D-Rank Constellation Hunter… Stuck Without Internet! - Chapter 75

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 75
“Pardon?”
“Ignore it. Just endure.”
Everyone’s expression shifted to shock at my calm tone.
If ‘they’ truly needed my existence, I would naturally cooperate.
But it’s the individual Jang Deuk-sung who needs me.
If my actions were to solidify his power, I would naturally oppose it.
“I understand it’s bewildering—you’ve been explaining what happens and what damage occurs whenever I do something, and now this.”
But if even the Constellation were to take Jang Deuk-sung’s side, his position would become far too entrenched.
I wanted to look at those in the lowest positions first.
After all, those at the very top would find their own way to survive without me needing to concern myself with them.
“If Se-um doesn’t wish it, we cannot force you.”
Ha Gyuhyuk nodded calmly.
Even if I gave the reason that I simply didn’t want to, it seemed he would respond as if I should do as I pleased.
He was unfailingly kind.
But in any situation, justification was critically important.
“No, you need to listen to me carefully. I need a proper reason for why I’m not cooperating.”
“A proper reason… Would being ill suffice?”
At Dan Yibum’s question, everyone’s gaze turned toward him.
The Constellation bedridden and unable to participate in dungeon raids—no one believed it, but it was certainly original.
Realizing he’d spoken without thinking, he fell silent.
“Just write down what I say and package it in plausible language.”
I’d never written an official document before, so I couldn’t match the tone and manner myself.
Kim Gyuwun hastily opened his laptop and placed his hands on the keyboard, nodding.
“I, Ulrim the Hunter, refuse to participate in fixed clears of the relevant S-rank Dungeon. Reason: equity concerns.”
If a single hunter monopolized all the credit, it would violate fairness.
Until now, fixed members had been selected by considering dungeon compatibility, basic characteristics, and proceeding according to proper procedures.
Generally, if one person were designated as a fixed member, it would rob others of the opportunity to attempt the dungeon.
So to prevent resistance, even if dissatisfaction existed, at minimum there should be no disagreement about those becoming fixed members.
“But the Constellation is stepping forward directly—would people protest?”
“They couldn’t protest directly, but there would definitely be discontent.”
Far more dissatisfaction would arise than if ordinary top-tier hunters stepped forward.
Why would a god insist on monopolizing that position?
A god maintained sufficient power and strength without needing to clear dungeons.
“Yes, actually, hunters have been consistently voicing complaints about top-tier hunters monopolizing items and dungeons.”
Ha Gyuhyuk supported my point with a composed voice.
Most of those here, excluding him, fell into the category of ‘top-tier hunters’ he mentioned.
Ji Chae-ah rarely entered dungeons these days, but that didn’t erase her innate rank.
“But it’s natural for strong hunters to enter because of the dungeon’s difficulty level, isn’t it?”
Dan Yibum countered again without hesitation.
He wasn’t taking this lightly. This was the core of who Dan Yibum was as a person.
He had always been someone who believed in meritocracy, and he didn’t think what he currently enjoyed was mere luck.
It was an arrogance that high-ranking hunters inevitably possessed.
“You really think so?”
At my question, he nodded seriously.
“I believe rank restrictions on advanced dungeons exist partly to protect lower-ranked hunters. If anyone could enter freely, who would be held responsible when casualties occur?”
Should I interject here?
Kim Gyuwun and Ji Chae-ah wisely kept their mouths shut, as if understanding this wasn’t their place to speak.
I too chose silence rather than pointing anything out to him.
If I controlled every situation, Ha Gyuhyuk’s authority would ultimately weaken.
Ha Gyuhyuk opened his mouth.
“Is it truly the right answer for only high-ranking hunters to enter advanced dungeons?”
“I believe it is the right answer.”
In such a situation, he could have reacted defensively or with irritation, but Ha Gyuhyuk’s tone remained gentle.
As if he were willing to teach if Dan Yibum simply didn’t understand.
