Civil Servant Hunter’s S-class Resignation Log - Chapter 154:

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“Convert.”

Seora converted Hit into a shotgun and positioned its muzzle under the cube. Some of the writhing snakes would indeed be dealt with sufficiently.

Bang! The muzzle spat fire, and the sea quickly turned red with the pouring bullets.

Meanwhile, above, Seong Jarim was struggling. Muscles bulged beneath her clothes. Though Seora was steadily training, she couldn’t match the raw strength of Seong Jarim. It was a matter of bare physique.

“But even with her strength, it won’t come out.”

How huge was that monster? At this rate, Seong Jarim might tire out first. Seora stowed Hit in her inventory and pulled out a new weapon.

It was the S-class whip she had received before. Realizing how well a whip fit her hand when using Crimson Mace, she brought it along this time.

【Weapon Information】

Name: Thorn Whip (Class S)

Type: Whip

Specialty: Cultivates thorns using the user’s mana as soil.

Secondary Ability: Its length can extend infinitely.

Particularly, this ability would be incredibly helpful right now.

Seora swung the whip outside the cube, and it firmly wrapped around the monster pulled out by Seong Jarim. As she poured her mana, dozens of thorns rapidly grew, piercing the monster’s scales.

Above the crimson sea, Seora and Jarim exerted their strength together and finally began revealing the creature’s form.

Its thickness resembled a tree trunk, something you’d only see in the jungle. It writhed and wrapped itself in a coil, trying to avoid pain. Its scales vastly differed from those of a fish.

It was obviously some kind of a snake.

“Another snake?” Was there some fateful tie between snakes and her past life? Seora furrowed her brow.

“Seora!”

Perhaps deciding it couldn’t overcome the combined force of both, the thick tail of the snake struck the cube with a bang! Without any way to avoid it, the cube crumbled into the water.

‘Administrator and Seong Jarim…!’

Despite the powerful clash between the cube and the snake’s force, Seora clenched her teeth and glanced upward. Above the rapidly retreating water surface, a bright red cube came into view. Thankfully, it appeared the administrator had activated his skill before plunging into the sea.

“The issue lies with me.”

As the whip still ensnared the monster, she was dragged deeper into the sea along with the creature. She immediately retrieved the whip, but the cube didn’t resurface. Somehow, the monster’s elongated body had wrapped around the cube.

Thud, thud!

【Control weakened due to external attacks.】

【Current Domination Power: 80%】

The water pressure and the monster’s assaults quickly eroded Seora’s control. It was manageable for now, but there was no certainty about how deep the monster might dive. Releasing the cube immediately would likely crush her instead of the cube. Underwater, that would be a fatal mistake.

“Huh?”

Just then, as she pondered her next move, beneath her, a moss-covered rock emerged from the seabed, resembling a glowing green gate. The monster appeared to be heading toward that gate, perhaps attempting to return to the dungeon.

Perfect. The dungeon is preferable to this situation. At least there would be stable ground.

Seora retrieved the Regeneration Jacket from her inventory, donned it, and readied her gun once more. Let’s make it to the dungeon. Whoever dared to hurl my administrator into the sea will face the consequences.

“But…”

There was something peculiar about the monster’s appearance.

It wasn’t an ordinary snake. Its body stretched so long that its tail connected to the gate. Seora’s harpoon was lodged around the middle of its body.

And that wasn’t all. The head facing the gate differed from that of a snake. Underwater, with the creature’s movements causing bubbles that obscured details, it was difficult to discern.

“A person…?”

It seemed to possess hair and even arms resembling a person, but was that merely a trick of the mind?

Seora had no time for further contemplation. As she observed, the monster’s upper body entered the gate, and soon after, she was forcibly hurled into the dungeon by the darn creature.

She winced as a heavy impact landed on her shoulders and back once more. If not for the sturdy combat attire, her shoulder blades might have shattered three times over.

Shin Dowon, thank you.’

With a brief expression of gratitude, Seora raised her head.

【Awakened ‘Yun Seora’ has entered the Level 2 Dungeon ‘Volcano Guardian’s Island’.】

Level 2. It was higher than expected, and the scene before her was nothing but a volcanic landscape spewing lava.

‘Oh, great…’

After the underwater ordeal, now a volcano. Why this string of battlefields? This is getting ridiculously intense.

Despite being enclosed in the cube, she felt the searing heat. Breathing became labored, her chest tightening with the relentless heat from the continuously spewing lava.

‘The one silver lining…’

…was perhaps the resistance she’d built up exploring the 8th floor of the Labyrinth. Having Kang Sejun with his automatic heat regulation would have been better. Yet, this regressor was always absent when truly needed.

【Administrator: ༼ つ ´□` ༽つ】

The administrator sent an emoticon inquiring about Seora’s well-being. She hastily grasped onto that gesture.

“Are you okay, Administrator? Are you hurt?”

