Chapter 34. Leveling Up, Again and Again

“You’re Overlord, right?”

Said the man that looked like a beggar.

“Nice to meet you. You, your skills aren’t too bad?”

Then, he proceeded to approach Kang Chul-In to shake hands.

“I’m known as ‘Lumpen’ in the World Community, Dorian. Dorian Explorer.”

Kang Chul-In did not grab Dorian’s hand. He was very dirty, and there was no way for Kang Chul-In to harbor goodwill towards him since he was late.

“I’m Kang Chul-In. But, why were you late?” he asked instead.

“Th-that is…..”

Dorian began to give poor excuses.

“I, I was too excited…….As soon as I received your message, I asked an adventurer to borrow his gate and immediately came here……But….it somehow ended up….No, now that I think about it, I don’t even have any food……Or a bag….Then, I noticed a weird-looking animal, so I followed it around and eventually, the day was over. I was hungry…..and as I was looking for food to eat……”

It basically meant that he had come to this world with just his body and ended up running around in the forest.

This crazy bastard.

Listening to Dorian’s excuses, a vein popped up on Kang Chul-In’s forehead.

For a guy who said that he was from the special forces, how is he able to get lost?

Starting from the year 2021, the 25-year-old Dorian was part of the famous SAS (Special Air Service) in the British Armed Forces and was a true monster with plenty of experience on the battlefield from Afghanistan, Somalia, etc.

Although it was weird that such a person could get lost, the real Dorian often got lost.

“So, I rushed to the meeting spot as quickly as I could, but it seemed like everyone had left already. The only thing I could do was to follow the traces and ended up here. Either way, I’m sorry I’m late.”

Dorian apologized.

“But the handshake? I told you I’m sorry……You’re making me feel embarrassed…….”

“If you’re going to stick your hand out, wash yourself first,” Kang Chul-In retorted.

“Forget the handshake. Even a hobo would cry after looking at your appearance.”

“It, it’s that bad?”

“No, dirtier.”

“Aren’t you a Lord as well? Wouldn’t it have been better if you had brought a subordinate or two with you?”

“Ah, they all seemed to be sleeping…..I felt bad waking them up, so I came by myself.”

Kang Chul-In understood.

It was obvious that this guy had run out in the middle of the night while his confidantes and leaders were asleep. Dorian was a tiresome and irresponsible lord in their eyes.

Well, it’s nothing new I guess. Since back then, you’ve always been like that.

It wasn’t something that had only occurred once or twice.

I don’t understand how this guy got through military life.

There was something that Kang Chul-In did not know.

The Navy Seals, Delta Force, famous special forces like the SAS, had a very different image from what regular civilians knew. Most of the people in these forces were filled with people who were worse than thugs.

Of course, once training started, their personalities would make a full 180-degree change, but it was undeniable that their military discipline was poor.

It was the same with Dorian. Normally, he seemed to be out of it, but once he was put into battle or was killing monsters, he would change into a completely different person.

Murder? If it was necessary, Dorian would be able to heartlessly kill a person, just like Kang Chul-In.

“Ah, by the way……”

Dorian spoke as if he had something to say.

“That thing just now.”

“That thing just now?”

“When you killed off the Crocuta.”

“Did you hold the sword backwards to put more force into it? And did you turn your body to the right so you could dodge the Crocuta’s counter? It just seemed like a movement that was preparing you for the possibility of being bitten since you would have to get close to the body with the sword pierced into it. You aimed to attack to deal the most damage while also dodging the counter. Wasn’t it a movement of the perfect balance between attack and defense? Well, at least that’s what it looked like to me, but it’s alright if it’s not.”

He had a discerning eye that completely saw through Kang Chul-In’s intentions. He was indeed the Dungeon Attacking Strategist (at least in the past) with those sharp insights.

“Ah, is that so?”

“Was that what it was?”

“It kind of makes sense after it was explained like that…..”

