The Returned Hunter Has Awakened to a Hidden Class - Chapter 3

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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3

Chapter 3

Scorched Lands.

Trudge trudge-

 Kim Jun slowly raised his head as he passed through Tebe’s city gate.

 Massive city walls built with white marble. The red brick rooftops visible above them were bathed in the light of the setting sun.

 Torches burned in each watchtower lined along the city walls, their flames contrasting against the darkening sky.

‘It’s the same.’

 It looked exactly the same as before his regression.

 Kim Jun looked at the buildings lined up on both sides.

 Two-story wooden buildings with warm light seeping through each window created a cozy atmosphere.

Clang! Clang!

 From the first floor of one building, the rhythmic sound of a blacksmith’s hammer echoed, while the savory aroma of freshly baked bread wafted into the street from the bakery right next door.

 Walking a bit further, he saw an NPC merchant in front of a shop finishing up the day’s business and organizing the signboard.

 Beyond that, a wooden inn sign swayed in the wind, making creaking sounds.

“Oh my, someone’s already arrived here!”

“Really fast. Did they make it here in just one day?”

 Passing residents murmured as they looked at him. Their gazes were curious but showed no signs of wariness.

 Kim Jun looked at them for a moment.

 The ‘residents’ who had been with him until the very end before his regression.

 Those who had drawn swords alongside him on the city walls when monster waves came.

 Those who had tried to protect the city until the end when the disaster of the 25th floor struck.

Sigh-

 Kim Jun watched them briefly, then turned his head away. He exhaled shortly as if suppressing his emotions and resumed walking.

 The deeper he went into the city, the more magnificent the buildings became. After passing through the shopping district and entering an area lined with nobles’ mansions, three-story stone buildings adorned both sides of the road.

 Stained glass was fitted in each window, and magic stones that served as streetlights emitted a gentle glow between the buildings.

 Finally, in the heart of the city center, a massive circular plaza revealed itself.

‘Still overwhelming.’

 Five spires standing tall in the center of the plaza. Temples of different designs reaching toward the sky filled Kim Jun’s field of vision.

 The most eye-catching was undoubtedly the Temple of the Warrior. A massive structure built from roughly hewn granite. Its linear architectural style gave it a fortress-like impression.

 Kim Jun walked toward the Temple of the Warrior without hesitation.

 Two Guardians stood at the temple entrance. Clad in full armor with massive two-handed swords strapped to their backs, they stood upright like statues.

“Challenger. Do you wish to walk the path of the warrior?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Then seek out Sir Valderion. He will judge your qualifications.”

Creak creak creak-

 The temple’s massive doors slowly opened.

 As Kim Jun stepped inside, a magnificent hall with high ceilings and pillars spread before him.

 Portraits of past warriors hung throughout the walls, and the weapons they had used were displayed.

 Kim Jun paused for a moment to look at those weapons. Swords that were worn but still retained their sharpness, axes that looked heavy and sturdy.

 All of them must have once shone in the hands of great warriors.

 Looking up toward the inner part of the hall, he could see a man sitting on a platform in the distance.

‘Valderion…’

 His master from before the regression, who had taught him swordsmanship. Though he was only level 70, his swordsmanship skills had reached a transcendent level.

 Even when Kim Jun had reached EX-grade, he couldn’t surpass Valderion in pure swordsmanship alone.

“It’s been a long time.”

 Kim Jun muttered.

“Hmm?”

 Valderion looked up. A man who appeared to be in his mid-sixties. His shortly cropped gray hair and beard, along with his sharp gaze, were impressive.

“It’s a face I’ve never seen before, yet you say it’s been a long time?”

“I apologize. It’s my first time meeting you, Sir Valderion.”

 Kim Jun bowed his head.

“Hmm.”

 Valderion looked Kim Jun up and down. His gaze moved from Kim Jun’s shoulders to his waist, then to his legs.

“You’re one who uses a sword?”

“That’s correct.”

“Then you’ve come to the right place.”

 Valderion rose from his seat and stood before Kim Jun.

“Do you want to become a warrior?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Then pass the test I give you.”

 Valderion’s expression suddenly turned cold.

“But I warn you, this is no joke. It’s a test where you must stake your life.”

 Kim Jun nodded. He already knew. It was more dangerous than any other promotion quest.

 He had already experienced it.

Ding-!

—-

[Promotion Quest Generated]

– Quest Name: Qualification of a Warrior

– Content: Survive for 5 minutes in the Red Dragon’s Nest.

– Difficulty: ★★★★★

– Reward: Warrior class promotion

– Upon Failure: Death

– Will you accept?

[Yes] / [No]

—-

Click-

 Kim Jun didn’t hesitate.

*

“Another one’s going to die.”

 The coachman looked at Kim Jun with pitying eyes.

“Young man, do you really have to go? The Red Dragon’s Nest? I’ve never seen anyone return from there.”

“I have to go.”

 Kim Jun answered calmly as he climbed into the carriage.

“Sigh.”

 The coachman let out a deep sigh.

“This is already the third time just this month. They all headed there saying they’d become warriors. But…”

 Though the coachman’s words didn’t finish, Kim Jun knew what he meant.

 Tebe was a massive city with 50,000 residents. The forces defending Tebe’s walls numbered 2,000. Among them, only four had acquired the warrior class.

 Warrior Promotion Test Administrator Valderion.

 Tebe’s Lord Garentos.

 Northern Wall Defense Captain Hena.

 Southern Wall Defense Captain Draconis.

 Hundreds of ‘residents’ had challenged it so far. For honor, for status, or for a better life.

 But except for these four, no one had returned.

