Chapter 41

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

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Chapter 41: Keeping Promises (2)

Kwon Hanul initially doubted his ears.

The bloodline of Hyukcheon possessed strength that defied all logic.

A Gold-rank dungeon? One of their lesser blood members could clear that solo—no team required.

And yet, what was this nonsense he was hearing?

“No matter how much you hate the idea of passing the responsibility, lying isn’t the answer.”

Kwon Hanul was convinced Kwon Jiseok was lying. It seemed a completely reasonable conclusion. But—

“…”

Kwon Jiseok didn’t even get angry—he just stayed silent. The moment Hanul saw that, he realized it was the truth.

Hanul couldn’t bring himself to say it aloud, but his face made it clear he thought this was pathetic.

“Hey! You think this is all my fault?!”

“Any accident in a dungeon is the team leader’s responsibility.”

“Well, that’s true, but… I have my reasons!”

“What kind of reason could make someone with a team like this fail to clear a Gold-rank dungeon?”

Letting out a long sigh, Kwon Jiseok began explaining the whole situation.

“…That’s what happened.”

After hearing it all, Kwon Hanul tilted his head in confusion.

“The Mud Trolls aren’t showing themselves?”

Kwon Jiseok sighed heavily and nodded.

“Yeah. I tried everything—luring them out using their habits, again and again—but nothing worked.”

Every beast has its own behavioral patterns. Monsters are no different.

“I’ve scattered bait they love, even set fires throughout the forest, but only one or two ever show up. The rest? Not a trace.”

It was bizarre.

Even the most laid-back Mud Trolls would never tolerate intruders in their territory.

And yet, despite all this chaos, they stayed completely still?

“Hayun, what do you think?”

“They’ve entered hibernation.”

Hanul let out a surprised breath. He’d overlooked it.

“Of all times to get a dungeon in that season… Talk about bad luck.”

“So you knew?”

“I’ve seen it once, a long time ago.”

Jiseok looked lost. Finally, he raised his voice in frustration.

“What the hell is hibernation? Let me in on this too!”

“What? You don’t know? You do realize dungeons have seasons, right?”

Time flows within dungeons, and the weather and seasons change accordingly—though the cycle varies by dungeon.

Monsters, too, are affected by time.

“All the Mud Trolls have gone into hibernation because of the dungeon’s current environment.”

During hibernation, Mud Trolls hide throughout the forest and enter a deep slumber. Waking them is practically impossible.

“See?! It’s not my fault! Given the situation, how was I supposed to—”

“Kwon Jiseok, as a member of the Hyukcheon bloodline, you should be able to handle worse than this.”

Joo Hayun spoke sharply.

“Well… yeah, but… How could you say that to me, Hayun?!”

“We’re nothing to each other, and I simply stated the truth.”

Her tone wasn’t just firm—it was icy enough to chill the air. Even Hanul shivered slightly.

“W-well, since we know the cause, you must know how to fix it, right?”

“Sorry, but there’s no known way to wake hibernating Mud Trolls.”

“Then…?”

“You’ll have to either level the dungeon or conduct an exhaustive, time-consuming search.”

Despair settled over Kwon Jiseok’s face.

Hanul was just as troubled. He’d come to acquire the dungeon’s soil as quickly as possible—now, that seemed impossible.

There had to be another way. As Hanul was lost in thought—

“Hey.”

Jiseok suddenly called to him.

“Did you come up with something?”

“No, not that.”

“Then why call me?”

“Remember when you asked me to get you Sacred Emperor's Water?”

“I do.”

“And now you’re here for White Earth. Don’t tell me… you have a Golden Apple seed?”

Hanul wasn’t trying to hide it, so he nodded.

“Yes. I got it from the Mei family’s vault.”

“…So that’s why Grandfather sent you personally.”

Jiseok muttered, sounding a little hurt.

“What about the Sacred Emperor's Water? Is that why Grandfather took you to the Delos Auction last time?”

“Yes. I obtained it there.”

“Damn it, how’d you sweet-talk Grandfather into giving you that too?”

Jiseok looked green with envy. No wonder—an elixir that boosts your stats to S-rank can’t be bought with mere money or connections.

“Just one more thing.”

“What now?”

“You saw Catalina Blaga at the Delos Auction, right? Is that true?”

Hanul frowned without realizing it. That hadn’t been a pleasant meeting.

“We met, yes.”

“Was she beautiful?”

For a moment, Hanul doubted his hearing.

Was that really the question Jiseok wanted to ask about someone as infamous as Catalina Blaga?

“Shouldn’t you be thinking of a solution first?”

“Come on, I’m just curious. Catalina Blaga’s a legend—face, figure, she’s perfect. People say one look at her and you’re done for.”

Hanul had always thought Jiseok’s way of speaking was incredibly crude for a noble.

“She was beautiful.”

Jiseok perked up his ears. Even Joo Hayun glanced over, seemingly interested.