“Is that why the General moved to the right when he cut the Crocuta’s body?”

The adventurers that had listened to Dorian’s explanation began to understand Kang Chul-In’s demonstration.

“What do you think about my words?”

“It’s accurate.”

Kang Chul-In nodded.

As I thought, he has a lot of uses. He would be perfect as a teaching assistant.

Kang Chul-In felt very happy and believed that it was God’s grace for him to be able to catch Dorian.

Dorian’s questions had the same effect as being able to explain the confusing parts to the adventurers. Kang Chul-In believed that if he used Dorian right, he would be able to create great synergy in teaching the adventurers.

I will use you to the fullest.

Although he was late, since Dorian had joined the group, Kang Chul-In vowed that he would use him to the fullest rather than destroying him. Although, that was his true purpose from the beginning.

With the addition of Dorian, the attack unit “Slayers’ gained momentum.

It was the same as giving lectures.

If Kang Chul-In fought against a monster 1-on-1 to demonstrate, Dorian would ask questions he was curious about and share his opinions. If Kang Chul-In was the teacher, then Dorian was the assistant or honor student.

Thanks to the discussions between the two, the adventurers could find solutions for the parts they were doubtful of and were slowly able to build up their knowledge.

Thanks to that, their learning efficiency had increased greatly, and in proportion to that, their levels grew quickly.

Although the adventurers were unaware of it themselves, they were currently getting private lessons from the rare cheat character know as Kang Chul-In and the genius know as Dorian.

[You have raised your level! Attained level 15!] [You have raised your level! Attained level 16!] [You have raised your level! Attained level 17!] [You have raised your level! Attained level 18!] [You have raised your level! Attained level 19!]

After a week on the hunt, Kang Chul-In had attained level 19. Excluding eating and sleeping, all his time was put into monster hunting.

However, Kang Chul-In was unsatisfied.

He had a high threshold that he wanted to hit, and it was a far road to hitting at least level 100. Also, he knew that he would be unable to go against the Peacock Dragon with a mere level of 19.

Still too far. I won’t be able to deal with that thing unless I hit at least level 25……..

Late at night, Kang Chul-In was lost in thought while everyone else was asleep.

Listening to the reports from Podolski, who was going back and forth between the territory and base camp, the Peacock Dragon was still looking for food around the territory even though it had been concealed.

It would be best to hit level 30…..But, it’ll be too late by then.

Even now, gold was quickly being used.

With the territory being concealed, Kang Chul-In would suffer a greater loss the more time was spent.

“Hey, what are you thinking about so hard?”

With a swish, Dorian got closer and asked.

“Aye! So hard, so hard! I don’t think It’s ever been this tough even during my military days. It’s not easy hunting monsters.”

It was obvious that Dorian was exhausted.

Because Kang Chul-In was staring at Dorian as if he was going to eat him, the adventurers that were watching from the side felt pity for Dorian because of how severely he was being exploited. If it were anyone else, there was a high chance that they would have run away by now.

“It seems like you’re having a tough time?”

“Would it be considered normal if this wasn’t tough? It’s so easy with such half-assed demonstrations, huh? You should try it yourself, or what do you want me to do? Sigh! It’s not like I’m some kind of genius!”

Dorian grumbled.

You are a genius. A very clumsy and weird genius.

Kang Chul-In laughed to himself.

“If it’s that hard, why don’t you go back? I won’t stop you.”

Words that Kang Chul-In truly didn’t believe in.

“What are you talking about?! I’m not going back until I fight that Peacock Dragon! Of course, although it’s tough…… I’m learning a lot from you, and I feel that it was a good idea to have come here.”

Dorian truly seemed to be enjoying himself right now.

They’re all things I learned from you.

In more ways than one, Kang Chul-In was also enjoying himself.

The owner was like the customer, and the customer was like the owner. It was a situation where their roles had completely changed.

