TPDGR 23

Chapter 23 …

As soon as I entered the bedroom, I dutifully washed myself clean.

I scrubbed my face until it squeaked, then spread a thin layer of ma.pit.nut peel and stuck it onto my cheeks like a face mask.

“Perfect.”

Instead of eating it, I gifted it to my skin. Success.

After tying up my bothersome bangs, I was ready.

Late at night, with only a few candles flickering in the dimly lit room, I tucked the blanket around Kyu, who was asleep in bed.

Then I lay down and stared up at the ceiling.

[‘Demon King’s Dungeon’
Grade: S–Class D–Class
Owner: Demon King ‘Anastasios’ (?? Class)
Residents: 15 (Slime – Kim Kyu + 14 others)
Completion: 5 (Development begun)
Public Support: 10 (Max: 100)]

After checking the mines, the dungeon’s completion and public support each increased by 5.

Completion went from 0 to 5.
Public support jumped from 5 to 10.

Thanks to that, even though I coughed up blood while cleansing, it was only mild anemia. Nothing too serious. So let’s skip over that!

What mattered most was the reward.

After the dungeon’s stats were displayed, the next window appeared.

**[Completion and Public Support have been successfully increased.
‘Demon King’s Dungeon’ advances to the next stage!
Receive your new skill reward.

▶ Demon King’s Sight V1
▶ Gigantification

Choose one.]**

I leaned back against the bed’s headboard and stroked the sleeping Kyu with my other hand. His soft snoring filled the quiet room.

“Hm, what exactly is Demon King’s Sight?”

The name alone told me nothing.

So I asked for the description.

[▶ Demon King’s Sight V1
Deeper, sharper vision. Look forward to V2.]

Vague and wordy.

And apparently there’s even a Version 2.

Honestly, it didn’t appeal to me at all.

I didn’t want a useful but boring skill like this. I wanted something that sent chills down my spine the moment I read it—something awe–inspiring, ominous, worthy of a Demon King.

Something so sinister that even crying children would fall silent.

“Click. Next! What about Gigantification?”

I asked in a disinterested tone—until the description made my eyes widen.

[▶ Gigantification
A ★Supreme. Majestic. Demon. King.★ aura born of sheer size.
When activated, you will become the center of everyone’s attention!]

“A Supreme Majestic Demon King’s aura…?”

And everyone would pay attention to me when it activated?

My eyes went round.

‘…Yes, this is it!’

This was the exact skill I was looking for.

Naturally, I wanted the Supreme, Majestic Demon King’s Gigantification. It might look useless, but once I became giant, dignity and authority would surge forth. What Demon King could live without it?!

I imagined myself towering like a building, everyone craning their necks just to look up at me. The thought thrilled me.

Yes, compared to the dull practicality of Demon King’s Sight, this was far cooler and more fun.

My hand naturally reached toward the “Gigantification” button when—

“Achoo! Achoo! Achooo!”

Huh?

Suddenly, Kyu started coughing violently in his sleep, his body shaking.

“Kyu, what’s wrong?”

Was he cold?

I paused the status window and checked on him, ready to tuck him in tighter—when I noticed his slime body moving strangely.

It squelched and writhed…

‘Huh?’

He heaved…

“W–wait, what?”

No way.

No way!

His liquid body surged upward and downward, as if something inside him was forcing its way out.

Every pet owner knows what this means.

“Bleerghh—!”

“Ahhh!”

Kyu vomited right onto my pitch–black blanket, spewing out the bright red fruit he’d eaten earlier.

It was grotesque, to say the least.

By the time I thought to catch it with my hands, it was too late. The blanket was already soaked crimson.

I jumped back in a panic—

Click.

“Ah!”

In avoiding the mess, I accidentally pressed one of the floating status windows.

The one I pressed was… this?

[▶ Demon King’s Sight V1]
[Wise choice.]

…Yeah, this one.

