I could understand what she was talking about since from their point of view, they had sacrificed a lot of things just for our party. What was worse was that our party had the lowest stats among the parties here. In addition, we also had the least amount of experience in dungeons. This was our first time hunting and they knew that. Despite sacrificing so much, if a child like Kim Ye-Ri showed up, then I would have said something along the lines of what she said as well.

“Now, now, let’s not say that and enjoy it. Let’s have fun,” Choi Young-Ki said, trying to lighten the mood.

“How can you have fun during a dungeon expedition, Mr. Choi Ki-Young? This isn’t a joke. Even though we have a lot of people…it’s only natural for me to worry,” Jung Yoo-Ra said.

“That’s…”

“Even if our overall stat is high…whew…we’re not here to go sightseeing. We need to be aware of the fact that the situation can become dangerous at any time,” she added.

“We’ll work harder,” Kim Hyun-Sung said.

During this situation, I noticed Choi Young-Ki of the Red Mercenary Guild trying to read our expressions, which made me think that he received some kind of hint from Cha Hee-Ra. I thought it would be best to say something even if I didn’t really mean it. “Of course, I’m not saying that I don’t trust the Red Mercenary Guild…”

“Ahem…the situation has become a bit uncomfortable. Let’s lighten the mood by conducting a simple briefing,” Choi Young-Ki said.

“Okay.”

“Sure.”

“I’m sure you heard, but the dungeon we’re going to enter is a rare-ranked dungeon. The name of the dungeon is Garden of Horror and the guild’s analysis shows that there’s going to be mostly plant-type monsters in there…” he explained.

We already knew that, so I guess he just brought it up in order to lighten the mood. Even while walking, Choi Young-Ki was trying his best to improve the party’s atmosphere, which made me realize that he wasn’t such a bad person.

“Hyung-nim, that dude is a good person, right?” Park Deok-Gu asked.

“Yeah, he seems like a nice guy,” I answered.

It was to the point that Park Deok-Gu commented on his personality and I agreed with him. I felt that he had the qualities of a leader and wasn’t simply a nice person. A tank like him was very reliable since he was a calm person that knew how to treat people and was also talented at the same time. I was certain that he was a veteran because he was good at reading the air and was working hard in trying to minimize conflict. He was worthy of being Park Deok-Gu’s goal.

As we continued our conversation while walking, we arrived at the dungeon. Passing through the thorny bushes were a bit annoying, but after walking a bit farther, I saw the entrance of the dungeon.

‘Why is it so small?’

I felt a strange magic at the entrance and the entrance was so small that only two people could fit through it. It was to the point that the tutorial dungeon looked grander because I never imagined that there would be an entrance to a dungeon like this. I was beginning to think that it wasn’t unreasonable that they weren’t able to find this place all this time.

After nodding for a moment, Choi Young-Ki continued. “Let’s go in slowly and for the order of entrance, we’ll go in first, then the Black Swan, Devil’s Guild, and then the Blue Guild. There’s a possibility that we may fight as soon as we enter, so after we’re done preparing for battle, we’ll enter.”

“Okay,” everyone replied.

One by one, the members entered the dungeon by bending their waist forward and I started walking inside the dungeon while holding Jung Ha-Yan’s arm.

My body trembled for a moment because of the change in the atmosphere, but then I immediately heard a familiar message.

[You’ve entered a rare-ranked dungeon, Garden of Horror. Confirmed [24/30] participants.]

I heard an urgent voice after that.

“Let’s make room! Room! We need room!”

I was a bit confused because as soon as we entered, we experienced a violent welcome. Maybe it was because of the rare-ranked unique magic, but I found it hard to breathe for some reason.

The Red Mercenary Guild specialized in melee combat, so they tried their best to block the monsters charging towards us.

What we saw were extremely grotesque-looking plants and describing them as giants that took the form of a plant was the best description. They were about twice the size of a human and they had such a bulky body that we had to look up to them. It seemed like their bodies were made out of vines and roots and even though it was difficult to understand their movements, that wasn’t important right now.

When I tapped on Park Deok-Gu, who was absent-mindedly staring at them, he must have come back to his senses because I saw him immediately charge towards the front.

“Deok-Gu,” I called out.

“Ah, got it,” he said.

I guess he spaced out because of the unexpected situation, not because he was scared. I saw his back as he ran towards the front while holding his large shield. Of course, the tanks of the other parties were in the front and were pushing back the monsters that were attacking us. They were trying to make room so that the swordsmen and lancers could move in.

“We’ll continue pushing them back, so please start attacking them slowly,” Choi Young-Ki ordered.

“Ha!”

Park Deok-Gu, who jumped to the front courageously, suddenly lost his balance because he couldn’t endure a monster’s attack.

“Miss Sun Hee-Young,” I said.

“I understand,” she said.

As if this wasn’t her first time doing this, Sun Hee-Young started casting a spell towards Park Deok-Gu. Kim Hyun-Sung also moved in order to support him. Since Park Deok-Gu was no longer beside us, a monster with a large body started charging towards us, and honestly, that sight made me cower.

‘Shit.’

I was sure that nothing was going to happen, but our formation broke apart. I thought about casting the spell that was ingrained in the ring, but it would be a waste to use it at the entrance of the dungeon. I thought it was going to be okay since I saw Kim Hyun-Sung moving to support the party, but for some reason, I was worried. That was when the monster that was charging towards suddenly slammed into a wall. Before I knew it, Choi Young-Ki ran towards the monster and had pushed it aside.

Boom!

“Assistance over here!”

