The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 47

046

As expected, the subjugation wasn’t going smoothly.

Right after subduing the second boss, the ‘Atlantic Golem’.

All the subjugation team members were slumped in their spots, gasping for breath, but as if to deny them any respite, the space began to ripple.

At the same time, the entire dungeon began to glow with a blue light. That meant they hadn’t met the subjugation conditions.

As if being sucked into a black hole, the outer walls crumpled and warped like paper for a moment.

We were back at the dungeon entrance.

“What, what is this…….”

“Is this a loop…?”

Han Sang-hyuk and Moon So-yeon widened their eyes and looked around.

Loop 1.

I immediately took out a marker and wrote that on the entrance passage.

It was as if the real loop dungeon had just begun.

This time, we changed our combat method and proceeded with the subjugation.

The result was another loop.

On the third try, we fought with magic skills instead of physical skills.

On the fourth try, we proceeded with a time limit.

From the fifth to the seventh, we changed the boss room entry route.

In the end, all failed.

The number gradually increased, but we couldn’t even find a clue to the subjugation conditions.

That’s when the dungeon looped for the 11th time.

“Ugh, ugh…!”

“Haa, haa…….”

“Huff, huff…….”

Only the gasping breaths of the headquarters team hunters could be heard.

It wasn’t just accumulated fatigue.

The fear that they might be trapped in the dungeon forever, and the confusion from repeating the same thing over and over again.

Their mental limits had been reached.

It wasn’t just them.

Even the cleaning team, as well as the more experienced dispatched team, didn’t show it, but it was clear they were getting tired.

The only ones who were relatively okay were me, Kim Min-ju, and Han Yu-bin.

‘I can’t let this go on any longer…….’

I shook my head.

In order to achieve the subjugation conditions, it was important to fully learn the combat patterns of the two bosses by repeating the loop as much as possible. That’s why I wanted to let them solve it on their own if possible, but…….

If I left them alone any longer, accidents would only happen.

“Kim Min-ju.”

As soon as I called out quietly, she ran to me.

“How’s it going?”

“Not good. We haven’t found any clues… I think we need to repeat it a few more times, but everyone is too tired to do that.”

Hmm, I deliberately groaned as if I was serious.

“Have you checked the combat variables?”

“Yes. I’ve tried almost everything I can.”

“What about special spaces?”

“There weren’t any.”

“Monster analysis complete?”

“Yes. The first boss is a defensive golem that emits a blue light, and the second boss is an offensive golem that emits a red light. Other than that, there wasn’t anything special.”

Kim Min-ju shook her head heavily.

I smiled at her expression and opened my mouth.

“Then what about the peculiarities after subjugation?”

“After subjugation…? Other than the blue light flashing in the dungeon the moment it loops, there’s nothing else…….”

At that moment, Kim Min-ju made an ‘ah’ sound and widened her eyes.

“Come to think of it, there was never a time when it emitted a red light after subjugation.”

“Why do you think that is?”

“…….”

After thinking for a moment with a serious expression, she cautiously opened her mouth.

“Because we always subjugate the Pacific Golem first…?”

Once she thought that far, Kim Min-ju muttered to herself.

“Then this time, skip the first one and go straight to the second… No, no. If there’s a reason why the two bosses emit different lights, then defeating one of them first is meaningless…….”

As if she couldn’t hear anything else, she began to piece together the clues and naturally reached a conclusion.

“Then if we subjugate them at the same time…?”

She looked at me with wide eyes.

That was the answer.

Of course, I didn’t answer.

“Thank you, Teacher!”

But she seemed to be sure of herself.

She rushed to the subjugation team and began to explain the plan to them.

Soon, the subjugation team began to seriously consider her proposal.

“…But, how do we do that?”

“We’ll have to divide the team into two to subjugate them at the same time.”

“Wouldn’t it be a bit much to fight with only about 10 people at the Yellow rank?”

Specific opinions for the operation were exchanged.

“We can divide into the headquarters team and the dispatched team to proceed with the subjugation at the same time. We’ve repeated the same monster 10 times, so we should have learned the combat patterns well enough.”

“Even if we’ve learned the patterns, we don’t have enough power. The dispatched team is quite tired right now…….”

“We’ll have enough power.”

