Mr. Kim Strikes It Rich with Auto-Hunting [Novel] Chapter 53

Chapter 53

News of an S-rank dungeon popping up after a long time.

The location?

“They say it’s the United Kingdom. Word is it just freshly appeared a few hours ago.”

Oh….

Great timing, isn’t it?

I’m glad we took a short break.

If we had rushed into clearing the tower first, we would have had to wait a whole day.

“Hasn’t been conquered yet, right?”

“Yes, they’re probably in the middle of preparing a raid right about now. Since, to begin with, there’s only One person who can conquer an S-rank dungeon.”

Indeed….

That makes sense.

Can just anyone conquer an S-rank dungeon?

You need to be past the 61st Floor to even dare dream of it.

The only person in the United Kingdom who fits that description is One person.

The Rank 1, Arthur Brandt.

Originally, that person should have been the one to clear it, but….

Since when does a dungeon have an owner?

Finders keepers.

Therefore.

“Let’s go conquer it.”

“Arthur agrees!”

“This wizard agrees as well.”

Right?

Whatever else happens, an S-rank dungeon is something we can’t yield.

Who knows when another one will appear….

“Alright, alright. I’ll set it up right away, so everyone get ready.”

A distant country, the United Kingdom.

Normally?

You’d have to fly there by plane and then travel all the way to the dungeon.

Ugh, so complicated.

How long would it even take to get all the way there?

“Better to just zip over from home.”

What’s more, we can even scout ahead in advance.

“Ah, right. To do that, we first need to expand our range.”

Did I have any scouting range expansion tickets left….

Taking a quick look through the inventory.

“None left….”

Well, that’s fine.

I can just buy one from the shop.

——-

Commission Point Shop (Rank – Bronze)

……

…

Temporary Scouting Range Expansion Ticket

– 5,000 P

Temporary Dispatch Range Expansion Ticket

– 10,000 P

…

……

——-

Found it.

Scouting Range Expansion Ticket.

And, Dispatch Range Expansion Ticket.

Conveniently sitting right side by side.

As for the points….

[Commission Points: 43,500]

“More than enough.”

I kept saving them up little by little for moments like this.

There was that massive crafting commission a couple days ago, too.

Thanks to that, I have plenty, so a smooth purchase.

“Gather round. Time to scout.”

“Got it!”

“…….”

“Is there another new feature? This world is truly marvelous.”

Naturally.

You’ll be amazed once you see it.

This is an absolute cheat key, after all.

[‘Temporary Scouting Range Expansion Ticket’ has been used.]

[Please select the country to expand range to.]

“United Kingdom…, United Kingdom….”

Found it.

Selecting it right away?

A massive number of dungeons pop up all at once.

Among them, there’s only a single S-rank dungeon.

[Mysterious Lake Tainted by Darkness – S-Rank]

Looks like this is the one.

A light tap, and—.

[Beginning work site reconnaissance.]

Okay.

Alright, everyone gather round.

The map hack is about to begin.

* * *

Bzzzzzz—!

[Mysterious Lake Tainted by Darkness]

The S-rank dungeon of the United Kingdom.

Its characteristics?

“That mist looks rather ominous.”

“Arthur thinks so too!”

“Yeah, that mist gives off an uncomfortable feeling.”

Is a lakeside usually like that?

The lake water glows faintly.

The surroundings are thick with murky fog.

Is that really mist?

Looks almost like some kind of poison….

“Still, looking closely, the path seems open, Boss.”

“Indeed, I can see the central lake.”

“Judging by how only that spot shines brilliantly, that must be our destination.”

Without a doubt.

Just by looking, it’s shouting out, ‘Here I am.’

However….

“Doesn’t feel like the path there will be an easy one.”

The path is open, sure.

The problem is that it winds all the way around?

The features of Work Site Reconnaissance.

First is grasping the internal geography of the dungeon.

That’s why I could see it accurately.

“Blinding vision with murky fog and forcing one to take a winding detour…. There will likely be enemy ambushes along the way.”

Spot on.

There they are, the monsters.

Whoooosh—!

Ah.

Should I call those ghosts?

Kyeek!

Wow….

Over there, some trees are squirming while making bizarre noises.

Those must definitely be monsters too.

“I’ve seen plenty of undead monsters, but this is a fresh take. Feels like a horror movie….”

Dungeons really are dangerous.

Now they’re even throwing ghosts into the mix.

We have to hunt those?

