Chapter 64 : The Past is Like a Cemetery 1

Adaptive Copy Dungeon.

This was the name of a newly discovered dungeon officially announced by the Hunter Association.

Since the first Great Rift, the variety and anomalies of dungeons had increased countless times, but the dungeon that the Saintess of the Dead, Shia, and 19 A-rank hunters had conquered was the first of its kind to appear since the Great Rift.

Even the anomalies confirmed in the Adaptive Copy Dungeon were far more dangerous than any other dungeon so far.

First of all, just the fact that the dungeon randomly sent the location of any living creature that entered it was dangerous enough, but the darkness that limited visibility to no more than 3 meters, even with the strongest lanterns, was deadly to humans.

Moreover, it was filled with humanoid monsters with twisted, grotesque forms called "Walkers," making it a dungeon designed with cruel intent toward humans.

It was later revealed through investigations by trainee members and researchers dispatched by the Association, that just facing the darkness and the Walkers could erode a person's mental strength.

Researchers who checked the Walkers through the cameras on the transport drones brought by the A-rank hunters suffered from headaches and dizziness just by watching them.

What started as mild headaches eventually led to short-term memory loss and mental exhaustion, and some even passed out with nosebleeds.

Fortunately, the hunters dispatched to the dungeon were all veterans of at least A-rank, so they weren't significantly affected.

If B-rank hunters had been sent, it wouldn't have taken long for the entire expedition to mentally collapse.

For reference, the name of the dungeon boss was a somewhat cheap-sounding "Korean Chimera."

Still, it was a pretty straightforward name.

The dungeon boss Shia and the hunters witnessed had a form that seemed forcibly fused with creatures resembling the Imoogi and Gumiho from Korean folklore, along with the creature Gusundae, which resembled a ghost from the underworld.

Its confirmed abilities were hallucinations and auditory illusions.

Additionally, the nine tails of the Imoogi, which replaced the Gumiho's tails, possessed significant physical strength.

According to the testimony of Choi Yuhwa, a hunter specializing in sensing, the mana density of the dungeon boss was estimated to be near the level of an S-rank raid boss.

On top of that, the boss had enough intelligence to hide among the hunters and set traps.

There was a time when monsters with intelligence brought humanity to the brink of extinction.

The hunters and the Hunter Association, who had not forgotten the nightmare of that time, remained extremely wary of the existence of intelligent monsters, even in the fully rebuilt modern world.

Fortunately, the Korean Chimera was killed by the Saintess of the Dead, Shia, before it could carry out any dangerous tricks, which was a great stroke of luck.

With the appearance of a new dungeon, new bosses, and monsters, the Genre Hunter Gallery was abuzz with excitement and speculation.

The netrunners, who usually amused themselves by tearing apart the latest hunter streamers or newly promoted hunters, were finally engaging in something productive for a change.

[Why the Adaptive Copy Dungeon is so damn amazing, explained in a way even someone with a double-digit IQ can understand.](992)

ㄴUpvotes: 829

『First, it's said that it replicates our reality exactly as it is.

Based on the videos and interviews released by the Association, it seems that the hunters operated a dam during the raid, which means that electricity and power generators were working.

What that means is, if there's a factory, the factory can be operated as well, and if there are resources, they can be mined.

The advantage of previous erosion dungeons was that the increase in national territory was good, but they were completely different worlds from ours.

But if this Copy Dungeon is a gate-type dungeon that doesn't allow free access in and out, and if it's a dungeon that gets absorbed into our land, it would be a huge boost in resources.

Since power generators, electricity, infrastructure, everything except humans gets replicated as it is.

If a dungeon replicates a city, all the materials and items in that city might be duplicated, and we could bring back an enormous amount of useful stuff.』

[Analysis]

[But does that mean money can be duplicated too?]

ㄴ[According to the Association's videos, it seems like almost 90% of things except for living beings get copied.]

ㄴ[90%?]

ㄴ[It looks like trees and plants get copied, but animals don't. Not sure about money. But they replicated complicated things like power plants and the machinery that operates dams.]

[If that's the case, wouldn't the government be all over this?]

[Yeah, if the infrastructure and resources are duplicated, it's like suddenly doubling the land.]