Hanul was baffled.

Of all people, didn’t Hayun see Catalina Blaga at the auction herself?

“How beautiful?”

“Hard to put into words.”

“That beautiful?”

He meant he wasn’t good with words, but Jiseok took it to mean she was beyond description.

“I’m curious too—what did you think of her, Kwon Hanul?” Hayun chimed in.

No way out now.

“Uh, well…”

Hanul instinctively glanced at Hayun. For some reason, it felt like he really needed to phrase this carefully.

Just then, a commotion started near the fence entrance.

“What’s going on?”

Hanul seized the chance to change the subject, looking away—

“Cough, cough.”

And choked immediately.

Catalina Blaga was walking toward them.

And she wasn’t alone. Behind her was Ruyn Aspadam.

“What the hell are they doing here?”

He thought he was hallucinating from shock.

But that overwhelming presence—that skin-prickling dread—confirmed it was real.

“Little Dragon, we meet again~”

Catalina Blaga smiled sweetly, now right in front of them. The people around them gasped.

“Oh… damn… whoa…”

Jiseok’s jaw practically hit the ground.

The problem? He wasn’t alone. Everyone—men and women alike—reacted the same way.

At that moment—

Thud.

Ruyn Aspadam stomped the ground. A heavy shockwave rippled out, rattling everyone’s bones.

His presence was terrifying.

“Do not dare look at Lady Catalina.”

Ruyn’s voice dripped with murderous intent. Catalina lightly slapped his shoulder.

“Ruyn! We’re guests, remember? You can’t act like this.”

“My apologies, Lady Catalina.”

But Ruyn looked anything but apologetic. If anything, his glare at the crowd grew fiercer.

Then his eyes locked with Kwon Hanul’s. Killing intent flared.

Hanul couldn’t believe it.

“Why are you here?” Hanul asked Catalina directly. She pouted.

“Oh, so cold. Aren’t you happy to see me?”

“We’re not exactly on those terms.”

At the auction, Catalina had tried to use her Authority on him.

Hanul had zero reason to be happy about this reunion.

“No need to be so harsh. We have a reason for coming.”

“A reason?”

“Are you Mr. Kwon Jiseok?”

Kwon Jiseok nodded enthusiastically, his already wide grin stretching even further.

Kwon Hanul sighed inwardly. Just hearing his name called was enough to make him that happy?

“I’m here to receive the white soil on behalf of your older brother, Mr. Kwon Chan-seong.”

At that, Kwon Hanul snapped back to attention.

Wait—was the buyer that Chan-seong arranged really Catalina Blaga?

“W-white soil, you say?”

Kwon Jiseok was visibly flustered. He glanced nervously at Kwon Hanul and Joo Hayun.

Both of them ignored his gaze. It wasn’t something they needed to involve themselves in.

“I’m afraid you’ll have to wait a little longer…”

“A little longer? Isn’t it a Gold-ranked dungeon? That shouldn’t take too long, should it?”

Her genuinely confused question made Kwon Jiseok’s face flush red.

“Well, the thing is…”

Kwon Jiseok quickly explained the current situation to Catalina Blaga.

After hearing him out, Catalina frowned slightly, clearly troubled.

“Oh dear… that’s quite a complicated situation.”

“If you could just wait a bit more…”

“I’m not in that much of a rush. No need to stress about it.”

“R-Really?”

Relief washed over Kwon Jiseok’s face, his features lighting up.

Kwon Hanul let out a quiet sigh. Watching Kwon Jiseok flounder at Catalina Blaga’s every word was exhausting.

Just then, Ruyn Aspadam lightly shoved Kwon Jiseok aside.

“You’re too close. Keep your distance.”

Kwon Jiseok scowled, as if to say, ‘What the hell is this bastard saying?’

Kwon Hanul leaned in and whispered to him, “Do you know who that is?”

“No clue.”

“That’s Ruyn Aspadam.”

“…The disciple of the ThunderFist?”

The name immediately erased the hostility from Kwon Jiseok’s face. So the man really was someone notable.

“By the way, I’ve been curious—Little Dragon, are you here to help Mr. Kwon Jiseok?”

“No. I also need white soil, which is why I came.”

“What a coincidence! But doesn’t white soil only drop from a single dungeon boss?”

And that was the real headache.

Most buyers would’ve thrown a fit. After all, it wasn’t their job to deal with the situation—Kwon Jiseok and Kwon Chan-seong were responsible for that.

But if the buyer was someone as influential as Catalina Blaga, things got more complicated.

“I really need the white soil too… What should we do?”

“What do you need it for?”

“It’s great for skin care. I collect it whenever I get the chance.”

Catalina Blaga thought for a moment before replying.

“Well, it feels wrong to send you back empty-handed, especially since this feels like fate.”

“You’re saying you’ll let us have it?”

“But just giving it away would be boring, wouldn’t it?”

