Hoarding In Hell [EN]: Chapter 98

98. Difficulty: Easy (1)

“What?”

“Dungeon 344 has been completely neutralized and destroyed. The administrator is also gone.”

“That’s impossible. Immortality allows them to revive even from cellular remains. Maybe revival is difficult, but even if they were destroyed, you could just restore from a backup, right?”

“That’s not possible either.”

The old man groaned.

“The backup data is completely corrupted. That’s probably why immortality didn’t work. Summoning them now would only produce dummy data. Something must have affected the data. The dungeon data is also completely destroyed, so we can’t even check the records.”

A long silence passed between them. The meaning of this situation was clear. Instead of being afraid, the woman shuddered with pleasure and laughed.

“If that’s true, it’s an error that occurred for the first time in 30 years. Much faster than other places, isn’t it? Didn’t it take about 70 years when dealing with the elves?”

“First, I’ll check if any of the Stars intervened. It’s more likely that one of the impatient Stars caused a disturbance rather than an error. You should go to the recovery support center and see if you can interpret any of the remaining dummy data.”

“What about you?”

The old man lowered his eyes and muttered.

“I’ll meet with the Star’s vassals.”

***

Difficulty increased.

The unprecedented situation shocked the world.

Ordinary people didn’t hear the message, but all ability users consistently testified to it, so it couldn’t be ignored.

The stock market immediately fluctuated, and the price of mana moss skyrocketed. Hunters on expeditions in dungeons of 4 stars or higher were immediately ordered to return, and re-exploration began from the lower-level dungeons.

Hyeon-woo found this situation amusing.

“I thought the government’s response would be slow, but I didn’t expect the whole world to come to a unified response in just three days. I thought they’d just think a few hunters died.”

“That’s because mana moss has become an indispensable resource in the future industry.”

As Yoo-min said, the items and mana moss from the dungeons were now the core of the future industry.

The new materials combined with mana moss are used in everything from small cell phones to large ships. That’s why the price of mana moss has soared.

While Hyeon-woo was lazing around on the bed, looking at his phone like a lazy cat, Yoo-min was typing something diligently with dark circles under her eyes.

“What are you writing so hard for?”

“…Because the difficulty suddenly increased, I have to completely rewrite the doctoral thesis I was working on. It’s better than those who are doing research directly related to dungeons… but I still have to fix quite a bit.”

“What does the dungeon difficulty increase have to do with it?”

Yoo-min looked at Hyeon-woo with gloomy eyes.

“It’s like I was working hard on a paper about whether communism is a sustainable national governance model, and then I saw the Soviet Union collapse on the day before the review?”

“…Oh, dear.”

Hyeon-woo was young when the Soviet Union collapsed, so it was difficult to empathize. But he knew it was a metaphor for a hard-built tower collapsing.

“Still, I only need to check how the ecological changes in the dungeon due to the increase in difficulty specifically affect the ability users, so it’s okay. I just won’t sleep for about two weeks.”

The increase in difficulty was by no means Hyeon-woo’s fault, but it was true that it had some impact in terms of timing. Hyeon-woo felt a little sorry for some reason.

“Is there anything I can help with? Even with money?”

“You might be able to buy a doctorate with money… but it’s a bit frustrating to do that after coming this far. Oh, by the way, how about you, Oppa? Did you feel any impact of the difficulty increase on your body?”

Reports of the impact of the difficulty increase were quickly sent to the higher-ups. Hyeon-woo had also been to the dungeon, but he personally didn’t feel any major changes.

But it seemed different for the JeonNeungRyeon hunters [All-Round Association Hunters]. They said the changes were very noticeable.

“They said the difficulty has definitely increased.”

“Monsters are stronger, and the quality of equipment is better. Is there anything else?”

“I heard that they tend to form groups. In the old days, unless they were like Ratmen with swarm characteristics, they would just rush in sporadically from here and there. They just didn’t eat each other.”

In the Guillotine Dungeon, Ratman shamans leading groups, which could only be found during the Flood, were reliably reported.

It was said that they even blew horns to call for support when in danger, making it much more difficult to attack.

“But there are advantages too. The quality of the items that come out has increased. The discovery of rare items has become more frequent. It feels like the 1% drop rate has increased to about 3%. I heard that the quality of mana moss has also increased.”

