Resurrection Chapter 23 - Seo Heesoo, that crazy bastard...

Since the skill was recently acquired, its proficiency level was relatively low. Time would take care of that, and judging by the variety of skills alone, it was more than sufficient for immediate combat.

I muttered, “This is probably A-rank level, right?”

Hunters, like dungeons, were graded from S to F. This rank wasn’t determined by the Awakened System but by the Awakened Management Bureau under Yicheong. It was assessed comprehensively based on level, the god served, skills possessed, and operational ability.

Since the rank reflected overall combat capability, it was generally considered more important than level. Even if someone had a low level or served a minor god, they could achieve a high rank based on their skills.

In my case, despite being in my 30s level-wise and not serving a major god, I received a B-rank evaluation purely due to my adaptability.

People assumed I was an all-purpose jack-of-all-trades who served any god, but that wasn’t true at all. I carefully selected gods with good synergy and managed to appease many of them, which allowed me to perform well in practice.

Conversely, no matter how great a god someone served or how impressive their skills were, if they were weak in actual combat, they’d get a low rank. Usually, level and rank went hand in hand, but there were always exceptions.

In Heesoo hyung’s case, with his high base level and combat experience, he could easily earn an A-rank evaluation despite his skills’ current low proficiency.

I browsed through his skill window and said, “The activation phrases are short and sweet. Mine are all in English, so I sometimes get confused.”

“When I was a holy warrior, there were a lot of Latin phrases, which was tough.”

“Why aren’t the activation phrases in Korean?”

“Some people do have Korean phrases. Since the Awakened System is built on human subconsciousness, for Koreans, foreign languages might carry more clarity.”

“It’s just too similar to a game system, but inconsistently so.”

Since Heesoo hyung’s level was high, there weren’t many skills requiring unlocking. Wolfheddin didn’t seem to be the type with a lot of skills. Rather than adding new ones constantly, it seemed existing skills evolved into advanced ones.

In contrast, Heesoo hyung was surprised by the number of my skills. “For serving just one main god, you have a lot of skills, Mr. Yitae.”

“That’s because I’m a magic swordsman. Having to use both magic and swordsmanship keeps me busy. I still have a lot of skills to unlock, so I need to level up quickly, but I’m too used to cycling through skills, so it’s not going well.”

Back in my jack-of-all-trades days, I was at best a third-rate apostle, unable to use high-end skills. Wide-area magic was out of the question.

Instead, I arranged low-tier skills for maximum efficiency, creating my own combos. Even seemingly insignificant abilities could pack a punch with good synergy.

Still, a high level beats a low one, and one expert is better than ten novices. Instead of getting comfortable cycling skills, I needed to grind experience points to unlock my ultimate moves.

I recalled the helplessness I felt when Yoon Younghyun caught me yesterday. I couldn’t just rely on Heesoo hyung to protect me; I had to protect myself too.

Burning with determination, I said, “With this, we could go into action right away. Nothing beats learning through experience.”

“I agree.”

I turned off the system window and pulled out my phone. Displaying a hologram, I showed a few dungeons I’d shortlisted. “I’ve been thinking, and dungeons 40, 233, and 698 look good. They’re build-type, so it’s easy to keep distance from others, and they lack notable resources, so hunters rarely go there.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. They’re B-rank, so the level’s just right.”

At the mention of B-rank, Heesoo hyung’s expression darkened.

Though his rank wasn’t official, considering he was around A-rank like me, a B-rank dungeon would be a breeze.

Picking an A-rank might be better, but I was worried about attracting attention from people tailing us. With the client’s identity still unknown and my rumors’ spread unclear, there could be people eagerly waiting for us to enter a dungeon.

In this situation, choosing an overly tough dungeon could lead to a repeat of the holy site incident. I didn’t want us to be exhausted from fighting monsters and vulnerable to human threats, so a B-rank dungeon seemed best.

But Heesoo hyung seemed to have other ideas. “Let’s go for S-rank.”

I asked in surprise, “S-rank?”

“Yes.”

“Well, I mean, I believe you’re still strong, but… isn’t it better to get used to your new skills first?”

Heesoo hyung shook his head. “No, that’s too late. With your secret out, we need to get stronger as fast as possible. That’s the only way I can fulfill my role as your partner and protect you.”

“I appreciate the sentiment, but S-rank is a bit…”

Seeing my hesitation, Heesoo hyung gave a faint smile.

My heart sank at his barely visible smile. He said softly, “I know you’re saying this out of concern for me.”

I fumbled. I was genuinely worried. The image of Heesoo hyung dying at Yoon Younghyun’s hands was still vivid. I wasn’t ready to see that again.

Unlike my hesitation, Heesoo hyung was clearly fully prepared. “Above all, don’t we need an S-rank dungeon to carry out your plan?”

My plan.

His mention of it left me speechless.

Heesoo hyung was right. The plan I’d made, centered on Heesoo hyung after acquiring Resurrection, didn’t involve B-rank dungeons. It only made sense in S-rank dungeons or even more dangerous ones.

Looking at Heesoo hyung, I saw no trace of the doubt or hesitation from before. He’d said he wouldn’t question anymore, and now he was pushing me forward. Faced with his resolve, I couldn’t hesitate either.

Swallowing hard, I nodded. “Alright, let’s go for an S-rank dungeon.”

👑

The night grew late.

Pretending to sleep, I silently got up. Moving quietly, I slipped out of the room.

The dark living room was sparse. Two beanbag sofas tossed carelessly were the only furniture, with gear for tomorrow’s dungeon piled in a corner.

I shouldered a small backpack with essentials, just in case. Glancing at Heesoo hyung’s room, where he was likely asleep, I recalled casting a light sleep spell on his milk before bed, ensuring he’d sleep until morning. I didn’t need to be this cautious, but just in case.

Tiptoeing to the entrance, I put on my shoes. With no light on, the entrance was dark. The door was secured by my magic, so dispelling it was easy. After disabling a physical trap I’d set up, I stepped outside.

“Phew.”

Carefully closing the door, I sighed. Teleporting from the bedroom would’ve been easier, but a barrier similar to Yicheong’s covered the entire safehouse, making it impossible. Another spell hid the barrier, so teleporting from the hallway was the best option.

I recast the door’s magic and teleported.

Flash!

When I opened my eyes, I was in a city that never slept.

Sejong City, with its towering buildings, was brilliantly lit.

After Seoul’s collapse in the dungeon era, Sejong thrived as the new capital. But it lacked the orderly charm of a planned city, as refugees had flocked to the provisional government here.

One step off the dazzling streets revealed ramshackle alleys built by refugees. Lit by glowing stones from dungeons instead of expensive electricity, these alleys were oddly vibrant. Though grimy, they were alluring with their secretive diversity, joyful decadence, and endless utility.

I splashed through a muddy alley and entered a bar where werewolves gathered. The nameless bar had a stuffed werewolf head instead of a sign, and only the owner knew if it was real.

A stench like dog or urine hit me as I entered. It was a common smell where werewolves gathered.

Not actual werewolves, of course.

I meant those infected with the werewolf virus.

As I stepped in, eyes turned toward me. It was late, so seats were sparse. They soon looked away, but their awareness of me was clear.