I Became a Mythical Hunter After Killing the Golden Goblin - Chapter 31

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

Chapter 31. Dungeon Black Hole
I opened my eyes to the familiar surroundings of Miracle Hospital. More specifically, I found myself lying in a bed within the VIP room where my sister was admitted. As I gazed upon my fully healed body, a smile spread across my face.
“Things worked out well.”
It was a successful operation, worth every blow I’d taken. I’d managed to strike back at my enemy, concealed my true capabilities thoroughly, and now Chang-sung would have no choice but to compensate me for covering up this entire incident.
‘The greatest gain was keeping my real power hidden until the very end.’
Given that old fox’s nature, had I displayed anything beyond promising prospect level, he would have certainly monitored me and obstructed my path at every turn.
That’s why I’d barely used half my strength—no, a quarter of it. I’d restricted my physical abilities to the average of a promising prospect and relied solely on pure technique, utilizing only the talent for combat that the Infinite stat granted me.
“But it’s frustrating.”
Ultimately, I achieved exactly what I wanted, but from a purely combat perspective… my inability to perfect the deflection technique was deeply regrettable.
“It didn’t even become a skill.”
Skills are simple things. They aren’t acquired solely through skill books—they can be obtained through countless experiences, taught by masters, or earned as rewards when the system recognizes achievements of sufficient magnitude.
The deflection technique I knew would generate a skill called Parry [Common-C] once I achieved enough recognition from the system. And the one who trained this Parry to its absolute limit, birthing the legendary skill Ten Thousand Streams Flowing Sword [Legendary-C], was none other than the SS-rank Hunter Sword Emperor from China.
Ten thousand streams—even vast rivers become but a single flowing thread before the blade. The Sword Emperor deflected every attack with a single sword, parrying them all away.
In a B+-rank boss monster raid video I’d seen on YouTube before my regression, his deflection technique had captivated my wonder and excitement. That’s how I came to research and practice everything about the deflection technique.
Since deflection—or parrying—was a considerably difficult technique, I’d ultimately failed to convert it into a skill, but now things were different.
“Is the misfortune too trivial? This Indomitable reward seems small.”
Indomitable stat +1, and one free point. I immediately invested the point into the Infinite stat and closed the status window.
Less than a day had passed, and here I was hospitalized again. Though truthfully, my body was in perfect condition—I could be discharged immediately.
For the healers of Miracle Hospital, treating mere fractures and bruises would be as effortless as a yawn.
Just as I was about to lie back down on the bed,
Knock, knock.
The hospital room door opened with a knock, and a healer who appeared to be an intern doctor entered.
Of course, considering Miracle Guild’s status and capabilities, if someone was recognized as a doctor rather than a nurse and was undergoing an internship, they would certainly possess at least Unique-rank healing abilities.
Doctors, regardless of era, are dignified beings of the highest status.
“Oh! You’re awake! Your wounds weren’t too severe, so I treated them urgently! The Guild Master ordered me to move you to this room!”
At the bright explanation from the high school girl doctor who seemed about my sister’s age, I nodded.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it! I’m getting paid for this anyway! And since the Guild Master assigned me to manage this VIP room, your guardian’s wellbeing is my responsibility!”
I was surprised by her words. An intern, not even a fully licensed doctor, was managing a VIP room?
‘That’s not in my memories…’
The Guild Master I’d met once didn’t seem like the type to entrust a VIP room to just any intern.
Not with the amount of money that goes into a single day here.
Whether she’d read my thoughts or had the same idea herself, the girl hurriedly opened her mouth to explain.
“I-I’m not incompetent! My evaluations as an intern are all top-tier. I heal better than most doctors within the guild. And I’ve been appointed as the next Guild Master candidate. Though it’s undeserved… I’m being called the Saint!”
At her last words, my eyes widened in surprise.
“You’re really called the Saint?”
“Yes! To be precise, I’m still a Saint candidate. There are two others besides me. Though in practice, I’m as good as the Saint already! Hehe!”
Watching the girl laugh brightly, I clicked my tongue inwardly.
‘No wonder I didn’t recognize her face—she’s that famous Saint candidate.’
The title of Saint is given to only one person in the entire world. With the first-generation Saint now deceased, the competition to select the next Saint was in full swing. The girl was so far ahead of the other two candidates that there were many reports that South Korea would produce the next Saint.
‘Yet in the end, that sainthood candidate dies. And it’s gruesome.’
That’s why I couldn’t remember that girl’s face. The incident must have been shocking enough that South Korea—a nation that thrives on gossip and forgets events easily—covered it without fail for nearly a month.
Ultimately, no one ever discovered who killed her, how, or why. She was simply found at home, her limbs savagely mutilated.
‘I still have about a month before the sainthood candidate dies.’
I’ll save her. The reason is obvious—by preserving her life and erasing the debt, she’ll become an invaluable asset to me later.
And… she reminds me of my sister. I can’t simply overlook this.
I organized my thoughts and, without hesitation, opened my mouth to address the girl who continued speaking.
“So what’s your name?”
“Oh! I forgot to introduce myself—the most important part! I’m Min Cho-rong! It’s an honor to meet you, the guardian of my very first patient!”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Shin Ju-ha. I’m Shin Yu-ah’s older brother and her sole guardian. Please take good care of my sister.”
I bowed respectfully to her with courtesy and continued the conversation.
Unaware of what was beginning to unfold in this guild, in this hospital room.
〚A curse bearing the resolve for vengeance endures a severe penalty and squeezes forth power beyond its limits!〛
