Mr. Kim Strikes It Rich with Auto-Hunting [Novel] Chapter 33

“Arthur, they say you can get stronger.”

“Arf-ur?!”

“Yeah! Arthur!”

Look at those reflexes.

His head whipped around fast enough to shoot lasers from his eyes.

“Ehehe! That means Rani wants that! Give it to me! Rani wants it!”

Rani’s eyes sparkled too.

Here we go again.

Look at her suddenly talking all polite.

Huh?

“Bawss? Arf-ur wants it too, pleathe!”

Hey now.

You keep doing that, and what happens? The kid watches and copies you!

“Arf-ur didn’t do nuffin’?”

“Like hell you didn’t…”

Unbelievable.

You rascal.

You only use honorifics when you want something… Rani’s been doing the exact same thing lately, you knucklehead.

“Do you even know what it is?”

“Dunno?”

“Mmm… Rani doesn’t know either! But if Arthur has it, he gets stronger!”

Hmph.

Is that so?

Just like back with Robin Hood’s Bow Fragment.

Robin wanted it desperately the moment they laid eyes on it too.

And the result?

Robin’s latent potential bloomed.

Somehow, feels like that’ll happen this time as well.

Then of course we’re going.

[Worksite Scouting has completed.]

Worksite Scouting had just wrapped up.

Wonder what the difficulty’s like.

“How is it? Can you clear it?”

“…Yeah. Easier than last time.”

Robin’s verdict: easier than the Chinese S-grade dungeon.

Then what about Arthur?

“Mmm… Arf-ur thinks it’s… iffy?”

Iffy.

“Still, Robin’s here, so it’s otay…”

He forced himself to keep talking, but his face looked gloomy.

Oh boy… Left alone, he’d probably dash straight back to the training ground.

“Hmph.”

While everyone merely traded glances, Rani sprang into action.

Puffing out both cheeks, she trotted forward on light feet and thrust both hands high into the air.

“When you get back, Rani will make something even better and prettier than Neaty!”

“R-Really?!”

“Uh-huh! Just trust Rani!”

“Arf-ur trusts Bokdeongi!”

“Ehe! Lucky charm!”

Our Rani really loves being called a lucky charm.

She hopped and skipped in excitement.

Well, sure.

She really is our little lucky charm.

Without Rani, who else would’ve dispelled this gloom?

“…….”

“Haha, wonderful.”

Robin cracked a smirk, and Todd chuckled warmly.

Agreed.

How could anyone not smile watching that?

“Indeed. It’s lovely seeing everyone smiling.”

Just right.

Let’s all get ready together, looking forward to what kind of magic our little lucky charm will work this time.

*

London, United Kingdom.

A conference room inside the Special National Security Agency, the organization overseeing hunters.

“Next is the report regarding India.”

Listening to the briefing, Arthur Brandt offered a satisfied smile.

Just as expected… Power and authority ruled the world.

“Currently, intelligence collection across various regions of India is proceeding, and those who were national leaders among the refugees have all been recruited—”

Who was the man giving the dedicated report?

Edmund Crawford.

His post: Director of the Special National Security Agency.

Normally, he wasn’t someone who had to report to anyone.

“It’s progressing well.”

“Yes, that is correct, Member of Parliament.”

Indeed.

Provided I wasn’t the nation’s rank 1 hunter and a member of the House of Commons, that is.

Director Edmund, that bastard.

He’d been absurdly authoritarian at first.

So much so that it was hard even to see his face.

Now that my power had expanded and I had secured a seat in Parliament?

He came running the moment I called.

“And no additional S-grade dungeons have been detected in India?”

“No, none as of yet.”

“As expected, once the nation itself collapses, both the dungeons and the Tower cease all activity.”

“The researchers presume as much.”

No new S-grade dungeons.

In that case…

“The dungeons that broke before the collapse will be the issue. Monsters must still be crawling out nonstop.”

“Yes… that is correct.”

The terrifying part about dungeon breaks.

The monsters’ territory expanded over time.

Just like what happened in China.

Then what about India?

It had been nearly three years since its fall.

No telling how far the monsters had spread by now…

“Investigate as thoroughly as possible. Once I clear Floor 70, I’ll head over immediately.”

“Yes, understood.”

Arthur Brandt, the UK’s rank 1.

A hunter bearing the same name as the legendary hero.

He possessed a grand dream.

A vast ambition nurtured since childhood.

And what was it?

The British Empire, the land where the sun never set.

Recreating that legend now found only in history books.

“First, we start with India.”

After that would come the other ruined nations, like India.

