Infinite Competitive Dungeon Society

[You equipped the Wendigo Set. Your magic and dexterity increase by 25. When the Wendigo Set is equipped, you can use ‘Ice Touch’ once per day.]

[With Ice Touch, you can gather extreme freezing energy on your hands. When you attack your enemies, it ignores the enemies’ resistance and freezes them, but they can break out after 5 seconds depending on their resistance.]

“Mm, I see.”

I nodded my head imposingly as a response to message noona, then took off the fur coat as it was irritatingly hot. Then, as I stored Ice touch on the 10 o’clock position, I pondered, ‘How was I supposed to use this skill? … Wait.’

“If I use Divine Speed and beat up the enemy for 3 seconds, then use Ice Touch before Divine Speed ends, I can beat up the enemy for 5 more seconds!”

Together, I would have 8 seconds to beat the enemy up freely! Plus, I didn’t need to use this freezing energy in close-range only. There must be a way to use it somehow with Ruyue. After all, all Floor Masters’ skills were useful.

“Alright… It’s time to contact her.”

I took out the letter I always carried with me. Ciara Kenex. I didn’t know what she wanted from me, even after reading the letter thrice. It would be faster to ask her in person. After making my decision, I put it to action. Once I set my mind to do something, I wouldn’t hesitate. That was my personal philosophy.

The next day, I gathered my family, including Yua who still wouldn’t talk to me, and told them I had to go to America. Yua’s expression was quite a sight.

“Again!?”

“You’re really busy lately, son. You’re going to lose weight.”

“I’m fine. I did get slimmer, but I got a lot stronger as well.”

“Hm, America… Are you going to that canyon where wyverns appear?”

“Father, do you want to come with me?”

Father surprisingly thought about it seriously, then shook his head.

“No. I would have gone if it was any other time, but I’m almost about to make a breakthrough in my spearmanship… I heard that wyverns are strong. Be careful and don’t get hurt.”

“Ludia has a healing ability. Since we’ll be together, there’s no need to worry.”

“Palludia-ssi is going too!?”

Yua’s anger seemed to have soared to the heavens. She then shouted, “I’m going to start going to church!”

“Yua!?”

“I want to be a priestess too!”

‘Yua, even if you become a nun, I don’t think you can become a priestess that uses holy magic.’ Thinking that in my head, I placed my hand on Yua’s head. She tried to take my hand off in anger, but before she could do so, I said, “Thanks for worrying about me, Yua.”

“Uk!”

“If Yua becomes an Awakened, then oppa won’t leave Yua alone at home.”

“What about being a dungeon explorer?”

“You can’t climb the dungeon without a combat ability. If Yua becomes an Awakened, we can talk then.”

“Uuu…”

Yua seemed to have acquiesced, as she nodded with a frown. Thank god!

“Good. Oppa will bring back presents from America for Yua, okay?”

“I’m not a child, don’t try to appease me with presents. I hate oppa.”

“Kuk.”

It seemed I needed more time before Yua’s anger could be appeased.

[I’m going too.]

“… Hwaya?”

[You came to help me before, so I’ll go with you to Arizona.]

When I told Hwaya I’d be in America for a while, she said she would come with me, making me flustered. As her reason made sense, I was even more flustered.

“No, that’s different than this. I know I’m going to an S rank Field Dungeon, but it’s not like I’ll be in a dangerous situation. You don’t need to trouble yourself.”

[But wouldn’t it be easier if I was there?]

“That’s true, but… You’re Britain’s ability user. If you come, they might take it as Britain’s assistance.”

[No, I’ll make it clear that I’m participating as Thunder Knight’s friend.]

“You mean you’re not going to make it a trade between America and Britain?”

[Yeah. Britain won’t understand my worth unless I show them.]

Coming from someone as patriotic as Hwaya, it was a surprise. Brightman really must have made her angry. I continued, still half-surprised from what she said.

“To be honest, you’ll be in my way.”

[That’s too honest! I’ve gotten stronger too! Plus, I got a Legend-grade defensive equipment, so I’ve perfectly covered my weakness. Don’t be surprised when you see me! I’ll prepare a plane for us in two days, so be ready!]

With that, Hwaya hung up. ‘At least she was eager to go…’ With that, I sighed. I had no choice but to acknowledge that she was coming.

Thankfully, Ye-Eun safely defeated the Grim Reaper with Ludia and Ellos’ party. Since Ludia has broke through to the 41st floor and even awakened an ability, I decided to take her with me to America like I promised.

The day of promise then came.

“Shin, hi!”

“… Eh?”

There was one uninvited guest waiting for me in front of my house.

I turned around to Ludia and demanded an explanation. Ludia buried her face in my back and dodged my eyes as she replied.

“S-She said she would come. I couldn’t do anything about it. I didn’t want to tell her either.”

“Shin, you’re so mean. You should have called me if you were going somewhere so dangerous!”

“But you’re weaker than me.”

“I got stronger by climbing the dungeon, so I wanted to try hunting wyverns too! By the way Palludia, can you get off of Shin now? I heard that the two of you are just friends!”

“Hmph.”

Ludia returned Ye-Eun’s burning gaze with her special cold gaze. At the same time, I sent Ye-Eun a message only she could hear.