“The supply is falling and the quality is rising, so only the hunters and equipment companies will be excited.”

Hyeon-woo smiled.

The shock of the difficulty increase swept the world for a moment, but on the other hand, there were also areas that were booming.

It was the hunter item industry, which had been stagnant for 30 years as the abilities of hunters reached their limits.

The two most prominent companies were D&W Industries and Grimoire Lab. Coincidentally, these were the companies that Hyeon-woo had bought a large amount of stock in.

“I told you to buy it.”

“I bought it. I feel a little uneasy because it feels like I’m trading with people’s lives.”

“Is there anything in the world that doesn’t trade with people’s lives? People die even if they don’t have a house, and they die even if they don’t have clothes. They die even if they don’t have food. Insurance, military, and pharmaceuticals are all businesses that trade for a living.”

“You’re saying bad things again.”

Anyway, thanks to this, capital poured into this quasi-military industry.

The fear that arose in the early days of the dungeon’s appearance subsided due to the mana moss boom, but began to permeate the public again due to the increase in difficulty.

Thanks to this, the hunter industry also continued its precarious boom. Secret whispers were already circulating.

‘They said the difficulty is easy, right?’

That means the difficulty will continue to increase in the future. Logically speaking, there should be at least a ‘Hard’ difficulty. Hyeon-woo was already aware of such fears.

‘It will go all the way to Hell difficulty.’

What if Hyeon-woo declared, ‘There is a Hell difficulty, so let’s all prepare together!’? If he’s lucky, he might be able to get cooperation.

But Hyeon-woo didn’t think that the Hell difficulty was the kind that humanity could prevent by cooperating and preparing together.

‘The idea of saving everyone ended up killing everyone.’

Old Man Baekgol had already tried that.

Hyeon-woo had no intention of repeating the same method.

“The problem is that the quality of mana moss has increased. It’s all messing up my research… Come to think of it, they said rare items are dropping a lot too, right? By the way, Lee Ji-tae also found a legendary weapon. Was it called ‘The Heaven-Breaking Sword of the Nine Heavens Dragon King’? Don’t you wonder who comes up with these names?”

Lee Ji-tae’s legendary weapon. Hyeon-woo had seen the news.

In fact, it was generally accepted that he bought something that someone else had found, rather than Lee Ji-tae finding it himself.

The Heaven-Breaking Sword was known to have the special ability to control lightning. Hyeon-woo recalled Hellburg’s distorted passion that he had fed to Tam.

‘Originally, Lee Ji-tae should have eaten this and promoted that he had obtained a legendary weapon, but he obtained lightning instead of fire.’

It had changed slightly, but it didn’t deviate from the big picture. Hyeon-woo wasn’t sure how much of a big impact this would have, but it wasn’t exactly a positive sign for him.

The weapon called the Heaven-Breaking Sword of the Nine Heavens Dragon King was not in Baekgol’s records.

Of course, he couldn’t record everything, but if alternative versions of the changed future were created in this way, he might not be able to change the ending of Hell difficulty after all.

‘There’s still time, but…’

He couldn’t be sure how long it would be. Just because the tutorial lasted 30 years doesn’t mean the other difficulties will be that long. The wave started when Hyeon-woo blew up the Guillotine Dungeon Flood, and the difficulty increased by blocking the 13th Flood.

With this method, the difficulty increase process could start again at any moment.

‘I have to prepare as much as possible.’

Even if it’s annoying, he needs a lot of people to be his hands and feet. And people who won’t betray him and become his power, even if the dungeon itself is destroyed.

The list was already being compiled to some extent.

***

A hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul.

In the top-floor suite, where only the most exclusive VIPs can visit, Yoo Seong-yeon, the leader of the Obsidian Team, was waiting for someone for a long time.

The appointment time was already 30 minutes late, but Yoo Seong-yeon had no choice but to wait for someone who would arrive soon like a docile puppy.

Fortunately, before long, the elevator heading only to this room began to move.

Yoo Seong-yeon straightened his clothes and waited for someone who would arrive soon. As soon as the door opened, Yoo Seong-yeon calmly bowed his head and greeted.

“Have you arrived, Chief Secretary Park Gyu.”

Park Gyu, the hidden power of the Blue House [South Korean presidential office], frowned as soon as he heard the greeting.

