Instant Kill, Time-Stop Spellcaster

On the way to the test dungeon.

The employee drove them there.

But then, a call came in while in the car.

It was from Chief Choi.

It was an update on the issue they had discussed earlier.

“Why is that?”

“Tch.”

But it wasn’t all bad news.

“Should we start with those and shake things up?”

“If we cause some stir, the reporters will start moving too.”

If they shake things up, more might come out, just like with the ledger.

Then, the conversation moved to trivial matters.

“Chief Choi, you trade stocks?”

It was a glimpse into the sorrow of being a public servant.

“Stocks, huh…”

Recently, Korea’s economy had always been bleak.

It had been like this for the long term.

The semiconductor market slump.

The decline in population.

The fear of the collapse of the S-Class Gate that destroyed North Korea.

“Is it really that much?”

The ripple effect of Ga-ho.

The joining of the Perfect Awakened.

The impact was beyond imagination.

“….”

It wasn’t really a joke.

There was resentment in his words.

‘Certainly, even the news comments are full of positivity.’

It was rare to see the internet be anything but critical.

It was almost strange.

└Lately, the news on the economy is all positive.

└My stocks doubled in a week. Even my breakfast side dishes have doubled. Life is good. I have an appetite.

└Why aren’t mine rising?

└What did you invest in? Even blindly picking stocks, everything is going up.

Everyone was full of hope for the future.

└Long live the Perfect Awakened! Now, let’s find the S-Class Word Mage!

└Chief Choi, please.

└Even F-class Blessing is like this, I wonder what the effect of E-class is. If it gets revealed, the KOSPI might shoot up again.

└So, what’s the effect of E-class Blessing?

It was nice to see.

“Chief Choi?”

I flinched for a moment.

Why was he telling me this?

It must be a coincidence.

“Why is that about you, Chief Choi?”

“Really?”

“Ah~”

Now it made sense.

‘He’s actually the closest person to the answer.’

I was talking to him now.

In a way, his analysis was correct.

Of course, I feigned ignorance.

“That’s an interesting story. Hahaha!”

Even with the truth right in front of him, Chief Choi was just happy that his stocks and reputation were rising.

After the call ended, the employee driving seemed curious and asked.

“Did you just talk to Chief Choi?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm~ Not many people can directly contact him.”

“Really?”

Kang Hyun glanced at the news comments.

The employee, still curious, just licked her lips in disappointment.

She didn’t seem like the type to gossip.

She just gave up and thought about something else.

‘Stocks, huh…’

The employee’s lips curved into a grin.

She too had made a decent profit in stocks lately.

Thanks to the nearby man, the Perfect Awakened.

###

Arriving at the Gate.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Yoo Chae-young, the team leader in charge of the two of you’s guild application process.”

They shook hands with Yoo Chae-young.

Meanwhile, she glanced at Aden.

Most people would get nervous in front of high-ranking individuals.

But it seemed Yoo Chae-young had already grown comfortable.

‘Did she treat Aden kindly? But she looks a bit prickly…’

She was dressed in a typical office look.

Her ponytail paired with glasses.

She looked very fitting in the office attire.

Probably the best of anyone Kang Hyun had seen so far.

‘The team leader of the 3rd-ranked guild… Is she an impressive person?’

It seemed the employee understood his thoughts and chimed in.

“Originally, Team Leader Yoo isn’t in charge of new recruits. She’s one of the highest authorities when it comes to scouting and evaluating guild members!”

“Ah, I see.”

“She’s even a legend in headhunting! You could say she’s one of the main contributors to Seonghwa’s current status!”

“Minah, that’s enough…”

Yoo Chae-young’s face turned slightly red.

She shoved the employee’s face with her hand.

“Hmm… I see.”

The employee seemed unusually passionate.

Aden’s eyes lit up.

“Is this Chae-young unni really that amazing!?”

“Um, um. I apologize for the sudden test, please understand.”

“It is a bit sudden.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

She seemed slightly irritable, but her attitude remained polite and businesslike.

She seemed like a good person.

“I heard the test will be in the dungeon.”

“Yes.”

“I’m E-class, and Aden is A-class, so we can’t go in together.”

There was a level difference restriction.

Though it would be possible to bring Aden into the inventory, he couldn’t show that.

