How a D-Class Alchemist Avoids Death

I unconsciously murmured at the conspicuous appearance of the dungeon.

“An event dungeon…”

Dungeons are divided into fixed geography and monster dungeons, mission dungeons where given situations must be cleared, and event dungeons, where the monsters and geography change every time you enter.

It was a dungeon not favored by Hunters because you had to attack without any information.

“Hmm, this is a bit burdensome.”

The dungeon manual provided by the guild was more useful than I thought.

“Ppi!”

“Should we go?”

“Ppi!”

I could hear the fluttering sound of wings above my head. With those tiny wings, I wondered what it could possibly help with.

I held back my bubbling laughter.

‘If I laugh here, I’ll get punished again.’

I remembered the harsh punishment I received after laughing at Salt, who had once confidently puffed his chest out saying, “Just trust me.”

The memory made me shiver.

“It was the worst. Absolutely the worst.”

“Ppi?”

“No, nothing. Should I trust only (you) Salt and move forward?”

“Ppi!”

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

As I walked towards the outskirts again, I started to search for information about the event dungeon.

In the novel, the event dungeon only appeared three times, and two of those times were only mentioned in Taeju’s flashback. It was depicted directly only once, but even that was only because he voluntarily took care of a dungeon that exploded on his way.

“There isn’t much information, really.”

Despite using foreign portals in addition to the HunterNet for searching, there was little information about the event dungeon.

In the novel, this phenomenon was explained as a ‘you-have-to-experience-it-yourself’ kind of sentiment.

“It must be because there are no obtainable items.”

Although it’s true that Hunters need to level up, the most important factor is the rank. Between an attack type D-rank level 80 and a defense type A-rank level 2, Hunters would naturally take the higher ranked defense type, which would be more helpful, over the attack type.

Because rank is the king.

Event dungeons were known for not yielding any items other than random monsters. Instead, it provided double the experience points, but Hunters didn’t consider it too important since they could acquire experience simply by exploring dungeons.

“If I were A-rank, I wouldn’t care about experience points either.”

Being D-rank, the only thing I could improve was my level, so it was profitable to hunt event dungeons.

“Ppi ppi. Ppi. Ppi ppi.”

As we walked the forest path, Salt, seemingly in a good mood, perched on my shoulder and began to sing.

The gate we arrived at, with Salt’s song as the background, looked a bit different. Aside from the strange symbols, it alternately emitted various colors of light, much like a crystal dungeon.

“Hmm. Perhaps it’s due to the random attributes.”

“Ppi?”

“No, nothing. Let’s go in.”

As I stepped onto the gate, darkness, not light, engulfed me.

“Is the gate transition over?”

After the darkness covered me, it stayed pitch-black, making it impossible to tell whether we’d entered or were still in transition. It was so dark, I couldn’t even see my own hand.

“Salt?”

“Ppi?”

Judging by Salt’s response, it seemed the transition was over. I fumbled around to find my infinity pouch and pulled out an item.

“Let there be light.”

As soon as I chanted the command, an item that emitted a small glow, like a firefly, floated up. It gradually increased its brightness.

“Where are we?”

Thanks to the item, I could barely see in front of me, but it was still dark.

“There’s no ceiling, so it’s not like a cave.”

As I looked down, I saw a paved block.

“Pavement blocks? Is it a city dungeon?”

Then, a white message window appeared in front of me.

+

[Event dungeon activated.]

+

“So, this pops up in event dungeons too.”

While I was captivated by the message window, the letters disappeared and appeared again.

+

[Dungeon attribute: City]

[Dungeon rank: A+]

+

“A city, huh.”

I know about city dungeons because even Seo Taeju from the novel had experienced one.

The problem is that the rank is A+. I couldn’t tell if it’s because the boss is A+ or if all the subordinate monsters are A+ since there’s no dungeon manual.

But it would be too disappointing to give up on the event dungeon after coming all this way.

“Let’s give it a try first.”

If I can’t handle it, I can always run back to the entrance gate.

It’s not in my nature to get scared without even trying first.

With this decision made, I started thinking about the monsters that might appear.

“The city dungeon that Seo Taeju encountered had zombies as monsters. He had a hard time back then.”

I remember how annoying it was when his party members complained about how to kill those zombies and got angry at Taeju for not killing them.

Back then, Taeju said, “Either get bitten or kill them. Choose one.”

Back then, it was such a cool line, but thinking about the current Taeju, it just seemed rude.

Who cares who kills them if we’re going to clear the dungeon anyway.

If it were me…!

“This is not the time to think about it. What else appears in the city dungeons besides zombies?”

Monsters appear depending on the characteristics of the dungeon. In cases where there are no particular characteristics, fantasy monsters like orcs or ogres emerge, but in forests or city dungeons with specific characteristics, monsters that match the characteristic come out.

This dungeon has a city characteristic, so it seems that city-suited monsters would appear.

‘City, city. Besides zombies, I can’t think of anything else.’

I was about to take a step with a tilted head.

“Huh? What’s that sound?”

Rustle rustle, flicker flicker

The faint noise that could only be heard when listening carefully gradually grew louder. Suddenly, chills ran down my spine.

“No way?”

“Ppi?”

“It can’t be.”

No matter how urban it is, this can’t be. This really can’t be.

From the edge where the light of the item reached, a black mass was reflecting and pressing towards me.

“Damn it, shit.”

This was a cockroach dungeon.

Insects. Of all things, it had to be insects.

I hurriedly ran backwards, plunging my hand into the infinite pocket.

“Lighter, iron, and, and…”

I couldn’t keep my wits about me because of the wingbeats of the chasing cockroach swarm coming from behind.

