Mr. Kim Strikes It Rich with Auto-Hunting [Novel] Chapter 54

Chapter 54

Honestly, I’d been curious about it for a while now.

The Maze of Chaos, that is.

The grade went up by One rank every 10 floors.

Floors 31 to 40 were C-rank.

Floors 41 to 50 were B-rank.

Just like that.

The key obtained right before throwing down with China was B-rank.

Well, the B-rank maze rewards weren’t anything special, but still.

Anyway.

Following the pattern, an A-rank key should drop on the 60th floor.

Once we hit the 70th floor, an S-rank key will appear, but….

Then, what about above that?

“Thought there might be something new, and sure enough, it’s true.”

If curious, might as well ask.

“Todd.”

“Yes, Director.”

“Arthur brought something like this back, do you know what a higher-grade dungeon is?”

“Hmm….”

Our personal encyclopedia, Todd.

Figured he’d rattle it off without a hitch, but—.

Huh.

He can’t speak.

Is this also restricted by that rule or whatever?

Can’t be helped then.

Still, just knowing it exists is good enough.

Can pretty much guess anyway.

“Since they said an S-rank dungeon appears only after climbing above the 61st floor of the Tower of Chaos….”

Isn’t it probably a similar concept?

Checking it is easy enough.

The 70th floor.

Just have to climb up there.

Then we’ll find out.

“Wonder if Arthur will get even stronger by then.”

“Arthur?”

“Yeah, you.”

A young man who used to keep books at arm’s length, Yun Hajun.

Ended up hitting the books all because of them.

Thanks to that, discovered a certain fact.

Lord Guan = Green Dragon Crescent Blade.

Just like that, Arthur has a signature weapon as well….

Its name, Excalibur.

In that case, what about this fragment obtained this time?

[Scabbard Fragment of the Holy Sword Excalibur]

It’s that very scabbard, isn’t it?

“Hmm….”

Could it be because of the fact that higher-grade dungeons exist?

Can’t help getting strange ideas.

No.

Think about it.

Arthur is already top-tier.

Thought this was the end of it, but new things keep popping up?

Even Excalibur?

Since they said it’s the very symbol of Arthur himself….

Obtaining it should bring about some kind of change.

“Maybe there’s another rank above top-tier…?”

“Boss, think too much makes head hurt. Have a cup of two-two-three mix?”

“Thanks.”

Phew.

True enough.

What good is agonizing over it right now?

We won’t know until we get there anyway.

Alright.

“By the way, wonder if this scabbard fragment can be used?”

“Arthur not know? Lucky charm know?”

“Fair point…. Showing it to Rani will give us the answer.”

A wise answer to a silly question.

With Rani around, why even worry?

“Wonder when she’ll finish making that.”

Come to think of it, feels a bit regrettable.

Our lucky charm.

If she hears about higher dungeons, she’ll be jumping for joy.

Both for gathering materials and all.

The core rewards that will drop from higher dungeons?

How could anyone resist that?

Even I’m already looking forward to it….

“Aside from Arthur, Lord Guan and Robin probably have other equipment too.”

“Do you speak of this wizard?”

“Yep, feel like there’s bound to be something besides the Green Dragon Crescent Blade.”

100%.

“Equipment like this staff, you say. Truly something to anticipate.”

“Yeah, really looking forward to it.”

Our top-tier laborers.

Even now?

Absurdly strong.

But what if they get even stronger?

Damn….

Excited to see how it’ll turn out, and so curious.

If curious, got to go check it out.

Alright.

Decided.

[Glowing Water Droplet in the Darkness]

For now, store this carefully in the inventory.

“Let’s properly climb the tower starting tomorrow. First target is the 70th floor. Higher if possible.”

* * *

“Hmph.”

“Assemblyman, your expression looks bright.”

“Does it?”

“Yes, seeing you look the happiest you’ve been lately naturally lifts my spirits too.”

“Haha.”

The United Kingdom’s Rank 1, Arthur Brandt.

Just as the secretary said, he was in high spirits.

Why?

“Guess I’m excited at the thought of heading into an S-rank dungeon after so long.”

“Not long ago, China almost fell apart because of an S-rank dungeon. Considering it’s the same difficulty, you truly are remarkable, Assemblyman.”

An S-rank dungeon.

To a country without the capacity to handle it, like China, it’s a catastrophe.

Then what about the United Kingdom?

A gold mine itself.

Well….

Not expecting much from the base rewards.