Kim Min-ju answered firmly. Then she turned her head and shifted her gaze to us.

Don’t tell me that she wants me to subjugate them…….

“Because we have Han Yu-bin.”

…….

“Th, that’s true, but… she’s currently suspended from being a hunter.”

“And it’s a bit much for a cleaner to participate directly in the battle too…….”

“Oh, I guess you didn’t know.”

Kim Min-ju smiled brightly.

“In Korea, the cleaning team’s duties include subjugation support.”

“……?”

“……?”

Everyone showed a bewildered reaction at that time.

“Hahaha! Good. Let’s proceed that way.”

Team leader Jason stepped forward, wrapping up the situation.

“Then the headquarters team, Chloe, and the cleaning team leader will take the first boss. The dispatched team, the cleaning team, and Han will take the second boss.”

“You’re putting Han Yu-bin on the dispatched team? I’d rather go to the dispatched team…….”

Kim Min-ju’s brow furrowed. Knowing the discord between Han Yu-bin and the dispatched team, she didn’t like the composition he suggested.

But Jason smiled affably and shook his head.

“No. It’s okay. It’s better to have someone with experience working together. Of course, if Han is okay with it.”

Everyone’s eyes turned to Han Yu-bin.

“Well… I don’t mind.”

Han Yu-bin shrugged indifferently and answered.

“Okay. Then let’s proceed that way.”

Kim Min-ju also nodded reluctantly.

The subjugation, which had been hesitant for a while, began again.

In the meantime, Jason’s expression, as if he was trying hard to hold back a smile, caught my eye.

***

The 11th time we found the first boss room.

The dispatched team had already quickly crossed it and headed to the second boss.

Grrr―.

The Pacific Golem, which had started moving again.

“Will it be okay?”

But Kim Min-ju was distracted by something else.

“What?”

“Putting Yu-bin with the dispatched team.”

“Eh…… Surely nothing will happen.”

I said that and looked at Chloe, the support manager.

I was hoping she would agree, but she didn’t say anything.

……If she’s like that, I’ll get anxious too.

“It’s already happened, so there’s nothing we can do. Let’s just focus on the battle for now. You know, right? You’ll have to fight almost alone.”

“……Yes.”

I glanced at the headquarters team members.

They were also ready for battle, but it looked like they were just pretending.

I can’t expect the same battle from them as before when they’re so tired.

In their current state, they’re doing their part if they just tank, counter, and buff in time.

The rest is all up to Kim Min-ju.

……Well, I can help if something happens.

“Dispatched team, are you ready?”

Soon, Kim Min-ju sent a radio message.

「We just arrived.」

“Then I’ll count down, so please subjugate as closely as possible.”

「Understood.」

Swish, Kim Min-ju took out her sword. The golem rushed in at that moment. Kim Min-ju also didn’t avoid it and charged straight ahead.

Clang―!

The 11th subjugation began, and at the same time, I moved to the corner of the boss room.

Well, I was just going to watch and help when it was dangerous, so I propped my chin up and watched the battle.

But less than a minute after the battle started, my head gradually straightened up. I couldn’t help but be surprised.

“Guardian class! Drive the monster to the right as much as possible!”

“Yes, yes!”

“Mages, watch carefully and cast a few skills when you see a big movement! You can induce stun just by countering!”

“Understood!”

“Melee positions, don’t go forward and aggro unnecessarily, just stay behind! I’m enough on my own.”

Tap―.

The flow of battle, the method of attack, the way of commanding the team.

Everything she was doing was quite similar to me in my past life. Even the way she spoke.

‘That girl…….’

Half the power, lack of combat personnel, accumulated fatigue.

Even though they had repeated it 11 times, it was still not a good situation.

Nevertheless, Kim Min-ju’s sword was about to cut even the air.

Fluid movements, accuracy in hitting the joints exactly.

Above all, a spirit that never wavers.

‘……She’s grown.’

Kim Min-ju was fighting a life-or-death battle, but I felt like I was watching my daughter’s school talent show.

I was admiring the battle for a moment, letting out a small exclamation.

Buzz―.

Soon, a blue light began to emanate from the golem’s body. It meant that it didn’t have much health left.

“Headquarters team, we’ve entered the red zone!”

「We just entered here too! Please start the countdown!」

“I’ll attack on the count of five! One!”