***
The central Security Room of Miracle Hospital. Today, like always, this place where a massive device stood at its center… was quiet.
Naturally. There was nothing to do here, despite the name. Their sole duty was to guard the patients in rotation, especially those in the VIP rooms.
Actually, even “guard” seemed like an odd word. There was no way a madman would cause trouble in Miracle Hospital.
This place was officially the 7th-ranked guild in South Korea, a powerhouse in the Hunter industry with a massive contingent of precious Healers, and it received official protection from none other than South Korea’s 1st-ranked Dangun Guild.
Because of this, those responsible for security fell into two categories.
Combat personnel from Miracle Guild—holy knights who rotated through shifts.
And the remainder dispatched from Dangun Guild.
Though mostly lower-ranked Hunters, the guild’s name alone commanded respect, and no one dared dismiss them.
As a result, this place was so peaceful it practically screamed “cushy posting.”
“Team lead, it’s already lunchtime. How about some oxtail soup and rice today?”
“Sounds good! Hey, call in everyone, even those on guard duty outside. Since nothing’s happening anyway, let’s just leave a skeleton crew and grab lunch together.”
“Hehehehe! Let’s do it. We’ll leave that stupid idiot behind. Just assign him to guard the VIP rooms, right?”
“Let’s go! I’m starving! A hot bowl of soup will hit the spot!”
Naturally, their blind faith in peace and safety bred complacency and negligence.
Perhaps that’s why.
They didn’t notice—as they hummed cheerfully and left the Security Room—the small sparks dancing from the dungeon suppression device that had been safely protecting this entire hospital.
***
“Huh? The security guard changed? Wait, there’s only one guard? Did they all go grab a meal or something?”
As I stepped out the door, I tilted my head at the sight of the massive, sturdy-looking guard before me.
‘I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere before.’
I couldn’t place it. My mind was already foggy from Min Cho-rong’s relentless chatter, so I took my time heading down to the 1st Floor, bought some drinks and snacks, fortified my mental defenses, and made my way back up to the VIP Hospital Room.
And what greeted my eyes was none other than…!
“What the—? Why is that here?”
The air tore open and warped as an enormous black vortex slowly revealed itself.
Right at the entrance to my sister’s Hospital Room, no less.
“Damn it!”
I moved fast. The moment a Dungeon manifests, it sucks in everything within a certain radius like a black hole.
This phenomenon—called Dungeon Black Hole—demonstrates just how dangerous these unpredictable Dungeons are, and it’s the very reason why Dungeon Suppression Devices became a necessity in this era.
“The Miracle Guild should have suppression devices! So why is a Dungeon appearing?”
An ominous premonition struck me, so I quickly checked the message log I’d muted, and sure enough, that cursed unlucky bastard was thrashing about.
“Shin Yu-ah!”
I rushed into the Hospital Room calling my sister’s name, and there stood Min Cho-rong and the Security Guard protecting her.
“Damn it, it’s too late to escape now. We need to get pulled in with minimal damage to my sister! You there, big guy! Hold onto the maintenance capsule so it doesn’t shake!”
“…Yes.”
Crackle!
Finally, the Dungeon opens with a bizarre sound. Simultaneously, the surrounding winds whip about unnaturally, and an inexplicable force pulls only humans toward it.
Whoooosh!
Min Cho-rong goes first, then my sister along with the capsule, the brawny Security Guard, and finally me—we’re all sucked into the Dungeon’s black hole. Only then, as if satisfied, does the black vortex calm.
『Dungeon Quest (Forced): Dungeon of Ant Colony Chaos
Grade: Unique
Rank: D+
Type: Guardian
Description: You have invaded the ant colony of the Colossal Ants, creatures known as giant ants! Survive!
Objective: Protect the Queen’s egg and survive 5 waves
Success: Rewards distributed based on performance
Failure: Death』
The four of us arrived in a massive cavern. Four tunnels opened in perfect cardinal directions, and at the center lay a single egg emanating a mysterious aura.
“Damn it! Of all things, a wave survival mission!”
And the Dungeon’s grade is Unique, no less. Rank D+ as well.
Dungeons are ultimately territories that failed to belong to the Abyss, drifting aimlessly through dimensions before crash-landing in ours.
This truth was revealed through extensive research and later confirmed by beings from other dimensions I would encounter.
‘If it’s Unique grade, then it’s a territory that maintains its uniqueness without being replicated during its dimensional drift, at minimum.’
Lower grades—Common, Advanced, Rare—can’t withstand dimensional drift and either shatter and vanish, or inexplicably replicate into countless territories. That’s why lower-ranked Dungeons often have similar or identical versions.
Naturally, if a territory has the grade to maintain itself intact, the monsters inhabiting it are stronger too. High grade doesn’t always mean strong, but most of the time it does.
The difficulty is even quite high at D+.
“Damn it, how long do you think the capsule can hold out?”
The problem is my sister. The capsule runs on mana stones—special mana stones that can only be crafted through precise refinement.
“At most, three days seems to be the limit. What should we do? Processing mana stones isn’t exactly simple work?! Of… of course, even if the capsule shuts down, it won’t kill me, but… going four days without food or water could be dangerous.”
I know. Damn it! Mana stones are abundant, yet I can’t process them.
“…Excuse me.”
“Ah! Thank you. Thank you so much for protecting my younger brother. I mean it sincerely.”
“…No. …I can…process mana stones…”
As the Security Guard spoke, he withdrew what resembled a carving knife from the spatial pouch at his waist, and I couldn’t help but exhale a sigh that mingled relief with deflation.
“…It’s just a hobby…I learned it…My skill isn’t…great…But…it’s sufficient.”
“That’s a real relief. Thank you again. But…it’s quite an unusual hobby, isn’t it?”
I sighed once more at the sight of him scratching his head awkwardly, and soon, sensing the first wave approaching from far away, I drew my sword.

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