Owner of the S-Rank Dungeon Campsite (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 11

“Ice cream and slushies at a campground?!”

But today, I planned to buy items that would enhance the landscaping. Teddy had clearly said that decorating the area would improve the campground’s ambiance.

‘If I want to set the mood for the campground, lighting is definitely going to be important.’

Campgrounds usually received visitors in the evening. Right now, the only source of light outdoors was the large bonfire in the center of the campsite.

[‘Yubom (F)’ has purchased ‘Bug-Repelling Lamp (A)’.]

The Blue Starlight Valley was a jungle-type dungeon, teeming with insects. Hanging this lamp in front of the tent would not only enhance the atmosphere but also allow for a comfortable night’s sleep.

[‘Yubom (F)’ has purchased ‘Self-Cleaning Fire Pit (C)’.]

Currently, I had to light a fire and prop stones on either side to place the grill. With a proper fire pit, the grill would stay securely in place, making it safer to cook meals.

It would also be perfect for quietly enjoying the mesmerizing flames.

[‘Yubom (F)’ has purchased ‘Blue Starlight Plant Bulb (C)’.]

This bulb was made by weaving together plants from the Blue Starlight Valley like sweet potato vines into a string of lights. Its glowing blue hue seemed like it would blend perfectly with the dungeon.

And finally, there was one last item I was hesitating over: ‘Hammock of Mother’s Womb (A)’.

The hammock was ivory-colored, with a design that would complement any setting. Thick threads were intricately woven together, creating a natural, cozy feel.

Hanging it between trees would allow for afternoon naps outdoors and add charm to the campsite’s scenery. Above all, it was something rarely seen in the city, which caught my eye.

‘But what if it just becomes pretty junk…? Can’t I try it out once before buying?’

I wanted to test it first, but no matter how much I looked around, there was no option to try items before purchasing.

‘Alright, I’ll just go for it.’

[‘Yubom (F)’ has purchased ‘Hammock of Mother’s Womb (A)’.]

I felt I’d regret it if I didn’t buy it. If it turned out uncomfortable, I could just avoid buying it next time.

I took the hammock out of my inventory and set it up between two trees. As soon as I tied the loops securely, a decent-looking makeshift bed instantly appeared.

“But what’s this ‘comfort like being inside Mother’s womb’ all about? Just how comfortable could it possibly be to earn an A-rank? It’s just a piece of clo—”

I was about to say “cloth” when I suddenly lost my words the moment I lay down. The soft fabric felt like being wrapped in warm clouds or floating gently through water.

A steady, rhythmic sound—whether my heartbeat or an illusion—echoed soothingly in my ears. My entire body’s fatigue melted away, and my eyelids slowly grew heavy.

‘This place is heaven… no, it’s Mother’s womb… warm, soft, indescribably cozy!’

“Master, it’s time for lunch!”

“Huh?”

When I came to my senses, the sun was already high in the sky. It had definitely been morning when I’d lain down in the hammock…

“Lunch! I grilled some leftover meat and eggs from yesterday. Come quickly!”

Despite its ordinary appearance, its stats were incredible. This hammock wasn’t just comfortable—it felt like it was sucking me in.

Once you lay down, it seemed impossible to get up by your own will. It was like a quicksand pit leading straight to paradise!

“This really is a terrifying hammock…”

Anyway, thanks to the quality sleep, I was feeling absolutely refreshed.

[This is the timeline separator] [‘Blue Starlight Centaur (A)’ throws ‘Immortal Spear (A)’.] [‘Blue Starlight Centaur (A)’ uses ‘Crescent Slash (A)’.] [‘Blue Starlight Centaur (A)’ uses ‘Fierce Charge (B)’.]

If monsters in a dungeon weren’t periodically eliminated, a Dungeon Break would occur, causing monsters to spill out through the portal. To prevent this, guilds took turns each month to lead expeditions, aiming to clear at least 50% of the dungeon.

However, guilds weren’t motivated by the danger of a Dungeon Break—they were drawn by the sweet rewards dropped by bosses.

To curb reckless competition, the Association allocated expedition rights primarily to guilds that applied.

This month’s expedition to the Blue Starlight Valley was assigned to Hwarang. Hwarang was a major guild that had secured third place in this year’s guild rankings.

“Roooaaar—!”

[‘Snow Hound (S)’ uses ‘Beast’s Roar (S)’.] [All party members’ attack power and attack speed dramatically increase.] [‘Blue Starlight Centaur (A)’’s morale drops.] [‘Blue Starlight Centaur (A)’’s movement speed decreases.]

“Flank them from both sides!”

“Yes!”

Empowered by the buff, Hwarang’s guild members and mercenaries moved in perfect unison.

Dungeons featured both mid-bosses and a final boss; only after defeating all mid-bosses would the door to the final boss monster open.

The Blue Starlight Valley had seven mid-bosses in total, and they had only defeated two so far.

They were chasing the ‘Blue Starlight Centaur’ to find the first mid-boss, the ‘Blue Starlight Ent.’ Tracking the centaur herd would eventually lead them to the Ent.

[‘Snow Hound (S)’ activates ‘Beast Pack Leader (S)’.]

Mogyeon, Hwarang’s guild master, activated his exclusive skill.

After partially transforming into a beast, Mogyeon gained sensitive ears capable of detecting the faintest sounds and a tail that helped him maintain balance even from great heights.

His sharp claws and fangs tore through the centaur’s throat in one swift motion.