“Will it be done in two parts?”

“It will be done all at once. If you look at the gate ahead, don’t you think something is different?”

“Well… it does seem different.”

It was definitely a particularly unpleasant dungeon.

‘Why do I feel that guy’s energy coming from there?’

It was an energy he had become sick of in his past life.

“Usually, you can’t leave the dungeon until it’s cleared. But this is an open dungeon.”

“Can we enter and exit freely?”

“Yes. It’s an E+ rank dungeon, but there are no entry restrictions.”

It was an existence between ‘dungeon’ and ‘passage.’

Thus, a Perfect Clear couldn’t exist there.

“Is that all?”

“Huh? What else are you curious about?”

“…Nothing.”

The gate ahead seemed odd.

The guild didn’t seem to have identified it.

‘The Legion Commander’s energy. That bastard’s energy.’

The Legion Commander.

They were the highest-ranking demons, aside from the World Tree.

It seemed the Legion Commander had tampered with this gate.

The Abyss. It was him.

‘It’s not like my identity has been exposed… or is it just a coincidence?’

If that were the case, it wouldn’t be something that only happened here.

It needed to be investigated.

The Legion Commander’s influence had reached Earth.

“Let’s go in.”

He headed towards the gate first.

“Wait, let me guide you.”

Yoo Chae-young seemed taken aback by his assertiveness.

The three entered the dungeon.

“Team Leader Yoo, were you an Awakened?”

“Yes. But not much. I’m F+ rank.”

Yoo Chae-young didn’t seem to have a strong identity as an Awakened.

“Aden, this is E+…”

“Yes?”

She paused, surprised.

She looked at Aden.

Ah, how cute.

“…rank dungeon, but do you think you can clear it?”

Her attitude briefly faltered.

She needed to be careful.

The real combat power was only Aden, who was essentially A-class.

She and Kang Hyun would likely be of no help.

Of course, clearing wasn’t necessarily required.

‘Since she’s a mage, she might not be able to solo depending on the combat style.’

Mages had a variety of types.

Fast casting for rapid-fire spells.

As a warlord, striking large-scale battlefields.

Or, rarely, supporting allies with enchantment magic.

There were many types.

“Not being able to solo an E+ dungeon isn’t something to be ashamed of.”

After all, mages were optimized for team play.

“Uh… I don’t think I can do it….”

“Don’t worry, just speak freely.”

“I’ve never had any experience, so my output is unstable… and if an enemy gets too close, I can’t even handle one goblin… I need to fight with Master….”

“You’re a beginner, so that’s to be expected.”

Lack of experience didn’t matter to an A-class.

It was just appreciated that they came.

‘But she had a master?’

Yoo Chae-young encouraged the panicking Aden.

“We can fill in the gaps as you continue with us at Seonghwa. Don’t worry.”

“Yes…!”

“Then let’s just do a quick run through the dungeon’s entrance.”

They walked a little and monsters appeared.

Aden, who had been gloomy, brightened up.

“Uh, golem…!”

“Why, are you confident?”

“Not exactly, but they’re familiar enemies!”

Aden, from a prestigious family in Thea.

“The training dummies used by the knights in the main family were all AI golems. I often watched them fight.”

“…The knights used those expensive things? Not just the direct descendants?”

“Huh? Are they expensive?”

Kang Hyun was momentarily taken aback.

This guy… was she more impressive than expected?

“Aden, are you from a noble family in Thea? Once we’re family, I’d love to hear more about you.”

“Uh… yeah, sure.”

It wasn’t the best past, but it was a warm invitation.

Yoo Chae-young was businesslike, yet warm when she needed to be.

“Anyway, if the opponent is a golem, there’s much less pressure!”

“Then, could you show us?”

The opponents were five 2-meter-tall golems.

Aden stepped forward and began to prepare her chant.

Before doing so, she glanced back at Kang Hyun.

“Master? Would it be best to freeze them all at once with ice magic? Since ice magic is more stable…”

“Why are you asking me, idiot?”

“Heh, hehe… I’m still not great with real combat.”

“You need to develop the ability to make decisions on your own. Next time, figure it out yourself.”

“Yes! I’ll remember that!”

Yoo Chae-young tilted her head.

‘Master?’