Egypt, perhaps…

“This is information regarding an S-grade dungeon disclosed by an Indian ruling elite who escaped, claiming only their family line possessed it. Please review it.”

“Hmm, a legend about a dungeon that preys upon stimulated desires…”

One must never be tempted by gold or riches.

Supposedly, it would inflict a curse or something.

“Simple enough.”

“This intel…”

“Burn it. Make sure it doesn’t leak to other nations.”

Lest someone else snatch it away.

“Now I only need to clear Floor 70.”

Right after, he would move.

Starting with India, expanding to other countries.

I shall deliver salvation to you whom no one aided. In return, kneel beneath us once more. Under the shade of the great British Empire.

*

“All right, shall we get going?”

A distant land, India.

Farther even than China.

They said flying straight there took over eight hours…

And Yoon Hajun?

Heading there straight from home.

[Temporary Dispatch Range Expansion Voucher]

I’d bought this in advance from the Commission Point Shop.

Cost a whopping 10,000 P…

An S-grade commission yielded 10,000 P a pop.

Without using a 2x Point Scroll, it barely broke even.

Still, since I accepted the request, well…

“Director, this really is unappetizing.”

“Can’t be helped. The country collapsed, after all.”

Indeed.

It was pretty unappetizing.

Elixirs, potions, magic stones, bundles of this and that… they were there, sure.

Quality lagged far behind, though.

It felt almost like…

“Like somebody scraped together crumpled pocket money from the bottom of their pouch.”

“Precisely.”

Not like this was a dollar store…

Apparently, this was gathered with utmost effort.

A secret post left by the Awakening Management Bureau read:

[Items gathered bit by bit by refugees from India — ]

Blah, blah, blah.

Well…

Sure.

I’ll take it.

I’d take it even if I had to pay out of pocket.

A chance for Arthur to grow stronger?

How could I pass that up?

Not that I’d ever actually pay, of course…

“Everyone ready?”

“Arf-ur is weady!”

Yeah.

You’ve looked ready for a while now.

“…Yeah.”

Robin remained expressionless.

Even so, their mood was legible by now.

They wanted to go quickly.

Great.

My preparations happened to be finished too.

Let’s jump right in.

[Using ‘Temporary Dispatch Range Expansion Voucher’.]

[Select a country to expand range.]

Countless nations.

Among them, selected India.

Next, opening Dungeon Dispatch…

“Whoa… There are tons here too.”

Endless dungeons lined up.

Wait.

There really were that many…?

Still, not quite as many as China, so finding it didn’t take long.

[Golden Temple of Death – S-Grade]

“Phew.”

All right, leaving the gate open.

Glancing over to see what the laborers were up to…

“Safety! Good! Good! Good!”

Arthur, look at him.

Belting out the chant with full vigor after so long.

“Goo-ood!”

Lucky charm Rani stood beside him, clutching her fists tight and cheering along.

Shall I join in for once?

“Good! Good! Good!”

Man.

Nothing beats this.

Once we all yelled the slogan together, prep was complete.

“Arthur, don’t forget your ring.”

Tucking the ring into his gear…

Now we were truly set.

Off you go.

“Fank you, Bawss! Arf-ur will be right back!”

“…….”

[Workers are entering the dungeon.]

[Starting Auto-Hunting.]

Phew.

Here we go.

Arthur, Robin, good luck.

*

[Monitoring]

The Golden Temple flashed onto the screen again.

As always…

“Sparkly! Pretty!”

“Yeah… Gold everywhere.”

Huh?

It passed by in a flash earlier, so I hadn’t noticed.

Looking closely now, gold wasn’t the only thing there.

Gems littered the ground in heaps.

Is that… a diamond…?

Whoa…

It’s the size of a fist.

How much would that even go for?

“Director?”

“Uh, what…?”

Lost in thought for a second, Todd’s tapping and voice snapped me right back to my senses.

“What was that just now?”

I have plenty of money, don’t I…?

Well, maybe not plenty plenty.

Selling just a few magic stones would let me drape myself head to toe in diamonds, so…

Why was I suddenly tempted?

Especially when they said it was all fake!

“Is something the matter?”

“Might be my imagination, but it felt like I was possessed for a second.”

Yoon Hajun, twenty-three years old.

Original occupation: on-site construction laborer.

Precious metals?

Ha.

No chance.

Never cared for them.

With that kind of money, I’d rather buy a bowl of hot soup with rice…

“Strange…”

“That is normal. A bizarre aura radiates from that gold and those jewels. They are surely no ordinary items.”

Not ordinary items?

Then…?

“I suspected as much, but your reaction confirms it, Director. Objects designed to stimulate desire. Naturally, a trap, correct?”

