Murim Login - Chapter 82

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

Chapter 82
Fifteen people in total. With nearly half of them being B-rank Hunters, we’d assembled quite a luxurious raid team, even accounting for the Gate’s rank.
“Were B-rank Hunters always this common?”
I agreed with Lim Hyuk-jun’s sentiment.
“Right?”
These were people I’d rarely glimpsed even when actively searching for them before. We operated in entirely different circles back then.
“But Tae-kyung, you don’t seem particularly impressed?”
“Me?”
“Yeah. I saw you chatting comfortably with that Team Leader earlier.”
“That could be. We were just making small talk.”
“Fair enough. Not long ago, I’d have broken my neck just trying to look up at someone like that.”
Was it really that extreme? Now that I thought about it, Lim Hyuk-jun wasn’t wrong. I’d simply changed.
‘They say when your vantage point shifts, so does the landscape.’
B-rank Hunters. Mountain peaks that had seemed unreachable now stood before my eyes. Yet they weren’t as beautiful as I’d once imagined.
‘Are they first-class? Or perhaps elite-tier martial artists?’
Both the levels I sensed through my aura and the magnitude of mana emanating from them matched that assessment. Compared to martial artists of the same level—not to mention myself, armed with the System’s absurd advantages—they’d fall short.
‘That’s the difference between martial artists and Hunters.’
Each had strengths and weaknesses, but in bare-handed combat, Hunters would lose every time.
Martial artists had mastered inner cultivation techniques that allowed them to channel their internal energy efficiently, maximizing it through martial techniques.
‘Hunters would need proper equipment and magic to stand a chance.’
The conclusion was simple: individual prowess favored martial artists, but Hunters excelled in group combat and tactical coordination.
And…
‘I’m completely broken as a character.’
I was a Hunter who was also a martial artist, a martial artist who was also a Hunter. I possessed all the advantages of both professions simultaneously.
What was truly terrifying was that I continued growing at an accelerated pace through the System even now.
‘I feel like I’ve become a protagonist in a novel.’
Maybe I’d write an autobiography after I retired in my old age.
Something like “Login to Murim.”
To anyone else, it would read like pure fantasy.
“Alright, gather up! Form the positions I’m about to call out and move accordingly.”
At the command, Lim Hyuk-jun took a deep breath.
“Here we go.”
Lim Hyuk-jun’s position was tank. He’d be protecting the team from the front.
Whether from the pressure of a B-rank Gate, his usually smiling face had grown rigid and tense.
“Can I really do this?”
I gave his shoulder a reassuring pat.
“You can.”
It wasn’t empty reassurance. The System window floating before my eyes was proof.
Item Window
[Matador’s Full Plate Armor]
Type
: Armor
Grade
: Peak
Description
: Armor of the matador, by the matador, for the matador.
Effect
: Strength, Stamina, Toughness +10
All stats +20 when facing bovine-type monsters
Item Window
[Matador’s Shield]
Type
: Shield
Grade
: Peak
Description
: Shield of the matador, by the matador, for the matador. The shield, stained crimson with the blood of cattle, sends shivers down one’s spine merely at the sight of it.
Effect
: Strength, Stamina, Toughness +10
Certain probability of triggering [Taunt] when facing bovine-type monsters
Certain probability of triggering [Hallucination] when facing bovine-type monsters
‘To be honest, I thought it was impossible at first.’
With this, I can breathe easy. At least here in the Minotaur’s Labyrinth, I should be able to perform admirably as a tank.
“Hunter Lim Hyuk-jun.”
Choi Team Leader, who had approached quietly—or rather, the financial backer—opened his mouth with a serious expression.
“Please handle them with care. These are precious items from my collection.”
“….”
“….”
That’s quite a considerate thing to say.
* * *
Lim Hyuk-jun, our tank, took the lead. With Kim Butler, our mage, and Song-i, our healer, falling back, only Choi Team Leader remained at my side.
“…Why are you looking at me like that?”
Why? Because I wish I could swap positions with Song-i.
Walking peacefully beside each other through the Gate would be so pleasant. When monsters appear, we could save each other.
‘Heaven offers no assistance.’
I sighed and looked up, but all I could see was the damp ceiling of the cave. Of course, it was on an entirely different scale from an F-rank Gate.
“It’s certainly massive.”
“It’s a B-rank Gate, after all.”
The higher the Gate’s rank, the wider its interior space and the more powerful the monsters that appear. Of course, since I’ve only ever experienced D-rank Gates, this is my first time at a higher rank, but that’s what people say.
“In some cases, you even have to climb snow-capped mountains. I went once two years ago, and it was dreadful.”
“Ah, did something happen…?”
“No, sir. The boots I reported on didn’t have a waterproofing enchantment applied.”
“….”
“I have poor circulation in my extremities, you see.”
“….”
“Ah, both were jokes.”
Of course they were jokes. How could someone over level 60 suffer from poor circulation? I was staring at Choi Team Leader with an incredulous expression when it happened.
…Crunch.
“Huh?”
“What’s wrong, sir?”
“Wait, just a moment.”
A simple mistake? No.
A faint vibration transmitted through the cave floor. It was only for an instant, but I felt it clearly.
Crunch-crunch.
The second vibration was more distinct and unmistakable.
Several of them had already noticed and begun scanning the front. Im Chang-su was one of them.
“Battle stations!”
The brief shout was swift and composed. With half the team being B-rank Hunters and equipped with excellent gear, he had no reason to panic. The one problem was….