ㄴ[It's an exaggeration, but if they replicate something like U.S. land, it'd be insane.]

ㄴ[Oh wow, imagine if they duplicate oil!]

[Hey, I have a question.]

[That Korean Chimera was almost an S-rank raid boss, right? But did an intelligent boss like that get cut down in a single day by that Crazy Saintess or whatever?]

[Did you not watch Crazy Saintess's stream? She took down a swarm of A-rank wyverns and even an S-rank centipede dragon by herself.]

ㄴ[Are you an idiot? You can't compare normal dungeon monsters to the S-rank raid bosses.]

ㄴ[If you say a normal mob is S-rank, then the raid boss would be considered SS-rank.]

ㄴ[That's a bit much.]

ㄴ[Whatever it is, the fact is she took down an S-rank monster by herself.]

[Apparently, a few days ago, the Association called Crazy Saintess during one of her home streams and asked her to join a raid. Based on what happened, it seems like that was the Adaptive Copy Dungeon.]

ㄴ[Right. She disappeared for about four days without any announcement.]

ㄴ[Then she came back in four days and did a bath stream with that centipede.]

ㄴ[???? What?]

ㄴ[??]

ㄴ[What the hell are you talking about?]

ㄴ[Give me the link, quickly, I need it.]

ㄴ[Tonight, that's what I'm watching.]

ㄴ[Crazy Saintess in the bath with a centipede.]

While the lurkers, students, and netrunners of the Genre Hunter Gallery were passionately debating the new dungeon and the Saintess of the Dead, Shia had also finished her schedule in Andong and returned to Seoul.

Normally, hunters were supposed to file follow-up reports and statements after completing a raid, but since Shia wasn't a full-fledged hunter and only held a temporary hunter certificate, she could return to Seoul right away.

Shia herself found the idea of writing such statements quite tiresome, and since the 19 A-rank hunters, who owed Shia a great debt, volunteered to handle all the reports on her behalf, she was able to comfortably return to Seoul with the centipede in a vehicle provided by the Association.

Three days had passed since the conquest of the raid dungeon, the Adaptive Copy Dungeon.

"Hehe, home really is the best…"

[Screeech…]

The lucky centipede lay coiled up like a snake in the corner of the room with a weak voice.

Shia, as if sitting on a soft sofa, had sunk her body into it.

The centipede was originally quite large, but after being thoroughly cleaned and polished by Shia, its shiny black body now looked almost like a piece of furniture.

'But doesn't it seem like it's shrunk a bit…?'

The lucky centipede she had known was over 15 meters long, but ever since they took a bath together at the Moonlit Pavilion in Yeongwol, it seemed like its length had somehow shortened.

Well, I'm not an expert on monster biology, so I don't know if it's molting or something.

Still, there didn't seem to be any health issues with the centipede.

Just to be safe, she had used Great Healing on it, and on the way from Andong to Seoul, they had stopped at a rest area to buy 40 chicken skewers, which the centipede ate heartily, so it couldn't be a health problem.

Beep-beep-beep.

At that moment, her smartwatch rang with a phone call, prompting her to rise from her seat.

It was Director Choi Bomi of the Returnee Management Bureau.

[Hello, is this Shia?]

"Yeah, hi."

[You did an amazing job with the raid dungeon. The Hunter Association is praising you for saving the lives of so many civilians and hunters. They say they owe a lot to you.]

"That's good to hear. By the way, what about the centipede? Can I keep it?"

[Ah, well… about that…]

Shia had already sought ownership of the centipede through Director Choi Bomi.

Although her legal representative was Yeonhwa, Yeonhwa was currently in the midst of a subjugation team dealing with the remnants of the Goblin Guerrilla Unit.

Thus, the only one who could play the role of her lawyer in this case was Director Choi Bomi.

The thought of calling Yeonseo-unni briefly crossed her mind, but asking her to help with the adoption of a centipede would surely cause great emotional strain on the people working at the Bureau.

After all, if Yeonseo descended upon the Bureau for the centipede's ownership issue, who knew what other trivial matters she might be summoned for next?

[We haven't received the Minister's approval yet, but… there are several procedures that need to be followed. Since you're not an official hunter, and only an awakened person can legally own and tame monsters…]

"So, does that mean I can't have it?"

