Sung Joon immediately applied for his next solo run after he had cleared the E-rank dungeon and sold his magic stones at the Dungeon Bureau.

He had received about $5,000 for his magic stones. Compared to the D-rank or C-rank dungeons, he had received far less money. But hey, money is still money, right?

‘Are there still a lot of people applying for solo play?’

He couldn’t schedule anything for two days. He supposed that it was due to a lot of people still applying for solo play. In the end, Sung Joon decided to visit the Dungeon Bureau.

He could’ve just called but he didn’t have anything else to do and he thought his request might be more effective in person.

“I’m truly sorry, Hunter. We are presently delayed because of the amount of solo play applicants. It seems like it’ll be difficult to schedule anything for a few days.”

The clerk apologetically bowed their head. It was frustrating, but he couldn’t raise his voice at them.

Sung Joon decided to look for a different solution.

“Then how about party matching?”

“Hunter, you may apply for party matching for up to B-rank dungeons.” the clerk replied.

“Do you think there will be delay in the B-rank matching?” Sung Joon asked.

The clerk went to their tablet and checked momentarily.

“Your rating has gone up quite a bit due to your solo play. You should be able to find people without much difficulty,” the clerk said.

Whether you were in a party or solo, if you succeeded in dungeon runs, your rating would increase. If Sung Joon had actually gotten a match before his awakening, his party would often abandon the dungeon due to his low healing power. Therefore, he used to have an extremely low rating and it hadn’t been easy for him to get a match.

‘But it’s different now.’

Sung Joon could feel confident now.

“Please contact me when it’s done.”

“P-Please wait a moment, Hunter! It looks like the matching has finished.”

Sung Joon had risen from his seat and went to leave but the clerk stopped him.

“What’s the schedule?” Sung Joon asked.

“A matched party member was a no-show, so there was a request to supplement the party. Therefore, you need to leave immediately; will that be alright?” the clerk asked cautiously.

He had rested for two days, but most Hunters usually rested longer than that after a dungeon run.

“I understand. Please schedule it.”

Sung Joon nodded without hesitation. Nothing was impossible for someone with unlimited power. He currently felt overwhelmingly confident.

* * *

A man and a woman were waiting in front of a certain B-rank dungeon.

“Byung Chul, are you sure we got a match?” the woman asked impatiently.

She wore a robe seemingly unsuited for modern times.

“The Dungeon Bureau gave us a message, Ms. Seo Joo Yeon. Please wait a bit longer,” Byung Chul responded.

He was an adult who wielded a sword and a shield, and gave off a calm atmosphere.

“The item I’m wearing is too hot, though,” Joo Yeon complained.

Although Joo Yeon was uncomfortable, Byung Chul’s smile didn’t waver.

“We have it tough because Young Seo isn’t here.” Joo Yeon pouted.

They were both members of the mid-ranked guild, Phoenix, where Joo Yeon was an executive member.

At first, they had formed a party with guild members. However, Young Seo had to deal with an emergency and couldn’t join them. Likewise, the other guild members had their own circumstances and couldn’t join. Thus, the two had asked the Dungeon Bureau to supplement their party through matching.

“Someone’s coming,” said Byung Chul.

“I’m a Mage and you’re a Combatant, so it’ll be perfect if a Healer comes!”

Every Hunter knew that Healers made dungeon runs much easier. Gradually, they became able to see the Hunter and Joo Yeon’s eyes filled with anticipation.

However, Joo Yeon recognized the face and was disappointed.

“Isn’t that him?”

She had seen the self-defense incident on Hunter.com and restrained herself from calling him his nickname, the Legend.

“Will we be able to do it?” Joo Yeon asked.

“You know that there are harsh penalties for leaving after the matching is complete,” Byung Chul replied.

Byung Chul stopped. Sung Joon approached them but he was still quite a ways away. It seemed that if Byung Chul whispered, Sung Joon wouldn’t be able to hear them.

He continued.

“Also, Mr. Kang Sung Joon’s actions have been unusual lately. Please watch your words around him. Don’t call him by his nickname, the Legend, because it might irritate him.”

“Aren’t we being overly cautious around him?” Joo Yeon sneered.

“You know that our guild is considering scouting him, right?”

Joo Yeon belatedly remembered and shut her mouth.

“It’s a pleasure. My name is Kang Sung Joon.”

“I’m Seo Joo Yeon.”

“I’m Ji Byung Chul.”

They established their roles after their introductions. The worker opened the door and they went inside.

“I’ll take out my Light Drone.”

“You don’t need to do that. I’m a Mage,” Joo Yeon said.

Sung Joon opened his bag but Joo Yeon shook her staff, creating light.

“Then, let’s go.”

“I’ll take the lead, Mr. Kang Sung Joon. Could you please guard Ms. Joo Yeon?” asked Byung Chul.

“I don’t need to do that. I came here as a Healer,” Sung Joon answered.

Joo Yeon froze.

‘I know what you’re trying to do, you bitch.’ Sung Joon shook his head.

Sensing the increasingly icy atmosphere amongst them, the B-rank Combat Hunter, Byung Chul, urgently said, “Please don’t worry. I’m confident with my shield, so ‘Heal’ shouldn’t be necessary.”

Byung Chul’s voice overflowed with confidence and he had managed to turn the mood around. They looked towards the deeper parts of the dungeon and moved forward.

Monsters didn’t appear at the entrance but after ten minutes of movement, Sung Joon’s acute senses picked up several noises.

“They’re coming, seventeen of them.”

“My Detection Magic hasn’t found anything strange, though?” said a puzzled Joo Yeon.

Ding!

Joo Yeon protested, but the detection magic rang out, warning them of the monsters’ approach.

There were seventeen Orcs. They were unable to approach because Joo Yeon casted fire magic and annihilated them.

“Very impressive, Mr. Kang Sung Joon! How did you know?” Byung Chul asked, looking at Sung Joon.

The calm man honestly admired Sung Joon.

“Their footsteps were particularly loud.”

Sung Joon gave a suitable excuse and raised his hand slightly. However, the mana wasn’t absorbed.

‘As I had thought, I have to kill them myself to absorb the mana.’

He couldn’t expect to absorb the mana by being a leech, so he had to participate, even if it was bothersome.

The deeper they went, the more monsters appeared.

There were monsters that laid in ambush and attempted to surprise them but Sung Joon warned the party in advance and they were able to avoid injury.

“I think it would be best if we rest here,” Byung Chul said.

He sheathed his sword and dropped his shield. They needed to rest properly since starting from the B-rank dungeons, the dungeons were a lot larger and contained many times more monsters.

Sung Joon, Byung Chul, and Joo Yeon put the light in the center and sat in a circle around it.

“I can’t believe you have a Presence Detection skill that surpasses Detection Magic. You’re truly amazing.”

“I’ve been able to save mana for a while now because of you. Thank you very much.”

Byung Chul was in awe, while Joo Yeon smiled.

“Thank you,” replied Sung Joon.

Compliments made people feel all fuzzy inside. Sung Joon simply smiled and nodded, but then he felt several presences incoming.

‘Too, too many!’

Sung Jeon unsheathed his sword at his side and said, “Monsters! There’re a lot of monsters incoming!”

Byung Chul and Joo Yeon moved swiftly. They readied their weapons in wait. They were finally greeted with the advancing red gleaming eyes of the Orcs.