Max Talent Player

Chapter 21: Mandra (2)

The Great Explorer, Jackson, was known to have cleared the Seoul Station Dungeon at least 300 times. He said this about the dungeon:

[In Latin, mandra means stable.]

Jackson interpreted the name Mandra as stable or barn, and was said to have tried various answers based on his interpretation.

Finally, I found the correct clearing method for the Seoul Station Dungeon.

Simply saying your name would give you so-so rewards, exactly the right kind of items for a beginner dungeon. Of course, they werent bad. However, they didnt quite deserve to be called a Hidden Piece.

My name is

Jacksons strategy guide was like a rulebook for beginners, and I had memorized it from cover to end. He had said it like this:

[The correct answer is Rancher.]

Your master, the one who has granted you new life. I am Rancher.

The Mandra Statue began to shake. Finding my response curious, Seo Joohwan and So Yoohyun were unable to tear their eyes away from me. The statue had asked me for my name, but I had answered in English as Rancher.

The Great Explorer Jacksons strategy was indeed correct.

[Greetings to my master.]

I heard a notice.

[You have found the correct answer.]

[You have fulfilled the Hidden Piece.]

Notices from Guardians flooded in at the same time.

[The Nameless Observer tilts their head.]

[The Lady of the Scales is surprised.]

[The Whispering Devil is feeling great interest.]

Yes, that was only natural. I could guess that the Guardians were getting just as heated as I was. They viewed Playing as their one and only amusement and stimulant. For them, I would become an incredible stimulant. I was aware of that fact, and would use it properly to my advantage.

Golden light began to emerge from Mandras body.

[Master, please select one.]

A hologram appeared before my eyes, visible only to me. There were three choices listed on it.

[Choose a Reward]

1. Mandras Cuirass
2. Mandras Greatsword
3. Mandras Gloves

I already knew these choices would appear. In the meantime, Seo Joohwan asked, It seems youve been given something special We should wait, right?

I would be grateful if you would wait a moment. I think one minute will suffice.

While I had been distracted, Eye of Perception had picked up something nasty. Seo Joohwans lecherous gaze had repeatedly landed on Sunhwa. He wouldnt actually do anything, but that disgusting gaze was unpleasant. However, I didnt show my disgust outwardly. After all, nothing good would come from revealing to the world that I could read someones emotions, disposition, and special traits.

I picked a reward without hesitation.

Ill take the gloves.

Mandra nodded. 

[Understood. I offer you my gloves. I hope these gloves become a gift that help forge your path forward.]

I already knew the effects, but I still checked the gloves.

[Mandras Gloves]

Mandras Gloves have a special effect. They have a special resistance to poison and will protect the wearer from countless infectious diseases.

Defense: 2

Effects: Poison resistance +3

The notices came in.

[You have passed Mandras Test.]

[The Plaza of Mandra has been cleared.]

[The next scenario quest, Two Forked Paths, will proceed.]

A quest was issued.

[Two Forked Paths]

The final crossroad of the Seoul Station Dungeon. Find the appropriate clear conditions to complete the Seoul Station Dungeon. If you cannot clear the dungeon, a Dungeon Break will occur. At least one Player must enter each passage.

Not far in the distance, I saw two forked pathways. The Seoul Station Dungeon was a dungeon that had a fundamentally forked structure. The difficulty of both paths were about the same.

Seo Joohwan was the first to speak. I analyzed the best way to proceed, and

I could feel a repulsive nastiness coming from him via Eye of Perception. His obscene gaze towards Sunhwa was extremely unpleasant.

As you all know, I am the type of DPS who moves quickly to strike weak points. Its a class that can perform very well in combination with a reliable tank, like Miss Sunhwa. Joohwan continued, I think that it would be good to form a team with me, Sunhwa, and two people from my group. The other pathway can be handled by Yoohyun-nim, Hyukjin-nim, and the other person from my group. The balance should be right that way.

TN: -nim is a formal honorific to express respect.

On the outside, he made it seem like he was paying heed to balance. However, I had no intention of letting Sunhwa go. At least, not to a sickening bastard with a summary of Violent Pedophile.

No, I responded flatly.

Seo Joohwan didnt look all that surprised. Please tell me why.

Sunhwa is like a little sister to me. In fact, my mother is considering adopting her. I will act with Sunhwa.

I was curious as to how Seo Joohwan, a lieutenant of the Demon King Army I knew from the past, would respond.

Even though I conceded the item to you with good grace Wont it be bad from an efficiency standpoint?

Efficiency? From the start, I was planning on clearing this dungeon with just me and Sunhwa.

And you think its possible with just the two of you? Even the Intermediate Administrators recommended seven Players. Think carefully.

His eyes werent good-natured anymore. It couldnt quite be called openly rude, but there was no real goodwill to be found, either. The look in his eyes had changed from before.

If I had thought it impossible, I wouldnt have come in.

You sure have a great deal of confidence.

I could feel Joohwans emotions. Whenever someone felt intense emotions, Eye of Perception picked it up without fail. If I were to put it into words, he was cursing me as a irritating son of a bitch right now.

It seems you have met a Guardian who is providing you a lot of information and benefits.

Well, something like that.

I didnt get a scrap of information from the Guardians, but it was a decent reason to convince Seo Joohwan, who promptly grinned.

If you have received information from a Guardian That must effectively mean that Miss Sunhwa and Hyukjin-nim are capable of clearing this dungeon with the two of you, correct?