 The Red Dragon’s Nest was that hopeless a place.

“I’ll take the payment in advance. I don’t have the confidence to bring back a corpse.”

 Kim Jun handed over a coin pouch. It was the reward he had earned from clearing floors 1 through 5.

“This much?”

 The coachman made a surprised expression. 

“I’m paying for the round trip. Oh, and future rides too.”

“Are you confident you’ll come back alive?”

“Of course.”

 A confident smile appeared on Kim Jun’s lips.

 The coachman couldn’t understand Kim Jun.

 It had only been one day since this massive tower was erected in the ‘new place’.

 Yet here was a Hunter who had already cleared up to the 5th floor and reached Tebe. And alone at that.

‘He must be incredibly strong.’

 Achieving such results in just one day was phenomenal. Usually it took several days even when entire guilds attempted it.

 But such a strong person chose to become a warrior of all things.

 There were mages who could safely cast magic from the rear, guardians specialized in defense, and even rogues who moved stealthily would be better than warriors.

‘I thought someone who could finally save us had appeared.’

 The coachman made a disappointed expression.

 The residents who had been trapped in Tebe for ages had a desperate wish. That someday a heroic Hunter would appear and end all these trials.

 That Hunter’s level must still be low.

 He had only cleared the early floors of the tower. To face the Red Dragon in such a state.

 The class change trial itself had an extremely low survival rate, and even if one became a warrior, it was a profession that always had to handle the most dangerous combat on the front lines.

‘I’ll have to wait again.’

 The coachman sighed. No matter how strong, the Red Dragon was a separate matter.

“…It’ll take about 4 hours to reach the Scorched Lands. Get some sleep. Oh, though it seems like you’ll be sleeping forever anyway.”

Clop clop-

 The sound of hoofbeats echoed rhythmically as the pace quickened.

*

 Kim Jun got off the carriage and looked ahead. 

 The Scorched Lands. 

 Not a single blade of grass grew on the black earth that stretched to the horizon.

 Smoke was still rising from various places, and whenever the wind blew, ash and charcoal dust danced in whirlwinds.

 Even the sky was stained red. It was a hellish landscape created by the dragon’s breath mixing with dust in the atmosphere.

 And far in the distance, a massive red cliff rising from the edge of the earth.

 The entire cliff glowed red-hot like lava, and flames periodically erupted from around the huge cave entrance in the middle.

[Red Dragon’s Nest]

 All the rocks around the cave had melted and hardened like glass. 

‘Before my regression, I learned about hidden classes from an information broker on the 50th floor.’

 Information bought at a high price from an information broker. The existence of hidden classes.

 Every class change quest had a hidden truth. Not just achieving the surface goal, but hidden power that only opened when special conditions were met.

Clench-

 Kim Jun clenched his fist tightly.

 What if he had known from the beginning? If he had started as a Dragon Slayer from the 5th floor?

Whoosh-

 Kim Jun stepped onto the Scorched Lands and moved forward.

 Ash rustled under his feet, and hot wind burned his face.

“You’re really going to enter.”

 The coachman asked as if confirming one last time.

“See you in a bit.”

“Tsk!”

 The coachman clicked his tongue.

“Since we’ve talked, I’ll wait an hour for you. Though you’ll probably die in 5 minutes anyway.”

“Haha. See you in a bit, Reddel.”

“Hm? Hmm?”

 Coachman Reddel was flustered. He definitely hadn’t mentioned his name, so how did he know?

“Wait, when did I ever…”

 But Kim Jun had already turned around and was walking toward the cave.

 Reddel frowned as he watched that retreating figure. Something was strange. Though this was the first time seeing this Hunter, he felt oddly familiar, and he even knew his name.

‘What the hell is that guy?’

 The questions deepened, but soon Reddel shook his head. He was going to die soon anyway, so what did it matter.

 Kim Jun continued walking across the Scorched Lands.

 With each step, ash and charcoal dust flew up, and the air grew hotter. His throat stung with each breath, but he didn’t stop.

 Finally, he arrived at the cave entrance.

Whooooom-!

 Massive breathing sounds echoed from deep within the cave. At the same time, he noticed a faint golden barrier covering the entire cave entrance.

 A translucent membrane that rippled like liquid. Red light flickered beyond it.

 When Kim Jun brought his hand close, a system window appeared.

—-

[Red Dragon’s Nest]

– Warning: Cannot exit for 5 minutes after entry

– Would you like to enter?

– [Yes] / [No]

—-

Whoosh-

 A massive space unfolded. An endlessly high ceiling, red lava flowing from various places, staining the entire cave like hell.

 And Kim Jun, looking down at his feet, was momentarily speechless.

“….”

 The entire cave floor was covered with white bones.

 Human ones, beast ones, even massive bones of unknown origin.

 Hundreds, no, thousands of skulls were piled in layers, forming a carpet of bones.

 All were the remains of those who had challenged this place and failed.

 Between the bones, rusted swords and armor fragments were scattered. Weapons that had once been someone’s hope were now scrap metal mixed with bones.

 When Kim Jun took a step-

Rumble-

 The pile of bones flowed in all directions. Like waves, they surged away, revealing new skulls.

 At that moment, the sound of something massive moving echoed from deep within the cave.

 He was prepared. 

 His level was significantly lower than before. 

 But having made a higher resolve,

“Huu.”

 He steadied his breathing. 

 He gripped the greatsword with both hands and took a middle stance.

“Huuuu.”

 He slowly exhaled and calmed his mind. 

 And fixed his gaze on whatever was coming from deep within the cave. 

Thud-

Thud-

Thud thud thud thud-!

“KROOOOOOOOOOO-!!!”

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