Ugh….

Won’t be easy.

“Laborer Robin, can you hit ghosts with arrows by any chance?”

“…Possible.”

“Kyah….”

As expected of our top-tier laborer.

Just hearing those words is reassuring.

“Arthur thinks! If have Sturdy, it will be fine!”

“Oh…, true!”

Sturdy’s option.

Increased resistance to darkness and curse attributes.

The name of this dungeon?

Mysterious Lake Tainted by Darkness.

Anyone can see it’s darkness attribute, so the matchup is perfect.

“Plus, with Lord Guan joining this time, that makes three top-tier laborers, so…. We’ve got this, right?”

“Indeed. With this wizard’s magic, they shall be cleaned up in no time, so place your trust in me.”

The S-rank dungeons so far.

We easily cleared them with just two top-tier laborers.

Now, with three?

Worrying about this combat power would be a luxury.

However….

“Is there no hidden reward in this dungeon?”

The other feature of Work Site Reconnaissance.

Hidden reward detection.

Usually around this point, the screen buzzes with a ‘bzzzt—!’ and shifts.

“It’s quiet….”

Hmm.

No hidden reward in an S-rank dungeon is a bit disappointing.

If I knew this, I wouldn’t have scouted.

“No, well, at least we found the exact route to the boss….”

“Director, that creature over there appears to be the leader.”

“Yes, probably so.”

It was about time to arrive anyway.

“That looks like a witch.”

A boss monster being a witch in a lake tainted by darkness….

Quite a clear concept.

Anyway, now that we’ve seen the boss, the scouting is over.

Just as I thought it would shut off soon.

—Ho, what is that…. Could it be looking at me?

What the.

She noticed the reconnaissance?

Or not.

Maybe just a lucky guess….

—Guests will be arriving soon.

Nope.

She really did notice.

—Everyone, prepare yourselves. We must present a grand welcome worthy of the name Morgan le Fay.

And then the screen abruptly snapped off.

“Crazy….”

Total goosebumps.

I feel it every time, but S-rank dungeons really are built different.

A monster speaking is surprising enough….

Now they even notice the site reconnaissance.

At this rate.

“It’s not like someone’s going to attack through the screen next, right….”

Nah, no way.

Nonsense.

Feeling anxious, so we better go crush it quickly.

“Everyone ready?”

“Arthur, finished preparing!”

“This wizard’s coffee has grown cold while waiting.”

“Haha….”

Elder, you were enjoying watching along with us too.

Why take it out only on me?

Well, whatever.

“Let’s go.”

* * *

[Workers are entering the dungeon.]

[Beginning auto-hunting.]

The fourth S-rank dungeon.

The name is, Mysterious Lake Tainted by Darkness.

Clang, bang, clang, bang.

Monitoring ON while listening to the cheerful hammer sounds.

And as the screen turned on—.

“It looks almost like they’re in a short-distance sprint.”

“Right? Did they place a bet or something? Why are they running like that?”

—Trust only Arthur!

—Ho-ho….

The S-rank dungeon, Mysterious Lake Tainted by Darkness.

The concept was to break through the thick mist and reach the center of the lake, but….

“Feels similar to how it was in Egypt.”

“Honestly, the context is about the same, right? Since they’re moving with the full path in view.”

Wandering through the fog….

Getting ambushed by monsters.

Those are inefficient actions taken by people who don’t know the route.

Our laborers?

They head straight along the shortest path.

At a full sprint, no less.

Whoooosh—!

For an S-rank dungeon.

Would there be only one or two monsters?

Every now and then, evil spirits kept pouncing.

Trees also lunged forward while making eerie sounds, but….

—Easy!

—Ho-ho, it is quite wondrous that the specters cannot even approach.

—Arthur, Sturdy! Lucky charm made it!

Arthur’s shield, the skill attached to Sturdy.

Before the laborers utilizing ‘Sacred Protection’, they were powerless.

Kyeek—!

The evil spirits screamed as they immediately ascended into peace.

And the trees that were making bizarre noises?

Whoosh….

Likewise, they withered away and vanished.

“The matchup is insane.”

“Usually, even if attributes counter each other, the effect isn’t this extreme…. Just what on earth is laborer Rani….”

“That’s our lucky charm for you.”

“Heh-!”

Clang, bang, clang, bang.

Looks like she can hear the praise even while hammering away.

Look at her beaming smile.

Her love for being called a lucky charm is truly something else.