The wise, useful, boring skill.

And so I ended up with Demon King’s Sight V1.

‘My Gigantification…’

This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.

I stared blankly at the window, devastated.

Brilliant noonday sunlight streamed through the glass walls of the Hunter Association’s top floor.

The Association managed hundreds of thousands of hunters in Korea alone.

Among them were numerous top–rank hunters, and the Association’s influence was unrivaled.

Even the towering skyscraper at the heart of Seoul testified to its power.

The Association President sat in a chair near the window, gazing outside, when the door opened and a man stepped in, his shoes sinking into the thick carpet.

He had long, disheveled hair and a haggard face. An A–rank hunter, his specialty was stealth.

Looking nervous, the man spoke.

“I–I heard you called for me, President.”

“Ah, yes, good timing.”

From the sofa where he lounged, only the President’s tapping foot was visible.

The man couldn’t guess why the elusive Association President had summoned him. Information about him was always scarce.

“Your name?”

“Se–Serim, sir.”

“Yes, Hunter Se–Serim.”

“Just Serim!”

“Yes, Hunter Serim.”

“Y–yes, sir!”

When the President beckoned him closer, Serim shuffled forward awkwardly.

The President tapped the sofa arm with long, straight fingers, then asked abruptly:

“How much do you know about the unregistered dungeon under the Great Bridge?”

“Huh? The unregistered dungeon under the bridge?”

Serim fell silent, thinking.

That dungeon was the hottest topic in Korea right now.

Korea was famous for the world’s fastest bureaucracy, yet even here, no decision had been reached. Police lines still cordoned it off under the unprecedented label of “Unregistered, Unidentified Dungeon.”

‘I heard even Han Hyunjin, an S–ranker, couldn’t clear it and got thrown out.’

Why ask me about that place?

Just as Serim hesitated, the President cleared his throat.

“Yes, yes! I know of it. The dungeon Han Hyunjin entered—the one the government stepped in to manage…”

“Good. Then this will be easier.”

The President’s voice was calm, businesslike.

“I’d like you to enter that dungeon, Hunter Serim.”

“M–me? In there?”

“Yes. Is that a problem?”

“W–well, how could I possibly…?”

He was A–rank, sure, but if even Han Hyunjin had failed, how could he succeed?

The Association had plenty of other S–ranks. Why him?

‘Are they sending me to die?’

It didn’t sound like he had the option to refuse.

Sensing his unease, the President replied smoothly.

“You see, all our S–ranks are abroad right now. If we don’t close that dungeon quickly, Seoul will fall into chaos. But I’ve no one reliable to send. Truly an awkward position for me.”

“…Ah, I see!”

Enlightenment struck Serim.

He didn’t particularly care about Seoul’s safety.

But this… this might be his chance.

A chance to stand out in front of the President, ahead of all the S–ranks.

After all, the President wielded power rivaling the entire nation.

‘Still… isn’t it too dangerous?’

“This, I will entrust to you.”

The President slid something across the table.

Serim carefully picked up a small jar.

“Wh–what is this?”

“A vessel that allows you to easily subdue a boss monster.”

This?

It looked like an ordinary black clay jar. Though it did feel strangely sacred…

“With this jar, it doesn’t matter what rank the boss is. You won’t even need to kill it—just open the lid, and you can capture it.”

“…What a mysterious item.”

At that moment, the sofa turned slightly, and Serim finally saw the man clearly. He flinched. Sunlight streaming through the glass caught his snowy white hair.

“When you open the jar, it will absorb the monster, regardless of your hunter rank.”

“Y–you’d really give me something this precious?”

An item that let you capture boss monsters without even fighting?

Serim could hardly believe it.

The President’s lips curved into a beautiful smile. Even without words, Serim took it as a smile of trust.

If he succeeded in this dungeon, he might become the President’s right–hand man overnight.

His hesitation didn’t last long.

“Then, I’ll head out immediately!”