Mr. Kim Strikes It Rich with Auto-Hunting [Novel] Chapter 35

“Arthur go! Robin go too! Together! Follow!”

“…….”

Arthur…

He’d certainly grown bolder, hadn’t he?

Just look at him dragging Robin along.

Hajun had offered the Ring of Recovery, but Arthur refused.

Arthur tough! he’d said…

[The laborers have entered the dungeon.]

[Beginning auto-hunting.]

Regardless, the S-grade dungeon conquest was underway.

And the dungeon’s name?

[Pyramid of Eternal Mist – S-Grade]

“Let’s see how strong Arthur’s gotten.”

“Yeah!”

“Sounds good.”

[Monitoring]

The moment Hajun tapped the button, the interior of the pyramid spread wide across the screen.

The problem was…

“Mmm… it’s all foggy again!”

Rani stretched out her arm and rubbed at the screen, but nothing changed.

Naturally.

It wasn’t an issue with the display, but the fog inside the dungeon.

“It looked like that when we scouted it earlier, too.”

“Still, Rani’s eyes feel all stuffy…!”

“Ho-ho. Surely it’s better than being out there in person like Arthur and Robin?”

“Mmm! Teddy’s right about that! Rani will bear with it!”

An S-grade dungeon, the Pyramid of Eternal Mist.

The heavy mist made it impossible to see ahead, and the labyrinth was complicated.

Still, what did that matter?

“Arthur and Robin took an answer key with them.”

“That is true.”

“Zip-zip through the shortcuts!”

Pushing through mist and getting lost?

Why would they need to do that?

They already knew the shortest route to the boss.

What was more?

They even knew where the traps were.

They’d seen every inch during Worksite Scouting.

“It’s a shame this dungeon has no hidden rewards. Rani was looking forward to it.”

“Right! No good materials…!”

True enough.

Regrettably, there were no hidden rewards here.

Why was this pyramid so stingy?

If it was a king’s tomb, shouldn’t it hide away some treasures or elixirs?

That was usually how movies went.

“We’ll let it slide since it’s Arthur’s highest-grade debut.”

“Whoa! Arthur got super strong! So sturdy!”

“Now that Rani points it out, his positioning is noticeably different.”

Indeed.

It felt like a while since Hajun had seen Arthur out in front.

In the previous two S-grade dungeons, what had Arthur’s role been in the Chinese dungeon?

A lighter.

Same for the Indian dungeon.

Robin had taken the lead and done everything there, too.

So, what about now that Arthur had reached highest-grade?

Summed up in one word:

Majestic.

“Looks almost like he just won first place in the lottery, huh?”

“Haha.”

“Lottery? What’s that?!”

“Well… something like you, Rani.”

“Heh! Rani’s a lottery! Arthur, Robin, and Teddy too!”

Sure were.

They were all lotteries.

Today’s first-place winner was undoubtedly Arthur, though.

Just look at him.

Some strange aura kept slithering toward them, yet Arthur’s shield held utterly firm.

He hadn’t even used a skill yet.

“Eek, what’s that? Moving all weird. Gross…”

“Those are called mummies. The pharaoh’s underlings.”

“Mummies… Rani hates mummies…”

Gwooo-!

Oh.

Now that mummies appeared, he cast a skill.

That was…

“A shield of light?”

“Yeah! Veil of Light! Blocks attacks!”

Man…

It was really great.

Swaaa.

The mummies spat out murky fumes from their mouths, yet the barrier completely blocked it all.

There was even one skill left.

Veil of Light and Holy Protection.

Those two.

What would the next skill look like?

Just as Hajun watched in anticipation—

— Intruders after so long. Welcome. I am the Sphinx. Answer my riddle, and I shall spare your lives.

Another talking enemy.

It seemed talking foes showed up often starting from S-grade.

However…

Giving them a quiz was a terrible idea.

Especially with a violent one like Robin around—

Kkwa-ang!

Huh?

Arthur?

No matter how little you want to take a quiz, why bash its head in with a shield…?

“Well, the problem is resolved, so all is well, wouldn’t you say?”

“I… suppose so, but…”

Yeah…

That sounded satisfying, at least.

Strange.

Was it just Hajun’s imagination?

The kids seemed to be growing increasingly violent.

Please, anyone but Rani…

“Kkwa-ang! It went!”

Hmm.

Maybe it was already too late.

“Director, the laborers are moving even faster than usual today.”

“Looks like it…”

Kkwa-ang!

Look at Arthur.

Now he was outright charging ahead while swinging his shield.

Syuk.

Good grief.

What had gotten into Robin now?

Not wanting to be outdone?

Robin drove arrows home with even greater ferocity.

Terrifying…

Was this really an S-grade dungeon, or an A-grade one…?

“Arthur’s definitely changed, though.”

“Yeah! He got strong!”

“Yeah. Seriously.”