Well, anyway….

The path was fully memorized.

Monsters died as soon as they lunged in.

Thanks to that, our laborers dashed non-stop without taking a single breath.

“Already at the boss zone….”

“This is an all-time record, isn’t it?”

The boss monster of this dungeon.

A witch named Morgan le-something.

Honestly, I was anxious at first.

Noticing the reconnaissance and all.

Setting such a heavy mood saying she’d prepare a grand welcome, it was no joke.

However….

“Watching them clear it makes all my worries vanish completely.”

“Haha, Director, really. Three top-tier laborers went in, an S-rank dungeon should be a breeze.”

“Indeed, that’s true too.”

Agreed.

I was just being too fearful.

Time to sit back and watch with ease.

—Welcome to my, Morgan le Fay’s, resting place….

Even she’s shocked.

Right?

When three monsters like that show up, anyone would be shocked.

—You are…, Arthur…?

—Arthur, called me?

Ah, she’s not shocked because of the top-tier laborers?

Do they know each other?

What kind of relationship is that?

—That foolish tone of speech…, just what on earth….

—Arthur thinks. That is rude.

Quite flustering, isn’t it?

Still, you get used to it once you keep listening….

Calling it a foolish tone of speech is a bit harsh.

—Just what Is this, how are you back again…….

No, really.

So what’s the history between you two?

You have to say it for us to know.

Just shaking your head frustratingly like that….

Thwip—!

“…Bring it on.”

Right.

Our Robin has zero patience.

She holds nothing back these days, showing zero hesitation.

—Ho-ho, very well. I almost lost my composure for a moment. Arthur, delightful to meet you again. I shall send you off once more, so come at me.

Seeing her say she’ll send him off again, doesn’t sound like they were on good terms….

Will that really be possible, though?

Our laborers are top-tier, you know?

* * *

The boss monster.

The witch, Morgan whatever.

A boss is still a boss, after all.

She certainly put up quite a performance in her own right.

Constantly hurling magic that looked ominous at a glance.

Continuously summoning evil spirits from within the water.

She even kept restoring her health, but….

“What’s the point? She can’t even pierce Arthur’s shield….”

“In my opinion, that shield is downright broken.”

I’ll give you that.

“Even without it, though, looks like they would’ve ended it in a flash. Their teamwork is just that good.”

“Indeed. Just as Director said, the chemistry among those three is extraordinary today.”

Robin kept firing from the back.

The elder calling himself a wizard summoned an Azure Flame Dragon, claiming he’d show real magic.

As for Arthur?

Dedicated front-line marking.

With the three of them beating down like this, how could she withstand it?

—Urgh…. Arthur….

Now approaching the very end.

It felt like just one or two more hits would wrap things up.

Fwoosh—.

The witch’s body blurred, and she materialized right before Arthur.

“What the hell?!”

Hey, if you’re going down, go down quietly.

Trying to take him down with you?

—Here, take this. And this time….

Huh?

What, she disappeared?

And.

Ding!

[S-rank dungeon conquest successful!]

“Arthur, is here!”

“Ho-ho, how was that? Did I not say we would return shortly?”

What the.

Is that really it?

What was that right at the end….

For now.

“Good work, everyone.”

“Was easy!”

Yeah….

Looked like it.

[Clear Time – 00:33:18]

Look at this.

Isn’t this an all-time record?

Took only 33 minutes.

As expected of three top-tier laborers.

The matchup was exceptionally favorable, but this is absurdly fast.

Now, shall we check the rewards?

[Conquest Rewards – High-grade Magic Stones x150 / High-grade Healing Potions x40 / Fragment of the Holy Sword Excalibur’s Scabbard / Reinforced Orichalcum Ingot / ……]

Huh?

Wait a second.

Excalibur’s scabbard fragment?

Isn’t that….

“Related to Arthur?”

“Ah, right. Boss, Arthur received this and brought it.”

No.

That’s not what’s important right now.

Huh?

You received something?

Don’t tell me, that thing at the very end….

“What is it?”

“Here it is.”

[Glowing Water Droplet in the Darkness]

A gem shaped like a water droplet.

What Is this?

Checking the description—.

[Glowing Water Droplet in the Darkness]

– Catalyst, usable in higher-tier dungeons.

“Huh…?”

Higher-tier dungeon?

The dungeon the laborers just visited was an S-rank, though….

Which means.

“S-rank isn’t the end?”