[Technically speaking, yes. You should return the centipede to Rotten Mountain immediately, and you might have to submit a statement to the Association and pay a fine as well.]

Come to think of it, taking a living monster from a dungeon without permission wasn't exactly a minor offense.

On a whim, and out of loneliness, I essentially kidnapped the centipede from the raid dungeon.

[However, the Association is currently discussing various matters. Considering that you essentially conquered this Adaptive Copy Dungeon, they'll likely grant permission as a form of compensation.]

"Good, that's a relief."

[Also, the Association has made an additional request of you.]

"What kind of request?"

A lot of things came to mind.

The Hunter Association was probably monitoring my broadcasts.

I'm a returnee with immense power and mental instability, so from their perspective, I must seem like a ticking time bomb.

While I'm not as dangerous as Menelapie, I once played a key role in protecting humanity and managing an empire.

I understand how difficult it is to exclude risks and that sometimes you have to make inhuman decisions to do so.

Surprisingly, the Hunter Association has been quite 'humane' in their consideration of me.

This is probably thanks to Yeonseo and Yeonhwa.

In any case, the Association might view my power as an 'efficient' weapon.

It's not hard to imagine how they might calculate my value after monitoring my broadcasts and seeing how I practically soloed the Adaptive Copy Dungeon, treated as a quasi-S-rank raid dungeon.

I felt sorry for the hunters who accompanied me, but the truth is, I could have cleared the raid without them.

Although, thanks to the hunters, we were able to quickly locate the dungeon boss, the Korean Chimera.

If I had been alone, the boss might have hidden for a while, making the conquest longer.

In any case, the Association was likely measuring my potential strength, based on more concrete evidence from this raid dungeon.

[Originally, the Association's deal was that once a month, you would conquer a suitable dungeon or bring in monster byproducts as a condition to extend your stay at the Returnee Shelter, and they would transfer ownership of the new AI-assisted drone to you.]

"Yeah, that was the plan."

[But they want to change the terms. From this raid onward, the Association wants you to become an S-rank hunter.]

An S-rank hunter, huh?

It's been quite some time since I returned.

I had a good grasp of how important and respected S-rank hunters were in this world.

According to the image Yeonseo crafted, S-rank hunters are the guardians of humanity's frontline and the leading figures of the current hunter era.

"But becoming an S-rank hunter isn't necessarily a good thing, is it?"

[You're right. As you might guess, becoming an S-rank hunter isn't just about having power. You have to be assessed comprehensively in various areas, and it's a tough process. While you do make a lot of money, the responsibilities and obligations are just as heavy.]

Director Choi Bomi's words suggested that she didn't really want me to become an S-rank hunter.

"What's your personal opinion?"

[As the director of the Returnee Management Bureau, of course, it would be great if a returnee became an S-rank hunter. A new star rising to lead this era.]

"What about just as Choi Bomi, the person?"

[Hmm… you're sharp. If I were in your shoes, I would have refused for now.]

That's unexpected.

Rejecting the chance to become an S-rank hunter?

"But weren't you the one who encouraged me to take part in the raids, saying I needed achievements to become an S-rank hunter?"

[That's true. But I thought it would take years, or at least several months, for you to slowly build up to it.]

"So, it's too fast?"

[Honestly, it wouldn't be strange for you to be given an S-rank right now. Both the Bureau and the Association have been watching your power closely. I was really shocked too. You just took down a centipede dragon bigger than a building with one hit…]

Director Choi Bomi, who had been giggling, suddenly spoke in a much more serious tone.

[But it's too fast. Shia, are you really okay? You've already done so much in your 'previous world,' haven't you? You killed the Demon King and even saved a world.]

"...…Yeah, I did."

[Honestly, you could make more than enough money as an A-rank hunter. Occasionally, there would be raid summons, but I doubt they'd be difficult for you. But being an S-rank hunter… it's completely different. You could be sent alone into truly dangerous, unidentified dungeons, or used in national disputes.]

"Completely different? I thought being an S-rank hunter would be more comfortable…"

[It is comfortable. You can ignore any requests from the Association or the government.]

"Really?"

I found that surprisingly appealing.

