he would get angry, but surprisingly, my father admired it without any harsh words.
However, his voice was filled with bewilderment and astonishment, so I could tell he was quite surprised.
[So, what did you say you have?]
I told my father my situation in detail to alleviate his concerns.
Did his concern lessen a bit after hearing the whole story?
I felt my father let out a small sigh of relief.
[The safety tent seems to be a useful item in many ways.]
In particular, he liked the existence of the safety tent, which prevents the approach of monsters.
[But don't blindly trust yourself too much. Remember that overdoing it could lead to disaster.]
"Yes, I understand."
I am a cautious person.
Somehow, it looks like I've gone on quite an adventure this time, but within that, I've certainly set up a safety system.
Therefore, I didn't let my father's words go in one ear and out the other.
"Please don't mention the dungeon or leveling up to mom. She's already not well, and it will worry her."
[That would be best.]
We continued to talk about various things afterwards.
We had no chance to have open conversations as a family because we were busy living our own lives. It was ironic that so many conversations took place after the disaster.
[I'm asking the brigade commanders I know about the helicopter, so don't worry too much.]
"Don't overdo it."
Perhaps it would be easier to provide my level or skill information to the higher-ups and request support.
Surely my father is thinking the same thing.
But if that happens, I would be exploited in various ways after returning.
He wanted to rescue his son with his own power, rather than bringing up this plan.
I supported my father in that.
"Get some rest."
[Yeah, you've had a tough time. Always be careful.]
"Haha, I understand."
That's how the hour-long call ended.
"It was a tough day."
Who knew the day could feel so long?
Today felt like a whole month.
I yawned and entered the safety tent.
"Yawn..."
Maybe because the tension was released, fatigue came rushing in.
I think I need to rest for today.
*
I had a quite comfortable rest.
While others were struggling to survive, I was able to sleep soundly in the safety tent without worrying about attacks. When I woke up because I needed to pee, the sun was already high in the sky.
That's how the second day of survival began.
"Ah, Fuc*k... It's not like I'm planting death flags or anything."
Under normal circumstances, my schedule today should not be different from yesterday.
Gather food to eat.
Hunt Grand Dire Wolves in the vicinity to gain experience points.
Chat with Willia in the safe zone when I have time.
"I'm really unlucky."
I just have to repeat my routine, focusing on safety until rescue comes...
But another variable had occurred.
-Vroom vroom vroom vroom.
A space where all sides are gray.
A cave that anyone can see was artificially formed.
Standing in the middle of it, I had a dumbfounded expression on my face.
That's right.
I'm in a dungeon now.
- Ding!
[You have entered Mongma's Dungeon.]
- Grade: Normal
- Time limit: 5 hours
- Clear condition: Defeat the boss within the time limit
I didn't come in here willingly.
A series of coincidences overlapped, and this happened.
I'm really unlucky.
*****
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