The relic fragments that come along as an extra are the real deal.

On top of that.

“Word Is this dungeon’s name is the Mysterious Lake Tainted by Darkness.”

The dungeon name confirmed through Awakener Net.

[Mysterious Lake Tainted by Darkness]

The moment he saw this, a gut feeling struck.

“Oh…. A lake, could it be from the Arthurian legends? The One where King Arthur received Excalibur….”

“Probably so, wouldn’t you say?”

At least, that’s what I think.

The legend of King Arthur.

A tale no Briton could possibly be unaware of.

The same goes for the mysterious lake.

Since King Arthur obtained the Holy Sword Excalibur there….

“Congratulations, Assemblyman.”

“Haha. Nothing is set in stone just yet.”

“Still, when you think of a mysterious lake, isn’t it obviously Excalibur!”

Indeed.

Must bring it back at all costs.

The fragment of Excalibur.

“Then are you heading out right away?! I’ll check the schedule.”

“Need to prepare properly before heading out, of course.”

“Ah…. True, it is an S-rank dungeon after all.”

Arthur Brandt, currently climbing the 65th floor.

Certainly at a level more than capable of conquering an S-rank dungeon.

Even so, one must be cautious.

A single misstep in dungeon raids leads straight to death.

One slip and you’re dead.

And if you die?

The nation crumbles too.

Just like China.

“Come on, with you around, Assemblyman, there’s no way the UK would end up like that!”

“China was fine when Wei Jin was around too.”

The problem is what happens after death.

Look at what transpired after the death of Wei Jin, who was climbing the 62nd floor.

The S-rank dungeon suffered a dungeon break.

Things snowballed out of control until national chaos ensued.

Therefore, preparation must be thorough.

All sorts of buff potions, debuff scrolls.

Even an emergency escape scroll luckily acquired in the past.

Once all preparations are complete?

Ready to roll.

Just as he thought it was time to head out….

Ring-ring-ring—!

“Yes, secretarial office. Yes, yes, what? The dungeon has been cleared? But the Assemblyman is right here?!”

Wait.

What Is this nonsense?

The dungeon got cleared?

No way….

Shaking his head, he checked Awakener Net—.

“Crazy….”

The S-rank dungeon had vanished from the dungeon list.

Which meant it was cleared.

All of a sudden?

Just who on earth…?

“Can’t be another domestic hunter….”

Arthur Brandt.

The only One in the UK above the 61st floor.

“No record of hunters from other nations arriving either.”

If there had been any movement, a report would have come in, but total silence.

Which meant….

Must be One of two things.

Either a new ranker suddenly emerged in the UK.

Or else.

Grit.

“The Dispatch Director, that bastard…….”

A shameless prick who ignores distances to conquer dungeons like this?

There’s only One guy like that in the entire world.

The Dispatch Director.

Now he’s even snatching S-rank dungeons?

Isn’t this crossing the line?

“No matter how unowned dungeons are supposed to be….”

True.

Dungeons have no owners.

Whoever clears it wins.

However.

“Still, S-rank dungeons are implicitly understood to be cleared by that country’s ranker….”

Crossed that line?

“Are you referring to the Dispatch Director? Should we officially protest to South Korea?”

“No, as if that would work.”

Protest with what?

No evidence, but since it seems like the Dispatch Director, take responsibility?

How could a national-level response make any sense like that?

Infuriating.

Even so.

“Phew….”

Just have to swallow it down for now, what else can be done?

The timing is terrible right now.

The stunt pulled against China?

Would the United States really not know?

They definitely do.

Stepping out too aggressively now might cause those opportunistic bastards to leak info.

All to gain favor with the Dispatch Director.

“Let it slide for now.”

“Even so….”

“It’s fine. It’s an item that will eventually make its way back to me anyway.”

Arthur was certain.

The Dispatch Director?

Whatever he obtained from the lake will eventually return to me.

Because the legend says so.

An ancient legend passed down through generations.

The great King Arthur was betrayed and died.

Afterward, his soul departed for the Isle of Avalon to find eternal rest, yet.

“When Britain falls into crisis, he shall return once more to save Britain.”

This prophecy.

Who else could be its protagonist?

Must be myself, Arthur Brandt, who inherited the great King Arthur’s name.

A bizarre world where dungeons appear and we must climb the Tower of Chaos.

Awakening, becoming One of the world’s top rankers, and bearing the name Arthur?

“No way this is a coincidence.”