“Watch the openings!”
This was a labyrinth. There were already five gaping holes visible.
With only ground vibrations to go on, it was difficult to pinpoint the exact direction they were coming from.
“Where are they!”
“….”
Who was Im Chang-su asking? I doubted the Minotaur would answer him.
– Mooooooo!
“There! The leftmost opening!”
“…Is this real.”
An unbelievable sight, even as I witnessed it.
I clicked my tongue and gripped the spear tightly. The Craftsman’s Black Thorn Spear—a vicious weapon with a high probability of inflicting bleeding on enemies.
“The grip feels quite good, doesn’t it? I applied the finish coat meticulously….”
There’s another vicious one here. If Choi Team Leader ever died, I was certain he’d fall into the depths of hell itself.
The next moment.
Boom-boom-boom.
– Mooooooo!
They burst forth from the darkness. Bodies resembling humans, yet with physiques and swollen musculature that could never be called human.
Above two horns stained with dust and someone’s blood, a rectangular level window floated lazily.
[Lv.58 Minotaur Warrior]
– Mooooo!
The appearance was far more thrilling than what I’d seen in videos….
“Tch.”
“Only one?”
Literally just a single Minotaur. Come to think of it, maybe this one got lost in the labyrinth too.
“At that level, we could handle it without ranged support, right?”
“Hye-rin, I’ll be back in a moment, Elder Brother.”
The Sangdong Guild members stepped forward with confidence. Two tanks and two dealers. All B-rank Hunters. Their intention to show off in front of the women was painfully obvious.
‘Good grief, idiots.’
Those types always end up getting themselves killed showing off. Though admittedly, a single Minotaur wouldn’t be enough to do that.
“If you’re going to do it, finish it quickly.”
The four of them, having received Im Chang-su’s permission, drew their weapons and were advancing toward the monster when it happened.
Thud. Thud.
“Huh?”
– Mooooo.
From the second of the five holes, another Minotaur emerged.
“Oh, that’s two now.”
“That one’s a bit smaller. Looks weaker, so you take it.”
“What? You’re the weakest one here.”
Thud. Thud.
– Mooooo.
The third hole.
“Oh, three of them. This might actually be fun to fight.”
“Whoever gets wounded buys drinks for everyone today. What do you say?”
“I’m in.”
“I’m in. Somehow the guy who suggests these bets always gets caught.”
Thud. Thud.
– Mooooo.
“Damn it. What is this?”
“Four is pushing it.”
“Maybe we should form a proper formation and each take one.”
“Agreed.”
Choi Team Leader, who had been observing the situation, scratched his neck.
“I think we should wait a bit longer and plan our strategy.”
“Sir?”
“The holes. I have a feeling more will come out.”
“Surely not. This isn’t some Olympic athlete introduction.”
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
It really happened.
From the fifth hole—lane five, so to speak—came more.
The one unexpected thing was that this time, it wasn’t alone.
– Mooooooo!
This one had plenty of friends—a whole pack of four came pouring out. Combined with the ones that had already emerged, that made eight total. Far too many for four B-rank Hunters. Choi Team Leader opened his mouth.
“What do you think?”
“It might be difficult, I’d say.”
Difficult? If you don’t want to die, stay behind the tank.
I only softened it because someone was actually listening.
“What about you, Tae-kyung?”
“Me?”
“Yes, you.”
“Hmm.”
The Minotaur, a B-rank monster, was in the mid-to-late 50s level range.
For a martial artist, that would be near the highest tier, but fighting them required considering multiple variables.
Simply put, you don’t know until you try.
“I’m not entirely sure.”
“Not entirely sure… You know what that means?”
Choi Team Leader fixed me with an odd gaze.
“Most C-rank Hunters don’t answer that way. They don’t hesitate at a question like that, and they don’t take it seriously.”
My chest tightened unexpectedly. There was no reason to hide my strength, but I had no desire to boast about it either.
I simply wanted to keep it as my own secret for now, away from attention. Just a Hunter slightly better than others. That’s all.
“You’ve always been an intriguing person, Jin Tae-kyung.”
“Wait, Team Leader. I think there’s been a misunderstanding.”
That was the moment I opened my mouth.
“Ha, I suppose so. Now I’m curious too.”
Im Chang-su, who had suddenly interjected, swept his gaze across me and Choi Team Leader.
“You were having such an interesting conversation, I listened in. That’s fine, right?”
Was that supposed to sound like “what if you don’t like it?” or was I imagining things?
“A worthless C-rank talking about the Minotaur this and that. You’re quite the storyteller.”
Ah, no imagination then.
I looked at Im Chang-su with fresh eyes.
‘It suits him.’
Everyone has clothes that fit them. Smiles too, and attitudes.
That was Im Chang-su as he appeared before my eyes now. The sneer curling his lips fit him perfectly.
“I had no intention of offending you.”
At Choi Team Leader’s characteristically flat expression and tone, Im Chang-su let out a snort.
“Offend or not, what’s the difference? Their skills are absolute garbage anyway. People call them B-rank, so they look decent, but among B-rankers they’re completely trash. But…”
Im Chang-su jerked his chin at me.
“They’re still better than C-rank. Isn’t that right, Jang Tae-kyung?”
I let out the words I’d been holding back.
“It’s Jin Tae-kyung.”
“Jin Tae-kyung, Jang Tae-kyung—whatever your name is, I don’t care.”
“Then should I call you Bastard Chang-su?”
“What?”
“Whether it’s Im Chang-su or whatever else you want to call him. His family name isn’t really my concern, is it?”
The smile vanished from Im Chang-su’s face.

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