In the previous S-grade dungeon in India, it felt like Robin did almost everything alone.

Now?

It wasn’t quite a 50-50 split, but it felt like Arthur was doing about thirty to forty percent of the damage.

Factoring in defense, their contribution was probably half and half.

Hajun could genuinely feel it.

Arthur had become strong.

As expected of a highest-grade.

All right, let’s ride this momentum to the very end.

[S-Grade Dungeon Cleared!]

“Arthur tough, so easy!”

Agreed.

Arthur had held his ground all the way through the boss monster, the pharaoh.

Moreover, when Arthur used Holy Protection — or whatever it was called — a gentle glow had protected Robin as well.

Rani-crafted items really were overpowered.

“How was it? Warmed up a bit?”

“Good! But Arthur wants more!”

Nothing could be done about that, though.

There were no more S-grade dungeons found for now…

“No problem!”

“Huh?”

“Arthur curious about highest-grade! Robin, fight Arthur!”

Aha?

There was that option.

Would Robin agree to it, though?

“…Bothersome.”

See?

Said it was a hassle.

“No! Fight!”

Yet Arthur wouldn’t budge, so—

Click.

Robin toyed with the bow.

Before reaching highest-grade, Arthur would have backed off around this point.

Today was different.

“Fight Arthur, Arthur give chicken leg.”

Huh?

Why are you giving away chicken legs?

“Whoa? Rani likes legs too…”

Exactly.

“…Both?”

Excuse me?

Why are you taking that deal?

These two…

No, giving away some chicken legs was easy enough.

“Whoever wins, I’ll order a whole chicken of just legs for you later.”

“Really?!”

“…Today?”

“Eh? No? I was planning to eat something even tastier today, though?”

“Gasp! What’s tastier? Rani too! Give Rani some!”

Yeah…

Naturally, Rani would get some.

“We’re having the highest-grade Hanwoo beef today, but if someone prefers chicken, I’ll order chicken. How’s that?”

“Arthur love Hanwoo! Korean cow good!”

“…Me too.”

Right?

All right.

Let’s eat chicken later and have the two of you spar first.

The battle took place at the training ground.

It was said to absorb almost any impact.

Arthur and Robin went inside, while the rest watched from outside.

“It really is hard to see…”

“Right, it’s annoying!”

“Still… Laborer Robin did warn us that we’d get hurt if we stayed inside…”

True.

Robin had told them to clear out, saying stray attacks might hurt them.

Indeed, getting hurt would be terrible.

A safe spot was the best.

“Heh, it’s starting!”

It was a slight pity that the training ground was completely soundproof, leaving them unable to hear anything.

“Laborer Robin shoots first.”

“Right? Since Robin’s ranged.”

Robin made the first move, unleashing a volley from the bow.

How would Arthur respond?

Those shots were brutal — enough to shatter the shell of a Monthly Boss.

Huh?

Blocked, just like that?

“Veil of Light really is absurd.”

To think it could block Robin’s arrows without a hitch.

Even against five shots fired at once, it held.

Of course, it shattered after that, but—

“Run, Arthur!”

The moment Robin nocked another arrow, Arthur closed the distance in a flash, swinging the sword—

“Whew.”

“They stopped!”

“Who won?”

They had stopped at the same instant.

Looking closely… Arthur’s sword was near Robin’s neck, and the tip of Robin’s arrow was against Arthur’s temple.

If neither had stopped, both would have been gravely injured.

All right.

“This one’s a draw.”

Insane.

Arthur, who used to cower whenever Robin merely picked up a bow, had caught up this much?

Incredible.

“Thanks to lump of fortune! And power of training!”

“Heh!”

Well, he certainly had trained hard.

And… growing stronger was great, but it was nice to see Arthur cheerful again.

Yes.

That was the Arthur they knew.

Good stuff.

“Meat! Love meat-!”

“Arthur like too!”

“Chweeek!“

A full company dinner gathering everyone, right down to the orcs.

Since it had been a while, Hajun had prepared thoroughly and properly.

“All right, gather at the training ground.”

“Gather-!”

“Chweek!“

The venue was the training ground.

The space was wide and the soundproofing was fantastic, making it ideal.

Hajun had even prepared three grill pans.

The menu?

“Ta-da! Hanwoo beef!”

Hanwoo.

And 1++ grade at that.

The butcher shop owner had said quite a lot — something about 1++ and No. 9…

Either way, he’d said it was genuinely expensive and delicious meat.

“Kyah! Boss is the best!”

“Hanwoo…! Looks so yummy! The meat is sparkling! Rani wants to eat soon!”

“That looks appetizing even to me.”

“Chweeeeeek!“

Whew.

The reaction was fantastic.

Everyone was going wild.

“All right, I bought more than enough for everyone to eat until bursting, so calm down.”

“What is all that?”

“What else? It’s all Hanwoo.”

