Chapter 16: Massive and Knowledgeable (1)
[From now on, the Trial of Mind begins.]
I stared at the information window floating on the water's surface.
I wasn't the only one who could see it.
“Th- Trial of Mind? What’s that?”
Jo Gwang-su standing beside me contorted his face.
The same went for most of the other Indomitable Guild Hunters.
The mission to protect Pigmallets had already been completed.
But instead of a portal leading outside or to the Deep Layer, a new mission had appeared.
Moreover, the Chinese character floating next to the Trial of Mind only increased the sense of unease.
“Kyuuit!”
Then, suddenly, the Pigmallets before me started moving.
They began to gather between the water surface where the status window appeared and me.
“What are you guys doing…?”
[The Pigmallets rescued from the Slaughterer express their gratitude to you. You have taken in the pitiful souls who had lost hope and were drifting.]
My question was swallowed by the echoing voice of the dungeon.
[Now, they will protect you. Only those who endure the trial may proceed.]
“Ah.”
Only then did I understand the situation.
Trial of Mind.
‘Gather your heart, and your mind will follow.’
“Wh- What nonsense are you spouting! The mission is over! Send us back already!”
Jo Gwang-su screamed.
Naturally, not a single Pigmallet stood in front of him.
And his pitiful cries were drowned out by the calm yet imposing voice.
[Endure the trial with the souls you have gathered. The 10-minute countdown begins.]
At the same time—
Kwaaa!
A pillar of water shot up from the lake that mirrored the night sky.
It moved as if alive, absorbing all surrounding water and gradually expanding its domain.
The water column spun like a hurricane, widening its radius.
Anyone swallowed by it without defense could immediately imagine what would happen.
Chwaaak!
Cold water splashed across my cheeks.
The pillar that had engulfed the entire lake now began to swallow the land itself.
Instinctively, I stepped back.
Anyone seeing the hurricane’s majesty would do the same.
Thung!
But no sooner had I stepped back a few paces than I hit a solid wall.
Looking back, the forest where I had been searching for Pigmallets was still visible.
Yet moving toward it was impossible.
A transparent wall blocked the forest behind me.
“Kyuuit!”
Suddenly, a cute cry reached my ears.
The Pigmallets were looking back at me.
As if telling me to trust them.
Kwaaa!
And the water pillar, transformed into a hurricane, rushed directly toward the Pigmallets and me.
“Uh…?”
At that moment, a miracle happened.
The violently raging storm covered the space where the Pigmallets and I stood, as if lying like a blanket.
Not just engulfed—literally, the space we occupied was covered like a quilt.
Gono and I looked around with our mouths open.
It felt as if we had stepped into an aquarium made entirely of glass.
A dome of soft blue light surrounded us, with aquatic plants and unfamiliar underwater creatures swirling within the currents.
Blue-light dome.
“You’re the ones holding them back, huh.”
I spoke while gazing at the Pigmallets huddled before me.
A blue energy flowed from their bodies.
It was absorbed into the dome surrounding us.
“Kyuuit!”
One Pigmallet even seemed to answer with a cry.
“Uaaah!”
From the other side, screams echoed.
The hurricane had started to strike the other Hunters.
Most of the Hunters standing around the lake were already invisible.
Only Jo Gwang-su, closest to me, and the healer who saved the five Pigmallets were visible.
“Damn it, what’s going on? Why won’t it let me out?”
Jo Gwang-su pounded the transparent wall with his feet.
After our eyes met, he rushed toward me, desperately punching the half-exposed dome behind him.
“Save me! Let me in! I’m sorry! Please, just let me in!”
Of course, the blue dome surrounding the Pigmallets and me never let him in.
Chwaaak!
“Gkyaaa!”
Finally, a blade-like jet of water struck, ripping one of Jo Gwang-su’s eyes.
He clutched the bleeding eye and pressed against the transparent wall.
But I couldn’t just watch him scream in fear.
Thunk!
A small body had fallen in front.
Turning my head, I saw the Pigmallet at the very front lying on the ground.
“Gono!”
“Kiruk!”
Gono nodded and rushed to bring the fallen Pigmallet.
It was panting, eyes closed.
Even so, blue energy still flowed from its body.
Only then did I realize—
“…Right. You guys are holding it too.”
The Pigmallets were using their life force to maintain this dome.
Thunk.
Another sound followed.
One by one, the exhausted Pigmallets collapsed.
I averted my gaze.
Sixty of them were holding on, and if I was this drained, other Hunters were beyond question.
“….”
The healer’s dome, not far away, also housed five Pigmallets, three of which had already fallen.
A tender-hearted Hunter patted the fallen Pigmallets while healing.
[7 minutes 19 seconds.]
The dungeon’s voice came softly from the other side.
Over 7 minutes still remained.
I could survive.
But most of the others would die.
Including Jo Gwang-su, pressed against the wall, screaming, and other Hunters.
Even the healer embracing the Pigmallets.
Even these countless Pigmallets protecting me.
‘Is this really all?’