“Wait, won’t those two be in danger then?”

If it’s a trap, is there no way to warn them?

Why didn’t I notice during the scout?

Watching anxiously—

“Huh? They’re totally fine.”

Gleaming from all sides.

Despite the constant temptation, our gallant laborers didn’t spare it a single glance.

Even knowing it was a trap, my eyes kept drifting toward it, yet…

Man, our laborers truly are something else.

Who cares about gold!

All they need is coffee and meat!

Equipment that looked great at first glance?

Mmm…

How could that ever beat items crafted by Rani anyway!

Besides…

“Naturally. By nature, our laborers are immune to most mental attacks.”

What the.

They have that too?

The more I learn about these people, the more busted they seem.

At any rate, Arthur and Robin moved swiftly this time as well.

Especially Robin.

Thwack.

The moment an enemy came into view, an arrow pinned them down on the spot — a runaway locomotive in flesh and blood.

“Hehe, Robin really is super strong!”

“All thanks to Rani’s weapon.”

Too true.

Robin was a monster originally, but not to this degree.

“Right! Rani made Neaty!”

Yep.

Neaty.

Ever since receiving that bow and getting so tidy, their strength spiked like crazy.

Wonder if Arthur will end up the same way?

Ah.

It wasn’t just raw power that increased, though.

The kid had grown a bit violent…

“Oh, that room.”

“That’s the room! The one with the shield! Ehe! Hurry, hurry!”

The chamber hiding the shield fragment destined to make Arthur stronger.

Its structure looked intricate, though.

Felt like an area requiring a puzzle to be solved.

Let’s see…

BOOOOM!

See what, exactly…

Look at that.

I told you, Robin got way too violent.

Puzzle or whatever, they just smashed it straight to pieces.

Still, the result?

A success.

The wall crumbled, and they scooped up the shield fragment.

Whew, so refreshingly direct, it was fun to watch.

“Moving out again!”

Reward secured, the conquest resumed.

Golden knights charged endlessly, but—

Thwack.

Every last one got cut down at Robin’s hands.

“Is it just me, or does this feel way easier than previous S-grade dungeons…?”

“Likely so. Mental attacks do not affect them in the first place.”

Aha.

Makes sense. What good was tempting them with treasure? It didn’t work in the slightest!

Sprinting briskly, they reached the boss zone.

The boss was…

“Looks scary!”

“Saw it earlier, but is that a dokkaebi?”

“I looked it up, and they call it a yaksha.”

A yaksha?

An Indian monster, maybe…

Regardless, it looked menacing.

— You reached this place without touching a single thing? Impressive.

Huh?

It talks too.

— You pass. As a reward, I grant you all of this. Take it and be gone.

Gold and gems piled literally like mountains.

Just looking at it made one’s mouth water…

Obvious trap.

The very instant that thought crossed my mind—

Thump.

Ah, classic Robin.

Without a second thought, they planted an arrow right between its brows.

The more I watch, the more satisfying it gets.

— Insolent wretches! How dare you!

“It got mad! It’s mad!”

So what if it’s mad?

Looks like Arthur and Robin will win anyway.

Go get ’em, our laborers.

*

[S-Grade Dungeon Conquest Successful!]

Just as expected.

Arthur and Robin won handily.

More precisely, Robin did…

“That yaksha? Looked ferocious, but guess it wasn’t the brawny type.”

“Likely so. It failed to dodge a single one of Laborer Robin’s arrows.”

It did possess solid endurance, though.

Only died after getting riddled like a porcupine.

Still, a clean clear.

As for the time?

[Clear Time – 00:53:18]

Sweet.

Faster than last time.

[Conquest Rewards – 90 High-Grade Magic Stones / 50 High-Grade Healing Potions / Kubera’s Gold Coin / Reinforced Mithril Ingot / ……]

The reward, however…

A coin instead of a fragment?

Hmm.

Can’t be an ordinary coin.

I’ll look into it later…

For now.

“Arf-ur brought it!”

Yeah, this.

The fragment brought back after smashing the wall.

Let’s check this first.

[Prydwen Fragment]

“A shield! Rani can make a shield with this!”

Great.

Wait, Arthur doesn’t use shields.

“Dat’s right? Arf-ur only uthes thwords. Whoosh-whoosh!”

Arthur shook his head, but—

“Rani’s gonna make it! Trust Rani!”

Yep.

Not working on her at all.

She wasn’t wrong, though.

If not Rani, who else could we trust?

“Dat’s true…”

So, Arthur.

Calm down, and let’s just watch what kind of magic our little lucky charm works.