Two, three…….

It was that moment.

“…Hey, hey! Dodge!!”

“……!”

A surprise attack from the front.

But perhaps because she had consumed a lot of stamina, Kim Min-ju couldn’t react in time.

Bang―!!

She was slammed straight into the ground by that brutal attack.

“Team leader Kim Min-ju!!”

“Min-ju unnie!”

“Ugh…!”

She groaned in pain, as if she had suffered a severe injury to her left shoulder.

The golem didn’t miss the opportunity and raised its huge arms high.

[Skill Activated]

[Acquired Skill: Hellfire]

Bang―!!

The black flames that flew from my hand struck the golem’s arm directly.

With a powerful explosion, the golem lost its balance and staggered for a moment.

“T, Teacher…?”

Kim Min-ju turned to me with surprised eyes.

“No time to talk. Get up and finish it quickly.”

I answered nonchalantly.

Kim Min-ju looked a little embarrassed, but only for a moment.

She quickly got up and prepared to attack again.

“…Four.”

Soon, the moment a blue light flashed in her eyes.

[Unique Skill: Thousand-Hand Guanyin (千手觀音) [Bodhisattva of Compassion]]

“Five.”

[Thousand-Hand Guanyin – Awakening]

[Unique Class: Sword Emperor]

Swish―.

The trajectory of the blue sword flashed before my eyes.

A strike that cut the entire boss room in half.

The brutal attack pierced the solid outer armor and cut the golem exactly in half.

“…….”

“…….”

A breathtaking silence.

Thud―.

Soon, the golem fell with a heavy sound, and at the same time, a purple light poured out from the dungeon.

Finally, the loop was over.

Wowwww―.

I could move my body only after I heard the cheers.

I took a deep breath and approached Kim Min-ju. Then I glanced at her shoulder.

The condition wasn’t very good.

A fracture or dislocation.

But she got up as if nothing was wrong.

“Are you okay?”

“……I don’t think I’m going to die.”

She smiled forcefully, covered in blood and sweat.

Geez, I shook my head.

Anyway, that tenacity is the same as ever…….

“By the way, when did you awaken your unique skill?”

Unique skill awakening occurs when a unique skill is raised to the maximum.

Those who have achieved awakening are granted a unique class from that moment on.

There aren’t many guys who have been granted a unique class even among A-ranks…….

“Ah… it hasn’t been a few days.”

“Then why didn’t you say anything? You should have applied for a rank review right away. You would have received an A-rank easily!”

“I wanted to show it to Teacher first.”

“…….”

This is crazy, this is crazy.

It’s not like I’m an elementary school student getting my homework checked.

“……Okay, let’s clean up and get out of here.”

“Yes.”

Kim Min-ju smiles brightly.

Then she picked up the radio.

“Everyone, you’ve worked hard. If there are any injuries, please report them, and if there are no special circumstances, we’ll return immediately.”

「…….」

But for some reason, the radio was silent.

“Dispatched team? Dispatched team, please respond.”

「…….」

Only static could be heard.

No matter how long we waited, there was no response from the radio.

“…You guys try to radio them too.”

Kim Min-ju’s voice hardened.

“They’re not answering our radios either.”

“Could something have happened?”

“That can’t be. The subjugation is done, so why now…?”

Everyone reacted as if they couldn’t understand.

“I, I think we should go.”

At that time, Chloe was the first to assess the situation.

“That human might have really done something… Damn it, I shouldn’t have thought so…….”

“What are you talking about? What is he doing?”

I stopped Kim Min-ju, who raised her voice, and opened my mouth.

“……You should go out with the headquarters team and get treatment first. I’ll go check it out.”

“Ah, no. I’m going too…… Ack!!”

The moment I lightly put my hand on Kim Min-ju’s shoulder, a scream burst out immediately.

“Where are you trying to follow me in this state?”

“But…….”

“Get out, you.”

There’s no time, and she’ll only be a burden.

As soon as I said it firmly, Kim Min-ju nodded with a subdued expression.

After rummaging through the cleaning team’s equipment, I took out a broom that I had bought a few days ago.

Then I headed straight to the second boss room.

[Acquired Skill: Replica]

[Copies another person’s unique skill for 1 minute.]

I set a 1-minute timer in my head.