“Boss… always eat like this?”

“So jealous!”

As if…

Hey, this is my first time eating Hanwoo, too…

Hanwoo.

And 1++?

Man.

Before awakening, Hajun wouldn’t have dared dream of it.

The older guys he worked with at the construction site ate it without hesitation, but Hajun’s hands would tremble too much to order any…

At most, he’d only ever tasted imported beef or meat from all-you-can-eat buffets.

“I made up my mind and bought a massive amount this time…”

Almost a whole cow’s worth?

The butcher had asked why he was buying so much, wondering if a ssireum wrestling team was having a party.

Well…

It practically was.

These guys could eat…

Slurp.

Look at that.

Drool was already spilling because Hajun hadn’t handed it over immediately.

Seeing them drooling while waiting for him to eat first, Hajun picked up a piece of meat and placed it on the grill.

Sizzle-!

“Whoa…”

“Whew…“

Man, the sound is insane.

Hajun had never eaten Hanwoo before, but he’d watched plenty of videos.

Listening to the sizzling sound for a moment, he flipped it cleanly.

Another brief sear on the other side.

Cutting it, dipping it lightly in salt, and popping it into his mouth…

Oh man…

It melted away.

“All right, see that? Grab your tongs or chopsticks! Just grill and eat! Got it?”

“Yeah! Rani can do it! Give me meat!”

“Arthur do too!”

“Chweeek!“

Meat?

Take it all!

As Hajun piled it high in the center, everyone scurried over to grab their share.

Sizzle-!

The sound and scent of grilling meat rose from all directions.

Whew.

Time to eat, too.

Since Rani had worked hard swinging the hammer for an entire week, Hajun grilled a piece for her first.

“Thank you! Rani will eat well!”

Her eyes sparkled as she gave a polite bow.

Was it hot?

She blew on it a couple of times before popping the whole thing into her mouth.

The verdict?

“Hwah-! Hwah-! The meat vanished!”

Right?

Super tender, wasn’t it?

Popping another piece in for her—

“Delicious! It’s so delicious!!!”

She really loved it.

Chewing away, she couldn’t stop stamping her feet in excitement.

Her voice and expression were pure bliss.

Then—

“Is this expensive…?”

She asked with earnest eyes.

She really must have found it incredible.

“Hmm… one pack costs about as much as two whole chickens?”

“Huuuum… That’s super expensive…”

Wait, Rani.

Why are you suddenly rationing your bites?

“Hey now. Who said to ration it? Eat the big pieces! If you want to eat this, just say the word. You can have it every day.”

“Gasp, but it’s expensive…?! Rani doesn’t have money……”

Well… Rani…

Given how much you guys have earned me, saying that makes me feel like total trash…

They could eat like this for all three meals and Hajun wouldn’t mind, so eat to their hearts’ content.

“That goes for all of you. Anyone caught rationing their meat won’t be invited to the next dinner, so eat until you burst.”

“Understood, Boss! Arthur eating with no worries!”

“…Me too.”

Right…

Hajun figured as much for those two…

What about Todd?

How was Todd even eating?

Todd grabbed a piece of meat and vanished somewhere.

“That is a trade secret.”

All right then…

Regardless, eat without worry.

“Director, you eat too! Ah-!”

Aah…

There really was no one like Rani.

Wait, Rani, isn’t this piece a bit tough…?

Was this the gristle or something…?

“Yeah!”

Hey.

Not ‘yeah’…

“Huh?”

Never mind.

Thank you…

Down the hatch……

“Phew, Rani’s belly is bursting!”

“Arthur… can’t eat no more…”

“Chweek! Chwik!“

“Looks like everyone ate their fill.”

The looks on their faces were… pure paradise.

The orcs had collapsed onto the floor, and Rani was patting her round, protruding belly.

“Oh, right! Boss, Arthur can train high-grade from now on too!”

Arthur, now a lover of training, brought up practice the moment the dinner ended.

Wait, up to high-grade…?

Oh…

Right.

Arthur was highest-grade now, so instructing up to high-grade was possible.

“Still… there are no spots right now…”

[Manage Fixed Team]

1. Arthur (highest-grade)

2. Robin (highest-grade)

3. Orc Pack (intermediate-grade)

4. Rani (high-grade)

5. Todd (high-grade)

It was full.

Hmm, how could that be expanded?

Hajun tilted his head in thought, looking down at the interface.

“Oh?”

What was this?

Had the Manage Fixed Team tab always had a faint glow?

Usually, that meant a hint…

Tapping it lightly—

Ding!

[Expansion Requirements Unmet]

1. 2 or more highest-grade laborers (O)

2. All laborers must be high-grade or higher (X)

Oh…?

Expansion requirements unmet.

Which meant… to expand the fixed team slots—

“Orcs, looks like you guys need to reach high-grade?”

“Chwik?“