By the time that prophecy becomes reality, Excalibur will be in my hands.

Just you wait, Dispatch Director.

I’ll repay this grudge back then.

* * *

[Successfully conquered the 60th floor of the Tower of Chaos!]

[Level has increased.]

As expected, straight through up to the 60th floor.

Even so.

“Indeed, as the floors go up, each takes a bit more time.”

“Well, still quite manageable so far.”

Agreed.

Still plenty of leeway.

Setting world records too.

Looking at how the key fragments drop.

Completed 10 key fragments this time as well.

Which means?

[The ‘Chaos Key’ is completed.]

Nice.

The key came out.

Let’s take a look.

[Chaos Key]

– A-rank Chaos Key. Capable of opening something.

Right.

Knew it would be A-rank.

“Let’s go use this tomorrow.”

“Maze? Taste bad.”

“Well, that was…. just a one-time thing last time.”

The B-rank key obtained while climbing to the 50th floor.

For the first time, gave a bad reward.

Dropped nothing but magic stones….

Don’t need magic stones.

Our orcs are duplicating them infinitely anyway…!

Still.

Got the bad luck out of the way, so this time will be different.

“Really wish it would boost unique skill ranks or something exciting like that….”

“Haha, Director….”

“A bit too greedy?”

Fair enough.

Still, ranking up quietly through commissions is just too tough.

How long is that going to take….

“Since we hit the 60th floor for now, let’s run the Maze of Chaos tomorrow, and starting the day after, let’s climb One floor at a time together with all the laborers.”

The initial goal is the 70th floor.

Climbing steadily floor by floor should get us there in no time, right?

Shame there’s nothing I can do to help….

Isn’t there anything I can do?

Even after racking my brain, absolutely nothing.

Staying put quietly like this is the best help there is….

What can be done at this point anyway?

It’s not like I had a combat-related awakening.

If there were a way, that’d be One thing.

Otherwise, well….

A bit disappointing, but better to coolly give up on what can’t be helped.

“Still, would be nice if there were some kind of way….”

A shame.

* * *

And the next day.

Summoned the laborers right from the morning.

“Today, we’re going to try the Maze of Chaos.”

“This wizard is fully prepared, so we may depart at any time.”

“Arthur also ready!”

Alright.

Then everyone needs to do their warm-up exercises.

“Starting now! One! Two! Three!”

Our Arthur.

Stepping forward as always to start the warm-ups.

Usually just watched from the sidelines, but—.

“One, two! Three!”

Today, joining in as well.

Felt stiff lately since it’d been a while without going on-site.

And next?

“Safety! Good! Good! Good!”

That’s it, got to chant the slogan.

“Good! Good! Good!”

“Heh-! Goood-!”

Huh?

It’s Rani!

Turning around to look.

“Ta-da! Rani finished making all of it!”

Our lucky charm.

Beaming brightly while lifting the commissioned armor high up.

“What, already finished making it?”

“Yep! This time the materials were easier than Whoooosh’s materials, so made it real fast!”

Aha?

Come to think of it, that’s true.

The materials used when making Whoooosh were 66th floor materials.

This time?

Materials from floors 61 to 65.

Even at this level, there’s a difference, huh.

“And! Rani makes things well now! Got faster!”

Wow.

Not bad, right?

Ah, right.

“Rani, look at this.”

Ta-da.

Guess what we brought back in the meantime?

[Scabbard Fragment of the Holy Sword Excalibur]

“Whoa! Please give this to Rani!”

Of course.

Naturally got to give it to Rani.

And then.

“Got this too.”

[Glowing Water Droplet in the Darkness]

“Mmm…? This not material, so Rani can’t use….”

Right.

Not a material.

But.

“They say higher dungeons exist, aren’t you excited?”

“High dungeon?! Then good materials come out?!”

“Probably so, right?”

“Gasp! Yay! Rani want to go too!”

No.

Rani can’t go….

Instead, the other laborers will go and farm good stuff for you.

For now.

“Rani, worked hard making armor, so have some candy over there and rest a bit. We’ll go to the maze and come back.”

Our well-behaved Rani.

Thought she’d say, ‘Heh, okay!’ but.

“Mmm….”

Huh.

Shaking her head no, especially today.

Why?

“Nooo! Rani will make something to give Director now! Wait just a liiittle bit! Rani bring it right away!”

Oh···?

Right now?

What is she making?

Alright for now.

Let’s wait and see.