[I told you, Ludia has a special circumstance.]

[But it’s annoying watching her like that in front of me!]

[Do you want to go home?]

“… Tsk.”

Ye-Eun finally seemed to have understood. I felt sorry in a way, so I decided to get her a gift to make up for it. With that, I headed to the airport with both Ludia and Ye-Eun. I had already turned down Ciara Kenex’s offer to prepare a method of transportation. Hwaya and I promised to meet here, and her private plane would be waiting here. As expected, when I arrived at the airport, Hwaya was already waiting at the airport. It was obvious she had used some kind of magic to prevent herself from being noticed by people other than me.

“It’s been a while, Shin… Oh?”

“Yeah, it really has, Hwaya. Sorry, I forgot to tell you about my friends. They’re both ability users and dungeon explorers.”

The moment Hwaya saw Ludia and Ye-Eun, she opened her eyes widely in surprise. However, it was Ludia and Ye-Eun who were more surprised, as they noticed Hwaya only after I spoke with her. The two of them rudely pointed their fingers at Hwaya and shouted.

“T-That’s Ye Hwaya, right? Ye Hwaya!”

“I saw her on TV!”

“That’s my Korean name. Even though I’m staying in Korea for now, I’m British. Hwaya Mastiford. I’m a Second Dungeon explorer and a friend of Shin.”

Hwaya seemed to be accustomed to such reactions, as she introduced herself with a sigh. Ludia and Ye-Eun’s response differed.

“Shin, you, when did you become friends with someone like her…? Uk, no, I’m lacking in all aspects…!”

“Palludia. I have a family name, but I’m not using it right now. Shin is… my friend. For now.”

At Hwaya’s introduction, Ye-Eun wrapped her head with her hands and crouched down in agony, while Ludia made a light smile and puffed out her nonexistent chest to introduce herself. Eh? Ludia, she… Eh? When did she… Eh!?

“I see. Friend ‘for now’… Hm, okay. Nice to meet you.”

Hwaya smiled lightly at Ludia and knocked on the airstairs next to her plane.

“Shin, no one else is coming, right?”

“Uh, yeah.”

“Then, let’s go. The skunk plane is going to depart soon. We can continue talking once we take off. We’ll have to fly for at least 7 hours anyways.”

While I was bewildered from Ludia’s inexplicable change, Hwaya urged us to get on board. Ye-Eun also looked slightly out of touch with reality as she staggered up the stairs.

“I, I’m on Ye Hwaya’s personal plane…”

“Shin, let’s go.”

Ludia linked her arms with mine and pulled me along. Now that I realized the change in Ludia, I shivered at the sensation I could feel with my arm. Dear god, there was no way this was artificial… It had to be natural! When I walked up the stairs as shocked as Ye-Eun and entered the plane, Hwaya, who walked by me, asked me in a whisper.

“So, there should only be six explorers on Earth. How do you explain bringing two explorers?”

“I can explain later.”

“Yeah, I’ll be sure to hear it when we’re alone, so prepare yourself.”

“Shin!”

When I was standing still listening to Hwaya, Ludia called my name and pulled on my arm. I made a bitter smile, and Hwaya laughed with her eyes narrowed.

“Shin won’t run away. You don’t have to shout his name. Don’t be so nervous.”

“…!”

Hwaya and Ludia exchanged glances for a short moment. Was it a power struggle? Could this be the women’s fight, which I only ever heard about? One that determines who’s superior in their first meeting? Now that I thought about it, neither Ludia or Hwaya should have lost to anyone in appearance. Hwaya was famous on Earth for her beauty, and Ludia was regarded as one of the top beauties in the dungeon.

It was almost impossible to objectively judge a person’s appearance, but it would be hard for me to find anyone more beautiful than Hwaya and Ludia purely in appearance. Since the two of them met, it was probably normal for them to have their own thoughts about the matter.

I flinched seeing them exchange glances, but I soon urged Ludia to keep going.

“Ludia, let’s sit.”

“Un, wait… Mastiford. I don’t like you.”

“I feel the same way, Palludia.”

They both smiled. It was the kind of smile that emanated chills. Because their smiles were almost exactly the same, I almost got goosebumps. However, this atmosphere, which was as if Wendigo had used Ice Touch, was soon melted by a voice.

“Shin, there’s a drinking bar here! Do you think there are fries too!?”

‘Ye-Eun, I really like your never changing self…’ With a sigh, I replied.

“You know, you didn’t even introduce yourself to Hwaya yet.”

“Ah, right. I’m Su Ye-Eun. Nice to meet you.”

“Huhu, nice to meet you too. I think I can get along with you.”

“I-It’s an honor! Uu, but I feel conflicted…”

Just like that, the four of us set off to Arizona. Ciara Kenex would be waiting for me at Antelope Canyon. Would she know that I’d bring them along? Perhaps, she might with her special ability. With a grin, I leaned my head against the seat.

Would I be at Arizona once I woke up? How did Ciara Kenex know I was the Hero? Does she know more about Heroes than me?

Perhaps, she knew why and how I became the Hero.

Thinking about questions that I had no way of answering for now, I slowly closed my eyes.

I heard the rumble of the skunk plane taking off.