A playful grin spread across Catalina’s face.

“If you win a bet with me, I’ll give you the white soil. How about it?”

Kwon Hanul eyed her suspiciously. A bet? Out of nowhere?

“What kind of bet?”

“Little Dragon and Ruyn—both of you go into the dungeon. Whoever hunts more Mud Trolls wins. Sound good?”

Kwon Hanul clicked his tongue internally. No matter how he looked at it, the odds were stacked against him.

He had once asked Joo Hayun about Ruyn Aspadam.

A disciple of the Thunder Fist, nearly top-ranked globally.

He had countless titles to his name—a testament to his prowess. Joo Hayun mentioned that his agility stat was likely at S-rank.

The gap between A-rank and S-rank stats was often compared to a massive wall. Kwon Hanul’s chances of winning against Ruyn Aspadam were close to zero.

“I have nothing to wager, though.”

“Hm… then how about this? If Little Dragon loses, you accept my dinner invitation. What do you say?”

A dinner invitation?

Kwon Hanul tilted his head in confusion at the unexpected offer. At that moment, Joo Hayun grabbed his hand tightly.

“You can’t accept this bet. It’s too dangerous.”

“Dangerous?”

“No one knows what happens at Catalina Blaga’s invitations. One thing’s certain—no one has ever returned from them. They all end up pledging loyalty to her… or becoming her servant.”

Kwon Hanul frowned. There was clearly a reason white soil was being wagered.

He hesitated.

Under normal circumstances, he had no chance of beating Ruyn Aspadam.

But this wasn’t a direct fight—it was a competition to hunt more Mud Trolls.

And in that case, his answer was clear.

“Alright. I accept.”

Joo Hayun’s eyes widened in shock. In contrast, Catalina Blaga clapped like an excited child.

“Knew you’d be game! Ruyn, what about you?”

She turned to Ruyn Aspadam, beaming.

Unlike her, Ruyn’s face was twisted in anger.

“Catalina… is this why you brought me here?”

“Looks like Ruyn doesn’t like the situation.”

“No, I don’t. That man may be of the Hyukcheon Clan, but he’s just a greenhorn no one’s even heard of!”

In other words, beneath him.

Kwon Hanul felt a sting of offense.

“Oh my, so you’re backing out, Ruyn?”

“No, I’ll do it. I’m your vassal, Catalina. If you command it, I must obey.”

Ruyn Aspadam turned to Kwon Hanul, eyes blazing with hostility.

“Just wait. I’ll prove to you—again—what kind of man your chosen vassal truly is.”

With that, the bet was official.

“Oh, and Mr. Kwon Jiseok, is this alright with you?”

“Of course! Do whatever you like!”

“You’re refreshingly straightforward.”

Kwon Jiseok grinned from ear to ear.

“Shall we head to the dungeon then?”

At the dungeon entrance…

“Let me explain the rules again.”

Catalina Blaga addressed Kwon Hanul and Ruyn Aspadam.

“Whoever hunts more Mud Trolls scattered around the dungeon wins. The moment the boss is defeated, the bet’s over. The boss counts as three trolls.”

She tapped her forehead lightly.

“Mud Trolls grow a small horn on their foreheads. Bring them back as proof. Simple, right?”

Both Kwon Hanul and Ruyn nodded.

“Since this is the first round, let’s meet back here in four hours. Ready? Go!”

Kwon Hanul stepped through the dungeon gate.

A massive forest unfolded before him.

Trees so thick ten people couldn’t wrap their arms around them soared into the sky. They stretched so high he had to crane his neck all the way back.

Roots jutted above ground, covering the earth, while waist-high weeds filled the gaps.

Everything—the trees, the weeds—was tall and oversized. Kwon Hanul felt like he had shrunk.

“Greenhorn.”

He turned to see Ruyn Aspadam glaring at him.

“Honestly, I’d crush you with overwhelming force, but using my full strength against you would hurt my pride.”

“What are you even saying?”

“I’ll give you one condition. I won’t use any skills.”

Kwon Hanul felt insulted—then furious.

‘So you think you can win without even using skills, just because you’ve got S-rank agility?’

Then it hit him just how naïve he’d been.

“Well then, I’ll be off.”

Before he finished speaking, Ruyn Aspadam vanished.

Startled, Kwon Hanul looked around.

No sign of movement. He had no idea where Ruyn had gone.

Even when he heightened his senses, he couldn’t detect a trace of him.

Then—a deafening boom echoed from afar, followed by a Mud Troll’s cry.

“…You’ve got to be kidding me.”

He’d heard the gap between A-rank and S-rank was massive—but this?

“There’s no way I can beat him head-on.”

But Kwon Hanul hadn’t accepted the bet blindly.

He had a plan to win.

<‘Bloodline of the Vassal’ begins to stir.>

Kwon Hanul’s eyes glowed crimson.

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

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