“Don’t say my name carelessly. You never know who might be listening.”

“I’m sorry.”

Apart from respecting Park Gyu, Yoo Seong-yeon couldn’t help but be at his beck and call.

Park Gyu was the most symbolic figure that Taesung Group was manipulating even the core power of the country.

He played the most important role in creating the current president, and many people called him the hidden power because he was involved in many major policies.

From Yoo Seong-yeon’s point of view, he had no choice but to treat him like a superior in the Taesung Group.

“What about the item I ordered?”

Yoo Seong-yeon hesitated for a moment, but eventually had no choice but to take it out. It was a small USB.

“This is a video taken before the Taean Dungeon disappeared.”

All of Taesung’s team leaders wear body cams. For recording and education purposes.

The video of the expedition to the Taean Dungeon with Hyeon-woo was also included.

Everything from the activities of the JeonNeungRyeon hunters, Hyeon-woo heading into the forest after the Flood broke out, and his appearance immediately after leaving the dungeon.

Park Gyu plugged the USB into the tablet he had brought and quickly started fast-forwarding. Yoo Seong-yeon became anxious as he watched.

Originally, Yoo Seong-yeon didn’t want to bring this video. He was worried that it might cause some harm to Hyeon-woo.

He was also concerned about Hyeon-woo’s warning, ‘Don’t tell anyone,’ which he had said before suppressing the Flood.

Hyeon-woo had warned him not to talk about what happened in the Taean Dungeon itself. Everyone owed Hyeon-woo their lives, so they all said they would.

Thanks to this, the reason and incident for the disappearance of the Taean Dungeon remained unknown.

‘Either way, a benefactor is a benefactor.’

If it weren’t for Hyeon-woo, he would have died in the Guillotine Dungeon and the Taean Dungeon. He is a benefactor who saved his life twice. But Park Gyu already knew everything.

There was one more person who filmed the video besides Yoo Seong-yeon.

And that person stole the information and handed it over to Park Gyu.

Park Gyu called Yoo Seong-yeon to double-check. He already knew, so there was no reason to refuse. Yoo Seong-yeon had no choice but to pray that it wouldn’t harm Hyeon-woo.

“Is this all?”

“Yes? Yes. That’s all.”

Park Gyu stared at the laptop.

“There’s not much difference. It seems to be true.”

Yoo Seong-yeon was relieved. He was able to reduce his guilt a little.

But Park Gyu was trembling at the contents of the video. He couldn’t believe it when he first received the leaked video, which seemed to have been sent by someone inside Taesung.

How could something like this exist in the world? Park Gyu muttered to himself without realizing it.

“I can’t believe it.”

“Did Hunter Kang Hyeon-woo cause any problems?”

“Huh? Kang Hyeon-woo? Why that friend?”

“Yes?”

Wasn’t he surprised by Kang Hyeon-woo’s skills? Then what is he saying that for?

Park Gyu also felt that Yoo Seong-yeon was misunderstanding something. He frowned slightly.

He thought that hunters still have a narrow view.

“It’s okay. It was helpful, so you can go now.”

“Yes.”

Yoo Seong-yeon bowed and hurried out. No matter how much he was a person equivalent to his superior, he couldn’t look favorably on a power broker who was attached to capital.

After Yoo Seong-yeon left, Park Gyu repeatedly played the video for a long time.

Kang Hyeon-woo, the hunters seem to think of him as some kind of demigod, but no matter how strong he is, he is an individual.

He can’t be an existence that can stand against the country.

Even Lee Ji-tae, the strongest in Korea, was internally predicted to have the combat power of a battalion-level force. This analysis was not only done for Lee Ji-tae.

Other countries also treated the analysis and ability identification of top-ranked ability users as top secrets.

In a way, ability users are strategic weapons with egos. Surveillance and monitoring are natural.

However, no ability user could be an existence that could stand against the country.

‘But this is…’

Park Gyu stared at the exoskeletons worn by the JeonNeungRyeon hunters.

The same specifications and the same driving method. This is definitely a mass-produced form of manufactured goods.

It was a disastrous item from the perspective of the country, which constantly monitors and checks the abilities of hunters.

‘An item that can raise the abilities of even mediocre hunters like JeonNeungRyeon to this level.’