It was effectively correct. Sunhwa and I could clear this dungeon on our own. I saw Joohwans eyes sparkle, and I knew the reason why.

You think you and I are on the same level?

He probably thought so. I had hidden my skills in order to make him think that.

Thats why youll probably assume that if I can clear it, you can clear it too.

It wasnt strange that he would misunderstand. From the start, I had saved my strength in order to make him think that. I wanted to see just how he would react now.

Then, how would you like to proceed, senior? Since you were planning on clearing the dungeon with Sunhwa as a pair Will just the two of you go into one pathway? he asked. He continued a moment later, But if you do that, well be too unbalanced, so Lets do it like this, instead. How about our group moving as one unit and Yoohyun-nim going to the other side?

He gave a cunning smile. I checked his disposition again with Eye of Perception, clearly seeing one word on the list.

Disposition: Fake

Perhaps noticing that the mood had turned a little strange, So Yoohyun intervened. That sounds good. I will move to the other party.

And so, the parties were divvied upme, Sunhwa, and Yoohyun in one team, Joohwan and the three Players he led in the other. Their side only had damage dealers.

Seo Joohwan headed to the right forked pathway first. Well then, I wish you the best of luck.

* * *

I went into the left fork. As soon as we separated from Joohwans group, So Yoohyun spoke up. You seemed very unhappy.

From Yoohyuns point of view, it was probably strange that I blatantly made things difficult for Seo Joohwan. I had never really shown him any goodwill, even though he hadnt shown any reason to deserve such cold treatment.

Yes. I dont really like that kind of person.

I decided not to say too much. I wouldnt say that the man would become a named Player of an organization called Nightmare in the future, or that his current dominant disposition was fake, or that his summary was pedophile. Nor would I tell him that he hadnt noticed, but that bastard had been looking at Sunhwa with a dirty gaze. There was no need to say those things, and I had no reason to convince him of anything.

Notices came in.

[You have entered the first forked path.]

[Please reach the end of the path.]

[There will be a clue to the clear at the end of the path.]

The notices aside, Yoohyun easily accepted my half-assed explanation of I just dont like him.

Thats fair.

And then, he suddenly reached out and grabbed my hand. I almost shook him off by instinct. I didnt have a perverted disposition like Seo Joohwan, and I didnt swing that way either. Simply put, a mans hand? No thanks. I very nearly attacked him.

You are the person who saved me, correct?

I am sure I saw you in the D-Towers 2nd floor. The two heroes who left with the magic troll.

Hm. He seemed to be remembering things a little strangely. It wasnt that we left with the magic troll. We had fled for our lives from the magic troll.

All of my teammates died there but I survived. I owe you my life.

Oh. Hm. So, um. Thats Is that how it was?

You are my hero.

Please give me a chance to repay you. Im very good at repaying favors.

I had no idea how to respond. I desperately wanted to tear my hand away, but it was a little tricky to do so with those big, glistening eyes shining at me. This was the reason why I couldnt really shake off his hand:

State: Goodwill / Respect / Adoration / Gratitude

I didnt go out of my way to activate Eye of Perception, but I could very clearly feel what kinds of emotions this person had towards me. So Yoohyun was being completely sincere. Sincerity was overflowing from every pore of his body.

If it is alright with you, may I call you hyungnim?

TN: Hyungnim is a respectful form of hyung, used by a male to refer to an older male.

But were the same age?

That doesnt matter, does it? You are my lifes savior.

I scratched my head. This thing called Eye of Perception was really nice and all, but it was pointlessly sensitive and forced me to understand a persons inner feelings far too well. So Yoohyuns sincerity was relayed to me loud and clear through Eye of Perception. Was this guy always so simple and honest?

Well do as you please.

Please speak casually to me, hyungnim.

Sunhwa smiled, as if finding the situation very amusing. But you know, Hyukjin oppa is oppa. And Yoohyun mister is a mister. So if misters hyung is oppa, then what should I call you? After contemplating on her lonesome, Sunhwa also came to a conclusion on her own, and very quickly. Mister is still mister. And oppa is oppa. That settles it.

Yoohyuns brow wrinkled a little at being called a mister, but he didnt show his feelings openly.

But it feels like you are staying here on purpose. Am I correct?

This man, So Yoohyun, was pretty quick on the uptake.

You are correct.

Come now, hyungnim. Like I said, please speak casually.

I nodded. Fine, okay. It shouldnt be a bad thing to have the future Fist King as my little brother. It wasnt like I forced him or anything. This was what he wanted, so there wasnt any reason to refuse, was there?

Yeah, I repeated, more casually this time.

Why? Is there some genuine secret I dont know about?

Youll find out if we wait here a little.

Yoohyun didnt question me, and neither did Sunhwa. Waiting at the Safe Zone without leaving was a strange thing to do, but the two of them waited patiently.

After about ten minutes, we heard a notice.

[A new Player is entering.]

[The Safe Zone will be deactivated, as the limit of five Players has been exceeded.]

There was only one reason why I had waited without expending my stamina. It was because I predicted that the others would enter our path, though I hoped my prediction wouldnt come true.

Did they already clear the other path, hyungnim?

I knew Seo Joohwan would come here. I also knew he would stab me in the back. I knew he had a summary of Violent Pedophile, and that his disgusting gaze had been straying towards Sunhwa.

And I knew one last thing.

That the current Seo Joohwan was no match for me.