If I just stayed still, ignoring how many Pigmallets died and how many around me drowned…
Was that truly the best I could do?
‘Come to think of it…’
Something flashed through my mind.
I had forgotten while taking care of the Pigmallets abandoned by Hunters.
‘Hidden mission.’
The information sent to me from the Castle.
‘There’s a hidden mission in the lake.’
I had searched every corner of the field while gathering the Pigmallets, but found nothing special.
The Garden had said I could proceed forward only after passing the Trial of Mind.
Then the hidden mission must be…
‘Hidden within the Trial of Mind.’
Normally, hidden missions appear when you think opposite to the situation.
When everyone tries to run, confront it head-on.
That was the opposite I had in mind.
I took out my silver-rimmed glasses from my pocket and put them on.
Then, I activated a skill.
[Eye of the Sage]
I gazed beyond the dome, into the heart of the hurricane.
[Monsters subject to countdown detected. Activate Eye of the Sage? Activation consumes 1 count.]
Bingo.
If a count applied, it meant the monster was at least Rank B.
“Activate.”
[Zen Karuk]
[Type: Named Monster]
[Rank: 6 stars, MonMonMak standard]
[Stats: Strength 25, Agility 35, Stamina 30, Intelligence 90]
[Skills: Wave of Upheaval Lv.1, Storm of Upheaval Lv.1, Tears of the Ancient God Lv.5 – Activated]
[This is Zen Karuk, the Lizardman High Priest. He was the last Lizardman to encounter the Ancient God. Also the last hero of the fallen Lizardmen.]
I removed my glasses and grinned.
In MonMonMak, named monsters were like special units.
Monsters surviving 100+ waves had a chance to be promoted to Named Monster.
Unlike other monsters, they could use unique Arts and receive better item power.
And now, one was hiding there.
“Then there’s only one answer.”
“Kiruk.”
Gono put his club on his shoulder, as if understanding me.
But I shook my head at him.
“No, Gono. You alone can’t do this.”
“Kiruk!”
“You’re weak against water.”
“Ki, Keruk.”
Gono’s ears drooped and he put down the club.
It was true.
No matter how many items I wrapped around Gono, they only worked under normal field conditions.
And Goblins in MonMonMak were extremely vulnerable to special fields and magic types.
In this situation, Gono was just an ordinary Goblin.
[Trade with the Monarch]
Now was the time to hire a new monster.
[Activate Trade with the Monarch Lv.1.]
A list of hireable monsters slid down.
Without hesitation, I chose one.
[420 Gold paid to hire Ogre Berserker. Remaining Gold: 430]
A fist-sized crack appeared above my head and spat out a sphere.
A light brown, swirling orb.
As soon as I caught it, I threw it toward the dome in front of me.
It bounced beyond the dome and began sinking downward.
Paggurre!
The orb reached the bottom, surrounded by countless bubbles.
[Summoning Ogre Berserker!]
Through the bubbles, a giant nearly 3 meters tall appeared.
But I couldn’t see the Ogre Berserker appearing in the water.
I was focused on another dot window in front of me.
[Consume 1 Premium Draw Ticket.]
I muttered while staring at the spinning random box.
“A bit of a waste…”
Unlike Gono, summoned with all sorts of items applied,
the Ogre had been summoned in its bare state.
So I had to equip it with new items somehow.
But the problem was—
‘In MonMonMak, the AI was so weak that even if I wanted to use it, I couldn’t. Will it be the same in reality?’
The Ogre had innate magic resistance and immense strength, but due to poor intelligence, it often missed monster waves.
Meaning, item efficiency was terribly low.
“Please let it have some brains in reality.”
Then the draw ticket would be worth using.
Wooong!
The spinning random box began emitting light.
The color… golden.
“Did I get an S-rank?”
Yes! Golden meant at least Rank A to S!
Soon the light faded, and the spinning box stopped abruptly.
[Check item information now?]
But as soon as the golden text appeared, I froze.
[Archmage Gandalf’s Hat – S-Rank]
[A relic of the archmage who saved a world from destruction. Imagine how powerful it would be if a magical monster wore it! Terrifying to even think!]
What… is this?
“What the hell?”
“Gooooo!”
The summoned Berserker’s roar from beyond the dome pierced my ears.
Even the water jets attacking the Ogre bounced off from the sheer force of its scream.
It was literally a ferocious Berserker.
Then—
[Intelligence +30. Wearing monster becomes slightly smarter.]
And you want me to put this on that mad creature?
“Uaaah!”
From behind, Jo Gwang-su’s scream echoed again.
The exhausted Pigmallets fell one by one.
No time to hesitate.
Regardless, it was an S-rank item.
No penalties and a massive stat boost—whatever it was, it was good.
Even if it’s like giving a magical staff to a purely strength-focused unit!
“Damn it, is this the time to complain? Just use it!”
[Ogre Berserker equips Archmage Gandalf’s Hat!]
“Gooooo!”
And with the status window, the Berserker’s roar that had shaken the field stopped, just like that.