Elite Hunter Academy was located in the capital city, Fiona, of the country of Arden.
Although this world was vastly different from Earth, it still resembled a modern city. High-rise buildings towered over busy streets filled with buses, cars, and motorcycles, while people moved about like any ordinary city.
Large neon screens and holo-displays flashed everywhere, broadcasting news about hunters, recent dungeon raids, and monster sightings.
’Hmm... Isolde is really efficient. She managed to get everything done so fast.’
Soren sat on a bus, speeding along the national highway. In his hand rested a small ring, a crimson gem meticulously set atop it.
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[Artifact: Crimson Wyvern Ring]
[Rank: D]
[Effect: Grants complete immunity to all curses and debuffs for 1 hour. After use, the ring crumbles to dust. Crafted from Wyvern blood and bone, consuming rare materials for a temporary but powerful effect.]
---
’But still...it’s good to know that the Crafting Formula I remember from the game is actually useful.’
This consumable artifact was something he recalled from the game. He had only given Isolde general crafting directions based on his memory.
’Or maybe it’s Isolde’s skill that made it possible.’
Soren didn’t know, but with the ring in his hand, he felt ready to tackle a dungeon that no one had discovered yet.
Or rather, it hadn’t revealed its presence.
Despite being so close to the capital city, no one had ever uncovered it. Somehow, Evan would eventually find it, raising his class from S to SS rank.
Well, Soren was sure it was just a clumsy plot device from the game developer to boost the protagonist’s rank. But now, it was a perfect opportunity for him.
’Well... I hope that the dungeon is still there. Otherwise, this trip will be wasted.’
Soren thought finding that he was close to the location when a massive board came into view, clearly visible even from the bus.
Hero’s Cemetery!
...
"Sir, are you from the Elite Hunter Academy? Don’t worry, sir, all students from the academy are allowed to visit the Hero’s Cemetery freely."
A middle-aged guard immediately flattered Soren the moment he saw the identity card. He couldn’t hide the thick jealousy in his eyes.
After all, in the outside world, the prestige of the Elite Hunter Academy was even more than the government itself.
Every citizen of this country wanted join but couldn’t. Of course, he was jealous.
"Well, thank you."
Soren didn’t care. Rather, he kept the card in his inventory before stepping into the park.
Hero’s Cemetery!
Although the name sounded grand, the place itself was simple. So simple that the moment Soren stepped inside, he could already see the far end of it.
It was just a small garden with neatly arranged flowers and trimmed grass. At the center stood a thick, arching stone pillar that served as the memorial.
Both sides of the pillar were engraved with the names of significant heroes of the past, each line carved carefully into the stone.
It was nothing more than a modest tribute built long ago to honor the hunters who gave their lives for humanity. It was not even officially maintained by the government.
That was why, as Soren looked around the quiet park, he found himself completely alone.
Well... that only made things easier.
Soren did not waste too much time. After showing slight respect, he immediately stepped toward the left pillar of the arch and carefully examined the engraved letters.
’It should be somewhere here.’
In the game, Evan came to this place to pay tribute to the heroes of his Alarion family after uncovering his family history.
While looking through the names of past heroes, Evan discovered a small groove hidden between two engravings, faint black mana leaking from within.
Startled, he tried to identify what it was.
After trying several methods, he eventually poured his mana into it. The moment his mana flowed inside, he was instantly teleported into a unique dungeon.
’Here it is... this must be the one.’
Soren’s eyes shone as he spotted a tiny groove between two engraved names. It was so subtle that he would never have noticed it without deliberately searching for it.
Unlike in the game, however, no black mana radiated from it. It looked like nothing more than an accidental crack in the stone.
Still, Soren was certain this was the trigger. The rest of the pillar was perfectly smooth. Nowhere else showed even the slightest indentation.
’Sigh... now comes the test. Will injecting my mana really teleport me to that unique dungeon?’
A trace of nervousness crept into his chest. This was the first time he actively tried to steal an opportunity meant for the protagonist. He had no idea what kind of butterfly effect it might cause.
What if it rejected him?What if it reacted differently?
But he was not the type to retreat after coming this far.
*Swoosh!*
Soren first made sure there was no one around. The quiet garden remained empty, the trimmed hedges swaying slightly in the breeze. Only then did he extend his hand and send a thin thread of mana into the groove.
Nothing happened.
His heartbeat quickened.
"Nothing?"
For a moment, the pillar remained completely still, as if mocking him.
He gritted his teeth and increased the output, pushing more mana into the narrow crack. Slowly at first, then steadily more.
Suddenly, the pillar trembled violently.
"Crap... did I break the pillar with my mana or what?"
The vibration intensified, and before he could react further, the entire arch flashed brightly. The light erupted so abruptly that he reflexively shut his eyes for a brief moment.
That instant was all it needed.
A powerful force surged from the pillar, locking onto him. He felt a strong pull, as if space itself folded inward. The ground beneath his feet vanished.
In the next second, his entire body disappeared from the cemetery.
For a fleeting moment, a faint light shimmered from one of the letters engraved at the very top of the pillar.
The stone shifted subtly, rearranging itself before settling back into place among the other names.
If Soren were still standing there, he would immediately recognize what that letter meant.
"Kingswell."
The surname he carried in this world.