【Administrator: ٩(๑`□´๑)۶ 】

A retort came, implying who should be concerned about whom in this situation. Seora shrugged. She was worried; what could she do?

“How about Seong Jarim?”

【Administrator: ☞(๑`□´๑)☞】

“You guys are coming this way?”

Using the cube? That’s fortunate.

Upon hearing allies were approaching, Seora calmly surveyed her surroundings. A colossal volcano spewed lava. Not a blade of grass survived the scorching heat, and life seemed drained from the landscape.

“Insane. What is that?”

Seora spotted the colossal monster responsible for bringing her here. Its upper body did indeed resemble a human, as she’d glimpsed underwater, except it was a gigantic being far larger than any regular person. Instead of arms, it had dozens of writhing, relentless snakes. Not as imposing as the Dragon of Revelation, but undeniably a fearsome force. In the sea, only a part had been visible, giving her no clue about its true form.

Is that a Level 2 Demonic Boss?

Hey, system. Is that really a Level 2? It seems stronger than that cursed Cerberus from Cheorwon! How can it be a Level 2? Is the system even accurate?

【Administrator: ｡ﾟ( ´□`)ﾟ｡】

Oh, right. The system admin is my contractor.

“How on earth is that a Level 2…”

Seora fell silent. Behind the monstrous body, the tail, concealed until now, revealed itself belatedly. The tail, unseen even in the sea, was buried under the scorching volcano. Finally, she understood why the creature couldn’t reach the mainland.

The monster was tethered to the volcano.

Thud! The ground shook heavily. Seora and the monster both snapped their heads toward the source of the sound. As Seora tensed, the monster showed anger in that direction.

Anger?

【The owner of the Level 2 Dungeon ‘Volcano Guardian’s Island’ has appeared.】

Seora’s eyes widened.

What is this? An ‘owner’ appearing in a dungeon that’s not the Labyrinth? It’s the first time I’ve seen a message about an owner appearing somewhere other than the Labyrinth. Plus, this message pops up not when that monster was discovered but right now…

So, that monster isn’t the owner.

Come to think of it, the name of this dungeon is ‘Volcano Guardian’s Island’. In that case, the owner would be the volcano’s guardian.

Seora swallowed hard. Behind the volcano, a giant figure revealed itself.

It was a man. Similar in size to the volcano, but in any case, the form resembled that of a person. His long hair was fiery red like the lava of a volcano, his eyes akin to flames burning in a forge. His muscles, the color of wrought iron, rippled incessantly. He was an astonishingly handsome man with a massive hammer in one hand.

〖”Well, I heard the earth trembled, and a valuable guest has arrived.”〗

As his voice, crackling like flames, resonated, Seora felt as though her shoulders were being pressed down. She gritted her teeth.

Is this really a Level 2 Dungeon? I mean, there are these two incredible beings that could pass for the Dragon of Revelation. How does this place qualify as Level 2?

Roar! The monster, whose lower body resembled a serpent, let out a deafening roar as it charged at the giant. Frowning, the giant hoisted its hammer and swiftly struck the creature down.

〖”So noisy.”〗

Boom! The volcano erupted again with a thunderous roar, spewing lava. Seora urgently ascended into the air with the cube. The monster, hammered down, began sinking into the ground alongside the flowing lava.

Seora shivered, almost reliving the clash between the Archangel and the Dragon of Revelation in the Labyrinth. Ah, this is a myth, she thought.

〖”No need to be wary. I don’t want to fight you.”〗

The giant, who had submerged the monster in lava, lowered his hammer and slowly raised both hands. His voice was starkly different from when facing the creature—gruff, yet undeniably affectionate.

Where even are we?

“Oh.”

The giant’s gaze shifted behind Seora. Before she could react, the gate emitted a bright light.

“Seora!”

Unexpectedly bursting in were Seong Jarim and the administrator. Seong Jarim, wielding a weapon, widened her eyes at the giant resembling a volcano.

“Is that the boss mob?!”

Even in the presence of the immense hammer next to her, Seong Jarim didn’t flinch. Clearly, someone who had lived through a planet’s destruction wasn’t your average being.

“It’s the boss, but doesn’t seem like a mob.”

“But it looks exactly like a boss mob!”

What’s a boss mob, anyway? Despite being quite large, this being was rather handsome, almost reminiscent of Michael. Not monstrous or hideous in the least. What boss mob are they talking about?

Wait, almost like Michael?

Oliver had summoned Archangel Michael in the Labyrinth. Being non-human, Michael emitted a completely different aura. And now, that giant in front of them had a similar vibe.

“Who are you?”

The giant turned his head toward Seora’s question, the flowing lava enveloping his body. Seora reflexively shut her eyes due to the intense heat. When she opened them again, the giant had somehow transformed into the size of an ordinary human.

〖”I am the Guardian of Mount Etna. You may call me ‘The God of Fire and Volcanoes’.”〗

Mount Etna, and the god of fire and volcanoes.

Upon hearing that, there was no doubt about his identity.