“Three years ago, an S-rank Dungeon appeared. The clear condition wasn’t to subjugate monsters, but to solve problems in each region.”
“Yes, I believe there was a dungeon like that.”
“However, the Hunter Association and major guilds, as always, organized teams primarily of S-rank hunters specializing in physical and magical combat. The result was that out of 60 entrants, only 13 survived.”
This was data I didn’t even know.
Dan Yibum’s expression wavered slightly. He seemed to know of this incident as well.
“Yes, but ultimately they solved it on the second attempt….”
“The one who solved that problem was a C-rank hunter. They were researching dungeons in graduate school.”
“…So you’re saying we should allow lower-ranked hunters access to advanced dungeons by considering such exceptions?”
Dan Yibum was probably thinking this way.
If a graduate student solved the problem, then someone else would have eventually solved it anyway, even if they weren’t a C-rank hunter.
That was probably true.
But what Ha Gyuhyuk wanted to say was something different.
“Let me ask a different question. Why shouldn’t we bring a C-rank hunter into an S-rank Dungeon? They could become A-rank or S-rank if they continued to hone their skills.”
“Because they wouldn’t help with clearing it. We’d have to protect them separately, and they fall short in basic stats. Plus, with high-ranking hunters, there are cases where strategies that would normally work need to be explained….”
“Why would strategies need to be explained?”
“Because they lack experience.”
“And why do they lack experience?”
With the endless back-and-forth, Dan Yibum now looked somewhat irritated.
“Because they don’t enter dungeons often….”
He stopped speaking.
This must be what it meant to fall into a leading question.
Kim Gyuwun sighed as if he had already anticipated this, and Ha Gyuhyuk was smiling.
“Dan Yibum, the truth is people think advanced dungeons are cleared by advanced hunters and lower dungeons by lower hunters. It’s common sense.”
“….”
“But the top 11% of A-rank and above hunters monopolize 71% of all dungeons, leaving the remaining personnel to split 29%. Naturally, lower-ranked hunters have no choice but to repeatedly clear the same dungeons.”
So skill proficiency and such cannot be raised.
Since the very path to development is blocked, the monopoly of the ‘naturally superior’ could only continue.
“If Se-um were to undertake a Dungeon clear in this situation, could it be possible that she wouldn’t be mobilized for the new Dungeons that appear in the future?”
“That won’t work. She’s already cleared multiple Dungeons alone—they’ll use her sparingly with the same excuse.”
Ji Chae-ah answered as if she’d been waiting for this.
Dan Yibum had already lost his words. Ha Gyuhyuk looked at him.
“I don’t think Hunter Yibum has done anything wrong up until now. But you should recognize that our starting lines are different, and consider how many obstacles stand in the way of those coming from behind on the rails.”
He speaks far too well.
I desperately tensed my mind to keep from patting him right then and there, lest it damage his authority.
Ah, didn’t the Association say earlier that if they didn’t cooperate this time, they’d disadvantage Touch One?
Humans wouldn’t think that far, but if I grant this, they could make the same demands of other Constellations.
‘You did it, so why won’t you?’
But Constellations absolutely, absolutely despise such requests directed at them.
‘Then this land becomes a wasteland where no one comes again.’
I added a word casually.
“Everything is difficult at first. If I allow the beginning, what comes after becomes far too easy.”
I rose to my feet.
Ji Chae-ah and Kim Gyuwun were already bickering as they drafted an official document to send to the Association.
“Propose that the Dungeon permit participation applications from all Hunters who achieve the corresponding rank by the specified date.”
“We can make the proposal, but realistically it’s difficult for Hunters to raise their ranks.”
I burst into laughter at Ji Chae-ah’s question.
I waved my hand once and created a door.
“And all the training space will be provided by Hunter Ulrim and Ha Gyuhyuk.”
[ Your devotion changes the world. ]
[ Your client’s contribution changes the world. ]
[ Karma is accumulated. ]

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————