“Got it,” he answered.

“Whew…”

The situation became organized in an instant, I did expect that there would be some difference between us and them when it came to our levels, but as the party that entered last, the entrance became organized before we could even do anything. Of course, Kim Hyun-Sung was diligently damaging the monsters, but before Jung Ha-Yan and I were able to cast our spells, I saw the monsters getting killed one by one.

I thought about how they probably arrived here a few years before us. There was definitely a difference between our party and them. It wasn’t just in our basic stats. There was a difference in experience as well as our teamwork.

‘I didn’t do anything.’

When the situation calmed down a bit, Park Deok-Guk was being supported by Choi Young-Ki and I guess he was feeling dumbfounded.

“I think you moved too quickly,” Choi Young-Ki told him.

“Well…um…thank you,” Park Deok-Gu said.

“It happens often when you lack experience. It’ll be better if you put your strength into your lower body,” he suggested. “O-Okay,” Park Deok-Gu said.

Choi Young-Ki of the Red Mercenary Guild patted Park Deok-Gu’s shoulder and for some reason, I started feeling grateful because he was taking care of us.

“Let’s start cleaning up the area,” Choi Young-Ki said.

“Okay.”

I didn’t think that he was seriously injured, but when I saw Park Deok-Gu trudge towards us, he looked like he was feeling bitter.

“I…I’m…sorry. Hyung-nim and…everyone…” Park Deok-Gu said.

“You don’t need to apologize, Mr. Deok-Gu. This is all part of the experience,” Kim Hyung-Sung said.

“Still…”

“Mr. Hyun-Sung is right, Deok-Gu. There’s no need to be sad about it. You just need to do your best while watching and learning from them. You can just do better next time,” I explained.

“Whew…okay,” he said.

“Since you’re a bit on the heavier side, your attacks will feel a bit heavier. It’ll be better if you lower your body to the point that you’re almost touching the ground,” Kim Hyun-Sung explained.

“Oh.”

“It might take you some time to get used to it, but I’m sure you’ll be able to do it,” he said.

“He’s right, Mr. Deok-Gu,” Choi Young-Ki said.

We have been together since the beginning, so seeing him depressed like this worried me a bit and to be honest, the level of Park Deok-Gu’s talent was similar to the other tanks over there. Compared to the others, he did grow pretty fast, but overall, he simply lacked experience and stats. Unlike the rear support that could just follow the party, I was sure that he felt really stressed as a close-range member since his mistakes would easily be spotted.

Comforting Park Deok-Gu was my first task and since he was a naive person, of course, he was going to be influenced by the environment. Just when I thought that taking care of his mental health was the most important, I heard a loud voice.

“Excuse me, Mr. Choi Young-Ki,” Jung Yoo-Ra called out.

“Yes? Is there something you would like to say, Miss Yoo-Ra?” he asked.

“Regarding the members from the Blue Guild, I think it would be best to place their tank in the rear…” she suggested.

“Oh.”

“I was watching and he seemed to be lacking physically…it’ll be kind of dangerous if someone like him remains in the front. We managed to make do this time because we’re still near the entrance, but the deeper we go in, the more danger he’ll be in,” Jung Yoo-Ra of the Black Swan explained.

‘Sigh…’

I noticed Park Deok-Gu trying to read my expression.

“That’s…”

“I understand that he wasn’t summoned here recently, but I think he lacks a bit in experience and stats for him to stand in the front,” she said.

“I’m sure he’ll adapt soon and his endurance stats seem fine…if that situation comes again, then I’ll do the same thing and…”

“That’s the problem. If you leave, then our formation will be in danger. Unlike the Red Mercenary Guild which has good endurance stats, if we exclude the tank in our party, then our overall endurance stats will be on the lower end and if you leave your position, we won’t know what kind of accidents will happen. If the main tank…leaves his place, I’m sure you understand very well what’s going to happen, right?” Jung Yoo-Ra asked, cutting off Choi Young-Ki.

“That’s true, but…you can just tell me…” Kim Hyun-Sung said.

“That’s why I’m giving you a suggestion. I’m sure the Devil’s Guild agrees with me, right?” she asked.

Choi Young-Ki wasn’t intentionally keeping his silence and I was sure that it wasn’t because I was receiving Cha Hee-Ra’s protection.

Four parties gathered for this expedition and if the party was from one guild, then Choi Young-Ki would be able to make decisions on his own, but since it was about Park Deok-Gu’s placement, our party had the right to decide that. Even if it was reasonable to make that kind of suggestion, Jung Yoo-Ra should have suggested it to Kim Hyun-Sung, the leader of our party. In addition, she should have said this quietly instead of saying loudly so that everyone could hear her because her actions would only create conflict.

‘That bitch…’

I had a feeling before entering the dungeon, but I now had an idea of what that woman wanted.

‘Calculative strategist?’

I could feel her friendliness right when I saw her nature.

It felt like she was trying to secure her position in order to bring us down rather than to ensure our safety during the dungeon control. That woman realized just how important having a voice was within a group like this and I was sure that her goal was her contribution level in the item distribution that would take place after completing the dungeon control. For our party, we weren’t even interested in the item distribution for this dungeon, to begin with. Despite the fact that we only joined just to get experience, I guess she found us annoying because we were basically getting carried.

I was sure that she had a hidden intention of wanting to increase her influence within the party, but her method was pretty low and mean. This kind of method was commonly known as politics and I never imagined that there would be someone here doing that kind of nonsense.

‘You’re trying to be political?’

I started to have the urge to speak because that type of politics and instigation was my specialty.