My sergeant or detectives might say, “What kind of police officer is scared of bugs?”, ‘Damn it! Where does occupation matter when you’re afraid of bugs? I absolutely hate their shiny exoskeletons, and their flying around!’

“Ppi!”

Salt, who had looked back, gave a warning that it was likely to be caught.

“Refine!”

At my shout, the magnetite was gripped in the hand that held the lighter and iron. I quickly pulled out my hand and activated the skill.

“Refine!”

Refine skill is the fruit of imagination. While being chased, my mind became as blank as a white sheet, and the thermo material in my hand kept changing – round, elongated, small, large, and so on.

“Please, please.”

I hate dying, but I really hate the thought of those roach swarms touching my body. No, I’d rather die.

“Ppi?”

I heard Salt’s question, but without being able to answer, I barely managed to imagine the shape of a flamethrower.

“Done!”

I put my finger on the trigger of the flamethrower shaped like a shotgun. And quickly turned back and pulled the trigger hard.

Whoosh

As the red column of fire stretched out, the area illuminated was much wider than when it had been lit only with the lamp item.

“Wow… this is too big.”

The cockroaches, bigger than the palms of newborn babies I had seen before I was possessed, began to burn up as soon as they encountered the fire.

“Die!!”

I shook my body left and right. The fire quickly spread to other cockroaches. At the same time, like a bug occurred, the message window popped up and disappeared repeatedly like crazy.

+

[You have gained experience.]

[You have gained experience.]

[You have gained experience.]

+

All that remained afterwards was a foul smell like burning protein, black ashes, and shiny beads that looked like cockroach eggs.

“Ugh.”

I collapsed to the ground.

Have I ever been this tense in my life? Even when chasing robbers, or confronting drug criminals, my heart may race, but I’ve never been this tense.

“I’m going to die… Huh? Salt, what are you doing?”

At some point, Salt had descended and was flying over the ashes. Without answering my question, Salt flew around for a while before settling on the ashes.

And it pecked at the egg-like bead.

“Hey! Kim Salt! Don’t eat that!”

Salt raised its head. Its dot-like eyes stared straight at me. After about 2 seconds, Salt began pecking at the beads again like a madman.

“Kim Salt!”

I bolted up and rushed to Salt, who was quickly scooping up and eating the eggs as if trying to escape from me.

“Kim Salt, this bird!”

Despite its little legs running as fast as they could, it was no match for my stride, and I caught Salt in no time.

“Hey, do you even know what you’re eating? Why would you, who usually doesn’t eat even when I give you food?”

Salt’s usual diet consisted of my magic. I have been giving it magic until it’s completely depleted every morning and evening, yet it ate something that came out of the body of a bug, ugh.

I hurriedly checked Salt’s information.

[Salt]

Occupation: Pet

Trait: Purification

Owner: Seo Go-woon

Status: ꉂ (๑¯ਊ¯)σ

“Thank goodness.”

Judging from the emoticon’s happy face, just like when it eats, it seemed the bead it picked up and ate didn’t cause any trouble.

“No, what’s this on your face? You’re covered in ashes. You look like a crow.”

I carefully brushed the ash from around its mouth, but it just smeared more without being wiped off due to its nature.

‘Tsk, I’ll have to give you a bath today.’

At that moment, Salt started struggling as if to tell me to let it go.

“Ppi!”

“Stay still, just stay still. Why did you eat something dirty!”

“Ppi! Ppi! Ppi!”

It’s protesting that it isn’t dirty, but how could it not be dirty when it came out of a bug’s body? Plus, items don’t even appear here….

“Don’t tell me? This?” As soon as I voiced my fleeting thought, Salt vigorously nodded its head.

“Ppi! Ppi.”

While listening to Salt’s cries of injustice, I stared at the shining bead in the ash pile.

+

[Passive ‘Truth’ skill is activated.]

+

[Magic Stone]

Description: A magic stone that substituted for the Black Beetle’s heart. It contains a small amount of magic power.

+

“Wow.”

Is this even possible? A magic stone appeared in an event dungeon?

I asked Salt with amazed eyes that were staring at the shimmering magic stones.

“Did you know this was a magic stone?”

“Ppi.”

“How?”

“Ppi. Ppi.”

I forced out a hollow laugh at its claim that it recognized the stone at first glance, and why wouldn’t I? Yes, I momentarily forgot that you weren’t just an ordinary bird.

But why did it eat a magic stone? Isn’t my magic power its regular diet?

“Can you also eat magic stones?”

“Ppi!”

“Then why didn’t you ask for magic stones until now?”

“Ppi. Ppi. Ppi.”

My magic power is the main meal, and magic stones are a special treat?

“You sure have a taste for luxury.”

Calling magic stones, which are expensive because they are scarce, a special treat. Good grief.

I shook my head, took out a fan from the Infinite Pouch. The fan was light enough to hold with one hand, but it had the power of a wind-attribute hunter, which was more than enough to blow away the ash.

“Ah! Salt, go inside the bag for a while. I’m going to blow away the ash, and I worry about your respiratory…”

Salt, whose face was more than half covered in ash, tilted its head.

“Ppi?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Because it looked like a sparrow, I kept thinking of it as a normal bird and unconsciously worried about its respiratory system.

Right, it won’t hurt its respiratory system by blowing away some dust when it can peck at magic stones in the ash pile. 

I moved a little away from the pile of ash with Salt and turned on the fan.

When I adjusted the wind force so that only ash was blown away and my precious magic stones wouldn’t fly off, the ash quickly disappeared, leaving only magic stones that were as small as Salt’s eyes.

“How much is all this worth?”

An irresistible smile spread across my face.