[S-rank hunters have a lot of power and authority. They make a ton of money. Some S-rank hunters, after receiving their S-rank, just refuse every summon and request, thinking, 'What are they gonna do about it?' Yeonseo is truly called a hero and a living legend because, like a hero from a comic, she never stops saving people and fights on the front lines.]

It seems like they have a lot of unchecked power.

But it's not something that appeals to me.

If you have power, and you enjoy the benefits of that power, then you should also bear the full responsibility and duty that comes with it.

At least in my previous world, I tried to follow that belief whenever possible.

[In reality, there's nothing a country can do if an S-rank hunter says, 'Screw it, I'm not doing this.' They can only issue a few fines, but that has its limits. S-rank hunters are considered an asymmetric force in modern hunter society, and a national power, so even if they act uncooperatively, all the Association or the country can do is give them warnings or recommendations. Because of that, the criteria for becoming an S-rank hunter are much stricter now, not just in terms of ability but also personality, which is why no new S-rank hunter has emerged in over ten years in our country. To be honest, I don't know all the details. This is just what I've gathered from being in this position.]

I wasn't particularly interested in knowing all this behind-the-scenes information, but it seems the world of hunters is quite complicated.

[But you wouldn't be like that, would you?]

"Like what?"

[You're a saintess. If the higher-ups sweet-talk you, saying people are in danger, you'll probably drop everything and rush over immediately.]

She was unexpectedly accurate.

Having lived over 60 years as a saintess, how could I turn a blind eye to people dying?

[That's why, for you, becoming an S-rank hunter would actually be a disadvantage. Even though I was the one who pushed you to achieve the necessary results for S-rank… If it were me, I'd just stick with being an A-rank hunter, live comfortably, and stream leisurely like you've been doing.]

"So, you already know what I'm going to say, huh? You're like my ethics inspector."

[...You're going to become an S-rank, aren't you?]

"Yeah."

There were various reasons, but one of them was that becoming an S-rank would allow me to explore new dungeons first and eat delicious food.

Let's think positively.

Even if things get busy, with my strength, it should be fine.

[I'm sorry. Anyway, this conversation has gone on too long. I'll take care of the centipede's ownership issue, so don't worry too much. And don't forget, you have Yeonseo and the Yeon family behind you.]

Honestly, just a single phone call to Yeonseo would resolve the matter instantly.

[Also… the third and final ethics test you requested, along with the observers, has been arranged.]

I heard that once the third ethics test was completed, I'd finally be fully accepted as a member of this world.

[The observers will be S-rank hunter Yujin, who's also a returnee like you, the Skeleton Knight, and Park Junseo, an elf who also returned.]

The observers are names I've heard somewhere before.

Skeleton Knight and S-rank hunter Yujin were both quite famous, and I'd heard their names around.

"Alright. I'll head over right away."

[No need. Your legal representative, Yeonhwa, has to be there as well. Her Goblin Guerrilla Unit subjugation is supposed to end tonight, so you can come after that.]

"Got it."

After ending the call on my smartwatch, I pulled out the black jewel I had been holding.

A shard of the Demon King.

The very cause of this cruel dungeon, the Adaptive Copy Dungeon.

No one had seen this shard of the Demon King yet.

But I couldn't hide it, even if I wanted to.

Still, I had no idea why a shard of the Demon King existed in modern times.

Could it have followed me… No, we destroyed everything.

Me, Menelapie, and Teresa… we wiped everything out.

Yeah, I'll have to tell the people here about this too….

"…I didn't want to see it again."

I wanted to sever ties with my grim past, but the shadows clinging to my ankles always came from unexpected places.

Ah, how depressing… these unpleasant memories slowly and slyly drag me down like a mire.

I'm hungry.

I'm so hungry…

Even though I'm full, the hunger never stops gnawing at me.

It hurts, this hunger.

I shouldn't eat, but my stomach craves meat.

[Screeeech…]

"Ah, sorry."

Perhaps sensing the disturbance in my mood, the centipede cautiously pushed its head toward my chest.

[Screee…ech…]

"Yeah, yeah. Don't be scared…"

Right, a nightmare is just a nightmare.

The past is just the past.

I'll be fine now.

Yes, everything will be fine….

I'm okay now.