“Keeeaak!”

For Mogyeon, a jungle-type dungeon was practically his own backyard. Unleashed like a wild beast, he rampaged through the jungle as if it were his home.

The tide of battle shifted dramatically in an instant.

[‘Blue Starlight Centaur (A)’ senses danger.] [‘Blue Starlight Centaur (A)’ orders its pack to retreat.]

The demoralized centaurs hesitated briefly before turning tail and fleeing in panic.

“Don’t let a single one escape!”

Whoosh! Swish!

Just as they were closing in to tighten the encirclement, something shot past in the opposite direction.

“What was that?”

Mogyeon couldn’t make out what it was—it moved too fast. He paused his pursuit and stared intently in the direction from which he’d sensed movement.

“Snow Hound, what are you doing?!”

Seokhyun, the deputy guild master who’d been leading ahead, shouted.

Hwarang was a guild founded by Mogyeon and his friends.

Although Mogyeon, being the highest-ranked, served as guild master, there was virtually no rigid hierarchy based on authority.

“Something just passed by—did you see it?”

“Just ignore it and hurry up!”

“Chae Donghwa, you bastard. Are you trying to steal kills and run off again?”

For several years, rumors had circulated that Hunter Chae Donghwa of Recon Team Seven had been scouting the Blue Starlight Valley alone.

They wouldn’t have minded if he’d only scouted, but Donghwa casually hunted any monsters he encountered along his path—even during official expedition periods.

Last year, Hwarang and Mogyeon had personally witnessed Donghwa eliminating monsters during their own expedition, which led to a minor conflict between Mogyeon and Donghwa.

Even if Donghwa never picked up dropped items himself, those left outside would vanish after a certain time—effectively amounting to theft in a way.

Beyond that, Mogyeon simply didn’t like Donghwa on a personal level.

Having awakened around the same time, the two were frequently compared among hunters. Being similarly young and holding the same rank, clashes between them were common.

Their rivalry peaked during the Association’s annual combat assessment.

Among combat-focused hunters, rankings were often determined by these results—and Donghwa had taken first place while Mogyeon came in second.

Though Mogyeon knew a hunter’s worth wasn’t defined solely by combat prowess, he was still frustrated.

Despite leading the highly successful guild Hwarang, he couldn’t shake the feeling of falling behind Donghwa.

“You all go ahead without me. I’ll catch up. If I catch that Chae Donghwa this time, I’ll make him regret it!”

“Hey! Snow Hound!!”

Seokhyun shouted, but Mogyeon had already turned away.

‘Ugh, he’s hit his trigger button again.’

Their young boss was notoriously hot-headed. Seokhyun clicked his tongue and rejoined the group.

Hwarang soon discovered the ‘Blue Starlight Ent.’

[‘Blue Starlight Ent (SS)’ has fallen.]

The Ent was tricky due to its many area-of-effect skills, but since the guild members had practiced coordination numerous times, they managed to defeat it without much difficulty.

“Where’s Snow Hound?”

“Yeah, where did he go?”

Only after finishing the battle did the other guild members realize Mogyeon was missing.

After asking each other about his whereabouts, their gazes eventually settled on Seokhyun.

“Seokhyun, where did Snow Hound go?”

“He said he saw Hunter Chae Donghwa and went after him. He told us to go on ahead, but he still hasn’t shown up.”

“Hunter Chae Donghwa? When?”

“When we were chasing the centaur herd, he saw Hunter Chae Donghwa pass by in the opposite direction and followed him.”

“Really? Are you sure it was Chae Donghwa?”

“How would I know? I didn’t see him myself.”

“But why is it so quiet all of a sudden?”

At those words, Seokhyun also felt something was off. Normally, whenever the two met, Mogyeon would pick a fight while Donghwa would simply ignore him.

But when attacked, Donghwa wouldn’t just stand by either. If two S-rank hunters were truly fighting, the dungeon wouldn’t be this eerily quiet.

No matter how hard he listened, he heard no explosions or sounds of things breaking.

“But if it’s the opposite direction, isn’t that where the Giant’s Forest waterfall is?”

Along the path they’d taken, there was a waterfall below a cliff. An ominous feeling passed through him.

“Don’t tell me he charged ahead like an idiot without realizing it was a cliff. If he gets wet, it’s game over.”

“Snow Hound is an idiot, after all.”

“……”

An awkward silence fell among them.

Mogyeon’s skill, ‘Beast Pack Leader,’ transformed him into a wolf-like beast, greatly enhancing his physical stats—but it came with a penalty.

If his HP dropped below 5% or he came into contact with cold water, he’d turn into a puppy—adorable but utterly useless, with no special abilities.

That was the ultimate reason behind his nickname, ‘Beagle.’

“Let the little mutt suffer a bit. Who told him to chase after someone like that in a fit of rage? We’ll look for him after the expedition ends.”

“Yeah. He’s not going to die or anything, right?”

“Exactly. The penalty only lasts a day anyway.”

“Might as well grab a monster bone or something when we go.”

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

“But come to think of it, I haven’t seen Doldori around today. Did he go on vacation?”

“Hic—will you shut up? Don’t you know the jinx? Say Doldori’s name and he’ll suddenly appear.”

“Oh, sorry.”

After a brief silence, they resumed walking, making light jokes as if nothing serious had happened.

Only Seokhyun kept his eyes fixed on the direction Mogyeon had disappeared. For some reason, he had a bad feeling about it.