If Kang Chul-In was the one learning in the past, it was different this time. Dorian was learning from him now. He was learning his own tips and attack strategies from Kang Chul-In.

For such an irony to occur.

It was something that could not have occurred if Soul Back-up didn’t exist. It was a situation that Dorian would never have dreamed of.

“Hey, buddy,” Dorian said.

“Can I ask you something?”

“If it’s something that I can answer.”

“Why are you not telling the adventurers the final goal? Although the others aren’t saying anything, because they’re unsure, their goal isn’t to simply level up, right?”

“It’s a problem of confidence.”

“Confidence?”

“Although the Peacock Dragon is the weakest of the dragon species, it is a level 40 monster in name. If I were to tell them that we were going to fight against an uncouth monster like that, do you think they would follow me?”

“Mm?”

Dorian showed a stupid expression.

“They would have run away or would have said that they would not do it.”

“Ey, what do you mean run away? I’m sure they would have definitely agreed since we’ll be fighting against a dragon-type.”

“You idiot.”

“You think everyone is like you? The adventurers’ goals are money and items, not dying in a fight against a high-level monster.”

“I-is that so?”

Dorian could understand Kang Chul-In’s words.

No matter what it was, there was a big difference between having confidence and not.

“By tomorrow, you and I should be level 20, while the adventurers will be level 15.”

Kang Chul-In was planning on fighting the Peacock Dragon once he hit level 25 and the adventurers hit level 20.

“I think we can slowly enter into special training.”

“Special training? What special training? Did you by chance think up a strategy specifically to fight against the Peacock Dragon?”

“How admirable. To think that you would be able to think that far.”

“…..Hey, I’m not stupid.”

“Of course you are.”

….as Kang Chul-In responded like so, he thought to himself.

If you’re not stupid, then who is?

It was quite pleasant to be able to mess around with Dorian.

At that moment.

Dorian spoke as if he was doubtful of something.

“Wait, something’s weird.”

“What’s weird?”

“You….what’s your purpose?”

“Something’s weird. How do you know how to fight every monster that we come across? How do you know the existence of the Peacock Dragon and how to fight against it? Are the items that you distributed also part of the strategy to specifically fight against the Peacock Dragon?”

For a moment, Kang Chul-In was very surprised by Dorian. He did not know how sharp Dorian was because he had only seen him as an easy fish, someone who could easily be played around with.

“It really is suspicious. It’s only been a month since the Grand Summoning, yet you know too much. Are you by chance……..?”

With eyes full of suspicion, Dorian stared at Kang Chul-In.

When did this bastard get this smart? He usually would skip through it as if it were nothing.

As Kang Chul-In was at a loss, Dorian took the initiative.

“Did you practice earlier? You wanted to get stronger quicker and wanted to fight against high-leveled monsters?”

Kang Chul-In was super nervous, but as expected, Dorian guessed wrong.

“You asked your confidantes, and if there was something they didn’t know, you researched the information on World. What do you say, am I right?”

Kang Chul-In thought “You stupid idiot, that’s why you always get played with in the palm of my hands” as he agreed enthusiastically.

“…..I’ve been caught.”

“As I thought.”

Dorian was elated as he perked his shoulders up. Idiots were idiots and were happy because of it.

“Well, either way, we just need to gain the skills needed to fight against the Peacock Dragon. Or, fight against monsters that have similar characteristics to the Peacock Dragon.”

Dorian used his innate monster hunting skills to grasp Kang Chul-In’s intentions.

“That’s what I’m planning.”

Kang Chul-In had already planned a curriculum of monsters that he wanted to kill. Slowly, there was a list of monsters in Kang Chul-In’s head that he wanted to hunt within the next week.

From this point on, we need to fight against big monsters.

In order to fight against the Peacock Dragon, the 40+ adventurers needed a big monster that could take on everyone’s attacks at once. A big monster that was at least around level 30.

What Kang Chul-In didn’t know was that this opportunity would come a lot faster than he thought.

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